A VPN is a Virtual Private Network. Once downloaded to your device, a VPN has the ability to form a direct and secure connection across a public network.
Basically, a VPN’s purpose is to encrypt (convert into code form) all of your internet traffic so that it can’t be interpreted or intercepted by third parties. Many people also use VPNs to disguise their current location, enabling them to access online content that may not be available in their region.
Sounds great, right? But what if we told you that there’s an even more convenient way of using a VPN than downloading one directly to your individual devices?
Instead of spending time installing the same VPN on each device connected to the router in your home, many routers now provide users with the option of configuring the VPN directly to the router.
Some of the easiest routers to which to configure VPNs are Asus routers. This is because the majority of routers within Asus’s range come with OpenVPN Client Connect, which is the software that allows for VPN configuration.
However, it is important to remember that just because Asus routers typically support VPN configuration, doesn’t mean that all VPNs work equally well with Asus routers. Instead, it is necessary to narrow down the choices to achieve the best compatibility.
Today, we will be discussing the top 10 best and most compatible VPNs for Asus routers.
OUR TOP PICK
Surfshark will be the most accessible VPN for many people because it is affordable whilst remaining highly functional and very secure. Most important in this context, Surfshark is also completely compatible with Asus routers that have OpenVPN Client Connect enabled.
Surfshark makes it easy to manually set up the VPN on your Asus router by providing a guided tutorial through its website, specifically aimed at AsusWRT-enabled routers.
The great thing about Surfshark is that even though it’s an affordable VPN option, it doesn’t compromise on security. Surfshark uses the Advanced Encryption Standard (AES). Specifically, it runs AES-256, which is the most secure type of encryption with the highest key length (256 bits).
For context, the higher the key length on an encryption system, the more difficult it is to break via brute force, so a 256-bit key length makes a VPN less vulnerable to third-party interference because it is more-or-less unbreakable through brute force attacks.
Surfshark also has a kill switch built into the software, which essentially provides emergency backup in case your VPN fails. The kill switch automatically disconnects your device(s) from the internet as soon as the connection is no longer protected by the VPN. This means that your internet connection never has to be left vulnerable to attack.
The speeds provided by Surfshark are also impressive, making this VPN a great choice if you regularly stream a lot of video content. Speaking of streaming, Surfshark allows you to bypass regional blocks on services such as Netflix.
There’s no limit to the number of devices you can connect to Surfshark via your Asus router, so you can rely on Surfshark to keep all of your devices protected.
In our opinion, the primary drawback to using Surfshark is that, compared to some other VPNs, its network of servers is relatively small. You also can’t manually select your nearest server when you set up the VPN, so network speeds do vary quite significantly depending on where you are.
Pros
- Online set-up tutorial - Easy configuration
- Advanced Encryption Standard - Very secure
- High speeds - Ideal for streaming
- 256-bit encryption - Almost unbreakable
- Unlimited device connection - Complete protection
Cons
- Comparatively small server network - Speeds can be inconsistent in different areas
EDITORS CHOICE
Our second recommendation if you’re looking for a reliable and secure VPN with several advanced features to configure to your Asus router is NordVPN.
NordVPN is a popular choice of VPN, and it’s compatible with Asus routers!
Like Surfshark, NordVPN offers online tutorials for configuring Asus routers, including AsusWRT and the AsusWRT-Merlin. Alternatively, there are also pre-configured Asus routers for NordVPN, so if you don’t feel up to the task of manually configuring your router, you don’t have to!
One of the most exciting features offered by NordVPN is its incredible speeds. To give you some context, anything above 40 Mbps is generally considered to be a very fast internet speed, suitable for HD streaming and supporting multiple connections at once. NordVPN runs at an average speed of 115 Mbps.
In addition to high speeds, NordVPN provides AES-256 encryption. As we mentioned previously in our review of Surfshark, this is the most secure type of encryption, to the point that it is considered to be military-grade.
It is almost completely impossible to break by brute force, so there is little to no vulnerability in the connection.
Additionally, NordVPN fully respects the online privacy of its users. The company does not keep logs or records of its customers’ internet usage through its services, meaning that you don’t need to worry about the safety and security of your data.
The main reason we’ve listed NordVPN as the second option on our list, however, is because its configuration process for OpenVPN (which is the VPN software that most Asus routers provide) is quite complex and time-consuming.
It basically involves downloading NordVPN’s ZIP archive of server files and relying on guesswork to find the one nearest to you.
Pros
- Preconfigured routers available - No set-up required
- Online configuration tutorials - Good customer support
- Average speed of 115 Mbps - Very fast
- Military-grade AES-256 encryption - One of the safest VPNs
- Does not keep logs - Maintains your online privacy
Cons
- Complex OpenVPN configuration - Involves over 8,000 files
BEST VALUE
ExpressVPN is a very popular VPN that you have probably seen advertised a lot through platforms such as Youtube. However, what you might not know is that ExpressVPN is actually one of the best VPNs out there for Asus routers.
Like NordVPN, you can buy pre-configured Asus routers to skip the manual configuration process. Alternatively, you can do it on your own with the help of ExpressVPN’s online tutorials, which can be accessed for free.
One of the factors that drive so many customers towards ExpressVPN as a provider is the fact that its speeds are generally considered to be the best on the market. At an average speed of 135 Mbps, you can trust this VPN to support HD streaming and other demanding online activities without lagging or dropping out.
ExpressVPN comes with AES-256 encryption, making it almost totally invulnerable to interception and brute-force cyber attacks.
You can connect up to 5 devices to your ExpressVPN-configured Asus router at once, which should be enough for most households.
Plus, ExpressVPN doesn’t log or store your private internet history records, so you can use your ExpressVPN connection with total peace of mind.
Unfortunately, because of its superior speeds as well as other factors, ExpressVPN is significantly more expensive than many VPNs out there, so if you’re working to a budget, it may not be the best choice.
Pros
- Preconfiguration available - Bypass configuration process
- AES-256 encrypted - Resistant to brute force
- Supports up to 5 connections - Connect 5 devices
- 135 Mbps average - Very high speeds
- No usage records - Total privacy
Cons
- Relatively expensive - Not great for budgets
RUNNER UP
CyberGhost is a less widely known VPN in comparison to our top 3 suggestions, but it’s a fantastic service with many advantages, especially for Asus routers.
The CyberGhost configurations available for Asus routers are customizable, so you can introduce ad-blocking or web security features during the set-up process.
However, you shouldn’t need to introduce any extra security measures because CyberGhost is encrypted using AES-256 encryption for maximum protection against brute-force attacks.
On average, CyberGhost delivers download speeds of 89 Mbps, which is above the threshold for HD streaming. With that being said, CyberGhost isn’t supportive of all streaming platforms. While it typically works with Netflix, it is not compatible with Hulu or Amazon.
CyberGhost has an impressive range of servers across 88 different countries. In total, there are more than 6,900 servers in operation, so you can expect fast and reliable service almost regardless of where you are.
Even better, CyberGhost comes with an extended money-back guarantee, with a period of up to 45 days risk-free.
Pros
- 89 Mbps on average - Good speeds
- Customizable configuration - Ad-block and added security
- Encrypted with AES-256 - Super secure
- 45 days risk-free - Money back guarantee
- Sizeable server network - More than 6,900 servers
Cons
- Incompatible with some streaming platforms - Does not work with Amazon or Hulu
RUNNER UP
VyprVPN is compatible with the majority of Asus routers via OpenVPN Client Connect.
In addition to its compatibility with most Asus routers, VyprVPN can benefit your private network connection in a number of ways.
For one thing, VyprVPN runs on AES-256 encryption for military-grade protection that will make it almost impossible to intercept your internet traffic through brute force.
You can connect up to 5 different devices to your router once you’ve configured it for VyprVPN. After connecting, you’ll be able to use various streaming services, including Netflix, Amazon, Hulu, and many more.
Users will also be reassured to hear that VyprVPN operates on a no-logging policy, meaning that it doesn’t keep any identifiable records of your internet history.
If you do run into any problems while using VyprVPN, you can reach out to the company’s customer support network, which operates on a 24/7 live chat basis.
Our main issue with VyprVPN is that it runs at slower speeds than many of its competitors. At an average of 44 Mbps, it still has enough bandwidth to support HD streaming most of the time. However, it’s far from the fastest option out there.
Pros
- AES-256 encryption - Ultimate protection
- Up to 5 connections allowed - Supports 5 devices
- Supports streaming services - Works with Netflix, Hulu, Amazon, and more
- No logging - No privacy concerns
- 24/7 live customer support - Assistance whenever you need it
Cons
- Slower speeds - 44 Mbps average
RUNNER UP