Browsec VPN (Браузек): the extension, Premium and how it works in Russia

Browsec is a VPN extension for Chrome, Firefox, Edge and Opera from Browsec Inc. In the Chrome Web Store it has 8 million users and a 4.7 rating. The free version gives you 4 locations with no traffic limit. Premium unlocks 46 countries and a desktop app and costs from 699 rubles a month. In Russia, since 2025 the free version has regularly lost connection because of blocking. Browsec itself, on its Russian-language site on October 26, 2026, says of the free plan: "outages in the Russian Federation are possible".

If you need a VPN not for a single tab but for your whole phone or Mac, with a protocol that holds up against DPI, we recommend BessyConnect. Below we also honestly go through where Browsec is more convenient.

What is Browsec VPN and who is behind it?

Browsec is first and foremost a browser extension. According to the service's own FAQ, in the browser it works as an HTTP proxy over TLS. The mobile apps use IPSec IKEv2 and XRay. The publisher in almost every store is Browsec Inc (the Edge catalog lists Browsec LLC). On its Google Play listing the company gives an address in Alexandria, Virginia (USA). The browsec.com domain was registered on November 8, 2012, and the site also counts its history "since 2012".

Where the official Browsec is listed and what the stores themselves say about it (data as of October 26, 2026):

The extension is translated into 10 languages, including Russian. The Russian-language Telegram channel @BrowsecVPNru (about 50 thousand subscribers, linked from the official site) is the main source of news about outages in Russia.

A lookalike in the Russian App Store. The original Browsec app isn't in the Russian App Store. Instead, a search for "browsec" there turns up «Browsec ВПН: Тест DNS» (Browsec VPN: DNS Test) from DI PETROL OIL PLUS DOO. It was released on September 29, 2026, and as of October 26 it had a 1.6 rating from 7 reviews. Its description says outright that the app "does not provide a VPN" and that "VPN" is merely "part of the brand". How to tell such copies apart is covered in our article on fake VPN apps.

Browsec free or Premium: how much does it cost?

Free Browsec has no time or traffic limit but gives you only 4 locations and "standard speed". Premium costs 699 rubles a month, 3,999 rubles a year or 7,199 rubles for two years (Russian version of the site, October 26, 2026). There is a 7-day money-back guarantee.

The set of free countries changes. In summer 2025 the official channel added Poland (to the extension) and France (on Android) to the free version as countries that were working in Russia at the time. So the App Store list is a guide, not a promise.

On the English version of the site the same plans cost $6.99 a month, $39.99 a year and $71.99 for two years. In the US App Store a month costs $6.99 and a year $39.99. The site accepts cards, PayPal and "local payment services depending on the region". The subscription is shared: Premium bought on the site also works in the mobile app.

The "Russia" location (16 servers) is only in Premium: it is meant for people who have left the country and open Russian services from abroad. One more detail: on October 12, 2026 Browsec warned that account activation emails might not reach Yandex Mail and advised signing up with a different email address.

How to download Browsec: browser extension, PC, Android and iPhone

The official sources are the Chrome Web Store, Firefox Add-ons, Opera Addons and Microsoft Edge Add-ons extension stores, and for phones Google Play and the App Store. The extension installs on any computer with these browsers, including Windows. The separate desktop app works only with Premium.

The extension in Chrome, Edge, Firefox and Opera:

1. Open your browser's extension store and search for Browsec VPN. The publisher should be Browsec Inc or the owner of the browsec.com site.
2. Click "Add" (or "Install") and confirm the permissions.
3. Click the Browsec icon to the right of the address bar and press "Enable VPN".
4. Choose a country. On the free plan, countries without the Premium label are available.

Browsec for Yandex Browser. There is no separate version for Yandex Browser, but it is built on Chromium and installs extensions from the Chrome Web Store. In June 2025 the official Browsec channel advised Opera and Yandex Browser users who ran into problems to remove the extension and reinstall it specifically from the Chrome store. Step-by-step installation is described in the article VPN for Yandex Browser.

Browsec on PC. The query "browsec скачать на пк" ("download browsec for PC") is usually about the extension, and on Windows it works just as it does on a Mac. The Browsec app for Windows, macOS and Linux encrypts all of the computer's traffic but requires Premium. The Windows version was still in beta in September 2025. The difference between the two options matters: on March 17, 2026 Browsec itself reminded users that the extension doesn't protect Telegram for desktop, because it runs separately from the browser. More in the article VPN extension or app.

Android. The app is on Google Play (10M+ installs). The site also offers an APK file, including one for Android TV.

iPhone and iPad. Browsec isn't in the Russian App Store. The site confirms this and points to a separate guide. In practice, as with other VPNs, you need an Apple ID from another country. Since October 13, 2026 Browsec has also been available on Apple TV.

Does Browsec work in Russia in 2026?

It works with interruptions, and the company itself admits it. The browsec.com site is blocked, according to Roskomsvoboda. Since 2025 the free extension has regularly lost connection, and the mobile apps have been blocked in waves several times. The company restores access and is betting on Premium.

A timeline based on media reports and Browsec's official Telegram channel:

One detail is visible without any reports. The Russian version of browsec.com doesn't open on its own domain: when you go to browsec.com/ru, the server redirects you to the mirror browsecvps.xyz. Look for Browsec through the extension stores rather than random links from search results: sites on various domains turn up under this name.

Keep in mind how the extension itself is built, too. It is an HTTP proxy over TLS, and filters find this kind of traffic easier to recognize than protocols with camouflage. We explained why this happens in our piece on DPI.

Browsec not working: what to do?

Most often Browsec stops working because specific servers are blocked. So the first thing to do is change the country and press "Fix" in the extension. If that doesn't help, reinstall the extension from the Chrome store and check for conflicts with other VPNs and extensions.

Step by step, following the Browsec FAQ and its support team's advice:

1. Change the country. The Browsec channel regularly posts which countries are currently connecting, and in the extension restored countries are shown at the top of the list.
2. Press "Fix". Browsec itself advised pressing this button in the extension interface during the outages in June 2025.
3. Restart or reinstall the extension. In Opera and Yandex Browser, remove it and reinstall it from the Chrome Web Store.
4. Remove conflicts. Turn off other VPN and proxy extensions, and temporarily your antivirus as well. Try Browsec in a new browser profile: if it works there, one of your extensions is interfering.
5. On a phone, update the app. For iPhone, in February 2025 Browsec advised turning on XRay above the VPN toggle and choosing countries from the "Recommended" section.
6. Write to support at support@browsec.com, stating your ISP and region.

If "browsec не работает сегодня" ("browsec not working today") applies to everyone you know at once, it is almost certainly a new wave of blocking rather than your settings. The general troubleshooting order is in the article why a VPN isn't working. And if mobile internet is cut down to whitelists, no extension and no app will help.

Is Browsec safe?

Browsec is a long-running service with a real publisher, a site dating back to 2012 and millions of installs in official stores. But we found no "no logs" promise and no independent audit. And by design, the extension needs access to all websites.

What the primary sources show as of October 26, 2026:

• Extension permissions. According to the Firefox Add-ons listing, these are proxy control, intercepting web requests, access to tabs and to all websites, and on request also clearing browser data and managing extensions. That is normal for a VPN extension, but the access is broad.
• Privacy policy (version of December 5, 2023). Browsec stores your email and subscription details and automatically collects "operational data". Even after an account is deleted, anonymized records of device activity are kept. The company discloses personal data in response to law enforcement requests. Neither the policy nor the FAQ contains a separate promise not to keep logs.
• Google Play. The app may share app performance data and device identifiers with third parties. It may also collect personal info, app activity and two other types of data.
• Ads. The site and the App Store description promise "no ads", while as of October 26, 2026 Google Play labels the app "Contains ads". The discrepancy is worth keeping in mind.
• Chrome Web Store. The store notes that the publisher has "no history of violations" and that the extension follows recommended practices.

For accessing a few sites on a work laptop, it is an acceptable option. For privacy across the whole device, a system-wide app is better.

Browsec alternatives: what to use instead

You need a replacement if Browsec won't connect or if you need protection beyond the browser. Browsec has real strengths: extensions for four browsers, apps for Windows and Linux, and a free plan with no time limit. BessyConnect has no extension and no Windows version, but it protects your entire phone, tablet or Mac with a single tunnel on VLESS with Reality camouflage.

Data from official sites and stores as of October 26, 2026. More about Planet VPN in our Planet VPN review. Simple one-button apps used in Russia are collected in our roundup of people's VPNs.

Why we recommend BessyConnect

We recommend BessyConnect to those whose Browsec has stopped connecting and to those who need a VPN for the whole device rather than a single tab. It runs on VLESS with Reality camouflage: to the network operator, the traffic looks like an ordinary HTTPS connection. There are more than a hundred servers, no logs are kept, registration isn't required, and there is a trial period.

BessyConnect apps:

• iPhone, iPad, Mac and Apple TV — App Store
• Android — Google Play
• Android TV — Google Play

Let's be direct about what BessyConnect doesn't solve. It has no browser extension. It has no Windows app either: if you work on Windows and only need access in the browser, Browsec is more convenient here. BessyConnect isn't in the Russian App Store, just like Browsec, so on iPhone you need an Apple ID from another country. When mobile internet is restricted to whitelists, a VPN as a rule doesn't help at all.

If you're on Windows and free Browsec is enough for you, keep using it. If the extension keeps losing connection or you need a VPN on your phone, Mac or TV, try BessyConnect: all versions are on the download page.

Frequently asked questions

Is Browsec VPN free? Yes, Browsec has a free plan with no time or traffic limit and no account, but with 4 locations. Premium, with 46 countries and a desktop app, costs from 699 rubles a month on the Russian version of the site.

Why isn't Browsec working today? Most often because of blocking: since 2025 the official Browsec channel has regularly reported outages of the free extension and the mobile apps in Russia. Change the country, press "Fix", reinstall the extension from the Chrome Web Store and turn off other VPNs.

Can I install Browsec in Yandex Browser? Yes. Yandex Browser installs extensions from the Chrome Web Store, and Browsec itself advises reinstalling it from there when problems occur.

Is there Browsec for Windows and iPhone? The extension works in Chrome, Edge, Firefox and Opera on any Windows computer. The separate app for Windows, macOS and Linux requires Premium. For iPhone the app is in the App Store, but not in the Russian one; you need an Apple ID from another country.

What can I use instead of Browsec? If you need a VPN for the whole device, we recommend BessyConnect: VLESS with Reality camouflage, more than 100 servers, no logs and no mandatory registration, with a trial period. There are apps for iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV, Android and Android TV; there are none yet for Windows or browsers.

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