9 Best Free VPNs for Chromebook — Updated in 2023

Finding a free VPN for Chromebook is easy, if you're willing to settle for slow browsing, bad security, privacy risks, and content blocks.

Luckily for you, I've done hours of research, testing free VPNs to weed out all the scams, fakes, and dangerous services, and I've put together this list of the best free VPNs for your Chromebook.

Just remember that even safe, reliable free VPNs have limitations. They might impose data or bandwidth restrictions, or operate only a few servers that get busy and super slow. But I have some creative solutions.

Take a look at the best safe, free VPNs I found for Chromebook based on security, reliability, and compatibility.

Start With ExpressVPN Risk-Free! 

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1. ExpressVPN Superfast Servers for Quality Streaming

ExpressVPN is a premium vendor, but it’s backed by a money-back guarantee so you can try it risk-free and claim a refund within 30 days if you’re not happy with it.

ExpressVPN has a strict zero-logs policy. It uses military-grade AES 256-bit encryption, DNS/IPv6 leak protection, and a kill switch. It uses some of the strongest security protocols, including OpenVPN and IKEv2/IPSec. It’s also based in the British Virgin Islands, beyond the reach of the 14-Eyes Alliance.

It operates 3,000 servers in 94 countries. This includes streaming-optimized servers that can unblock Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Hulu, and most other popular streaming services. During my tests, I was able to stream in HD without any buffering or lag.

The app is extremely easy to use. It offers intuitive controls and well-designed menus that make it simple to find and configure built-in features. You can connect up to 8 at the same time.

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2. CyberGhost — User-Friendly VPN With a 24-Hour Free Trial

CyberGhost is a great choice if you’re new to VPNs. Its native Android app is compatible with all Chromebooks, including Asus, Lenovo, Acer, HP, Samsung, and Dell. I found the app incredibly easy to use; you can download, install, and get started in a couple of minutes.

Streaming is made easy with optimized servers that are designed to unblock streaming services — so you can access your Netflix or Amazon Prime Video accounts from anywhere in the world. I was also able to unblock BBC iPlayer, HBO Max, and Hulu during my tests.

There are P2P-optimized servers for torrenting and gaming, too. When I logged into the app, I found all of CyberGhost’s optimized servers in a handy list, organized by activity — so you don’t have to waste time trying to find the best server for your needs. I ran speed tests on a few different servers and the VPN was more than fast enough for all my online activities.

Your Chromebook is kept secure by military-grade encryption and an automatic kill switch that protects your data if you suddenly lose connection to the VPN. I didn’t detect any DNS or IP leaks during testing and was pleased to see I had a range of security protocols to choose from.

I was equally pleased to see that CyberGhost also protects your privacy and anonymity with a strict no-logs policy. That means it won’t log anything you do online, or pass any of your information on to third parties.
I used the 24-hour free trial to test the VPN out completely risk-free and had no limitations on my speed, bandwidth, and the servers I could access. If you need longer, you get a 45-day money-back guarantee with your paid subscription. CyberGhost’s 24/7 live chat support service was really helpful when I tested out the refund process. After 3 days, I got my money back — no questions asked.

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3. Windscribe - 10GB of Free Data Each Month

Windscribe offers 10GB of free data per month, and the chance to earn 5GB more. That’s enough data to stream HD videos for up to 3 hours, and stay up-to-date on social media and your email.

Torrenting is allowed on most servers but you’ll need to upgrade to premium to unblock streaming services like Netflix US and Hulu. You will be able to watch videos on YouTube and Kodi without a subscription, though.

Windscribe doesn’t log any of your browsing activity. You don’t even need to provide an email or contact information to create a free account. Free users get access to servers in 10 locations around the world, and Windscribe includes a built-in firewall for added protection.

Windscribe offers AES 256-bit encryption, an automatic kill switch, port forwarding, and DNS/IPv6/WebRTC leak protection. You can use its Stealth Mode to bypass censorship in restriction regions, like China and Russia.

Upgrading to a low-cost premium plan will unlock unlimited data and access to its streaming-optimized servers. There is a 3-day money-back guarantee for all subscriptions.

If you’re having trouble finding a feature or accessing a server, you can find help through its extensive FAQ section, or contact support via the live chat feature on its website. You’ll be greeted by a chatbot that can provide quick answers about features and plans. If your question is a bit more complex, it will connect you with a human in customer support.

Want to know more? Explore our Windscribe review to see the full results of our research and testing.

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4. Hotspot Shield - Military-Grade Security

Hotspot Shield’s free version offers 500MB of free data per day and allows you to connect up to five devices to your account. That's enough data to catch up on your emails and check out a couple of YouTube videos, but not much else.

It uses the Catapult Hydra protocol, a TLS-based security protocol designed to improve your connection speed and latency. Hotspot Shield also uses industry-standard AES 256-bit encryption.

Hotspot Shield compresses data while you’re streaming, which helps to reduce buffering and data usage. While that’s not super helpful for the free version, due to data limitations, it’s an excellent feature for paid plans.

Upgrading to premium unlocks unlimited data, malware protection, and access to 1,800 servers in 80 countries.

Going on a short vacation and want access to all the premium features? Hotspot Shield offers a 7-day free trial and a 45-day money-back guarantee, so you can test all the advanced features for yourself, risk-free.

Hotspot Shield doesn’t record your browsing activity, but it does keep some logs. This includes your real IP address, email, username, device information, and network information.

According to its privacy policy, it may terminate the accounts of users who have a copyright violation filed against them under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act. This isn’t an issue if you aren’t doing anything illegal, but it’s something to keep in mind.

Want to know more? Explore our Hotspot Shield review to see the full results of our research and testing.

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5. ZenMate - Unlimited Data but Small Server Network

ZenMate’s free version has unlimited data, but it restricts some of the more important features, like speed and server locations. I recommend using the available 7-day free trial or 30-day money-back guarantee to test its full capability.

The service enforces a clear and comprehensive no-logs policy, integrates OpenVPN protocols, and even provides the option to utilize free ad-blocking software. While the browser extensions utilize 128-bit encryption, the desktop and mobile apps employ 256-bit AES encryption. Although the level of encryption for browser extensions is lower, it is important to note that 128-bit encryption is more than capable of ensuring your safety while browsing the internet.

ZenMate’s servers allow P2P applications, but the service is based in Germany, within the range of the 14-Eyes Alliance. It doesn’t work in China, Iran, or Saudi Arabia, due to heavy government restrictions. These restrictions are placed on all VPNs though, so finding a free VPN that bypasses restrictions in these areas is rare anyway.

With the free version, you have access to servers in Germany, Hong Kong, Romania, and the US. Your connection speed is capped at 2Mbps. Upgrading will grant you unlimited speeds on servers in 81 locations.

During testing, I found that it unblocks most popular streaming services, including Netflix and Hulu. Although, because of the 2Mbps speed limit, I did experience some buffering and lag. I had the best results when I streamed Netflix in standard definition, as it isn’t quite fast enough for HD. You can also easily bypass censorship restrictions for YouTube.

Want to know more? Explore our ZenMate review to see the full results of our research and testing.

Start FREE With ZenMate Today!

6. TunnelBear - Fun and Easy-to-Use Free VPN

TunnelBear provides a genuinely free service that includes 500MB of data each month. The VPN's applications are user-friendly, and it is possible to secure up to five distinct devices using a single account.

Its DPI-evading GhostBear feature makes your browsing activity invisible, even to government surveillance agencies. It’s capable of bypassing even the toughest geoblocks and censorship. TunelBear also uses AES 256-bit encryption, and offers an optional kill switch.

The Always On feature can be set to connect to the VPN network the moment your device starts up. Vigilant Mode is a kill switch that blocks all unsecured traffic until the VPN reconnects.

While the service offers lightning-fast speed, you won’t enjoy much streaming or torrenting before your data runs out. Plus it doesn’t have a money-back guarantee, so there’s no way to test the full version.

Want to know more? Explore our TunnelBear review to see the full results of our research and testing.

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7. hide.me - No Speed Throttling for Easy Torrenting

hide.me offers 2GB free data per month on its free plan--plenty to update your emails or social media pages and watch a couple of videos.

Stream videos on Netflix or listen to your favorite music on Spotify. If you like torrenting hide.me is a great option because there’s no speed throttling. It also has 2,100 servers in 57 locations. Unfortunately, the free version is limited to five locations and you only use one device at a time.

Still, it offers a 30-day money-back guarantee if you want to try its full version and you can pay with Paypal or Bitcoin for anonymity.

With features like IP leak protection, 256-bit military-grade encryption, and a kill switch, hide.me ensures the safeguarding of your data and location from potential threats such as hackers and unauthorized entities. Additionally, hide.me offers split tunneling functionality and unlimited server switching for enhanced flexibility and convenience.

Want to know more? Explore our hide.me review to see the full results of our research and testing.

Start FREE With hide.me Today!

8. Betternet - Good All-Rounder For Use on One Device

Betternet offers 500MB free data per day, that resets every 24-hours. It also has an extensive FAQ section that provides excellent support for users. Plus, answers weren’t overly technical which is great for people who are new to VPNs.

Streaming isn’t an option with Betternet’s free version. Don’t discount the service though. It offers military-grade 256-bit encryption, making it a great option for users that just want to browse anonymously online. Betternet free is also more than capable of bypassing censorship and geoblocking on YouTube.

The free version only gives you access to one server location and covers 10 device. Useful if you live in that area or need access to it, but not for the avid traveler. Upgrading gets you access to all the servers and coverage on up to 10 devices, and plans are affordable.

Want to know more? Explore our Betternet review to see the full results of our research and testing.

Start FREE With Betternet Today!

9. Opera VPN - Great Device Compatibility

One of the best things about Opera VPN is you get unlimited bandwidth and data. On the downside, you have to download an opera browser to use it. Luckily, it’s easy to find the right one for your device and it covers desktop, laptop, and mobile.

Opera VPN is available through Opera (standard), Opera GX (gaming), and Opera Mini (mobile) browsers. The easiest option for Chromebook is Opera Mini from the Android store. It offers 256-bit encryption, no-logs, and features public WiFi protection.

Netflix users no longer have to steer clear of the service either. A separately available user-agent add on allows you to use Netflix through Opera’s browser. How does it work? Netflix doesn’t support using Opera, but it does support Chrome. The user-agent add can mask Opera as Chrome or other Netflix-supported browsers.

If you are a die-hard Chrome fan, this isn’t the VPN for you. It only works in the Opera browser. While you can mask as Chrome, you’re still using Opera or nothing.

Want to know more? Explore our Opera VPN review to see the full results of our research and testing.

Start FREE With Opera VPN Today!

How I ranked and tested these VPNs

I tested the main free VPNs to find those that offered a service with no limitations. Unfortunately, there is no really free VPN that offers the whole package of speed, security, reliability, as well as unlimited usage. You need a premium VPN for that. What I did find was 9 VPNs that are free as well as safe to use but there are a few compromises. My recommendations are ranked according to the combined results of security, speed, usage limits, and reliability. I also looked at streaming support, logging policies, server availability, compatibility, and bonus features like malware blocking.

FAQs

How do free VPNs make money?

Most free VPNs have a nasty habit of storing personal information, then selling it to third parties for a profit. It's important to read the fine print on a VPNs privacy policies and data use practices, so you'll know exactly where your information is going.  We did that for you in our vendor reviews, so you can pick any of the free VPNs on this list and feel confident your data is safe.

Are free VPNs safe?

Some free VPNs just aren't trustworthy - and some are just outright dangerous. VPNs are expensive to build, so some free VPNs cut costs by leaving out important security features like high-grade encryption and kill switches. Others have been known to download potentially harmful software like trackers and malware to your device without your knowledge. That's why we did our due diligence to ensure that all the free VPNs on our list are both safe and reliable.

If you'd rather stay on the safe side, there are plenty of affordable VPNs for Chromebook. These affordable VPNs have been tested and proven reliable.

Are VPNs legal?

Yes, using a VPN is legal in most countries. There are a few countries where using a VPN is illegal, or in a legal gray area. This includes Iraq, Belarus, and North Korea. VPN use is heavily restricted in areas like China, Turkey, and Russia.

If you’re visiting one of these countries, don’t worry. There have been no incidents of tourists getting in trouble for using a VPN.

Bottom Line

Finding a truly secure free VPN is rare. They often come with hidden restrictions and disadvantages. However, after hours of testing and research, the VPNs that made it onto this list are safe and reliable. Sure, they have some limitations, but they’ll keep you safe on public WiFi, keep your data secure, and most will also let you access some global content, at least until you reach your data cap.

If you aren’t ready to make a decision yet, you can test ExpressVPN out for yourself risk-free. If you don't feel it's right for you, you can get a full refund within the 30 days (it's backed by a  money-back guarantee). Premium VPNs provide lightning-fast speeds and high-level security. Most support seamless streaming and torrenting. Interested in premium vendors but want to save on the cost of your plan? Check out our latest deals.

The Best Premium VPNs for Chromebook in 2023 are...