Updated: October 5, 2025

ASUS routers with ASUSWRT firmware support VPN out of the box. Setup is easier than on many competitors. Let’s cover all methods.

Supported Protocols

Protocol	ASUSWRT	Merlin	Speed
WireGuard	✓*	✓	Very High
OpenVPN	✓	✓	Medium
PPTP	✓	✓	High (insecure)
L2TP	✓	✓	Medium

*WireGuard available on newer models with firmware 388+

Which Routers Support

WireGuard (Recommended)

RT-AX86U / RT-AX86U Pro
RT-AX88U / RT-AX88U Pro
GT-AX11000 / GT-AX11000 Pro
RT-AX89X
GT-AXE11000
And other models on firmware 388+

OpenVPN (All Models)

Any ASUS with ASUSWRT supports OpenVPN.

Method 1: WireGuard

Step 1: Check Firmware

Open router.asus.com or 192.168.1.1
Administration → Firmware Upgrade
Make sure version is 388.x or higher
Update if needed

Step 2: Configure WireGuard Client

VPN → VPN Fusion (or VPN Client)
Click Add Profile
Select WireGuard

Step 3: Import Configuration

Option 1: File Import

Get .conf file from VPN provider
Click Import and select file

Option 2: Manual Entry

Fill fields from configuration:

[Interface]
PrivateKey = your_key
Address = 10.0.0.2/32

[Peer]
PublicKey = server_key
Endpoint = server:51820
AllowedIPs = 0.0.0.0/0

Description: connection name
Private Key: your private key
Address: your VPN address
Server Public Key: server key
Server Address: address:port of server
Allowed IPs: 0.0.0.0/0 (all traffic)

Step 4: Activate

Save settings
Toggle status to ON
Check IP on devices

Method 2: OpenVPN

Works on all ASUS routers.

Step 1: Get Configuration

Download .ovpn file from VPN provider.

Step 2: Upload to Router

VPN → VPN Client
Click Add Profile
Select OpenVPN
Import .ovpn file: upload file
Enter login/password (if required)

Step 3: Configure Parameters

Automatic start at boot time: Yes
Accept DNS Configuration: Strict (recommended)

Step 4: Connect

Click Apply
Activate connection
Wait for Connected status

VPN Fusion: Selective Routing

VPN Fusion allows routing only selected devices through VPN.

Setup

VPN → VPN Fusion
Create VPN connection
Click Exception List
Add devices and choose:

VPN: traffic through VPN
WAN: direct to internet

Usage Example

Device	Route	Why
Smart TV	VPN	4K streaming
Work PC	WAN	Corporate VPN conflicts
PlayStation	VPN	Access to foreign games
Smart speaker	WAN	Doesn’t need VPN

ASUSWRT-Merlin

Merlin is an enhanced firmware for ASUS with additional features.

Advantages

Better VPN support
Policy-based routing
Scripts and automation
Faster updates

Installation

Download firmware from asuswrt.lostrealm.ca
Administration → Firmware Upgrade → Upload
Wait for reboot

Policy-based Routing

In Merlin you can route traffic by:

Device IP addresses
Domains
Ports

# Example: YouTube through VPN
/jffs/scripts/openvpn-event
ip rule add to 142.250.0.0/16 table ovpnc1

Performance

Model	WireGuard	OpenVPN
RT-AX58U	~200 Mbps	~50 Mbps
RT-AX86U	~500 Mbps	~100 Mbps
RT-AX88U	~600 Mbps	~120 Mbps
GT-AX11000	~800 Mbps	~150 Mbps

Note: Actual speed depends on VPN server and internet connection.

Problems and Solutions

Problem	Solution
No WireGuard option	Update firmware to 388+
OpenVPN won’t connect	Check login/password
Low speed	Use WireGuard instead of OpenVPN
Doesn’t work after reboot	Enable “Auto start”
DNS leak	Set “Accept DNS” to Strict

How to Verify Connection

Open whoer.net on network device
IP should match VPN server
DNS should not be Russian

FAQ

WireGuard or OpenVPN?

WireGuard is 3-5x faster. Use OpenVPN only if WireGuard is unavailable.

Can I use multiple VPNs?

Yes, through VPN Fusion you can set up multiple connections for different devices.

How to update configuration?

Delete old profile and create new one with updated configuration.

Summary

ASUS is an excellent choice for home VPN. WireGuard works out of the box on newer models, OpenVPN - on all. VPN Fusion allows flexible traffic management.

Tainet provides ready-made WireGuard and OpenVPN configurations for ASUS routers.