Modern VPNs are powerful tools that are much more than their simple predecessors. They deploy a vast array of protocols, servers, and encryption to allow for unfettered, yet reliable access for professionals, gamers, and power users alike.
This makes them an ever-increasing topic of discussion between gamers on message boards, chat groups and even reviews as something that can deliver a sizeable advantage in certain situations.
The team at Game Rant aims to rise above this, by exploring all the VPN options available to its audience and handpicking some of the best options for gaming based on a mix of personal experience, pricing, and publicly available information below:
NordVPN
The All-Rounder
NordVPN is a Lithuania-based VPN service provider that also happens to be one of the oldest and the most established VPN options in the business.It offers over 5000 servers based out of as many as 60 countries while offering its own Wireguard-based NordLynx protocol as a faster, more secure option compared to more traditional alternatives.
NordVPN is one of the most well-known VPN service providers on the scene thanks to a mix of reliable service, mid-range pricing and plenty of servers and accompanying software solutions that allow it to entrench itself as a viable competitor versus many of it alternatives.
It leverages its NordLynx protocol that is based on Wireguard and promises faster connectivity across the board for gamers and streamers alike, while offering a host of privacy-centric protections that makes it one of the best VPNs in the business when it comes to security.
It also offers beefed up versions of its servers in terms of security and the ability to circumvent restrictions, such as its “obfuscated servers” offerings, as well as a dedicated kill switch and split tunneling, all of which gamers can put to good use.
The application itself is lightweight and does offer plenty of server choices for gaming on both PC and mobile devices, but does lack dedicated game-centric optimizations like some of its competitors and some of the more advanced features can be overwhelming for first-time VPN users.
Despite that, with a focus on ease of use, a fast, but lightweight protocol, and middle-of-the-road pricing in play, NordVPN is Game Rant’s number one pick as a VPN for gaming that also doubles as a great general-purpose option for users.
WTFast
A Specialty Gaming Application
WTFast is more of a for-gaming solution, positioning it more as a specialty product versus its more versatile VPN competition.It calls its VPN network a “GPN” or Gamer’s Private Network even as it skips encryption as it claims to prioritize speed above all else for its customers with a focus on latency as a metric in particular.
Users wanting a VPN predominantly for gaming with a focus on speed might want to consider going for WTFast, which is one of the oldest names in the gaming business when it comes to offering better connectivity to gamers across the world.
It leverages a more limited 200 servers that route traffic using its Gamer’s Private Network (GPN) offering, which allows for unencrypted data transfers between devices to servers in a bid to essentially focus on speeds.
WTFast offers per-game and per-server optimizations that its competition lacks and tries to optimize routes for gaming in particular, offering a one-button solution for users who might otherwise have to toy with a variety of VPN offerings to get the job done.
It does, however, have its drawbacks as a result - it has no mobile applications, is much easier to block in geo-restricted regions given its limited server choices and unencrypted connections and can not double as a VOIP solution for gamers trying to use a service like Discord or Teamspeak in regions that throttle or restrict such activity.
For those who want the lowest latency, however, it is arguably a far superior option compared to its many competitors, even as it comes at a significantly higher annual cost than its peers.
ExpressVPN
A Powerful, Simple Solution
ExpressVPN is one of the most well-known VPN service providers in the business. It offers 94 unique countries with over 500 servers spread across them allowing for plenty of choices for users looking to get a VPN connection goingExpressVPN also offers 24/7 customer support, support for VPN routers, and multiple apps for a variety of hardware options to cater to clients with a variety of use cases.
One of the most established VPN service providers in the business, ExpressVPN also leverages its considerably large server offerings to deliver a fast, reliable VPN connection to bandwidth-hungry users.
ExpressVPN leverages its own “Lightway” protocol to get the job done, allowing for lower latency, greater privacy and a more custom, regularly updated take on what a VPN should be.
Express VPN also supports split tunneling and has its own take on a kill switch, both of which combined can provide protection, convenience, and reliability for gamers looking to stay anonymous or minimize issues such as packet loss or poor routing.
The key selling point of Express VPN is its robust and 24/7 customer support, available online for users who need help setting up, but the VPN does, as a result, cost considerably more than most of its competition when one looks at annual or multi-year plans.
Surfshark
A Price-Conscious Play
Surfshark is a relatively newer VPN offering that has quickly garnered market share thanks to its aggressive marketing and high-speed server offerings in addition to deep discounts for annual subscriptions.It also offers users the ability to use an unlimited amount of devices on a single subscription even as it implements the Wireguard protocol to allow for faster, more reliable connectivity across the board for gamers and power users.
Surfshark is one of the more recent VPN players in the market, established in 2018, but already has a robust series of applications and aggressive pricing as it looks to take a larger chunk of a burgeoning VPN market which includes gamers.
To this end, not only is Surfshark considerably cheaper than its competition, but it also offers unlimited simultaneous device connections, a feature that most of its competitors lack, by limiting the maximum number of permitted devices on the platform for a single user account.
Surfshark offers 3200 servers across 100 unique server regions and does offer a considerably cheaper annualized option than its peers, making it a solid budget-friendly candidate for gamers looking to get service across multiple devices for a low price.
Proton VPN
A Limited Freebie
Proton VPN is a relatively new player that changes things up a bit on the VPN spectrum by offering both, a competent unlimited free VPN option (limited to certain locations) as well as a more premium option.The latter offers faster speeds, plenty of server locations, and beefed-up security options and can be tested with a free 7 day trial before users make a purchase.
Users opting for a free VPN option for their gaming needs can opt for the free tiered version of ProtonVPN which does allow for limited connectivity that is both location and bandwidth restricted, but does otherwise offer a stable experience for users looking to minimize cost.
ProtonVPN, despite these limitations, does allow users full access to their applications, including some pro-grade features, but does attempt to upsell its paid version repeatedly in a bid to convert customers.
While the paid version does come with more features, plenty of server choices that rival its peers, and faster speeds, it is somewhat pricier than other options such as NordVPN as a result, making it a relatively poor choice for users looking to get a paid VPN for gaming.
CyberGhost VPN
Value-Centric Play
CyberGhost is one of the most well-known VPN options out there with a focus on privacy even as it offers a plethora of security options and servers for users needing anonymity when browsing the internet.With 9200+ servers in play, some of the cheapest multi-year subscriptions, and specialized servers for gaming and streaming, CyberGhost gets the job done for users looking for a VPN solution.
Users looking to grab a cheaper VPN option that does it all can turn to Cyber Ghost, which offers a full-fledged VPN experience at a price tag that is noticeably lower than most of its peers, even as it boasts a mammoth 9200 server locations.
CyberGhost does offer dedicated gaming servers as well as streaming equivalents, even as it positions itself as a more value-centric play in a market that can generally run north of $60 for a year of VPN access.
It does come with plenty of options under the hood but a UI that feels more challenging than its peers even as some users claim to get sub-par performance at times to certain server regions, which could impede its performance in certain games concentrated around certain servers.
FAQ
Q: Can A VPN Help You Game Better?
For users having ping issues, routing issues or even packet loss, a VPN can offer a better route to connect with game servers, making for a smoother and sometimes faster connection that can affect one’s ability to game competitively in a positive manner.
Q: Does A VPN Keep Your Identity Safe While Gaming?
Yes, most VPNs do use encryption and exhibit excellent privacy protection features that can effectively anonymize users from players they are playing with. This prevents DDOS attacks, doxxing and abuse which both popular streamers and gamers may find useful.
