Best VPN for Gaming in 2021

Ranked #1 Best VPN for Gaming

ExpressVPN is one of the fastest and most secure VPN services we’ve tested, and currently our top-rated VPN for online gaming. 

It has 3,000 VPN servers across 94 countries and we recorded very fast same-country download speeds and very low latency. We also experienced fast speeds connecting to far-away servers, once again with very low ping times and no lag.

ExpressVPN is undoubtedly one of the most user-friendly and versatile VPN services with custom apps for Windows, macOS, iOS, Android and FireTV devices. The mobile apps are particularly easy to use, ideal for fans of mobile games like Mobile Legends. 

In addition, ExpressVPN is by far the best VPN to use with gaming consoles like PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, thanks to its MediaStreamer (Smart DNS) feature. All you need to do to connect to an ExpressVPN server is change your gaming console DNS settings, as shown in this step-by-step video.

And if you’re based in a highly censored nation like China or Turkey, ExpressVPN is the most effective VPN at bypassing aggressive online censors.

If you run into difficulties using ExpressVPN, we suggest you contact its 24/7 live support team, which is responsive and knowledgeable. ExpressVPN also comes with a risk-free money-back guarantee of 30 days so you can try it without worrying about losing your money.

Ranked #2 Best VPN for Gaming

NordVPN is a very good alternative to ExpressVPN when it comes to gaming. It’s very fast across its network of over 5,000 servers spread across 59 countries, with very low latency.

While NordVPN’s applications are not as eye-pleasing as ExpressVPN’s native software, they work very well on all platforms: Windows, macOS, iOS and Android. 

You can also use NordVPN’s Smart DNS feature to use the VPN on your PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, or any other gaming console that allows to change its DNS settings. Using Smart DNS is by far the easiest way to install a VPN on gaming console, and NordVPN has dedicated how-to guides on this.

Similarly to ExpressVPN, NordVPN can work in high-censorship countries like China or the UAE, although to get the VPN working you may need to set it up manually. It’s certainly not as smooth an experience as using ExpressVPN if you’re in these locations.

If you ever need help, NordVPN’s 24/7 live chat support is prompt and helpful. And if you’re not happy with the VPN service, you can always ask for a refund within 30 days of signing up.

All in all, NordVPN is very good alternative to ExpressVPN for gaming with a VPN, and it does come at a cheaper monthly price, with a multi-year subscription plan.

Ranked #3 Best VPN for Gaming

CyberGhost is a great gaming VPN for people on a budget, but this takes nothing away from its quality as a premium VPN.

While ExpressVPN and NordVPN are faster, CyberGhost is also fast particularly across shorter distances. In fact, there was only a minimal drop off in speed when we connected to a nearby server. However, latency is pretty high at 14ms.

CyberGhost’s server park is very extensive, with over 6,400 secure servers in 90 countries. That’s currently the highest number of servers on offer by any VPN provider. However, we did experience some higher than ideal latency on a few servers, particularly on longer distance connections.

Just like ExpressVPN, CyberGhost VPN also comes with its own Smart DNS funcionality. Its My Smart DNS feature allows you to connect to CyberGhost’s servers on your gaming console by simply adjusting your DNS settings.

Unfortunately, CyberGhost has one big issue: if you’re currently located or travelling to a high censorship country like China, CyberGhost is unlikely to work and you should use ExpressVPN instead.

Thankfully, its generous 45-day money-back guarantee means you can thoroughly test CyberGhost before fully committing.

Ranked #4 Best VPN for Gaming

Surfshark is a good VPN for gaming, and its speeds have been on the increase, which is critical for optimized online gaming. While it’s still not as fast as NordVPN, especially over long-distances, and its latency is rather high, the recent improvements in this area are a good sign.

Just like its rivals above, Surfshark VPN has a Smart DNS feature for optimal use on gaming consoles. Also, Surfshark’s native applications are user-friendly and a good choice for VPN beginners.

What’s also good for VPN newbies is the quality of Surfshark’s 24/7 live customer support, which has always been helpful when called upon.

Undoubtedly, one of the key advantages of Surfshark is its price point. While it’s not as good for gaming as ExpressVPN or NordVPN, Surfshark is significantly cheaper than both at the moment. For gamers on a tight budget, this can be a deciding factor.

Ranked #5 Best VPN for Gaming

Private Internet Access is a VPN that will deliver top speeds across its entire server network. When connecting to same-country connections we experienced barely any loss of speed. That’s why PIA VPN is our fastest VPN for 2021.

Also, it’s latency is often low although it’s certainly not as low as IPVanish or PrivateVPN’s ping times. Nevertheless, you shouldn’t have many lag problems when gaming with PIA VPN.

Crucially, PIA VPN does come with router-level support so it will work with your PlayStation, Xbox, or Nintendo Switch. However, it is a shame PIA doesn’t have a Smart DNS tool, which is by far the best way to connect a gaming console to a VPN server.

Another drawback of using PIA VPN is that it’s unlikely to work in China – it often can’t beat Chinese web censors. It does work better in other countries like Turkey and the UAE, though.

With a newly upgraded server park of over 3,300 servers across 44 countries, a 30-day refund period and 24/7 live support, PIA is definitely a VPN to consider for your gaming needs.