Best 5 VPNs for Google Fiber 

If you’re looking for high-speed internet, Google Fiber has plenty to offer. Unfortunately, the routers that come with these packages don’t let you configure a Virtual Private Network (VPN) connection. That doesn’t mean that you have to compromise on security; privacy-conscious customers just have to complete a few extra steps by using a Google Fiber VPN.

Today, we’ll walk you through the process of bridging your Google Fiber router so that you can use a VPN. We’ll also explain how to manually set up a VPN in case you decide to use your own router. This all might sound a little intimidating but don’t worry: our guide is beginner-friendly and uses as little jargon as possible. After all, everybody deserves online privacy, not just experts.

Before we can get started with any of that, though, you’ll need a VPN. Here’s a quick guide to our top picks, but you can scroll down for a more detailed look at each.

Best Google Fiber VPNs

1. NordVPN: The best VPN for Google Fiber. Quick, security-conscious, and known for its strong unblocking ability. Has a proven no-logs policy and a risk-free money-back guarantee. TIP In our testing we found that the cheapest NordVPN plan (Standard) works perfectly for Google Fiber.
2. Surfshark: The best budget VPN option for Google Fiber subscribers. Boasts an expansive network and impressive performance. Lots of support documentation and 24/7 live chat.
3. ExpressVPN: The only major provider with its own router firmware. Gives users plenty of control, works almost anywhere in the world, and has servers in 105 countries.
4. CyberGhost: This zero-logs service delivers ultra-fast speeds, blocks ads even when installed on a router, and can access just about every streaming service we’ve tested.
5. IPVanish: A fast, reliable VPN with an independently-verified privacy policy. Works with the most popular firmware. Strong streaming ability and around the clock customer support.

How we identified the best VPNs for Google Fiber

Google Fiber subscribers can’t actually install a VPN on the routers that Google ships to them. That doesn’t mean you have to give up on privacy, though. The solution is surprisingly simple: obtain a second router that supports VPNs, and link the two together. We extensively tested dozens of leading providers and found the five best based on the following criteria:

• Provides manual setup guides for a wide range of router firmware
• Supports secure VPN protocols such as OpenVPN or WireGuard
• Has minimal impact on your network speeds
• Keeps your activities hidden using uncrackable encryption and a no-logs policy
• Can reliably access sites that normally block VPN users
• Operates a 24/7 support service (preferably via live chat)

Best VPNs for Google Fiber – Our hands-on review

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

The best Google Fiber VPNs

Now, we’ll examine each of our top contenders in more detail. We’ll begin with our top pick for Google Fiber, NordVPN:

1. NordVPN

Sep 2024 works with Google FiberTested Sep 2024

NordVPN is our top pick for Google Fiber connections. For starters, it’s extremely fast, which is vital when you’re working with a dual-router system. However, you can only use OpenVPN on routers, which is a bit slower than the default NordLynx protocol. On the plus side, NordVPN has more than 5,000 servers in 60 countries and works perfectly with major streaming platforms like Amazon Prime Video.

When it comes to security, this provider has a stellar reputation. It protects you from IPv6 and DNS leaks, uses unbreakable 256-bit encryption, and has been audited multiple times to prove that it doesn’t keep logs. We’d like to see its more advanced features (such as ad-blocking and obfuscated servers) made available on routers, but even as is, NordVPN is a fantastic choice.

NordVPN provides detailed setup guides for a wide range of firmware including Tomato, ASUS Merlin, and DD-WRT. Getting help is quick and easy. Staff are on-hand 24/7 over live chat and in our experience, you’ll usually get a response in a few seconds.

BEST VPN FOR GOOGLE FIBER:NordVPN is the highest-quality service for Google Fiber users. It’s ultra-fast, works with all manner of routers, and handily beats even the toughest online restrictions. This VPN even offers a 30-day money-back guarantee so you can try it risk-free.

Why not take a look at our complete NordVPN review?

2. Surfshark

works with Google FiberTested Sep 2024

Surfshark is the best budget option for Google Fiber. If you’re looking for a speedy, affordable service that can get you an IP address from 100 different countries, you can’t do better. What’s more, Surfshark is a truly versatile VPN, suitable for torrenting, gaming, video-calling, and even accessing region-locked services like Netflix.

Unlike many of its competitors, Surfshark lets you manually set up a WireGuard, OpenVPN, or IKEv2 connection. It uses effectively-uncrackable 256-bit encryption and a proven zero-logs policy to ensure your online activities remain private at all times. Surfshark’s apps have quite a few more interesting features (such as the option to periodically change your IP address, for instance) but this functionality isn’t available to router users as yet.

This VPN offers detailed setup guides for plenty of different routers and offers free, 24/7 support over live chat, making it quick and easy to get help. You don’t even need to install any of the standalone apps since all Surfshark One benefits are accessible via the website.

BEST BUDGET VPN:Surfshark is our low-cost choice. Works with a huge range of routers, delivers first-class performance, and won’t be stopped by any online restriction. It even includes a 30-day money-back guarantee no matter how long you sign up for.

Check out the full Surfshark review for more information.

3. ExpressVPN

works with Google FiberTested Sep 2024

ExpressVPN has a few key characteristics that help it stand out from the crowd. First off, it has servers in 105 countries, while most of its rivals only support around 60 locations. That’s not all: it boasts steady speeds and the ability to access just about every major streaming service. ExpressVPN can even tell if you’re in a country with strict digital censorship, and will automatically obfuscate your data to help bypass blocks.

This service can be manually configured on a huge range of routers, but it also offers its own custom firmware. Installing this unlocks the ability to block ads and trackers, connect via the ultra-fast Lightway protocol, and let traffic from certain sites pass through the VPN unencrypted. Whichever approach you take, you’ll benefit from 256-bit encryption, a strict no-logging policy, and 24/7 customer support.

ExpressVPN has helpful articles that explain how to install its router app onto Netgear, Linksys, and Asus routers. What’s more, it offers setup guides that show how to manually configure OpenVPN connections on a wide range of other hardware.

ROUTER APP:ExpressVPN is a fantastic choice for installing on routers thanks to its custom firmware. A fast, security-focused service with an independently-verified no-logs policy.  All plans come with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

To learn more, read our full ExpressVPN review.

4. CyberGhost

works with Google FiberTested Sep 2024

CyberGhost users have an unparalleled number of servers to choose from. Router users can either select one of its 100 locations manually or choose a gaming-optimized server. Unfortunately, the streaming and torrenting servers can only be used via CyberGhost’s apps, and not a router. In our experience, though, the regular servers work fine for these tasks. With average speeds of almost 300 Mbps and a high degree of versatility, this VPN is a good fit for just about anyone.

When you log into CyberGhost’s control panel, you can generate a custom configuration file. This starts out fairly simple: just choose a country, protocol (OpenVPN or IPSec), and whether you’d like to use a specialized server. Then you decide whether to block malicious sites, ads, and trackers, or force HTTPS – choices most other VPNs don’t offer. Whatever options you choose, you’ll be protected by uncrackable encryption, DNS and IPv6 leak protection, and a no-logs policy.

CyberGhost’s knowledge base includes posts walking you through the configuration process on DD-WRT and Tomato firmware. That said, it should work on any router that supports OpenVPN connections. If you’re having problems, just contact support using the 24/7 live chat service.

BLOCK ADS AUTOMATICALLY:CyberGhost works with all kinds of routers, has gaming-optimized servers, and can even remove ads across your whole network without the need for third-party tools. Best of all, it offers a generous 45-day money-back guarantee.

Interested? Check out our in-depth review of CyberGhost.

5. IPVanish

works with Google FiberTested Sep 2024

IPVanish has gone from strength to strength recently, rapidly expanding its network and capabilities. It now operates around 2,200 servers in 50 countries and in our latest tests, it delivered average speeds of roughly 280 Mbps. In addition to being one of the fastest VPNs on the market, it’s also highly versatile. Whether you’re looking to torrent anonymously or stream Netflix, IPVanish is up to the task.

IPVanish uses 256-bit encryption and protects against DNS and IPv6 leaks. It owns its network outright. This reduces the chance of outside interference and allows IPV to roll out updates and patches as soon as possible. Best of all, independent auditors have confirmed that IPVanish is telling the truth when it says it doesn’t keep logs.

So long as your router supports OpenVPN or IKEv2, IPVanish should work perfectly. Its website provides guides to manually configuring AsusWRT, DD-WRT, and ASUSWRT-Merlin firmware.

ZERO LOG VPN:IPVanish is another great option for Google Fiber. Has a strong commitment to your privacy and is constantly improving its speed and streaming capabilities. Also, annual plans come with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Our comprehensive IPVanish review can answer any questions you might have.

How to use a VPN with Google Fiber internet

Google Fiber routers run their own custom firmware and don’t let you configure VPN connections directly. There is a workaround, however: we can connect a second router, run the VPN on that, and pass the encrypted data through to your Google device. Relax: this is easier than it sounds!

Follow the steps below to use a VPN with a Google Fiber router:

1. Before we get started, you’ll need a second router. It doesn’t have to be anything fancy, but it will have to support firmware that supports VPN connections. Try searching for the model number in DD-WRT’s compatibility list – if it’s in there, you should be good to go. Alternatively, look for compatibility with Tomato, OpenWRT, or OpenSense firmware.
2. Connect your second router to the white port on the back of your Google Fiber router using an Ethernet cable
3. Sign into your Google Fiber account and navigate to Network > Advanced > Admin. Make sure Use bridge mode is turned on and click the Apply button
4. Now, all that’s left is to configure the VPN connection on the second router. Visit your VPN’s website and locate its .ovpn or .conf files (they’re usually available from the account dashboard but ask staff if you’re having trouble finding them).

   

5. Decide which server you’d like to use. It’s a good idea to choose a server in a different country for now, since this makes it easier to check whether everything is working properly later. When you’re ready, download the appropriate configuration file.
6. Log into the router’s control panel. Normally, there’ll be a sticker somewhere on the device explaining how to do this, but if not, check out our guide to finding your router’s IP address
7. Search your VPN’s knowledge base for manual setup instructions. Follow these carefully to create a new OpenVPN connection. If you’re struggling, customer support will be happy to walk you through the process

   

   Save your changes and reboot the router. Once it’s back up and running, you should be connected to the VPN. To make sure there are no problems, use our IP address checker. If it points to the country you picked in step five, everything’s working as expected.

8. 

9. Last but not least, make sure all of your internet-connected devices are using the second router’s network instead of the Google Fiber router. This way, all traffic from these devices will be passed through the VPN

Methodology: Choosing the best VPNs for Google Fiber users

Every VPN is different. Some are faster, some are more secure, and some don’t even work on routers at all. That’s why we had to carefully consider all of the following factors when finding the top VPNs for Google Fiber customers:

• Router suitability: Ideally, our top VPNs would support multiple protocols and work with a huge range of firmware, not just popular choices like DD-WRT and Tomato. We also paid close attention to any extra features like ad-blocking or task-specific servers.
• Security: Router VPNs tend to have fewer security and privacy tools than their standalone apps. However, to earn a spot on our list, providers must offer uncrackable encryption (AES-256 or better), DNS and IPv6 leak protection, and a no-logging policy.
• Speed and reliability: Slow speeds can cause all manner of problems, from stuttering video to random disconnection. Our team performs regular speed testing to make sure that we only recommend the quickest, most reliable VPNs.
• Versatility: Part of our testing involves making sure that these services are a good choice for everyday usage. As such, we check to see if they allow torrenting, are fast enough for online gaming, and able to access major streaming platforms like Disney+.
• Network: Normally, you’d expect a paid VPN’s network to cover roughly 60 countries. Some go much further while others only have a fraction of this amount. We keep an eye out for less-common locations and dig into whether each provider uses virtual servers, since this changes which country’s laws apply to your traffic.
• Ease of use: Getting a VPN working on a router can be tricky, so the more support you have, the better. We strongly prefer providers with 24/7 live chat, step-by-step configuration guides, and their own router firmware.

Can I change the firmware on a Google Fiber router?

It might be possible to run different firmware on a Google Fiber router, but we’d advise against it. To begin with, these aren’t mentioned in either DD-WRT, Tomato, or OpenWrt compatibility lists so there’s no guarantee they’ll work. Further, even if everything goes well, flashing custom firmware will void your warranty, leaving you unable to get help if any problems occur down the line.

There are two other options. First, you could choose one of Google’s “use your own router” plans and just install a VPN onto your current router. This is quicker, less risky, and less complex than trying to work around the limitations of proprietary hardware. Alternatively, you could pick up an inexpensive second router that supports VPN-friendly firmware and activate bridge mode on your Google Fiber router to get the two devices working in sync.

Does Google Fiber have TV and phone plans?

Yes, but not in the traditional sense. Google Fiber customers can add VoIP calling or an over-the-top streaming service like YouTube TV to their internet plan. Functionally, these features work the same as you’d expect. However, they’re delivered via the internet instead of your home’s phone line or coaxial cable.

So what does this mean for you, the customer? Well, you can quickly change your subscription plan without having to wait for an engineer to visit. Further, you won’t be locked into a multi-year contract if you decide you’d like to watch TV every once in a while. The downside is that if your internet goes down, you won’t be able to browse, call, or stream. Still, service outages are a fairly rare occurrence and tend to be resolved pretty quickly.