Best VPN on Router: The BEST Way to Secure Your Home Wi-Fi

Best VPN on Router: The BEST Way to Secure Your Home Wi-Fi, How to Set Up a VPN on Your Router in 2026: A Beginner-Friendly Tutorial. Spoiler alert, it’s not, and I’m going to prove it to you in this VPN for router tutorial. Let’s get started.

Why Use a VPN on Your Router?

What does using a VPN on a router actually do, and what are the added advantages to daily life? A VPN protects the connection of any device it’s installed on by creating a protective bubble around your network and all the data inside of it. But what happens if you want to protect a device that can’t support a VPN? Well, that’s where having a VPN router saves the day.

By installing the VPN directly onto the router itself, every device that’s connected to it instantly gains its protective powers. Since hackers these days are able to tap into basically anything, from smart fridges to baby monitors and gaming systems, it’s just crucial to secure those as well.

Read More: PrivateVPN review | PROS & CONS: Is it a new top VPN?

Since most providers have a limit on how many devices you can simultaneously use your VPN on, using a VPN for a router lets you protect all your devices that are connected to Wi-Fi, even for your guests. Not to mention how great it is to bypass ISP throttling now that your Internet service provider can no longer see your online activity.

Basic Requirements for Setting Up a VPN Router

With that being said, what are the basic requirements to get a VPN router set up? Here’s what you’ll need:

1. A VPN Subscription: Choose a VPN provider that supports router installations. My top three best VPN for router picks are NordVPN, Surfshark, and ProtonVPN. They all offer great deals and lots of additional features. To grab the best coupon code for any of these subscriptions, just be sure to follow the link in the description.
2. A Compatible Router: Ideally, you need a router that isn’t locked by your Internet service provider. Unfortunately, most ISPs don’t support VPN use, so this could mean needing to replace your current one or use a second one that includes support. I’ve always found that ASUS routers are great for this kind of job.
3. Correct Firmware: Some routers support VPNs out of the box. However, if yours doesn’t, you can opt for either DD-WRT or OpenWRT firmware as an alternative.

Step-by-Step VPN Router Setup

All three of these providers include a step-by-step guide on their websites showing users how to install a VPN on a router. But just to give you an idea of the process, I’ll do a demo using NordVPN on my ASUS router.

Setting Up NordVPN on an ASUS Router

1. Log into the router’s control panel.
2. Click the VPN button on the lower left side.
3. Select VPN Client, then click Add Profile.
4. In the pop-up window, press the OpenVPN tab, fill out the empty fields, and click OK.
5. Download the OpenVPN configuration files, and the ASUS VPN router setup is complete.

Setting Up NordVPN on a DD-WRT Router

If you’re using a DD-WRT router, NordVPN also has a straightforward guide to configure OpenVPN under the DD-WRT administrative interface:

1. Navigate to Setup, then Basic Setup.
2. Ensure all the fields in the Network Address Server Settings match the ones written on the NordVPN guide.
3. Press Save and Apply Settings.
4. Go to the Setup tab, then click the Disable button under IPv6, and press Save and Apply Settings.
5. Navigate to Service, then VPN, and under OpenVPN Client, press Start OpenVPN Client.

I know this is a quick rundown, but if you’d like to see a more detailed tutorial, then feel free to check out the article that I’ve left on screen or follow the help articles from today’s providers.

Using Alternative Firmware

If you find that your router is not compatible out of the box and need an alternative solution, it’s worth noting that some models can potentially be modified into DD-WRT or OpenWRT. This process is definitely suited for more advanced users, and you run the risk of voiding the warranty or bricking the router altogether. Proceed with caution if you choose this route.

Benefits of a VPN Router

Once you’ve chosen your best VPN for router and configured everything, what are the benefits you’ll now have? A front-runner in this category is the immediate access to international streaming content anytime you switch server locations. I found that all of today’s VPNs had no problem accessing content from the most popular streaming platforms out there, even on smart TVs that by default aren’t able to support VPN apps. On that note, my torrenting experience was also secure and successful.

Keep in mind, though, there is likely going to be a speed drop. The reason for this is simply because VPN speeds on routers are often slower than what you would get if the app was directly on a device. However, if you have a good router, then the speed drop should be less noticeable.

For those of you who prioritize fast speeds, I do suggest using Surfshark or ProtonVPN as they offer WireGuard connection instead of OpenVPN. NordVPN actually does offer the fastest protocol of the bunch, NordLynx. However, it’s currently only available on Privacy Hero routers, specifically. If you don’t have one of those, then stick to the industry-standard OpenVPN option.

Security and Server Coverage

Security-wise, all three VPNs offer top-tier encryption that’ll keep your network safe from outside threats. NordVPN and ProtonVPN both have privacy-friendly jurisdictions. While Surfshark is based in the Netherlands, which is a Nine Eyes alliance member, the company’s no-logs policy has been audited multiple times, so it’s not an issue. On that note, NordVPN and ProtonVPN also have audited no-logs policies, making them really secure options.

Additionally, NordVPN and Surfshark have RAM-only servers that wipe data clean after each reboot, and ProtonVPN offers encrypted disks to keep your data safe, even if a server is compromised. As far as variety goes, all of these best VPN providers have vast server fleets and lots of locations to choose from:

• Surfshark: 3,200 servers in 100 countries.
• NordVPN: Over 7,400 servers in 118 locations.
• ProtonVPN: An impressive 12,000+ servers across 117 countries.

Advantages and Drawbacks

As you could see, adding a VPN to your router comes with plenty of benefits. Not only does it allow you to essentially cover an infinite amount of devices, but it can also protect ones that don’t natively support VPNs. This is great for families or shared homes, especially those who want assurance that the VPN connection is always enabled. Of course, it’s super useful for bypassing any geo-restricted content for websites.

The main drawbacks that I’ve encountered when using a VPN on my router are:

• There’s now an extra step required to change the server or protocol.
• The speed is a little slower, especially on older models.
• Router compatibility can also be an issue.
• The setup process can feel challenging, particularly for those who aren’t experienced.

Aside from those things, having a VPN on a router does bring massive amounts of security and variety to your online experience, in one fell swoop, really.

Final Thoughts

Once you pick the provider for you, check the description for links with the lowest possible pricing, so you can start protecting all your household devices. I promise it’s not as hard as it seems. To sum everything up, using any one of the best VPN providers on your router will keep your devices safe and protected at all times, even if they can’t support a VPN app. Yes, it may take a little time to set up and might slow things down, but once it’s up and running, it makes staying safe super easy.