Best Chrome VPN 2023

The best Chrome VPN is one that’ll keep your search history as private as possible, while also giving you an easy-to-use Chrome extension to control it with. Once you have one of these installed, you’ll be able to connect to the internet via servers in other regions, meaning that nobody can track your internet data, and you’ll be able to access content that is usually geo-restricted.

The list includes many of the best VPN services and all of them have a Chrome extension that you allows you to easily control your VPN through the browser directly. All you need to do is head to the VPN provider’s website, sign up, install the extension, and log in again through it, and you’re all set. Some even have a VPN free trial, if you want to take them for a spin.

The best Chrome VPNs are:

• ExpressVPN – best for Chrome
• NordVPN – fastest choice
• Surfshark – best for unlimited devices
• PureVPN – most private choice
• PrivadoVPN – best free choice

1. ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN is the best Chrome VPN.

ExpressVPN overview:

Pros:

• Selection of servers across 94 countries
• TrustedServer system reinforces privacy
• Lightway Protocol is super speedy

Cons:

• Expensive
• Overall number of servers not too high
• Low cap on simultaneous connections

The best Chrome VPN is ExpressVPN. We chose this provider for a number of reasons. First of all, there’s the fact that it has a dedicated Chrome plug-in (of course), then there’s also the fact that it has over 3,000 VPN servers spread out across more than 90 countries around the world, and it also works with all of the major streaming platforms – and those are just the highlights.

If speed and privacy are top priorities, this provider covers both bases well. It uses the Lightway Protocol, which means it can encrypt data more quickly than many other providers, and on top of that, it has the TrustedServer system which prevents its servers from writing any data about your online antics.

It’s one of the best VPN providers overall and we reckon it’s a fine choice for Chrome. Worth mentioning though is the fact that it’s certainly one of the more expensive options on this list – you get what you pay for, but if you need a cheaper option then one of the other providers on this list might be more appropriate.

Read our ExpressVPN review for more on this service.

2. NordVPN

NordVPN is the fastest VPN for Chrome.

NordVPN overview:

Pros:

• Fastest VPN
• Compatible with most streaming platforms

Cons:

• Slightly more expensive
• Covers fewer countries than others

Chances are, if you’re looking for a VPN, you’ve probably already heard of NordVPN, as it is among the most well-known and respected VPN providers. Part of the reason that it has been able to become so successful is that it provides one of the fastest VPN services around.

Your internet service provider (ISP) might be slowing down your connection speeds if you use a lot of bandwidth, and NordVPN can not only mask your activity to stop that, but with average download speeds of 65.79Mbit/s (when tested on the OpenVPN protocol), you might find things are a lot faster all round.

These speeds couple well with the fact that NordVPN works with most streaming services. If you love watching stuff through Chrome, you’re not going to want to have to contend with sluggish download speeds. Having said that, this is another pricier VPN, so it may not be for everyone (though it’s cheaper than ExpressVPN).

Read our NordVPN review for more information about this VPN.

3. Surfshark

Surfshark is the best Chrome VPN for unlimited devices.

Surfshark overview:

Pros:

• Puts no limit on simultaneous connections
• Gives a seven-day free trial
• Reasonably priced

Cons:

• Smaller selection of servers
• Fewer server locations

Looking for a provider that will allow you to protect an unlimited number of devices on a single plan? Well, if so, Surfshark may be the choice for you, because it is one of only a few servers that puts no cap on the number of simultaneous connections you can run through it. This is great if you have a large household who all want to use it – you could even split the costs.

It’s compatible with Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hulu, and other major streaming platforms, so it could be the key to giving your whole family access to a whole new world of TV shows and movies – and that’s without even mentioning all of the new bits of gaming content you could be able to uncover. If you want to take it for a spin first, Surfshark offers a seven-day free trial, giving you a chance to get to grips with the service. This give you plenty of time to test it, as laptop VPN, a PC VPN, and VPN for any other devices you access the internet on.

Its servers are the only area that we could possibly criticize Surfshark. It has a decent selection, for sure, but with only just over 3,200 in 65 countries, it’s definitely got fewer than several of the other top providers.

Read our Surfshark review.

4. PureVPN

PureVPN is the most private VPN for Chrome.

PureVPN overview:

Pros:

• Regular third-party privacy audits
• Reasonable allowance of simultaneous connections
• Loads of server locations

Cons:

• Limited Linux support
• Router support not available for all protocols

VPNs are all about giving you privacy, and PureVPN is also about making sure that its customers can trust it completely. To this end, it has an annual third-party audit carried out by KPMG to prove that it is not accumulating your data in the same way that many internet service providers do. That’s why we consider it the most private VPN for Chrome.

On top of this, PureVPN also boasts over 6,500 servers in over 140 countries and is compatible with most major streaming platforms. It allows you to have up to ten simultaneous connections and has a 30-day money-back guarantee, giving you plenty of time to determine whether this is truly a service that you want to invest your money in.

There’s also a trial plan that you can try if you’re not ready to commit yet, but fair warning, you will have to pay upfront. For $0.99 you gain full access to everything PureVPN offers for a week, which is a good taster – though it’s annoying that you have to give them your payment information in order to access that taster.

5. PrivadoVPN

PrivadoVPN is the best free Chrome VPN.

PrivadoVPN overview:

So far, we’ve mostly only mentioned a few of the giants of the VPN world, but we’d be amiss if we didn’t mention one of the newer additions to the VPN arena, specifically: PrivadoVPN.

PrivadoVPN has a no-logs policy and IP leak protection, helping to keep your internet data as secure as possible. You can even use it for free, with the caveat that you’re limited to 10GB of data a month. Still, if you don’t spend huge numbers of hours on the web, it might just be enough… and if not, there’s always a paid package.

If you do pay, it’s not a bad service, but it is definitely more limited than most of the other providers here – especially when it comes to router support (you can’t use it on your router) and server selection (of which it is limited). Though to its credit, the paid plan does allow for an unlimited number of simultaneous connections.

We compiled this list by carefully considering the benefits of the major VPN providers who also offer a Chrome extension, then contrasting that against the needs of those seeking out a VPN. We’re confident that at least one of the providers on this list should accommodate most readers and believe ExpressVPN to be the strongest choice. Before long, you’ll be using Chrome as the gateway to new internet horizons, with no massive corporations peering over your shoulder.

How we picked the best Chrome VPN

Of course, we weren’t going to pick any VPNs that didn’t have a Chrome extension, but besides that, we used the following criteria to decide which VPNs deserved a spot on this list:

• Pricing: VPNs range in price quite significantly. Sometimes you’ll be paying something that works out around $3 a month, whereas other times, it works out closer to $10 a month. Typically the premium options have more to offer, though if you’re mainly worried about privacy, then even a cheap VPN can get you that.
• Simultaneous connections: Do you foresee yourself using the VPN on all your devices? Or perhaps sharing it with other members of your household? Some VPNs limit you to around 5 connections, which won’t go that far, but others let you have about 10, and a rare few even let you have unlimited simultaneous connections. We’ve included a range of options to cover all needs.
• Free plans/trials: A VPN is a fairly big investment, and we understand the desire to test them out before having to pay. Annoyingly, very few of the big brands offer a free trial, but a few of them do offer a free plan instead. Meanwhile, every VPN we included in this list has a 30-day money-back guarantee, so while you still have to pay upfront, there’s still plenty of time for you to get a refund if you change your mind.
• Router support: Some providers allow you to connect your router directly through the VPN. This enables you to easily have every device connected through the VPN, which may be handy for some things (especially with devices you can’t install a VPN on), but it also comes with its own unique set of challenges (e.g. messing up clocks). Many VPNs have this functionality, but we’ve included some that don’t, because we don’t think it’ll be essential for everyone.

To find out more about what goes into the creation of these lists, read our how we test page. Still got more questions? Read the FAQs below:

How do I enable VPN on Chrome?

Once you’ve decided on a VPN provider, just had to the Chrome Web Store and find that VPN’s plugin. Install it, pin it, log in, and then switch it on. Hey presto  – you enabled the VPN on Chrome.

Is there a free VPN for Chrome?

There certainly is. From this list alone, there’s PrivadoVPN and there are many others out there too. We recommend proceeding with caution with free VPNs though, as there are a lot of them out there, but with a lot of them, you pay with your privacy instead. As a rule of thumb, look out for providers with a no-logs policy to make sure they’re trustworthy.

Does Google Chrome have a VPN?

While Chrome has extensions for loads of VPNs in the Chrome Web Store, it doesn’t have a VPN of its own.

Shopping on a tight budget? You might also want to read our guides on the best VPN deals, the best free VPN, and the best cheap VPN for some bargains and free options. Meanwhile, if you’re on the other side of the browser wars, our guide on the best Firefox VPN might be worth a read.