Extensions for google chrome vpn. VPN for browsers on Android and PC: Download and enable. Enable VPN in Google Chrome

If you don’t want to spend a lot of time setting up your connection and want quick access to the functions of your VPN provider, then using a special extension for Chrome is what you need.

You can control your VPN and change the geolocation of servers without minimizing your browser.
With our handy instructions, setting up a VPN will take just minutes.

What you will need

Make sure you have the latest version of the Chrome browser.
Also:

  • Subscribe to a VPN service that provides a Chrome extension. Not all providers provide this service, so we advise you to check the availability of an extension before making a long-term payment.
  • An account provided by your VPN provider. Make sure you activate it via a special email. Otherwise, it may not work.
  • You may need your VPN's desktop app. Many providers require that the application be run alongside the Chrome extension, in parallel.

As you explore the Chrome Web Store, you'll come across many different VPN extensions. Before you choose at random, we recommend checking out our independent VPN review to make sure your choice will give you the protection you need.

How to Install a VPN Extension in Chrome

Here's how to install the extension in Chrome using ExpressVPN as an example:

  • Head to the Chrome Web Store and look for your VPN provider there. Here's what the ExpressVPN extension looks like.
  • Click on the Add to Chrome button to install the VPN extension.
  • A window will appear in front of you, which specifies the permissions that are needed for the extension to work. Please read them carefully before clicking Add Extension.

  • The button on the site will turn green, which means your VPN extension is installed.
  • In Chrome, you will see an icon for your extension in the upper right corner. Click on it.

  • Select a location or, if you're happy with it, stay on Smart Location.
  • Click on the big round button to connect to the VPN.

Once you have installed the extension in your browser, it will automatically be installed on other desktop browsers you use if you have a Google account.
You don't need to enter your login details if you use the ExpressVPN extension, as it takes them from the desktop app automatically. It also redirects absolutely all traffic through the VPN, not just browser activity.

The best VPN services with a Chrome extension in 2019:

Need more help?

If something is not working as you expected, you should first contact your ISP.
It's also a good idea to set up a VPN on another device, such as a phone, to make sure your account is activated and your login details are correct.
If you see a cross on the ExpressVPN extension icon, it means the extension cannot find the desktop application. It needs to be installed first for everything to work correctly. If you are sure that you have installed it, then check the installation directory and the application settings are correct. You can also try reinstalling the Chrome extension.

Today I would like to touch on the topic of specialized browser extensions Google Chrome.

The blocking of certain Internet resources is now unlikely to surprise anyone. However, any problem always generates a corresponding solution. Surely you know that there are specialized resources and applications that can effectively bypass various online prohibitions. In this article you will get acquainted with the best free VPN-extensions.

A fairly popular VPN service that successfully combines speed and excellent anonymity. The extension's arsenal includes 15 servers that hide your real location.


To start using TunnelBear, you need to download a special proprietary application to your PC and create your personal account in it. After completing registration, you will be provided with 750 MB of traffic for a month. Not a lot, but better than nothing.


An excellent VPN, which, however, is not without some paid services. Interestingly, the extension does not require you to go through a registration procedure. It is worth noting that the free version of the service has a limited set of servers. If you are unable to do without a high-speed connection, then a paid extension option will come to your aid.


A completely free VPN that gives you complete freedom in terms of traffic consumption. There are 15 different servers available for connection. Note that the extension is based on the principle of peer-to-peer service. This means that all devices connected to the system are involved in the process of traffic exchange.



Another good VPN extension. The main disadvantage of Touch VPN is the small number of available servers (4 pieces). It is also worth noting that the speed of data exchange in the service directly depends on the number of users using your server at the moment.

To work with the service, you must go through a simple registration procedure. After authorization is completed, you will become the proud owner of a completely free VPN with unlimited traffic. Tell me, what else does an average Internet user need to be happy? Among the key options of the extension, one can also highlight the automatic activation of a secure connection when certain resources are opened.

Bypassing RuNet blocking


I've been using this anonymizer lately. Lightweight, simple, free with no traffic restrictions. It is possible to work in automatic mode using the click and forget type.

Today, the abbreviation VPN can be heard literally on every corner. Services, browser plugins, and even routers with a VPN connection option are appearing. Many users use a VPN connection to access websites blocked in the country. Others use it to improve overall security when accessing the Internet. However, most VPN users do not know how it works.

About VPN technology in simple terms

The term VPN stands for Virtual Private Network. Let's look at this definition in detail. We will start from the word Private, which is the main thing in this term. It means that:

The VPN connection is secure, private and created personally for the user using certain virtual servers. The information passes through this server and then reaches the user without the ability to track it. It can be compared to a car that is hiding in a tunnel with many exits. An outside observer cannot see where this car is going inside the tunnel, and will not be able to figure out exactly where it will exit.

There is usually no need to use a VPN connection all the time. It slows down your network speed, so it's best to turn on your VPN before visiting a site where you want to remain anonymous.

What is such a secure connection used for:


I would like to talk about whether using a VPN violates Russian laws. In reality, of course not. And it’s not even that a VPN can be used for a variety of purposes, not just to access prohibited sites. The technology for blocking websites in Russia is not ideal. Just recently, my ISP blocked access to many sites that I didn’t even think about banning; they came under attack by accident. Other users encountered the same problem. In this case, although the VPN was used to bypass the block, it allowed access to services, including those for which people paid their money (for example, the Playstation Network service). Maybe someday the use of VPN itself will be banned, but I hope it doesn’t come to that. As for accessing sites that are prohibited in our country, I in no way encourage anyone to use loopholes in the system. The purpose of this article is to give people information about VPNs, not to teach them how to bypass official bans.

Video: Briefly about VPN

VPN in Google Chrome

Some browsers have the option to enable VPN by default, but Google Chrome is not one of them. To use a VPN connection in this browser, you must install one of the popular custom extensions.

One of the advantages of using VPN extensions is that they do not have any special technical requirements. If you are using the Google Chrome browser itself, then VPN extensions will work correctly.

Extensions for accessing VPN in Google Chrome

There are many extensions for accessing VPN, but they all differ in connection quality and other parameters. But before we begin reviewing specific extensions, let’s figure out how to install them:

  1. After opening the browser, find and click on the icon with three horizontal stripes in the corner of the screen.

    Click on the button with three stripes to open a drop-down menu

  2. Go to the “Tools” or Tools section.
  3. Then select Extensions.

    In the "Tools" section, select "Extensions"

  4. You will see a list of all installed extensions. Here you need to click on the line “Get more” to open the extension store.

    In the extension selection window, click the Get more extensions button

  5. After selecting the extension in the store, click on the plus that appears on the right side of the page.

    Click on the plus on the extension page to add it

  6. And confirm its addition using the “Add” button.

    Click the “Add” button for the extension to be added

  7. The extension is installed in your browser.

ZenMate

The ZenMate browser extension offers easy access to VPN servers. In the free version of the extension, you can choose a server in one of four countries. If you have a paid premium account, the choice will increase to thirty. The extension requires simple registration once added to the browser:


This extension has only one serious drawback. Servers in the free version are often overloaded, so the connection speed may not be satisfactory at all. The paid version of the extension does not have this problem; although the speed is reduced, the Internet works fine.

The paid version of the ZenMate extension has higher Internet speeds

Video: How to use the ZenMate extension

Hola VPN

The Hola service was quite popular at one time. Easy installation of the extension, completely free access to servers. But, unfortunately, the developers turned out to be not the most honest people. The fact is that the Hola service not only opened a VPN connection to the user, but also installed malicious software on the computer, used user traffic for DDOS attacks, and had other hidden and unpleasant effects. Now the rating of this service on most sites is very low.

Hola extension has been found dangerous for users

Browsec

Next up is the Browsec service. It is entirely in English. The price of the paid version is from 220 rubles per month. In the free version you can choose a server from one of four countries, and in the paid version - from twenty-four. This extension is good at protecting user traffic: it hides the user’s IP address, encrypts his data, and helps bypass blocking.

Installing this extension is extremely simple:


The downside of this extension is the complete lack of information about its developers. The entire privacy policy remains hidden, and no one guarantees that the situation with the Hola extension will not be repeated here. On the other hand, so far the developers have not given any cause for alarm. This is a good free extension with no traffic limit.

Chromebook users can remotely connect to a private network (such as school or work) using a VPN connection.

Note. If you're having trouble setting up a VPN on your work or school Chromebook, contact your administrator for help.

Restrictions. Chromebooks do not support IKEv2, the XAUTH command, or IPsec connections without L2TP.

How to create a connection

How to connect to a VPN

Split and full tunneling

Typically, VPN networks use full tunneling. In this case, all traffic from Chrome windows, Chrome and Android apps goes through the VPN connection. With split tunneling, some sites are accessed through the Chromebook's physical network connection. This configuration is suitable in the following cases:

  • If the VPN provides access only to internal sites.
  • If you need to communicate with devices on your local network, such as printers, while connected to a VPN.

Split tunneling can be configured in many VPN apps for Chrome and Android, as well as in the built-in OpenVPN client. To do this,

The governments of Ukraine, Russia and other countries are increasingly blocking access to certain Internet resources. Suffice it to recall the register of banned sites of the Russian Federation and the blocking by the Ukrainian authorities of Russian social networks and a number of other Runet resources. It is not surprising that users are increasingly looking for a VPN browser extension that allows them to bypass restrictions and increase privacy when surfing. A full-fledged and high-quality VPN service is almost always paid, but there are pleasant exceptions. We will look at them in this article.

Free VPN Browser Extensions

Full functionality in most of the extensions listed below is only available in paid versions. However, free versions of such extensions are also suitable for bypassing site blocking and increasing the level of privacy when surfing. Let's take a closer look at the best free VPN browser extensions.

Hotspot Shield

Users are offered a paid and free version of Hotspot Shield

One of the most popular VPN extensions. There is a paid version and a free version, with somewhat limited features.

Advantages:

  • effective bypass of site blocking;
  • one-click activation;
  • no advertising;
  • no registration required;
  • no traffic restrictions;
  • a large selection of proxy servers in different countries (PRO version, in the free version the choice is limited to several countries).

Flaws:

  • The free version has a limited list of servers: only the USA, France, Canada, Denmark and the Netherlands.

Browsers: Google Chrome, Chromium, Firefox version 56.0 and higher.

SkyZip Proxy

SkyZip Proxy is available in Google Chrome, Chromium and Firefox

SkyZip uses the NYNEX network of high-performance proxy servers and is positioned as a utility for compressing content and speeding up page loading, as well as providing anonymity for surfing. For a number of objective reasons, a significant acceleration in loading web pages can only be felt with a connection speed of less than 1 Mbit/s, however, SkyZip Proxy copes well with bypassing restrictions.

A significant advantage of the utility is that there is no need for additional settings. After installation, the extension itself determines the optimal servers for redirecting traffic and performs all the necessary manipulations. Enabling/disabling SkyZip Proxy is done by a single click on the extension icon. Green icon - the utility is enabled. The icon is gray - disabled.

Advantages:

  • effective bypass of blocking in one click;
  • speed up page loading;
  • traffic compression up to 50% (including images - up to 80%, through the use of the “compact” WebP format);
  • no need for additional settings;
  • work “on wheels”, all SkyZip functionality is available immediately after installing the extension.

Flaws:

  • download acceleration is felt only at ultra-low network connection speeds (up to 1 Mbit/sec);
  • not supported by many browsers.

Initially, the extension was supported for Firefox, but, unfortunately, the developer later refused support.

TouchVPN

One of the disadvantages of TouchVPN is the limited number of countries where servers are located

Like the vast majority of other participants in our rating, the TouchVPN extension is offered to users in the form of free and paid versions. Unfortunately, the list of countries where servers are physically located is limited. There are four countries to choose from: the USA and Canada, France and Denmark.

Advantages:

  • no traffic restrictions;
  • selection of different countries of virtual location (although the choice is limited to four countries).

Flaws:

  • limited number of countries where servers are located (USA, France, Denmark, Canada);
  • Although the developer does not impose restrictions on the amount of data transferred, these restrictions are self-imposed: the speed is significantly affected by the total load on the system and the number of users using it simultaneously*.

We are talking primarily about active users using the server you have chosen. When changing servers, the loading speed of web pages may also change, for better or worse.

Browsers: Google Chrome, Chromium.

Tunnel Bear VPN

An expanded set of features is available in the paid version of TunnelBear VPN

One of the most popular VPN services. Written by TunnelBear programmers, the extension offers a list of servers geographically located in 15 countries to choose from. To work, you just need to download and install the TunnelBear VPN extension and register on the developer’s website.

Advantages:

Browsers: Google Chrome, Chromium.

Browsec VPN for Firefox and Yandex Browser

Browsec VPN is easy to use and does not require additional settings

One of the simplest free browser solutions from Yandex and Firefox, but page loading speed leaves much to be desired. Works with Firefox (version 55.0), Chrome and Yandex Browser.

Advantages:

  • ease of use;
  • no need for additional settings;
  • traffic encryption.

Flaws:

  • low page loading speed;
  • There is no option to select the country of virtual location.

Browsers: Firefox, Chrome/Chromium, Yandex.Browser.

Hola VPN servers are located in 15 countries

Hola VPN is radically different from other similar extensions, although the difference is not noticeable to the user. The service is free and has a number of significant advantages. Unlike competing extensions, it functions as a distributed peer-to-peer network in which the role of routers is performed by computers and gadgets of other system participants.

Advantages:

  • a choice of servers physically located in 15 countries;
  • the service is free;
  • there are no restrictions on the amount of data transferred;
  • using computers of other system participants as routers.

Flaws:

  • using computers of other system participants as routers;
  • limited number of supported browsers.

One of the advantages is also the main disadvantage of expansion. In particular, the developers of the utility were accused of having vulnerabilities and selling traffic.

ZenMate VPN requires registration

A good free service for bypassing site blocking and increasing the level of security when surfing the global network.

Advantages:

  • there are no restrictions on the speed and volume of transmitted data;
  • automatic activation of a secure connection when accessing the appropriate resources.

Flaws:

  • registration on the ZenMate VPN developer website is required;
  • small selection of virtual location countries.

The choice of countries is limited, but for most users the “gentleman’s set” offered by the developer is quite enough.

Browsers: Google Chrome, Chromium, Yandex.

Free VPN in Opera browser

VPN is available in browser settings

By and large, the VPN use case described in this paragraph is not an extension, since the function of creating a secure connection using the VPN protocol is already built into the browser. Enabling/disabling the VPN option is done in the browser settings, “Settings” - “Security” - “Enable VPN”. You can also enable or disable the service by single clicking on the VPN icon in the Opera address bar.

Advantages:

  • work “from the wheels”, directly after installing the browser and without the need to download and install a separate extension;
  • free VPN service from the browser developer;
  • no subscription;
  • there is no need for additional settings.

Flaws:

  • The function is not sufficiently developed, so from time to time there may be minor problems with bypassing the blocking of certain websites.

Browsers: Opera.

Please note that the free extensions listed on our list will not meet the needs of all users. Truly high-quality VPN services are not completely free. If you feel that none of the listed options suits you, try the paid versions of the extensions.

They are typically offered with a trial period and, in some cases, a 30-day refund option. We have reviewed only some of the popular free and shareware VPN extensions. If you wish, you can easily find other extensions on the Internet to bypass site blocking.