5 Best VPNs for Routers: Easy to Set up & Use at Home 2023

As useful as smart devices are, Internet of Things (IoT) hardware is notoriously insecure – so it’s never been more important to use a VPN on your router. By installing a VPN on your router, you can secure all of the data that leaves your home network with robust encryption. This includes devices that don’t support VPN apps, like smart TVs, gaming consoles, and more.

However, installing a VPN on a router can be challenging. Some VPNs don’t offer router support, while others have complicated setups. After testing over 50 VPNs, my team and I found the best ones that are a breeze to set up. These all have large server networks, fast speeds, and strong security for a safe and enhanced online experience.

My top recommendation is ExpressVPN because it offers a hassle-free router setup thanks to its custom firmware. Plus, you can control your router’s VPN connection on its desktop app, so it’s easy to use. It’s backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can try ExpressVPN risk-free and get a refund if it’s not for you.

Try ExpressVPN For Your Router >>

Best VPNs for Routers — Full Analysis (Updated 2023)

1. ExpressVPN — Custom Firmware for Easy Installation and Use on Routers

I found that ExpressVPN is the easiest VPN to use on routers. It offers custom firmware for many popular router models, letting you easily configure the VPN in just a few steps. It took me less than 10 minutes to set up ExpressVPN on my Netgear router.

If ExpressVPN’s custom firmware isn’t compatible with your router, you have the option to configure it manually. While it’s a bit more complex, ExpressVPN's in-depth guides make it simple to do. You can also contact its 24/7 live chat support if you need any help with the setup. When I tried this, I was connected to an agent in a few seconds.

What I liked the most about ExpressVPN is its Group Device feature. This lets you choose a different server location for up to 5 different device groups. During my tests, I connected my phone to a UK server to access my banking apps while my laptop was connected to a US server to watch Disney+. It was easy to control all of this from the ExpressVPN app, too.

Connecting a device to a different location is a breeze with a simple drag and drop

The only drawback I found was its higher price. However, ExpressVPN regularly offers great deals. When I signed up for its annual plan, I got 3 months of extra service for free. It’s backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can test it out with your router completely risk-free. If you’re not satisfied, you can get a full refund.

Useful Features

• Strong security. With ExpressVPN, all the devices connected to your router are protected with military-grade encryption and leak protection. I tested its US servers for IP/DNS leaks and never found any.
• RAM-based servers. ExpressVPN offers RAM-based servers, which wipe your data clean upon every reboot. Plus, it has a strict no-logs policy. This means your online activity is private and can’t be traced back to you.
• Great for streaming. During my tests, ExpressVPN successfully accessed dozens of geoblocked streaming sites, including Disney+, (HBO) Max, BBC iPlayer, Hotstar, Stan, and more.
• Offers pre-configured routers. The Aircove router comes with ExpressVPN already installed, so you don’t have to worry about setting anything up yourself. It’s a great option if installing a VPN on your current router might invalidate its warranty.

Try ExpressVPN For Routers >>

2. CyberGhost — Beginner-Friendly VPN That’s Easy to Set up on Routers

The reason I love CyberGhost is that it offers plenty of support to guide you through router installation. The well-written step-by-step guides on its website are easy to follow, even if you don’t have much technical experience. You’ll also get 24/7 live chat to help you out, even if it was a little slower than ExpressVPN’s support during my tests.

You can configure CyberGhost on your router in just a few clicks

Like ExpressVPN, CyberGhost also offers routers with the VPN app pre-installed through its partnership with FlashRouters. This saves you from configuring the router yourself, so it’s ideal if you’re new to VPNs or managing your own hardware. CyberGhost also integrates with FlashRouters’ Privacy app, which makes it easy to manage your router VPN connection.

CyberGhost’s speeds are fast, too. When testing its nearby servers, the speed drop was never more than 9%. This was more than enough for me to watch live sports on ESPN in HD. I didn’t experience any buffering, even when I was downloading torrents in the background. While long-distance connections dropped my speed by 23%, it was still more than enough to stream.

You can test CyberGhost risk-free for up to 45 days, thanks to its reliable money-back guarantee. If you don’t like it, you can get a full refund.

Useful Features

• Reliable server network. I tested its servers with Netflix US, Disney+, BBC iPlayer, Stan, and DAZN — it could access all these sites with ease.
• Built-in NAT firewall. CyberGhost uses a NAT firewall to filter out any suspicious data packets. This ensures that only the data you’ve requested reaches your devices. Any malicious data packets that don’t match the expected communications are rejected, enhancing your home network’s security.
• Strong security. It comes with military-grade encryption, leak protection, and a kill switch. Your online data is well protected from external threats.

Try CyberGhost For Routers >>

3. Private Internet Access — A Router VPN With Unlimited Device Connections for Ultimate Protection of Your Home Network

Private Internet Access (PIA) offers unlimited simultaneous device connections to support your router VPN connection. When you install a VPN on your router, data leaving your home network is protected – but it’s not secured between your devices and the router. By installing a VPN on your devices and your router, you can ensure all of your data is safe. Plus, this means you can continue using it on all your mobile devices while you’re away from home.

Manually installing PIA on your router is simple, even without technical knowledge. I followed the guide provided on PIA's website and was able to set it up on my Netgear router in under 15 minutes. During my tests, I found the installation process is straightforward when you follow the provided instructions, even if it’s not as seamless as ExpressVPN.

PIA’s customer support is really responsive — I got the answer to my setup-related questions immediately

I found its split-tunneling for routers feature convenient. This lets you choose which devices use the VPN connection and which ones don’t. I used it to order food for delivery on my iPhone while watching Netflix US on my Android TV. Unfortunately, PIA didn’t work consistently with other streaming platforms like Disney+.

You can test PIA risk-free by making use of its 30-day money-back guarantee. If the service doesn’t meet your expectations, you can contact support and request a full refund.

Useful Features

• Good speeds. During my tests on nearby servers, I experienced a speed loss of only 8%. This let me stream in HD on my smart TV without any lag or buffering.
• Large server network. Of all the VPNs I tested, PIA has the largest server network. Having a large number of servers reduces the likelihood of server overcrowding. This reduces the risk of slowdowns while streaming, gaming, or torrenting, even if you’re routing a range of devices through your router.
• Robust security. This includes military-grade encryption, leak protection, and a kill switch for network-wide security. This disconnects you from the internet if the VPN drops, so none of your data leaks.

Try PIA For Routers >>

4. NordVPN — Fast Speeds to Stream and Game on Every Device Without Lag

NordVPN is the second fastest router VPN I tested (after ExpressVPN). During my tests on nearby servers, my speeds never dropped by more than 10% – even when I connected to European cities hundreds of kilometers away. My speeds remained consistent even though more than a dozen devices were connected to the router.

I was able to stream in 4K on my smart TV, even over long distances

For example, I streamed Hulu in HD on my smart TV while downloading Apex Legends on my Windows PC, both of which are bandwidth-intensive activities. I didn’t experience any buffering or slowdowns until I connected to long-distance servers. Even then, I only had to wait a few seconds for HD episodes to load, and buffering issues only lasted a second or two.

NordVPN offers step-by-step guides on its website for various router models, including TP-Link, Tomato, and pfSense. I could set it up on a Sabai router in a few minutes. Plus, it offers pre-configured VPN routers that are ready to use straight out of the box.

NordVPN offers both monthly and yearly plans. Each plan is backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee. If it’s not for you, it’s easy to get a full refund.

Useful Features

• Strong streaming capabilities. NordVPN is a solid choice for streaming. During my tests, it worked with 15+ Netflix libraries. I could also access other popular platforms like Disney+, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, DAZN, and more.
• P2P-friendly. No matter which server you connect to, all of them are P2P-friendly. This means you can torrent quickly and without slowdowns. It even offers dedicated P2P servers if you install the VPN on your computer, laptop, or phone.

Try NordVPN for Routers >>

5. Surfshark — A Router VPN With Worldwide Servers To Easily Access Your Favorite Sites

Surfshark offers servers in 100 countries, which is more than any other VPN on this list. This gives you a ton of different regional IP addresses to use. This meant that, during my tests, I was able to reliably watch Netflix, Disney+, Hulu, Stan, and more on my smart TV.

Surfshark worked with all the streaming sites that I tested it with

The VPN works with various routers, such as Linksys, Netgear, and DD-WRT. Like other VPNs on this list, Surfshark also offers easy-to-follow instructions for manual VPN router configuration. If you still need help configuring it, you can contact support through email or 24/7 live chat.

I was initially concerned that Surfshark is headquartered in the Netherlands, which falls under the jurisdiction of the 14 Eyes Alliance. This means that the government authorities can legally force the company to hand over user data. However, Surfshark doesn’t collect your data, so it won’t have anything to share.

Its 30-day money-back guarantee means you can try it out and get a full refund if it’s not for you.

Useful Features

• Fast speeds. In my tests, the speed drop on nearby servers was only 8%. I binge-watched The Recruit in UHD on Netflix US without any lag.
• Unlimited connections. Like PIA, Surfshark also allows unlimited device connections. This means you can protect all your devices, even when you’re traveling.

Try Surfshark for Routers >>

Quick Comparison Table — Router VPN Features

The table below compares the features of our top recommend router VPNs. This includes each VPN’s lowest monthly price, speed, number of servers, and whether or not they have a dedicated router app for easy configuration.

I’ve also included whether these router VPNs let you connect to multiple VPN locations at the same time. This is helpful when you want to connect different devices to different locations, such as accessing US-based streaming services and accessing UK-based banking apps.

Try ExpressVPN for Routers >>

Tips on Choosing the Best VPN for Your Router

The rigorous standards I applied to select the top VPNs suitable for routers are outlined below. Nonetheless, if you'd rather conduct your own evaluations, these characteristics can serve as a guideline, helping you choose the ideal VPN that aligns with your requirements.

• Easy to use — I looked for VPNs that are easy to install and use on your preferred router. If you don’t yet have a router, you might want to consider one with a VPN already built-in, like ExpressVPN.
• Reliable customer support — Setting up a VPN on your router can be difficult if you’re a beginner. So, I prioritized VPNs that offer reliable customer support that’s available most of the day via live chat and email.
• Fast speed — Speed greatly impacts how quickly you can load and stream content. I tested the speeds of every VPN and only shortlisted the ones that allowed me to stream, game, and torrent without slowdowns.
• Strong security — I focused on VPNs with robust security features like 256-bit AES encryption, IP/DNS leak protection, and a no-logs policy. This will protect your router-connected devices from cyber threats.
• Extensive server network — All of my top recommendations have servers located worldwide, so you’ll be able to use international IP addresses. You’ll need an international IP address to access content from regional streaming content libraries.

FAQs on the Best VPNs for Routers

Why do you need a VPN for your router?

There are many benefits to installing a VPN on your router, like:

• Secure your entire network. With a VPN on your router, you can protect all of the data leaving your home network, including information from vulnerable smart devices like assistants, TVs, and more.
• Use a VPN with devices that are not VPN-compatible. Once you install the VPN on your router, you can protect all your devices, even those that normally don’t run VPN software. This includes gaming consoles and smart TVs as well as other IoT devices, like your security cameras, smart fridges, etc.
• Access streaming content on your TV. Having a VPN on your router makes accessing streaming content on your preferred devices easy. That’s because you’ll be able to access a variety of international IP addresses without having to configure each device separately.

What's the best router for a VPN

There are a lot of routers that are compatible with VPN software, but VPNs most commonly work best on Netgear, Asus, and Linksys models. Check your router's manual or visit the manufacturer's website for information on VPN support. Many router manufacturers provide compatibility details on their sites or through customer support.

It’s worth noting that most ISP routers don’t support VPNs by default. If your router isn’t compatible, our top VPNs all offer pre-configured routers.

Here are a few other popular router models that are VPN-compatible:

1. Asus RT-AX58U
2. TP-Link Archer GX90
3. Asus RT-AC86U router
4. Synology RT2600ac
5. ASUS ROG Strix AX5400

Can I use a free VPN with my router?

Probably not. The free VPNs I tested didn't have router compatibility, so I couldn't install them on my router at all. It’s better to use a low-cost premium VPN with router support. The VPNs I’ve shortlisted are backed by money-back guarantees, so you can test them without any risk.

Free VPNs usually lack the necessary security features to keep your data safe anyway. Some even sell your data to third parties for a profit, which can put your privacy at risk. Plus, they often impose limitations on speed, bandwidth, and server locations, which can restrict your online experience.

Is using a VPN on my router legal?

Using a VPN on routers is legal in most countries. However, some countries (like China and Iran) have regulations or bans on VPN use. In these cases, using a VPN can be deemed illegal. We don’t condone illegal activities, so you should familiarize yourself with local laws regarding VPN use to ensure compliance.

Get the Best VPN for Your Router Now

There are several benefits to installing a VPN on your router. It provides protection for all your household devices and allows you to access region-locked content, even on devices that don't support VPN connections. The VPNs on this list are easy to configure on most routers, have robust security features, and global server networks.

My top choice is ExpressVPN. Its custom firmware makes it super easy to install the VPN on your router. Plus, It offers pre-configured VPN routers through FlashRouters. You can test ExpressVPN risk-free as it’s backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee.

To summarize, the best VPNs for routers are…