How many devices can you use one VPN on?

A VPN is only useful on the devices it’s actually running on, and most households have more screens than they can count. So how many can one subscription cover — and what happens when you have more gadgets than your plan allows? Here’s how device limits really work.

What a “device limit” means

Most VPNs cap how many devices can be connected at the same time on one account. If your plan allows five simultaneous connections, you can install the app on as many devices as you like — you just can’t have more than five actively connected at once. In practice that’s more generous than it sounds, because not every device is online through the VPN every moment.

How to count your real need

Add up what’s actually connected at once on a busy evening:

• Everyone’s phone (these are almost always on).
• Laptops and tablets in active use.
• The TV or streaming stick when someone’s watching.
• A desktop or work machine, if used simultaneously.

The trick that covers everything at once

If you have more devices than your plan’s limit — or gadgets that can’t run a VPN app, like some smart-home devices and older TVs — install the VPN on your router. Everything connected to that router is then protected through a single connection, which usually counts as just one device against your limit. One setup, whole-home coverage.

Choosing the right plan

For an individual, a small connection limit is plenty. For a couple or a family with lots of devices, look for a plan with a higher simultaneous-connection count — or use the router trick. Our plans scale from single-device to family-sized, so you can match the limit to your household rather than overpaying. One account downloads to phones, laptops, TVs and more.