We’re gamers, just like you. And just like you, we dread region-locking and restrictions. When a game is released, it should be made available to everyone. And the same goes for discount offers.
Unfortunately, big companies are almost never on the consumer’s side. They prefer to restrict their products, discounts, and services to certain markets. There’s also the matter of governments blocking access to games or censoring certain content, so you end up with an inferior product.
That’s why we’ve set out to find the best VPN for gaming - one that can handle heavyweights like Fortnite and PUBG but also provide the best value for thrifty gamers.
That said, here are the top VPNs we chose for gamers:
While VyprVPN might lack the server coverage its gaming VPN competitors have, its other features catapult it to the top of our list. VyprVPN boasts a proprietary protocol, Chameleon, that prevents ISPs from detecting your connection as coming from a VPN server. The provider brings a plethora of other useful privacy measures as well - all at an incredibly affordable price.
Probably the most popular VPN provider out there, NordVPN always presents a great, safe choice for users looking for a good gaming VPN. NordVPN’s 5,600-strong server network guarantees you can connect from anywhere in the world, and its excellent server architecture ensures lightning speeds.
IPVanish is a privacy-focused service and one of the few VPN services that are truly dedicated to gamers. We found it to be especially useful for fans of gaming consoles, with the lack of data transfer limits being a godsend for all gamers. Without a doubt, IPVanish is one of the top gaming VPNs you can get.
ExpressVPN, as its name suggests, is an incredibly fast solution - a vital trait for online gamers. Advanced features like split tunneling and a sizable VPN server network make ExpressVPN a great choice for advanced users and definitely a good VPN for gaming online.
You’d be hard-pressed to find a better VPN to help you attain complete privacy than CyberGhost. It might not be the fastest of the bunch, but its feature-packed offer includes unblocking streaming services, safe torrenting, and access to NoSpy servers. If you’re looking for a gaming VPN with a no-logs policy, CyberGhost should be one of your first stops.
Numerous reputable outlets have declared that Hotspot Shield offers the fastest VPN connection in the world, including Ookla, the company behind the famous speed test software. Hotspot Shield is also considered the best free VPN for gaming online, thanks to its free plan. However, this basic plan is less than ideal for gaming or dedicated use in general.
If you’re looking to get a lifetime VPN subscription for a very reasonable sum or protect your whole esports team by buying bundled accounts, VPN Unlimited is the choice for you. A single subscription lets you secure up to 10 devices, while the ability to set up personal VPN servers guarantees complete privacy and maximum performance - both hallmarks of a good VPN service provider.
If someone told you a VPN had almost 33,000 servers, you’d think they were either lying or crazy. In fact, Private Internet Access does have that many servers in its network - an incredible feat in itself. This is not the sole reason it’s on our list of gaming VPNs - the provider also offers unmetered data transfers, access to the advanced WireGuard protocol, and much more.
Tailored to make your browsing sessions as private and as enjoyable as possible, Surfshark certainly deserves to be counted as one of the top VPN services. Surfshark’s search tool helps you obtain unbiased search results, while the VPN’s plugin completely stops ads from loading. Security-focused gamers will also appreciate this gaming VPN service’s many protective measures and the ability to protect an unlimited number of devices.
Windscribe’s static IP addresses and port forwarding support are sought-after features by gamers looking to host their multiplayer servers. Besides being possibly the ideal cheap gaming VPN thanks to its low pricing, Windscribe also offers a generous free plan if you’re tight with cash.
TunnelBear is a fan-favorite VPN and the owner of the cutest brand logo in the universe. Its VPN service is both affordable and incredibly easy to set up and use. This makes it ideal for less tech-savvy users and gamers on a budget. It’s also a great pick for anyone looking for a free gaming VPN.
You might be wondering why you’d even want to use VPNs for gaming. After all, they are known to slow down your connection, which could have a negative effect on your multiplayer experience.
However, ISP throttling can affect activities like gaming, streaming, or torrenting. In these situations, using a VPN to mask your actions will actually increase your connection speed, as your provider wouldn’t be able to see what you’re doing and slow you down.
Additionally, since VPNs allow you to disguise your location, gamers can access content that might not be available in their region at all. Chinese gamers rely on gaming VPN providers to circumvent the Great Firewall of China and access western games. Some specific promotions and discounts might also be region-locked.
Lastly, a VPN can let you play on various servers. This is useful when you want to hop on the same server as your friend or, for some reason, avoid your region.
TunnelBear
Right off the bat, we have a VPN company that vows to fight against censorship while providing top-notch service to its customers.
Not only is VyprVPN considered one of the fastest VPNs, but also the best VPN for online games. This is largely thanks to its zero-logs policy, which guarantees that the company won’t track or keep any information about its users. The feature adds even more value to the product because many gamers live in countries where their data is tracked, and circumventing government-imposed restrictions in order to access geo-blocked games and other content could have legal implications.
But there’s more than that to VyprVPN. Aside from having a large server network that spans over 70 countries, the software also comes with its own protocol called Chameleon. It shields your VPN traffic so it cannot be detected by the ISP or anyone else, thus providing increased online security.
Another reason we classified VyprVPN as the best gaming VPN is the price. It costs just $1.67 a month if you opt for the 36-month plan and is incredibly easy to use. The app doesn’t overwhelm the user with pointless information. You get a big “connect” button, a traffic monitor, the IP you’re connected to, and a timer. Users also love it for its high upload and download speeds.
Hence, the only real downside is the absence of a trial version. The company eliminated even the previously available three-day trial period. Still, it’s an excellent gaming VPN, and, as it comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee, it’s worth trying out.
If you are in the market for the best VPN for PC games, be sure to check out NordVPN.
This is a favorite among many League of Legends and Minecraft players. NordVPN boasts a plethora of gaming-first features in its apps, from military-grade encryption that protects you when connected to public Wi-Fi to the prevention of bandwidth throttling that many internet service providers employ.
It’s no secret that internet companies often slow your connection down when you are streaming on Twitch or playing bandwidth-intensive games, so hiding that traffic from them is highly beneficial. NordVPN offers a double VPN, which tunnels your connection through two servers. This is why many consider it the best VPN for PC gaming, especially in countries where ISPs throttle internet traffic or outright ban certain games.
It is also an outstanding VPN when it comes to connection speeds. With more than 5,600 global servers, you’ll be first in line to play the hot new releases. There’s even a knowledge base on NordVPN’s website to help you set everything up properly when it comes to online security.
As you’ve probably noticed by now, we are specifically focused on PC gaming. That’s because setting up VPNs on routers can be quite a hassle. If you need a good VPN for your gaming console, your router needs to support the OpenVPN protocol and meet other requirements before you can use NordVPN on the PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Nintendo Switch, or any other console.
Console games are becoming increasingly popular, so we set out to find the best VPN for consoles. This proved to be a complicated task because most VPN apps for consoles have specific hardware requirements. We eventually landed on IPVanish, a rare gaming-first VPN.
It doesn’t take long to figure out why this is a superb gaming VPN for fast online gaming on consoles. It can be set up on your router, hiding all traffic from your ISP and other eavesdroppers. It also offers servers in many countries and specifically masks data packets that many games and P2P applications use.
As a backup solution for all your gaming videos and saved files, the company offers bundles with an additional 250 GB of SugarSync cloud storage, which saves you money in the long run and ranks IPVanish among the top gaming VPNs.
The best gaming VPNs need to have as many servers and locations as possible, be compatible with all gaming devices, and be easy to set up. ExpressVPN ticks all of those boxes, providing surprising levels of versatility without forcing the user to flip through a manual for instructions.
The VPN has the most extensive selection of locations among all such apps currently available. It can split your traffic between the VPN connection and the direct ISP connection, all the while providing the stability and high connection speeds that every gamer needs. It might not be the answer to the age-old question of how to get better ping in Fortnite, but this VPN for gaming secures your traffic for thousands of popular games.
We really liked the product’s clean interface and the fact that it’s highly customizable. You can pin your favorite games to its main screen, and the VPN will launch as soon as you click on any of them. Servers can also be sorted based on ping, while the site’s knowledge base and customer support are available to assist with any features you might be struggling with. In short, it’s incredibly easy to set up ExpressVPN for gaming.
ExpressVPN is on our list for several very good reasons, but affordability isn’t one of them. While this is undoubtedly a powerful gaming VPN, it definitely can’t be considered a low-cost solution.
Marketed as the best VPN for gamers, CyberGhost claims to have the ability to get past IP bans, making geo-restrictions on your favorite games a thing of the past.
Furthermore, this VPN offers a whopping 7,000 servers in 120 locations. It is also very affordable if you select multi-year plans and can be set up on routers, which translates into protection for all your consoles and gadgets. The security is top-notch, as the company strictly enforces its no-logs VPN policy.
Even though it’s known to be one of the best VPNs for gaming, CyberGhost is also popular among fans of TV shows and movies. Services like Netflix and Hulu can easily be unlocked with just a click of a button. The app offers good choices based on your location and the kind of service you wish to use during your session.
However, that level of simplicity is a double-edged sword at times. While this VPN is great for beginners, some features are half-baked, including the kill switch. In addition, some of the locations aren’t compatible with P2P, which can cause problems with certain games and services.
However, these shortcomings aren’t enough to disqualify CyberGhost from our list of the best VPNs for gaming. It is still one of the most affordable VPN apps you can find and is definitely worth considering.
The best VPN for online gaming doesn’t come cheap, especially if it boasts the strongest encryption and thousands of servers. Hotspot Shield’s quality is well documented. The product won several awards in recent years, including the prestigious Ookla Speedtest Award, and it's the world’s fastest gaming VPN.
In addition, it comes with military-grade encryption, guaranteeing that your data won’t end up in the wrong hands. Seeing as how Hotspot Shield pricing plans start at $7.99 per month, this isn’t the place to look for the most affordable gaming VPN.
However, the price tag comes with a promise of quality. With a premium subscription, you’ll get access to more than 3,200 servers and robust security features such as malware and phishing shields, as well as a password manager. At a time when our list of login credentials is expanding faster than ever, a password manager is a must-have.
There is a trial version available, but it’s not a good solution for gaming. It’s capped at 2 Mbps and it limits you to US-based VPN servers. Considering most modern video games require much faster connection speed, this shouldn’t be your first choice when looking for the best free PC VPN.
As for the premium option, we’d say Hotspot Shield is a perfect fit for an MMO gamer and pretty much any gamer with multiple accounts. Fans of streaming services should also check out Hotspot Shield, especially those with Netflix and BBC iPlayer subscriptions.
It’s always good to see a VPN software offering more than basic private browsing. Whether you need the best VPN for console gaming, streaming, or just surfing the web, you should be looking for a company that knows the tech. That’s why we’ve included VPN Unlimited in this list.
This product’s knowledge base and dedication to security are hard to match. The software protects up to 10 devices with military-grade encryption and ensures that none of your data is tracked. It also supports both PCs and consoles.
While VPN Unlimited covers a lot of ground with available locations, its number of servers is a cause for concern. With just five hundred servers, traffic congestion can occur from time to time. Since we’re talking about a service competing for the title of best VPN for gaming, every bit of data that doesn’t go through to the game server on time can result in a lost match or cause complications with fast-paced games.
Notably, this is the only private network we’ve seen so far that offers lifetime plans. For a one-time payment of $299, you’ll get a VPN that secures up to ten of your devices. This deal should be of particular interest to internet cafe owners and esports teams that wish to protect their anonymity by employing a reliable yet affordable VPN for gaming.
Additionally, being able to secure all your PCs with a VPN for online games during a boot camp before a CS: GO tournament or for a local event without having to constantly pay for the software is a big plus.
The best VPN service for gaming should come with a particular set of features, including a suitable number of servers on all continents, the ability to support as many devices as possible, and the right price tag. Private Internet Access is a product that exceeds those expectations.
It’s a VPN with unlimited bandwidth, nearly 33,000 servers across the globe, and it supports all modern internet technologies and devices. It also supports OpenVPN, allowing you to set the VPN up on your home router, providing a secure connection to your phones and consoles.
In addition to potentially being the best VPN for games, this service is also great for streaming and other daily internet activities. This makes Private Internet Access a great choice for families with kids, especially since the provider allows you to connect up to ten devices simultaneously to this VPN.
Setting up what is essentially a pillar for your home’s cybersecurity doesn’t require more than a few minutes. This VPN comes with integrated tools for blocking annoying ads and malware while leaving no trace of your browsing habits.
Some may argue that this is not the best affordable VPN on the market, but we’d beg to differ. For just $39.95 per year, you get a set of neat features and a product that is easy to use. One of the few downsides is that most servers are located in Europe and North America, which might be a problem for some people aiming for a good ping for gaming.
Surfshark is another affordable provider that you should look into if you need help with security while gaming. With a respectable number of servers located in 65 countries, and if you pick a VPN server close to you, it may actually reduce ping. On top of that, there’s the no-logs policy, which prevents everyone from keeping track of what you do online.
With Surfshark, you can easily dismiss those “not available in your region” notifications. It will allow you to access geo-restricted games wherever you are, even if you’re on the move. By the same token, you’ll never have to overpay for a game again with this gaming VPN.
If you’re worried about pricing, don’t be. This is a rather cheap VPN - one of the cheapest on the market, in fact, especially if you take advantage of its special promotions. At the time of writing, Surfshark is offering a promotional price of just $2.08 per month if you sign up for 24 months.
This is also a VPN with unlimited bandwidth, which allows you to game for hours without worrying about bandwidth limits. You’ll have a hard time finding a more affordable gaming VPN anywhere else, and for such a powerful set of features, this is indeed a minuscule price to pay.
When talking about the best VPN for gaming, free products aren’t usually the first thing that comes to mind, but it’s not that free VPNs don’t exist. Simple to use yet highly encrypted, Windscribe is one such product. Over the years, it slowly evolved into a formidable app that can keep your internet connection safe and secure.
Today, Windscribe supports split tunneling that allows you to manage your traffic based on what you wish to secure. It can generate configuration files for your router and uses 256-bit encryption for all traffic.
The most important single feature that makes Windscribe one of the best, if not the best VPN for PC gamers is the possibility of unlimited simultaneous connections. Whether you opt for the free or premium plan, you get the option of using it on as many devices as you wish.
However, Windscribe’s trial version is pretty limited compared to the premium option. The servers can only be accessed in 11 countries across North America and Europe. Your traffic is also limited to just 10 GB per month, which most modern games gobble up pretty quickly. Therefore, sticking to premium plans is the more logical choice here.
This is an ideal option for those who wish to enjoy the benefits of a VPN without having to worry about the setup. Today, one’s gaming experience is increasingly undermined by a throttled internet connection and region-restricted content. Advertised as the best free VPN for gaming, TunnelBear is reclaiming what gamers love most - the games.
The digital grizzly only improved with age and now competes with many of the best gaming VPNs. The free version is still up and running, albeit limited to just 500 MB of daily traffic. But this service’s real potential lies in its premium version. The VPN can be used by up to five devices at once, connecting to almost 2000 servers across the globe.
TunnelBear is the only provider with annual VPN security audits, highlighting its status as one of the most secure services on the market. It is also regarded as the best VPN for gaming by many because of its ease of use. You just fire it up, choose a location, and flip a switch.
The desktop and mobile apps are beautifully designed, with no complicated setup required on the user’s end. One minor downside to this otherwise impeccable service is that you cannot install TunnelBear directly on your home router.
To say that the current VPN market is oversaturated would be an understatement. Nearly every cybersecurity company now offers its own VPN, promising ping booster tools and products that run at lightning speeds. They even promise to reduce your already high ping in Fortnite, PUBG, or Counter-Strike. We look beyond all the promotional materials and determine what features are actually valuable to the end user.
A VPN is only as good as its network of servers. The more servers it supports, the broader its usability will be. Gamers that travel a lot or live in countries with restricted access to certain content expect a versatile gaming VPN, free or paid.
That’s why we put more emphasis on the number of countries where the servers are located than on the actual number of servers. Of course, a greater number of servers translates into more bandwidth, which means faster download and upload speeds, as well as minimal latency.
A modern VPN should work on PCs, laptops, and smartphones as both a browser extension and a full-scale solution for your entire Wi-Fi network. In other words, good VPNs should be available in all shapes and sizes.
If you have a gaming console rather than a gaming PC, for example, you’ll want look for a VPN that can be set up on a router so that your PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch consoles can reap all the benefits of a safe and private connection.
Moreover, the number of supported simultaneous connections and devices is also important. Today, everyone has several devices that they use on a daily basis, meaning that a VPN should ideally be able to secure and provide the fastest speeds on all of them.
We weighed the price of monthly and annual plans against the number of licenses and other features the VPNs on our list offer to paint a clearer picture for all those in search of an affordable VPN for gaming. The better the overall deal, the higher we ranked the product.
Yes. A VPN can circumvent geo-restrictions and IP bans. It can also enable you to play games before they are released in your country of residence if you connect to a region where the game had an early launch.
To fully enjoy PUBG, you need a VPN that connects to European and American gaming servers. All of the products on our list offer that option.
Finding an adequate yet free offer among the best VPNs for gaming is tricky, as free tiers often severely limit bandwidth and server selection. If you’re tight with money, Windscribe offers 10 GB/month of bandwidth for free, which could be enough for lightweight multiplayer games.
Gaming on a VPN usually takes no more than firing up the app, hitting the connect button to connect to a VPN server, and launching your game. However, certain games might require port forwarding, a process that redirects communication requests from one port number to another. Meanwhile, console games require you to configure the VPN on your router.
It may increase ping by around 10%, but if you go for the best VPN for gaming and choose servers near you, you won’t notice the difference.
While many VPNs offer gaming-focused features, many of them have sub-par connection speeds or lack widespread server networks. The ones we found to be ideal choices for gaming are ExpressVPN and IPVanish, but other providers on our list are more-than-solid choices as well.
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