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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. When it comes to the best VPNs for routers, ExpressVPN impressed us the most with its extensive installation guides and the ability to customize which devices have a VPN connection.
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.
All three options include written guides, setup videos, and 24/7 customer support, along with premium security features to keep your entire household protected. This article examines each VPN provider's pros and cons.
| VPN | Best Overall
 ExpressVPN |
 NordVPN |
 Surfshark |
| Starting price | Starts at $6.25/mo (billed annually) | Starts at $2.99/mo (billed every two years) | Starts at $1.99/mo (billed every two years) |
| Free version | |||
| Router support | Yes — ASUS, Linksys, NETGEAR, NETGEAR Nighthawk, D-Link, DD-WRT, Netduma, Sabai, Tomato, TP-Link, Xiaomi, Aircove | Yes — ASUS, DD-WRT, NetDUMA, Sabai, Tomato, TP-Link, 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+, Apple TV, and more | Yes — Hulu, BBC iPlayer, Amazon Prime, Disney+, and more | 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 | Get ExpressVPN | Get NordVPN | Get Surfshark |
Hides intrusive display ads when browsing the web, improving page speed and easing data usage on mobile
Privacy and safety benefits of a VPN with best-in-class encryption and innovative server technology in 105 countries
Enjoy no activity logs, malicious sites and trackers protection, and more on up to 8 devices
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 the VPN on your home router.
ExpressVPN can let you put connected devices into separate groups on your router. 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.
Alternatively, you can purchase a router with a built-in VPN if you want to encrypt your internet traffic without dealing with the router installation process. We've compiled a list of the best VPN routers, which includes ExpressVPN's Aircove router.
ExpressVPN is easily the most expensive VPN on this list. With prices starting at $6.25/mo (billed annually), ExpressVPN is more than twice the cost of Surfshark, which currently starts plans at $1.99/mo (billed every two years).
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 ($1.99/mo (billed every two years)).
| Price range | $4.99–$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 |
| Number of servers | Unlisted in 105 countries |
| Number of devices | 8 |
| Encryption | AES-256 |
| VPN protocol | Lightway, OpenVPN, IKEv2 |
| No-logs policy | No logs |
| Unblocks Netflix? | Yes |
| Torrenting support | Yes |
| Learn more | Get ExpressVPN |
Ultra-secure, high-speed VPN complete with malware protection and automatic blocking of intrusive ads and third-party trackers
Other benefits include a premium password manager, dark web monitoring, and access to IP-restricted content
3 plans to choose from for custom protection on up to 10 devices
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 for setting up a VPN on a variety of routers. However, 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 plenty of functions in addition to being a VPN. Depending on your subscription, you can also get a password manager, dark web monitoring, cloud storage, and file encryption.
All subscriptions come with an ad and tracker blocker, malware protection, Smart DNS, and more. This makes NordVPN a great choice if you are looking for extra security features to protect your home network and data.
Not all of Nord's 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, which is available with ExpressVPN.
| Price range | $2.99–$17.99/mo |
| Free version | No — but it does offer a 30-day money-back guarantee |
| Router support | Yes — ASUS, DD-WRT, Privacy Hero, Roqos, Gl.iNET, Mikrotik, NetDUMA, OPNsense, OpenWRT, Padavan, Sabai, Tomato, TP-Link, pfSENSE, DrayTek, EdgeRouter |
| Number of servers | 6,800+ servers in 111 countries |
| Number of devices | 10 |
| Encryption | AES-256-GCM |
| VPN protocol | NordLynx, OpenVPN, IKEv2/IPsec |
| No-logs policy | No logs |
| Unblocks Netflix? | Yes |
| Torrenting support | Yes |
| Learn more | Get NordVPN |
All-in-one VPN app with 24/7 protection thanks to 3,200+ servers in 100 countries
Real-time malware defense, webcam protection, alternative ID creation, ad blocking, and more
One subscription covers unlimited devices for your entire household with access to 24/7 support
Surfshark is best for people who are on a budget and still need all the essential VPN features to mask their IP address.
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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 always being 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, they lack video tutorials.
| Price range | $1.99–$17.95/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, OpenWRT, Netduma, Sabai, Tomato, pfSense, Sabai, Synology NAS, QNAP, Mikrotik, GL.iNET |
| Number of servers | 3,200+ servers in 100 countries |
| Number of devices | Unlimited |
| Encryption | AES 256-GCM |
| VPN protocol | WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2 |
| No-logs policy | No logs |
| Unblocks Netflix? | Yes |
| Torrenting support | Yes |
| Learn more | Get Surfshark |
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.
There are numerous factors we considered and reviewed when determining which VPNs are best for your router. These factors include:
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 client 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.
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 provider's instructions. The steps will vary depending on your type of router and if you bought a router pre-installed with a VPN. However, it may require some technical knowledge to install.
You can find a full list of VPN-compatible routers on ExpressVPN's 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 $6.25/mo (billed annually) | Best overall | Get ExpressVPN |
| NordVPN | Starts at $2.99/mo (billed every two years) | Best for powerful extras | Get NordVPN |
| Surfshark | Starts at $2.99/mo (billed every two years) | Best affordable option | Get Surfshark |
Hides intrusive display ads when browsing the web, improving page speed and easing data usage on mobile
Privacy and safety benefits of a VPN with best-in-class encryption and innovative server technology in 105 countries
Enjoy no activity logs, malicious sites and trackers protection, and more on up to 8 devices
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