Best 13 Free VPNs for Chromebook & How to Set Up Guide

Looking to protect your data or unblock streaming content on your Chromebook? While a Chromebook is excellent for school, work, and even entertainment, it leaves you susceptible to eavesdropping, phishing attempts, and other malicious attacks when you connect to the internet, just like any other device.

You can seal all security loopholes and stay safe online with the right VPN. On top of that, a VPN masks your IP address and spoofs your location, allowing you to circumvent geo-restrictions.

👍 And the best part is that you don’t have to dig into your pockets to get a reliable VPN. Keep reading to find out our best 13 free VPNs for Chromebook.

How to Set Up Free VPN on Chromebook

There are two main ways of setting up a free VPN on Chrome OS:

VPN Apps

This is the best and most convenient way to set up VPN Chrome. It only works with newer devices since older Chromebooks do not support Android apps.

Here are the steps you should follow to set up a free VPN app on your Chromebook:

1. Sign up with a VPN service
2. On your Chromebook, open the Google Play Store
3. Search for your free VPN and click “Install” to set up the app.
4. Launch the VPN application and connect to your target VPN server.
5. You can now connect to the internet safely!

Chrome Extensions

You can use a Chrome browser extension if your Chromebook doesn’t support Android apps. But you should note that, unlike a VPN app, a browser extension doesn’t provide system-wide protection.

Here are the steps you should follow to install a VPN extension on Chromebook:

1. Open the Chrome Web Store and select the “Extensions” tab.
2. Search for your VPN service and click “Add to Chrome.”
3. When prompted, click “Add Extension.”
4. Connect to a server in your target country and browse securely!

Best Free VPN for Chromebook

Here is a quick review of the top 13 VPNs for Chromebook to help you make an informed choice.

Let’s dive in!

1. ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN is an ultra-fast VPN that works reliably with Chromebook. It provides access to 3000+ servers in 94 countries across the globe, allowing you to bypass geo-restrictions easily. BBC iPlayer, Netflix US, HBO Go, you name it, ExpressVPN unblocks it all.

The VPN uses military-grade AES 256-bit encryption to safeguard you against brute force and man-in-the-middle attacks. On top of that, the provider maintains a strict zero-logs policy, ensuring your online activities are untraceable.

What’s more? You can use this premium VPN risk-free for 30-days. That’s because the provider offers a 100% money-back guarantee, enabling you to claim a full refund if unsatisfied with the service.

Features

• Fast connection speeds
• Global server network
• Robust encryption
• Internet kill switch
• Intuitive Chromebook app
• 30-day money-back guarantee

Drawbacks

• Server speeds may vary

Free & Paid Plan

• Paid plan with a 30-day money-back guarantee

2. NordVPN

NordVPN is another excellent free VPN for Chrome OS. The VPN boasts advanced security features and a proven no-logs policy. You get impenetrable AES 256-bit encryption alongside best-in-class tunneling protocols.

When it comes to speed, NordVPN is equally impressive. It delivers lightning-fast connections, allowing you to stream HD videos without interruptions.

NordVPN is simple to set up and use, and it comes with a dedicated app and a Chrome VPN extension. With a single account, you can cover up to 6 devices simultaneously. Plus, the service provider has a tried and tested 30-day refund policy.

Features

• Advanced security features
• No-logs privacy policy
• Fast connection speeds
• 5000+ servers in 60 countries
• 30-day money-back guarantee
• Helpful 24/7 live chat support

Drawbacks

• No significant drawbacks

Free & Paid Plan

• Paid plan with a 30-day money-back guarantee

3. Betternet

Betternet offers a decent free plan. You don’t need to register an account or even provide your email address to access and use the service. However, the free version only offers a single server and has limited bandwidth.

If you want to get more out of Betternet, we recommend getting its premium version. It comes with a 1-week free trial and an incredible 45-day money-back guarantee.

On the downside, the provider has questionable logging record practices, so we wouldn’t recommend it for sensitive tasks. Streaming would be fine, though.

Features

• 1-week free trial
• 45-day money-back guarantee
• Native client for Chromebook

Drawbacks

• Keeps logs
• No live chat support

Free & Paid Plan

• Free plan with unlimited data
• Paid plan with a 1-week trial

4. Hide.me

One of the most secure VPNs we’ve tested, Hide.me is a fantastic free VPN for Chromebook. Its free plan provides access to 5 server locations and is capped at 10 GB per month.

The VPN is equipped with AES 256-bit encryption, a kill switch, and IP/DNS leak protection. And whether you opt for the free or premium version, you don’t have to worry about Hide.me storing your browsing history. The provider keeps neither connection nor activity logs.

Hide.me’s speeds are also super-fast and ideal for streaming. Additionally, the VPN supports port forwarding, dedicated IPs, and 10 simultaneous connections, but you’ll need to upgrade to the premium version for those.

Features

• Free plan
• Excellent connection speeds
• Powerful encryption
• Automatic kill switch
• 10 simultaneous connections
• 24/7 live chat support
• 30-day money-back guarantee

Drawbacks

• Limited free plan

Free & Paid Plan

• Free plan limited to 10 GB per month
• Paid plan with a 30-day money-back guarantee

5. Turbo VPN

Turbo VPN is an ideal choice if you’re looking for a free VPN for Chromebook that offers unlimited free data. The VPN has a user-friendly app for Chromebook that you can easily install from the Play Store.

However, the provider doesn’t offer a VPN extension for the Chrome browser. Also, the free plan only offers 4 servers with a speed cap of 2 Mbps. On the bright side, Turbo VPN uses AES 256-bit encryption and doesn’t log your browsing history.

Features

• Unlimited data
• AES 256-bit encryption
• No-logs policy

Drawbacks

• Limited free version
• No live chat support
• No Chrome browser extension

Free & Paid Plan

• Free plan limited to 2 Mbps
• Paid plan with a 30-day money-back guarantee (not reliable)

6. ZenMate

Zenmate is a reliable VPN that’s optimized for Chromebook. It offers a free version via the Chrome extension, allowing you to stay secure at no charge and offering unlimited free data; however, bandwidth is capped at 2 Mbps.

Besides the free plan, Zenmate offers a paid version that features unrestricted speeds, access to 80+ server locations, and support for unlimited devices.

Features

• Available via Chrome extension
• Unlimited data
• Military-grade encryption
• No logs
• Streaming dedicated servers
• Automatic kill switch

Drawbacks

• Severely limited free plan

Free & Paid Plan

• Free plan available only via Chrome extension and limited to 2 Mbps
• Premium plan with a 30-day money-back guarantee

7. ProtonVPN

A top-rated VPN with fast speeds, robust encryption, and a sleek interface, ProtonVPN is justifiably one of the best free VPNs for Chromebook. Its free plan has no data or bandwidth limits, making it suitable for streaming HD movies.

ProtonVPN’s free version boasts most of the features available on the paid plan. That includes split tunneling, kill switch, DNS leak protection, split tunneling, and Moderate NAT, which helps reduce ping.

However, the free version only provides access to a few servers in 3 countries – Japan, the Netherlands, and the US. ProtonVPN doesn’t keep logs and is located in Switzerland, a privacy-friendly jurisdiction.

Features

• 100% free plan
• Fast connection speeds
• Robust AES 256-bit encryption
• Strict no-logs policy
• NetShield malware and ad-blocker
• 30-day money-back guarantee

Drawbacks

• No chrome VPN extension

Free & Paid Plan

• Free plan with no data or bandwidth limits
• Paid plan with a money-back guarantee

8. Windscribe

Windscribe offers top-tier security, fast speeds, and proven reliability. Its free plan is quite generous, with an initial 2GB of free data per month that can be bumped up to 15 GB per month by registering.

The VPN uses bank-grade encryption and doesn’t store identifying logs. It supports port forwarding, making it a great free VPN for torrenting.

Windscribe’s clients are easy-to-use, and you can set it up and access it directly on your Chromebook or the Chrome browser.

Features

• Generous free plan
• Bank-grade encryption
• Zero logs
• Port forwarding
• Split tunneling
• Live chat support

Drawbacks

• Short and conditional 3-day money-back policy

Free & Paid Plan

• Free version with a potential 15GB data cap
• Paid plan with a conditional 3-day plan (Unreliable)

9.     Hotspot Shield

Hotspot Shield offers a secure free VPN that’s perfect for casual use. It supports 500 Mb of free data per day, which can be substantial when added up. Despite using military-grade encryption, the Hotspot Shield free plan is pretty much bare.

If you find the free version too limited, Hotspot Shield has a 7-day free trial of the paid version. In addition, the provider offers a 45-day no-questions-asked money-back guarantee.

Features

• Free plan
• Lightning-fast server speeds
• AES 256-bit encryption
• No-logging policy
• Free trial
• 45-day money-back guarantee

Drawbacks

• Limited free version

Free & Paid Plan

• The free version capped at 500 Gb per day
• Paid plan with a 7-day free trial and a 45-day money-back guarantee

10.    TunnelBear

A solid free VPN for Chromebook, TunnelBear does not impose any server network restrictions. However, you can only transfer up to 500 Mb of free data on any given day.

TunnelBear offers thousands of servers in 49 countries, making it bypassing geo-blocks a breeze. It uses AES 256-bit and maintains a regularly audited no-logs policy.

Features

• Free plan
• Servers in 49 countries
• Decent connection speeds
• Military-grade encryption
• Zero-logs policy

Drawbacks

• Free plan limited to 500 Mb per day

Free & Paid Plan

• A free plan providing access to all server locations
• A paid plan with no money-back guarantee (refunds are on a case-by-case basis)

11. CyberGhost

CyberGhost is one of the most popular VPNs in the market, and it offers an entirely free 24-hr free trial. Although the trial only lasts a day, it allows you to enjoy an incredible array of premium features, including dedicated IPs, SmartDNS, and streaming optimized servers.

Based in Romania with a verified zero-logging policy, this Chromebook-free VPN keeps prying eyes at bay. You can take advantage of the CyberGhost’s 45-day money-back guarantee to keep testing it risk-free once your free trial expires.

Features

• Fast server speeds
• Robust encryption
• Zero-logs policy
• SmartDNS
• Streaming-optimized servers
• 45-day money-back guarantee
• 24/7 live chat

Drawbacks

• Speeds may vary from server to server

Free & Paid Plan

• Paid plan with a 1-day free trial and a 45-day money-back guarantee

12. Opera VPN

OperaVPN is a completely free and unlimited Chromebook VPN. It’s built into the Opera browser for Android but doesn’t offer a dedicated Chrome OS app. To use it, you’ll need to install the Opera browser for Chromebook.

Features

• Unlimited free trial
• Decent server speeds
• No-logs policy

Drawbacks

• Works only within the Opera browser

Free & Paid Plan

• Completely free

13. Aloha Browser

Aloha browser is a privacy-focused mobile web browser with a built-in VPN. It offers a free plan that allows you to protect your Aloha browser traffic.

Aloha Browser gives you access to servers in 70+ countries worldwide, including P2P dedicated servers. But because the free version doesn’t allow server switching, you’ll first need to upgrade to a paid account.

Incredibly, this browser + VPN combo offers phone-wide protection, enabling you to use the service across other apps. But once again, you’ll need to get a premium subscription to enjoy this feature.

Aloha browser offers a 1-week free trial, so you can try it out risk-free.

Features

• Free plan
• 1-week free premium trial
• Servers in 70+ countries
• Phone-wide protection
• No-logs
• AES 256-bit encryption
• Adblock

Drawbacks

• Lacks live chat support

Free & Paid Plan

• Free plan with unrestricted speed and data
• Paid plan with a 1-week free trial

Free VPN for Chromebook FAQs

Do You Really Need a VPN for Chromebook?

Yes, you need a VPN for Chromebook, especially when working with sensitive data. It protects you from hackers, snoopers, and other prying eyes. A VPN also enables you to circumvent geo-restrictions and unblock new content.

But that’s not all. You can leverage many awesome VPN tips to get the most out of your VPN.

What Is the Best Free VPN for Chromebook?

ExpressVPN is our top pick for Chromebook. It offers ultra-fast speeds, is highly secure, and unblocks virtually any website. Plus, the VPN comes with a 30-day no-questions-asked money-back guarantee, allowing you to enjoy the service risk-free.

How does a VPN work?

A VPN establishes a secure connection between your Chromebook and the internet by routing your online traffic through an encrypted tunnel. That helps safeguard your data and keep your browsing history private.

Are Free VPNs Safe?

Entirely free VPNs are rarely safe. It requires resources to maintain a VPN service, and many free VPNs sell user data to generate revenue. However, some premium VPNs, such as the ones listed above, offer safe but limited free plans to attract potential subscribers.

Are VPNs Legal?

Yes, VPNs are legal in most countries, so you won’t get into trouble using one. However, VPNs are banned or tightly regulated in some countries like Russia, China, and North Korea.

Conclusion

Whether you’re looking to protect your data or unblock content, you need a quality and reliable VPN. The VPNs above not only fit the bill but are also free. You can choose to go with an entirely free but limited VPN or opt for a premium one with a money-back guarantee.

Enjoy!