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Best VPNs For Chrome

Contributor,  Editor

Updated: May 27, 2021, 11:00am

Editorial Note: Forbes Advisor may earn a commission on sales made from partner links on this page, but that doesn't affect our editors' opinions or evaluations.

For billions of users around the world, Chrome is the go to option for fast and easy web browsing. But in an age of frequent data breaches, censorship and unwanted ads, privacy has become a top concern for businesses and everyday internet users alike. As a result, virtual private networks (VPN) usage continues to rise.

Fortunately, Chrome makes it easy to set up and use a VPN via an extension right on your browser. We compiled this list to help you find which option best suits your business needs.

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The 6 Best VPNs for Chrome of 2021


ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN
4.9
Our ratings take into account a product's cost, features, ease of use, customer service and other category-specific attributes. All ratings are determined solely by our editorial team.

Cost

$99.95 per year or $12.95 every month

Number of servers

3,000+

Server locations

94

countries

ExpressVPN
Learn More
On ExpressVPN's Secure Website

Cost

$99.95 per year or $12.95 every month

Number of servers

3,000+

Server locations

94

countries

Why We Picked It

ExpressVPN is one of the most popular services on the market, and for good reason. The company takes the privacy of its users seriously. ExpressVPN is headquartered in the British Virgin Islands, a territory outside the scope of major privacy-sharing pacts. ExpressVPN also provides stellar security, offering the choice of servers in more than 94 countries around the world. And best of all, it works without sacrificing your browsing speeds. This ensures that there are no interruptions when you are trying to get work done.

ExpressVPN offers a Chrome extension. However, you must already have an account and the app installed to use it. Your account also grants you access to desktop and mobile versions of the system.

Who Should Use It: We consider ExpressVPN the best Chrome VPN extension for most users based on factors including its many server locations, ad blocking capabilities, and dedicated IP. We also appreciate how fast the Chrome browsing experience is with the extension turned on. The cost might be a deterrent for some, but we consider ExpressVPN a worthwhile investment.

Pros & Cons
  • Great user experience
  • 160 server locations across 94 countries
  • Dedicated IP
  • Built-in ad blocking capabilities
  • Above-average pricing
  • Extension doesn’t work independently

Surfshark

Surfshark
4.8
Our ratings take into account a product's cost, features, ease of use, customer service and other category-specific attributes. All ratings are determined solely by our editorial team.

Cost

$59.76 per year for two years, $38.94 every six months, or $12.95 per month

Number of servers

3,200+

Server locations

65

countries

Surfshark
Learn More
On Surfshark's Secure Website

Cost

$59.76 per year for two years, $38.94 every six months, or $12.95 per month

Number of servers

3,200+

Server locations

65

countries

Why We Picked It

Surfshark is a popular VPN option for Chrome users because it offers thousands of servers around the world, and you can connect an unlimited amount of devices to your account. Surfshark also has the industry standard encryption and tacks on an ad-blocker feature, which many users may appreciate.

Surfshark’s connection speed is slightly slower than competing VPNs, which could turn off some teams. Some users also experienced occasional proxy errors that logged them out automatically. That aside, Surfshark’s proxy extension still has a lot to offer.

Who Should Use It: With unlimited connections, Surfshark is ideal for remote workers, small businesses and households with shared connections. If you need to connect several devices at once, Surfshark is a solid fit.

Pros & Cons
  • Reasonably priced
  • Unlimited connections
  • Ad-blocking abilities
  • Slower connection speed
  • No dedicated IP

IPVanish

IPVanish
4.8
Our ratings take into account a product's cost, features, ease of use, customer service and other category-specific attributes. All ratings are determined solely by our editorial team.

Cost

$99.99 annually or $9.99 monthly

Number of servers

1,600+

Server locations

55+

locations around the world

IPVanish
Learn More
On IPVanish's Secure Website

Cost

$99.99 annually or $9.99 monthly

Number of servers

1,600+

Server locations

55+

locations around the world

Why We Picked It

IPVanish offers top-notch VPN security at an affordable price. Additionally, the service provides secure storage for up to 500 GB of data. Though IPVanish doesn’t have a Chrome store extension, Chrome users can still download the service to a Chromebook or another device running Chrome OS. This is helpful for the growing number of companies implement Chrome devices in the office.

The VPN service costs less during the first year or month but then jumps considerably. Even so, IPVanish’s unlimited device support and generous storage options make it a strong contender.

Who should use it: IPVanish is great for Chrome OS users who need to connect numerous devices.

Pros & Cons
  • Chrome OS compatible
  • Decent connection speed
  • Provides data storage options
  • No Chrome browser extension
  • Lacks dedicated IP add-on

NordVPN

NordVPN
4.7
Our ratings take into account a product's cost, features, ease of use, customer service and other category-specific attributes. All ratings are determined solely by our editorial team.

Cost

$59 for one year, or $11.95 per month

Number of servers

5,500+

Server locations

60+

countries

NordVPN
Learn More
On NordVPN's Secure Website

Cost

$59 for one year, or $11.95 per month

Number of servers

5,500+

Server locations

60+

countries

Why We Picked It

NordVPN is a household name in the VPN space. The company employs a “zero log” policy, which is essentially their way of avoiding tracking customer activities. This can go a long way in protecting your most sensitive company data.

As the logic goes: if you don’t log any data, you can’t turn over any data when government agencies come knocking.

NordVPN does have a desktop “kill switch,” but it’s not readily available on mobile devices. Downloading OpenVPN seems to solve this issue. Though NordVPN has an extension, many users find that constant Google Chrome updates can create a “buggy” and frustrating user experience when they are trying to get work done. However, others find the Chrome extension to work fine, so your mileage may vary.

Who Should Use It: NordVPN is the best Chrome VPN for users with extra money to spend. It also works for those who prefer paying costs upfront.

Pros & Cons
  • Strict “zero log” policy
  • Strong customer support
  • Relatively fast connection
  • Chrome updates make extension “buggy”
  • Extension not as intuitive as app

CyberGhost

CyberGhost
4.3
Our ratings take into account a product's cost, features, ease of use, customer service and other category-specific attributes. All ratings are determined solely by our editorial team.

Cost

$47.88 annually or $12.99 per month

Number of servers

6,800+

Server locations

91

countries

CyberGhost
Learn More
On CyberGhost's Secure Website

Cost

$47.88 annually or $12.99 per month

Number of servers

6,800+

Server locations

91

countries

Why We Picked It

CyberGhost is a fairly priced VPN service that won’t haunt your business budget. It’s available in more than 90 countries, making it pretty easy to connect to a nearby server. One major plus for Chrome users? The CyberGhost VPN extension doesn’t require an account. Just one click and you’re good to go.

Alas, it can’t all be perfect. Unfortunately, the extension doesn’t protect against webRTC leaks, so it could be a turnoff for users who rely on that platform in their daily workflows.

Who Should Use It: CyberGhost’s Chrome extension is great for those wanting to test out a quality VPN service with servers all over the world.

Pros & Cons
  • Completely free Chrome extension
  • No account required for extension
  • Premium version is fairly priced
  • Large server network
  • No dedicated IP add-on
  • Extension lacks webRTC protection
  • Extension not working in some countries

Private Internet Access

Private Internet Access
4.3
Our ratings take into account a product's cost, features, ease of use, customer service and other category-specific attributes. All ratings are determined solely by our editorial team.

Cost

$39.95 annually or $9.95 per month

Number of servers

35,000+

Server locations

78

countries

Private Internet Access
Learn More
On Privateinternetaccess.com's Secure Website

Cost

$39.95 annually or $9.95 per month

Number of servers

35,000+

Server locations

78

countries

Why We Picked It

Private Internet Access is the fastest-growing VPN brand on our list. Since Kape Technologies took PIA over in 2019, it’s exploded in global reach. The brand boasts at least 35,000 server connections across nearly 80 countries. The Chrome extension features WebRTC blocking, so your most important work communications are safe.

Private Internet Access lacks a free trial option. Despite this, it does provide a money-back guarantee if you decide the service isn’t a good fit for you. The lack of a free option is an important consideration as you need an account to properly use the Chrome VPN extension.

Who Should Use It: Don’t need a free trial? Internet users not afraid to take the plunge may find Private Internet Access to be the best Chrome VPN for their needs.

Pros & Cons
  • Competitively priced
  • Dedicated IP add-on
  • Tens of thousands of servers
  • Extension features WebRTC blocking
  • No free trial
  • Extension might not completely block ads

Methodology

We gathered hundreds of data points on 20 of the top VPN providers. Here are the factors we used to determine the five best VPNs for Chrome:

  • Cost: We examined the pricing for all of the top competitors on the market today. Services should offer pricing plans that most small business users can afford.
  • Value for the money: We looked at whether the accompanying features justified the price tag.
  • Features: We examined the perks to determine if the service is worthwhile.
  • Ratings and reviews: We carefully weighted expert and purchaser opinions to determine overall popularity.

Choosing a VPN for Chrome

Though we used specific methods for the ranking, there are some other considerations to keep in mind when choosing the best VPN for Chrome:

  • Speed
  • Customer service
  • Connection issues

Even if you have a preferred service in mind, it’s important to stay on top of updates, especially when governments or platforms like Netflix make changes that can see them suddenly ineffective. If committing to a Chrome VPN long-term, you want to be sure it’s a sturdy program or extension that will weather various attempts to make it ineffective.


Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What Is A VPN?

A VPN, or virtual private network, is a service that provides you with privacy online by encrypting your internet connection. VPNs effectively hides your IP address and data from third parties.

How Are VPNs Used?

In addition to protecting your online privacy, VPNs are also a great way to get around government website censorship or access regionally blocked content.

How Much Is A VPN?

There’s no set price for a VPN service, as you can see from the prices listed above. Some VPN providers cost more than others, and many offer multiple pricing options. When comparing prices, it’s best to consider feature availability and how much you want to invest.

What’s The Cheapest VPN?

Pricing-wise, the premium services we found to be the most affordable were Private Internet Access, CyberGhost and TorGuard.

Do I Need An Account To Use A VPN Chrome Extension?

Not always, but many VPN services require an existing account to use their extensions. If you aren’t sure, read the Chrome store page or visit the company website. It might be necessary to reach out to customer service for a definitive answer.


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