We would like to start our discussion from the very basic element here, which is, what is a VPN?
A VPN is a Virtual Private Network. These are used to create secured networks over the internet and are great to hide your personal information such as IP address. It can be used to shield your browsing history from prying eyes online. It makes it very hard for hackers or people with other malicious motives to gain access to your online information. VPNs can also be used to gain access to region-locked content on the internet.
What does a VPN have to do gaming?
Gaming is now one of the most trending genres of entertainment out there and most of the games out there are online multiplayer, while some of the single-player games also need an active internet connection to run. Softwares such as Steam, Origin, Uplay, and many others require an online connection for their games to run. A good VPN can help players get a stable and safe online connection to the servers of the game they are playing.
Esports is a booming industry. Online tournaments for competitive games such as Counter-Strike Global Offence League of Legends and many others require players from all over the globe to play together. The players of these Esport titles belong to different teams and are now considered in many countries as athletes. These are well-known people among the gaming community and they need online safety from people with ill intents while playing online tournament matches. A VPN is a must in these scenarios.
Many online gaming celebrities stream there gaming online through different websites such as Twitch, Youtube, and Facebook. These streamers need online protection which VPNs are useful in providing. If you are aspiring to become a professional player or streamer, A VPN is a must tool you should have in your arsenal.
Which VPN to Choose?
There are several paid and free VPNs out there. The right one for you depends upon your needs and what you can afford. The servers offered by the VPN service should be near to you or the game host so that you can have the least ping. For online gaming latency (ping) is of the utmost priority. Most of the free VPNs increase the ping of the games. Here are some of the best-Paid VPNs out there to choose from.
Nord VPN
Nord VPN is an all-round great VPN service. Nord VPN can unblock Netflix content from other regions. Nord VPN has more than 5000 servers in about 60 countries. Unlimited server switching is available for the users. Nord VPN takes pride in providing the best defense against DDoS attacks making it the best secure VPN out there. With a lot of servers, there won’t be any latency issue if you choose the right server.
- Nord VPN plan prices
1 Month Plan: 11.95$ (11.95$ per month).
1 Year Plan: 83.88$ (6.99$ per month).
3 Year Plan: 125.64$ (3.49$ per month).
Take note that for any VPN to work seamlessly, your ISP matters as well. Some may offer seamless connectivity while some might not be so comfortable to connect. We recommend going through Spectrum bundle deals and choosing of their offerings because Spectrum happens to work well with VPNs.
Express VPN
Next on our list is the Express VPN. It has more than 3000 servers in more than 90 locations across the globe. A single subscription can be used to protect 5 devices. Express VPN provides a lag-less with little to no increase in the latency when the right server is chosen. Express VPN has the best performance when it comes to down and up to speeds of the connection. It is the most expensive VPN on our list but is one of the most featured pack as well. It would have been our first recommendation for non-gaming usage as it provides amazing speeds and security features.
- Express VPN plan Prices
1 Month Plan: 12.95$ (12.95$ per month).
6 Month Plan: 59.95$ (9.99$ per month).
12 Month Plan: 99.95$ (6.67$ per month).
Surfshark
Surfshark is the most budget-friendly VPN among the paid VPNs on the list. It has 1500+ servers in more than 60 countries. An easy to use app makes it a welcoming VPN for new users who are just getting started to use VPNs and are looking to improve their security while gaming, streaming, or browsing.
- Surfshark Plan Prices
1 Month Plan: 11.95$ (11.95$ per month).
12 Month Plan: 71.88$ (5.99$ per month).
24 Month Plan: 47.76$ (1.99$ per month).
IPVanish
With around 1500 servers in 75 locations, IPVanish is VPN designed to cater to the general user. With great latency result, this is a very good VPN for people wanting an easy to use interface and basic features. The security provided by the VPN is good enough for the price and is designed to be used on the router so that every device connected to the router can benefit from the VPN.
- IPVanish Plan Prices
1 Month Plan: 10.00$ (10.00$ per month).
3 Month Plan: 26.99$ (8.99$ per month).
1 Year Plan: 77.99$ (6.49$ per month).
Proton VPN
Proton VPN is the only Free VPN on the list. If you are under a budget and cannot afford a paid VPN Proton VPN is the best option available for you as it increases the latency very little compared to the other free VPNs out there. The security features provided as well as multiple servers in more than 35 regions make it a worthwhile VPN but you only get access to 3 countries if you use the free version. It has a built-in ad-blocker for streaming as well. There is no restriction on the data usage and bandwidth in the free version except for the server limit. The paid version comes with a 30-day trial.
Proton VPN Paid Plan Prices
1 Month Plan: 11.31$ (11.31$ per month).
1 Year Plan: 108.54$ (9.04$ per month).
2 Year Plan: 179.77$ (7.50$ per month).
