Guide to setting up a VPN on ASUS router

Setting up a VPN on an ASUS router has multiple advantages. You can secure your entire network without worrying about device limits or offering VPN capabilities to incompatible devices, such as smart TVs, stream boxes, game consoles, and more.

With a single setup, you can easily stay safe against hackers and ISP data logging, bypass geo-blocks on any service, and secure your torrenting activity.

Below, we’ll show you step-by-step instructions on how to set up a VPN on your ASUS router, including a separate guide for ASUSWRT-Merlin. We’ll also address some FAQs on the topic at the end. If you want to know your options, let’s go over some reliable ASUS VPN alternatives first.

Here are some of the best VPNs for ASUS routers:

  1. NordVPN: Best VPN for ASUS routers overall. Has a useful server picker tool to find .ovpn files fast. Offers incredible speeds, 6,400+ servers in 111+ countries, and unblocks most streaming sites with ease.
  2. Surfshark: Best budget VPN for ASUS routers. WireGuard configs available. Decently fast and secure VPN, with 3,200+ servers in 105+ countries. Great for streaming.
  3. IPVanish: Excellent speeds for various activities, including torrenting, gaming, or streaming. Has a detailed setup guide for ASUSWRT-Merlin firmwares.
  4. ExpressVPN: Top-notch VPN with impenetrable security and a high degree of privacy. Also provides its own third-party firmware for several ASUS router models.
  5. CyberGhost VPN: Capable no-logs VPN for routers. Offers a massive network with servers optimized for P2P traffic, various streaming services, and gaming.
  6. Private Internet Access: Highly customizable VPN. Has excellent performance, offers strong security, and plenty of servers worldwide.
  7. PrivateVPN: Low-cost option for ASUS router setup. Includes a strict no-logs policy, fast and stable connections, and works on multiple streaming platforms.

Setting up a VPN on ASUS router: A full guide

Here’s how to install a VPN on a supported ASUS router:

  1. Download your provider’s configuration files. NordVPN has a useful server selection utility that provides .ovpn files for whichever location you choose.
  2. Type in your router’s LAN IP into your browser’s address bar. This is usually 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.50.1. Alternatively, go to http://www.asusrouter.com or http://router.asus.com.
  3. Log in with your router’s username and password. The default is admin for both.
  4. Click VPN > VPN Fusion (VPN Client in older firmwares) and then click the (+) icon to add a new profile.
  5. Select the OpenVPN option from the VPN type drop-down menu. If your provider has WireGuard config files, you can choose that instead.
  6. Name your connection, then type your VPN Username and Password in their respective fields.
  7. Click Import .ovpn file (or Upload Config for WireGuard), navigate to the file you downloaded at step #1, and click Open.
  8. To finish up, click Apply and Enable.

That’s all there is to it. Some other things to note:

  • Test whether your VPN is working as intended with a service like Browserleaks.
  • You can use the toggle near your profile to disable the VPN and use your default internet connection.
  • To change locations, you’ll have to edit your profile, upload a different config file, and re-enter your username and password before applying the changes.

How to set up your VPN on ASUSWRT-Merlin

The VPN setup process is pretty different for ASUSWRT-Merlin firmware. Here’s what you need to do:

  1. Follow steps 1-3 from the main guide to log into your router’s control panel.
  2. Under Advanced Settings, click VPN, then click VPN Client at the top of the screen.
  3. Click Choose File near the Import .ovpn file option, find your config file, click Open, and then press Upload.
  4. Fill in your VPN Username and Password.
  5. Set Accept DNS Configuration to Strict to secure all your devices or Exclusive if you only want to use the VPN on specific ones.
  6. Copy and paste your provider’s configuration into the Custom Configuration field. You can usually find this in their support articles. For NordVPN, it looks like this:
remote-cert-tls server
remote-random
nobind
tun-mtu 1500
tun-mtu-extra 32
mssfix 1450
persist-key
persist-tun
ping-timer-rem
reneg-sec 0

#log /tmp/vpn.log
  1. You may need to configure your provider’s DNS settings. Under Advanced Settings, select WAN.
  2. Click No for the Connect to DNS Server automatically option.
  3. Add your provider’s DNS servers. Use these for NordVPN: 103.86.96.100 and 103.86.99.100.
  4. Click Apply to finish setting up your VPN on ASUSWRT-Merlin.

Setting up VPN on ASUS router FAQs

Do ASUS routers have a built-in VPN?

The ASUS Router App has a built-in VPN feature called Instant Guard. It allows you to use your ASUS router as a VPN server, basically offering access to your home network from anywhere. However, unlike a traditional router VPN, Instant Guard doesn’t let you use your router as a VPN client to connect to servers from abroad.

Are there any free ASUS router VPNs?

We know of no free VPN options for ASUS routers. For the most part, free VPNs only support major operating systems, and don’t offer router setup options.

Even if they did, free VPNs are a poor choice for anything other than light browsing. Not only do they sell your data to third parties, but they also impose data caps, throttle your speeds, or inject ads into your browser. Free VPNs may even install dangerous malware in extreme cases.

What is the best VPN for an ASUS router?

The best VPN overall for ASUS routers is NordVPN. It’s fast, has thousands of servers in 111+ countries, excellent streaming support, and offers a user-friendly server selection tool. This tool automatically provides the .ovpn file you need, so you don’t need to sift through a .zip file with hundreds of configs.

How do I know if my router is VPN enabled?

The quickest way to tell if your router supports VPNs is to search “[your router model] VPN compatible” online. Your router manual may also have this information.

Is a router VPN worth it?

Yes, a router VPN is definitely worth it. It’s the best way to secure all your home devices online without requiring multiple setups. Security reasons aside, you can also access geo-blocked content on all your gadgets, including VPN-incompatible ones like consoles and smart TVs.

If I install a router VPN, do I still need to use a dedicated VPN app?

No, installing a VPN on your router is enough to protect all your home devices. That said, you may want to install a VPN app on your smartphone or other mobile gadgets for security and bypassing geo-blocks on the go.

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