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This ExpressVPN Aircove review covers a Wi-Fi 6 router with ExpressVPN built in. Every device on its network, from games consoles to smart TVs, gets VPN protection without installing an app.
Aircove is the easiest way to put a whole home behind a VPN. The catch is cost: the router does not include an ExpressVPN subscription. We cover both, plus speed, features and the portable Aircove Go.
ExpressVPN Aircove Review: Is It Worth It in 2026?
It is worth it if you already use or plan to use ExpressVPN and want devices without VPN apps protected. Setup takes minutes, and device groups let each group use a different country.
It is a weaker buy if you want a top-tier router for speed alone, or a VPN other than ExpressVPN. Aircove works only with ExpressVPN, Tom’s Guide notes, and lacks the 6 GHz band of newer routers.
What Aircove Costs
The ExpressVPN store lists Aircove at $189.90 and the portable Aircove Go at $169.90. Amazon prices sit close by, at $189.99 for Aircove, Tom’s Guide reports, and $170 for Aircove Go, MightyGadget notes.
The VPN itself needs an active ExpressVPN subscription, sold separately, the store says. A 30-day free trial comes with the router. Our ExpressVPN review covers subscription prices and renewals.
Over two or three years, the subscription usually costs more than the router. Factor both into your budget before buying.
Whole-Home VPN: The Reason People Buy It
Aircove counts as one of the eight devices allowed on one ExpressVPN subscription, yet any number of devices can connect behind it, ExpressVPN says. That covers consoles, smart TVs and smart-home gadgets in one go.
Device groups add flexibility. You can create up to five groups, each with its own VPN location, Cloudwards reports. For example, a TV can use a UK server while laptops stay on a local one.
Without a subscription, Aircove still works as a normal router, and its Threat Manager, ad blocker and parental controls keep running, according to the store’s FAQ.
Speed and Wi-Fi
Aircove uses dual-band Wi-Fi 6 rated AX1800, with up to 1,200 Mbps on 5 GHz and 600 Mbps on 2.4 GHz, the store lists. Tom’s Guide measured it ahead of the Linksys MR9600 and the TP-Link Archer AX55 in its tests.
However, it cannot use the 6 GHz band that Wi-Fi 6E and Wi-Fi 7 routers offer, and it has no WPS button. Large homes may need a mesh system, though device groups do not reach devices behind a mesh, Cloudwards notes.
Place the router centrally and in the open for the best coverage. Walls and floors cut Wi-Fi range noticeably on the 5 GHz band.
Security and Privacy
Before launch, ExpressVPN had Cure53 run a penetration test and source-code audit of Aircove in June and July 2022, Cloudwards reports. Our VPN audit tracker covers ExpressVPN’s wider audit record.
Aircove supports WPA2 and WPA3 Wi-Fi security and a separate guest network, the store says. ExpressVPN’s Lightway protocol runs on the router; our Lightway vs WireGuard guide compares it.
Aircove Go for Travel
Aircove Go, launched in 2024, packs the same VPN integration into a palm-sized router. Its Wi-Fi Link feature connects to a hotel or café network instead of a cable, at up to 250 Mbps in that mode, the store notes.
That makes it handy for protecting every device in a hotel room at once. Our VPN for travel guide covers other options.
Features Worth Knowing
The support pages list port forwarding, dynamic DNS and MediaStreamer, ExpressVPN’s smart DNS for devices that cannot run a VPN. Our smart DNS vs VPN guide explains the difference.
The USB port is inactive, Tom’s Guide notes, so you cannot attach storage. Firmware updates arrive through AircoveOS.
Port forwarding helps with gaming and self-hosted services, though it can expose a device to the internet. Only open the ports you need.
Who Should Look Elsewhere
If you use another VPN, a flashable router is the better route. Our VPN router setup guide explains the options.
If you need mesh coverage across a large home, Aircove is not a mesh system, ExpressVPN’s FAQ indicates. Consider placing it carefully or using a separate mesh.
There is more on Aircove elsewhere on VPNFin: the Aircove setup guide and Aircove against a DIY VPN router.
How We Research
For this ExpressVPN Aircove review, we took prices, specifications and subscription terms from the ExpressVPN store and support pages, speed and hardware findings from Tom’s Guide’s Aircove review, and device groups and audit details from Cloudwards, read on 21 October 2026. Aircove Go details come from the store and MightyGadget. Our scores weigh speed, security and privacy, streaming, price and ease of use equally. We do not run our own tests. Our full approach lives on the About Us page.
ExpressVPN Aircove Review FAQ
No. It comes with a 30-day free trial, then needs a paid subscription for VPN features.
$189.90 in the ExpressVPN store; Aircove Go costs $169.90.
Any number. The router counts as one of eight devices on your subscription.
No. It works only with ExpressVPN, according to Tom’s Guide.
Yes. Device groups let up to five groups each use their own location.
ExpressVPN Aircove
The easiest whole-home VPN
Aircove puts every device behind ExpressVPN in minutes, with device groups, solid Wi-Fi 6 speed and a Cure53 audit. Against that: the subscription costs extra, it works only with ExpressVPN, and there is no 6 GHz band.
The Verdict
Our ExpressVPN Aircove review finds the simplest way to protect a whole home with a VPN, especially devices that cannot run apps.
Budget for the subscription on top of the router, and make sure you want ExpressVPN for the long term.