What is a VPN Router

Did you know that it is possible to install a VPN on your router? If you’re here, you most certainly did. And you’re not the only one who thought of it. It’s a clever idea that extends VPN protection to all devices connected to your Wi-Fi network.

If you have multiple computers and devices connected to your network, and want them all to be routed through a VPN connection, you can configure the VPN connection directly on your a VPN compatible router. By doing so, you don’t need to configure each device separately, as your router will automatically connect all devices on the network to the VPN service.

This is especially useful for connecting devices with no built-in VPN support, such as games consoles (Xbox, PS3, Wii), Apple TV, and other set top boxes. The easiest way is to get a DD-WRT supported router. The DD-WRT supported router then acts as the client to connect to the VPN service and all traffic will go through the VPN – no configurations needed on individual devices.

However, not all Virtual Private Network providers offer this capability. While some are incompatible with routers, others only offer a manual installation that is often very tedious. It is therefore necessary to take into account the particularities of each VPN before subscribing. So, what is the best solution? That’s what we’re going to find out in this article by presenting the best VPNs for routers in 2022 without waiting.

VPN for router or VPN router?

First of all, we can note two terms that come up often when we talk about this topic: VPN router and VPN on router. Is it exactly the same thing?

Generally speaking, we talk about VPN router when a router is fully compatible with a Virtual Private Network and allows a simple, fast and efficient installation of an online protection via an application that can be configured in 1 minute. The expression “router with VPN” is also used.

We speak of VPN on router when a provider offers a Virtual Private Network compatible on a router, but whose installation requires some manipulations. Not all VPN services offer the necessary settings and good compatibility with routers. Therefore, this solution will not work every time. For example, we totally advise you against using a free VPN; it could compromise your security (the opposite effect of the one you want) and even damage your device!

In terms of practicality, there are two very different cases. With the first solution, no manual configuration is required to have an effective protection. On the other hand, the second option requires a little more elbow grease. You will generally have to refer to the installation guide of your VPN.

Why use a VPN for router?

If you’re looking for a VPN for router, it’s probably to enjoy all the benefits of this software on a larger scale, i.e. on all the devices in your home.

A VPN for router has several advantages, starting with security and anonymity at all times. This is because the VPN encrypts your browsing data and hides your source IP address. By installing the VPN on a router, it is constantly active. Thus, you will limit the risks of forgetting to activate it and you will be protected during all your connections to the Internet. Of course, this will also benefit the other members of your household.

But that’s not all. Using a VPN on router is also very convenient since your protection is done at the source, right from the Wi-Fi connection. Once you have installed the VPN on your router, all devices that connect to the router’s Wi-Fi will be automatically protected. From then on, there are no more simultaneous usage limits. While most providers only allow a certain number of devices (seven on average), you can reverse this trend by choosing a VPN for router that will be able to protect all the devices in your home and will only count as one device.

In addition to the convenience, it’s also economical because you won’t have to pay for a second subscription. You can even allow your loved ones to use the other simultaneous connections offered by your subscription when they are out and about.

Other important advantages are to be taken into account:

It allows you to install Virtual Private Network protection on devices that do not normally support this type of software. This is the case for example with Apple TV, game consoles (PS4, Xbox…) or ChromeCast. With a VPN router, you can simply add them to the list of devices to protect.

You don’t need to log in to the application and launch the protection. The VPN security will be effective all the time and on any device as long as it is connected to the Wi-Fi network. For example, you no longer need to activate the “Automatic connection” features of your various devices. Beware, as soon as you switch back to cellular data on your smartphone, you will no longer be protected by the VPN and you will have to activate the VPN manually from the mobile application.

The use of a VPN for router is therefore very useful in everyday life because it allows you to automatically and effortlessly secure all devices connected to the same Wi-Fi network. But how to choose the best provider?

Which VPN router to choose in 2022?

If you are looking for a solution that is very easy to set up and that protects you effectively, the best option is to choose a VPN router, i.e. one that supports VPN applications.

But beware: not all routers are created equal. And if some are very convenient to use, others are on the contrary unreliable and hardly accept the installation of a VPN. Among the most secure and easy-to-use VPN routers, we find the Asus RT, Linksys or Netgear.

What is the best VPN for router?

Not sure which VPN provider to turn to in order to equip your Wi-Fi router effectively? Here is our selection of the three best VPN for router in 2022.

1 – ExpressVPN, the most suitable VPN for router

If we selected ExpressVPN as the best VPN provider for router, it’s simply because it’s the only provider that offers an application specifically adapted for routers and easily installed on them. It makes configuration even easier, since the applications are optimized for a certain type of router (Asus, Linksys, Netgear).

With most competitors, the process is quite complex, especially for beginners and computer novices, because it requires an OpenVPN configuration and then a DNS change. All these modifications must be done by yourself. There are very well designed installation guides, but there is no such thing as zero risk of making a wrong manipulation. On the contrary, the installation of ExpressVPN’s VPN for router is very simple! We liked the clear and accessible installation even for beginners.

Rest assured, if you don’t have one of the routers mentioned above, it is also possible to install ExpressVPN manually. For this, the numerous manuals and user guides in its “Support” section will be there to help you.

Moreover, you should know that in case of problems, you can also count on ExpressVPN customer support. The technical team can be reached from the live chat at any time – 24/7. So there will always be an advisor to give you the right advice and help you with your setup. And there’s no need to wait for hours because the response is instantaneous.

2 – CyberGhost, a router VPN for small budgets

CyberGhost is also present in our ranking of the best VPN providers for routers. If we selected it, it’s mainly because you won’t find on the market a provider offering a better quality-price ratio.

Even though it is one of the cheapest VPNs in 2022, CyberGhost’s features are premium in every way. There are some drops in speeds compared to its competitor ExpressVPN, but nothing that can really stop you from streaming High Definition content or downloading large files in seconds, for example.

In addition, the security is advanced: with its AES 256-bit encryption, the different protocols offered and the privacy policy that guarantees advanced protection of user data, you can be sure of being anonymous on the Internet; and this on all your devices!

This is a good alternative to ExpressVPN, although you will have to install the solution manually to get this VPN for router. Explanatory guides are available on the provider’s website so don’t hesitate to consult them.

3 – NordVPN, a more complex but equally effective VPN router option

NordVPN also offers very clear configuration guides for manually installing a VPN on a router, but it doesn’t have a dedicated app and doesn’t offer routers with NordVPN pre-installation either.

The NordVPN subscription normally offers 6 simultaneous connections, but by installing it on your router, you won’t have any limit. Moreover, the protection offered by NordVPN is maximum. In addition to its no-log policy, the provider is committed to providing you with ironclad privacy with its state-of-the-art encryption and servers capable of masking your source IP.

To conclude, NordVPN is also a good option but, unlike ExpressVPN, you will have to manually install the Virtual Private Network. To subscribe to this VPN without taking any risk and test this solution, don’t hesitate to take advantage of its 30-day money back guarantee.

Conclusion: ExpressVPN, the number 1 VPN for routers

Installing a VPN application on a router offers many advantages, starting with the guarantee of top security at all times, without interruption. It’s also a great way to protect all the devices in your home without having to worry about the simultaneous connection limits imposed by VPN providers. Finally, it allows you to protect devices that don’t initially support VPNs, such as Apple TVs or game consoles.

To take advantage of all these benefits, it is essential to equip yourself with a quality VPN over router. After analyzing and testing the different offers on the market, we recommend you to choose ExpressVPN, a provider with a VPN application that is 100% compatible on a router. For those whose Wi-Fi router is obsolete, it even offers to buy high-performance routers with its application already preconfigured to facilitate the installation.

ExpressVPN subscriptions are all fully refundable for 30 days so you can subscribe without fear and try it out:

FAQ

Do you still have some unanswered questions? In that case, we advise you to read the questions/answers selected by us. We hope that this FAQ will help you.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of using a VPN on a router?

To start with, the advantages of installing a VPN on your router are: protection of your whole network, possibility to secure devices that do not allow to install a VPN application, as well as the fact that you can protect several devices at the same time.

What about the disadvantages?

Here’s a quick rundown: managing your VPN will be more complex and the encryption and protocols you use will depend on the router model you use.

Take all this into account, evaluate the situation, and see if it can work for you or not. As far as the more complex management goes, don’t be scared off. Providers like ExpressVPN, CyberGhost, and NordVPN offer very thorough documentation to get you through it.

How do I know if my router is compatible with VPNs?

To find out more about compatibility, the best thing to do is to consult your router’s technical manual. If you don’t have it anymore, go to Google and search “name of your router” + “VPN compatibility”. You will then most likely come across the manufacturer’s website which will provide you with a satisfactory answer.

Having said that, it is worth noting that most routers and modems provided by ISPs (Internet Service Providers) do not support a VPN connection. Now you can very well combine a modem from your ISP with a VPN enabled router.