The simple answer is yes, but things are a bit complicated so we need to elaborate on this to help you understand how you can do it. In order to be able to use multiple VPNs simultaneously, there is certain level of technical skills required so it is advisable that you only consider giving this a try if you know what you are doing. The good news is that technology keeps making things easier, and even those with limited technical knowledge can find suitable alternatives that provide satisfactory performance, once they have been configured correctly.
Now, just because using multiple VPNs at the same time is possible, that doesn’t mean that it is really necessary. In fact, there are not noticeable advantages doing this. While you can use two or more VPNs at the same time on the same device, you may experience issues with this setup. The first thing to note is that simply installing and connecting two VPN clients simultaneously is not enough. When you activate the second VPN, you will probably get a routing error. Even if you don’t come across such error, the two VPNs will clash and eventually, one of them will prevail over the other and will become the only service that is routing your traffic.
This is due to the fact that pressing the connect button on a VPN, creates a lot of routing entries, including lines with netmasks to write over the default gateway and make sure that VPN traffic is routed our of the original one. The second VPN can also set up these same lines and, since they were already in place, if you don’t do anything, then more than likely, they will be in conflict with each other.
Avoiding this conflict is what really leads to a technical challenge because you will have to access the OpenVPN configuration files and carry out manual changes, such as adding specific lines to certain places to ensure that the two VPN clients work without issues. Still, the best option to use the two VPN at the same time and without major complications is to set one of them on the actual platform that you are using, and the other one on a virtual machine. You will operate the system with the help of this virtual machine, which is why you need to install it first. You also need to install OpenVPN on it so that two tunnels are created, routing your IP address from your computer first and then through the virtual machine. You need to keep in mind that by doing this, the speed of your connection will be affected in a significant way, particularly if you add more tunnels.
The same goes for VPN routers, but in the case of these devices, you enjoy protection on your network. However, it is also possible to configure them to allow several concurrent connections, although not all VPN providers support this solution and you may go against the terms of service, if you choose to do this. It is possible to have as many OpenVPN clients as you want, but they should be configured to ensure that the “Accept DNS Configuration=Exclusive” setting is enables. Furthermore, you need to ensure that every one of them uses other DNS servers.
Regardless of the differences, the most important part is the idea of double VPN. This is something that NordVPN and a few other providers offer. This feature offers the advantages of using two VPNs, but in a simple manner since it only takes a few seconds to set up and it only requires one client. When you use double VPN, the traffic is routed to a server and it is redirected from there to another server. That being said, there is no risk of issues as the traffic involved is always the same and it is handled by the same provider.
What are the best VPN services to use at the same time?
Below there is a list of high quality VPN services that we recommend, on their own or combined, if you really want to give this set up a try. The main thing is that the below VPNs offer excellent performance, privacy protection and all the features to give you the best level of online security, which is likely your goal, if you are looking for ways to use two or more VPNs at the same time.
NordVPN
NordVPN is of course, the first VPN in this list since it supports the double VPN feature that we mentioned earlier on. NordVPN lets you connect first to a VPN server in one country, to mask your real IP address and to add a layer of security. After this first stage of connection, your route is directed to another VPN server. This means that the IP address is hidden again and a further layer of security is added. NordVPN is a zero logs provider based in Panama and it offers access to over 5000 servers in more than 60 countries.
ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN is one of the most popular names in the VPN industry. It has achieved a high level of popularity thanks to all the great features that it offers. ExpressVPN lets you connect to thousands of servers in over 90 countries and it doesn’t keep logs of your activities. This provider is not only known for the strong encryption that it uses to protect your connection, it is also a fast service that lets you overcome online restrictions. It doesn’t keep logs of your activities.
CyberGhost
CyberGhost is a well-known provider that we also recommend due to the strong protection that it offers for your privacy. Like the other providers mentioned in the list, CyberGhost is a highly secure solution that keeps your information safe from threats like online surveillance, malicious hackers and more. CyberGhost doesn’t keep logs of your activities, or any other aspect of your connection and the way you use the service. You can use up to 7 connections at the same time and thanks to the 45-day money-back guarantee, you can get a subscription with confidence, knowing that if for some reason it doesn’t work for you, it is possible to get a refund.
