Private Internet Access Routers

Private Internet Access lets members connect to their VPN servers through a router. Allowing you to protect your entire network with a single VPN account. The router will send all your traffic through a PIA server for encrypted access. Connecting through a router extends support to devices like game consoles, Roku, AppleTV, Boxee and more.

Note: you will need a VPN account from Private Internet Access before you can access their network using a router. They are currently offering unlimited VPN access for $10.95 a month or $71.28 for two years.

DD-WRT and Tomato Firmware

  • In order to support an OpenVPN connection to Private Internet Access you’ll want to consider a router flashed with either DD-WRT or Tomato firmware. Think of firmware like the operating system on your computer. It gives the router more functionality.
  • If you are tech savvy you might consider flashing your own router. You can learn more about the process at dd-wrt.com. Just be aware that you can brick the router if something goes wrong.
  • There are companies that specialize in VPN routers. They will pre-configure a device with DD-WRT or Tomato firmware. We currently use an Asus RT-N66U from FlashRouters. They offer brand names like Cisco Linksys, Netgear, Asus and Belkin.

VPN Router Compatibility

Routers flashed with either Tomato or DD-WRT firmware are compatible with a full list of operating systems. Changing the firmware doesn’t hurt the compatibility in any way.

When it comes to VPN the router will protect every device that passes through it. Meaning both wired and wireless devices. Anything from PC, Mac and Linux systems to mobile devices (iPhone, iPad, Android, etc.), game consoles (XBox, Playstation, Wii) and media players (Roku, AppleTV, Boxee, etc.).

How Do VPN Routers Work?

Without getting too technical we’ll describe how you can protect your network through a custom router.

When you order a device from FlashRouters they will provide setup instructions for connecting to Private Internet Access. You’ll just need your account name and password to connect.

Here’s the best part. Once you connect the router to a PIA server all your network traffic will flow through their network. Regardless of what system or device you’re using. Want a US IP address on your game console or Roku? This will take care of it.

Will the Router Impact your Internet Speed?

The router itself won’t impact your Internet speed but you should expect any VPN to slow it down a bit. The reason is that your traffic is being encrypted. The impact for PIA is minimal though. We’ve tested PIA and their servers perform very well.

How Much are VPN Routers?

The answer depends on the features you want to have in the router. These are brand name devices from well known companies like Cisco, Netgear and Asus. They provide a full line of routers ranging from around $80 to $300 depending on your needs.

We run on an Asus RT-N66U (Dark Knight) router. It helps protect our entire network through a single VPN account. Here are some recommendations to help protect your home network.

VPN Router ModelsPrice
Linksys E1200$89.95
Linksys E2500$119.95
Linksys EA6500$199.95
Linksys EA6900$279.95
Netgear R6200$159.95
Netgear WNDR4000$179.95
Netgear AC1450$199.95
Netgear R7000 AC1900$349.95
Asus RT-N16$179.95
Asus RT-N66U$249.95
Asus RT-AC56U AC1200$199.95
Asus RT-AC66U AC1750$299.95
Asus RT-AC68U AC1900$349.95
Asus RT-AC87U AC2400$449.95

Conclusion

As a leading VPN service, Private Internet Access offers their members a number of extra features. One of which is the ability to connect with a router. We highly recommend this approach. It’s a great way to protect every device on your network with a single VPN account.

Protect your online privacy and unblock geographic restrictions with a VPN service. We're here to help you find the best VPN to meet your specific needs.