Best VPN for Router in 2025

As of May 2025, NordVPN remains the best VPN for router due to its easy setup process, wide server net for geo-block bypassing, and strong encryption to secure your online activities.

A VPN for routers can boost security, privacy, and accessibility across all connected devices. Instead of installing a VPN app on each device separately, a router-based VPN encrypts all incoming and outgoing data at the source, ensuring thorough protection. However, for optimal router VPN performance, you have to select a VPN that’s compatible with the technology, easy to set up, and is able to bypass geo-restrictions while maintaining fast connection speeds.

To find the best VPNs for router, I tested around 20 different services and evaluated their router compatibility, server networks, geo-block bypassing capabilities, and security features. Ultimately, I was able to find the top 5 router VPNs – read this article to learn about these VPNs, how to use them, and how to set them up on your router.

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Top 5 VPNs for router: shortlist

1. NordVPN

   Best overall VPN for router
   9.8
2. Surfshark VPN

   Fast and affordable router VPN with simple setup
   9.5
3. Proton VPN

   Security-oriented VPN for router
   8.6
4. TotalVPN

   Cheapest available router VPN
   8.2
5. IPVanish

   Robust VPN for routers with easy setup
   8.4

Why do I need a VPN for a router?

A VPN for a router is essential for privacy, security, and accessing geo-blocked content from anywhere. Setting up a VPN on your router offers several key benefits, including:

• Network-wide encryption. Using a router VPN instantaneously encrypts the traffic of all connected devices, as well as securing the data you share online.
• Online privacy. A router VPN hides your real IP address and prevents any possible tracking attempts.
• Bypass geo-restrictions. By connecting to a server in your chosen location, you can easily bypass geo-restrictions imposed by some of the most popular streaming platforms and unlock a huge gallery of new content.
• Secure IoT devices. IoT (Internet of Things) devices include smart appliances, wearables, smart home devices, and more. Even though they use an internet connection a bit differently than laptops or smartphones, they still send data through the internet. Because you cannot install a VPN on such devices, the only way to secure them is by using router-based VPN installation.
• Prevent ISP throttling. Your internet service provider (ISP) might be throttling your speed if you engage in bandwidth-heavy online activities. Installing a VPN on a router and using the protected connection will mask your online activities, prevent ISP throttling, and allow you to use your connection at its optimal speeds.
• Fast and reliable. Some VPNs tend to have more reliable and faster connections when installed on a router, which is important if you engage in activities like online gaming or streaming. Installing a VPN on a router might provide you with a smoother overall experience.

For a smooth router VPN experience and optimal performance, I recommend choosing NordVPN. The service offers high-speed servers, wide location choice, and excellent security features to protect your data. Plus, even without a native router app, setting NordVPN up on a router is very simple and quick.

5 Best VPNs for router in 2025: detailed list

1. NordVPN – best overall VPN for router
2. Surfshark – fast and affordable router VPN with simple setup
3. Proton VPN – security-oriented VPN for router
4. TotalVPN – cheapest available router VPN
5. IPVanish – robust VPN for routers with easy setup

To find the best VPNs for routers, I tested around 20 different providers and evaluated their ease of use with routers, compatibility with different router models, server networks, connection speeds, and security features. Ultimately, I was able to find the top 5 best VPNs for routers – you can find my recommendations and in-depth descriptions below.

1. NordVPN – best VPN for router overall

NordVPN is the best overall VPN for router, as it’s very easy to set up on various router models, offers a wide high-speed server net, and is excellent at bypassing geo-blocks on popular streaming platforms. Additionally, NordVPN ensures robust traffic encryption and protects your data with the latest security tech.

NordVPN router setup

Although NordVPN does not have an app for routers, I found the installation process very straightforward and set it up in a matter of minutes. To get it working, I went to my router’s web interface, found the VPN client settings, and then simply followed the instructions for my router model. It did include downloading setup files from the NordVPN official website and importing them onto my router, but as I said, I simply had to follow the instructions. I also found that some routers, like all FlashRouter models and some ASUS models, come with NordVPN pre-installed, so if you’re in the market for a new device, you may want to consider them.

NordVPN server network

NordVPN operates a solid fleet of 7400+ servers in 118+ countries, which is perfect for accessing all sorts of otherwise geo-blocked content or gaining an IP address in your desired location. All of NordVPN’s servers are RAM-only for an extra layer of data protection and can be used with fast and secure ​​NordLynx, OpenVPN, and IKEv2. However, remember that from this list, only the OpenVPN tunneling protocol will work with routers, so select this protocol when setting up.

Streaming, torrenting, and gaming with NordVPN

After setting up NordVPN on my router, I easily unblocked popular streaming platforms, such as Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, and HBO Max. As for torrenting, NordVPN allows P2P traffic on all its servers, and thanks to its fast connections of about 468Mbps with 96% initial speed retention rate, it’s also great for online gaming and bypassing ISP throttling.

Security and privacy features

NordVPN is an extremely secure service with a third-party verified no-logs policy, modern AES-256 encryption, a well-functioning kill switch, and additional IP, DNS & WebRTC leak protection features. Additionally, you can use Nord’s Meshnet feature to safely share your passwords across devices and accounts and toggle on the Nord Threat Protection feature to block malicious ads, websites, and pop-ups from interrupting your browsing.

Router compatibility and price

NordVPN supports various routers and firmware, including ASUS WRT, ASUS Merlin, DD-WRT, GL.iNET, MikroTik, NetDUMA, OPNsense, OpenWRT, Padavan, Sabai, Tomato, pfSense, DrayTek, EdgeRouter, and TP-Link. You can get this highly efficient router VPN for just $3.39/month, which offers a great price-to-feature ratio. All your purchases are protected with a 30-day money-back guarantee, and you can try the service on Android devices during the 7-day free trial.

For more information, read our in-depth NordVPN review.

2. Surfshark VPN – fast VPN with simple router setup

Surfshark is the best VPN for routers if you’re looking for a VPN with an easy router setup process, affordable subscriptions, and unlimited device connections. On top of all that, Surfshark also offers a sizeable high-speed server fleet and is excellent at bypassing geo-blocks.

Surfshark router setup

Similarly to NordVPN, Surfshark’s router installation process was simple and quick. Again, I accessed my router’s web interface, looked for VPN settings, and followed the setup steps. That also included downloading router settings from Surfshark’s official website, but I did not find the process to be complicated in any way. If you have an ASUS router with the VPN Fusion feature, you can set it up using Surfshark’s WireGuard tunneling protocol, while with other routers, you will have to use the OpenVPN.

Surfshark server network

Surfshark operates a solid fleet of 3200+ servers in around 100 countries. During my speed tests, I found that the average connection speed of different servers was around 466Mbps with 94% initial speed retention rate – excellent for all sorts of online activities. All of Surfshark’s servers are RAM-only, which means none of your data is ever tracked or recorded.

Streaming, torrenting, and gaming with Surfshark

Due to the high connection speeds, Surfshark is great for streaming, gaming, and torrenting. I easily accessed numerous streaming platforms once I got Surfshark on my router, including Netflix, Max, Disney+, and BBC iPlayer. As for torrenting, Surfshark allows P2P traffic on some of its servers, but you don’t have to look for them manually, as once the service catches P2P traffic, it automatically reconnects you to an optimized server. When playing online games, I did not experience any lagging or rubber-banding, and I can recommend Surfshark for this activity if you’re looking for a smooth experience.

Security and privacy features

Surfshark ensures your privacy and anonymity with military-grade AES-256 encryption, while your real IP address is protected with a reliable kill switch and additional leak protection features. Surfshark also offers a CleanWeb feature that blocks all pop-ups, ads, and trackers from profiling you. If you’re looking for extra privacy, you can rely on the obfuscated servers or use the Dynamic Multihop connections to route your traffic through two servers.

Router compatibility and price

Surfshark is compatible with most of the ASUS, GL-iNET, TP-LINK, and FlashRouter models. Remember to check with your router’s provider for VPN compatibility first, just in case yours is an older, unsupported model. Surfshark is a very affordable router VPN, with subscriptions starting at just $1.99/month. All purchases are protected with a 30-day money-back guarantee, and you can try the service before vomiting during the 7-day free trial.

For more information, read our in-depth Surfshark review.

3. Proton VPN - freemium VPN for router

Proton VPN is the best VPN for routers if you’re looking for robust security and an option for a reliable free version. Additionally, the Swiss-based service undergoes no-logs audits every year, and it might be a good choice if you’re especially concerned about the privacy of your data.

Proton VPN router setup

As the provider states, you can only set it up on a router that supports OpenVPN or WireGuard as a client. If your router does not support it, you can still download and install DD-WRT software on it, but this process might require a bit more technical knowledge. Luckily, my router supports WireGuard, and the installation process was quick and essentially the same as with other VPNs on this list. I went to my router’s web interface, selected VPN client in Advanced settings, downloaded the necessary files from the Proton VPN website, and proceeded to install the VPN as per the instructions I found on the router’s interface.

Proton VPN server network

Of all the VPNs on this list, Proton VPN operates the largest fleet, consisting of 9900 servers across 117 countries. Interestingly, all the servers are bare-metal instead of RAM-only, and the provider claims that such servers are a bit more reliable even though they log some of your data and keep it until it is rewritten. As for the free version, it only offers 5 connection points, with only 3 of them – the US, the Netherlands, and Japan – available for router installation. Besides that, Proton’s unpaid version does not limit bandwidth usage.

Streaming, torrenting, and gaming with Proton VPN

I used the paid Proton VPN subscription to try out its streaming capabilities, and with its servers, I easily unlocked and streamed on popular platforms, such as Netflix, Hulu, HBO Max, and others. The service allows P2P traffic, but not on all of its servers, so when setting up on a router for torrenting, ensure you install the suitable server. As for gaming, Proton VPN’s servers keep an average speed of 428Mbps with an 88% initial speed retention rate, which is more than enough for such a bandwidth-heavy activity as online gaming.

Security and privacy features

Proton VPN offers several advanced security features, such as the Net Shield ad blocker, Secure Core servers, and Tor over VPN, which routes your traffic through an Onion browser and a VPN server, making your IP address and activities untraceable. As for the ground security bases, Proton VPN covers encryption with AES-256 and offers several modern tunneling protocols, including WireGuard, and a kill switch plus IP leak measures to protect your real IP address.

Router compatibility and price

Proton VPN is compatible with most GL-iNet, Vilfo, MikroTik, pfSense, and Asus router models. The Vilfo routers come with Proton VPN already preinstalled, so that would take away the need to install it manually. As for the price, Proton VPN is a bit more expensive, with subscriptions starting at $2.99/month. However, you can try out its free version first, and if you decide to get the premium version, your purchase will be protected by the 30-day money-back guarantee.

For more information, read our in-depth Proton VPN review.

4. TotalVPN - cheapest available router VPN

TotalVPN is a great VPN choice for the router, especially if you’re looking for something very affordable. Additionally, the service comes with a simple-to-use, user-friendly interface and an uncomplicated router setup process.

TotalVPN router setup

TotalVPN only works with routers supporting OpenVPN, so ensure your device matches this requirement first. If so, simply follow what I did and open your router’s web interface, look for VPN client or VPN settings, and then configure it with your TotalVPN credentials and the OpenVPN configuration file, which is available on the official TotalVPN site. I didn’t find the process to be any more complex than with other VPNs, and by now, I was able to set it up in minutes.

TotalVPN server network

TotalVPN operates a minimal fleet consisting of 50 servers in around 35 countries. Similarly to Proton VPN, all the servers are bare-metal, which makes them quite reliable but not as secure data-wise, as they log some of your data and keep it for around 15 minutes until the servers rewrite themselves. Even though 50 servers is not a big choice, I had no issues with congestion or poor performance, and the locations cover all the popular spots as well as a few niche ones.

Streaming, torrenting, and gaming with TotalVPN

Even though TotalVPN does not offer a WireGuard tunneling protocol, it keeps a nice and steady average speed of around 417Mbps with OpenVPN and a sufficient 84% initial speed retention rate. TotalVPN is not as capable of bypassing geo-restrictions on streaming platforms as my top choices, but it still unlocked some of the Netflix libraries and got me into BBC iPlayer. As for torrenting and gaming, TotalVPN allows P2P traffic on all its servers, but due to a slightly lower initial speed retention rate, both downloading and gaming might not be as smooth.

Security and privacy features

Total VPN covers the ground bases of cybersecurity very nicely with industry-standard AES-256 encryption, a well-working kill switch, and additional IP & DNS leak protection measures. This small but mighty provider also offers an Ad Blocker to ward off potentially malicious ads and trackers and offers to use its multihop function for an additional layer of security. However, the service lacks some advanced features like split tunneling and obfuscation.

Router compatibility and price

TotalVPN is compatible with all routers that support OpenVPN, including some of the most popular models for VPN use, such as Asus RT-AC86U, Linksys WRT3200ACM, and Netgear Nighthawk R7800. As for its price, TotalVPN offers subscriptions that start at only $1.59/month, making it the cheapest VPN for router.

For more information, read our in-depth TotalVPN review.

5. IPVanish - router VPN with unlimited device connections

IPVanish is a great router VPN if you’re looking for an easy-to-use service with unlimited device connections. Additionally, IPVanish offers really competitive subscription prices and a great security features package.

IPVanish router setup

IPVanish does not offer a dedicated router app but is compatible with all routers supporting the OpenVPN client. The setup process is simple and quick. First, you have to access your router’s web interface, look for the VPN client or VPN settings field, and follow the configuration instructions as seen on the interface. You will be asked to download OpenVPN configuration files from the IPVanish sites – do not neglect to do it, as the VPN won’t work without it.

IPVanish server network

IPVanish operates a nicely-sized fleet of 2400+ servers in around 109 countries. The provider owns and operates all of its servers, which provides a bit more safety toward user data management, even though the servers are all bare-metal, as opposed to RAM-only. You can choose to use WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2/IPSec, or L2TP/IPSec tunneling protocols, and with either one you choose, you’ll get an average connection speed of about 459Mbps with an excellent 92% initial speed retention rate.

Streaming, torrenting, and gaming with IPVanish

IPVanish is not as powerful at unblocking streaming platforms, and it struggled at unlocking Hulu and HBO Max, but it got me into several Netflix libraries and BBC iPlayer. However, IPVanish really excels at torrenting, with P2P traffic allowed on all its servers and a free SOCKS5 proxy available for all its clients. Due to its superb connection speeds and retention rate, IPVanish is also great for online gaming.

Security and privacy features

IPVanish offers several advanced security features and even has the Split Tunneling option to route some of your traffic through the VPN connection and the rest through a regular network connection for optimal performance. Besides this, IPVanish also has a Threat Protection feature to block potentially harmful ads and websites and protects your real IP address with a kill switch and additional IP leak protection features. Lastly, the privacy of your data is protected by military-grade AES-256 encryption.

Router compatibility and price

Essentially, IPVanish should be compatible with all routers that support OpenVPN client, but the provider states that optimal performance is to be expected when using these router models: high-end RT series ASUS routers running stock ASUSWRT or custom ASUS-Merlin firmware, as well as DD-WRT and Tomato flashed routers. IPVanish offers very competitive pricing, with subscriptions starting at $2.19/month. The provider does not offer a free trial, but you can test it out during the 30-day money-back guarantee period.

For more information, read our in-depth IPVanish review.

Best VPNs for routers compared

How I tested and selected the best VPNs for routers in May 2025

Before compiling my list of top router VPNs, I tested and reviewed around 20 different providers. I looked for excellent router compatibility, fast and reliable connections, wide server choice, and an easy setup process, among other things. Here’s a more detailed list of my main review criteria and how I performed my tests:

• Router compatibility (30%). I checked whether the VPNs are compatible with routers, how many models they supported, and how easy it was to set them up by myself.
• Connection speed and reliability (20%). I favored the VPNs that showed an average speed of at least 400Mbps, as anything slower might mean laggy streaming and might not be enough for gaming. I tested the connection speeds on different servers with the speedtest.com tool. As for reliability, I connected to the servers at different times of day and checked if I noticed any changes in the speed and performance.
• Server fleet (20%). For a VPN to be a versatile tool, it has to have a wide server net that covers both popular and niche locations. The wider the server net, the better it will work for bypassing geo-blocks and internet censorship.
• Security features and encryption (15%). I evaluated the VPN security features and looked for strong encryption, such as AES-256, a reliable kill switch, and IP & DNS leak protection. I tested the kill switches by manually terminating the VPN connection and checking how fast the switch reacts, and I tested the IP protection with ipleak.net and DNS protection with the dnsleaktest.com tools.
• Customer support (15%). Because a VPN is quite a complex technology, you might eventually run into some trouble using it. So, I checked how responsive and easy to reach the customer support of each VPN is to ensure quick problem-solving.

Encrypt your router network connection with NordVPN

Is a VPN for router legal to use?

Yes, using a router VPN is completely legal in most countries worldwide, including the US, Canada, and most European countries. However, some regions, like China, Russia, Turkey, and the UAE, either limit or outright ban the use of VPN technology. If you still want to use a VPN in the restricted regions, I recommend choosing one that’s truly robust and secure, like NordVPN.

Remember that using a VPN for illegal activities, such as downloading pirated content, can lead to legal troubles even in countries where using a VPN is legal.

Router VPN not working: step-by-step fix

Even the best router VPNs can sometimes experience technical issues and not work properly, mostly because of incorrect VPN configuration, incompatibility with routers, or firmware issues. I rounded up the most common causes of router VPNs not working and how to fix them:

• Incorrect VPN configuration. You might’ve missed a step in the configuration process or mis-entered some details. Double-check the server, protocol, and login details against the ones provided to you by your service provider.
• Unsupported router model. Check if your router supports VPN installation. If not, you can either try downloading custom firmware (DD-WRT or OpenWRT) or look for a newer router model with VPN support.
• VPN protocol selection. Some VPN tunneling protocols work better than others. Try switching between the available protocols and see if it solves the problem.
• IP & DNS leaks. Your VPN might be leaking your IP address and DNS details – you can check if that’s the problem by using the ipleak.net and dnsleaktest.com websites. If these details are leaking, you won’t be able to access geo-blocked content.
• Firmware issues. Make sure your router operates on its latest firmware version. If you see an available update, download and install it.

If you keep running into trouble while using your current router VPN, it might be time to upgrade to a premium provider. My personal top router VPN choice is NordVPN as it is highly compatible with different router models, easy to set up, and offers the fastest connection speeds in the industry for a smooth browsing and streaming experience.

Get NordVPN for your router today

Can I use a free VPN for a router?

No, I do not recommend using free router VPNs. For one, free VPNs usually offer only a few available servers that are congested, in poor working order, and often blacklisted by popular streaming platforms. Additionally, free VPNs are likely to have daily data caps of around 200MB, which is enough for only a 20-minute YouTube video stream or similar. Lastly, some free VPNs are known to collect and sell user data, which will put your personal details at a high risk.

That said, there are a few trustworthy unpaid VPNs that offer safe, free versions, such as Proton VPN. The service offers an unpaid version with unlimited bandwidth, but you’ll only be able to connect to three server locations and won’t have access to Proton VPN’s full feature set. Instead, for truly optimal performance, I recommend choosing a premium VPN that offers a free trial, such as NordVPN’s 7-day free trial, and taking advantage of the free period to use a full-featured top VPN.

Try NordVPN for free today

Conclusion

Using a router VPN is the easiest way to protect all your devices at once against cyber threats by using encrypted traffic from the connection source. Besides ensuring robust encryption of your traffic, a VPN can also help you keep your online privacy and unlock a load of new content by bypassing geo-blocks. However, not all VPNs are compatible with routers and don’t have the high connection speeds recommended for optimal router use.

After concluding my tests on different VPN providers, I found NordVPN to be the best VPN for routers overall. The service is easy to set up on different kinds of routers, offers a wide high-speed server net for streaming, browsing, and gaming, and protects your online privacy and safety with the latest security features.

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FAQ

How can I get a VPN for router?

To get a VPN for a router, select a VPN that’s compatible with routers, such as NordVPN. Then, head to the provider’s official site, purchase a subscription, and set up your account. To set the VPN on your router, access its web interface, look for VPN settings, and configure it using your VPN credentials and the OpenVPN or WireGuard configuration file available on your provider’s website.

What is the best VPN for routers?

The best VPN for routers is NordVPN. I found the installation process to be fairly uncomplicated and straightforward on numerous router models. Additionally, NordVPN offers thousands of high-speed servers and great geo-unblocking capabilities to access streaming platforms. Lastly, its security feature package ensures your online safety and anonymity.

Is there a free VPN for routers?

I do not recommend using a free VPN for routers, as suspicious apps might infect your device with malware. If you need an unpaid VPN, I recommend trying the Proton VPN free version or taking advantage of NordVPN’s 7-day free trial for access to a fully-featured, premium VPN.