When you install a VPN on a device, it’s like locking the door to a single room in your house. That room may be safe from intruders, but the rest of the house stays open and exposed. Going with that analogy, VPNs that work directly from your router lock down your front gate. They protect the entire house, with all the rooms and safes in it. By configuring your VPN at the router level, you are forcing all connected devices in your network to go through the encrypted tunnel created by your VPN. That means any devices that don't natively support VPN apps, like your smart TV or PS5, are also covered by the same level of network security.
Enabling a VPN through an app on your device creates a TCP tunnel that routes your traffic through a remote server, which encrypts all traffic going in and out of that specific device. If a provider or website tries to trace that traffic back to its originating IP address, they’re pointed to the remote server instead of your local network. But this only works for the device that has a VPN enabled, while all the other traffic moving through your home network is still unencrypted and exposed. Configuring your VPN connection for every device on the network can take a lot of effort, which can lead to slip-ups that expose your online activity unintentionally.
There are many benefits to this method. When you configure your VPN on a single router instead of ten different devices with their own separate apps, firmware updates and security patches are much easier to install. Many routers also offer a kill switch that will automatically block all internet traffic if your VPN is somehow disconnected, which adds another layer of protection from sudden exposure.
What you should be aware of when using a router-level VPN
As previously mentioned, certain platforms, like banking apps and streaming services, may automatically block VPN traffic to comply with local security, privacy, or IP protection laws. When accessing these services, you’ll have to disable your VPN at the router level, which may also leave other devices exposed. In addition, advanced features like cookie blockers, split tunneling, or post-quantum encryption (PQE) may only be accessible through a provider’s VPN apps, which won’t be available if you configure it through your router’s firmware.
First, you must confirm that your wifi router model supports VPN protocols. Look for any mention of OpenVPN or WireGuard protocol support in the router’s product documentation. Many popular VPN providers like Surfshark, ExpressVPN, and Nord VPN will also maintain a list of supported router models on their own websites, with step-by-step instructions for configuration. While individual steps can vary quite a bit depending on your router’s make and model, firmware version, and VPN protocol, some things remain similar across manufacturers and vendors:
On a device connected to your router’s wifi, access the ASUS Router WebGUI and make sure that your firmware is updated to at least version 3.0.0.4.388.23000. You can also use the ASUS Router mobile app on your phone if you prefer.
In the VPN Fusion tab, click Add profile and set your VPN type or provider, such as OpenVPN, WireGuard, PPTP, or L2TP.
Enabling the profile you just created in the VPN Fusion tab will automatically connect your router to the VPN server.
GL.iNet routers
Download your VPN configuration file (WireGuard or OpenVPN) from your provider’s website.
VPN Client Profile.
Once configured, VPN protection is extended to all devices on the network by default. To enable or disable VPN on specific devices, you can use the VPN Dashboard. From here, you can also choose which VPN server your router connects to and set rule-based exceptions to bypass the VPN when accessing certain whitelisted IP addresses.
Not every TP-Link router supports VPN configuration, while even fewer support VPNs that use the WireGuard protocol. That said, if you’re on the Archer BE, GE, AX, AXE, GX, MR, or TL-MR models, you’ll find a VPN client baked into the online GUI. Here’s how to set it up:
From there, navigate to Advanced > VPN Client. Enable the VPN Client toggle and click Save.
TP-Link routers support up to six VPN profiles and WireGuard, OpenVPN, PPTP, as well as L2TP/IPSec protocols. You can upload your VPN configuration file directly to create a new profile. Then enable it by flipping on the toggle next to the profile.
Other router models
Beyond the manufacturers we just covered, there are plenty of other router models that support VPNs. While default VPN support on different router models can be a mixed bag, you can also flash custom firmware on your router to enable support. However, note that improperly flashing custom firmware on your router can render it unusable. If you intend to go this route, be sure to follow your VPN provider’s official documentation for the specific steps for your router. For example, Proton VPN has published router-specific flashing guides for different manufacturers and model numbers.
Popular pre-configured routers with built-in VPN features
ExpressVPN Fortify: Layered on top of GL.iNet's Flint 2 hardware, ExpressVPN Fortify is a pre-configured VPN router that launched this September. It costs $199.99 and comes with 12 months of ExpressVPN Advanced. This router model can support 86 concurrent devices and speeds of up to 900 Mbps on WireGuard.
Cudy Mesh: Cudy’s mesh-ready router models like the WR5000 or WR3600 ship with a native Surfshark integration built into the Cudy App or GUI. If you subscribe to an annual Surfshark VPN plan through Cudy, you’ll also get four months of complimentary access thanks to a partnership between the two companies.
Test your new router-level VPN setup
If your router comes with a VPN kill switch, you should test that too. Disconnect the VPN, then try to access any website using your web browser while connected to the router’s network. If internet access is immediately disabled, the kill switch is working.
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