
Windows offers a built-in way to host VPNs, and Apple’s Server app also allows you to set up a VPN server. You’ll want to use a computer or device that’s on all the time, though-not a desktop PC you turn off when you leave home. You could also just use VPN server software on one of your own computers. Option Three: Make Your Own Dedicated VPN Server DD-WRT and similar router firmware include built-in VPN server support, so you can host a VPN server even on routers that don’t come with VPN server software. If you have a router that supports DD-WRT, OpenWrt, or another third-party router firmware, you can flash it with that firmware to get more features. DD-WRT is a popular one, and OpenWrt also works well.

RELATED: How to Use a Custom Firmware on Your Router and Why You Might Want ToĬustom router firmware is basically a new operating system you can flash onto your router, replacing the router’s standard operating system with something new. Option Two: Get a Router That Supports DD-WRT or Other Third-Party Firmware You can then use your router’s web interface to activate and configure the VPN server. Be sure to do some research and pick a router that supports the type of VPN you want to use. Higher-end home routers often come with built-in VPN servers-just look for a wireless router that advertises VPN server support. Rather than attempting to do this yourself, you can buy a pre-built VPN solution. Mullvad Option One: Get a Router With VPN Capabilities The other problem is that some of the biggest reasons to use a VPN are to shift your geographic location to somewhere else to bypass geographical locks on websites or streaming services or mask your location for privacy reasons-and a home VPN server isn’t going to really help you with either one of these scenarios if you’re connecting from your home area. If you’re like the vast majority of home internet users, you’ve got extremely limited and possibly slow upload bandwidth, and you might even have bandwidth limits or caps-unless you’ve got gigabit fiber at home, setting up your own VPN server is going to be the slowest option you can choose. For example, you could use the US version of Netflix or other streaming sites when traveling outside the US. VPNs are also useful for connecting to services when traveling. RELATED: What Is a VPN, and Why Would I Need One? This would allow you to play PC games designed for a LAN over the Internet, too-although there are easier ways to set up a temporary network for PC gaming.

You could even allow access to other people, making it easy to give them access to servers you’re hosting on your home network.

The VPN would provide secure access to your home network from anywhere. A home VPN gives you an encrypted tunnel to use when on public Wi-Fi, and can even allow you to access country-specific services from outside the country-even from an Android, iOS device, or a Chromebook.
