# Proton VPN free Chrome extension: what it covers and what it leaves out URL: https://webvpn.org/vpn/category/chrome Updated: 2026-09-01 How the Proton VPN Chrome extension works, what its free tier includes, how a browser extension differs from the full app, and how to change the address Chrome shows. ## The answer first The Proton VPN free Chrome extension search leads to a nuance: according to protonvpn.com, the Chrome extension is a feature of paid Proton VPN plans, while the free plan works through the desktop and mobile apps. Those apps cover Chrome along with everything else on your device. So if you want a free option with an audited policy, the app is the route; if you want browser-only routing, the extension needs a paid plan. Confirm on Proton's current page, since plan contents change. Whichever you use, the extension does one thing: it changes the address Chrome shows to websites and encrypts traffic between Chrome and the provider's server. ## What a Chrome VPN extension actually does Chrome exposes a proxy setting that extensions can control. A VPN extension uses it to route the browser's traffic through the provider's servers over an encrypted connection. Websites you visit in Chrome see the server's address. Your network sees encrypted traffic from Chrome to that server. Everything outside Chrome is unaffected. Other browsers, mail clients, desktop apps, games and system updates keep using your real address. That is a feature when you want to change one browser's location without touching the rest of the system, and a trap when you assume the whole device is covered. ## Extension versus the full app Property Chrome extension Proton VPN desktop app Covers Chrome tabs only Every app on the device Free plan Not available Available Kill switch Browser-level only System-level DNS handled in tunnel For Chrome For the whole device Split by site or app Some extensions per site Per app in the app The extension's advantage is flexibility: you can appear from one country in Chrome while your other apps stay local. The app's advantage is completeness. Many people run both, using the app as the default and the extension for a second location in the browser. ## Installing the Proton VPN extension - Install the extension from the Chrome Web Store link on protonvpn.com. Do not install look-alike extensions with similar names. - Click the extension icon, sign in with a Proton account on a plan that includes the extension. - Choose a country and connect. The icon changes to show the active state. - In the extension's settings, review whether it blocks WebRTC address leaks, which some sites use to discover your real address. - Open a what is my IP page in Chrome to confirm the address belongs to the server. - Open the same page in another browser to see that the real address is still visible there, which is expected. ## Changing the address Chrome shows without an extension Two other routes cover Chrome. The full VPN app from any provider in the no-logs guide covers Chrome and everything else, and the free Proton plan works there. Chrome's own settings also accept a system proxy, but that is a manual configuration with no encryption unless the proxy itself provides it, and it is not recommended for privacy. Incognito mode does not change your address at all. It clears local history and cookies when the window closes and nothing more. The browser guide covers this and the Firefox and Safari equivalents. ## Free extensions to be careful with The Chrome Web Store lists many free VPN extensions with millions of installs. Published research from security vendors and academic groups has repeatedly found extensions in this category that logged browsing, injected advertising, or sold bandwidth. The pattern is the same as with free mobile apps: no paid plan means the business runs on the user's data. If you need a free option, the desktop app's free tier from Proton or Tor Browser from torproject.org are both free with public policies. The VPN safety guide explains the free-tier trade-offs in more detail. ## What the extension will not do It does not hide you from sites you are signed in to, it does not stop cookies or fingerprinting, and it does not protect any app outside Chrome. It also depends on the extension staying enabled; a disabled or crashed extension reverts Chrome to your real address silently, with no system-level kill switch to catch it. ## Practical recommendation For most people the desktop app is the better starting point because it covers the whole device, works on the free plan and has a real kill switch. Add the extension when you specifically want Chrome to appear from a different country than the rest of your apps. In either case, verify the address in a what is my IP page after connecting rather than trusting the icon. ## FAQ Q: Is the Proton VPN Chrome extension free? A: According to protonvpn.com, the browser extension requires a paid Proton VPN plan. The free plan works in the desktop and mobile apps, which cover Chrome along with every other app. Check Proton's current page, since plan features change. Q: Does a Chrome VPN extension protect my whole computer? A: No. It routes only the traffic inside that browser profile. Other browsers, email clients, games and system services use your normal connection and show your real address. Q: Is a Chrome extension a proxy or a VPN? A: Technically most browser extensions set an encrypted proxy for the browser rather than creating a system-wide tunnel. The provider's servers and policy are the same as the VPN, but the coverage is limited to the browser. Q: Can websites still identify me with the extension on? A: Yes, if you are signed in or if they use fingerprinting and cookies. The extension changes only the address Chrome reports. Sign out and use a separate profile if you want to reduce that. Q: Is there an extension that does not need a paid plan? A: Many free Chrome VPN extensions exist, and several have been caught logging traffic or injecting ads in published security research. If you want free coverage, the Proton VPN desktop app's free plan covers Chrome and every other app, with an audited policy.