Best VPN Router 2021
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Router VPN is widely seen as one of the most effective ways to use the best VPN to secure your internet. It eliminates the need to install clients on your other devices, and can provide protection for those that don’t natively support VPN connections, such as game consoles.
However, the process of installing a VPN router can be daunting, and in some cases it may not be the best option for you. So, here we are going to go through what you should look for in a VPN for a router, if you really need to use one, and your best options for complete family privacy.
Click here to skip to our top router VPN picks
What is a VPN router?
In essence, a router’s VPN is exactly the same as any VPN you might install on your phone or computer – it diverts your internet traffic away from your ISP’s servers toward its own. Your traffic is encrypted in the process, which means you’ll be able to browse in peace, knowing that no one can see or track your activity.
But why would you want one on your router? Most commonly, router VPNs are used so that a VPN-protected connection can be used by devices that cannot directly install a VPN. This includes smart TVs, Apple TV, game consoles, Roku and many other devices, which means you will be able to access blocked streaming content and remain anonymous on any device connected to your Wi-Fi connection.
Additionally, most VPNs have a limit on the number of devices that can use a single subscription. If you install a VPN router, any number of devices or individuals can use your VPN connection – friends, family and your history attracted by your intimate knowledge of the TP-Link Archer AX6000 Wi-Fi 6 router …
Cons of a VPN router
The biggest drawback is that you might well find out that your current router can’t support a VPN app dedicated to your chosen router, if it has one at all – and as you’ll notice in the next two paragraphs, it can get a little confusing.
You will either have to buy a new router, or install the DD-WRT firmware to allow you to manually set up the VPN connection – here is a list of DD-WRT compatible routers. There are also a few other options, including tomatoes.
The other problem is that it is difficult to change your VPN settings because your router does not have a screen or an interface. Any adjustments must be made through your router’s dashboard on a PC, and some are still very basic and difficult to use. However, a company called FlashRouters provides a very useful router setup service, as well as a great app that makes things a lot easier.
However, some VPN services have made the process much simpler than expected – one of them is ExpressVPN (read. It has a website dedicated to setting up your router’s VPN, and apps specifically designed to quickly protect your router. It’s easily our number one choice when it comes to VPNs router, but there are a few other options that you’ll find below.
Choose our best VPN router
Top 5 VPNs for Routers Today
(Image credit: ExpressVPN)
1. ExpressVPN
The best VPN router on the market
Specify
Dedicated router app: Yes
US speeds on the 600MB line: 200-250MB
Unblocked Streaming Services: Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, BBC iPlayer, YouTube, Hulu
24/7 customer support: Yes
Setup Guides: Yes
Reasons to buy
+ Powerful custom router app + Class-leading support + Great speeds + Separate tunneling on router firmware
Reasons to avoid
A little pricey but worth it
ExpressVPN seems to have it all – not the content and while offering the best service for regular devices, the BVI-based company also offers the easiest and most efficient way to install a VPN for a router.
Unlike a number of other options below this list, ExpressVPN offers its own router firmware that you can use on a wide range of compatible routers. Essentially, this means that you can control your router’s VPN from ExpressVPN’s easy-to-use control panel rather than delving into your router’s settings.
However, if you don’t have a router compatible with the app, you can still install the VPN connection manually on a bunch of other routers. However, one of the big benefits of using a compatible router is the fact that you can set up split tunnels – this means you can choose which devices use VPN connections and which ones don’t.
If things don’t go as planned — and if it’s your first time installing a VPN on a router, something might go wrong — ExpressVPN has leading 24/7 live chat support which is pretty much a must-have. When undergoing a – depth process like this.
If you want to test ExpressVPN, it also offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, allowing you to take control of the service without obligation. Above any other VPN on this list, Express is your best bet if you want a reliable VPN.
(Image credit: NordVPN)
2. NordVPN
Excellent privacy giant for routers
Specify
Dedicated router app: No
US speeds on the 600MB line: 125-300MB
Unblocked Streaming Services: Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, BBC iPlayer, YouTube, Hulu
24/7 customer support: Yes
Setup Guides: Yes
Reasons to buy
+ Comprehensive setup guide + Premium FlashRouter partner + No logs verified + Great for streaming
Reasons to avoid
There is no internal router app
If you are looking for VPNs for routers, it is very likely that you have heard of NordVPN. In our NordVPN review, the privacy-focused company scores well with excellent VPN services that provide a simple and effective way to stay anonymous online.
Unfortunately, NordVPN doesn’t offer a dedicated router VPN app, but it makes up for this through a partnership with FlashRouters, a company that provides “flashing” routers that are ready to set up a VPN. This means that the firmware is ready to go, and it cuts out a lot of difficult configuration on your part.
You can also use the FlashRouter privacy app, NordVPN is a “premium partner”. While you can use the app with a number of other VPNs including Express, premium partners get additional features like automatic server updates and smart server sorting.
Nord is great for streaming and unblocking Netflix, iPlayer, Hulu, and more, and if it’s active on your router, you’ll be able to take advantage of those non-VPN-supported devices like consoles and TVs. Plus, even devices like your Ring doorbell and Alexa will benefit from your fully encrypted connection.
While we’d still recommend getting one, if you don’t have a router that ExpressVPN is compatible with — and don’t want to buy one — NordVPN’s FlashRouters integration is a very good alternative.
Register now on NordVPN
(Image credit: VyprVPN)
3. VyprVPN
No registration with a dedicated router app
Specify
Dedicated router app: Yes
US speeds on the 475MB line: 35-50MB
Streaming services unblocked: Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, YouTube, Hulu
24/7 customer support: Yes
Setup Guides: Yes
Reasons to buy
+ Router VPN app + Apps for many other devices + Fairly easy to use
Reasons to avoid
-App only for Tomato routers – slower speeds in the US
VyprVPN is a smaller provider, but it has a fair amount of clout in the VPN world. As a verified no-logs service, you can be pretty sure that your data is kept private, but one of the bonuses we outlined in our VyprVPN review is that it’s the only other VPN on this list that has a dedicated internal VPN router app.
The few steps needed to set up the app are clearly outlined on the Vypr website, and the app itself is straightforward, straightforward and functional. However, VyprVPN isn’t higher on this list because the app only supports Tomato routers – and even then, there are a number of caveats. For example, split tunneling is available, but in some newer versions of Tomato it is not. A little awkward, then.
Whatever the app’s flaws, we’re glad it’s there — but if you don’t have a Tomato router, you can still install the VPN as normal by flashing and setting up a VPN connection. Although it’s not a premium partner, VyprVPN is still compatible with the FlashRouter privacy app, which makes things a little easier.
It’s also worth noting that the price of VyprVPN is quite high, so if you have a Tomato router and want to save a little money, we highly recommend it. For any other router, there may be better options.
Register now on VyprVPN
4. Surfshark
Bargain VPN offers discount router and great speeds
Specify
Dedicated router app: No
US speeds on the 600MB line: 150-160MB
Unblocked Streaming Services: Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, BBC iPlayer, YouTube, Hulu
24/7 customer support: Yes
Setup Guides: Yes
Reasons to buy
+ Incredibly good value + Unlimited connections + Excellent streaming support
Reasons to avoid
– No router VPN app
If you’re looking to spend as little money as possible and still get a premium VPN, Surfshark might be a good option – check out our full Surfshark review for more information.
Like Nord, Surfshark doesn’t offer a router VPN app — but for some, the bargain price and premium performance might be worth that trade-off. With great speeds, excellent apps on other devices, and unlimited connections, it’s a top-notch service that we really like.
Now, notice how Surfshark works Unlimited connections. This is one of the reasons why many people install router VPNs in the first place – to avoid simultaneous hardware restrictions – so if this is your reason to check out a VPN router, it might make sense to simply get a VPN without restrictions and leave the router your alone.
Other than that, like all the other VPNs on this list, Surfshark can be set up manually on routers, and you can also use the FlashRouter app with it to make it easy to change your VPN settings. So while it doesn’t have any dedicated router features, Surfshark is a great value, and may offer an alternative to an all-router VPN.
head over to Surfshark sign up site
5. IPVanish
Great VPN functions plus excellent setup guides
Specify
Dedicated router app: No
US speeds on the 600MB line: 150-220MB
Streaming services unblocked: Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, YouTube, Hulu
24/7 customer support: Yes
Setup Guides: Yes
Reasons to buy
+ Premium FlashRouters partner + Comprehensive setup guides + Unlimited connections
Reasons to avoid
BBC iPlayer cannot be unblocked
IPVanish has been around for a long time, and is a favorite with fans who want to get tech and go deeper with their VPN. Black and lime green desktop apps with gradient graphs and data all over the place, and you can configure whatever you want, something we really liked in our full IPVanish review.
Besides NordVPN, IPVanish is the only other premium partner of FlashRouters. This means that you will have full access to the app, which is really useful. You’ll also get great base connection speeds with the router’s VPN, as well as helpful support.
What really sets IPVanish apart is its comprehensive setup guides for every compatible router on the market. It’s long and detailed and has useful screenshots to help you through the whole process if you don’t want to splash out on a pre-configured image.
As a manually setup VPN router, IPVanish is an excellent choice – but others on the list may offer a higher price point or better feature set.
head over to IPVanish Sign Up
Nest VPN Router FAQ
Do I really need a VPN router?
If you’re on this page, you’ve probably made your decision. It could be because you want to stream geo-blocked content on your gaming console or smart TV, or maybe you just want that comprehensive protection.
However, if you just want to get around the limitation on the number of devices you can simultaneously connect to a VPN, we suggest a service like Surfshark or IPVanish, which provides unlimited connections. This way you can install the app on as many devices as you want without entering your router settings at all.
How can I get a VPN router?
Router VPNs can be complex and difficult to set up…
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