Even in cases where your VPN doesn’t have a native app for your desired device, there’s often an easy way to get around this (like by using Smart DNS). In the rare case that you’d need to set up the VPN manually, this only takes a few steps too. Below, we’ve detailed step-by-step guides that cover app and manual setups for every device out there, so you can get straight to taking advantage of the many benefits a VPN brings. If you’re yet to get a VPN, I’ve also shortlisted the easiest ones to set up on any device or platform. Along with native apps, these VPNs are simple to set up manually. My top recommendation is ExpressVPN because it’s easy to use, has fast speeds, great unblocking abilities, and high-level security features. You can also try ExpressVPN risk-free since it’s backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee. Set Up ExpressVPN with Ease
How to Set Up a VPN App — A Detailed Guide
Top-tier VPNs have native apps for all major operating systems (Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, and Linux). If you’re looking to just install your VPN on your PC or mobile, it’s just a case of installing the appropriate VPN app for your device. Setting up a VPN via the app couldn’t be easier. Just follow these simple steps: Try ExpressVPN Risk-Free
How to Set Up a VPN Manually
In most cases, you won’t have to set up a VPN manually. But if you’d like to use your VPN with a device that doesn’t commonly support VPN apps, you’ll have to perform a manual setup. There may also be niche situations where you’re forced to perform a manual setup if you’re trying to use a VPN on a restrictive network. Thankfully, manual setups aren’t too difficult, and there are a few different ways you can do it on each device. Some VPNs make it even easier by providing Smart DNS services or an easy router setup. Here’s how to manually set up a VPN on any device:
Set Up a VPN on PlayStation, Xbox, and Smart TVs
The easiest way to use a VPN on a PlayStation, Xbox, smart TV, or media player is to use Smart DNS. Smart DNS reroutes your internet traffic through your VPN’s DNS server, removing identifying information in the process. This lets you hide your real location and access geo-restricted content based on the location of the DNS server. Keep in mind that a Smart DNS doesn’t work the same way as a VPN — it will not hide your real IP, nor does it encrypt your internet traffic. This means it isn’t nearly as secure. However, if you’re just looking to stream geoblocked content, it should fulfill this purpose nicely. Not all VPN services offer Smart DNS and those that do usually only support a limited number of locations (some only support US connections, for example). However, these VPNs do offer Smart DNS, and they all have a simple setup process. Follow these steps to set up the service on your device. Alternatively, you can share a VPN connection from your Windows PC or laptop (just create a hotspot with the VPN connected) if your VPN doesn’t offer Smart DNS. Try ExpressVPN’s Smart DNS
Set Up a VPN on Routers (Use Your VPN on All Devices)
One of the benefits of setting up a VPN on your router is that all WiFi-enabled devices on your home network will have VPN protection. It also works smoothly with devices that commonly do not support native VPN apps. For these reasons, this method is easily the most versatile. That said, this method only works with routers that are compatible with VPNs. Most VPNs include a list of compatible routers, so ensure that your router model is able to work with your chosen VPN. Setting up a VPN on your router isn’t as simple as other devices, and it varies a lot depending on your router model and VPN. For a more in-depth explanation of installing a VPN on a router, check out this guide. It’s also important to note that every router has its own way of setting up VPNs, so the best option is to follow the guides on your VPN’s website. Alternatively, you can contact your router’s manufacturer. There are 3 options available for getting a VPN on your router: Try ExpressVPN’s Router App
Set Up a VPN on Windows, macOS, and Linux
Again, the easiest way to set up a VPN is through the app, but if you are in a situation where you need to manually set up a VPN on your PC or laptop, you can follow the steps below. Before you get started, you may need some information from your VPN provider, such as the VPN server address and a special username and password. Some VPNs aren’t very forthcoming with this information, so you may struggle to get this. If you can’t find the necessary information, try contacting your VPN’s customer support.
Windows 10/11:
Windows 7:
Just keep in mind that the Windows built-in client only supports IKEv2, L2TP, PPTP, and SSTP, which aren’t as safe as other protocols, like OpenVPN. An alternative manual setup option is to use the third-party software, OpenVPN. This process is a little simpler, and most VPNs support manual OpenVPN configuration.
macOS:
You can also manually set up a VPN by installing it via Tunnelblick, an app that manages OpenVPN connections.
Linux:
There’s also a version of the third-party software OpenVPN available for Linux should you want to configure an OpenVPN connection manually. Try ExpressVPN’s Desktop App
Set Up a VPN on Android and iOS
Downloading an APK
If you’re using an Android device and can’t access the Google Play Store, you can still get your VPN’s native app by downloading the APK file. This will also apply if you’re using a Huawei device. You can usually find the APK file on your VPN’s download page. Here’s how to do it:
Manual VPN Connection — Android
Another way to set up a VPN is through your phone’s settings. This won’t install the app on your device, though — you have to manually enter your VPN’s server details. This works for all Android devices, including Android TV.
Manual VPN Connection — iOS (iPhones and iPads):
Alternatively, for both Android and iOS, you can install third-party software, such as OpenVPN, if you cannot use or access your VPN provider’s native app. These alternatives will still require the manual entry of server information, but may offer more functionality and easier management of your VPN connections. Try ExpressVPN on Mobile
The Best VPNs With Easy Setups for Any Device in March 2023
1. ExpressVPN — Easy Setup Process With the Fastest Speeds for a Smooth User Experience
Setting up ExpressVPN is very straightforward. Once I signed up through its website, I installed it on my Windows laptop and iPhone in just a few minutes. No manual setup is required, and you don’t need any technical knowledge to get going. As soon as the apps were downloaded, I just searched for the server I wanted and connected. ExpressVPN has native apps for all major operating systems, which are clearly displayed on its download page. It also offers a Smart DNS service, MediaStreamer, which lets you easily stream content on smart TVs and game consoles. During my tests, I set it up on my smart TV in under 3 minutes by following some easy instructions on its website. One of its most unique features is its dedicated app and custom firmware for routers. Most VPNs require you to use third-party firmware such as DD-WRT and then set up a manual OpenVPN configuration, which can be tricky. These kinds of setups also require you to manually change your router settings every time you want to switch servers. On the other hand, ExpressVPN’s custom firmware is simple to install for many common router models and lets you easily change servers and control settings through the dedicated browser app. All the devices in your home network will be automatically connected to the VPN. In the app, you can organize your devices into certain groups and set which server each should connect to. For example, I set my PC and laptop to use a privacy-friendly Switzerland server, while my smart TV was set to use a US server to stream Hulu. The only downside to ExpressVPN is that it’s a little more expensive than other VPNs, with prices starting from $6.67/month. However, it often offers big discounts (I saved 49% when I signed up). For the quality service you receive, it’s completely worth the added cost. You can try ExpressVPN out for yourself risk-free, and if you’re not satisfied, you have up to 30 days to claim a full refund. I tested this policy out by canceling my subscription via its 24/7 live chat. When I asked a representative to cancel it, they asked me a couple of questions and agreed to my request. I got my money back after 3 business days.
Useful Features
Impressive speeds for all activities. ExpressVPN is one of the fastest VPNs I’ve ever tested. I got speeds of 100.5 Mbps on its faraway New York server, which was only a 20% drop from my baseline connection. This is really impressive as New York is 5,000 km away from me — most other VPNs would cut your speed by 50% at such a distance. Easily unblocks geo-restricted streaming platforms. Unblocking my favorite streaming platforms was easy with ExpressVPN. By connecting to its Chicago and New York servers, I could access US Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, and HBO Max on my first try. Highly secure. Military-grade encryption, IP/DNS leak protection, and automatic kill switch are all enabled by default. ExpressVPN also uses Perfect Forward Secrecy, which changes your encryption key regularly. This makes it even harder to decrypt your data. Strict no-logs policy. ExpressVPN vows to never log your browsing activity or any identifiable data. Compliance with this claim has been proven several times by audits. It also uses RAM-based servers, which ensure any and all user data is inaccessible and deleted with every server reboot.
Try ExpressVPN on Any Device
2. CyberGhost — Easy To Set Up & Use with Optimized Servers for Streaming, Gaming, and Torrenting
CyberGhost takes no time to set up — even if you’re totally new to VPNs. When I tested it, I set it up on my Windows laptop in under 2 minutes. Its optimized servers make it easy to find the best server for your needs. I tested its streaming-optimized servers for Netflix in Germany, France, and the US and accessed all these regional libraries on the first try. You can also easily find optimized servers for gaming and torrenting. This means you can always be certain you’ve chosen the best servers for your needs. Its app is simple and the features are marked and explained clearly. I especially liked how you can save servers as “favorites” so you can quickly find them and reconnect to them next time. Plus, CyberGhost’s Smart DNS unblocks content from the US and the UK (most VPNs only unblock US content, so this is a nice bonus). The one issue I found with CyberGhost is its shortened money-back guarantee on the monthly plans of just 14 days. However, CyberGhost’s long-term plans come with an extended 45-day guarantee. Plus, these plans are highly affordable — prices start at just $2.11/month. Its 45-day money-back guarantee let me try CyberGhost completely risk-free for longer than any other VPN on this list. I canceled my account on day 44 through 24/7 customer support, who promptly issued me a full refund. The money was back in my bank account after 4 business days.
Useful Features
NoSpy servers. CyberGhost has NoSpy servers located at its privacy-friendly headquarters in Romania, which are clearly labeled in the app and can be connected to with just a few clicks. Only CyberGhost staff have physical access to these servers, minimizing the likelihood of malicious third parties monitoring your personal information. Low-latency gaming servers. Thanks to CyberGhost’s dedicated gaming servers, I could play Apex Legends securely on my Windows PC with only minimal lag. Nearby servers gave me a low average ping of just 35 ms. Seamless streaming and torrenting. While not as fast as ExpressVPN, CyberGhost still gave me speeds of 94.4 Mbps on its long-distance New York server. I could stream in the highest quality and torrent large (copyright-free!) files in minutes. Smart Rules. CyberGhost lets you define rules for when the VPN should launch and activate. For example, I could easily set CyberGhost to automatically launch and connect when I opened my torrenting app. I could also set it to connect to a server whenever I began using an untrusted WiFi network.
Try CyberGhost on Any Device
3. Private Internet Access — Easy-to-Use App With Customizable Settings to Optimize It for Your Needs
Private Internet Access (PIA)’s app was quick to install and get started with. During my tests, it took me less than 3 minutes to install on my Windows laptop. It comes pre-configured for a good balance of speed and security, so I was able to use it right away. However, I also like that it’s highly flexible when it comes to its settings. It gives you the option to choose your protocol and encryption level to optimize for speed or security, depending on what you’re using it for. For example, you can choose between AES 128-bit and 256-bit encryption. If you wanted to prioritize speed, for example, you could opt for weaker encryption. It also lets you choose between the WireGuard and OpenVPN protocols. Regardless of how you customize your connection, you will be kept secure via an automatic kill switch and IP/DNS leak protection. One con with PIA is that it’s headquartered in the US — part of the 5-Eyes Alliance. This is an international surveillance network that could potentially force PIA to share user data. However, 2 court cases have proven PIA’s no-logs policy. Even when the government requested data, it couldn’t provide it because there wasn’t any to share. You can sign up for its long-term plan from just $2.03/month. There’s also a short-term plan with the same features, but the long-term plan saves you more. It also comes with a free year’s subscription to Boxcryptor, a service that lets you encrypt your cloud data on Google Drive, iCloud, and Dropbox. All its plans are also backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee. I asked them over 24/7 chat to cancel my account after trying PIA for 3 weeks. After I gave my reason for canceling, I was refunded after 5 business days.
Useful Features
Massive server network. PIA’s impressive server network spans 29,650+ servers across 84 countries. So many servers meant I never ran into slowdowns due to overcrowding — I could stream, browse, and torrent without issue. Multihop. If privacy is your main concern, PIA’s Multihop feature allows you to route your connection through a proxy before reaching the VPN server. This effectively replaces your IP address twice — making it even more difficult to trace. Nicely, it only takes a few seconds to set up. Graphical user interface for Linux. PIA is the only VPN on this list to offer a GUI for Linux. This means you don’t have to touch the command-line — you can fully control the VPN through a user-friendly app. Open-source VPN app. All of PIA’s native apps are 100% open source. This means anyone can scrutinize the code to ensure it is secure and protects your data. PIA’s level of transparency just goes to show how confident they are in their offerings.
Try PIA on Any Device
How to Use a VPN
Once you’ve set up your VPN on your device, there are many customizable options you can configure to enhance your experience. You can even optimize your VPN settings for certain tasks to get the most out of it. Some VPNs also offer additional services that may prove useful, depending on what you’re looking to do. Below, I’ve explored some of the most common VPN settings and additional services and described how they work, so that you can make the most out of them.
Automatic Kill Switch
A must-have if you’re concerned about your security. A kill switch prevents your personal information from being exposed if your VPN connection unexpectedly drops. Luckily, most modern VPNs come with a kill switch that’s automatically enabled by default. That said, it’s worth checking that it’s enabled before using your VPN, just in case. The kill switch can usually be toggled on and off in your VPN’s security settings.
VPN Protocol
Protocols determine the set of rules that create a secure tunnel between you and your VPN server. Most VPNs have their protocol set to automatic by default. This selects a protocol based on your chosen server and what the VPN provider believes offers the best balance of speed and security. This can work fine for most general purposes. However, you may wish to manually set a certain protocol in some scenarios. Here’s a quick overview of the most common VPN protocols available and used today: Some VPNs also offer proprietary protocols. These usually come highly recommended by the VPN itself, but be sure to check that the protocol has been independently audited and proven to be secure before using it. For example, ExpressVPN’s Lightway protocol is impressively fast and proven to be secure by several independent audits. That’s why it’s my go-to protocol for most activities.
Leak Protection
This is usually enabled by default in your VPN settings, and it ensures you’re protected from IP/DNS and WebRTC leaks. Without this, your real IP address or DNS requests could be left exposed while browsing online. This is a privacy concern, but it can also mean that you’d be unable to access geo-restricted content. In some cases, it could even open you up to DDoS attacks and other malicious activity. For example, it’s not unheard of for gamers to send DDoS attacks against the home networks of opposing players to bring them offline. You can check if your VPN is properly hiding your IP address by using a leak test tool, like ipleak.net.. If the results show the location of your VPN server, you can rest assured that your real IP address is safely hidden.
Connect on Startup
You can set most VPNs to automatically launch and connect to a server upon starting up your device. This can be to the fastest server at the time, or it can be a server in a region of your choice — the options available to you depends on the VPN. If you prefer, some VPNs also let you configure them to only launch and connect to a server when you’re on an untrusted Wi-Fi network, or when you open certain apps (such as a torrenting service).
Specialized Servers
Some VPNs offer specialized servers that are optimized for certain activities. As an example, CyberGhost offers dedicated servers for streaming, gaming, torrenting, and privacy (NoSpy servers). The way these servers are optimized for certain activities can differ from VPN to VPN. That said, here’s a few examples of how they commonly enhance certain VPN activities:
How to Set Up Your VPN for Certain Activities
By combining the settings and services described above, you can easily optimize your VPN for streaming, security, and more. Thankfully, in most cases, it is just a case of enabling and disabling features in the VPN app and picking the right server. However, if you’re using a manual or a router set up, it’s best to contact your VPN provider for help configuring your connection. Here are some quick suggestions on how you can optimize your VPN connection for some of the most popular activities: Try ExpressVPN Today
What to do if my VPN setup isn’t working?
There are a few simple fixes you can try if your VPN setup isn’t working. First, you want to make sure you’re using a quality VPN. If you’re using an unreliable VPN, you’re more likely to experience problems outside of your control. But if you’re already using a quality VPN and it still isn’t working, try the following:
Check your internet connection. If there’s an issue with your network connection, you won’t be able to connect to a VPN server. You might have to restart your router. Switch to a different server. There may just be a problem with the server you’re trying to connect to. Try a different one in the same location. Update your VPN. Check if your VPN has any pending updates. This will usually fix any bugs within the app. Change VPN protocol. Some VPN protocols are more prone to network issues than others. Try changing protocol — OpenVPN is usually a safe choice. You may also try switching from UDP to TCP, as TCP is the more reliable of the two. Check your firewall settings. Your firewall might be blocking the VPN connection from accessing the internet. Try temporarily disabling your firewall and trying again. If it now works, turn your firewall back on and manually set it to allow the VPN app. Clear your cookies and cache. Your browser may be storing location data that’s interfering with your VPN connection. Clear your cookies and cache in your browser’s settings and try again. Contact your VPN’s support. Your VPN’s customer support team should be able to give you some troubleshooting tips to help you fix your particular issue.
Once you’ve established a VPN connection, make sure it’s working correctly. You can do this by checking if your IP address is showing the same location as your VPN server. Find this out with our easy online IP checker.
Do I need to install a VPN on every device?
It depends on what you’re using a VPN for. If you just want one for streaming, you only need to install it on the devices you use to stream. However, if you’re concerned about your online privacy, you’ll want to install it on every device you connect to the internet. The only issue is that most VPNs have a limited number of device connections. If you do want a VPN on every device, I recommend using ExpressVPN’s router setup, which protects all devices connected to your router.
How many devices can I have on a VPN?
Most VPNs have a limited number of devices you can connect simultaneously on a single account (usually between 5 and 10). If you need to connect more devices, one way to get around this is by setting up the VPN on your router, which connects all Wi-Fi-enabled devices on your home network to the VPN.
Can I set up a VPN server at home?
Yes, you can. This comes with various benefits — you won’t need to entrust your data to any third-party VPN company, and you’d be able to access your local home network from anywhere. However, setting up your own VPN server is complex. You’re also likely to run into slow speeds and possible security vulnerabilities if the server isn’t maintained properly. For a no-fuss solution, I highly recommend going with a trustworthy VPN with an audited no-logs policy. Try ExpressVPN Risk-Free »
Set up a VPN Easily on Any Device or Platform
Setting up a VPN on any device or platform is pretty straightforward and doesn’t require much technical knowledge. If your device is compatible, the easiest way is to install the VPN app. However, if you do require a manual setup, this usually isn’t too difficult. Each platform has its own setup instructions for VPNs, so it’s best to check them if you’re unsure. I recommend ExpressVPN since it’s compatible with lots of devices. It’s also very simple to set up, provides robust privacy and security features, and offers excellent geoblocking abilities. You can try ExpressVPN risk-free — if you don’t feel it’s right for you, you can get a full refund within the 30-day money-back guarantee period.
To summarize, the best VPNs with super easy setups are…
The information above can be used to track you, target you for ads, and monitor what you do online.
VPNs can help you hide this information from websites so that you are protected at all times. We recommend ExpressVPN — the #1 VPN out of over 350 providers we've tested. It has military-grade encryption and privacy features that will ensure your digital security, plus — it's currently offering 49% off.
Visit ExpressVPN
