Volumio (formerly RaspyFi) is a lightweight, Debian-based audio distribution optimised for Raspberry Pi and similar single-board computers. It runs headless by default, controlled via web UI or SSH, and uses the apt package manager alongside systemd. Typical users are audio enthusiasts who value low latency, stable playback and minimal CPU overhead. There’s no desktop environment in standard Volumio builds—everything works from the command line or the browser. That means any VPN solution must be CLI-friendly, support ARM architectures and play nicely with systemd for auto-reconnect or firewall rules.

Given those constraints, the most suitable VPNs for Volumio are:

• Mullvad VPN: Official .deb repositories with ARM support, WireGuard-first design for minimal CPU overhead.
• NordVPN: Official Linux client that works on ARM via .deb, full systemd integration and OpenVPN/WireGuard support.
• ProtonVPN: Open-source CLI tool with Debian package for ARM, strong privacy focus and easy OpenVPN configuration.

These services provide official ARM-compatible packages where possible, can be installed via apt, and offer headless configuration to suit Volumio’s environment. Below is a comparison table highlighting their key traits (excluding price details).

Mullvad VPN: Installation Configuration on Volumio

Mullvad provides a Debian repository that includes ARM builds. Below is a step-by-step guide to get Mullvad running on your Volumio device.

1. Add Mullvad’s apt repository

curl -fsSL https://packages.mullvad.net/mullvad_pubgpg.asc  sudo apt-key add -
echo deb https://packages.mullvad.net/deb/ bullseye main  sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/mullvad.list
sudo apt update

2. Install the Mullvad client

sudo apt install mullvad-vpn

3. Authenticate and connect

# Login with your Mullvad account number
mullvad login YOUR_ACCOUNT_NUMBER

# Start the VPN (WireGuard by default)
mullvad connect

# Verify status
mullvad status

4. Enable auto-start on boot

sudo systemctl enable mullvad-daemon.service
sudo systemctl start mullvad-daemon.service

NordVPN: Installation Configuration on Volumio

NordVPN’s Linux client runs well on Debian-based ARM devices. Here’s how to set it up:

1. Install dependencies add the repo

sudo apt update
sudo apt install apt-transport-https ca-certificates wget gnupg
wget -qO- https://repo-nordvpn.com/gpg/nordvpn_public.asc  sudo apt-key add -
echo deb https://repo-nordvpn.com/deb/nordvpn/debian stable main  sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/nordvpn.list
sudo apt update

2. Install the NordVPN client

sudo apt install nordvpn

3. Login and connect

nordvpn login

# Connect to the fastest server
nordvpn connect

# Check connection
nordvpn status

4. Enable useful features

# Enable kill switch to protect audio streams
nordvpn set killswitch on

# Auto-connect on boot
sudo systemctl enable nordvpnd.service

ProtonVPN: Quick Setup on Volumio

ProtonVPN’s open-source CLI can be installed via their apt repository:

1. Add Proton’s repo

sudo apt update
sudo apt install -y wget gnupg2
wget -qO- https://repo.protonvpn.com/debian/public_key.asc  sudo apt-key add -
echo deb https://repo.protonvpn.com/debian unstable main  sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/protonvpn.list
sudo apt update

2. Install the CLI tool

sudo apt install protonvpn-cli

3. Initialize connect

protonvpn init
# Follow prompts to login
protonvpn c --fastest

Once connected, ProtonVPN will run in the foreground or you can background it (protonvpn c –fastest ). To integrate with systemd, wrap it in a service file or use OpenVPN profiles from /etc/openvpn.

With any of these VPNs—Mullvad, NordVPN or ProtonVPN—your Volumio device gains encrypted tunnels, geo-flexibility for streaming services, and the peace of mind that comes from protecting your home network. Choose the one that best matches your priorities: raw performance (Mullvad), integrated features (NordVPN) or open-source assurance (ProtonVPN).