If you have a family, a group of roommates, or a small office—or if you just own a lot of gadgets—you’ll want a VPN that supports simultaneous connections of several devices. Numerous VPN companies only allow one connection at a time, which means that one device must be turned off to make way for another.
Perhaps you need to connect a phone and a laptop simultaneously, or perhaps two individuals wish to use a VPN concurrently to view Hulu or Netflix. Everyone in your business should use a VPN, but you don’t want to purchase individual subscriptions.
Multiple concurrent connections are required in these cases. VPN companies often provide between one and six simultaneous connections.
The best VPN for multi-device connectivity
We’ve suggested the best VPN for multiple concurrent connections below.
NordVPN
NordVPN is our top recommendation. Its base package includes a staggering six concurrent devices. When combined with the already-low costs, the monthly cost per device drops to less than $1 with a one-year plan. Apps for Windows, Mac OS X, Linux, iOS, and Android are available. It’s the quickest VPN we’ve tested, with a global network of hundreds of servers. NordVPN’s security is exceptionally robust, and the company maintains no records.
Methodology for VPN testing
PrivacyExplore aspires to produce the most in-depth and informative VPN evaluations and recommendations available on the web. To do this, we subject each VPN to a battery of testing, daily usage, and expert analysis. Regarding VPNs that handle many concurrent connections, we specifically consider the following:
- Allowable concurrent connections: It is quite self-explanatory. What is the maximum number of devices that may be connected to a single account?
- Apps: Allowing multiple connections is pointless if your device does not support them. A typical VPN provider develops client software for Windows, MacOS, iOS, and Android. Several provide applications for Linux, routers, and Fire TV Sticks, while others create browser extensions.
- Speed: We monitor and record the speeds of connections to VPN servers situated across the globe.
- Security: Each VPN we propose complies with our stringent quality criteria, which include strong, up-to-date encryption, full forward secrecy, and a kill switch. We examine each VPN for a variety of data breaches, including those caused by WebRTC, DNS, and IPv6.
- Value for money: Pricing is particularly important if you want to use all of your simultaneous connections. We can only suggest a VPN that we believe provides an excellent bargain without sacrificing speed, privacy, or functionality.
- Customer support: As hidden shoppers, our reviewers call each VPN’s customer service to ascertain response times and quality.
- Streaming: Unblocking region-restricted content is one of the most common reasons for using a VPN. We conduct in-depth studies to determine whether VPNs are capable of unblocking geo-restricted streaming services from overseas.
- Support for routers: By setting up a VPN on your router, you can connect all of the devices in your house to the VPN in a single session. Most VPNs that we suggest support manual setup on routers.
How to set up and use a VPN on numerous devices
If this is your first time setting up a VPN, you’ll be relieved to learn that the procedure is rather straightforward. Simply follow the instructions below to quickly connect all of your devices to a VPN.
- To begin with, sign up for a reputable VPN service (we recommend NordVPN).
- Following that, download and install the app, making sure that you have the most recent version for your device.
- Rep this procedure with each of your gadgets (or share your details with members of your household). The number of devices available may vary based on the VPN service you choose.
- Select the server to which you want to connect. If you’re streaming a video that is region-locked, you may choose to select a particular nation (for example, to open American Hulu, you’ll need a US server). For security reasons, you may not pick any.
- All of your devices should now have safe internet access.
If you’re still experiencing difficulty accessing information from another country, try deleting your cookies and reloading the page.
Utilize a WiFi router to connect an infinite number of devices to a VPN.
While all of the aforementioned VPN companies allow for simultaneous connections of several devices, there are situations when you may need even more. If this is the case, try configuring a VPN on your home or office’s wireless network rather than on individual devices.
Configuring a VPN on a wireless router utilizes just one of the available connections, but sends all traffic from connected devices via the VPN. This works with as many devices as your router and internet bandwidth permit, including those that do not support VPN applications. Simply ensure that you choose a fast VPN server!
The precise procedure differs according to the firmware version of your router and the parameters of your VPN service. Consult your provider’s website for instructions on configuring your VPN based on your firmware version. If the firmware is not mentioned, try flashing a fresh version of the router’s firmware to replace the built-in one.
Additionally, you can convert most computers into virtual routers and link devices to them. Once the virtual router is configured and linked through a standard VPN client, all devices connected to your new laptop’s Wi-Fi hotspot will be routed via the VPN.
FAQs on how to connect multiple devices to a VPN.
Is it necessary for all of my devices to connect to the same VPN server?
No, any device equipped with VPN software may connect to a separate server.
Should intelligent gadgets be linked to a VPN as well?
Connecting your smart gadgets to your VPN is an excellent way to safeguard them. Often, smart devices lack adequate encryption and authentication, which can result in the creation of backdoors into your home’s network. A VPN may encrypt the connections of all of your devices, making them less susceptible to internet-based threats.
However, keep in mind that the VPN may disconnect your smart gadgets from your local network, rendering them unreachable to the rest of your home’s devices. If this is an issue, ensure that the VPN you pick supports local networking.
Is it possible to use a free VPN to connect to many devices?
Perhaps, but we do not suggest it. While most free VPNs do not explicitly allow for simultaneous connections, many of them also do not require account registration. This means you may install a free VPN on an unlimited number of devices. That being stated, you should consider this hard before using a free VPN.
If a free VPN does require account registration, you may expect to pay a premium for additional connections.