As a gamer, it is important to protect yourself online from DDoS attacks and hackers trying to steal your information. In addition, ISPs throttle bandwidth which is another major concern for gamers. Both these concerns can ruin your online gaming experience to a great extent. The only way to stay away from online attacks and bandwidth throttling is by using a VPN. Unblocking geo-restricted games will no longer be a problem when you are connected to a VPN. A VPN will also improve your download and upload speeds and reduce ping time.
Your online gaming experience will be safe and smooth with a top-rated VPN service. However, not all VPN services work as expected. We tested a few VPN services and have listed the top five VPNs that are great for gaming.
The Best VPNs for Gaming in 2021
- VyprVPN
- NordVPN
- ExpressVPN
- IPVanish VPN
- CyberGhost VPN
1. VyprVPN
VyprVPN is the overall fastest VPN we recommend for your online gaming needs. It has around 700 servers in 70+ locations across the globe and it offers 200,000 IP addresses.
VyprVPN offers superfast speeds and an impressive performance. It is one of the very few VPN networks that owns and manages its own servers and hardware so you need not worry about the involvement of any third party.
VyprVPN’s servers are optimized for speed and this VPN offers lower ping and overall great gaming experience. You can defeat ISP throttling with VyprVPN and play games without any lags. Additionally, it has apps for almost all devices so wherever you are, you can play your favorite games on any device.
There is a money-back guarantee for you to test the service. However, you will need to cancel your subscription if you are dissatisfied with VyprVPN within 30 days to get your refund. Read our VyprVPN review to understand why VyprVPN is our first choice.
- 160 server locations
- Network Lock Kill switch
- Zero-knowledge DNS
- VPN split tunneling
- Stream Sports online
2. NordVPN
NordVPN will help you stay away from DDoS attacks and it will secure your device from becoming a victim of DDoS attacks that are very common when it comes to online gaming. NordVPN will mask your IP address and encrypt the data that you send and receive.
You can access new games first with NordVPN’s gaming servers located in 58 countries. No matter where you are, you can pick a location of your choice and access your favorite games online that have not been released in your location yet.
NordVPN is compatible with Linux, iOS, Android, Windows, Android TV, and macOS. You can also avoid bandwidth throttling and sudden buffering when you are about to win the game. NordVPN will encrypt your traffic so that even your ISP will not be able to figure out that you are using a VPN. This way, it will help you avoid bandwidth throttling. You can connect to any of NordVPN’s 5600 servers and play any game of your choice from anywhere in the world
NordVPN has specialized servers for gaming and allows up to six simultaneous connections. It blocks ads so that you will not come across annoying ads while you play your favorite game online. Read our expert review of NordVPN to know more.
- 5200+ servers in 62 countries
- Use up to 6 devices
- Next-generation Encryption
- Double VPN Feature
- Strict no-logs policy
3. ExpressVPN
With a wide range of servers across the globe, ExpressVPN is sure to offer you smooth gaming experience. It has easy to install and use apps for major platforms like iOS, Android, macOS, and Windows. In addition to that, you can also configure ExpressVPN on your router so that the devices like your gaming consoles on which you cannot install the VPN and that are connected to the network will be secured.
You can easily and quickly configure ExpressVPN on your smartphone, tablet, and laptop. So you will not have any issues while you play your favorite games online. With Express VPN, you can play all your favorite games, including PUBG, Minecraft, Fortnite, Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, and Rain City on any device.
ExpressVPN has over 3000 servers in 160 locations in various countries. It allows up to five simultaneous connections and apps for all devices. This wide range of server network will help you find a speedy server for your gaming needs. Take a look at our extensive review of ExpressVPN to know more about its features.
- 160 server locations
- Network Lock kill switch
- Zero-knowledge DNS
- VPN split tunneling
- Stream Sports online
4. IPVanish VPN
IPVanish offers superfast connection speeds and unlimited bandwidth. IPVanish owns all its servers and is faster than most of its counterparts. You can access games banned in your location as well as get access to new releases sooner than other gamers in your location.
IPVanish has over 1300 servers in 75+ locations. As it has a good number of servers, you will not have trouble connecting to a server to play your favorite game. You have the option to choose the server that has the lowest ping time and choose the server dedicated to gaming.
IPVanish also prevents deep packet inspection that ISPs use to monitor your online activities and throttle your bandwidth. This way, IPVanish secures your online activity from your ISP, as well. Censorships and firewalls may prevent you from accessing your favorite games. You can get around censorship and firewalls with IPVanish and enjoy complete online freedom.
Check out our IPVanish review.
- 1,500+ VPN servers
- 40,000+ shared IPs
- Unthrottled speed
- 256-bit AES encryption
- Unmetered connections
5. CyberGhost VPN
CyberGhost VPN is one of the best VPN for gaming. It comes packed with all strong features that will secure your data and let you access all your favorite games, as well. It offers DDoS protection and an inbuilt NAT firewall.
CyberGhost VPN has a huge high-speed server network and it is one of the fastest VPN services. It has apps for macOS, iOS, Windows and Android so that you can connect to the VPN and play your favorite games on a device of your choice.
CyberGhost VPN does not store connection logs and offers strong encryption. You can connect up to 5 devices at a time and this VPN offers unlimited bandwidth. CyberGhost VPN is compatible with macOS, PC, Linux, smartphones, Chromebook and routers and has a simple to use interface.
Read our full review of CyberGhost VPN to know more.
- 6100+ Servers Worldwide
- Protect up to 7 devices/li>
- DNS and IP leak protection
- Unlimited bandwidth and traffic
- Highest possible VPN speeds
- 45-day money back guarantee
Why do you need a Gaming VPN?
Here are a few reasons why you need a gaming VPN.
- A VPN will protect you from DDoS attacks that are more common when it comes to gaming. Likewise, it will also protect you from hackers and online snoopers.
- You can access games that are banned or unavailable in your location. To bypass blocks and access a game that is unavailable in your location, you just need to connect to a server in the country where the game is available.
- Bypassing IP bans will be a breeze. When you are connected to a VPN, the VPN will change your IP address.
- You can play games on public WiFi without worrying about hackers snooping into your account.
- You can access new releases not available in your location earlier.
- VPNs offer unlimited bandwidth and help you avoid ISP bandwidth throttling.
- You can play your favorite games without any lags and reduced ping times.
- To secure your devices on which you cannot install a VPN like gaming consoles, you can install the VPN app on your router and secure such devices connected to the network.
Tips to Choose the Best Gaming VPN
It may not be easy to choose the best VPN for your gaming needs with hundreds of VPN services available in the market. All those VPNs claim to be the best. To help you choose the best VPN, we have listed a few tips you can consider before you subscribe to the VPN.
Here are a few tips that will help you choose the best VPN for your gaming needs.
Servers
VPNs with a bigger server network are great for online gaming. That is because you will have a lot of servers to choose from.
Speed
It is important to choose a VPN service that offers fast speeds and unlimited bandwidth. This way you can be sure that your internet speed will remain the same and your connection will not slow down.
DDoS Protection and NAT firewall
This is an important feature when it comes to gaming. This feature is important to stay away from hackers and other online attacks.
Security
Security and privacy are two important factors. The VPN service you choose much offers strong unbreakable encryption strength. We would consider VPNs offering 256-bit encryption. Likewise, VPNs that follow a strict no-log policy are recommended if you prioritize security and privacy.
Compatibility and app availability
Make sure that the VPN service you choose has apps for all devices and is compatible with all major platforms. Check the VPN’s website to know if it has VPN clients for mobiles, PC, etc.
Can I Use a Free VPN For Online Gaming?
Our answer would be no. There are several free gaming VPNs out there that claim to unblock many games blocked in certain regions and unblock streaming services, as well. While we won’t say free VPNs will not unblock games, we say that it will not be as good as the VPNs mentioned above and other premium VPN services.
In our tests, we found free VPNs to be slower and they do not have a good server network. Likewise, free VPNs do not offer unlimited bandwidth. We are sure such free VPNs will not offer you a pleasant gaming experience as you will experience lags. You will have only a few servers to connect to as free VPNs do not have a huge server network like the VPNs mentioned above. You will have fewer options and you may not be able to unblock all the games of your choice.
Free Gaming VPNs may not be free completely as even they need money to run their VPN service. If they are not charging their users for the VPN service, they may be getting funds from a different source. They are most likely to make money to run their VPN service by selling their users’ data or might display unwanted ads. This is why we do not recommend free VPNs.
How to Connect to a VPN and Play Your Favorite Game Online?
- Select a VPN from the above list with speedy servers in the location of your choice. We recommend VyprVPN for online gaming.
- Visit the VPN’s website to check out the different available subscription plans. Download the VPN app for the device on which you wish to play your favorite game.
- Launch the app and log in.
- Connect to a server close to where your gaming server is located.
- Once you are connected, you can start playing your favorite game.
Let’s Compare Some of the Best VPNs for Gaming
Main Features | VyprVPN | ExpressVPN | NordVPN | IPVanish VPN |
---|---|---|---|---|
Company | ||||
$1.67/mo | $8.32/mo | $3.30/mo | $2.91/mo | |
70 | 94+ | 60 | 75+ | |
Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | |
700 | 3000+ | 5600+ | 1300+ | |
5 | 5 | 6 | 10 | |
Good | Good | Good | Good | |
Chameleon protocol | Inverse Split Tunneling | Double VPN - VPN cascading | SOCKS5 web proxy | |
256-bit AES | 256-bit AES | 256-bit AES | 256-bit AES | |
5 Eyes | ||||
Switzerland | British Virgin Islands | Panama | USA | |
Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux Ubuntu, Linux Fedora | Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux Ubuntu, Linux Fedora | Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux Ubuntu | Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux Ubuntu, Linux Fedora | |
Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Apple TV, Chromebook | Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Apple TV | Chromebook | Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Apple TV, Chromebook | |
DD-WRT, Tomato | DD-WRT, Tomato | DD-WRT, Tomato | DD-WRT, Tomato | |
$12.95/mo | $11.95/mo | $10/mo | ||
N/A | N/A | $8.99/mo | ||
$9.99/mo | N/A | N/A | ||
$8.32/mo ($99.95) | $4.92/mo ($59.00) | $2.91/mo | ||
30 Days | ||||
30 days | 30 days | 30 days | 30 days | |
Visa, PayPal, Mastercard, American Express | Visa, PayPal, Mastercard, American Express, Discover, Bitcoins | Visa, PayPal, Mastercard, American Express, Discover, Bitcoins | Visa, PayPal, Mastercard, American Express, Wire Transfer, Discover, Bitcoins | |
24/7 Live Chat, Email, Twitter, Facebook | Email, Twitter, Facebook, Community, On Call, Remote Desktop | 24/7 Live Chat, Email, Twitter, Facebook, Community | 24/7 Live Chat, Email, Twitter, Facebook, Community | |
Conclusion
There are many reasons why gamers should use a VPN for online gaming. Reasons include accessing geo-restricted games, staying away from DDoS attacks, preventing ISPs and other third parties from spying on them while they play games online, etc. Likewise, not all VPNs are good for gamers and not all VPNs work the same way. So it is important to choose a trustworthy VPN service that will offer strong security and unblock games as well.
Gamers can protect themselves from online attacks and also access games that are blocked in their locations with a VPN. All the above-mentioned VPNs offer strong security and are excellent VPNs when it comes to online gaming. We hope this article helps you find the best VPN for all your gaming needs.