Fact-checked by Eric Goldstein
This article contains
- đ„1. Operaâ Best Overall Browser with a VPN in 2024
- đ„2. Aloha Browserâ Minimalistic Browser with a VPN (Great for Beginners)
- đ„3. Epic Privacy Browserâ Privacy-Focused Browser with a Good VPN
- 4.Microsoft Edge Secure Networkâ Convenient Browser-Based VPN for Edge Users
- 5. Avast Secure Browserâ Affordable Premium VPN + High-End Security Features
- Quick Comparison Table
- Browser VPNs vs. Standalone VPNs
- Frequently Asked Questions
Short on time? Hereâs the best browser with a VPNin 2024:
- đ„Opera:Its browser-based VPN is free and provides unlimited data. It encrypts your browser traffic with 256-bit AES encryption, has a strict no-logs policy, and comes with great extra features, including a built-in ad blocker and split-tunneling.
I tested all the top browsers and found the 5 best ones with a VPNto enhance your online privacy and security when surfing the web. I also compared browser-based VPNs and standalone VPNs to determine their respective strengths and weaknesses so that you can decide on the right VPN solution for you.
My favorite browser with a VPN is Opera due to its great security features and extra tools. However, if you want or need more comprehensive protection, I recommend a standalone VPN like ExpressVPN, which has excellent extensions for popular browsers, including Google Chrome and Firefox. Editors' Note: ExpressVPN and this site are in the same ownership group.
Try ExpressVPN With Your Browser
Quick summary of the best browsers with a VPN:
- 1. đ„Opera â Best overall browser with a VPN in 2024 (free with unlimited data & extension support).
- 2. đ„Aloha Browser â Minimalistic browser with a built-in VPN (easy to navigate & great for beginners).
- 3. đ„Epic Privacy Browser â Privacy-focused browser with a VPN + strong tracker & fingerprinting protection.
- 4. Microsoft Edge Secure Network â Convenient browser-based VPN for Microsoft Edge users with easy configuration.
- 5. Avast Secure Browser â Affordable premium VPN, high-end security features & large server network.
đ„1. Operaâ Best Overall Browser with a VPN in 2024
Opera is the best overall browser with a VPN in 2024. Its built-in VPN is completely free with unlimited data, has a strict no-logs policy, and includes 256-bit AES encryption for your entire Opera traffic. Note that the VPN is turned off by default for search engines, like Google, which is a big privacy concern.
While Opera lets you select from 3 regions, including the Americas, Asia, or Europe, you canât pick a specific country. Your only other option is to allow the VPN to choose the most optimal location, meaning itâs not really ideal for getting a specific IP address. This is why I prefer a full-fledged VPN like ExpressVPN, which lets you pick any server location in 105 countries.
The browser has a built-in ad blocker which eliminatedmost ads on the social media and news sites that I visited in my tests. By default, the ad blocker is set to exclude certain sites, âAllow Acceptable Ads,â and not to block trackers, so make sure customize your preferences in the settings menu.
It comes with a basic split-tunneling feature, which means you can exclude specific websites from the VPN tunnel. Opera doesnât do a great job explaining how to set up this featureâ to exclude a site from the VPN tunnel, youâll have to click Addunder Manage additional VPN bypass rulesin the settings menu and type out the websiteâs address.
Opera works with all the Google Chrome extensions youâre familiar with to expand the browserâs functionalities.
Unfortunately, this VPN doesnât include a kill switch, so if your VPN connection drops unexpectedly, itâll leak your data. It doesnât use a VPN protocol either, like WireGuard or OpenVPN. This means youâre getting roughly the same level of protection as any website using HTTPS.
Operaâs VPN has a premium plan, called Opera VPN Pro, which provides device-wide protection, uses protocols like OpenVPN, gives you access to servers in 30+ countries, and more. I still think itâs overpriced for what you get, especially when compared to a standalone VPN. That said, its paid plan comes with a 7-day free trial and a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Bottom Line:
Opera includes a free VPN thatâs secure to use â it encrypts your browser traffic and has a no-logs policy. It also comes with a basic split-tunneling tool and an ad blocker. But it wonât protect your internet traffic outside of your browser, it doesnât have a kill switch and it doesnât allow you to select a specific country to connect to.
Editors' Note: ExpressVPN and this site are in the same ownership group.
đ„2. Aloha Browserâ Minimalistic Browser with a VPN (Great for Beginners)
Aloha Browserâs free VPN is minimalistic, which is great for non-tech-savvy users. To turn on the VPN, just tap the little lightning shield icon in the top left of the browser next to the address bar. The VPN automatically connects to the fastest server. Like Operaâs VPN, it protects your browser traffic with 256-bit AES encryption and has a no-logs policy.
The browser comes with a built-in ad blocker, which stopped most ads from loading in my tests. If you want to block all ads, consider picking up a standalone VPN, like Private Internet Access, whose ad blocker (PIA MACE) stopped 100% of ads on the same pages. As with Operaâs ad blocker, Aloha Browerâs ad blocker allows âacceptable adsâ by default. You can toggle this off in the Additional settingsmenu (and not in the General settingsmenu).
Aloha Browserâs doesnât have any other VPN-related features or settings. There is no kill switch, no VPN protocols, and you canât connect to a specific location. Additionally, Aloha Browser lacks extension support, which greatly limits the degree to which you can customize the browser (unlike Opera).
Aloha Browser has a paid plan, Aloha Premium, which gives you basic device-wide VPN protection, access to more server locations, a kill switch, and more. Thereâs a 7-day free trial but no money-back guarantee.
Bottom Line:
Aloha Browserâs built-in VPN is free, allows unlimited data, and is a great choice for beginners â to enable it, all you have to do is click 1 button. The VPN comes with good security for a browser-based VPN as it encrypts your traffic and has a no-logs policy. It also includes a decent ad blocker, but it doesnât have a kill switch and is missing VPN protocols.
Editors' Note: Private Internet Access and this site are in the same ownership group.
đ„3. Epic Privacy Browserâ Privacy-Focused Browser with a Good VPN
Epic Privacy Browser is an excellent privacy-focused browser that offers comprehensive protection against ads, trackers, and fingerprinting (a technique used by websites and online services to identify and track you based on unique characteristics of your device and browser).
It comes with a free VPN, which has no data caps and a strict no-logs policy. Unlike Opera and Aloha Browser, it allows you to select your server location â there are 7 countries, including the US, Canada, the UK, Germany, France, the Netherlands, and Singapore.
Its ad blocker is based on the highly-regarded uBlock Origin extension. It blocks address bar and URL tracking, installation tracking, error tracking, and more. It gives you the option of setting Epic to always be in private browsing mode, which deletes all user data, including history, cookies, preferences, and more, when the browser window is closed.
Like Opera, Epic supports most extensions from the Google Chrome web store, so you can customize the browser to your liking.
A notable drawback is Epic is partnered with Yahoo! This has a few major consequences: its default search engine is Yahoo!.and whenwhen you click on an ad in Yahoo! search, it also automatically disables its proxy and ad blocker for several seconds so Yahoo! gets your data. Also, some Yahoo! sites bypass Epicâs ad blocker and proxy entirely, including Techcrunch, Engadget, HuffPo, and more.
Bottom Line:
Epic Privacy Browser is a great choice for privacy enthusiasts looking for a browser with a built-in VPN. Its encrypted proxy is completely free without data caps and allows you to select a specific country to connect to. Whatâs more, it has excellent ad and tracker blocking capabilities and comes with an always-on private browsing mode. The main downside of Epic is its partnership with Yahoo! creates some privacy vulnerabilities.
4.Microsoft Edge Secure Networkâ Convenient Browser-Based VPN for Edge Users
Microsoft Edge Secure Networkis built into the Edge browser, which is installed by default on all Windows devices and may save you the hassle of switching to a new browser just to get access to a VPN.
I like how easy it is to configure the VPN. You can set it to 3 different modes depending on your needs, such as Select Sites, Optimized, and All Sites. Select Sitesmakes it so that the VPN will only turn on when you visit the sites that you specify. Optimizedmakes it so that the VPN only turns on when youâre on public Wi-Fi, unsecure networks, or attempt to visit a site without a valid HTTP certificate. Lastly, All Sitesmakes the VPN run constantly. In addition to these modes, you can set overrides for specific sites that the VPN should always turn on for or always ignore.
Unlike Operaâs VPN and the other browser-based VPNs on this list, it imposes a data cap of 5 GB per month. This may be enough for casual browsing, but itâll quickly run out if you watch video content. For streaming, I recommend getting an affordable standalone VPN, like ExpressVPN, which comes with no data caps and can access 100+ streaming sites like Netflix.
There are a few other downsides to Microsoft Edge Secure Network as well. It doesnât allow you to select which VPN server you connect to, doesnât include a kill switch, and while it does encrypt your traffic, it doesnât use a VPN protocol.
Bottom Line:
Microsoft Edge Secure Network is great for those who prefer Windowsâ default browser. Itâs free and very easy to enable and configure. Its main downsides are that it has a 5 GB data cap, doesnât allow you to select your sever location, lacks a kill switch, and is vague about how it encrypts your data.
Editors' Note: ExpressVPN and this site are in the same ownership group.
5. Avast Secure Browserâ Affordable Premium VPN + High-End Security Features
Avast Secure Browser includes an affordable browser-based VPN as part of its premium plan (Avast Secure Browser PRO). I like that the VPN uses WireGuard and OpenVPN, both of which provide fast, secure, and reliable connections. It also has a decent-sized server network in 35+ countries and allows you to connect to a specific location.
Besides the VPN, Avast Secure Browser comes with a plethora of other useful privacy and security tools. Bank Mode is a particularly great feature to use when entering sensitive information. It opens the browser in a virtual desktop, an isolated ecosystem thatâs protected against keyloggers, screenshot attempts, and other malware.
The browser also comes with a built-in ad, tracker, and malware blocker, a password manager, and more. Additionally, it supports Google Chrome extensions. If you need a reliable VPN for streaming, I suggest checking out ExpressVPN, which works reliably with 100+ streaming services.
Avast Secure Browser PRO comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can try out all of its features risk-free.
Bottom Line:
Avast Secure Browser offers an affordable paid alternative for users who find the limitations of free, browser-based VPNs very frustrating. It protects your traffic with the WireGuard and OpenVPN protocols, has servers in 35+ countries, and the browser comes with a ton of useful privacy and security tools, such as Bank Mode, an ad tracker, and malware blocker, a password manager, and more. Avast Secure Browser PRO backs subscriptions with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Quick Comparison Table
VPN | Free VPN | Server Locations | Data Cap | Extension Support | Built-in Ad Blocker | Split-Tunneling |
đ„1. Opera | â | Americas, Asia, and Europe (can only select region) | Unlimited | â
(Chrome extensions) | â | â |
đ„2. Aloha Browser | â | â (Connects to the nearest available server) | Unlimited | â | â | â |
đ„3. Epic Privacy Browser | â | US East, US West, Canada, the UK, Germany, France, the Netherlands, and Singapore | Unlimited | â
(Chrome extensions) | â | â |
4. Microsoft Edge Secure Network | â | â (Connects to the nearest available server) | 5 GB per month | â
(Edge extensions) | â | â |
5. Avast Secure Browser | â | 35+ countries | Unlimited | â
(Chrome extensions) | â | â |
Browser VPNs vs. Standalone VPNs
The biggest difference between the two is a browser VPN only works in your browser. It encrypts only the data transmitted through that browser, leaving other internet traffic on your device unprotected. Standalone VPNs, on the other hand, run on your device and encrypt all internet traffic, regardless of which application or browser is being used. This means all data transmitted from your device is secure.
Other important differences are:
- Ease of use & convenience.Browsers with built-in VPNs are straightforward to use. You can toggle the VPN on or off directly within the browser settings, so theyâre good for casual users who want a hassle-free solution for occasional private browsing. Standalone VPNs require separate installation and setup. But while they might seem more complex at first glance, most top providers offer user-friendly apps with easy-to-navigate interfaces. As a bonus, using a standalone VPN means you can continue to use your preferred browser (Chrome, Firefox, and Edge) and any of its extensions/add-ons.
- Cost.Many browsers with built-in VPNs are free. In exchange, they often come with annoying limitations such as data caps, fewer server options, or reduced speeds. As such, theyâre a good starting point for users who donât want to spend money and need basic privacy protection, but subscribing to a good standalone VPN is a worthwhile investment as a long-term solution. Some standalone VPNs also have great free plans.
- Privacy & Security. Most browser-based VPNs arenât true VPNs â theyâre proxies. They only protect the data transmitted through the browser and often lack encryption and even industry-standard VPN security features, like a kill switch. Standalone VPNs provide more comprehensive security and encrypt all internet traffic on your device.
- Servers.Browsers with VPNs typically have a smaller selection of server locations. This can limit your ability to access content from specific regions or reduce flexibility in choosing a server for optimized performance or security.
- Speeds.Due to their limited server coverage and often free or lower-tier service levels, browser-based VPNs tend to offer slower speeds or experience performance issues under heavy use. This can affect the quality of streaming, gaming, or other high-bandwidth activities. Standalone VPNs experience less congestion and provide faster and more reliable connections.
- Features. Browsers with built-in VPNs donât tend to come with many extra features or settings, like streaming and torrenting support, split-tunneling, or an ad, tracker, and malware blocker, the ability to change your VPN protocol, and more.
Testing Methodology: Comparison & Ranking Criteria
I used our proven testing methodologyto find the top browsers with a VPN with a particular focus on privacy and security, speeds, and ease of use. But I also considered other factors such as cost and extra features. You can see a detailed breakdown of the testing criteria I used to rank and compare the browsers with a VPN on my list below:
- I considered each VPNâs privacy and security features. I checked each browser-based VPN for industry-standard security features, like 256-bit AES encryption, which scrambles your data and makes it unreadable to third parties, a kill switch, a no-logs policy (the VPN doesnât keep track of your online activities), and the use of VPN protocols.
- I chose browsers with VPNs that provide extra features. The browsers with VPNs I recommend include extra tools like split-tunneling and an ad blocker. That said, you could get a standalone VPN which provides more value for less.
- I tested each VPNâs speeds. Every VPN will reduce your connection speeds to some extent due to the extra distance your internet traffic has to travel and the encryption process. But the browser-based VPNs on my list maintain fast enough speeds to surf the web with minimal load times and to watch YouTube videos with minimal buffering.
- I looked for browsers with intuitive interfaces. One of the main selling points of a browser-based VPN is their simplicity and ease of use. The browsers I recommend have built-in VPNs that are straightforward to activate and manage, even if youâve never used a VPN before.
- I checked each browser for compatibility with popular extensions.Using a different browser means you may have to give up on your favorite Chrome or Firefox extensions. But many of my recommendations are compatible with extensions from mainstream browsers.
Top Browsers That Didnât Make the Cut
- Brave.Itâs a good chromium-based browser for privacy purposes, but itsBrave Firewall + VPN package is too expensive â you could use the Brave browser for free and protect your traffic with a standalone VPN for a fraction of the price. Plus, Braveâs inclusion of opt-in ads and crypto ties is a turn-off for many.
- Maxthon.It gives you access to servers in 35+ countries and uses the IKEv2 VPN protocol, which is really good for a free, browser-based VPN. But thereâs a catch: its VPN is provided by Bright VPN which pays for itself by using your computerâs resources to collect public web information to sell to banks, universities, and companies.
- DuckDuckGo Privacy Pro. Its browser-based VPN protects the traffic on your entire device (not just your browser traffic), which is really nice. But its VPN comes packaged with 2 other services, Personal Information Removal and Identity Theft Restoration, that you may not be interested in (and which contributes to the hefty subscription price). It also uses the DuckDuckGo search engine, which may not be for everyone.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do any browsers have a built-in VPN?
Yes, there are many browsers that offer built-in VPNs. I recommend Opera, whose browser-based VPN is 100% free and provides unlimited data. It also uses 256-bit AES encryption, has a strict no-logs policy, and comes with an ad blocker and split-tunneling.
Does Firefox have a built-in VPN?
No, Firefox doesnât have a built-in VPN. Mozilla, the company behind Firefox, does sell a standalone VPN that you can purchase called Mozilla VPN, but it isnât integrated into the Firefox browser. If youâre looking for a VPN for Firefox, consider getting ExpressVPN, which has an excellent Firefox extension that combines all the power of a standalone VPN app with the convenience of a browser-based VPN.
Is a browser VPN good enough?
Browser VPNs, especially free ones, are generally inferior to standalone VPNs. While being able to control your VPN directly from within your browser is very convenient, browser-based VPNs usually emphasize simplicity and ease of use at the cost of other things. For example, many of them arenât true VPNs â theyâre proxies and donât encrypt your data, donât use a VPN protocol, and lack critical security features, like a kill switch. They frequently have a very limited list of server locations as well, have slower speeds, and come with few extra features.
Does using a VPN slow down your browser?
Yes, using any VPN will slow down your connection speeds to some extent. This is because your browser traffic must travel some extra distance to be routed through the VPNâs servers and because of the time it takes to encrypt your data. Getting a good browser-based VPN or a good standalone VPN will minimize the impact on your browsing speeds.
About the Author
Raven Wu
Writer
Updated on: August 26, 2024
About the Author
Raven Wu is a freelance writer, editor, and translator. He is a strong advocate of internet freedom and is very passionate about technology, and heâs honed his craft by researching and writing about a variety of other topics including education, literature, health, pop culture, and games. Outside of work, he's an amateur novelist and history enthusiast who enjoys hard games, spicy food, and thinking way too hard about everything.
978 904