Feel like a dummy shopping for VPN router...HELP please

Illya_Kareoke

Getting the hang of it
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Hi,

I'm shopping for a VPN wifi router for $150-$200. I have tried to educate myself here and on Amazon ratings but just got bogged down. I would like to get something that is newer than 3-5 year old technology if I can.

I know I'm lazy, I work my brain pretty hard at work all week and don't really feel like doing it on my days off.

Thanks
 

squeeze

n3wb
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If you check many consumer VPN provider sites, they will almost exclusively recommend the Asus RT-AC86U (the most modern Asus router) as the best consumer router for VPNs, both server or client. If you install Asuswrt-Merlin custom firmware, you can get speeds as high as 200 Mbps over OpenVPN. There is no other consumer router that comes even close to that. Bonus: this is probably the least complained about consumer router in all mainstream modern routers.

Alternatively, if you are technical and have an existing WiFi router you can repurpose as an access point (aka. AP bridge for routers), you have three further non-consumer options:

1. Budget option: Ubiquiti Edgerouter ER-X (if Internet below 500 MBps) or Edgerouter ER-4 (if above).
2. Maximum performance option: get or build a mini-PC with a low power Intel CPU (not Atom) that supports AES-NI, then install pfSense/opnsense on it and rock VPN performance that can trounce even an RT-AC86U.
3. Convenience option: use any spare PC parts to build a PC or just run an VPN server on your NVR/Blue Iris machine.

OpenVPN is also not the only option. The last three options would allow you to run almost any type of VPN as both server or client.

Note that among consumer routers, VPN support is not that common and most non-Asus routers only support a VPN server, not client. A notable and excellent alternative option is the Synology RT2600ac - probably the only router that has both better wireless performance and comparable software to an Asus.
 
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Illya_Kareoke

Getting the hang of it
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OK, I went for the Asus RT-AC86U. Probably should have asked where to buy. Thanks
 
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