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Best gaming VPN 2024

The best VPNs for gaming can beat lag, prevent DDoS, and unlock regions; we've tested top services like ExpressVPN, NordVPN, and Surfshark to help you choose.

A gamer with a headset playing a game with the best gaming VPN.

The best gaming VPN can revolutionize your experience during online games like CS2, EA Sports FC, and League of Legends. They can help to reduce ping, give you access to easier lobbies, improve download speeds, protect you from DDoS attacks, give you access to regional exclusive content, and much more.

While VPNs are thought to slightly lower download speeds, that’s not always the case. Internet service providers often throttle your speeds when you engage in bandwidth-heavy activities such as gaming, but as VPNs mask your activity and data, your connection remains fast and stable. Check out these reasons why every gamer needs a VPN.

Not all VPNs are built equally, and free VPN services don’t always provide what you need. PCGamesN experts have tried and tested a range of VPNs and provided this list of the best VPN services for gamers. We’ve included some that have a VPN free trial to give you a chance to try before you buy.

Why you can trust our advice ✔ At PCGamesN, our experts spend hours testing hardware and reviewing games and VPNs. We share honest, unbiased opinions to help you buy the best. Find out how we test.

ExpressVPN

Best gaming VPN overall.

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ExpressVPN specifications:
Server totals 3,000+ servers in over 100 countries
Compatible games Fortnite, Call of Duty: Warzone, Dead by Daylight, FIFA, Minecraft, Apex Legends, GTA Online, PUBG, and more
Free trial No free trial
Money-back guarantee 30 days
Simultaneous connections 8
Router support Yes
Reasons to buy
  • Servers available in 94 countries
  • IP addresses refreshed regularly
  • Lightspeed protocol delivers speedy performance
Reasons to avoid
  • A little pricier than other providers
  • Fewer individual servers than other providers

With a lot of countries to choose from, ExpressVPN is the best service if you’re looking to play with your friends overseas or have your eye on a regional deal that’s otherwise unavailable to you. Of course, the potential for improved speeds can also stop you from losing games due to lag.

It’s one of the pricier services on this list, but you certainly get what you pay for with 24/7 live chat customer support and quick connections. Few others refresh their IP addresses as frequently as ExpressVPN, meaning that the chances of the servers being blocked are low, with any service and any region – including Japan. You can always cancel within the first 30 days and you’ll get your money back on the off-chance that you do face any troubles.

ExpressVPN has also recently improved its service by giving gamers an allowance of up to eight simultaneous connections across an unlimited number of devices. Previously, you were only allowed five simultaneous connections and this update makes it a lot easier for your whole household to use a single subscription plan while gaming across different devices, or using it as a VPN for streaming.

Read our ExpressVPN review.

NordVPN

The fastest VPN for gaming.

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NordVPN specifications:
Server totals 6,000+ in 60+ countries
Compatible games Dota 2, World of Warcraft, Call of Duty: Warzone, GTA Online, League of Legends, Overwatch, PUBG, and more
Free trial No free trial
Money-back guarantee 30 days
Simultaneous connections 6
Router support Yes
Reasons to buy
  • Fastest VPN
  • NordLynx encrypts data more quickly than other protocols
Reasons to avoid
  • On the more expensive end of the pricing spectrum
  • Fewer simultaneous connections than others

There aren’t many VPN providers that can beat NordVPN. With 6,000+ servers under its belt and fast download and upload speeds, it’s a comprehensive and reliable package. On top of that, it uses an adapted WireGuard protocol (dubbed NordLynx) which encrypts your data more swiftly than other protocols and comes with less of a performance tax.

The only slight crack in its armor (other than being one of the slightly more expensive VPNs) is that an allowance of six simultaneous connections isn’t actually that much, especially in light of ExpressVPN upping its allowance to eight.

Still, NordVPN offers support for Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android, and is one of the best-known and most respected VPNs around. You can use it to protect yourself from being DDoSed in Rainbow Six Siege, relocate yourself in Pokémon Go, or enhance pretty much any game you might play online.

Read our NordVPN review.

Surfshark

Best gaming VPN for unlimited connections.

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Surfshark specifications:
Server totals 3,200+ servers in 100+ countries
Compatible games Fortnite, League of Legends, Counter Strike: GO, Overwatch, Valorant, and more
Free trial One week (mobile and Mac only)
Money-back guarantee 30 days
Simultaneous connections Unlimited
Router support Yes
Reasons to buy
  • Allows unlimited simultaneous connections
  • Offers a week-long free trial
Reasons to avoid
  • Slightly smaller server total
  • Fewer server locations available

Surfshark is many things, but one feature stands out more than any other: unlimited connections from a single account. It’s no longer the only VPN service to let you plonk it on any and every device, but it was the first to remove the cap, leading the market in a better direction. Many have other providers are yet to take note, making Surfshark one of the best VPNs for gaming, and one of the few that can simultaneously be your PC VPN, laptop VPN, iPad VPN, mobile VPN, smart TV VPN, and whatever else you want it to be.

Its upload speeds are just shy of NordVPN and it doesn’t quite have as many VPN servers to choose from(increasing the risk of server congestion), but it packs incredible value for money and you’ll still maintain a lean ping. It also unblocks a range of streaming services, such as Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, BBC iPlayer, and Disney+.

If you fancy taking it for a spin and seeing how well it works with your games and your set-up, you’ll be pleased to hear that it offers a week-long free trial. This is something of a rarity in the VPN world, with many providers simply offering a 30-day money-back guarantee (which Surfshark also has), so it’s nice to be able to try this one out with absolutely no strings attached – although do keep in mind that this is for Mac or mobile devices online, so you’d need to connect via your mobile to use it on PC.

Read our Surfshark review.

PureVPN

The most private gaming VPN.

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PureVPN specifications:
Server totals 6,500+ in 78+ countries
Compatible games/services New World, Counter Strike: GO, League of Legends, Fortnite, Call of Duty: Warzone, and more
Free trial $0.99 seven-day paid trial
Money-back guarantee 31 days
Simultaneous connections 10
Router support Yes (PPTP and OpenVPN only)
Reasons to buy
  • Allows ten simultaneous connections
  • Third-party privacy audits
  • Decent server selection and range
Reasons to avoid
  • Limited router support
  • Can cause a bit of latency on Windows

PureVPN is still going strong since its 2007 debut, racking up more than 6,500 servers to choose from across 78+ countries. It regularly accepts audits from third-party services, too, so you can rest assured that it really is the most private VPN and not just making baseless claims.

Though its download speeds aren’t too bad, it can cause a slight increase in latency on Windows devices, which is understandably going to be a bit irritating for gamers. Meanwhile, if you want to connect your router through the VPN, you’ll only be able to do so with the PPTP and OpenVPN protocols.

Having said that, PureVPN is definitely still a good VPN. It allows you to have up to ten simultaneous connections which, while still a cap, is definitely in the upper echelons of caps – surpassing both NordVPN and ExpressVPN. This should easily cover most of the devices in your house, even if you’ve got several gamers living under one roof.

IPVanish

The best gaming VPN for encrypted storage space.

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IPVanish specifications:
Server totals 2,200+ servers in 75+ countries
Compatible games Minecraft, Call of Duty: Warzone, Fortnite, Roblox, Halo Infinite, Sea of Thieves, GTA Online, and more.
Free trial Seven days (mobile only)
Money-back guarantee 30 days
Simultaneous connections Unlimited
Router support Yes
Reasons to buy
  • Can provide up to 250GB of encrypted storage space
  • Allows unlimited simultaneous connections
Reasons to avoid
  • Smaller server total when compared to others
  • Fewer server locations than others

Unlike most other services, IPVanish runs its own network and infrastructure, meaning there are fewer cogs in the chain and your privacy is pretty much guaranteed. As a gamer, you’ll benefit most from its ability to sort servers by ping, guaranteeing you the fastest connections available, although manually hunting for one can improve ping in certain games.

It’s worth mentioning that this provider has a smaller server selection and range than many of the other key players (with only just over 2,000 in just over 50 countries). This is still a respectable selection, but it is notably lower than you’ll get from the likes of NordVPN or ExpressVPN.

It’s the only service on this list to follow in Surfshark’s footsteps by offering unlimited simultaneous connections. To sweeten the deal, IPVanish offers 250GB of SugarSync encrypted storage for new subscribers – you could use this to store your library of downloaded games, or perhaps any fan-mad mods that you may have discovered over the years.

CyberGhost

The gaming VPN with the best money-back guarantee.

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CyberGhost specifications:
Server totals 11,500+ in 100+ countries
Compatible games FIFA, PUBG, Minecraft, Fortnite, League of Legends, Overwatch, Dota 2, GTA Online, and more
Free trial 24 hours
Money-back guarantee 45 days
Simultaneous connection 7
Router support Yes
Reasons to buy
  • 45-day money-back guarantee
  • Lower price
  • Broad streaming service compatibility
Reasons to avoid
  • Slower than other top providers
  • Middling simultaneous connection allowance

A name that carries as much weight as our top picks, CyberGhost is notable because it has the longest money-back guarantee. From the moment you put your card details in, you’ll have a month and a half to get a refund if you’re not happy with the service, or continue with one of the cheaper plans on this list. Plenty of time to test its performance with all your favorite games.

You can even dip a toe in the water for a day without putting your information in at all. This should be enough time for you to check its performance with a selection of your favorite video games. Although it would be nice to have a longer trial before having to give them any payment details.

You can choose from an ample selection of servers that unblock most streaming platforms out there, and games shouldn’t suffer from a lack of speed. CyberGhost may not be quite as quick as NordVPN, but it’s as stable as they come, offering great ping if you select the right location.

Read our CyberGhost review.

VyprVPN

The best Swiss gaming VPN.

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VyprVPN specifications:
Server totals 700+ servers in 65+ countries
Compatible games Watchdogs 2, Fortnite, Overwatch, Minecraft, Call of Duty: Warzone, Rainbow Six Siege, Counter Strike: GO, and more
Free trial None
Money-back guarantee 30 days
Simultaneous connections 5
Router support Yes
Reasons to buy
  • Based in Switzerland
  • Subject to independent audits
Reasons to avoid
  • Expensive
  • Small server count
  • Slower than others

A VPN’s base of operations plays an important part in just how secure the service is because it’s at the behest of that country’s privacy laws. But while the parent company Golden Frog is based in the US, VyprVPN is safely nestled in Switzerland, which is far more privacy-friendly. It also conducts regular independent audits of its zero-logs policy, which is the cherry on top.

VyprVPN features its own Chameleon protocol, as well as the newer WireGuard – both of which are secure and don’t have too much of a performance overhead. Although it packs enough punch to play games, it’s worth noting that VyprVPN is often the slowest service we recommend (although of course, speeds vary).

Still, on a positive note, VyprVPN rarely encounters compatibility issues and seems to be run with integrity and transparency. Those who are particularly mindful of their private data should definitely give this one a closer look.

Private Internet Access

The best cheap gaming VPN.

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Private Internet Access specifications:
Server totals 35,000+ servers in 91+ countries
Compatible games League of Legends, Halo Infinite, Valorant, PUBG, FIFA, Minecraft, and more
Free trial No free trial
Money-back guarantee 30 days
Simultaneous connections Unlimited
Router support Yes
Reasons to buy
  • Low price exclusive for our readers
  • Large selection of servers
  • Unlimited simultaneous connections
Reasons to avoid
  • No free trial
  • A little slower than other picks

With over a decade’s worth of experience, Private Internet Access (otherwise known as PIA) unsurprisingly prides itself on privacy. Features like a kill switch protect your privacy even if the VPN cuts out and a no-logs policy to keep your data from being recorded. Fun fact: PIA is one of the only VPNs to prove its no-logs policy in a court of law.

Gamers benefit from a low monthly asking price when they subscribe for a few years in bulk, gaining access to more servers than any other provider on this list. It’s also pretty zippy, albeit a little slower than our top picks.

There’s not a lot that can be said against Private Internet Access other than it having slightly slower download times. If we really had to think of another way that it’s lacking though, we’d say that it would be nice if it could have a free trial. It does have a 30-day money-back guarantee that lets you test it out without much risk, but it is understandable that many gamers would rather test it without first having to pay. All things considered, for its smaller price tag, this is a fantastic option.

How to chose the best gaming VPN

We put this list together by considering the costs, speeds, and capabilities of various VPN providers. Here are the main points for you to consider when choosing a VPN provider for gaming:

  • Pricing: Some VPNs are pretty expensive, while others are more affordable. Not everyone is going to have room in their budget for the best options, but just because a VPN is cheaper, doesn’t mean you’ll be getting a sub-par service.
  • Compatibility: Not every VPN will work with every game. If you go for a big one like ExpressVPN or NordVPN, the chances are that it will be fine, but it’s worth doing a bit of research to find out whether other players are using it without issue. Same with any streaming services you may want to use.
  • Server locations: Some gamers will want a VPN that can connect via the same region that houses their favorite game’s servers. Chances are that most major VPNs will have servers in the same regions as most major games, but it can never hurt to double-check.
  • Server speeds: You won’t want a VPN that’ll slow down your connection significantly, because that’ll only make your gaming experience even worse. All the ones we’ve recommended are pretty speedy, but if you’re looking at others you can use the ProPrivacy VPN Speed Testing Tool to get an idea of other VPNs’ speeds.
  • Connection allowances: Want a VPN you can use on your gaming PC, while at the same time using it to protect your mobile or the devices of other members of your household? Some VPNs, like Surfshark, allow for unlimited simultaneous connections, but this isn’t common. If you just want a VPN for one device, this won’t be a problem, but if you need for various things, it’s worth looking at the allowance.

Still got some burning, unanswered questions? Check out the FAQs below:

What is a VPN?

A virtual private network is a privacy tool that grants you anonymity by feeding your connection through an encrypted tunnel and masking your IP address with one belonging to the VPN company. This makes you appear as though you’re in another country and allows you to unblock geo-restricted services like Google Stadia and platforms that are sometimes banned like Discord. Only the best VPNs regularly refresh IP addresses so you can continue unblocking services that endeavor to prevent this kind of spoofing, like Hulu and Netflix. Read our longer what is a VPN article for more about this.

What makes the best VPN for gaming?

There are plenty of factors to consider when choosing the best VPN for gaming, but none are more important than a speedy and stable connection. All our suggestions are fast VPNs that should produce a connection that’s just as quick as when you’re disconnected.

You’ll also want lots of countries to choose from so you can find the best servers and hunt for cheaper games. And while it might not be the highest feature on your priority list, you’ll also want to ensure the service you use is private. We only suggest no-logs VPNs so you don’t leave behind a record of your activities while connected.

Can I use a free VPN?

No VPN is truly free. If you’re not asked for money, you’ll pay with your data instead, as most free VPN services collect and sell your information on. Fortunately, the best free VPN doesn’t collect data. It instead imposes bandwidth caps that aren’t suitable for gaming, but it’s pretty good for protecting yourself on public WiFi.

Some of the VPNs on this list offer free trials, with no restrictions on bandwidth or server selection, so you can try them out first, if you’re not convinced. All things considered, it’s worth sticking with the premium options.

What is split tunneling?

Most VPNs on this list offer split tunneling, which gives you granular control over what apps use the VPN while it’s active, and what apps are exempt. This means you can pick and choose what games use the secure connection, or keep using regional Netflix libraries without slowing the rest of your gaming PC down.

Can you use a VPN on PlayStation, Xbox, or Nintendo Switch?

Yes, although you won’t be able to download a VPN app onto them directly as you would with a PC or laptop. Instead, you have to rely on other methods. The Loadout (our sister site) outlines these methods in the following guides:

Generally speaking, the process for consoles includes hooking your console up to the best gaming laptop or PC, using Smart DNS, or using a VPN router. We recommend the latter, as it covers all your devices, but they don’t come cheap.

Is it legal to use a VPN for gaming?

VPNs are legal to use in most countries, with the only exceptions being Belarus, Iraq, and North Korea. Other countries such as China, Turkey, and Russia heavily restrict VPNs and see their use as a sign of suspicion, so use them with caution in these locations.

Will a VPN increase my ping?

There’s a chance a VPN can lower your ping by sending packets through a more direct route, and you’re more likely to achieve this if you use one of the VPNs recommended in this article, rather than another, lesser-known provider.

How much is a gaming VPN?

When you pay for a VPN, you’re almost always going to be paying for several years of use in one go (it’s not cost-effective to pay monthly, as it’s a lot more expensive). Typically, this will be in the realm of $50 to $100 and will work out around $2 to $5 per month.

Is it bad to keep your VPN on all the time?

If you want to keep your VPN on at all times, and not just while you’re gaming, there’s no serious reason not to. You might encounter issues when trying to access things that are exclusive to your home region, or with things like internet banking services which will view connections to your account via international servers as suspicious, but that’s about the full extent of the issues.

What happens if you use a bad VPN?

Best case scenario, you’re using a bad VPN that’s accumulating data on you and selling it off to the highest bidder in the same way  that your ISP does. Worst case scenario, the bad VPN is actually malware that harms your device and steals very sensitive information like passwords and bank details.

If you’re after a bargain, also take a look at our VPN deals page, where we list the best prices on all the big brands.