5 Best VPNs for Routers in 2025: Fast & Secure Connections

Smart devices are often vulnerable to online threats, which is why securing your network is important. In 2024, there were around 18 billion active IoT devices¹, and routers were the gateway for 75% of IoT attacks², with attackers striking devices like smart TVs mere minutes after they connect.

A router-level VPN protects all the devices on your network, including those that don’t support VPN apps, like smart TVs and gaming consoles. It also lets you block ads and trackers across your entire household and effectively double your VPN protection (on the router and your PC/laptop/mobile, etc.). The ones I recommend are easy to set up and offer large server networks, fast speeds, and strong security for a safe and enhanced online experience.

Out of 100 VPNs my team and I tested, ExpressVPN stood out as the most secure, easy-to-set-up, and high-speed VPN for routers. It offers both an intuitive router firmware UI and a pre-configured option that makes setup quick and simple. Plus, you can control your router’s VPN connection through ExpressVPN’s desktop app, so it’s easy to use. On top of that, you can test its features risk-free since it comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee*.

Best VPNs for Routers — Full Analysis (Updated 2025)

1. ExpressVPN — An Intuitive Router UI and a Pre-configured Option Make Setup Quick and Easy

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Tested July 2025

Available on:

Windows Mac Android iOS

Chrome Router Smart TV More

Try ExpressVPN >

www.expressvpn.com

ExpressVPN makes router setup incredibly simple with its dedicated router firware and pre-configured Aircove WiFi 6 router as an alternative option. It took me less than 10 minutes to set up ExpressVPN on my Netgear router. The Aircove comes ready to use with an intuitive interface that closely resembles ExpressVPN's desktop and mobile apps. There’s also Aircove Go — a travel-friendly version designed for frequent travelers who want consistent device protection wherever they are.

If your router isn’t compatible with the custom firmware, you can still manually set up ExpressVPN. 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, even on a weekend.

What I liked the most about ExpressVPN is its Device Groups feature. This lets you choose a different server location for up to 5 different device groups. We configured a smart TV to use a US server for streaming while keeping another laptop on a different nearby server for better speeds. This level of control is rare among router VPN solutions. Plus, with its high-speed servers, ExpressVPN is a great option for streaming in UHD from anywhere.

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

The main drawback is the higher price point compared to other options. However, ExpressVPN regularly offers great discounts to make it a bit more affordable. 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, every device connected to your router is protected by military-grade encryption, a kill switch (Network Lock), and IP/DNS leak protection. I tested servers across Africa, the Americas, and Europe 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.
• Lightway protocol. This proprietary protocol is optimized for speed and stable connections. Using Lightway on nearby servers, we recorded only a 6% speed loss on a 202.74Mbps connection. This makes it perfect for bandwidth-heavy tasks like streaming, torrenting, and gaming.
• Ad, tracker, and adult content blocker. ExpressVPN’s Aircove and Aircove Go routers include built-in protection that blocks ads, trackers, and adult content across all connected devices. This filtering enhances privacy, reduces distractions, and adds an extra layer of safety — especially useful for families and shared spaces.

2. CyberGhost — Easy Installation Guides for Popular Router Models

Available on:

Windows Mac Android iOS

Chrome Router Smart TV More

Try CyberGhost VPN >

www.cyberghostvpn.com

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, but 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 prefer a plug-and-play setup. CyberGhost also integrates with FlashRouters’ Privacy Hero 2, which comes optimized for speed, security, and ease of use right out of the box.

CyberGhost’s speeds are fast enough to stream in UHD from anywhere. They never dropped below 156.44Mbps on US and Singapore servers, and we streamed the FIFA Club World Cup on DAZN, along with several movies on meWATCH, iQIYI, and Apple TV+. We didn’t experience any buffering during our tests with CyberGhost, even while downloading torrents in the background.

The monthly option is expensive and comes with a short refund period. However, its long-term purchases offer excellent value and include a generous 45-day money-back guarantee, giving you plenty of time to test the router setup and performance.

Useful Features

• Good for gaming. CyberGhost delivers consistently low ping on its nearby servers. In our tests on its Dallas servers, the ping never exceeded 10ms. This let us play competitive games without lag.
• Built-in NAT filtering. CyberGhost’s VPN servers use NAT to block unsolicited incoming traffic, helping reduce exposure to potential threats. While it’s not a full firewall, this adds an extra layer of protection by limiting unwanted data from reaching your devices.
• Military-grade encryption. Just like the rest of the VPNs on this list, CyberGhost also offers the strongest encryption available, AES 256-bit. This makes it extremely difficult for anyone to decipher your data, meaning your router connections are always protected at the highest level.
• Network-level protection. CyberGhost’s content-blocking system enhances your router’s security by filtering out malicious content before it reaches your devices. It helps block malicious websites, trackers, intrusive ads, and malware across your entire network.

3. Private Internet Access (PIA) — Large Server Network for Reliable Router Connections

Available on:

Windows Mac Android iOS

Chrome Router Smart TV More

Try Private Internet Access >

www.privateinternetaccess.com

PIA has the biggest number of servers of any router VPN we tested, which reduces the likelihood of server overcrowding. This means you don’t have to worry about slowdowns while gaming or torrenting, and can stream in UHD, even with a range of devices connected through your router. In our tests, PIA consistently gave stable connections on the entire network.

Manually installing PIA on your router is simple, even without technical knowledge. I followed the guide provided on its 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

Unfortunately, PIA is based in the US, which is not ideal since it’s part of the 5/9/14 Eyes Alliance — an intelligence-sharing group where member countries exchange online data. However, its court-proven no-logs policy means there’s nothing to hand over, as it doesn’t retain any identifiable user activity.

With the OpenVPN protocol, PIA gives you the option to choose between AES 256-bit encryption for stronger security or AES 128-bit for faster speeds. 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

• Router-level split tunneling. PIA lets you route specific devices outside the VPN while others stay protected, so you can use local services without ever disconnecting the VPN.
• Good for data-heavy tasks. During our tests on PIA’s nearby Japan and Los Angeles servers, we averaged 172.39Mbps — a speed loss of only 12%. This let us watch 4K content on a smart TV without any buffering.
• Pre-installed on FlashRouters. If you’d rather skip manual setup, PIA comes pre-installed on FlashRouters. Just plug it in, log in with your PIA credentials, and you’re ready to connect — no advanced configuration needed.

4. NordVPN — Fast Speeds on Router for Streaming, Gaming, and Torrenting Without Delays

Available on:

Windows Mac Android iOS

Chrome Router Smart TV More

Try NordVPN >

www.nordvpn.com

NordVPN is the second fastest router VPN we tested (after ExpressVPN). On servers in Australia, the UK, and the US, it delivered impressive speeds — averaging 225.62 Mbps (only a 7% drop). This let us stream in UHD, play competitive games, and download large files without any lag. Our speeds remained consistent even though more than a dozen devices were connected to the router.

We also never had issues with Hulu, Foxtel, or Netflix Japan when using NordVPN

Setting up NordVPN on a router is pretty straightforward, thanks to easy-to-follow guides for a wide range of models. But if you'd rather skip the manual setup, there are routers that come pre-configured with NordVPN. Through its partner FlashRouters, you'll find high-performance WiFi devices that work right out of the box — including the Privacy Hero, which features exclusive NordLynx integration for optimized speed and performance.

One minor issue is that NordVPN’s privacy policy states that it might share user data to comply with legal requests. However, it doesn’t store any identifiable user info (like IP address or browsing history), so your activity can’t be traced back to you.

You can test NordVPN on your router risk-free with the 30-day money-back guarantee. Getting a refund via the 24/7 live chat is straightforward if you're not 100% happy.

Useful Features

• 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.
• Smart server selection. NordVPN automatically recommends the fastest server based on your location during setup, but you can still pick one manually if you want more control.

5. Surfshark — WireGuard Support for Smoother Performance on Routers

Available on:

Windows Mac Android iOS

Chrome Router Smart TV More

Try Surfshark >

www.surfshark.com

WireGuard's lightweight design means less strain on your router's CPU — a key factor in maintaining strong speeds when handling traffic for multiple devices. In our tests, even older router hardware managed Surfshark’s WireGuard connections without noticeable performance drops. Most VPNs support OpenVPN for router configurations, so Surfshark’s WireGuard support offers a clear advantage in speed and efficiency, especially on devices with limited processing power.

It took me under a minute to generate the configuration files

Just 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. It took me less than 10 minutes to install it on my Netgear router.

However, Surfshark doesn't have a dedicated router app like ExpressVPN does, which means tweaking VPN settings or changing servers isn’t as straightforward. However, it’s still fairly easy to use once the VPN is all set up.

Plus, with its 30-day money-back guarantee, you can test its capabilities for free with peace of mind.

Useful Features

• Unlimited connections. With Surfshark, you get unlimited simultaneous device connections even without a router, so you can protect all your devices simultaneously when traveling away from home.

Quick Comparison Table: Router VPN Features

The table that follows highlights the characteristics of our most highly recommended router VPNs. The details covered include their speed, server count, and the presence of a specific router app to simplify 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.

Editor's Note: We value our relationship with our readers, and we strive to earn your trust through transparency and integrity. We are in the same ownership group as some of the industry-leading products reviewed on this site: Intego, CyberGhost, ExpressVPN, and Private Internet Access. However, this does not affect our review process, as we adhere to a strict testing methodology.

Our Methodology for Testing VPNs for Routers

We rigorously tested each VPN for how well it performs when installed on a router, focusing on speed, security, and ease of setup. Our evaluation included protocol support (like OpenVPN and WireGuard), compatibility with popular router firmware (AsusWRT, DD-WRT, OpenWRT), and whether pre-configured router options were available. We also looked at how well each VPN maintains performance across networks and supports features like split tunneling.

When choosing a VPN for your router, prioritize services that combine performance with reliability. Look for providers that support fast and secure protocols and offer detailed setup instructions or pre-flashed router options if you’re new to the process. Consider whether the VPN offers consistent speeds across many devices, especially for high-bandwidth tasks like UHD streaming. Features like a kill switch, a proven no-logs policy, and 24/7 support can add peace of mind.

4 Basic VPN Router Setup Options

Setting up a VPN on your router does need a bit of technical know-how, making it a bit challenging for beginners. However, all the router VPNs on this list offer extensive support, including easy-to-follow installation guides and excellent customer service, to help you through the process.

Below are the main ways to get a VPN running on your router. For a more detailed walkthrough and key things to consider, this guide has everything you need to configure your VPN and router with confidence.

Get a Pre-Configured Router

Pre-configured routers arrive ready to use with your VPN service already installed and optimized. ExpressVPN's Aircove router is a good prime example — a plug-and-play solution that requires no technical configuration. The only downside is that you’ll have to buy a new router, which can be pricey. However, this is the easiest option.

Use a VPN With Custom Firmware and a Pre-Built Router UI/App

Some VPN providers offer custom router firmware or dedicated router apps that simplify the installation process. ExpressVPN’s custom firmware takes the hassle out of installing a VPN on your router, making it a more accessible option if you’re not experienced with managing your own hardware. Plus, its dedicated router app makes it easy to change servers and adjust VPN settings, like the kill switch.

Manually Flashing Your Router

This option gives you the most flexibility but requires technical knowledge. You'll need to install custom firmware like DD-WRT, OpenWRT, or Tomato, then configure your VPN connection manually. While more complex, this method lets you use any VPN service and offers advanced customization options. Just beware that this may invalidate your device’s warranty, so check with the manufacturer before you start this process.

Use a PC as Your Router

You can set up a PC to use as your router — even a basic or old one that you don’t use any longer. One of the best apps for this is pfSense, an open-source program specifically built for using PCs as routers. The key advantage here is that even the most basic PCs will have greater processing power than the most modern routers.

Benefits of Using a VPN on a Router

Here are the key advantages of setting up a VPN directly on your router:

• Network security. A VPN on your router encrypts all internet traffic across your network, helping protect your home or business from hackers, snoops, and other online threats. Your private data stays secure — no matter which device you use.
• Automatic protection for all devices. Instead of installing a VPN on each device, configuring it on your router secures every device connected to your WiFi. This includes smart TVs, gaming consoles, and other devices that don’t support VPN apps, saving you time and ensuring full coverage.
• Enhanced gaming experience. Gaming consoles often don’t support VPNs natively, but router-level VPN protection helps block DDoS attacks and can let you access region-specific game servers — all without extra configuration.
• Secure streaming on every screen. With a VPN on your router, you can stream safely on smart TVs, phones, laptops, and more — without logging into the VPN on each device.
• Prevents ISP throttling. A router-based VPN hides your internet activity from your ISP, which can help prevent speed throttling. That means smoother browsing, faster downloads, and more reliable UHD streaming, even when multiple devices are connected.

Tips for Optimizing Router VPN Performance

Speed Optimization

Choose the fastest VPN protocol your router supports. WireGuard is usually the speed champ, with IKEv2 and OpenVPN UDP not far behind. Try to avoid TCP unless you really need it, as it generally provides slower speeds on router implementations.

Selecting the closest server to your location will provide the best speeds for browsing, streaming, and more. If you’re after content from a specific country or extra privacy, switching servers is fine — just be ready for a speed dip depending on the distance.

Security Settings

Balance encryption strength with performance requirements. AES-256 provides maximum security but may impact performance on older routers. AES-128 offers excellent security with better performance, which is often sufficient for everyday use at home.

Enable automatic security features like kill switches and DNS leak protection. If the VPN drops for any reason, these will help keep your data from slipping through the cracks.

Device Management

If your VPN offers device grouping, take advantage of it. It lets you route different devices through different servers — super useful when you or your family members or teammates need access to different servers at the same time.

FAQs on the Best VPNs for Routers

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 offer pre-configured routers.

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

• ExpressVPN Aircove and Aircove Go (VPN already built in)
• Asus RT-AX58U
• TP-Link Archer GX90
• Asus RT-AC86U router
• Synology RT2600ac
• InvizBox Go

Router VPN vs VPN router, what’s the difference?

A router VPN setup means you add a VPN to your existing router, allowing all connected devices to use the VPN automatically. It's typically a manual process where you configure your current router to connect to a VPN service.

A VPN router, however, is a router that comes ready to connect to a VPN, either with pre-installed software or designed for easy VPN use. It's a straightforward solution for those who want to use the VPN on their router without the hassle of manual configuration.

Do routers come with built-in VPNs?

Yes, some routers come with built-in VPN capabilities, but not all of them do. Our top VPN offers a plug-and-play solution called Aircove. The other VPNs don’t offer this but they offer something similar — FlashRouters with their VPN software built-in. These specialized routers have VPN functionality out of the box, so you can establish a secure connection to a VPN service without needing additional software.

When shopping for a router with this capability, you'll need to look specifically for models that advertise built-in VPN functionality.

Can I use a kill switch on my VPN router?

Yes, most quality VPNs offer kill switch functionality that can be used with routers. A kill switch cuts your regular internet connection if the VPN briefly drops out. This feature can be vital when hiding your real IP address is a priority for security and privacy reasons. Some VPN routers come with a built-in kill switch, while others may require manual setup by adding custom firewall or routing rules. For further details, it’s best to consult the manual of your specific router.

Can I use a free VPN with my router?

In most cases, no. The free VPNs we tested didn’t support router configuration, so we weren’t able to install them 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.

Can I still use my VPN app if I have a router VPN?

Yes, you can use VPN apps on individual devices even with a router VPN active. This creates a "double VPN" setup that routes traffic through two VPN servers, providing extra privacy but significantly impacting speed. If you’ve set up your VPN properly on your router, that protection is more than enough for most online activities. So there’s really no need to run both at once unless you have a specific reason to.

Can I use different VPN locations for different devices?

Some VPN services support device grouping that allows different server locations for different devices. ExpressVPN's router app excels at this, letting you create up to 5 device groups with different server locations. Most manual router configurations use a single server location for all devices, though advanced setups can achieve device-specific routing.

Get the Best VPN for Your Router

There are several benefits to installing a VPN on your router. It provides protection for all your household devices and allows you to stream and game safely, 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, thanks to its custom firmware that makes installing the VPN on your router incredibly simple. Its dedicated router UI/app also makes it easy to switch server locations or adjust settings. Plus, it offers pre-configured VPN routers through FlashRouters, and it has designed its own Aircove router with ExpressVPN built-in. You can try this VPN risk-free since it offers a 30-day money-back guarantee.

To summarize, these are the best VPNs for routers...

Editor's Note: We value our relationship with our readers, and we strive to earn your trust through transparency and integrity. We are in the same ownership group as some of the industry-leading products reviewed on this site: Intego, CyberGhost, ExpressVPN, and Private Internet Access. However, this does not affect our review process, as we adhere to a strict testing methodology.

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References

1. https://www.ericsson.com/en/reports-and-papers/mobility-report/dataforecasts/iot-connections-outlook?utm_source=chatgpt.com/
2. https://estuary.dev/blog/iot-statistics/?utm_source=chatgpt.com/