KeepYourHomeIP review: Is this hardware VPN worth it?

VPNs are incredibly handy tools. I use them all the time to protect myself and my data when browsing on public WiFi networks, as well as to access content from back home (like streaming services) whilst travelling.

But one thing they can’t do is help you connect directly back to your home WiFi network, so you can keep your real home IP address wherever you happen to be in the world. This comes in very handy when you work a remote job, but your employer only allows you to work from home.

KeepYourHomeIP is a hardware VPN system that does exactly that. You plug the VPN server router into your home Wi-Fi router and carry the VPN travel router with you on your travels.

It is a nifty hardware VPN system that gives you both the perks of a normal VPN, along with the added benefit of accessing your home IP.

If you travel a lot and want to access the internet as if you were back home, KeepYourHomeIP might be exactly what you’ve been missing. So in this review, I’ll share how I got on with the setup and with using it day to day.

Get started with KeepYourHomeIP here

What is KeepYourHomeIP?

Most VPNs, including ExpressVPN’s Aircove Go (another VPN travel router product), route you through the provider’s own servers. You share an IP address with thousands of other people, and those addresses are well-known, so websites (like streaming sites and banks) regularly block or flag them.

KeepYourHomeIP works differently. It’s a VPN server router that gives you a private VPN connection back to your actual home IP. So, not only do you look like you are browsing from home, but websites also won’t flag you as a VPN user at all.

Every kit comes with the two routers, the home unit and the travel one (additional travel routers can be bought). You choose between two sizes. Capri is the smaller, more affordable option, and the Maui is the slightly larger model aimed at business use. I have been testing out the Capri, which has been perfect for my needs.

The home unit stays plugged into your home WiFi network, and the travel router(s) come with you. There is an initial setup, and I will walk you through my experience of this shortly.

My experience with KeepYourHomeIP

I travel for a living (a professional traveller, as my partner puts it), so I’m forever logging into WiFi networks from hotels, cafes and airports. But I regularly need to access the internet as if I were back home.

This is what KeepYourHomeIP is built for, so I have been testing it out on my recent adventures to see whether it is worth the investment. Read on to find out about my experience with the setup, using it, their support team, and my thoughts on the value for money.

How easy is the setup?

Setting up the Capri took me around 20 to 30 minutes from opening the box to having my laptop running through the network, which was a pleasant surprise considering I am not usually great with any hardware-based tech.

It was pretty simple to do; there were just a few important steps that required me to be at home with my WiFi router. With KeepYourHomeIP, there is no software installation required, so there was nothing to download or configure on my devices. Each stage had a video to follow along with, which made it really easy. Most steps were as simple as plugging something in and waiting a few minutes.

Once both routers were set up and running, I spent a little while testing them out at home before heading to my coworking space nearby. It worked with no issues. And then I tested it out abroad, and I had the same success!

The only thing worth keeping in mind is that wherever you are, such as in a café or hotel, you will need an available power outlet to power the travel router, or a suitable power bank. If you also need to charge your laptop, it’s worth planning for that as well.

When it comes to setting up your travel router, each time you use it, you simply connect to its network, use the password on the back, then open the portal to join any local WiFi. It takes a few extra minutes and becomes second nature after a while.

Does it actually work?

So far, in every instance that I have been using KeepYourHomeIP, it has worked a charm. Many times, when I use normal VPN providers, I encounter issues: being locked out of websites, having to verify myself, and changing servers to find one that works. But that never happens with KeepYourHomeIP.

I imagine it’s because, as far as the internet is concerned, I’m sitting at home. I’m not flagged as a VPN user, and I never get blocked, which more than makes up for the few extra minutes it takes for me to turn the router on and connect to the WiFi network.

For example, one of my banking apps hates VPNs. But using my home IP address through a VPN travel router means I have zero issues!

It’s also worth noting that KeepYourHomeIP works with any corporate VPN, so if you need to connect to a work network while you’re away, it doesn’t cause any issues and shows you as being at home. And KeepYourHomeIP works with any authentication app, such as Microsoft MFA, Okta, Google Authenticator, or any other, so the usual two-factor processes work exactly as they do at home.

This is why it is an ideal solution for remote workers. Before I went self employed, I worked for a company in Asia who were strict about where I logged in from, even though my job was remote and I could have done it from anywhere. KeepYourHomeIP would have been the perfect fix. As far as their systems were concerned, I’d have been sitting exactly where I was meant to be.

And if you do happen to have any issues, they have an excellent customer support team. You can easily speak to a real human, rather than just another chatbot sending you in circles.

Is it good value for money?

Let’s be honest, KeepYourHomeIP isn’t the cheapest VPN method, but then it isn’t like the others. It’s a hardware VPN system (with the two routers), rather than just an app, so there is an upfront payment.

The Capri I tested comes in at $328 (£258) at the time of writing, and the business-focused Maui is $468 (£358). Both products include two routers (a home unit and a portable one), and you then pay a small subscription of around $8 a month to keep your connection running. Your first month is included, and there’s a 30-day money-back guarantee if you change your mind.

So is the cost worth it? Well, I’d say it really depends on your reasons for needing it. If you only go abroad now and then, a normal VPN will probably do. If you’re on the road constantly, or you work remotely but your employer doesn’t want you to (so you need to appear like you are still back home), the cost is minimal in comparison to your freedom to travel!

KeepYourHomeIP review verdict

So, is this hardware VPN system worth it? I truly believe it is, particularly for frequent travellers and remote workers.

Being able to use your home IP address, rather than a VPN provider’s servers, does mean you have fewer issues reaching websites from back home. Your employer would think you’re still at home. And you maintain your privacy online.

What it can’t do is connect you to servers in other countries. So if you’re hoping to unlock streaming libraries you can’t normally get at home, this isn’t the solution for you.

I never feel limited by the smaller Capri model, but my internet use is fairly light. I’m mostly uploading images and streaming rather than doing anything intensive, so if your work is more demanding, it may be worth weighing up the Maui instead.

But if you’re on the road as much as I am, you may well find yourself getting a lot of use out of this hardware VPN kit!

Get started with KeepYourHomeIP here