Free vs. Paid Chrome VPN Extensions: Which One Should You Choose?

It might not be easy to find the best VPN service for your browsing needs. The market is saturated with plenty of good VPN services. Some of these Chrome VPNs are free to use while other premium VPNs are paid. 

A free VPN Chrome extension allows users to access restricted content without paying additional charges. In contrast, paid VPNs for Chrome offer additional features that allow for more secure browsing. These VPNs usually come with free trials and offer a money-back guarantee. 

In this article, you will learn the key features of free vs. paid Chrome VPN extensions.  Knowing the basic differences between the features, you can select which one to use. 

Key Differences Between Free and Paid Chrome VPN  Extensions 

The differences in features and performance of both free and paid Chrome VPNs are listed  here:

Details of Free VPN Browser Extensions 

Here are the key features offered by free VPN browser extensions. 

1. Works Exclusively in Your Web Browser 

The free Chrome VPN extensions can only be used with a single browser. It doesn't cover the additional data traffic. Therefore, it offers less protection than activities on other browsers, and apps are not protected. 

2. Limited Server Options Available 

The free VPN for Chrome offers access to up to 10 servers located in 6 countries. This is enough to mask your IP address and change your location. But, if you want to access the server from any other location, you will have to move to a paid Chrome VPN. 

3. Fewer Features 

The free Chrome VPN extensions offer various features. These features are enough for routine browsing activities. These features include: 

● Ad Blocking features are offered by Free Chrome VPNs. NetGuard is used to block unwanted ads and protect data from third parties. 

● You can select which websites can access your real location with the smart location feature. 

● Free VPNs offer an exclude list feature. This is the lighter version of the Split Tunneling feature. 

4. Slower Speeds Than the Full VPN App 

Free VPNs are not very useful for activities that require high connection speeds. Reliable VPN  providers may not slow down the connection speeds much. 

Details of Paid VPN Applications 

Paid Chrome VPN extensions offer additional features including:

1. Comprehensive User Interface 

The paid VPN versions are easy to set up and run the app in a few clicks. It only needs a few steps to be followed. You must download the app, sign up, turn on VPN, and browse securely. 

2. Compatible with Multiple Devices 

The paid versions of VPN extensions for Chrome can be used with multiple devices. The devices showing compatibility with paid Chrome VPNs include Windows, Linux, macOS, iOS,  and Android. There are various VPNs supporting secure streaming and gaming. 

3. Encrypted Internet Traffic 

The main benefit of preferring a paid VPN over a free VPN is that it secures the entire system.  The encryption provided by a Paid VPN encrypts data from all the browsers, applications, and networks you use. Therefore, it provides better protection without compromising your data. 

4. Access to Thousands of VPN Servers 

The data traffic from your devices is routed through the selected VPN server. Your IP address is hidden from third parties. The sites you browse or any third party will only be able to see the  VPN server’s IP address. 

5. Advanced Features for Enhanced Benefits 

The features offered by a paid Chrome VPN are more beneficial than a free version. Here are  some of these features: 

● Paid VPNs use a kill switch to protect your data. It disconnects your device from the internet if the VPN suddenly stops working. 

● The Split Tunneling feature allows users to exile the websites and apps from the encryption tunnel as per their choice. 

● The Double VPN features add another layer of security to data traffic. ● DNS data leak protection prevents your data from ISPs. 

Conclusion 

After comparing the features of free and paid Chrome VPNs, it has been concluded that a pad  VPN has much more to offer. The premium versions of VPN for Chrome provide better online security and enhanced connection speeds.