Updated on: April 9, 2024
Only 3 Steps (Quick + Easy) to Set Up a VPN on QNAP in 2024:
- 1. Sign up for a good QNAP VPN. I recommend ExpressVPN, as it provides industry-leading security and privacy features, and it also has the fastest speeds on the market.
- 2. Manually set up the VPN on your QNAP NAS. It’s best to use an OpenVPN connection since the protocol provides great security. Just download the provider’s OpenVPN server files and create an OpenVPN profile on your QNAP NAS using the QVPN app.
- 3. Connect to the VPN. Use the QVPN Service app to establish a connection to the VPN server you picked. And that’s it — you can now securely share files and streaming videos with your NAS.
Setting up and using a VPN on your QNAP NAS isn’t very difficult. It seems tricky at first, but you actually only need to perform a manual setup that won’t take you more than 15 minutes. I’ve outlined all of the steps you need to take in this quick guide (it should only be a 5-minute read at most).
Finding a good QNAP VPN might be a bit hard, though — that’s mostly because many VPNs don’t provide support materials that show you what you need to do. Also, many VPNs are not suitable to be used with a QNAP NAS because they lack important security features and have slow speeds. But, luckily, all of the VPNs I listed here provide very good customer support, high-end security and privacy, and fast download and streaming speeds.
How to Install a VPN on QNAP (Step-By-Step Guides)
VPNs usually don’t have dedicated apps for QNAP devices, you need to perform a manual setup instead on your QNAP NAS using the QVPN app and the OpenVPN protocol. The setup process isn’t that complicated (and it’s the same for all VPN providers) — just follow the steps below:
1. Get Your VPN’s OpenVPN Configuration Files
The process differs from vendor to vendor, but you’ll normally be able to download the files from your VPN account dashboard — you just have to pick the VPN server location you want to use first, and the download its OpenVPN config files.
If you’re not sure how to do this, just check the provider’s support articles. Alternatively, contact the VPN’s support reps via live chat or email (all the VPNs I recommend in this article have good live chat support).
2. Install QVPN on Your QNAP NAS
Start by logging into QTS as an administrator, then open the App Center. After that, click on the magnifying glass icon and type QVPN in the search box that pops up.
Once the QVPN app shows up in the results, click on Install. Once the installation window appears, pick a volume to install QVPN to, then hit OK. Now, just wait for the installation process to finish (it shouldn’t take more than 2–3 minutes).
3. Set Up the OpenVPN Connection
Open QVPN and head to VPN Client > VPN Connection Profiles. Now, click Add, then select OpenVPN. A File Explorer window will pop up — when that happens, just find the OpenVPN configuration file you downloaded from the VPN provider, then select it and click Open.
You’ll now have to complete several empty fields:
- Profile Name — Type in a name to help you identify this VPN profile.
- Username — Type in your VPN account username.
- Password — Type in your VPN account password.
- Specify the subnet mask — Set this to 255.255.0.
I also recommend enabling this option: Reconnect when the VPN connection is lost. So that you avoid potential traffic leaks if the VPN randomly disconnects.
When you’re done, just hit Create.
4. Connect to the VPN
Open up QVPN Service, then select the VPN profile you previously created. Now, click on Use VPN as NAS Default Gateway. A new window will now open — just toggle the on/off switch to the green on position next to Enable VPN Gateway.
When you’re done, click Apple — QVPN Service will now establish the VPN connection on your QNAP NAS.
5. Test the VPN Connection
To do this, you’ll need to use a third-party torrent IP leak testing tool. There are many such tools online, but I like using Bash.ws the most.
Just open the torrent IP leak testing tool, then copy-paste the torrent link you’re provided with. After that, open Download Station on your QNAP NAS, click the plus icon, and hit Input URL. Now, just paste the torrent link there, then click Next, and finally hit Apply.
Now, go back to the torrent IP leak testing tool, and see which IP addresses show up. The second IP that is displayed needs to be different from the first one — that’s how you know the VPN connection is working.
Best VPNs for QNAP in 2024
Quick summary of the best VPNs for QNAP:
- 🥇1. ExpressVPN — Best overall VPN for QNAP (industry-leading security & super-fast speeds).
- 🥈2. CyberGhost VPN — Good QNAP VPN with a huge server network for avoiding overcrowded servers.
- 🥉3. NordVPN — Secure VPN with advanced features + fast speeds for all online activities.
🥇1. ExpressVPN — Best VPN for QNAP in 2024
ExpressVPN is the best QNAP VPN on the market in my opinion. It’s great for securing your QNAP file sharing and streaming traffic, as it comes with industry-leading security and privacy features. In addition, the VPN also has the fastest speeds on the market, and it provides access to excellent customer support.
Plus, ExpressVPN has a huge server network, with locations in 105 countries. This makes it very easy to set up a connection to a nearby server on your QNAP NAS — this way, you’ll get the fastest speeds.
And speaking of speeds, ExpressVPN is super fast — I tested a few of its distant servers on my QNAP device, and I had ultra-fast download speeds for large files. What’s more, I never experienced any buffering while streaming via the Qvideo app on my smartphone.
ExpressVPN’s plans are affordable, as they start at $6.67 / month. Plus, I like how the longest plan often comes with extra months of service for free — and the provider also backs all purchases with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Read our full ExpressVPN review
🥈2. CyberGhost VPN — Good QNAP VPN With a Huge Server Network
CyberGhost VPN comes with a huge server network (11,528 servers in 100 countries). This makes it very simple to get fast connection speeds — it’s extremely easy to find and connect to a nearby server, and you also have an easy time avoiding overcrowded servers (which can cause noticeable slowdowns).
I also like how good this VPN is for securing your QNAP NAS traffic. It comes with advanced security features, including RAM-only servers and perfect forward secrecy. Plus, it also has strong leak protection — I ran leak tests on servers in 5+ countries on my Windows 10 PC, and I never experienced any leaks.
CyberGhost VPN is very affordable, with prices starting as low as $2.03 / month. Plus, the VPN offers a generous 45-day money-back guarantee for all long-term purchases (its shortest plan comes with a 14-day refund).
Read our full CyberGhost VPN review
🥉3. NordVPN — Secure VPN for QNAP With Fast Speeds
NordVPN is a great pick for securing your QNAP NAS traffic, as it comes with advanced security tools, such as full leak protection, RAM-only servers, and perfect forward secrecy. What’s more, I really like how its no-logs policy has been independently audited multiple times — and it has also been proven true in a server seizure suffered by one of the data centers NordVPN worked with (no user data was found on the compromised server).
The provider is able to maintain fast speeds thanks to its pretty large server network — you get access to 6,266 servers in 111 countries, so it’s easy to avoid overcrowded or distant servers to get fast connections.
NordVPN has several tier-based subscriptions — I recommend getting the Standard subscription, as it provides access to all VPN features. Also, the provider’s prices start at $3.09 / month, and all purchases are covered by a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Comparison of the Best VPNs for QNAP in 2024
How to Choose the Best VPN for QNAP in 2024
- Get a VPN with OpenVPN configuration files. To install the VPN on your QNAP NAS, you’ll need a VPN server’s OpenVPN configuration files. Pretty much all VPN providers offer these types of files, but I recommend checking this before you buy a plan (all the VPNs I recommend have such files, though).
- Pick a VPN that’s secure. You should only get a VPN that has strong security features, including 256-bit AES encryption, a no-logs policy (to ensure the VPN doesn’t record the data you share with your QNAP NAS), and good leak protection.
- Go for a VPN with a large server network. When you use a VPN, its encryption-decryption process will cause slowdowns — but they won’t be very noticeable if you connect to a nearby server. That’s why I recommend getting a VPN that has servers in at least 50+ countries (ExpressVPN has servers in 105 countries).
- Select a VPN with good customer support. If you experience any issues while installing the VPN on your QNAP device, you should be able to reach out to customer support over live chat or email for help.
- Pick a VPN that’s affordable. I only recommend getting a VPN whose paid plans are budget-friendly, and ideally also include discounts or extra months of service for free for long-term purchases. Also, the VPN should come with a generous money-back guarantee too.
Tried Installing a VPN on QNAP, But It’s Not Working? Try These Troubleshooting Steps
Upgrade to QTS 5.1
You should make sure you’re using the latest QTS version, which right now is 5.1. Slightly older versions are okay too, like 5.0.1 and 5.0.0. If you’re using a version that’s 4.5.4 or older, you might experience issues. My research shows that QTS versions below version 5.0.0 have trouble establishing VPN connections.
Double-Check the VPN Login Details
It’s easy to make mistakes when you’re inputting your VPN login details when setting up the OpenVPN connection. So, double-check the info you typed in or copy-pasted to make sure it’s the same login you use for your VPN account.
Contact the VPN’s Customer Support
If you still can’t get the VPN to work, I recommend just reaching out to your VPN provider’s support reps. They should be able to troubleshoot your connection to see what might be wrong, and provide you with helpful advice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I install a VPN on QNAP?
Not directly, as most VPNs don’t have a QNAP app. Instead, you need to manually configure a VPN connection on your QNAP NAS via the OpenVPN protocol, which is much easier than it sounds. Basically, you just need the QVPN app and a VPN’s OpenVPN server configuration files to set up the connection — I recommend using ExpressVPN, as it has servers in 105 countries, excellent security, and super-fast speeds.
Can I use a free VPN on QNAP?
You can try, but I don’t recommend it. While you might be able to set up a free VPN on a QNAP NAS, your experience won’t be that great — many free VPNs lack essential security features, limit data usage, and have very slow speeds. It’s much better to just use a paid premium VPN (like ExpressVPN) instead.
Why isn’t my QNAP VPN working well?
There might be a few reasons why your VPN connection on QNAP is experiencing errors. You might either be running an outdated QTS version (you need to use QTS 5.0.0 or higher), or you might have used the wrong VPN login credentials when setting up the VPN connection.
Why should I use a QNAP VPN?
The main reason to use a QNAP VPN is to secure your traffic — the VPN will encrypt all your QNAP data, making it completely unreadable. Doing that will also prevent internet service providers (ISPs) from throttling your QNAP speeds when you consume too much data.
