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 that behaves properly on ChromeOS — with a working kill switch and no leaks outside the browser. NordVPN is the pick, Surfshark is the value choice, and Proton VPN is the one to start with if you would rather test before paying.
The 5 best VPNs for chromebook, ranked
- 1Best for Chromebook#1 overall · 9.7/10
NordVPN
The Android app installs cleanly on ChromeOS and covers the whole device — Chrome, Android apps and the Linux container. Kill switch works, Threat Protection blocks trackers, and at 712 Mbps it is the fastest we measured.
- Android app
- Native app
- Speed
- 712 Mbps
- Devices
- 10
- Refund
- 30 days
−73% + 3 months freeends soon - 2Best value#2 overall · 9.4/10
Surfshark
Same whole-device coverage from the Play Store app, unlimited devices so the Chromebook does not use up a slot, and $2.19 a month. The obvious choice for a school or family Chromebook.
- Android app
- Native app
- Speed
- 655 Mbps
- Devices
- Unlimited
- Refund
- 30 days
−86% + 3 months freeends soon - 3Best free option#4 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
- Speed
- 541 Mbps
- Devices
- 10
- Refund
- 30 days
- 4Easiest to use#3 overall · 9.1/10
ExpressVPN
The simplest app of the four and the most reliable at reconnecting when a Chromebook wakes from sleep, which is where cheaper clients tend to stumble. It costs the most at $4.99.
- Android app
- Native app
- Speed
- 598 Mbps
- Devices
- 8
- Refund
- 30 days
- 5Cheapest#6 overall · 8.3/10
Private Internet Access
$2.03 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
- Speed
- 480 Mbps
- Devices
- Unlimited
- Refund
- 30 days
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Side by side
| VPN | Score | Android app | Speed | Devices | 2-yr price | Refund | Port fwd |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NordVPN | 9.7 | Native app | 712 Mbps | 10 | $3.39 | 30 days | |
| Surfshark | 9.4 | Native app | 655 Mbps | Unlimited | $2.19 | 30 days | |
| Proton VPN | 8.9 | Native app | 541 Mbps | 10 | $4.49 | 30 days | |
| ExpressVPN | 9.1 | Native app | 598 Mbps | 8 | $4.99 | 30 days | |
| PIA | 8.3 | Native app | 480 Mbps | Unlimited | $2.03 | 30 days |
How we picked
We installed each provider's Play Store app on a Chromebook and checked three things: whether traffic outside Chrome — Android apps and the Linux container — actually went through the tunnel, whether the kill switch held when the connection dropped, and whether the app reconnected after the lid was closed and reopened. Extensions were tested but not ranked, because they protect only the browser.
All scores come from the same monthly tests on the same rig — 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. It covers the whole device rather than just the browser, its kill switch works on ChromeOS, and it was the fastest VPN in our tests at 712 Mbps average. Surfshark is the better buy if price matters more than speed.
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. Every other free option we tested either caps data low enough to be useless or funds itself in ways you would not choose.
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.