ExpressVPN Unveils Industry's First Hybrid Browser Extension for Flexible Online Privacy

ExpressVPN is also expanding its reach to virtual reality through support for the Meta Quest platform.

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Macy is a writer on the AI Team. She covers how AI is changing daily life and how to make the most of it. This includes writing about consumer AI products and their real-world impact, from breakthrough tools reshaping daily life to the intimate ways people interact with AI technology day-to-day. Macy is a North Carolina native who graduated from UNC-Chapel Hill with a BA in English and a second BA in Journalism. You can reach her at mmeyer@cnet.com.
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Macy Meyer
2 min read
ExpressVPN hybrid browser extension running on a computer screen.

A key feature of the release is Smart Routing, which lets you assign specific VPN locations or settings to individual websites.

 ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN has launched what it calls the industry's first hybrid VPN browser extension, designed to give customers greater flexibility in protecting their online activity. The new extension can operate on its own to secure browser traffic only, or it can pair with the ExpressVPN desktop app to extend protection across an entire device.

The approach blends two traditionally separate tools. Browser extensions have typically acted as lightweight proxies, while full VPN apps encrypt all internet traffic on a device. By combining both modes into a single extension, ExpressVPN aims to simplify that choice and let customers switch between levels of protection depending on their needs.

"Most VPNs make you choose: either a simple browser proxy or a full-device app. Our new hybrid browser extension does both in a single tool," Shay Peretz, group chief operating officer at ExpressVPN, said in a blog post. 

Smart Routing and custom controls

A key feature of the release is Smart Routing, which lets you assign specific VPN locations or settings to individual websites. Instead of manually changing servers each time you visit a different site, you can automate those preferences. The extension also includes WebRTC leak blocking and controls for HTML5 geolocation, helping prevent websites from identifying your location through browser data. 

The browser-focused design reflects the extent to which modern online activity takes place in web browsers, from streaming and shopping to remote work. By concentrating protection at that level while still offering device-wide encryption, the company is positioning the tool as both convenient and comprehensive.

Expansion to virtual reality

ExpressVPN is also expanding its reach to virtual reality through support for Meta's Meta Quest platform. A dedicated VPN app is now available in the Meta Quest app store, and a browser-only version of the hybrid extension is expected to follow. This allows you to secure web activity inside VR environments where traditional VPN apps have often been unavailable or difficult to install.

The move signals a broader shift in the VPN market as privacy tools adapt to new devices and use cases. As browsing extends beyond laptops and smartphones into headsets and other connected hardware, flexible protection models like hybrid extensions may become increasingly important.