ExpressVPN Chrome Extension (Review): How to Install in Minutes
Google’s Chrome browser is highly customizable, but doesn’t come fully secured out of the box. To make up for this shortcoming, we’re going to show you how to install the ExpressVPN Chrome extension in mere minutes, allowing you to browse, download, and communicate online in complete privacy.
By a large distance, Google Chrome is now the world’s most popular web browser, and with good reason. It is a user-friendly, stable, secure, and well-designed browser which stepped up at a time when Internet Explorer was being retired and its replacement Microsoft Edge was failing to make the grade. Part of Chrome’s appeal is the huge variety of customization options available thanks to the thousands of different plugins and extensions which are available. Of course, many VPN providers offer a Chrome extension too and ExpressVPN is no exception.
The ExpressVPN Chrome extension is indeed a neat little tool; it allows you to connect to an ExpressVPN server with a single click as well as make use of a number of additional features designed to protect your browser traffic. In this guide, we will tell you how to install the ExpressVPN Chrome extension as well as everything you need to know about it.
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Why Use a VPN with Chrome?
Chrome is the go-to browser for most internet users, so it follows that it is when using Chrome that a VPN is most important. That is because although there are many applications on your computer or mobile device which connect to the internet, Chrome is likely to be where the bulk of your online activity takes place. And there are some compelling reasons why every Chrome user should be using a VPN:
- Online Security – Chrome is a more secure browser than most, but it is not perfect. With the number of online threats growing, a VPN has become an essential security tool. By using a VPN with Chrome, you can be sure that everything you do online is encrypted and secure.
- Online Privacy – Privacy has been making plenty of headlines of late as internet users begin to understand just how vulnerable their personal data is online. Many websites capture user data, ISPs collect it and sell it on, and even Chrome itself will be gathering information about your activity. But a VPN renders you anonymous online, making it impossible for these third parties to gather data on your activity or identity.
- Unblock Censorship – Sadly, there are many governments around the world that like to control what their citizens can access online. Authoritarian regimes like China, Russia, and Iran are among the worst offenders, but even western democracies like the USA and the UK can get over-zealous at times. With a VPN, it is possible to get around this censorship and access any site you want to.
- Bypass Geo-restriction – Another regular issue internet users face is geoblocks–that is, sites and streaming services which limit their service to users in certain countries or regions. But with a VPN, users can make it appear as if they are anywhere in the world and so get around geo-restrictions to access content freely regardless of their location.
Why Choose ExpressVPN?
- Unblocking Netflix, iPlayer, Hulu, Amazon Prime
- Super fast, reliable connection
- Secure encryption & VPN protocols
- Keeps no logs of personal data
- 24/7 Chat Support
- Priced slightly higher
There are plenty of VPNs on the market, but ExpressVPN is the best for most purposes. There are a number of good reasons for that, but with this provider speed is king. ExpressVPN’s servers are configured to offer super-fast connections, and the results live up to their expedient namesake. ExpressVPN has a network of servers across 105 countries and 170+ locations, which means they enable users to access geo-restricted content from just about anywhere.
While speed is important to ExpressVPN, it certainly does not come at the expense of security or privacy. Their 256-bit AES encryption is nearly unbreakable, and the service includes some great additional features like DNS leak protection and a kill switch. Their privacy protections are top-notch too with a zero-logging guarantee you can trust. And with no data limitations or file type restrictions, ExpressVPN allows you to stream and download whatever content you like. The Chrome extension itself has earned over 1,000,000 users on the Chrome Web Store, a 4.5-star rating, and close to 2,800 reviews — a strong signal that real users trust it day to day. With user-friendly apps available on most platforms as well as a fantastic Chrome extension, it is little wonder they are the VPN of choice for so many.
Read our full ExpressVPN review.
A Word on Free VPN Chrome Extensions
There are quite a few VPNs that offer free Chrome extensions, but these should always come with a warning. Nothing comes for free these days and if you are not paying for a VPN service through a small monthly subscription, you will be paying another way. Often, this is by compromising your privacy as many free VPNs will sell on user data. This is what most VPN users want to avoid, so it makes sense to sign up with a premium provider like ExpressVPN instead.
How to Install the ExpressVPN Chrome Extension
You can add the ExpressVPN Chrome extension directly from the Chrome Web Store — no desktop app required to get started. Just follow the three simple steps below.
- Open the Chrome Web Store listing for ExpressVPN and click Add to Chrome. A pop-up will ask you to confirm — click Add Extension to proceed.
- Sign in with your ExpressVPN account directly through the extension. If you don’t have an account yet, you can create one from the extension’s sign-up prompt or visit the ExpressVPN website to get started.
- Click the ExpressVPN icon in your Chrome toolbar to open the extension dashboard, choose a server location, and hit the connect button. You’re now protected.
Do you need the ExpressVPN desktop app? No — the extension works as a standalone VPN proxy without the desktop app installed. That said, if you want full-device protection that covers all apps and system traffic (not just Chrome), or if you want to use the extension in remote-control mode to manage the desktop app directly from your browser, you will need to install the ExpressVPN app for your device as well. See the section below for a full breakdown of the difference.
Chrome Extension vs. ExpressVPN App: Which Should You Use?
This is one of the most common questions people have about ExpressVPN, and it’s worth spelling out clearly because the answer has real practical implications for your privacy.
The Chrome extension in standalone proxy mode protects only the traffic passing through your Chrome browser. That means your browsing sessions are encrypted and your IP address is masked within Chrome, but any other app on your device — your email client, torrent software, other browsers, or background system services — sends traffic outside the VPN tunnel and remains exposed.
The ExpressVPN desktop app protects all traffic on your device, regardless of which app or service generates it. It also includes Network Lock (ExpressVPN’s kill switch), which blocks all internet traffic if the VPN connection drops unexpectedly, preventing accidental exposure.
Here is a simple breakdown of which option fits which situation:
- Use the extension alone if you only need quick browser-level privacy — for example, accessing geo-restricted websites or masking your browsing from your ISP while you’re in Chrome.
- Use the desktop app alone if you want comprehensive, device-wide protection that covers all your apps, system traffic, and background connections.
- Use both together for the best possible coverage. The desktop app handles device-wide encryption and the kill switch, while the extension adds browser-specific protections like WebRTC leak blocking and HTML5 geolocation spoofing — risks the app alone does not address at the browser level.
In short, neither option is universally better — they solve different problems. If you are serious about privacy, running both together gives you the most complete protection.
ExpressVPN Chrome Extension Review
Among privacy enthusiasts, ExpressVPN is one provider that needs no introduction. Their VPN service is amongst the very best in the business, so it comes as no surprise to find that the ExpressVPN Chrome extension provides a similarly exceptional experience. In design, it mirrors their Windows and Mac apps, which means that existing users will have no need to familiarise themselves with a new layout. It also boasts all of the most fundamental connection features of their regular apps, which are so cherished by users. These include:
- One-Click Connect – Using the main button in the centre of the Chrome extension, users can connect to ExpressVPN with a single click.
- Choose Your Location – Alternatively, if you want to select a server in a specific location, you can click on Choose your Location and browse either their recommended servers for your location or all servers, for the one you want.
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- Choose Your Server – By clicking on a specific location, users are also able to choose specific servers they want to connect to as well.
Connecting to ExpressVPN via the Chrome extension really is just as simple as connecting through their app. Beyond the core connect experience, it helps to understand which features are built into the extension itself and which ones require the desktop app to be installed and running alongside it.
Features available in the extension on its own:
- Standalone VPN Proxy Mode – The extension can operate independently as a VPN proxy, encrypting and routing your Chrome browser traffic through an ExpressVPN server without any desktop app installed.
- Block WebRTC – This feature is specific to the Chrome extension and helps to prevent websites from being able to discover your true IP address and location through browser-level WebRTC requests. Check out our complete guide on disabling WebRTC to learn more.
- HTML5 Geolocation Spoofing: Another feature exclusive to the Chrome extension, this ensures your browser’s reported geolocation matches the VPN server location you are connected to, rather than giving away your real physical position.
- Smart Routing (Site Rules) – Where available, this lets you specify which websites use the VPN tunnel and which ones bypass it entirely, giving you fine-grained control without switching the VPN on and off manually.
Features that require pairing with the ExpressVPN desktop app:
- Device-Wide Encryption – Full encryption of all traffic on your device, covering every app and connection, not just Chrome, requires the desktop app to be running.
- Network Lock (Kill Switch) – ExpressVPN’s kill switch that blocks all internet traffic if the VPN drops is a desktop app feature. The extension does not provide a kill switch on its own.
- Full DNS Leak Protection – Comprehensive DNS leak protection that covers all system-level DNS queries is handled by the desktop app. The extension addresses browser-level exposure but does not protect DNS requests made outside of Chrome.
- Remote Control Mode – When the desktop app is running, the extension can act as a remote control for it, letting you switch servers and toggle the VPN from your browser toolbar while the app handles the full-device tunnel underneath.
All of the extension’s features can be managed through the menu in the top right of the ExpressVPN Chrome extension. There is also an option to connect to ExpressVPN automatically when you open Chrome — a sensible setting to enable so you are never left unprotected. The bottom of the menu screen has an option to Show all VPN settings, which will open up ExpressVPN. If you have the desktop app installed, this should still be the main place you head to manage your broader ExpressVPN settings.
Conclusion
It is not necessary to use the ExpressVPN Chrome extension to protect yourself online, as the regular ExpressVPN app can do the job on its own. But there are a number of reasons why the extension is worth having as well. Its extra features add another layer of security when browsing the web on Chrome. Its presence will also act as an insurance policy to make sure you never forget to connect to ExpressVPN when going online. It is also a simple, easy-to-use way of managing the basic features that we use most regularly.
If you have downloaded the ExpressVPN Chrome extension using this guide, why not tell us how you found the process in the comments below. How do you find the Chrome extension to use? Does the Chrome extension do everything you want it to? We are always keen to hear your thoughts.
If you need a VPN for a short while when traveling for example, you can get our top ranked VPN free of charge. NordVPN includes a 30-day money-back guarantee. You will need to pay for the subscription, that’s a fact, but it allows full access for 30 days and then you cancel for a full refund. Their no-questions-asked cancellation policy lives up to its name.
