VPN Router – Setup for privacy and security in 2025
Get VPN protection for every device connected to your Wi-Fi network, with no device limits
- Secure unlimited devices on your Wi-Fi network with always-on VPN protection
- Stream, game, and browse securely with fast and private connections
- Set up in minutes with ExpressVPN’s exclusive plug-and-play Aircove
Start Your Risk-Free Trial Need a Router? Try Aircove
30-day money-back guarantee for first-time users
What is a VPN router?
How VPN routers deliver network-wide protection
How does a VPN router work?
A VPN router secures the traffic from every device on your network with strong encryption. The data is directed through a secure tunnel to the VPN server, which also masks your IP address. With all activity moving through this protected path, third parties like ISPs, network managers, or snoops can’t see what you do online, giving you stronger privacy and security across all your devices.
VPN router vs. VPN app: What’s the difference?
All your devices are protected at once with a VPN router. It secures everything from phones and laptops to devices that can’t run VPN apps, including smart TVs and gaming consoles. You get an always-on layer of online security and privacy that keeps your whole household protected.
VPN app
A VPN app secures only the device it’s installed on, giving flexible, per-device control. Most VPNs limit the number of VPN app connections you can use simultaneously per subscription.
Both options provide strong privacy, but a router centralizes protection while apps focus on individual devices.
Why do you need a VPN router?
Protect your whole home network with one simple setup
-
![24/7 VPN protection for all devices Every device on your network is automatically protected around the clock. This shields your entire network from...]()
24/7 VPN protection for all devices
Every device on your network is automatically protected around the clock. This shields your entire network from potential online threats without you having to manage individual devices.
-
![Stronger security and privacy A VPN encrypts your network traffic and conceals your IP address, making it harder for outsiders to track your activi...]()
Stronger security and privacy
A VPN encrypts your network traffic and conceals your IP address, making it harder for outsiders to track your activity. This enhances your online privacy for both sensitive tasks and day-to-day browsing.
-
![Easier VPN connection management VPN routers make management and troubleshooting easier with a central place to control all your device VPN connect...]()
Easier VPN connection management
VPN routers make management and troubleshooting easier with a central place to control all your device VPN connections. Aircove builds on this by letting you sort devices into groups for easy management.
How to choose the best VPN router
Some key factors to consider when comparing routers for VPN use
Speed and performance
Newer Wi-Fi technology integrates better with VPNs, with potentially less impact on speed when you have multiple devices actively using bandwidth. If you’re using your VPN-enabled router for gaming, streaming, or downloading, then high performance is essential.
Your internet plan should also match your performance needs. Even a fast VPN router won’t improve speeds beyond those your ISP provides.
VPN compatibility
If you’re getting a new router and want to run VPN software, you’ll need one that works with your VPN. The simplest option is ExpressVPN’s Aircove—a Wi-Fi 6 router that provides secure, whole-home protection. With an easy, plug-and-play setup, you get immediate VPN coverage across your home when paired with an active ExpressVPN subscription. Aircove suits everyday home use, while the portable Aircove Go is ideal for travel and remote work.
Security features
If you’re buying a router with a VPN preinstalled, consider the VPN’s security. Aircove includes robust encryption, Network Lock (a kill switch that cuts traffic if the VPN disconnects), and advanced protections like Threat Manager, ad blocking, and parental controls. Plus, with TrustedServer technology and a strict no-logs policy, your network activity remains private at all times.
Ease of setup
Setup options can vary, but a pre-configured option like Aircove gives you the fastest path to a secure network. It comes ready to go, and includes an intuitive router dashboard that lets you manage devices, adjust VPN settings, and control your network with confidence. Everything is designed to feel simple from the start. No technical steps, no complexity, just streamlined control at home or on the move with Aircove Go.
Affordability
Your choice should balance power with long-term value. Look for hardware that can comfortably handle encrypted traffic (typically a 1.5–2 GHz CPU) and VPN protocol support. It also helps to consider how your VPN subscription fits in. ExpressVPN keeps things simple with clear pricing and flexible tiers, making it easy to pick a router that suits your setup today and supports more devices as your home network or app usage grows.
How to set up a VPN on your router
Whole house VPN protection with a manual setup or plug-and-play options
Configure a VPN manually
Manually configuring a VPN on your existing router means downloading configuration files, accessing your router’s admin panel, and entering the settings yourself. It can work well if you want to keep your current router or prefer a more customised setup. However, it’s often more technical and time-consuming than a pre-configured option, and it may require more troubleshooting along the way.
ExpressVPN is phasing out support for routers other than Aircove.
Use a pre-configured VPN router
The easiest and most reliable way to secure all your devices is with a pre-configured VPN router. ExpressVPN’s firmware is exclusive to Aircove, designed for hassle-free, plug-and-play setup. This solution delivers robust security, fast performance, and simple management. Aircove provides a complete home VPN system with powerful customization options, but without the need for extensive manual configuration.
Setup steps and compatibility notes
Aircove takes just 5 minutes to get set up for instant VPN protection across your home. You also get advanced controls for full flexibility. Features like device groups lets you assign a different VPN location and settings to each group, so you can tailor security and privacy exactly how you need it. You can keep your work devices on one IP location and streaming on another.
Get an Aircove router and sign up for ExpressVPN
-
![Sign Up For Expressvpn]()
Step 1
Purchase a VPN router and sign up
Order a pre-configured ExpressVPN Aircove router and sign up for an ExpressVPN subscription on the website.
-
![Download App 1]()
Step 2
Connect and power on the router
Connect the router to your modem using the supplied cables. Turn it on, wait until the status lights indicate it’s ready, then connect your device to the router’s Wi-Fi network.
-
![Setup Expressvpn]()
Step 3
Sign in and connect to a server
Open a browser and access the router’s admin panel using your login details. Go to expressvpnrouter.com, sign in to your account, select a server location, and connect.
VPN router limitations and considerations
Key considerations for router-based VPNs
-
![Icon 7]()
Will a VPN router slow down your internet?
VPN encryption adds some overhead, which can reduce speeds depending on your router’s processing power, your internet plan, and distance to the VPN server. Modern VPN routers, like Aircove, with Wi-Fi 6 support and our Lightway protocol, minimize this impact, keeping streaming, gaming, and everyday use stable, even on busy networks.
-
![Icon 8]()
Can you switch servers easily on a router?
Switching VPN servers on a router usually requires logging into its dashboard or app, which is slightly slower than a one-click change on a device app. Aircove’s intuitive dashboard interface simplifies server selection via expressvpnrouter.com, letting you choose from 170+ server locations quickly.
-
![Icon 9]()
Devices that don’t benefit from a VPN router
Devices that are actively running their own VPN apps, such as laptops and phones, usually gain little from a VPN router since their traffic is already protected. In these cases, double encryption can slow connections without providing significant extra security. Similarly, devices that use only cellular data don’t benefit from a router VPN, because their traffic bypasses your home Wi‑Fi entirely.
-
![Icon 10]()
When a VPN app might be a better fit
A VPN app is ideal when you need quick VPN server switching, per-device control, or protection for specific activities, like mobile browsing while away from home. Using apps alongside a VPN router delivers the best of both worlds: comprehensive home coverage plus flexible protection on the go.
Meet Aircove: The future of VPN routers
Hassle-free, fast, and secure VPN protection for your entire home network
Easy setup and control
Simply plug in your Aircove router, connect it to your modem, and follow the quick setup guide at expressvpnrouter.com. Activation takes just minutes via Wi-Fi, Ethernet, or a QR code scan. The intuitive dashboard makes it simple to manage your VPN settings, create device groups, and tweak connections with user-friendly controls. No technical expertise is required for whole-network protection right away.
Built-in ExpressVPN security
Aircove’s built-in VPN pairs with your ExpressVPN subscription to deliver always-on protection for every device on your network, even those unable to run VPN apps, by encrypting all traffic by default to prevent accidental leaks. It includes industry-leading 256-bit AES encryption, DNS/IP leak protection, Network Lock kill switch, plus customizable options like split tunneling and blocking for ads, trackers, and malicious sites.
Supports unlimited devices
ExpressVPN supports up to 14 simultaneous device connections with each plan—and your Aircove router counts as a single connection. That means you can protect all the Wi-Fi-enabled devices on your network, plus install our VPN apps on your gadgets to keep them secured while you’re on the go. Aircove lets you create up to 5 groups for your devices, each with its own VPN location and custom connection settings.
High-speed VPN performance
AircoveOS v5 supports speeds up to 330Mbps using ExpressVPN’s efficient Lightway protocol. Its powerful quad-core CPU and Wi-Fi 6 technology can support 4K streaming speeds and stable connections across your entire network. Plus, with ExpressVPN’s upgraded 10Gbps and 40Gbps servers, you can get lightning-fast connections to 170+ locations across 105+ countries.
Troubleshooting VPN router issues
Keep your VPN-protected network secure and fast with these tips
-
![Icon 9]()
Devices not connecting to the VPN router
If a device can’t connect, start by checking it’s on the correct Wi‑Fi network. Restart the device and your Aircove router, then check the dashboard at expressvpnrouter.com for connection alerts or firmware updates. Make sure no other VPN apps are running on the device, and confirm your ExpressVPN subscription is active.
-
![Icon 11]()
VPN speed issues and how to fix them
Slow speeds are often caused by connecting to distant servers or heavy network traffic. For optimal VPN performance, switch to a VPN location closer to you in the dashboard and enable the Lightway protocol. Test your connection without the VPN active to check for ISP issues or throttling. You can also disconnect devices you’re not using—more devices mean more competition for bandwidth and added congestion.
-
![Icon 12]()
Changing VPN server locations on a router
To switch servers, log into the Aircove dashboard at expressvpnrouter.com and choose a server from 170+ locations. Changes apply instantly across your entire network without disconnecting any devices. You can also organize devices into groups and assign a different VPN location to each group.
-
![Icon 12]()
When to reboot or reset your VPN router
You can reboot your router weekly, after firmware updates, or when speeds slow down. Rebooting clears potential bugs and cached data that may be affecting performance. Use the dashboard’s restart button or unplug the router for 30 seconds. Only perform a full reset for persistent issues and back up your settings first via expressvpnrouter.com. A full factory reset restores the VPN router’s factory security settings and clears custom device groups.
Frequently asked questions
Clear answers to help you get set up with confidence
What to look for in a VPN-compatible router?
Choose a router with enough processing power to handle encrypted traffic without slowing your network. Aircove combines Wi-Fi 6, a powerful CPU, and ExpressVPN’s firmware, giving you fast, reliable, and secure coverage for every device in your home—plus an intuitive dashboard for easy management.
Do I need a special router for a VPN?
You don’t always need one, but a router built for VPNs, like Aircove, simplifies setup immensely. With ExpressVPN pre-installed, you get plug-and-play protection. There’s no complex configuration, and you get network-wide security across all connected devices from the moment it’s powered on. An active ExpressVPN subscription is required.
Can I use a VPN router with multiple devices?
Yes. Aircove secures your entire home network and counts as 1 active device on your VPN subscription. With a VPN router, all devices are covered, including those that don’t support VPN apps. This makes it easy to secure your consoles, smart devices, and more.
Which routers have built-in VPNs?
ExpressVPN’s Aircove is designed specifically with built-in VPN protection. Unlike third-party options, it comes pre-configured with ExpressVPN firmware. It offers plug-and-play security, and an intuitive dashboard for easy server selection, device grouping, and ongoing network management. You need a separate ExpressVPN subscription for the VPN features to function.
Is a VPN router worth it?
For whole-home coverage, a VPN router like Aircove is definitely worth it. It protects devices that don’t support VPN apps, keeps speeds stable, and simplifies management with ExpressVPN’s dashboard. It’s a convenient solution for secure, private browsing across all your connected devices.
What’s the difference between a VPN router and a regular router?
A regular router simply connects devices to the internet, while a VPN router, like Aircove or Aircove Go, encrypts all network traffic automatically. This keeps your data private from ISPs and hackers, and the portable option even secures your connections on public or unsecured networks.
Try a VPN router risk-free today
Your full-featured router VPN comes with built-in peace of mind
-
![24-hour support speech bubbles.]()
30-day money-back guarantee
ExpressVPN offers a 30-day money-back guarantee to new subscribers. If you're not fully satisfied, get in touch with our support experts via live chat or email within 30 days of your purchase to claim a full refund.
-
![30 days money back guarantee.]()
24/7 customer support
Whether you’re claiming a refund or need help setting up or customizing your Aircove, our friendly support agents are ready to help. Contact us anytime via our 24/7 live chat feature on the website.
