If you’ve ever used a VPN, you know just how useful they can be. But while VPN applications are available for computers and phones, devices like TV’s and other IoT gadgets often don’t support VPN apps. That’s where VPN routers come in.
VPN routers are capable of running VPN software on the router, routing all the traffic on your network through a VPN service. This is a great way to access geo-restricted content on any of your favorite streaming services, and it can provide extra privacy and security across devices on your network, both quickly and efficiently.
Before we jump into the best VPN routers, here are a few quick things to keep in mind.
Processor
A router’s processor plays a huge role in how fast your network connections are. This goes double for a VPN router, as a VPN’s encryption adds overhead to the network data and increases the load on the CPU.
Wireless Standard
Every few years or so, the Wi-Fi Alliance rolls out a new wireless standard for devices that allow them to take advantage of new breakthroughs in wireless technology. Newer wireless standards often offer greater speeds, while older standards have broader compatibility and reliability.
Frequency Band Class
With the advent of 5GHz Wi-Fi, routers and wireless devices now use multiple frequency bands to clear up wireless congestion and provide greater speeds. Dual-band routers (routers that use the 2.4GHz and 5GHz band) now dominate the market, while tri-band offerings double up on the 5GHz band (increased from 80MHz to 160MHz) to create a wider lane for 5GHz devices.
For most people, dual-band should suffice, with tri-band routers only offering a benefit to users with lots of 5GHz devices on the network.
MU-MIMO
A newer routing protocol that’s starting to come to maturity, multi-user MIMO (MU-MIMO) is a communication technology that allows routers to handle more wireless connections simultaneously, rather than handling devices one at a time. Routers with MU-MIMO integration are essential for homes with tons of devices, and are a great way to future-proof your network. But they also come at a higher price.
Now let’s take a look at some of the best VPN router options available.
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1. Linksys AC3200 WRT3200ACM
- Processor: 1.8 GHz dual-core CPU
- Wireless Standard: 802.11ac (Wi-Fi 5)
- Frequency Band Class: Dual-band
- MU-MIMO: Yes
- Price: $200.00
If you’re looking for a no-frills router that’s both powerful and customizable, then the Linksys AC3200 WRT3200ACM is a great choice. Equipped with a USB 3.0 and eSATA port, you can simultaneously run a NAS and a network printer straight on the router.
And thanks to the 4 antennas, MU-MIMO, and tri-stream capabilities, it’s perfect for large homes with lots of 5GHz devices on the network.
Out of the box, it comes stock with firmware that natively supports OpenVPN, allowing you to use the VPN service of your choice. And if you find the stock firmware lacking, you can easily install DD-WRT or OpenWRT, giving you more control over your network traffic.
Pros:
- Excellent wireless range
- Natively supports OpenVPN
- DD-WRT and OpenWRT compatible
Cons:
- Stock firmware is lackluster
2. NETGEAR Nighthawk X10 AD7200 (R9000)
- Processor: 1.7 GHz quad-core CPU
- Wireless Standard: 802.11ac/ad (Wi-Fi 5)
- Frequency Band Class: Dual-band
- MU-MIMO: Yes
- Price: $738.99
When it comes to running a VPN on your router, one of the most important factors to consider is how powerful the processor is. That’s because VPNs typically encrypt network traffic, making more powerful hardware capable of processing more network traffic.
And when it comes to processing power, the NETGEAR Nighthawk X10 AD2700 has an edge over the others on the list.
With a powerful 1.7GHz quad-core processor and 6 gigabit ports, the X10 is designed for large homes and can handle demanding network loads like no other. And while it isn’t VPN-capable out of the box, it is DD-WRT compatible, meaning it’ll run any VPN you want with relative ease.
Being enthusiast-grade hardware, it does come with an enthusiast-grade price tag. But if you need all the bells and whistles on your router, then the Nighthawk X10 is a solid pick.
Pros:
- Powerful processor
- DD-WRT compatible
- 6 gigabit ports and dual USB 3.0 ports
Cons:
- The stock firmware doesn’t support VPN usage
- Very expensive
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3. ASUS ZenWiFi AX XT8
- Processor: 1.5 GHz quad-core CPU
- Wireless Standard: 802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6)
- Frequency Band Class: Tri-Band
- MU-MIMO: Yes
- Price: $447.00
Whether your home is massive, or you just have some hard-to-reach places, using a mesh router like the ASUS ZenWiFi AX XT8 can quickly expand your home’s wireless coverage.
Because ASUS’s routers are known to be universally compatible with every major VPN service provider – with options to connect via PPTP, L2TP, and OpenVPN – it’s a great way to modernize your home network and allow you to tunnel all your traffic through whichever VPN you choose.
The XT8 also utilizes ASUS’s AiMesh, allowing you to add other, non-mesh ASUS routers to your mesh network, so you aren’t strictly limited to additional mesh routers if you want to expand later. It’s not a perfect mesh router, but if you’re looking to quickly bring your network up to speed with Wi-Fi 6, it’s a worthy choice.
Pros:
- Excellent wireless range
- Compatible with every major VPN service provider
- Ability to use other ASUS routers as part of the mesh network
Cons:
- Wired backhaul is challenging to set up
- Build quality is subpar for its price point
4. ASUS RT-AX58U/CA AX3000
- Processor: 1.5 GHz tri-core CPU
- Wireless Standard: 802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6)
- Frequency Band Class: Dual-band
- MU-MIMO: Yes
- Price: $239.99
It certainly isn’t the biggest or fastest router on the list, but the ASUS RT-AX58U is a great way to bring your network up to Wi-Fi 6 while also being able to use it as a VPN conduit.
Being an ASUS router, it’s also a good choice if you plan to upgrade to a bigger and better ASUS router later on, with its AiMesh technology allowing it to function as a node in a mesh network. Along with its excellent wireless range, it’s a perfect router if you want a balance between budget and performance.
Pros:
- Great budget Wi-Fi 6 router capable of running a VPN
- Excellent range
- AiMesh support allows it to work as part of a mesh network system
Cons:
- The router software may intimidate novice users
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5. InvizBox 2
- Processor: 1.3 GHz quad-core ARM CPU
- Wireless Standard: 802.11ac (Wi-Fi 5)
- Frequency Band Class: Dual-band
- MU-MIMO: No
- Price: $250.99
If you value simplicity over everything else, then you’ll definitely want to check out the InvizBox 2. This little router is as simple to use as it looks. Preloaded with NordVPN and capable of using any VPN of your choice, all you need to do is plug it in, enter your VPN credentials, and you’re ready to go.
One of the unique features of this router is the ability to create multiple hotspots based on the location you want to connect from. So if you want to connect your phone to a different location than your TV, it’s as simple as connecting one to a different hotspot.
While its wireless range isn’t superb, and it only peaks at 100Mbps, it’s a unique option that places ease of use above all else.
Pros:
- Comes preloaded with NordVPN
- Equipped with a physical kill switch to prevent data leaks
- Can use multiple hotspots from different locations simultaneously
Cons:
- Wireless range isn’t suitable for a large, whole-home network
- Peaks at only 100Mbps
6. GL.iNet GL-SF1200
- Processor: 800MHz dual-core CPU
- Wireless Standard: 802.11ac (Wi-Fi 5)
- Frequency Band Class: Dual-band
- MU-MIMO: Yes
- Price: $30.90
Being a small fish in a big pond isn’t easy, but GL.iNet makes it obvious it can hang with the big boys with its GL-SF1200. This ultra-budget router comes feature-packed, thanks to the inclusion of OpenWRT straight out of the box.
This makes it compatible with over 30 VPN service providers and gives you tons of customization options that many routers don’t have on stock firmware.
Because it’s so cheap, the hardware will probably struggle in large homes that utilize heavy network loads. But if you’re looking for something on a budget, or you just want your own personal router, it’s hard to pass this one up.
Pros:
- Comes with OpenWRT pre-installed
- Compatible with over 30 VPN service providers
- Excellent price
Cons:
- Not ideal for large homes with frequent heavy network loads
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7. ASUS AC2900 RT-AC86U
- Processor: 1.8 GHz dual-core CPU
- Wireless Standard: 802.11ac (Wi-Fi 5)
- Frequency Band Class: Dual-band
- MU-MIMO: Yes
- Price: $169.99
Recommended by NordVPN, ExpressVPN, and Surfshark, the ASUS RT-AC86U is a good starter router if you’re on a budget but still want the luxuries of modern technologies like MU-MIMO.
This router is also a great choice if you’re an ASUS faithful, thanks to the AiMesh technology that allows it to function as part of a mesh network system later on.
It isn’t the most current router available, and you may need to manually update the firmware on it to get it up to speed, but it’s a good combination of power and affordability that makes it great for modest home networks.
Pros:
- Recommended by NordVPN, ExpressVPN, and Surfshark
- Works with other ASUS routers as part of a mesh network
- Powerful yet affordable
Cons:
- Not the most current router available
- Firmware updates may need to be done manually
8. NETGEAR R6400
- Processor: 800Mhz dual-core CPU
- Wireless Standard: 802.11ac (Wi-Fi 5)
- Frequency Band Class: Dual-band
- MU-MIMO: No
- Price: $104.99
It’s an older router, but it checks out. The NETGEAR R6400 is a router that’s recommended by NordVPN and ExpressVPN, offering an excellent value-to-performance ratio for homes with modest networking needs.
It’s also DD-WRT compatible, making it great if you’re looking to take full control over your network and do some tinkering without breaking the bank.
Of course, at its low price, you can expect to miss out on some modern amenities like MU-MIMO. But if you value control and affordability over cutting-edge technology, then you can’t go wrong with this classic.
Pros:
- Excellent value-to-performance ratio
- DD-WRT compatible
- Recommended by NordVPN and ExpressVPN
Cons:
- One of the oldest routers on the list
- No MU-MIMO or other more modern wireless technologies
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