iTechGuides is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more
You can reach devices on your home network remotely without configuring a public inbound port for each service: connect your devices to a private mesh VPN, then use a subnet router for home equipment that cannot run the VPN client. This reduces the services exposed through router port mappings, but it does not make your entire home network secure by itself.
How remote access works without port forwarding
A port-forwarding rule sends traffic arriving at a public-facing router port to a particular device and service inside your home. A mesh VPN takes a different approach: your enrolled devices connect to an authenticated private network, and authorized devices can communicate over that network without publishing a separate inbound port for each service.
For a device that can run the VPN client, installing it directly is generally the simplest and most limited route to that device. When a target cannot run a client—such as some printers or cameras—a computer on the home LAN can act as a subnet router. It advertises selected home-network routes to the VPN so authorized remote devices can reach those destinations. Tailscale describes these patterns in its subnet-router guidance and its guide to accessing devices that cannot run Tailscale.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
Choose the right routing feature
Use a subnet router for selected home devices
A subnet router provides a path to the home-LAN addresses or ranges it advertises. This is the relevant feature when the goal is to reach a printer, camera, or other device that cannot run the VPN client. Advertise only the destinations needed, and restrict access to the people or devices that need them.
#1 Best Overall
- New-Gen WiFi Standard – WiFi 6(802.11ax) standard supporting MU-MIMO and OFDMA technology for better efficiency and throughput.Antenna : External antenna x 4. Processor : Dual-core (4 VPE). Power Supply : AC Input : 110V~240V(50~60Hz), DC Output : 12 V with max. 1.5A current.
- Ultra-fast WiFi Speed – RT-AX1800S supports 1024-QAM for dramatically faster wireless connections
- Increase Capacity and Efficiency – Supporting not only MU-MIMO but also OFDMA technique to efficiently allocate channels, communicate with multiple devices simultaneously
- 5 Gigabit ports – One Gigabit WAN port and four Gigabit LAN ports, 10X faster than 100–Base T Ethernet.
- Commercial-grade Security Anywhere – Protect your home network with AiProtection Classic, powered by Trend Micro. And when away from home, ASUS Instant Guard gives you a one-click secure VPN.
Use an exit node only when you want internet traffic routed through home
An exit node routes a remote device’s general internet traffic through a selected device, such as one at home. It is not necessary just to connect to a device on the home LAN. In Tailscale, a user must opt in to an exit node; local network access is disabled by default while using one unless the user enables it. See the Tailscale exit-node documentation.
Set up a home subnet router safely
- Choose an always-on host. Install the VPN client on a compatible computer that can stay powered and connected at home. A computer you already use may be sufficient; a dedicated device is optional.
- Enable routing and advertise only needed routes. Configure the host to advertise the home subnet or specific routes required for your devices. The exact steps depend on the operating system and VPN product.
- Enable forwarding deliberately. On Linux, Tailscale’s subnet-router instructions require IP forwarding. Its guidance also advises keeping firewall forwarding denied by default unless you deliberately permit the required traffic. Follow the current instructions for your platform rather than copying a command sequence intended for another system.
- Approve routes and set access rules. Enable or approve the advertised routes in the VPN administration interface, then define which users or devices may reach the relevant destinations. Prefer least-privilege rules over granting access to the whole LAN when narrower access will work.
- Test from outside the home network. Connect an enrolled remote device and try the intended service by its home-LAN address. If it fails, check that the host is online, the route is enabled, forwarding and firewall rules allow the path, and the target device is reachable from the home LAN.
Tailscale documents subnet routes, forwarding, and access policies in its remote-access guidance. Product behavior and setup steps can differ, so use the current documentation for the VPN you choose.
Rank #2
- Beyond-fast WiFi 7 (802.11be) - WiFi 7 (802.11be) dual-band extendable router boosts speeds up to 3600 Mbps, with 4096-QAM increasing a single frequency band’s transmission speed by 1.2 times
- Unleashing Multi-link operation (MLO) for Ultra-Smooth Connectivity - Link to multiple bands at the same time to ensure stable internet connections and efficient data transfers
- Versatile WAN configuration options - Establish always-on internet through AI WAN detection and a convenient USB port ready for 4G LTE and 5G Mobile tethering.
- Smart Home Master - Easily establish up to three SSIDs with Smart Home Master for easy IoT device setup and management, instant VPN connections, and convenient parental controls.
- Commercial-Grade network security - Network security with commercial-grade AiProtection Pro powered by Trend Micro, plus a one-tap security scan and Safe Browsing.
What improves—and what remains your responsibility
For this remote-access pattern, the main security improvement is that you need not expose each service through a public inbound router mapping. Access instead depends on enrollment, authentication, advertised routes, and access policy. Tailscale documents policy-controlled access, but that does not establish that every port-forwarding setup is insecure or that a mesh VPN secures every part of a home network.
Recommended Free Tools
- Keep the VPN account protected. Account authentication and control over enrolled devices determine who can join the private network.
- Keep routes narrow. A route to an entire subnet may give broader reach than a route to a specific destination; grant only what is needed.
- Maintain the host and endpoints. The subnet-router computer and the services it makes reachable still need updates and secure configuration.
- Secure the applications themselves. A private route does not fix weak passwords, vulnerable software, or unsafe device settings.
Do you need a Raspberry Pi?
No. A compatible computer already running the VPN client can serve as the subnet-router host if it stays available and can route traffic to the home LAN. A small dedicated computer, including a Raspberry Pi, is an option when you want a separate always-on host—not a requirement or a universally best choice.
Rank #3
- AX3000 WiFi 6 Speed: Get up to 2402 Mbps on 5 GHz and 574 Mbps on 2.4 GHz for smooth 4K streaming, gaming, video calls, and fast downloads across your home.
- Built for Busy Homes: OFDMA and MU-MIMO help multiple phones, laptops, TVs, and gaming devices share the network efficiently, reducing congestion when everyone is online.
- 7 dBi High-Gain Coverage & EasyMesh: High-gain antennas and Beamforming extend stronger WiFi throughout your home. EasyMesh support lets you expand coverage with compatible routers and roam seamlessly from room to room.
- VPN & Secure IoT Networking: Built-in OpenVPN, WireGuard, PPTP, and L2TP support flexible VPN connections, while a dedicated IoT network helps isolate smart-home devices from your primary network.
- Easy Setup with NFC & 4 Gigabit Ports: Set up and manage your router through the Tenda app or web interface. NFC tap-to-connect makes joining WiFi easier, while 4× Gigabit ports with automatic WAN/LAN detection simplify wired connections.
Tailscale documents Raspberry Pi-related examples, including remote access to PiKVM and other solution examples. Raspberry Pi’s getting-started documentation covers preparing a device for networked and remote use. These sources support the device category, not a claim that you need to buy a particular model.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Wi-Fi 6 Mesh Wi-Fi - Next-gen Wi-Fi 6 AX3000 whole home mesh system to eliminate weak Wi-Fi for good(2×2/HE160 2402 Mbps plus 2×2 574 Mbps)
- Whole Home WiFi Coverage - Covers up to 6500 square feet with seamless high-performance Wi-Fi 6 and eliminate dead zones and buffering. Better than traditional WiFi booster and Range Extenders
- Connect More Devices - Deco X55(3-pack) is strong enough to connect up to 150 devices with strong and reliable Wi-Fi
- Our Cybersecurity Commitment - TP-Link is a signatory of the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency’s (CISA) Secure-by-Design pledge. This device is designed, built, and maintained, with advanced security as a core requirement
- More Gigabit Ports - Each Deco X55 has 3 Gigabit Ethernet ports(6 in total for a 2-pack) and supports Wired Ethernet Backhaul for better speeds. Any of them can work as a Wi-Fi Router
Rank #4
- Full-Speed AX3000 Wi-Fi 6: 2402 Mbps (5 GHz) + 574 Mbps (2.4 GHz) with 160 MHz channels and 1024-QAM modulation — 2.5x faster than AC1200, delivering gigabit-plus wireless throughput for demanding homes
- OFDMA + MU-MIMO Dual-Band Efficiency: Bidirectional multi-user scheduling across both bands provides up to 16x more capacity on 5 GHz — smart home devices, streaming, and gaming all stay responsive simultaneously
- Four Gigabit Ports with IPTV/VLAN: 1x GbE WAN + 3x GbE LAN deliver full wired throughput; IPTV/VLAN support for TV subscription integration — connect gaming PC, smart TV, and NAS with wire-speed reliability
- VPN Server and Client Hub: WireGuard, OpenVPN, IPsec, PPTP, and L2TP server and client enable secure remote work; DNS over TLS with Cloudflare/Google/Quad9 encrypts browsing queries for privacy protection
- Cudy Mesh + 29-Language App: Wireless or wired backhaul creates one seamless home Wi-Fi network; Cudy App with cloud remote control, parental profiles, per-device scheduling, content filtering, and WPA3 security
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
