Browser VPN vs. App VPN: StageVPN Extension vs. App Round 7

Round 1 · Protection Coverage: What goes through StageVPN servers?

The scope of protection is wide across apps. The extension only handles web requests from one program called Chrome, while the app handles all IP packets going out of the operating system. Most of the differences in the remaining six rounds come from this structure.

If you just turn on the extension, only your Chrome tab's web communications will go through the StageVPN servers. All other communications go straight out to the current network as usual. In the table below, 'rough' means that it is protected by an encryption section through the StageVPN server. ‘No interruption’ means that it goes directly to the current network. 'Conditional' means that it depends on settings.

The extension has a list of addresses that do not go through the proxy. Private IP bands (10.x, 172.16~172.31.x, 192.168.x, 169.254.x), localhost, and StageVPN account server addresses are connected directly without going through a proxy. This is to allow continued access to devices within the same network, such as the router management page or in-house printer. The purpose is also to enable login and session cleanup even if the connection is lost. The two 'conditional' rows in the table depend on Chrome's settings. Incognito windows only go through the proxy after you turn on Allow in the extension management screen. WebRTC writes proxy routes only if the policy described in Round 4 is applied.

verdict It's a win for the app. However, for those who only need to protect their work in Chrome on their PC, the narrow scope of the extension is not a disadvantage, but an advantage - 'just as much as you need'.

Round 2 · Protocol: What's the difference between HTTPS proxy and WireGuard?

The extension is an HTTPS proxy and the app is a WireGuard tunnel. An HTTPS proxy is a proxy that encrypts the connection itself between the browser and the proxy server with TLS. WireGuard is a VPN protocol that creates an encrypted tunnel between two devices that identify each other with a public key.

When accessing HTTPS sites, the extension's encryption is two-layered. Outside is TLS between Chrome and the proxy. Inside is TLS between Chrome and the site. The proxy only connects the path created by CONNECT and does not decrypt the inner ciphertext. So the page content is not visible even in the proxy. Conversely, for sites whose addresses start with http://, the section from the proxy to the site is not encrypted.

The app delivers IP packets at a time. The operating system (iPhone's Network Extension, Android's VpnService) creates a virtual network device. The app establishes a tunnel with the server using WireGuard and then sends all packets through that tunnel. It doesn't matter whether it's TCP or UDP. Detailed operations such as handshake and key replacement are Explaining WireGuard PrinciplesIt is covered in

The difference between log entries also lies in the way they work. The proxy takes the name of the site you want to connect to and connects to it on your behalf, leaving the host name behind. The WireGuard server forwards IP packets, leaving the destination IP and port. In both cases, we do not log communications such as page content, URL paths, or search terms. The full item is Access record storage noticeIt is open to the public.

verdict It's a win for the app. Per-packet tunnels are protocol agnostic. The HTTPS proxy in the extension also provides sufficient encryption for web requests, but it is limited to the granularity of the web request.

Round 3 · DNS: Who looks up the site name?

The app sends all DNS queries from the device into the tunnel. The extension leaves name lookup for requests going through the proxy to the proxy server. DNS is a system that converts domain names read by humans into IP addresses used by computers. Just by looking at the DNS query, you can tell a lot about what service you were trying to access.

DNS leaks are unlikely to occur within Chrome with extensions turned on. This is because when Chrome uses a proxy, it does not look up the site name directly, but passes the host name to the proxy in the CONNECT request. Instead, a single name lookup is made on the current network to find the address of the proxy server itself. All this query reveals is that you are ‘connecting to a StageVPN proxy’. The procedure for directly checking for leaks is: Guide to DNS Leaks and WebRTC LeaksI organized it in .

verdict It's a win for the app. The extension prevents leaks by proxying name lookups within Chrome, but does not handle queries from programs outside of Chrome.

Round 4 · WebRTC: Does video calling feature reveal your real IP?

In your app, all UDP communication, including WebRTC, goes through the tunnel, so there is no need to adjust anything. The extension changes Chrome's WebRTC IP handling policy during connections, preventing UDP from bypassing the proxy. WebRTC is a web standard that allows video calls and file transfers in the browser without plugins. This technique asks the STUN server 'what my address looks like' over UDP to find the shortest path. By default, this request does not go through the proxy.

There are conditions under which extensions may change this policy. Chrome manages who controls each setting. If another extension is controlling the WebRTC settings first, or if the company/organization's management policy has fixed the value, StageVPN for Chrome will not change the policy and will leave it as is. In this case, the proxy connection itself will work, but WebRTC protection may not be applied. For the same reason, Chrome's proxy settings can only be controlled by one extension at a time. If another VPN/proxy extension is using a proxy, StageVPN for Chrome will not connect and will tell you why.

verdict It's a win for the app. The app is structurally free from WebRTC leaks. Extensions have the same effect as policy changes, but may not take effect if other extensions or management policies exist.

Round 5 · Devices: What can you use on what devices?

I use the StageVPN app on my smartphone and tablet, and StageVPN for Chrome on my PC. The two methods are in charge of different devices rather than competing on the same device. StageVPN for Chrome is an extension for Chrome on PC, and the StageVPN app is for iPhone/iPad and Android.

When you first connect, iPhone will ask you to add a VPN configuration, and Android will ask you to allow the VPN connection request. You must allow this before the app can create a tunnel. The order is Getting started on iPhone/iPadand Getting started on AndroidIt is in For the extension to work in an incognito window, you must turn on 'Allow in incognito mode' in Chrome's extension management screen. If it's off, an extended screen will guide you through it. For a full list of supported devices: Features and Scope of OfferingCheck it out here.

For tasks that require a company-specific static IP, connect to the StageVPN app. StageVPN business members can be invited by their company, accept them in the app, and then connect to their company's dedicated static IP. The extension only connects to public servers. If a company has set the access approach to 'dedicated IP only', its members will not be able to connect as an extension (as of September 2026). How to configure it StageVPN Businessand Enterprise Fixed IP VPN Introduction GuideIt is in

verdict It's a draw. Since you can only use apps on smartphones and extensions on Chrome on PC, a device is the answer.

Round 6 · Battery and Performance: Which puts less strain on your device?

On a PC, scaling is less of a burden; on a smartphone, apps are the only option, and WireGuard is designed to lessen that burden. StageVPN doesn't make any promises about battery consumption or speed. Instead, it provides a structure that explains what factors create the burden.

There are two reasons why WireGuard is a good fit for smartphones. First, if there is no data to send, no communication occurs. Less likely to wake your device while the screen is off. Second, even if you change from Wi-Fi to LTE, the tunnel does not start again from scratch. Reduced computation and communication costs for reconnection. Still, the structure in which all communication goes through the server remains the same. If the server is far away, each app will experience increased latency. If the perceived speed is low, try switching to a nearby server and compare.

The extension does not use the operating system's VPN functionality. Chrome doesn't do much more than send the request to the proxy. All the extension does is make a short request to renew session credentials before they expire. The impact on your laptop battery is buried in Chrome usage itself. However, if the proxy server is far away, Chrome's page loading will only be slower.

verdict On PC, it's a win for expansion. You can only use the app on your smartphone, and thanks to WireGuard's no communication and roaming when idle, the burden is small for a device-wide VPN.

Round 7 · Fees: Do I have to pay twice to use two things?

You only need to pay once. Subscriptions are per StageVPN account, so if you sign in with the same account, they apply to both apps and extensions. The fee is 8,000 won per month, 50,000 won per year, and the annual rate is about 4,167 won per month, which is about 48% cheaper (as of September 2026). Your subscription automatically renews, and if you cancel, you can use it until the end of the paid period.

If the payment path is different, the cancellation path is also different. Subscriptions paid for in the app market must be canceled separately at the store. The rules for changing rate plans are the same regardless of payment channel. Changing from monthly to annual will take effect immediately and prorated for the remaining period. Changing from yearly to monthly will take effect at the end of the current period. If you change payment platforms, updates to the previous platform will stop. Detailed conditions Fee informationand StageVPN plan informationWell, the refund standard is Payment/refund policyIt is in

verdict It's a draw. You can use both with the same subscription, so price is not a factor in your choice. You can select the appropriate version for each device, such as an extension on a PC or an app on a smartphone.