5 Best Chrome VPN Extensions in 2024 - TechNadu (2024)

Considering that Chrome is the most popular Web browser worldwide, it's not surprising to see hundreds (if not thousands) of VPNs offering Chrome extensions. They all seem to be the same at first glance - and many of these promise not to charge you anything. So naturally, this can lead to plenty of confusion about finding and choosing a suitable VPN for Chrome in 2024. And this is precisely why our editorial team is here to share its knowledge.

Chrome VPN extensions deeply integrate with Internet browsers and route traffic via their servers. This is why you need to be very careful about which VPN you use. After all, you want to protect your privacy and hide your online whereabouts. Unfortunately, many VPNs can actually endanger your privacy—especially free ones. However, with the best VPN, your privacy will be ensured, and your data will be safe.

You should also know that VPN extensions for Chrome come with different abilities and different levels of encryption, and they usually don't share the same feature sets as their native applications.

In this article, we'll share the top 5 Chrome VPN extensions and discuss the most important features of each VPN provider. We’ll also tell you how to get a Chrome VPN extension, explain why you need a VPN for Chrome, and more.

Best VPNs for Chrome - Our Shortlist

1. NordVPN – Our #1-Rated Chrome VPN Extension
2. Surfshark – Best Chrome VPN with Unlimited Connections
3. ExpressVPN – Best VPN for Chrome with Enhanced Privacy
4. CyberGhost VPN – Best Chrome Extension with Streaming-Optimized Servers
5. Private Internet Access – VPN Extension with the Largest Server Network

How to Get a Chrome VPN Extension

To get a Chrome VPN Extension, you have to find a suitable Chrome VPN and buy a subscription. After that, download the extension and add it to Chrome. Here's everything you'll need to do:

1. Subscribe to a suitable Google Chrome VPN (we recommend NordVPN).
2. Download the VPN extension from the Chrome Web Store.
3. Click "Add Extension" on the browser notification that will pop up.
4. Click the VPN icon in the top-right corner of your toolbar.
5. Complete the setup process and connect to a VPN server.
6. Now, you can browse the Internet safely with your Chrome VPN extension.

Some VPN providers require you to type in an activation code while you're setting up your Chrome extension. Other than that, the whole process is pretty straightforward, allowing you to set up a VPN on Chrome in a matter of minutes.

Best Chrome VPN Extension

The best VPN extension for Chrome must offer a no-logs policy, ensuring that none of your data is collected or stored anywhere. Furthermore, the best VPN for Chrome must provide some additional features that you would typically get if you used a full VPN app instead of an extension, such as access to all the provider’s servers, unlimited bandwidth, a kill switch, and more. Lastly, it should offer a money-back guarantee so that you can try it out before you commit to it.

Based on the criteria above, here are the providers with the 5 best Chrome VPN extensions:

1. NordVPN – Our #1-Rated Chrome VPN Extension

NordVPN’s Chrome VPN extension is compatible with Windows, Mac, Linux, and Chromebook devices. It's an excellent choice for those looking for high-end privacy, as it offers military-grade encryption and blocks ads and risky websites via the Threat Protection Lite feature.

With NordVPN's Chrome VPN extension, you'll get strong encryption that allows you to use unsecured WiFi networks safely. Other features you'll get with the extension include WebRTC blocking, split tunneling, unlimited bandwidth, and more. NordVPN's extension is easy to use, and you can use one NordVPN subscription on 6 different devices simultaneously.

The provider has a larger server network of 5,400+ servers spread across 60 different countries. Thus, it can help you bypass different geo-restrictions and access your favorite streaming platforms and websites.

It's not the fastest VPN out there, but it's fast enough to provide you with a seamless browsing experience. And while you're browsing, you'll be protected with a no-logs policy that ensures none of your data is logged or stored.

If you don't like NordVPN's services, you can get a full refund via NordVPN's 24/7 live chat support, no questions asked, within 30 days of your subscription.

2. Surfshark – Best Chrome VPN with Unlimited Connections

Surfshark is another easy-to-use VPN offering a Chrome extension you can use on many devices. Its extension is simple to set up and compatible with multiple operating systems. With Surfshark, you'll be able to hide your IP address, connect to any server you want from

Surfshark's server network, bypass different geo-restrictions, and more.

The provider runs a network of 3,200+ servers covering a whopping 100+ countries. It also allows users to connect an unlimited number of devices simultaneously. It offers some of the fastest Internet connection speeds on the market and allows unlimited bandwidth.

Surfshark has a no-logs policy, ensuring that none of your data is collected or retained.

A unique feature you'll get with Surfshark's Chrome VPN extension is its CleanWeb 2.0, a blocker for ads and cookie pop-ups. It allows you to turn on website safety warnings, so you’ll get a notification about any data breaches on the pages you visit. It will inform you if there has been a previous hack and what information was revealed. You’ll also get an alert if there’s any malware detected.

Lastly, the provider offers reliable 24/7 customer support and a 30-day money-back guarantee which you can use to try out the service risk free.

3. ExpressVPN – Best VPN for Chrome with Enhanced Privacy

ExpressVPN is the best VPN for Chrome for a few different reasons. The provider's Chrome VPN extension is compatible with Windows, Mac, and Linux, and it offers strong encryption and unlimited bandwidth. You can also use ExpressVPN's Chrome VPN extension on other browsers, including Brave and Vivaldi.

This extension is available in 17 languages and allows you to disable WebRTC, which prevents any caching issues that could expose your data. Furthermore, ExpressVPN's Chrome extension is the fastest extension on the market, making it excellent for accessing streaming websites.

With ExpressVPN's extension, you'll get access to all the provider's servers, which include more than 3,000 servers in 100+ countries. The extension comes with Network Lock, a kill-switch feature that blocks your Internet traffic whenever your VPN connection drops, keeping your data safe at all times. Other security features that you'll get with ExpressVPN include advanced leak protection, a no-logs policy, AES 256-bit encryption, and more.

The provider offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, which you can use as a risk-free way to test the provider before committing to a plan. Also, if you have any issues or questions, you can reach ExpressVPN's customer support at all times via its 24/7 live chat.

4. CyberGhost VPN – Best Chrome Extension with Streaming-Optimized Servers

CyberGhost offers a free Chrome VPN extension that also works on Firefox. The extension is compatible with multiple operating systems, including Windows, Linux, and Mac. It offers a wide array of features such as a no-logs policy, access to all kinds of geo-restricted content, WebRTC leak protection, and more.

However, with CyberGhost's free Chrome VPN extension, you won't get access to the provider's full network of more than 9,400+ servers. Specifically, you can connect to just 8 servers in 4 countries: Germany, the Netherlands, Romania, and the US. Thus, you'll only be able to unblock content in those 4 countries, but you'll still have access to many of the most popular streaming platforms, like Netflix US, Hulu, and Disney+.

CyberGhost’s VPN for Chrome doesn't support multiple protocols, but it does offer excellent security and privacy, allowing you to browse safely everywhere, even on public WiFi networks.

If you ever need more features and services, you can upgrade to CyberGhost's full VPN app and get everything that the provider offers. You can try out its app risk-free for 45 days if you get a longer-term plan and 14 days if you get a monthly plan. Also, with the upgrade, you'll get access to CyberGhost's 24/7 customer support, which you won't get with the Chrome VPN extension.

5. Private Internet Access – VPN Extension with the Largest Server Network

Private Internet Access (PIA) offers a more advanced Chrome VPN extension that comes with all the features you'd get with PIA's VPN app, including a no-logs policy, access to all PIA's servers, an ad-blocker, unlimited bandwidth, WebRTC protection, and more.

A unique feature you'll get with PIA's Chrome VPN is its webcam blocker, which prevents unauthorized parties from accessing your webcam and microphone. You'll also get anti-tracking tools, which block tracking scripts, cookies, and URLs. Additionally, you can convert some websites from exposed connections to HTTPS encryption, making them safe to access and use.

PIA's extension is easy to set up, and since it provides access to all the premium features, it allows you to connect to any VPN server you want. So, you'll be able to choose from PIA's 35,000+ server network that is spread across 83 different countries.

As for speed, you can expect a medium Internet connection from this provider. You can try to optimize it a bit, but it won't give you the lightning-fast speeds that ExpressVPN and Surfshark would.

With PIA, you can connect up to 10 devices simultaneously and secure your online activity while using Chrome. You'll also get access to PIA's 24/7 live chat support and will be eligible for its 30-day money-back guarantee.

Why Do You Need a VPN for Google Chrome?

You need a VPN for Chrome to protect your personal information from third parties while you're browsing the Internet or streaming your favorite shows. Unfortunately, there are malevolent individuals who track people's online activity every day and sell that data to large companies and even governments. Other reasons why you need a Chrome VPN extension include the following:

• Hide Your Online Activity – If you want your browser history to be truly inaccessible to anyone but you, you'll need a powerful Chrome VPN extension to hide it from anyone who might want to see it. Sure, you could use Incognito Mode on Chrome, but it won't truly hide your browser history, as it will still be visible to Google.
• Bypass Throttling by ISPs – Internet Service Providers (ISPs) can see how much data you use, when you're using it, and what you’re using it for. If you use too much data at once, they'll slow down your Internet, also known as throttling. A Chrome VPN can help you avoid this by hiding your data usage from everyone, including your ISP.
• Access Geo-Restricted Content – Google Chrome VPNs allow you to connect to thousands of servers all over the world. Thus, you can use this to access content that isn't available in your country, such as streaming platforms, websites, games, app stores, and more.

What Makes a Good VPN for Chrome?

When browsing VPN services and their sets of features, things can get overwhelming very quickly. So, let's talk about what to look for in a VPN for Chrome.

• Protocols & Encryption:In general, Chrome VPN extensions are based on AES encryption (128-bit or 256-bit - rarely), and they feature different kinds of VPN protocols. In most cases, you'll get to use VPN extensions that feature IKEv2 or IPSec. If you need the best possible protection, go for OpenVPN - usually available via standalone software.
• Data Logging Policies:If you truly care about your privacy, you'll go for a "no-logs" VPN service, which means that none of your private information will ever be logged. Also, reading privacy policies can be tedious, and we understand that. However, this is very important when it comes to choosing a VPN that respects your privacy.
• "Extra" Features:Do you want to block ads via Chrome? Or maybe you'd like to use media streaming services? These are considered to be "additional" features that some VPNs offer, so you'll need to pay attention to whether your chosen VPN offers these.
• Chrome Store Reputation:Before installing a Chrome extension, it's always a good idea to check its reputation. You can see each extension's rating, how many times it has been downloaded, and check what other users are saying.
• Money-Back Guarantees:Finally, keep in mind that VPNs typically come with money-back guarantees. In other words, you'll have from 7 up to 45 days to change your mind and have your money returned for whatever reason.

Should You Use a VPN Chrome Extension Or a Native VPN Software?

Now, the big question is - should you install a VPN extension or use a standalone VPN application on your device? To help you decide, we'll quickly go over what each of those is capable of doing.

• Chrome VPN Extensions: These VPNs protect only what you do in Chrome. This means that other Web-connected applications won't be protected. In addition to that, VPN extensions come with fast performance, but they come with limited protocols, and they don't offer the highest level of encryption. So, we recommend those if you're after media streaming or website unblocking. Learn how to add a VPN extension in Chrome.
• Native VPN Applications: These protect all your incoming and outgoing Web traffic, and you can use VPNs as standalone applications on your computer or smartphone. As you can see, this means having additional software run on your device. However, you'll get the strongest possible protocols and encryption, as well as plenty of fine-tuning. We recommend using a native VPN app if you want the best protection for your privacy. Learn how to set up VPN for Chrome.

How VPN Applications Make Google's Chrome More Privacy-Friendly?

It is no secret that Chrome isn't the most privacy-friendly Web browser out there. However, it's also true that this browser is doing plenty to protect you from malicious downloads, phishing campaigns, and problematic websites. Still, we often get to hear about Chrome's zero-day flaws and dodgy extensions designed to take advantage of their users. With this said, it's clear that if you care about your privacy, there's only one way to go. And you guessed it - we're talking about VPN.

The main purpose of VPN applications is to take your Web traffic and protect it from anyone on the Web. Considering that your data is encrypted, it becomes invisible to anyone, and this includes your ISP (Internet Service Provider). Of course, you should still dive into Chrome's settings and try to disable any tools that might be tracking you. However, a VPN is the final step of this process as it "tames" Chrome as well as any other Web-connected application on your device.

Let's not forget that VPNs come with other benefits as well. They allow you to unblock blocked websites and therefore go against any kind of censorship. And if you're into media streaming, know that using a VPN will help you unblock new platforms and unblock new titles on those that you already use.

Can I Use a Free VPN Extension for Chrome?

Yes, you can use a free VPN extension for Chrome, but we highly recommend that you don't. Free VPN extensions come with a lot of baggage. They offer highly restricted services and slow Internet connection speeds.

With a free VPN for Chrome, you'll only get a few hundred megabytes of data each day or up to 10 GB a month. Sure, 10 GB of bandwidth a month might sound good, but we assure you that it's usually not enough, especially if you want to stream video content. Moreover, since free VPNs have limited server networks, you won't be able to unblock a lot of content that is restricted in your country.

However, the main reason why you should avoid free VPNs is that they tend to sell user data to third parties to generate income. So, it would be best to steer clear of free VPN extensions and use premium ones instead.

Final Thoughts

Chrome VPN extensions provide an excellent way for you to hide your browsing history and protect your privacy online. However, most basic VPN extensions aren’t going to cut it. You need a premium VPN for Chrome if you want to enjoy essential features like unlimited bandwidth, a no-logs policy, strong encryption, access to a full server fleet, and more.

We recommend NordVPN for its Chrome VPN extension because all their premium services are accessible via the extension, so you won’t be limited in server choices or privacy features. With ExpressVPN, you can easily protect your data and hide your Internet traffic, giving you freedom and safety to browse online.

So, you've reached the end of our guide to the best VPNs for Chrome in 2021. We hope that we helped you narrow down your selection of VPNs. In case of any questions, don't hesitate to post a comment below.