Best Chrome VPN Extensions in 2023 - Unblock anything!

Choosing the Best VPNs for Chrome: Our Selection Process

When it comes to picking the best VPNs for Chrome, we don’t take the task lightly. We understand the importance of a reliable, secure, high-performing VPN for online activities. To provide you with the most reliable recommendations, we follow a comprehensive evaluation process:

1. Security Measures: A VPN’s primary purpose is to secure your online activities, so we scrutinize the security measures each provider offers. We look for features such as AES-256 encryption, a kill switch, and DNS leak protection. The more advanced security features a VPN offers, the higher it ranks on our list.

2. Privacy Policies: A good VPN should also respect your privacy. We examine each provider’s privacy policy, ensuring they have a strict no-logs policy. We also consider their jurisdiction and whether they fall under any data retention laws.

3. Speed and Performance: A VPN shouldn’t slow down your browsing or streaming experiences. Therefore, we conduct multiple speed tests across different servers to gauge the VPN’s performance. VPNs that offer high speed and reliable connectivity-speed cut.

4. Compatibility with Chrome: Not all VPNs offer dedicated extensions for Chrome. We prioritize VPNs that do, ensuring they provide a seamless experience for Chrome users. The ease of use, intuitiveness, and feature-rich nature of the Chrome extension also factor into our evaluation.

5. Customer Support: A good VPN provider should offer excellent customer support. We assess the responsiveness, effectiveness, and availability of the VPN’s support team.

6. Value for Money: Finally, we consider the pricing plans of each VPN. We seek out providers that offer a good balance between cost and the features provided.

Here is an extra tip for our readers, WebRTC test is the best way to test VPN’s reliability, especially with Chrome browser.

VPN apps vs Chrome VPN Extensions: What to Use

When it comes to securing your online activity, you might think a VPN app is all you need. However, while VPN apps are powerful tools for privacy and security, they can’t always protect you from the vulnerabilities inherent in your web browser. This is where a VPN extension, specifically designed for Chrome, comes into play.

The problem lies in part with something called WebRTC leaks. WebRTC, or Web Real-Time Communication, is a feature that enables direct communication between your browser and the server you’re interacting with. It’s an essential technology for real-time data exchange, facilitating the functionality of websites like Omegle or any site that requires live interaction.

But there’s a catch. In some cases, these WebRTC exchanges can sidestep the encrypted tunnel created by your VPN app, using your actual IP address instead. This can unintentionally expose your identity, defeating the purpose of using a VPN for privacy.

Moreover, your browser is your primary gateway to the internet. It’s the tool you use to access websites, make online transactions, and interact with web-based services. As such, it can become a potential point of vulnerability if not properly secured. If your browser isn’t secure, it doesn’t matter how robust your VPN app is – your online activity could still be exposed to ISPs, governments, or cybercriminals.

This is why a VPN extension for Chrome can be a valuable addition to your security toolkit. These extensions are specifically designed to integrate with your browser, effectively addressing its unique vulnerabilities. They can prevent WebRTC leaks, ensuring your IP address stays hidden even during real-time data exchanges. By securing your browser directly, a VPN extension provides an added layer of protection, bolstering the defenses of your VPN app and ensuring a more secure browsing experience.

Best Free VPNs for Chrome: Our Top Picks

Before we delve into our top picks for free VPNs for Chrome, it’s important to note a crucial aspect of online security. Free VPNs can be risky. Many free services lack proper encryption, have questionable privacy policies, or even sell your data to the highest bidder. However, there are a few reputable VPN providers that offer trustworthy and safe free versions. Here are our top three:

1. ProtonVPN: Trustworthy and Robust

ProtonVPN is a highly trusted provider known for its commitment to user privacy and security. Its free version is no exception. ProtonVPN is the only free VPN with no data or bandwidth limits. you can use the VPN without any worry about the limit.

However, there are limitations. The free version has fewer servers and doesn’t offer high-speed connections, which could slow down your browsing experience. Also, it doesn’t support P2P connections or allow streaming.

2. Windscribe VPN: Generous Data and Strong Privacy

Windscribe VPN is another reputable provider that offers a free version. It’s notable for its generous data allowance and commitment to user privacy. The free version comes with 10GB of data per month and access to servers in 10 countries.

The downside? While Windscribe offers strong encryption and a no-logs policy, its speed is not on par with the premium version. Plus, you may find some popular locations that are not available in the free version.

3. PrivadoVPN: Free with Good Speeds

PrivadoVPN’s free version stands out for its speed. While many free VPNs limit the speed to encourage upgrading, PrivadoVPN maintains decent speeds on its free version. It also adheres to a strict no-logs policy and offers 256-bit encryption.

The limitation here is the available servers – free users can only access 12 server locations. Also, the data is capped at 10GB per month, which may not be enough for heavy users.

While these free VPNs offer a safe option for Chrome users, remember they come with limitations. For a full-fledged, unrestricted browsing experience, you might want to consider a premium VPN service.

How to install Chrome extensions

Adding a VPN extension to Google Chrome is usually a straightforward process. Here are the general steps to do so, with placeholders for where you might add images:

1. Open Google Chrome.

    

2. Go to the Chrome Web Store. You can do this by typing “Chrome Web Store” into the search bar and clicking on the first result, or by directly navigating to https://chrome.google.com/webstore.

    

3. Search for the VPN extension. Use the search bar in the top-left corner of the Chrome Web Store page to search for the VPN you want to install (e.g., “SurfsharkVPN”). 

4. Find the correct extension in the search results. Make sure it’s the official extension from the VPN provider.

    

5. Click on ‘Add to Chrome’. This button is usually in the top-right corner of the extension’s detail box. 

6. Confirm the installation. A prompt will appear asking if you want to add the extension to Chrome. Click ‘Add Extension’.

7. Wait for the installation to complete. Once installed, the VPN extension icon should appear next to the address bar in Chrome. 

   

8. Set up the VPN extension. Click on the VPN icon, and log in with your VPN account. If you don’t have an account, you’ll need to sign up for one with the VPN provider.

9. Connect to a VPN server. Once logged in, select a server and click to connect. 

Please note that the exact steps and appearance might vary depending on the specific VPN you’re installing. Always make sure you’re installing an official extension from a trusted VPN provider.