Published on: August 30, 2024 Updated 2 times since publishing
- 🥇 ExpressVPN : It’s easy to set up on TP-Link routers, has super-fast speeds for uninterrupted streaming, torrenting, gaming, and browsing, and includes convenient router-specific features. All first-time purchases come with a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can try it risk-free.
I tested dozens of top VPNs to find the best ones for TP-Link routers. In my tests, I found that many VPNs on the market aren’t router-friendly — they don’t provide the necessary files to perform a router setup. There’s also a lack of compatibility and support for TP-Link’s proprietary firmware specifically.
The providers on my list all support manual router setups for TP-Link. Plus, they all have clear step-by-step guides on how to do so, which you can find on either the provider’s or TP-Link’s website. ExpressVPN is my #1 pick due to its blazing-fast speeds, strong security, and useful router-specific features. Editor's Note: ExpressVPN and this site are in the same ownership group.
Quick Summary of the Best VPNs for TP-Link Routers
Editor's Note: Intego, Private Internet Access, CyberGhost and ExpressVPN are owned by Kape Technologies, our parent company
🥇1. ExpressVPN — Best Overall VPN for TP-Link Routers
Basic 12-Months plan: $3.99 / month
1-month plan: $12.99 / month
ExpressVPN is my top VPN for TP-Link routers. It offers manual configuration files for all of the VPN protocols supported by TP-Link routers, including OpenVPN, L2TP/IPSec, and PTPP. It’s also the fastest VPN out there — in my tests, I had excellent speeds on all devices connected to my router with no slowdowns and zero lag.
If you wish to replace TP-Link’s default firmware with a third-party firmware, ExpressVPN also supports DD-WRT and Tomato via an OpenVPN configuration. Its site offers excellent step-by-step guides on how to set ExpressVPN up on such devices, complete with screenshots for the visually inclined.
This provider has a large server network spread out across 105 countries, so you’ll always be able to set your TP-Link router to almost any location, including a nearby server for the fastest possible speeds for all devices connected to your home network.
I was very impressed with ExpressVPN’s customer support. Setting up a VPN on a TP-Link router can be tricky, so I had a lot of questions for them. I was pleasantly surprised by how quickly the 24/7 live chat support representatives were able to get me answers to some pretty technical questions.
Finally, ExpressVPN has excellent streaming and torrenting support on all of its servers, unlike some VPNs that restrict these activities to dedicated servers. It accesses 100+ streaming services without an issue, including top streaming platforms, like Netflix, Hulu, Amazon, BBC iPlayer, and Disney+.
Bottom Line:
ExpressVPN is my #1 VPN for TP-Link routers. It supports all of the VPN protocols compatible with TP-Link routers, works with custom firmware, like DD-WRT and Tomato, and has the best speeds on the market. You also get access to a top-tier customer support team, a great server network, and really good streaming and torrenting support.
Read the full ExpressVPN review
🥈2. Private Internet Access — Excellent VPN for TP-Link Users in the US
6-month plan: $7.50 / month
1-month plan: $11.99 / month
Private Internet Access (PIA) is a really good choice for TP-Link router users in the US. This is because it has servers in all 50 states, offering faster speeds and access to local US services, including streaming-optimized servers for local TV and other US-based content.
PIA supports a manual setup on TP-Link routers using the OpenVPN protocol. It also has a guide in its support section for setting up the VPN on TP-Link routers running DD-WRT, but it doesn’t support Tomato like ExpressVPN.
This VPN has good support for streaming and torrenting. In addition to US-based services, it accesses 30+ international streaming sites, like several Netflix libraries, Amazon Prime, and BBC iPlayer. Plus, it allows P2P file sharing on all of its servers in 90 countries.
Like ExpressVPN, PIA offers 24/7 live chat support. In my tests, I never had to wait more than 10 seconds to get connected to a live agent. However, some of the support reps that I spoke to weren’t very knowledgeable about PIA’s compatibility with TP-Link routers or setting the VPN up on routers in general.
Bottom Line:
Private Internet Access is really good for TP-Link users in the US because it has servers in every US state. It supports manual OpenVPN configuration on TP-Link routers and custom firmware, like DD-WRT. Additionally, it provides great support for streaming and torrenting.
Read the full Private Internet Access review
Editor's Note: Private Internet Access and this site are in the same ownership group.
🥉3. CyberGhost VPN — Good Extra Features for TP-Link Routers
6-month plan: $6.99 / month
1-month plan: $12.99 / month
CyberGhost VPN comes with great bonus features for TP-Link routers. When creating the manual configuration file, you can turn on protection against malicious websites, ads, and online tracking, plus have CyberGhost automatically redirect you from unsecured HTTP versions of websites to the more secure HTTPS version if available.
The VPN supports manual configuration on TP-Link routers via OpenVPN, and it also supports custom firmware, including DD-WRT and Tomato.
CyberGhost has 100+ dedicated streaming servers that access 50+ streaming services, including different Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Max libraries. These servers are tested frequently to ensure that they work. CyberGhost also has dedicated P2P servers in 85+ countries. Still, I prefer ExpressVPN for streaming and torrenting because it works with more streaming sites and supports P2P traffic on all servers.
This VPN offers 24/7 live chat, in case you have trouble setting it up on your TP-Link router. When I reached out to them, the support reps were friendly and knowledgeable.
Bottom Line:
CyberGhost VPN can block ads, trackers, and malicious websites on TP-Link routers. It supports manual configuration on TP-Link routers via the OpenVPN protocol, as well as custom firmware, including DD-WRT and Tomato. Cyber also has dedicated servers for streaming and torrenting.
Read the full CyberGhost VPN review
Editor's Note: CyberGhost and this site are in the same ownership group.
4. NordVPN — Easy to Use VPN for TP-Link Routers
Plus 24-month plan: $3.59 / month
Complete 24-month plan: $4.99 / month
Prime 24-month plan: $6.99 / month
NordVPN is one of the only VPNs on this list with a setup guide for TP-Link routers on its website, which teaches you how to perform a manual setup using the OpenVPN protocol. This makes the process of getting NordVPN on your router very straightforward.
If you get stuck at any point in the process, you can also take advantage of its 24/7 live chat support. In my tests, its support reps were helpful and responsive. NordVPN also has great guides for setting it up on custom firmware like DD-WRT, Tomato, or OpenWRT.
NordVPN is a great pick for streaming, as it works with most popular platforms, like Netflix, Hulu, and Disney+. While it works with 10+ streaming services, ExpressVPN works with 100+ streaming services. NordVPN also supports torrenting on servers in 110+ countries.
Bottom Line:
NordVPN has a great setup guide for configuring OpenVPN manually on your TP-Link router, as well as guides for DD-WRT, Tomato, and OpenWRT. It also works with most popular streaming platforms and allows torrenting on dedicated P2P servers.
5. Surfshark — Budget-Friendly VPN for Deco TP-Link Routers
One 24-month plan: $2.49 / month
One+ 24-month plan: $4.19 / month
Surfshark is the only VPN here that supports a manual WireGuard configuration for TP-Link routers compatible with the TP-Link Deco app — and has a clear setup guide on its website for doing so. This is great because WireGuard is much faster than the other supported VPN protocols.
If you don’t have a Deco TP-Link router, you can still set it up on regular TP-Link routers via the OpenVPN protocol. This VPN also supports 3 of the most popular custom firmware, DD-WRT, Tomato, and OpenWRT.
Surfshark has excellent streaming support, as it works with 50+ streaming services, such as Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Hulu, which is great, but this is still fewer than ExpressVPN’s compatibility with 100+ streaming sites. It also supports torrenting on its servers in 49+ countries and offers 24/7 live chat support.
Bottom Line:
Surfshark supports a manual WireGuard configuration on Deco TP-Link routers. It also supports manual configuration via the OpenVPN protocol as well as custom firmware, such as DD-WRT, Tomato, and OpenWRT. Additionally, it allows streaming on all of its servers and supports torrenting on half of its servers.
Read the full Surfshark review
Quick Comparison Table
Editor's Note: Intego, Private Internet Access, CyberGhost and ExpressVPN are owned by Kape Technologies, our parent company
Testing Methodology: Comparison & Ranking Criteria
To find the best VPNs for TP-Link Routers, I followed our proven testing methodology. Each VPN on the list was extensively researched and tested under real-life scenarios to ensure compatibility and ease of setup with TP-Link routers. I also checked for other things, like speeds, security, and router-specific features. Here’s more details about how I picked and ranked the VPNs on my list:
- I looked for VPNs that are compatible with TP-Link routers. All of the VPNs on my list provide the files necessary for manually configuring the VPN on TP-Link routers.
- I considered the setup and configuration process. The VPNs I recommend all have easy-to-follow setup guides, which you can find either on the provider’s website or TP-Link’s website.
- I tested each VPN’s speeds. Putting a VPN on your TP-Link router can slow your internet speeds due to the encryption process. But the VPNs on my list all maintain very fast speeds. ExpressVPN gave me the fastest speeds in my tests.
- I evaluated each VPN’s privacy and security features. I only recommend VPNs with industry-standard security features, such as 256-bit AES encryption, a strict no-logs policy, which means the provider doesn’t track what you do online, a kill switch (disconnects you from the internet if your VPN connection drops), and protection against IP leaks.
Editor's Note: Private Internet Access and this site are in the same ownership group. - I picked VPNs that offer good value for their price. Every VPN on my list has affordable plans and deals and a money-back guarantee, so you can try it out risk-free.
How to Set Up a VPN on a TP-Link Router
Here’s how to manually configure a VPN on your TP-Link router using any VPN protocol that your router supports:
- Check compatibility. Not all TP-Link routers support VPN clients. Make sure that your model does this by checking TP-Link’s website.
- Log into the TP-Link router control panel. Visit tplinkwifi.net and log in with your TP-Link ID or the password you set for your router.
- Enable VPN Client. Go to the Advanced tab, click VPN Client on the sidebar, and then check the box beside VPN Client.
- Add a VPN server. In the Server List section, click Add. Name the server, select the VPN protocol you’ll be using, and then fill in your VPN service credentials.
- Upload the configuration files for your VPN. You can find these on your provider’s official website. Once you have the files, go back to the TP-Link router control panel, and upload it there by clicking Browse and selecting the configuration file you just downloaded. Finally, click Save.
- Enable the server. Back in the Server List section, toggle the slider under the ENABLE column for the server you just added.
- Add devices that can access the server. Click on the Add button in the Device List section. Add every device that you want to access the VPN server with and then toggle the VPN Access slider for each one.
- Start using the VPN. That’s it! All of the devices that you added will now use the VPN server that you configured.
Top Brands That Didn’t Make the Cut
- PrivateVPN. PrivateVPN supports OpenVPN configuration on TP-Link routers. It’s also great for bypassing government censorship. However, its server network is relatively small compared to other top VPNs, and it lacks some advanced security features.
- Proton VPN. This VPN supports a manual WireGuard configuration on TP-Link routers, in addition to an OpenVPN configuration, so it works with TP-Link routers that support VPNs. It’s also fast, secure, and has a free plan. However, I don’t like that its customer support is only available to subscribers and isn’t available 24/7.
- TunnelBear. It’s a cute and easy-to-use VPN with a decent free plan, but it doesn’t support manual configuration, which is necessary to set a VPN up on your TP-Link router.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which VPNs work with TP-Link routers?
Any VPN that provides the manual configuration files for OpenVPN, PPTP, or L2TP/IPSec will work with a VPN-compatible TP-Link router. Every VPN on my list supports one or more of these VPN protocols, and you can find simple setup guides for them (with screenshots) on the provider’s website or TP-Link’s website.
How do I know if my TP-Link router supports VPNs?
To find out if your TP-Link router supports VPNs, go to TP-Link’s official website and apply the “VPN Client” filter (not “VPN Server”). Before you get started, you should also make sure that you have a TP-Link compatible VPN.
Should I use a VPN on my TP-Link router?
Yes, as setting up a VPN on your TP-Link router has several benefits. First, it means that every device that’s connected to your router will enjoy the increased privacy and security provided by your VPN without having to manually connect to a VPN server every time on each. Also, devices that don’t support VPN apps will be able to benefit from the VPN connection, like your Xbox and PlayStation.
Putting a VPN on your router also bypasses the device limit imposed by many VPN services — a router only counts as a single device, so it’s a great choice if you need to cover many devices. Keep in mind though that not every VPN is compatible with TP-Link routers. My list of best VPNs for TP-Link routers is a good place to start looking.
What’s the difference between the VPN client and VPN server options on TP-Link routers?
If your TP-Link router supports VPN clients, it means that it can route your internet traffic through a third-party VPN server, such as an ExpressVPN server, to enhance your privacy and security and/or to change a device’s apparent location.
On the other hand, TP-Link routers with the VPN server option allow you to remotely access your home network. Note that this doesn’t encrypt outgoing traffic, so your online activities will still be visible to others, including your ISP, government, or other third parties.
Editor's Note: ExpressVPN and this site are in the same ownership group.
