The best Chrome VPN extensions could be your perfect privacy solution if you’re looking for a quick and easy way to switch your IP address, spoof your location, and check out sites that are unavailable where you are.
These extensions, while useful, tend to lack the full range of features offered by the best VPNs, but that doesn’t mean they’re not worth considering. You’ll need to be a savvy shopper when you’re on the hunt for a service, however. Luckily, the Tom’s Guide team and I put dozens of VPNs to the test every year, sorting the reliable picks from the dodgy deals. My main priority is privacy, but my top services are also speedy, easy to use, and have the core features you need to shore up your online security.
ExpressVPN is currently sitting pretty at the #1 spot in my rankings, but NordVPN and Windscribe are awesome alternatives (and more budget-friendly). For all the details, keep reading, and I’ll walk you through the very best Chrome VPN apps of 2024 – or pick from the top three just below.
The 3 best VPNs at a glance
In our most recent update to the best Chrome VPN extensions, we changed things up a bit to reflect the new state of the market. NordVPN is now amongst the very best in the game so has entered at #2, dropping Windscribe to a respectable #3.
The best Chrome VPN extensions in 2024
ExpressVPN: the best Chrome VPN app
(Image credit: ExpressVPN)
1. ExpressVPN
Best all-round Chrome VPN and beyond
Dedicated Chrome extension: Yes | Chrome Web Store rating: 4.7/5 | Server locations: 140 in 110+ countries | Maximum devices supported: 6
Feature-rich Chrome extension
Excellent 24/7 customer support
Wide international server coverage
Reliable and fast
App required for extension
In our ExpressVPN review, we rated the BVI-based provider as our #1 pick overall, so it makes sense that you get an absolutely stellar Chrome VPN extension too. And yes, it’s a full VPN extension, not just a proxy like some others offer.
What’s you get is essentially the desktop app readily available in your browser. While that means you’ll have to have the client installed, if you do, you’ll have a lot of power at your fingertips.
Unlike many Chrome VPN extensions, activating ExpressVPN in-browser will give you full protection – not just your browser traffic, but your whole device. It’s also really convenient that you don’t have to launch the desktop app to use the browser extension. It’s right there in Chrome, ready to go.
You’ll get WebRTC blocking, location spoofing and HTTPS Everywhere (even when the extension’s not turned on) to help keep you and your browsing private, alongside swift connection speeds, other apps for all your devices, and a cracking support system to help if anything goes wrong. Plus, the Chrome VPN blocks HTML5 geolocation from revealing your location – something the desktop app doesn’t do automatically.
Find your way onto a streaming service site through Chrome while abroad and Express will have you covered, as it unblocks Netflix, Amazon Prime, YouTube and more – impressive when you consider these streaming services are constantly trying to actively block VPNs.
If you want to give the best Chrome VPN a test run, ExpressVPN offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, but we think you’ll find it’ll meet – if not surpass – your expectations of what a browser-based VPN can offer.
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NordVPN: the best overall VPN
(Image credit: NordVPN)
2. NordVPN
Dedicated Chrome extension: Yes | Chrome Web Store rating: 4.2 | Server locations : 5500+ in 60 countries
Excellent server coverage
Pretty simple to use
No data limits
24/7 customer service
Needs a NordVPN subscription
Not as private as regular Nord
Only has Threat Protection Lite
NordVPN is one the biggest names in the VPN game and it has that reputation for a good reason. We have it as #1 in our overall list of the best providers, and the Chrome VPN extension is also excellent.
This lightweight version of Nord boasts an exceptional range of servers to connect to. With over 6,00 different locations across 111 countries. Nord is also one of the fastest VPN providers on the market and can boast 24/7 customer support.
Like the fully-fledged desktop version of Nord, the browser extension still offers superb streaming performance. In our tests, it unblocked geo-restricted content for all the major streaming services.
Throw in the fact that it’s cheaper than ExpressVPN, and what’s not to love? Well, a couple of things, unfortunately. While Express offers a true VPN with their Chrome extension, the Nord equivalent is (like the rest on this list) only really a proxy. It will change your IP address, but it won’t encrypt your data. That means your ISP (Internet Service Provider) can still see what you’re looking at.
The Chrome version of Nord also falls short when it comes to its antivirus offering. One of our favorite things about the desktop NordVPN application is its Threat Protection Pro tool. This antivirus-style system is an incredible defence against malware, phishing and suspicious URLs. The Chrome Web Store iteration may be more convenient to access but it only comes with the slightly watered-down Threat Protection Lite – still handy but not to the same degree.
Having said all of this, the Nord Chrome extension is still an excellent choice. The Nord name provides a lot of peace of mind and it is a strong value proposition, especially if you already subscribe to its more heavyweight desktop version.
Windscribe: the best free Chrome VPN extension
(Image credit: Future)
3. Windscribe
Powerful and free Chrome proxy extension
Dedicated Chrome extension: Yes | Chrome Web Store rating: 4.7/5 | Server locations: 69 countries | Maximum devices supported: Unlimited
Unlimited simultaneous connections
Free 10 GB monthly option
Clear privacy policy
Works without desktop client
Slightly cramped interface
Windscribe is a great choice if you’re looking for a no-fee VPN, but what really stands out is its excellent Chrome VPN extension. While the service is a proxy, you don’t need to install the ‘real’ VPN client on your PC to get it working. That’s really useful for work laptops and other devices you might not want or be able to install software on, and addresses one of the main issues of the ExpressVPN extension – although you do miss out of full-device encryption.
Beyond that, the extension offers an impressive suite of features. There are tons blocking features, covering ads, social media and other trackers, WebRTC, website notifications and malware. You’ll also get time zone and user agent spoofing, plus advanced cookie controls which can be set to delete any and all when you leave a page.
Like a fully-fledged VPN, the Windscribe Free extension can also virtually relocate you and get you access to geo-restricted sites, and by offering servers in 10 countries (over 60 if you decide to pay for a premium plan) you should have a decent selection to choose from, including Netflix-compatible ‘Windflix’ servers.
As an absolutely free service, there are a couple of drawbacks – chiefly that 10 GB data limit – but for such a well-featured extension, that’s something we can excuse. If it turns out you do need more than that, premium plans also have unlimited data.
While it can’t compete in true power to ExpressVPN’s extension that controls the desktop client, it’s an entirely different beast. This standalone Chrome VPN extension is one of the best of its kind, and for free, it’s certainly worth checking out.
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