Should you use a VPN browser extension? What you gain, what you give up

Virtual private networks, or VPNs, are an essential tool for those looking to privately and securely use the internet. They encrypt your online traffic and hide your true IP address from would-be hackers or other snooping third parties. 

While the best VPNs are usually dedicated apps, you may have also heard about VPN browser extensions. They look appealing due to their ease of use and affordable price. But which should you choose? Below I’ll give you a rundown of what a VPN browser extension does and help you decide which is the best option for you.

What is a VPN browser extension?

A VPN browser extension is essentially a VPN that protects the browser that it’s a part of, and only that browser. For example, a Chrome VPN browser extension will cover only that Chrome browser. Other apps that connect to the internet outside of the browser, such as games or streaming apps, won’t be protected by the extension.

It might help to think of a VPN app as a fortress that protects all of your assets and a VPN browser extension as more like a small personal safe that only protects a few carefully selected items.

Pros and cons of a VPN browser extension

Pros

A VPN browser extension can be a nice upgrade to your personal privacy and security while online. It might not come with the complete coverage of a VPN app, but it does have its advantages.

VPN browser extensions are typically lightweight and don’t take up nearly as many resources as a full VPN app. As a result of this simplicity, they are also extremely easy to use.

While most VPN apps require you to pay a premium for a subscription, a VPN browser extension on the other hand will usually be much cheaper, or even provided for free.

Additionally, although all VPNs will slow your connection speeds down a bit due to their very nature, this speed decrease should be less noticeable with a browser extension. This is because unlike a VPN app, a VPN browser extension redirects only your browser traffic through an encrypted tunnel, rather than all of the traffic from your device.

Cons

A VPN browser extension is certainly better than nothing, but compared to a powerful VPN app, there are some drawbacks.

VPN apps can cover all of the traffic on a single device—or network if you’re using a VPN for your router. A browser extension can only secure and anonymize the traffic coming from your web browser. 

For instance, if I’m using a VPN browser extension for Firefox and I’m also playing Valorant online, while simultaneously using a streaming app to watch a movie, the VPN app will protect all of these—don’t judge, it’s called multitasking. A browser extension though will only protect the traffic coming from the Firefox browser.

Another huge concern when using a VPN browser extension is the potential for data logging. Many VPN browser extensions, especially the free extensions found in the app store, are run by lesser known and often unreliable companies. These companies are known to hoover up data from unsuspecting users, putting their privacy and security at risk. 

It’s important to make sure that you’re using a VPN browser extension from a reputable company with good privacy protections. Personally, I’m a big fan of CyberGhost’s free VPN browser extension, which comes with unlimited bandwidth usage and access to eight servers.

Should you use a VPN app or browser extension?

The answer to this question is ultimately going to come down to your personal usage and needs. A VPN app is going to provide you with complete protection for all your web-based activities. This includes web browsing, gaming, torrenting, and other app-based internet usage. 

VPN apps offer complete coverage and come with a multitude of customizable features that allow you to optimize your connections. All of these protections don’t come for free though–you’ll need to cough up a not-insignificant amount of money to enjoy them.

A VPN browser extension will protect all web surfing you do on that particular browser. So if you only care about using your browser to check email, watch Netflix, or surf the web, then a browser extension might be the better option. Plus, they are typically cheaper than VPN apps so those concerned about keeping expenses low might find a happy medium here between price and coverage.

Overall, I personally recommend opting for a VPN app if and when possible. Most of us use more than just a browser to access the internet on a regular basis. Keeping all of your data private and secure is more important now than ever. Plus, if you opt for a long-term subscription to a good VPN you’ll end up paying just a few dollars per month.

Either way, you can’t really go wrong. Using one or the other is going to give you a level of privacy and protection that you wouldn’t be getting otherwise.