Netgear has been producing top-quality networking technology for 25 years now and has maintained its reputation throughout that time with popular product after popular product.
However, Netgear routers are best paired with a VPN, which will significantly enhance your privacy and keep you safe online.
What are the Best VPNs for Netgear Routers
We have listed the best VPNs for your Netgear router. All of these services can be loaded onto your VPN-compatible router. If you need more information, check out our detailed summaries further on in this article.
- ExpressVPN - The best VPN for your Netgear router. Super-easy to set up, offers a massive server network, and a 30-day money-back guarantee.
- NordVPN - The best buy Netgear VPN, with best-in-class security features and stress-free set up instructions. Always blazing-fast!
- Surfshark - An all-around VPN for Netgear routers. It works well with VPN compatible routers and comes with state-of-the-art privacy tools.
- Private Internet Access - The most secure Netgear VPN. Offers a no-logs policy that's been proven in court and a huge network of reliable servers.
- CyberGhost VPN - An easy-to-use VPN for Netgear. Comes with a slick, beginner-friendly interface and excellent Netgear router compatibility.
When choosing the VPN that's right for you and your Netgear router, the main things to look for are:
- Contemporary, top-of-the-range security features
- Fast connection and download speeds
- Ability to bypass geo-restrictions
- Step-by-step router set-up instructions available online
- Additional on-hand customer service support
Best VPNs for Netgear Router: in-depth analysis
Here's a closer look at why we've chosen these five VPNs as our top picks to use with Netgear routers.
ExpressVPN is the best VPN for your Netgear router. It has thousands of servers and can unblock the most sought-after geo-restricted content, with a 30-day money-back guarantee. ExpressVPN Demo ExpressVPN is an easy first pick to pair with Netgear, largely due to its superior security features and huge server network. In addition, it's consistently among the fastest VPNs we test. ExpressVPN has an astounding number of servers in 94 countries
worldwide, which means you can access everything from Netflix and HBO Max to BBC iPlayer, from anywhere in the world. This large collection of servers is one of the many reasons ExpressVPN can reliably produce excellent connection speeds. You won't need to worry about low-quality streams or buffering interruptions with ExpressVPN – even when paired with your Netgear router. This makes the service ideal for tackling data-intensive tasks. You'll also enjoy smooth voice calls and seamless online gaming, as well as speedy download times. Another impressive string to ExpressVPN's bow is its long list of security features. It provides users with AES-256 bit encryption, a kill-switch, and DNS leak protection. ExpressVPN also offers obfuscation technology, so your traffic appears as if it isn't coming from a VPN. And, thanks to its fleet of RAM-only servers, you can rest assured that ExpressVPN isn't keeping any logs regarding your online activity. These servers ensure that any stored data (a minimal amount needed to run to servers) is lost forever when the network is powered down – and this happens regularly. This provider lets you use the same account across five devices, but if you're installing it on your Netgear router, it'll only count as one – so you can share the account with friends and family who connect to the router. ExpressVPN is very easy to use too, offering a simple one-click function to activate the VPN – making it perfect for beginners who want the best security at the touch of a button. Although well worth the money, ExpressVPN is one of the pricier providers out there. Users get a whole month to try the service before committing to a longer subscription, however, and ExpressVPN will even refund you your money if you aren't happy. NordVPN is the best buy VPN for Netgear routers. It has a number of innovative security features as well as set up instructions for various types of firmware on their website. Nord Demo NordVPN is based in Panama, a country with notoriously stringent privacy laws and a government that has no interest in obtaining VPN provider data. Even if they did, NordVPN's strict no-logs policy would mean there'd be nothing to hand over in the first place! NordVPN has an impressive number of security and privacy features that go beyond the industry-standard kill-switches and IP address masking. NordVPN recently rolled out NordLynx, a custom protocol built around cutting-edge WireGuard encryption, to improve your speeds without compromising your security. The Double VPN feature is not offered by many providers and gives you an additional layer of privacy by routing your traffic through two private servers instead of one. Onion over VPN makes your browsing experience even safer by combining the best features of the Tor browser and NordVPN. Best of all, these, and many other exclusive NordVPN features, all come included in its basic subscription plan – so you don't have to spend a fortune to stay protected online. NordVPN has an excellent customer support line, which may come in handy when going through the process of flashing your router. This commitment to the user experience is perhaps best illustrated by the super-clear instructions on how to flash your router with Tomato and DD-WRT firmware available on their website, which makes it simple for even a PC novice. Other ways they make life better for their customers include maintaining lightning-quick connection speeds – which is ideal for watching content from around the world without worrying about latency issues. Whether you are an ardent gamer or you need a VPN to stream in HD securely and without buffering – this VPN got you covered. NordVPN is actually one of the speediest providers on this list. If you're skeptical, you can try it for 30 days and get your money back if you finish the month unhappy! Surfshark is relatively new VPN provider, but it's an all-round option that manages to compete with the best in the business, thanks to its premium security and privacy features. Surfshark Demo Surfshark combines top notch security features with a price tag that won't break the bank. It's a speedy operator, too, second only to NordVPN in our list of picks, meaning it can handle multiple devices connecting to the same Netgear router. Surfshark also, quite impressively, offers all its features on all its servers (camouflage mode, extension support, etc.) – which is something few providers can match. Surfshark also has a CleanWeb tool that will automatically block malware and viruses from establishing a connection with users' devices, sending commands and collecting data. Camouflage Mode, on the other hand, disguises your traffic to prevent your internet service provider from figuring out that you're using a VPN. The multi-hop function gives you an extra level of security by rerouting your data through two VPN servers before spitting it out the other side. Surfshark's customer support is great, and they have set up instructions on its website for the different firmware types you'll be choosing between. Besides, it's the only VPN provider on this list that offers unlimited simultaneous connections. Although Surfshark has a money-back grace period of 30 days after you install it, the fact it does so much for such a small cost means that customers rarely need to take advantage of it! Private Internet Access, commonly known as PIA, is a super secure VPN for Netgear. It has been enhancing user privacy for over a decade now and is well-regarded in Reddit circles. PIA Demo Private Internet Access is a superb VPN pick for folks looking to shore up their online privacy. And, if you install PIA on your Netgear router, you'll secure your entire home network! It is one of the few VPNs that have been subpoenaed by the US government, as part of a criminal investigation, but without results. In other words, PIA was required by the government to hand over its logs but, fortunately, it had no logs to hand over – proving its privacy promise to all watching. The provider uses its own DNS server to prevent leaks and has recently rolled out its Next Generation Network on servers in the US, UK, Hong Kong, and the Netherlands, providing enhanced security and faster speeds. Private Internet Access has a vast number of servers worldwide, which make for speedy connections and an internet browsing experience without irritating geo-restrictions on the things you want to watch. Although Private Internet Access doesn't provide instructions on how to flash your router, it does offer guidance on how to set up a VPN on the firmware options available for Netgear routers. So why not try it out on yours? If you change your mind within 30 days, you can just ask for your money back. CyberGhost is a beginner-friendly Netgear VPN. An excellent VPN for newbies, particularly if you've never flashed a router before. Offers servers worldwide. CyberGhost Demo CyberGhost, based in Romania, has some of the best security features around. The provider is one of the few VPNs to offer extended bandwidth in some locations – such as its NoSpy servers in Romania. These are maintained by a team of security experts, meaning no logs of your user activity are ever kept. Like NordVPN, CyberGhost has made adjustments to further secure WireGuard and let its users reap the benefits of quicker connection times at no cost to their security. Speaking of which, CyberGhost offers all the security protocols you could ask for from a provider. CyberGhost offers many useful guides on its official website. Besides, having exceptional customer support means installing a VPN on your Netgear router is stress free. The VPN has a huge network of servers in 91 countries
worldwide, many of which are optimized for streaming. This means not only will your speeds be solid, but you'll be able to bypass numerous geo-restrictions, something this provider has a proven track record excelling at. CyberGhost, as mentioned previously, is a great VPN for beginners thanks to its slick app interfaces and ease of use; and this is no different when it comes to installing it on your router. On top of that, it's one of the cheapest VPNs on this list. And don't worry if you need some extra time to decide if CyberGhost is your perfect match – you have 45 days (rather than the leading standard of 30) to make up your mind, or CyberGhost will give you your money back.
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Exceptional coverage and speed
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Get premium features at an affordable price
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Lightning-fast and reliable
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Impressive privacy toolkit
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A true zero-logs provider
Try it for yourself, risk-free
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Industry-leading VPN protocols
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Advantages of having a VPN on your Netgear router
There are some definite benefits to installing a VPN on your Netgear router, as opposed to just installing them on all your network-connected devices individually. Advantages include:
- The ability to connect more devices through than your VPN provider would usually allow.
- All devices on the network have their data encrypted, not just the devices you install your VPN account on.
- The fact you can encrypt the internet traffic coming from devices that can't host VPNs.
- The VPN is connected and available 24/7.
'Flashing' your Netgear router
The only two ways to get a VPN on your Netgear router are to either buy a router that's pre-configured with a VPN/VPN-friendly firmware or installing your own. But if you're reading this article, it's likely your router isn't pre-configured with a VPN or the relevant firmware.
That means you'll need to 'flash' your Netgear router. Flashing is the process of reconfiguring your router with new firmware that supports the installation of a VPN. The two most common types of firmware you can flash your router with for this are DD-WRT and Tomato.
There is also OpenWRT routers, but if this is your first (or even second or third) time flashing a router, it might feel unnecessarily technical when there are simpler options available that still perform all the functions you'd need them to. Some companies even develop their own firmware for routers (such as AsusWRT on Ausus routers).
DD-WRT can be installed on a much wider range of routers than Tomato, but Tomato does work better with the OpenVPN protocol and some consider it to have a slightly easier-to-manage user interface.
Most Netgear routers work with both, so the choice is ultimately up to you.
How to flash your router: a step-by-step guide
- Ensure you are connected to the internet through your Netgear router.
- Download the new firmware you're using to make your router VPN-ready.
- Head over to https://routerlogin.net via your browser.
- Enter the username or password into the router admin panel.
- Navigate to the 'advanced' section of the user interface.
- Click on the 'Administration' tab on the menu on the left-hand side.
- Select 'Browse' and find the firmware you have downloaded.
- Upload the firmware onto the router by selecting 'Upload'.
- Restart your router.
- Enjoy using your Netgear device with an enhanced level of privacy!
Are there any downsides to installing a VPN on a router?
- Managing your VPN settings is slightly more difficult, as routers do not have user interfaces in the same way other devices do.
- Traffic between devices on the same network is not secured, but this shouldn't be a problem if your devices aren't set to auto-connect to other networks.
Before you flash your router...
If you go through this process incorrectly, you can end up 'bricking' your router – in other words, causing permanent damage to it and making it no more useful than, you guessed it... a brick. This means it's of paramount importance that you get to grips with exactly what you're doing before you start.
What if I don't want to flash my router?
As we mentioned above, it is possible to purchase routers already pre-configured with the correct firmware you need, and even with a VPN already installed.
For many, this will only be a serious option if you're looking to buy a new router, anyway. That being said, the average router's lifespan is only about four to five years and can become internally damaged if they overheat regularly – so it might be time to invest in a new one, particularly if you're experiencing slow connection speeds.
If you're looking for a new router and you like the idea of one with a VPN, check out our review of the best routers for DD-WRT or this rundown of the best pre-configured VPN routers.
Want a simpler option?
Check out FlashRouters – They offer pre-flashed routers at excellent prices, and you can even get them with pre-installed VPNs! FlashRouters even has a handy app, so you get total control over your router without the fuss.
Can I use a free VPN with my Netgear router?
Although there are some great free VPNs out there, most of them cannot be installed onto a router and only really work on devices like mobiles and laptops.
However, even if you manage to find one that does, it's never advised to go with a free VPN over a paid one, even if the free VPN is just the non-paying version of a premium service. Free VPNs attached to premium services will always have key security features omitted, or else no customers would ever have a reason to upgrade.
You should also treat providers that offer their whole service for free with extreme caution. Free VPNs have been known to leave users exposed to viruses, sell their data to third parties, and cooperate with law enforcement authorities.
Conclusion
Hopefully, this article will help you make the best decision you can when it comes to choosing a VPN for your Netgear router. If you're still undecided, here's a brief reminder of our top 5:
From $6.67/month
The best VPN for your Netgear router. Super-easy to set up, offers a massive server network, and a 30-day money-back guarantee.
- ProPrivacy TrustScore:
- 10 out of 10
- Simultaneous connections
- 5
- Free trial
- No
- Server locations
- 160
From $3.69/month
The best buy Netgear VPN, with best-in-class security features and stress-free set up instructions. Always blazing-fast!
- ProPrivacy TrustScore:
- 9.9 out of 10
- Free trial
- No
- Simultaneous connections
- 6
- Server locations
- 60
From $2.30/month
An all-around VPN for Netgear routers. It works well with VPN compatible routers and comes with state-of-the-art privacy tools.
- ProPrivacy TrustScore:
- 9.8 out of 10
- Server locations
- 100
- Simultaneous connections
- Unlimited
- Free trial
- Yes
From $2.11/month
The most secure Netgear VPN. Offers a no-logs policy that's been proven in court and a huge network of reliable servers.
- ProPrivacy TrustScore:
- 9.7 out of 10
- Server locations
- 84
- Free trial
- No
- Simultaneous connections
- Unlimited
From $2.11/month
An easy-to-use VPN for Netgear. Comes with a slick, beginner-friendly interface and excellent Netgear router compatibility.
- ProPrivacy TrustScore:
- 9.6 out of 10
- Simultaneous connections
- 7
- Server locations
- 117
- Free trial
- Yes