A Complete Guide to VPN Routers
Bonus: Top 5 VPN Routers of 2020
With the increase in security and privacy concerns comes increased interest in the use of VPNs to help conceal identity and keep prying eyes away. Traditionally,
VPNs require the user to sign in on each device that they want to protect, which can add unnecessary friction to the process. A far more efficient way to handle a virtual private network is through a VPN router. This way, all devices that are connected to that router automatically have the benefits of the VPN. This is especially useful for devices that might not have native support for your VPN client of choice. Let's take a closer look at what VPN routers are and how you can choose the best one for your network.
What is a VPN Router?
VPN routers aren't something you will find in the store, at least not most stores. They require special firmware that allows VPN software to be installed on the router itself. While there's a couple router companies that offer this as part of their off-the-shelf package, for most routers this means installing third-party firmware. Once that special firmware has been installed on a router, you will be able to use the firmware's VPN software and connect to your VPN of choice. When the VPN is running and connected, all connections between the router and the internet will be passed through the VPN.
Pros and Cons of Using a VPN Router
The Top 5 VPN Routers
If you've decided that a VPN router is the right option for you after reading our lists of pros and cons, then the next step may be to purchase on that is capable of running a VPN in the first place.
Most of the options below will require installing the third-party firmware. For each of our top five picks, we'll list some pros and cons, tell you which firmware is supported, and give you an idea of what each router is best for.
Overview
Asus AC5300
- Speed:2.4 GHz: 1000 Mbps; 5 GHz: 2167 Mbps
- Wireless spec:802.11ac
- Antennas:8
- LAN Ports:4
Linksys WRT3200ACM
- Speed:2.4 GHz: 600 Mbps; 5 GHz: 2600 Mbps
- Wireless spec:802.11ac
- MU-MIMO:Yes
- Antennas:4
- LAN Ports:4
Netgear R6700
- Gigabit speeds: 450+1300 Mbps speeds
- PROCESSOR - Powerful dual core 1GHz
- Advanced QoS
- Antennas:3
- 1 USB 3.0 port
Netgear R7000
- 2.4GHz & 5GHz Dual Band
- Wireless spec:802.11ac
- Antennas:3
- 5x Gigabit Ethernet Ports
Vilfo Router
- Intel® Celeron® Processor 2955U
- Wireless spec:802.11ac
- Antennas:2
- LAN Ports:3
Product Details
Asus AC5300
Best for: Gamers
Technical Specifications:
Part of the ASUS Republic of Gamers lineup of products, the AC5300 is a powerhouse of a router, designed to provide maximum performance to the most demanding gaming applications. Because of this, it offers more power than many home users will need, and the price tag to match. For the highest performance possible, it is a great choice. It also features a futuristic style, common to all ROG products. Because it runs Tomato-based ASUSWRT, you get VPN support built-in.
PROS:
- Attractive
- Futuristic appearance
- Tri-band support
CONS:
- Overpowered for many home uses
Rating:
Linksys WRT3200ACM
Best for: Fans of classic styling
Technical Specifications:
This attractive router retains the classic styling that Linksys is known for. Although not as affordable as the Netgear options, the router is still priced reasonably compared to the other options. The 5Ghz performance is stellar, though some users report that 2.4Ghz performance doesn't live up to that high bar, offering only average speeds.
PROS:
- Classic appearance
- Reasonably priced
CONS:
- Only average performance on 2.4Ghz
Rating:
Netgear R6700
Best for: Cost conscious buyers
Technical Specifications:
This is not the most affordable router out there but is the most affordable one on our list of the best options. It's budget-friendly price relative to the other routers on the list comes with the cost of only one USB port and a processor that can be underpowered for some use cases. Still, the R6700 will prove a solid option for users without high-performance needs.
PROS:
- Budget-friendly
CONS:
- Less powerful processor, only one USB port
Rating:
Netgear R7000
Best for: Smart saving buyers
Technical Specifications:
For those who want a little more performance than the R6700 without breaking the bank, the R7000 is a good choice up as the next step up in the Netgear lineup. While it won't match the performance of the ASUS, it will provide better gaming and streaming performance over its lower-priced relative.
PROS:
- Long range
- Stabile performance
CONS:
- Slow USB 3.0 performance
Rating:
Vilfo Router
Best for: Non tech-savvy users
Technical Specifications:
Vilfo is another company that offers VPN support right out of the box. They are slightly more expensive than the ASUS, which also offers out of the box VPN capability, but the small company's focus on creating a solid VPN performance could give it an edge as a VPN specific router. Some unique features include the ability to connect up to 5 VPNs at once, and the ability to bypass the VPN for some devices or traffic types that need a direct connection to the internet.
PROS:
- Comes preconfigured for VPN use
CONS:
- One of the less affordable options
Rating:
Installing a VPN on your Router
The good news is that the third-party firmware will provide the protocols and the software required to run your VPN, so you don't have to install the VPN software itself. The bad news is that you'll have to flash the new firmware to your router, which can be a tricky process for people who are not tech-savvy. But tricky doesn't mean hard. While the process varies by manufacturer and by firmware option, let's take a general look at installing DD-WRT or Tomato on a router.
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Log in to your router — The manufacturer will tell you how to do this. You generally point your web browser to a certain IP address and will be taken to your router's administration console. Some router manufacturers have set up URLs similar to a regular website that are easier to remember and will redirect you to your router's admin page.
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Find 'Firmware Upgrade' — This will be in different places for different factory firmware setups, but it is usually some place fairly easy to find and visible.
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Select 'Upgrade from File' — Router manufacturers give you the option to install a firmware package that you have already downloaded. While their process is meant for installing their own firmware upgrades, it will work for third-party usage as well. Simply select that option and then select the file you downloaded for DD-WRT or Tomato.
Configuring the VPN
Most VPN providers will provide you with specific instructions on setting up their service with your router. Either way, you'll need to have some information from them to configure the router to work with their service. The general process is listed below.
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Log in to the router — This is the same as the first step from the previous section.
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Find the VPN settings — This will vary depending on your firmware choice. On DD-WRT, it is located in the services tab. On Tomato, it has an option on the left navigation panel.
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Choose your protocol — OpenVPN is the newer, better protocol. Most VPN providers and routers will support this option. In the case that one or both of yours do not, choose PPTP. Choose the option to set up a client for that protocol.
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Enter your VPN information — Regardless of firmware, the next screen will ask you to enter information from your VPN. This will include things like the internet protocol to use, interface types, ports to use, and more. This information will be provided by your VPN. It might not be under a specific section for routers. If it isn't, look for an option for setting up 'other devices' or something similar.
Troubleshooting your VPN Router
Most problems that occur with a VPN router come from entering in the wrong information from the VPN. The information they provide is specific and the settings they give you must match the settings on the router perfectly. If you are having trouble connection, check to ensure that you have copied all of the settings over correctly.
If you can connect, but experience slow browsing speeds, there are a couple of things you can try. First, try switching between OpenVPN and PPTP. Sometimes switching protocols can give you an increase in speed. The other thing that may slow down your browsing is if your VPN router is not your primary router. This can happen for example, if your modem double as a router. In these cases, make sure to disable the firewall on the primary router.
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