Best VPNs for Netgear routers (and how to install them)

Netgear routers, depending on the model, can work with VPNs in one or two ways:

• You can set up a VPN server on the router itself, allowing remote access to your home network and all of your devices
• You can set up a secure connection to a VPN server in another location

Netgear routers only include the first option by default, which gives you secure, remote access to a computer, IoT devices, or a media server in your home. Basically, the router is the VPN server.

The second option secures the internet connections of all your home devices and lets you unblock region-locked content. It is for you if you want private torrenting, geo-unblocking, and added security. It also allows you to prevent any simultaneous device connection limits, often found with most VPN plans.

Unfortunately, the VPN function built into Netgear router firmware doesn’t work with the second option. So if you want to connect your Netgear router to a VPN server in another location, you’ll need to replace the firmware with something like DD-WRT or Tomato.

Adding new firmware to your router is free and not particularly difficult, but it does carry certain risks, such as potentially damaging the router or voiding the warranty. If you want to mitigate these risks, the best solution is a VPN for Netgear routers.

Best VPN for Netgear routers:

NordVPN

Dec 2024 Best VPN for Netgear routersTested Dec 2024

We highly recommend NordVPN if you want to securely connect your Netgear router to a VPN server in a remote location.

If your router is compatible with DD-WRT firmware, you can follow the instructions for manual configuration on NordVPN’s website. Another option is to purchase a configured NordVPN Netgear router from FlashRouters.

NordVPN is the fastest VPN we’ve tested and is great for unblocking region-locked content like Netflix, Hulu, and BBC iPlayer. It’s also very secure and doesn’t store any identifying logs. Customer support is available 24/7 via a live chat feature on the website.

Although NordVPN is our top choice, Surfshark and ExpressVPN are also good choices if you’re looking for alternatives.

Methodology: How we find the best VPNs for Netgear Routers

At Comparitech, we use a scientific VPN testing methodology to test and review VPNs. This allows us to compare services and locate VPNs that are ideal for routers. We test for IP and DNS leaks and check the VPN apps for important privacy and security features. This includes checking the VPN’s protocols and encryption implementation. 

To find the best VPN for Netgear Routers, we compared the market in search of a provider with reliable apps and guides for setting up the VPN on a router. Below, we have included the key criteria we used to find the best VPN for Netgear:

• Excellent router compatibility and setup guides to get the VPN working effortlessly
• Large global server network with fast speeds to let you access vast amounts of content from around the world
• Lots of advanced privacy and security features to protect every device on your network. This includes 256-bit AES encryption and DNS leak protection
• Superb ease of use and reliability for accessing popular services like Netflix, Hulu, and more
• Outstanding live chat support and a money-back guarantee to test the service
• Good value for money with discounts for longer commitments

Netgear router VPNs explained

Many Netgear router models support Virtual Private Networks, but that might not mean what you think it means. A VPN setup on a stock Netgear router is much different than a typical VPN app on your phone or laptop.

Netgear lets users set up their own VPN server on the router itself. This allows you to access your home network from some other location through the internet. For example, if you’re out of the house and want to access your home PC, internet-of-things devices, or a media server, you can do so.

However, this setup does not secure your internet connection while at home or let you access region-locked content.

That’s where a VPN provider like NordVPN comes in. VPN providers operate servers all around the world and let you connect to them via encrypted tunnels. This enables you to access content that’s only available in other countries, for example. It also protects your privacy by preventing your ISP, government agencies, and hackers from snooping on your browsing activity and downloads.

Unfortunately, Netgear routers don’t support the option to connect to a remote VPN server. If you want to do that, you must replace the firmware.

How to set up a VPN to your home network on a Netgear router

This setup, which comes as a stock option on many Netgear router models, allows remote access to your home network, not the internet. This is useful for smart home and IoT devices, home media servers, and remote access to computers. It is not intended to give you an encrypted tunnel to the internet or a different public IP address.

Not every Netgear router comes equipped with this feature, but many do, including all ProSafe and Nighthawk models.

Because you’re setting up both a client and server, you’ll need to set up the VPN on both the router and the device with which you want to connect.

Here’s how to set up a VPN on a Netgear router:

1. Open a web browser and go to http://www.routerlogin.net.
2. Enter the username and password for your router admin panel (Netgear Genie). By default, the username is admin and the password is password, but you should change these if you haven’t already.
3. Go to Advanced > Advanced Setup > VPN Service.
4. Check Enable VPN Service and click Apply
5. Specify the VPN service settings you want. This depends on what you want to use the VPN for.
6. Download the OpenVPN configuration files for the type of device with which you want to connect, such as For Windows or For Smart Phone.
7. Move the files onto the device you want to connect to the VPN and import them into your OpenVPN app of choice.
8. Choose the OpenVPN profile you’ve created in the app and connect!

You can use the free, official OpenVPN apps available for most major operating systems. They are usually available from your device’s app store or default repository.

How to replace firmware on a Netgear router

If you want to connect your router to a remote VPN server, you’ll have to replace the firmware with something that offers this capability. This process, called “flashing,” can permanently damage your router and void the warranty if not performed correctly, so proceed with caution.

1. Download VPN-compatible firmware that works with your specific Netgear router model. We recommend something of the DD-WRT or Tomato varieties.
2. Open a web browser and go to http://www.routerlogin.net.
3. Enter the username and password for your router admin panel (Netgear Genie). By default, the username is admin and the password is password, but you should change these if you haven’t already.
4. Select Advanced > Administration > Router Update.
5. Click Browse and navigate to the firmware you downloaded in step 1.
6. Click Upload to flash the router.
7. Restart the router.

With your new firmware in place, you can set up a VPN connection. Check out our articles on the best VPNs for DD-WRT and best VPNs for Tomato routers for more information.

Are there any free Netgear router VPNs?

As discussed above, you can turn some Netgear routers into VPN servers that let you connect to your home network. This is a built-in feature, and you can connect to it using free and open-source VPN apps on your phone or laptop.

If you want to connect your router to a VPN server in another location, however, we know of no free options. Most free VPNs only work with phones and laptops on major operating systems.

At any rate, free VPNs are best avoided. They cap your data, throttle downloads, and force users to wait in queues to connect. Many track your online activity and sell the data to third parties such as advertisers. Some can even infect your device with malware or sell your bandwidth for use in botnet attacks.

Opt for a paid VPN if you want a quality service.

VPN for Netgear Routers FAQ