The Best VPN Router in 2024: Top 8 Choices for NordVPN, ExpressVPN, Surfshark & More

By Arthur Sabayi

Last update: April 10, 2024

Overall Rating 9.5 / 10

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Our Pick for the Best Router VPN!

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Protecting your PC or smartphone with a virtual private network is easy. You can download and install any of the best VPNs around and encrypt your internet traffic with a few clicks. But what do you do when you need to protect other devices in your house that aren’t compatible with VPNs? The solution is to find the best VPN router.

The biggest advantage of finding the right VPN router is the complete protection it provides for all devices connected to the router. However, not all wireless routers work with every virtual private network. This article focuses on the eight best VPN routers that let you add security to your connection. Read to the end to find out more.

My Personal Top Choice: Asus RT-AX58U

Asus RT-AX58U is my top choice for a VPN router because it offers amazing value for the price and has one of the highest rates of VPN compatibility. The router provides WiFi 6, the latest wireless standard, and is easy to set up. However, the Asus RT-AX58U is dual-band only, so it’s vulnerable to interference from other devices like microwaves and baby monitors.

1.  Asus RT-AX58U — Best VPN Router Overall

My Experience With Asus RT-AX58U: Hands-On Performance

The Asus RT-AX58U is nifty. At only 1.32 pounds, I could move it around with ease. The fast 4 Gigabit LAN and 3.0 USB ports were impressive and worked well with my printers. The WiFi 6 support, the most recent iteration of the WiFi network protocol, supports 12 streams, compared to only eight on WiFi 5. It can transfer more data at faster rates than its predecessor. 

The Asus RT-AX58U router works with NordVPN, ExpressVPN, Private Internet Access, IPVanish, Proton VPN, Surfshark and many more, with support for OpenVPN and WireGuard. The setup process is easy: There’s a VPN fusion app with a graphical user interface (GUI) to easily configure and control the VPN router on any OS. 

One downside: This router is dual-band, which means it’s vulnerable to interference from other devices on the dual-band spectrum. Fortunately for those on a budget, the Asus RT-AX58U is considerably cheaper than most alternatives, going for a mere $89. 

2. M3000 WiFi 6 Mesh VPN FlashRouter — Fastest VPN Router

My Experience With M3000 WiFi 6 Mesh VPN FlashRouter: Hands-On Performance

The “3000” in the M3000 WiFi 6 Mesh VPN FlashRouter represents the 3,000 Mbps wireless speed and coverage this device claims to offer. Though I didn’t hit those numbers, my speed tests were still impressive compared to competitors. It has 2GB RAM for smooth connections, with minimal bottlenecks no matter how many devices you link to the network.

VPN services compatible with this router include NordVPN, Surfshark, PIA, Proton VPN and more, all with an easy setup process. The M3000 runs on OpenWRT firmware, with support for OpenVPN and WireGuard. It meshes especially well with Surfshark, which is the best VPN to offer WireGuard, as our Surfshark review shows.

The M3000 WiFi 6 Mesh VPN FlashRouter is quite expensive compared to other alternatives. The best price I could find was $284.99, with regular prices usually closer to $349.99.

3. ExpressVPN Aircove — Best Router for ExpressVPN

Overall Rating 9.5 / 10

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My Experience With ExpressVPN Aircove: Hands-On Performance

ExpressVPN is undoubtedly one of the best VPNs, as this ExpressVPN review explains in more detail. Therefore, it’s only fair to include the ExpressVPN Aircove, which comes with ExpressVPN pre-installed and ready to work straight from the box. It has a sleek, lightweight design with a 1,600-square-foot range, ideal for medium-sized homes, apartments and offices.

I was impressed with the 5GB Ethernet ports that gave me fast speeds when I connected my Windows PC through an Ethernet cable. ExpressVPN Aircove also uses the latest WiFi 6 standard, which is faster and best suited for gaming, streaming and torrenting. 

However, as the name implies, this VPN router only works with ExpressVPN, with support for Lightway, OpenVPN and IKEv2 protocols. Additionally, ExpressVPN Aircove comes with a dedicated GUI app that you can install on your phone to control the router.

The most exciting aspect of ExpressVPN Aircove is that it allows you to connect up to five devices to different servers at the same time through a simple router management app that resembles the ExpressVPN client. For example, you can connect your smartphone to a U.S. server, your Windows PC to a U.K. server and so on.

The best price for an ExpressVPN Aircove VPN router at the moment is $129, and it comes with a 60-day warranty and a 30-day money-back guarantee.

4. NordLynx WiFi 6 Router — Fastest NordVPN Router

Overall Rating 9.2 / 10

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My Experience With NordLynx WiFi 6 VPN Router: Hands-On Performance

NordLynx WiFi 6 is a NordVPN router that offers some of the fastest connection speeds, courtesy of the NordLynx protocol discussed in our NordVPN review. I could easily unblock geo-restricted platforms on my Playstation 5 console. The WireGuard-based NordLynx offers state-of-the-art encryption that protects any device that connects to this router.

Setting up this VPN router isn’t complicated because it comes with the VPN already configured; just plug it in to begin using it. NordLynx WiFi 6 also has hands-off VPN router management that instantly connects you to the closest server that meets your needs, making it perfect for inexperienced users.

The router comes with a portal that lists certain streaming services, like BBC iPlayer, Disney Plus and others. For instance, when you click on “BBC iPlayer,” the router automatically connects you to a U.K. server. If the streaming service you need isn’t listed on the portal, you can manually select a country like you would with any other VPN.

Other notable features include parental controls for regulating what your children watch and an ad blocker that eliminates the need to install unnecessary plugins. The NordLynx WiFi 6 VPN router costs $164.99 and comes with a one-year warranty and a 30-day money-back guarantee.

5. InvizBox 2 Pro — Best VPN Router for Home Use

My Experience With InvizBox 2 Pro: Hands-On Performance

InvizBox 2 Pro is an upgrade from an earlier InvizBox 2 router and is much smaller than most of the other alternatives on my list. It features a round shape without an external antenna. However, don’t let the diminutive design fool you, as it has 1GB RAM, one of the largest data caches on this list.

A large RAM reduces network congestion and improves throughput (the amount of data traveling across a network in a given period). InvizBox also uses WiFi 6, which supports more streams and makes gigabit speeds possible, perfect for streaming or gaming. On the VPN side, this VPN router supports OpenVPN and IKEv2 protocols, with WireGuard to be added soon.

The router comes ready to use, with no installation process. VPN services that collaborate with InvizBox 2 Pro include Surfshark, NordVPN and Proton VPN; subscriptions to any of those will automatically interact with your InvizBox unit. Support for multiple VPN hotspots allows you to simultaneously connect each device to different VPN servers.

InvizBox 2 Pro’s pricing is more flexible than other alternatives, allowing you to combine the router with a VPN subscription. The cheapest option under this framework is $199.

6. Synology RT6600ax — Best VPN Router for Advanced Users

My Experience With Synology RT6600ax: Hands-On Performance

The Synology RT6600ax differs from your average VPN router, as it is designed for more advanced users like network administrators tasked with protecting business networks. The Synology RT6600ax is also a tri-band router. it offers more freeways for data to travel on without interference, so you can connect more devices without negatively affecting WiFi speeds.

This VPN router is compatible with multiple virtual private networks, like ExpressVPN, NordVPN, Surfshark, CyberGhost and more. The VPN you choose comes pre-installed, saving you the headache of complicated configurations. It also runs on 1GB of DDR3 memory for smooth, congestion-free connections, supporting up to 200 devices concurrently — that’s right.

VPN protocols this router supports include OpenVPN, L2TP/IPsec and PPTP.However, Synology RT6600ax is pricey — the lowest price you can get it for is $299.99 on Amazon.

7. TP-Link Archer GX90 — Best VPN Router for Gaming

My Experience With TP-Link Archer GX90: Hands-On Performance

All the routers on this list can easily handle gaming speeds, but if you want to take things to the next level, theTP-Link Archer GX90 is what you should be looking at. This is another tri-band VPN router, with eight antennas for maximum range boost — ideal if you live in a big house with multiple rooms.

The TP-Link Archer GX90 doesn’t come with a VPN pre-installed, but you can quickly set one up through the OpenVPN, L2TP or PPTP protocols. I hooked my PS5 up to this VPN router, and the performance of games like Fortnite and Apex Legends was amazing. Additionally, it comes with a built-in VPN server for remotely accessing your home network from anywhere. 

As expected, considering this VPN router’s specs, the price is a little steep at $224, so it may be out of most people’s budget, as you still need to pay separately for a VPN subscription. However, this is a drop in the ocean for avid gamers who can afford expensive gaming rigs.

8. GL.iNet Slate AX — Best VPN Router for Travel

My Experience With GL.iNet Slate AX: Hands-On Performance

The GL.iNet Slate AX is a small VPN router that you can fit into your suitcase when traveling thanks to its portable and compact design. The convenience of using secured internet everywhere you go with this router is underrated, though you can only use a portable router in a place with mobile data service.

Some VPNs you can use with this router include NordVPN, PIA, ExpressVPN, Surfshark, Proton VPN and many more. You get installation instructions in your email, and once you enter your login credentials, the GL.iNet Slate AX is ready to use. Supported protocols include OpenVPN and WireGuard.

GL.iNet Slate AX utilizes WiFi 6 technology for a fast VPN connection that can handle streaming, torrenting and gaming without issues. A GUI app called Slate lets you easily control the VPN router from your desktop or mobile phone. At $112.90,GL.iNet Slate AX isn’t the cheapest option, but it’s amazing for travelers.

Do You Need a VPN Hardware Router?

Having a VPN hardware router is an efficient solution for most people. You can learn more about the benefits of VPN protection here, but routers provide their own additional perks. For one thing, you can encrypt numerous devices without manually installing a VPN on each device.

Secondly, a VPN router covers devices that may not be compatible with VPNs, such as gaming consoles and some smart TVs. This saves you the hassle of complicated configurations like smart DNS. 

How to Choose the Best Router With Built-In VPN Capabilities

Finding the VPN router that fits your needs can be challenging, especially for first-time users. Here are some factors to keep in mind:

• VPN compatibility: The more the VPNs a router is compatible with, the more convenient it is. You may not always use the same VPN, so if you switch to another one, you shouldn’t be forced to buy a new router. 
• Wireless standard: WiFi 6 is the current-generation wireless standard that offers better speeds and overall performance. It has been used since 2019 and will continue into the foreseeable future; therefore, choose a VPN router with WiFi 6 support if you intend to use it for a long time.
• Connection ports: Ethernet and USB ports are very important if you want to use wired connections or add other IoT devices without wireless capabilities. The more ports, the more convenient for you.
• Ease of setup: Some VPN routers come ready to use straight out of the box, so you only need to plug them in and enter your login credentials. However, some require you to install VPN software through manual configurations. 
• Price: Budget for both the router and a VPN subscription. Some VPN routers combine hardware and a VPN into affordably priced bundles. Determine how much you’re comfortable spending and whether you’ve found the best deal before making your final choice.

If you’re pressed for time or uncertain, I suggest narrowing down your search to the ExpressVPN Aircove or NordLynx WiFi 6, each of which comes pre-loaded with one of the two best VPNs. Our ExpressVPN vs NordVPN article can help you make the final choice.

How We Tested the Best VPN Routers

I tested several VPN routers before narrowing down the list to the best eight. Let’s break down the methodology I used.

• VPN compatibility: Not all routers work with VPNs, and not all VPNs are compatible with routers. I started by confirming that the routers worked with as many major VPN service providers as possible, like Surfshark, NordVPN and more.
• Unblocking capabilities: I next tested to see whether each VPN router unblocks geo-restricted content at the same rates as the VPN apps I’ve used. Every app on this list worked.
• Connection speeds: Speeds are important for streaming, gaming and downloading. I conducted speed tests using random servers to see how fast each router ran and whether it lived up to its advertised speeds.
• Security tests: I conducted encryption and DNS leak tests for each VPN router to check for any leaks or vulnerabilities. All the VPN routers passed the test.

Conclusion

There’s a VPN router for every need if you know what to look for. The Asus RT-AX58U embodies all the key features, like reliable speed, solid security, VPN compatibility, WiFi 6 support and, most importantly, an affordable price point. The design and ease of setup will be friendly to users at all levels of proficiency.

With that said, has any VPN router on this list piqued your interest? Have you used one in the past, or is this your first rodeo with VPN routers? Drop us your feedback in the comments below, and we will be more than happy to answer all your questions. As always, thank you for reading our content.

FAQ: The Best Hardware VPN Routers

• What Is the Best VPN Router for NordVPN?

  The NordLynx WiFi 6 router is the best VPN router for NordVPN. It supports the NordLynx protocol, which offers the fastest speeds and most reliable security. The router also supports WiFi 6, is easy to set up and has an ad blocker.

• What Is the Best VPN for an ASUS Router?

  Asus routers are flexible enough to work with multiple VPNs, like ExpressVPN, CyberGhost, Surfshark, NordVPN and more.

• What Is the Best VPN Router in the U.K.?

  Asus RT-AX58U is one of the best VPN routers in the U.K. It’s affordable, works with a wide range of VPNs, supports WiFi 6, has OpenVPN and WireGuard, and is easy to set up.