Best VPN Router

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

Last update: November 20, 2024

 Quick Summary: Best X for Y

Asus RT-AX58U is the best VPN router. It’s one of the cheapest routers at $88, uses the WiFi 6 wireless standard, works with a wide range of VPNs and is easy to set up even for first-time users.

  1. Asus RT-AX58U — Best VPN router overall
  2. M3000 WiFi 6 Mesh VPN FlashRouter — Fastest VPN router
  3. ExpressVPN Aircove — Best router for ExpressVPN
  4. NordLynx WiFi 6 Router — Fastest NordVPN router
  5. InvizBox 2 — Best VPN router for home use
  6. Synology RT6600ax — Best VPN router for advanced users
  7. TP-Link Archer GX90 — Best VPN router for gaming
  8. GL.iNet Slate AX — Best VPN router for travel

Overall Rating 9.3 / 10
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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

rt ax58u
Asus RT-AX58U supports WiFi 6 technology.
  • Best price: $89
  • Website: Asus RT-AX58U
  • Frequency bands: 2.4 GHz-5 GHz 
  • Connectivity: 4 x Gigabit LAN, 1 x USB 3.0
  • Wireless standard: 802.11ax
Pros
  • Compatible with multiple VPNs
  • Supports WiFi 6
  • Easy setup
  • Affordable
Cons
  • Dual-band only

Who is it for: Those who want to use a VPN on their router for the first time but don’t need anything too complicated or expensive.

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

m3000 mesh vpn flashrouter
This VPN router offers up to 3,000 Mbps wireless speed.
Pros
  • 2GB RAM for better performance
  • Compatible with multiple VPNs
  • Offers WireGuard support
  • Fastest wireless speeds
Cons
  • Expensive

Who is it for: Users who need the fastest speeds they can get to handle heavy P2P file transfers, 4K streaming and latency-free gaming.

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

expressvpn aircove
Aircove is exclusive to ExpressVPN.
  • Best price: $129
  • Website: Aircove
  • Frequency bands: 2.4 GHz-5 GHz 
  • Connectivity: 4 x Gigabit LAN, 1 x USB 3.0
  • Wireless standard: 802.11ax
Pros
  • Five simultaneous connections
  • Wide range of coverage
  • Supports WiFi 6
  • Amazing design
Cons
  • Only works with ExpressVPN

Who is it for: People who use ExpressVPN, want to expand coverage to devices like gaming consoles and aren’t comfortable with the technical steps to install DD-WRT firmware.

Overall Rating 9.1 / 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

nordlynx wifi 6
Nordlynx WiFi 6 only works with NordVPN.
  • Best price: $164.99
  • Website: NordLynx WiFi 6 router
  • Frequency bands: 2.4 GHz-5 GHz
  • Connectivity: 4 x Gigabit LAN, 1 x USB 3.0
  • Wireless standard: 802.11ax
Pros
  • Parental control & ad blocker
  • Quick, five-minute setup
  • WiFi 6 support
  • Fast speeds
Cons
  • Only compatible with NordVPN

Who is it for: NordVPN users who want to use reliable security with fast speeds for gaming, streaming and torrenting provided by the NordLynx protocol.

Overall Rating 9.3 / 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

invizbox
InvizBox 2 Pro has a larger RAM that reduces network congestion.
  • Best price: $199
  • Website: Invizibox 2 Pro
  • Frequency bands: 2.4 GHz-5 GHz 
  • Connectivity: 4 x Gigabit LAN, 1 x USB 3.0
  • Wireless standard: 802.11ax
Pros
  • Affordable VPN subscription bundles
  • Multiple VPN hotspots
  • WiFi 6 support
  • 1GB RAM
Cons
  • No WireGuard protocol yet

Who is it for: People who work from home and want a home router that can handle multiple tasks simultaneously without suffering network congestion.

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

synology rt6600ax
Synology RT6600ax uses a tri-band connection.
  • Best price: $299.99
  • Website: Synology RT6600ax
  • Frequency bands: 2.4 GHz-5 GHz 
  • Connectivity: 3 x Gigabit LAN, 1 x USB 3.2
  • Wireless standard: 802.11ax
Pros
  • Tri-band for smoother connections
  • Connects up to 200 devices
  • Powerful 1GB RAM
  • WiFi 6 support
Cons
  • Expensive

Who is it for: People who don’t mind spending more to get a powerful router for securing hundreds of devices without affecting overall performance.

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.


tp link archer gx90
TP-Link Archer GX90 is the best gaming VPN router.
  • Best price: $224.99
  • Website: TP-Link Archer GX90
  • Frequency bands: 2.4 GHz-5 GHz 
  • Connectivity: 3 x Gigabit LAN, 1 x USB 3.0, 1 x USB 2.0 
  • Wireless standard: 802.11ax
Pros
  • 8 antennas for boosting WiFi range
  • Tri-band for smoother connections
  • High-speed LAN ports
  • WiFi 6 support
Cons
  • Costly

Who is it for: Avid gamers who want to combine the best speeds of an advanced gaming router and the solid security of a VPN.

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

glinet
The compact design makes it easy to carry it around.
  • Best price: $112.90
  • Website: GL.iNet Slate AX
  • Frequency bands: 2.4 GHz-5 GHz 
  • Connectivity: 2 x Gigabit LAN, 1 x USB 3.0
  • Wireless standard: 802.11ax
Pros
  • Fast enough for streaming & gaming
  • Portable and compact design
  • Compatible with tens of VPNs
  • WiFi 6 support
Cons
  • Dual-band

Who is it for: People who love to travel but still need to secure their online activities no matter which network they’re using.

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:

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.


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

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