Best VPNs for Tomato routers in 2024

Short for Virtual Private Network, a VPN encrypts all of a device’s internet traffic and routes it through an intermediary server in a location of the user’s choosing. By setting up a VPN on a home wifi router, the internet traffic from all the devices connected to that router’s network will be routed through the VPN server. That includes devices that don’t support VPNs on their own, including game consoles like PS4 and Xbox One, smart TVs, and streaming media devices like Roku and Chromecast.

Connecting to a VPN has several benefits; the encryption makes everything you do online more secure, which means your internet service provider and hackers cannot snoop on your activity. Also, by masking your default IP address with the one used by the VPN server, corporations and governments can’t easily trace activity back to your device. You can bypass firewalls meant to censor content from specific sites and apps. And you can unblock geographically restricted content, such as US Netflix or BBC iPlayer.

In this post, we get into detail on each of the VPNs that made our list, but here are our top picks in case you only have time for a summary:

1. NordVPN Our #1 choice VPN for Tomato routers. Operates a huge network of high-speed servers. Strong security and you can get the OpenVPN configuration files directly from their website. Includes 30-day money-back guarantee.
2. Surfshark Best budget pick. Doesn’t limit your internet connection and is great for unblocking. Very secure. Provides tutorials for router setup.
3. IPVanish OpenVPN configuration and set up files are easy to use. Strong encryption and security.
4. ExpressVPN Fast, secure, and private network. Instructions on setting up with OpenVPN and Tomato routers available on their website. Unblocks most censored, restricted, and geo-blocked sites with ease.
5. CyberGhost Some of the fastest servers we have tested make this a good value choice. User-selected Tomato configurations are a nice touch.
6. VyprVPN Choice of manual configuration or custom router app for Tomato. High-speed network but is a bit pricey.

Best VPNs for Tomato Routers: at a glance

We’ve compared the most important features of the top VPNs here. Prefer to read the in-depth reviews? Start with NordVPN – our #1 choice for Tomato Routers.

The best VPNs for Tomato Routers

Here is our list of the best VPNs for Tomato routers:

1. NordVPN

Dec 2024

NordVPN is our top VPN recommendation. It operates over 6,000 servers in more than 100+ countries. You can download the OpenVPN config files for any of these straight from the website. The site’s knowledge base also has setup instructions for Tomato router owners. Subscribers avail of unlimited bandwidth and no data caps. The company maintains a true zero-logs policy, meaning no information is recorded whatsoever related to your use of the VPN. 256-bit military-grade encryption keeps your data safe from prying eyes. Live chat support is available on the website.

Two pre-flashed routers that come with everything you need to connect to NordVPN’s servers with minimal setup can be purchased from Flashrouters.

NordVPN unblocks Netflix, Hulu, HBO Now, BBC iPlayer, and more.

BEST VPN FOR TOMATO ROUTERS:NordVPN is our top choice . A superfast VPN that works tirelessly with torrenting and P2P. Connects up to 10 devices simultaneously. Also works well with most popular streaming services and achieves consistently good speeds. A 30-day money-back guarantee makes it risk-free.

Read our full review NordVPN review.

2. Surfshark

Surfshark is a great wallet-friendly VPN. It provides tutorials for Tomato router setup on its website and offers 24/7 live chat support should you run into issues. Surfshark is rapidly growing its server network and now operates more than 3,200 in over 100 countries. Speeds are ample for most tasks including downloading and HD streaming, although you may find geographically distant servers are a bit slow.

This VPN provides a suite of security features, including military-grade encryption, perfect forward secrecy, a kill switch, and protection against leaks. Surfshark’s privacy policy explains that it doesn’t record any logs at all.

This service is great for unblocking and can provide access to Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, BBC iPlayer, and lots more popular geo-restricted services.

BEST BUDGET VPN:Surfshark is a good value all-rounder. It’s highly secure and excellent at unblocking. Plus it doesn’t impose any limits. Includes a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full review of Surfshark.

3. IPVanish

IPVanish owns and operates its own network of 2,000 servers spread across more than 50 countries. That means it can better guarantee a sturdy and quick connection. Data and bandwidth are both unlimited. You can find the OpenVPN credentials to use with your Tomato router right on the website, along with relevant setup guides. Perfect forward secrecy and 256-bit encryption ensure that no one is going to be able to decipher your online activity. The company boasts a zero-logs privacy policy, recording no information about how you use the VPN nor what you do online while connected to it.

If you want to purchase a pre-flashed router instead of changing the firmware yourself, you can get a Tomato router configured with all of IPVanish’s servers and router settings from Flashrouters.

IPVanish is particularly popular with Kodi users due to the fact that it works with all the add-ons we’ve tested.

FAST AND RELIABLE:IPVanish has a large network of servers. Uncongested network achieves good speeds. Strong security and privacy features. 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full IPVanish review.

4. ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN is a VPN service that goes above and beyond to deliver a quality experience. OpenVPN config files can be downloaded directly from the website, where you’ll also find instructions on how to get set up. Over 3,000 servers dot the globe in 100+ countries. Each of them is optimized to provide a fast and reliable connection. Bandwidth is unlimited, there’s no data cap, and ExpressVPN works to access Netflix, Hulu, HBO Now, BBC iPlayer, and more.

256-bit AES encryption combined with perfect forward secrecy makes for strong security. The company keeps no identifying logs of user activity or real IP address. Live chat support is available 24/7 on the website.

If flashing your router with Tomato firmware seems intimidating, or you’re in the market for a whole new router, you may consider ExpressVPN’s pre-configured routers which come with the provider’s own custom firmware for routers.

ROUTER OPTIONS:ExpressVPN is another solid VPN. It has a vast server network that is optimized for fast connections. It has several options for router setup and works with all major streaming services. Plans include a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full ExpressVPN review.

5. CyberGhost

CyberGhost allows subscribers to create and download custom configuration files for the servers they want to connect to through their Tomato routers. These include the protocol (UDP or TCP), country, server group, type of server, ad blocker, force HTTPS, and data compression. The site has useful tutorials for a couple of different versions of TomatoUSB routers.

The company operates over 10,000 servers in 100+ countries. It scored well in our speed tests, and connections were quite reliable. Strong encryption and a no-logs policy ensure that your privacy and security are airtight. Live chat is available during European working hours.

GREAT FOR STREAMING:CyberGhost provides access to lots of geo-restricted content and its easy-to-use apps are ideal for beginners. Plans come with a 45-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full CyberGhost review.

6. VyprVPN

VyprVPN operates more than 700 servers in over 60 countries, all of which the company owns rather than rents. 256-bit AES encryption ensures all your traffic is protected, but the company does record users’ source IP addresses, so torrenters might want to look elsewhere. Live customer support is available via the website.

VyprVPN has a couple of different ways for subscribers with Tomato routers to get connected. You can, of course, manually set up OpenVPN like you would with any other VPN using config files from the website. Or you can opt to use VyprVPN’s custom router app that runs on top of Tomato by Shibby. This will modify the Tomato interface and automatically configure all of VyprVPN’s servers into the router. You can even use VyprVPN’s proprietary Chameleon protocol, which helps prevent VPN connections from being detected by your ISP, with VyprVPN’s Tomato app.

VyprVPN unblocks US Netflix and Hulu.

EASY TO USE:VyprVPN is user friendly. A solid choice. It stores no logs, offers great security, and unblocks most streaming services. More pricey than some. 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full VyprVPN review.

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VPN testing methodology

Because you’ll be using Tomato firmware instead of a VPN app, router VPNs have to be evaluated on a slightly different, narrower set of criteria. Generally speaking, a VPN configured on a router will not benefit from all of the same convenience and security features of a VPN installed as an app on a laptop or phone.

We evaluate each and every VPN we recommend using real-world experience, expert analysis, and several tests. When it comes to router VPNs, we specifically consider:

• Router support: To support Tomato routers, the VPN should provide configuration files and/or credentials to set up a manual connection, plus documentation on how to do it.
• Speed: Our speed tests measure download bandwidth to VPN servers located around the world.
• Privacy: We check each VPN’s privacy policy and terms of service for any language or lack thereof that could indicate the collection of personally identifiable information while connected to the VPN.
• Streaming: We use real-world tests to find out which VPNs can access popular streaming services from abroad, including several international Netflix libraries, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, HBO Max, Disney+, and BBC iPlayer.
• Security: Security can deviate from a VPN’s advertised encryption levels and protocols when you set it up on a router as opposed to using an app. We only recommend providers that support secure and up-to-date VPN protocols for manual configuration.
• Server selection: We favor VPNs that have more geographic locations to choose from.
• Value for money: We weigh prices, discounts, money-back guarantees, free trials, and billing practices against the performance, security, and features of each VPN.
• Customer service: Setting up a router VPN is more complicated than using a VPN app, especially if it’s your first time. We recommend providers that have responsive and competent customer support. Our reviewers contact each provider’s customer support as secret shoppers to measure response times and gauge response quality.

Using a free VPN with Tomato

There’s no shortage of free VPNs out there, but we recommend avoiding the vast majority of them. Free VPNs typically don’t hand out the config files necessary for a Tomato router to connect to their servers. Instead, they prefer you use their desktop or mobile apps, which often contain tracking cookies, inject advertisements, and occasionally even infect your device with malware.

Even the most trustworthy options have hard limits on which servers, how much data, and how much bandwidth you can use. That makes them pretty much useless for anything bandwidth-intensive, like streaming video or gaming online.

Free VPNs often slack on privacy and security protections. They can’t offer advanced features such as split-tunneling or military-grade encryption. Many will even mine your internet traffic for data that can be sold to third-party advertisers.

Which version of Tomato should you use?

When searching for Tomato online, you’ll likely come across several different mods, or forks, of the original Tomato firmware. These include:

• Tomato
• TomatoUSB
• Shibby
• Toastman
• Victek
• Merlin
• AdvancedTomato

Figuring out which is best suited to your router and needs might not be immediately clear, so we’ll attempt to narrow down your options.

Plain-old Tomato is the original firmware first introduced in 2008. The last release was in June 2010, and its compatibility is limited to a relatively short list of routers from around that time. It doesn’t include OpenVPN client nor server support, so this probably isn’t what you want.

TomatoUSB is a fork of the original Tomato created shortly after the original creator ceased development. It added a far wider range of routers as well as other useful features, such as support for USB ports and wireless-N mode. The official branch of TomatoUSB hasn’t been updated since November 2010. While it may work for your router, there are likely better options.

Shibby, Toastman, Victek, and most other current mods are forks of TomatoUSB, meaning they share much of the same basic code but add their own features and functionality to the mix. All three offer OpenVPN client and server support, so any of them would make a good choice. Shibby (short for “Tomato by Shibby”) seems to be the most popular option, so you should have no problem finding help and resources on forums if necessary.

AdvancedTomato is a fork of Shibby Tomato that adds a slick web-based dashboard, which many users will find more user-friendly than Tomato’s default interface. Whenever Shibby Tomato is updated, Advanced Tomato is updated shortly thereafter. All other factors are equal, and assuming your router is compatible, AdvancedTomato is our top recommendation for novice Tomato users.

If performance is a concern, as a general rule, you will want to flash the smallest build available that offers all of the features you need (OpenVPN client support, in this case).

Once you’ve found a version of Tomato that checks off all your requirements, make sure it’s compatible with your router. Simply Googling “Shibby Tomato router list” or something similar should bring up a list of compatible router models for your build.

How to set up OpenVPN on a Tomato router

We’ll cover Tomato by Shibby 1.28 in this tutorial, and it should be similar enough to other builds that you can figure out any discrepancies. These tutorials assume you already have your preferred version of Tomato installed. Follow the instructions to set up an OpenVPN client on your router.

Here’s how to set up OpenVPN on a Tomato router:

1. While connected to your router’s wifi or LAN, open a web browser and navigate to your router dashboard. This is 192.168.1.1 by default. Enter the credentials that you created when first installing Tomato.
2. Once logged in, click on VPN Tunneling in the left sidebar, then OpenVPN client.
3. On the next page, you’ll need to get the necessary information from your VPN provider. Fill out each of the fields as necessary.
4. If your version of Tomato doesn’t have username and password fields, you’ll need to go to Administration > Scripts and enter the following commands, replacing username and password with your VPN credentials:echo username > /tmp/password.txtecho password >> /tmp/password.txtchmod 600 /tmp/password.txt
5. Click the Advanced tab and enter any further information necessary from your provider. This includes several lines you’ll need to copy/paste into the Custom configuration field from your provider’s OpenVPN config file. Again, consult your provider on what to put here.
6. Next up is the Keys tab. Here, you’ll enter more information that is more often than not found in the OpenVPN config file from your provider. If not, they may be stored in separate files that you can also download and open in a plain text editor such as Notepad. Static key should contain everything inside the <tls-auth> tag. Certificate authority should contain everything inside the tag.
7. Hit the Save button at the bottom of the page, then Start now.
8. To check whether your connection is successful, go to the Status tab.

Finally, if your VPN provider operates its own DNS servers (all of the ones we recommend do), you’ll want to add those as well:

1. In the left sidebar, click Basic > Network
2. Under WAN Settings, set DNS Server to Manual and enter the primary and secondary DNS server addresses from your VPN provider in the following two fields.
3. Click Save, and you should be good to go!

How to set up OpenVPN on AdvancedTomato

On AdvancedTomato, everything is pretty much the same as Shibby with a couple of exceptions. Instead of “VPN Tunneling”, the left sidebar tab is simply labeled VPN.

The main difference here is the Advanced tab, which will have a drop-down and toggles for many of the settings instead of having to copy/paste from the OpenVPN config file. You will still need to copy/paste your keys and certificates in the Keys section, though.

Tomato vs DD-WRT for VPN users

Whether you flash DD-WRT or Tomato will probably come down to whichever one your router is compatible with. But if you have a choice, a few factors are worth considering.

Advantages of Tomato over DD-WRT

• VPN support is more consistent in Tomato routers. Whereas pretty much all builds of TomatoUSB and its forks support OpenVPN, support is much more hit-and-miss with DD-WRT.
• Tomato is generally considered a bit more user-friendly. Flashrouters which sells pre-configured routers from several of the recommended VPNs above note a “higher rate of success with Tomato when setting up and connecting with OpenVPN.”
• Tomato has a wireless survey page that helps users find the best channel to use for a wireless network. You can get notifications when updates are available. Tor, BitTorrent, and USB compatibility are integrated into some builds.
• Tomato allows users to set up two OpenVPN connections and easily switch between them. So if one of your servers is down or overly congested, or you need a second location to connect to, this can be quite handy.
• Tomato includes both real-time and historical bandwidth monitoring.
• Policy-based routing allows you to split-tunnel your connection between the VPN and your default ISP by device.

Advantages of DD-WRT over Tomato

• DD-WRT supports more router models than Tomato.
• DD-WRT supports repeaters and alternate subnets
• DD-WRT tends to have more advanced built-in options for tech-savvy users

Don’t use PPTP

Point-to-point tunneling protocol, or PPTP, is one of the oldest VPN protocols around. It’s widely available with support built into many computers, smartphones, and routers. That includes Tomato. But PPTP contains known security vulnerabilities that anyone could hack with a bit of know-how and effort, so it’s best avoided. You can read more about VPN protocols and why you should avoid PPTP here.

While not secure, PPTP does have a couple of advantages going for it. It’s an easier setup than OpenVPN and other protocols, and it’s a bit faster. Still, we strongly recommend OpenVPN over all other protocols.

Disadvantages of setting up a VPN on your router

We’ve gone over the many advantages of setting up a VPN on your router, but readers should be aware of the downsides as well. All your devices will be tunneled through a single VPN connection, which could get congested if you have a lot of devices connected to the router at once. This can be alleviated to some degree by using split tunneling (policy-based routing) for certain devices, but it’s not all that easy to set up.

If the server you’ve configured a connection to experiences downtime, switching isn’t that easy. Tomato variants that support two separate client VPN configurations can get around this by simply switching, but setting up a new server can be a tedious pain. Pre-configured routers or custom firmware, such as that offered by ExpressVPN, make these problems easier to deal with than stock Tomato.

Finally, using a VPN requires computing resources to encrypt outgoing traffic and decrypt incoming traffic. Computers and smartphones have plenty of power for this sort of thing and so their speeds aren’t affected much. But most routers pack much less of a punch. Depending on your router’s hardware, running a VPN client on it could make a substantial dent in your download and upload rates.

VPN for Tomato Routers VPN

See also: Best VPNs for DD-WRT routers