Last updated on October 2nd, 2026 at 03:36 am
Honestly, I spent too many Sundays shopping around and comparing VPN routers because I got fed up with installing VPN apps on every device in my home. My smart television can’t run a VPN app, and leave me alone about securing those malevolent IoT cameras.
So I picked three low-end VPN routers under $120 and actually used them. Here’s what happened.
Table of Contents
The Reason I Bothered with VPN Routers at all.
This is what made me buy one before we roll into it: a router that secures your whole network automatically. No apps, no need to remember which device has the VPN running, and no subscriptions based on the number of devices.
Besides, my Internet service provider kept slowing down my streaming at the most opportune time. At the network level, a VPN router fixes that, but it doesn’t affect individual devices.
The three routers I actually tried.
I have chosen them depending on the price, features, and what is actually recommended on forums:
- ASUS RT-AX58U ($89) — the “safe choice”
- GL.iNet Slate AX ($113) – the pick of the tech enthusiast.
- Cudy AX3000 ($120) — the “speed demon”
Each of the 3 supports the newer WireGuard protocol, which is more important than you’d think (I will explain why).
Installation: Why Would I Like to Throw My Router Out the Window?
ASUS RT-AX58U was stupid easy. Their web interface took me through it all. I uploaded my VPN provider’s config file, clicked a few buttons, and had the entire network secured in less than 15 minutes. Easy enough for non-technical users.
The GL.iNet Slate AX took about 20 minutes because it runs OpenWrt. Translation: you get a slew of customization options, but it is more of a hacker interface than a home-user interface. Nevertheless, their mobile app and video instructions helped me cope. You will enjoy this later on in case you love to tinker.
The Cudy AX3000 startled me halfway between the other two in complexity. Their app is novice-customer-friendly, and I needed to search online for a fix for a DNS leak because it dit wasn’t as automatic as the ASUS.
Winner on Set-up: ASUS definitely. My mom would likely have to set this up.
Speed Tests: The Area In Which We All Really Care.
That’s when it got interesting. My default internet connection speed is 200 Mbps.
Using OpenVPN (the older version):
- ASUS dropped me to about 95 Mbps
- GL.iNet hit 110 Mbps
- Cudy managed 105 Mbps
Using WireGuard (which is a more modern and faster protocol):
- ASUS jumped to 165 Mbps
- GL.iNet reached 170 Mbps
- Cudy peaked at 175 Mbps
See why WireGuard matters? It is about half the speed of OpenVPN on these low-end routers because it uses significantly less processing power. The Cudy barely broke a sweat.
All three worked well for streaming Netflix or just browsing the web. The GL.iNet and Cudy were quite comfortable for gaming, and the ASUS was a bit slow when pushed in heavy gaming.
Features: What you really got for your money.
ASUS RT-AX58U offers WiFi 6, 4 Gigabit ports, and support for NordVPN, Surfshark, PIA, and Proton VPN. It has no bells and whistles, but it is trustworthy.
The Swiss Army knife here is the GL.iNet Slate AX. OpenWrt firmware lets you install thousands of apps, configure full-fledged routing, and even add AdGuard to block ads across the network. It’s also handheld; I’ve even used this device. The catch? You must be okay with Googling solutions in case you want to make personalizations.
The Cudy AX3000 supports 3,000 Mbps of Wi-Fi 6 (theoretical maximum, not in practice) and supports Wi-Guard well. It is simple: I want fast, but I don’t want to go down the technical rabbit hole. Real-World Use: What Reality Showed a Month Later.
I have been running these for about a month, rotating them once a week.
The ASUS works. I installed it, overlooked it, and everything was safe—I haven’t had any speed or connectivity problems in the house.
One reason I liked the GL.iNet was its split-tunneling. I could also route my work laptop through the VPN while leaving my gaming console on a direct connection. It is an addiction when you have tasted it that much.
The Cudy was in the middle ground – faster than the ASUS, easier than the GL.iNet. If you need simple, great performance, this nails it.
The Real Talk: Restraints You Must Know.
None of these are perfect. Budget routers also have limited CPUs so you won’t get the full speed of the internet over the VPN. That’s physics, not a flaw.
They also usually have 256-512MB RAM, so when you are operating 20+ devices at the same time and streaming 4K on three televisions, you may experience delays.
And here is one more thing I wish I’d known earlier: cheaper routers receive firmware updates quite often. The GL.iNet is eternally popular with OpenWrt support, but the rest? Make purchases beforehand.
Which one of them should you really buy?
Buy the ASUS RT-AX58U when: You want maintenance-free, straightforward security and don’t mind high-level features—best for a family or anyone who prefers to set-and-forget.
Buy the GL.iNet Slate AX when: You like customization, travel heavily, or want features like split-tunneling and ad-blocking. Plus the community OpenWrt support, it will stay current long after the maker has forgotten it.
Buy the Cudy AX3000 when: You want the quickest VPN in this price category and a reasonable compromise of user-friendliness and function.
Personally? I am retaining the GL.iNet. Why? It took me more time to install, but the combo of the control and speed charms won my heart. Your request, however – all three will secure your network much more than something like hoping that all machines are running a VPN app.
I’m a technology writer passionate about AI and digital marketing. I create engaging and useful content that bridges the gap between complex technology concepts and digital technologies. My writing makes the process easy and engaging. I encourage participation I continue to research innovation and technology. Let’s connect and talk technology!
