SmartThings hubs don't support native VPN apps, so router-level and gateway-level VPNs are the only way to secure IoT traffic and enable remote access. We compare WireGuard (speed), OpenVPN (compatibility), and PiVPN (self-hosted) to help you pick the right protocol for your smart home setup.
Your SmartThings hub keeps your lights, locks, and sensors talking to each other — but it doesn't have a native VPN client. That means you can't just install a VPN app on the hub itself. The only real option is to secure your smart home at the network level: on your router or a dedicated gateway.1
Why bother? Smart home devices are notorious for sending data back to their manufacturers, and without encryption, that traffic is exposed. A VPN wraps everything in a secure tunnel, protecting your IoT chatter from prying eyes. The trade-off is speed: encryption takes processing power, and your smart lock needs to respond now, not after a crypto handshake.2
Here are the three best VPN approaches for SmartThings, ranked by what matters most in a smart home: speed, compatibility, and control.
WireGuard is the modern VPN protocol that's lean, fast, and built into recent Linux kernels. For smart home users, that means minimal latency overhead — your lights still turn on when you walk in the room, and your door lock doesn't hesitate.
If you have a modern router and want the snappiest possible VPN for your SmartThings hub, WireGuard is the pick.1
| Dimension | Detail |
|---|---|
| Protocol | WireGuard (UDP) |
| Encryption | ChaCha20-Poly1305 |
| Latency impact | Very low |
| Router support | OpenWrt, DD-WRT, pfSense, OPNsense |
OpenVPN is the old reliable. It's supported on virtually every router firmware, NAS device, and gateway appliance out there. If you're running a stock router from ASUS, Netgear, or TP-Link, chances are OpenVPN is baked right into the admin panel.
For users who want a "just works" VPN on their existing router without flashing custom firmware, OpenVPN is the safest bet.3
| Dimension | Detail |
|---|---|
| Protocol | OpenVPN (TCP/UDP) |
| Encryption | AES-256-GCM |
| Latency impact | Low to moderate |
| Router support | ASUS, Netgear, TP-Link, Synology, QNAP |
PiVPN wraps WireGuard and OpenVPN into a single, beginner-friendly installer for Raspberry Pi. You turn a $35 Pi into a dedicated VPN gateway that sits between your SmartThings hub and the internet.
This is the choice for tinkerers who want full control over their VPN and don't mind a small DIY project.1
| Dimension | Detail |
|---|---|
| Protocol | WireGuard or OpenVPN (your choice) |
| Encryption | ChaCha20 or AES-256 |
| Latency impact | Very low (Pi 4/5) |
| Hardware needed | Raspberry Pi 3B+, 4, or 5 |
| Feature | WireGuard | OpenVPN | PiVPN |
|---|---|---|---|
| Speed | Fastest | Moderate | Fast (Pi 4/5) |
| Setup complexity | Medium | Low | Medium |
| Router firmware needed | Modern (OpenWrt, DD-WRT) | Most stock firmwares | None (uses Pi) |
| Smart home latency | Minimal | Slight | Minimal |
| Best for | Speed-focused users | Compatibility seekers | DIY enthusiasts |
The SmartThings hub talks to the cloud to process automations, send notifications, and enable remote access. Without a VPN, that traffic is unencrypted over your local network. A router-level VPN encrypts everything — the hub, your phone, your laptop — without any device needing its own VPN client.1
The community consensus is clear: since the hub itself can't run a VPN app, the router is the right place to enforce encryption.2 The trade-off is that heavy encryption can slow down time-sensitive automations. That's why WireGuard's lightweight design is such a strong fit for smart homes.
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