Searching for an improved VPN router option.
Searching for an improved VPN router option.
This piece has two main goals: to vent some frustration about a Netgear router experience and to explore better choices for VPN routers. Initially, I was using a GL•iNet GL-AR300M Mini Travel Router for VPN traffic at home. It worked well for streaming international content, but it needed occasional power cuts to restart. My wife wanted a replacement, so I bought a Netgear R6260. I spent hours setting it up for our VPN service, finding confusing instructions and conflicting advice online. A forum post suggested upgrading to the XR500 or XR1000 models, which are marketed as gaming routers. I was surprised they couldn’t set up the R6260 for VPN use, especially given its size and price. Netgear advised it wouldn’t work, citing lack of support for that use case. They suggested more expensive alternatives (£240–£330) but didn’t explain why. I’m still unsure if a Netgear router is the right path, especially since a smaller device can handle the job. I’m seeking recommendations on reliable VPN router options, ideal speeds and features, and what specs to prioritize. Any tips would be greatly appreciated.
I haven't tried it yet, but openWRT could be a suitable choice. You might even reuse the same router for your regular network and a separate VPN network. Which VPN service are you currently using?
If budget matters and you aim to stay under $300, I won't recommend anything priced at $25. If cost isn't a priority, speed and reliability matter more—entry-level business routers with VPN support work well and tend to be more stable. They come at a higher price, though. The choice really depends on how crucial stability is for you. Options like the Ubiquiti Edge Router 4 and access point fit, but they're on the pricier side. A FortiGate 30e with built-in Wi-Fi is another choice, though it's expensive. Consumer brands such as Linksys, Netgear, and TP-Link sometimes offer models that support VPN or can run openWRT, but generally they don't perform as well in practice.
To operate a VPN client on a router, you require a device with strong processing power since encryption and decryption processes demand significant CPU capacity. This can negatively impact your VPN speed. Modern solutions like WireGuard aim to lessen this burden and boost performance. Standard consumer routers often struggle with these connections, particularly when using default firmware. Typically, third-party firmware such as OpenWRT or DD-WRT can extract additional CPU resources to maintain a functional VPN. I've experienced success using Tomato firmware with an OpenVPN client (for ExpressVPN) on the Archer C7 in AP mode. The internet speed was capped at 30Mbps, yet the VPN link could reach full capacity. However, this was possible because the router operated in AP mode, which turned off its built-in functions. Verify if the R6260 supports third-party firmware.