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How to use your virtual private network connection with the best VPN routers. When you install a VPN on your router, all devices connected to that router’s network will automatically be protected by the VPN. This is why VPN routers are so useful: you can protect all of your family’s online information in one easy step.
VPNs use encrypted tunnels to keep your online conversations safe. When encryption is used with networks of servers that hide your IP address, your online identity can be hidden and your data can’t be intercepted or decoded. This makes it harder to track you or steal your information. Here are what we think are the best VPN routers on the market.
Best VPN Routers
ExpressVPN Aircove Wi-Fi 6 Router
Features
The ExpressVPN Aircove is our top choice because of how fast it is, how easy it is to set up, and how safe it is. The router can be used in homes or offices and has a coverage area of up to 1,600 square feet. Even if a router can connect to a VPN, you still need to think about how stable and fast it is. When the VPN isn’t being used, the Aircove can reach speeds of up to 1,200Mbps.
However, as you might expect, speeds will drop when you connect to VPN servers. One interesting feature is the choice to let different devices connected to the router use different servers. For example, you might want a PC you use for gaming to be disconnected from the VPN, but you might want a laptop you use at work to connect to a US or UK VPN server.
Pros
- Built-in VPN
- Easy setup
- Up to 1,600 sq. ft. coverage
Cons
- VPN exclusivity
InvizBox 2 VPN Router
Features
The InvizBox 2 is a VPN solution that is best for people who want a quick and easy way to use a VPN that is already set up. The dual-band device has speeds of up to 100Mbps, which may be slow for some, but the real benefit is that it is a small system that you can just plug in and use. You connect your device to the InvizBox and then plug it into a router.
There are three ways to buy an InvizBox 2, and all of them are on sale as of this writing. You can get the product and a one-month subscription to the InvizBox VPN for $79 ($30 off), a one-year subscription for $99 ($80 off), or a two-year subscription for $139 ($100 off). The router also works with a lot of other VPN services, such as ExpressVPN and NordVPN.
Pros
- Lightweight, portable
- Multiple VPN hotspots
Cons
- Potentially high initial cost
TP-Link Archer GX90
Features
If you think the TP-Link router Archer GX90 isn’t for office users because it’s big, has eight sharp antennas, and is black and red, you’d be right. It’s a high-end, high-performance gaming router with a ton of advanced features and technologies. We’re not just talking about Wi-Fi 6 or, say, tri-band speeds.
The GX90 can set up a separate 4.8Gbps Gaming Band network on its own. It has 2.5Gbps Ethernet and a few USB ports for connecting devices, and it can be set up as a mesh network with other TP-Link routers. The TP-Link Archer GX90 doesn’t need new firmware for VPN because OpenVPN lets it connect to VPN providers.
Pros
- Tri-band
- Extreme speed
Cons
- Requires configuration
Asus RT-AC86U router
Features
Most routers are extremely boring to look at, but the Asus RT-angled AC86U’s surfaces and red slashes give it a little more style. The case isn’t very comfortable to use because it has to stand on its own and can’t be mounted on the wall. It has some unusual pros, like buttons that let you do things that are buried in the firmware What’s inside that casing is also a lot to like.
The CPU is “only” dual core, but it’s a 1.8GHz model. There are four Gigabit LAN ports and two USB ports. MU-MIMO technology supports a theoretical transfer speed of up to 2,900Mbps, and Asus’ 5GHz Quad-Stream system optimizes traffic for the best gaming and streaming performance.
Pros
- Extensive firmware
- Great speed and coverage
- Excellent customizability
- Built-in stand
Cons
- Complex firmware
- Divisive looks
Synology RT2600ac Wi-Fi router
Features
The Synology RT2600ac is also a great choice if you want to be able to choose your VPN. The powerful router has a 1.7GHz processor, dual-band connectivity with speeds of up to 2.53Gbps, traffic monitoring, and a Smart Connect feature for balancing speed and range.
When it comes to VPNs, the router offers WebVPN, Synology SSL VPN, and SSTP VPN as ways to set up a VPN. Servers can also be set up to help people work from home or in the office. This is one of the best VPN Routers that you can buy right now.
Pros
- VPN flexibility
- Gigabit
- Mesh capabilities
Cons
- Uninspired design
Synology RT6600ax Wi-Fi router
Features
The Synology RT6600ax may look like just another bland, boring, same-as-everyone-else router, but it’s actually a great product for business, gaming, and other demanding users. Tri-band Wi-Fi can go up to 6,600Mbps, our tests in the real world showed that it works very well.
The router can run several different Wi-Fi networks, each with its own rules and settings. Security? There is a complete firewall, excellent content filtering, optional threat and intrusion detection, and a lot more. The same thing is true for the VPN features. You can connect it to most of the big service providers, but that’s just the beginning.
Pros
- Many advanced network features
- Works as a VPN client and server
Cons
- Overkill for basic home Wi-Fi requirements
FAQs
What is the best VPN router for small business?
- Asus RT-AX58U
- ExpressVPN Aircove
- TP-Link Archer GX90
- Asus RT-AC86U router
- Synology RT6600ax
- Asus RT-AX86U
- TP-Link Archer C5400 v2
- Linksys WRT32X Gaming Router
Is it better to use VPN on router?
Setting up a VPN (Virtual Private Network) on your router is a great way to make your digital security better. All of your devices, like PCs, laptops, smartphones, smart TVs, and even game consoles, can be connected to a VPN router to protect the whole network.
Can I use VPN router with normal router?
A VPN-Capable Router: You can use any router with a CPU that can do VPN math and has (or supports) VPN-capable router firmware like Tomato, DD-WRT, or ASUSWRT (our favorite). Here are our recommendations for the best VPN routers.
Which VPN is faster Internet speed?
With an average download speed of 666 Mbps in our tests, Mullvad is by far the fastest VPN we’ve tried in 2023. That’s enough to stream 4K video on multiple devices, play online games, and quickly download big files.