Are you looking for the best VPN extension for Chrome that lets you browse freely online?
It shouldn’t come as a shock to anyone that all our internet activities are easily accessible to the prying eyes of the government, educational institutions, businesses, and advertisers.
While the advertisers may want to sell you goods, companies might be collecting information to use it for their benefit.
On the other hand, your school or workplace might be monitoring your online activities because it has restricted access to particular websites.
Coming to those restrictions, they are placed in quite a heavy-handed manner.
Sometimes individual websites are blocked, while at other times, an entire topic may be secured using some algorithms.
For instance, the Chinese government has banned every domain of Google, including Chrome and Gmail.
If you are using Google Chrome, there are many actions you can take to wipe up your browsing history and prevent websites from following you when it comes to internet privacy.
Like most contemporary web browsers, it has a privacy mode that allows you to browse without saving any browsing history, cookies, or temporary files.
It even has a “Do Not Track” feature that tells websites that you don’t want tracking cookies or other advertising-related technologies.
However, regardless of what preventive measures you take for your online privacy while surfing on browsers like Google Chrome, your Internet Service Provider (or ISP) is still watching you.
While the mentioned methods may prevent advertisers and others from monitoring your surfing history, your ISP still has access to your data.
You are still equally vulnerable to the threats posed by hackers.
Similarly, Chrome itself can do no magic to let you access the websites restricted in your region.
Therefore, the only solution to all these problems is to get a reliable VPN extension to enjoy your privacy and freedom when you are online.
Best VPN Extension for Chrome in 2025
Here’s a quick look at the best :
- NordVPN – 🏆 Winner!
- Surfshark
- Atlas VPN
- ExpressVPN
- Private Internet Access
1. NordVPN
If you are genuinely concerned about your online privacy while browsing or wish to access some blocked websites, the extension by NordVPN can do the trick.
Being an excellent VPN, the NordVPN Chrome extension undoubtedly offers an excellent add-on for your Chrome browser.
The VPN extension for Chrome it offers may be simple but an efficient way to get around geo-restrictions placed on certain websites and protect your online privacy.
The Transport Layer Security (TLS 1.2) protocol will encrypt all of your browser traffic. As a result, your privacy online will remain intact.
Their plugin disables Javascript-based WebRTC communication protocols. This is important because they risk exposing your IP address.
Therefore, even if you prefer to get a VPN client, installing the add-on alongside won’t hurt.
A Bypass List is also available with NordVPN, which is the split tunneling feature at the browser level.
When you add websites to this list, it will prevent you from connecting to them when you’re browsing.
It’s best for financial websites, as they can sometimes show errors if you are using a VPN connection.
Furthermore, a CyberSec option is also included in NordVPN’s extension for Chrome.
This allows you to filter web pages before they are loaded, instantly blocking malware and phishing sites.
Interestingly, this feature does not even require the NordVPN app to be downloaded and installed.
2. Surfshark
Surfshark provides another resilient companion for your safe and anonymous browsing experience.
It offers a minimal and straightforward Surfshark VPN extension, which will help you swiftly connect to your desired server.
You will be able to choose from the same fleet of 3200+ servers available on their app.
The clean web function can also be enabled with Surfshark’s VPN, which filters out phishing websites and malware.
Other desirable features include webRTC blocking and a bypass tool that allows users to specify the websites that they would want to circumvent the encrypted connection.
Many believe the Chrome Plug-in is a visual clone of Surfshark’s desktop app, with almost all the security features that Surfshark One offers.
However, this package is even more difficult to resist is its affordability.
Surfshark’s VPN extension for Chrome is a great value for money with unlimited connections and low subscription rates.
3. Atlas VPN
Atlas VPN is another highly recommended VPN.
Although it does not have a dedicated extension for Chrome, Atlas VPN still makes an excellent alternative.
It has a basic version where users can get an incredible set of premium features.
Yes, you heard that right! We chose to include this name in our list because it provides your desired online privacy and security level without paying anything.
However, the only drawback is that free users can choose servers from only three locations: Amsterdam, Los Angeles, and New York.
That may not help with unblocking the major streaming sites, but the free app is still good enough to provide fast speeds and robust security for your overall browsing activities.
Atlas VPN’s free app offers a strict no-logs policy, military-grade encryption for data protection, various advanced tunneling protocols, including the industry-leading Wireguard, and a solid kill switch for the network.
4. ExpressVPN
Since ExpressVPN is one of the top-rated VPN services out there, it also offers an outstanding VPN extension.
The only name on this list provides the desktop app’s real extension for Chrome, not merely an encrypted proxy like the rest.
You have a browser-based version of the desktop app with this plug-in.
Although you will still need to install the client, you will have all the power right at your fingertips.
Therefore, it is safe to say that with their extension, you’ll get complete protection for your entire device, not just your browser traffic.
While this means the Chrome extension offers access to all the top-notch security features on ExpressVPN’s app, there is a slew of other unique features as well that the desktop app alone does not provide.
These include the webRTC blocking so that your real location is not discovered and HTTPS Everywhere to help you connect automatically to the more secure versions of our desired websites.
The ExpressVPN plugin for Chrome also includes options for preventing HTML5 geolocation from disclosing your actual location.
Moreover, since the VPN extension for Chrome uses the same extensive network of servers as ExpressVPN’s desktop app, it has equally strong unblocking capabilities.
5. Private Internet Access
Another worth-exploring VPN is provided by Private Internet Access (or PIA).
PIA offers access to the most extensive fleet of servers in its VPN apps, it also has the widest range of features and settings available in its Chrome extension.
The wide array of features to bolster your online browsing security includes protection against webRTC leaks, third-party cookies blocker, hyperlink auditing, options to disable credit card auto-fill, the MACE function for protection against malware, HTTPS Everywhere, and much more.
It even lets you adjust the settings such that websites are blocked from accessing your location, camera, and microphone.
On the other hand, it enables you to create a bypass list, which is essentially a list of websites you want to keep out of the encrypted connection.
Despite such a maximalist approach toward the added features, the browser extension still offers decent download speeds and ease of use, making it ideal for beginner-level users.
Last but not least of its attractions is its affordable pricing.
How Does a VPN Extension for Chrome Browser Make It Secure?
The majority of VPN services offer apps for almost every platform. However, there is no VPN available for Chrome as such.
Instead, nearly every service provider has a browser extension, which allows users to manage the VPN from their browser.
With some rare exceptions, most of these VPN extensions for Chrome function quite differently from the original VPN apps and may not be equally powerful.
They are more than likely just an encrypted proxy.
A VPN encrypts and routes all traffic coming from your device through a VPN server using a VPN protocol.
Whereas a proxy can encrypt and route traffic merely from one app at a time.
Therefore, when you use a VPN extension, only the traffic from your browser, i.e., Chrome, will be encrypted and routed.
Masking your IP address in this manner will make it difficult for anyone to track you online. Even your ISP will not be able to keep an eye on your activities.
However, any other online traffic generated by the apps on your device or the Operating System itself will travel as usual without being encrypted or routed.
If that is exactly how you would like to proceed, the following are some service providers we have shortlisted for providing the most suitable extension.
FAQs
Does Google Chrome Come with An In-Built VPN?
No, a VPN is not included in Google Chrome or any other browser.
Although it has an incognito mode that prevents users’ browsing history from being saved, it does not provide the same level of security as a VPN browser extension.
Using a VPN extension for Chrome, users can successfully mask their IP address and get their browsing data encrypted, making it impossible for third parties to link it to them.
There are numerous VPN extensions available for Chrome, and we have compiled a list of the recommended ones.
Rest assured that they’re all simple to set up and operate.
Is Incognito Mode Equally Secure as A VPN?
The short answer is no.
By turning on the incognito mode, you only prevent your browser from saving cookies and your browsing history.
It doesn’t provide data encryption or even mask your IP address.
This implies that your Internet Service Provider, employer, or website can still monitor your activities.
A reputable VPN, on the other hand, will help in disguising your IP address and enable data encryption.
Since your actual location is hidden, your browser sessions are also kept secret.
Why Do I Need a VPN Extension?
A VPN’s desktop client, without a doubt, provides superior safety and has more functions and setting options than a browser plugin.
A VPN app independently encrypts all of your traffic and gives you access to all of your subscription’s functionality and privacy tools.
So, a VPN extension does nothing that a full desktop VPN client can’t do. Instead, it can probably do it better.
However, there are specific situations where an extension might outshine.
For instance, if you are using a device you don’t have the authorization to install software, you might be able to enter into your Chrome account and use the extension.
It’s also helpful if you are sure you don’t want to protect or hide anything other than your browser traffic.
Is It Safe to Use a Chrome VPN Extension?
All Chrome extensions get access to some or all of your browser data by default.
That can prove to be a privacy issue in itself.
VPN extensions (which are undoubtedly encrypted proxies) do more and potentially provide the VPN service unprecedented access to your traffic.
Since all of your browser traffic will pass through the servers of the VPN service, you must trust the service you choose.
When comparing VPN services, including the list aforementioned, you must always read about their privacy policies to see if there are any potential concerns.
Conclusion
Digital privacy is a battleground, and whichever browser you use is one of the soldiers on the front lines.
However, default measures are insufficient to thwart the pervasive trackers from the ad industry.
To reinvigorate your browsing experience and rid yourself of a plethora of the internet’s vexing disadvantages, you must scrutinize the various privacy-focused VPN extensions discussed in this article.
They are all designed to help you fine-tune Chrome and overcome the obstacles you face while browsing with it.
While each Chrome VPN extension discussed above has pros and cons, ExpressVPN might be your only choice if you are adamant about getting a real VPN extension instead of an encrypted proxy.
If, however, you can make do with an encrypted proxy, NordVPN is a clear winner for us on most fronts.
It offers optimal features in its Chrome extension for quite a reasonable price.
Also, this Panama-based service provider is quite trustworthy regarding privacy policies.
This, however, is just our opinion. Don’t forget to let us know yours in the comments section below!
