As of late, gaming has become a serious business. Long gone are the days when you’d be told by your mother to leave the room and the absurd gaming addiction behind to get some fresh air. Nowadays, if you manage to play a game well, you can bag yourself world championships for gaming along with a pricey cheque that would be all yours.
If you have such dreams allow us to assist you in making them come true by teaching you a few tricks you can keep up your sleeve or if you’re a novice who came looking around for ‘how does a VPN work for gaming?’ we can lend a hand or two in this regard for we consider ourselves a bit of an expert in the field.
That’s because we’ve tried and tested a bunch of VPNs to recommend you the best ones. After extensive testing, we were able to pick out the VPNs we had the best experience with while gaming. But before we get into that, let’s cover a few basics.
Does a VPN Work For Gaming?
Yes, a VPN works for gaming in wondrous ways. There are a number of tactics through which players can benefit from a VPN while gaming. Allow us to highlight some:
- A VPN can encrypt your internet connection to ensure your data cannot be hacked, seen, or much less accessed by unauthorized personnel.
- It can hide your IP address so that any of your activities cannot be tracked by the government or your ISP; they won’t be able to know which gaming platforms you’re accessing.
- Through a VPN, you can unblock gaming websites that would be unavailable in your country due to geo-restrictions.
- Using VPN, you can considerably improve your system’s ping rate and reduce lag issues while gaming so that you don’t get killed due to a technicality.
- Best of all, a VPN can keep you safe from any DDoS attacks from hackers or other players in a competition.
How Do I Use A VPN For Gaming?
To use a VPN for gaming, follow the steps given below:
- Go to Settings 🡪 Click on Network & internet 🡪 Select VPN.
- Click on Add VPN.
- Select Windows (built-in) for the VPN.
- Add a Connection name. It doesn’t necessarily have to be the name of your VPN provider, but we’re going with ‘ExpressVPN’ anyway.
- Type in the server name or IP address. You can find ExpressVPN server IP addresses in the VPN provider’s app or Google them.
- Select a VPN type that suits your gaming needs. We went with ‘IKEv2,’ you can also use ‘L2TP/IPsec.’
- Type in the username and password for your VPN account.
- Click Save.
Note: The given steps are for Windows 11 Pro; the setting up process of a VPN for gaming may vary for your PC.
Which VPN is best for gaming?
To find the best VPN for gaming, you simply have to follow our lead. With a number of VPN providers out there, we can understand why you’d have a hard time selecting just one. To make the process easier, we’re highlighting our top choices for gaming-compatible VPNs right below:
- ExpressVPN: The best gaming VPN
ExpressVPN has over [short code] servers in [short code] countries. Thus, regardless of where you are, you can connect to any server and start playing regardless of where you are. Every server provides high-speed connectivity, the finest security, and the lowest of pings so you can play your game without interruptions. Costs only [pricing short code].
- CyberGhost: Super speed gaming VPN
CyberGhost is known for having a huge network of servers globally with [short code] servers in [short code] countries. It provides the best speed for gaming compared to all the VPNs we tested. Along with speed, its apps are user-friendly and compatible with most devices. You can get CyberGhost for [pricing short code].
- NordVPN: Most Secure gaming VPN
NordVPN consists of [short code] servers across [short code] countries. When it comes to security, NordVPN ensures your device is protected at all times. It has a variety of features that can strengthen security like obfuscated servers, Multi-factor authentication, masks of your IP, and many others. You can get NordVPN for [pricing short code].
- Surfshark: Budget-friendly gaming VPN
Surfshark consists of [short code] servers across [short code] countries. Compared to the rest of the VPNs Surfshark costs the lowest which is [pricing short code]. It also provides the best connectivity options for gaming servers. You can connect to any server, and it’ll ensure your money is worth it.
Do Pro Gamers Use VPNs?
Yes, pro-gamers use VPNs. With the rise in the number of gamers and becoming one of the fastest-growing eSports industries, it is safe to assume that the use of VPNs is quite common among them. High-profile gamers participate in a variety of tournaments around the world, after which they win the huge amount of cash prizes they’re promised.
For such tournaments to take place safely and fairly eSports events make use of VPNs to prevent DDoS attacks during the gaming. Such attacks can heavily impact a gamer’s performance. Competitive or not-so-fair players can also send bugs from their system to other players to botch their performance and increase their own chances of winning.
When a VPN is fully active during a gaming match, it can ensure the players’ IP addresses are masked, and they cannot attack one another. At times, if a player is traveling, they also use a VPN to ensure their location remains that of their homeland.
What to consider when choosing a VPN for gaming?
There are a few factors that you must consider when choosing a VPN for gaming. Bear in mind there may be a difference between choosing a VPN for streaming and choosing a VPN for gaming. Yes, there are a few similarities too, but when you have hundreds of VPNs at your disposal you may have a hard time picking one.
That’s why to make the decision easier for you we’ve outlined a few tips you need to know before finalizing your choice of a VPN for gaming.
Consider server location
One of the most important factors in ensuring the VPN you’ve picked out can access the servers and locations that are of absolute necessity to you. For instance, you may want to play a game that’s only available at a certain location or one that’s restricted in your region but not elsewhere.
In both cases, the VPN should resolve your issue by accessing the location and getting past the geo-restriction. There’s also the possibility that the game you want to play doesn’t support using VPNs. So, you might have to abort your plan entirely; simply avoid such a scenario by ensuring the VPN works for gaming beforehand.
Make sure it allows for a P2P connection
Peer-to-peer connections let you play online games easily, as many of them require such a feature. A VPN works for gaming if it supports P2P connections. Otherwise, it wouldn’t be possible for you to play games using a VPN. One way to do that thoroughly checks a VPN’s features. Most trusty VPNs list all their features on their official website.
If you’re still unsure, you can go through reviews and see what people have to say about a certain VPN, then you can decide assuredly. Although, be aware of fake reviews so don’t rely on a single website for all the reviews.
Ensure the VPN is compatible with the platform you want to game on
Let us iterate every VPN has a different set of compatibility. The same goes for gaming platform compatibility. You might find a few gaming platforms where the use of VPN may be entirely banned or vice versa. In this case, you’ll have to look up both the gaming platform and the VPN and whether they’re compatible with each other or not.
In some cases, a gaming platform may have blocked VPN usage on your phone due to technical difficulties during gaming but may work completely fine when tried on the PC. Don’t be alarmed though; such a case is pretty common. So, ensure the VPN should work for gaming on every device.
Choose a secure, safe, and trusted VPN
Security features of a VPN decide whether such a VPN can defend your system well or not, after which you can determine its safe to use or not. Such as AES 256-bit encryption or something similar to ensure your communication takes place within a safe space.
The VPN should be able to tackle DDoS attacks or any other cyber threats immediately. In case you’re gaming on public Wi-Fi, a VPN will ensure your safety. It can also help you avoid bandwidth throttling.
A VPN is only good enough if it fulfills your requirement quota. If even a certain aspect of the VPN doesn’t work for gaming, then you’d be wasting your money.
Top VPN Recommendations for Gaming
Hopefully, by now, you understand the difference only a VPN can make in your gaming experience. But before you go on getting any VPN subscription, allow us to guide you onto the right path. Choosing a VPN can be an extremely delicate and thorough process, and based on our testing of nearly 50 VPNs, we’ve picked out the best ones.
Have a look.
1. ExpressVPN – The Best VPN for Gaming
ExpressVPN is the best VPN for gaming because of its high-performance capability. It has a network of [short code] servers in [short code] countries. Its performance rating is based on the factors we mentioned above. However, ExpressVPN also had a number of other features that made it the ideal VPN for gaming.
If one server provided adequate speed, we could easily switch to another server, offering better speeds along with minimal lagging.
Another factor that we found impressive was the set of security features that came with ExpressVPN. It provided military-grade encryption, an automatic kill switch, and a no-logs policy; thus, it was impossible for any other player to sabotage your gameplay. The TrustedServer technology ensures your data isn’t copied on a hard drive.
The split tunneling feature allows you to continue gaming securely and also look up cheat codes on the Internet along the way. You can connect up to 5 devices simultaneously with ExpressVPN. In case you face any issues, you can refer to the 24/7 available customer helpline of the VPN provider.
Best of all, ExpressVPN comes with a money-back guarantee of 30 days, so you can always change your mind in case you find its performance unsatisfactory though we highly doubt it’d disappoint you.
Read more about ExpressVPN in our detailed review. Get ExpressVPN right away at a price of [pricing short code].
2. CyberGhost – Super Speed VPN for Gaming
CyberGhost provides super speeds for gaming purposes, thanks to its huge networks of [short code] servers across [short code] countries. When we tested CyberGhost, it provided a speed of 70Mbps for gaming which is more than the recommended speed for gaming. Hence, we were quite satisfied with the results.
This VPN provider is capable of overcoming lags without interrupting your gameplay. Apart from that, it provides the best security features like AES 256-bit encryption, strict zero-logs policy, IP/DNS leak protection, along with an automatic kill switch to make sure every cyber threat is kept at bay.
You can also choose from a variety of protocols like OpenVPN (TCP or UDP), WireGuard, or IKEv2. In this way, you can keep your entire focus on the gameplay at hand instead of being worried about your PC getting infected by a DDoS attack.
One of the best features of CyberGhost is its user-friendly apps. Regardless of your operating system, you’ll find the app quite easy to use and get things done swiftly. Unfortunately, there is no dedicated app for consoles, but you can install it on your Xbox Series S as long as you change the DNS settings for the console.
CyberGhost allows connecting up to seven devices simultaneously and offers a money-back guarantee of 45 days. If you’re having an issue navigating through the app or while downloading the VPN, you can consult its 24/7 available live chat service.
Get your hands on CyberGhost today at a cost of [pricing short code]. If you’re still not convinced, you can refer to our CyberGhost detailed review.
Now you can cease your search for ‘how does a VPN work for gaming?’ Don’t you think so? We believe we’ve covered all the bases you needed to know about.
FAQs
Is a VPN good for gaming?
A VPN is good for gaming because it helps you in avoiding data throttle and also encrypts your data so that your ISP cannot detect your activities. Furthermore, you can even switch from one port to another so that it becomes even harder for ISPs to find you or much less throttle your bandwidth.
Can a VPN reduce ping?
Yes, a VPN can reduce ping considerably while gaming. That’s because most VPN packets allow you to take a direct route as compared to your ISP packet. A VPN ensures you’re able to connect easily to the server of the game you’re playing.
Which free VPN is best?
ExpressVPN is the best VPN with its numerous servers, top-notch quality speed and security, and a 30-day money-back guarantee. However, feel free to browse for free VPN options. But we’d not recommend them as they’re slow and don’t work well for gaming
Are VPNs legal to use for gaming?
Yes, VPNs are legal to use for gaming. Through a VPN, you can avoid unstable ping rates, ensure your security and unblock games that might be geo-restricted to play with your friends who are situated overseas. Do ensure that the VPN of your choosing has reliable security features, though.
Conclusion
That’s all the wisdom we had in our possession to impart regarding ‘how does a VPN work for gaming?’ If you found this article useful feel free to let your friends know. We believe ExpressVPN is the best VPN provider for gaming, and you’ll find its capabilities quite impressive as well once you give it a chance. So have a good game!
