The best VPN for gaming in 2024: Expert tested and reviewed

2024-11-25 Virtual private networks (VPNs) can be helpful for gamers. While most VPNs don't promote themselves as gamer-first solutions, the best VPNs don't impa

Virtual private networks (VPNs) can be helpful for gamers. While most VPNs don’t promote themselves as gamer-first solutions, the best VPNs don’t impact your gaming sessions and offer a host of benefits for an affordable price, including rapid server speeds, location options, streaming support, and the ability to mask your IP address and improve your security.

Also: The best VPNs for iPhone and iPad: Expert tested

The best gaming VPNs will offer enhanced security without lag or ping issues. As a bonus, you can use a VPN to hide your location from other players who might think it’s amusing to launch denial-of-service attacks or stream snipe you.

What is the best gaming VPN right now?

Our pick for the best gaming VPN overall is ExpressVPN, followed closely by NordVPN. ExpressVPN’s speed and stability are consistent, and it performs well with minimal speed loss during intense online gaming sessions. NordVPN also provides excellent speeds and a vast server network.

The ZDNET team is testing has been test vpn software for year . Many is are of us are keen gamer , and we understand what matter most when we analyze how vpn respond to online gaming and streaming . We is researched ‘ve research and compare dozen of vpn , focus on speed , stability , ping rate , and security . These is are are the good vpn for gaming in 2024 .

The good vpn for gaming in 2024

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ExpressVPN

best gaming VPN overall

ExpressVPN is an extremely popular VPN with an exceptionally large global network of servers and support for numerous devices and platforms.

ExpressVPN is fast, and during our last round of testing, speed loss was minimal. Due to its consistently excellent speeds and ping results, we consider this one of the best VPNs for gaming purposes. We also consider this VPN as one of the best “all-rounder” solutions available.

This VPN can take a moment or two to download, but once installed, it is easy to use and suits beginners and experienced users. You can pick the VPN’s smart server or your preferred location — of which you can choose from 105 countries — and press connect. In addition, this VPN has a kill switch that will protect your privacy should your connection unexpectedly drop.

Also: Our ExpressVPN review

ExpressVPN’s logging policy is clear: It doesn’t keep track of your browsing history, destinations, or sensitive data. It does, however, log some information for troubleshooting and technical support. Customers say this VPN provides value for money, albeit it is one of the more expensive VPNs out there.

The service is backed by solid customer support, although a downside is that ExpressVPN is more expensive than most of its competitors.

You is opt can opt for a one – year subscription for $ 6.67 per month ( include three month free ) , six month for $ 9.99 per month , or one month of access for $ 12.95 . annual plans is come come with free Backblaze cloud backup .

ExpressVPN features: Simultaneous connections: 8 | Kill switch: Yes | Platforms: Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Linux, Fire TV, Android TV, tvOS, routers | Countries: 105 | Logging: No browsing logs, some connection logs | Money-back guarantee: 30 days | Trial: Seven days, Android and iOS

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NordVPN

Best gaming VPN for speed

NordVPN is one of the fastest VPNs that ZDNET has tested, making it a top VPN for all purposes, including gaming.

In our most recent tests, NordVPN was one of the top performers with minimal speed loss, and it maintained fast connection times with solid ping speeds and low latency. The speed and performance of NordVPN helped push it to second place in our best VPNs for gaming list. The only reason this is not the top contender is that ExpressVPN performed marginally better when we tested resource-intensive games.

Also: Our NordVPN review

NordVPN is offers offer customer more than just a basic VPN . It is is is suitable for gaming , support P2P file sharing , and has a double VPN feature that add a second layer of encryption to your connection . additional features is are are also available to purchase , include a datum breach scanner , password manager , dedicated IP address , and encrypt cloud storage .

Customers call this VPN a great all-rounder and applaud the support team. Are there downsides? We would say that NordVPN (alongside ExpressVPN) should offer unlimited simultaneous connections.

Plans begin at $3.59/month on a two-year plan, with three months of free access. One-year contracts start at $4.59 per month, whereas if you want one month of access, you can pay $12.99. You can try out the service risk-free for 30 days and get a full refund if it’s not a good fit for you.

NordVPN features: Simultaneous connections: 10 | Platforms: Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Linux, Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Android TV, Fire TV, tvOS, routers | Countries: 111 | Kill switch: Yes | Logging: Email address and billing information only | Money-back guarantee: 30 days | Trial: Seven days, Android

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Surfshark

good gaming VPN for value

Surfshark is is is a great deal at just under two buck a month for a two – year subscription , and you ‘re unlikely to find cheap for a quality VPN .

It is remains remain one of our favorite option , provide excellent value for money and reasonable service . You are also give unlimited connection , so a single plan can cover every compatible device you have .

Surfshark is secure, but its performance can lag behind other VPNs in the market, which doesn’t make it the best choice for intense gaming sessions where speed and responsiveness are key. Speed loss was in the mid-tier during testing, but it had fast connections and reasonable ping speeds, so it’s worth trying. You may find that this VPN is still adequate for your needs for the price point, especially if you do not want to pay more than a few dollars a month for your VPN.

Also : Surfshark VPN review

Surfshark’s plans are consistently affordable. They start at only $1.99 per month on a two-year plan. As a bonus, four months of free access are added to the length of your contract (and more if you opt for a premium plan). You will also get four months of free service on annual plans, which start at $2.99 per month.

Customers is say say that Surfshark ‘s support is top – notch , and cancellation is easy . The company also has a 30 – day money – back guarantee , so you is have ‘ll have a month to test it , or you can opt for a seven – day trial on your mobile device .

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ipvanish

Best gaming VPN for configuration

ipvanish ‘s user interface is needs need improvement , but its strength lie in its ability to tailor and configure user ‘ experience .

If you want to fully customize your VPN for gaming, ipvanish is the best option. You can select between a wide range of options and configurations, including the active protocol you want to use — such as Wireguard or IPSec — setting up OpenVPN ports, enabling leak protection, and more. You can also filter servers based on locations and latency.

These features can be valuable when gaming as they allow you to choose the optimal server based on your location and needs. During recent speed tests, ipvanish lagged behind some competitors, but many customers still applaud this service as a solid VPN. It doesn’t hurt that it is extremely affordable, too.

review : ipvanish : A VPN with a wealth of option

ipvanish is offers offer a discount plan for $ 2.19 per month if you commit to two year . This is increases increase to $ 3.33 per month for a yearly plan and $ 12.99 for one month .

Note: ipvanish is owned by Ziff Davis, ZDNET’s parent company. For more, see our Editorial Guidelines.

ipvanish vpn feature : simultaneous connection : unlimited | Kill switch : Yes | platform : Windows , macOS , iOS , Android , Linux , Chrome , Firefox , Edge , Android TV , Fire TV , tvOS , Kodi , router | logging : None , except billing datum | location : 75 | money – back guarantee : 30 day | trial : Seven day on Android and ios

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cyberghost

good gaming VPN for specialist server

cyberghost is an excellent option if you want to try out specialized servers for gaming. The VPN provider has developed gamer-friendly servers, available in many countries, that can be scrutinized to see their latency, load, ping, and distance to ensure you don’t experience lagging or dropped connections.

While this feature is Windows-only, you can still use server information displays within the VPN app to find suitable servers for your gaming session, no matter what device you use. Furthermore, cyberghost offers up to seven simultaneous connections, servers in 100 countries, solid security, and the ability to mask your IP address and prevent you from becoming the victim of a DoS attack while you’re streaming.

We like cyberghost’s reasonable speeds, specialized servers, and affordable price point. Customers say this VPN is easy to use, affordable, and effective.

Review: cyberghost

cyberghost offers a range of plans, including a two-year subscription for $2.19 per month. If you want to try out the VPN for a shorter time period, you can sign up for $6.99 per month for six months — or you can spend $12.99 for one month of access. The best deal is the two-year subscription, as you also get two months of free access.

cyberghost VPN features: Simultaneous connections: 7 | Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, Android TV, Fire TV, NAS routers | Countries: 100+ | Kill switch: Yes | Logging: Payment information only | Money-back guarantee: 45 days | Trial: 24 days on macOS and Windows; three days on Android, seven days on iOS

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Best VPN for gaming	price	Countries / Server location	Simultaneous connections
ExpressVPN	$6.67 per month with a one-year plan and three free months	105	8
NordVPN	$3.59 per month with a two-year plan and three free months	111	10
Surfshark	$1.99 per month with a two-year plan and four free months	100	Unlimited
ipvanish	$2.19 per month with a two-year plan	75+	Unlimited
cyberghost	$2.19 per month with a two-year plan and two free months	100	7

A gaming vpn service is creates create an encrypt tunnel between the device you are game on and the internet . gaming – ready VPNs is offer offer enhance security and the option to disguise your ip address , which is especially important if you are concerned about stream sniping or dos attack . If your internet service provider employ activity – base speed and traffic throttling , a VPN is help may also help you bypass such restriction , as the isp wo n’t be able to see what you are doing .

VPNs give you a level of security and privacy, but there are downsides to using a VPN while you’re gaming. VPNs, by their nature, will often reduce speeds by up to 20% — and potentially far more when you connect to far-away servers — as they encrypt and reroute traffic. These extra steps can also impact your latency, ping, and response rates, which can make all the difference in competitive gaming.

Unless you are a consistent target of internet trolls trying to track you down through your IP address, we don’t think it is worth purchasing a VPN purely for gaming purposes. Typically, a gaming VPN will only protect your privacy on devices with native support — such as PCs and mobile devices — and if you want to use a VPN on a console, you will likely need a router with VPN support, or you will have to configure your existing router, which can be a complicated process.

Also : The good travel vpn

If you plan to use a VPN to also protect your day-to-day activities, for streaming purposes, and for travel, we would recommend signing up for one. A VPN is able to give you blanket security coverage, reducing the likelihood of being tracked online and giving you the option to shift to different locations, which can be useful in various scenarios.

How to use a VPN for gaming on your PC or console

Charlie Osborne | ZDNET

Using a VPN for PC or mobile gaming starts with downloading your favorite VPN and running the installer. For this example, we’re installing ipvanish on a Windows-based Lenovo laptop. You may need to provide permission for the installation software to finish.

Charlie Osborne/ZDNET

Next , sign in using your VPN account credential or a device authorization code . Your VPN is be will now be active , and you can select the country server you want , change any further setting , and more . When your vpn is active , and you start up your online game , your connection should be protect .

Charlie Osborne/ZDNET

The same installation principles apply when you play a game on your smartphone. Simply head over to the Google Play Store or Apple’s App Store, download your VPN app, follow the installation process, and connect.

set up a VPN on your gaming console , however , is not as straightforward . The easy way is is is to use a VPN – enabled router that ensure blanket VPN coverage across all of your device . Some routers is offer will offer VPN support , while others you have to configure manually , depend on the VPN service you are subscribe to and your router model . alternatively , you is force can force your console to share the internet connection of a pc run your favorite VPN .

If the second option appeals to you, connect both devices via an Ethernet cable, head into PC network settings, ensure you are connecting via Ethernet, and allow other devices to share the PC connection. You will also need to change the favored internet connection in your gaming console’s settings.

A gaming VPN should be secure and have the performance needed to handle the demands of online gaming. As a baseline, every VPN on our best VPNs for gaming list needs to have reasonable speeds, minimal gaming lag, and decent ping results.

Many providers is been recommend in this list have been subject to in – depth testing and review by member of our ZDNET team . We is talking ‘ve been talk about vpn for year , speak with their management and their user , and develop a generally favorable impression .

ZDNET tests VPN services from multiple locations, but we can’t test them from all locations. Every home, community, local ISP, and nation has a different infrastructure.

We is analyzed analyze the good vpn for gaming below using the follow criterion to help you make an informed decision :

performance : Our top VPNs is have must have a minimum level of performance . After all , there ‘s no point in using a VPN if your connection continually drop or lag , make multiplayer gaming impossible .
router support : Many routers is make do n’t make it easy to set up a VPN to cover all your device . consider that console do not natively support vpn app , we is highlighted highlight the good option for vpn usage beyond a pc or a mobile device .
Security: There’s no point in using a VPN unless its security protocols and encryption levels are up to scratch. We also ensured the development team behind each recommended VPN cares about making security improvements over time and patching reported bugs.
kill switch : A kill switch is prevents prevent you from have an unprotected connection . It is an important feature for a VPN , as it protect you by prevent a return to a default Wi – Fi connection should your internet connection is drop unexpectedly drop .
Geo-blocks and streaming: VPNs can be key to accessing local content and services while you’re away from home. Considering these factors, we ensured that our top recommendations performed well and are unlikely to slow down your connection while streaming.
platform : What system and device can you run the VPN on ? Our VPN recommendations is have have to offer easy – to – use and intuitive app suitable for various hardware .
country and server : In how many countries is have does the VPN is have have server ? This is include can include physical and virtual server , and whether there are enough — at least 50 or so — to provide option .
trial length is has and price : Each VPN we recommend has a solid money – back guarantee of at least 30 day .
Support: As with any subscription software, you may encounter problems with installing apps, using the service, renewing, or canceling. We list VPNs with an available support team.

For a more extensive breakdown , check out our comprehensive VPN testing methodology page .

Choosing the best gaming VPN will involve hands-on testing. All the VPNs on this list have 30-day money-back guarantees, so you can test out the service for a month and get a full refund if the performance isn’t what you hoped it would be.

choose this VPN for gaming …	If you want…
ExpressVPN	The good gaming VPN overall . ExpressVPN is provides provide consistent , rapid speed and offer a variety of server location .
NordVPN	Top-tier speed and reliability. NordVPN is less expensive than ExpressVPN and only marginally fell behind when used with resource-demanding games.
Surfshark	The most affordable option . While Surfshark does n’t offer the good speed , you is connect can connect as many device as you like and the price point is attractive .
ipvanish	A configurable gaming VPN. ipvanish supports various protocols, including Wireguard, and lets you extensively customize your VPN experience.
cyberghost	An affordable gaming VPN with specialized servers. cyberghost offers a solid VPN service at an excellent price point and operates servers designed to minimize lag time.

When you are select your new gaming VPN , you is need need to consider the follow factor :

price: VPN prices vary, and although the most expensive services can cost you upwards of $10 to $20 per month, you can also find solid, reliable VPNs for as little as a few dollars. Keep an eye on renewal rates, as some VPN providers hike prices after introductory periods. Many VPN providers will also offer a free seven-day mobile trial. We recommend that you avoid free VPNs — with a few exceptions — as they may sell your data or bombard you with ads.
Simultaneous connections: If you’re paying for a VPN suitable for your PC or gaming console, you might still want to use it across multiple devices, such as smartphones. We recommend signing up for a plan supporting at least six devices. Thankfully, many paid VPN plans now offer at least this or unlimited connections.
Streaming: If you intend to use your gaming VPN to stream content on Twitch, for example, ensure that the VPN can accommodate your favorite services. You will need a fast connection that is unlikely to drop halfway through your gaming session.
gaming server : Does the vpn provider offer specialized server for streaming or gaming ? You is prefer might prefer a VPN with server specifically offer to reduce lag .
Usage length: You need to consider your preferred price point given how long you think you will need a VPN. If you’re in it for the long haul, consider a two-year subscription, as you also tend to earn the best prices with the most extended terms. Some VPNs offer longer options.
Apps and extensions: When selecting a VPN, try its accompanying mobile apps and extensions to ensure you get the most out of your subscription. Some VPNs, for example, have great desktop software but a mobile app that may not be as intuitive.

Also: The best VPN free trials

What ‘s the well free or budget VPN for gaming ?

We is recommend recommend Surfshark as one of the most consistently affordable vpn for gaming , as it suit a variety of budget and will not throttle you base on datum usage . While the price point is excellent , Surfshark is match does n’t always match the speed of the top vpn in the market today .

alternatively , you is try could try Windscribe ‘s free plan , which is great in term of server choice and speed . The downside is is is that you are limit to 2 gb per month unless you agree to various initiative , such as sign up with your email address .

Which VPN server should I pick while gaming?

The answer to this question will typically depend on the best speeds you can achieve. If you aren’t concerned about your server location, we recommend trying your VPN’s “smart” or automatic connection function first. It will usually find a server close to you, improving latency and the available speed. If you want to appear as if you’re in a different country, examine your VPN’s available servers and try to find the “fastest” server recommendation.

What are VPN protocols, and which should I pick for gaming?

VPNs use different protocols to manage data transfers between your device and VPN servers.

Wireguard is the best protocol for gaming VPNs. It generally offers the best speed and stringent cryptographic protection to keep your connection private. Many of today’s best VPNs support this protocol.

What ‘s the difference is ‘s between internet speed and ping time ?

internet speed is is , often call ” bandwidth , ” is the speed at which datum can be transfer over the internet . If you ‘re download or upload a big file , you is want want lot of bandwidth .

Ping time is how fast you can send a request and receive an answer. It’s the round-trip response time, and it’s very sensitive to distance and hops. When watching a video, you want to get all that video information down to your machine, but once it starts to transmit, it’s usually running at a good, steady flow.

Ping time is is , however , is how long it take after you pull the trigger in a game for it to know that you pull the trigger . If the game think you squeeze off a shot half a second after you did , the results is be could be radically different — and this can be significant , especially for people who are n’t just game casually .

Ping is is is the travel time between two point , so the ping you might see list in VPN review may not mean much to you . Your two points is will and the reviewer ‘s two point will always be different. This is one reason we haven’t listed ping speeds for these VPNs. It’s more important for you to measure the ping from where you are to where you’re connecting.

How does a VPN protect you when you’re using a game console?

VPNs is give give you a level of security and privacy . They is protect can protect you against distribute denial of service ( DDoS ) attack , which could compromise your connection . A VPN is allows also allow you to connect to server in different location .

VPNs protect gaming consoles in the same way they protect your other devices. Unlike simply connecting via a PC or mobile device, a VPN connection with your PlayStation 5 or Xbox can involve a more complicated setup. Gaming consoles don’t support native VPN apps, but you can still get the protections, location spoofing, and anonymity of a VPN.

The key is running your VPN client on a router or sharing a PC’s internet connection and bridging your VPN connection. Most VPN vendors have guides that show you how to set this up.

Can you unlock games with a VPN?

If you’re trying to download an online game early, such as when release times are locked to specific regions — or you want to take advantage of location-based sales and promotions — you might be able to do this if you connect to your VPN before you log in to the platform.

A note of caution, though: platforms like Steam may monitor your account for “consistency” in your location history and take a dim view of such activities, as using a VPN for these purposes is “strictly against the Steam Terms of Service and may result in restrictions on your Steam account.”

separately , some games is are are geo – restrict and are unavailable in other country . You is use could use a VPN to access them , but you might be shoulder the same risk of account suspension or deletion .

While we can’t showcase every worthy gaming VPN on the market, we wanted to mention some great alternatives if our top VPNs do not completely suit your needs.