This guide should help you choose the best VPN routers to strengthen your VPN connections! They’re secure and are easy on your pocket.
TL;DR: Best VPN Routers at a glance
- Asus RT-AC5300 router
- Linksys WRT 3200 ACM router
- D-link DIR-885L/R router
- Linksys WRT32X Gaming Router
- Netgear Nighthawk X4S VDSL/ADSL Modem Router D7800
- Asus RT-AC86U router
We are living in a digital world where everything is happening online. The digital space is advancing with time and user security is at risk.
Government surveillance for online users is getting intrusive every day, ISPs are now legally selling browsing histories to third parties.
The overall web situation is getting riskier and it’s completely unfair to neglect your online security.
This is why you should get yourself a reliable VPN router for home and small businesses. VPN compatible routers, protect each device connected to it and enables you to access restricted content.
In today’s guide, we will also explain why you should use a VPN router and how it protects you online.
The best VPN Routers to keep you secure online in 2021
Asus RT-AC5300 router
It is one of the best VPN routers that make your gaming experience absolutely smooth and lag-free. It performs great with its eight antennae that offers a strong range of network signals that can be used from great distances. Moreover, it is also considered the best VPN router for china.
Features
- Single USB 3.0 port
- Extended Wi-Fi coverage
- MU-MIMO support
- 8 external antenna
- Traffic analyzer
- 512MB RAM
| Price | US$264.99 |
| Speed | 802.11ac: 2,167Mbps, 802.11n: 600Mbps. |
| Connectivity | 4 x Gigabit Ethernet, 1 x WAN, 1 x USB 2.0, 1 x USB 3.0. |
Linksys WRT 3200 ACM router
Linksys WRT 3200 ACM is one of the best VPN routers for streaming. With its powerful four antennae, you can expect strong signal coverage and you can install DD-WRT firmware to ensure maximum VPN compatibility. It has 4 gigabit Ethernet ports and USB 3.0.
Features
- Bandwidth widening options
- Open source firmware support
- MU-MIMO technology
- Tri-Stream 160 technology
- 512MB RAM and 256MB flash memory
| Price | US$225 |
| Speed | 802.11ac: 3x 867 Mbps, 802.11n: 600 Mbps |
| Connectivity | 4x Gigabit Ethernet, 1x USB 3.0, 1 x ESATA/USB 2.0 |
D-link DIR-885L/R router
D-link DIR-885L/R is also an easy-to-configure router for VPNs with a simple and intuitive user interface. This is a router that perfectly blends both speed and Wi-Fi range. Users besotted with the games can rely on this VPN Wi-Fi router.
Features
- 4 high-performance antennas
- Dual-band wireless router
- Enabled MU-MIMO technology
- USB 3.0 Port
- Intenet Port
- 4 Gigabit LAN Ports
- Smart Connect
| Price | US$249.99 at Amazon |
| Speed | 802.11ac |
| Connectivity | 4x Gigabit Ethernet, 1x USB 3.0 |
Linksys WRT32X Gaming Router
Linksys WRT32X Gaming Router is another router to use with VPN, offering the best bandwidth to escalate your gaming sessions lag-free. The visual design is quite simple and, it is very easy to use with a VPN. Comprising all the custom features, perfectly befitting your gaming needs.
Features
- Customized gaming firmware and user interface
- 4 high-performance antenna
- Killer prioritization engine
- 8 GHz Dual-core central processing unit (CPU)
| Price | US$186 |
| Speed | AC3200 |
| Connectivity | 1 x Gigabit WAN, 4 x Gigabit LAN, 1 x USB 3.0, 1 x eSATA/USB 2.0 |
Netgear Nighthawk X4S VDSL/ADSL Modem Router D7800
It’s a super-fast, wireless VPN router that comes with four antennas and a stylish black finish design. Netgear’s D7800 has two USB ports and SATA connections. Also, it comprises very fine USB 3.0 data speeds all along with MU-MIMO technology for better performance.
Features
- Two USB 3.0 ports
- eSATA port available
- Four Ethernet ports
- VDSL 2 modem
- Faster wireless performance
| Price | US$159.99 |
| Speed | 802.11ac: 1733Mbps, 802.11n: 800 Mbps |
| Connectivity | 5x Gigabit Ethernet, 2x USB 3.0, 1x eSATA |
Asus RT-AC86U router
We have been witnessing that the Asus brand is quite inclined towards marketing to gamers. Asus RT-AC86U router holds some powerful features that make it worthy of your consideration. It also enables you to install third-party firmware to enjoy more functionalities without compromising VPN internet speed. Check its features below to understand why it’s one of the best VPN routers:
Features
- MU-MIMO Technology
- 8GHz 64bit Dual-Core processor
- Enabled AiProtection
- Excellent speed and coverage
- Firmware installation for greater choice
- Adaptive QoS WTFast
- Traffic Analyzer
| Price | US$159.99 |
| Speed | 802.11ac 1734 Mbps down |
| Connectivity | 5 x Gigabit LAN, 1 x USB 2.0, 1 x USB 3.0 |
Reason to Pick a VPN Compatible Router
Anyone who would like to be safe online should definitely use a VPN for browsing online. A VPN does not only lets you stream unlimited geo-blocked content but it also keeps your data safe from hackers.
Here’s a quick view of the best VPN services for routers;
With a VPN, you can safely use the internet because no one can trace your identity, and intercept internet traffic, such as bank account information, emails, and everything.
But, VPNs do have some limitations, and they can’t protect each and every device that you are using. A few top-performing VPNs like Surfshark enables users to protect multiple devices simultaneously.
However, no VPN can support every device and platform that is holding your data and that’s when you need a wireless VPN router for small businesses and homes.
A VPN-compatible router protects all connected devices, no matter what platform. Be it a wireless camera, smart fridge, smart thermostat or anything that means ANYTHING.
It has been reported that a lot of cyber-criminals have attempted to hack smart home devices and VPN protection is the only way to stay safe. But, VPN alone cannot protect every device, there must be a VPN router to ensure next-level protection for everything.
Things to Consider Before Buying a VPN
A router with a VPN server can be connected to any device in your home for added protection but keep these few considerations in mind before buying one for yourself.
Technicality
Not everyone is good at operating things around. If you are planning to buy a VPN router then don’t overlook its technicality. A number of routers require a series of steps to be connected with a VPN but that shouldn’t deter you when the product is good. If you are not smart enough to perform all of the required steps then contact the VPN provider and let it assist you through the installation.
Customer Support
24/7 customer support should also be on your list. You never know when your connection starts misbehaving. Therefore, 24/7 chat support is a must to seek assistance anytime you need it.
VPN services including, ExpressVPN, Surfshark, CyberGhost, NordVPN, and FastestVPN provide 24/7 chat support and are compatible with routers.
Cost
Nothing costs more than security, but a sensible purchase decision is recommended. Advanced VPN routers are expensive than basic routers and are used to connect multiple devices under VPN protection.
If you are using multiple devices that expand multiple floors or rooms in your home or office then it’s good to buy a VPN router. However, if you have a single device or live in a single room then a simple router would suffice.
Speed
Speed and unlimited bandwidth are quite important for a router that runs VPN on multiple devices. A VPN router runs the internet for various devices simultaneously, therefore, both speed and bandwidth matter.
How to Setup a Router on a VPN
Setting up a VPN router mainly depends on the instructions of your VPN provider. There are some pre-configured routers that you only need to connect to your VPN provider’s server.
However, if your router doesn’t support a VPN, then it should be compatible with DD-WRT or Tomato firmware to be configured with a VPN. You can configure the router on a VPN by the following steps below:
- Download Firmware for your router
- Connect your router(s)model with an internet connection
- Follow online instructions to flash your router(s)
- Now, Connect your DD-WRT or Tomato router to VPN.
Final Verdict
VPN encrypts users’ data and provides a secure internet connection that ultimately protects against cybercrimes and data theft. If you want the same protection for all the devices that you are using, then a VPN router is your gateway for next-level protection. I’ve recommended some of the best VPN routers above for reference.
The best thing about a VPN router is that it remains active all the time, you never need to start software client separately across multiple devices to get the VPN protection on. Just connect devices to the router and you’re all set.
