There is a wide range of VPN applications available for installation on mobile devices and computers, both free and paid options. However, there is an alternative approach: utilizing your own VPN by configuring a router. This method has its advantages and disadvantages, and it’s important to consider certain issues and limitations that may arise. In this article, we will delve into the topic and explore the implications of using your router as a VPN.
It is worth noting that not all routers support VPN functionality, which means you might need to acquire an additional router specifically for this purpose. This could incur an extra cost, unless you already have an unused router at home. This represents another limitation to be aware of, in addition to the potential challenges we will discuss.
What happens if you use your router as a VPN
Having a router as a VPN means that you can establish a secure connection to your home network using the router itself. This allows you to access your home network from anywhere, regardless of your physical location. By setting up services like WireGuard, you can configure remote access to your router, enabling you to browse the internet with your home IP address and even access the router’s configuration settings.
This approach differs from using a regular VPN service, where you connect to a remote server and route your internet traffic through that server. With a router-based VPN, you establish a direct connection to your home network, giving you more control and the ability to access your home devices and services as if you were physically present at home, even if you are thousands of kilometers away in a different country.
You need it to be always on
It is crucial to keep the router powered on at all times when using it as a VPN. If the router shuts down, your VPN connection will be lost, and you will start browsing with your real IP address and physical location. This can create issues, especially if you rely on the VPN to access specific platforms or services that require a different location.
To prevent this problem, you can consider using an Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS). A UPS provides backup power in case of a power outage, allowing you to keep the router connected and maintain your VPN connection. With a UPS, you can have several hours of uninterrupted internet access at home, ensuring that your VPN remains available. Having a UPS is essential not only for continuous VPN usage but also to safeguard your equipment from the impacts of power outages.
You connect to only one location
One limitation of using your home router as a VPN is that you can only connect to a specific location, which is the IP address of your home where the router is located. This means you won’t have the flexibility to choose an IP address from another country, limiting your access to services that require a different location. In contrast, VPN services like ExpressVPN or NordVPN offer multiple servers in various countries, allowing you to select the desired location for each connection.
However, if your main purpose is to securely connect to the internet from public networks or access resources on your local network remotely, using a VPN at home can be sufficient. You have the option to install popular VPN protocols such as WireGuard, OpenVPN, or IPsec. WireGuard is recommended due to its advantages over the other two protocols:
1. Faster download and upload speeds.
2. Lower latency, resulting in a smoother internet connection.
3. Easy configuration compared to OpenVPN and IPsec, with maximum default security settings.
4. Seamless roaming, allowing uninterrupted connectivity when switching between Wi-Fi and mobile data.
WireGuard has significantly improved the VPN experience, and certain router manufacturers like ASUS or AVM already offer the option to configure a VPN server using this protocol.
Speed may not be the best
It’s important to consider that the connection speed may not always be optimal when using an older router as a VPN. If the router’s upload speed is limited to 100 Mbps, you won’t be able to achieve a higher speed than that. Additionally, the encryption and decryption process can further reduce the speed. While using a VPN application from a service provider doesn’t guarantee a high speed, it might offer better performance compared to connecting through a home router in certain cases.
If you aim for the maximum possible speed, we recommend using the WireGuard protocol as it provides the highest download and upload speeds. Through real speed tests, we have achieved speeds exceeding 1.2 Gbps with WireGuard, whereas OpenVPN or IPsec only reached speeds of around 500 Mbps.
Requires configuration
It’s important to acknowledge that setting up a VPN on your router can be challenging for users without sufficient knowledge. Configuring the router’s VPN requires a series of adjustments, which may consume more time and effort. In contrast, using a VPN application on your PC or mobile device is generally easier, as it requires fewer configuration steps and allows for quick network connection.
Fortunately, nowadays manufacturers like AVM or ASUS offer user-friendly graphical interfaces, making VPN configuration on routers much simpler than it was in the past. These manufacturers also provide pre-configured settings that are suitable for less experienced users.
As mentioned, using a VPN on the router is an option, but it’s essential to consider the limitations and potential issues involved. There are distinctions between using a VPN on the router and on individual devices. Depending on your specific needs, one option may be more suitable for you than the other.