Best VPN for gaming in 2026
Gamers often have to deal with some annoying connection-related issues, such as high ping, ISP throttling, or fears of being DDoSed by other players. These challenges can be frustrating, but luckily, there are ways around them.
Here are the key takeaways:
- VPNs can optimize your online experience, based on our testing
- A VPN helped mitigate ISP throttling and reduced the impact of DDoS attempts on high-traffic connections during our testing
- While VPNs typically increase latency, using one with a large and fast server network can keep the difference minimal
To help you choose the best VPN for gamers, along with the Cybernews research team, I spent over two weeks conducting hands-on testing on over 10 VPNs to determine which products offered the best tools for gamers. These included checking the latency and stability of the connection, as well as ease of use, focusing on real-life gamer applications.
Quick shortlist: top 5 best VPNs for gaming
- NordVPN – best gaming VPN in 2026
- Surfshark – most affordable gaming VPN, even cheaper with coupon code OFFCN
- CyberGhost – affordable VPN with dedicated gaming servers
- Proton VPN – privacy-focused gaming VPN
- ExpressVPN – best VPN for gaming consoles
This shortlist was created by applying the Cybernews testing process, which you can read more about below.
Detailed analysis of the best VPNs for gaming
To help you pick the best VPN for gaming, I prepared a detailed list of the top 7 VPNs that performed the best during in-house testing of 10 VPNs.
1. NordVPN – best all-around gaming VPN
| Servers/countries: | 9,500+ servers in 149 countries |
| Simultaneous connections: | Up to 10 |
| WireGuard protocol: | ✅ Yes (NordLynx) |
| Dedicated gaming servers: | ❌ No |
| Starting from: | $3.49/month |
NordVPN is my top pick for the best VPN for gaming. It achieves excellent speeds and stability with its NordLynx protocol and can further help you play multiplayer games thanks to its large feature set.
Here are the features that make NordVPN the best choice for gamers:
- Over 9,500 servers in 149 countries allow you to join the lobbies you want, including getting bot lobbies in Black Ops 7 and other games
- Meshnet allows you to play games that require a LAN connection (particularly a retro game), setting up a virtual network similar to the once-popular Hamachi
- IP address protection makes it harder for competitors to DDoS you, even if they try to gain an unfair advantage
- Excellent speed retention guarantees a stable connection and the lowest latency possible, as well as high download speeds
- Privacy features ensure that your ISP can’t throttle your connection, should it have a policy of slowing down games
To test NordVPN, I decided to perform a speed test and use Counter-Strike 2 as a benchmark of real-life performance. I connected to a UK server, tested the VPN’s speed, and looked at how it affected latency in the game.
My baseline speed was 900Mbps download and 600Mbps upload. NordVPN scored excellent results with 861.97Mbps download and 547.84Mbps upload, giving an excellent 96% download speed retention, and a very impressive 91% upload speed retention in this particular test.
In Counter-Strike 2, I managed to maintain a stable 47ms ping, which, while not perfect for top-level competitive play, is acceptable for a game of Premier. Since the UK servers aren’t local to me, this was a very good result. The connection was also stable throughout, and I didn’t notice any issues with stutter. Even though NordVPN doesn’t offer dedicated gaming servers, its regular servers are definitely reliable enough to use on a day-to-day basis.
NordVPN’s prices start at $3.49/month with the Basic plan, but I recommend the $4.49/month Plus plan, which includes the NordPass password manager. This is particularly useful for managing credentials for gaming platforms. NordVPN also offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, letting you try the product risk-free.
2. Surfshark – affordable gaming VPN that you can get cheaper with coupon code OFFCN
| Servers/countries: | 4,500+ servers in 100 countries |
| Simultaneous connections: | Unlimited |
| WireGuard protocol: | ✅ Yes |
| Dedicated gaming servers: | ❌ No |
| Starting from: | $2.49/month |
Surfshark is a budget-friendly VPN offering excellent performance for a very low price. With fast servers and unlimited connections, it’s a great choice for playing games, particularly for large families.
Here are the features that make Surfshark an excellent gaming VPN:
- Over 4,500 servers in 100 countries guarantee that you’ll have no problem finding a server nearby
- The WireGuard protocol ensures high speeds, low latency, and excellent stability
- Unlimited connections mean that you can share the account with your family without worrying about disconnections
- Surfshark Nexus increases your privacy and further stabilizes and secures your connection
When testing Surfshark, I found that it offers excellent performance. With a download speed of 858.50Mbps and an upload speed of 549.18Mbps, it managed an excellent 95% download and 92% upload speed retention, making it comparable to NordVPN. Funnily enough, it also matched NordVPN in terms of ping, with a stable 47ms ping when playing Counter-Strike 2.
Surfshark plans start at $2.49/month, making it the most affordable VPN on my list. The basic plan also includes an ad and malware blocker, while higher-tier plans add an antivirus suite, as well as a dark web monitor. You can try it out risk-free thanks to its 30-day money-back guarantee.
Pros
3. CyberGhost VPN – reliable VPN with dedicated gaming servers
| Servers/countries: | Undisclosed number of servers in 100+ countries |
| Simultaneous connections: | Up to 7 |
| WireGuard protocol: | ✅ Yes |
| Dedicated gaming servers: | ✅ Yes |
| Starting from: | $1.59/month |
CyberGhost VPN is the only VPN on my list to include gaming-specific servers. While it lacks in some other areas compared to NordVPN and Surfshark, if you’re looking for pure gaming speed, CyberGhost is a top choice.
Here’s what CyberGhost offers to gamers:
- Dedicated gaming servers optimized for low ping and high stability make choosing a VPN connection easier
- Custom setup for routers makes it easy for console players to set up a VPN of their own
- WireGuard ensures that your connection is stable and secure
- Privacy and security features can help reduce the risk of DDoS attacks and throttling
During testing, CyberGhost achieved one of the weakest results in the speed test comparison, maintaining a download speed of 820.04Mbps (retaining 91%) and an upload speed of 423.02Mbps (retaining 70%). On the other hand, CyberGhost achieved the best result in the ping test, with a score of 37ms, which is significantly better than the others. This demonstrates the effectiveness of CyberGhost's gaming-optimized servers.
CyberGhost is one of the more affordable VPNs on the market, starting at $1.59/month with a 2-year plan. The plan features 7 simultaneous connections, and long-term plans include a 45-day money-back guarantee, allowing you to ensure the product meets your needs before committing.
4. Proton VPN – gaming VPN with excellent privacy features
| Servers/countries: | 20,300+ servers in 148 countries |
| Simultaneous connections: | Up to 10 |
| WireGuard protocol: | ✅ Yes |
| Dedicated gaming servers: | ❌ No |
| Starting from: | $2.99/month |
Proton VPN is a popular VPN known for its advanced privacy practices and reliable free tier. Thanks to the WireGuard protocol and good speeds, it’s also a solid choice for gamers looking for a reliable VPN.
Here’s what Proton VPN offers gamers:
- WireGuard protocol is a fast and reliable VPN protocol, ensuring a consistent and stable connection to the games you play
- NetShield ad-blocker helps you avoid pesky ads in browser games
- VPN Accelerator improves performance on distant servers
- Secure Core servers are excellent if you need added privacy or improved DDoS protection
When testing Proton VPN, I found it to have the best download speed out of all the tested VPNs, scoring 869.86Mbps and retaining 97% of the baseline speed. The upload speed was a bit weaker, at 533.20Mbps, retaining 89% of the initial speed. Performance in CS2 was similar to NordVPN and Surfshark, at 48ms ping.
Proton VPN prices start at $2.99, and include an ad blocker and malware blocker along with the base VPN. Proton VPN also offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, allowing you to try before you buy. While Proton VPN also provides a free tier, it’s not strong enough to support gaming.
5. ExpressVPN – best VPN for Linux, macOS, and console gaming
| Servers/countries: | Undisclosed number of servers in 105 countries |
| Simultaneous connections: | Up to 14 |
| WireGuard protocol: | ✅ Yes (Lightway) |
| Dedicated gaming servers: | ❌ No |
| Starting from: | $2.49/month |
ExpressVPN is one of the most popular VPN providers on the market. With recent changes, the app has become even more intuitive and reliable. The update also introduced brand-new features to macOS and Linux users. These, along with integration with the Aircove router, make ExpressVPN an excellent choice for users gaming on Windows and non-Windows platforms alike.
Here are the features that make ExpressVPN stand out for gamers:
- Excellent macOS and Linux apps make it a great choice for gaming outside the Windows ecosystem
- Aircove router integration allows you to easily set up a VPN covering your console
- The Lightway protocol ensures high speeds and stability
- Privacy and security features helps you with protection from ISP throttling and DDoS attacks
Performance-wise, ExpressVPN had one of the better download speeds – 866.34Mbps (retaining 96%). The upload speed came in at a much weaker 479Mbps (retaining 80%). Its ping in CS2 was also on the slower side, scoring 50ms. While the 3ms drop compared to NordVPN isn’t a huge deal, it’s the first VPN to cross what I consider to be the frustrating latency threshold of 50ms.
ExpressVPN plans start at $2.49/monthand offer between 10 and 14 simultaneous connections depending on the plan. ExpressVPN offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, allowing you to test the service without a long-term commitment.
6. Bitdefender Premium VPN – solid VPN with an antivirus suite
| Servers/countries: | 3,000+ servers in 100 countries |
| Simultaneous connections: | Up to 10 |
| WireGuard protocol: | ✅ Yes |
| Dedicated gaming servers: | ❌ No |
| Starting from: | $2.50/month |
Bitdefender VPN is a product from Bitdefender, a company mostly known for its antivirus product. However, its VPN is also reliable, offering all the features you’d expect from the product.
Here’s what Bitdefender Premium VPN offers gamers:
- Reliable performance thanks to the WireGuard protocol
- No-logs policy helps to maintain your privacy
- Security features helps you with protection from DDoS attacks and ISP throttling
- Servers in 100 countries give you access to deals from around the world
In my speed tests, Bitdefender Premium VPN had one of the weakest results among the VPNs I tested. Its 833.95Mbps (93% of baseline speed) download and 509.72Mbps (85% of the baseline speed) upload speed test wasn’t terrible by any means, but most of the other VPNs on my list managed higher speeds. In CS2, Bitdefender Premium VPN averaged around 49ms ping, putting it in the middle of the pack.
Bitdefender Premium VPN starts at $2.50/month. However, I feel that the best value proposition is its antivirus bundle, which starts at $12.99/month. While expensive, this approach provides an antivirus, a password manager, and protection against scams and email threats, safeguarding all aspects of your gaming life. Bitdefender comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee, allowing you to test it risk-free.
7. IPVanish – solid VPN with unlimited connections
| Servers/countries: | 3,400+ servers in 112 countries |
| Simultaneous connections: | Unlimited |
| WireGuard protocol: | ✅ Yes |
| Dedicated gaming servers: | ❌ No |
| Starting from: | $2.19/month |
IPVanish offers a reliable VPN with an audited no-logs policy and decent speeds at an affordable price. If you’re looking for a VPN with unlimited connections and are not interested in Surfshark, IPVanish is a good choice for content unblocking, privacy, and gaming alike.
Here are the features IPVanish offers to gamers:
- WireGuard ensures that your connection is fast and stable
- Privacy and security features help hide your activity from your ISP and reduce the risk of DDoS attacks
- Unlimited connections mean that your entire family can game on a single subscription
- Servers in 112 countries give you access to the best gaming deals
IPVanish’s speed tests indicate that it’s slightly slower than the other products on the list in terms of speed. It scored 797.60Mbps (retaining 88% of the baseline speed) for download speed and 474.35Mbps (retaining 79% of the baseline speed) for upload speed, which isn’t incredible by any means. When I played CS2, I found that it averaged around 52ms of ping, which is the weakest result on my list.
IPVanish plans start at $2.19/month, which includes unlimited devices, as well as a threat protection suite. In case you want to try it risk-free, the provider offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, which is easy to redeem thanks to IPVanish’s excellent support team.
Best VPNs for gaming compared
In order to help you make your decision, I created a table comparing each VPN and its key features:
| Provider | Price | Servers | Dedicated gaming servers | Simultaneous connections | Protocol | Ping in CS2 |
| NordVPN | From $3.49/month | 9,500+ servers in 149 countries | ❌ No | Up to 10 | NordLynx | 47ms |
| Surfshark | From $2.49/month | 4,500+ servers in 100 countries | ❌ No | Unlimited | WireGuard | 47ms |
| CyberGhost | From $1.59/month | Undisclosed servers in 100 countries | ✅ Yes | Up to 7 | WireGuard | 37ms |
| Proton VPN | From $2.99/month | 20,300+ servers in 148 countries | ❌ No | Up to 10 | WireGuard | 48ms |
| ExpressVPN | From $2.49/month | Undisclosed servers in 105 countries | ❌ No | Up to 14 | Lightway | 50ms |
| Bitdefender | From $2.50/month | 3,000+ servers in 100 countries | ❌ No | Up to 10 | WireGuard | 49ms |
| IPVanish | From $2.19/month | 3,400+ servers in 112 countries | ❌ No | Unlimited | WireGuard | 52ms |
Note that dedicated gaming servers are designed to lower your latency by giving you an efficient server on a quick connection, guaranteeing the lowest latency possible.
Why do you need a gaming VPN?
VPNs are often quoted as useful tools for overall internet use. They allow you to secure your traffic from tracking by ISPs and overcome geoblocks, giving you access to shows and content from around the world.
However, for gamers, VPNs have their own set of unique advantages. Here are the key VPN features for gaming:
- Security. VPNs don’t just secure your traffic from the outside world. They also encrypt your IP address. This is particularly useful in games that still use older server models, where others can easily find your IP address and run a DDoS attack.
- Access. Some games or features are not available in certain locations. For example, casinos in Grand Theft Auto Online are blocked in multiple countries.
- Performance. While VPNs may increase your latency, they can also be helpful if you’re in a region where ISPs throttle gaming connections.
- Regional pricing. By using a VPN, you can potentially get cheaper games by purchasing them in other regions.
Top-selling Steam games and VPN savings
Steam and other game distributors like the Epic Game Store often offer different prices in different regions. A VPN can help you access these discounts, but you will need an appropriate payment method. Note that faking a region change is against Steam Terms and Conditions and may result in games being removed or your account being banned.
| Game | Price US | Price EU | Price LATAM | Price South Asia | Cheapest price |
| ARC Raiders | $39.99 | €39.99 (around $46.07) | $39.99 | $39.99 | Indian Rupee ₹ 2467 $26.53 |
| StarRupture* | $15.99 | €15.99 (around $18.62) | $11.99 | $11.99 | Ukrainian Hryvnia 599₴ $13.70 |
| Rust | $39.99 | €39.99(around $46.07) | $18.99 | $18.99 | Philippine Peso ₱900.00 $14.89 |
| Battlefield 6 | $69.99 | €69.99 (around $80.64) | $69.99 | $69.99 | Ukrainian Hryvnia 1699₴ $38.88 |
| Dead by Daylight | $19.99 | €19.99 (around $23.03) | $14.99 | $14.99 | Ukrainian Hryvnia 429₴ $9.81 |
| Path of Exile 2 | $29.99 | €27.75 ($31,97) | $29.99 | $29.99 | Ukrainian Hryvnia 600₴ $13.73 |
| R.E.P.O.* | $9.99 | €9.49 ($10.93) | $4.99 | $4.99 | Ukrainian Hryvnia 194₴ $4.43 |
| Grand Theft Auto V Enhanced | $19.79 | €19.79 (around $23.30) | $19.79 | $19.79 | Chinese Yuan ¥ 74.50 $10.82 |
| PEAK* | $7.99 | €7.49 (around $8.82) | $3.99 | $3.99 | Ukraine: 98₴(around $2.24) |
| Baldur's Gate 3 | $59.99 | €59.99 (around $69.89) | $34.99 | $29.99 | Ukraine:899₴(around $20.57) |
Prices updated as of April 21st, 2026. The games marked with an asterisk were discounted at the time of writing. Source: SteamDB.
As you can see, various games can be cheaper in different regions. A VPN can be helpful in finding the best deals, as long as you can find a local payment method you can apply to your account. Note that changing your Steam region is complicated, and you’ll likely end up having to have separate accounts for every country you buy games in.
Considerations for using a VPN for gaming
When using a VPN for gaming, you should keep a few things in mind. Here are the aspects to help you understand what you should look out for when picking a VPN:
- Ping. VPNs will most likely increase your latency, so it’s worth choosing a reliable provider that keeps the impact minimal.
- Distance. One of the best ways to reduce latency is to connect to a server close to where you live.
- Protocol. Gaming on VPN is only really viable using the WireGuard protocol and its variations like Nordlynx and Lightway. The OpenVPN protocol offered by many providers is far too slow and will result in lag and desynchronization.
- Pricing and value. Consider pricing and value to avoid overpaying for features you won’t use. For example, Surfshark offers solid performance for gaming at a budget-friendly price, and you can save more with the OFFCN discount code.
Conclusion
I find NordVPN to be the best VPN for gaming, and in fact, it's the VPN I use whenever I need to change my IP address for gaming purposes. Its ultra-fast NordLynx protocol, combined with a huge fleet of servers, makes it a great choice for a wide range of games.
If you’re looking for value, I recommend Surfshark, and if you’re worried solely about in-game performance, CyberGhost is the best choice. However, all the VPNs on this list should be suitable for gaming, and you should pick them based on your particular needs and tendencies. Remember, all of the providers on the list offer free trials or money-back guarantees, so you can test their performance in your favorite game risk-free.
FAQ
Does a VPN slow down games?
A VPN may slow down online games slightly due to increased latency. However, this would be a very small increase. Performance-wise, it’s unlikely that you will notice any slowdowns while gaming.
Can a VPN get me banned from online games?
That depends on the game. Read the terms of service for the games you want to play with a VPN. While most games allow the use of VPNs, some may ban your account.
What VPN do most gamers use?
While I don’t have any concrete data, the most popular VPNs are NordVPN, Surfshark, and ExpressVPN.