Best gaming VPN 2025
With a good gaming VPN, you can avoid DDoS assaults and throttling.
After all, your high-end GPU and LED mechanical keyboard can't defend you from a DDoS assault from an outraged opponent, nor will they get you better rates on the newest titles.
We've all had bad internet connections, and if you're paying for fast Wi-Fi yet still encounter slowness when gaming, your ISP may be imposing network throttling on you. By utilizing a gaming VPN, you may mask your data from your ISP, preventing it from labeling you as a high-bandwidth gamer.
1. ExpressVPN – Unrivalled overall performance
2. NordVPN – The biggest name works very well in the UK
3. Surfshark – A premium service for a bargain price
4. ProtonVPN
5. CyberGhost
What makes the best gaming VPN?
If you're going to use your VPN as a gaming VPN, speed will be a top priority, but privacy doesn't have to be sacrificed. Express VPN is the best VPN for gaming right now, owing to its fast connections, low ping times, comprehensive privacy features, and easy-to-use applications for a variety of devices. That's a winning formula.
If you wish to play on several regional servers or access geo-blocked games, you'll need a VPN with a large network. With over 3,000 servers in 94 countries and a fantastic router software, you can avoid throttling on your PlayStation, Xbox, Switch, or any other device that connects to the internet with ExpressVPN.
We'll go over why we think ExpressVPN is the best gaming VPN on the market, as well as which of its closest rivals is the best fit for you, in the sections below.
Best gaming VPN FAQ
Why do I need a gaming VPN?
There are a few reasons why you may wish to use a gaming VPN.
To begin, if your internet connection is fluctuating, it's possible that your ISP is throttling your connection as a result of your activities. A VPN can help you prevent this by masking your online activities, making it impossible for your ISP to target you for throttling.
Second, there is the issue of privacy. Anyone is vulnerable, but gamers are more vulnerable to DDoS assaults and are more likely to be hacked. A VPN can protect everyone – not just gamers – from a variety of online threats, as well as prohibit Google from tracking you.
Is it legal to use a VPN for gaming?
Yes, to a simple question.
However, what you use your gaming VPN for may not be legal; keep in mind that while it may make illegal acts conceivable or simpler, it does not make them lawful.
If you're using your VPN to impersonate your location in order to get a better deal on games, you're definitely breaking the developer or distributor's terms and conditions, and if you're detected, your account might be suspended or worse.
However, if you're only using it to verify sure your ISP isn't throttling you, you shouldn't be concerned.
Will a VPN increase my ping?
This is a difficult question. A VPN will certainly raise your ping when compared to your ordinary connection at peak speeds – but if you're really close to one of your VPN's servers, it may even lower it if you're lucky.
But the real reason you're utilizing a gaming VPN is to improve the stability and reliability of your connection. So, on a typical connection, your ping could peak at 10ms, but if you're throttled, it could spike to a difficult-to-manage 300ms.
You can ensure that your ping stays at an acceptable pace – possibly 20ms or better if you're used to 10ms – and that it will stay that way for as long as you play by utilizing the best gaming VPN.
What should a gaming VPN have?
Excellent connection speeds are the most critical quality of any gaming VPN. You'll want to be able to match your usual connection speeds as closely as possible, so a fast VPN is a smart place to start.
After that, check to see if your gaming VPN has great privacy credentials. While it may not be at the top of your priority list, there's no reason to sacrifice either when so many providers offer good speeds and security.
Finally, conduct your homework to ensure that the VPN service you choose is dependable — it's not good if your VPN keeps cutting out, and if it has a kill switch enabled, your entire connection will die in this circumstance.