After testing over 30 VPNs, I found the top 5 choices that consistently lowered my ping, gave me superfast connections, and had a global breadth of secure servers so that I could connect with my friends abroad. My top recommendation is ExpressVPN as it has a huge worldwide network of lightning-fast servers. You can try it out for yourself risk-free. It comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee so you can test it without worry. Try ExpressVPN Risk Free!
Best VPNs to Help You Lower Ping For Gaming in 2023
1. ExpressVPN – Ultra-Fast Speeds to Game Without Lag
ExpressVPN gives you lightning fast speeds to ensure you get the best picture possible for gaming. During my tests, I consistently recorded speeds of over 65 Mbps, which is more than 10 times the minimum needed to game comfortably. By providing you with fast speeds your device will be able to communicate with the game’s servers in moments, reducing lag. It has 3,000 servers in more than 94 countries, so it doesn’t matter if you’re located far away from the gaming servers you wish to play with. Gaming with my friends living abroad became a lot easier thanks to this VPN, and using a server in the same region as the game we were playing stabilised my ping even more. This means you’ll never have to worry about interruptions while you play. You can use ExpressVPN on 5 devices simultaneously. Because of this feature, you can keep several of your other devices protected, even while gaming on your console or desktop. The only real downside I found to ExpressVPN is the slightly higher price, with its cheapest plan being $6.67/month. However, ExpressVPN often offers coupons with generous discounts and occasionally give away free months of service. So, there are ways to make it more affordable. Because all the plans come with the same great features, I suggest you select the year-long subscription, since it’s considerably cheaper than the short-term options. It also comes with a 30 day money-back guarantee so you can try it out without risk. I contacted customer service and the rep only asked me a few questions before processing my full refund. Lower Ping With ExpressVPN Today!
2. CyberGhost – Huge Number of Dedicated Servers to Bypass Geoblocks
CyberGhost has gaming-optimized servers which make it easier than ever to reduce gaming lag. By selecting specific servers for gaming, the VPN will automatically connect you to the best location. I tested 15+ servers and all of them gave me quality connections and no drops. Boasting a massive 9,074 servers worldwide, you’re sure to find plenty of options for the best gaming experience. Its suite of security features keeps you protected, and you can relax knowing the VPN automatically connects every time you go online. AES-256 encryption makes sure your information is unreadable to anyone else, while the killswitch ensures that your real IP is inaccessible in the event of a connection drop. You can take advantage of its security features on multiple devices, as CyberGhost allows 7 simultaneous connections under one subscription. Not only is it compatible with all major platforms, it can be set up with most routers to protect everything connected to it, including your consoles. Plus, you don’t have to log into it every single time you switch devices. When you sign up for 2 years, you can get CyberGhost for just $2.11/month. Longer term plans come with a huge money-back guarantee (you get a 45 days trial instead of the standard 14 days) so you can test it to see if you like it before you commit. I contacted the team via its easy message system and had my money back in 3 working days. Lower Ping With CyberGhost Now!
3. IPVanish — International Server Network to Play Anywhere in the World
IPVanish has a large network of servers in 75 countries, making it easy to bypass geo-restrictions and play with friends who live in another country. I tested servers in the US, Denmark, and Australia, and each one let me game with great results. This means that you can access servers to play games almost anywhere. Its superfast speeds gave me zero interruptions. I played for hours and had a consistently clear picture, recording speeds of over 50 Mbps throughout the night. Its French, Australian, and UK servers all displayed excellent HD picture quality and no irritating buffering. Thanks to its high speeds, you’ll never have to miss any of the action. Your devices are fully protected while you play, with 256-bit encryption safeguarding your data in the event a hacker managed to get to it. A kill switch is in place, meaning that if your connection drops you will be disconnected from the internet immediately and your internet provider won’t know you were using a VPN. New subscribers can get the VPN for just $2.49/month. You can also grab its 30-day money-back guarantee so you can test it out and see if you like it before you commit long-term. I made my request to cancel online after day 25 and found its no-fuss refund process very easy. My money was back in my account in 3 days. Lower Ping With IPVanish Today!
4. PrivateVPN – Easy to Use and Gives You High Gaming Performance
PrivateVPN is a great choice for people who are new to VPNs but want to start gaming with one right away. I tested its performance and was impressed with how easy it was to use for gaming. Its intuitive interface means you won’t have a series of complex menus to navigate before getting started. It has more than 200 servers with excellent speeds. During my tests I had no problems finding servers that let me game for hours without any drops in quality. You can lose yourself in the game knowing you won’t be interrupted by frustrating lags. This VPN comes with military-grade encryptions. The Connection Guard kill switch lets you customize which software is cut off if the VPN goes down. Even if you aren’t interested in fiddling with options, it runs automatically so you can feel secure knowing it’s always protecting your device. Another benefit is its low subscription price of $2/month which made it even more appealing. This VPN comes with a money-back guarantee, so you can try it for 30 days without worrying about being stuck in a contract if you don’t like it. Lower Ping With PrivateVPN Today!
5. Private Internet Access — Up to Unlimited Simultaneous Connections to Play on any Device
Private Internet Access (PIA) has servers in 84 different countries. I played online using servers in France, the US, and the UK, and found that my ping stayed low in all of my tests. No matter your location, you’ll be able to enjoy gaming without issues. Its speeds were impressive, and gave me hours of lag-free gaming. I tried its Canada, Australia, and German servers, and recorded average speeds of 55 Mbps. This is 6 times faster than the lowest number you need to game, giving me fast server connections and zero lag. You’ll be able to enjoy your game’s graphics with no drop-outs. With just one subscription, Private Internet Access lets you connect Unlimited devices simultaneously. This is great for if you want to game on the move as well as at home. You can get its 30-day money-back guarantee to test its services before you commit. After contacting customer service on the 28th day, my refund was processed quickly. I had my money back in my account in 3 working days. Lower Ping With PIA Today!
Quick Comparison Table: VPN Features
Tips on How to Choose the Best VPN for Gaming
One of the more obvious things to look out for is speed. A quality VPN will keep your download and upload speeds as well as your ping from becoming erratic. VPNs stop your ISP from seeing your activity and throttling your connection — one of the main causes of sudden lags. However, you still need a good VPN to maintain your speeds at acceptable levels. Check out some of the best gaming VPNs for pure speed. A VPN with a wide range of servers in different locations means you’re far more likely to find one close to your game’s servers. This will greatly lower the ping you get while gaming. Many good VPNs can even connect to the best server automatically so first-time setup is all you need. While speed and server network are important, without security your game can be interrupted in a far more harmful manner. With the VPNs on this list you get features like AES-256 bit encryptions, malware blockers, and killswitches. These allow you to game worry-free, knowing you’re protected from malicious hackers. Try ExpressVPN Today!
Can you get banned for using a VPN when playing games?
This depends on the game, unfortunately. Many games have no problem with users having VPNs active for the benefits listed in this article. However, as some people might use a VPN to gain some advantage in online games (such as setting up multiple alternate accounts), some games will take action against them. I recommend checking the terms and conditions of the specific game you wish to play before trying to play with a VPN. Our recommended VPNs include high quality protocols and security features that make them unlikely to be detected.
Will a VPN lower ping?
A VPN can stabilize your ping. Even with a high-quality VPN you might notice a slight increase in your ping. This is due to the extra connection to the VPN server between you and the gaming server. But by protecting yourself in this way you ensure that you’re defended against the ping spikes that cause lag in games. The VPNs I tested gave me phenomenal results.
How will VPNs affect speeds?
VPNs typically reduce speeds slightly. This is balanced by the protections it gives you, which stop you being subjected to ISP throttling as well as malicious cyber attacks. So, while using a VPN lower speeds somewhat, it will maintain them within acceptable levels for gaming. My top recommended VPNs guarantee excellent speeds while you game.
Would a VPN let me play games in school or at work?
VPNs can allow you to bypass blocks. This goes for geoblocks that will stop you streaming or playing games available in other countries, or blocks your school or workplace might employ. Having said that, I do not recommend breaking your institution’s rules. You should find out what the policy is on using VPNs in your workplace or school before attempting to play. The top VPNs I tested offer high performance in all areas including security so you can game with confidence.
Get the Best VPN to Help You Lower Ping For Gaming Today
Having sudden spikes in ping while playing online games can entirely ruin your experience, taking you right down the leaderboard rankings. Make sure you’re never booted from the action again and grab a lightning-fast VPN like ExpressVPN. Not only do you get access to its superfast worldwide server network, but you’ll be protected from cyber attacks with its advanced security features as well. You can even try it risk-free for up to 30 days when you use it’s money-back guarantee. Try ExpressVPN Risk-Free Now!
To summarize, the best VPNs to help you lower ping are…
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