Security might not be the first thing that might come into your head when thinking about gaming, but when you are playing your favorite games, you’ll be certain that you are just as vulnerable as when you are browsing and shopping.
You might have already have found certain free VPNs, but if you download them then you will certainly find yourself experiencing some difficulties. These types of VPN often have limitations, with data limits being set very low and the speeds often being incapable of handling the fast pace of your computer when it is gaming.
If you are running a free VPN in the background of your gaming, you might not experience any issues... at first. But as you swiftly exceed the data limits on your VPN, then you’ll start to notice lagging issues or just a wholesale failure of your VPN to do its job.
When we have tested a free VPN with games such as Halo, Call of Duty and Skyrim, we’ve noticed that an error message pops up telling us that we have exceeded the daily limit. This can usually happen during a game, which is very distracting and can cost you a very important tournament match.
What are you looking for in a VPN for your gaming experience? What features should a great VPN have? How much should you be willing to pay for a decent VPN for your gaming? What VPNs will give you secure and, more importantly, uninterrupted gaming?
Well, if you want answers to these questions and a whole lot more, then we would suggest that you keep reading. We have compiled a list of the top 10 VPNs for gaming that you can currently find on the market. We’ll compare and contrast this different software and hopefully give you all the info that you need to make the right decision for you and your style of gaming.
OUR TOP PICK
If you have done any research into VPN protection, then you’ve probably already heard of Express VPN. This company tops most lists of paid VPN services, with a network of servers that can easily handle the high bandwidth limits of most games. You can connect to the Express VPN server from 9 locations around the globe.
This company has a whopping 3,000 servers in 94 countries right around the globe, so the chances of you finding a lag-free server to protect your data is very likely. This comes with a military-grade killswitch which will come into effect as soon as the software notices a bad-faith actor on your machine.
Pros
- This VPN has a 30-day trial that you can be certain will deliver. After trying this for a few weeks, you’ll be able to see why it’s so popular and want to subscribe immediately.
- This will hide your IP address from anyone, ideal for protecting you against cyber threats. This will also be good if you are seeking a gaming experience that cannot be traced or hacked.
- This VPN is compatible with both PC and console games - it gives you a wide variety of subscription packages.
- When it comes to speed, this VPN is very hard to beat. If you are a fan of fast-paced gaming, then we would recommend that you pick up an Express VPN package.
Cons
- The price - this might set you back a little in terms of price, although remember that you are paying for the best package.
EDITORS CHOICE
This next VPN is compatible with most routers and gives you a data collection device with very few limitations. You can get 10GB of data for free every month, which roughly translates to around 33 hours of continuous gameplay - introducing Windscribe VPN.
If you are a fan of fast-paced shooters, then we would definitely recommend that you pick up this VPN. It has servers dotted around the globe in over 60 countries, meaning that you won’t be struggling to find a secure connection for your games. This is made with military-style encryption codes and comes with great adware protection.
Pros
- You can enjoy a free P2P server with a split-tunneling function. This allows you to protect your gaming and your browsing at the same time.
- You can subscribe for absolutely free - not only that, but you can get a 3-day money-back guarantee with each purchase.
- You can even use this with your Netflix account - if you want to browse exclusive programming around the world without having to experience any intrusion or blocks, then we would recommend that you go for this VPN.
Cons
- If you are looking to be gaming at peak times during the week, then you might experience some lagging.
BEST VALUE
This VPN is one that you can be sure will have everything that you need for a great setup, not only do you have a free 7-day trial, but you will have the ability to be able to access all of the services. This is a great way of being able to try out your VPN with your gaming to see whether or not it is suitable for you - introducing the PrivateVPN.
If you want a high-speed VPN, with hardly any limits on your bandwidth, then you can be sure that PrivateVPN has everything that you want. You’ll need latency and high speed for smooth and uninterrupted gaming. This will also protect you from DDoS attacks with a military-grade encryption code.
Pros
- This is probably one of the most affordable VPNs that we have. You can play it cautiously, signing up for the free trial before committing to a very reasonable price package.
- This has a wide range of features, such as a blocking device that will protect you from DDoS attacks and a military-grade encryption device that will keep your details secret from virus peddlers.
- This is also a very flexible package, you can try it out for a few days and then cancel if you like. However, you’ll have to make sure that you cancel within 30 days to make sure that you qualify for a refund.
Cons
- The price - this is another very expensive package, so be sure that you are committed to secure gaming before splashing out money on this.
RUNNER UP
This next VPN service is completely free, not even requiring you to enter any payment details such as credit cards or account information. All you have to do is download your app, connect your account and have all the data protection that you need for your internet needs - introducing the Hotspot Shield.
This will give you around 500MB of data, which might not be considered a lot for your average gamer, but we can assure you that you’ll have everything that you need to get started. This gives you everything that you need for fast service and incredible lag-free gaming.
Pros
- This is very applicable to routers, guaranteeing you plenty of strength and security in your router.
- This is great for gaming, without enough hours to guarantee that you won’t experience any lag.
- This company has plenty of servers located across the world, allowing you to plug in at various sources. If you are using their services for free, then it will automatically connect you to the US server.
Cons
- This server is not suitable for use with a router, you will have to plug it into your games console.
RUNNER UP
This next service is one that you can have for absolutely free, with unrestricted access to a wide range of servers. This will allow you to game much faster without experiencing any lag. It has an automatic killswitch and plenty of encryption devices - introducing the ProtoVPN.
You can connect to over 54 countries with this server, although it runs best for those that are living in the US and Japan. You can have P2P servers, which will noticeably speed up your internet connection. They have DNS leak protection and plenty of adware blockers that won’t ruin your gaming session.
Pros
- This is brilliant for gamers who like that smooth interplay and no slowing down of graphics or connectivity.
- This comes with an automatic killswitch, which will automatically disconnect your computer if it detects any suspicious activity in the immediate vicinity.
- This comes with 54 countries worldwide, so you can be sure of connecting with a server if you are operating in the US.
Cons
- This does come with server restrictions that can hamper the speed of your internet connection, which will certainly cause your game to lag.
RUNNER UP
This is another VPN that gives you around 2GB of free data every month, with 7 hours of secure gaming, which is great for anyone who considers themselves a mere casual gamer. This comes with a killswitch and access to over 75 servers dotted around the world, although some people might f