11 Best VPN Router UK in 2023

If you’re looking for the top VPN routers in the UK, the Linksys WRT 3200 ACM is worthy of anybody’s list. It’s got great speed on the 5GHz band, is very user-friendly, and is good value for money. 

On the VPN front, it’s also one of the best WRT compatible routers on the market, allowing experts an endless number of options via OpenWRT and OpenVPN. You get dual-band coverage and MU-MIMO, allowing you full control over bandwidth prioritization settings. All of this is available to you for around £200 and some vendors will sell it to you pre-configured for VPN.

Features

• 1.8GHz dual-core CPU - allowя you to handle the largest of home networks without slow-down.
• Dual-band 802.11ac Wi-Fi - excellent speeds at 5GHz, though the 2.4GHz band could be faster.
• Solid four antenna set up - two for 5GHz and two for 2.4Ghz, providing excellent range throughout the home or office. 
• An eSata/USB 2.0 port, along with a USB 3.0 port for printer sharing, NAS, and DLNA server streaming. You also get the standard four ethernet ports and a wide area network port.
• Supports the IPv6 protocol so you can be sure you’re getting the fastest possible experience.
• Quick guest network setup - you can share your network with visitors without putting your data at risk.
• Easy to use interface - you can set up your VPN. As an OpenVPN router, UK users can quickly configure VPN services like NordVPN or ExpressVPN. 
• Support for open-source firmware for those who like to experiment, including DD-WRT. Some vendors will sell it with DD-WRT pre-installed and set up with a VPN provider already in mind.
• Full MU-MIMO support - allows for simultaneous gaming, file sharing and video streaming on multiple devices, with added bandwidth prioritization settings.

Performance

You’ll get great speeds on the 5GHz band, topping out at 2.6Mbps on paper and 600 Mbps on the 2.4Ghz band. The file transfer speeds are also good and within the expected range at this price point. The only downside is that it does not perform brilliantly if you put one or two thick walls between your device and the router. While this goes for all routers, some on our list perform better with distance and obstructions.

Verdict

Overall, if you want a router that you have full control over, with excellent VPN options and competitive speeds, then the Linksys WRT 3200 ACM is the one. However, if you’re a beginner its many features might be a bit overwhelming.

If you want a router with a built-in VPN, Vilfo has designed one from the ground up specifically for that. It comes preconfigured to support more than 26 of the top VPN providers, making it an excellent choice for the non-tech-savvy user.

While it provides great speeds via dual-band Wi-Fi, it truly shines as a wired solution. Plus, unlike your average router, it sports a high-frequency Intel Celeron processor, 2GB of RAM, and even 16GB of SSD storage space. All of this results in a latency-free encryption process for flawless VPN connections.

It’s currently available in EUR and USD, at €339 and $399, respectively. 

Features

• Powerful 1.7G GHz Intel Celeron processor that enables bandwidth-intensive activities.
• Up to 8 dBi antennas with 2.5GHz and 5GHz dual-band Wi-Fi, giving excellent coverage across your home or office.
• A quick 1Gbps of consistent speed over WireGuard or 500Mbps with OpenVPN. It’s tried and tested for streaming and gaming, so you can carry out your favourite activities without worrying about VPN speed drops.
• 3 LAN Ethernet ports and 1 LAN port for multiple wired options.
• Control split tunneling from the router’s body, choosing which sites and applications are protected and which should make regular connections. E.g., open things up for gaming but keep everything else on the VPN.
• Beginner-friendly plug-and-play VPN hardware means you don’t have to install firmware or go through lengthy configurations. Its user interface is second to none and immediately recognizes more than 26 VPN providers.
• Get insights into what’s happening on your network with real-time bandwidth reporting and push notifications to keep you informed on the go. 

Performance

Vilfo performs like a charm, with real-world tests easily reaching 100Mbps (wired). Latency is almost non-existent, and it can handle multiple users streaming and gaming at the same time. This includes 4K HDR and intensive modern games. 

You don’t get these results from regular DD-WRT compatible routers and manually configured VPNs.

On the downside, the Wi-Fi speeds aren’t great, but you’d expect that when your traffic is routed through the VPN tunnel.

You can increase efficiency by opening its intuitive interface and micromanaging each connected device. For example, you might put your smartphone and tablet on one band and streaming on the other. You can take any device offline in a click or set it to bypass the VPN for a standard connection.

One of its most notable features is the ability to run multiple VPN clients simultaneously. 

Verdict

Though this VPN device has specs that fall below other routers we’ve reviewed on paper, its powerful and finely tuned hardware brings a level of consistency not seen elsewhere. In many ways, it’s a minicomputer crafted into a router. 

Its ease of use makes it the best choice for beginners and those who just want to plug it in and secure their network right away. All it really lacks are some of the extra bells and whistles for Wi-Fi, and the speed there is a bit lacking. On the bright side, it’s hard to beat for wired networks. 

With 8 antennas the RT-AC5300 from Asus has an almost primal look, though its performance is distinctly modern. The tri-band router with built-in VPN support is one of the fastest on our list, providing a strong Wi-Fi range and around 5Gbps speed. You’ll get the standard four LAN and one WAN ports, along with a USB 3.0. This is the only real let down, as the USB speed is slower than expected and there’s no eSATA. Still, it’s perhaps the fastest OpenVPN router in the UK. You also get MU-MIMO support for bandwidth efficiency. 

Keep in mind that the RT-AC5300 is one of the pricier options on our list. However, it’s worth every penny.

Features

• Dual-core 1.4GHz processor - rarely runs high and is able to manage tonnes of devices on your network.
• Top of the range tri-band Wi-Fi delivered via 802.11ac - one of the fastest on the market for the 5GHz band.
• Eight antennas - you’ll get a solid connection at a distance.
• Only one USB 3.0 port, whereas other routers will give you a 2.0 alongside it or a combined eSATA. This is a bit of a let down because the speed of the port is also not that great compared to others. 
• User interface chocked full of both basic and advanced settings, making it suitable for beginners and router experts. You’ll also be able to set up a guest network with a few clicks so you can safely share your connection with others.
• Asus Smart Connect automatically assigns clients to one of the three bands for optimum throughput at any one time.
• MU-NIMO further optimizes bandwidth allowing for prioritization based on application and simultaneous streaming, gaming, and file sharing without any user being slowed down.

Performance

The Asus RT-AC5300 is fast, topping out at around 2.1Gbps on both 5GHz bands and a great 1Gbps on the 2.4GHz band. With the 8 antennas, you’ve got the perfect setup for 4K video and intensive gaming.  File transfer speed is also good, testing around 33Mbps average downstream and 26Mbps write speed. 

The MU-NIMO works well. Gaming, particularly, excels thanks to the Game Boost feature which can direct almost all resources towards online gaming when required.

Verdict

If you’re looking for the best router for VPN, the Asus RT-AC5300 is certainly one to consider. It’s among the fastest and most reliable we’ve reviewed. It caters well to intensive users, especially gamers who want to direct all resources to their session. Pricewise, it’s on the high-end territory. It’s also quite large and bulky compared to the home and small office routers of the past.

The Netgear Nighthawk X4S is simple to manage, fast, and reliable. It is also a VPN router UK vendors are offering pre-configured so you can get it to work out of the box. If not, you will need to install DD-WRT firmware yourself to use the OpenVPN routing protocol. The router’s implementation of MU-MIMO is one of the most versatile, allowing you to use numerous tools to fully control bandwidth allocation or just let it do its thing automatically. Along with the usual 4 LAN, one WAN setup, you also get two USB 3.0/eSata ports. It can be picked up for less than £200 which is a good price considering its excellent performance. If you’re on a strict budget there’s also a downgraded R7000 Netgear VPN router, which is basically the same but without MU-MIMO.

Features

• Powerful 1.7GHz processor ensures you’ll have no performance issues, even when simultaneously gaming and streaming,
• 802.11ac and dual-channel Wi-Fi technology provide up to 2.5Gbps wireless bandwidth with a great range from its powerful four antenna configuration. At 2.4GHz it's ok but it’s the 5GHz band where it starts to shine.
• Quad-Stream technology allows multiple devices to get faster speeds at the same time. Dynamic QoS automatically prioritizes network traffic by application and device for the most optimum experience.
• Excellent implementation of MU-MIMO has many other options for distributing bandwidth.
• One of the few routers to offer two USB 3.0/eSata ports, allowing you to connect everything you could need.
• User interface isn’t as good as some routers. But as long as you aren’t a beginner, you’ll soon pick it up. It also supports custom firmware if you have a better platform you want to use.
• Configure IPv6 via the Advanced Setup tab in the control panel.

To set up your router with a VPN server, go into the advanced tab and check VPN Service, then enter the required details like the network address, etc. Before you can configure OpenVPN the router requires DD-WRT firmware.

While it is not a cheap DD-WRT router, when you take into account its performance and overall features, the X4S is the best value for money.  

Performance

On paper, you get up to 2.5Gbps, which equates to around 1.7Mbps on the 5Ghz band and 800Mbps on the 2.4Ghz band. In reality, it also fairs well at a distance, maintaining 5Ghz further than 10 metres and through walls, with 40Mbps. 

USB performance is also good, clocking up to 66Mbps.

Verdict

The Netgear Nighthawk X4S is a good VPN enabled router, whether you do intensive online gaming and video streaming or just browse the internet. Its only downside is a less than stellar user interface, but actual performance more than makes up for this. Since the VPN protocol of choice is now OpenVPN you will need to consider buying the router pre-configured or installing DD-WRT firmware yourself.

At under £200, the ASUS RT-AC86U is the best VPN router UK consumers can buy at this price point. It’s insanely customizable and at 5GHz it produces some of the best speeds on the market. Although it’s often marketed at gamers, it’s just as great for streamers and other types of users, thanks to its excellent MU-MIMO implementation. It also excels at VPN, allowing you to use numerous VPN protocols, including OpenVPN out of the box. You can also find it preconfigured from some specialized outlets. Other handy features include a fast USB 3.0 port and Trend Micro protection to monitor security threats to the network.

Features

• 1.8GHz 64bit dual-core processor gives it considerable computation power, allowing an impressive USB data transfer speed of up to 110Mbps from the USB 3.0 port.
• Dual-band 802.11ac Wi-Fi with combined speeds up to 2.9Mbps and impressive wireless coverage via three detachable antennas.  
• Real world averages on the 5GHz band are currently some of the best on the market. 
• Effective MU-MIMO implementation allows you to connect multiple devices doing different tasks and for them to still meet their bandwidth requirements simultaneously using the 5GHz band. This is particularly effective for online gamers and those that stream in HD and higher.
• Specific settings include Game Boost and QoS for prioritizing your chosen devices.
• One of the better user interfaces with tonnes of customizable features. Beginners are guided without being overwhelmed. You can hover over every setting to reveal a concise explanation about what it does.
• VPN setup is particularly easy thanks to the Setup Wizard and OpenVPN support.
• Asus’s patented AiProtection keeps your network safe and secure without additional tweaks.

Performance

ASUS ensures your router VPN performs well without any bottlenecks from the device. On the 2.4Ghz band you’re looking at 750Mbps, while the 5Ghz band performs at an impressive 2167Mbps. All it lacks is tri-band, though most people will not need this unless they have a particularly active network. 

Real world testing at 50 feet is more than acceptable, averaging around 600Mpbs on the 5GHz band. Even at 150 feet it maintained a solid connection and average speed of around 487Mbps, making it ideal for larger homes.

Verdict

At a mid-range price point, the ASUS RT-AC86U is our number one pick, providing great speeds and stability for all applications, bandwidth prioritization, router VPN support with easy setup, all the ports you need, and extra security. At under £200, choosing it is a no-brainer.

If your main focus is online gaming and you want a simple router that can manage this with OpenVPN support, choose the Linksys WRT32X Gaming Router. It makes use of both MU-MIMO and the Killer Networks Prioritisation engine to ensure you get the most amount of bandwidth while playing games. It can do this without sacrificing other devices and applications as long as they aren’t doing anything too intensive. It’s 2.4GHz band performs particularly well and file transfer speeds are also fast. Its only real downside is that it has a weaker signal than others at a distance. The Linksys WRT32X can now be picked up for £200.

Features

• Four detachable antenna, has four LAN and one main WAN port, along with a USB 3.0 and USB 2.0/eSata port, both capable of supporting an external hard disk or flash drive.
• Powered by a dual-core 1.8GHz processor, ensuring that even the most intensive network doesn’t experience any lag.
• Dual-channel Wi-Fi tops out at a combined 3.2Gbps and utilizes DFS (Dynamic Frequency Selection), allowing compatible devices to effectively receive double the 5GHz band's 80MHz channel width. This results in faster throughput speeds.
• Multi-User Multiple Input, Multiple Output (MU-MIMO) allows simultaneous data streaming, while ‘Beamforming’ pinpoints the location of your devices for direct data transmission. 
• The Killer Prioritisation Network (KPE) optimizes bandwidth for online gaming and 4K video streaming, though the connected device must have compatible hardware, so not everyone will be able to make use of it. Alienware and MSI gamers are the most likely to benefit.

Like other WRT routers from Linksys you aren’t locked into their native interface and settings, you are free to install your own custom firmware if you prefer. That being said, it has tonnes of options and is a good interface out of the box. Custom firmware will also remove the router’s ability to use Killer Networks Prioritisation.

You can easily configure your VPN for router settings from within the Advanced tab of the interface, with OpenVPN support out of the box. Alternatively, you can install the DD-WRT or other network operating systems.

Performance

The WRT32X is a dual-band router that provides speeds up to 600Mbps on the 2.4GHz band and 2600Mbps on the 5GHz band, for a combined 3.2Gbps. 

Real-world testing shows speeds around 150Mbps at close proximity on the 2.4GHz band. At 30 feet distance, it still performs well, at around 85Mbps.

The 5GHz band will give you over 460Mbps per second up close but at distance, it’s not the best. Transfer speeds are also fast and stable.

Verdict

If you are a gamer with Killer networking hardware, the Linksys WRT32X Gaming Router is designed specifically for you. More general users might not benefit from this feature directly. However, it still performs well as an all-around Wi-Fi router when compared to other routers used as VPN hardware. OpenVPN and DD-WRT compatibility makes it suitable for any of the major VPN services in the UK.

Another great entry from Netgear, the Nighthawk X10 AD7200 is one of the best VPN routers available in terms of speed and performance. However, OpenVPN can only be configured using custom DD-WRT firmware. At nearly £400, it’s also one of the most expensive. If you can afford it, you’ll be paying for lightning quick 5GHz throughput and an extra 60GHz band. It also supports MU-MIMO, 802.11ad, and has 160MHz networking abilities. If you want to prep your network for future advances in technology, this is one of the best, but you’ll need some experience if you don’t buy it preconfigured for your VPN. 

Features

• Powerful quad-core 1.7GHz processor, ensuring even the most bandwidth-hogging VR gaming and 4K streaming runs smoothly.
• One of the few VPN routers UK consumers can buy with 60GHz 802.11ad Quad-Stream networking and 160MHz Wi-Fi. 
• Reaches speeds of up to 4.6Gbps on the highest band, though the connected device itself needs to also support 802.11ad. In that respect it’s an investment in the future as there aren’t many networking devices that can utilise 160Mhz.
• Multi-User Multiple Input, Multiple Output (MU-MIMO) suffers from middling and QoS lacks detailed settings, but on a beast like this it still clocks up scores better than almost all the competition. 
• Two 3.0 USB ports and ReadyCLOUD/ReadySHARE, allows you to easily access connected USB devices wirelessly and via the cloud. 
• DLNA lets you effortlessly stream media on TVs and games consoles.
• Plex Media Server allows you to easily stream and share all of your videos and multimedia.
• Superior Wi-Fi range is achieved via four dual-band antennas and amplifiers.
• Quick Amazon Drive backup, allowing you to send all of your USB data to Amazon Drive.
• Amazon Echo and Alexa voice control support.
• Intuitive user interface with endless options, though you can still install custom firmware if you have something else that you prefer.
• Easily setup a basic VPN server from within the settings of the user interface or get more control with third-party DD-WRT firmware and OpenVPN. One of the best DD WRT compatible routers.

Performance

As a tri-band wireless router with quad-stream on each band, the Nighthawk X10 AD7200 has incredible performance. At 60GHz it can reach speeds of up to 4.6Gbps, on the 5GHz band you’re looking at 1.7Gbps, and at 2.4GHz you’ll get up to 800Mbps.

Quad-stream means you can have four simultaneous up and down data streams per Wi-Fi band. That  gives large networks of multiple devices plenty of room to use bandwidth efficiently before any sign of slow down.

There are 6 Gigabit Ethernet local area network (LAN)ports and you can combine two ports for faster file transfers. You also get the coveted 10G LAN SFP+ port for fast access servers. 

Verdict

It is true that the Netgear Nighthawk X10 AD7200 is going to set you back around £380, but for that you’ve future-proofed your network and will get a feature rich and blazing quick experience. And, while it doesn’t necessarily have the best MU-NIMO implementation, its raw hardware more than makes up for it. Simply put, it has the fastest throughput of all the routers on our list. Just for that we can rate it as the best VPN router UK users have access to if they are experienced enough to install DD-WRT. Or, if they don’t mind buying it preconfigured from a third party.

It might look like a creature out of a sci-fi movie, but don’t let that scare you. The D-Link AC5300 Ultra Wi-Fi Router steps it up a gear, providing fast transfer speeds, a high-performing 5GHz band, and good implementation of MU-MIMO. You can also easily set up your VPN from the native user interface or flash it to DD-WRT. 

As a tri-band router, even the largest networks with tonnes of devices will be able to make full use of their up and down streams without being throttled. The only downsides are that it doesn’t support wireless bridging and availability is low, allowing sellers to inflate the price to around £500. 

Features

• 1.4GHz Dual-Core Processor ensures performance never drops regardless of your network size and the number of tasks it’s handling.
• Eight antennas provide maximum possible Wi-Fi coverage in the largest of homes or offices.
• 802.11ac and three Wi-Fi bands, one 2.4GHz and two 5Ghz, produces speeds of up to 5.3Gbps. This is ideal for intensive online gaming or 4K video streaming.
• One of the best performing MU-MIMO routers on the market, for flawless simultaneous gaming and streaming across many devices. 
• Performance enhanced by 4x4 data streams, i.e. four independent streams to deliver data.
• Advanced beamforming technology pinpoints the exact location of your devices to send a strong and direct signal.
• 4 ethernet ports, a WAN port, USB 2.0 port, and USB 3.0 port, for sharing and NAS functions.
• Fully supports IPv6 and a variety of IPv6 connection types.
• User-friendly interface and easy setup of your traditional VPN server or OpenVPN. Alternatively, the firmware can be downgraded and flashed to DD-WRT.

Performance

One of the best performing DD-WRT compatible routers on the market! You will get speeds of up to 2.1Gbps on either the 5GHz band or 1Gbps on the 2.4GHz band. In real-world tests, it maintained over 515Mbps on the 5GHz band at close proximity and an impressive 324Mbps at 30 feet.

File transfer is also fast, clocking a read speed of 78Mbps and a write speed of 39.5Mbps. 

Verdict

While its distinctive design might not be for everyone and it lacks 802.11ad circuitry, its raw performance is top of the line. Its throughput speed at 30 feet is the fastest of our reviews. It also has great MU-MIMO implementation, and is fully compatible with any VPN setup, with a little DIY. If you’re looking to buy a VPN router in the UK that can easily handle 4K video streaming, VR online gaming, and a large home network - D-Link AC5300 Ultra is for you. Unfortunately, it is no longer widely available and will cost you a premium to track it down.

The TP-Link Archer C7 AC1750 is the least expensive router with VPN support on our list but that doesn’t mean it can’t perform. The dual-band setup allows all but the most intensive bandwidth users to get a stable connection. There are also four Gigabit LAN ports to give your devices a wired connection and a USB 2.0 slot as well. With on paper top speeds of 1.3Gbps on the 5GHz band, its lack of MU-MIMO will not be a major loss. Furthermore, you can set up a VPN connection via OpenVPN or PPTP, which is easily done via the user-friendly control panel.

Features

• 720MHz single-core CPU manages well since it is not as feature-rich as other routers.

• 802.11ac dual-band Wi-Fi can reach an acceptable 450Mbps on the 2.4GHz band and 1300Mbps at 5GHz. Strangely, it manages to perform really well at long-range 802.11n but only average in the same room. 
• Standard three 5GHz antenna setup for good coverage throughout your home or office, with the 2.4GHz band, served internally.
• USB supports printer sharing, NAS/access servers, and DLNA server streaming.
• Quick guest network so you can protect your data from visitors and still share your internet.
• Easily login into the web-based interface or if you’re a newbie used the supplied CD to walk you through the process. Setup your VPN via this interface.
• Quick buttons on the side for WPS, wireless, and power. 

It’s only downside, which is the trade-off for the low price is that there’s no true MU-MIMO support, so bandwidth can still be inefficiently distributed.

Performance

Real-world tests put its speed at around 50Mbps as far as one room away using 802.11ac, but upstream struggles to reach 15Mbps. This is oddly worse than 802.11n performance, which also did surprisingly well at long-range. Overall, that’s not bad for a tool well under £100.

Verdict

If you’re looking for a straight-forward VPN client router and do not have a house full of intensive bandwidth users, the TP-Link Archer C7 AC1750 is the best cheap VPN router UK consumers can buy. However, it’s not suitable, if you need something faster or the ability to properly prioritize and control bandwidth.

The Asus RT-AC3200 is a large and powerful tri-band router with VPN server support, with OK speeds, and a total of 6 antennas to ensure the best possible Wi-Fi coverage in your home. On the 5GHz band it performs well. The 2.4Ghz is not as impressive and file transfer speeds could be faster, considering the price. Setting up your VPN is easy with the RT-AC3200 and this can be done over PPTP, L2TP, and OpenVPN. Some providers will also sell you the router preconfigured for their VPN service. 

Features

• User-friendly web interface.
• Four ethernet ports for multiple wired devices, a gigabit Internet (WAN) port, and one USB 2.0 port (USB media server support and printer sharing).
• Two external aerials for each of the three bands.
• Dual WAN support for backup WAN connection.
• 2.4GHz band and two 5GHz band, further enhanced by beamforming technology to deliver a strong and direct signal to exactly where your wireless devices are located. 
• Unique Tri-Band Smart Connect replaces the three bands with a single SSID and automatically assigns clients an appropriate frequency depending on their range. 
• Adaptive Quality of Service (QoS) to manually prioritize the bandwidth of devices and applications, such as gaming or streaming.
• Asus AiProtection monitors your network in real-time for threats.
• Access your data on the move via AiCloud.
• Easily set up restricted access to the network using the Guest Network section.
• As a router with VPN, Asus’s patented Quick VPN setup supports PPTP or L2TP. The OpenVPN setup only needs a few steps – no firmware flashing or confusing tutorials.

Performance

The Asus RT-AC3200 is stable, delivering an average speed of around 85Mbps when in close proximity on the 2.4GHz band, and over 190Mbps on the N-mode 5GHz band. It’s ideal if you have a combination of 802.11n and 802.11ac devices on the network.

On the 5GHz AC band, you’re looking at over 450Mbps, though file transfers could be faster - they don’t exceed 30Mbps. Overall, it gets the job done.

Verdict

If you’ve never used tri-band this is an excellent upgrade. It allows you to experience stable gaming, video streaming, and many other applications across all three bands throughout the home. With an intuitive user interface, smart connect, and easy VPN setup, it’s beginner-friendly. However, the price is a little high for the overall speed performance.