Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) are becoming increasingly popular. They have hundreds of uses, from companies or organizations that want to provide functionality to their work-from-home employees, or regular Internet users who want to circumnavigate geo-blocking restrictions.
Recently, Opera decided to offer a free VPN within the browser for all its users. If you’re a Chrome user, you probably want something similar you can use within your favorite browser.
There are lots of paid VPN options available, but there are also some really good free ones, especially for Google Chrome users.
Here are six of the best Chrome VPNs for you to check out.
Note: If you are using these VPNs with the hope of accessing Netflix or BBC iPlayer, be aware these services and many others are now trying to block access for VPN-based IP addresses.
1. DotVPN
DotVPN has been around since 2014 and is now starting to gain serious traction. It has more than 500,000 users according to the Chrome Web Store, and has an average review score of 4 stars (from almost 5,000 reviews).
Some of its best features include:
- Unlimited bandwidth
- 12 virtual locations (Canada, Germany, France, Japan, Netherlands, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Russia, the United States, and the United Kingdom)
- Unlimited switches between locations
The developers are also keen to underline the security benefits; it uses 4096-bit key encryption – that’s two times greater than modern banking standards.
2. ZenMate VPN
ZenMate VPN brands itself as a “cyber security solution”. They have a worldwide network of highly secure proxy servers which encrypt your information and protect you from malicious websites.
The ZenMate VPN service can be broken down into three parts – Internet privacy, Wi-Fi security, and unrestricted Internet access.
With regards to privacy, this will prevent trackers from banner ads, website analytics, and social media following you around the web. From a Wi-Fi perspective it will add an extra line of defense when you’re on unsecured public networks, and from an unrestricted Internet standpoint it will help you overcome geo-blocking.
ZenMate VPN also offers a premium service which improves the speed, adds extra locations, and offers 24/7 support. It’s available from $7.99 per month.
3. Hotspot Shield
Hotspot Shield is one of the new kids on the block.
Before we discuss its features, it is important to note that the service is operated by Anchor Free. Anchor is widely considered to be one of the most reliable companies in the industry; it’s more than 10 years old, has seen in excess of 400 million downloads across its different apps, and currently has 20 million active users in 190 countries.
In terms of the service, it’s both free and unlimited and has versions available for iOS, Android, Windows Phone, OS X, and Windows.
Like ZenMate, there is also a premium version of Hotspot Shield. It starts at $2.08 per month, depending on your subscription length.
4. CyberGhost VPN
CyberGhost VPN is another provider that makes privacy and security its main selling points, rather than geo-blocking. According to its website, the service is responsible for blocking nearly 150 million adverts, 210,000 malicious websites, and 260 million tracking attempts.
CyberGhost VPN list nine key features of its service:
- Ease of Use: One click on/off button
- Protection from hackers, cyber scams, bank-account thefts, and phishing e-mail fraud
- Anonymous browsing
- Ad-free browsing
- An ISO-certified supplier which releases an annual “Transparency Report”
- Worldwide geo-unblocking
- Protection against malicious sites
- Data compress for mobile hotspots
- And finally, forced HTTPS connections where available
The premium version is $3.79 per month.
5. Browsec VPN
Browsec VPN claims to be “an advanced analog of ZenMate, Stealthy, Hola, and frigate”.
Its main benefits are letting its users access any sites from anywhere, enhancing user privacy online, and protecting user data from sniffers and trackers.
It makes a big push on the geo-blocking, but rather than focus on opening up content from different countries’ stores on Netflix or BBC, Browsec VPN instead mention services like Spotify, Pandora, and SoundCloud – some of which are completely blocked in certain regions.
Browsec VPN also advertises its service as a way to access sites that are blocked on office or school computers, such as Facebook, Reddit, and YouTube.
6. TunnelBear VPN
Of all the services we’ve discussed in this list, TunnelBear has the best reviews – an unprecedented 5 stars from almost 10,500 individual ratings at the time of writing. Rather than being a true VPN, this service is actually an encrypted proxy.
Readers who’ve been working with VPNs for a long time will be well-aware of the brand name; TunnelBear VPN has been around for many years and has made very successful desktop-based products for both Windows and Mac.
There is one key difference between this Chrome extension and the desktop offerings, and it’s an important one to understand — TunnelBear for Chrome onlyencrypts your browser traffic, whereas TunnelBear VPN for desktop encrypts 100 percent of your data.
TunnelBear boasts some of the fastest speeds of all the VPNs on this list and has servers available in 20 countries worldwide.
Which Extensions Do You Use?
VPNs have lots of benefits for end users. It can be something simple like improving your privacy, but it could also be allowing you to navigate to sites such as The Pirate Bay which certain browsers have intentionally deemed to be malicious.
Of course, you also need to be alert as to how these services operate. Despite their best claims, if something is free, it often means you are the product. You need to look no further than the debacle surrounding Hola last year for a case in point. The reality is that if you want 100 percent peace of mind, you should invest in a paid service.
Source: makeUseOf
More on VPN provider comparison could be found on thebestvpn.