Best VPN for Travel Routers 2026: Tested on GL.iNet, Peplink & More

You’re sitting in a hotel lobby in Bangkok, connected to the “Free Guest WiFi” that 200 other people are sharing. Your laptop, phone, tablet, Kindle, and the Fire Stick you plugged into the room TV are all on that same sketchy network. You could install a VPN app on each device, toggle five separate connections, and hope you don’t forget one. Or you could do what we do: run a VPN on your travel router and protect everything automatically with a single connection.

We’ve been running VPNs on travel routers for over 18 months across Southeast Asia, Europe, and Latin America. We’ve tested every major VPN on the GL.iNet Beryl AX , the Peplink MAX BR1 , and several other portable routers — measuring throughput, stability, setup difficulty, and real-world usability under travel conditions.

The differences between VPNs are significant when you move from a phone app to router hardware. Not every VPN handles the constrained CPU and RAM of a portable router gracefully. Here are the ones that do.

Quick Picks: Best VPNs for Travel Routers

Get NordVPN — Best for Travel Routers →

Why Run a VPN on Your Travel Router?

If you already use a VPN app on your phone or laptop, you might wonder why a router-level VPN is worth the extra setup. After running this configuration daily for over a year, we can tell you: it’s a game-changer for travelers.

Every Device, Zero Apps

The biggest advantage is coverage. Your travel router creates a private, encrypted WiFi network. Every device that connects to it — laptop, phone, tablet, streaming stick, Kindle, smartwatch, a partner’s devices — gets VPN protection automatically. No apps to install, no connections to toggle, no forgetting to turn it on before checking your bank account.

Protect Devices That Can’t Run VPN Apps

Fire TV Sticks, Chromecast, Roku, game consoles, older Kindles, smart TVs — none of these support native VPN apps. Connect them to your VPN router and they’re protected. We use this setup to stream geo-locked content on hotel TVs in every country we visit.

Bypass Per-Device Connection Limits

NordVPN allows 10 simultaneous connections. That sounds generous until you’re traveling with a partner and both of you have a laptop, phone, tablet, and a streaming device. That’s 8 connections right there. With a router-level VPN, the router counts as one connection regardless of how many devices sit behind it. Problem solved.

Create a Secure Bubble Anywhere

Hotel WiFi, Airbnb internet, coworking networks — you have no idea who configured them or who else is on them. Your travel router creates a private network inside the hotel’s network. Your devices talk to your router over your own encrypted WiFi, and the router handles all VPN encryption before sending traffic through the hotel’s internet. It’s a portable security perimeter.

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Best VPNs for Travel Routers: Detailed Reviews

1. NordVPN — Best Overall for Travel Routers

Protocol Support: WireGuard (NordLynx) + OpenVPN | Router Compatibility: GL.iNet, Peplink, Asus, Netgear, DD-WRT, OpenWrt | Devices: 10 | Price: $3.39/mo (2-year plan)

NordVPN earned the top spot because it delivers the fastest throughput on router hardware of any VPN we tested. The combination of WireGuard support, extensive server network (6,400+ servers in 111 countries), and excellent documentation for router configuration makes it the best choice for most travel router setups.

Why NordVPN excels on routers:

• NordLynx (WireGuard-based) is lightweight and uses minimal CPU, which is critical on the limited hardware of travel routers. On the GL.iNet Beryl AX, NordLynx consistently delivered the highest throughput of any VPN we tested.
• Pre-configured server recommendations for GL.iNet routers — NordVPN’s support site lists recommended servers optimized for router connections, so you’re not guessing.
• Automatic server selection isn’t available on routers (you must choose a specific server), but NordVPN’s server recommendation API helps you find the fastest option for your location.
• Stable connections — during a 3-week stint in Lisbon, our NordVPN router connection dropped exactly once (during a hotel-wide internet outage). Every other VPN we tested dropped at least 3-4 times over the same period.

GL.iNet Beryl AX performance (300 Mbps base connection):

• WireGuard: 228 Mbps down / 155 Mbps up — 24% reduction
• OpenVPN: 165 Mbps down / 95 Mbps up — 45% reduction

Peplink MAX BR1 performance (100 Mbps LTE connection):

• WireGuard: 88 Mbps down / 42 Mbps up — 12% reduction
• OpenVPN: 72 Mbps down / 34 Mbps up — 28% reduction

Setup difficulty: Moderate. GL.iNet routers have a built-in WireGuard client panel that makes NordVPN configuration straightforward — download the config file from NordVPN, upload it to the router, done. Peplink requires manual WireGuard configuration but NordVPN provides clear documentation. Total time: 5-10 minutes on GL.iNet, 15-20 minutes on Peplink.

Get NordVPN for Your Router →

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2. Surfshark — Best Budget VPN for Travel Routers

Protocol Support: WireGuard + OpenVPN | Router Compatibility: GL.iNet, DD-WRT, OpenWrt, Tomato | Devices: Unlimited | Price: $2.19/mo (2-year plan)

Surfshark is the value play. At $2.19/month — nearly 40% cheaper than NordVPN — Surfshark delivers roughly 85% of NordVPN’s router performance. And the unlimited simultaneous connections make it ideal for travelers who want to run a VPN on their router and still use VPN apps on their devices for location-specific needs.

Why Surfshark works well on routers:

• Unlimited devices means your router connection doesn’t eat into a device cap. You can run the VPN on your router for blanket protection and still connect individual devices to different servers via the Surfshark app.
• WireGuard support delivers solid throughput on travel router hardware, though slightly behind NordVPN’s NordLynx optimization.
• CleanWeb ad/tracker blocking works at the DNS level, so it protects every device on the router’s network — no browser extensions needed on each device.
• Easy WireGuard config generation — Surfshark’s dashboard lets you generate WireGuard configuration files for specific servers in a few clicks, ready to upload to your GL.iNet router.

GL.iNet Beryl AX performance (300 Mbps base connection):

• WireGuard: 198 Mbps down / 130 Mbps up — 34% reduction
• OpenVPN: 142 Mbps down / 78 Mbps up — 53% reduction

Peplink MAX BR1 performance (100 Mbps LTE connection):

• WireGuard: 80 Mbps down / 38 Mbps up — 20% reduction
• OpenVPN: 62 Mbps down / 28 Mbps up — 38% reduction

Setup difficulty: Easy to moderate. GL.iNet setup is nearly identical to NordVPN — generate a WireGuard config file from the Surfshark dashboard, upload to the router’s VPN client panel. Surfshark’s documentation for router setup is clear and well-illustrated. Total time: 5-10 minutes on GL.iNet.

Where Surfshark falls short on routers: Connection stability wasn’t quite as rock-solid as NordVPN. Over a 2-week test in Mexico City, we experienced 4 dropped VPN connections that required manual reconnection through the router’s admin panel. Not a dealbreaker, but worth noting — NordVPN dropped once during a similar test period.

Get Surfshark for Your Router →

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3. ProtonVPN — Best Privacy-First VPN for Travel Routers

Protocol Support: WireGuard + OpenVPN | Router Compatibility: GL.iNet, OpenWrt, pfSense, OPNsense | Devices: 10 | Price: $4.49/mo (2-year plan) | Free tier available

ProtonVPN is the privacy-first option. Swiss jurisdiction, fully open-source apps, independently audited no-logs policy. If you’re a journalist, activist, or traveler in high-surveillance regions, ProtonVPN’s credentials are unmatched. The trade-off is slightly lower router throughput compared to NordVPN and Surfshark.

Why ProtonVPN matters for router users:

• Swiss privacy law protects you from data retention requirements that apply in most other jurisdictions. Your router-level traffic is encrypted and genuinely not logged.
• WireGuard support is solid and the configuration files work cleanly on GL.iNet routers.
• Free tier with WireGuard — ProtonVPN is the only reputable VPN with a free tier that supports WireGuard on routers. Limited to 5 countries and lower speeds, but it works. Useful for travelers who want to test router VPN setups before committing to a paid plan.
• Secure Core routing through Swiss/Icelandic servers adds an extra privacy layer, though it reduces throughput significantly on router hardware (expect 40-55% speed reduction with Secure Core enabled).

GL.iNet Beryl AX performance (300 Mbps base connection):

• WireGuard: 185 Mbps down / 115 Mbps up — 38% reduction
• OpenVPN: 128 Mbps down / 68 Mbps up — 57% reduction
• Secure Core (WireGuard): 135 Mbps down / 72 Mbps up — 55% reduction

Peplink MAX BR1 performance (100 Mbps LTE connection):

• WireGuard: 74 Mbps down / 32 Mbps up — 26% reduction
• OpenVPN: 55 Mbps down / 24 Mbps up — 45% reduction

Setup difficulty: Moderate. ProtonVPN provides WireGuard configuration files through their dashboard, and GL.iNet setup follows the same upload process as the other VPNs. However, ProtonVPN’s router documentation is less comprehensive than NordVPN’s or Surfshark’s — you may need to reference GL.iNet’s own guides for some steps. Total time: 10-15 minutes on GL.iNet, 20-25 minutes on Peplink.

The free tier on routers: We tested ProtonVPN’s free tier on the GL.iNet Beryl AX for a week. WireGuard worked, but speeds fluctuated between 15-40 Mbps depending on server congestion. Fine for secure browsing and messaging for a solo traveler, but not fast enough for video calls or streaming with multiple devices. Worth trying before you spend money, but the paid plan is a significant upgrade.

Get ProtonVPN for Your Router →

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Full Comparison: VPNs on Travel Routers

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Best VPNs by Router Hardware

Not all travel routers handle VPNs the same way. The processor, RAM, and firmware determine how much speed you’ll lose to encryption overhead. Here’s how each router performed with our recommended VPNs.

GL.iNet Beryl AX (GL-MT3000) — Best Budget Travel Router for VPN

Processor: MediaTek MT7981B (dual-core 1.3 GHz) | RAM: 512 MB DDR4 | WiFi: WiFi 6, dual-band | Price: ~$89

The GL.iNet Beryl AX is our top pick for most travelers. It’s compact (fits in a jacket pocket), USB-C powered (runs from a power bank in a pinch), and has native VPN client support built into the firmware. Both WireGuard and OpenVPN work through the admin panel — no command-line configuration needed.

Speed benchmarks (300 Mbps base connection, WireGuard):

VPN Provider	Download	Upload	Speed Reduction
NordVPN (NordLynx)	228 Mbps	155 Mbps	24%
Surfshark	198 Mbps	130 Mbps	34%
ProtonVPN	185 Mbps	115 Mbps	38%
No VPN	300 Mbps	200 Mbps	—

Speed benchmarks (300 Mbps base connection, OpenVPN):

VPN Provider	Download	Upload	Speed Reduction
NordVPN	165 Mbps	95 Mbps	45%
Surfshark	142 Mbps	78 Mbps	53%
ProtonVPN	128 Mbps	68 Mbps	57%
No VPN	300 Mbps	200 Mbps	—

Key takeaway: Always use WireGuard on the Beryl AX. The speed difference between WireGuard and OpenVPN is dramatic — WireGuard cuts speeds by roughly 25-38%, while OpenVPN cuts speeds by 45-57%. The Beryl AX’s processor simply doesn’t have enough horsepower to handle OpenVPN’s heavier encryption efficiently.

Best VPN for the GL.iNet Beryl AX: NordVPN. It delivered the fastest WireGuard throughput, the most stable connections, and the easiest setup process of any VPN we tested on this router.

Peplink MAX BR1 — Best Premium Travel Router for VPN

Processor: Dedicated VPN co-processor | RAM: 512 MB | WiFi: WiFi 5, dual-band | Connectivity: LTE Cat 7, dual SIM | Price: ~$499

The Peplink MAX BR1 is a professional-grade mobile router built for reliability in demanding environments — RV travel, marine use, remote work setups. It costs 5x more than the Beryl AX, but the dedicated VPN processor means significantly lower speed overhead. Van lifers, overlanders, and professional remote workers will appreciate the difference.

Speed benchmarks (100 Mbps LTE base connection, WireGuard):

VPN Provider	Download	Upload	Speed Reduction
NordVPN (NordLynx)	88 Mbps	42 Mbps	12%
Surfshark	80 Mbps	38 Mbps	20%
ProtonVPN	74 Mbps	32 Mbps	26%
No VPN	100 Mbps	48 Mbps	—

Why Peplink handles VPNs better: The dedicated VPN co-processor offloads encryption from the main CPU. This matters enormously — the Peplink loses only 12-26% of its speed with WireGuard, compared to 24-38% on the GL.iNet Beryl AX. On OpenVPN, the advantage is even more pronounced.

SpeedFusion VPN: Peplink’s proprietary VPN technology bonds multiple WAN connections (LTE + WiFi, dual SIM, etc.) into a single, aggregated tunnel. This isn’t a privacy VPN — it’s a bandwidth-bonding tunnel to a Peplink FusionHub server. You can layer a privacy VPN (NordVPN, Surfshark, ProtonVPN) on top of SpeedFusion for both bonding and privacy, though this adds additional overhead.

Best VPN for the Peplink MAX BR1: NordVPN. Minimal speed loss (12%) and rock-solid stability make it the clear winner on premium hardware.

Other Compatible Routers

GL.iNet Slate Plus (GL-A1300): A more affordable GL.iNet option at ~$59. WireGuard performance is adequate but 15-20% slower than the Beryl AX due to the weaker processor. Good enough for solo travelers with moderate bandwidth needs.

GL.iNet Flint 2 (GL-MT6000): The high-end GL.iNet option at ~$159. Overkill for most travel scenarios, but if you’re setting up a semi-permanent remote work station in an Airbnb for a month, its Wi-Fi 6E and powerful processor deliver near-native VPN speeds.

Asus RT-AX55 / RT-AX58U: Not really travel routers (they’re full-sized), but popular with digital nomads who settle in one location for months. Native VPN client support for WireGuard and OpenVPN. NordVPN and Surfshark both provide detailed Asus-specific setup guides.

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How to Set Up a VPN on a GL.iNet Travel Router

The GL.iNet Beryl AX is the most popular travel router for VPN use, so here’s the quick setup process. For a full walkthrough with screenshots, see our complete VPN router setup guide.

Step 1: Get Your VPN Configuration File

Log into your VPN provider’s website and download a WireGuard configuration file. Always choose WireGuard over OpenVPN for travel routers — it’s significantly faster on limited hardware.

• NordVPN: Log in at nordvpn.com, go to “Manual Setup,” select “WireGuard,” and download a config file for your preferred server.
• Surfshark: Log in at surfshark.com, navigate to “VPN” then “Manual Setup” then “Router,” and generate a WireGuard config file.
• ProtonVPN: Log in at account.protonvpn.com, go to “Downloads” then “WireGuard configuration,” select your server, and download.

Step 2: Access Your Router’s Admin Panel

Connect to your GL.iNet router’s WiFi network. Open a browser and navigate to 192.168.8.1. Log in with your admin password (set during initial router setup).

Step 3: Upload the VPN Config

Navigate to VPN then WireGuard Client in the admin panel. Click Add a New WireGuard Configuration. Choose Upload a Configuration File and select the file you downloaded in Step 1. Name the connection (e.g., “NordVPN-Tokyo” or “Surfshark-US”).

Step 4: Connect

Toggle the VPN connection to “On.” The status indicator should turn green within 5-10 seconds. You can verify the VPN is active by visiting a site like ipleak.net from any device connected to the router — your IP should show the VPN server’s location, not your actual location.

Step 5: Enable Auto-Connect (Optional)

Under VPN then Global Options, enable “Auto-connect on boot.” This ensures the VPN activates automatically every time you power on the router — no manual connection needed.

Total setup time: 5-10 minutes from start to finish.

For detailed instructions including screenshots, troubleshooting tips, and OpenVPN setup, read our complete guide: How to Set Up a VPN on a Travel Router.

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Speed Benchmarks: VPN On vs. Off

Here’s a consolidated view of our testing data. All benchmarks were run using Speedtest by Ookla and Cloudflare’s speed test, measured 3 times per configuration, with the median result recorded.

GL.iNet Beryl AX — WireGuard (300 Mbps Base Connection)

Configuration	Download	Upload	Ping	Speed Loss
No VPN	300 Mbps	200 Mbps	8ms	—
NordVPN (NordLynx)	228 Mbps	155 Mbps	12ms	24%
Surfshark (WireGuard)	198 Mbps	130 Mbps	14ms	34%
ProtonVPN (WireGuard)	185 Mbps	115 Mbps	15ms	38%

Peplink MAX BR1 — WireGuard (100 Mbps LTE)

Configuration	Download	Upload	Ping	Speed Loss
No VPN	100 Mbps	48 Mbps	32ms	—
NordVPN (NordLynx)	88 Mbps	42 Mbps	38ms	12%
Surfshark (WireGuard)	80 Mbps	38 Mbps	40ms	20%
ProtonVPN (WireGuard)	74 Mbps	32 Mbps	42ms	26%

Real-World Performance Notes

Video calls (Zoom/Meet): All three VPNs on both routers maintained smooth, buffer-free video calls. You need roughly 5-10 Mbps for a quality video call — even the slowest configuration (ProtonVPN on GL.iNet via OpenVPN at 128 Mbps) is 12x more than enough.

4K streaming: Requires approximately 25 Mbps. All WireGuard configurations on both routers exceeded this easily. OpenVPN on the GL.iNet Beryl AX with ProtonVPN (128 Mbps) still cleared the threshold by 5x.

Multiple devices: With 8 devices connected to the GL.iNet Beryl AX running NordVPN WireGuard, aggregate throughput dropped to roughly 180 Mbps — still plenty for a mix of browsing, streaming, and light work across all devices.

Bottom line: WireGuard on any of these three VPNs provides more than enough throughput for typical travel usage on either router. NordVPN wins on raw speed, but all three clear the bars that matter (video calls, streaming, multi-device browsing) with room to spare.

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How to Choose: Decision Framework

By Budget

• Under $2.50/month: Surfshark at $2.19/month. Best value, unlimited devices, solid router performance.
• $3-4/month: NordVPN at $3.39/month. Fastest router speeds, best stability, most comprehensive feature set.
• Privacy is priceless: ProtonVPN at $4.49/month. Swiss jurisdiction, open-source, independently audited.
• Free: ProtonVPN’s free tier works on routers via WireGuard — limited but functional for basic security.

By Router

• GL.iNet Beryl AX: NordVPN (best speeds) or Surfshark (best value). Both have excellent GL.iNet compatibility.
• Peplink MAX BR1: NordVPN. The minimal speed loss (12%) on Peplink’s dedicated VPN processor makes NordVPN’s speed advantage even more apparent.
• Other OpenWrt routers: NordVPN or Surfshark. Both provide WireGuard configs that work with standard OpenWrt VPN clients.

By Travel Style

• Digital nomad (long-term stays): NordVPN on a GL.iNet Beryl AX. Best speed and stability for daily remote work.
• Van lifer / overlander: NordVPN on a Peplink MAX BR1. Dedicated hardware, LTE connectivity, minimal VPN overhead.
• Budget backpacker: Surfshark on a GL.iNet Slate Plus. Lowest total cost (router + VPN) with adequate performance.
• Privacy-focused traveler: ProtonVPN on a GL.iNet Beryl AX. Swiss privacy + portable encrypted network.
• Traveling family: Surfshark on any GL.iNet router. Unlimited devices means everyone is covered.

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Router VPN Tips for Travelers

WireGuard Over OpenVPN — Always

On travel router hardware, WireGuard is not just “a bit faster” — it’s dramatically faster. Our benchmarks showed WireGuard outperforming OpenVPN by 30-50% on the GL.iNet Beryl AX. The lighter encryption overhead means less CPU strain, less heat, and less battery drain if you’re running the router from a power bank.

Save Multiple Server Configs

Download WireGuard configuration files for several servers before your trip: your home country (for banking and streaming), plus servers near your travel destinations (for speed). You can load multiple configs onto a GL.iNet router and switch between them through the admin panel without uploading new files.

Monitor for DNS Leaks

After setting up your VPN router, connect a device and visit ipleak.net or browserleaks.com. Verify that your IP address matches the VPN server, not your actual location. Also check for DNS leaks — some router configurations can leak DNS queries to your ISP even with the VPN active. GL.iNet routers have a “DNS over TLS” option that prevents this.

Power Management

The GL.iNet Beryl AX draws about 10W under VPN load. A 20,000 mAh USB-C power bank will run it for roughly 8-10 hours — enough for a full day of remote work at a cafe without needing an outlet for the router. The Peplink MAX BR1 draws more power (12-15W) and generally needs a wall outlet or vehicle power.

Set Up Before You Travel

Configure your VPN on the router at home, on your own reliable network. Test the connection, verify there are no DNS leaks, save your server configs. You don’t want to be troubleshooting router VPN setup on slow hotel WiFi in a foreign language.

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Related Content

Looking for more depth on specific topics covered in this guide?

• Best VPN for Travel 2026 — Our comprehensive VPN rankings tested across 15+ countries
• How to Set Up a VPN on a Travel Router — Full step-by-step guide with screenshots
• NordVPN Review — In-depth review of our top VPN pick
• Surfshark Review — Detailed look at the best budget VPN

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Final Verdict: Which VPN for Your Travel Router?

After 18 months of running VPNs on travel routers across three continents, our recommendations are clear:

Best overall: NordVPN — The fastest throughput on router hardware (228 Mbps on GL.iNet Beryl AX, only 12% speed loss on Peplink), the most stable connections, and the most comprehensive router setup documentation. At $3.39/month, it’s the VPN we personally run on our travel router every day.

Best budget: Surfshark — Nearly 40% cheaper than NordVPN at $2.19/month, unlimited simultaneous devices (your router plus every app-based connection), and WireGuard throughput that’s more than adequate for travel usage. The best value for families and budget travelers.

Best for privacy: ProtonVPN — Swiss jurisdiction, open-source, independently audited. The only VPN with a free tier that works on routers via WireGuard. Speed is the trade-off, but the privacy credentials are unmatched.

For the router itself, we recommend the GL.iNet Beryl AX for most travelers — it’s compact, affordable at ~$89, and has the best built-in VPN client interface of any travel router we’ve tested. Power users and van lifers should consider the Peplink MAX BR1 for its dedicated VPN processor and LTE connectivity.

The setup takes 10 minutes. The protection lasts as long as you travel. Every unsecured WiFi network you connect to without a VPN is a gamble — and a router-level VPN means you never have to remember to place that bet.

Get NordVPN — Best for Travel Routers →