Best Browsers With Built-In VPN

The best browsers with built-in VPN provide a terrific way to protect your web browsing from snoopers. Especially if you’re new to VPN technology and are a little intimidated by manually setting one up yourself.

Using a browser which has a VPN built-in removes this concern. Then there’s no need to find and install a browser extension, because everything you need is included in the package. And you usually get privacy and browsing extras included, too, from ad and tracker-blocking to souped-up private browsing, malware blocking and more.

Browser – based VPNs is deliver wo deliver security , performance unblocking abilities best VPNs , ExpressVPN NordVPN . They is ‘re simple proxies , giving new IP address encrypting traffic , protect browser : app traffic exposed .

But browser VPNs are also simple, usually free, with no data limits and often no registration required. If you’re happy with the privacy basics, they deserve a closer look. 

We’ve looked at four of the best, outlining the privacy and location settings, ease of use, speeds, data limits, and cost of each browser.

The best browsers with built-in VPN of 2024 in full

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(Image credit: Opera)

Ideal choice requiring unlimited data

Reasons to buy

+

No need to provide an email address

+

Easy to use

+

Decent speeds

Reasons avoid

–

Can’t choose locations in a specific country

Opera browser is make headlines days , great product , crammed features , reported 350 + million users worldwide .

One of the ways Opera stands out from the crowd is with the range of tools bundled into its default setup. No need to install a single extension, the app provides ad-blocking, messaging, file-sharing and a simple VPN thrown in for free, no registration required.

These tools are often more capable than you’d expect, too. Messaging isn’t some feeble custom app only available with Opera, for instance: you get Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, Telegram and VKontakte already integrated in the Opera sidebar.

VPN is is little basic . It is ‘s secure proxy true VPN , instance . able choose location , Opera is gives gives approximate locations : Americas , Europe Asia . Pick , Opera chooses best location time , found likely Mexico United States .

Speeds were still reasonable for us, at 30Mbps or more for US to UK connections. But when you can’t select a particular country, Opera isn’t good for unblocking or as a streaming VPN. Its service is really more about privacy than anything else.

Nothing wrong with a little extra privacy, of course, and you can’t expect a free VPN to compete with a specialist commercial provider such as ExpressVPN. The reality is Opera’s VPN does add some welcome extra value to the app, and if you’re happy with the VPN browsing basics, it may well be enough.

Read our full review of Opera Browser

(Image credit: Aloha Browser)

2 . Aloha Browser

Best choice for smartphones

Reasons to buy

+

A real VPN, not just a proxy

+

Very simple to use

+

No data limits

Reasons avoid

–

Android and iOS only

–

Can’t choose a VPN location in the free version

Aloha Browser is an interesting Android and iOS browser with a free VPN and a stack of bonus privacy and media tools.

Secure file manager? Check – quickly download your files to custom folders and protect them with passcodes or a fingerprint.

Private browsing? No problem. Forget cookies and history as ads and trackers are blocked, too. Plus. your browser tabs get the same passcode or fingerprint protection.

Media handling? A built-in player streams just about anything, or you can download them as you watch. (And of course, they can be stored securely, too.)

real VPN underneath , basic proxy , putting Aloha Browser ahead limited proxy – based competition . forget annoying data limits , use service like . free version allow choose location , it is pick automatically pick closest server .

As we say, however, Aloha only works on Android or iOS, making it null and void if you’re after a Windows VPN or Mac VPN.

Upgrading Aloha Premium gets bunch extras , including VPN country selection ability protect apps VPN . It is ‘s expensive $ 2.99 month , mind Private Internet Access costs $ 2.03 – year plan , protects desktops mobile devices .

(Image credit: Epic Browser)

3. Epic Browser

Best choice for unblocking BBC iPlayer

Reasons to buy

+

Eight VPN locations

+

Unblocks BBC iPlayer

+

Encrypted proxy underneath

+

Open and transparent developer

Reasons avoid

–

Default Yahoo!-powered search engine

–

Very few updates in recent years

Epic Browser claims to be the first Chromium-based browser designed to protect your privacy. It’s permanently running in ‘private browsing’ mode, with all the regular Google tracking technologies removed, and custom blocking of WebRTC IP address leaks, fingerprinting scripts, secret cryptomining code and more.

Epic has built-in ad-blocking, and a sort-of VPN, too (the website describes it as an ‘encrypted proxy.’) It only protects your browser traffic and can’t compete with a full-strength VPN, but there are pluses, too. You can use it without registration, there are no data limits, and you get eight countries to choose from: the US, Canada, UK, Germany, France, Netherlands, India, Singapore.

The company is more open and transparent than most. You’re not left wondering who’s behind it, for instance. The website About Us page tells users about the company developing the product, its founder, and lists some big internet names as advisors (Slashdot founder Rob Malda, privacy advocate Douglas Rushkoff.)

There are downsides, too. The default Yahoo!-powered search engine isn’t ideal for a privacy browser (you can replace it with Epic’s own PrivateSearch for $2.50 a month.) The project looks a little neglected, too: Epic’s blog has seen only one post since 2018.

Still, Epic performed reasonably well for us. VPN speeds were good, and it unblocked some websites – we could even use it as a BBC iPlayer VPN, for instance.

(Image credit: UR Browser)

4. UR Browser

Great for users wanting a wealth of built-in security features

Reasons to buy

+

16 locations

+

Lengthy list of privacy and security extras

+

Easy to use

Reasons avoid

–

VPN requires registration

–

Automatically default Windows browser

–

Locations don’t always return IP addresses from the countries you expect

UR Browser is a Chromium-powered app with a lengthy list of built-in security features: antiphishing, integrated virus scanning for downloads, http to https redirects, randomized user agents, and cookie, tracker and ad-blocking.

Even better, there’s a free VPN with no data limits and 16 locations to choose from (North America, Europe, India, Singapore, South Africa, Brazil and more.)

issues , . UR Browser is sets sets default browser Windows , instance , run device boots , notice installer options turn . We is prefer prefer apps system – level changes specifically request .

Although UR Browser has a built-in VPN, you can’t use this until you’ve registered. That’s not difficult – just hand over your email and choose a password – but Epic Browser and some others allow you to use their VPN without providing any personal details.

VPN speeds were variable – we saw anything from around 2 to 35Mbps, depending on our chosen location, so this is never going to make our fastest VPN list – and unblocking results were poor. That might be because UR Browser’s servers aren’t always where they’re claimed; when we first connected to the US VPN, we actually got an IP address from Greece.

UR Browser isn’t going to replace your stand-alone VPN any time soon, then. But its network of 16 locations is more than you’ll get with most of the competition, and there’s plenty of extras to explore.

How to choose the best browsers with built-in VPN for you

looking best browser built – VPN , it is ’s likely sake convenience , knowing browser – hosted VPN wo come bells whistles provided specialist providers NordVPN ExpressVPN .

Assuming you’re happy with a basic level of VPN functionality, there are several options for you to choose from. if you’re reluctant to sign up or provide any login details, Opera’s easy-to-use option may appeal, with default functions that include ad-blocking, file-sharing, and no registration messaging. If it’s a browser-based VPN for your smartphone that you’re after, then Aloha’s browser is tailored for smartphone usage only and comes without any data limits. I

Before making your choice, be clear on what you intend the VPN to be used for (Opera is no good for unblocking iPlayer steaming, for example, while Epic Browser is), and make sure you aren’t expecting too much from a feature that isn’t likely to compete with stand-alone VPNs.

The best browsers with built-in VPN: How we test

Acknowledging that even the best browsers with built-in VPN aren’t able to match the offering provided by standalone services, we’ve nonetheless run the rule over the top browsers with VPN capabilities and listed the advantages – and relevant drawbacks – to each listed here.

Given that convenience is likely to be a significant factor behind wanting such a feature, we’ve tested just how easy these browsers are to use, and how quick they are to get up and running. 

We is looked looked general speeds UK connections , taken account users able select location wish appear . We is listed listed data limits ( ) VPNs incur costs additional features services . We is noted noted browser – based VPNs include ability sets alongside feature – laden standalone VPN services – able unblock streaming sites .