7 Best Free VPN for Chrome in 2025 — Secure, Intuitive & Fast

I rarely recommend using a free VPN — more often than not, it’s just not worth it. Unfortunately, free VPNs have a lot of drawbacks, the most notable being that they might put your data and privacy at risk. Plus, a lot of free providers don’t have Chrome extensions. And out of the ones that do, many have buggy extensions with very restrictive data caps. 

You’re much better off just getting a premium paid VPN, to be honest. Most paid providers come with a browser extension that works very well, and which also provides unlimited data and strong security features. 

Still, if you’re 100% sure you need a free VPN, I’ve got you covered. I’ve been using VPNs for 10+ years (especially while traveling) and have often tried out free providers to see how they work. The free VPNs I mentioned in this article also have decent data caps (some even allow unlimited data), provide good speeds, and are really secure. Plus, most of the providers covered here offer free access to a Chrome extension.

🥇 1. ExpressVPN — Best Overall VPN Service for Chrome in 2025 ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN isn’t free, but it’s still overall the best Chrome VPN on the market. Its browser extension is really simple to use and secure, and the VPN also provides the fastest speeds out there, and it has excellent streaming support. 

Plus, the VPN comes with a risk-free 30-day money-back guarantee. Its refund policy is no-questions-asked, which means you don’t need to meet any requirements to get your money back — so if you’re not 100% satisfied with the VPN after testing it for 30 days, you can easily get a refund. 

Also, I really like how the Chrome extension lets you remotely control the VPN app. Basically, you need to have ExpressVPN’s desktop app installed on your device for you to be able to use the Chrome extension. But, this way, you can control the VPN app via the extension — this provides excellent security, as the extension secures your device’s entire web traffic (not just the browser’s traffic). 

What’s more, the provider’s VPN extension is really intuitive. The interface is simple to navigate, it doesn’t take more than 4–5 seconds to connect to a VPN server, and you get helpful explanations for all settings and features. 

And the VPN extension also has really useful security features. It has an option that prevents websites from using HTML5 to see your real location. Also, the extension has a built-in WebRTC blocker to protect you from WebRTC leaks that could expose your real IP address. 

In addition, ExpressVPN comes with advanced security tools as well. It has a strict no-logs policy that has been proven true in several audits and in a server seizure. And the VPN also has RAM-only servers (every server reset wipes all data), protection against DNS and IPv6 leaks, and perfect forward secrecy, which provides a different encryption key for each VPN connection. 

And this provider comes with tons of other perks too — it has servers in 90+ countries, it maintains blazing-fast connection speeds on both nearby and distant servers, and it’s compatible with 100+ streaming platforms. 

ExpressVPN’s plans start at $5.49/month. It’s a bit pricey, but the value you get makes it worth it — plus, the longest plans often come with additional months of service for free. And, don’t forget, each purchase is backed by a risk-free 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read my full ExpressVPN review

🥈 2. Proton VPN — Best Free VPN for Chrome Proton VPN

Proton VPN has the best free VPN plan for Chrome users (it’s also the best free VPN on the market). The free version provides access to a Chrome extension, and it also supports unlimited bandwidth — so, you can use the VPN to surf the web in Chrome as much as you want. Some free VPNs only let you use 2–10 GB per month.

The provider’s Chrome extension is very easy to use. The interface is simple to navigate, and all settings and features have helpful explanations. And while the free plan doesn’t let you choose which servers you connect to, it still automatically connects you to the fastest server, which is pretty convenient.  

Plus, Proton VPN’s free plan has really good speeds. I tested it on many occasions while traveling, and I always enjoyed very fast load times for websites and HD videos.

And the free plan also provides strong privacy. It doesn’t log any data, as Proton VPN has an audited no-logs policy. Plus, all of the provider’s apps (including the Chrome extension) are open-source, which means anyone can inspect the code for security issues — and they’ve also been audited.

Still, the free plan has some noticeable limitations. In addition to not being able to pick which servers you connect to, the free version only has servers in 5 countries, limits you to 1 device, and it doesn’t have streaming and torrenting support.

Getting the paid version comes with tons of perks. For starters, you unlock additional features in the Chrome extension, such as split-tunneling and Secure Core servers, which route your traffic through 2 VPN servers instead of just 1 server to provide extra security. On top of that, you get access to 6000+ servers in 110+ countries, compatibility with 40+ streaming platforms, P2P servers in 90+ countries, and support for up to 10 connections.

Proton VPN’s paid plans start at $3.59/month, which is pretty affordable. The provider comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee for all plans, just remember it’s prorated.

Read my full Proton VPN review

🥉 3. CyberGhost VPN — Very Minimalistic Free Extension for Chrome CyberGhost VPN

CyberGhost VPN’s free Chrome extension is 100% free to use. On top of that, it also provides unlimited bandwidth (just like Proton VPN). And I think it’s really convenient that you don’t need to create an account to use the extension — you just add it to Chrome and start using it.

And the provider’s VPN extension is extremely minimalist, as there are no settings or features to change. This can be inconvenient for people who like to customize their VPN connection or fine-tune different settings, but I think it makes the VPN a good pick for beginners, as they won’t feel overwhelmed when using it. 

You also get access to servers in 4 countries and good speeds. The provider has servers in Romania, the Netherlands, the US, and Germany, so users in North America and Europe will find it pretty easy to use nearby servers for fast speeds. And speaking of connection speeds, every website I visited while connected to CyberGhost VPN always loaded instantly, and so did HD videos on YouTube. 

Just keep in mind the free extension comes with limitations. You don’t get streaming and torrenting support, and you also don’t get access to CyberGhost VPN’s other features or the whole server network even if you upgrade to the paid version.

I think the paid version is 100% worth it — it unlocks the provider’s desktop and mobile, which are great for browsing the web in Chrome. Also, the paid version adds access to the VPN’s entire server network (10,000+ servers in 95+ countries), it provides access to streaming servers that work with 50+ streaming platforms, and it also lets you use P2P and gaming-optimized servers. 

CyberGhost VPN is affordable, with prices beginning as low as $2.19/month. Also, it backs all long-term plans with a 45-day money-back guarantee (it has a 14-day refund for its shortest plan). 

Read my full CyberGhost VPN review

4. hide.me — Secure Free Chrome VPN With Unlimited Data hide.me

hide.me’s free Chrome extension is really secure and provides unlimited data. The extension protects your data with advanced security and privacy features, including an audited no-logs policy, RAM-only servers, and perfect forward secrecy. The extension also protects against WebRTC leaks — I tested this by running 10+ WebRTC leak tests on its free VPN servers, and I never experienced any leaks. 

You also get access to free server locations in 3 countries — Germany, Switzerland, and the US. You also get pretty good connection speeds, as it didn’t take longer than 2 seconds for sites to fully load when I surfed the web using the provider’s free VPN Chrome extension. Also, I watched a few HD videos on YouTube, and they loaded in around 3 seconds (and they didn’t buffer when I skipped through them). That said, I had faster speeds when using CyberGhost VPN’s extension.

And hide.me’s VPN extension is also really minimalist. There’s a quick-connect tool that automatically connects you to the fastest server location, and it also takes only a few seconds to find and connect to a VPN server. Still, I wish the provider would include quick explanations for the few settings you can enable and disable. 

hide.me has prices that start at $2.59/month. Its paid version provides good value, as it adds access to the provider’s desktop and mobile apps, it comes with great streaming and P2P support, and it includes access to servers in 50+ countries. Also, the provider backs all purchases with a 30-day money-back guarantee. 

5. Windscribe — Intuitive Free Service for Chrome With Good Streaming Support Windscribe

Windscribe is one of the only completely free VPNs that has streaming support. The provider’s free version works with tons of popular streaming platforms, including Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Amazon Prime Video, YouTube TV, and Disney+. 

In addition, the vendor’s extension is very intuitive. I really like how easy it is to navigate its interface, and how “clean” everything looks. Plus, it’s awesome that there are short explanations for all settings and features, and that the VPN allows unlimited simultaneous connections (so you can use its extension on as many devices as you want). 

Plus, Windscribe is a very privacy-focused VPN for Chrome. Its browser extension has tons of cool extra security tools, such as an ad blocker that gets rid of ads and shady sites, and which can even be configured to block social media websites or cookie banners. Plus, the extension can also delete cookies when you close a tab, stop sites from spamming you with notifications, and limit browser fingerprinting (a method used by sites to collect data about your device). 

But Windscribe’s free plan only comes with up to 15 GB per month. You get 2 GB when you sign up, upgrade to 10 GB when you confirm your email, and finally upgrade to 15 GB when you tweet at the company. If this is an issue (and you’re not focused on streaming), try Proton VPN or CyberGhost VPN instead, as their free extensions allow unlimited data.

Windscribe’s paid version starts at $5.75/month, and it adds unlimited bandwidth and access to the provider’s whole server network. There’s also a money-back guarantee, but only for 3 days.

6. Hotspot Shield — Decent Free Extension With Good Speeds Hotspot Shield

Hotspot Shield’s free extension provides very good speeds. I ran 10+ leak tests using this provider, and I always had very fast browsing speeds — websites usually loaded instantly. Also, I loaded a couple of HD videos on YouTube, and they always loaded in around 2 seconds (and they never buffered). 

The provider’s VPN proxy extension is also really feature-rich. It comes with many privacy-focused features, including a tool that blocks malicious sites, ads, and ad trackers. It also comes with a WebRTC leak protection feature, and there’s also an option to block cookies as well. 

But you can only use a US server location, and get up to 500 MB per day. You get 250 MB per day by default, and can upgrade to 500 MB per day creating an account. This still amounts to around 15 GB per month, which is decent — still, if this is a deal-breaker for you, consider Proton VPN or CyberGhost VPN, as they both have free extensions with unlimited data (and they also have free locations in more than 1 country).

I think Hotspot Shield is pretty pricey, as its paid version starts at $6.66/month. Still, you get good value since the paid plans add access to a large server network and great streaming support — plus, they’re all backed by a generous 45-day money-back guarantee.

7. TunnelBear — User-Friendly Chrome VPN With Tons of Free Servers TunnelBear

TunnelBear’s free proxy extension lets you use all of the provider’s VPN servers. You can basically connect to 5,000+ servers in 45+ countries, which is very good — most free extensions limit you to servers in just 1–5 countries. 

I also like how intuitive the provider’s VPN proxy extension is. There’s a dropdown menu that gives you instant access to all of the provider’s servers — on average, it doesn’t take more than 4–5 seconds to find and connect to your desired location. Plus, I like how the provider supports unlimited simultaneous connections. 

Still, the provider’s free extension limits you to 2 GB per month. This is unfortunately only enough for a few hours of basic web browsing. If this is an issue, try Proton VPN or CyberGhost VPN instead since both vendors have free extensions that allow unlimited data. 

TunnelBear has plans that begin at $3.33/month, which I find pretty affordable. Getting the paid version is the only way to remove the monthly data cap. Unfortunately, the provider doesn’t offer a money-back guarantee.

Read my full TunnelBear review

Quick Comparison of My Top Picks

	Starting Price	Data Limit	Chrome Web Store App	WebRTC Leak Protection	Number of Countries Available in Extension	Money-Back Guarantee
🥇 1. ExpressVPN	$5.49/month	Unlimited			100+	30 days
🥈 2. Proton VPN	$3.59/month	Unlimited			5 (free version) 110+ (paid version)	30 days (prorated)
🥈 3. CyberGhost VPN	$2.19/month	Unlimited			4	45 days (long-term plans) 14 days (shortest plan)
4. hide.me	$2.59/month	Unlimited			3	30 days
5. Windscribe	$5.75/month	Up to 15 GB per month			10+ (free version) 60+ (paid version)	3 days
6.  Hotspot Shield	$6.66/month	Up to 500 MB per day			1 (free version) 5+ (paid version)	45 days
7. TunnelBear	$3.33/month	2 GB per month			45+

How I Chose the VPNs on This List

• I picked VPNs with great Google Chrome extensions. I made sure to only recommend VPNs that have Chrome extensions that are simple to use. Also, most of my top picks provide free access to their Chrome extensions.
• I only added free VPNs with good data limits to my list. Many free services have restrictive daily or monthly data caps. I personally recommend choosing a free provider that allows at least 2 GB per month (Proton VPN allows unlimited data). 
• I only ranked free VPNs that are safe to use. Most free VPNs put your data at risk, as they either log and share it, or lack essential security tools. But all the Chrome VPNs I recommend have military-grade encryption, a no-logs policy, a kill switch, and DNS leak protection. 
• I only recommended Chrome VPNs with good speeds. When you use a VPN, it will always slow down your original speeds — and free VPNs cause more noticeable slowdowns since they usually have small server networks. So, I tested each VPN I added to my list to make sure it maintains fast browsing speeds.
• I made sure the VPNs’ paid versions provide great value. If you decide to upgrade to the paid version, it needs to be worth the money. Basically, it should provide access to user-friendly apps for most major platforms, good streaming support, and a large server network. Also, bonus points if the paid plans come with a generous money-back guarantee.

Risks and Drawbacks of Using Free Chrome VPNs 

• Free VPNs put your data at risk — A lot of free providers lack essential security features, like military-grade encryption or a kill switch. Plus, some free vendors also log your personal data (like your IP address or web traffic), and share it with data brokers and advertisers for a profit. 
• Free services don’t have Chrome extensions — Many free VPNs don’t allow users with a free account to use their browser extensions.
• Free VPNs are hard to use — Sadly, a lot of free browser VPN extensions you might come across feature poor design, which makes them difficult (and sometimes even annoying) to use.
• Free providers limit data usage — With a free VPN, you usually have to deal with a daily or monthly data cap. On average, free VPNs limit you anywhere between 2 to 10 GB per month. Still, there are some exceptions (like Proton VPN and CyberGhost VPN, for example) that provide unlimited data. 
• Free VPNs have small server networks — Most free VPNs only provide access to a very small server network. For example, you might only be able to use server locations in 3–5 countries. The only exception I found so far is TunnelBear, which lets you use 5,000+ servers in 45+ countries for free (but it does limit you to 2 GB per month).
• Free services have slow speeds — With free VPNs, you often have to deal with noticeable slowdowns. That’s because they usually only provide access to small server networks, so their servers get overcrowded fast (plus, it’s also hard to use nearby servers to get fast speeds).
• Free providers don’t have streaming support — Free vendors don’t refresh the IPs of their free server locations fast enough. This means you won’t be able to use the free version to unblock sites. The only streaming-friendly free VPN I found so far is Windscribe (but keep in mind it limits you to up to 15 GB per month).
• Free VPNs spam you with ads — To make money, many free VPNs display ads in their apps and extensions. Unfortunately, this makes using their services pretty inconvenient.
• Free VPNs don’t have good customer support — Free services can’t afford to invest in responsive customer support, so you won’t be able to rely on 24/7 live chat support to solve your issues. At best, you might get a support library and email support. However, free VPNs usually have outdated support articles, and their email support is non-responsive.

Best Free VPNs for Chrome in 2025 — Final Thoughts: