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Best Overall
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More expensive than NordVPN, Surfshark, and CyberGhost
Best for Powerful Extras
Best Affordable Option
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.
| 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 |
Premium VPN offering strong security and ultra-fast speeds
Strict no-logs policy with independent audit
In-house Lightway protocol for more speed and security
More expensive than NordVPN, Surfshark, and CyberGhost
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.
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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.
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).
| Price range | $6.67–$12.95/mo |
| Free version | No — but it does offer a 30-day money-back guarantee |
| Router support | Yes — Asus, Linksys, Netgear, Netgear Nighthawk, D-Link, DD-WRT, Netduma, Sabai, Tomato, TP-Link, Xiaomi |
| Router installation instructions | Yes |
| Number of servers | Unknown number in 94 countries |
| Number of devices | 5 |
| Encryption | AES-256 bit encryption |
| VPN protocol | Lightway, OpenVPN, IKEv2 |
| No-logs policy | No logs |
| Unblocks Netflix? | Yes |
| Torrenting support | Yes |
| Learn more | Read Our ExpressVPN Review |
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High-quality VPN offering safety and speed
Loads of servers for multiple connection options
Works with popular streaming services, including Netflix
Too many confusing plans
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.
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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.
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.
| Price range | $3.99–$15.69/mo |
| Free version | No — but it does offer a 30-day money-back guarantee |
| Router support | Yes — Asus, DD-WRT, Netduma, Sabai, Tomato, TP-Link, Xiaomi, and more |
| Router installation instructions | Yes |
| Number of servers | 5,600+ servers in 60 countries |
| Number of devices | 6 |
| Encryption | AES-256 bit encryption |
| VPN protocol | NordLynx, OpenVPN, IKEv2/IPsec |
| No-logs policy | No logs |
| Unblocks Netflix? | Yes |
| Torrenting support | Yes |
| Learn more | Read Our NordVPN Review |
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VPN technology offering stability and speed
Unlimited simultaneous connections
Works with Netflix and other streaming services
Headquarters in Nine Eyes Alliance
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.
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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.
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.
| Price range | $2.39–$12.95/mo |
| Free version | No — but it does offer a 30-day money-back guarantee and a seven-day free trial |
| Router support | Yes — Asus, Linksys, DD-WRT, Netduma, Sabai, Tomato, and more |
| Router installation instructions | Yes |
| Number of servers | 3,200+ servers in 100+ countries |
| Number of devices | Unlimited |
| Encryption | AES 256-GCM encryption |
| VPN protocol | WireGuard, OpenVPN, L2TP |
| No-logs policy | No logs |
| Unblocks Netflix? | Yes |
| Torrenting support | Yes |
| Learn more | Read Our Surfshark Review |
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 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 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.
A VPN on your router is a legal way to protect all devices connected to the router's network. Since a router only counts as one device, it's a productive way to circumvent many VPN providers' limits on how many devices can be connected to an account. A router VPN can also protect devices that don't have VPN apps, like your gaming consoles.
You can set up a router on your VPN service by following the providers' instructions. The steps will vary depending on your type of router and if you bought a router pre-installed with a VPN. Generally speaking, a VPN provider will provide guides on how to install and set up a VPN on your router. However, it may require some technical knowledge to install.
ExpressVPN does have a list of compatible routers. You can find a full list of compatible routers on its website. It includes routers to install ExpressVPN firmware and routers that will need manual configuration to install ExpressVPN. The setup guides are also helpful and many include videos to support the instructions.
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.
| Starting price | Best for | Learn more | |
| ExpressVPN | Starts at $6.67/mo | Best overall | See ExpressVPN Pricing |
| NordVPN | Starts at $3.99/mo | Best for powerful extras | See NordVPN Pricing |
| Surfshark | Starts at $2.39/mo | Best affordable option | See Surfshark Pricing |
There are numerous factors we considered and reviewed when determining which VPNs are best for your router. These factors include:
Premium VPN offering strong security and ultra-fast speeds
Strict no-logs policy with independent audit
In-house Lightway protocol for more speed and security
More expensive than NordVPN, Surfshark, and CyberGhost
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