How to Make Your Own VPN Server (Updated Guide for 2021)

How to Make Your Own VPN Server (Updated Guide for 2021)

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A free VPN may look attractive when you want to access blocked content without paying anything. However, they are often very unreliable and risky. in addition to, Data retention laws allow ISPs to collect and share your data with unwelcome third parties. For this reason, setting up your own VPN server at home can be a great way to stay protected.

I tested different ways to create a VPN server and found the best 4 of them (Some are free, but others require some money.) If you are tech savvy and have some spare time, you can try using one of these methods to create your own VPN server at home.

However, if you don’t have the technical knowledge, I recommend subscribing to a reliable VPN service (such as ExpressVPN) instead. Setup takes only 2 minutes, allows you to access geo-restricted websites, and does not require additional upload bandwidth to run. This is very useful if you do not have a lot of bandwidth to upload. You can even get up to 49% off your subscription, so it’s affordable too.

Try ExpressVPN today

Do you have a short time? Here’s how to create your own VPN server at home

1. Buy a VPN router – The easiest way to create your own VPN server, but it can cost more than $100.
2. Set up a VPN server on your router – Free method that involves changing the firmware of your existing router but you may damage your router if you are not careful.
3. Use another device as a VPN router – Works fine if you can’t host a server on your router but it’s not powerful or secure.
4. Set up a VPN server on the cloud It is used to access your local network from anywhere, but it requires a lot of technical knowledge.

How to Make Your Own VPN Server – 4 In-Depth Guides (Updated in 2021)

Before setting up your VPN server, check if your IP address is static (it always stays the same) or dynamic (changes from time to time). If it is dynamic, you will have to set up DDNS (Dynamic Domain Name System), a service that maps domain names to dynamic IP addresses. This way, you won’t have to reconfigure your VPN server every time your IP address changes. You can find instructions for setting up DDNS on your router provider’s website.

Method 1: Buy a VPN Router

The easiest way to create your own VPN server is to purchase a router with a built-in VPN. Most high-end routers come with this feature, but buying a new one can cost anywhere from $100 to $300. (For reference, you can get a 1-year subscription to ExpressVPN for less than the price of a low-cost VPN router.) Just make sure that your router supports your preferred protocol, such as OpenVPN, because changing protocols in this way is not easy.

How to set up your VPN router:

1. Open your router’s control panel. Enter your router’s LAN IP address into the search bar of your Internet browser. Router manufacturers usually give one of the following IP addresses: 192.168.0.1 or 192.168.1.1.
2. Enter your username and password. They will usually both be “admin”, unless you’ve already changed them.
3. Enable the router’s VPN. Go to Settings (or Advanced Settings), select “VPN Service” or “VPN”, and enable it. Ensure that all websites are available to everyone by using a VPN connection. Then, click Apply to finish.

   VPN settings can be found in the advanced settings of the router

How to set up your VPN client (the device used to connect to the VPN):

Follow these steps after setting up your router.

1. Download configuration files. Go to your router’s control panel and download the configuration files for your device – they must match your device’s operating system.
2. Unzip the files and copy them to the VPN client folder on your device. You can copy files wirelessly or with a USB cable.
3. Connect to a VPN away from your home network. After connecting, test for DNS leaks. If there are no leaks, you are ready!

Method 2: Set up a VPN server on your router

This method involves replacing your router’s operating system with an advanced firmware. The most popular firmware is DD-WRT, while Tomato and OpenWRT are also prominent. This process is called flashing and it allows you to create a VPN server and host it on your router. Just note that this method can be time consuming, so you may want to skip the manual setup and try ExpressVPN instead.

Because there is more room for errors, this method is risky, warned of that. Also, make sure that your router can support firmware first, otherwise it may break (or “break”) your router. If you are not sure, you can check the supported router database for each firmware. Conducting background research here is crucial.

To flash your router, follow these steps:

1. Check compatibility and download. Make sure your router supports DD-WRT, Tomato, or OpenWRT firmware, or purchase a router with the firmware pre-installed. Next, download the compatible firmware.
2. Connect your computer to the router. Use an Ethernet cable to connect the computer and the router by connecting it to their LAN ports.
3. Open router upgrade settings. Open your browser, enter your router’s internal IP address (most routers are set to 192.168.0.1 or 192.168.1.1), and login to your router. Next, go to your settings and find the router update or upgrade section.
4. Flash your firmware. Each router has specific instructions for this step, so please refer to them. This is critical because misunderstanding it can break the router.
5. Reboot and login. Restart your router and then sign in again.

Once you have flashed the router, you will need to create a VPN server:

1. Enable OpenVPN. Open your router’s control panel, go to the Wireless tab and find the VPN tab. Then enable OpenVPN.
2. Set up VPN server and clients. This is a very complicated process, so please refer to the specific instructions for your chosen firmware. One simple mistake could cost you your router.

Method 3: Use another device as a VPN server

Another way is to turn one of your devices (such as a smartphone or computer) into a VPN server. This may be the best option if your router is not compatible with OpenVPN. Just choose a device that is kept on all the time because you will not be able to connect to the VPN if it crashes or is turned off when you are not at home. You will also need to set up port forwarding on your router so that you can access your VPN online.

How to create a VPN server on Windows 10 PC:

Windows 10 already has a free VPN functionality built in. However, it uses PPTP, which is an outdated VPN protocol that is riddled with security issues. Instead, I recommend OpenVPN, it is fast, secure and reliable. I’ve provided the basic steps for setting up OpenVPN on Windows 10 below, but you can find detailed instructions on the OpenVPN website.

1. Change the firewall settings. Enable port forwarding and incoming connections in your computer’s firewall settings.
2. Install OpenVPN. Download and install OpenVPN for Windows. Make sure the “EasyRSA” box is checked in the “Enable Components” pane. Next, install the TAP drivers when it prompts you to.
3. EasyRSA configuration. This must be done to request and sign certificates and to create certification authorities.
4. Generate certificates. Create the CA and certificates for the VPN server.
5. Building client testimonials. You will need these to connect the client (your device) to the VPN.
6. VPN client configuration. Make configuration files for the VPN server and VPN clients. Then configure each client with the generated files.
7. Connect to the VPN server. Use your VPN client to connect to the server.
8. Make sure the connection is secure. Test for leaks before you start using the VPN.

How to create a VPN server on a macOS computer:

Setting up a VPN server on a macOS computer requires third-party software Because Mac computers are not compatible with OpenVPN. I recommend Homebrew or Tunnelblick, which are both free and easy to install. Once you install OpenVPN, the process is very similar to Windows.

If you prefer to use a smaller device as a VPN server, the Raspberry Pi is a good choice. It’s powerful enough to support multiple connections simultaneously, which is great if you want to connect more than one device to the VPN.

Setting up a VPN on a Raspberry Pi is usually quite complicated, so I recommend using an installation script called PiVPN. It is very secure and allows you to customize the VPN port, client DNS server, and key encryption strength. For installation, you will also need a micro SD card and an ethernet cord or WiFi dongle. You can find detailed instructions on the PiVPN website.

advice: If the above instructions seem too complicated, I recommend choosing a VPN that only requires two clicks to set up instead. ExpressVPN offers native apps for dozens of operating systems including Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, and Linux (plus, it only takes two minutes to set up). Even better, you only need one subscription to connect up to 5 devices simultaneously, which I find really convenient. It comes with a money-back guarantee too, so you can try it out for yourself completely risk-free. If you are not satisfied with it, you have 30 days to claim for a full refund.

Method 4: Set up a VPN server on the cloud

You can also rent a cloud server from a reputable platform and set up a VPN there. Most platforms offer a free version and a premium version, where you pay for a monthly subscription. Some suitable cloud platforms include:

• Digital Ocean
• AWS
• peace
• Amazon EC2
• Amazon Lite Shell
• volter
• Microsoft Azure
• Google Compute Engine
• DreamCompute

While you will not be able to use a cloud VPN server to access your local network while you are away from home, this method allows you to rent a server in any country of your choice. this means You will be able to access the content available in the country where your server is located. For example, you can use it to access your US Netflix account when you are abroad.

However, Using a cloud server has some potential privacy concerns. This is because you have to trust your service provider with all your internet traffic. Since you can get a reliable VPN service for almost the same price as a Premium subscription, I recommend ExpressVPN due to its strong security features.

Once you choose the cloud platform, You will need to download and install a set of VPN setup tools called Algo. Next, you will need to set up the devices that you are going to connect to the VPN.

This method requires coding, which can be complicated for the average user. I’ve provided the basic steps below, and you’ll find the code needed for each operating system on the GitHub website. To keep things simple, these steps are based on using the free version of Amazon Web Services. Other cloud platforms will be slightly different when you install Algo.

To set up a cloud VPN server on your device, follow these steps:

1. Create a free Amazon Web Services account. If you have an existing Amazon account, you can use your login and password when creating an AWS account.
2. Download Algo VPN. Unzip the file after downloading.
3. Install Algo VPN dependencies. Make sure to follow the appropriate instructions for your device as this process is slightly different for each operating system.
4. Run the installation wizard. To complete the installation, you will need to choose a server location, enter your AWS access and secret keys, and set your VPN preferences on Algo.
5. Connect your devices to the VPN. Make sure to follow the appropriate instructions for your device, as this will require a different configuration for Android, Mac, Windows, and iOS devices.

Why make your own VPN server?

The main benefits of setting up your own VPN server are lower costs, increased privacy and remote network access. It can also be a good learning experience because it can be technical (depending on your style). If you are willing to accept the challenge, the rewards are well worth it.

reduced costs

There are several ways to set up a VPN server on…

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