As a passionate gamer, I’m always on the hunt for ways to keep my connection smooth, stable, and secure no matter where I am. Thankfully, there is a solution to this – a gaming VPN.
But, you may wonder how exactly can a VPN improve your gameplay? Isn’t it supposed to slow down your network and mess with your connection?
Well, yes, if you don’t know how to use it properly. But just like in gaming, having the proper setup can make all the difference. But, finding your holy grail can be difficult and time consuming.
Thankfully, here at AllBioHub’s Guide we’ve done all the research and testing for you, to make sure you have the best VPN for your gaming sessions.You can be sure that our recommendations not only offer top-notch security but also keep latency low, giving me that crucial edge during clutches.
In this guide, I’ve tested some of the best VPNs out there, rating them based on performance, ease of use, security, pricing, and one other key factor that matters to me and/or my fellow travelers – the number of server locations and countries.
Ready to level up your gaming with the right VPN? Let’s dive in.
The best gaming VPNs at a glance
Recent updates
This update has seen us shake up our best gaming VPN rankings, with Surfshark rising to #2.
The five best gaming VPNs in 2025
1. NordVPN: The best gaming VPN overall
(Image credit: NordVPN)
Subscribe if:
✅ You want a huge range of servers: NordVPN’s current count is over 6,400 in 110 countries – more than ExpressVPN, Surfshark and most others.
✅ Speed is of the essence: our latest testing showed NordVPN to be among the fastest VPNs.
✅ You’re also a big streamer: NordVPN can unblock streams on Netflix, Prime Video, Max, BBC iPlayer, and many more.
Avoid if:
❌ You’re a mobile gamer: while the NordVPN smartphone app certainly isn’t bad, I find it less intuitive than ExpressVPN’s.
❌ You dislike price hikes: NordVPN has great value long-term plans when you sign up, but they shoot up at the end of your term.
Bottom line: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
NordVPN is a fantastic gaming VPN, and even the negative points I have raised here are relatively minor niggles attempting to find fault with an all-round excellent service. If you’re still not sure, you can give it a try and be confident that you can cancel thanks to its no-quibble 30-day money-back guarantee.
Topping Tom’s Guide’s overall list of best services, NordVPN also holds the number one spot in my chart of gaming VPNs.
My NordVPN review found the Panama-based provider delivered some of the fastest speeds we’ve tested, and you’ll have a network of over 6,400 servers in 110 countries to pick from. That means no matter where you are, you’re pretty much guaranteed a connection that will work stably on your regular internet line.
Previously, NordVPN suffered from slightly unreliable speeds, but in our last testing it proved to be much more stable. It’s proved itself as one of the very fastest VPNs on the market, topping out at a blistering 950 Mbps when its proprietary protocol NordLynx is toggled on. This makes it a brilliant choice as one of the best Warzone VPNs.
I’m always impressed by just how many security tools NordVPN manages to pack into its plans. You’ll get battle-tested encryption and Nord’s very own NordLynx protocol – which is based on WireGuard. This combination of speed and security means you can avoid bandwidth throttling that some ISPs enforce. Plus its Threat Protection Pro service (for “Plus” and “Ultimate” level subscribers) is a seriously impressive alternative to antivirus, with leading anti-phishing and anti-malware tools.
Nord’s apps are very stable, meaning you won’t be going back and forth to check on it, and you can also set it up on a router to cover your consoles. Plus, in my testing it was able to unblock every single streaming service I tried it with, so it’s perfect when you want to put down the controller, too.
My only real gripe with NordVPN is that the map-based interface on mobiles is a little busy. But I’m willing to admit that this is personal preference, and others don’t mind navigating the world map to find their ideal server location.
Finding it difficult to find any other cons to this service, my overall verdict is that NordVPN is the very best gaming VPN you can download right now..
| Feature | Comments | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Design | Combines beginner-friendly design with enough information for more experienced users | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Ease of use | Largely straightforward, but the map approach on mobile is divisive | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Performance | So fast. Won’t slow down your gaming experience | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Unblocking | Can unblock pretty much any streaming service you might want to watch | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Security and privacy | Comes with excellent array of security tools | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Customer support | Round-the-clock live chat support and thorough online guides | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Price | Great value for long term plans, but price goes up on renewal | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
2. Surfshark: The best cheap gaming VPN
3. Surfshark
Seriously good value gaming VPN
Router support: Yes | Speeds on 1Gbps line: 950+ Mbps | Streaming services unblocked: Netflix, Prime Video, BBC iPlayer, Disney+, ITVX, ITV, C4, 9Now, 10 Play | 24/7 customer suppoort: Yes | Simultaneous connections: Unlimited
- Brilliant price
- Simple and easy to use
- The fastest provider we’ve tested
- Unlimited connections
- Minor kill switch issues
Subscribe if:
✅ Money is tight: VPNs don’t come much cheaper than Surfshark when you opt for its multi-year plan.
✅ You’re avoiding any slowdown whatsoever: we recorded speeds of over 950 Mbps with WireGuard connected – no other provider is faster.
✅ You have a lot of devices to cover: a single Surfshark subscription covers unlimited devices, meaning you can confidently install it on all of your and your family’s gadgets.
Avoid if:
❌ You’re worried about privacy leaks: the issues we found with the kill switch are a bit concerning.
❌ Customization is key: Surfshark lacks some of the functions that we see on more comprehensive services.
I’m very fond of Surfshark. I like how the designers have pared everything back to make it so easy to use and understand. Its connection speeds are scarcely believable and the price of a multi-year plan has NordVPN and ExpressVPN licked.
Despite being launched as recently as 2018, Surfshark remains among the top VPNs for gaming on our list, mostly due to its impressive speeds and tempting price.
In all fairness, speed has never been an issue for Surshark, which continues to be impressively fast, as confirmed after our latest round of testing. It consistently clocked 950Mbps+ on both local and US servers, day or night – something neither Nord VPN nor Express VPN were able to match. As a reference, both of these counterparts also reached those speeds at times, but not as consistently.
Surfshark’s speeds were noticeably slower with OpenVPN compared to WireGuard. Still, it continues to deliver the fastest OpenVPN speeds in our tests, achieving 460Mbps. However, it’s worth noting that this marks a drop from the 640Mbps recorded in our previous round of tests.
Despite this slight dip, you shouldn’t expect any drop in your gaming performance, as Surfshark remains well ahead of the pack, at least when it comes to OpenVPN. In fact, its OpenVPN speeds are significantly faster than those of our top-rated gaming VPNs, NordVPN and ExpressVPN. While NordVPN tops out at 173Mbps and ExpressVPN at 220Mbps, Surfshark stands atop them with its 460Mbps download speed.
Price-wise, Surfshark remains one of the best cheap VPNs in 2024, allowing unlimited connections for $2.19 on a 2-year subscription. But if you think that a lower price compared to major competitors means trade-offs must be made, particularly in areas such as security or privacy, you’d be mistaken.
It uses AES-256 encryption to protect your data, ensuring that your sensitive information remains secure from anyone trying to interfere with your gaming or browsing experience. It will also hide your IP address, making it far more difficult for hackers to pinpoint you. This provides added protection against DDoS attacks – which makes it a great choice for fellow gamers pursuing the best Valorant VPNs.
Combine this with its no-logs policy, and you can be confident that Surfshark isn’t monitoring your gaming sessions or browsing activities.
Gamers should also make note of Surfshark’s Alternative ID technology. Included with all Surfshark subscriptions, this feature lets users generate a new identity and email to use online. If for example, you’re a PC gamer, you’re probably sick of giving out your email address to every different launcher out there. Steam, Origin, Game Pass, Battle.Net and more all need users to make an account to use. If you’re worried about your data on these sites, then use Alternative ID to generate a new persona and fake email that you can link to your real email address. Surfshark also has a similar feature for phone numbers, Alternative Number, that creates a functional virtual burner phone, but you’ll have to pay extra for the add-on.
Our previous tests showed some minor bugs with the kill switch, a feature that cuts your internet connection in case your connection goes down. However, this isn’t a worry anymore, as Surfshark has since improved this functionality with an update.
While I admit this isn’t as critical for gaming, I find it essential for privacy and unintentional data leak prevention, especially when using a VPN for online banking (in-game purchases) or browsing.
No, the apps don’t have quite as much configuration as others, and yes, the support system is marginally slower. But if you’re happy to stick with the recommended settings, evade throttling, access tons of Netflix libraries and more, then this is the best-value way to do it.
Since my last test, Surfshark has risen a notch, now taking 2nd place on my list. While there’s been a slight dip in OpenVPN speeds, I won’t hold it against them – Surfshark has improved its kill switch functionality and finally launched a dedicated Apple TV app. To me, these changes show they’re not just keeping pace but pushing forward, making Surfshark a solid contender in the VPN space.
| Feature | Comments | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Design | One of the more attractive set of apps on the market | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Ease of use | We heartily recommend Surfshark to beginners or the less tech savvy | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Performance | Beats all other providers on sheer speed | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Unblocking | As good for streaming as it is for gaming | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Security and privacy | Very secure, but loses marks for the above-mentioned kill switch issue | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Customer support | 24/7 customer support is available | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Price | Our #1 choice for the best cheap VPNs | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
3. ExpressVPN: The easiest gaming VPN to use
(Image credit: ExpressVPN)
Subscribe if:
✅ You want a router-level VPN: ExpressVPN is really easy to use with your home router and even offers its own AirCove router.
✅ You want an easy life: no matter the platform, ExpressVPN is a delight to use.
✅ Streaming is a priority: ExpressVPN has a great reputation for unblocking an array of streaming services around the world.
Avoid if:
❌ Speed is your main focus: our latest testing showed ExpressVPN lagging behind NordVPN and Surfshark.
❌ You’re a penny pincher: ExpressVPN has some of the most expensive plans on the market.
It may have dropped out of our #1 slot and the premium pricing will put many off, but ExpressVPN remains an extremely capable gaming VPN. It combines ease-of-use with a slew of handy features, offers genuinely useful 24/7 customer support and you can test it out with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
ExpressVPN is a solid VPN with top-notch security. But when you stack it up against NordVPN and Surfshark, it’s a bit of a lightweight in the features department, which led to it dropping to 3rd place after our latest round of testing.
The thing you’ll notice over and over again in my ExpressVPN review is just how intuitive this service is to use. Whether on desktop or smartphone, its apps are ridiculously easy to operate. You’re never left in any doubt as to what the clients are up to, how to change server or where to toggle settings on and off. And if you do come across any issues, the 24/7 live chat will be able to sort you out in minutes.
As a gaming VPN, it’s set apart by its dedicated router VPN app, which means you’ll be able to avoid throttling and stay secure even on consoles that don’t natively support VPNs – there’s no special treatment for the PC gamer here. Plus, while it doesn’t offer encryption, Express’s MediaStreamer Smart DNS tool will allow you to switch locations on your PlayStation or Xbox to watch geo-blocked content.
Outside of gaming you’ll also be able to unblock pretty much any regional Netflix library, as well as access restricted sites like BBC iPlayer in the States.
So, why has it fallen to number three in this chart?
ExpressVPN has always been solid on speed – more than average, but never the best. In our latest tests, we noticed a slight dip in performance, especially with OpenVPN, which dropped from 201Mbps to 176Mbps. That’s still faster than NordVPN but noticeably slower than Surfshark, which clocks in at nearly three times the speed.
To be fair, though, 176Mbps is more than enough to stream in 4K with hardly any buffering, and we only noticed a few minor hiccups during testing. On the bright side, ExpressVPN’s Lightway protocol reached an impressive 898Mbps, which is especially strong for a TCP-based protocol.
Despite its reliable performance across a range of networks, ExpressVPN still trails both NordVPN and Surfshark, which consistently hit 950Mbps+, leading to its drop to 3rd place in our rankings.
It would be remiss of me not to mention ExpressVPN’s biggest downfall, which is its cost. At twice the price of NordVPN, I believe “reassuringly expensive” is the phrase.
Overall, ExpressVPN is an excellent gaming VPN, especially if you’re looking for a no-fuss choice. But I can see why you might end up choosing to go for something a little more affordable.
It may have dropped out of our #2 slot and the premium pricing will put many off, but ExpressVPN remains an extremely capable gaming VPN. It combines ease-of-use with a slew of handy features, offers genuinely useful 24/7 customer support and you can test it out with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
| Feature | Comments | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Design | Clean, clever and confusion-free | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Ease of use | Great for beginners and experienced users alike | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Performance | Fast, but lagging behind its main competitors | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Unblocking | Unblocks every streaming service that we tested | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Security and privacy | No complaints in this department | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Customer support | Fast and effective 247/ live chat support | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Price | More expensive than most, but still worth the money | ⭐⭐⭐ |
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