Best VPN for Chromebooks for 2025: Browse the Web and Stream in Private

NordVPN is the best overall VPN for Chromebooks because of its best-in-class internet speeds, polished app design and fantastic streaming support. 

Surfshark is the best value VPN for Chromebooks since it's easy on the pocketbook, offering an intuitive app, great connectivity and solid unblocking of streaming services like Netflix or Amazon Prime Video. 

Proton VPN is the best free VPN for Chromebooks, offering a compelling premium plan upgrade option for folks who need more servers and additional app control. It delivers outstanding privacy features, including the ability to hide the fact that it’s installed on your device, alongside snappy internet speeds and top-notch streaming capabilities.

Chromebooks have evolved from basic devices into full-fledged computers, which are now commonly used in schools, workplaces and at home for fun. Because of their Android app support, Chromebooks let you easily download VPNs. Several years ago, I purchased a Chromebook, and now I rarely fire up my gaming laptop unless I’m embroiled in a game on Steam. A VPN was one of the first apps I downloaded on my Chrome OS laptop. Virtual private networks add a layer of privacy, letting you hide your public IP address from your internet service provider, apps or websites. 

I often use a VPN to unblock region-restricted content on my Chromebook, like streaming foreign Netflix, Disney Plus or BBC iPlayer libraries. But they’re also helpful for various situations, such as adding peace of mind while browsing the web, streaming videos or lowering ping while gaming. Here are the best Chromebook VPNs to keep you privately browsing on the go.

ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN is an excellent VPN for Chromebooks thanks to its streamlined app, generous international server network and robust privacy as well as transparency. Whether you want to stream Terminator Zero on Netflix or avoid the prying eyes of your ISP, Express has you covered. 

The ExpressVPN Android app worked flawlessly on my Acer Flip 713. Its user-friendly interface is minimalist, which works just as well for VPN newcomers and privacy aficionados alike. In my testing, it was a breeze to navigate the app’s settings, whether switching VPN protocols or enabling split tunneling. 

But its high price makes ExpressVPN hard to recommend if you’re even moderately trying to stay on a budget. You’ll pay $100 for the first year (renewing at $117 annually) or $140 total for the first two years (then $150 per year upon renewal). By comparison, NordVPN and Proton VPN each set you back $60 for the first year, which is $40 less than Express charges. Surfshark costs just $48 for the first year, a significant savings over Express’s annual price. Granted, you do get some sweet extras with ExpressVPN’s one-year plan, like its Keys password manager, identity theft insurance and a credit scanner; however, you may be overpaying for services if you only want a VPN. Moreover, if you’re willing to go the a la carte route, you can find better password managers elsewhere, including Bitwarden and 1Password. If you want to bundle VPN service with a password manager, consider NordVPN’s NordPass or Proton VPN’s Proton Pass.

Read our ExpressVPN review.

PIA

Private Internet Access, or PIA, is a wallet-friendly VPN provider. At $40 for the first year (renewing at $50 annually) or $79 total for three years of service, it undercuts other budget VPNs like Surfshark and Mullvad. While its US jurisdiction lies within the Five, Nine and 14 Eyes data-sharing alliances, PIA nevertheless maintains solid privacy and transparency. It has one of the most reader-friendly privacy policies I’ve perused, an audited no-logs policy and open-source apps (meaning anyone can inspect the source code to check for vulnerabilities).

PIA’s middling speeds -- I measured an unimpressive 48% average internet speed loss in my 2025 testing -- make it a questionable choice for streaming or gaming. For a few dollars more, I’d recommend Surfshark, which is significantly faster and more user-friendly. But PIA works fine for casual users with fast base internet speeds who want extra privacy while browsing the web without breaking the bank.

Read our PIA review. 

Generally, I recommend using a native VPN app rather than a VPN browser plugin on your Chromebook for the most functionality. Most Chromebooks support Android apps, meaning you can install your provider’s VPN app directly from the Google Play Store. With a native app, you can encrypt all of your device’s traffic, so everything from your web browser to your Netflix app gets routed through a virtual private network server. 

By comparison, a Chrome browser extension typically works on websites in your web browser. For instance, if you want to unblock BBC iPlayer videos with a browser extension, you’d need to visit BBC iPlayer in Google Chrome rather than using the iPlayer app on your Chromebook. The exception is ExpressVPN’s Chrome plugin, which operates mostly as a remote control and relies on the device app also being installed. If you’re using a different web browser, like DuckDuckGo or Brave, there are plenty of VPN browser add-ons available.

While VPN apps normally tunnel all of your traffic through an encrypted connection by default, you can enable split tunneling to selectively route apps through a VPN. For example, if you want to stream foreign Amazon Prime Video libraries while checking your email without triggering a CAPTCHA, you can set only the Prime Video app to use a VPN connection. 

I tested VPNs on ChromeOS by installing a half dozen different apps on my Acer Spin 713. Then, I used VPNs for different activities, from checking my email to streaming videos and downloading apps or games to assess their suitability for everyday tasks. To get a sense of how each app ran on my Chromebook, I played around with different settings, tried multiple servers and analyzed the app's ease of use. Additionally, we benchmark VPN providers by running over 250 internet speed tests across an array of international servers to get a sense of performance at home and from abroad.

Chromebook compatibility

Most modern Chromebooks support Android apps, so you can install virtually any VPN Android app on your device. The majority of VPN providers offer Android apps for whole-device protection. A VPN connection encrypts everything from traffic in your Google Chrome browser to apps. Unlike on most Android phones, the majority of VPN Android apps on Chromebooks let you pick from portrait (phone) or landscape (tablet) windows. There’s even typically a resizable window option. If you don’t want to use an Android app, you can use a browser plugin, which may be slightly more lightweight but only encrypts traffic from your web browser, not apps.

Price

VPNs cost anywhere from around $5 to $15 for a monthly plan. Generally, most annual plans provide greater savings, running you $40 to $100 per year. While you’ll typically get the most significant discount by going with a multiyear plan, we recommend sticking with a one-year plan for the best value with the lowest risk. We generally don’t recommend two-plus year subscriptions because of how volatile the VPN space is -- for example, your VPN speeds may get slower or your provider might suffer a data breach. 

Server network

Most of our top-rated VPNs offer thousands of servers spread across 100-plus countries. For international travel, make sure your desired VPN provider maintains servers in the nations you’re visiting. If you want to stream NFL games, soccer matches or other regional sporting events, you’ll want to consider what cities a VPN has servers in.

Internet speed

All VPNs slow down your internet speeds because your traffic gets encrypted and takes a more indirect route when communicating with apps and websites. But the fastest VPNs only drop your internet download speeds by an average of 25% or less. If you’ve got reasonably fast internet speeds, like fiber-optic internet or even a reliable 5G signal, you should be fine with most VPN companies. However, for more bandwidth-intensive activities, like 4K video streaming or cloud game streaming, you’ll want a VPN provider with less than 20% internet speed reduction, like NordVPN, Mullvad VPN or Surfshark. 

Streaming support

Because VPNs mask your public IP address, you can make apps or websites think you’re in another location, therefore unblocking geographically protected content, like foreign Netflix libraries. A VPN may let you save money on streaming service subscriptions or get better video quality watching movies and shows on your phone. You'll want fast speeds and excellent geo-unblocking support for streaming with a VPN. Consider the streaming services you want to use, like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video, and make sure your VPN provides access. Additionally, for simple living room streaming, make sure your VPN has an app for your smart TV, Android TV box, Amazon Fire TV device or Apple TV. 

Privacy features

VPNs are privacy tools, so at a minimum, you’ll want to look for modern encryption (AES-256-bit or ChaCha20 depending on the VPN protocol) and an audited no-logs policy. For more serious privacy concerns, consider a VPN provider with jurisdiction outside of the Five, Nine or 14 Eyes intelligence-sharing alliances. Additionally, if you’re worried about privacy, you may appreciate advanced features like a double VPN and Tor over VPN servers, which make it even harder to trace traffic back to its source.