Best VPN For Gaming in 2021 (Servers, speed and privacy)
Here we list the five best VPN services for gaming, including the elements that make them best suited for that use.
- Last Updated Jul 12, 2021
Are you a PC gamer? Ever been network throttled?
It’s slightly less painful than the physical version, but only slightly, and it’s what happens when your ISP suddenly cuts your connection speed in response to what you’re doing with it.
That can include torrenting, streaming, and gaming. You’re engaging in what is an otherwise legal, fun pastime – and being speed-penalized for it by your ISP with dodgy connection speeds.
That’s when you need a gaming VPN. We know, we know, there’s been a longstanding issue that VPNs themselves throw speed bumps in the way when measuring your connection speed. But those speed bumps are being flattened more and more by newer VPNs, and those VPNs can help to stabilize your connection speed – and keep your sensitive data while you are online gaming (potentially including your financial data if your game includes in-world payments) while it’s about it. You don’t need to be up to no good on the internet to think it’s prudent to keep your IP address hidden which is something that comes as standard when using a VPN.
Great. But there are a thousand VPNs out there at least, many of them gaming VPNs. Which are the ones you need to look at to best serve your gaming performance?
Step this way. No, seriously, this is what we do for a living. We’ve checked out the VPN market and boiled it down to five top contenders – the best VPNs for gaming – so you can read, choose, click, go, and gave the chivalrous finger to network throttling and data-thieves both.
So whether it’s enhanced privacy features, great network performance, or simply an improved gaming experience in your multiplayer games such as Call of Duty, PC Guide has you covered with our list of the Best VPNs for gaming
Products at a Glance
Best VPN For Gaming in 2021 (Servers, speed and privacy)
Throttle is eliminated by the high-speed connection
There’s likely to be no drop-off in speed by using the VPN – a surprising rarity in the past
You can get access to international entertainment storehouses with ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN stops short of full encryption, which feels more vulnerable than it should
It comes with only five connections per plan, which should be enough, but may not be if your family want in on the VPN action
ExpressVPN is among the more costly options on the market, so you have to be sure it’s worth the price
Speeds of 350Mbps are enough to make us drool
It has 5,000 servers, so it’s pretty next level in terms of connectivity certainty
Throttle-free gaming from your regular internet line
Stream everything from everywhere with this VPN
Lacks some interface polish
Unlimited connections mean you’ll connect everything to this VPN with no stress
3,500 servers around the world give you plenty of chances to find the fastest server around the clock
Extremely affordable for everything it offers
Likely no drop-out for using the VPN
Not as fast overall as the likes of ExpressVPN and NordVPN
A vast network of servers means you’ll always find the one you need
An optimized suggestion means that in fact, CyberGhost will find it for you
An easy-to-use interface and 24/7 live customer support make CyberGhost among the friendliest of VPNs
As a VPN, it’s cagy about its speeds, which makes judging its anti-throttle potential unnecessarily difficult
Being labeled ‘the world’s fastest VPN’ has got to attract gaming users
The removal of data limits makes for a very freeing VPN experience
24/7 customer support
Having no access to OpenVPN protocol feels needlessly restrictive
Only five unique internet connections at a time, compared to some VPNs which offer infinite connections
Qualms are likely over the data it admits to collecting
Things To Consider
FAQs
Our Verdict
Speed, safety, anonymous IP address, and streaming services aplenty are what you get with ExpressVPN. It’s great for gaming and with 160 different locations across 94 countries, you’ll have plenty of access to server use pretty much on cue.
Nord VPN is another quick-connecting VPN server that offers throttle-free gaming and ultimate streaming, although the user interface is less refined in comparison. Surfshark is a slower but more affordable option, and CyberGhost deserves your consideration due to its easy-to-use interface and excellent customer support which is accessible 24/7.
The final decision will come down to you and you alone, but we hope we’ve at least been able to point you in the right direction towards the best gaming VPN.