Best VPN browser extensions: Hassle-free security

Are you hoping to secure your Chromebook? Maybe you’re using a device that has limited app-installation permissions, or perhaps you’re simply just low on storage space. The good news is that most major VPNs offer extensions that run directly from your browser. Today, we’ll give you a rundown of the best VPN browser extensions and explain how these services help keep you safe online.

Before we begin, it’s important to note the difference between a browser extension and a full VPN app. Extensions only protect your web browser but won’t encrypt data from your streaming services, gaming apps, or torrent client. The good news is that each of our recommendations also offers a robust native app to shield your entire digital ecosystem, whether you’re on Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, or beyond.

In this post, we review the best VPNs with browser extensions and explain why each is worth your time. Here’s a quick summary in case you’re in a rush:

Based on our real-world testing, here are the best VPN browser extensions:

1. NordVPN Our top browser extension VPN. Super fast, highly secure, and packed with features. Supports Chrome, Firefox, and Firefox for Android. Plus, they offer a 30-day money-back guarantee to test it out worry-free.
   TIP In our testing we found that the cheapest NordVPN plan (Standard) works perfectly.
2. Surfshark Best budget VPN with browser extensions. An affordable yet high-quality service with top-notch security and privacy features. A great choice for those who don’t want to compromise on protection. Extensions for Chrome, Firefox, and Edge.
3. IPVanish A speedy, security-first VPN with extensions for Edge, Chrome, Firefox, and Opera. Boasts strong unblocking ability and unlimited connections.
4. ExpressVPN Known for its advanced geo-location spoofing capabilities, this VPN allows you to access content from around the world with ease. It’s a powerhouse and offers browser extensions for Chrome, Firefox, and Safari.
5. ProtonVPN Advanced VPN dedicated to user privacy. Extensions for various browsers, including Firefox and Chrome. A great choice for streaming Netflix, torrenting, and making video calls.
6. PureVPN With servers in 65+ countries, PureVPN is a fantastic choice for accessing content from around the globe. It’s affordable, user-friendly, and offers excellent privacy features.
7. CyberGhost This beginner-friendly service offers high speeds, a great set of security features, and the ability to access virtually every major streaming platform.

How to use a VPN browser extension

Getting started with a VPN browser extension is easier than you might think. Just follow the simple steps below, and you’ll be up and running in minutes.

Here’s how to use a VPN browser extension:

1. Sign up with a VPN provider from the list below. We recommend NordVPN.
2. Download and install the extension from your browser’s official store or from the VPN provider’s website.
3. Open the extension and log in.
4. Select a server and connect.
5. That’s it! You’re now browsing safely.

How we chose the top VPN browser extensions

Not all VPNs make browser extensions, and not all VPN browser extensions are worth your time. To take the guesswork out of it for you, we researched the best VPN browser plugins based on the following criteria:

• Provider makes both a browser extension and native VPN apps
• Secure and stable connections
• Fast speeds and quick server switching
• Offers the ability to connect multiple devices simultaneously
• Can access geographically restricted content
• Strong security and protection features
• Follows a no-logs policy for your peace of mind
• Knowledgable customer service and a money-back guarantee

This is just an overview, but you can read more about how we test and rank the VPNs we recommend, and see the results of these tests, in the methodology section below.

Best VPN browser extensions: Our hands-on review

We’ve tested and compared the most important features of the top VPNs here. Prefer to read the in-depth reviews? Start with NordVPN – our #1 choice for browser extensions.

Best VPN browser extensions

At Comparitech, we personally use a huge number of VPNs, putting them through rigorous tests to ensure they’re up to our standards and your needs. The following reviews are based on those first-hand experiences.

Here’s our list of the best VPN browser extensions

1. NordVPN

Apr 2025

NordVPN is our first choice when it comes to browser extensions. It encrypts your browser’s web traffic and replaces your device’s IP address with one of NordVPN’s 7,000+ servers in over 100 countries. The extension also blocks ads and malware. This extension was also recently enhanced with the addition of a kill switch and the ability to remember split-tunneling settings across multiple sessions.

This provider has recently bragged about how it’s improved the performance of its browser extension. With that in mind, we wanted to see exactly what it was capable of. We tested NordVPN’s US servers at three times of day and recorded the results in the chart below:

It delivered an average speed of 200.65 Mbps, which was actually the highest of any VPN we tested. What’s more, there was just 4 Mbps of difference between its highest and lowest results. That’s an outstanding level of consistency and one that very few VPNs can match. In short, NordVPN is perfectly capable of handling whatever you throw at it.

The plugin includes an option to disable WebRTC, a protocol that can expose your real IP address even when a VPN is connected. NordVPN boasts excellent privacy and security standards and is great for accessing geographically restricted content like Netflix, Hulu, and BBC iPlayer.

The NordVPN browser extension is available for Chrome, Firefox, and Firefox for Android.

BEST BROWSER EXTENSION:NordVPN is our top choice VPN. Its plugin is a powerful yet easy way to protect your browser and access blocked content. Plans include a 30-day money-back guarantee making this a risk-free option.

Read our full NordVPN review here, or check out our video review below.

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2. Surfshark

Surfshark is a budget-friendly provider that operates more than 3,200 servers across 100+ countries. This alone would make it an excellent choice for accessing geo-restricted services like Netflix, but here’s the best part: it’s fast enough for almost any purpose, including lag-free streaming. As if that wasn’t enough, this VPN even lets you secure all of your devices at once.

When it comes to browsing, speed is extremely important. If your connection is too slow, pages will take forever to load, and videos might not even play at all. Our experts tested Surfshark’s American servers over the course of the day to see just how fast they were and how much their performance varied at peak times. Let’s take a look at the results:

This provider performed very well, delivering an average speed of 190.55 Mbps. This makes it the second-fastest VPN we tested and ensures that it’s suitable for any day-to-day task. Whether you’re hoping to stream, chat, or just browse the web securely, Surfshark would be a fantastic choice.

This service comes with all manner of security features. For starters, it can tell you if the site you’re on has suffered a data breach. There’s also 256-bit encryption as well as protection against IPv6, DNS, and WebRTC leaks, a kill switch, and even a NoBorders feature you can use to freely browse the internet in countries with strict online censorship. Surfshark doesn’t log any personally identifiable information, but if you’re worried about privacy, you can always pay in Bitcoin, Ethereum, or Ripple. If you need any help, you can reach support 24/7 via live chat.

Surfshark provides apps for iOS, Windows, Android, MacOS, and Linux devices. If you’d prefer, you can also manually install it on supported home routers.

The Surfshark browser extension is available for Chrome, Firefox, and MS Edge.

BEST BUDGET VPN:Surfshark offers powerful security features, decent speeds, and the ability to unblock all kinds of geo-restricted services from abroad. What’s more, it includes a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full review of Surfshark here.

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3. IPVanish

IPVanish is a veteran provider that recently expanded its network to cover more than 100 countries. It’s a solid choice for anyone hoping to protect their browser traffic and won’t be stopped by most online restrictions. In fact, we’ve had great results using it to access platforms like Netflix, BBC iPlayer, and Peacock from abroad. There’s no connection limit either, something very few VPNs can say.

When IPVanish upgraded its network to exclusively use 10 Gbps servers, it touted improved performance as one of the main advantages. Our team decided to put those claims to the test, checking the speed of its US servers at multiple times of day. Here’s what we found:

IPVanish provided an average speed of 164.56 Mbps, which is definitely on the higher end of the spectrum. Better yet, there was very little variance depending on the time we ran our test. If you’re looking for a quick and reliable VPN to help you stream, play online games, or chat anonymously, IPVanish is perfect.

The secure browser extension doesn’t actually provide any customizable security features, but it does keep you safe using powerful encryption, automatic ad and tracker-blocking, and automatic history-deletion. Naturally, IPVanish refuses to keep logs of your online activities and has proven this with multiple independent audits.

IPVanish includes a secure browser for Chrome, Edge, Opera, and Firefox as part of its new Advanced plan (along with 1TB of file storage). There are also standard VPN apps for all major platforms.

NOVICE-FRIENDLY VPN:IPVanish is quick, easy to use, and suitable for almost any task. It prioritizes your security and allows any number of connections, though won’t work in China. Longer subscriptions come with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full review of IPVanish.

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4. ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN’s web browser extension works differently than others on this list because it is not a standalone product. Instead, it controls the native app that’s already installed on your system. The benefit is that your device is always fully protected, even if you close out of the web browser.

You can choose from a list of server locations in 100+ countries or choose Smart Location to automatically select the best server nearby. ExpressVPN hosts servers that can access Netflix, Hulu, and BBC iPlayer, among others.

We wanted to make sure ExpressVPN was quick enough to handle whatever tasks you had in mind. For that reason, we tested its US servers throughout the course of a typical day. You’ll find our test results in the chart below:

With an average speed of 136.59 Mbps, ExpressVPN is definitely competitive, even if it isn’t the fastest provider on the market. This is partially due to its newly revamped Lightway protocol, which helps minimize speed loss when you’re using a distant server. We also really liked how consistent its performance was; there was less than 3 Mbps of variance, which is effectively negligible.

Like NordVPN’s extension, ExpressVPN’s plugin comes with the option to prevent WebRTC leaks. However, instead of just disabling WebRTC, ExpressVPN changes the network path, so WebRTC traffic goes through the VPN server, and your IP address is never exposed. A kill switch and DNS leak protection are built in, as is HTTPS enforcement, which opts for HTTPS-encrypted versions of websites whenever available. ExpressVPN’s browser extension has been audited by a third-party cybersecurity firm, and all the code is open source.

Furthermore, the extension scrambles the location reported by Google’s geo-location API and HTML5 geolocation, browser features that can be used to track your location. Once connected, your reported location will be a random location within a certain distance of the VPN server.

The ExpressVPN extension is available for Chrome, Firefox, and Safari.

ADVANCED PROTECTION:ExpressVPN's browser extension offers privacy and security benefits not found in any other VPN plugin. Includes a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full ExpressVPN review.

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5. ProtonVPN

ProtonVPN is a highly reliable and secure VPN with a choice of browser extensions, catering to users who prioritize easy access and streamlined security while browsing. Currently, ProtonVPN offers an extension for Chrome, Firefox, Brave, Microsoft Edge, Chromium, Opera, and Vivaldi. This extension provides a convenient way to secure your browsing without needing to open the full application, however, you should note that the browser provides a HTTPS proxy rather than a full encrypted connection.

Whenever we’ve tested ProtonVPN in the past, it’s always delivered impressive results. Still, regular retesting is important since providers are constantly tweaking their infrastructure. Our team ran three speed tests over the course of a typical day to see just how fast ProtonVPN was at the time of writing:

As you can see, this service boasts solid speeds without too much variation in performance at peak times. It had an average speed of 139.32 Mbps, which puts it roughly in the middle of the pack. Still, given the level of competition in this list, that’s saying a lot.

Aside from the browser extension, ProtonVPN has an array of advanced features in its primary VPN apps. These include AES encryption, multiple protocol options, stealth VPN, a system-level kill switch, obfuscation, and multi-hop connections. It is particularly beneficial for torrenting, it offers split tunneling and port forwarding at no additional cost.

The VPN’s apps are compatible with various platforms, including Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Fire TV, and Linux, ensuring access on any device. You can connect to servers in over 100 countries, to get an IP address almost anywhere. In our tests, those servers worked to access streaming platforms like Netflix, Hulu, and Disney+.

While ProtonVPN is relatively high-priced, its fast speeds, versatility, and strong security features justify the cost. You can test the VPN and any of its extensions yourself thanks to its 30-day money-back guarantee.

SECURE AND PRIVATE:ProtonVPN is an advanced VPN dedicated to user privacy. It has browser extensions for various browsers, including Firefox and Chrome. Apps come with a no-logs policy, AES encryption, a kill switch, and obfuscation. Works to get an IP address in more than 100 countries. Includes a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Find out more in our ProtonVPN review.

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6. PureVPN

PureVPN’s browser extension is a fantastic choice for those looking to secure their online browsing. With servers in 65+ countries, this extension ensures you can access content from around the globe. The best part? PureVPN’s browser extension is super affordable, so your wallet won’t feel the pinch.

The PureVPN browser extension is available for both Chrome and Firefox, making it easy to use on your favorite browser. It supports up to 10 simultaneous connections, so you and your important people can enjoy a safer browsing experience together.

This VPN’s browser extension has a tab of servers designed to help you stream. However, that doesn’t mean much if connections are too slow to actually play anything! We performed multiple speed tests on PureVPN’s US servers to make sure it was up to the task. Let’s take a look at those results:

All in all, we were satisfied with this VPN’s speeds. It averaged a solid 131.42 Mbps, though there’s definitely room for improvement. The afternoon result, for instance, was a full 45 Mbps higher than the one at noon. Still, PureVPN is quick enough to deal with any day-to-day task, even if multiple people are sharing your connection.

Privacy-wise, PureVPN has you covered with a strict no-logs policy. Its headquarters are located in the British Virgin Islands, outside the 14 Eyes surveillance alliance. It also employs AES encryption to keep your browsing data safe from snoopers.

PureVPN’s browser extension offers access to geo-restricted content and works with popular streaming services like Netflix, BBC iPlayer, and Hulu. It also has built-in WebRTC leak protection to keep your online identity under wraps.

Need help? PureVPN’s 24/7 customer support is always available to help. They even offer a 31-day money-back guarantee, so you can give it a try without any worries.

PRIVACY FOCUSED:PureVPN has servers in over 65 countries uses AES encryption, and has great unblocking ability. 31-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full PureVPN review.

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7. CyberGhost

CyberGhost shuttered the free version of its native VPN apps, but the browser extensions are still available at no charge. However, this extension is as barebones as they come and is really intended to funnel you towards the full VPN app. There are just four server locations to choose from, and no changeable settings at all.

When using the CyberGhost browser extension, you’ll get decent performance, but for the best results, you’ll want to upgrade. Our expert testers checked CyberGhost’s speeds at various times of day and were quite impressed by how quick and consistent they were:

The first thing you’ll notice is that this provider’s speeds barely change during the evenings. Further, with an average speed of 141.28 Mbps, it’s more than capable of handling common tasks like streaming, torrenting, and playing online games. Ultimately, if performance is a priority for you, CyberGhost’s VPN app is the way to go.

The plugins were built on the Ethereum blockchain, which CyberGhost claims guarantees your data stays private. You get unlimited traffic, but as with any free VPN or proxy, that doesn’t mean unlimited bandwidth. CyberGhost says you probably won’t be able to unblock streaming channels with the extension.

The CyberGhost VPN Proxy extension is available for Chrome and Firefox. Apps are available for MacOS, Android, Windows, Linux, and iOS.

UPGRADE AND SAVE:CyberGhost subscriptions come with a ton more servers to choose from and can access lots of sites like Netflix, BBC iPlayer, and more. 45-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full CyberGhost review.

Our Methodology: How we found the best VPN browser extensions

Not every VPN offers browser extensions. Even fewer offer those that are easy to use, fast, and secure. Indeed, there are various factors to take into consideration when choosing a VPN browser extension. Our testing involved closely examining what each potential recommendation offered in the following areas:

Speed

While it’s not the only thing to look out for, speed is a huge decision-making factor when it comes to buying a VPN. That’s because a sluggish connection will cause all sorts of issues, from websites that don’t load to sporadic disconnection from the VPN (leaving your online activities exposed for anyone to see).

So, how do we find the fastest VPNs? It’s simple: we test each candidate’s US servers using our 250 Mbps connection. That’s the average US household broadband speed, so our results should broadly reflect the speeds you can actually expect. Each VPN’s US servers are tested at three times of day, then we normalize the average speed to get a score out of 10, as shown below:

NordVPN earned the top spot here thanks to its exceptionally high average speed and reliability. Surfshark came in second place, while PureVPN received the lowest score. Even still, though, it remained quick enough to handle virtually any task you can think of.

Connection support

Everyone uses the internet differently, so it’s important that our recommended VPNs account for a wide range of setups. With this in mind, we first checked how many browsers each service offered extensions for. The next step was to look for the presence of split tunneling functionality, and finally, look into how many simultaneous connections are allowed.

ProtonVPN had the highest score in this category. For starters, it works on Brave, Edge, and Librewolf as well as the main browsers. It also has a generous connection limit and allows split tunneling. PureVPN also gets an honorable mention for supporting more browsers than most of its rivals.

Security and privacy

If a VPN isn’t capable of keeping you safe, it’s just not worth using. That applies whether it’s a full VPN app or a standalone browser extension. To make sure that we only recommend services that adequately protect your privacy, we require them to provide unbreakable encryption, a kill switch, leak protection, and a no-logs policy. Additional features like an ad blocker or Double VPN servers are always appreciated. Here’s everything our team considers when assigning scores in this category:

NordVPN and Surfshark both scored a phenomenal 9.5 points out of 10, meaning they tie for the top spot. We particularly appreciated how much advanced functionality is packed into these two apps, and how both providers have proven their credentials with multiple independent audits.

Ease of use

One of our biggest concerns is making sure that the services we recommend are accessible to novices and experts alike. As such, we check for the presence of live chat-based customer support, help documentation, and any other quality-of-life features that help streamline the user experience. The table below shows all of the main things that contribute to our scoring decisions in this area:

Once again, NordVPN took first place in this category. Despite its ever-expanding selection of advanced features, it remains newcomer-friendly and explains everything in a way that’s easy to understand. Additionally, it works first-time with most streaming services, provides 24/7 customer support, and boasts one of the largest networks of any major provider.

Streaming ability

One of the most common reasons people use a VPN is so that they’re able to access their favorite streaming services while abroad or at school. For this reason, we test each potential recommendation against some of the trickiest platforms out there and check how consistently the VPN is able to access them. After all, if your VPN works with Amazon Prime Video, BBC iPlayer, and Disney Plus, it’ll likely work with most other services as well.

This was an extremely competitive category, with three providers (NordVPN, Surfshark, and ExpressVPN) all tying for first place. In most instances, these were able to unblock every service we tested on the first attempt, even without specially optimized streaming servers.

Looking for the above is part of our VPN testing methodology, which involves plenty of hands-on experience with each VPN browser extension.

What about free VPN browser plugins?

There are plenty, but the vast majority are not worth a second look. Free VPNs usually impose data caps, bandwidth limits, and waiting queues on users, making it a slow grind to do anything other than basic text-based web browsing. You also get fewer servers to choose from, and those you do connect to are often congested by other free users.

Even free VPN providers need to make money to pay for server upkeep and other overhead costs. Their business models often entail siphoning off users’ personal details and browsing activity data, which can then be sold to advertisers. This contradicts the whole point of using a VPN in the first place: to improve online privacy.

Finally, free VPNs are sometimes fronts for spreading malware. Browser extensions are certainly no exception. Plenty of malware has found its way onto the Chrome and Firefox storefronts.

In short, it’s best to stick to paid providers. Your peace of mind is worth a few dollars per month.

VPN browser extensions vs. native apps

There’s some debate about whether VPN browser extensions actually constitute VPNs. In fact, most of them are HTTPS proxies. Only data sent to and from your web browser goes through the encrypted proxy. Internet traffic from other apps like Steam, Spotify, and your operating system is still sent through a direct, unencrypted connection. That includes DNS traffic, which can be used by your internet service provider to track your web history.

If you want full protection for your entire device, consider downloading and installing a native VPN app. All of the providers we recommended above make apps for Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android, plus a few others in some cases. These apps tunnel all the incoming and outgoing data from your entire device through the VPN server, not just your web browser.

On a related note, steer clear of VPN browser extensions that don’t require you to log in. Extensions that allow anyone to connect don’t have a strong authentication process in place, which makes them vulnerable to attacks by hackers.

VPN browser extensions: FAQs

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