Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) have become an essential tool for anyone who values online privacy and security. They encrypt your internet connection, making it difficult for anyone to intercept your data. While most VPN providers offer standalone apps for desktop and mobile devices, using a VPN router is a great way to secure your entire home network. In this review, we’ll take a look at the top 5 VPN routers on the market.
Asus RT-AX88U
The Asus RT-AX88U is one of the most powerful VPN routers available in the
market. It supports the latest Wi-Fi 6 technology and has a dual-band 802.11ax wireless standard, which delivers high-speed internet connections of up to 6000 Mbps. It also features a 1.8GHz quad-core processor and 1GB of RAM, making it a great choice for users who have multiple devices connected to their network.
This router comes with a built-in VPN client, and you can use it with any VPN provider that supports OpenVPN. The router supports advanced features like VPN Fusion, which allows you to run two VPNs simultaneously for added security.
Netgear Nighthawk XR500
Netgear’s Nighthawk XR500 is another high-end VPN router that is designed for
gamers. It comes with a dual-core 1.7GHz processor and 512MB of RAM, which delivers high-speed internet connections of up to 2.6Gbps. The router also features a Geo-Filter that helps reduce lag by limiting the distance to gaming servers.
It has a built-in VPN client that supports OpenVPN, and you can use it with any VPN provider that supports the protocol. The router also supports advanced features like Dynamic Quality of Service (QoS) that prioritizes bandwidth for gaming applications.
Synology RT2600ac
Synology’s RT2600ac is a mid-range VPN router that offers excellent value for
money. It features a dual-core 1.7GHz processor and 512MB of RAM, which delivers high-speed internet connections of up to 2.53Gbps. The router comes with a built-in VPN server, and you can use it to set up your own VPN network or connect to a third-party VPN provider.
It also features advanced security features like Intrusion Prevention System (IPS), which blocks malicious traffic before it reaches your network.
TP-Link Archer C5400X
TP-Link’s Archer C5400X is a high-end VPN router that is designed for gamers.
It features a 1.8GHz quad-core processor and 1GB of RAM, which delivers high-speed internet connections of up to 5.3Gbps. The router comes with a built-in VPN client that supports OpenVPN, and you can use it with any VPN provider that supports the protocol.
The router also features advanced gaming features like Game Accelerator that optimizes network traffic for gaming applications.
Linksys WRT3200ACM
The Linksys WRT3200ACM is a mid-range VPN router that offers excellent value for money. It features a dual-core 1.8GHz processor and 512MB of RAM, which
delivers high-speed internet connections of up to 2.6Gbps. The router comes with a built-in VPN server, and you can use it to set up your own VPN network or connect to a third-party VPN provider.
It router also features advanced security features like WPA/WPA2 encryption and a SPI firewall that helps protect your network from malicious attacks.
Here is the completed comparison table for the top 5 VPN routers:
Router Model | Processor | RAM | Wi-Fi Standard | VPN Server | VPN Client | Price (USD) |
Asus RT-AX88U | 1.8GHz quad-core | 1GB | 802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6) | No | Yes (OpenVPN) | $319.99 |
Netgear Nighthawk XR500 | Dual-core 1.7GHz | 512MB | 802.11ac | No | Yes (OpenVPN) | $299.99 |
Synology RT2600ac | Dual-core 1.7GHz | 512MB | 802.11ac | Yes (PPTP, OpenVPN) | Yes (OpenVPN) | $199.99 |
TP-Link Archer C5400X | 1.8GHz quad-core | 1GB | 802.11ac (Wi-Fi 6) | No | Yes (OpenVPN) | $399.99 |
Linksys WRT3200ACM | Dual-core 1.8GHz | 512MB | 802.11ac | Yes (PPTP, OpenVPN) | No | $229.99 |
The Asus RT-AX88U and the TP-Link Archer C5400X are the most expensive routers, but they also have the most powerful processors and the latest Wi-Fi 6 standard. The Netgear Nighthawk XR500 and the Linksys WRT3200ACM are more affordable options, with slightly lower specifications but still good enough for most users. The Synology RT2600ac offers the best value for money, with advanced security features and a built-in VPN server.
Overall, each of these VPN routers has its unique features and benefits, and the best one for you will depend on your specific needs and budget.