Best VPN & Privacy Tools for Chrome

Updated October 2026

How to choose a VPN or privacy extension

This list mixes several kinds of tool. A VPN extension routes your browser traffic through the provider’s servers. It covers the browser only, not the whole device, so other apps keep your normal connection. A tracker blocker leaves your IP alone and instead stops trackers, cookies and scripts that follow you across sites. A proxy switcher, such as ZeroOmega or FoxyProxy, only sends your browser traffic to proxies you supply. It is not a VPN. JShelter is another kind of tool: it limits what websites can read from your browser’s APIs, which helps against fingerprinting. It is not a VPN and does not hide your IP address. Decide which problem you want to solve first.

• VPN or tracker blocker. ExpressVPN, NordVPN, Proton VPN and Surfshark VPN are VPNs. Privacy Badger, Ghostery and DuckDuckGo Search & Tracker Protection are tracker blockers. I Still Don’t Care About Cookies removes cookie banners. ZeroOmega and FoxyProxy are proxy switchers, not VPNs: they supply no servers and work with proxies you set up. JShelter hardens the browser against fingerprinting and is not a VPN. NoScript blocks scripts until you allow a site and is not a VPN either.
• Free or paid. Proton VPN has a free plan; Proton says it has no data limit and covers one device at a time. Surfshark offers a 7-day trial (payment details needed first). ExpressVPN and NordVPN need a subscription. We list no prices, so check each vendor's current terms. ZeroOmega and FoxyProxy are open source (GPL-3.0-or-later and GPL-2.0), and you need your own proxies for them. JShelter is open source under GPL-3.0 or later; we found no price. NoScript is free and open source (GPL-3.0), per its official site.
• Cookie banners. I Still Don’t Care About Cookies hides or accepts cookie notices so you can read the page. It does not reject cookies.
• Extras. NordVPN lists DNS-based scam and phishing filtering that also blocks intrusive ads, and Surfshark lists ad and pop-up blocking in Clean Web. Surfshark also adds split tunneling and an alternative email address. Ghostery shows tracker information for each site and removes cookie pop-ups.
• Publisher. Privacy Badger comes from the Electronic Frontier Foundation, a digital-rights nonprofit. Proton VPN comes from the company behind Proton Mail.

Our picks at a glance

Comparisons and alternatives

• ZeroOmega vs FoxyProxy: two proxy switchers, neither a VPN: profiles and PAC scripts, or pattern rules and per-tab proxies

Which is the best VPN extension for Chrome?

It depends on whether you want to pay. Proton VPN is the place to start for a free option: Proton says its free plan has no data limit, though it covers one device at a time. ExpressVPN and NordVPN need a subscription, and Surfshark's trial needs payment details first. All four cover the browser only.

Do I need a VPN or a tracker blocker?

A VPN extension routes your browser traffic through a provider's server and covers the browser only. A tracker blocker stops the trackers, third-party cookies and scripts that follow you across sites. The two do different jobs, so they can run together. Privacy Badger, for example, complements a VPN but does not replace one.

What is the best tracker blocker for Chrome?

Privacy Badger suits people who want tracker blocking without managing filter lists. It learns which third parties track you as you browse, sends Global Privacy Control and Do Not Track signals, and is free and open source from the EFF. Ghostery is the better fit if you also want ads blocked and tracker information for each page.

DuckDuckGo Search & Tracker Protection blocks trackers and upgrades connections to HTTPS, and it makes DuckDuckGo your default search engine.

Is a proxy switcher the same as a VPN?

No. ZeroOmega and FoxyProxy are proxy switchers. They send your browser traffic to proxy servers you already have, and they supply none. We found no claim that either one encrypts your traffic, and a proxy you do not trust can see what goes through it. They cover the browser only. To hide your connection, pick a VPN above.

Does JShelter hide my IP address?

No. JShelter is not a VPN. It controls the browser APIs that websites use to learn about your browser, and it can reduce how precise your location is. It has per-site protection levels, and stricter levels can break some sites. The Chrome build lacks two features of the Firefox build. To hide your connection, pick a VPN above.

What does NoScript do, and will it break websites?

NoScript blocks JavaScript, embedded objects and media by default, so they run only on domains you allow. It is not a VPN and does not hide your IP address. Many sites look broken until you allow them, so start by allowing only the sites you use every day. If you want something lighter, Privacy Badger learns trackers for you.

Are there free VPN and privacy extensions for Chrome?

Yes. Proton VPN is the only VPN here with a free plan. Proton says it has no data limit and covers one device at a time, and paid plans add extras such as Secure Core. Privacy Badger is free and open source, NoScript is free and open source, and Ghostery says all its features are free. Surfshark offers a 7-day trial, with payment details needed first.

Also see: Best Chrome extensions for privacy.