Best Steam Deck VPN providers in 2025

Best VPN for Steam Deck in 2025

Why do you need a VPN for Steam Deck?

While you might want to use a VPN on Steam Deck for security reasons, there's also another benefit: it makes games cheaper.

Different countries have various economic conditions, so Steam uses a practice called regional pricing. For example, imagine if a AAA game costs 10% of your monthly income. It would be unreasonable, and you would probably look for another way to get it. That's why Steam lowers game prices in countries with lower average incomes to make them more affordable.

I've analyzed the price differences between different countries of Steam's top 50 most-selling games. I found that games on Steam are almost 40% cheaper in countries like China, Ukraine, and Kazakhstan than in the US.

Country	Steam game price differences compared to the US, %
Ukraine	-39.58%
China	-39.58%
Kazakhstan	-38.35%
India	-34.84%
Egypt	-30.78%
Morocco	-30.78%
Turkey	-30.78%
Philippines	-30.71%
Argentina	-30.03%
South Africa	-24.40%
Brazil	-24.19%
Thailand	-23.22%

To benefit from this price difference, you can use a VPN on Steam Deck to change your location to another country and create an account to buy games at lower prices from that country's Steam store. For example, you could buy a game like EA SPORTS FC 25 in China for around $35.89 cheaper than in the US. Similarly, purchasing NBA 2K25 in Kazakhstan could save you about $25.47 instead of buying it in the US.

However, a VPN alone is not enough to achieve that. Steam uses various measures to prevent exploiting regional pricing. That's why you also need a valid payment method from the area you're trying to buy. So, be ready to create a separate account in one of the listed countries.

Best VPNs for Steam Deck – detailed list:

After rigorously testing 41 VPN services, I’ve considered the crucial criteria of speed, security, compatibility, and user-friendliness to bring you the definitive list of my top VPNs for Steam Deck. While taking into consideration the unique needs of gamers to ensure an unparalleled gaming experience, I curated this list to strengthen your security and guarantee optimal performance. Here are the top 5 Steam Deck VPNs:

1. NordVPN – best VPN for Steam Deck

Region unlocking effectiveness

NordVPN is a truly global player, allowing you to choose from over 7400 RAM-only servers across 118 countries, all physically located in their advertised locations for reliable performance. Also, if you would like to use it to get games at lower prices, NordVPN has servers in nearly all countries that have reduced Steam prices, except China.

Performance impact

During my testing, NordVPN proved to be one of the fastest VPNs on this list. When connecting to servers in Ukraine, Turkey, and Argentina, it maintained about 92% of my original connection speed.

However, the impact on ping was more noticeable. My original ping was 4ms, but when connected to the Ukraine server, it averaged around 56ms, which is still acceptable. Meanwhile, the ping to the Turkey and Argentina servers was higher than expected. Turkey had a 125ms ping, and Argentina had a 492ms ping, causing noticeable lag while gaming.

Connection stability

Creating a Steam account in a different region with NordVPN was quick and effortless. Also, I had no issues gaming on my Steam Deck when connected to more affordable areas. The games ran smoothly, and the server reconnected instantly without disrupting gameplay.

Security and leak protection

NordVPN is one of the most secure VPN providers on the market. It's based in Panama, so it's outside of the Five Eye alliance. Also, NordVPN promises through its privacy policy never to record any sensitive information related to your VPN usage that can compromise your online anonymity. This includes your web activity and your actual IP address. Additionally, to prove that NordVPN has undergone five independent audits of its no-logs policy.

2. Surfshark – rapid VPN for all your devices

Region unlocking effectiveness

Boasting over 3200 RAM-only servers across 100 countries, Surfshark offers a wide variety of regions to connect to. Additionally, it has servers in all areas with reduced Steam prices, including China, Ukraine, and India. However, be mindful that some server locations are virtual, which may affect your connection speeds.

Performance impact

When I tested Surfshark on my Steam Deck, it retained around 95% of my original download speed in regions such as Ukraine, Turkey, and Argentina. However, just like with other providers, the impact on the ping was worse. When connected to Ukraine servers, it was around 44ms, which was manageable. However, the ping increased to 128ms with the Turkey server and 449ms with the Argentina server, making it nearly unplayable.

Connection stability

I could easily use Surfshark to create a Steam account in a cheaper region. Also, I've tried playing Counter-Strike 2 on my Steam Deck in Turkey, Ukraine, and Argentina servers. While I noticed minor connectivity hiccups, the game stayed connected, and I had no issues playing it.

Security and leak protection

Surfshark is one of the safest VPNs available for Steam Deck. It has no history of data breaches and offers industry-leading AES-256 encryption. Additionally, it has a strict no-logs policy verified by independent audits to keep your data safe and private. However, it is based in the Netherlands, which is part of the Nine Eyes alliance.

3. IPVanish – user-friendly VPN for Steam Deck

Region unlocking effectiveness

With an impressive network of over 2400 servers across 109 countries, IPVanish provides uninterrupted access. It also has servers in nearly all regions with lower Steam prices, making saving money on Steam Deck games easy.

Performance impact

Performance-wise, IPVanish doesn't slack. When I tested it, its speed-retention rate in regions such as Ukraine, Turkey, and Argentina was around 90%. Meanwhile, the impact on my ping was noticeable. My average ping was 4ms, but it increased to 44ms in Ukraine, 128ms in Turkey, and 531ms in Argentina, which is generally considered unplayable. However, remember that your ping depends on the distance from the server. So, stick with VPN regions closer to you to get better results.

Connection stability

I used IPVanish to quickly create a Steam account in a region with lower prices and had no issues. Meanwhile, while gaming on Steam Deck, I noticed reconnecting to the server took longer. Also, the game was frozen for a few seconds, but it still stayed connected.

Security and leak protection

If you're concerned about data breaches, IPVanish has never had an external breach since its launch. However, it is based in the US, part of the Five Eyes alliance, and faced controversy in 2016 for providing user data to the government despite claiming no logs. But things changed, and since then, its no-logs policy has been independently audited and verified in 2022.

4. ExpressVPN – fast Steam Deck VPN with good ping

Region unlocking effectiveness

ExpressVPN offers an extensive global server network spanning 105 countries. Though the total number of servers remains undisclosed, this provider offers many unique IP addresses. It also has servers in most countries with cheaper Steam games, except China.

Performance impact

In terms of performance, ExpressVPN retained around 93% of my original download speed in budget regions. Its ping was also better than those of other providers: 25ms in Ukraine and 59ms in Turkey. While 425ms in Argentina was still unplayable, it was better than with other providers.

Connection stability

I could easily create a Steam account in the cheaper region with ExpressVPN. However, the gaming performance on my Steam Deck was worse with it. While I stayed connected to the game, I still encountered some noticeable connectivity issues, such as the game sometimes freezing for a few seconds.

Security and leak protection

ExpressVPN has never encountered any data breaches. It operates under a strict no-logs policy, which has been independently audited multiple times by third-party firms. Additionally, it's located in the British Virgin Islands, meaning it benefits from privacy-friendly laws and operates outside the reach of the Fourteen Eyes alliance.

5. CyberGhost – Steam Deck VPN with gaming-focused servers

Region unlocking effectiveness

CyberGhost enhances gaming performance with dedicated gaming servers across 100 countries. It also offers servers in all regions with low Steam game prices, including China.

Performance impact

CyberGhost was performing well. It retained around 90% of my original download speed in budget regions such as Ukraine, Turkey, and Argentina. The ping was also decent: I got 98ms with Ukraine servers and 90ms in Turkey. In Argentina, it provided the best results among all providers with 296ms, which, although still unplayable, was an improvement.

Connection stability

Connection stability was CyberGhost's shining point. The connection during my gameplay was stable, and I had no issues or disconnections. Also, I didn't encounter any problems while trying to create a Steam account with CyberGhost in another region.

Security and leak protection

Security-wise, CyberGhost never had any real IP leaks. However, some locations that use virtual servers tend to leak the location of the physical server. For example, the China servers are detected as being in Singapore or Hong Kong. Also, CyberGhost does log specific user data, like hardware information, but it doesn't log traffic or connection data. This was confirmed by a September 2022 independent audit by Deloitte, which also audited Surfshark.

How I tested VPNs for Steam Deck

Here at Cybernews, we test each provider strictly according to our VPN testing methodology. To determine the best VPNs for Steam Deck, together with the Cybernews research team, I reviewed 41 VPN providers. After that, I picked the 5 best-performing providers and tested them further according to these criteria:

1. Region unlocking effectiveness (40%). I checked how well each VPN performed while connected to servers in budget-friendly gaming regions like Ukraine, China, and Kazakhstan. Additionally, I tried gaming while connected to these regions to check the stability of the connection.
2. Performance impact (25%). I ran speed tests with our research team while connecting to budget-friendly countries to count speed retention rates. I also identified the best-performing VPN protocols in gaming and checked my ping during extended gaming sessions.
3. Connection stability (20%). I focused on how well Steam detects the VPN and tested how well each VPN bypasses these checks. I also looked at how the VPN reconnects during network interruptions to ensure smooth gameplay.
4. Security and leak protection (15%). I checked how well each VPN keeps my payment details safe during international purchases and whether any IP or DNS leaks could reveal my location, especially in gaming regions.

Do VPNs work on Steam Deck?

Yes, VPNs work on Steam Deck, but there's a catch. You can't download a VPN straight into the Steam Deck because it doesn't support it natively. This means that the only way to get it working on your Steam Deck is by installing a VPN on your router or creating a hotspot from a device with a VPN installed.

Additionally, you can't use most VPN features on the Steam Deck. So, the only way to avoid getting your account flagged is by using a dedicated IP, which most VPNs offer, except IPVanish. However, while a dedicated IP helps with high traffic, it can still be detected as a VPN through deep packet inspection or IP rating.

Also, Steam Deck only supports the OpenVPN protocol, which will reduce your connection speed. So, your best bet to increase your ping and download speed is to use the User Datagram Protocol (UDP) and connect to the region closer to your current location.

How to use a VPN on Steam Deck?

Using a VPN on your Steam Deck provides additional security and access to geo-restricted content. Below, you’ll find step-by-step guides on how to configure your Steam Deck and then set up a VPN.

Step 1: set up the Decky and TunnelDeck

This step is important, as you cannot set up the VPN connection without first configuring your Steam Deck. Here are the steps:

1. Dock your Steam Deck and connect a keyboard with a mouse.
2. Switch to Desktop Mode and open a browser.
3. Look for Decky Loader and download it from GitHub.
4. Install the Decky by clicking on the downloaded file.
5. After installation, switch to the Gaming Mode and click the QAM button (three dots button on the right side of the console).
6. Go to the Plug icon, select Settings (cog wheel), click on Decky, and install an update if prompted. Here, you should see a little icon that represents the Plugin store.
7. Go to the store and look for TunnelDeck, download it, and install it. You should see the TunnelDeck option in the Deck menu.

Step 2: set up the VPN connection

After setting up the Decky and TunnelDeck on your Steam Deck, you can now install the VPN on it:

1. Switch to the Desktop Mode once more. Download the config file from the VPN provider you chose. I highly recommend NordVPN – you can simply type NordVPN config files in your browser and go to the first prompt on NordVPN’s website.
2. There are different protocol modes (UDP and TCP) and countries. Choose whichever you like and download it.
3. Then, on your Steam Deck, go to the System Settings and navigate in the left-hand side menu to Network – Connections.
4. Here, you’ll see networks you used previously or are connected to. Simply click the plus icon at the bottom, and, in a new window, scroll down and click on Import VPN connection.
5. Find the VPN file you have downloaded from the provider, click on it, and confirm by clicking the Open button.
6. Click Yes when asked if you want to copy the certificates. You’ll see a new VPN connection in the VPN menu. Select the recently added one.
7. You’ll see Username and Password inputs. Type them in. You can find them in your VPN provider’s account menu.
8. After successfully setting everything up, go to the Gaming mode. Press the QAM button.
9. Navigate to the Decky menu and click on the TunnelDeck option.
10. In the TunnelDeck menu, you will see all the VPN connections. Toggle the one you want to connect to, and that’s it. It might take a few seconds to establish a connection.

Try NordVPN on Steam Deck

Final thoughts

It’s clear that using a VPN with Steam Deck enhances your gaming experience significantly. Not only does it secure your online activities, but it also opens up a world of content that might be restricted in your region.

My and Cybernews research team’s extensive research and hands-on testing have led me to crown NordVPN as the top choice for Steam Deck users. Its unparalleled speed, vast server network, and robust security features stand out, ensuring a seamless and secure gaming experience.

Whether you are looking to access geo-restricted games or maintain anonymity, equipping yourself with a trusted VPN, like NordVPN, is crucial. It not only meets but exceeds expectations, positioning itself as an indispensable asset for any avid gamer using Steam Deck.

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