Best Overall

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On ExpressVPN's website

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• Strict no-logs policy with independent audit
• In-house Lightway protocol for more speed and security

• More expensive than NordVPN, Surfshark, and CyberGhost

Best for Powerful Extras

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On NordVPN's website

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• Loads of servers for more connection options
• Works with popular streaming services, including Netflix

• Too many confusing plans

Best Affordable Option

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On Surfshark's website

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• Unlimited simultaneous connections
• Works with Netflix and other streaming services

• Headquarters in Nine Eyes Alliance

Unless you purchase a router with a virtual private network (VPN) pre-installed, it can be difficult to set up a VPN on your router. That's why you should choose a VPN provider with plenty of technical support to help you along the way. This can include written guides, videos, and customer support. You'll also need to consider other factors like premium security features, speed, and pricing.

ExpressVPN impressed us the most with its extensive installation guides and the ability to customize which devices are connected to the router’s VPN. Meanwhile, NordVPN is a good option for those looking for additional security features besides a VPN. If budget is a primary concern, then Surfshark provides a low-cost VPN with high-quality services.

The best VPN apps for your router

• ExpressVPN: Best overall
• NordVPN: Best for powerful extras
• Surfshark: Best affordable option

Top 3 VPN services for your router compared 2023

VPN	Best Overall ExpressVPN	NordVPN	Surfshark
Starting price	Starts at $6.67/mo	Starts at $3.99/mo	Starts at $2.39/mo
Free version
Router support	Yes — Asus, Linksys, Netgear, Netgear Nighthawk, D-Link, DD-WRT, Netduma, Sabai, Tomato, TP-Link, Xiaomi	Yes — Asus, DD-WRT, Netduma, Sabai, Tomato, TP-Link, Xiaomi, and more	Yes — Asus, Linksys, DD-WRT, Netduma, Sabai, Tomato, and more
Router installation instructions
Streaming service support	Yes — Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, HBO, Amazon Prime, Disney Plus, Apple TV+	Yes — Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, Amazon Prime, Disney Plus	Yes — Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, HBO, Amazon Prime, Disney Plus, and more
Compatibility	Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, and more	Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, and more	Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, and more
Learn more	See ExpressVPN Pricing	See NordVPN Pricing	See Surfshark Pricing

ExpressVPN: Best overall

ExpressVPN Has the Best Support for Routers

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On ExpressVPN's website

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• Strict no-logs policy with independent audit
• In-house Lightway protocol for more speed and security

• More expensive than NordVPN, Surfshark, and CyberGhost

Who it’s best for

ExpressVPN is best for people looking for the easiest and most supportive installation process for their router. It also has an app to make the router VPN more usable.

What we liked

ExpressVPN had the most extensive router VPN setup instructions out of all the VPNs we reviewed. It had a variety of directions to install ExpressVPN firmware or configure it manually for several routers, including custom firmware options like Asus, Netgear, and Linksys. The guides also have videos, making it stand out from its competitors. On top of that, live chat support is available in case you need additional help installing a router VPN.

ExpressVPN can let you put connected devices into separate groups. This feature is known as Device Groups, and it lets you control the VPN location or if a device is connected to the internet at all. For example, if you want to watch Netflix with a VPN, you can put your Smart TV into a group connected to the best VPN servers for streaming.

What we didn’t like

ExpressVPN is easily the most expensive VPN on this list. With prices starting at $6.67 per month (which is the current promotion price), ExpressVPN is more than twice the cost of Surfshark, which currently starts plans at $2.39 per month.

However, if you plan on paying for your VPN month-to-month, then ExpressVPN ($12.95/mo) has a competitive price in comparison to other service providers like NordVPN ($12.99/mo) and Surfshark ($12.95/mo).

ExpressVPN specs

NordVPN: Best for powerful extras

NordVPN Offers Premium Security Features

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On NordVPN's website

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• Loads of servers for more connection options
• Works with popular streaming services, including Netflix

• Too many confusing plans

Who it’s best for

NordVPN is best for people who need help installing a router VPN but are also looking for premium security features for devices directly connected to the VPN app.

What we liked

NordVPN has extensive tutorials on setting up a VPN on a variety of routers. Some guides have videos and others don't. If you need additional help, you can always click on the chat button at the end of a tutorial to speak with a live representative.

NordVPN has other tools besides a VPN. Depending on your subscription, you can also get a password manager, dark web monitoring, cloud storage, and file encryption. This makes NordVPN a great choice if you are looking for extra security features to protect your home network and data.

What we didn’t like

Not all router VPN installation guides had videos to support their instructions. You also can't use the split tunneling feature to divide the devices connected to your router's VPN, an option that is available with ExpressVPN.

NordVPN specs

Surfshark: Best affordable option

Surfshark Is Best for People on a Budget

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On Surfshark's website

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• Unlimited simultaneous connections
• Works with Netflix and other streaming services

• Headquarters in Nine Eyes Alliance

Who it’s best for

Surfshark is best for people who are on a budget but still need all the essential VPN features along with assurances that their devices are always protected.

What we liked

Surfshark is one of the most affordable VPN options on the market. It also has several guides on installing a VPN on your router, and there's an option to chat with a representative or send an email to get more help. Combine it with Surfshark's unlimited simultaneous connections policy, and there won't be any question about your devices being always connected.  

What we didn’t like

Surfshark doesn't come with premium features like ExpressVPN's Device Groups or NordVPN's additional security tools like a password manager. While the router VPN installation guides are helpful, it lacks video tutorials.

Surfshark specs

VPNs that didn’t make the cut

Many VPNs offer router support, but we chose VPNs that prioritized an easy setup process, usability, and other important features. There are a couple of VPNs that didn't make our list, but you might find them to be a better fit for your needs.

Here's what didn't quite make our best VPN services for your router list.

CyberGhost

CyberGhost is a more affordable VPN, even compared to Surfshark. It also has some support guides to set up a VPN on a router, but it wasn't as extensive as other providers like ExpressVPN.

During our testing, we experienced some minor issues with speed and streaming. CyberGhost may be a poor choice for a router since a VPN with multiple devices connected can easily slow down the router's efficiency.

IPVanish

IPVanish is slightly more affordable than NordVPN. However, we didn't find the guides to set up a router VPN as useful or helpful compared to ExpressVPN or NordVPN. There wasn't any direction for firmware installation, and there weren't any videos to aid the instructions.

Best VPN apps for your router FAQs

Bottom line: The best VPN apps for your router

ExpressVPN offers the top VPN app for routers due to its informational setup instructions for a variety of routers. It also includes a unique feature called Device Groups, which lets you separate devices into groups with their own VPN location. It's a simple way to connect devices to a VPN without affecting the activities of other devices.

NordVPN is another good option with helpful router VPN installation guides. It's also a great choice if you need extra security features for your other devices. If budget is a primary concern, then you can't go wrong with Surfshark.

We also have a guide on the best VPN routers, so you can cover all your devices without worrying about the hassle of installing a VPN on your router.

3 best VPN apps for your router 2023

How we tested the best VPNs for your router

There are numerous factors we considered and reviewed when determining which VPNs are best for your router. These factors include:

• Ease of router setup: Installing a VPN on your router is difficult work, and it can require technical knowledge in some cases. We checked if VPNs had detailed guides on how to set up a VPN on a router and if they had technical support to help with the installation.
• Usability: Routers are a bit more inconvenient to control than individual devices connected directly to the VPN app. We reviewed the usability of the VPN's app to customize router settings and if there were any additional features to make it easier.
• Affordability: Installing a VPN to a router lets all connected devices have VPN protection, which makes it more affordable than having each device directly connected to a VPN app. But we also considered subscription costs to determine affordability.
• Other VPN features: Beyond the essential VPN features, like a kill switch and split tunneling, we looked for other tools that could aid in helping you protect your network and data.

Author Details

Sara J. Nguyen

About the Author

Sara J. Nguyen is a freelance writer specializing in cybersecurity. She aims to help people protect their data while enjoying technology. She has written about online privacy and tech for over 5 years for several organizations. When she's not writing about the latest cybersecurity trends, you can find her on LinkedIn.