Best Free VPN Chrome Extensions
A VPN extension is the quickest way to change your location in Chrome: one click on a toolbar icon and you appear to be somewhere else. It is also the most misunderstood kind of VPN, and the Chrome Web Store is full of free ones that you should not go near. Here is how to pick a safe one, and what it will and will not do.
What a VPN Chrome extension actually does
Most VPN extensions are encrypted proxies for your browser. They route what you do inside Chrome through the provider’s server, and nothing else.
- Covered: websites you visit in Chrome.
- Not covered: other browsers, email apps, games, torrent clients, and everything else on the computer.
That is fine if all you want is to change location for a website or add privacy on public Wi-Fi while browsing. If you want the whole computer protected, you need the full app.
Some extensions work differently: they are remote controls for the full VPN app, which must be installed as well. The store listing usually says which kind it is.
Which reputable VPNs have a Chrome extension?
These providers list a Chrome extension on their own websites:
- NordVPN
- Surfshark
- ExpressVPN
- Proton VPN
- CyberGhost
- IPVanish
- Windscribe
- hide.me
- PureVPN
Of those, Proton VPN and Windscribe also have free plans, which is the combination to look for: a free tier from a company that makes its money from paying customers. Check each provider’s site for what its free plan includes in the browser. Our best free VPN in Australia page covers the free plans in more detail.
Why you should avoid unknown free extensions
An extension that can “read and change all your data on all websites” sees everything you do in the browser, including pages you are logged in to. Over the years researchers have repeatedly caught free VPN and proxy extensions injecting ads, selling browsing histories, or being quietly sold to new owners who then pushed out a malicious update.
Before installing any VPN extension, check:
- Who publishes it. A named company with its own website and a privacy policy.
- How it makes money. Paid plans are a good sign. “100% free forever, unlimited” from an unknown developer is not.
- The permissions. A VPN extension needs proxy and privacy permissions. Be suspicious of extras.
- The official link. Install from the link on the provider’s own website so you do not get a copycat.
Extension or full app?
| Extension | Full app | |
|---|---|---|
| Protects | Chrome only | Everything on the device |
| Setup | One click | A few minutes |
| Kill switch | Rarely | Usually |
| Good for | Quick location changes, light browsing | Privacy, streaming apps, torrenting |
Most paid plans include both, so you do not have to choose. Current prices:
| VPN | Lowest monthly price | Renewal price | Money-back | Countries | Devices | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 Surfshark | A$3.49 27 months, A$94.23 upfront | – | 30 days | 100 | Unlimited | Visit Surfshark |
2 CyberGhost | A$3.27 26 months, A$85.02 upfront | A$85.02 per 1 year | 45 days | 100 | 7 | Visit CyberGhost |
3 NordVPN | A$4.79 27 months, A$129.33 upfront | A$187.08 per 1 year | 30 days | 150 | 10 | Visit NordVPN |
4 Proton VPN | US$3.49 (about A$5.00) 2 years, US$83.76 upfront | US$83.88 per 1 year | 30 days | 149 | 10 | Visit Proton VPN |
5 IPVanish | US$2.39 (about A$3.43) 2 years, US$57.36 upfront | – | 30 days | – | Unlimited | Visit IPVanish |
6 ExpressVPN | US$2.99 (about A$4.29) 28 months, US$83.72 upfront | US$99.95 per 1 year | 30 days | 113 | – | Visit ExpressVPN |
| 7PureVPN | US$2.15 (about A$3.08) 27 months | – | 31 days | – | – | Visit PureVPN |
| 8hide.me | US$2.69 (about A$3.86) 26 months, US$69.99 upfront | US$69.99 per 26 months | 30 days | – | – | Visit hide.me |
| 9IVPN | US$5.00 (about A$7.17) 1 year, US$60.00 upfront | US$60.00 per 1 year | – | – | 5 | Visit IVPN |
| 10Mozilla VPN | A$7.50 1 year, A$89.99 upfront | A$89.99 per 1 year | – | 30+ | 5 | Visit Mozilla VPN |
– means the provider does not publish that detail on its pricing page. Prices shown in US$ are published in that currency; the Australian-dollar figure is approximate, converted at the European Central Bank euro reference rates for 12 Oct 2026 (US$1 = A$1.43).
FAQ
Is there a free VPN built into Chrome?
No. Chrome has no built-in VPN. You need an extension or an app.
Do VPN extensions work on Chromebooks?
Yes, and Chromebooks can also run Android VPN apps, which protect more than the browser. See VPN for Android.
Does a Chrome VPN extension hide my IP address?
For sites you visit in Chrome, yes. Turn on WebRTC leak protection in the extension’s settings as well. Our VPN test guide shows how to check.