Chrome VPN Extensions and Browser Alternatives: Complete 2025 Research Report
The landscape of browser-based VPN protection has shifted dramatically since 2024, with a major scandal exposing dangerous data harvesting by popular free extensions and a wave of browser manufacturers integrating native VPN features.
Urban VPN—previously among the most-downloaded free extensions with 6+ million Chrome users—was removed from the Chrome Web Store in December 2025 after security researchers discovered it had been secretly harvesting AI conversations from platforms like ChatGPT and Claude. This incident underscores why choosing the right VPN solution requires careful research beyond star ratings.
The Free VPN Extension Crisis of 2024-2025
The Urban VPN scandal represents just one data point in a troubling pattern. Security firm Koi Security revealed that version 5.5.0, released July 9, 2025, introduced code that captured every prompt and response users made to AI platforms—data then sold through affiliate company BiScience, a data broker. The extension had earned Google’s “Featured” badge and maintained a 4.7-star rating despite operating what amounted to surveillance infrastructure.
This wasn’t isolated:
- FreeVPN.One was caught silently capturing screenshots of every webpage visited, including banking logins and private documents
- CyberGuy Free Unlimited VPN, active for over six years affecting 9 million users, has repeatedly reappeared in more evasive forms after removal
- Hola VPN, still technically available, routes user traffic through a peer-to-peer network where free users become exit nodes—meaning your IP address can be used for others’ potentially illegal activities
The common thread: extensions promising “unlimited free” service with no clear revenue model. Google officially warned users in November 2025 that free VPNs “can steal sensitive data such as private messages and account credentials.”
Premium VPN Extensions Remain the Safest Choice
Four premium providers dominate the Chrome extension market with genuinely secure offerings, each with distinct strengths:
NordVPN
NordVPN commands the largest user base at 11 million Chrome users with a 4.2-star rating. The extension works standalone without requiring the desktop app, offering access to 7,400+ servers across 118 countries.
Key features include:
- WebRTC leak protection
- Split tunneling by tab (added September 2025)
- Threat Protection that blocks malicious websites at the DNS level
Pricing: $3.39/month on two-year plans to $12.99 monthly.
Surfshark
Surfshark delivers the best value at $1.99/month for two-year commitments, with unlimited simultaneous device connections—a policy no competitor matches.
The extension offers:
- WireGuard, OpenVPN, and IKEv2 protocol selection
- CleanWeb ad blocking
- MultiHop double-VPN routing
Independent audits by Cure53 and Deloitte verified its no-logs policy.
ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN holds the highest Chrome rating at 4.5 stars but operates differently: it requires the desktop app to function, acting as a remote control rather than standalone browser protection.
This approach means it provides full device protection rather than browser-only coverage—the only major extension offering this capability. The Lightway protocol delivers fast speeds with post-quantum encryption support.
Pricing: New tiered pricing introduced in 2025 starts at $3.49/month (two-year Basic plan).
ProtonVPN
ProtonVPN stands alone in offering a genuinely free tier with unlimited data—no other premium provider matches this. Free users get five server locations (US, Netherlands, Japan, Romania, Poland) and one device connection, but no speed throttling or ads.
Benefits:
- Swiss jurisdiction provides strong legal privacy protection
- All apps are open-source with independent audits
- In December 2024, ProtonVPN made its browser extension free for all users
Pricing: Paid plans offering 15,000+ servers across 120+ countries cost $2.99/month on two-year commitments.
Premium Extensions Comparison
| Provider | Chrome Rating | Users | Standalone | Free Tier | Best Price | Servers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NordVPN | 4.2★ | 11M | Yes | No | $3.39/mo | 7,400+ |
| Surfshark | 4.0★ | 1M | Yes | No | $1.99/mo | 3,200+ |
| ExpressVPN | 4.5★ | 1M | No (app required) | No | $3.49/mo | 3,000+ |
| ProtonVPN | 3.5★ | 1M | Yes | Yes (unlimited) | $2.99/mo | 15,000+ |
Aloha Browser: A Compelling Alternative
Rather than relying on Chrome extensions entirely, Aloha Browser offers built-in VPN functionality that eliminates the risks associated with third-party extensions.
This Cyprus-based browser, launched in 2016 and now claiming over 150 million users across 80+ countries, has expanded to desktop platforms (Windows and macOS) in late 2024, moving beyond its mobile origins.
How It Works
The VPN is genuinely integrated—not an extension or add-on—activated via a single tap on the lightning shield icon. Free users get unlimited browser-level VPN with auto-assigned servers, though without location selection.
Premium subscribers ($7.99/month or $69.99/year) unlock:
- 80+ server locations
- Device-wide protection on mobile
- Kill switch functionality
- Auto-start capabilities
Technical Details
Aloha uses IKEv2 protocol with AES-256 encryption on iOS, though Android employs a proprietary protocol that raises some transparency concerns among security researchers.
The company, Aloha Mobile Ltd, operates from Cyprus—outside Five Eyes, Nine Eyes, and Fourteen Eyes intelligence alliances—and claims GDPR compliance with regular audits by Leviathan Security Group.
Performance Considerations
Performance testing reveals a significant tradeoff: users report speeds dropping from ~500 Mbps to 26-40 Mbps with VPN enabled—roughly 80-90% reduction. Free-tier users also experience disconnections after periods of inactivity.
However, the browser compensates with comprehensive features beyond VPN:
- Native ad blocking that works on YouTube
- Tracker protection
- Biometric-locked private tabs
- Full media player with VR support
- Integrated file manager
- Private AI assistant (ChatGPT 3.5 free, GPT-4 for Premium Plus at $19.99/month)
How Browser-Integrated VPNs Compare
Aloha competes in a growing market of browsers with native VPN features:
Opera
Opera pioneered this space with a completely free, unlimited VPN—though technically a secure proxy using HTTPS/TLS rather than true VPN protocols.
A July 2025 revamp introduced Opera VPN Pro ($4/month) powered by ExpressVPN’s Lightway protocol with 48 server locations and system-wide protection. Deloitte audited Opera’s no-logs policy, though Chinese ownership since 2016 raises ongoing privacy concerns.
Brave
Brave’s Firewall + VPN ($9.99/month) offers the most comprehensive protection: system-wide coverage across 10 devices using Guardian’s infrastructure with 300+ servers in 40+ regions.
Two independent security audits in early 2024 verified its strict no-logs implementation. The unique credential system means Brave literally cannot determine if you’ve ever used the VPN.
Other Options
- Epic Privacy Browser provides free encrypted proxy protection but discontinued VPN service on Android in 2024, citing operational costs—an ominous signal about sustainability
- Vivaldi partnered with Proton VPN in March 2025 for native integration, offering free unlimited data (5 countries, medium speeds) with paid Proton tiers available
- Mozilla Firefox began beta testing a free browser-only VPN in October 2025 with select users
Browser VPN Comparison
| Browser | Price | VPN Type | Protection | Locations | Audit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aloha | Free / $7.99/mo | True VPN (IKEv2) | Browser / Device (Premium) | 80+ | Claimed |
| Opera | Free / $4/mo | Proxy / Lightway | Browser / System-wide | 3 / 48 | Yes (Deloitte) |
| Brave | $9.99/mo | True VPN | System-wide | 40+ | Yes (2 audits) |
| Epic | Free | Encrypted Proxy | Browser only | 8 | No |
| Vivaldi+Proton | Free / Paid | True VPN | Browser only | 5 / 110+ | Yes |
Safe Free Options Still Exist—With Limitations
For users unwilling to pay, a few trustworthy options remain:
Windscribe
Windscribe remains the safest free VPN extension with:
- 10GB monthly data (with email confirmation)
- 11 server locations
- Independent audit by Packetlabs in 2024
- Ad blocking, tracker blocking, WebRTC leak prevention, and cookie management
⚠️ Canada-based (Five Eyes jurisdiction) is its primary drawback.
TunnelBear
TunnelBear maintains strong security credentials with regular independent audits—an industry first when they started—but has severely restricted its free tier to just 500MB-2GB monthly, making it essentially unusable for regular browsing.
ProtonVPN Free
ProtonVPN Free offers unlimited data with no speed throttling, but limits users to five server locations and one device connection. Given Proton’s reputation, Swiss jurisdiction, and open-source code, this represents the most trustworthy truly free option.
Extensions to Avoid
- ❌ Peer-to-peer VPNs — These route your traffic through other users’ devices, turning your connection into an exit node for strangers’ activities
- ❌ Extensions caught data harvesting — Multiple free VPNs have been removed from Chrome Web Store after secretly collecting browsing history, AI conversations, and login credentials
- ❌ Services with vague revenue models — If a VPN is “unlimited free” with no clear business model (no ads, no premium tier, no corporate backing), you are likely the product
- ❌ Recently flagged extensions — Check recent security news before installing; malicious VPNs regularly rebrand and reappear after removal
Key Recommendations
For Chrome Users
If you want browser-level protection without leaving Chrome:
- Best value: Surfshark ($1.99/month) with unlimited devices and comprehensive features
- Best free: ProtonVPN — the only trustworthy free option from a premium provider
- Most established: NordVPN — largest user base and strongest feature set
For Users Open to Browser Alternatives
- Aloha Browser presents a compelling package combining built-in VPN, ad blocking, and privacy features in a single download—though speed reductions and limited audit transparency warrant consideration
- Brave offers the most thoroughly audited and comprehensive protection but requires a premium subscription matching dedicated VPN services in price
Summary
The underlying lesson from 2024-2025’s extension scandals: free browser VPNs are not free—you either pay with money or with your data.
Premium extensions from established providers with independent audits remain the safest choice, while browser-integrated solutions like Aloha eliminate extension-related attack vectors entirely.
🎁 Special Offer: Readers who download Aloha Browser through our link will receive 3 months of Premium for free, including full device-wide VPN protection, ad-free browsing, and access to 80+ server locations.