With the proliferation of low-cost Raspberry Pi computers, many people are now using them to do all sorts of interesting things. In this article, I’ll be reviewing some of my favorite VPN providers for use on a Raspberry Pi.
The best raspberry pi vpn server is a tool that allows you to connect to your home, work or school network securely.
Choosing a VPN service on a normal PC is already a nightmare, since everything seems to be the same. Most websites will suggest the one that pays them the most money. When you throw in the fact that you’ll be running Linux, finding a good supplier becomes a lottery.
This week, I put all of the most popular VPN services to the test on my Raspberry Pi, and I’m ready to share my honest opinions with you.
I took each provider’s premium offer, followed their instructions for installing it on a Raspberry Pi OS with Desktop, and then tested what each had to offer (overall speed, application, servers available, original features, etc.). This list is sorted from most popular to least popular, with the one I don’t suggest at the bottom.
By the way, I also requested for suggestions under the YouTube channel’s community area, and these are the responses I received:
Which VPN services are the best for a Raspberry Pi?
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NordVPN 
For the typical user, NordVPN is arguably one of the most popular providers. With over 5000 servers across the globe, it is one of the largest businesses on our list. It has a tidy website with documentation for nearly every support. I even discovered a Raspberry Pi website (which led me to the Linux docs, but it’s still interesting to see).
You’ll see “Download App” buttons all over the place, but there isn’t one for Linux users (even on a PC running Ubuntu). As the saying goes:
There are no visual distractions, only the strength of your instructions.
NordVPN
So, we don’t really need an app, do we? Aside than that, the installation is very simple and well-documented. A.deb file must be downloaded and installed. On your machine, it will create a new repository. The “nordvpn” package may then be installed. If you want more information on NordVPN, I have a whole tutorial on the website.
Once installed, you may update your status using the following commands in a terminal: Login to NordVPN connect to nordvpn [country] disconnecting from nordvpn
Note: If you exclusively use Chromium for web surfing, there is a Chrome plugin that works well.
Advantages and disadvantages
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Setup is simple. | There isn’t a single application accessible for Linux users (there is one on Windows) |
| Simple to use | Other solutions include an adblocker function, however this one does not. |
| In my findings, the fastest supplier comes out on top. | |
| Chat assistance is accessible 24 hours a day, 7 days a week | |
| At the time of writing, there were almost 6000 servers across the globe. |
The benefits and drawbacks of using NordVPN on a Raspberry Pi
To put it simply,
- The results of the speed test were 65.4 Mbps (download) and 22.8 Mbps (upload) (Upload)
- Ping time: 45 milliseconds
- Pricing: Reasonable (as they often offer discount, check the current price here)
- Support: I tested the chat box on a Sunday morning and received a quick answer.
- Servers: They have 5268 servers in 60 countries on their list (one of the biggest network).
For additional information, see to the NordVPN website.
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ProtonVPN 
I’m aware that ProtonVPN (and ProtonMail) have a good reputation in the Linux community, and I’ve been pleased with their VPN offerings. They are the only company on the list that provides free access to their services (albeit it is restricted). They aren’t first since a few things disappointed me, but it’s still a fantastic choice.
I started with the free version. The good news is that there is a Linux app that works on the Raspberry Pi OS (it’s the only supplier that has one for us).
You only have access to a small number of servers (around ten) with the free version, and most of them are already overburdened. One of them was running at 70% capacity and was running Windows, but I was unable to connect from the Raspberry Pi.
Then, instead of utilizing the program, I tried using the OpenVPN client, which worked much better. I anticipated the program to fail miserably on Linux or the Raspberry Pi OS, at the very least. But when I upgraded to the Pro version, everything was OK.
So, if you stick with the free deal, you won’t be able to use the app, but it will function with OpenVPN. You may utilize both with a paid membership. That’s helpful to know.
Installation
If you have a premium membership, you may follow their Debian lesson, which should be simple to follow. You may also activate a tray icon to quickly check the current statuses.
If you use the free version of ProtonVPN, you can download the configuration for one of the free servers by going into your account and clicking on Downloads > OpenVPN configuration files (check their status and pick the less loaded). Then, on your Raspberry Pi, install OpenVPN and use the command sudo openvpn —config to connect to this server. There is a method to accomplish the same with the GUI; in the following part, I’ll include a link to the Ivacy website.
ProtonVPN’s advantages and disadvantages
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Only supplier has a Raspberry Pi-compatible app (for premium users only) | For free users, there are certain restrictions: There is no app, the servers are overburdened, and the ping is very high. |
| In any event, OpenVPN works well. | Even for pro users, servers are often overburdened. |
| There is a free version available (for testing or occasional use) | Support is only available through ticket, and it takes 28 hours to get a response. |
| Adblocker built-in | |
| Connection speed that is enough |
The advantages and disadvantages of using ProtonVPN on a Raspberry Pi
To put it simply,
- The download speed was 33.8 Mbps and the upload speed was 22 Mbps (Upload)
- Ping time: 13 milliseconds (the best I got in this benchmark)
- Excellent pricing (free, $4, $8, or $24). I tried out the $8 “Plus” subscription. All levels boost VPN performance and expand the number of servers accessible.
- Support: The only supplier without a live chat option. In the first 24 hours, I received no answer.
- There are only 1326 servers listed in 55 countries (a bit small I think, as many servers are overloaded, even for pro members).
For additional information, go to the ProtonVPN website.
IvacyVPN 
I received a lifetime package for IvacyVPN last year, so it’s a service I use on a daily basis and a company I’m familiar with. I was interested to see how it worked on Linux, particularly on the Raspberry Pi, since the software suite isn’t the greatest (it’s tough even on Windows).
Installation
On the webpage, they suggest configuring the VPN on Debian using PPTP. I’m not sure it’s the best suggestion they could make. I discovered the OpenVPN files here, so I used the same method (described above) to connect to a server using the configuration file.
You may also install the packages by following this instruction on their website. It’s for Kali Linux, but it should work for Raspberry Pi OS as well. In brief, a few programs must be installed, and a new icon will show in the top right corner of your screen following a reboot. You can manage your VPN connections from here. You may also use this program to import an OpenVPN configuration file.
I’ve tested it with many of the providers on this list, and it’s the simplest way since most of them don’t have an app for us.
Advantages and disadvantages
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| There is a Kodi add-on available. | There is no app available. |
| There is a Chrome addon available (works with Chromium) | Some servers don’t function (you’ll have to test a few to find one that does…). |
| a fast internet connection | There are no advanced features (Adblocker or other) |
| Free trial for one day |
Ivacy VPN for Raspberry Pi: Pros and Cons
To put it simply,
- Speed test results: 52.9 Mbps download and 16.7 Mbps upload – second only to NordVPN on this list (2nd)
- Ping time: 28 milliseconds (Good)
- Pricing: Excellent (it’s better to check the current pricing here since they often run discounts). They are the most affordable choice (at the time of writing).
- Support: I tried it out on a Sunday morning and got a response in under two minutes. Not the response I was expecting (try another server if it doesn’t work), but I’m not passing judgment since I didn’t ask each provider the same thing.
- Servers: They have 3500 servers in 50 countries on their list (not bad at all).
For additional information, go to the Ivacy VPN website.
ExpressVPN 
I’ve been using Express VPN at business for years, and it’s a dependable firm. I believe it is a solution aimed at businesses rather than people (although I may be incorrect). The website is cleaner, they don’t seem to give as big of a discount as the other companies on our list, their price is a little higher, and so on.
In any case, if you prefer a steady and dependable business over the largest or quickest, it may be a suitable match.
Installation
Express VPS, like the other providers, does not offer a Linux app. However, there is good news: there is a program that you can install. In some ways, it’s comparable to what I described with NordVPN.
There’s also a package for Raspbian, which is great to see :-). After you’ve downloaded and installed the.deb file, you can use the following commands to manage your VPN connection: #enter your license code to enable expressvpn connect expressvpn [server] #to a particular server connect smartly to the best server accessible using expressvpn #to view a list of servers using expressvpn
More information about these commands may be found here.
Note: A Add-on for Chrome is available, but I couldn’t get it to work on Chromium. It may be a problem on my end, but support informed me that it only works on Chrome, not Chromium, so…
Advantages and disadvantages
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| A package is available for RPI OS that is simple to install (command-line only) | There is no graphical user interface. |
| Connection speed that is enough | There is no ad-blocker installed. |
| Once you’ve activated the app, you’re good to go. | The Chrome addon isn’t working. |
| Function of auto-connection (will connect to the best server automatically on boot) | Pricing |
ExpressVPN on Raspberry Pi: Pros and Cons
To put it simply,
- The speed test results were 34.9 Mbps (download) and 18.3 Mbps (upload) – which is enough.
- Ping time: 23 milliseconds
- Pricing: Compared to the competition, it’s a little pricey (check the current price here)
- Support: I used the live chat on a Sunday morning and received an immediate answer.
- Servers: There are 160 servers listed in 94 different countries (the smallest network).
For additional information, go to the ExpressVPN website.
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PureVPN 
This one caused me some headaches, which is why it’s at the bottom of the list. Finally, it may be my fault since I didn’t discover the revised material before contacting support, but I’ve found enough flaws with them to not suggest them (at least not before the other in this list).
Installation
The PureVPN website is a complete disaster. They explain how to utilize OpenVPN and PPTP, however the documentation is confusing, and nearly every command line has mistakes. If you have a reasonable level, it’s simple to repair, but novices are out of luck. Nothing worked in the end. In the log file, I saw several concerning issues (such as their certificate being too weak!). This isn’t ideal for a VPN provider!).
After requesting assistance, they provided me with a link to updated documentation as well as a download link for the new certificates and configuration files. As for the other providers, I was eventually able to install it using OpenVPN. The documentation may be found here.
On Chromium / RPI OS, their Chrome addon works well.
Advantages and disadvantages
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Chrome extension | When I look at their website, I’m not convinced about their network. Do they have any Linux devs or sysadmins on staff? |
| Free trial for 7 days | Documentation that is no longer relevant |
| According to their website, they have the largest server network. | |
| A good connection (with a higher upload speed than download speed?) |
The advantages and disadvantages of using PureVPN on a Raspberry Pi
To put it simply,
- The results of the speed test were 38 Mbps (download) and 52.7 Mbps (upload) (Upload)
- Ping time: 23 milliseconds
- Budget-friendly (and they often offer discount, so check the current price here)
- Support: I tried it out on a Sunday morning and had a response in under two minutes.
- Servers: They claim to have 6500 servers in 140 countries (if this is real).
For additional information, see to the PureVPN website.
FAQ
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Which VPN service for Raspberry Pi is the fastest?
According to my testing conducted on a Raspberry Pi with the Raspberry Pi OS loaded, NordVPN is the quickest supplier overall. They have a download speed of 65Mbps and an upload speed of 23Mbps, with a ping time of 45ms.
All of them were tested under the identical conditions: the same hour, a French server (my country), and a valid premium membership. As a reference, I utilized SpeedTest.net.
The outcome depends on your connection, network use, the server utilized, and whether or not they are loaded. Take these just as guidelines; your tests may provide different findings. I tried them all under comparable circumstances (same day, nearest server, etc. ), but the results varied during the week; this is just an indicator to help you make a decision.
Note that I have a 100Mbps connection, but I tested them via Wi-Fi, so 60Mbps is likely the most I can achieve.
Which VPN service has the most number of servers?
The number of servers listed on each provider’s website at the time of writing is shown above. For ProtonVPN, it’s the servers that come with the highest subscription; lower plans have restrictions.
Which VPN service offers the greatest customer support?
Most VPN providers, on average, give live chat support 24 hours a day, seven days a week, so you can get a response in a matter of minutes right on their website.
I just evaluated reaction time, and the following are my findings:
I tested the response time on a Sunday morning, to be fair. During the week, ProtonVPN may provide a quicker response, but it will not be faster than the others.
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Which VPN service is the cheapest?
Here is the current rating, however keep in mind that nearly all of them will have discounts available almost all of the time. So, just to give you an idea, here’s what I came up with:
ProtonVPN is the only service that offers a free option, although even the Pro version ($4/month) is reasonably priced. Just keep in mind that, unlike the other providers, their Pro plan comes with certain restrictions.
Which VPN service should I use with my Raspberry Pi and Kodi?
IvacyVPN will be the most convenient to use since they have a Kodi add-on. However, since you can install the OpenVPN add-on and import a file from any VPN service, all VPN providers will function with Kodi.
This is how I go about doing it.
Resources for the Raspberry Pi
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This website also contains all of my tool and hardware suggestions.
The free vpn for raspberry pi 4 is a blog post that has been written by a blogger. In this article, the author goes over the best VPN providers for Raspberry Pi devices.
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