Best VPN for Chromebook – Detailed Review with Buyers Guide
Chromebooks are famous for their Linux based Chrome OS which is light-weighted, speedy, secure, and powerful. It is the most affordable and fastest device for those who want to perform day-to-day routine activities like web search, streaming videos, working on excel sheet etc. It is also beneficial for those who use Google apps like Google Docs a lot as it is personalized for google apps.
In today's article, I will cover everything about VPN for Chromebook. So, let's begin without any delay.
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Most of the chromebook features work only on the internet or run effectively on the internet, so you need a persistent internet connection to have a Chromebook.
But, the Internet is also a place of problems as there are a lot of phishing websites, malicious websites, hackers etc. who will try to break into your system and steal your personal information. Therefore, you need a VPN to protect your Chromebook from these precarious activities going on the internet.
A VPN not only secures you from hackers, but also helps you to access geo-restricted content. Yes, you read that right. A VPN changes the virtual location of a user by changing the IP address, which ultimately pulls-off the geographical-barriers to watch something International.
Also Check best black friday vpn deals 2022
Why Do You Need a VPN For Chromebook?
There are many reasons to have a VPN for Chromebook, but security is the major one. Chromebook needs the Internet for almost every task and this much exposure to the internet can create a lot of problems, because the Internet is not a safe place. You can be a victim of a phishing attack, man-in-the-middle attack, spamming etc.
And the cost of recovery from these attacks far exceeds the annual cost of a VPN. VPN also gives you privacy by hiding your search history and web-browsing history from your ISP( Internet Service Provider). And the complementary benefit of having a VPN for a Chromebook is that it helps you to access Geo-restricted websites and videos.
It gives you complete freedom to surf on the internet, free from all restrictions imposed by the government and the websites. So, a VPN is not a general need of some Chromebook users, but it is a compulsive need for every one of them.
Benefits of Using Best VPN for Chromebook
Now let's discuss all benefits of using best VPN for Chromebook in detail.
1.Data Security
Your connections with the websites are generally not encrypted, and any hacker can sniff the network and steal our important credentials. But a VPN secures your data from the hackers and third-parties. VPN encrypts your connection from both ends(Chromebook and Website), which makes it impossible for hackers to perform a man-in-the-middle attack.
It also saves us from all sorts of DNS and IPv6 leaks, which adds more security to your Chromebook. Some big VPN service providers offer much more security measures like ad-blocking and kill-switch, which makes VPN an ultimate destination for security.
2. Data-Privacy
Privacy is another issue of today's modern world. Many ISPs and governments try to collect the private information of people to build up a strategy to influence them or to make them buy more products. But, it should be your choice to give them your details or not.
VPN changes your IP address and gives you some fake one, which helps you to stay private on the internet. Consequently, all cookies and data stay safe from the government and ISP(Internet Service Provider).
3. Unrestricted Content Access
If you have a Chromebook and if you can't watch US Netflix because you live in some different location then you will feel disappointed. But don't worry as now you can use a VPN to watch US Netflix, UK BBC, US Amazon Prime Video and much more without any Geo-restriction.
A VPN can change the virtual location of people through it's VPN servers. You can also access any website through a VPN, even one which is blocked by your government like torrent websites.
4. High Speed
Many ISPs throttle the Internet connection of their users when they find that their users are using a lot of data in some particular websites. This is not a fair thing, but you can't do anything against it except using a VPN.
A VPN hides your actual search history from your ISP and shows a fake one to them and lets you enjoy high-internet speed without any problem.
5. Low-Cost
A VPN provides a variety of features and benefits including some rare benefits, which can't be provided with any other tool. But in spite of such significant benefits, a VPN's cost is very reasonable and it doesn't force you to buy any extra equipment to install it in your Chromebook. Installing and setting up a VPN in Chromebook is just a piece of cake.
These were the amazing benefits of using a VPN in your Chromebook. So, which is the best VPN for Chromebook? Here are my favorite picks.
5 Best VPN For Chromebook
I hope that you will be impressed by the amazing features of a VPN and you will be planning to buy one for yourself. But now the question which comes to mind is which VPN will be best for your Chromebook as there are a lot of VPNs in the market portraying themselves as the best one. See, no VPN is perfect in all dimensions and it depends on your needs which VPN will suit you the best.
But I have listed 5 VPNs that give the best value to their users and you will easily find a suitable VPN for you from them. I will recommend NordVPN as it fulfills the demands of a major section of VPN users.
1. NordVPN
60+ Countries | 6 Devices | 30 Day Money-Back Guarantee
NordVPN is one of the reasonable VPNs available in the market with a variety of features to attract people. It has the second-largest network of VPN servers with 5700+ installed in 60+ countries of the world. With a VPN of such a good number of servers, you can easily find an uncrowded server for your Chromebook.
The Internet speed of NordVPN is also good and you can stream HD videos through it without facing any buffering. You can set it up as an Android App or Chrome Browser extension, whichever way you like.
NordVPN is also one of the most secure VPNs available in the market. It provides military-grade encryption technology to its users, which makes it impossible for hackers to break into their Chromebook.
NordVPN also provides many professional and rare security features like DoubleVPN, kill-switch and ad-blocker. It also follows a strict no-log policy to maintain the privacy of its users.
If you love to stream Netflix and other platforms, then this VPN won't disappoint you because it works with all streaming services like Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, BBC iPlayer etc. It allows 6 simultaneous connections, which would be enough to secure all devices of your family.
Moreover, it offers a live chat, email support and a searchable support site to solve every single problem for you in the least possible time. It also comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee to back your side of the deal.
NordVPN Pricing
So, how much will you pay for NordVPN?
2. ExpressVPN
160 Countries | 94 Countries | 5 Devices | 30 Day Money-Back Guarantee
ExpressVPN is one of the fastest VPNs available in the market. If you are one of them who trust a VPN by its internet speed, then this VPN is absolutely for you.
It has more than 3000 servers in 94 countries of the world, therefore, you will easily get a server around you. This VPN will make your Chromebook faster by its lightning-internet speed. It offers an Android app and Chrome Browser extension for your Chromebook.
It is top-notch in security too. It encrypts the data traffic of its users by the strongest encryption technology existing in the world. It also takes care of your privacy by following a strict no-log policy. It is the best option for streaming platforms like Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, BBC iPlayer etc.
It allows 5 simultaneous connections to its users currently, but it will be enough for some families. It offers a searchable support site to its users, which contains detailed-articles regarding many crucial topics. It also offers 24×7 live chat support and email support to solve your problems instantly. It comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee deal to eliminate the risk-factor from your mind.
However, it is a bit costly in the comparison of other popular VPN providers and you can easily find a cheap VPN for you. But at the same time, it offers such a high internet speed and amazing features which no other VPN can offer you.
ExpressVPN Pricing
Want to see how much ExpressVPN costs?
3. SurfShark VPN
60+ Countries | Unlimited Devices | 30-Day Money-Back Guarantee
Surfshark VPN is a new player in the VPN market, yet it is becoming popular and its amazing features are giving tough competition to old-players of this market.
It has more than 1000 servers in the 60+ locations across the globe. It offers an Android App and Chrome Browser Extension to secure your Chromebook from unwanted threats.
It is excellent in the department of security. Thanks to its good encryption technology and kill-switch feature. It also supports your privacy through its clear no-log policy. It supports all media platforms including Netflix and Hulu.
It allows unlimited simultaneous connection to its users which make this more reasonable than other competitors. It also comes with a 24×7 live chat support to assist you in every issue related to VPN.
The only shortcoming of this VPN is that it provides average internet speed to its users and you can't expect to watch 4K videos on this VPN. But overall it is a good choice to go for.
SurfShark Pricing
Just like in the feature section, SurfShark has some pretty interesting twists in the pricing section too. Basically, SurShark can be bought in three different subscriptions.
The weird thing is, SurfShark costs more if you pay for the 1-year plan than if you pay for the 2-year plan. But what can I say is, it’s a pretty good deal and you should grab it.
4. PureVPN
140+ Countries | 10 Dvices | 45-Day Money-Back Guarantee
PureVPN is a Hongkong based VPN service having more than 2000 servers in more than 154 locations of the world. You cannot see this sort of geo-diversity in other VPNs. It supports Chromebook through Android App and Chrome Browser Extension.
Its encryption technology and no-log policy are efficient to take care of your privacy and security. It supports 24×7 live chat customer support to help you with each and every issue regarding VPN. It is a cheap and affordable VPN and if your budget is small, then this VPN will be perfect for you.
However, you can't enjoy good internet speed over this VPN and you will have to compromise with average internet speed. Moreover, it is not effective for streaming platforms like Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, BBC iPlayer, etc. So if you love to stream videos, then stay away from this VPN.
PureVPN Pricing
PureVPN is relatively cheaper (especially the 3-year plan). But of course, you have to go with a prolonged plan if you want to feel the difference. Short term plans (1-month plan) are in fact more expensive than some of the other VPN providers.
5. IPVanish
70 Countries | 5 Devices | 30-Day Money-Back Guarantee
IPVanish is a great VPN in terms of privacy and security. It has more than 1400 servers across different locations of the world, which will be good enough to give you an average-internet speed server near your location. It also offers an Android App and Chrome Browser Extension, therefore, you can easily set it up in your Chromebook.
It provides excellent encryption technology to keep you safe from hackers, but this VPN service doesn't offer a kill-switch feature for Chromebook. You can completely rely on this VPN service for your privacy as it follows a no-log policy, which means it doesn't record any information about you.
Moreover, IPVanish has its own servers, so no third party can access its servers or your personal details. It provided 10 simultaneous connections to its users, which are more than enough to secure your complete family. Also, it offers a 24×7 live chat support to solve your problems in a snap.
It provides a 7-day money-back guarantee deal which is shorter than other competitors. Moreover, it is not good enough for streaming platforms like Netflix and Hulu, because most of its servers are blocked by them. Consequently, you can't use this VPN while streaming any of them.
IPVanish Pricing
IPVanish offers a 2-tier pricing system.
You have the Baseline Tier that supports 3 devices and the Premium Tier that ups the device number to 5. Also, it’s premium-tier users only have the access to Chameleon protocol and IPVanish Cloud.
Regarding the pricing packages, IPVanish has three pricing packages.
Setup Guides For Chromebook VPN
Method 1: Setting Up An Android VPN Application For Chromebook
If you want a VPN app to secure all internet activities of your Chromebook then follow this step-by-step setup guide and set up a VPN will be a piece of cake for you.
- All new Chromebooks support Android apps by default, but if you are using an old one, then you can enable it manually by going to Settings -> Apps ->Google Play Store -> Turn on. But if your Chromebook doesn't support Android apps, then you can go for the second method.
- Now, subscribe to a VPN service that has the android application. Nowadays almost every VPN supports the android platform, but still, you verify it before buying. You can also select any VPN from my list of 5 best VPNs.
- Now, go to the play store and install your VPN provider's application and wait until the installation completes.
- Click on the app and run it. Then login with your credentials and select a server to which you want to connect.
- Done, now you are successfully connected to a VPN.
If your VPN service provider doesn't provide a VPN app, then you can install OpenVPN android app in your Chromebook and can connect to the VPN by submitting your VPN profile and certificate in the OpenVPN app. You can get your profile and certificate from the website of your VPN which you opt for.
Method 2: Setting Up a Chrome VPN Extension
If you want to set up a Chrome VPN Extension instead of using a VPN app, then follow this step-by-step guide to have good results.
- First of all, sign up for a VPN service, which provides a stand-alone VPN chrome browser extension. So that you will have to install a Chrome Extension and not be dependent on installing a software in your Chromebook. For instance, ExpressVPN provides its browser extension complementary to the windows and macOS software. However, other VPN service providers also provide a stand-alone VPN chrome browser extension.
- Visit the Chrome Web Store and search for your VPN and select "add to chrome". Now, a small window will pop-up stating a warning. But don't worry about it because VPNs don't track their users' data, therefore, click on add extension.
- Now, a new icon will show up in your Chrome taskbar. Click on this new icon to run the extension.
- Now, sign-in with your VPN account details i.e. username and password. Then select any server of your choice and hit to connect option and boom!!! you are connected to the VPN.
This is the guide to connect to the VPN through a chrome extension. I hope that it will help you and if you have any doubts related to this guide then feel free to comment section.
Chromebook VPN FAQs
Yes, you will experience some slow down in your internet speed while using a VPN. It happens because a VPN encrypts the data-traffic in real-time and as encryption and decryption take some time therefore your Internet speed will get slow. The frequency of slow-down depends on many things like which VPN you are using. If you need the best results then you should use ExpressVPN which provides lightning-fast internet speed.
You can also follow some steps to increase your internet speed while connected to the Internet. First of all, always select a server that is close to your location. The distance between you and your VPN server is directly related to the slowdown in speed.
Hence, if you select a server that is near to your city then you will face a minimum slow down and everything will work normally, but if you select a server which is on the opposite side of earth then you will have to face miserable internet speed. In addition to this, always use OpenVPN protocol or Wireguard(if it is available for your device) to have maximum internet speed.
No, a free VPN is not a good option for a Chromebook and I have plenty of valid points to support my argument. First of all, a free VPN is not as secure as a paid VPN. A free VPN collects the cookies and personal information of its users and sells them to the data companies who can use it for wrongful purposes.
Free VPNs also sell their users cookies to advertising companies to help them in increasing their sales. But in this whole thing, the privacy and safety of users suffer miserably. Free VPNs also provide limited bandwidth to their users' therefore you will have to experience miserable speed while using a free VPN and you will never be able to stream HD content through it.
Moreover, free VPNs don't work with Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and other platforms, because these platforms block the IP addresses of servers of free VPNs. So, using a free VPN for Chromebook will not be a good idea and I recommend to buy a paid VPN.
Unfortunately, Google doesn't offer its own VPN service but still, you can use chrome browser extensions for having the benefits of a VPN. I have provided a detailed guide in this article about how to use VPN extensions in Chromebook. You can check it out.
Final Words
Chromebooks are providing an interactive, fast and comfortable experience to its users. It is the best choice for an ordinary person who uses his laptop just for using some medium or small software or for browsing the web or for watching videos. The company is working on the technology to make it faster by exploring magnetic RAM. The VPN increases the comfort of a Chromebook user many times and that is why I bring this article for you.
This was all about how and why to use a VPN for Chromebook. If you liked the article then please subscribe to our website and share this article with your friends who have a Chromebook. Also if you have any doubts regarding any topic we discussed in this article, then you can comment it down and I will try to solve your problem.
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