Gjurgjica Panova
Updated on: November 5, 2025
Fact-checked by Katarina Glamoslija
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🥇 ExpressVPN
: It has an excellent Google Chrome extension that works like a full VPN app, not just a proxy. It keeps your browsing safe, offers very fast connection speeds, and encrypts your entire internet traffic. It works with Netflix, YouTube, and more, and it’s very easy to use even if you’re new to VPNs. Plus, it comes with a risk-free 30-day money-back guarantee for first-time users.
Google Chrome is the world’s most popular browser, but it’s also one of the least private. It doesn’t block trackers, third-party cookies, phishing attempts, or malicious sites by default, leaving your data exposed.
That’s why I recommend using a VPN (virtual private network) with Chrome. A VPN encrypts your internet traffic, which means no one, from hackers to your ISP, can see anything you do online. It also changes your IP address, making it harder for websites to track you. Good VPNs also protect you from WebRTC leaks — one of the biggest privacy risks in Chrome.
I tested 20+ VPNs to find the ones that are truly safe, fast, and easy to use with Chrome. My top 5 picks all include Chrome extensions with strong security tools, reliable speeds, and streaming support.
My number one choice is ExpressVPN. Its Chrome extension acts as a full VPN controller, so you get the same protection and super-fast speeds as the desktop app — directly from your browser. Editor’s Note: ExpressVPN and this site are in the same ownership group.
Quick Summary of the Best VPNs for Chrome
Editor’s Note: Intego, Private Internet Access, CyberGhost and ExpressVPN are owned by Kape Technologies, our parent company
🥇1. ExpressVPN — Best Overall VPN for Chrome
Approved by our experts
ExpressVPN is my top pick for Chrome, as it offers all the features the VPN app has to offer, plus some additional security settings. That’s because the extension lets you remotely control the VPN app. However, this means that the desktop app must be installed for the extension to work. It’s also very easy to use — I like its quick-connect feature, which allows you to connect to the fastest server for your location. Plus, the extension’s interface is identical to the desktop app, so if you’re already familiar with the main app, you’ll feel right at home.
- Works like the full app
- Provides device-wide protection
- Very fast speeds
- Forces secure HTTPS connections
- Doesn’t work without desktop app
The VPN’s extension gives you access to servers in 105 countries, so you’ll have plenty of options to find the fastest server in your location for browsing. I also like that it can access 100+ streaming sites, including Netflix, Max, and Hulu, as well as less popular sites, like Fubo and SlingTV.
When I tested it, I had really fast speeds on both nearby and more distant servers — websites loaded instantly, and HD and 4K videos started playing right away without any interruptions.
The extension secures all of your internet traffic on your device, unlike most extensions that only secure your browser traffic. This is because the extension basically functions as a remote control for the VPN app on your device. I also really like that it connects you to the more secure HTTPS version of websites, which encrypts your data to protect it and makes it more difficult for any third party to intercept it.
Additionally, the VPN offers advanced security features, including RAM-only servers (which wipe all data upon reboot), perfect forward secrecy (which changes your encryption key for every VPN session), and leak protection against DNS, WebRTC, and IPv6 leaks. All of these come in handy when you use Chrome. It also comes with an ad blocker that filters out most display ads.
On top of that, you can set the Chrome extension to auto-connect whenever you start Chrome. This way, you’re always protected without having to remember to switch it on manually. And because the extension relies on the desktop app, it inherits the same strong AES-256 encryption and strict no-logs policy, giving you the full protection of ExpressVPN’s core app while you browse.
I also think it’s great that it helps spoof your location to prevent websites from finding out your real location. It does this by matching your browser geolocation data with the IP address of the VPN server location you’re connected to. That’s helpful when you’re visiting websites that require your geo-location to show you their content.
Bottom Line:
ExpressVPN is my top choice for Chrome. It offers a Chrome extension that’s linked to the VPN app, so you get every feature that ExpressVPN has to offer. This includes strong security features, excellent streaming support, and an intuitive interface.
Read the full ExpressVPN review
🥈2. Private Internet Access — Good Chrome Extension With Extra Privacy Features
Private Internet Access (PIA)’s Chrome extension offers a lot of extra privacy features that other browser extensions on this list don’t have. For example, it prevents websites that don’t request permission from accessing your camera, microphone, and location.
- Excellent ad blocker
- Lots of privacy protections
- Strong anti-tracking features
- Only protects browser traffic
- Fewer features than desktop app
I like that the Chrome extension disables the autofill function, which prevents your browser from adding your address or credit card information in hidden fields. This makes it less likely for your sensitive information to be leaked. And just like ExpressVPN, PIA’s extension can automatically connect you to HTTPS versions of websites, which use encryption to protect your data.
You also get WebRTC leak protection and PIA’s ad and malicious site blocker, which is currently the best VPN ad blocker on the market. In my tests, it blocked all ads on ad-heavy sites and prevented me from visiting shady sites 100% of the time.
There are also numerous anti-tracking features, including the option to turn off third-party cookies, which track your activities, hyperlink auditing, which lets trackers know when you click on a link, and website referring.
I found the extension’s split tunneling — which works through the custom allowlist — handy. You can allowlist specific websites that you want to bypass the proxy and connect to directly. This is useful when you want local sites (like banking or shopping platforms) to load with your real location while using a foreign IP address for other sites.
In my tests, PIA’s Chrome extension had good speeds and worked with top streaming sites. Websites and HD videos loaded instantly, while 4K videos took no more than 2 seconds to load (ExpressVPN was a bit faster).
I like how easy it is to use PIA’s Chrome extension. It comes with all the convenient features that you get in the provider’s other app, like a list of the last server locations you connected to. And I like that every setting in the extension comes with a helpful explanation.
That said, the Chrome extension works as a secure proxy, so it only protects traffic inside Chrome — giving you a lightweight option for browser-specific privacy without needing extra software. Unlike ExpressVPN, which forces full device-wide protection by requiring its desktop app for the extension to function at all, PIA lets you choose. If you want to encrypt traffic from all apps on your device, you’ll need to install the full VPN app.
Bottom Line:
Private Internet Access’s Chrome extension is packed with excellent privacy features, extra security features, and anti-tracking tools. It’s one of the most feature-rich VPN extensions on the market and one of the only ones that stops sites from accessing your camera and microphone, and also disables the autofill function. It offers very fast speeds and a user-friendly interface.
Read the full Private Internet Access review
Editor’s Note: Private Internet Access and this site are in the same ownership group.
🥉3. NordVPN — Fast Chrome Extension With Strong Security Features
NordVPN’s Chrome extension provides strong security features for a secure browsing experience. It offers WebRTC leak protection — I ran a WebRTC leak test on servers in 10+ countries and never experienced any leaks.
- Includes Threat Protection Lite
- Doesn’t require desktop app
- Includes a kill switch
- Only offers browser-level protection
- Only blocks about 60% ads
The Chrome extension also includes Threat Protection Lite, which blocks malicious and phishing domains and some ads. In my test, the feature blocked 60% of ads on the sites I visited, and it detected all the shady sites I tried to access. The full version of Threat Protection, which also blocks trackers and scans downloads for malware, is only available in the desktop app.
I really like that you get access to all servers in 127 countries in the extension, and it works with top streaming services, including Netflix, Hulu, and BBC iPlayer.
I also appreciate that the unlike most extensions, NordVPN’s Chrome extension comes with a built-in kill switch. Whenever the VPN disconnected during my tests, the extension automatically blocked my browser traffic until it reconnected.
Another useful tool in the Chrome extension is the Bypass List. This lets you choose specific websites to bypass the VPN, so you can access local sites or services that don’t work well with a VPN while keeping all other browsing protected.
NordVPN’s Chrome extension is one of the most beginner-friendly I’ve tested. The main dashboard has an intuitive interface, a quick-connect feature, and a list of the recent locations you’ve connected to for 1-click connections. I also like that you can set up the extension to auto-connect you to a VPN server every time you launch the browser. Another thing I like is that the extension doesn’t require the desktop app — it runs on its own in Chrome. However, this means it only secures browser traffic, not your entire device.
Bottom Line:
NordVPN’s Chrome extension has strong security features for safe browsing, including WebRTC leak protection and a malicious domain blocker. It also has fast speeds, gives you access to all servers in 127 countries, and can access popular streaming sites.
4. Surfshark — Great Chrome VPN With Large Server Network
Surfshark has servers in 100 countries, and all of the server locations are available in its Chrome extension, so you can easily find your home country and a nearby server to get the fastest speeds possible.
- Offers a dedicated IP
- Has a cookie pop-up blocker
- Data leak alerts
- Slower than ExpressVPN, PIA
- Weaker ad-blocking performance
I had decent speeds with Surfshark’s Chrome extension, but it was slower than ExpressVPN and Private Internet Access. Websites loaded in 1–2 seconds, HD videos took a maximum of 3 seconds to load, and 4K videos played in 4–5 seconds.
I like that Surfshark’s Chrome extension comes with its ad blocker, which did a decent job of blocking most ads in my tests. That said, Private Internet Access’s MACE blocked a lot more ads. On the plus side, the VPN’s Chrome extension has a feature that alerts you if your data is leaked in a data breach. It also has a cookie pop-up blocker, which automatically hides those annoying consent banners and makes browsing smoother.
The Chrome extension also supports Surfshark’s dedicated IP feature, which gives you a consistent IP address that can reduce CAPTCHA requests and improve access to certain websites. Plus, the extension can access popular streaming platforms, including Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, and Max.
I think it’s great that the Chrome extension has the same design as the other apps — it was a lot easier to find everything I needed. But even if you’ve never used Surfshark before, the design is pretty intuitive, and there’s even a quick-connect option.
Bottom Line:
Surfshark has a large server network, which makes it super easy to find the nearest server for the best possible speeds. The Chrome extension has great security features, decent speeds, good streaming support, and is easy to use.
Read the full Surfshark review
5. CyberGhost VPN — Best Free Google Chrome VPN Extension
CyberGhost VPN is one of the few VPNs that offer a free Google Chrome extension, and you don’t even need an account to use it. Even better, you get unlimited data, which is something very few free VPNs offer.
- Free Chrome extension
- Unlimited data for free
- Blocks malicious sites
- Only 4 server locations
- No streaming support
- No kill switch
CyberGhost’s Chrome extension is pretty secure. It may not be a full-fledged VPN since it’s a proxy, and it only encrypts browser traffic rather than all device traffic. Still, it protects your browsing by hiding your location and blocking malicious sites.
I was disappointed to find that it only gives access to servers in 4 countries, including the US, Germany, the Netherlands, and Romania. Although they’re spread out well, not everyone will be able to use nearby servers, so their speeds will likely suffer. For comparison, CyberGhost’s VPN apps offer servers in 100+ locations.
It also offers great speeds. In my tests, websites loaded instantly, HD videos took about 1–2 seconds to load, and 4K videos started playing after 3–4 seconds with a little buffering in the beginning. But it doesn’t support streaming like ExpressVPN and Private Internet Access, which is a shame.
CyberGhost’s Chrome extension is also missing some other features, like a kill switch, which is an essential security feature that disables internet traffic when your VPN connection drops.
Bottom Line:
CyberGhost VPN offers a free Chrome extension that encrypts your traffic, hides your location, and protects you against leaks. However, it only allows you to connect to servers in 4 countries, and you don’t get streaming support.
Read the full CyberGhost VPN review
Editor’s Note: CyberGhost and this site are in the same ownership group.
Quick Comparison Table
Editor’s Note: Intego, Private Internet Access, CyberGhost and ExpressVPN are owned by Kape Technologies, our parent company
How to Choose the Best VPN for Chrome in 2025
- Find a VPN with a Google Chrome extension. My favorite one is ExpressVPN’s Chrome extension, as it lets you remotely control the VPN app, meaning it encrypts your entire internet traffic.
- Check for strong security features. All the VPNs on this list provide essential security features, like military-grade 256-bit AES encryption, a no-logs policy, and leak protection (including WebRTC leaks, which are common in Chrome). Some also have a kill switch, which disconnects you from the internet if your VPN connection drops.
- Go for a VPN with a good server network. This allows you to find a nearby server to connect to in every location and get the fastest possible speeds.
- Choose a VPN with fast speeds. Most VPNs slow down your speeds, as it takes time to encrypt your data. ExpressVPN had the fastest speeds in my tests.
- Look for ease of use. All the VPNs in this list have one-click connect buttons, quick server lists, and lightweight designs that don’t slow down the browser.
- Consider a VPN that has good value. Go for VPNs that not only perform well on Chrome but also offer fair pricing and a reliable money-back guarantee.
Top Brands That Didn’t Make the Cut
- PrivateVPN. Private VPN has good security and privacy features, excellent streaming support, and fast speeds. But, it doesn’t come with a Chrome extension.
- TunnelBear. TunnelBear has a Chrome extension. However, the extension doesn’t allow you to choose specific server locations, and it doesn’t come with many extra features.
- IPVanish. IPVanish is secure and has decent speeds, but it lacks a Chrome extension, and it also doesn’t work with most popular streaming sites.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the best VPN for Chrome?
ExpressVPN is the best VPN for Chrome, as it comes with every feature that the VPN app offers since it lets you remotely control the VPN app. That also means it encrypts your entire internet traffic, whereas most extensions only secure your browser traffic. It’s also really fast, works with 100+ streaming sites, and has a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Can I use a free VPN extension for Chrome?
Yes, you can. That said, I’m not a huge fan of free Chrome VPNs because most of them are pretty limited. For example, CyberGhost VPN has a free Chrome extension that’s secure, but it doesn’t have streaming support and it only lets you use servers in 4 countries.
Instead, I recommend getting an affordable premium VPN, like ExpressVPN, which encrypts your entire device’s traffic, protects you from trackers and malicious sites, works with 100+ streaming sites, has servers in 105 countries, and comes with a 30-day refund.
Can a VPN extension slow down my internet connection?
Yes, a VPN extension can slow down your internet connection because it encrypts your traffic and routes it through one of its servers, so it takes a bit more time for your traffic to get to its final destination. That said, all the VPN extensions I recommend maintained fast speeds across all servers in my tests.
Do VPN extensions for Chrome work with incognito mode?
Yes, VPN extensions for Chrome typically work in incognito mode. Your VPN will still encrypt your internet traffic and route it through one of its servers, regardless of whether you’re in incognito mode or not. All the VPN extensions on this list work in incognito mode.
Should I use a VPN app if I have a Chrome extension?
Yes. In most cases, you’ll still want the full VPN app. A Chrome VPN extension only protects traffic inside your browser, which means anything you do outside Chrome (like using other apps, email clients, or torrent software) won’t be protected. The app, on the other hand, encrypts all of your device’s internet traffic, giving you complete protection. However, some Chrome VPN extensions like ExpressVPN are linked to the main app, so you get both convenience in Chrome and full-device security at the same time.
