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Virtual private networks, or VPNsis an essential tool in any online privacy toolkit. They hide Your public IP addressEncrypt your traffic by routing it through secure servers and can make it appear as if you are connecting from another location.
To use a regular VPN, you must log in on each device you want to activate, and are usually limited to a certain number of active sessions at any given time.
You can also install a VPN directly on your device Wi-Fi router To protect all devices connected to it. This is really a matter of convenience, according to David Barger, a networking consultant at Crosstalk solutions.
“When you use a separate app, you have to remember to launch it every time you want a little more peace of mind,” Barger said. “If you use a VPN router, with the VPN configured properly, you know you are protected when you connect to it.”
I test and review routers for CNET, but I’ve never tried one with a VPN installed. I decided to test it using my home router. I’ve learned that for that extra layer of low-maintenance security, you’re going to have to do some upfront work. Fortunately, it’s very light work — think brisk walking, not deadlifting.
I will share with you my experience and everything you need to know to install a VPN on your router as simply as possible.
Which routers allow you to install VPNs?
If you’ve purchased a router in the past few years, there’s a good chance it allows you to install a VPN. (Routers issued by Internet service providers are the exception, as these will never allow you to install a VPN directly.)
However, some routers only work with specific VPN services. Here’s a quick list of instructions from popular router manufacturers, as well as links to their models that accept VPNs. Some of these models are also the best Wi-Fi routers CNET tested, including ASUS (best overall) and TP-Link (best budget), both of which also received Editors’ Choice awards.
The only routing companies that have found that no Allowing you to install VPNs are Eero and Google Nest. Aero does not provide VPN service through Guardian You sign up for Eero Plus ($10 per month or $100 per year), but you’ll have to add a non-Google router to install the VPN directly.
How to install a VPN on your existing router
Installing a VPN on your router is not as complicated as it seems. It only took about 10 minutes from start to finish, and that includes the time it took to sign up for a VPN service. We recommend connecting via OpenVPN or WireGuard protocols for a secure connection.
Log into your router settings
No matter what type of router or VPN you use, this is where you’ll start. Most routers require you to set up an account when you first install them, and this is the same login you’ll use to install the VPN. If you haven’t set this up before, you can find the factory login at the bottom of your router. Now is the time to Create a unique and strong password For your router too. We recommend changing this every six months.
Download the (possible) VPN firmware
Depending on the VPN service you choose, you may need to download firmware for your router. ExpressVPNFor example, he has List of routers That comes with firmware downloads, but you also have the option to install them manually. NordVPNOn the other hand, it directs you to log in using the username and password that it provides you in its configuration settings.
ExpressVPN asked me to download the firmware for your router model during configuration.
Configure the VPN service
This step will look a little different depending on the type of router you use, but the list of routers above provides relatively simple instructions for each brand.
The steps usually look like this: Look for settings that include “VPN” — often under Advanced settings — and then add a VPN server from the drop-down menu. This is where you will locate the VPN firmware you downloaded in the previous section.
NordVPN directed me to log in using the username and password provided in its configuration settings.
Connect to a VPN
Once you’ve added the VPN firmware to your router’s settings, the final step is to turn on the switch. In TP-Link settings – The router I’m using – This just means toggling the “Enable” bar. Keep in mind that you will also have to set up a VPN service before you can activate it on your router.
TP-Link’s settings require you to switch the VPN to “On” after installing it.
Purchase a router with a built-in VPN
If all this sounds like too much hassle, there’s another way: buy a router that comes with a VPN pre-installed. You’ll have limited options if you go this route, but simplicity is hard to beat.
ExpressVPN, our pick for the best VPN overall, sells Travel router And a Home routerboth of which include six months of VPN service at the moment. Another popular option is Privacy Champion 2which describes itself as an “official partner” with NordVPN, but works with it as well protonvpn, IPVanish, Private Internet access, Surfshark And others. Privacy Hero 2 took home the badge of honor for “Best VPN Router Overall.” From our sister site ZDNET. It comes with one year of VPN service.
We didn’t get the chance to Try out these models in the CNET Lab so farbut it will be at the top of my list for the next round of testing.
Will using a VPN affect my router’s speed?
Slow internet speeds are a sacrifice that all VPN users face. Attila Tomaszek, a VPN expert at CNET, estimates that speeds could be diminished By 50% or more When using a VPN.
There are a number of things you can do to lower this number, such as connecting to a server closer to you, using a different VPN protocol or enabling split tunneling. But the most effective choice you can make is to choose Fast VPN In the first place. The best VPNs in CNET’s tests cut speeds by less than 25%, compared to the 50% we saw from other services.
The split tunneling feature in most VPN apps will help you sort your online activity between tasks that need the VPN to handle, such as streaming from different regions, while allowing you to keep other tasks out of the slower VPN tunnel – allowing you to maintain maximum speeds for downloads, for example.
Should you install a VPN on your router?
Whether or not installing a VPN directly on your router is a good idea depends on what you will be using it for. If privacy is your main reason for using a VPN, it makes sense that you’d want encryption everyone of data coming in and out of your home, not just to one or two devices. In this case, installing a VPN on your router is your best bet.
If you’re using a VPN to hide your location so you can access geo-blocked content, you don’t necessarily need to install it on your router, just the device that will be accessing the content. In such one-time cases, it probably isn’t worth slowing down all incoming traffic from your router.