FiOS (Fiber Optic Service) is a 100% fiber-optic network created by Verizon Communications. However, they have a licensing agreement with Frontier Communications to offer FiOS in former Verizon territories. Both versions use a framework that’s nearly identical and the companies can bundle it with TV or phone service. Verizon was one of the first U.S. carriers to offer “fiber to the home”. Because it’s fiber-optic, you have high-speed internet with speeds up to 1 Gbps. If you have a FiOS router, there are advantages of setting it up with a VPN. We’ll go over that after you look at our list of the best VPNs for FiOS routers.
| Rank | VPN Service | Our Score | Server Locations | Visit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  | 9.8 | 160 |  |
| 2 |  | 9.4 | 87 | |
| 3 |  | 9.2 | 95 | |
| 4 |  | 9.0 | 110 | |
| 5 |  | 8.8 | 73 | |
Advantages of using a VPN with FiOS routers
As we just mentioned, using a VPN with a FiOS router has some advantages. However, not everything you read will tell you that these routers don’t have VPN functionality by themselves. Because of that, you have two options when you use FiOS. You can either download VPN apps for your favorite devices, or you can use a two-router system. Though that may sound complex, it isn’t as bad as you might think. Although it may sound easy just to download VPN apps to your devices, you can’t do that with all of them.
If you have smart devices (IoT devices), they have to connect to your network to operate. Since manufacturers don’t make them with the ability to download other programs, they aren’t protected. Additionally, smart devices have horrible security. Hackers look for the weakest link on a network, and those can be smart devices. If you are short on VPN connections, using the VPN on your router will help you save valuable connections.
In addition to protecting your devices, using a VPN with your FiOS router can allow you to access or stream content from other regions. Depending on which region you want to connect to, all devices on your router will be able to view content from that area. That way, you can view region-specific content on multiple devices.
Disadvantages of using a VPN with Fios routers
Unfortunately, there are disadvantages of connecting to a VPN with your router. If you connect to a region to watch specific content, you are locked in until you switch servers. That requires you to access the router and change the settings for the entire network. Another issue you face is a potential speed loss. Secondary routers that allow you to use a VPN usually have three different protocols. These are PPTP, L2TP, and OpenVPN. Of those options, OpenVPN will protect you the best and is the gold standard in the community. However, OpenVPN can be slower than some of the more modern options. While you don’t really have to worry about speed much with a fiber-optic network, it’s not as fast as it would be if you used a VPN on your favorite device only.
How to install VPN to use with Fios router
As we mentioned, this requires a few steps to get everything straightened out. Just follow these directions. We’ll use ExpressVPN for our example.
- Sign up for ExpressVPN, which includes a 30-day risk-free money-back guarantee.
- Purchase a secondary router that supports VPN – New FiOS routers use WiFi 6 technology. It is three times faster than devices that use WiFi 3, and it can handle multiple connections without seeing a speed loss. However, they still don’t support VPNs natively. In finding a router that supports a VPN, they should be labeled. If you have questions, you can check the list on the ExpressVPN website for options the service supports.
- Download the firmware – Although a new router should have the latest version of the firmware already, we suggest you go to the website of the manufacturer to get the latest update.
- Set up the router – Once you have downloaded and installed the firmware, you need to log into the router. Make sure you have the IP address so you can enter it into the browser. One of the big keys here is to make sure that the IP address ranges belonging to the different routers don’t overlap. By default, most routers assign IP addresses in the range of 192.168.1.xxx.
- Next, change the subnet of your router. The easiest way to do that is to go to the router app and select WiFi > Settings > Advanced Networking > LAN. Change the LAN address to 192.168.2.1.
- Now, connect an Ethernet cable from the outgoing (LAN) ports to the incoming (WAN) port of the FiOS router.
- To verify the connection you will want to set up a WiFi network on the secondary router. Connect to it from any device in your home and confirm you can get out to the Internet.
- You have some options when it comes to setting up the VPN on your secondary router. If you purchased one with PPTP support and that’s enough security then you can grab the server address off the VPN provider’s website.
- For a more secure connection we recommend purchasing a secondary router that is compatible the ExpressVPN router app. You can refer to the ExpressVPN router list for the latest recommendations.
- Assuming you get one of the recommended routers, you can install VPN through the ExpressVPN router app. This will give you access to OpenVPN and their Lightway protocol which is very fast and secure.
- If you have any questions or need help, the ExpressVPN support team is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
For a limited-time only, ExpressVPN are offering 3 extra months free with 12-month plan.
Click the button below to save 49%.
What is the best VPN for FiOS routers?
There are a few things to look at when choosing a VPN to use with your FiOS router. Providers should have:
- VPN router app – first and foremost, we recommend selecting a VPN with a custom VPN app. We use ExpressVPN and you will find their VPN app will work with a lot of popular routers. While you can set up your router manually, the app makes life a lot easier.
- Stable network – After going through all these steps to set up a secondary VPN with your FiOS router, the last thing you need is the connection to keep dropping. You’ll want to choose a provider that has a stable network to ensure you don’t have to worry about it.
- Ability to get around restrictions – Whether you are trying to access censored content or change your region so you can stream, you need to choose a provider with the ability to get around those blocks.
- Server variety – This one may not be a huge deal, but it will give you the option to choose between many different countries. That way if you want to watch content from another region, you have many options.
- Advanced features – Every provider has its own advanced features. While some are more helpful than others with your FiOS router, the most important one to look for is the Kill switch. That will help ensure the safety of your network by stopping internet traffic if the VPN connection drops unexpectedly.
Now let’s take a closer look at some of the best VPNs to use with FiOS routers.
1. ExpressVPN – Best VPN for FiOS with custom router app
Get 3 months free with 12 months of our #1 rated VPN
When it comes to keeping yourself safe, ExpressVPN is one of the best choices you can make. Whether you are looking for secure encryption protocols, privacy protection features, a strict no-logs policy, or other things, you will find them all with this provider. Additionally, if you have ever had an issue creating a secure password, you are in luck. ExpressVPN has a random password generator on their website that will help you do so. It can generate multiple passwords, and you can securely download the generator page if you wish to use it offline.
A benefit that you can take advantage of when connecting to a VPN is to help you access sites like YouTube and Amazon Prime Video in different areas. Because of licensing rights, not everything is available in every country. As connected as the world is, ExpressVPN feels you should be able to see your favorite movies and TV shows everywhere. To do so, you would need to connect to a VPN in the country that offers the content. That way, you’ll be able to see it no matter where you are.
ExpressVPN is our top-rated VPN service of 2023. Regardless of your goals for using a VPN, ExpressVPN combines a robust network with privacy features to keep you protected. We commonly use it to protect our privacy while traveling and to access our favorite streaming services back home. While you can sign up for monthly access, we recommend you take advantage of this exclusive deal that gives you 3 extra months free when you sign up for a year. You can also get a full refund within 30 days if you’re not completely satisfied, so you can test their network with ExpressVPN’s money-back-guarantee.
2. NordVPN – good value with a large VPN network
As the world has changed in recent times, a large number of people have ventured to internet streaming for their entertainment needs. The issue is that sometimes, you may want to see a different library of content. That is one of the reasons you would want to connect to a NordVPN server. Whether that library comes from the same source as with international streaming companies like Netflix, or region-specific options like iPlayer from the BBC, you will be able to access those and more by connecting to a VPN.
When you take a look at encryption protocols, NordVPN has you covered. Instead of dealing with some of the less secure ones like PPTP, the company offers you three different alternatives to use. Whether you like the highly adaptable IKEv2, known as an NGE (Next Generation Encryption) protocol, OpenVPN (which many experts consider to be the gold standard), or the newcomer to the group, NordLynx (a proprietary protocol that uses WireGuard technology), you can find them all with NordVPN. While some may worry about using WireGuard because of the flaws, the company made its protocol to address those issues.
3. Private Internet Access – US-based VPN with a focus on privacy
As far as privacy goes, Private Internet Access supports five different encryption protocols. Those include OpenVPN, WireGuard, IPSEC/L2TP, PPTP, and the SOCKS5 (proxy). While there are arguments to be made for using each type of encryption, the best option is to use OpenVPN. That is because it provides the best mix of privacy and speed. WireGuard is a relative newcomer, and some people are afraid to try the protocol. Of course, there are set up guides for each type of connection on their website.
If you are a fan of mixed martial arts (MMA), you may have noticed that Private Internet Access sponsors some of the fighters. Of course, they sponsor other things as well. They have long been popular in the sports market, giving users the ability to watch sports in various parts of the world. Whether you want to watch new events or are traveling overseas, connecting to a VPN is a good idea. That will help you get around any potential viewing issues you may have.
4. CyberGhost – specialized servers for streaming and gaming
If you are a gamer, one of the things you can avoid by connecting a VPN server from CyberGhost is what is known as a Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attack. If you are not aware, a DDoS attack makes a machine or network unavailable by flooding it with requests in an attempt to overload systems. You should not have to worry about attackers or botnets stopping you from playing your favorite games. When you connect to a VPN, though, it will help you prevent that from happening.
Whether you stream a little or a lot of content online, connecting to a CyberGhost VPN server can help you. Streaming online continues to grow in popularity. Unfortunately, so do the numbers of ISPs that want to throttle your internet performance. They can detect streaming by looking for patterns. Even if you do not think it could happen to you, it certainly can. By connecting to a VPN, however, you can prevent that from happening. Simply choose a server, and your ISP will only see your actions as encrypted traffic. Then, you won’t have to worry about your streaming marathon.
5. IPVanish – Firestick app and support for Sock5 proxy
Unlike some VPN providers, IPVanish allows its users to connect an unlimited number of devices to their network at once. That is great for everyone that has multiple devices. Whether you have a large family or just a large number of devices, you can’t go wrong by choosing IPVanish as your way of protecting them. Of course, you can always free up some of those connections by running a VPN on your router. That will make sure that any device connected to your network is protected.
No matter where you are in the world, sports leagues like the English Premier League are well known. If you are a fan of any of the teams in the league like Manchester City, Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal, or others, you know that trying to watch them outside the UK can be difficult. The way to be able to view your favorite team is to connect to a VPN server located in the UK from IPVanish. After you connect, log on to your viewing app with your credentials, and you will be all set.
