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Astrill OpenWrt support is not something Astrill advertises. Its App Store and Google Play listings name three router firmwares, DD-WRT, Tomato and AsusWRT-Merlin, with a plug-and-play setup that covers every device in the home. TechRadar’s business review lists the same three families. On the GL.iNet forum, an OpenWrt user asking for an Astrill applet was told the documented applet is for DD-WRT, not OpenWrt.
This guide covers the supported route, what OpenWrt owners can do, the setup and the trade-offs.
Which Firmware Astrill Supports
Astrill’s listings name DD-WRT, Tomato and AsusWRT-Merlin. All three replace or extend a router’s stock firmware, and many ASUS models run Merlin with little effort. A router running Astrill protects phones, computers, Apple TV boxes and smart TVs at once, the listing says, which matters because TVs and consoles cannot run Astrill’s apps. Our page on Astrill on Apple TV covers why there is no tvOS app and the router and VPN sharing routes.
Astrill OpenWrt: The Gap
We found no official Astrill applet or guide for OpenWrt. A GL.iNet forum thread shows the confusion: a user in China reported that plain OpenVPN did not work and that Astrill pointed them to an applet installed over SSH, while other users noted that the applet they knew of was for DD-WRT.
OpenWrt can run OpenVPN and WireGuard in general, so a manual setup may be possible with configuration details from your Astrill account, but you lose Astrill’s StealthVPN and OpenWeb, which matter most in China. Ask Astrill’s support before buying a router for this.
Astrill Router Setup on Supported Firmware
Flash or confirm DD-WRT, Tomato or AsusWRT-Merlin on the router. Install Astrill’s router applet as its support pages describe, sign in with your Astrill account, pick a server and protocol, and connect. Then test from a phone on the home Wi-Fi.
Checking the Router Connection
From any device on the network, confirm the new address with our VPN test page. Then run our DNS leak guide, since routers often keep handing out your provider’s DNS servers. Set the router’s DNS to the VPN’s, or follow the provider’s guide for that firmware.
If one device needs to skip the VPN, use a second Wi-Fi network or a policy-based routing option in the firmware, so that device bypasses the tunnel.
Router or Apps?
A router covers devices that cannot run Astrill, but routers have weaker processors than computers, so speeds drop. TechRadar’s business review also describes VPN Sharing, which turns a Windows PC into a hub for other devices; our Astrill Windows guide covers it. For most phones and laptops, the apps are faster.
Astrill and China
Most Astrill router buyers want it for China. GreatFirewallGuide rated Astrill’s bypass confidence at 98% on China Telecom’s CN2 GIA network. Test the router setup before you travel, since Astrill’s site may be hard to reach there. Our China VPN guide covers the wider picture.
Choosing a Router for Astrill
If you are buying hardware, check that the model runs AsusWRT-Merlin, DD-WRT or Tomato before you pay. Many ASUS routers accept Merlin, which keeps the stock interface and adds VPN features. Prefer a router with a strong processor, since VPN encryption runs on the router’s CPU and weak models cap your speed. Our router setup guide covers what to look for.
When Something Breaks
Router connects but pages do not load? Check the router’s DNS and time settings first, since wrong clocks break VPN handshakes. Speed collapses? Try another server or protocol. Applet will not start after a firmware update? Reinstall it. Our guide to turning off a router VPN helps when you need to restore normal internet quickly.
Covering Smart TVs and Consoles
Devices without VPN apps benefit most from a router. Smart TVs, games consoles and Apple TV boxes all use the tunnel once they join the router’s Wi-Fi. Our smart TV VPN guide covers the wider options.
Devices and Price
Astrill’s Android listing describes five devices on the standard plan, while its pricing page promises unlimited devices in a household, so check the current terms. A router counts as one connection, which helps either way. Astrill’s pricing page lists $30 a month or $180 a year; our Astrill cost guide covers the plans.
Other Providers on OpenWrt
If OpenWrt matters more than Astrill, some providers document it directly. TorGuard publishes its own OpenWrt app, as our TorGuard router guide explains, and our NordVPN router guide covers another route.
Astrill OpenWrt Questions to Ask Support
Before buying an OpenWrt router for Astrill, ask support three things. Is there an applet or script for OpenWrt now? Which protocols would a manual setup support? And would StealthVPN or OpenWeb work there? Written answers save you from buying hardware that cannot run the protocols you need, especially for China.
Astrill’s Record
No source we read found an independent audit of Astrill. VPN.com reports it stores session data such as IP and connection time and deletes it afterwards. Our VPN audit tracker explains why audits matter.
How We Research
This page draws on Astrill’s App Store and Google Play listings, TechRadar’s Astrill Business review, a GL.iNet forum thread, GreatFirewallGuide, VPN.com and Astrill’s pricing page. We cross-checked these sources against each other, and where they conflict or something can’t be verified, we say so in the text rather than guessing. We checked time-sensitive figures, including prices in US dollars, on 7 October 2026. The main source we relied on is Astrill’s App Store listing. Our full approach lives on the About Us page.
Astrill OpenWrt FAQ
We found no official OpenWrt applet; Astrill names DD-WRT, Tomato and AsusWRT-Merlin.
Routers running AsusWRT-Merlin, DD-WRT or Tomato, per Astrill’s listings.
Possibly with OpenVPN, but without StealthVPN or OpenWeb; ask Astrill’s support first.
Yes. Every device on the router’s network uses the VPN.
Reviewers rate Astrill highly there; test before you travel.
The Verdict
Astrill OpenWrt users face a gap, since the supported route is DD-WRT, Tomato or AsusWRT-Merlin. Pick one of those if you want Astrill on a router, and ask support before relying on OpenWrt.