A virtual private network is something almost everyone has either used or heard of, and if you don’t have it installed on your device, then you may want to start using it because it comes with numerous benefits. A virtual private network, better known as the VPN, is an online tool that masks your IP address and replaces it with one that belongs to a different geographical location. A VPN user has the power to choose the IP address he wants; by hiding the original IP address, the user becomes anonymous while surfing the internet. This anonymity allows him to be more secure and private on the world wide web.
Since VPNs allow you to conceal your IP address and connect to different geographical locations, you can access blocked services and websites in your country or region. For example, you can get early access to video games, download geo-blocked applications and watch geo-blocked movies and TV shows. Besides changing your IP address, a VPN provides security by passing your online traffic through an encrypted tunnel. This way, no one can bypass your network and steal or sniff your data while it travels on the network.
Different Types of VPN
There are two types of VPNs you can use these days, the first one is the VPN application or the client app that you can download and run to connect to a different network and the second one is the VPN browser extension that can be added to your web browser and can be only accessed when you open that specific browser. The main difference between these VPNs is that the client app allows your system-wide network traffic to be encrypted. In contrast, the extension only encrypts the traffic generated through a specific browser.
What Should You Use?
Both these VPNs have their benefits, but many people still get confused between them, which is why in this blog post, we will compare the two and help you understand whether you should use the client app or the browser extension.
- The Price
Naturally, the first thing you look at when buying a VPN service is the price; the price is one of the major differences between the VPN firefox extension and the VPN client app. Since the browser extension does not serve as big of a purpose as the client app, it is usually cheaper. Mostly, the VPN browser extensions come pre-installed with the client applications; in that case, they are free. So, if you want to save a couple of bucks or are low on the budget, you should use the VPN browser extension.
- Servers
As we mentioned earlier, with the help of a VPN, you can mask your IP address and connect to a different location; this is where servers come into play. VPN servers are situated in different countries and are several locations you can change by connecting to the VPN.
Different VPN providers provide different servers, and the number of VPN servers is probably the most eye-catching part of a VPN. Most client apps have more VPN servers than browser extensions, so if you want a wide array of locations, you should go with the client app; however, if you only need a few basic servers, then the extension is a better option.
- Added Features
One thing people don’t like about VPN client applications is that they don’t offer as many added features as a browser extension. Some popular browser extension features include an ad-blocker, kill switch, port forwarding, and split tunneling.
- Storage Requirements
Since client applications are downloaded on your system, they take up some storage space, but if you have storage issues and need something lightweight, then a VPN browser extension should be your preferred choice.
- Configurations
Configurations play a major role in setting up a VPN connection; most VPNs come preconfigured with the basic configurations. However, if you want more control over your network, you can change the configuration according to your preferences from the control panel in the VPN client application. On the other hand, your hands are tied when it comes to configurations; you can use only the basic configurations provided by the VPN company.
