If you want to use a router VPN to secure all of your devices — or just connect to more devices than your VPN service allows — you’re looking for the best VPN for router.
By configuring a VPN on your router, you can tunnel your devices through the VPN in your home without having to install an app or manually configure the VPN on each device.
With a VPN-enabled router, even your visitors’ devices and your smart TV can have a secure connection.
So, if the idea of securing all of your devices at once using Wi-Fi while just having to set it up once appeals to you, keep reading to see our top selections for the best VPN for router and which one would be best for you.
What is the best VPN for router?
Many of the same aspects are analyzed while determining the best VPN for router as in our regular reviews and comparisons.
Not only does a VPN service need to be compatible with a wide range of routers and firmware, but we also expect the VPN to be fast, secure, provide additional features, and have a reliable privacy policy.
How to choose a VPN for your router?
The important elements to consider when shopping for a VPN for router are the same as they are when buying for any other VPN.
When sharing large files or streaming, some people will notice a significant variation in speed. ExpressVPN is a superb alternative if your VPN use case necessitates speed.
A big concern is security. While VPN security is complicated, it’s critical to consider the protocols available, the encryption utilized, and the company’s own privacy policy.
The VPNs on this list of the best VPN for router are secure, private, and provide a variety of protocol and encryption options.
Each one has a no-log policy and will not collect your IP address or any other potentially sensitive information during use.
Top routers for VPN
With that in mind, let’s take a look at the best VPN for router, which provides speed and security for all of your devices.
These VPN services not only meet the criteria for a decent VPN with strong security and performance, but they also provide good router compatibility and flexibility.
CyberGhost
CyberGhost is an excellent VPN with a plethora of useful features. While it isn’t as fast as some other VPNs on our list, in our tests, it’s still fast enough for streaming and even torrenting.
CyberGhost has more protocol control than NordVPN, as it supports L2TP, PPTP, OpenVPN, and IPSec, providing users with a wide range of alternatives.
CyberGhost, on the other hand, is not nearly as widely compatible, with its website’s tutorials only covering DD-WRT and Tomato routers. However, it remains one of the best VPN for router.
NordVPN
NordVPN no longer supports L2TP and PPTP connections using routers.
This means that users will have to rely on OpenVPN for the most part. If you read the VPN protocol comparison, you’ll discover that OpenVPN is a fantastic protocol.
So having to utilize this isn’t a big deal, but having other options would be helpful. Manual setup tutorials cover an even broader range of routers than specialized VPN apps.
It covers routers running Tomato and DD-WRT, as well as models from Xiaomi, D-Link, and others.
ExpressVPN
The VPN not only covers all the requirements for a top-tier VPN provider but also offers some of the best router compatibility of any VPN.
ExpressVPN provides easy-to-install custom firmware for various popular models of Asus, Netgear, and Linksys routers on its website.
It is the best VPN for router, as well as the best VPN for Netgear router, and the best VPN for Asus router. It also has a plethora of manual setup guides.
Private Internet Access
When it comes to configuring a VPN on your home router, Private Internet Access is not the most user-friendly option.
The setup tutorials are lengthy and detailed for a reason. Private Internet Access appears to have chosen longer, more complicated setup processes in return for offering the end-user more control over how the VPN operates on their router.
Each tutorial provides various configuration files to download, each with a different set of options to provide varying levels of security and speed.
During the setup process, you’ll also be given the option of using PIA’s unique MACE DNS.
Why do you need a VPN for a router?
When you connect a VPN to your router, it protects any device that connects to the internet through it. This is an excellent approach to avoid device number restrictions imposed by VPN services — especially if you want to protect as many devices as possible for as little money as possible.
As a result, we strongly recommend the VPN services listed on our list of the best VPN for router.
Using a VPN also has some significant advantages. With a VPN, you can disguise the location of your IP address, allowing you to avoid restrictions and unblock content on websites and streaming services.
VPN on your router also allows you to purchase video games that aren’t available in your region, and in certain cases, at a lower price.
Configuring a VPN on your router is an excellent method to connect smart TVs, PCs, consoles, and other internet-connected devices to a world of entertainment while maintaining your online privacy.
The benefits of using a VPN on a router
A VPN is an excellent solution to safeguard your internet connection, both in terms of security and privacy. Your connection becomes encrypted and confidential, making it impossible for anyone to steal data.
Sometimes track your online activity or display intrusive advertisements. You may use a VPN service in two ways: you can install it on your device, or you can install it on a router.
There are various advantages to installing it on a router.
Protection for every device
You never know which devices will be connected to your home network. Visitors may bring their own devices; you may try a new mobile device or laptop, and that smart television is now another point of connection.
When installed on a router, it protects all connected devices. It is not necessary to install a VPN service on each device.
Even internet-connected equipment such as smart door locks, webcams, and sprinklers will utilize the VPN. However, we highly urge you to look for the best VPN for router.
Protection for multiple devices
When you install a VPN service on a router, you no longer have to worry about who is connected to which devices. Your IP address will be protected whenever a device connects to your router.
This provides peace of mind not only to everyone in your home but also to any visitors who may check their email or browse the web.
However, not all VPN for routers provide peace of mind; in fact, some are worrisome. Therefore, you should always look for the best VPN for router.
Speed increase
The final benefit is connected to speed. When you use a VPN service on the actual device, you will notice a minor reduction in speed.
All incoming and outgoing data must be encrypted by the VPN. This is also true when using a VPN with a router—the VPN is still encrypting data.
However, encryption takes place on the router itself. You may see quicker speeds if you use the VPN on the router, where it is always on and always operating, depending on which router you use, which VPN you use, and the connection speed.
ExpressVPN speed is faster than other VPN services, and it is the best VPN for router that you should use.
Can you use a free VPN for router?
Even though you can use a free VPN service, we do not recommend using it with a router.
This is attributable to the fact that they frequently have data and speed constraints, which might slow down your internet speed or possibly prevent you from accessing it at all.
Furthermore, even if you do discover one that is compatible, you will still be subject to a slew of additional concerns.
Before we get into the six issues you may have when utilizing a free VPN service, keep in mind that you should only use the best VPN for router.
Here are the six most serious issues with using a free VPN:
- Logs — Free VPN services frequently utilize usage and connection logs. These logs can be used to readily identify you.
- Leaks — Well, leaks in free VPN services are common; whether it’s IPv4, DNS, WebRTC, or IPv6, this information might expose you and your internet activities. Use only VPNs that have leak protection and kill switches.
- Malware — When it comes to infecting consumers’ devices with adware, malware, or trojans, free VPN services have a poor track record.
- Personal data — In most cases, free VPN providers will gather and sell your personal information to third parties. These services are provided for free, but at what cost?
- Becoming an exit node — Some free VPN services have been accused of using user IP addresses and bandwidth to create exit nodes for other customers (one particular example of this is the infamous Hola). As a result, users may be held accountable for the criminal acts of others.
- Location — Depending on where the VPN is located, it may be subject to dubious digital privacy regulations. Services based in Five, Nine, Fourteen Eyes countries may be forced to turn over any logs and information collected concerning you.
Get the best VPN for router
Each of the VPNs on the list offers something unique to the table, but they all have two things in common: a simple setup process on routers and the best value available. It is up to you to decide which one best meets your requirements.
It can be difficult to select a VPN for your router at times because the router may not support the VPN or the VPN may not support the router.
To clear this up, the VPNs on the list are exactly what you need to get the job done. They are speedy and secure, which is something that not all VPNs offer.
For most users, setting up a VPN once and forgetting about it is the perfect scenario. Once it’s set up, you can simply leave it to work in the background, knowing that your data is secure and private.