VPNs are indispensable in today’s digital environment. They are multi-faceted and have numerous functions. One such application is the help they provide to gamers. Although hardcore online gaming doesn’t advocate VPNs, there are often situations they can resolve easily. Thus, they are also a product worth considering if you are an avid gamer. However, it is a fact that VPNs can cause internet slowdown. Then how come we advocate the use of one? That’s because there are a few vendors that cater to online gaming.
Therefore, they have products that offer fast speed and other functions to help with your gaming. But which ones, how to recognize them, and who are the top providers of gaming VPN services? This article will contain such information as we have created a list of our best gaming VPN services. However, we advise user discretion as the list is subjective. Mentioned below are the few VPNs that are leading the gaming scene. A few of them are current market leaders and come with additional features. We have organized such a list to showcase their ability sans pricing.
1. ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN is a comprehensive product that provides an all-around service. It is a VPN that can make the top of any list. Thus, we often come across ExpressVPN when talking about the best the VPN market has to offer. The service hails from British Virgin Islands and impresses users with an impeccable track record. Not only does it boast a network of over 3000 quality servers, but it has unparalleled speed and low latency. Hence, it is a reliable pick for your gaming needs. It also features lots of other features, all of which you can check out in our detailed ExpressVPN review.
2. CyberGhost VPN
CyberGhost VPN is yet another champion of speed. With the help of approximately 8000 servers, it clocks an average speed of 90 Mbps. That too with the lowest ping time of 7ms! However, what sets it apart from competitors is the relatively cheaper pricing. The service hails from Romania and offers a free trial. There is also a token-based dedicated IP system in place to ensure fair play. There is no shortage of advanced features, and users can enjoy the service without worrying about data leaks. Hence, it is a decently strong competitor with good security features. You can learn about it in-depth with our CyberGhost VPN review.
3. NordVPN
NordVPN is perhaps undoubtedly the most popular VPN on the list. It operates from Panama and is one of the oldest vendors out there. Although somewhat costly, it offers faster speed, even on international connections. The service has a wide array of advanced features, augmenting the network of servers. With around 5000 servers, the VPN can reach a speed of 90+ Mbps with a ping of 8 ms. Most people concur it to be a value for money product. The vendor is innovative and always on the lookout for improvements. You can also satisfy your curiosity with our NordVPN review.
4. Surfshark
It is a cheap yet fast VPN for beginners. Although there may be a lack of advanced features, Surfshark VPN covers the fundamentals. However, it is not suitable for advanced users. But to be honest, at $2.3 per month, it is a service that the average gamer can afford. The company operates from the Netherlands but maintains a strict no-logging policy. However, the network of 3000+ servers allows users to experience sufficient speeds. It can clock up to 85 Mbps with a ping time of 14 ms. There are other merits to the vendor you can learn by giving our Surfshark VPN review a read.
5. IPVanish VPN
IPVanish is a mid-tier VPN service that operates on the pricey end of the spectrum. However, it is a fast product that can offer up to 80+ Mbps on local and international connections. The recorded average ping time is only 7 ms, and the provider proffers a slew of over 40000 IP addresses. Although the network strength of the VPN is lacking, with only 2000 servers in 51 countries, it is sufficiently popular among Android users. However, the US jurisdiction is a turn-off for most privacy-centric users. Despite that, the VPN deserves a spot on our list as it is suitable for gaming. For further information, you can always access our IPVanish review.
6. Private Internet Access (PIA)
PIA or Private Internet Access is an age-old name in the VPN market. Although it has a humble beginning, the VPN has grown into a force to be reckoned with. It is the only service with an active network of over 17000 servers. Also, it is cheap, thus, bringing the best of both worlds. PIA is an all-time favorite of gamers and everyone else.
With a speed of 100 Mbps and an average ping time of 13 ms; It deserves the spot on this list. However, it hails from the United States. There are many positives and negatives related to this service, but we won’t delve into them—curious readers can examine our detailed PIA review.
7. PrivateVPN
ProvateVPN is a decent choice among gaming VPN services for beginners. It’s fast, cheap, and offers sufficient features to stay neck to neck with some of the most popular VPNs. But what makes it stand out is its ability to bypass blocks. PrivateVPN is among the few small-tier VPNs that can boast of having reliable obfuscation technology. Although it hails from Sweden, the company ensures privacy by maintaining a strict no-logs policy. Even with a network strength of only 200 servers, the VPN can deliver a speed up to 90 Mbps with an average ping time of 12 ms. Please check out our detailed PrivateVPN review for further information on this developing service.
8. ProtonVPN
Those of you who love getting free VPNs must know the name ProtonVPN. It is the only provider on the list with a popular free version. However, it can’t justify its spot by relying solely on that point. Hence, we concur that the VPN is a decent addition to the list, based on the fact that it can clock up to 95 Mbps with a network of 1500 servers. The VPN comes from the lands of Switzerland, renowned for its love of security and privacy laws. Thus, the service is well received by the privacy-centric crowd. Also, the company operates transparently—most apps and relevant and directly employed software and materials are open-source.
9. Fastest VPN
As the name suggests, FastestVPN is a service that aims to offer a fast VPN connection. Although it may not be the fastest, the service does provide a decent speed of 80 Mbps on international channels. However, we have observed a sharp increase when using local servers. Hence, this mid-tier VPN can be an option for gamers.
Although the vendor has a relatively weaker VPN network of only 500 servers, it hails from the Cayman Islands and advocates data privacy. It is a plus for the service. Another positive is the pricing. At $1 per month, the VPN is arguably the cheapest. If not for the lack of features and somewhat questionable stability issues, it would rank higher. Check our FastestVPN review for more information.
10. Astrill VPN
The final provider on our list is Astrill VPN. But it doesn’t mean it’s below the mark. Although niche, it is a high-end service that charges $10 per month without a free trial or money-back guarantee. What boosts its confidence is the quality of servers and a very stable VPN connection. The service can clock up to 80 Mbps all around the globe. Also, it has tons of advanced features. Although using it for gaming is overkill, we have included it here for fairness. Feel free to give our Astrill VPN review a read.