Best VPN for Chromebooks – CNET

Chromebook compatibility

Most modern Chromebooks support Android apps, so you can install virtually any VPN Android app on your device. The majority of VPN providers offer Android apps for whole-device protection. A VPN connection encrypts everything from traffic in your Google Chrome browser to apps. Unlike on most Android phones, the majority of VPN Android apps on Chromebooks let you pick from portrait (phone) or landscape (tablet) windows. There’s even typically a resizable window option. If you don’t want to use an Android app, you can use a browser plugin, which may be slightly more lightweight but only encrypts traffic from your web browser, not apps.

Price

VPNs cost anywhere from around $5 to $15 for a monthly plan. Generally, most annual plans provide greater savings, running you $40 to $100 per year. While you’ll typically get the most significant discount by going with a multiyear plan, we recommend sticking with a one-year plan for the best value with the lowest risk. We generally don’t recommend two-plus year subscriptions because of how volatile the VPN space is — for example, your VPN speeds may get slower or your provider might suffer a data breach. 

Server network

Most of our top-rated VPNs offer thousands of servers spread across 100-plus countries. For international travel, make sure your desired VPN provider maintains servers in the nations you’re visiting. If you want to stream NFL games, soccer matches or other regional sporting events, you’ll want to consider what cities a VPN has servers in.

Internet speed

All VPNs slow down your internet speeds because your traffic gets encrypted and takes a more indirect route when communicating with apps and websites. But the fastest VPNs only drop your internet download speeds by an average of 25% or less. If you’ve got reasonably fast internet speeds, like fiber-optic internet or even a reliable 5G signal, you should be fine with most VPN companies. However, for more bandwidth-intensive activities, like 4K video streaming or cloud game streaming, you’ll want a VPN provider with less than 20% internet speed reduction, like NordVPN, Mullvad VPN or Surfshark. 

Streaming support

Because VPNs mask your public IP address, you can make apps or websites think you’re in another location, therefore unblocking geographically protected content, like foreign Netflix libraries. A VPN may let you save money on streaming service subscriptions or get better video quality watching movies and shows on your phone. You’ll want fast speeds and excellent geo-unblocking support for streaming with a VPN. Consider the streaming services you want to use, like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video, and make sure your VPN provides access. Additionally, for simple living room streaming, make sure your VPN has an app for your smart TV, Android TV box, Amazon Fire TV device or Apple TV. 

Privacy features

VPNs are privacy tools, so at a minimum, you’ll want to look for modern encryption (AES-256-bit or ChaCha20 depending on the VPN protocol) and an audited no-logs policy. For more serious privacy concerns, consider a VPN provider with jurisdiction outside of the Five, Nine or 14 Eyes intelligence-sharing alliances. Additionally, if you’re worried about privacy, you may appreciate advanced features like a double VPN and Tor over VPN servers, which make it even harder to trace traffic back to its source.