Using a router VPN isn't the most common way of setting up the software, but for many it will be the most efficient way of protecting every single device in your home. By securing your Wi-Fi connection at its source, it allows the best VPN to be used with not only your PC and phone, but also other devices like PlayStations, Roku, and smart lights that don't natively support VPN connections.
It's worth noting that set-up can be a little more complex than simply installing an app, although more an more providers are offering dedicated software that makes the process much simpler.
If you're ready to get going with the best router VPN, you'll find our top choices just below. If you're still wondering whether using a VPN on your router is the best choice for you, just keep scrolling for our complete guide.
Top 3 router VPNs
Recent updates
This update saw me remove Vypr VPN from #5 in our rankings, and replace it with CyberGhost. I also checked all the fact and figures to make sure all the information is as up-to-date as possible.
The five best router VPNs
✔️ You're looking for a simple, streamlined experience. ExpressVPN's super simple interface that makes getting protected easy for beginners and experts alike.
✔️ You want to stream global content. ExpressVPN's unblocking capabilities are super reliable.
✔️ You value your privacy. Thanks to its countless audits and history of protecting its users, you can be confident in your safety.
❌ You're on a strict budget. ExpressVPN certainly isn't the cheapest on the market. Those looking for a better price may want to consider NordVPN or Surfshark.
❌ You want a fuller suite of software. Other VPNs like NordVPN offer a wider range of additional cybersecurity features.
ExpressVPN is one of the very best VPN I've tested. From its excellent privacy features to its great speeds to its powerful unblocking capabilites, it's an all-round top VPN. Not to mention it's super easy to use – and you can try it out with its 30-day money-back guarantee.
While ExpressVPN is ranked at #3 in our list of the best VPN services, the British Virgin Islands-based firm is actually the best router VPN on the market.
The main reason for this is, unlike a number of other options further down this list, ExpressVPN offers its own custom router firmware you can use on a wide range of compatible routers. Essentially, that means you can control the router VPN from ExpressVPN’s own easy-to-use dashboard rather than delving into your router’s settings.
Not satisfied with having its own router firmware, ExpressVPN actually has its own Aircove router. Setup is quick and painless, ready to use in just five minutes and is preloaded with ExpressVPN software, making it the easiest to use router VPN. If you're looking for a long-term VPN router solution, this is definitely worth considering.
Even if you don't have a compatible router (and don't want to buy ExpressVPN's Aircove router), you can still install a VPN connection manually on many different routers. If you do use a compatible router, though, you'll be able to set up split tunneling on your router, meaning you'll be able to decide which devices use your VPN connection and which don't.
Another thing that makes ExpressVPN a great choice as a router VPN is that if things don’t go to plan – and if it’s your first time installing a VPN on a router, something may well go wrong – ExpressVPN has class-leading 24/7 live-chat support to help you fix any common (or uncommon) issues you may be running into along the way.
It's time to address the elephant in the room, though – ExpressVPN is the most expensive router VPN on this list. While they have decreased their prices recently by offering a 24-month subscription option, they are still $4.99 per month, which is quite a lot more than Surfshark's $2.19 or NordVPN's $3.09. Still, if you want a set-and-forget router VPN, they really are the best option, so it really comes down to you and what you consider good value for money.
If you want to test out ExpressVPN, it also offers a 30-day money-back guarantee which lets you get to grips with the service without committing. Head and shoulders above any other VPN on this list, Express really is your best bet if you want a reliable router VPN.
Feature | Comments | Rating |
|---|---|---|
Design | Simple, navigable design that’s easy on your eyes and straightforward to understand | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
Ease of use | Beginner-friendly, little to no expertise needed | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
Performance | Reliable and very fast, although some others deliver higher peak speeds. | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
Unblocking | Servers in 160 locations and 90 countries ensure limitless content | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
Security and privacy | Top-notch security with 256-bit AES encryption | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
Customer support | Expert assistance is available 24/7 | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
Price | Slightly more expensive than other options | ⭐⭐⭐ |
✔️ You want the very best VPN service on the market. While it may not be the best router VPN, NordVPN tops our list of the best VPNs.
✔️ Netflix access is a priority. NordVPN unblocks more locations than any other provider I've tested, making it our #1 rated VPN for Netflix.
✔️ You want more than just a VPN. Not only is NordVPN a great VPN, it also offers malware detection and ad-blocking on its standard plans, with even more cybersecurity features available on higher tiers.
❌ You like simple apps. Nord's map interface can be quite busy - if you want simple, go for ExpressVPN.
❌ You torrent often. NordVPN can be somewhat slow to download torrented files as only some of Nord's servers are configured for P2P.
NordVPN offers excellent privacy, speed, streaming service unblocking all for very reasonable prices. Its apps may be a little complex, but overall, it's a market-leading VPN for a reason. You can also use its 30-day money-back guarantee to make sure it's the right fit for you.
The name NordVPN is almost synonymous with the VPN industry as a whole, and if you've been on the search for a quality router VPN, you've no doubt been recommended this provider. Thankfully, in our NordVPN review it proved to be seriously capable, and certainly deserves the limelight it lives in.
However, NordVPN doesn’t offer a dedicated router VPN app, which makes setup somewhat difficult. While pre-configured good to go right out the box routers are available from providers like FlashRouters, they're quite expensive.
If you were tempted by the convenience of FlashRouters, though, you'd be able to use the FlashRouters Privacy app, where NordVPN is a ‘premium partner.’ While you can use the app with a number of other non-premium partner VPNs including ExpressVPN, premium partners get additional features like automatic server updates and smart server sorting.
If you use your Wi-Fi primarily for entertainment purposes (and let's be real, that's most of us), you'll be pleased to know that NordVPN is the best streaming VPN around, unblocking Netflix, iPlayer, Hulu and tons more. Plus, if it’s active on your router you’ll be able to take advantage of those devices that don’t natively support VPNs like consoles and TVs.
Another great thing about using NordVPN as a router VPN is that even devices like your Ring doorbell and Alexa will benefit from NordVPN's top-of-the-line, AES-256 encrypted connection. So, if you're someone who likes to use smart devices all across our home, NordVPN's router VPN is a great option to keep your home network fully secure.
Plus, NordVPN offers 24/7 live chat and helpful-how to articles, so if you get stuck at any point during the setup process, or run into trouble when using the VPN, there's always someone or something on hand to help you out.
If you don’t have a router that the ExpressVPN app is compatible with – and don’t want to buy one – NordVPN’s FlashRouters integration is a very good alternative. Plus, with a 30 day free trial, you can test it out and see if it's right for you without risking a penny.
Feature | Comments | Rating |
|---|---|---|
Design | Fun interface but might seem a little crowded for some users | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
Ease of use | Though simple to use, the map-like design might not work for everyone | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
Performance | One of the fastest with an average speed of 950 Mbps | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
Unblocking | Effortlessly unblocks most content streaming platforms | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
Security and privacy | Strong encryption with additional features like Threat Protection for safe streaming | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
Customer support | Reliable 24/7 customer support | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
Price | Provides ample value for the price. | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
✔️ You're looking for quality on a budget. Surfshark proves that low price does not have to mean low quality.
✔️ You have a need for speed. Surfshark offers the same super fast speeds as NordVPN, topping out at 950 Mbps.
✔️ You have tons of devices. Thanks to its unlimited simultaneous connections policy, you can use one Surfshark plan on as many devices as you like.
❌ You truly rely on your kill switch. Under extreme pressure it testing, I was able break Surfshark's kill switch where ExpressVPN and NordVPN held firm.
❌ You're a hardcore torrenter. While Surfshark can be used torrenting effectively, but if the main thing you want to use a VPN for is sharing P2P, try ExpressVPN.
Surfshark is one of those rare examples of a product combining genuinely premium features with an incredibly low price. While it's not quite as powerful as the leading two providers, it's super secure, can be installed on unlimited devices, and also offers a 30-day refund period.
If you’re looking to spend as little money as possible and still get a premium VPN, Surfshark could be a good option – check out our full Surfshark review for more.
One of the biggest draws of Surfshark is the fact that it's one of the best cheap VPNs on the market, offering excellent speeds unblocking skills and top-notch security all for just over $2.
Like Nord, Surfshark doesn’t provide its own router VPN app – but for some, its 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 we really like.
Now, note how Surfshark has unlimited connections. That’s one of the reasons many people install router VPNs in the first place – to avoid simultaneous device restrictions – so if that’s your reasoning for investigating a router VPN, it could make sense to simply get a VPN with no restrictions and leave your router alone. With a single Surfshark subscription, you could cover every device in your house at no extra cost.
Otherwise, 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 easier to change your VPN’s settings. So, while it doesn’t have any dedicated router features, Surfshark’s great value, and might offer an alternative to a router VPN entirely if getting around simultaneous connection restrictions is your main reason for getting a router VPN.
If you do decide to get Surfshark as a router VPN, the lack of dedicated firmware means that you'll have to set up Surfshark manually as a router VPN. Luckily, Surfshark has a whole load of help to help you combat any issues you might encounter during this. Not only does Surfshark have support articles, it also has 24/7 live chat support so you can get help no matter what time of day it is.
Finally, Surfshark offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you get a whole month to see how it functions as a router VPN before deciding to commit to it fully.
Feature | Comments | Rating |
|---|---|---|
Design | Minimalistic, clean, and intuitive design | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
Ease of use | Beginner-friendly and easy to understand | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
Performance | Seriously quick and on par with NordVPN | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
Unblocking | Great at unblocking streaming apps and getting around censorship | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
Security and privacy | Kill switch isn’t the best, but everything else is excellent | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
Customer support | Decent 24/7 customer support and tons of help articles | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
Price | Cheap VPN with excellent value for money | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
✔️ You want unlimited connections. Like Surfshark, IPVanish allows you to use a single IPVanish plan across unlimited devices.
✔️ You're a fan of in-depth interfaces. IPVanish includes tons of data in its apps.
❌ You want to pay the same price forever. Prices go through the roof if you fail to cancel and resubscribe at the end of your plan.
❌ You want the fastest VPN on the market. While IPVanish's speeds are decent, it isn't as fast as NordVPN or Surfshark.
IPVanish scores fairly consistently across the board when it comes to speed, streaming and customization. Unfortunately, it just can't keep up when it comes to our top providers.
IPVanish has been around for a long time, and it’s a fan favorite with those who like to get techy and in-depth with their VPN. The desktop apps are black and lime green with rolling graphs and data everywhere, and you can configure just about everything you want – something we really liked in our full IPVanish review.
Alongside NordVPN, IPVanish is FlashRouters’ only other premium partner featured on this list. That means that you’ll be able to get full access to the app, which is really useful. You’ll also get great baseline connection speeds with your router VPN, plus useful support.
What really stands out with IPVanish, though, is its comprehensive setup guides for pretty much every compatible router on the market. They’re long, detailed, and have useful screenshots to assist you through the whole process if you don’t fancy splashing out on a preconfigured one.
It's great for streaming, too, unblocking every streaming service we tested it with. Additionally, if torrenting is your thing, you'll be pleased to know that it's one of the best torrenting VPNs.
As a router VPN to set up manually, IPVanish is an excellent option – but it's worth noting that it has slipped rank overall due to the fact that while IPVanish has stayed reliable, others have innovated and now simply outperform the old hand.
Feature | Comments | Rating |
|---|---|---|
Design | Fairly attractive, but complex to navigate | ⭐⭐⭐ |
Ease of use | Not as easy as many other providers | ⭐⭐⭐ |
Performance | Very good speeds of around 790Mbps | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
Unblocking | Pretty reliable, but not flawless | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
Security and privacy | Audited, reliable, and trustworthy | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
Customer support | Articles aren't hugely helpful, although live chat is available | ⭐⭐⭐ |
Price | Decent to begin with, but renewals hikes are hefty | ⭐⭐⭐ |
✔️ You want high speeds. CyberGhost's speeds rival that of NordVPN at 950 Mbps.
✔️ You want support for many different types of devices. CyberGhost has support for a large range of different devices and operating systems.
❌ You want to use lots of devices. Rather than measuring simultaneous connections, CyberGhost measures installations, and you only get 7. If you want to use CyberGhost on a device after this limit is hit, you'll have to uninstall it from a different device in order to do so.
❌ You need top-tier support. While CyberGhost has decent support, you'll find better, more in-depth help from ExpressVPN or NordVPN.
CyberGhost offers great speeds and unblocking power, but its simultaneous connections and support leave something to be desired. While its a solid VPN, it just hasn't developed as much as other providers in recent years.
Rounding out our ranking of the best router VPNs is CyberGhost. In my CyberGhost review, I found that it has a lot to offer as a VPN, although its lack of recent updates puts it behind other VPN services.
One of the main benefits of CyberGhost is that it offers a dedicated router app, allowing users to configure it with many different routers. Add this to its helpful how-to guide on its site, and getting set up is pretty painless.
It also is one of the fastest VPNs we've tested, with top speeds of 950 Mbps, putting it on par with NordVPN and Surfshark.
It also has powerful unblocking abilities, accessing every streaming service we tested it with, including Netflix, Disney+, BBC iPlayer and 9Now, among others.
Finally, it's security and privacy measures up to that of the most secure VPNs, after going through an independent audit by Deloitte to verify its no-logs policy in January 2025.
Where it doesn't quite measure up to the competition is in terms of its simultaneous connections and its support.
CyberGhost only allows users to have 7 simultaneous connections, which is based on logins rather than connections. This means if you have reached your device limit, you will have to uninstall CyberGhost from one of these devices in order to use it.
Additionally, while it does offer guides and FAQs on its support site, these guides aren't quite as in-depth as those offered by ExpressVPN and NordVPN.
Overall, CyberGhost has a lot to offer as a VPN, but we'd love to see it update its features and improve its how-to guides.
Feature | Comments | Rating |
|---|---|---|
Design | Fairly attractive and easy to navigate | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
Ease of use | Very easy to use | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
Performance | Pretty good speeds, not as fast as other VPN services | ⭐⭐⭐ |
Unblocking | Unblocked everything we tested it with | ⭐⭐ |
Security and privacy | Great security, recently audited by Deloitte | ⭐⭐⭐ |
Customer support | Live chat, online articles, help tickets and FAQs available | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
Price | One of the cheapest VPNs on the market | ⭐⭐ |
Router VPN FAQs
What is a router VPN?
In essence, a router VPN is exactly the same as any VPN you might install on your phone or PC – it diverts your internet traffic away from your ISP’s servers towards its own. Your traffic is encrypted in the process, meaning you’ll be able to surf in peace, knowing that no one can see or track your activity.
Most commonly, router VPNs are used so that a VPN-protected connection can be used by devices that can’t have a VPN installed directly. That includes Smart TVs and Apple TV, games consoles, Roku, and many others, and means you’ll be able to access blocked streaming content and stay anonymous on any device attached to your Wi-Fi connection.
Plus, if you install a router VPN, then any number of devices or individuals can use your VPN connection.
Do I really need a router VPN?
If you're on this page you've probably made the decision that you do. That might be because you want to stream geo-blocked content on your games console or smart TV, or perhaps you just want that blanket protection.
However, if you just want to get around the limits on how many devices you can have simultaneously connected to a VPN, we'd suggest a service like Surfshark or IPVanish, which provide unlimited connections. That way you can install the app on as many devices as you want without entering your router's settings at all.
How should I get a router VPN?
Router VPNs can be complex and tricky to set up – and there's a chance you'll brick your router if you configure it wrongly. That's why we highly recommend either signing up to ExpressVPN and using the dedicated app, or buying a pre-configured router.
If you're up for a challenge, though, there are some great guides that – if followed correctly – should be able to direct you though the process successfully.
What are the downsides of using a router VPN?
The biggest drawback is that you may well discover that your current router can’t support your chosen VPN’s dedicated router VPN app, if it has one at all.
If this happens, you’ll have to either buy a new router that does, or install DD-WRT firmware to allow you to manually set up a VPN connection – you can find a list of DD-WRT-compatible routers here. There are also some other options, including Tomato.
The other problem is that it’s more difficult to change your VPN’s settings because your router doesn’t have a screen or interface. Any alterations will have to be done through your router’s dashboard on a PC.
However, some VPN services have made the process far simpler than expected – one of which being ExpressVPN. It has a dedicated website for setting up your router VPN, and apps specifically designed to get your router protected quickly.
Disclaimer
We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example: 1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service). 2. Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad. We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.
