VPNs are popular! Users rely on VPNs for their online safety and anonymity. You can forgo your worries related to online surveillance, data monitoring, throttling, or snooping, etc., by using a good VPN. However, according to a recent survey, more and more people are currently using a VPN for entertainment purposes. A report states that approximately 45% of the VPN user base relies on this tech for unorthodox geo-unblocking, resulting in a surging growth in streaming VPNs. These VPNs are capable of providing users with an influx of streaming-centric servers. Such an attempt, targeted at driving this VPN technology in a perturbed manner, allowed others to take note of it. Thus, we observed a growth in the technology that can aid in streaming! Furthermore, here we are curating a list of exceptional VPN routers that can satiate your streaming needs. Do continue reading!
How did we select our routers for this list?
Before we advance further with our objective, let us take a step back and declare that: To create this list successfully, we set up a few parameters that can define the best VPN routers suitable for streaming. However, we DID NOT INCLUDE pre-flashed VPN routers in this list. Other than that: the sole factors considered during his creation were:
- Wi-Fi standards – The standards decide the mantle of the network. It also incorporates the speed of the connection. The acceptable “standards” are 802.11. Furthermore, the band of frequency also matters. A 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi will be slower but offers a more robust connection, while a 5 GHz is faster but offers a lower range of operation.
- Range – Similarly, the range of the networks plays an important role when deciding which router to choose. A VPN router with a larger coverage will always be better for streaming than a comparatively smaller one.
- Benefit-Cost Ratio (BCR) – The BCR is the ratio between the cost of a VPN router to the benefits it offers. It decides whether the product is value for money or not. Some routers are undoubtedly cheaper yet do not offer great features; While some are laden with rich features but at sky-high prices. What we focused on was the balance between the two.
- Additional Features – Lastly, the add-on features a router carries can help us decide when comparing two similar products.
Best VPN routers for streaming:
To learn more about VPN routers, do head to our older articles on this topic!
Disclaimer – The best VPN routers for streaming mentioned here are subject to the opinionated views of the writer. We recommend users do a detailed analysis before selecting a VPN router and take this list as an informative guide rather than an authoritative one. In any event, the best VPN routers are as follows:
1. Linksys WRT 3200 ACM
The first VPN router in our list may come as a surprise to many, as it is neither the fastest nor the cheapest router available on the market. Yet, we can unanimously recommend this to our reader as the router offers the best BCR. It may not be the cheapest, but this Tri-band router is a budget-friendly option with a Wi-Fi standard of 802.11ac and 802.11n, respectively, offering speeds up to 3×867 Mbps on a 5 GHz network. The greatest thing about the router may be the ready Open source support. You can run your open-source firmware on this router, making the subsequent VPN service cheaper. The router is one of the few that offers OpenVPN support by default.
Sadly, it doesn’t ship to many countries, thus making it a rarity. However, if you can land your hands on this router; It will ultimately not disappoint you as it is very suitable for 4k streaming.
2. Asus RT-AX58U
The next VPN on this list is another budget-friendly option. While this router offers an astounding speed of 3000 Mbps, yet it doesn’t fail to live up to your wallet’s expectations. Except for the basic connectivity options of RJ45 for BaseT for WAN, 4 x RJ45 for BaseT for LAN, and USB 3.1 Gen 1, the router offers numerous add-on features that make the other routers shy. Be it an additional yet exclusive app for routers or MU MIMO support; It has it all. On top of that, it has a dedicated “Traffic Analyzer” to aid in network monitoring, Adaptive QoS, “AiProtection Pro,” and a functional “Parental Control.”
However, the one drawback the Asus RT 58 faces: is the lack of Tri-band technology. It only supports the older dual-band, which can be an issue sometimes.
3. Asus RT-AC5300
The second and last Asus router on our list is the uncrowned king of streaming routers. With its eight external antennas, the router offers a Tri-band connection with a speed of 2167 Mbps. This device has the greatest coverage but is also costly to employ. However, it manages to provide a lag-free streaming experience. This router is a favorite of gamers too. The connectivity options are:- 4 Gigabit Ethernet slots and a single one for WAN and USB 2 and 3, respectively. It also offers MU MIMO support and comes with WPS. Other features include but aren’t limited to Link Aggregation, traffic analyzer, 512 MB RAM, etc.
4. Netgear Nighthawk X4S VDSL/ADSL Modem Router D7800
The Netgear Nighthawk D7800 is yet another router with built-in open-source support. The router comes with a pre-installed VDLS modem and Quad-band support with a speed of 1733 Mbps. It also sports the latest WPA2 security protocols and can allow up to 45 different connections. It also has Beamforming with dynamic QoS and MU MIMO. The router can be subject to further customization. The Netgear Nighthawk D7800 also has a dedicated app for distant easy installation and contributes an effective Parental control system. It can survive heavy-duty streaming and gaming. You can easily use OpenVPN on this device if you want to.
Bear in mind though the device is costly and too feature-heavy to be used for simple streaming. However, the Netgear Nighthawk is an irreplaceable router for a sufficient budget.
5. TP-Link Archer C5400 v2
The TP-Link Archer is also a powerful device with eight external antennas. It comes with the 802.11ac standard for the 5 GHz device with a speed of 2,167 Mbps and 2.4 GHz device speed up to 1,000 Mbps. For connectivity, it has multiple ports offering one each for LAN, WAN, USB 3.0, and USB 2.0, respectively. The device also supports Tri-band alongside MU MIMO. We agree that it may not be the best-looking VPN out there with a quirky design, but it can serve both the consumer and corporate scenes. While the setup may be easy, but the VPN router can easily cover a mid-range home. You can say it is a bit costly, but other VPNs of the same caliber and design cost far more.
6. Synology RT2600ac
The last VPN router to grace our list is the Synology RT2600ac. This powerhouse is a router most suited for a small business. However, if a user has the cash to spare and doesn’t care about the overusing of resources, then this router is for them. It offers a speed of up to 2.5 Gbps and features powerful quad stream capability. It can cover an area of 3000 sq feet and is Dual WAN ready. Lastly, the router is beginner-friendly.