The Best Free VPN for Gaming | Low-ping VPN | UrbanVPN
Why should I use Urban-VPN for gaming?
The advantages of Urban-VPN for gaming are exceptional. Urban-VPN’s fast servers lowers latency between a
player and the server client (ping); gamers can be the first to play certain games by downloading from
countries with earlier launch dates; individuals can keep their data and save files safe behind an encrypted
gaming private network. In addition, Urban VPN allows playing multiplayer games in every region – it can
connect to servers around the world to play with your friends, even if a title (such as PUBG or Fortnite)
requires an IP address from a specific country to play. And if someone you played with is a sour looser and
wants to take revenge by hacking your digital assets – you know a VPN app will prevent that from
happening!
11 Best Free VPNs for Gaming | Fastest in October 2021
A free gaming VPN might seem like a good solution to protect yourself from DDoS attacks or swatting. However, free VPNs are rarely good for gaming.
Many don’t provide the security that premium services offer. So if you’re looking to protect your IP address, using a free VPN for gaming can be counterproductive.
When you add data limits, restricted speeds, and compatibility issues, lots of free VPNs can end up ruining your gaming experience.
For game VPNs, I suggest a low-cost premium option. Services like ExpressVPN are affordable and give you the security and speed you need for safe, uninterrupted gaming.
If you want to go ahead with a free game VPN, I can help.
I went on a quest to test over 49 free VPNs for security, speed, and compatibility. While my recommendations come with some limitations, here are the best free VPNs for gaming that I found.
Best Free VPNs for Gaming – Quick Guide
ExpressVPN: Ultra-fast servers, unbeatable security, and unlimited bandwidth for the ultimate gaming experience. You can try it out risk-free as it’s backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Cyberghost: Massive server network and router-compatible, offering 24 hours to test all of its features without limitations.
Windscribe: A router-compatible free VPN with 10GB a month of free data. Split-tunneling and access to 10 P2P-friendly server locations.
PrivateVPN: Get a week’s free unlimited use of this premium VPN with a 30-day money-back guarantee. Fast, unrestricted speeds and world-class security.
Hotspot Shield: A free VPN for PC gaming – no sign up required. Fast speeds and 500MB of free data daily.
Why You Should Use a VPN for Gaming
When you connect to a public gaming server, your primary concern is exposing your IP address to other gamers.
A malicious gamer can use your IP address to launch DDoS or DoS attacks. These can take down your home network and prevent you from playing.
Hackers can even find out your real location and trigger a swatting attack.
Swatting means sending armed SWAT police to another gamer’s house with a hoax threat. It can be dangerous and has led to fatalities in the past.
A VPN can protect you by redirecting your traffic through a server in a different location. It hides your IP address from public view.
VPNs can also decrease ping and latency and increase speed.
If you live far away from a game server, the increased ping can cause annoying lags while you play. By connecting to a VPN server that’s closer to the game server, you reduce this latency and enjoy higher speeds.
Geo-spoofing your IP address has the additional benefit of giving you access to international game servers. A VPN allows you to access geo-restricted content and play with friends around the world.
That’s why any VPN for gaming should have a large network of servers in the right locations, unlimited bandwidth, and lightning-fast speeds.
If you game on a console, you will also need a VPN with router compatibility.
Which is where we come to the problem with free VPNs.
What’s the Catch With Free VPNs?
Free VPNs don’t charge subscription fees, so they need to make money in other ways.
The resulting limitations can compromise both your security and your gaming experience.
Compatibility
Most gaming consoles don’t include VPN support. Instead, you need to install your VPN onto your router. Your console is immediately protected as soon as it connects to your network.
Unfortunately, router-compatibility is usually reserved for premium VPNs. It’s hard to find a free VPN that supports router connection.
Pro-Tip
Free VPNs without router-compatibility still work with PC or mobile gaming. That’s why you’ll find some on my list.
You can also download a free VPN onto your laptop and share your connection with your console. However, the extra link in the connection can hamper speeds even further.
Security
Free VPNs seldom offer the same levels of security you get from a premium service.
A free VPN with inadequate security cannot guarantee your privacy and protection from DDoS attacks.
Some free VPNs have even been known to log and sell your data to third parties.
Limitations
Most free VPNs limit the number of servers you can access. This can prevent you from connecting to the correct game server.
It also means that available servers often get congested, making them slow and unreliable.
To prevent servers from crashing, many free VPNs restrict your speeds and limit your bandwidth and usage.
Gaming uses up to 300MB of data per hour, so these limitations can be too restrictive.
The Best Free VPNs for Gaming (Updated October 2021)
A free VPN may not be the best choice for gaming, and all free VPNs have some limitations, however, I’ve done some extensive research and testing of the various options available. Here are my recommendations for the ten best free VPNs for gaming based on speed, security features, and ease of use.
1. ExpressVPN — Superfast Servers for Zero Lag While You Game
3, 000 servers in 90 countries
Supports P2P/torrenting
World-class security
Lightning-fast speeds
Router compatible
5 simultaneous device connections
30-day money-back guarantee
Works with all major streaming sites, including Netflix, Disney+, HBO Max, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, Vudu, and more
Compatible with all major devices and platforms, including Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, routers, Apple TV, and more
ExpressVPN already tops our list of the best VPNs for gaming. Even though it’s not free, you can try it risk-free, and if you’re not satisfied, get your money back within 30 days.
Its network of high-speed servers guarantees you’ll have zero interruptions while you game. During my tests, I connected to 8 locations worldwide and recorded an average of 55 Mbps. This was more than enough for me to enjoy lag-free gaming.
You can play games from around the world since ExpressVPN boasts 3, 000 servers across 90 countries. Unlimited server switching allows you to quickly change locations in the event of a DDoS attack.
With its military-grade 256-bit AES encryption, DNS leak protection, and an automatic kill switch, ExpressVPN keeps your gaming activity secure. Additionally, it masks your IP address for an added layer of protection against cyber threats.
Special obfuscated servers hide your VPN usage from your internet service provider (ISP) — especially handy if your ISP is prone to throttling your connection while you game.
However you like to game, ExpressVPN is compatible with all major devices and platforms – including routers.
Read our full review to see why ExpressVPN is our highest-rated service for both gaming and general use.
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2. Cyberghost — Tons of Servers to Access Games From Anywhere
7, 290 servers across 90 countries to mask your real location and enjoy games from different locations
24-hour free trial
256-bit encryption, a kill switch, and DNS/IP leak protection to keep your data secure
Router-compatible for easier setup on your console
7 simultaneous device connections
Works with: Netflix, HBO Max, Disney +, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, and more
Compatible with: PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo, Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more
Cyberghost has a huge global server network. This is helpful if you ever move abroad or go on vacation. You’ll still be able to access your home country’s games and streaming apps through your console. It’s also beneficial for maximizing speeds. For instance, I noticed that the Tampa server was causing minor lag while I tested it with Red Dead Redemption on PS5. So I switched to Miami, which was much faster. You can game at top speeds, from any location.
It’s easy to set up Cyberghost on the most popular gaming consoles. You can do this via internet connection sharing with your PC or Mac. However, this only changes your region and doesn’t encrypt your traffic. The other option is to use a VPN-compatible router. Cyberghost even offers routers (through FlashRouters) with the app pre-installed. This way, you’ll get all of the security benefits without manually configuring the VPN.
It also has superfast servers with unlimited bandwidth. Some ISPs cap the amount of bandwidth you’re allowed which can lead to heavy throttling while you’re gaming. However, I never ran into this problem with Cyberghost. I tested 3 server locations (US, Japan, and the UK) — the average download speed was 43 Mbps. There won’t be any interruptions while you’re gaming.
Your personal data and gaming console are safe since it gives you military-grade encryption and DNS/IP leak protection. If a skilled hacker gets ahold of your IP address, they can easily launch DDoS attacks on you. This can prevent you from using your console completely. To be sure you can trust this, I used a tool to test for leaks. It didn’t detect any. You can game without being at risk of cyberattacks.
You’re able to test its full-featured service when you use Cyberghost’s 24-hour free trial. After this, you can continue trying it risk-free as it offers a 45-day money-back guarantee. When I was finished testing (after 28 days), I used the live chat option to request my refund. The agent asked me a couple of quick questions regarding my experience — it only took 2 minutes before she approved the return. I had the money back in my account after 3 days.
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3. Windscribe – Free 10GB of Data Every Month
Servers in more than 60 countries and 110 cities
Monthly allowance of 10GB
Military-grade encryption
Split-tunneling and P2P support
Router-compatible
Works with US Netflix, but only with a premium account
Compatible with smart TVs, and NAS devices as well as all major devices and platforms
Windscribe offers a free, router-compatible version of its services with a few limitations.
You’ll get 10GB of free data per month. That’s enough for just over 33 hours of gaming on one of the more data-heavy games like Destiny 2.
You get even more time on lighter games like Fortnite or Call of Duty; just over 10 days’ worth of gaming.
You can add 5GB of data to your account by tweeting the company.
Windscribe’s network spans 60 countries, but you’ll only get access to 10 locations if you’re a free user. These countries include the US, the UK, Hong Kong, France, the Netherlands, and Germany, so you should find most major game servers covered.
Windscribe is very secure for a free VPN. As well as military-grade encryption, the service offers a built-in ad and malware blocker.
The service also offers free users P2P-friendly servers and split-tunneling. I enjoyed being able to use split-tunneling to protect my gaming connection whilst being able to browse normally elsewhere.
Speeds on Windscribe’s free servers can be slow during peak times. You might be restricted as to when you can play without annoying lag.
You can get unlimited access to Windscribe by upgrading to a premium account with a 30-day money-back guarantee. Find out if we think it’s worth it in our comprehensive Windscribe review.
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4. PrivateVPN – Completely FREE 7-Day Trial
More than 100 servers in 60 countries
Unlimited 7-day free trial
Military-grade security
Fast speeds
Works with all the most popular streaming sites like Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Amazon Prime Video, and more
All servers are P2P-friendly, but PrivateVPN recommends its servers in Sweden for best results
Compatible with Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, and Linux
PrivateVPN is one of my top-rated VPNs, especially for security.
You can try it out free with a 7-day free trial. You will need to register for the free trial, but PrivateVPN will not ask for any payment details. That means no automatic renewals and unexpected charges.
You’ll enjoy unrestricted access to all of PrivateVPN’s premium features throughout your trial. That means no limitations on speed, bandwidth, or usage.
In fact, PrivateVPN guarantees low latency and high speed. These are two factors vital for smooth, uninterrupted gaming.
It also means you’ll get access to all the VPN’s 100+ server locations in 60 countries.
PrivateVPN is renowned for its security measures. You’re protected from DDoS and DoS attacks by military-grade encryption, a kill switch, and both DNS and IPv6 leak protection.
The service is also router-compatible, with comprehensive setup tutorials on its website.
If you enjoy using PrivateVPN during your trial, you can upgrade to a premium subscription. Prices are very affordable and you can even enjoy a longer trial period with the 30-day money-back guarantee. Just remember to cancel your subscription before the month ends to qualify for a full refund.
Find out why PrivateVPN is one of my top five VPNs in our in-depth review.
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5. Hotspot Shield – Great Combination of Speed and Security
Completely free service
500MB of free data per day
Compatible with Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, Chrome, and Firefox
Alongside its premium version, Hotspot Shield offers a completely free service. You won’t have to enter any payment details or even register to use it. Just download the app and connect.
Hotspot Shield gives you a daily allowance of 500MB. That gets you a minimum of an hour and a half of gaming per day.
Hotspot Shield’s innovative Catapult Hydra protocol guarantees speed and security. I found my connection with Hotspot Shield was fast enough for gaming without lag.
Additional security features include 256-bit AES encryption and built-in malware-blocking technology.
Hotspot Shield’s network covers 80+ countries but these are reserved for premium users. You’ll only be able to connect to the service’s default US server if you want to use the VPN for free.
If you only want to connect to US game servers, this shouldn’t be a problem. However, you might find the server limitation restrictive if you’re looking for international gameplay or early access to geo-restricted content outside the US.
Hotspot Shield is not router-compatible. You won’t be able to use it with your games console. Still, it makes my top five as it’s fast, secure, and an excellent free service for PC gaming.
Find out more in our full Hotspot Shield review.
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6. ProtonVPN – Unlimited Data and Bandwidth
Multiple servers across 50 countries
Truly free service with no limits
Excellent security
Built-in ad-blocker
Works with Netflix, YouTube, Spotify, and Kodi
Compatible with Android, Windows, macOS, iOS, Linux, and routers
ProtonVPN’s no-cost service is one of the few VPNs to offer an unrestricted service for free.
You’ll enjoy unlimited data and unlimited bandwidth for as long as you use the service. That means you can game whenever you like, for as long as you like.
The service is fully compatible with routers, so you can protect your connection whether you game on your PC or a console.
ProtonVPN’s security measures are particularly impressive for a free service. As a free user, you’re still protected by military-grade encryption, an automatic kill switch, and DNS leak protection. There’s even a built-in ad-blocker.
The service has a worldwide network across 50 countries, although you’ll only have access to servers in the US, Netherlands, and Japan.
Sadly, these server restrictions do hamper ProtonVPN’s speeds. I found the available servers to be slow and unreliable at times, which can be problematic for gaming.
If you want full access to all of ProtonVPN’s network, you’ll need to upgrade. Premium subscribers also benefit from faster speeds and P2P-enabled servers. You can get all these features for free for a month with ProtonVPN’s 30-day money-back guarantee.
Find out how ProtonVPN stacks up to other freemium services in our full review.
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7. – Unrestricted Speeds for Lag-Free Gaming
2GB free data per month
No speed restrictions
Works with YouTube, Kodi, and Spotify
Compatible with Android, macOS, iOS, Linux, Chrome, Firefox, Windows and Windows Phone, and Amazon Fire OS
is a free service that gives you 2GB of free data every month. That’s at least seven hours of secure gaming.
Speeds and security measures are unrestricted for free users. You’re safeguarded against malicious gamers by 256-bit AES encryption and an automatic kill switch.
Server access is limited, however. You’ll only have access to five of ’s 75 server locations. I didn’t find this too restrictive, though. Free users can still connect to servers in the US, Canada, the Netherlands, and Singapore, which is a fairly decent global spread.
is also fully router-compatible. The website even features a range of handy guides for setting up the VPN on your router.
Find out more about the service – including whether it’s worth making the most of the 30-day money-back guarantee – in our thorough review.
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8. TunnelBear – Prevent ISP Throttling With GhostBear Mode
Servers in 40 countries
500MB monthly data allowance
Easy to use
Ghost Bear mode to prevent ISP throttling
Only works with HBO GO, no other streaming sites
All servers support P2P activity
Compatible with Android, Windows, macOS, iOS, Chrome, Firefox, and Opera. No router or smart TV compatibility
TunnelBear gives you 500MB of free data every 30 days. That’s around an hour and a half of gaming per month.
However, TunnelBear is so easy to use that it might suit the more casual PC gamer. I found its apps to be intuitive and user-friendly – perfect if you’re not used to VPNs.
I say PC gamer because TunnelBear is not router-compatible. It makes up for it with military-grade AES 256-bit encryption, though.
You can upgrade to enjoy unlimited data with TunnelBear, but there’s no money-back guarantee to rely on.
It’s a secure free gaming VPN but other premium services might be better if you’re going to pay. Read our full-length TunnelBear review to find out why.
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9. Betternet – Premium Security Features for Safe Gaming
500MB free data daily
Compatible with Android, Windows, macOS, iOS, and Chrome devices
Betternet gives you a completely free version of its premium service with 500MB of free data every day. That’s around one and a half hours of gaming per day.
You’ll enjoy all of Betternet’s premium security features with a free subscription. These include military-grade encryption and the Catapult Hydra protocol used by Hotspot Shield to boost speeds.
Unfortunately, Betternet does not support router compatibility, although its website states that this may change in the future. In the meantime, it’s a decent free VPN for PC gaming.
Read our Betternet review to find out more.
Get Betternet for Free!
10. Speedify – Channel Bonding to Boost Gaming Speeds
Good speeds for gaming via channel bonding
2GB monthly free data
Works with Netflix, Hulu, Kodi, and Spotify
Compatible with Android, Windows, macOS, iOS. No router compatibility
Speedify differs from other VPNs by using channel bonding technology to increase speeds. Its fast and reliable connections are great for gaming without lag.
Unfortunately, channel bonding does use up more data than a regular VPN connection. You might find this depletes your monthly 2GB of free data quite quickly.
Speedify safeguards your data with 128 GCM encryption. This isn’t up to military standards. However, it should be secure enough to mask your IP address while you game.
Speedify is also not compatible with routers. However, its website does offer a helpful tutorial on sharing your connection with your console.
Learn more about channel bonding in our in-depth Speedify review.
Get Speedify for Free!
11. Opera VPN – Good Choice for PC Gamers
Unlimited usage
Unrestricted speeds
Great for in-browser gaming
You can download the Opera browser on Android, Windows, macOS, iOS, and Linux.
Opera VPN is a free extension of the secure browser, Opera. Unlike other VPNs, Opera VPN will only work in-browser. That means it’s not compatible with console gaming.
However, it is perfect if you play in-browser multiplayers like Isleward or Vikings Village.
It’s also worth recommending because it doesn’t restrict users when it comes to speeds, bandwidth, or data.
You can’t choose to connect to servers in specific countries with Opera VPN. However, you can choose between the US, Asia, or Europe, which should give you access to a wide range of online games.
Find out more in our full Opera VPN review.
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FAQs
Are VPNs legal?
The legality of VPNs varies from country to country. Some countries try to restrict or ban VPN usage because of its association with criminal activity.
In most countries, VPNs are not illegal – only using them for illegal pursuits can get you into trouble.
You can find a full list of countries that ban VPNs in our guide to VPNs and the law.
Does a VPN Impact Speed?
VPNs work by rerouting your traffic via one of their own private servers. This adds another step in your connection to a service or website.
There is always a risk of decreased speeds.
However, the best premium VPNs offer such fast connection speeds that you shouldn’t notice much difference when using one.
Unfortunately, free VPNs cannot usually afford the infrastructure to provide these sorts of speeds. You should always expect slower speeds from a free VPN.
Do These Free VPN Providers Keep Log Files?
One concern when using a free VPN is the logging and selling of your usage data.
To the best of my knowledge, none of my 10 recommended free VPNs keep logs of your browsing activity.
However, free VPNs can be vague in their privacy policies. Some VPNs, like Speedify, will keep logs of anonymized data such as timestamps.
If you’re concerned about logging, I would always recommend opting for a low-cost premium service with a strict no-logs policy.
The Bottom Line
VPNs can provide excellent protection against DDoS and DoS attacks. However, they only work with gaming if they’re secure, compatible with your device, and fast enough to combat latency.
It’s very difficult to find a free VPN that gives you everything you need for gaming.
Most will let you down with slow speeds, inadequate security, or restrictive data limits.
If you can tolerate one or more of these limitations, you’ll be able to find a compatible VPN amongst my recommendations.
But when premium services like ExpressVPN can offer you a seamless gaming experience at a low price, why would you take the risk?
Top gaming VPNs that you can try risk-free with money-back guarantees…
Privacy Alert!
Your data is exposed to the websites you visit!
The information above can be used to track you, target you for ads, and monitor what you do online.
VPNs can help you hide this information from websites so that you are protected at all times. We recommend ExpressVPN — the #1 VPN out of over 350 providers we’ve tested. It has military-grade encryption and privacy features that will ensure your digital security, plus — it’s currently offering 49% off.
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The best VPN for gaming in 2021 – PC Gamer
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We’ve tested a host of different paid-for services to find out which works best for gamers.
The best VPN for gaming means giving yourself stewardship over your own internet connection—nowadays that’s just as important as it is rare. A VPN may not be the first thing you consider in relation to gaming, bit a good VPN has a fair set of benefits. Many offer a low-impact virtual network that won’t interrupt your game, and that means handing you the ability to connect to a game’s servers via another ‘ve been through and tested seven of the top VPN services—through general use to online gaming—to see what kind of impact they have on your PC gaming experience. You’ll need to pick through to decide what feature set makes the most sense for your can be a big factor. To get the best VPN experience, a little money will need to change hands. But the VPNs on this list can be subscribed to on a per-month (or per year) basis, so they don’t have to add up to much. There’s a range to choose from that vary in cost, performance, and features. Take a remember, be wary of free VPNs unless you’re absolutely sure how your data is being processed and where it’s going. (Image credit: Surfshark)1. SurfsharkThe best VPN for gamingSpecificationsServers: 1700+Countries: 63Max devices: UnlimitedReasons to buy+Unlimited devices+Impressive speed+Top ping performanceReasons to avoid-Slower upload than NordVPNSurfshark is my boy. For me, it’s the best VPN for gaming that we’ve tested, offering a great combination of lower ping than my non-VPN’d connection and a relatively minor hit when it comes to overall download speeds. It’s ever so slightly more taxing on the uploads than NordVPN, which comes out top on that score, but not by enough to put me off. For streamers, you’ll probably want to prioritize that upload speed, making NordVPN the go-to option. But then, as a streamer, you’d probably rather have the full bandwidth available to you at all times…The app is straightforward. There are even neat features such as an optional kill switch (disabling your internet connection if the VPN drops for any reason) and a whitelist to allow banking apps and such through the VPN block. The company offers a strict no-logs policy and seems to be reliable on that front. Surfshark is also the only service tested that offers access to unlimited devices from a single account. That’s pretty impressive considering the relatively low cost compared to some of its only issue I’ve encountered is that it doesn’t seem like a happy fit for torrenting. I struggled to get anything to function, so if that’s a deal-breaker for you, then you’ll probably want to look at Nord instead. (Image credit: NordVPN)2. NordVPNThe best VPN for consistent upload speedsSpecificationsServers: 5700+Countries: 59Max devices: 6Reasons to buy+Top download and upload speeds+Decent ping performance+Netflix accessReasons to avoid-App requires lots of updatingIt’s close between Surfshark and NordVPN, but the toothy one just about wins out thanks to its unlimited devices, lower price, and lower ping. NordVPN, however, is the high-performance option if download and upload speeds are the be-all and end-all for your PC experience. It delivers one of the highest relative download speeds in my testing compared to an untouched connection and the absolute highest upload seems to be where many VPN services fall, in just how much they tank your upload connection. My upload speed is already 10x slower than my downloads, so I can ill afford to lose any more. But NordVPN still delivers around 85% of that connection, while Private Internet Access actually dropped down to ‘s also your best option if you find torrenting your go-to method of accessing content online. Surfshark seems to block everything in my experience, making Nord the next best service also delivers an impressive ping performance, too, getting close to my unfettered ping score and consistently beating my game ping scores too. NordVPN is using the latest WireGuard VPN protocol, which it’s calling NordLynx. It’s reportedly the fastest around and does seem to help it run consistently well. (Image credit: IPVanish)3. IPVanishThe best-value VPN for gamingSpecificationsServers: 1400+Countries: 51Max devices: 10Reasons to buy+Good value+Decent performanceReasons to avoid-Not as fully-featured as othersIPVanish is one of the most affordable VPN services we’ve tested, but that doesn’t mean you’re missing out. It might not have the full feature set of Surfshark or NordVPN, but you do get 250GB of SugarSync encrypted storage and backup for free with a new subscription, which could give you a little extra peace of mind over your more sensitive performs well too. The impact on my upload and download speed is impressively minimal, and it also manages, for the most part, to drop down the in-game ping when I’m gaming online. There was a little spike in CS: GO, but nothing worrying, and still with fewer packet drops than with my standard you’re after a quality VPN service to run on your gaming machine, and potentially on nine other devices simultaneously, but don’t want to spend big, then IPVanish is a great alternative to the top two on our list. (Image credit: ExpressVPN)4. ExpressVPNThe best VPN for the global communitySpecificationsServers: 3000+Countries: 94Max devices: 5Reasons to buy+Servers available across the globe+Great Chrome pluginReasons to avoid-Slower upload speedsThe second most expensive service on our list is also the broadest reach across the globe. With servers in a staggering 94 countries, if you’re looking to play with friends abroad, or find yourself traveling a lot, then ExpressVPN could be your best bet for a solid, secure, and relatively speedy VPN isn’t bad in my testing for in-game ping performance, regularly giving me a lower millisecond count than my standard connection in Battlefield V. Still, it sometimes struggled in CS: GO. However, it was the weakest when it came to downloading speeds—not that 94% of my regular connection is bad—but the upload hit was second only to the dreadful performance of Private Internet the top four, it also has the fewest number of simultaneous devices allowed, though, at five devices, you can still share the load across PC, laptop, phone, and significant other. But ExpressVPN is still a quality, reliable service that may not have the top-level performance I’ve measured from some others but is still a decent option for PC 1 of 3(Image credit: Future)Image 2 of 3(Image credit: Future)Image 3 of 3(Image credit: Future)Other VPNs testedVyprVPNPrivate Internet AccessCyberGhostThe best VPN FAQHow could a good VPN for gaming be a thing? The historical consensus has been that you shouldn’t use a VPN while gaming online because it might impact your connection and slow you down. Yes, you might be able to bypass the bane of geo-blocking, but many people complain about horrifying lag and subsequent in-game failures.
That is still the case if you’re using a bandwidth-limited free service, such as Hola or the basic TunnelBear package, but if you pick wisely, you could find the best VPN for gaming that can actually improve your online performance.
It may sound like we’re pulling your chain. But it’s true, a good VPN service can not only keep you safe and secure behind the scenes, but it can actually improve your ping results in-game. Now, it’s not a case of some fancy wizardry that will suddenly turn a slow internet connection into a lightning-quick one. But the best VPNs for gaming will often boast superior routing compared to your current internet service provider (ISP). That means you could find you get less packet loss via a VPN, and you might even see a lower ping, making your connection more responsive in-game.
I run a generally reliable, 100Mbit+ fiber connection at home, yet I still experience some packet loss when I’ve got boots on the ground in Battlefield V. My ping isn’t bad, but hey, it could always be better, right? Running a VPN does, however, take a bit of a chunk out of your overall download and upload speeds, but maybe not as much as you might think. Picking the best VPN for gaming will minimize that should I bother with a VPN? There are other reasons you might want to run a VPN on your own PC, the number one draw being online security. If you don’t want a network tracking your every move, the best way to avoid using a virtual private network is to avoid that. The best VPNs run a ‘no log’ policy, which means they’ll store no data about you or your activity, helping you stay secure in the face of any data breach too. Again, it will also help you get around geo-blocking. Say you want to unlock a new game early or want to subscribe to a service only available in another country, no are VPNs tested? Testing VPNs is a fun game and doesn’t always end up with you bricking your internet connection each time you uninstall one to install another. Honestly. Not every time, anyway… We’ve sourced accounts for each of the services and tested them all on the same 100Mbit connection, at the same time of day, to ensure a fair reflection as to the performance of each of them.
Obviously, there are free VPNs and some VPN services with free tiers, but you won’t find they’re particularly suitable for connecting through while gaming online. They almost always introduce latency to your experience and severely hamper the overall performance of your network connection.
That’s why we haven’t included any of the free options, such as Hola or TunnelBear, in this list. They’re also not necessarily an effective choice if you’re trying to get around geo-blocked services such as video streaming, as you may still find them restricted.
As for testing, first, I took a measurement of my standard, unfettered internet connection, using that as a baseline against which to test each of the different services. Then I installed each VPN and tested it in turn before uninstalling it to add a new VPN fresh.
Dave has been gaming since the days of Zaxxon and Lady Bug on the Colecovision, and code books for the Commodore Vic 20 (Death Race 2000! ). He built his first gaming PC at the tender age of 16, and finally finished bug-fixing the Cyrix-based system around a year later. When he dropped it out of the window. He first started writing for Official PlayStation Magazine and Xbox World many decades ago, then moved onto PC Format full-time, then PC Gamer, TechRadar, and T3 among others. Now he’s back, writing about the nightmarish graphics card market, CPUs with more cores than sense, gaming laptops hotter than the sun, and SSDs more capacious than a Cybertruck.
Frequently Asked Questions about game vpn free
Which free VPN is best for gaming?
The best VPN for gaming in 2021Surfshark. The best VPN for gaming. Specifications. Servers: 1700+ … NordVPN. The best VPN for consistent upload speeds. Specifications. Servers: 5700+ … IPVanish. The best-value VPN for gaming. Specifications. Servers: 1400+ … ExpressVPN. The best VPN for the global community. Specifications.Oct 14, 2021
Is there a free VPN for gaming?
Best Free VPNs for Gaming – Quick Guide ExpressVPN: Ultra-fast servers, unbeatable security, and unlimited bandwidth for the ultimate gaming experience. … Windscribe: A router-compatible free VPN with 10GB a month of free data. Split-tunneling and access to 10 P2P-friendly server locations.Aug 15, 2021
Can I game with a VPN?
When using a VPN, you can enjoy gaming, streaming, torrenting, and surfing, knowing your information, data, and activity is completely safe and secure.