5 Best Chrome VPN Extensions for 2023: Complete Buyer’s Guide

Chrome is one of the most popular web browsers in the world. In 2021, it was estimated to have 3.2 billion users globally. Chrome includes a versatile library of browser extensions, which boost its functionality. A commonly used extension is a virtual private network or VPN, which helps protect user information by encrypting data and routing browsing activities through a secure connection.

Choosing the right VPN extension for Chrome can be challenging, as features and security vary. We’ve listed some of the best Chrome VPN extensions available to help you decide based on their features and our hands-on experience.

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Best Chrome VPN extensions: Comparison table

Below is a quick summary of the features commonly found in the top Chrome VPN extensions.

Best Chrome VPN extensions

Read on for our picks of the best Chrome VPNs, why we chose them and how they can add to your Chrome browser experience.

NordVPN: Best overall

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As one of the best VPN providers today, NordVPN offers a feature-rich Chrome extension that gives you access to a healthy 5,000+ server network, security features such as split tunneling and kill switch, and protection against WebRTC leaks. It also has its own Threat Protection Lite feature, which protects against intrusive ads, trackers, unsafe connections and malicious sites.

Why we chose NordVPN

We chose NordVPN’s Chrome extension as it offers an all-around VPN service that affords both top-tier security and speed. It also offers a great balance of security features, ease-of-use and reliability. The inclusion of a split-tunneling feature within the extension itself is a standout, as it makes personalizing the VPN experience very accessible.

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This allows users to easily customize which websites they want to route via the VPN and which they want to pass through the internet service provider.

Pricing

NordVPN offers three plans: Standard, Plus and Complete. The main difference between the three is the additional features you get on top of the VPN itself, such as the NordPass password manager and NordLocker cloud storage.

• Monthly: Starting at $12.99/month.
• One year: Starting at $4.49/month.
• Two years: Starting at $3.79/month.

We would recommend choosing NordVPN’s Standard Plan because it includes the full VPN and Threat Manager Lite at $4.99 per month for a one-year subscription.

Features

• 5,800+ servers in 60 countries.
• Threat Protection Lite security feature.
• Built-in kill switch.
• No logs policy.

Pros

• Consistently fast and stable speeds.
• Unlimited bandwidth.
• Protects against intrusive ads and malware.
• Well-designed user interface.
• Easy split tunneling within the extension.

Cons

• One subscription only covers six devices.

In our review of NordVPN’s desktop app, the VPN received a score of 4.7 out of 5 stars. To learn more, read the full NordVPN review.

ExpressVPN: Best for speed

ExpressVPN is another popular VPN service. Its Chrome extension mirrors its popular desktop counterpart almost one-to-one, as it acts as a remote control for the full desktop application. It offers the same lightweight and easy-to-use interface, strong security and fast overall connection. ExpressVPN claims to offer access to 3,000+ servers in more than 90 countries.

A paid ExpressVPN subscription also gets you its ExpressVPN Keys password manager, at no additional cost.

Why we chose ExpressVPN

While ExprsesVPN’s Chrome extension requires the desktop app to be installed, it performs equally as well as the companion app. This is impressive, given that most extensions are watered-down versions of the full app. During our experience, ExpressVPN’s Chrome extension provided the same fast and pleasant user experience as the app itself.

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In addition, ExpressVPN and its Chrome extension are, in our opinion, among the better-looking applications around. If nice UI design matters to you, ExpressVPN’s extension will be a good fit.

Pricing

Compared to other VPNs, ExpressVPN has more expensive subscription options. A seven-day free trial is available, but it’s restricted to the Android and iOS apps.

• Monthly: $12.95/month.
• Six months: $9.99/month.
• 12 months: $6.67/month.

Features

• RAM-only server technology.
• Available in 17 languages.
• No logs policy and 16 security audits to date.
• Network Lock kill switch.

Pros

• Fast and reliable speeds.
• Easy-to-use, pleasant-looking interface.
• Ability to connect to specific city servers.
• Servers across 94 countries.

Cons

• Pricing is on the higher end.
• Extension requires ExpressVPN desktop app to be installed.
• Lacks a more affordable two- or three-year subscription plan.

In our review, ExpressVPN received a 4.4 out of 5 stars. For more information, read the full ExpressVPN review.

CyberGhost VPN: Best for free users

For those who don’t want to spend money on a full-fledged VPN, CyberGhost’s VPN Proxy extension could be the solution, which offers a hidden IP address, blocking against malicious content and online data encryption.

It’s important to note that, through CyberGhost’s VPN Chrome extension, you will only have access to eight servers in four countries.

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If you feel that CyberGhost VPN’s Chrome extension is a good fit for your needs, purchasing the full desktop app could be a good next step. This is especially true if you value having an extensive server network: a paid CyberGhost VPN subscription currently grants you access to 9,500+ servers in around 100 countries.

Why we chose CyberGhost VPN

CyberGhost VPN was chosen for its completely free Chrome extension. While most VPN Chrome extensions require an active paid subscription to work, CyberGhost offers a cost-free way to unblock restricted content and get some basic protection via its VPN Proxy. It’s also a convenient way to try out CyberGhost’s VPN implementation without having to pay for a full desktop VPN client.

Pricing

Aside from the free Chrome extension, CyberGhost offers three paid subscription options for its VPN:

• Monthly: $12.99/month.
• Six months: $6.99/month.
• Two years: $2.11/month.

Features

• Data encryption and secure WiFi connection.
• Hidden IP address.
• No logs policy.
• Access to geo-restricted websites.
• Blocks malicious online content.

Pros

• Chrome extension is completely free to use.
• Unlimited bandwidth.
• Simple on and off Chrome extension.

Cons

• Free version only gives you access to eight servers in four countries.
• No built-in kill switch.

In our review of CyberGhost VPN’s desktop app, the VPN received 4.3 stars out of 5. For more information, read the full CyberGhost VPN review.

Private Internet Access: Best for customizability

Another prominent VPN with a Chrome extension is Private Internet Access (PIA) VPN. It brings useful privacy and security features such as anti-tracking tools, ad blocking and WebRTC protection. It also provides a stable connection and reasonably fast speeds.

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PIA allows for unlimited device connections, making it a good choice for users who want to protect multiple devices.

Why we chose PIA VPN

PIA VPN’s Chrome extension earns its place on our list for its customizable VPN experience. At setup, the PIA extension allowed us to toggle personalized security settings such as blocking camera or microphone access, disabling credit card autofills and disabling third-party cookies. The PIA Chrome extension also includes the ability to save your favorite settings.

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You can even set specific websites to run outside of the VPN’s protected connection and bookmark menus you want to view at the top of the extension.

Pricing

PIA VPN offers a seven-day free trial via Android and iOS, which can be used on desktop after initial sign up. Subscription prices are as follows:

• Monthly: $11.99/month.
• Six months: $7.50/month.
• Two years: $2.11/month.

Features

• Blocks unauthorized webcam and mic access.
• Ad and tracker blocking.
• WebRTC protection.
• No logs policy.
• Prevents sites from accessing location info.

Pros

• Unlimited device connections.
• Customizable VPN experience.
• Latency shown within the server list.
• Bypass list in the extension itself.

Cons

• U.S.-based operations and surveillance practices.

In our review, PIA VPN received 4.2 out of 5 stars. For more information, read the full Private Internet Access (PIA) review.

Surfshark: Best for multiple device users

Surfshark is another well-known VPN provider that also happens to have a dedicated Chrome extension, through which you can gain access to 3,200 servers in more than 100 countries. You also get protection via Surfshark’s WireGuard, OpenVPN and IKEv2/IPsec security protocols.

Why we chose Surfshark

We chose Surfshark as it offers unlimited device connections with all three of its paid subscription plans. Like PIA VPN, Surfshark’s unlimited simultaneous connections is an underrated value proposition, as it eliminates the need to pay for an additional plan in order to protect more devices. This is especially important if you use multiple devices in your workflow.

Pricing

Surfshark offers one-year, two-year and monthly plans. Of the three, the Surfshark One two-year plan looks to be the most cost-effective.

• Monthly: $17.95/month.
• One year: $4.09/month.
• Two years: $2.73/month.

Features

• Ad and malware blocker.
• Unlimited device connections.
• No activity logs policy.
• Can bypass local firewalls.
• Includes cookie pop-up blocker.

Pros

• Extensive server suite spread across 100 countries.
• Allows for multiple devices on a single subscription.

Cons

• Reported to have sluggish speeds during peak times.

At the time of publication, we haven’t been able to go hands-on with Surfshark and are therefore unable to provide a rating for its VPN. However, we will put Surfshark through our thorough review process once we have access.

Key features of VPNs for Chrome

The following are key features that you should look for when considering a Chrome VPN extension.

One-click connection

Having a one-click connect/disconnect button is a simple but underrated feature that most Chrome VPN extensions should have. This button shouldn’t be hidden under menus or multiple options and must be easy to activate from the Chrome extensions panel.

Multi-device support

Another essential feature for Chrome VPN extensions is multi-device support. If you use Chrome as your primary browser, having the VPN extension available on multiple devices is important. This allows you to have uniform protection and security across all your devices that run Chrome, be it your laptop, smartphone or tablet.

No-logs policy

A quality VPN provider should have a clear no-logs policy. VPNs are mainly used to protect sensitive user data. Through a no-logs policy, users can be assured that none of their personal data or identifiable information is recorded by the VPN provider. This may include data such as IP addresses, browsing history and session durations. Having a no-logs policy that’s verified by an independent security audit is also an important consideration. This gives users hard evidence confirming whether or not VPNs adhere to their own no-logs policies.

How do I choose the best VPN extension for Chrome?

When choosing a Chrome VPN extension, it’s important to consider a few factors. First, you should take a look at a VPN vendor’s security features and if they have a verified no-logs policy. The presence of strong encryption is crucial, given that this is what primarily protects your browsing data. A no-logs policy also ensures that the VPN isn’t keeping track of any of your activities or information.

You should likewise consider how many devices you want to secure via a Chrome VPN extension, and whether a particular vendor offers the number of device connections you need. In addition, a VPN extension that includes ad, malware and tracker blocking will help remove intrusive content and improve your overall browsing experience.

Methodology

This roundup of the best Chrome VPN extensions was an update to an earlier version written by Franklin Okeke. In both versions, essential features of the listed Chrome VPN extensions were assessed, such as security features, pricing and ease-of-use. Information from the vendor, reputable reviews and user testimonials were also used to supplement our analysis.

In this article, our analysis of each Chrome VPN extension was updated to include findings from our hands-on experiences and real-world testing. The star rating from each VPN’s individual review was also incorporated.