---
title: "Best VPN Extensions for Chrome in 2026 — Tested & Ranked | vpnrank.io"
description: "What a VPN extension is, what it doesn't protect, and which of the 9 VPNs we track publish one for Chrome, Firefox and Edge. Chrome Web Store data re-read 7 Oct 2026."
url: https://vpnrank.io/best-vpn/chrome
language: en
updated: 2026-10-12
---
# Best VPN Extensions for Chrome in 2026
Updated 12 October 2026
- A VPN extension covers **only the browser it is installed in** — your other apps keep your real IP
- **7 of the 9 VPNs we track** publish an official Chrome extension; IPVanish and TotalVPN do not
- Chrome Web Store data **re-read 7 October 2026**: users, rating, last update, version
Available on: 
9 Tracked 9 VPNs Tracked Daily
Weekly Updates Updated Regularly
Expert Reviews Reviewed by Experts
Speed Tests Real Speed Tests
Quick answer
## [ExpressVPN](https://vpnrank.io/reviews/expressvpn) is the best VPN extension for Chrome in October 2026
ExpressVPN has the best Chrome VPN extension as of October 2026: it is the only one that can also switch on the full desktop VPN (Remote Control Mode on Windows, Mac and Linux), it can block WebRTC leaks, and it has the group's highest Chrome Web Store rating (4.5). Seven of the nine VPNs we track publish an official Chrome extension; IPVanish and TotalVPN do not. A VPN extension is a browser add-on that sends only that browser's traffic through the provider's encrypted proxy server, so websites see the server's IP address instead of yours. It does not cover other apps, other browsers or the rest of the device: PIA's own Chrome listing calls its extension "a secure proxy" that does not offer the same protection as its VPN. Only two work without paying: Proton VPN's on a free Proton account, and CyberGhost's four-country proxy, which needs no account but does not block WebRTC leaks. These are the best VPN extensions for Google Chrome in 2026.
- [ExpressVPN](https://vpnrank.io/reviews/expressvpn): Only extension that can also run the full desktop VPN
- [NordVPN](https://vpnrank.io/reviews/nordvpn): Most-installed listing (14,000,000 users), updated 24 Sep 2026
- [Surfshark](https://vpnrank.io/reviews/surfshark): CleanWeb ad blocker; 7-day free trial; updated 6 Oct 2026
- [Proton VPN](https://vpnrank.io/reviews/protonvpn): Works on a free Proton account (Proton picks the server)
- [CyberGhost](https://vpnrank.io/reviews/cyberghost): Free with no account, but 4 countries and no WebRTC blocking
Top pick for this guide
Visit ExpressVPN1
1 GET 79% OFF + 4 months FREE
9.6
Chrome extension score
Visit Site
**ExpressVPN** Ultra fast & secure. Great for privacy, downloads, and everyday browsing on all your devices. 24/7 live chat support.
3,000+ servers in 113 countries
Proprietary Lightway protocol
Works with all popular platforms, apps & services
RAM-only TrustedServer technology
No activity logs & no IP/DNS leaks
30-day money-back guarantee
Try risk free for 30 days
Leader of the VPN Market GET 79% OFF + 4 months FREE
**ExpressVPN** Ultra fast & secure. Great for privacy, downloads, and everyday browsing on all your devices. 24/7 live chat support.
3,000+ servers in 113 countries
Proprietary Lightway protocol
Works with all popular platforms, apps & services
RAM-only TrustedServer technology
No activity logs & no IP/DNS leaks
30-day money-back guarantee
9.6
Chrome extension score
Visit Site Try risk free for 30 days
Visit NordVPN2
2 GET 74% OFF Advanced Features
9.5
Chrome extension score
Visit Site
**NordVPN** Excellent speeds with one of the largest server networks. Strong security features and easy-to-use apps. 24/7 live chat support.
7,400+ servers in 118 countries
NordLynx protocol for top speeds
10 simultaneous devices
Threat Protection ad & malware blocker
Double VPN & Onion over VPN
30-day money-back guarantee
Try risk free for 30 days
Advanced Features GET 74% OFF
**NordVPN** Excellent speeds with one of the largest server networks. Strong security features and easy-to-use apps. 24/7 live chat support.
7,400+ servers in 118 countries
NordLynx protocol for top speeds
10 simultaneous devices
Threat Protection ad & malware blocker
Double VPN & Onion over VPN
30-day money-back guarantee
9.5
Chrome extension score
Visit Site Try risk free for 30 days
Visit Surfshark3
3 GET 88% OFF + 3 months FREE Unlimited Devices
9.2
Chrome extension score
Visit Site
**Surfshark** Unlimited device connections at a budget-friendly price. Includes ad blocker and strong privacy tools. Great value for money.
4,500+ servers in 100 countries
Unlimited simultaneous connections
CleanWeb ad & malware blocker
MultiHop double VPN connections
Advanced privacy & encryption tools
30-day money-back guarantee
Try risk free for 30 days
Unlimited Devices GET 88% OFF + 3 months FREE
**Surfshark** Unlimited device connections at a budget-friendly price. Includes ad blocker and strong privacy tools. Great value for money.
4,500+ servers in 100 countries
Unlimited simultaneous connections
CleanWeb ad & malware blocker
MultiHop double VPN connections
Advanced privacy & encryption tools
30-day money-back guarantee
9.2
Chrome extension score
Visit Site Try risk free for 30 days
Visit Proton VPN4
4 GET 70% OFF Free Tier Available
9
Chrome extension score
Visit Site
**Proton VPN** Swiss-based VPN with strong privacy focus. Audited no-logs policy and open-source apps. Great for privacy-conscious users.
20,000+ servers in 140+ countries
Swiss-based — strongest privacy laws
Open-source & independently audited
Up to 10 simultaneous devices
NetShield ad & malware blocker
30-day money-back guarantee
Try risk free for 30 days
Free Tier Available GET 70% OFF
**Proton VPN** Swiss-based VPN with strong privacy focus. Audited no-logs policy and open-source apps. Great for privacy-conscious users.
20,000+ servers in 140+ countries
Swiss-based — strongest privacy laws
Open-source & independently audited
Up to 10 simultaneous devices
NetShield ad & malware blocker
30-day money-back guarantee
9
Chrome extension score
Visit Site Try risk free for 30 days
Visit Private Internet Access5
5 GET 85% OFF + 2 months FREE Advanced Security
8.6
Chrome extension score
Visit Site
**Private Internet Access** High-speed VPN with a large server network and advanced security settings. Ad blocker included and 24/7 live chat support.
Servers in 91 countries
Ad & tracker blocker included
No activity logs & no IP/DNS leaks
Native apps & browser extensions
Unlimited simultaneous devices
30-day money-back guarantee
Try risk free for 30 days
Advanced Security GET 85% OFF + 2 months FREE
**Private Internet Access** High-speed VPN with a large server network and advanced security settings. Ad blocker included and 24/7 live chat support.
Servers in 91 countries
Ad & tracker blocker included
No activity logs & no IP/DNS leaks
Native apps & browser extensions
Unlimited simultaneous devices
30-day money-back guarantee
8.6
Chrome extension score
Visit Site Try risk free for 30 days
Free with no account — but no WebRTC protection
Visit CyberGhost6
6 GET 86% OFF + 2 months FREE Beginner Friendly
7.4
Chrome extension score
Visit Site
**CyberGhost** Fast speeds and strong privacy tools. Simple apps, automatic WiFi protection, and 24/7 live chat support.
Servers in 100 countries
Automatic WiFi protection
No activity logs & no IP/DNS leaks
Apps and browser extensions
Dedicated anonymous IPs
45-day money-back guarantee
Try risk free for 45 days
Beginner Friendly GET 86% OFF + 2 months FREE
**CyberGhost** Fast speeds and strong privacy tools. Simple apps, automatic WiFi protection, and 24/7 live chat support.
Servers in 100 countries
Automatic WiFi protection
No activity logs & no IP/DNS leaks
Apps and browser extensions
Dedicated anonymous IPs
45-day money-back guarantee
7.4
Chrome extension score
Visit Site Try risk free for 45 days
No Chrome VPN extension — app only
Visit IPVanish7
7 GET 83% OFF Family Device Coverage
6.5
Chrome extension score
Visit Site
**IPVanish** Fast speeds with unlimited device connections. Strong no-logs privacy and 24/7 live chat support. Great for families.
3,200+ servers in 112+ countries
Unlimited simultaneous connections
Company-owned server network
SOCKS5 proxy included
Zero-logs policy independently audited
30-day money-back guarantee
Try risk free for 30 days
Family Device Coverage GET 83% OFF
**IPVanish** Fast speeds with unlimited device connections. Strong no-logs privacy and 24/7 live chat support. Great for families.
3,200+ servers in 112+ countries
Unlimited simultaneous connections
Company-owned server network
SOCKS5 proxy included
Zero-logs policy independently audited
30-day money-back guarantee
6.5
Chrome extension score
Visit Site Try risk free for 30 days
No Chrome extension — app only
Visit TotalVPN8
8 GET 80% OFF
6
Chrome extension score
Visit Site
**TotalVPN** Affordable VPN with strong privacy and reliable speeds. Easy-to-use apps for all major devices. No-logs policy.
Servers in 50+ countries
Fast & secure connections
Strict no-logs policy
Apps for all major platforms
Easy one-click connect
30-day money-back guarantee
Try risk free for 30 days
GET 80% OFF
**TotalVPN** Affordable VPN with strong privacy and reliable speeds. Easy-to-use apps for all major devices. No-logs policy.
Servers in 50+ countries
Fast & secure connections
Strict no-logs policy
Apps for all major platforms
Easy one-click connect
30-day money-back guarantee
6
Chrome extension score
Visit Site Try risk free for 30 days
[
### Not sure which VPN is right for you?
Answer 5 quick questions and get a personalized recommendation in 30 seconds.
Your needs
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Find My Match
](https://vpnrank.io/which-vpn#quiz)
Rankings are based on [our independent testing methodology](https://vpnrank.io/how-we-test). Each guide applies the criteria described on that page, including relevant performance, privacy, product features, and value data. We may earn affiliate commissions from links on this page, which helps fund our testing — this does not influence our rankings.
Video guide · 2:27
## How to Put a VPN on Chrome (The RIGHT Way) — Extensions, Risks & Setup 2026
What a Chrome VPN extension actually protects, the extension-vs-app difference, the permission red flags, the built-in-VPN myth and the WebRTC leak check.
2 minutes 27 seconds. Chapters and the full transcript are on the dedicated watch page.
[Open the video, chapters and transcript](https://vpnrank.io/videos/vpn-on-chrome-the-right-way)
## 2026 Rankings At a Glance
| # | VPN | Chrome extension score | Lowest long-term price | Money-back | Key strength |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | ExpressVPN | 9.6/10 | $2.79/mo | 30 days | 3,000+ servers in 113 countries |
| 2 | NordVPN | 9.5/10 | $3.09/mo | 30 days | 7,400+ servers in 118 countries |
| 3 | Surfshark | 9.2/10 | $1.78/mo | 30 days | 4,500+ servers in 100 countries |
| 4 | Proton VPN | 9/10 | $2.99/mo | 30 days | 20,000+ servers in 140+ countries |
| 5 | Private Internet Access | 8.6/10 | $1.75/mo | 30 days | Servers in 91 countries |
| 6 | CyberGhost | 7.4/10 | $2.03/mo | 45 days | Servers in 100 countries |
| 7 | IPVanish | 6.5/10 | $2.19/mo | 30 days | 3,200+ servers in 112+ countries |
| 8 | TotalVPN | 6/10 | $1.59/mo | 30 days | Servers in 50+ countries |
Prices verified 27 October 2026 Last tested 25 August 2026
Scores follow [our testing methodology](https://vpnrank.io/how-we-test). Prices reflect the current long-term promotional rate, billed upfront; term length varies by provider.
## What a VPN Extension Is — and What It Doesn't Protect
A VPN extension is a browser add-on that switches that one browser's proxy setting to the VPN provider's server. Chrome gives extensions this control through its chrome.proxy API, which accepts HTTP, HTTPS, QUIC, SOCKS4 and [SOCKS5](https://vpnrank.io/blog/vpn-vs-proxy-vs-smart-dns) proxies. Pages you open in that browser then reach websites through the provider's server — over an encrypted connection, the providers say — so sites see the server's [IP address](https://vpnrank.io/glossary/ip-address) and the network you are on sees a connection to the provider instead of the sites you visit. Everything else on the device carries on exactly as before.
### Does a VPN extension protect your whole device?
No. It covers the browser it is installed in and nothing else: other browsers, e-mail and [torrent](https://vpnrank.io/blog/is-it-safe-to-torrent-with-a-vpn) clients, games, desktop video-call apps and system updates keep using your real IP address. [CyberGhost](https://vpnrank.io/reviews/cyberghost)'s own page says its extension "only covers browser traffic", and Surfshark says its extension "secures only your browser traffic". The one exception in our group is ExpressVPN: in Remote Control Mode its extension switches on the ExpressVPN app for Windows, Mac or Linux, which then encrypts "all internet traffic on your device". That mode is not available on a Chromebook.
### Is a VPN extension a real VPN or a proxy?
Technically a proxy, and the providers say so on their own listings. [PIA](https://vpnrank.io/reviews/pia)'s Chrome listing calls its extension "a secure proxy" that "does not offer the same level of protection as our VPN service". [NordVPN](https://vpnrank.io/reviews/nordvpn)'s listing is titled "NordVPN proxy protection", PureVPN's is "PureVPN Proxy", and ExpressVPN calls its standalone setting Proxy Mode, which encrypts "only your browser traffic". A VPN app builds a system-wide tunnel with a protocol such as WireGuard, OpenVPN or IKEv2, adds a device-wide kill switch and handles DNS for every app. An extension re-routes one browser.
### Which VPNs have a browser extension for Chrome, Firefox and Edge?
Seven of the nine VPNs we track publish both a Chrome extension and a [Firefox](https://vpnrank.io/best-vpn/firefox) add-on: NordVPN, [Proton VPN](https://vpnrank.io/reviews/protonvpn), Surfshark, ExpressVPN, CyberGhost, Private Internet Access and PureVPN. IPVanish offers only Secure Browser, a cloud browser rather than a VPN, and TotalVPN publishes no extension. Microsoft Edge runs Chrome Web Store extensions once you allow extensions from other stores; NordVPN, Proton VPN, Surfshark and PureVPN document Edge support, and ExpressVPN tells Edge users to install its Chrome version. Store figures for each browser are in the browser-by-browser table below.
### Can a VPN extension give you a US IP address?
Yes, for pages opened in that browser. Paid extensions let you choose the country: PIA's listing offers 44 locations in 27 countries, and PureVPN's lists more than 50 locations with the US among them. Without paying, CyberGhost's proxy has 8 servers in four countries — the [United States](https://vpnrank.io/best-vpn/us), [Germany](https://vpnrank.io/best-vpn/germany), the Netherlands and Romania — and needs no account. Proton VPN's free plan can't target the US on demand: Proton says free users can't pick a country, and its Change server button assigns one at random from ten free countries, the United States included. Your other apps keep your real location either way.
## What to Check Before You Install a Chrome VPN Extension
Every official extension in this guide is an encrypted proxy, so the differences are in what each provider documents around it. Five things to check on the listing and the provider's own help pages:
### What the Provider Says About Encryption
Many Chrome extensions are simple proxies that change your IP but don't encrypt traffic. Providers describe theirs as encrypted proxies — Proton documents that its extension uses HTTPS, and NordVPN says its proxy servers keep browser traffic encrypted — while noting the full app is more secure.
### Ad & Tracker Blocking
NordVPN's extension adds DNS-based scam, phishing and ad blocking, [Surfshark](https://vpnrank.io/reviews/surfshark)'s CleanWeb blocks ads, trackers and cookie pop-ups, and PIA's includes its MACE blocker. These filters run inside Chrome only. None of the providers publishes a page-load measurement for them, so treat speed claims about blockers as marketing.
### Per-Site Bypass Lists
Most paid Chrome VPN extensions let you exclude specific websites from the proxy — NordVPN ([Split Tunneling](https://vpnrank.io/glossary/split-tunneling)), Surfshark (Bypasser), PIA (whitelist) and PureVPN (Bypass Proxy). It works per site, not per tab: a bank or work portal that rejects proxy addresses loads on your real IP while the rest of your browsing stays on the proxy.
### Desktop App Integration
Only [ExpressVPN](https://vpnrank.io/reviews/expressvpn) documents an extension mode (Remote Control) that switches on its desktop app to cover the whole device. NordVPN and Surfshark say the opposite for theirs: do not connect the extension and the desktop app at the same time — pick one.
### The Last-Updated Date
Chrome ships a new stable version every four weeks. On 7 October 2026, six of the seven official VPN extensions had been updated in the previous 100 days; CyberGhost's had not been updated since 23 September 2025. The date sits in the listing's Details block, next to the version number, and takes five seconds to check.
## Chrome VPN Extensions, Read From the Store and the Providers' Own Help Pages
Most "best VPN for Chrome" pages rank brands. This section reads the evidence a buyer can check: every official Chrome Web Store listing from the nine providers in our database (users, rating, last update, version and developer), what each provider's own listing and help centre say its extension does and does not do, and which other browsers each extension supports. Store data was re-read on 7 October 2026; help-centre statements were read on 22 September 2026 and the ones quoted in the Quick answer (ExpressVPN, CyberGhost, PIA, Proton VPN) were re-checked on 7 October 2026. Where a provider does not document something, we say "not documented" rather than guess.
### Seven of our nine providers publish a Chrome VPN extension — IPVanish and TotalVPN do not
Seven providers publish an official Chrome extension, which we confirmed through the developer name and support e-mail printed on each listing: NordVPN, Proton VPN, ExpressVPN, Surfshark, CyberGhost, Private Internet Access and PureVPN. **IPVanish**'s only listing is *IPVanish Secure Browser*, a remote browser that loads pages in IPVanish's cloud. IPVanish's own Chrome OS page says its Chrome app "is not a VPN Chrome extension", and its Secure Browser page says each session "runs in the cloud" with a limit of 30 hours a month. **TotalVPN** publishes no extension at all. Its help centre lists Windows, macOS, iOS and Android, and the only store result for its name is an unrelated Russian-language listing from a personal Gmail account.
Official listings only, read 7 October 2026, with the user counts from our 22 September 2026 read for comparison. The store rounds user counts into buckets.
| Provider | Listing (as named on the store) | Users | Rating | Last updated | Version | What this doesn't automatically prove |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| NordVPN | VPN for Chrome: NordVPN proxy protection | 14,000,000 | 4.3 ★ (9.1K) | 24 Sep 2026 | 6.1.1 | The store counts installs, not active users. |
| Proton VPN | Proton VPN: Fast & Secure | 2,000,000 | 4.3 ★ (4.4K) | 14 Aug 2026 | 1.3.6 | It works on a free Proton account, so its installs include free users. CyberGhost's is the only other one usable without paying. |
| ExpressVPN | ExpressVPN: VPN & proxy browser extension | 1,000,000 | 4.5 ★ (2.8K) | 20 Aug 2026 | 8.0.11.1954 | Its rating is the highest here, but ratings build up over the listing's whole life. |
| Surfshark | Surfshark Chrome VPN extension — fast, private, and free to start | 1,000,000 | 4.0 ★ (3.7K) | 6 Oct 2026 | 5.4.0 | "Free to start" means a 7-day trial on up to 3 devices, per the listing — not a free plan. At 24 MiB it is the largest extension in the group. |
| CyberGhost | CyberGhost VPN – Proxy for Chrome | 800,000 | 3.2 ★ (1.2K) | 23 Sep 2025 | 10.0.0 | It needs no account and costs nothing, but it has had no update in over a year and its listing says it does not block WebRTC leaks. |
| PureVPN | PureVPN Proxy - Best VPN for Chrome | 300,000 | 4.0 ★ (4K) | 5 Oct 2026 | 4.37.12 | The rating count is high for the install base, and the store gives no age breakdown for ratings. |
| Private Internet Access | Private Internet Access – Proxy for Chrome | 200,000 | 3.2 ★ (736) | 7 Jul 2026 | 5.0.4.1810 | The store showed 300,000 on 22 September and 200,000 on 7 October: its rounding buckets move, so small listings can swap places between reads. |
| IPVanish | IPVanish Secure Browser (cloud browser, not a VPN) | 10,000 | 4.8 ★ (75) | 19 Feb 2025 | 1.0.7 | This is a different product category from a VPN, so it is not ranked against the others. |
| TotalVPN | No extension published | — | — | — | — | Its device apps still cover Chrome along with everything else on the computer. |
Read from each chromewebstore.google.com listing on 7 October 2026 (previous read 22 September 2026). Verified October 2026.
Two numbers matter more than the ranking. The first is **the last update**. Chrome ships a new stable version every four weeks, so a proxy extension that has not been updated in more than twelve months (CyberGhost's, last updated 23 September 2025) is not keeping pace with the browser. That does not mean it is broken. The second is **concentration**: one listing holds about 14 of the roughly 19 million installs in this group. For most people, their idea of what a "Chrome VPN" does comes from one product. If you want the free-tier version of this comparison, it is on our [free VPN for Chrome](https://vpnrank.io/best-vpn/free-vpn/for-chrome) guide.
### Which VPNs have an extension for Chrome, Firefox and Edge
The same seven providers that publish a Chrome extension also publish an official Firefox add-on, and Microsoft Edge can run Chrome extensions. Microsoft's own instructions: in Edge, open the Chrome Web Store, choose **Get**, select **Allow** when Edge asks to *Allow extensions from other stores*, review the permissions and choose **Add extension**. ExpressVPN goes further than the others and tells Edge users to do exactly that: it says it has no dedicated Edge extension and warns against Edge-store listings that claim to be ExpressVPN.
Chrome Web Store and addons.mozilla.org listings read 7 October 2026; Edge column from each provider's own documentation.
| Provider | Chrome (Chrome Web Store users) | Firefox (Mozilla daily users) | Microsoft Edge | What this doesn't automatically prove |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| NordVPN | Yes — 14,000,000 | Yes — 311,951 | Yes: NordVPN's extension page names Chrome, Edge and Firefox | Needs a NordVPN subscription in every browser. |
| Proton VPN | Yes — 2,000,000 | Yes — 147,712 | Yes: Proton lists Edge, Brave, Opera and Vivaldi as supported Chromium browsers | The free plan runs on one device and Proton picks the server. |
| Surfshark | Yes — 1,000,000 | Yes — 114,405 | Yes: Surfshark's help centre has an Edge set-up guide | Surfshark says the extension secures only browser traffic. |
| ExpressVPN | Yes — 1,000,000 | Yes — 58,496 | No dedicated Edge extension: install the Chrome version from the Chrome Web Store | Remote Control Mode still needs the Windows, Mac or Linux app. |
| CyberGhost | Yes — 800,000 | Yes — 37,810 | Not documented; the Chrome version installs through the Chrome Web Store route | Both listings say the proxy does not block WebRTC leaks. |
| Private Internet Access | Yes — 200,000 | Yes — 15,186 | Not documented; same Chrome Web Store route | The Firefox add-on was last updated on 21 January 2025. |
| PureVPN | Yes — 300,000 | Yes — 10,093 | Yes: its Chrome listing names Firefox, Edge and Brave extensions | The Firefox add-on was last updated on 16 February 2024. |
| IPVanish | Secure Browser only (10,000) | Secure Browser only (718) | Secure Browser only — a cloud browser, not a VPN | IPVanish's VPN covers Chrome only through its device apps. |
| TotalVPN | No | No | No | Its device apps cover every browser on the computer. |
Chrome Web Store user counts are rounded lifetime-install buckets; Mozilla's figure is average daily users, so the two columns are not comparable. Listings read 7 October 2026; Edge column from ExpressVPN, Proton, Surfshark, NordVPN and PureVPN documentation and Microsoft Support. Verified October 2026.
**Safari** is missing from this table on purpose: it is not on the supported-browser lists that ExpressVPN and Proton publish for their extensions, and on a Mac, Safari is covered by the provider's desktop app instead. Phone browsers are a separate story, answered in the FAQ below; for what the VPN apps themselves can and can't do on iPhone and Android, see our [mobile VPN comparison](https://vpnrank.io/best-vpn/mobile).
### Every one of these extensions is a browser proxy — only ExpressVPN's can also switch on the full app
Providers are unusually direct about this in their own documentation. Private Internet Access's listing calls its extension "a secure proxy" that "does not offer the same level of protection as our VPN service". Surfshark says it "secures only your browser traffic". Proton says its extension "uses HTTPS" and does not cover BitTorrent clients, messaging apps or other browsers. NordVPN's help centre says the app "is still more secure". **ExpressVPN** is the exception: its extension has a *Remote Control Mode* that starts the desktop app and puts the whole device through a VPN tunnel. That mode needs the Windows, Mac or Linux app and is not available on a Chromebook.
Each cell is filled only from the provider's own listing or help centre, read 22 September 2026.
| Provider | Runs without the app? | WebRTC blocking | Per-site bypass | Extra tools | What this doesn't automatically prove |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| NordVPN | Yes. NordVPN says not to run the extension and the app at the same time. | Yes | Yes (Split Tunneling, right-click "Disable VPN for this domain") | DNS-based scam, phishing and ad blocking; browser kill switch | NordVPN's support pages do not name the extension's encryption. |
| ExpressVPN | Yes (Proxy Mode), or it controls the desktop app (Remote Control Mode) | Yes (optional "Block WebRTC" setting) | Smart Routing, Proxy Mode only | HTML5 geolocation spoofing | Remote Control is the only whole-device option in this table, and only on Windows, Mac and Linux. |
| Surfshark | Yes. Surfshark advises against connecting the extension and the app together. | Yes (Settings → VPN Settings) | Yes (Bypasser) | CleanWeb ad, tracker and cookie-pop-up blocking | Surfshark's page lists its VPN protocols, but it does not say they apply to the proxy extension. |
| Private Internet Access | Yes (subscription required) | Yes | Yes (whitelist) | MACE blocker, Force HTTPS, camera/mic/location blocking | We could not read PIA's help-desk article, which returned a 403 error. |
| PureVPN | Yes (subscription or 7-day trial) | Yes | Yes (Bypass Proxy) | GPS location spoofing | It is the only listing that declares handling location data. |
| Proton VPN | Yes, including on a free Proton account | Not documented | Paid plans only | Different server per browser on paid plans | Proton itself lists five limitations, set out in the next section. |
| CyberGhost | Yes, with no account at all (CyberGhost: "no credit card or account needed") | **No**. Its listing says it does not protect against WebRTC leaks. | Not documented | 8 servers in four proxy countries (US, Germany, Netherlands, Romania) | Its last update was 23 Sep 2025. |
From each provider's Chrome Web Store listing and help centre (support.nordvpn.com, expressvpn.com/support, support.surfshark.com, privateinternetaccess.com, support.purevpn.com, protonvpn.com/support, cyberghostvpn.com). Read 22 September 2026; ExpressVPN, CyberGhost and Proton rows re-checked 7 October 2026.
### Proton lists five situations where its own extension does not protect you, and they apply to proxies in general
Proton is the only provider that publishes a limitations page for its extension. It is worth reading, because the same mechanics apply to every browser proxy in the table above. Proton says:
- → **E-mail clients built into the browser:** SMTP and IMAP connections bypass the extension.
- → **Traffic before the extension loads:** anything Chrome sends at start-up, before the proxy is active, is not protected.
- → **Other extensions:** another extension can change Chrome's proxy settings. Proton warns you when that happens.
- → **Experimental browser features:** these may ignore proxy settings.
- → **Fingerprinting:** each instance opens a new HTTPS connection, which makes sessions "slightly more vulnerable to fingerprinting".
None of these makes an extension useless. They are the reason providers tell you to use the app when you need the whole device covered. The [kill switch](https://vpnrank.io/glossary/kill-switch), the protected DNS and the system-wide [WireGuard](https://vpnrank.io/glossary/wireguard) tunnel all belong to the app.
### Chrome has no WebRTC switch for users — the extension is what closes the leak
Plenty of guides still tell you to "disable WebRTC in chrome://flags". That option no longer exists: the flag was removed in Chrome 91 (2021). Google documents only two controls. One is for extensions, the `webRTCIPHandlingPolicy` setting in Chrome's privacy API, which is what VPN extensions use. The other is for administrators, the *WebRtcIPHandling* enterprise policy. Chrome has hidden your *local* network address behind a random `.local` name by default since around Chrome 76 (2019). Your *public* address is what a WebRTC leak exposes, and closing that is up to the extension. Five of the seven extensions document WebRTC blocking. CyberGhost's listing says it does not block it, and Proton does not document it either way.
💡 To check your own setup, connect the extension, open [our WebRTC leak test](https://vpnrank.io/tools/webrtc-leak-test) and compare the public address it shows with the one on [what is my IP](https://vpnrank.io/tools/what-is-my-ip). If your home IP shows up in either, the extension is not handling WebRTC.
### Choose the extension or the app by what you need covered
| Your situation | Use | Why | What this doesn't automatically prove |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Work or school laptop where you can't install software | Extension | NordVPN and Surfshark both say their extension needs no administrator rights. | Your organisation may block extensions by policy, and using one may break its rules. |
| Only browsing on hotel or café Wi-Fi | Extension or app | The extension covers everything you do in Chrome. | Background apps, updates and cloud sync still use the network directly. |
| Torrent client, game launcher, e-mail app, Zoom desktop | App | Every provider in the table says the extension covers Chrome only. | An app on its own does not guarantee a leak-free setup. Test it. |
| Chromebook | The Android app from Google Play | Proton says its Android app secures ChromeOS, Android apps and Linux on the Chromebook. ExpressVPN's Remote Control Mode does not work on ChromeOS. | ExpressVPN says Chromebooks released before 2021 may have lost Play Store access. |
| Both installed on one computer | One at a time | NordVPN and Surfshark both tell you not to connect the extension and the app together. | ExpressVPN's Remote Control Mode is designed to run with its own app. |
| You want a free option in Chrome | Proton VPN's extension on a free Proton account, or CyberGhost's with no account | These are the only two official extensions here that work without paying. Proton's needs a free account; CyberGhost's needs none and offers four countries. | Proton's free plan picks the server for you and applies a cooldown before you can switch. CyberGhost's proxy does not block WebRTC leaks and was last updated on 23 September 2025. |
Built from the providers' own help pages, read 22 September 2026; the free-option row re-checked 7 October 2026.
> Practical ruleIf the traffic you care about leaves from something other than a Chrome tab, you need the app. If it's only Chrome and you can't install software, use an extension that documents WebRTC blocking, and check the last-updated date on the listing before you install it.
### Fake listings with a perfect 5.0 rating use our providers' names — check who published it before you install
Searching the store by brand name turns up lookalikes. On 22 September 2026 we found listings named "ExpressVPN" (403 users), "CyberGhost Vpn" (558 users) and "PureVPN" (21 users). All three came from anonymous Gmail addresses, had Russian-language descriptions and showed a 5.0 rating from between 45 and 215 reviews. The real listings are rated between 3.2 and 4.5. On this store, a perfect score on a small listing is a warning sign, not a reason to trust it.
1. Open the provider's own download page (for example *surfshark.com/download/chrome*) and follow its link to the store, instead of searching the store.
2. On the listing, scroll to the developer block. The contact e-mail should be on the provider's own domain, such as extensions@nordvpn.com or support@surfshark.com.
3. Look for the note "Created by the owner of the listed website", or at least "The publisher has a good record with no history of violations".
4. Check the user count and the last-updated date against the table above.
5. Don't expect a "Featured" badge. Google's store policy lists VPNs among the products it does not currently feature, so no genuine VPN extension has one.
### Google's IP Protection for Chrome was retired in October 2025, and Chrome still has no built-in VPN
Google announced on 17 October 2025 that it was retiring several Privacy Sandbox technologies, IP Protection among them. IP Protection was designed to mask your IP address only from known third-party tracker domains, and only in Incognito. Google's Privacy Sandbox status page, last updated 14 August 2026, lists it as "Scheduled for phaseout". Google's standalone VPN by Google One closed on 20 June 2024. Chrome's own help page says Incognito "doesn't make you invisible": your employer, school or internet provider can still see your activity. In Chrome, masking your IP address still requires an extension or an app.
### When a Chrome VPN extension stops working: symptom and fix
| Symptom | Likely cause | Fix |
| --- | --- | --- |
| The extension says it is connected, but sites still show your country | Another extension controls Chrome's proxy setting | Open chrome://extensions and turn off other proxy, VPN or "privacy" extensions. Proton's extension warns you when this happens. |
| The leak test shows your home IP | WebRTC is not being handled | Turn on the extension's WebRTC setting (Surfshark: Settings → VPN Settings). CyberGhost's extension has no such setting, so use the app. |
| Your bank or a work site refuses to load | The site blocks proxy IP addresses | Add the site to the bypass list (NordVPN Split Tunneling, Surfshark Bypasser, PIA whitelist, PureVPN Bypass Proxy). It will then load on your real IP, unencrypted by the proxy. |
| The connection drops as soon as the desktop app connects | The extension and the app are fighting over the connection | Disconnect one. NordVPN and Surfshark both say not to run them together. |
| An old extension has disappeared or will not turn back on | Chrome 138 disabled Manifest V2 extensions for everyone on 24 July 2025 | Install the provider's current listing from its download page. The store removed the remaining Manifest V2 extensions on 31 August 2026. |
| The extension does not work in Incognito | Extensions are off in Incognito by default | Go to chrome://extensions, open Details and turn on "Allow in Incognito". |
Fixes taken from provider help centres and Chrome's own documentation (developer.chrome.com). Verified September 2026.
## How to Set Up a VPN Extension in Chrome
1
### Start from the provider's own download page
Follow the provider's link to the Chrome Web Store instead of searching the store, because lookalike listings using real VPN brand names exist. On the listing, check that the developer e-mail is on the provider's own domain.
2
### Add the extension to Chrome
Click “Add to Chrome” and confirm the permissions. Chrome will warn that a VPN extension can “read and change all your data on all websites”: that is the standard warning for the proxy permission every VPN extension needs.
3
### Sign in to your account
Click the extension's icon in the Chrome toolbar and sign in. Proton VPN's extension works with a free Proton account and CyberGhost's needs no account; the others need a subscription or a trial.
4
### Select a server and connect
Choose a [server location](https://vpnrank.io/blog/how-to-choose-vpn-server-location) and click Connect. Your Chrome traffic now goes through the provider's encrypted proxy; your other apps still use your normal connection. The extension icon changes to show an active connection.
5
### Turn on WebRTC protection and test it
In the extension settings, make sure WebRTC blocking is on (CyberGhost's extension has none). Then run our WebRTC leak test and check that your real IP does not appear.
## How We Checked These Chrome Extensions
This page is built from public evidence anyone can re-check, not from lab tests: each provider's Chrome Web Store listing, its own help centre, and Google's Chrome documentation.
1
### Store Listing Data
Users, rating and rating count, last-updated date, version, developer name and contact e-mail, read from each chromewebstore.google.com listing on 7 October 2026 (previous read 22 September 2026). The developer block is how we told official listings from lookalikes.
2
### Provider Documentation
What each provider says its extension covers, whether it blocks WebRTC, whether it runs without the app and how per-site bypass works, quoted from its own listing and help centre. Where a provider is silent, the table says "not documented".
3
### Chrome Platform Facts
The chrome.proxy and chrome.privacy APIs, the permission warnings Chrome shows at install, and the Manifest V2 shutdown dates come from Google's Chrome for Developers documentation.
4
### Check It on Your Own Computer
Connect the extension, then compare our WebRTC leak test with what is my IP. If your home address appears in either, the extension is not handling WebRTC on your setup.
No speed or page-load test of the extensions is claimed on this page. Store figures change; the date beside each table is the day we read it.
## Frequently Asked Questions
### Is a VPN extension as secure as a full VPN app?
No. A VPN app adds protections an extension can't: a system-wide tunnel built with a VPN protocol such as WireGuard, OpenVPN or IKEv2, a kill switch that cuts the whole device off if the tunnel drops, and the provider's DNS for every app. The extension encrypts the browser's connection to the provider's proxy and nothing more, which is why PIA's listing says its extension “should not be relied on for equivalent security”. On a shared or work computer where you can't install software, the extension is the practical option; anywhere else, use the app.
### Does a VPN extension protect all browser traffic?
Mostly. A Chrome VPN extension routes the browser’s web traffic through an encrypted proxy, but Proton’s own documentation lists exceptions that apply to proxies in general: e-mail clients built into the browser (SMTP/IMAP), traffic sent before the extension loads, and experimental browser features can bypass it, and another extension can change the proxy setting. It never covers other applications on your computer.
### How do I fix WebRTC leaks in Chrome?
Use an extension that blocks WebRTC, then test it. NordVPN’s listing says its extension disables Chrome’s WebRTC to stop IP leaks, ExpressVPN’s has an optional Block WebRTC setting, and Surfshark’s is under Settings → VPN Settings; CyberGhost’s listing says its proxy does not protect against WebRTC leaks. Chrome itself has no user setting: the old chrome://flags option was removed in Chrome 91 (2021), and Google now documents only an extension setting and an administrator policy. After enabling it, run a WebRTC leak test and compare the address it shows with your real IP.
### Can I use a free VPN extension for Chrome?
Yes, but only two official ones exist among the nine VPNs we track. Proton VPN’s extension works on a free Proton account with no data cap, on one device, with Proton choosing the server. CyberGhost’s needs no account and offers 8 servers in four countries, but it does not block WebRTC leaks and was last updated on 23 September 2025. Surfshark and PureVPN offer 7-day trials instead. Avoid unknown free extensions: the peer-reviewed IMC 2016 study of 283 free Android VPN apps found that 75% embedded third-party tracking libraries and over 38% showed some malware presence on VirusTotal, and the Chrome Web Store hosts lookalike listings that use real VPN brand names.
### Does a Chrome VPN extension work with Incognito mode?
Yes, once you allow it. Extensions are off in Incognito by default: go to chrome://extensions, open your VPN extension’s Details and turn on “Allow in Incognito”. This is a Chrome setting, so it works the same way for every extension in this guide. Google’s proxy documentation adds that Incognito windows inherit the proxy settings of regular windows.
### Why does a VPN extension ask to “read and change all your data on all websites”?
Because that is the warning Chrome attaches to the proxy permission, which every VPN extension needs to re-route traffic: Google’s permissions list shows exactly that text for “proxy”. Extensions that block WebRTC leaks also use the “privacy” permission, which Chrome shows as “Change your privacy-related settings”. The warning is broad because a proxy can, in principle, see every request, so who publishes the extension matters more than the permission list. Before you add one, check that the developer block on the listing shows the provider’s own e-mail domain.
### Which VPN extension is the fastest?
Nobody publishes a like-for-like speed figure for extensions: the stores don’t, the providers don’t, and we have not benchmarked extensions separately. Our measurements cover the VPN apps. In our Q3 2026 benchmark (25 Aug 2026), on a 1 Gbps fiber line the 8 VPNs we benchmark delivered 415–478 Mbps (42–48% of the line, where the VPN server becomes the ceiling); on 200–300 Mbps home lines with a nearby server they kept 80–93%; long or filtered routes using obfuscation kept 55–65%. In proxy mode an extension uses the provider’s proxy servers rather than the VPN tunnel, so treat those figures as context, not as extension results.
### Can I use a VPN extension on my phone?
Generally no. Open the Chrome Web Store on a phone and the button reads “Add to Desktop”: the extension is installed on your computer’s Chrome, not on the phone, according to Google’s Chrome Web Store help. On Mozilla’s add-on store, none of the official add-ons from the providers we track is marked compatible with Firefox for Android (read 7 October 2026). On iPhone and Android, use the provider’s app, which covers every app on the phone.
### Do VPN extensions still work after Chrome’s Manifest V3 change?
Yes, the current ones do. Chrome 138 switched off Manifest V2 extensions for all users, and Google says all remaining Manifest V2 extensions were removed from the Chrome Web Store on 31 August 2026 and can no longer be updated or reinstalled. All seven official VPN extensions were still listed on the store on 7 October 2026, which means they are Manifest V3 builds, including CyberGhost’s, whose last update was in September 2025.
## Related VPN Guides
[Best Free VPN for Chrome](https://vpnrank.io/best-vpn/free-vpn/for-chrome) [How to Set Up a VPN on a Chromebook](https://vpnrank.io/blog/how-to-set-up-vpn-chromebook) [WireGuard: the fastest protocol](https://vpnrank.io/glossary/wireguard) [Best VPN for Firefox](https://vpnrank.io/best-vpn/firefox) [Best VPN for Windows](https://vpnrank.io/best-vpn/windows) [Best VPN for Mac](https://vpnrank.io/best-vpn/mac) [Cheapest VPN Deals in 2026](https://vpnrank.io/best-vpn/cheap-vpn)
## Sources & Further Reading
- [Chrome Web Store: VPN for Chrome — NordVPN proxy protection (read 7 Oct 2026)](https://chromewebstore.google.com/detail/fjoaledfpmneenckfbpdfhkmimnjocfa)
- [Chrome Web Store: Proton VPN: Fast & Secure (read 7 Oct 2026)](https://chromewebstore.google.com/detail/jplgfhpmjnbigmhklmmbgecoobifkmpa)
- [Chrome Web Store: ExpressVPN: VPN & proxy browser extension (read 7 Oct 2026)](https://chromewebstore.google.com/detail/fgddmllnllkalaagkghckoinaemmogpe)
- [Chrome Web Store: Surfshark Chrome VPN extension (read 7 Oct 2026)](https://chromewebstore.google.com/detail/ailoabdmgclmfmhdagmlohpjlbpffblp)
- [Chrome Web Store: CyberGhost VPN – Proxy for Chrome (read 7 Oct 2026)](https://chromewebstore.google.com/detail/ffbkglfijbcbgblgflchnbphjdllaogb)
- [Chrome Web Store: Private Internet Access – Proxy for Chrome (read 7 Oct 2026)](https://chromewebstore.google.com/detail/jplnlifepflhkbkgonidnobkakhmpnmh)
- [Chrome Web Store: PureVPN Proxy (read 7 Oct 2026)](https://chromewebstore.google.com/detail/bfidboloedlamgdmenmlbipfnccokknp)
- [Chrome Web Store: IPVanish Secure Browser (read 7 Oct 2026)](https://chromewebstore.google.com/detail/ekeoaffihmbjndaoglobgjibjgcmjfpo)
- [ExpressVPN: How to use the ExpressVPN browser extension (Remote Control and Proxy Mode, Edge note)](https://www.expressvpn.com/support/vpn-setup/browser-extension-plugin/)
- [CyberGhost: free VPN extension for Chrome (no account, 4 countries, browser traffic only)](https://www.cyberghostvpn.com/en_US/apps/chrome-vpn)
- [Proton VPN: browser extensions available on the Free plan (14 Aug 2024)](https://protonvpn.com/blog/browser-extension-free)
- [Proton VPN: how to change server on the Free plan](https://protonvpn.com/support/change-server-free-plan)
- [Proton VPN: what the Free plan includes](https://protonvpn.com/free-vpn)
- [IPVanish: Secure Browser (cloud browser, Chrome/Firefox/Edge extensions)](https://www.ipvanish.com/secure-browser/)
- [Microsoft Support: add, turn off or remove extensions in Microsoft Edge](https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-edge/add-turn-off-or-remove-extensions-in-microsoft-edge-9c0ec68c-2fbc-2f2c-9ff0-bdc76f46b026)
- [Chrome for Developers: chrome.proxy API](https://developer.chrome.com/docs/extensions/reference/api/proxy)
- [Chrome for Developers: permissions list and install warnings](https://developer.chrome.com/docs/extensions/reference/permissions-list)
- [Chrome for Developers: Manifest V2 deprecation timeline](https://developer.chrome.com/docs/extensions/develop/migrate/mv2-deprecation-timeline)
- [Chrome Web Store Help: install and manage extensions](https://support.google.com/chrome_webstore/answer/2664769?hl=en)
- [Ikram et al., An Analysis of the Privacy and Security Risks of Android VPN Permission-enabled Apps (IMC 2016)](https://research.csiro.au/isp/wp-content/uploads/sites/106/2016/08/paper-1.pdf)
Find Your Perfect VPN Answer 5 quick questions and find your match in 30 seconds
[Take Quiz](https://vpnrank.io/which-vpn#quiz)
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