Using a VPN is very interesting in certain circumstances, such as when browsing from public networks, when we are traveling or if we need to access a page that only works in another country. We have many options for installing a VPN program, both free and paid. But in this article we are going to tell you about the advantages and disadvantages of using your own VPN server. Is it really useful?
Using your own VPN server, an option
What is this about having your own VPN server? Basically it is not depending on an external service, but you are going to configure a device in such a way that you can remotely connect to it and create an encrypted tunnel. This is interesting if, for example, you need to navigate with your home or office IP .
You have several options for it. One of them is to use a router that has a built-in VPN server. Not all bring them, so you should know if yours in particular has this option or not. If your operator has given it to you, it is very likely that it is not compatible and you must use a different one.
Another option is that you use a Raspberry Pi or minicomputer. In the operating system you will be able to install software, open the corresponding port of the router and configure it so that you can connect from your mobile or from your PC, no matter where you are.
Advantages
One of the clear advantages is that you will not depend on any external service . You will not have to install a VPN such as ExpressVPN or NordVPN. You simply have your own and that’s it, you don’t depend on third-party services that could be a problem.
This brings us to the second advantage, which is the price . You will not have to hire any service. If we want it to work well, with good speed and also be safe, free VPNs are not a good option. Since you are going to create your own VPN server, you will have all that but without having to pay anything.
You will also be able to have a better performance . Of course, you will depend on possible bottlenecks and limits. For example, if you use an old ADSL router, the speed will be limited to about 20-25 Mbps, which is the maximum upload capacity they will have. On the other hand, if it is a modern router and it is also Gigabit Ethernet, you will be able to go from 100 Mbps without problems and even several hundred if the connection allows it.
Disadvantages
But creating your own VPN server also has drawbacks. One of them is that it requires knowledge to configure a router or convert a Raspberry Pi. Perhaps for you what we are discussing is not an inconvenience, but for many users it can be thrown back and prefer to simply hire an external service.
Another negative point is that you will depend on having a device always on . If your router is compatible, maybe nothing will happen, but if you have to use a Raspberry Pi, for example, then you have to see if you are interested in having another device connected. In addition, in case of power outages you will lose the connection.
We can also talk about the cost to start it up . It is true that a good VPN that you hire will also cost money, but if you only need it for something specific, it will be better for you. If you have to buy a router or a Raspberry Pi (which are also much more expensive today) it is an investment to consider.
In short, having a VPN server is an option that may be interesting for some, but not so much for others. With these advantages and disadvantages that we have described, you can get an idea of whether it really compensates you or it is better that you use an external service.
