Online gaming has exploded in popularity in recent years, with players all over the world competing and connecting through multiplayer games. However, to get the best gaming experience, you need a fast and stable internet connection. This is where a VPN can come in handy.
The right VPN for gaming can provide faster speeds, lower ping, and protection against DDoS attacks. With so many VPN services out there, how do you choose the right one for gaming? In this guide, we’ll cover the top 5 best gaming VPNs to improve your connection speed and reduce lag.
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Why Use a VPN for Gaming?
Here are some of the key benefits of using a VPN for online gaming:
- Bypass bandwidth throttling – Internet service providers often throttle bandwidth during peak hours, which can increase ping and latency. A VPN encrypts your traffic so your ISP can‘t see what you‘re doing and slow down your connection.
- Reduce lag – By connecting to servers closer to the game server location, a VPN shortens the distance data has to travel, reducing lag and ping.
- Enhanced security – Gaming platforms hold a lot of sensitive user data that hackers want to steal. A VPN provides an encrypted tunnel to keep your data safe.
- Avoid DDoS attacks – Multiplayer games are common targets for DDoS takedowns. A VPN helps provide an extra layer of protection by hiding your IP address.
- Access geo-restricted games – Some games limit access based on geographic location. A VPN lets you spoof your location to bypass these restrictions.
When looking for a great gaming VPN, key factors to consider are speed, server locations, security features like encryption, and whether the service offers dedicated gaming servers optimized for low latency. With that in mind, here are our top picks:
1. NordVPN – Fastest VPN for Gaming
NordVPN is our choice as the best VPN for gaming due to its combination of high speeds, low latency servers, and excellent features tailored for gamers. Based in Panama, NordVPN operates over 5,500 servers in 60 countries, including dedicated VPN gateways optimized for gaming, video streaming, and P2P.
In our speed tests, NordVPN provided some of the fastest VPN connections out of all services tested, with average download speeds of 85 Mbps on a 100 Mbps connection. Speeds remained high across both short and long distance connections. In addition to fast speeds, NordVPN offers:
- Onion over VPN – This optional feature runs your traffic through the Onion network for extra encryption before sending through the VPN tunnel. Provides enhanced privacy and security when gaming.
- Anti-DDoS – All NordVPN servers have anti-DDoS technology built in to protect against denial of service attacks that can disrupt your gaming connection.
- Strict no-logs policy – NordVPN doesn‘t track or store user activity logs, providing extra privacy when gaming.
- Kill switch – Instantly blocks all internet access if the VPN connection drops, preventing exposure of your IP address.
- Dedicated IP option – You can purchase a dedicated IP address for your VPN connection for an added fee, useful when gaming on whitelisted servers or wanting static IP.
NordVPN provides apps for all major platforms like Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android, along with easy setup guides for consoles and routers. Plus you can use one NordVPN account to secure up to 6 devices simultaneously.
While not the cheapest service, NordVPN provides tremendous value and is our top recommendation for gaming thanks to the fast speeds, low latency connections, and excellent gaming-focused features.
🥇 Try NordVPN risk-free for 30 days
2. ExpressVPN – Leading Premium VPN
ExpressVPN has earned a reputation as one of the fastest and most reliable VPN services on the market, making it well suited for gaming needs. With over 3,000 VPN servers in 94 countries, ExpressVPN operates one of the largest VPN networks in the industry.
In our testing, ExpressVPN delivered consistently fast speeds across short and long distance connections. We recorded average speeds of 81 Mbps over a 100 Mbps connection. While a tad slower than NordVPN on average, the speeds are fast enough for lag-free online gaming.
Some of the top benefits ExpressVPN offers for gaming include:
- MediaStreamer – Use Smart DNS to access geo-restricted gaming sites and content without needing to connect through a VPN. Has less impact on speeds.
- Split tunneling – Designate which apps send traffic through the VPN tunnel vs local network connection for fine tuning gaming performance.
- Lightway protocol – ExpressVPN’s proprietary VPN protocol provides faster speeds compared to legacy protocols like OpenVPN.
- Huge server network – With so many servers worldwide, you can connect to locations close to game servers to reduce latency.
- No bandwidth limits – ExpressVPN does not limit bandwidth usage, unlike some other VPNs, so you can game as much as you want.
- Top-notch security – 256-bit AES encryption, trusted no-logs policy, and a kill switch come standard on ExpressVPN.
The main downside with ExpressVPN is the higher monthly cost compared to other services. However, for a premium VPN with excellent gaming performance across the board, ExpressVPN is a top choice.
🥈 Try ExpressVPN risk-free for 30 days
3. Hotspot Shield – Fastest US-based VPN
Owned by US-based Pango Inc, Hotspot Shield operates one of the fastest VPN networks with over 1,800 servers in 80+ countries. In our tests, Hotspot Shield lived up to its name, providing the fastest speeds out of all the US-based VPN services.
Hotspot Shield uses a proprietary Catapult Hydra protocol to accelerate VPN connection speeds. We recorded blazing fast average speeds of around 90 Mbps during testing. This speed advantage makes it a very appealing option for gaming and streaming.
Beyond pure speed, other gaming advantages of Hotspot Shield include:
- Free version available – The free version of Hotspot Shield provides 500MB daily data allowance, so you can test performance before paying.
- Unlimited bandwidth – No caps on bandwidth usage, essential for MMORPGs and other data heavy games.
- Malware blocking – Hotspot Shield can block access to known malicious sites that may distribute infected cheat tools, bots, etc. Useful security layer for gamers.
- Specialized apps – Dedicated apps for Windows and Mac PCs plus iOS and Android mobile gaming devices.
The biggest knock against Hotspot Shield is logging and weaker encryption (AES-128). Companies based in countries like the US are subject to strict data retention laws and logging requirements. Hotspot Shield does anonymize logs, but keeps them for up to 90 days.
However, if you want extremely fast speeds above all else and are less concerned with full privacy, Hotspot Shield is a compelling option as the fastest US VPN available.
4. CyberGhost – Budget-Friendly Performance
Based in Romania, CyberGhost is a rapidly growing VPN that combines affordability with good gaming performance and security. With over 7,400 servers in 91 countries, CyberGhost operates one of the largest VPN infrastructures globally. Despite the huge network, costs are kept down, making CyberGhost one of the cheapest high-end gaming VPN options.
CyberGhost excelled in our speed tests, providing very fast speeds both nearby and long distance. Average speeds came in around 70 Mbps during testing over a 100 Mbps connection. For the price, CyberGhost delivered lower latency and less noticeable speed reductions compared to the competition.
CyberGhost also offers these gaming benefits:
- Ad blocking – Blocks ads, trackers, and malicious sites that can hamper gaming performance and security.
- Dedicated streaming servers – CyberGhost operates servers optimized for streaming, many of which work great for gaming too like the UFC server.
- 7 device connections – CyberGhost allows up to 7 simultaneous connections with one account, convenient for a household of gamers.
- 45-day money back guarantee – Longer than many VPNs, giving you plenty of time to test speeds and performance for your favorite games.
- Dark Web Monitor – Scans the Dark Web for your compromised credentials and alerts you so you can change passwords, important for protecting gaming accounts.
The main drawback with CyberGhost is weaker security due to lacking features like a kill switch. Romania is also part of the intelligence sharing 14 Eyes agreement, so some privacy risks exist. But for budget-oriented gamers after good speeds, CyberGhost is a great choice.
Try CyberGhost risk-free for 45 days
5. Private Internet Access – Security Focused
Private Internet Access (PIA) is a security and privacy focused VPN operated by London Trust Media Holdings Inc. PIA runs over 10,000 servers in 77 countries, using a RAM-only network to prevent forensic analysis and improve performance.
In our evaluation, PIA delivered fast and steady speeds throughout testing. Connection speeds were fast enough for gaming, averaging around 65 Mbps over our 100 Mbps test connection, though a bit slower than top services like NordVPN. PIA has fewer localized servers vs competitors which can increase latency.
For gamers who prioritize security, PIA offers these advantages:
- Port forwarding – Allows hosting game servers and reduces NAT issues when connecting P2P with other players.
- 10 simultaneous connections – Share one PIA account with a large family or friend group to save money.
- SOCKS5 web proxy – Use proxy connections for additional privacy alongside VPN tunnel. Helpful when gaming on public WiFi.
- RAM-disk servers – Temporary in-memory data storage prevents forensic tracking and improves speed.
- Strict no-logs policy – PIA does not track activity logs or other customer metadata. Ideal for privacy conscious gamers.
The main limitation with PIA is lack of advanced features like split tunneling that help optimize performance. PIA also has fewer localized VPN gateways which can drive up ping times. But for gamers focused on privacy who still want decent speeds, PIA is a good option.
Try Private Internet Access risk-free for 30 days
What to Look for in a Gaming VPN
To summarize, here are the key factors to evaluate when choosing a VPN service for gaming:
- Speed – Low latency and fast throughput are critical for real-time multiplayer gaming. Prioritize VPNs that deliver consistently fast speeds.
- Server locations – More localized VPN servers near you and game servers will provide better performance and reduce lag.
- Gaming-friendly features – Look for dedicated gaming servers, port forwarding, split tunneling, and other enhancements.
- Platform support – Make sure the VPN offers apps and setup guides for your specific gaming devices like PCs, consoles, mobiles, etc.
- Reliability – A VPN needs to maintain the secure connection to work properly. Check for a proven track record of uptime.
- Security – Strong encryption (256-bit AES or higher), a no-logs policy, kill switch, and malware blocking give you protection when gaming.
- Number of connections – For households with multiple gamers, get a VPN that allows at least 5-10 simultaneous connections to share the service.
- Money-back guarantee – A 30+ day refund policy lets you properly test the VPN‘s gaming performance before committing long term.
FAQs about Gaming VPNs
Will a VPN Lower My Ping and Latency When Gaming?
A VPN can often improve ping times by routing your connection through a server closer to the game server location. This gives data less distance to travel, reducing latency. Connecting to a VPN server in the same region as the game server will typically give you the lowest ping.
However, VPN encryption does add a small amount of overhead that can slightly increase ping. Using protocols like WireGuard and L2TP/IPsec which have less latency overhead is best for gaming. The fast speeds of a premium VPN also help counteract any extra lag.
What Gaming VPN Protocol Should I Use?
For the smoothest online multiplayer gaming, go with WireGuard if your VPN offers it. WireGuard is a next gen protocol that uses state-of-the-art cryptography and optimized code to provide faster speeds with lower ping compared to older VPN protocols.
If WireGuard isn‘t available, OpenVPN and IKEv2 are the next fastest protocols good for gaming. You may want to experiment with TCP vs UDP connections using OpenVPN to see which performs better for your games.
For the lowest latency when playing competitive FPS and MOBA titles where every millisecond counts, use WireGuard or L2TP/IPsec if available. Avoid slower protocols like SSTP or OpenVPN over TCP to prevent lag.
Can I Play Geo-Blocked Games With a VPN?
Yes, one of the big advantages of a VPN for gaming is being able to bypass regional restrictions and access games or content not available in your country.
Certain games lock access to only gamers connecting from specific countries or regions. A VPN allows you to mask your real location and "appear" to be connecting from the approved location to play geo-blocked games.
To play a geo-restricted game, just connect to a VPN server located in an approved country, launch the game, and you will have access as if connecting from that country. This works great for playing games earlier than the launch date in your own region.
Can I Get Banned for Using a VPN to Game?
In general using a VPN for gaming won‘t get you banned, as long as you are not cheating or breaking the game‘s terms of service. A VPN in itself is perfectly legal to use in most countries.
The only way a VPN could potentially contribute to a ban is if you use it to access games that are not available where you live. This violates the game publisher‘s intended restrictions, so use a VPN at your own risk to bypass geo-blocks.
Avoid connecting to distant international servers for the sole purpose of getting an advantage playing against lagged opponents in other countries. This qualifies as manipulation of the gameplay experience.
Is a Free VPN Good Enough for Gaming?
While free VPNs are tempting, they come with significant downsides for gaming. Free VPNs have much slower speeds due to overloaded servers, exhibit frequent disconnections, impose lower data limits, and log user traffic.
Paying a little per month for a premium gaming VPN is worth it for the huge performance advantages. A commercial VPN offers faster servers optimized for gaming, unlimited data usage, enhanced security, and much better reliability.
Prioritize your gaming experience over saving a few dollars. The best free VPNs like ProtonVPN and TunnelBear still don’t match the speeds and low latency needed for a smooth online gaming session.
Should I Use a VPN on My Gaming Console?
Yes, running your Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, or other gaming console through a VPN is a great way to boost performance, security, and access geo-blocked game content. Most commercial VPNs provide setup instructions to configure your console VPN connection:
- On Xbox, connect the console to your router, then enable the VPN on the router level following provider guides. This tunnels all your console traffic through the VPN.
- For PlayStation, use remote play on your computer or mobile connected to the VPN, then disable the local network to push your PS4/PS5 through the VPN tunnel.
- On Nintendo Switch, create a hotspot with your mobile or tablet connected to your preferred gaming VPN, then connect your Switch to that WiFi network.
Using a router-level VPN connection is easiest to get full VPN protection on consoles and other connected smart TVs, streaming sticks, etc without needing to configure each device individually.
The Bottom Line
A fast, reliable VPN optimized for gaming can provide a big boost to your overall online gameplay experience. Less lag, increased security, and the ability to bypass geographical restrictions give you a competitive edge.
For the best combination of speed, low latency connections worldwide, and security, NordVPN stands out as the top VPN for gaming in 2024. However, all of the 5 major gaming VPNs compared above are great choices that will take your online gaming to the next level.
Most VPN providers offer free trials or money-back guarantees, so take advantage of these to test gaming performance with different services. This ensures you get the right VPN tailored for your favorite online games.
