VPN for Gaming

Blue haired woman with headphones on. A game controller and a shield with a checkmark next to her.

Best VPN for gaming

A VPN for gaming will shut up that kid in that chat who swears they hacked your PC.

Hide your IP on Discord and chats

Protect yourself from DDoS attacks

Bypass bandwidth throttling

30-day money-back guarantee (beat that, Valve)

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30-day money-back guarantee

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Why Surfshark is best for gaming

Aside from the generic VPN benefits you get with every VPN provider (DDoS protection, overcoming censorship, safe gaming on public networks, etc.), Surfshark brings that and a bit more to the gaming table:

Worldwide matchmaking

So, are your friends playing on gaming servers in a region you can’t access? Are there some geographical matchmaking shenanigans getting in the way? Hop on a server close to them and get into the same matches as your buds.

DDoS protection

To execute a distributed denial of service (DDoS) attack on you, a cheater has to know your IP address. But when you’re connecting via a VPN connection, they can only get the VPN server’s IP. Let them try their tricks on that — we will be ready.

As close to a “no lag VPN” as it gets

The closer a VPN server is to you, the less impact it has on connection speed. With 3200+ VPN servers across 100 countries, Surfshark will likely have one close to you.

High-capacity ports

All Surfshark servers have up to 10Gbps ports — friggin’ fast! Combine that with 3200+ servers being available, and you should never face lag due to server congestion.

No bandwidth limitations

A free VPN will hit you with bandwidth limitations harder than a free-to-play game with suggestions to buy premium currency. A good VPN has enough server or good server infrastructure and no speed limits — just like Surfshark.

Single account, unlimited devices

Surfshark allows unlimited simultaneous connections. Spread the security across all your devices, or better yet — set it up on your Wi-Fi router and protect the entire network!

A multi-tool VPN

Surfshark isn’t just a VPN provider! For example, with Surfshark One, you get Surfshark Antivirus to scan your device for malware and Alternative ID to reduce the potential for spam.

Split tunneling

Not all VPN providers offer an in-built split tunneling feature, but Surfshark does. It lets you choose which apps will use the VPN encryption and which will not.

Obfuscated servers

Surfshark uses obfuscated servers, which hide the fact that you’re using a VPN. Obfuscated servers are useful if you’re connecting from a place that censors the internet.

Disclaimer: Please note that using Surfshark services for any illegal activities is strictly forbidden and violates our Terms of Service. Make sure that any use of Surfshark services for your particular activities conforms to all relevant laws and regulations, including those of any service providers and websites you access using Surfshark.

Can you use a VPN to reduce ping and lag?

A VPN can reduce ping and decrease lag in two edge cases: when the game’s servers are overcrowded (causing lag) and when there’s sub-optimal routing (causing increased ping).

A game service may put you on an overcrowded server just because it’s automatically assigned to your region. A VPN can change your IP and connect you to servers in other locations, potentially with less busy servers.

Sometimes, your ISP routes your online traffic via a longer route, and a VPN may help by establishing a more direct connection to your game’s servers.

There is a caveat — all VPNs may increase ping. That happens because your online data has to take an additional step in its route to visit the VPN servers.

But to mitigate the ping bump, a reliable gaming VPN has to have a vast server selection and the fastest available protocols. Essentially, you’re safe with Surfshark!

Can you use a VPN to reduce ping and lag?

Use a gaming VPN with all your popular games

Whether you’re playing online or emulating games on BlueStacks to camp spawns, farm creeps, or “pwn n00bs,” use a gaming VPN with all of them.

Warzone / Call of Duty

FFXIV

World of Warcraft (WoW)

Overwatch

Destiny 2

Elden Ring

Maplestory

Runescape

Rocket League

Battlefield 2042

Genshin Impact

Dota 2

Valorant

How to choose the best VPN for gaming

Many VPNs have a lot to offer. But consider what benefits your gaming experience the most out of the entire VPN provider’s arsenal.

Look for a provider with static IPs

Your IP changes when connecting to a VPN server (and may keep on changing), which may be problematic when gaming. When you log into your game with your account from a different IP, most game providers flag that as suspicious “hacker-like” behavior and ban the account. Look for a provider that has static IPs or a Dedicated IP.

Choose a provider with a wide server selection

The further away from a server you are, the bigger the ping you’ll experience. Look for a VPN provider with servers near you and your game’s servers.

Check if the provider offers WireGuard

A VPN protocol determines how your data is processed (encryption, transfer, decryption, etc.). Not all protocols protect you the same or are equally fast. The WireGuard protocol offers the perfect balance between speed and security. Look for a VPN with Wireguard or an equivalent protocol.

VPNs for gaming: paid vs. free

Free VPNs have fewer servers, lower speeds, and they’re also a lot less secure. Paid VPNs are better and try to be worthy of their price. You know what they say — you get what you pay for, and when you pay nothing, you get…

	Surfshark	Most free VPNs
Simultaneous connections	Unlimited	<5
Bandwidth	As fast as your connection	Limited
Data limit	None	<10Gb
Servers	3200+	~1000
Countries	100	~10
Customer support	24/7 live chat, email	Email
Features useful when gaming	Split tunneling, obfuscation, static IP	None

A gaming VPN for all your gaming platforms and devices

There are many gaming consoles and platforms out there, and all of them can benefit from additional protection:

If there’s no dedicated app for your gaming platform, set up a VPN on your router and protect all devices connected to that network.

A gaming VPN for all your gaming platforms and devices

How to set up Surfshark VPN for gaming

1. Pick a plan

Choose a Surfshark subscription plan.

2. Get the app

Download the app from our website, the App Store, or the Google Play Store and install it.

3. Log in

4. Game on

Launch your game after you have connected to a VPN server

Testimonials proving excellence

We think gaming with our VPN is a breeze, but what does the world say about Surfshark?

Tech Advisor Editors’ Choice 2024

Independent’s Editor’s Choice Best Value VPN 2023

Forbes Advisor Best VPN for Unlimited Connections 2023

VPN Solution of the Year 2022

Where are you located currently? Is Twitter restricted there? Are you in china?

If you're not in china, the best VPN to use to get past every restriction is Surfshark

Surfshark is an award-winning VPN. Luckily, they are still doing their Black Friday sale, go check it out

— Ayça (@AycaJonathan_) November 19, 2023

Appreciate that. The short list definitely getting shorter!
Thanks.

— Smartcontrart (@SmartContrart) April 29, 2024

This is new to me.

As a service @surfshark seems pretty solid. Not from ability to access sites from other locations but from security and privacy perspectives.

I love X that I can learn something new everyday.

— Ferry Haris (@FeHa) January 6, 2024

Speedy, with an impressive array of privacy tools – PCMag

Our favorite thing about this VPN service is that your subscription covers unlimited devices – TechRadar

A rich suite of security-focused features, privacy-inclined jurisdiction, and competitive speeds – CNET

Test us out with a 30-day money-back guarantee

Not convinced yet that Surfshark is the gaming VPN for you? Read the Surfshark review to make sure, or better yet — try it yourself stress-free.

Ask for a refund within the first 30 days of your subscription and get your money back.

Get Surfshark

Frequently asked questions

Does using a VPN affect gaming?

A VPN may affect gaming, but to avoid it, make sure you’re connected to a nearby server location! There are two ways you could do this:

Use the Quick Connect feature on our apps. It will automatically select the server closest to you with the lowest load. This way, you will get the best speed;
Use smart DNS for devices that do not support VPN apps — such as Apple TV, Xbox, or PlayStation. Smart DNS, however, doesn’t offer the same security and privacy benefits as a VPN. But if you only want to change your location while also benefiting from the best speed, it’s a great option!

If you’re worried about the VPN’s impact on system resources, you shouldn’t. A VPN uses a negligible amount of computer juice to do what it needs to do.

Do pro gamers use a VPN?

Some pro gamers use a VPN. They have various reasons for this: preventing high ping that comes from bandwidth throttling, preventing DDoS attacks, and stopping possible SWATing attempts. Not all cases apply to all of them, but VPNs do have uses in the pro gaming circuit.

Is it legal to use a VPN for gaming?

Yes, it is! Of course, it’s still illegal to commit crimes while doing so.

What is the best VPN for Android gaming?

Surfshark is a good choice for gaming on Android devices, as it’s fast, offers a lot of servers, comes with modern protocols like WireGuard, and has many other benefits.

If you want to enjoy Android games on your computer, you can use a VPN with Bluestacks and transfer your Android games to the big screen.

Which VPN protocol is best for gaming?

WireGuard is essentially the best VPN protocol for gaming on any platform.

What is the best no-lag VPN?

“No lag” is either a marketing term or an outright lie because all VPNs take up some of your bandwidth. However, if your ISP is throttling bandwidth or something, a VPN can decrease the lag by overcoming such measures. In that case, Surfshark is the best no-lag VPN.

Is there a good free gaming VPN?

There are no good free gaming VPNs. A good gaming VPN has many server locations and good speeds. Free VPNs can’t provide either; plus, they come with data limitations and other ways to push you to buy the full version.

Do I need a VPN for Steam?

Accessing the Steam store with a VPN is against their Terms of Service. However, you should use a VPN when playing online games on Steam to protect yourself from DDoS attacks, ISP throttling, and bad actors online.