What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
For most smart-home devices that cannot install a VPN app, the practical solution is to connect them through a compatible router configured as a VPN client. A VPN-secured computer hotspot can work for a small or temporary setup. There is no universally best VPN for every IoT device: the right choice depends on your router’s exact model and firmware, the VPN protocol and configuration your provider supports, and which devices you want routed through the tunnel.
How a VPN can cover devices that cannot run a VPN app
Many smart cameras, appliances, and other IoT devices cannot install consumer VPN apps. Instead, you can configure a compatible router as a VPN client. The router connects to a remote VPN server, then routes connected devices through that connection. TP-Link’s setup guide distinguishes this client setup from configuring a router as a VPN server for remote access; those are different functions.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
A VPN adds a privacy layer to network traffic that passes through the tunnel. It does not fix insecure device firmware, weak passwords, or other device vulnerabilities, and it is not a substitute for securing the router itself. ExpressVPN makes the same limitation clear on its IoT guidance page. NIST’s September 10, 2024 publication, Recommended Cybersecurity Requirements for Consumer-Grade Router Products, explains the router’s importance to home-network security, including networks used by smart-home devices (NIST publication).
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
Which setup route fits your home?
| Route | When it fits | What to verify |
|---|---|---|
| Existing router as a VPN client | Your router already supports client mode and works with your provider’s configuration. It can route connected devices through the VPN without installing an app on each device. | Exact router model and firmware, supported protocol, provider configuration, and whether you can route the devices or network you intend to use. See the TP-Link guide and Top10VPN router guide. |
| VPN-capable replacement or additional router | Your current router lacks VPN client mode, or you want a separate network for selected devices. | Confirm the specific model and firmware support the client function and the provider’s protocol before buying. “VPN support” alone does not establish compatibility (Top10VPN). |
| VPN-secured computer hotspot | You want to connect a small number of devices, or need a temporary setup without reconfiguring the router. | Check that your computer and hotspot setup can share its VPN connection as intended. ExpressVPN describes this approach for IoT devices, but it is a vendor-described option, not a universal router replacement (ExpressVPN). |
| Managed or business IoT VPN | You manage an organizational IoT network and need centralized authentication or network separation. | Evaluate administration, device authentication, and separation needs. OpenVPN describes its self-hosted Access Server and cloud-delivered CloudConnexa for these kinds of deployments (OpenVPN IoT use cases). |
How to choose a VPN for IoT devices
Start with compatibility rather than a provider’s general claim that it supports routers. Router features differ by model and firmware, and providers may require particular protocols or configuration details. A router review or provider feature list cannot prove your own hardware will work; check the router manual and the provider’s setup instructions for the exact combination.
#1 Best Overall
- 【Five Gigabit Ports】1 Gigabit WAN Port plus 2 Gigabit WAN/LAN Ports plus 2 Gigabit LAN Port. Up to 3 WAN ports optimize bandwidth usage through one device.
- 【One USB WAN Port】Mobile broadband via 4G/3G modem is supported for WAN backup by connecting to the USB port. For complete list of compatible 4G/3G modems, please visit TP-Link website.
- 【Abundant Security Features】Advanced firewall policies, DoS defense, IP/MAC/URL filtering, speed test and more security functions protect your network and data.
- 【Highly Secure VPN】Supports up to 20× LAN-to-LAN IPsec, 16× OpenVPN, 16× L2TP, and 16× PPTP VPN connections.
- Security - SPI Firewall, VPN Pass through, FTP/H.323/PPTP/SIP/IPsec ALG, DoS Defence, Ping of Death and Local Management. Standards and Protocols IEEE 802.3, 802.3u, 802.3ab, IEEE 802.3x, IEEE 802.1q
- Router client support: Confirm the exact model and firmware support VPN client mode. Router-as-server support is not the same thing.
- Protocol and configuration: Check that the router accepts a protocol supported by your VPN provider and that the provider supplies configuration details for it.
- Device selection: Decide whether all traffic should use the VPN or only selected devices. Verify that your router and setup can route the devices or network you intend to cover.
- Setup support: Consider whether the provider offers clear router instructions or dedicated router software compatible with your hardware.
- Performance and failure behavior: A VPN can affect router workload and connection behavior. Verify how your chosen setup behaves if the VPN connection drops, especially for devices that need reliable access.
- Local and cloud features: Check whether routing devices through a remote VPN affects their cloud services or local smart-home control.
Top10VPN says its router testing used a Linksys WRT3200ACM running DD-WRT and OpenWrt; that describes its stated test setup, not compatibility or performance for every router (Top10VPN router guide). The available sources do not establish a universal provider winner or model-by-model throughput results.
Will a VPN slow down smart security cameras?
It can affect performance, but the sources available here do not establish a measured slowdown for a particular camera, router, VPN provider, or connection. The result depends on the actual setup, so a vendor FAQ or general VPN claim should not be treated as an independent speed test. Check camera functions that depend on cloud access and local viewing after setup, and verify how the router handles a VPN interruption.
Rank #2
- 【AC1200 Dual-band Wireless Router】Simultaneous dual-band with wireless speed up to 300 Mbps (2.4GHz) + 867 Mbps (5GHz). 2.4GHz band can handles some simple tasks like emails or web browsing while bandwidth intensive tasks such as gaming or 4K video streaming can be handled by the 5GHz band.*Speed tests are conducted on a local network. Real-world speeds may differ depending on your network configuration.*
- 【Easy Setup】Please refer to the User Manual and the Unboxing & Setup video guide on Amazon for detailed setup instructions and methods for connecting to the Internet.
- 【Pocket-friendly】Lightweight design(145g) which designed for your next trip or adventure. Alongside its portable, compact design makes it easy to take with you on the go.
- 【Full Gigabit Ports】Gigabit Wireless Internet Router with 2 Gigabit LAN ports and 1 Gigabit WAN ports, ideal for lots of internet plan and allow you to connect your wired devices directly.
- 【Keep your Internet Safe】IPv6 supported. OpenVPN & WireGuard pre-installed, compatible with 30+ VPN service providers. Cloudflare encryption supported to protect the privacy.
What a VPN does not do for IoT security
A VPN does not patch a camera or appliance, strengthen a reused password, or prevent an attacker from exploiting a device vulnerability. It also should not be treated as a guarantee against tracking or compromise. Keep device and router firmware current, use strong unique passwords where available, and use the router’s security and network-separation features when appropriate. NIST’s router publication describes the role of router cybersecurity in protecting network integrity and availability, while ExpressVPN explicitly cautions that a VPN does not address weak passwords or vulnerable firmware (NIST; ExpressVPN).
Outdated Drivers Are Slowing You Down
One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchPC Slower Than It Used to Be?
A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11Quick Recap
Best Value
- Next-Gen Gigabit Wi-Fi 6 Speeds: 2402 Mbps on 5 GHz and 574 Mbps on 2.4 GHz bands ensure smoother streaming and faster downloads; support VPN server and VPN client¹
- A More Responsive Experience: Enjoy smooth gaming, video streaming, and live feeds simultaneously. OFDMA makes your Wi-Fi stronger by allowing multiple clients to share one band at the same time, cutting latency and jitter.²
- Expanded Wi-Fi Coverage: 4 high-gain external antennas and Beamforming technology combine to extend strong, reliable, Wi-Fi throughout your home.
- Improved Battery Life: Target Wake Time helps your devices to communicate efficiently while consuming less power.
- Improved Cooling Design: No heat ups, no throttles. A larger heat sink and redefined case design cools the WiFi 6 system and enables your network to stay at top speeds in more versatile environments.
Rank #4
- 【DUAL BAND WIFI 7 TRAVEL ROUTER】Products with US, UK, EU, AU Plug; Dual band network with wireless speed 688Mbps (2.4G)+2882Mbps (5G); Dual 2.5G Ethernet Ports (1x WAN and 1x LAN Port); USB 3.0 port.
- 【NETWORK CONTROL WITH TOUCHSCREEN SIMPLICITY】Slate 7’s touchscreen interface lets you scan QR codes for quick Wi-Fi, monitor speed in real time, toggle VPN on/off, and switch providers directly on the display. Color-coded indicators provide instant network status updates for Ethernet, Tethering, Repeater, and Cellular modes, offering a seamless, user-friendly experience.
- 【OpenWrt 23.05 FIRMWARE】The Slate 7 (GL-BE3600) is a high-performance Wi-Fi 7 travel router, built with OpenWrt 23.05 (Kernel 5.4.213) for maximum customization and advanced networking capabilities. With 512MB storage, total customization with open-source freedom and flexible installation of OpenWrt plugins.
- 【VPN CLIENT & SERVER】OpenVPN and WireGuard are pre-installed, compatible with 30+ VPN service providers (active subscription required). Simply log in to your existing VPN account with our portable wifi device, and Slate 7 automatically encrypts all network traffic within the connected network. Max. VPN speed of 100 Mbps (OpenVPN); 540 Mbps (WireGuard). *Speed tests are conducted on a local network. Real-world speeds may differ depending on your network configuration.*
- 【PERFECT PORTABLE WIFI ROUTER FOR TRAVEL】The Slate 7 is an ideal portable internet device perfect for international travel. With its mini size and travel-friendly features, the pocket Wi-Fi router is the perfect companion for travelers in need of a secure internet connectivity on the go in which includes hotels or cruise ships.
Rank #3
- New-Gen WiFi Standard – WiFi 6(802.11ax) standard supporting MU-MIMO and OFDMA technology for better efficiency and throughput.Antenna : External antenna x 4. Processor : Dual-core (4 VPE). Power Supply : AC Input : 110V~240V(50~60Hz), DC Output : 12 V with max. 1.5A current.
- Ultra-fast WiFi Speed – RT-AX1800S supports 1024-QAM for dramatically faster wireless connections
- Increase Capacity and Efficiency – Supporting not only MU-MIMO but also OFDMA technique to efficiently allocate channels, communicate with multiple devices simultaneously
- 5 Gigabit ports – One Gigabit WAN port and four Gigabit LAN ports, 10X faster than 100–Base T Ethernet.
- Commercial-grade Security Anywhere – Protect your home network with AiProtection Classic, powered by Trend Micro. And when away from home, ASUS Instant Guard gives you a one-click secure VPN.
Practical setup checklist
- Identify the devices. Decide which IoT devices need VPN routing and whether they rely on cloud services or local control.
- Check the router’s exact model and firmware. Look for VPN client mode in the model documentation; do not infer it from a VPN server feature or a broad “VPN support” label.
- Match the router to the provider. Confirm the supported protocol and obtain compatible configuration details from the VPN provider.
- Choose routing scope. Determine whether the VPN should cover every connected device or only selected devices, and confirm your router supports that arrangement.
- Connect and test the IoT devices. Check the functions you rely on, including camera viewing, cloud features, and local smart-home control.
- Check interruption behavior. Find out what happens if the VPN disconnects and whether your router or provider can pause traffic during an interruption. ExpressVPN says its kill switch pauses internet traffic when the VPN connection is interrupted; this is a vendor statement, not an independent comparison (ExpressVPN).
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
