The Best VPNs for Multiple Devices

PIA used to only allow 10 device connections at the same time, but it has now scrapped this limit. We installed PIA on all of our available test devices and found that we could connect to the VPN at the same time with no issues.

This means that you and anyone else you wish to share your PIA subscription with will be protected under one subscription.

This is fantastic value for money, especially because PIA is the best cheap VPN available. It only costs $2.03 per month on its long-term deal.

Private Internet Access also has one of the best app ranges available. It supports popular operating systems for desktop (Windows, macOS, and Linux), mobile (iOS and Android), streaming devices (Amazon Fire TV, Android TV), and browsers (Chrome, Firefox, Opera).

PIA’s apps are easy to use, and we really like the effort that’s been made to keep them looking as similar as possible across all platforms.

But if you’re a more advanced VPN user, PIA also has one of the largest sets of advanced settings for you to tinker with. It offers custom DNS, port forwarding, two types of kill switch, an ad and tracker blocker, dedicated IP, split tunneling, multi-hop, and more.

We like that it has Smart DNS, too, to let you change regions on devices like games consoles — but we’ve found that it doesn’t work to unblock any regional streaming services, like different Netflix libraries.

That’s one major way that PIA trails ExpressVPN — the other is its lack of router support. Unlike with ExpressVPN, there’s no easy way for PIA to provide coverage to devices that don’t natively support VPNs.

ExpressVPN is the VPN compatible with the most devices. It has easy-to-use apps for the following platforms:

• Windows
• macOS
• iOS
• Android
• Apple TV
• Fire TV
• Linux (CLI app only)
• Chrome
• Firefox
• Smart DNS
• Router

The key to ExpressVPN’s compatibility is its router app. A number of VPNs support router setup, but almost all of them are clunky, unintuitive, and time-consuming to set up. ExpressVPN’s app is the best we’ve ever tested — in fact it looks just like its Windows or macOS app.

Once you’ve followed ExpressVPN’s detailed setup guide, you can access the VPN router controls via the browser on any device on your network. From there, you can change your settings whenever you like, with access to the full server network and set of features available on the standard ExpressVPN app.

Once it’s set up, it can then cover every single device connected to it — even if that device can’t normally support a VPN. You can create profiles for different devices, and even choose which ones ignore the VPN entirely.

It grants ExpressVPN a wider coverage than any other VPN — but it is restricted to only certain types of router. There’s a much more limited app available for a broader range of routers, but we’ve found it far less intuitive to use and think it may put you off if you’re not tech-savvy.

While an allowance of 8 simultaneous connections is generous, the ExpressVPN router app lets you bypass it as it only counts as one connection — no matter how many devices are on your network.

That means you can use ExpressVPN on every device that’s connected to your WiFi network, and you’ll still have 7 simultaneous connections remaining.

However, we also discovered that ExpressVPN’s browser extensions for Firefox and Chrome also count towards that connection limit, which is odd as they aren’t technically devices.

ExpressVPN is also significantly more expensive than Private Internet access, costing $4.99 at its absolute lowest. If you don’t have a router that can support its app and simply want the cheapest way to cover multiple devices, then PIA is the much cheaper choice.

You can use Surfshark for free on every device for over 2 months. To start, sign up on mobile to get your free 7-day trial with no payment required. You can use this account on every device — not just your smartphone.

Once the free trial expires, sign up for a paid account, then ask for your money back within 30 days. You don’t have to give a reason, and we’ve found the money we’ve paid is promptly refunded.

After six months, you can then repeat the step above again.

The Surfshark free trial (and money-back guarantee period) gives you all the same features as a regular paying customer. There are no restrictions to the number of devices you can install it on, meaning with one account you can protect every device you and your household own.

Surfshark is continually improving its range of apps, and now has one of the most comprehensive selections of any VPN.

Aside from all of the usual options, like popular desktop and smartphone operating systems, it’s also the only VPN on this list to make a proper browser extension for Microsoft Edge — great if you’re a Windows user.

It also has Smart DNS that’s almost as effective as ExpressVPN’s, and a full GUI VPN app for Linux, just like PIA.

However, also just like PIA, it can’t match ExpressVPN’s router app. You can set Surfshark up on your router, but it’s not a smooth or quick experience. While it’s a quick VPN, Surfshark also happens to be a little slower than both other recommendations on this page.