Router VPN vs. VPN apps like NordVPN and Surfshark: which does your home need?
Updated October 8, 2026.
A VPN app like NordVPN, Surfshark or ExpressVPN protects only the phones and laptops you install it on, and only while it's switched on. A VPN on your router also covers the TVs, consoles and cameras that can't run an app. Most homes do best with the router covering the house and an app for when you're out.
- A VPN app covers only devices that can run it.
- Consoles, smart speakers and cameras usually can't run a VPN app.
- A router VPN covers every device on the networks it's set for.
- On hotel or café Wi-Fi, a VPN app is still the right tool.
Does a VPN app protect every device at home?
No. A VPN app protects one device at a time, and only while someone remembers to switch it on. Everything that can't install the app sends its traffic out unprotected.
Here's what a phone-and-laptop VPN usually misses:
- Game consoles and many smart TVs
- Smart speakers, plugs and thermostats
- Security cameras and video doorbells
- Guests' phones and laptops
Not sure how many devices you have? Our guide to how many devices home Wi-Fi can handle helps you count.
How many devices do NordVPN, Surfshark and ExpressVPN cover?
| VPN app | Devices at once | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| NordVPN | 10 | Devices running its app |
| Surfshark | Unlimited | Devices running its app |
| ExpressVPN | 10, 12 or 14, by plan | Devices running its app |
| Proton VPN | 10 on Plus and Unlimited | Devices running its app |
| Private Internet Access | Unlimited | Devices running its app |
| Rio VPN | No per-device limit at home | Every device in the rooms you choose, plus apps for travel |
Device limits matter less than the last column. Every app-based VPN covers only a device that can run its app.2, 3, 4, 5, 6 Plans change, so check each provider's site.
How does a VPN on your router work?
The router encrypts traffic before it leaves your home, so devices don't need an app. Nothing to install, nothing to switch on.
Rio VPN runs on the Rio router using WireGuard. In the Rio app you pick which SecureRooms (Rio's separate networks) use it. Every device in those rooms is covered the moment it joins, and you can leave a work or banking device on your normal connection.
Router VPN vs. VPN app, side by side
| VPN app | Rio VPN on your router | |
|---|---|---|
| Phones and laptops | Yes, with the app | Yes, in the rooms you choose |
| Consoles, cameras, speakers | Usually not | Yes, in the rooms you choose |
| Has to be switched on | Yes, on each device | No, always on for those rooms |
| New devices and guests | Only if they install it | Covered when they join a VPN room |
| Away from home | Yes | Yes, with the Rio VPN apps |
Can I put NordVPN on my router?
Yes, if your router supports it and you're comfortable setting it up by hand. NordVPN, Surfshark, ExpressVPN, Proton VPN and Private Internet Access all publish router guides.
Most of those setups push every device through the VPN, which can trip up banking and streaming sites. Changing it later means digging back into router settings.
What a VPN can't do
A VPN hides your browsing from your internet provider and masks your home IP address. It can't stop a stranger from joining your Wi-Fi, or a hacked camera from reaching your laptop. That takes a router that controls who joins and keeps devices apart. See why smart devices belong on their own network.
Where Rio fits. Rio holds every new device for your approval, splits your home into up to 16 SecureRooms, and runs Rio VPN for the rooms you choose. One year of Rio VPN comes with every router, then it's $7.99 a month or $79.99 a year.
Your TV, console and cameras can't run a VPN app.
Rio VPN runs on the router, so every device in the rooms you pick is covered with nothing to install.
See how Rio VPN worksFrequently asked questions
Is a router VPN better than a VPN app?
At home, usually yes. A router VPN covers every device on the networks it serves, including TVs, consoles and cameras that can't run an app, and nobody has to switch it on. Away from home, you still need a VPN app on your phone or laptop.
Can a VPN app protect my smart TV or game console?
Usually not. Most consoles, smart speakers and cameras can't install VPN apps, and only some smart TVs can. A VPN running on your router is the simplest way to cover them, because the device needs no app and no setup of its own.
Can I use NordVPN and a router VPN together?
Yes. Many people use a router VPN for the house and a VPN app on phones and laptops for travel. Keep your existing app if you like it. If both run on one device at home, you may get a slower connection, so switch one off.
Does a VPN stop hackers?
Not by itself. A VPN encrypts your traffic and hides it from your internet provider and others on the same network. It doesn't stop a stranger from joining your Wi-Fi or a hacked gadget from reaching your laptop. Device approval and separate networks handle those risks.
Sources
- Deloitte, 2023 Connectivity and Mobile Trends Survey. deloitte.com
- Security.org, Best Multi-Device VPNs (NordVPN: 10 connections), updated August 24, 2026. security.org
- Surfshark, pricing: unlimited simultaneous devices, checked October 8, 2026. surfshark.com
- ExpressVPN, How many devices can use ExpressVPN simultaneously? checked October 8, 2026. expressvpn.com
- Proton VPN, pricing: 10 devices at once on paid plans, checked October 8, 2026. protonvpn.com
- Private Internet Access, plans: unlimited devices, checked October 8, 2026. privateinternetaccess.com
