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1. Top 5
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If you’re looking for the very best VPN for gaming, we’d refer you to Bonnie Tyler: it’s gotta be strong and it’s gotta be fast. There’s no point in putting down money on a service that’s going to let you down or slow your connection during a tense Battle Royale, so finding the right fit for you is essential.

Still on the fence as to why you’d need the best VPN for gaming in the first place?  Let’s rewind for a second. VPN means ‘Virtual Private Network’, and it encrypts your online communications to keep your data away from prying eyes. Security is the aim of the game here, so VPNs are a solid way of safeguarding your device. In addition, it allows you to sidestep troublesome geo-blocks. This is where content is blocked in certain parts of the world, usually because of rights issues. This includes everything from which shows appear on Netflix to online stores, so it’s a bit of a pain. As such, a VPN is a boon if you’re on vacation and want to catch up on a show you’re able to watch at home but not abroad (if that sounds handy, give our Netflix VPN guide a look). 

What does all this have to do with gaming, though? Well, a VPN might be useful if you want to play multiplayer games but can’t find enough opponents in your area. One of our suggestions will allow you to try matchmaking in another part of the world instead. Cool, right? VPNs are also handy if you’re based in China and want to use the likes of Steam.

Sure, we wouldn’t recommend getting a VPN to improve your connection speeds in-game. Indeed, it could have the opposite effect. But they’ve definitely got their advantages. 

So, do you need a VPN for gaming? If you’re still on the fence, our in-depth feature will help you decide. And if you’re hunting down a PlayStation-specific VPN, our guide to the best VPN for PS4 will send you in the right direction.

Best VPN for gaming – top 5

1. ExpressVPN

The best overall VPN for gaming

Specifications

Number of servers: 3,000+Server locations: 160IP addresses: 30,000Maximum devices supported: 5

Reasons to buy

+Great speeds +Supports many devices+Easy to use

Reasons to avoid

-Not the cheapest

Of all the VPN services we’ve tried, ExpressVPN comes out on top. Besides being reliable and secure, it’s fast. That makes it well-suited to gaming or HD streaming. 

It’s also compatible with a wide variety of devices and is very user-friendly. Operated via a straightforward app, swapping between regions is easy. All you need to do is select a region from the dropdown menu and click the central button.

Although ExpressVPN is a little more expensive than some competitors, it boasts 256-bit encryption and doesn’t feel too overwhelming. We’d recommend it for those reasons alone, but its versatility when it comes to protecting your data via PC and watching shows outside of your region elevate it to the top spot.

2. IPVanish

The best VPN for gaming performance

Specifications

Number of servers: 1,300+Server locations: 75IP addresses: 40,000+Maximum devices supported: 10

Reasons to buy

+Great performance+Good server coverage 

Reasons to avoid

-Kind of pricey -No free trial 

When it comes to speed, IPVanish performs well – it tests up to five times faster than some other VPNs over short-hop connections. Overall download speeds are pretty good, too.

The service’s functionality is just as impressive. Its servers are sorted by ping-time and suitability, and you won’t be stuck for choice; IPVanish has well over 1000 servers spread across 60 international locations. As you’d expect, security is good as well – it has 256-bit AES encryption to speak of.

3. NordVPN

The most secure VPN for gaming

Specifications

Number of servers: 5,500+Server locations: 55+IP addresses: N/AMaximum devices supported: 6

Reasons to buy

+Great performance +Great server selection+Really tight security

Reasons to avoid

-Monthly billing is pricey

Thanks to 4,400 servers spread across the world, NordVPN’s coverage is excellent. Its performance is equally impressive – there’s little obvious difference between gaming with the VPN active and using a normal connection.  

Security is where NordVPN really pulls ahead, though. It boasts 2048-bit encryption and DDoS protection on selected servers (alongside a very strict ‘no logging’ policy), so it’s pretty watertight.

4. VyprVPN

The fastest gaming VPN

Specifications

Number of servers: 700+Server locations: 70+IP addresses: N/AMaximum devices supported: 5

Reasons to buy

+Fast+Increases download speeds+Free trial

Reasons to avoid

-Some usage logging 

If you want speed, look no further than VyprVPN. It excels in that department, and in our tests we found that it actually increased our download speed by up to 250%. That’s exceptional.

It’s got 200,000 IP addresses as well, not to mention an NAT firewall for blocking unwanted traffic, so VyprVPN is a formidable piece of software. However, be warned – it doesn’t offer refunds.

5. Buffered VPN

The gaming VPN for a low ping

Specifications

Number of servers: 37Server locations: 29IP addresses: N/AMaximum devices supported: 5

Reasons to buy

+Low latency +Good refund policy  

Reasons to avoid

-On the pricier end 

Buffered VPN may not offer the most servers on this list, but it does bring the goods in other areas. Namely, it clears up in terms of latency. Our tests recorded lower pings using Buffered VPN than a normal connection, and that’s impressive work.

It comes at a price, of course – this is one of the more expensive VPN options for gaming. Still, it’s got a very reasonable refund policy. You can get your money back if you don’t go over 10 hours, 100 sessions, or 10GB of use.

The post The best VPN for gaming in 2022 – get the right balance of reliability and price appeared first on Game News.

Do you really need a VPN, though? Well, it depends on what you want to achieve with it. If security is on your mind, the best PS4/Ps5 VPN (or ‘Virtual Private Network’) can protect you from possible DDoS attack by rerouting your data through a server. What’s more, the best VPN for gaming (opens in new tab) will get around bandwidth-throttling that your provider may run during peak hours (though this isn’t guaranteed, and could potentially have the opposite effect – proceed with caution). While lag is frustrating at the best of times, it’s a different kettle of fish altogether when it’s forced on you.

Finally, you can use a VPN to access another region’s streaming services. That means you can try out the best Netflix VPN (opens in new tab) and watch a show not normally available in your country. Cool, right? If you want more details on the pros and cons of VPNs and gaming, you can get the skinny in our handy guide for do I need a VPN for gaming (opens in new tab)?

In the meantime, we’ve gathered up examples of the best VPN for PS5 and PS4 below. Each of our picks is secure, quick, and reliable. To save you some cash, we’ve also tried to include as many deals as possible.

The best PS4 and PS5 VPN

1. ExpressVPN

The best VPN for PS4 and PS5

Specifications

Number of servers: 3,000+Server locations: 160IP addresses: 30,000Maximum devices supported: 5

Reasons to buy

+Great speeds +Tons of locations+30-day refund policy 

Reasons to avoid

-Not the cheapest around 

As the best all-rounder when it comes to PS4 VPNs, ExpressVPN allows you to hop between 148 spoofed locations in 94 countries. That provides plenty of choice in terms of international access. Plus, it has plenty of advice about setting up a VPN on PS4/PS5 on its website (opens in new tab). It’s a reliable service you can count on, and with a 30-day money-back guarantee, you can feel secure in your ability to test it without major financial commitment. 

Better still, connection speeds are pretty good as far as VPNs go. Because it’s a tried-and-tested service when it comes to streaming services like Netflix, it’s also versatile. This isn’t just a good VPN for PS4 and PS5 – it’s a winner for everything else, too.

2. NordVPN

The best PS4/PS5 VPN for security

Specifications

Number of servers: 5,500+Server locations: 55+IP addresses: N/AMaximum devices supported: 6

Reasons to buy

+Great performance +Great server selection+Really tight security

Reasons to avoid

-Monthly billing is pricey

Want to make sure your PS4 is as secure as possible? NordVPN is a safe bet. It takes the matter very seriously, with 2048-bit security and optional DDoS protection on certain servers. And with over 5,000 servers in total, you’re spoilt for choice. 

Naturally, that kind of extensive coverage comes at a price. Although it’s an excellent service, NordVPN is one of the pricier VPNs on this list. As such, we’d recommend paying monthly – you’ll get the best possible deal, particularly if you’re able to commit to a longer membership.

Just be aware that you won’t be able to get NordVPN directly on your PS4 – you’ll have to set it up via your router. You can find out how below.
Connect NordVPN to PS4 (opens in new tab)

3. VyprVPN

The fastest PS4/PS5 VPN for downloads

Specifications

Number of servers: 700+Server locations: 70+IP addresses: N/AMaximum devices supported: 5

Reasons to buy

+Fast downloads+Free trial+Secures entire home network

Reasons to avoid

-Some usage logging

VyprVPN is an impressive beast. It’s got hundreds of servers across multiple locations, has an NAT firewall to block unwanted traffic, and offers blazingly fast speeds in terms of downloads. In testing, it managed to boost download speeds by 2.5 times compared to a vanilla connection. That’s awesome, especially because of PS4 gaming’s frequently chonky file sizes.

All the same – and as with the options listed above – you can’t download VyprVPN directly onto your PS4. Instead, it works via your router (the VyprVPN Router App, more specifically). As a result, it protects your entire household network at once. Sweet!

There’s a free trial, too; you can safely try before you buy.
Setting up VyprVPN on your router (opens in new tab)

4. Buffered VPN

The PS4 VPN for a low ping

Specifications

Number of servers: 37Server locations: 29IP addresses: N/AMaximum devices supported: 5

Reasons to buy

+Low latency +Good refund policy+Great ping

Reasons to avoid

-On the pricier end 

If responsiveness in a game is important to you, Buffered VPN is your best choice. While other VPNs may increase latency, this beauty ended up lowering it in our tests. That’s a cool feature worth shouting about. 

Even if downloads weren’t quite as fast, upload speeds were strong as well. What’s more, Buffered VPN offers a refund so long as you haven’t gone over 10 hours, 100 sessions, or 10GB of useage. That allows you to dip a toe in the water and decide whether the service is for you or not. 
Set up Buffered VPN on PS4 (opens in new tab)

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The post The best PS4 and PS5 VPN in 2021 appeared first on Game News.