What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
To test whether your VPN is doing what you expect, compare your connection with the VPN off and on, then check public IP, DNS, IPv6 and WebRTC separately. Finally, test what happens if the VPN drops or your network changes. A “connected” label is not proof that all traffic is using the VPN.
Before you start: record a VPN-off baseline
Use the same device, browser and internet connection for the baseline and VPN-on checks. Turn off the VPN and any other VPN or privacy relay that could change your ordinary route. Note the public IP address, the apparent network or provider, the DNS resolvers reported by a DNS test, and whether IPv6 is available.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
These baseline results give you something to compare against. Without them, an address or resolver shown in a test may be difficult to interpret. BrowserLeaks provides separate IP address, DNS leak and WebRTC leak tests. These third-party pages are useful diagnostics, not a complete audit of your VPN client or device.
Recommended Free Tools
Repeat the checks with the VPN connected
Connect to the VPN, then run the same tests in the same browser. The public IP should reflect the VPN’s internet exit point, not your ordinary connection. Compare the result with your baseline rather than relying on its location alone.
#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
A VPN-on IP that matches your ordinary public IP is a reason to investigate whether the VPN is connected and routing traffic as intended. Split tunneling may be deliberate: some VPNs let selected apps bypass the tunnel. Check the VPN settings and confirm that the browser you are testing is included if you expect it to use the VPN.
IP and DNS checks answer different questions. An IP test shows the public address seen by the test site; it does not tell you where DNS queries went. Compare the DNS test results with your baseline and consult your VPN provider’s documentation to understand which resolvers are expected. A resolver’s name or apparent location, by itself, may not establish that DNS traffic bypassed the tunnel.
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.
Check IPv6 and WebRTC separately
IPv6
If your baseline showed IPv6, repeat the check with the VPN connected and look for an IPv6 address or traffic associated with your ordinary connection. If IPv6 was absent with the VPN off, an absent result with the VPN on is inconclusive: there was no IPv6 connection in the baseline to test for leakage.
WebRTC
While connected to the VPN, run a WebRTC leak test in the browser you use. Look for whether it exposes your ordinary public address rather than the VPN route. WebRTC address behavior is browser-specific, so a result applies to that browser and configuration, not automatically to other browsers or native apps. The IETF’s RFC 8828, WebRTC IP Address Handling Requirements, describes the relevant address-handling and privacy considerations.
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.
Test the kill switch and network transitions
A steady-state browser check cannot show what happens when a VPN connection fails or your device changes networks. AMTSO’s VPN Testing Guidance Part 1 (February 2025) recommends testing beyond the connected state. Its leak-testing standard says: “No data packets should exit the device unencrypted (via any other network interface except the VPN interface).”
- Enable the VPN’s kill switch. Confirm that you understand whether it is set to block all internet traffic or only selected apps.
- Cause a controlled VPN interruption, then check whether internet access stops until the VPN reconnects. Observe actual connectivity and traffic behavior; a status icon alone is not enough.
- Reconnect and verify that access returns and the VPN-on checks still show the expected route.
- Repeat relevant checks after changing VPN servers, switching Wi-Fi access points, and moving between Wi-Fi and mobile data.
If access continues during an interruption, investigate the kill-switch settings and whether the app or traffic you are testing is excluded from the VPN. Do not treat a single successful connection test as proof that every transition is protected.
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.
Understand what a passing test proves
A browser test is a snapshot of one device, browser, network and moment. Passing it does not establish that every app, protocol, device or network transition is protected. AMTSO also recommends checking split-tunnel behavior by comparing a browser excluded from the VPN with one included, and checking that traffic intended to use the tunnel does not unexpectedly exit through another interface.
When comparing two VPN configurations, keep the device, browser, access network, VPN location, test pages and sequence the same. Compare the public IP with the baseline, DNS behavior, IPv6 where the baseline supports it, WebRTC in the tested browser, and blocking during a controlled interruption and network changes. State which platform and configuration the results cover; the findings do not automatically generalize beyond those conditions.
Quick 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.
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.
