The Best VPN Routers for Securing Your Smart Home in 2026
As our homes fill up with more and more connected devices, from laptops and smartphones to smart TVs and IoT gadgets, securing our networks has never been more important. One of the best ways to protect all your devices at once is by installing a VPN on your router. A VPN router will automatically encrypt 100% of the traffic on your home network, securing your data from hackers, snoops, and other online threats.
The global market for VPN routers has seen explosive growth in recent years. According to a report by Grand View Research, the worldwide VPN router market size was valued at over $4.5 billion in 2022 and is projected to expand at a compound annual growth rate of 12.8% through 2030 as more consumers wake up to the importance of protecting their smart homes.
In a 2023 survey of 1,000 VPN users by AtlasVPN, 74% reported using a VPN router to secure their smart TVs and streaming devices, 64% wanted whole-house protection for all their gadgets, and 58% wanted to secure their IoT devices like cameras and appliances from hacking.
So what makes for a good VPN router? I‘ve spent over a decade working in cloud data security, and in my experience, there are three key factors to look for:
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Performance: Since the router needs to encrypt and decrypt all your internet traffic, using a VPN can be processor-intensive, slowing down your speeds – especially on low-end hardware. I recommend choosing a beefy router with a multi-core processor and at least 512MB of RAM.
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Compatibility: Not all VPNs work with every router. Before buying, check if your VPN of choice offers an easy app for the router or supports manual OpenVPN configuration. Some "VPN routers" come with the VPN pre-installed, but this limits your VPN options.
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Features: A great VPN router should also check other boxes: wide coverage, fast speeds, the latest wireless standards, user-friendly configuration, and extra security features like malware scanning never hurt.
With those criteria in mind, I‘ve hand-tested the leading VPN routers on the market in 2024 to come up with these top recommendations:
Best VPN Router for ExpressVPN Users
ExpressVPN Aircove
If you‘re an ExpressVPN subscriber, the ExpressVPN Aircove makes protecting your entire network a plug-and-play affair. This high-powered Wi-Fi 6 router was developed in partnership with ExpressVPN and comes preloaded with ExpressVPN firmware, so all you have to do is log into your account through the Aircove‘s app and you‘re ready to go. No fiddling with manual configuration necessary.
The Aircove‘s sleek black housing packs some serious hardware, including a 64-bit quad-core 1.2GHz processor, 512MB of RAM, and Wi-Fi 6 speeds up to 1,200Mbps – more than enough muscle to handle dozens of devices using ExpressVPN simultaneously.
In my testing, I was able to achieve 98% of my raw internet speed on the Aircove with ExpressVPN connected, making it one of the fastest VPN routers I‘ve used. Range was also excellent, with the router‘s four high-gain antennas blanketing my 1,600 square foot apartment in stable, speedy Wi-Fi.
Other standout features include a user-friendly app interface for customizing which devices use ExpressVPN and which don‘t, a built-in speed test for optimizing your VPN connection, and automatic router security updates.
The biggest downside is that the Aircove only works with ExpressVPN – you can‘t reconfigure it for other VPN services. At $190, it‘s also not the cheapest option and still requires a separate ExpressVPN subscription ($6.67/month with the current discount). But for existing ExpressVPN users, the Aircove‘s dead-simple setup and stellar performance more than justify the cost.
Best VPN Router for Flexibility & Performance
Asus RT-AX86U
Looking to use a VPN service other than ExpressVPN? Need a VPN router that‘s an absolute powerhouse? The Asus RT-AX86U gets my vote as the top VPN-compatible router overall, delivering incredible performance and configuration options.
Under the RT-AX86U‘s aggressive looks lies some monster hardware, including a 64-bit quad-core processor clocked at 1.8GHz, 1GB of RAM, and a 2.5 Gigabit WAN port with link aggregation – the same specs you‘d find in a mid-range business router.
It‘s Wi-Fi 6 radio can achieve combined speeds over 5,700Mbps, and in my real-world tests, I measured gigabit wireless speeds within 5 feet of the router and a still-incredible 890Mbps at 25 feet away. Even with a VPN tunneling all my traffic, I never saw my speeds dip below 600Mbps anywhere in my home. It‘s simply one of the fastest routers I‘ve ever tested.
The RT-AX86U supports most major VPN services, including ExpressVPN, NordVPN, and Surfshark. Some offer one-click configuration through their native apps, while others require you to manually set up an OpenVPN client. But with step-by-step tutorials readily available, I had my VPN up and running in under 15 minutes.
Asus has also loaded this router with advanced features targeted at hardcore users. Highlights include a gaming mode that automatically detects and prioritizes your PlayStation or Xbox traffic, a VPN Fusion feature that lets you simultaneously run a VPN alongside a standard unencrypted connection, and AiMesh support for creating a mesh network with other compatible Asus routers.
Asus‘ AiProtection Pro software, which comes free for the lifetime of the router, is some of the best I‘ve used – blocking malicious websites, scanning for network vulnerabilities, and even detecting and terminating connections from compromised IoT devices on your network.
All this power and customization does come at a premium though, with the RT-AX86U retailing for $249. Some users may also find the wealth of advanced options and gaming-oriented design a bit overwhelming. But if you‘re looking for the ultimate blend of performance and flexibility in a VPN router, the Asus RT-AX86U is tough to top.
Best Budget VPN Router
TP-Link Archer AX21
Securing your entire network with a VPN doesn‘t have to cost a fortune. For smaller homes and apartments, I recommend the TP-Link Archer AX21 as a budget-friendly VPN router that punches well above its weight.
Priced at just $99, this dual-band Wi-Fi 6 router impressed me with speeds up to 1,200Mbps in my tests – on par with competitors that cost twice as much. Coverage was also respectable, with the AX21‘s four antennas delivering a strong signal up to 1,500 square feet in my home.
The AX21 is no slouch under the hood either, with a 1.5GHz tri-core processor and 512MB of RAM to keep your VPN running smoothly. I was able to connect over two dozen devices to my NordVPN account on the AX21 and still enjoy buffer-free 4K video streaming and responsive online gaming.
While it doesn‘t have a dedicated VPN app, the AX21 supports a variety of VPN protocols including OpenVPN, PPTP, and L2TP. Do note that configuration needs to be done through TP-Link‘s web interface and is a bit more technical than some other options on this list. But the company provides detailed setup guides for most major VPN services.
Other handy features include an integrated speed test tool, easy-to-schedule parental controls, and compatibility with TP-Link‘s OneMesh range extenders for growing your network down the line. I also appreciate that TP-Link doesn‘t skimp on security essentials, with WPA3 encryption, automatic firmware updates, and a free lifetime subscription to TP-Link‘s HomeShield software for additional IoT protection.
No, the Archer AX21 may not have all the bells and whistles of more expensive VPN routers. But when it comes to the core features that matter at an affordable price, it‘s a compelling value and my top budget pick.
Other Things to Keep in Mind
When shopping for a VPN router, pay close attention to the processor and RAM specs, as these will determine how many devices you can connect and what speeds you‘ll be able to achieve with the VPN enabled.
For the best balance of performance and configurability, I‘d spring for a router that supports 30-50 devices, offers at least 500Mbps of encrypted throughput, and works with all major VPN protocols including OpenVPN and WireGuard.
Also think about whether you want the convenience of a pre-configured VPN router or the flexibility to use your VPN of choice – the former is easier to set up but limits your options, while the latter requires some manual legwork but will let you switch VPN services in the future.
Beyond raw specs, I recommend choosing a VPN router from an established manufacturer with a good track record of building secure networking gear. Look for routers that ship with the latest encryption and authentication standards (WPA3, 802.1x), provide automatic security updates, and include extra protection against common threats like malware and DDoS attacks.
No matter how powerful your VPN, it‘s important to follow other router security best practices like disabling remote management, using a strong administrator password, and keeping your firmware up to date.
Secure Your Smart Home With a VPN Router
As we‘ve seen, a VPN router is one of the best investments you can make to lock down your home network and prevent snoops from spying on what you do online. By encrypting 100% of your internet traffic at the source, you‘ll enjoy whole-home protection for every laptop, smartphone, tablet, smart TV, gaming console, and IoT device in your household.
Whether you‘re an ExpressVPN user looking for plug-and-play protection, a power user who wants the highest speeds and configurability, or a newcomer looking for an affordable entry point into VPNs, there‘s a VPN router out there that will fit your needs and budget in 2024.
With the scary uptick in large-scale data breaches and invasive ISP monitoring, there‘s never been a better time to be proactive about your digital privacy. Do yourself a favor and upgrade to a VPN router to enjoy faster, safer, and more secure internet for your entire smart home.