ZDNET Updates 2026 VPN Router List, Adding ASUS RT-BE88U and $30 GL.iNET Mango

1 articles · Updated · ZDNet · May 14

ZDNET’s May 2026 refresh swapped out the ASUS ROG Rapture GT-AX11000 for the ASUS RT-BE88U and added GL.iNET’s $30 Mango as a new alternative.
Privacy Hero 2 remained ZDNET’s top overall pick, with the outlet highlighting its preinstalled NordVPN setup, up to 3,000Mbps speeds and a current sale price of $180 before an extra discount.
The newly added RT-BE88U was positioned as the performance option, with Wi-Fi 7, 10G and 2.5G ports, support for multiple VPN tunnels and a sale price of $290.
The Mango broadened the list’s low-cost travel options, joining portable models such as the GL.iNET Beryl-AX as a compact router for public Wi-Fi use with WireGuard or OpenVPN.
The update comes as ZDNET says VPN routers are gaining appeal for whole-home device protection, even as buyers weigh subscription costs, setup complexity and potential tariff-driven hardware price increases.

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