8 Best VPN for Gaming in 2022 for Gamers
The biggest nightmare for internet users is security.
When we’re thinking of browsing, shopping, or sharing sensitive data, a good VPN is a non-negotiable essential.
However, for most people, using a VPN when gaming is a bit of a non-starter. This is because VPNs are known for causing latency, the kind that can put real damp on your gaming endeavors.
Additionally, ISPs are prone to bandwidth throttling. Not to mention the fact that some gaming companies will block you for merely using a VPN.
More...
But the truth is, you need a Best VPN for gaming. Internet threats are genuine, even on gaming platforms. DDoS attacks, DoS attacks, and swatting are just some of the threats you may be facing. This list multiplies exponentially the moment you get into competitive gaming.
If you are wondering, here are the reasons you need a best VPN for gaming.
Why Use a VPN for Gaming?
Reduce ping time while improving latency basically, because you can choose faster servers. While using a VPN and gaming, you can choose a fast server so that you can reduce the ping time and enjoy lag-free gaming.
Reduce ping time while improving latency basically, because you can choose faster servers.
While using a VPN and gaming, you can choose a fast server so that you can reduce the ping time and enjoy lag-free gaming.
Stay safe and anonymous thanks to industry-standard encryption.
VPN encrypts all the data which you send over the internet. Some VPNs even double encrypt your data. So you remain safe and anonymous, and your privacy is enhanced.
Geo-spoofing lets you access games not available to you while traveling.
When traveling, you will face this Geo-restriction problem, and you will not be able to access geo-restricted games. So use a VPN and get access to play games while traveling.
Keep your data safe while gaming.
When you are online, you may be subjected to DDoS attacks or any third party attack, so to keep your data safe while gaming, you must use a VPN.
Encrypt your gaming data, especially when playing multiplayer games or doing competitive gaming.
This is important. When you are playing multiplayer games or doing competitive gaming, your data must be encrypted for safety purposes. So a VPN can encrypt your data when you are online and secures your connection.
Gain access to games that aren't out yet.
This is another biggest advantage of using a VPN. Certain gaming companies release games only in certain regions to test how the game goes. So if you want to play those games which are not yet released in your location, you can just change your IP using a VPN and get access to the games.
Buy, play, or download any game, no matter your geo-location.
One of the main reasons gamers use a VPN is because they can buy, play, or download any games that are available despite the Geo-restriction.
The pros of getting a VPN for gaming overwhelmingly outdo the cons.
Just to recap, the cons are increased latency (which only happens in some cases), and the threat of being blocked.
And now, to the main subject, which is the best VPN for gaming?
8 Best VPN's for Gaming in 2022
The premise of using a VPN is to be safe on the internet. Granted, none of the VPNs (including the ones I will list shortly) will give you 100% guaranteed safety.
Before you panic, this is only to say that there are always loopholes. This means that if anyone were to launch a targeted attack on you using every means necessary, you would probably be exposed eventually.
However, the idea is to avoid being the “low hanging fruit” cliché.
A VPN helps to mask your activities and protect your location so that any attack, be it mass data theft or random phishing expeditions, will not snag you.
Here is Our list for the Best VPN for Gaming in 2022
1. ExpressVPN :- Best VPN for Gaming
160 Locations | 94 Countries | 5 Devices | 30 Day Money-Back Guarantee
ExpressVPN is hands-down one of the top VPNs for gaming in the market. This bad boy is chock-full of advanced features to help you play without ever remembering that you’re using a VPN.
For one, it supports PC, Mac, Linux, Chromebook, smartphones, Xbox (One and 360), and PlayStation (3 and 4) gaming devices plus Wi-Fi routers.
Two, ExpressVPN unblocks Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, Showtime, Sling TV, Amazon Prime Videos, and DAZN. Clients include Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Linux, Android TV, and Chrome, among others.
Three, you have access to over 3000 servers across 90+ locations. ExpressVPN’s proprietary zero-knowledge DNS servers are the envy of all the other VPN providers.
Fourth, you can make use of ExpressVPN’s split tunneling capabilities to boost speeds and further reduce lagging. Feel secure as you torrent or share data thanks to the dedicated P2P servers.
ExpressVPN’s top tier encryption plus zero-logging policy makes this a terrible choice for a gaming VPN.
As far as pricing, ExpressVPN offers 3 pricing packages.
2. NordVPN for Gaming
60+ Locations | 6 Devices | 30 Day Money-Back Guarantee
NordVPN is a well-known powerful VPN choice for both gaming and typical internet activities. It has grown exponentially over the past few years to include over 5,000 servers in 60+ locations.
NordVPN is, without a doubt, one of the top VPNs as is. This is because it includes features like dedicated P2P servers, Onion Over VPN Servers, CyberSec Technology, and Anti-DDoS protection.
Now, seldom will you find a VPN provider who wants to dedicate resources to gamers. But NordVPN offers special obfuscated servers to hide your internet activities from your ISP.
This way, your ISP can’t throttle your bandwidth. You also get the Onion Over VPN Servers, which is an extra layer of protection.
Add this to the built-in anti-DDoS protection. These are custom servers designed and dedicated to protecting gamers from DDoS attacks.
CyberSec technology ensures you don’t have to deal with malware and those pesky pop-up ads.
Other advanced features include a Kill Switch, DNS Leak protection, unlimited server switching, and torrenting.
NordVPN supports PC, Mac, Linux, Chromebook, smartphones, as well as routers. You can easily unblock Netflix, Hulu, HBO, BBC iPlayer, Showtime, Sling TV, and Amazon Prime Videos. The clients featured include Windows, MacOS, iOS, Android, Linux, Chrome, Android TV, Firefox, and routers.
On to pricing, NordVPN offers 4 pricing packages.
The three-year plan includes 3 months free this festive season!
3. IPVanish for Gaming
75 Countries | 10 Devices | 7 Day Money-Back Guarantee
IPVanish is a US-based VPN which boasts 1300+ servers in 75 locations. With IPVanish, you have 40,000 IP addresses to choose from, plus you can connect up to 10 devices simultaneously.
IPVanish stands out for its lightning speeds, top tier infrastructure, and excellent encryption. As a gamer, you will love the special servers tailored to gaming, as well as the fact that IPVanish is generally faster than most top VPN options in the market. That means less lagging and ping time for you.
IPVanish includes all the bells and whistles typical with top tier VPN providers. They include automatic Kill Switch, SOCKS5 Web Proxy, DNS Leak protection, User-friendly Apps, Unlimited server switching, No logging, and the industry-standard encryption, among others.
All of IPVanish’s packages include SugarSync cloud storage, which awards you an extra 250GB of storage. IPVanish works with Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Fire TV, Linux, Chrome, and Routers.
How much will you pay for IPVanish?
4. VyprVPN for Gaming
70 Countries | 5 Devices | 30-Day Money-Back Guarantee
VyprVPN is another powerful VPN option for gaming. This top VPN for gaming is owned by Golden Frog and based in Switzerland.
VyprVPN boasts 700+ servers in 70+ locations doling out 200,000+ IP addresses.
These may seem few, but then VyprVPN is a tier-1 network. This means it owns all its servers and infrastructure, meaning no third parties are sharing the servers.
In addition to this, VyprVPN offers some optimal features, including the proprietary Chameleon technology, DNS protection, Kill Switch, NAT Firewall, no logging, and VyprCloud, just to mention a few.
The Chameleon technology ensures you can bypass any restrictions and censorship irrespective of the country you’re in. NAT Firewall automatically blocks unrequested inbound traffic while VyprCloud adds a much-needed extra layer of protection for users using cloud servers (Digital Ocean, Amazon Web Services, and VirtualBox).
Other features include easy-to-use Apps, fast speeds, outstanding support, and a 30-day money-back guarantee. You will also be glad to know VyprVPN supports up to 5 devices simultaneously.
VyprVPN Apps include Windows, iOS, Mac, Android, Routers, and TV.
When it comes to pricing, VyprVPN has 3 pricing plans.
Worth mentioning is Golden Frog’s revolutionary Outfox. If you have never heard of it, Outfox is a gaming network that is optimized to protect you, the gamer. All your gaming data is routed through the VyprVPN network, which not only offers a haven but also boosts ping time and speed.
5. SurfShark VPN for Gaming
60+ Countries | Unlimited Devices | 30-Day Money-Back Guarantee
Surfshark is a robust VPN provider with over 1000 servers across 60+ countries. And even though it is based in the British Virgin Islands, I still featured it because of its powerful features and commitment to protection.
Surfshark’s proprietary features include Camouflage Mode, MultiHop, NoBorders Mode, and Whitelisting.
Camouflage Mode is perfect for masking your internet activities from your ISP. MultiHop allows you to run your connection via multiple countries to ensure your digital footprint is all but invisible.
NoBorders Mode counters censorship to allow you to access content and games regardless of your physical location. And finally, Whitelisting is a cool feature that lets you bypass Surfshark for those VPN-sensitive websites.
In addition to all these features, Surfshark offers DDoS protection, Private DNS and Leak protection, no logging, and an automatic Kill Switch, among other advanced features.
You can connect to an unlimited number of devices. Supported gaming devices include Xbox and PlayStation. Other clients include Windows, MacOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Chrome, Firefox, and Smart TVs.
Surfshark VPN pricing options come in 3 packages.
6. CyberGhost VPN for Gaming
90+ Countries | 7 Devices | 45-Day Money-Back Guarantee
If you are a first-time gamer, CyberGhost is the best VPN for your gaming endevours. This powerful VPN provider offers an extensive array of 6000+ servers across 90+ locations. You can connect up to 7 devices at a go.
If I were to pick the best CyberGhost feature, it would be the interface. CyberGhost hit a homerun by customizing your interface experience, depending on what you want. By this, I mean, you can simply tell CyberGhost why you’re using the VPN, and it will intuitively offer the best experience.
Aside from the wonderful interface, CyberGhost also offers you DDoS protection, excellent speeds, zero traffic logs, P2P traffic, torrenting, and IP/DNS Leak protection.
CyberGhost is based in Romania, which is big plus protection-wise. You can connect you Mac, PC, Linux, Chromebook, smartphones, and wi-fi routers.
Further CyberGhost clients include MacOS, Windows, Android, iOS, Amazon Fire Stick, Android TV, Linux, and Chrome.
With CyberGhost, you can unblock Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, Sky Go, Comedy Central, EuroSport, and ESPN, among others.
On matters price, CyberGhost offers 4 pricing packages.
Worth mentioning is the 3-year plan comes with an extra 2 months free plus a 45-day money-back guarantee.
7. Hotspot Shield VPN for Gaming
70+ Countries | 5 Devices | 45-Day Money-Back Guarantee
If you are simply looking for the fastest VPN provider in the market, HotSpot Shield is it. And it is not just me, numerous tests and reviews online conclusively put HotSpot Shield on top of the speed charts.
I attribute this to their proprietary Catapult Hydra Protocol. According to the HotSpot Shield website, Catapult Hydra Protocol is based on TLS and OpenSSL protocols. It boosts speed by doubling download speeds for large files and increasing ping time. Well, whichever the method, it works.
Aside from the speeds, HotSpot Shield offers native Apps for Android and iOS as well as clients for Windows, Chrome, and Firefox. Gamers enjoy DDoS protection as well as unlimited server switching.
Hotspot Shield has a network of 3200+ servers across 70+ locations though some servers are virtual. That notwithstanding, HotSpot Shield offers a basic service, and it does that well.
Right off the bat, the interface displays a large ON/OFF button. I don’t things can get simpler than that. Enjoy the built-in malware blocker, automatic Kill switch, Military-grade encryption, and 24/7 customer support.
You can connect a maximum of 5 devices simultaneously.
How much does HotSpot Shield cost?
This top VPN for gaming offers only 2 pricing options.
8. Buffered VPN for Gaming
29 Countries | 5 Devices | 30-Day Money-Back Guarantee
Buffered VPN is relatively new to the market but is already a force to reckon with. Rocking just over 40 locations, you will be pleasantly surprised to realize location distribution is not among Buffered VPN’s cons. Even with lesser locations, Buffered has decent global coverage.
Additionally, Buffered has commendably high speeds, low latency, and optimal pings. If you are a newbie, Buffered VPN has got you covered. They have built-in tutorials for troubleshooting.
Some users may have an issue with the fact that Buffered only uses the OpenVPN protocol. I see no problem since OpenVPN is renowned for security. Further Buffered VPN offers Unlimited speeds, bandwidth, and server switching with a no logs policy to boot.
I do, however, know that Buffered VPN does do some level of logging. The exact details are explained extensively on Buffered VPN’s Privacy Policy page. Even though they say they don’t log anything that would identify their users, it still makes some users nervous.
Buffered VPN is based in Gibraltar, which is great for privacy. You can access clients for Windows, iOS, MacOS X, Linux, Android, and routers.
What will you pay for Buffered VPN?
Worth noting is Buffered VPN’s refund policy. As long as you have not used beyond 10 hours, 100 sessions, or 10 GB of data, Buffered VPN will give a full refund.
Enter your text here...
Setup Guides For Best VPN For Gaming
The installation of a VPN mainly depends on whether you game on an Xbox One, PS4, PC, or Nintendo Switch. If you are gaming on a PC, then installing a VPN on the PC is very easy and simple.
Setting up a VPN for Gaming on a PC
1. Choose the best VPN for gaming. I recommend you to choose a VPN from the above article because all the VPNs listed are best suited for gaming.
2. Sign up or subscribe to the VPN service.
3. Then install the VPN application on your PC.
4. Now choose a server and connect to it, and you are done.
Setting up a VPN for gaming on console.
There are two options to set up a VPN for gaming on the console.
1. You can connect your console to the internet through a PC or laptop that is running your chosen VPN. You can do this by connecting an Ethernet cable from your console to the PC.
2. The second method is you can install a VPN on your router so that all the devices connected to this router get automatically connected to the VPN server of your choice.
Now let's see the setup guide for VPN on PS4 using a router.
How to install a VPN on PS4 using a router?
The easiest and fastest way to use a VPN with a PS4 console is to use a VPN router. A VPN router automatically secures all the devices that are connected to it. This includes your PS4.
Follow these steps to set up a PlayStation to work with your VPN router.
1. Subscribe to any best VPN services of your choice.
2. Then access your router's admin panel in your browser and find out your router address. Mostly, the routers default address will be 192.168.1.1
3. Login to your router using your password.
4. Then find the VPN client in your router's admin panel.
5. Enter the VPN connection details and save these changes and close the router's admin panel.
6. Now boot up your PS4.
7. On the main PS4 menu screen, click on Settings > Network Settings > Set up Internet connection > Use Wifi
8. Click on Easy as the connection method.
9. Now select your wifi network from the list and connect with the relevant login details.
10. Check whether the Do Not Use a Proxy Server box is ticked.
11. Confirm the settings and save.
12. Click on the Test Connection to confirm everything works properly.
How to set up a VPN on PS4 using a computer?
If you don't have a VPN-compatible router, then this method is for you. Here, you need to share your PS4's internet connection with a computer that has VPN installed in it.
Subscribe to a VPN service of your choice for gaming on a PS4.
Then Download and install the VPN application on your Windows PC.
Now connect your PS4 to your PC with the Ethernet cable.
Then, Open the Control Panel in Windows and go to the Network and Sharing Center.
Click on the Change Adaptor Settings in the left sidebar.
The, you need to Right-click on your VPN connection, click Properties > Sharing.
Then Tick the box that says: Allow other network users to connect through this computer's internet connection.
Now, Locate the Home networking connection drop-down menu and select your ethernet connection.
You need to connect to the VPN server you require by using the VPN client on your PC.
Now, Boot up your PS4.
After booting, click on Settings > Network Settings on the main menu screen.
Under Network Settings, select set up Internet Connection.
Choose a "Use a LAN Cable"
Choose easy for the connection method and also select Do Not Use a Proxy Server when asked.
Accept these settings and click the Test Connection and make sure it works correctly.
How to set up a VPN on Xbox One?
One of the simplest ways to set up a VPN on the Xbox One console is to install the VPN application on your home router. When a VPN connection is set up on your router, all the devices connected to the router are protected by a VPN, so that includes your Xbox One.
Now after connecting to a VPN, you will have good security, and your privacy is enhanced, and you can change your location and play games irrespective of your location.
Subscribe to any one of the best VPN for Xbox.
You need to access your router's control panel using its local IP address.
Go to Network > Setup > Settings > WAN in your router's control panel.
Then you need to enter the VPN setup details and confirm these changes and close your router's control panel.
Now Turn on your Xbox One and navigate to the Settings menu.
Select Network> Set up wireless Networks to connect to a new network.
Choose your wifi network from the list and connect with the relevant login details.
Then test your connection to confirm everything works, and you're all set.
How to connect VPN on Xbox?
Now let's see how to connect a VPN on Xbox. This is the second method where you can connect your Xbox One to a VPN connection using your laptop or PC. This method is easy, fast, and you need not install any VPN on your router.
Sign up for one of the best Xbox VPN services.
Then download the application and install the VPN software onto your PC.
Now, connect your Xbox One to your PC using a Ethernet cable.
Then, open the Control Panel > Network and Sharing Center. and click on change adaptor settings on the left sidebar.
Right-click on your VPN connection and click on Properties > Sharing.
Now, tick the allow other network users to connect through this computer's internet connection box.
Locate the home networking connection drop-down menu and select your ethernet connection.
And click OK
Now Connect to the VPN on your PC.
Choose a server location that fits your needs
Then Boot up your Xbox One.
Now, On your console, ensure that all network settings are set to Automatic.
You need to Test the Xbox live connection by clicking the Xbox home button and selecting: System > Settings > General > Network settings > Test network connection.
FAQs
When you are searching for a VPN for gaming, you will come across many free VPN options. Anything which is available for free will be tempting for everyone. Free VPNs are not reliable, and they lack a lot of features.
However, free VPN is not useful for gaming because it does not have a large server network and provides a slow connection so that you will experience lagging in games.
Its security features are weak, and it fails to unblock any Geo-restricted games. Also, remember nothing good comes for free.
So I recommend paid VPNs. They have advanced security features and a large network of servers and provide fast connection speed, which can easily unblock any Geo-restricted games.
You also get a money-back guarantee if you are not satisfied with the service, and they also provide professional customer and technical support for their users.
Yes, you can use the VPN application on any device. But see to that you download the VPN application that is compatible with all platforms or checks whether the application supports your device.
If you have any doubts regarding the setup, you can contact the customer care and get your doubts cleared.
It depends on what kind of VPN you use. If you are using a free VPN, then it will affect your internet speed. This is because VPNs encrypt your data, and this process will slow down your internet speed.
But if you are using a paid VPN, they use smart DNS and other software to balance the internet speed while encrypting your data. So it is advisable to use a paid VPN.
Generally, your ISPs throttle your internet connection when they notice you use large bandwidth of the internet for a long time. You will experience a lag in your connection.
But when you use a VPN, your IP address is swapped, which makes you anonymous over the internet. So VPNs do not slow down gaming, but they increase your internet speed so that you can play lag-free games online.
When you are using a VPN and gaming online, and when someone tries to launch a DDoS attack based on your IP address, that attack will hit the VPN servers and not your device. A VPN will shield you from this kind of attack since it swaps or hides your IP address. So this is how a VPN protects you when you are gaming.
Yes, you can play games from other regions when you use a VPN. A VPN can change your IP address with its own IP address. Thus you can choose the server to the country where the games are available. Hence you can play the Geo-restricted games through VPN.
Yes, it is completely legal to use a VPN for gaming. But there are some gaming services that prohibit the use of VPNs in their terms of service. However, the game administrators will find it difficult to detect whether a user is using a VPN or not.
The installation of a VPN mainly depends on whether you game on an Xbox One, PS4, PC, or Nintendo Switch. If you are gaming on a PC, then installing a VPN on the PC is very easy and simple.
Final Thoughts
Choosing the best VPN for gaming is all about priorities. The truth is, none of the VPN providers will provide 100% of what you want. So, choose the closest one.
As you can see, the biggest deals and best prices apply to long-term subscriptions.
The best advice I can give you is; no matter how good the offer, it is always wise to try a service for a month or two before committing to a long-term subscription.
Please share your thoughts and experiences regarding the VPN options above, as well as any other options you have come across. I am always happy to hear from you.
