With a fully-functional VPN, you can keep your internet connection protected and hide your real IP address. In addition, you can get around restrictions and access websites that are usually not available in your location. The main downside is that a VPN service slows down your connection due to the encryption that it uses to keep your online traffic private. Another reason why some people think it twice before subscribing to a VPN service, is that some options can be expensive. If you are looking for a convenient and lightweight solution to protect your browsing, you may want to consider VPN and proxy browser extensions.
While they are not as secure and can only secure your browser traffic, extensions are simple and offer some of the advantages that you get with a fully-fledged VPN. VPN and proxy browser extensions encrypt your connection and disguise your real IP address, giving you privacy and anonymity. Here you will find a list of the best VPN extensions for popular browsers like Chrome and Firefox, as well as some options that work for Opera and Safari. Although not all the options are effective in all cases, it is easy to test different extensions since they all offer some type of free access.
Hotspot Shield Free
Hotspot Shield has a great interface that makes the user experience simple and enjoyable. It offers outstanding compatibility and a variety of features that will suit different needs. It is possible to download the Chrome and Firefox extensions for free and you won’t need to provide your email address or any other type of personal data. Ease of use is one of the highlights of this VPN since all you need to do to connect is to click a big button to access the best server for your location. To disconnect, you just need to click the button again. Switching between locations is also a hassle-free experience. However, users will be disappointed when they find out that the free plan doesn’t offer access to servers in the United Kingdom and the United States, which are very popular locations. Still, you get servers in Germany, Canada, Netherlands and more. The data allowance is 500MB per day and the performance varies between locations. You can also upgrade to a paid plan to remove the ads and access servers in more locations.
ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN has earned a high place in the VPN industry and with good reason. This provider has thousands of servers available and it is delivers amazing speeds. Apart from offering high quality software for all major operating systems, ExpressVPN has impressive extensions for Chrome, Safari and Firefox, with advanced features like kill switch and DNS leaks protection. The service is easy to use and it is designed to protect your online traffic and keep your real location hidden. However, it is important to note that in order to be able to use the ExpressVPN extensions, you will need to get a subscription and have the ExpressVPN desktop software installed. ExpressVPN is more expensive than other options in the market and it doesn’t have a free trial, but it is worth considering due to its overall high quality. There is a 30-day money back guarantee so you have enough time to use the service before deciding if it is right for you or not. ExpressVPN doesn’t keep logs of your online activities.
TunnelBear
TunnelBear is a Canadian provider that offers a fast and easy to use VPN solution. It offers over 1000 servers and affordable plans. TunnelBear is recognized, not only for its endearing mascots, but also for its good performance, simplicity and speed. The main downside is that its data allowance is not exactly generous. The standard free plan only offers up to 500MB per month. The good news is that you can increase this to 1GB by promoting the service via Twitter. You just need to install the Chrome or Opera extension, register with your email address and that is all. Just click the TunnelBear address icon whenever needed and select the location you want to connect to. There are servers available in United States, Mexico, India, Hong Kong and more. TunnelBear also offers affordable paid plans that give you unlimited data.
ZenMate
ZenMate offers extensions for Firefox, Chrome and Opera and the free plan comes with unlimited data allowance, which make sit a very appealing solution. However, you have to put up with ads and there are only four locations supported: Hong Kong, Germany, Romania and United States. You need to sign up with your email address to start, but you can use the service as often as you want, without dealing with data caps. To use the extensions, you just need to select a location from the list to connect. The speeds are generally good and if you want to get access to more
Windscribe
Windscribe’s free plan comes with 10GB of monthly data, as well as practical features. You don’t even need to sign up to start using the service. Simply select a username and you will get 2GB of data allowance a month, free of charge. If you provide your email address, you get 10GB a month, which gives Windscribe a distinctive advantage over the competition. With the Cruise Control feature, the fastest server is selected for you and it is automatically changed when you come across blocked content. This smart functionality ensures that you can always get around blocks without hassle. In addition, you can select your location and the options available include Germany, France, Canada, Norway, Hong Kong and Romania. The performance that Windscribe provides is amazing and you can expect consistent fast speeds, no matter which server you connect to. There are other advanced features that can get rid of ads and trackers. The premium plans are affordable and Windscribe has a privacy policy that is committed to keep your privacy protected.
