5 Best VPNs for IoT Devices (2026)

NordVPN - Router-Wide Encryption & Threat Protection for IoT Devices

The awkward truth about IoT security is that a smart thermostat can’t run a VPN app, so the VPN has to live on the router. That’s where NordVPN pulls ahead of the pack.

It publishes OpenVPN configuration files for every server and runs on DD-WRT, Tomato, OpenWRT, AsusWRT, Merlin, and Padavan firmware, so the odds that your existing router (or a cheap second-hand one) can carry it are high. If you’d rather skip the setup entirely, NordVPN also sells pre-configured FlashRouters. My NordVPN router guide walks through the Asus and Netgear installs step by step.

Once it’s on the router, every smart unit behind it goes through NordVPN’s AES 256-bit encryption. In fact, the encryption is so robust that I get gibberish output whenever I run Wireshark on my NordVPN-enabled router connection.

Hence, not even my ISP – which has direct access to my network – can see any file I send on my smart printers or intercept my remote camera feed!

The other half of the problem is the controllers. Avast’s chief security executive once said that hackers steal smart coffee machines’ owners’ bank details and passwords via the phones controlling these units. NordVPN covers those with secure apps for Android, iOS, Linux, Mac, and Windows, and its Threat Protection blocks the malicious sites and trackers that a phishing text pointing at a fake “camera login” page relies on. The Pro version (on the Plus plan and up) also scans downloads for malware and keeps working even when you’re not connected to a VPN server.

You get ten simultaneous connections for those controlling devices, the same as ExpressVPN and PrivateVPN.

Did I mention NordVPN’s DDoS protection? The VPN hides your IoT devices’ true IP addresses behind the router tunnel, and its kill switch keeps them hidden if the connection drops, making it impossible for hackers to hijack them for their nefarious botnet attacks.

One time when I didn’t have a VPN-compatible router, I set up NordVPN as a virtual router via my Windows PC, and it worked wonders for my IoT units. And for smart TVs and streaming boxes that only need a change of region rather than encryption, its SmartDNS is included in every plan.

So, you’re spoiled for options. I’ve written up the whole IoT setup in my NordVPN IoT devices guide.

The one thing NordVPN doesn’t do is port forwarding. If you self-host remote access to a camera or NVR instead of going through the manufacturer’s cloud app, ExpressVPN, PrivateVPN, or PIA is the better fit. Most consumer IoT gear phones home through the maker’s servers anyway, so for the majority of setups you won’t miss it. There’s also no dedicated router app like ExpressVPN’s, which means a manual install.

All that is less expensive than ExpressVPN with these fantastic discounts, and you have 30 days to get a refund if it doesn’t suit your setup.

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Surfshark - Unlimited Simultaneous IoT Device Connections

Surfshark is the IoT VPN to get where numerous controlling devices need individual protection. That’s because while NordVPN, ExpressVPN, and PrivateVPN cap you at ten connections, Surfshark allows you to secure all units from one account.

That’s why I could share my Surfshark subscription with my family to secure their IoT experiences, even though we don’t live in the same place.

The best part is that Surfshark doesn’t compromise on IoT security solutions by offering limitless connections. Instead, it uses the same AES 256-bit encryption as the others.

I even tested its DDoS protection via IP leak and kill switch tests, and Surfshark stood tall in both cases. So, I sleep easy knowing that my smart home devices (or those of my family members) won’t be used to maliciously DDoS an unsuspecting victim.

Lest I forget, Surfshark is also router-compatible, making it easier to secure IoT devices that can’t download a VPN. Else, units like my smart thermostat (which doesn’t have a VPN app) could have been turned against me like the residents of those apartment buildings in Finland in 2016.

Its CleanWeb feature blocks ads, trackers, and malicious sites on the controlling devices, too, though it doesn’t scan downloads the way NordVPN’s Threat Protection Pro does.

However, don’t expect port forwarding support from Surfshark.

Likewise, it lacks a dedicated router app like ExpressVPN.

So, you’ll have to make do with the manual router setup.

That split is really what separates my top two. For a single home with a handful of phones, NordVPN’s ten connections are plenty, and you get the file scanning on top. The moment you’re covering relatives in other houses as well, Surfshark’s unlimited plan is the smarter buy.

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ExpressVPN - Secure Port Forwarding & Obfuscation for IoT Devices

ExpressVPN’s AES 256-bit encryption keeps hackers and snoops out of your IoT device data like child’s play. Hence, hackers can’t gain access to your smart TV’s camera and microphone to monitor you, as the FBI warned.

Its calling card for IoT is the router. It’s the only Virtual Private Network (VPN) here with a router app (but for selected routers), making switching servers and tweaking settings over your router easier than the manual setups the others rely on.

On top of that, ExpressVPN offers port forwarding on its routers.

I’ve used this to securely check into my home video camera feeds while vacationing in Mexico. You could also set it up to securely access other smart units in your home or office while you’re not on-site.

A point of failure for most people protecting IoT devices is the controlling units, like your smartphones and PCs. After all, a hacker could breach those if they can’t get in through your smart units.

Fortunately, ExpressVPN provides easy-to-use mobile and PC apps to encrypt the connections on these devices too, with ten simultaneous connections on its Basic plan.

The premium is the sticking point. ExpressVPN is the costliest VPN on this page, and the router app that justifies it only runs on a short list of Asus, Linksys, and Netgear models plus ExpressVPN’s own Aircove router. On anything else, you’re back to the same manual setup NordVPN and Surfshark use, just paying more for it. Its Threat Manager also blocks trackers and malicious sites on the controlling devices but doesn’t scan downloads.

Remember I said ExpressVPN is costlier than the rest?

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PrivateVPN - Free Port Forwarding for IoT Devices and Controlling Units

PrivateVPN offers port forwarding on its PC apps.

So, you can set up the VPN client software via a virtual router for your IoT devices and still enjoy its secure ports.

That beats ExpressVPN, which only offers port forwarding on its router app, and the others (except PIA) lack this functionality.

This VPN service provider steps that up with DDoS protection.

So, even though botnet attacks leveraging IoT devices continue to grow, none of my devices were used as part of such malicious IoT networks.

This might sound like a small flex until you consider how much sensitive data traffic may be exposed to hackers commanding such attacks.

Like the others, PrivateVPN uses secure AES 256-bit encryption.

If you’re setting up the VPN for your IoT devices as a virtual router, you can choose its 128-bit encryption for faster speeds instead.

However, I’ve discovered that IoT devices don’t need blazing-fast connection speeds to operate, and the 128-bit encryption is dangerously low security for your units. So, there’s no reason to stray from the AES 256-bit option.

Finally, PrivateVPN offers ten simultaneous device connections to protect the PC and mobile devices controlling your IoT devices.

That matches NordVPN and ExpressVPN, and it’s still cheaper than ExpressVPN.

Everything around those ports is why NordVPN and Surfshark rank above it: a much smaller server network (200+ servers in 63 countries), no router app, no obfuscation, and nothing like Threat Protection or CleanWeb to guard the controlling devices from malicious sites.

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Private Internet Access - Port Forwarding, Anti-DDoS, and Security for IoT Devices

Private Internet Access offers the ideal cocktail of everything you’ll need in a secure IoT VPN: port forwarding, anti-DDoS, and reliable encryption.

However, it was demoted to fifth on this list because it’s based in the USA, a Five Eyes nation. But since it has a court-proven no-logs policy, you know the provider won’t collect your IoT device data and hand it over to the authorities.

Speaking of its port forwarding, it beats ExpressVPN by offering remote ports on PC. I enjoy this by setting up its port forwarding to access my Ring doorbell cameras via the PC virtual router model.

Likewise, PIA combines AES 256-bit encryption and DDoS protection on every server you connect to. Whether you set it up via a proper router or the PC virtual router method, IoT units like your smart printers wouldn’t have the same fate as the 800,000 vulnerable smart printers left open to data hijacking and botnet usage in 2018.

If you think that’s not an issue, imagine someone hacking your printer memory and accessing all the sensitive emails, passwords, cryptocurrency recovery phrases, and other sensitive documents you’ve printed on your machine!

On top of that, PIA mimics Surfshark’s unlimited simultaneous connections to PCs and mobile devices. That’s why I can split my IoT device controls across multiple devices and install PIA to limit my exposure.

And for good measure, PIA is competitively cheap alongside Surfshark.

Get these PIA deals to save more on this VPN service provider.

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