Home   >   Blog

5 Best VPNs for FRITZ!Box in 2024 (+Easy Setup Guide)

Last updated: August 3, 2021

Home   >   Blog

If you combine FRITZ!Box with a reputable Virtual Private Network (VPN) client, you’ll be able to access even more content on the Internet.

Using a VPN connection will also help keep you safe and secure from online threats, like hackers, and out of sight from prying eyes and surveillance whenever you are on the Internet.

The problem is, if you set up a VPN client that is ineffective, this setup can have the opposite effect on your online experience. Some un-vetted VPNs can introduce malware to your computer, sell your data to the highest bidder, and slow your Internet connection significantly.

To help streamline the process for you, we tested the top 20 VPN services on the market and narrowed it down to the 5 most reliable services that not only have the top speeds and the most impressive privacy and security features, but will also give you the best streaming experience. Most importantly, the setup of these VPNs is easy and quick.

While there were a handful of impressive candidates, our favorite VPN for FRITZ!Box is ExpressVPN, hands down. Not only was ExpressVPN the easiest to install and connect on FRITZ!Box, but the VPN connection with ExpressVPN delivered the fastest speeds, and a VPN server network that spans the globe.

In a Hurry? Here Are the Top 5 VPNs for FRITZ!Box

Why You Need to Install a VPN on Your FRITZ!Box

Your home network, even though it may feel secure, is always at risk for hackers or prying eyes. If you protect your home network with a VPN connection, your IP address, revealing your personal location and identifying information, will be hidden online and your Internet traffic will be encrypted.

While FRITZ!Box does include firewall protection, the best way to ensure that your network is safe is via a VPN connection. A virtual private network sends your online traffic through an encrypted tunnel. This tunnel conceals your home IP address and actual location, and only your remote VPN server IP address and location are revealed online. This ensures your anonymity and privacy on the Internet, so any cyber-attackers will only have access to your encrypted information and your remote server IP network — not your actual address and home network.

Even though FRITZ!Box offers users a native network setup so you can access files from all over, this does not compare to the protection of a commercial VPN client. This native FRITZ!Box network doesn’t keep your IP address hidden and it will not help you unblock any of your geo-restricted streaming sites. If you want to get all of the advantages of a secure VPN, you will need to connect FRITZ!Box to a router that has a VPN installed on it. The top VPNs, like ExpressVPN, allow you to establish a VPN connection via your router.

How to Set Up a VPN Server on Your FRITZ!Box

There is a way to set up a FRITZ!Box/VPN server so that all of the devices on your home network are connected securely. This secure connection will give you access to your devices and also your files on your home computer network if you are away. The downside is that this will not conceal your IP addresses or give you the other perks of a secure VPN company.

Check out these steps to set up a VPN connection on FRITZ!Box:

1. Download and install software

The first step in setting up a VPN server on your FRITZ!Box is to install the correct software: the “FRITZ!Box VPN Connection” software and the “Configure FRITZ!Box VPN Connection” software from here.

2. Create an account with MyFRITZ!

Next, create an account in MyFRITZ! by selecting “Internet” on the FRITZ!Box UI.

Click on “MyFRITZ! Account” and follow prompts to enter your email address and password to create your user account.

3. Establish a MyFRITZ! domain name

After you’ve set up your FRITZ!Box user account, you will have to determine the domain name of FRITZ!Box, which will be necessary in order to reach the FRITZ!Box! homepage after you are signed in to MyFRITZ. This domain name will also need to be used for any VPN connections you will establish.

In order to find the domain name for your VPN connection, select the “Internet” option again, go back to your “MyFRITZ! Account” and write down the domain name that you see in “MyFRITZ! Address.”

4. Ensure two different IP networks

If you want your VPN connection to work effectively, both poles of your VPN connection need to reflect two different networks with two different IPs. You won’t be able to establish this VPN connection if your device is on the same IP network as your FRITZ!Box.

In order to assign a different IP to FRITZ!Box then your other routers, go to the “Home Network” tab on the FRITZ!Box user interface, and go to “Home Network Overview” or “Network” in this menu. Next, click on “Network Settings” and “IPv4 Addresses.” If you can’t see this IPV4 option, go turn on the “Advanced View.” Enter the IP address you desire and a subnet mask* and then click “OK” to verify that you approve this process.

*A subnet mask splits your IP into 2 different parts. One part of the subnet mask represents the network, and one represents the computer (host).

5. Set up a FritzBox VPN connection

Start the “Configure FRITZ!Box VPN Connection” software and choose “New.” Click on “Configure the VPN for One User” and, again, choose “Next.” Select “Computer with FRITZ!VPN” and choose “Next.”

Type in the user email of the person who plans to connect via VPN to FRITZ!Box, and, again, click “Next.” In the “Name” field, you will have to enter the domain name you wrote down in step 3, and then click “Next.”

On your screen, you will see “Apply factory settings of the FRITZ!Box for the IP network.” Enable this only if you haven’t changed your FRITZ!Box IP network settings. If you already changed the IP address, enable the option to “Use a different IP network,” which will assign your computer an IP in the FRITZ IP network.

Enter the IP name and subnet mask of your FRITZ!Box (not the FRITZ!Box IP address). Now, switch the “IP address of the user in the network of the selected FRITZ!Box” to “IP network of the FRITZ!Box,” or click to enable “Send all data over the VPN tunnel,” which will forward your web requests from your device via the FRITZ!Box whenever there is a VPN connection available. Click “Next,” and then click “Finish.”

6. Import VPN connection settings to your FRITZ!Box

To do this, open your FRITZBOX interface and select “Internet” > “Permit Access” > “VPN” > “Add VPN Connection” > “Import a VPN configuration from an existing VPN settings file.” Click on “Choose File,” pick the “Fritzbox_[..].cfg” file that was created with your VPN software and click “Open” and then click “OK” to ensure your settings were saved and to confirm that you allow this procedure.

7. Import your VPN settings

The next step is to import your VPN settings into FRITZ!VPN by opening this program on your device and clicking on “File” or “New” > “Import.” Choose the “VPN user_[…].cfg” file option and then click “Next“>”Finish.”

8. Add a VPN connection

Now, after all of that, you can finally establish your VPN connection. To do this, first go to the Windows startup menu and run the FRITZ!VPN software. Then you need to click on the MyFRITZ! domain name that reflects the FRITZ!Box and choose “Establish” to complete your VPN connection.

5 Best Commercial VPNs for FRITZ!Box 

If you are looking for the most secure VPN connections for FRITZ!Box, the following services will help you connect to the Internet privately and securely.

1. ExpressVPN — #1 VPN Company for Speed and Reliability

Devices compatible with ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN is the best VPN for FRITZ!Box that offers a VPN connection with Onion routing, sending your online traffic through the Tor network for enhanced security and privacy online. The way that the Tor network functions is that it sends your traffic through more than one VPN tunnel so you are even harder to track online.

While additional server layers do mean a slower Internet connection, this added level of protection is vital to safeguard your personal data and sensitive information.

Whether you are connecting to a local VPN server or a VPN server around the globe, your connection speeds when using this VPN service will be the very best. You can actually test the VPN server speed yourself with ExpressVPN’s built-in speed test option.

As for privacy, this company offers military-grade 256-bit AES encryption, DNS leak protection, a Kill Switch, and OpenVPN across all platforms, so your ip address and all of your data will remain private and secure at all times.

It’s also good to note that this VPN service is based in the British Virgin Islands, which is outside the 5/9/14 Eyes Alliance, so all of your activity and information will remain out of government reach; And, of course, this company has a strict, verified, no-logs policy.

ExpressVPN has compatibility with all main platforms; and it’s good to note that you can use up to 5 simultaneous connections on just one user account.

If you are a newbie to the world of VPNs, it’s great to note that this company has some of the most knowledgeable customer support around. If, for some reason, you are not sold on this VPN, you have the option to get a refund within the first 30 days, guaranteed.

Pros:

  • Military-grade data encryption
  • 24/7 live chat support
  • Top Internet connection speeds
  • 5 simultaneous user connections
  • 30-day money-back guarantee

Cons:

  • More expensive than the other VPNs

2. NordVPN — Reliable VPN with Great Data Encryption

Devices compatible with NordVPN

NordVPN is one of the best VPN services for FRITZ!Box for both newbies and pros. Although it’s not as fast as ExpressVPN, it offers great speeds, top privacy features, and reliable connections.

NordVPN has obfuscated servers and a double VPN that you can enable that will send your traffic through an extra layer of encryption, giving you additional protection. Using this double VPN feature is only recommended if you need an added layer of privacy in heavily censored countries because it will slow down your traffic.

This VPN company also offers access to security and privacy features, such as AES 256-bit military-grade encryption, IP and DNS leak protection, a Kill Switch, and OpenVPN and IKEc2/IPSec protocols that will keep your footprint hidden.

If you are worried about surveillance, it is good to note that this VPN is in Panama, far from the 5/9/14 Eyes surveillance; and it also offers a strict zero-logs policy — which is a must these days!

This VPN service has an app for all main platforms and even your router, and you can use up to 6 devices simultaneously with a single subscription, which means you’ll be able to use a combination of devices without compromising speed or quality.

NordVPN has stellar customer support, including 24/7 live-chat support that you can use in case any problems arise; but if you are still not set on this company after a few weeks, you have the option to take advantage of its 30-day refund guarantee.

Pros:

  • DoubleVPN and great server options
  • No-logging policy
  • Military-grade 256-bit encryption
  • Cheaper price than ExpressVPN
  • 6 user connections on one plan

Cons:

  • Slower speeds in advanced mode

3. Surfshark — Affordable VPN for FRITZ!Box

Devices compatible with Surfshark

Surfshark is a reliable VPN (that also happens to be one of the most affordable VPNs out there) for both beginners and pros.

Surfshark VPN passes all the tests for security features with its Military-grade 256-bit AES encryption to secure your data; split tunneling to route certain app traffic via VPN while other traffic is left out of the encrypted tunnel; double encryption for an extra layer of data protection; a Kill Switch to kill the Internet in the event that your VPN connection cuts out; and CleanWeb suite, which blocks ads and protects against malware that could infect your computer.

Surfshark is located in the British Virgin Islands, outside of the 5/9/14 Eyes Alliance, and it has a strict no-logging policy, so you should never be worried that your online activity is ever being tracked or that your name, address, or data are being kept by this VPN company.

This service is compatible with all main platforms — and even your router; and users are able to access their VPN protection with an unlimited number of user connections, making it ideal for a large family who wants to connect multiple electronics at once, or for a company with a large number of employees.

Surfshark also offers great 24/7 live-chat customer support and a refund within 30 days, giving you the chance to try this VPN first for plenty of time with no strings attached.

Pros:

  • No-logging policy
  • Unlimited simultaneous connections
  • 24/7 live-support
  • Military-grade data encryption
  • Easy of use

Cons:

  • Slightly slower speeds

4. CyberGhost — 45-day Refund Guarantee

Devices compatible with CyberGhost

If you need a virtual private network for FRITZ!Box, CyberGhost is a great company. CyberGhost has over 6,900 servers in 89 countries around the world.

CyberGhost is compatible with all main platforms; and you can connect a pretty sizable 7 connections to one VPN account, which is higher than what NordVPN and ExpressVPN allow.

This VPN company offers 256-bit AES encryption, a Kill Switch, and a built-in ad blocker. On top of this, It is based in Romania, which is out of the 5/9/14 Eyes Alliance. Its location, together with its reassuring zero-logs policy, ensures that your activity, name, and data will never be kept or tracked.

Unlike the other VPN services, CyberGhost VPN offers the user a 45-day money-back guarantee, giving you even more time to change your mind about this VPN, with absolutely no penalty.

Pros:

  • Large server network
  • 45-day refund guarantee
  • Use up to 7 connections at once
  • Good privacy features

Cons:

  • Slower long-distance speeds

5. UltraVPN – Over 50 Server Locations

Devices compatible with UltraVPN

UltraVPN is among the smallest of the top VPNs, with around 100 servers spread across almost 60 countries. Despite this, I was still pretty impressed with UltraVPN’s connection speed and reliability.

You can connect UltraVPN using apps for Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, and more; but it only allows you to use 3 connections simultaneously, so if you want the option for more than three of you to connect at once, you might want to select a different VPN.

UltraVPN has strong security with 256-bit military-grade encryption and an automatic Kill Switch that will protect your data in the event that your Internet fails.

If you are worried about surveillance, it is important to note that UltraVPN is based in the US, which is a 5/9/14 Eyes country. Even so, it claims that it does not keep logs. When we checked further, it turns out that it does collect the users IP address, and location information, but not any logs of your activity.

Pros:

  • 30-day money-back guarantee
  • 24/7 technical support
  • AES 256-bit encryption

Cons:

  • Keeps some logs, such as IP address
  • Slower speeds
  • Company is located in a 5-Eyes Country

Conclusion

If you want to set up a secure connection on your FRITZ!Box, you must use a Virtual Private Network that is reputable and reliable. With any VPN company that you choose, you can first try a provider with a money-back guarantee.

Our top choice, ExpressVPN, is a premier VPN that lets you try it first for 30 days before being committed to a set plan. If you are not set on this company in the first 30 days, you can cancel for a full refund.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.