How to Install and Use ExpressVPN on a Netgear Wireless Router. Express vpn Wi-Fi router • ROYAN-GLISSE.COM

The Best VPN Routers 2023

Using a VPN-protected router encrypts the traffic coming from all your devices, including ones where a VPN can’t be installed manually. Here are the best VPN routers we recommend.

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Having a virtual private network (VPN) on your router means protecting every internet-connected device in your home. Some Smart home devices and gaming consoles may not be able to install a VPN server, but a router enabled with the software can still protect those devices. This is especially important for gamers and families with kids online who want added security.

The three VPN choices below were chosen for their speed, features, capabilities, performance, bandwidth, and VPN accessibility for your home network. We have the more expensive Asus RT-AX86U router, the mid-range and preloaded ExpressVPN Aircove router, and the powerful budget TP-Link Archer AX21. All three are Wi-Fi 6-capable, pair well with mesh systems, can handle multiple devices, and have solid options for VPN providers.

If you’re still wondering about what router to choose, check out what we’ve rounded up.

Before you shop: Pre-flashed vs. unflashed routers

There are two options when it comes to a VPN on your router. Pre-flashed and unflashed routers are both readily available for purchase, but there are some key differences.

A pre-flashed router comes with a VPN already installed while an unflashed router does not. Whether you know what VPN software and security features you want or are just shopping for a compatible router, you’ll have different options to consider. There are drawbacks and benefits to both.

Pre-flashed routers

If you know what VPN encryption you want, you can purchase a pre-flashed router. This is also a great option if you know you want a VPN on your router, but aren’t completely confident in setting it up.

Unflashed routers

If you want a specific VPN protocol, you can purchase an unflashed router with the capabilities to install your preferred VPN and also the ability to change VPNs if the one you choose doesn’t have the features you’d like. If your VPN choice is unsupported, you’ll have to replace your router’s firmware to install the VPN protocol of your choice.

An unsupported VPN protocol can still be installed on an unflashed router by replacing the firmware. Open-source firmware such as DD-WRT or OpenWRT will both allow you to install the VPN. Another popular open-source firmware option is Tomato.

Asus RT-AX86U: Best overall

install, expressvpn, netgear, wireless, router, express

Asus RT-AX86U pros and cons

Easy-to-use app for installation and control
Lots of speed and power
Mesh-ready
Parental controls
Good for gamers

In addition to the Asus RT-AX86U looking like a Sith lord, it’s as powerful as one, too. With its Wi-Fi 6 capabilities and AiMesh compatibility, this device is in charge.

The Wi-Fi 6 capabilities, Ethernet wired and wireless options, as well as being AiMesh ready means you can set up a dead-zone-free system throughout your space.

The Asus RT-AX86U isn’t really compatible with DD-WRT and Tomato if you’re looking to do a firmware update for a VPN configuration. It does, however, come with proprietary ASUSWRT-Merlin firmware that supports a lot of different VPN options.

What this means is that you won’t have to figure out how to install the firmware update. The AX86U comes with that already done so you can follow the instructions provided to install your chosen VPN.

This is the priciest router on our list, and if you’re uncomfortable with installing your own VPN, it may not be the best choice for you. If you’re partial to using a firmware upgrade you’re familiar with, you won’t be able to with this router.

But if you’re looking for a powerful router that allows you to stream video while another family member is streaming a 4k game, you’ll be happy with this choice.

Asus RT-AX86U specs

Price	229.99 on Amazon
Built-in VPN	No
Speed	Up to 5,700 Mbps
Wi-Fi 6	Yes
Number of ports	6
Wi-Fi standards	802.11ax
Notable features	Free lifetime Asus AiProtection Pro security, mobile game mode, AiMesh-compatible
Details	Learn at Asus

ExpressVPN Aircove: Best for pre-installed VPN

ExpressVPN Aircove pros and cons

Covers 1,600 square feet on one device
Wi-Fi 6 ready
Multiple VPN connections for different devices
Ability to connect with existing mesh system

The ExpressVPN Aircove is really the first of its kind to come pre-installed with a notable VPN service. ExpressVPN is considered one of the best VPN services available, and having it pre-installed on a Wi-Fi 6-capable router is just a bonus.

The biggest downside is that you’ll have to purchase an ExpressVPN subscription separately, but your Aircove works effectively with or without an active subscription. Additionally, if you already have a mesh Wi-Fi system in your home, Aircove has the ability to integrate with one node to cover devices using that node.

Strict no-logs policy with independent audit
In-house Lightway protocol for more speed and security

expensive than NordVPN, Surfshark, and CyberGhost

One of the most impressive features of the Aircove is the ability to configure up to five different VPN channels for different devices. This means if you want your gaming console running out of Japan while your laptop is pinging in the U.K., you can do that through the app on your smartphone (which you purposely connected to a Polish server to watch Twitch). Oh, and if you need to access the internet without a VPN, you can do that too.

This allows you to play a Japanese game on your console while watching different regional content on Netflix on your laptop. If you’re wondering whether any of this VPN use is legal, it is throughout most of the world.

You should note that internet speeds do have the potential to drop when ExpressVPN is active. Also, this router does lock you into having only one VPN option, and ExpressVPN is a little costlier than competitors such as NordVPN, Surfshark, and CyberGhost.

Lastly, this router isn’t the most expensive we’ve seen, but it isn’t the least expensive either. As with all tech equipment, you get what you pay for. If you’re not comfortable with any aspect of installing a VPN on a router, the Aircove may be the perfect choice for you.

ExpressVPN Aircove specs

Price	189.90 on Amazon
Built-in VPN	Yes — ExpressVPN
Speed	1,200 Mbps
Wi-Fi 6	Yes
Number of ports	4
Wi-Fi standards	802.11ax, 802.11ac
Notable features	1,600 square-foot home coverage, Wi-Fi 6 capable, multi-screen 4k streaming support
Details	Learn at ExpressVPN

TP-Link Archer AX21: Best for performance on a budget

Archer AX21 pros and cons

Priced under 100
Wi-Fi 6-enabled
Compatible with multiple VPN protocols
Mesh capable
Tether app for changing settings

Just because the Archer AX21 is our budget option, don’t think that means it isn’t powerful. The AX21 is Wi-Fi 6 capable and delivers speeds up to 1,200 Mbps, all for under 100. The AX21 also allows you to create a mesh system by connecting Wi-Fi extenders. This means your entire space is blanketed in Wi-Fi.

If you’ve looked at TP-Link routers and read they tend to overheat, don’t worry about that with this one. Its silicon feet keep enough airflow around the router to stop the overheating problem.

The Tether app, which you can use to control the Archer AX21 from your phone, is available on iOS and Android devices, and allows you to complete the setup, change parental controls and other settings, and check the status of added network devices such as Wi-Fi extenders.

The one real caveat to the Archer AX21 is that you can’t add the VPN protocol from the Tether app. You’ll need to access TP-Link’s web GUI to install a VPN. TP-Link does provide a walkthrough for anyone wanting to do this. Supported protocols listed for the AX21 are OpenVPN, PPTP, and L2TP over IPsec, and the site specifically names ExpressVPN, NordVPN, Surfshark, Private Internet Access (PIA), and others as compatible.

Accessing the web GUI may be a hassle, but for a Wi-Fi router with fast connection speeds that costs less than 100, it’s a good trade-off.

TP-Link Archer AX21 specs

Price	74.99 on Amazon
Built-in VPN	No
Speed	1,200 Mbps
Wi-Fi 6	Yes
Number of ports	4
Wi-Fi standards	802.11 g, 802.11n, 802.11b, 802.11ax, 802.11a, 802.11ac
Notable features	Improves device battery life, OneMesh technology, easy-to-use app
Details	Learn at TP-LInk

Alternative routers for VPNs

Our choices certainly aren’t the only VPN routers on the market. There’s so much information out there, though, we wanted to pick routers that might appeal to everyone.

If Wi-Fi 6 isn’t your game or you’re not married to the idea of a mesh system, you can look to one of these runners-up. The NETGEAR Nighthawk X10 and Synology RT2600ac can easily handle streaming services, a high number of devices, and other heavy internet traffic.

NETGEAR Nighthawk X10

The Nighthawk X10 has seven wired ports, covers 2,500 square feet of your space, and has speeds up to 4,600 Mbps. With all of this plus parental controls and a price that falls below what Asus charges (it’s 250 on Amazon at the time of writing), you may wonder why we didn’t choose this router.

Although it does have the capability to install a VPN protocol, it isn’t Wi-Fi 6 enabled. If we’re moving into the future, we can’t look back. Eventually, Wi-Fi 5 (what we’re using) will be phased out. Why not purchase a product with Wi-Fi 6 now that will last you a while instead of one that will need to be retired in a few years?

With a price point so close to our Asus choice, we decided to go with the Asus for its Wi-Fi 6 capabilities. It’s also reported that the setup for this router can be laggy, and there are definite dead zones. The Nighthawk seems to respond well to one Wi-Fi extender but doesn’t seem to love multiple ones, which means no mesh system. If you have a large space or dense walls, this may not be for you.

Synology RT2600ac

Synology might not be a brand you’re familiar with, but this router can definitely hang with the more popular brand names. The RT2600ac is sleek with four ports, a ton of power, and comes in at about 150 on Amazon at the time of writing.

The RT2600ac has speeds up to 2,500 Mbps and supports multiple VPN options such as Open VPN, PPTP, SSTP, Synology SSL VPN, L2TP/IPSec, and WebVPN. You can create up to five separate networks, which is excellent for family, friends, and visitors. You can even restrict online time and block websites within specific categories such as online shopping if you really want a lot of controls to help with productivity.

Ultimately we went with a different choice because this one is a little bigger design-wise and doesn’t have Wi-Fi 6 capabilities. But for around 150, it’s a powerful router with a lot of potential.

Best VPN routers FAQs

What’s the best router for VPNs?

If you’re looking for an unflashed router the Asus RT-AX86U is Wi-Fi 6 capable, blazing fast, and great for gamers. If you prefer your VPN to come pre-installed, the ExpressVPN Aircove is also Wi-Fi 6-capable, has 1,600 square feet of range, and allows you to customize what connected devices run through the VPN and which ones don’t.

What’s the fastest router for VPNs?

The ExpressVPN Aircove comes pre-installed with ExpressVPN and is a high-powered star while the Asus RT-AX86U allows you to install your own VPN into its custom firmware for easy setup. The ExpressVPN Aircove reaches speeds of up to 1,200 Mbps while the Asus RT-AX86U maxes out at 5,700, and both allow you to game and stream without interruptions.

Do I need a special router for a VPN?

Yes, your router needs to be able to allow a firmware change to install a VPN or it needs to come with a VPN pre-installed. Most routers don’t come with the capability to install a VPN.

Do you really need a VPN router?

Whether you need a VPN router depends on what you’re doing online. If you want your traffic to be encrypted, want to access a variety of regional catalogs on streaming services, or have a gamer living in your space, you should consider a VPN router.

Bottom line: The best VPN routers

We chose these routers based on speed, performance, VPN compatibility, and ease of use. The Asus RT-AX86U is a beast that can handle all the online traffic your household can throw at it. Whether you have a family of gamers or four roommates each streaming 4K movies while working online and checking TikTok, the AX86U will keep everyone online seamlessly.

The ExpressVPN Aircove is one of the first of its kind preloaded with a notable VPN, and it still manages to be Wi-Fi 6 capable. If you already have an ExpressVPN subscription, you can log in and protect your network in a matter of minutes. Finally, our choice for the TP-Link Archer AX21 gives you all the controls you need for a fraction of the Asus and Aircove routers.

3 best VPN routers for home 2023

Price	Best for	Details
Asus RT-AX86U	229.99 on Amazon	Best overall	Learn at Asus
ExpressVPN Aircove	189.90 on Amazon	Best for pre-installed VPN	Learn at ExpressVPN
TP-Link Archer AX21	74.99 on Amazon	Best for performance on a budget	Learn at TP-LInk

How to pick a router with a VPN

When you’re looking for a router that supports a VPN, you’ll want to make sure the router has the option to install the VPN you want. You’ll also need to make sure speed and range are prioritized. A high-speed router means nothing if the range doesn’t include all your devices. If you have a large home or living space, you’ll also want to consider a router that adapts easily to a mesh Wi-Fi setup.

Key router features and settings to look for include:

At least 1,200 Mbps max speeds so you can stream video and games
Firmware options that allow you to use the VPN you want
Ease of use
An app that controls the features and settings
A large area of Wi-Fi coverage
Wi-Fi 6 capabilities
Value for price

Mary lives in Los Angeles and has been writing about tech for over 5 years. When she’s not writing for work or fun, you’ll find her in a theatre, at the movies, volunteering, or hiking the gorgeous SoCal landscape.

Are you annoyed with all the ads you see when scrolling through your news feed? There are ways to block those ads, learn how here.

Despite its higher-than-average cost, NordVPN offers excellent standards of security and privacy without compromising on internet speed.

Learn how to watch Netflix with a VPN if you want to access geo-restricted streaming content from another country.

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How to Install and Use ExpressVPN on a Netgear Wireless Router

Sure, you have a VPN app installed on your computers, smartphone, and tablet.

But, if you think about it, that leaves plenty of your connected devices (like those Ring cams we’ve been hearing about) totally unprotected.

Plus, it means you’re not getting as much as you should be out of your Apple TV, Roku, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Smart TV or other connected devices.

VPN providers can’t make apps for every connected device you own. First of all, it just doesn’t make economic sense.

Second, not every device maker allows VPN apps on their devices (::COUGH. Apple TV and Roku! ::COUGH. ).

Third, some devices, like a security camera or network-connected toaster, don’t have the ability to run a VPN app.

That’s why using a VPN on your home or office router makes sense. A VPN-enabled router protects all of your devices, even those that don’t have VPN apps available, like streaming boxes, gaming consoles, security cams and more.

Plus, a VPN-enabled router offers continuous protection, meaning you don’t need to remember to turn on the VPN each time. In addition, most VPNs offer a kill switch to automatically disconnect from the internet if the connection to the VPN server is lost. This prevents your online activities from being exposed.

By using a VPN-enabled router, you also open up access to geo-blocked services, providing access for all of your devices to streaming, gaming, and other content and services that might normally be blocked to users in your region of the world.

Last but not least, most VPN providers put a limit on the number of devices that can connect simultaneously to their service using a single set of login credentials. No matter how many devices you have connected to a VPN router, it only counts as one connection to the VPN service.

That makes a VPN router an optimal solution for large families and small businesses that might require a large number of VPN connections.

Why ExpressVPN?

If you’re looking for a reliable VPN to use with your Netgear router, the best one I can recommend is ExpressVPN.

ExpressVPN is compatible with a large number of router makes and models. However, it’s especially easy to use with some Netgear routers, as the provider offers its own custom firmware for use with two Netgear router models:

By using ExpressVPN’s custom firmware with one of these routers, you avoid all the hard work that would be involved with adjusting connection settings and configuration files, such as you may be forced to do if you were using a VPN with another type of router.

Plus, you can pick and choose which devices are connected through the VPN, and which are allowed to travel outside the encrypted tunnel.

As I previously mentioned, you can use ExpressVPN with a number of other Netgear routers, but if you opt to use the service with those, you’ll need to flash your router with open-source firmware, like DD-WRT, and there will be quite a bit of manual setup and configuration involved. (And that is a subject for another article.)

In addition to the provider’s compatibility with Netgear routers, it also offers a number of other features that make it an optimal choice for your VPN for any online activity.

ExpressVPN’s connection speeds are some of the best in the business. The super-fast download speeds make the provider an excellent option for users who enjoy streaming video, downloading large files, and engaging in a bit of action in the online gaming arena.

In addition to their excellent router support, the provider also offers a wide variety of apps for numerous device platforms, allowing you to easily protect and enhance your online activities when you’re away from your home or office.

There are apps available for the Amazon Fire, Android, Android TV, Chromebook, iOS, Linux, macOS, and Windows device platforms.

While I have seldom had any issues with ExpressVPN, their customer support folks have been there when I needed them. Live support chat is available 24/7. Email support, a trouble ticket system, and a searchable support and troubleshooting library are also there to help.

A VPN’s global server coverage determines what type of international content you’ll have access to. ExpressVPN has over 3,000 servers stationed in 94 countries around the globe.

While ExpressVPN is priced higher than many of its competitors, they offer an excellent return on investment. ExpressVPN offers a no-risk, 30-day money-back guarantee.

How to Set Up ExpressVPN on Your Netgear R6300v2 or Netgear Nighthawk R7000 Router

Installing ExpressVPN’s custom firmware on your Netgear router won’t take long. I’ve usually completed the entire process in under half an hour, and that includes reading and re-reading the instructions over and over to make sure I’ve done it all correctly.

In this section, I’m going to assume that you have an ExpressVPN subscription and that you own either a Netgear R6300v2 or Netgear Nighthawk R7000 router. (Seriously, don’t try this with another brand or model of router, because you could totally screw up your router.)

Downloading the ExpressVPN Firmware

To download the ExpressVPN firmware, follow the steps below.

Sign in to your ExpressVPN account on the provider’s website using your Mac, Windows, or Linux computer. You’ll be taken to your account dashboard.
While you’re on this page, take note of the “Activation code” shown at the bottom of the “Set up your devices” section of the screen. You can either leave this page open or click the activation code (“A” in the screenshot below), which will copy it to your computer’s clipboard. If you opt to copy it, open Notepad (or a similar text editor app) and paste it. You’ll need this later when configuring the firmware.
Also in the “Set up your devices” section, you’ll see a “Router” link. Click that. (“B” in the above screenshot.)
A new tab will open in your browser. Click the pull-down menu below “Select your router.”
Click the name of your router. I’ve selected the Netgear R6300v2, as it is the router I use. The installation procedure will be identical for the Nighthawk R7000 router.
Click the red “Download Firmware” button that appears.
When prompted, choose a directory to save the firmware to. Don’t forget where you save it, as you’ll be needing it shortly.
Once the firmware file has finished downloading, go on to the next section.

Installing the ExpressVPN Firmware

I strongly suggest that you connect to the router using an Ethernet cable if at all possible.

While I realize many modern laptops no longer include an Ethernet port among their specs, Amazon and other vendors offer a USB-to-Ethernet adapter or a USB-C- to-Ethernet adapter for as little as 10. Using an Ethernet connection will make the process faster and simpler.

While your browser is still open, access your Netgear router’s dashboard by going to routerlogin.net. If that doesn’t work, try entering 192.168.1.1 into your browser’s address bar.
Your browser will prompt you for your existing router administrator login and password. (If you haven’t changed it (shame on you), it’s likely admin/admin or admin/password.)
You should now see your router’s admin dashboard. It should look similar to the screenshot below.
On the router dashboard, click the “ADVANCED” tab at the top of the screen. On the sidebar of the “ADVANCED” tab,click “Administration” and then click “Router Update.”
Click the “Browse” button. When the file explorer window opens, navigate to the directory where you saved the firmware you downloaded. (Hint: the filename format is: “expressvpn-netgear-rxxxxx-vxxxx.chk”.) The screenshot below is from a Mac, but the Windows version will be similar.
Click “Upload” to reflash the router with the ExpressVPN firmware. Wait for the router to complete the flashing process and restart. (It shouldn’t take longer than 5 minutes, tops.)

Configuring the ExpressVPN Firmware

Once your router has restarted, you will need to make sure you are connected to your newly-protected Netgear router.

If you are already connected via an Ethernet cable, then you’re definitely connected to the router.

If you are connecting via Wi-Fi, you’ll need to search for the “NETGEAR_(modelname)_(revision)” Wi-Fi network and connect to it.

The exact name of the network and the password should either be on a sticker on the front or the bottom of the router. If you have previously changed the name of the wireless network and/or the password, let’s hope you remember them.

If your browser doesn’t automatically take you to the ExpressVPN router dashboard, go to www.expressvpnrouter.com. If that doesn’t work, try entering 192.168.1.1 into your browser’s address bar.
Once you’re on the ExpressVPN router dashboard, click the “Get Started” button.
If your ISP requires a username and password, enter it and click the “Connect” button. If not, click “My ISP Has No Login.”
Remember that account activation code I told you to save somewhere? Well, we need it now. Copy and paste it into the provided field and click the “Sign In” button.
On the next screen, you’ll be given the option to share crash reports and anonymous analytics with the VPN provider. Either click “OK” to share them, or “No Thanks.” This is totally your call. I clicked “OK,” since it doesn’t affect your privacy any, since it’s all anonymous.
On the next screen, you’ll configure the details for your VPN-protected Wi-Fi network. You’ll enter the name of the Wi-Fi network (I named mine “FBI-VPN” just to screw with my neighbors), and then enter a new Wi-Fi connection password – one that is secure. Click “Continue.”
Now you will set the router admin password. Make sure it isn’t the same as the Wi-Fi password you just set, as whoever knows it will have full access to configuring your Wi-Fi network and VPN protection. Click “Continue.”
Click “Done” to confirm your router’s new administration settings. You might need to reconnect to your router’s Wi-Fi.
On the next screen, you’ll see that you’ve automatically been connected to the best-performing VPN server in your country. In my case, I was connected to a server in Dallas.
I went to WhatIsMyIPAddress.com and as you can see, my computer now has an IP address located in Dallas.

Using the ExpressVPN-Enabled Wi-Fi Router

Connecting a device to your ExpressVPN-protected Wi-Fi router is the same as with any Wi-Fi router. You can either connect via an Ethernet cable if there’s a free Ethernet port available on the back of your router, or you can connect via Wi-Fi.

Either way, all of your traffic will be encrypted, and your device will appear to be located in whichever server location you have selected. ( about that below.)

Selecting a Server Location

By default, the ExpressVPN router app will connect you to the best possible VPN server location by using a process called “Smart Location.” This is determined by using such anonymous metrics as connection speed, latency, and distance.

However, you can also choose to connect to any other ExpressVPN server, which will benefit you by opening access to content (such as streaming and gaming content or banking services) that might normally be blocked in your area.

To change your server location, go towww.expressvpnrouter.com. If that doesn’t work, try entering 192.168.1.1 into your browser’s address bar. You’ll be taken to the ExpressVPN router dashboard.
To connect to a different VPN server location, click on the location “picker.”
Browse through the available locations until you find the one you want, then click on that location. (You can also use the search bar to find a location).
The router will disconnect from the previous VPN server and connect to the new one. There may be a short period of time without internet connectivity while the router connects to the new VPN server.

All of your connected devices will now appear to be located in the same area as the newly selected VPN server.

Managing Devices Connected to the ExpressVPN Router

You’ll notice that by default, the ExpressVPN app routes all internet traffic through the VPN. However, it’s possible to pick and choose which devices use the VPN, and which devices will use an unprotected connection.

This ability can come in handy when you need some devices to use a normal, unprotected internet connection, as they need to connect to resources in your area. Meanwhile, other devices can be protected and use resources that might normally be geo-blocked.

On the ExpressVPN router dashboard, click on the “Devices” tab.
You’ll likely see that “Each device uses” is set to “Router VPN,” which means all devices that are connected to the router have their connection routed through ExpressVPN’s servers.
You can click on “Each device uses” to set it to “Per device setting,” which then displays a list of connected devices.
You can then select which devices are protected by the Router VPN, uses no VPN, or uses the MediaStreamer DNS service (handy for Xbox, PlayStation 4, Apple TV, and other internet-connected devices that have no VPN app available).

How To Change the Wi-Fi/SSID Name and Password

There may come a time when you need to change the name of your wireless network (Wi-Fi/SSID name). This may be because someone else is using your network’s name, or simply because you’re whimsical and always wanted to have a Wi-Fi network named “Bill Wi the Science Fi.”

In the sidebar, click “Network Settings”. “Wi-Fi Settings.”
Under “Enable Wi-Fi network”, enter the Wi-Fi name and password you want to use.
Click the “Save” button. You will see a message that says “Connection to Router Lost” while the changes are being saved to the router.

Internet Settings

The “Internet Settings” section in “Network Settings” is best left alone. This information was saved when you first set up your ExpressVPN firmware.

If for some reason you find the need to change this information (such as if you have changed internet providers), contact ExpressVPN customer support to have them walk you through any needed changes.

Local Network Settings

The “Local Network Settings” section in “Network Settings” is another group of settings that’s best left alone unless you absolutely need to make any changes.

However, this is where you’ll go if you’re experiencing any conflicts with other routers on your network. You’ll be able to change your router’s IP address, Subnet Mask, and the range of IP addresses that can be assigned to devices that connect to the router.

Advanced Settings

In the “Advanced Settings” menu, there are numerous options associated with the operation of your ExpressVPN-enabled router.

The “Router Settings” menu is where you change the admin password. This is the password that provides access to the router’s settings and is not the same password used to connect to the Wi-Fi network.

“Software Update” is where you go to update the ExpressVPN firmware or to revert your router to its original “out-of-the-box” state (more about that later). You’ll download the latest firmware update from the ExpressVPN website, save it to your computer’s hard drive and upload it to your router.

“Back Up and Restore” allows you to back up the settings of your hard drive and restore them if needed.

“Port Forwarding” allows you to set up remote management for devices connected to your ExpressVPN-enabled router. This allows you or other users to remotely access your devices.

To set up port forwarding, follow the steps below.

Click “Port Forwarding” in the “Advanced Settings” menu.
Click “Add New Rule.”
Fill out the fields on the form as follows: Description:Device:Internal Port: 80 External Port: 8080 Protocol: TCP
Click “Save” to add the new rule.
You should now be able to remotely access the device by going to :8080.

“Dynamic DNS” – If you have a DDNS hostname set up (see more about that here), you can enter it here, which will allow you to remotely access devices connected to the ExpressVPN-enabled router using a DDNS hostname instead of your public IP address.

Click “Dynamic DNS” in the “Advanced Settings” menu.
Fill out the fields as follows: DDNS Service:Hostname:Password:
Click “Save” to add the hostname.
You should now be able to remotely access your connected device by going to :8080.

Rebooting Your ExpressVPN Router

Occasionally, you’ll find the need to reboot your router. After all, a router is basically a small computer that controls the connections of the devices that are connected to it. If your router is “acting up,” the first thing to try is rebooting it.

You can reboot your router as follows:

Click the “Reboot Router” button found in the lower left-hand corner of the ExpressVPN router Dashboard.
Click “Continue” to reboot the router. In just a few minutes, the router will reboot and your connection to the internet will be restored.

How to Reset Your ExpressVPN Router Back to the Original Firmware

There may come a time when you want to return your ExpressVPN-enabled router back to its original firmware, restoring it to its original, factory-released state.

This can be the case if you’ve bought a new router, want to sell your old one, or want to use the router for a different project.

Before you begin the process, make sure you have the router’s original firmware on hand. You can download a copy from the Netgear support website. Enter your router’s model number or product name to find the firmware. The model number can be found on the bottom or back of your router.

Once you’ve downloaded the firmware, do the following:

Go to www.expressvpnrouter.com. If that doesn’t work, try entering 192.168.1.1 into your browser’s address bar. You’ll be taken to the ExpressVPN router dashboard.
In the left sidebar,go to “Advanced Settings”. “Software Update.”
Click on “Choose file” and select the firmware file.
Click on the “Update Now” button.
The firmware will begin updating, returning your router to its original, fresh-out-of-the-box state. Your browser should return to the Netgear dashboard when the process is complete. The entire process should take less than 5 minutes to complete.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Using a Router-Based VPN

Constant Protection

If you use a VPN with your router, you benefit from always-on protection.

If you’re like me, you have sometimes forgotten to turn on your VPN protection on your computer when sharing files or engaging in other “unapproved” online activities.

With a VPN running on your router, your online activities are always protected from prying eyes.

Protection for All of Your Connected Devices

When you have a VPN running on your router, any device that connects to your network is automatically protected by the VPN.

This includes game consoles, streaming boxes, Smart TVs, and other connected devices that normally would not be able to benefit from VPN protection.

Upfront Expense

Purchasing a router that offers compatibility with your VPN provider can cost you a good amount of money upfront.

There is a good chance that your current router is not compatible with your VPN provider. A router that offers compatibility and that is powerful enough to efficiently manage a VPN connection can cost hundreds of dollars.

Plus, not all VPN providers offer router compatibility, or they charge extra for the feature. This means that you’ll likely be paying more for your VPN subscription. (Thankfully, this is not the case with ExpressVPN.)

Your Connection Speeds Will Be Slower

When running a VPN on your computer or other connected devices, you’ve likely noticed your connection speeds are slower.

The same thing happens when you use a VPN-enabled router. Plus, those slower speeds will apply to all of the devices connected to the router.

Router manufacturers, like any other company, keep an eye on the bottom line. This means they won’t use a more powerful (and expensive) processor in their routers if they don’t need to. A router is designed to do one thing: maintain and route your internet connection to your connected devices.

If you install a VPN on that same router, the processor works that much harder because it is now responsible for encrypting and decrypting the data being sent and received by your devices. The more devices, the lower the performance and the slower your speeds.

Less Flexibility

When you’re using a VPN app installed on your device, you can control when to turn the protection on and when to turn it off. If you’re connected to a VPN-enabled router, your VPN protection is always on.

While many VPN routers offer features that can select which device(s) use the VPN connection, you need to know the administrator password to make that change.

Can I Use a Free VPN With My Netgear Router?

Most “free” VPNs only work with mobile, desktop, and laptop devices, and therefore they don’t offer compatibility with routers. (I say “most” free providers, but to be honest, I can’t think of any freebie VPNs that offer router compatibility.)

Plus, many sans-fee VPNs will throttle your connection speeds and also impose daily or monthly data caps on your usage. Data caps are not a good idea in any situation, but especially not when you have multiple devices using the same VPN connection.

Plus, keep in mind that even a “free” VPN service is run with an eye to making a profit. Many VPNs of this type will monitor your online activities and sell that information to advertisers and other interested third parties.

Still, other freebie VPNs will inject unwanted ads and tracking cookies into your browser sessions. And those cookies continue to track you, even when you’re not connected to the VPN.

Does ExpressVPN Work With Any Router Brands Other Than Netgear?

Yes, In addition to Netgear routers, ExpressVPN can be used with Asus and Linksys routers. (The provider offers firmware for routers from both companies.) The provider can also be manually set up on other router makes and models.

Are There Any Free VPNs That Can Be Installed on Netgear Routers?

To my knowledge, there are no free VPNs that offer support for Netgear or most other brand routers, for that matter. You should avoid free VPNs at all costs. They are not truly private and limit their users’ online activities, thanks to a limited server network, data caps, and bandwidth throttling.

Do Any Routers Have Built-In VPNs?

Many VPNs, including ExpressVPN, offer preconfigured routers with VPNs from Flashrouters.com. The ExpressVPN routers are flashed and preconfigured with the ExpressVPN router firmware, meaning it is ready to go with the popular VPN provider right out of the box. ExpressVPN also offers its own Aircove Wi-Fi 6 router, which is also ready to go out of the box.

What Are the Benefits and Drawbacks of the Lightway Protocol?

Compared to most protocols Lightway boasts a small codebase (around 1,000 lines of code). This means the protocol is easy to audit and exposes less of an attack surface. Lightway also makes sure that encryption and decryption keys are not recycled, making it more difficult for anyone to intercept your data.

As for drawbacks, unlike more established protocols, like OpenVPN, is not open source, meaning fixes to bugs could take longer to be put in place. ExpressVPN does plan to make the Lightway code open source in the near future. Lightway also doesn’t have any built-in obfuscation. This means outsiders, like your ISP can detect that you’re connected to a VPN.

In Closing

While there are certainly disadvantages to using a VPN on your router, the advantages greatly outweigh the drawbacks.

A router-based VPN, like the one that ExpressVPN offers, provides full-time VPN protection for all of your devices, including streaming and gaming devices, and even your internet-connected microwave oven.

ExpressVPN offers top-notch VPN protection for all of your internet-connected devices via a single access point. The provider offers a reasonably simple setup with Netgear routers and even makes pre-configured routers available if you don’t want to do it yourself.

The provider offers excellent global server coverage, top-notch connection protection, and fast download speeds.

Why ExpressVPN?
How to Set Up ExpressVPN on Your Netgear R6300v2 or Netgear Nighthawk R7000 Router
Using the ExpressVPN-Enabled Wi-Fi Router
How to Reset Your ExpressVPN Router Back to the Original Firmware
Advantages and Disadvantages of Using a Router-Based VPN
Can I Use a Free VPN With My Netgear Router?
ExpressVPN and Netgear FAQs
Does ExpressVPN Work With Any Router Brands Other Than Netgear?
Are There Any Free VPNs That Can Be Installed on Netgear Routers?
Do Any Routers Have Built-In VPNs?
What Are the Benefits and Drawbacks of the Lightway Protocol?
In Closing

How to Set up ExpressVPN on a Linksys router – Easy guide!

If you already own a Linksys router, you can easily set up the ExpressVPN app for routers to add an extra layer of security and privacy to your home or office network. In today’s knowledgebase, I’m going to tell you exactly how to set up the ExpressVPN app on your Linksys router.

Note: Before we begin, the below-mentioned steps only work with the following Linksys router models:

Download the ExpressVPN app for your Linksys router

So in order to download the ExpressVPN app for your Linksys router, you’ll need to first head over to their website and then log in to your account. Once you do that, just follow the steps listed below:

First, click the button that says “Set Up on Devices“.

Click on “Router” on the left-hand side of the screen and select your router model from the dropdown.

Next, click on “Download Firmware” and also make sure to copy your “activation code” as you’re going to be needing it later on in this setup process.

Set up the ExpressVPN app on your Linksys router

Once you’ve successfully downloaded the ExpressVPN firmware for your Linksys router, go ahead and make that your router is properly set up and connected to the internet. After that, just follow the steps below:

Sign in to your router’s admin panel by visiting www.linksyssmartwifi.com, type in the username as “admin” and then click on “Sign In“.

Next, from the “Router Settings” tab, click on “Connectivity”

After that, click on “Choose File” located under Router “Firmware Update“ – “Manual” and upload the ExpressVPN firmware that you downloaded earlier.

Next, click on “Start” and follow the on-screen instructions to perform the firmware update. Do note that your router will restart during the update process.

Note: Your Wi-Fi network’s name and password will reset once you install the ExpressVPN app on your Linksys router. After the changes, your router’s name will look something like this, “LinksysXYZ”. You can find the default password on the sticker located under your router.

Moving forward, connect to the internet via your router’s Wi-Fi or by cable then visit www.expressvpnrouter.com.

Next, click on “Get Started” to begin the ExpressVPN router setup process.

Finally, paste in your ExpressVPN activation code and proceed to connect to VPN server location.

Connect to any ExpressVPN server location

Now that you’ve properly downloaded and configured ExpressVPN on your Linksys router, it’s time to connect to a server location. Remember, ExpressVPN offers 3000 servers all over the world.

To connect to any of ExpressVPN’s server locations, click on the “location picker“.

Browse through all the available locations and then click on any server location you like to connect to.

You can also use the “search bar” to search for any particular location you like to connect to.

That’s it, you’re all set to use ExpressVPN right from your router. If you purchased any of the above-listed routers through FlashRouters, you can refer to the setup steps here. If you didn’t purchase your Linksys router from FlashRouters and need help setting up, here are some setup steps for the WRT1200, WRT3200, WRT1900 or EA6200. If you don’t own Linksys router, you can try the manual router setup steps.

Guides on ExpressVPN

You can read our other ExpressVPN guides:

Unless you’re in a tiny space, you probably shouldn’t use it as your only router, but easy VPN configuration makes it worth considering anyway.

So it’s not like I’m always out here talking about Virtual Private Networks; I’m not a YouTube ad read. But the few times I bring them up in polite company, the conversation screeches to a halt as I slowly realize that nobody knows what I’m talking about. Thankfully, that’s changing as VPNs become more of a known quantity and the industry consolidates into the hands of a few big companies (weird, that sounds familiar ). In the meantime, the 190 ExpressVPN Aircove router is intended to be there, waiting, as more folks look for convenient ways to keep their web traffic obscured.

Sam Bankman-Fried Using a VPN, McDonald’s AI Drive Thru Fails, Buzzfeed AI Quizzes Suck | Editor Picks

See, that’s what a VPN does—when you connect to it, good VPN software encrypts and diverts your web traffic to its own servers, then sends it off to where you were trying to go, except now with a new origin IP address that’s not your home network. Some even support multi-hop connections, so your traffic bounces around two or more times, making it more difficult to follow. With a VPN, you can keep your browsing habits hidden from prying eyes, including those of your ISP (internet service provider). You can also use a VPN to hide your IP from hackers or unlock region-specific streaming shows (or more privately sail the high seas. so to speak).

ExpressVPN Aircove Router

It probably shouldn’t be your only router, but it’s a great way to make a Smart home more private.

ExpressVPN Aircove Router

It probably shouldn’t be your only router, but it’s a great way to make a Smart home more private.

9 Small range, settings are sparse

The Aircove takes this concept and puts it in a router, automatically encrypting traffic for your entire home network if you like. It’s sort of a first-of-its-kind thing. That’s not to say there haven’t been routers with VPN functionality built into them before— there have —but the Aircove is more of a fully-fledged router in its own right rather than a VPN device with a router tacked on. As such, it uses comparatively powerful hardware and more modern wireless protocols than prior attempts. It also benefits from vertical integration, a term we normally associate with big-name companies like Apple, which controls both the hardware and software stacks of its products. The Aircove is so wrapped up in the VPN experience that, when you first set it up, entering an ExpressVPN activation code (or signing up for a new account) is the first thing it wants you to do. So before you even set your router’s SSID and password or handle any other configuration, you have to get the VPN going (which is a separate subscription, by the way, and admittedly kind of pricey as these things go).

It’s a cute way for Express to tell you its router is serious about privacy, and a clever way to make sure you know for sure what the Aircove is all about.

ExpressVPN as a service

ExpressVPN is one of the best VPN services you can get today. Its apparent privacy practices are strong; I say ‘apparent’ because we can’t really know how secure ExpressVPN’s servers are without direct access and testing by many different companies and expert privacy advocates. The company itself has commissioned 16 independent audits of its privacy and security practices, including a recent one by independent auditor Cure53 of the router itself. but we have to take them with a grain of salt. Performance-wise, ExpressVPN is up there with NordVPN, if a touch slower when using both providers’ bespoke VPN protocols. I’ve used both, and I tend to only see around a 10% slower download speed compared to no VPN with either.

ExpressVPN is generally accepted to be a top-tier, no-logging service—that is, the company keeps no persistent logs of user data apart from what it uses for technical maintenance, which the company says can’t be traced to any one user (this appears to be confirmed by the December 2022 audit of ExpressVPN’s privacy claims by auditing firm KPMG in a publicly-accessible report ), and the Aircove is the first dedicated hardware from such a company. As I said above, there have been VPN routers before, but fully designed and produced by a VPN company, with control over the router hardware design and software, as well as the VPN service? That’s new.

There are good reasons to use a VPN router versus running the service via software on each device. Running a VPN on a laptop or smartphone uses local CPU resources, so having everything done at the network-level offloads that, meaning you’ll have more power at your disposal. But there are trade-offs. It’s a little less convenient without a taskbar app at your disposal, you don’t get as many options per device, and network-level VPNs are slower, for reasons we’ll get into below.

Solid VPN router performance, restrictive options

Network-level VPN comes with a much bigger penalty to your throughput than you’d get running the software directly on your computer. That’s because it takes fast, dedicated hardware to quickly encrypt your data before it leaves your home network, which your computer has—routers just don’t have the horsepower, even one with a Qualcomm quad-core CPU like the one found in the Aircove (and plenty of other routers). Considering that, ExpressVPN’s router does a pretty good job.

How good? For me, it managed about a fifth (between 82Mbps and 120Mbps) of my 500Mbps downstream connection, with almost no penalty to upload throughput. That’s still fast enough for decent download speeds and more than enough to stream—in what passes for 4K in these parts—the latest episode of Picard and the Gang. Switching to a wired gigabit connection goosed it a little, pushing around 140Mbps on most speedtests (using Ookla Speedtest). Playing with the VPN protocols available to me, I was able to get over 160Mbps when I switched to the faster but less compatible IKEv2 protocol. If you don’t know what I mean by protocol, it’s basically the standardized software that determines how traffic is encrypted and transmitted, and which security methods it uses to communicate with servers.

Still, I don’t think you should use the VPN for your high-bandwidth applications. Probably the best use for it is obscuring traffic for devices that traditionally can’t use VPN software—Smart home devices like Wi-Fi light switches, plugs, appliances, and Smart TVs often send traffic to and from manufacturers’ servers, sometimes with no encryption. Connecting these exclusively to the Aircove so their data leaves your network already-encrypted is an appealing idea. And don’t worry—since the Aircove only counts as one device toward the five-device total that comes with the company’s standard VPN plan. you can still use ExpressVPN’s dedicated software on your main computer even after connecting so many devices to the Aircove.

There are a couple of ways of setting up the Aircove so that it can protect your otherwise un-encryptable devices while letting a faster device service the rest of your home network. The best way is probably to attach the Aircove to another router and use it as a separate access point for the devices you want it to cover. Then, use ExpressVPN’s software for your computers, tablets, and phones, connected to your primary router. Devices protected via software will also gain features like a tracker and malicious site blocking, though during a briefing with the company’s Aircove product manager, David Gilbert, I was told the company is working on adding these features to the router soon.

As a router, Aircove is no hot rod

There are basically three kinds of router designs: air freshener chic lumps (or obelisks) that meekly take up as little space as possible, spiky spaceships dripping with RGB lights and promises of perfect headshots, and the all-business black boxes that know what they are and know that you don’t care what they look like. The Aircove falls in the latter category, and it looks fine. On the back, it has four mildly adjustable antennas, four ethernet ports and a little barrel-shaped plug for its 12-volt power brick. On the side, you’ll find a WPS button and hidden USB-A port. As for its performance and configuration options, they’re about as thrilling as a tepid, shallow pool on a hot, cloudless summer day in Texas.

For most ordinary peoples’ needs, the Aircove is fine—it’s a dual Band, so you’ll get separate bands for 2.4GHz and 5GHz connections, though pricier tri-Band routers are more versatile, as they give you an additional, often higher-throughput 5GHz (or sometimes 6GHz, as in the case of Wi-Fi 6E) Band for your most speed-critical uses, such as large downloads or Cloud back-ups. It’s also a Wi-Fi 6 router, meaning it uses a protocol that brings key enhancements to Wi-Fi that offers greater security and stability, the latter owing to improved wireless interference handling. Wi-Fi 6 is the standard on which Wi-Fi 6E is built (the only difference being that Wi-Fi 6E adds the 6GHz Band, which was only opened for unlicensed use in April 2020 and offers faster speed, thanks to having nearly double the 160MHz-wide channels offered by the 5GHz spectrum).

Wi-Fi has been moving fast in the last few years, and Wi-Fi 6 is still a relatively new standard— Wi-Fi 6 certification only arrived in 2019 —and though there were routers supporting it very soon after, like the Asus RT-AX88U, some of the most popular smartphones and computers on the market today (I’m looking at you, Apple) still haven’t adopted it. That’s to say nothing of the forthcoming Wi-Fi 7 protocol, which promises massive speed increases and other performance upgrades, but which won’t be certified until at least 2024. Given the slow uptake of even Wi-Fi 6E, there’s not much reason to hold out for a Wi-Fi 7 router now, unless you just really like having wireless networking bragging rights.

In short, for most people, the Aircove’s Wi-Fi 6 connection is more than good enough to stream most content—including 4K video and even Cloud games (though with the VPN turned on, I saw heavier-than-usual video compression while using Xbox Cloud Gaming, even wired). The Aircove even put up respectable wireless performance in online multiplayer games, though not with the VPN on—encrypting your traffic and routing it through an extra server doesn’t tend to be great for in-game latency. But it lacks the 160MHz channel bandwidth that lets fancier routers push out data at near-gigabit-or-better rates, so it’s not the best choice as the sole source of Wi-Fi on a more-than-500Mbps internet plan. Same goes if you have a demanding Wi-Fi network or have a particularly large home (ExpressVPN says it’s good up to about 1,600 square feet, and in my own 1,800 square foot home, Wi-Fi reached all of it well enough for basic web browsing and even streaming video), but that doesn’t mean it won’t have its uses as a secondary router, even if you’ve got a gigabit connection.

Quick note on my testing: I don’t have access to a laboratory, but I do my best to eliminate as many variables as I can. When I test, it’s always from the same locations in my home, and with nobody else home. I use an M2 MacBook Air, hardwired directly to the router with a gigabit ethernet cable, as my ‘server,’ and my roaming ‘client’ device is a Samsung Galaxy Book 3 equipped with a Wi-Fi 6E network card (that’s the latest Wi-Fi protocol, capable of communicating on the 6GHz Band, a newly-opened-for-consumer-use range of wireless spectrum that basically means faster Wi-Fi for routers and computers).

I performed 120 throughput tests on the most commonly-used wireless Band-and-protocol combinations in different locations in my home, averaging tests from each location to get a picture of its performance, and each test was done locally using iperf3. a robustly-configurable network testing tool. It simulates file transfers over the network and cuts out my internet connection as an obfuscating factor in these tests.

In my testing, the Aircove averaged just under 400Mbps at four feet away using a Wi-Fi 6 connection, but only managed a little over 300Mbps on Wi-Fi 5, which is the protocol most devices 2 years old or older use. At 15 feet away and in my living room with a direct line of sight, the Aircove’s throughput dropped to 204Mbps on both protocols, but managed to only lose about 20Mbps more using Wi-Fi 6 in my upstairs bedroom (on Wi-Fi 5, it fell considerably to 131Mbps). That’s about the same distance, but with a floor and a bed between the router and my laptop.

The connection was at its worst in two spots. The first was in my basement, where the signal has to contend with water pipes, a cabinet, flooring layers, and a drop ceiling. The second, unfortunately, was in my office, where weird angles, two or three walls (depending on what you count) and a large shelf crammed full of metal and plastic all sit between the router and my computer. In those two locations, throughput fell to the 60-75Mbps range, which is still fast enough that you won’t notice a major dip until you’re downloading large files.

All of that testing was with the VPN off. With it on, I saw only single-digit megabit-per-second throughput at worst, which is part of why I don’t think the Aircove is an ideal replacement for running ExpressVPN directly on your computer. Overall, performance was okay, but you can get better non-VPN Wi-Fi performance out of similarly-priced, or even cheaper routers like Amazon’s Eero 6. When I tested that, without connected mesh nodes, it stayed above 200Mbps in most locations in my home.

Not for those with a hankerin’ for some tinkerin’

The Aircove feels, in some ways, like the Eero of VPN routers — it’s user-friendly but its advanced settings options menus are barren places. You won’t be adjusting the transmission power or toggling multi-user multiple-input multiple-output. both things you might want to tinker with if you’re troubleshooting issues with interference or older wireless devices (MU-MIMO is a Wi-Fi 5 feature that allows a router to transmit to multiple devices simultaneously, but can cause stability issues if you have a lot of devices that don’t support it). There’s not even a guest network option!

I asked about the lack of deep configuration, and Gilbert’s answer distilled to, basically, that the company wants the router to work and wants to avoid customers hampering the router’s performance to an unusable extent—bad news for anyone who knows what they’re doing (or just likes to tinker), but good for the less technically-inclined, and for the company, from a tech support standpoint.

Still, the management interface has nice, easy to use features, like the ability to just drag and drop devices from the main connected clients list to up to five groups, allowing you to toggle the VPN selectively for those collections of computers, phones, gaming consoles, or whatever. You can choose your preferred VPN protocol, and you get three choices here: Lightwave, OpenVPN, and IKEv2. Those basically go in order from slowest to fastest (and newest to oldest). If you’d rather choose your own DNS service to use when the VPN is off, you can do that, and ExpressVPN provides a dropdown menu of pre-configured Dynamic DNS services for times when it’s on.

An oddity in the modern router landscape, there’s no smartphone app to control the Aircove — it’s all done through a good old-fashioned web interface, which you get to by either typing in the local IP address of the router or by going to expressvpnrouter.com while connected to it. Once you’re there, it’s indistinguishable from a dedicated app. This is good: some router companies have gone so far in the other direction that you can only configure your router from a smartphone, which is a questionable approach. ExpressVPN shows you can have your cake and eat it, too.

By default, the router is set to send crash reports to ExpressVPN, which is a little annoying — the standard in software is moving toward making this opt-in, which I prefer, though it’s easy to find and change this setting. If you want to turn this off, you’ll find the option to do so in the VPN preferences menu.

The Aircove isn’t a complete product, but shows promise

Among what I’ve tested, the Aircove is the easiest way to add VPN service to your Wi-Fi network, full stop. Setup and configuration is fast and easy, and as a router, it’s not flashy or particularly powerful, but it gets the job done. The user-friendly approach to its VPN abilities is refreshingly easy. I love the drag-and-drop group creation, for example.

Yet the Aircove has work to do before it really holds its own as a router. Though you can finagle parental controls into it by adding childrens’ devices to a group that has no internet service, there is no scheduling ability, so you’ll have to do that manually every time you want to restrict internet, unless you want their devices permanently cut off from the web. Gilbert says the company releases software updates at least monthly, and it sounds like the team is working to introduce more features as time wears on. But for now, the Aircove’s best life may be lived as an accessory to your network, rather than the center of it.

In short, the Aircove isn’t fancy, but it doesn’t need to be. It just needs to do VPN things, and it does that pretty darn well. If you want VPN service for more than just a handful of devices, the Aircove is the easiest way to do it.

Yahoo Lifestyle

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The ExpressVPN Aircove Is a Serviceable Router That Hides Web Traffic For Your Whole Home

So it’s not like I’m always out here talking about Virtual Private Networks; I’m not a YouTube ad read. But the few times I bring them up in polite company, the conversation screeches to a halt as I slowly realize that nobody knows what I’m talking about. Thankfully, that’s changing as VPNs become more of a known quantity and the industry consolidates into the hands of a few big companies (weird, that sounds familiar). In the meantime, the 190 ExpressVPN Aircove router is intended to be there, waiting, as more folks look for convenient ways to keep their web traffic obscured.

The Aircove takes this concept and puts it in a router, automatically encrypting traffic for your entire home network if you like. It’s sort of a first-of-its-kind thing. That’s not to say there haven’t been routers with VPN functionality built into them before—there have—but the Aircove is more of a fully-fledged router in its own right rather than a VPN device with a router tacked on. As such, it uses comparatively powerful hardware and more modern wireless protocols than prior attempts. It also benefits from vertical integration, a term we normally associate with big-name companies like Apple, which controls both the hardware and software stacks of its products. The Aircove is so wrapped up in the VPN experience that, when you first set it up, entering an ExpressVPN activation code (or signing up for a new account) is the first thing it wants you to do. So before you even set your router’s SSID and password or handle any other configuration, you have to get the VPN going (which is a separate subscription, by the way, and admittedly kind of pricey as these things go).

It’s a cute way for Express to tell you its router is serious about privacy, and a clever way to make sure you know for sure what the Aircove is all about.

ExpressVPN as a service

ExpressVPN is one of the best VPN services you can get today. Its apparent privacy practices are strong; I say ‘apparent’ because we can’t really know how secure ExpressVPN’s servers are without direct access and testing by many different companies and expert privacy advocates. The company itself has commissioned 16 independent audits of its privacy and security practices, including a recent one by independent auditor Cure53 of the router itself, but we have to take them with a grain of salt. Performance-wise, ExpressVPN is up there with NordVPN, if a touch slower when using both providers’ bespoke VPN protocols. I’ve used both, and I tend to only see around a 10% slower download speed compared to no VPN with either.

ExpressVPN is generally accepted to be a top-tier, no-logging service—that is, the company keeps no persistent logs of user data apart from what it uses for technical maintenance, which the company says can’t be traced to any one user (this appears to be confirmed by the December 2022 audit of ExpressVPN’s privacy claims by auditing firm KPMG in a publicly-accessible report), and the Aircove is the first dedicated hardware from such a company. As I said above, there have been VPN routers before, but fully designed and produced by a VPN company, with control over the router hardware design and software, as well as the VPN service? That’s new.

Solid VPN router performance, restrictive options

Still, I don’t think you should use the VPN for your high-bandwidth applications. Probably the best use for it is obscuring traffic for devices that traditionally can’t use VPN software—Smart home devices like Wi-Fi light switches, plugs, appliances, and Smart TVs often send traffic to and from manufacturers’ servers, sometimes with no encryption. Connecting these exclusively to the Aircove so their data leaves your network already-encrypted is an appealing idea. And don’t worry—since the Aircove only counts as one device toward the five-device total that comes with the company’s standard VPN plan, you can still use ExpressVPN’s dedicated software on your main computer even after connecting so many devices to the Aircove.

As a router, Aircove is no hot rod

Wi-Fi has been moving fast in the last few years, and Wi-Fi 6 is still a relatively new standard—Wi-Fi 6 certification only arrived in 2019—and though there were routers supporting it very soon after, like the Asus RT-AX88U, some of the most popular smartphones and computers on the market today (I’m looking at you, Apple) still haven’t adopted it. That’s to say nothing of the forthcoming Wi-Fi 7 protocol, which promises massive speed increases and other performance upgrades, but which won’t be certified until at least 2024. Given the slow uptake of even Wi-Fi 6E, there’s not much reason to hold out for a Wi-Fi 7 router now, unless you just really like having wireless networking bragging rights.

I performed 120 throughput tests on the most commonly-used wireless Band-and-protocol combinations in different locations in my home, averaging tests from each location to get a picture of its performance, and each test was done locally using iperf3, a robustly-configurable network testing tool. It simulates file transfers over the network and cuts out my internet connection as an obfuscating factor in these tests.

Not for those with a hankerin’ for some tinkerin’

The Aircove isn’t a complete product, but shows promise

Sources:

https://allaboutcookies.org/best-vpn-routers
https://pixelprivacy.com/vpn/expressvpn-netgear-router/
https://www.thevpnexperts.com/knowledgebase/expressvpn-router/amp/
https://gizmodo.com/expressvpn-aircove-router-review-vpn-Wi-Fi-6-privacy-1850364477
https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/expressvpn-aircove-serviceable-router-hides-130000328.html