Best VPN for Chromebook in 2026
A Chromebook can run a VPN three ways: the Android app from the Play Store, a Chrome extension, or a built-in ChromeOS configuration. They are not equivalent. The Android app covers the whole device including Linux and Android apps; the extension only covers the Chrome tab it is attached to and leaves everything else exposed.
So the question is which providers ship a Play Store app built for ChromeOS, with a kill switch that covers more than just the browser. NordVPN is the pick, Surfshark is the value choice, and Proton VPN is the one to start with if you'd rather test before paying.
The 5 best VPNs for chromebook, ranked
- 1Best for Chromebook#6 overall · 8.7/10
NordVPN
The Android app installs on ChromeOS and is built to cover the whole device — Chrome, Android apps and the Linux container. Threat Protection blocks trackers. We have not measured its speed or verified Linux-container coverage on a Chromebook ourselves.
- Android app
- Native app
- Refund
- 30 days
- Devices
- 10
- Refund
- 30 days
- 2Best value#5 overall · 8.8/10
Surfshark
Same whole-device coverage from the Play Store app, unlimited devices so the Chromebook does not use up a slot, at $2.49 a month.
- Android app
- Native app
- Refund
- 30 days
- Devices
- Unlimited
- Refund
- 30 days
- 3Best free option#3 overall · 8.9/10
Proton VPN
A genuinely usable free tier with no data cap, so you can run it on a Chromebook indefinitely without paying. Three countries only, and no streaming, but the same audited no-logs policy as the paid plan.
- Android app
- Native app
- Refund
- 30 days
- Devices
- 10
- Refund
- 30 days
- 4Easiest to use#4 overall · 8.8/10
ExpressVPN
The simplest app of the four to set up, and its reconnect behaviour is built to handle a Chromebook waking from sleep, though we have not tested that ourselves. It costs more than the others here at $2.99.
- Android app
- Native app
- Refund
- 30 days
- Devices
- 10
- Refund
- 30 days
- 5Cheapest#1 overall · 9.3/10
Private Internet Access
$1.79 a month, unlimited devices, and a Play Store app with more settings exposed than most — useful if you also use the Linux container.
- Android app
- Native app
- Refund
- 30 days
- Devices
- Unlimited
- Refund
- 30 days
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Side by side
| VPN | Score | Android app | Devices | 2-yr price | Refund | Port fwd |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NordVPN | 8.7 | Native app | 10 | $3.49 | 30 days | |
| Surfshark | 8.8 | Native app | Unlimited | $2.49 | 30 days | |
| Proton VPN | 8.9 | Native app | 10 | $3.49 | 30 days | |
| ExpressVPN | 8.8 | Native app | 10 | $2.99 | 30 days | |
| PIA | 9.3 | Native app | Unlimited | $1.79 | 30 days |
How we picked
We have not run our own device testing on a Chromebook. Ranked on whether each provider ships a Play Store app built to cover the whole device — Android apps and the Linux container, not just Chrome — plus kill switch and reconnect support as published. Extensions were excluded from ranking because they protect only the browser.
All scores come from the same published rubric, checked monthly — how we test. Rank order on this page is by the category criteria, not by commission.
Questions
What is the best VPN for a Chromebook?
NordVPN, using its Android app from the Play Store, which is built to cover the whole device rather than just the browser. We have not benchmarked speed or reconnect behaviour on a Chromebook ourselves. Surfshark is the better buy if price matters more.
Should I use the Android app or the Chrome extension?
The Android app. A Chrome extension is a proxy for that browser only — Android apps, the Linux container and anything else on the Chromebook keep using your real connection, and most extensions do not have a kill switch. Use an extension only as a supplement, never as the whole setup.
Is there a free VPN that works on a Chromebook?
Proton VPN's free tier, which has no data cap and the same no-logs policy as its paid plans. You get three countries and no streaming support. We have not tested the wider free-VPN market on a Chromebook ourselves — treat any other 'free' option with caution.
Can I use a VPN on a school-managed Chromebook?
Often not. Managed Chromebooks are usually configured to block Play Store installs and unapproved network configurations, and getting around that may breach your school's acceptable-use policy. On a personally owned Chromebook there is no restriction.
Do I need to set up the VPN separately for Linux apps?
No. A properly built Android VPN app on ChromeOS captures the Linux container's traffic too. It is worth verifying rather than assuming — open our IP checker inside a Linux browser with the VPN on and confirm the address matches.