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The best VPNs for online gaming

The best VPNs for online gaming
Softonic Editorial Team

Softonic Editorial Team

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With the boom of the internet, the gaming world has shifted its focus to online games in recent years. There are all kinds of multiplayer games, from the now-classic MMORPGs, RTS and DOTAs to recent stars, Battle Royale games like Fortnite or PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds (PUBG).

No longer small-scale competitions, eSports have turned into real gaming tournaments today.

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If you’re a fan of multiplayer games, you have probably often heard that a VPN can exponentially improve your gaming experience, but do you know why? In today’s article, we’ll look at all the reasons why a VPN can be really useful for online gaming. We’ll also recommend the best gaming VPNs on the market. We hope you find them helpful!

Advantages of using a gaming VPN

VPN stands for Virtual Private Network, and as the name suggests, it allows users to browse the internet securely and anonymously at all times. VPNs are on the rise today, and they are often used to get around geo-blocking and to access content that would be otherwise restricted. Here’s a good example: lots of people use VPNs to access Netflix’s full catalog and watch movies and series that are inaccessible in their country. But what does this have to do with gaming? More than you might think!

If you’re a fan of online multiplayer games, you are probably familiar with the matchmaking systems of most games. By pairing you with other players in your region, they offer an easier, smoother gaming experience. The problem arises when your favorite game isn’t so popular in your area, and you have to wait hours for the matchmaking system to find you an opponent. The solution? Change the region of your IP address to a place where your game has more players.

Another advantage of using a VPN for video games is that it lets you get around the geo-blocking of some games and platforms. For example, did you know that Steam is blocked in China, and the only way to use this platform is with a VPN? The same goes for online games whose servers are restricted to a certain region, and again, you can only play them through a VPN.

How to choose a good gaming VPN

You have probably seen lots of online articles and recommendations about the top VPNs of 2020. However, not all VPNs are suitable for gaming. While some deliver excellent security and performance, protecting your computer or letting you work from home, they are not always the best choice for gaming. So what makes a VPN good for online gaming?

First, the VPN needs to be really fast. There’s no point in using a good VPN that doesn’t offer enough speed or a stable internet connection. Imagine how frustrating it would be to see your gaming session come to an abrupt end. Another highly important factor is how secure the connection is. Don’t forget that a VPN collects lots of information, and that includes tons of data about you and your online activities. If you don’t want any unpleasant surprises, make sure your VPN is 100% safe.

And now, without further ado, here is our ranking of the best VPNs for online gaming. Keep in mind that all of them require a paid subscription, but most have a free trial period.

The best online gaming VPNs

1. ExpressVPN

There is no question that ExpressVPN is the best gaming VPN you can download. In fact, its service is so good that we have already recommended it as one of the top VPNs of 2020. It deserves its coveted number-one spot for a simple reason: it offers a truly fast and reliable connection, so you can play your favorite games without a care in the world.

Among its strengths, ExpressVPN has more than 3,000 servers located across 160 regions. This makes it highly versatile when you need opponents for your gaming sessions or want to unblock services and games that are unavailable in your region. ExpressVPN is also very easy to use, and its 256-bit encryption system makes sure that your data stays anonymous and cannot be intercepted by third parties. What’s more, ExpressVPN can be used on your desktop and mobile devices, so you can always play from your favorite platform.

As you can see, ExpressVPN is a real gem, and a single subscription can be used on five different devices. Want to try it?

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2. NordVPN

NordVPN is another giant among gaming VPNs. The service is extraordinary in terms of speed and security. In fact, you won’t notice any differences in terms of game speed and performance while you’re using it.

NordVPN has more than 5,500 servers spread across more than 55 regions around the world. And you can’t overlook the superb 2048-bit data encryption system and DDoS protection of some of its servers. You can be sure that your computer will always be secure, regardless of the country of your chosen server connection.

Like ExpressVPN, NordVPN is compatible with PCs, tablets and phones, allowing up to six different devices to connect simultaneously. If you want the securest VPN on the market, look no further!

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3. IPVanish

IPVanish is the perfect option if you’re looking for a good VPN that offers optimal, gaming-oriented performance. Five times faster than most VPNs, it boasts an excellent download speed.

As for services, IPVanish has more than 1,300 servers in 75 different locations around the world. And with its 256-bit AES encryption, your data will always be secure.

Unlike the above options, IPVanish has no trial version, and the subscription is a bit pricey. But keep in mind that it offers excellent service and can be used on 10 different devices simultaneously. Click below to download it quickly and securely.

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4. VyprVPN

VyprVPN may not have the most options of the VPNs on our list, but it’s definitely one of the fastest. It’s capable of not only matching your computer’s normal connection speed, but increasing it up to 200%! This obviously means you’ll have amazing gaming sessions with it.

VyprVPN has more than 700 servers in 70 locations across the globe. What’s more, it’s capable of blocking any kind of suspicious traffic from making contact with your computer. However, if you’re looking for total anonymity online, you should know that VyprVPN collects some of your data and online searches.

Like the rest of the VPNs on this list, VyprVPN is a paid service, and you need a subscription to use it. Subscribers can use the VPN on five different devices, from desktops and laptops to phones and tablets. That said, keep in mind that you can always try out the free version, which is available for download below.

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5. Buffered VPN

Our final recommendation is Buffered VPN, a good option for anyone seeking high speed and optimal latency for gaming. Of the five VPNs we’ve chose, this is the one with the lowest ping to the server.

The most disappointing aspect of Buffered VPN is its number of servers. It has only 37 across 29 locations around the world, so it isn’t the best choice if you want the best matchmaking options.

Buffered VPN is a rather expensive paid VPN, but if you don’t love it, you can get a full refund as long as you haven’t used it for more than 10 hours or 100 sessions, or consumed more than 10 GB. So it’s worth testing and getting a refund if you’re not happy with it.

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I’m interested in subscribing to one of these VPNs! Are there any discounts? 

Do you have your eye on any of these VPNS but find the price too steep? Why not take advantage of our promotions? At Softonic, we offer discounts of up to 70% on some of the best VPNs on the market, check them out here!

We hope you’ve found our list of gaming VPNs helpful. Have you tested any of them yet? Do you use one that isn’t on our list? Tell us about it!!

Softonic Editorial Team

Softonic Editorial Team

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