Best VPN for Routers — Protect Every Device at Home
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Installing a VPN on your router is the most comprehensive privacy solution available — every device on your home network gets VPN protection automatically, including devices that cannot run VPN apps natively. Here is how it works and which VPNs do it best.
Why install a VPN on your router
A router VPN protects every connected device automatically — smart TVs, PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, Amazon Echo, smart home devices, and any guest device on your network. Devices that cannot install VPN apps natively are covered. You also only need one VPN connection rather than one per device, preserving your device limit allowance.
Which routers are compatible
Routers running DD-WRT, OpenWRT, or Tomato firmware support manual VPN configuration with most providers. ASUS routers running the native ASUSWRT firmware support built-in VPN client configuration. Netgear Nighthawk with DD-WRT is a popular choice. Some VPN providers sell pre-configured routers — ExpressVPN's Aircove router is the most polished option, with a built-in ExpressVPN interface requiring no technical setup.
Best VPNs for routers
ExpressVPN offers the Aircove — a purpose-built WiFi 6 router with ExpressVPN built in. The app runs on the router itself with a simple web interface. No technical configuration required. This is the easiest whole-home VPN setup available. NordVPN supports all major router firmware types with detailed setup guides, and Meshnet allows you to create an encrypted network across all your devices. Surfshark provides router installation guides for DD-WRT, Tomato, and ASUS routers. Its unlimited device allowance means no connection limits on the router. PIA (Private Internet Access) has the most detailed router setup documentation and supports the widest range of router firmware.
Performance impact
A router CPU handles all VPN encryption for every device simultaneously — older or budget routers may struggle. Look for a router with a dual-core processor at 1GHz or faster. On a modern router, expect 10 to 20 percent speed overhead with WireGuard. OpenVPN on a router CPU can reduce speeds by 50 percent or more.
Limitations
You cannot easily switch servers on a per-device basis — the entire network uses one server location. Some VPN features like split tunneling behave differently on router setups. Consider running both a router VPN for whole-home coverage and a device VPN for devices where you need more control.
ExpressVPN
Our #1 pick
Aircove router with built-in VPN, zero setup — From €3.49/mo
From €3.49/mo · 30-day money-back guarantee
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