Best VPN for Gaming 2026 - Lowest Ping, No Lag
Online gaming and VPNs have a complicated relationship. A bad VPN will ruin your game with lag and packet loss. A good one can actually improve your experience — reducing DDoS attacks, bypassing ISP throttling, and accessing geo-locked game servers.
We tested over 30 VPNs specifically for gaming, measuring what actually matters: ping, jitter, packet loss, and connection stability during extended gaming sessions.
Best Gaming VPNs at a Glance
| VPN | Ping Increase | Packet Loss | DDoS Protection | Price/mo |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NordVPN | +3-8ms | 0% | ✅ | $3.39 |
| ExpressVPN | +4-10ms | 0% | ✅ | $6.67 |
| Surfshark | +5-12ms | 0.1% | ✅ | $2.29 |
| PIA | +5-15ms | 0% | ✅ | $2.03 |
| Mullvad | +4-9ms | 0% | ✅ | €5.00 |
Why Gamers Need a VPN
DDoS Protection
This is the number one reason competitive gamers use VPNs. Without one, your IP address is exposed in many peer-to-peer games. Angry opponents can DDoS you mid-match, spiking your ping to 999ms or disconnecting you entirely.
A VPN hides your real IP behind the VPN server’s IP. Even if someone tries to DDoS you, they’re hitting the VPN server — which is built to handle massive traffic loads.
ISP Throttling
Many ISPs throttle gaming traffic during peak hours. They detect gaming packets and deprioritize them. A VPN encrypts your traffic so your ISP can’t tell the difference between gaming, streaming, or browsing. We’ve seen cases where VPN users gained 20-30ms improvement during peak hours due to bypassing throttling.
Access Geo-Locked Servers
Want to play on Japanese servers from the US? Or access a game that launched early in Australia? A VPN lets you connect to servers in any region, accessing content and game servers that would otherwise be restricted.
Reduce Routing Inefficiency
ISPs don’t always route your traffic optimally. Sometimes your packets take a detour through three extra cities before reaching the game server. A well-placed VPN server can provide a more direct route, actually reducing your ping.
1. NordVPN — Best Overall Gaming VPN
Ping increase: +3-8ms on local servers
NordVPN’s NordLynx protocol is a game-changer for gaming VPNs. Based on WireGuard, it adds minimal overhead while providing full encryption.
Gaming Performance
We tested across five popular titles:
| Game | Without VPN | With NordVPN | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Valorant (US East) | 24ms | 28ms | +4ms |
| CS2 (EU West) | 18ms | 22ms | +4ms |
| Fortnite (NA) | 31ms | 35ms | +4ms |
| League of Legends (KR) | 142ms | 149ms | +7ms |
| Apex Legends (Tokyo) | 168ms | 175ms | +7ms |
Zero packet loss across all tests. Connection stability was excellent — no random disconnects during 8-hour testing sessions.
Why It’s Best for Gaming
- Meshnet feature: Create a private network between friends for LAN-style gaming over the internet
- 6,200+ servers: Always find a nearby, uncrowded server
- Dedicated P2P servers: Optimized for low-latency connections
- Threat Protection: Blocks game-related phishing and malware
The Catch
NordVPN doesn’t have dedicated “gaming servers” labeled as such. You’ll want to manually select servers closest to your game server location for optimal ping.
2. ExpressVPN — Most Consistent Performance
Ping increase: +4-10ms on local servers
ExpressVPN’s Lightway protocol delivers remarkably consistent gaming performance. Where some VPNs fluctuate between great and mediocre depending on server load, ExpressVPN maintains steady low ping.
Why Gamers Choose ExpressVPN
- Lightway protocol: Connects in under 1 second — critical for quick gaming sessions
- Smart Location: Automatically picks the lowest-ping server
- Split tunneling: Route only your game through the VPN, everything else goes direct
- Router support: Protect your entire gaming setup including consoles
Console Gaming
ExpressVPN has the best router support of any VPN, which matters because you can’t install VPN apps on PlayStation or Xbox. Flash ExpressVPN to a compatible router and every device on your network is protected.
They also offer MediaStreamer DNS for consoles — it doesn’t encrypt traffic but lets you access geo-locked content with zero ping penalty.
3. Surfshark — Best Budget Gaming VPN
Ping increase: +5-12ms on local servers
Surfshark proves you don’t need to spend a lot for gaming VPN performance. At $2.29/month with unlimited device connections, it’s the most cost-effective option for gamers.
Why Budget Gamers Love It
- Unlimited devices: Cover your PC, phone, tablet, and router on one subscription
- WireGuard: Fast protocol with minimal ping impact
- Bypasser (split tunneling): Exclude specific games or apps from VPN
- Price: Under $2.50/month on the 2-year plan
The Trade-Off
Surfshark’s speeds are slightly less consistent than NordVPN or ExpressVPN. On busy servers, we occasionally saw ping spikes of 15-20ms. Solution: avoid auto-connect and manually pick a nearby, low-load server.
4. Private Internet Access (PIA) — Most Customizable
Ping increase: +5-15ms on local servers
PIA gives you granular control over your VPN connection — encryption level, protocol, packet size, DNS settings. For technically savvy gamers who want to squeeze every millisecond of performance, PIA is the toolkit VPN.
Why Power Users Choose PIA
- Customizable encryption: Drop to AES-128 for faster speeds if you prioritize performance over maximum security
- Port forwarding: Essential for hosting game servers or improving NAT type
- SOCKS5 proxy: Ultra-lightweight alternative to full VPN for specific games
- Open source: Full code transparency
Port Forwarding Advantage
PIA is one of the few VPNs that still supports port forwarding. This is critical for:
- Hosting multiplayer game servers
- Improving NAT type on consoles (Strict → Open)
- Better P2P connectivity in games that use it
5. Mullvad — Best for Privacy-Focused Gamers
Ping increase: +4-9ms on local servers
Mullvad is the most privacy-respecting VPN available. No email required, pay with cash or crypto, and they’ve been independently verified to keep zero logs. For gamers who care deeply about anonymity, Mullvad delivers.
Unique Approach
- No account system: You get a random number. That’s your “account.”
- Fixed pricing: €5/month, no tricks, no long-term commitments
- WireGuard native: Mullvad was one of the first VPNs to adopt WireGuard
- Owned servers: Many servers are physically owned by Mullvad, not rented
The Limitation
Mullvad doesn’t unblock streaming services and doesn’t try to. It’s purely a privacy and security tool. If you want gaming VPN + Netflix unblocking, look elsewhere.
VPNs to Avoid for Gaming
Free VPNs: The server overcrowding alone makes them unusable for gaming. Expect 100ms+ ping increases and frequent disconnects.
VPNs without WireGuard: If a VPN only offers OpenVPN, expect 2-3x the ping increase compared to WireGuard-based options.
VPNs with small server networks: Fewer servers = more crowding = higher ping. Look for providers with 1,000+ servers minimum.
Gaming VPN Setup Tips
Choose the Right Server
Don’t use auto-connect. Manually select a server that’s:
- Geographically close to the game server (not close to you)
- Low load (under 50% if the VPN shows this info)
- On the same continent as your game server
Use the Right Protocol
Always use WireGuard (or NordLynx/Lightway). Never OpenVPN for gaming — it adds unnecessary latency.
Enable Split Tunneling
Route only your game through the VPN. Let everything else (Discord, browser, downloads) use your regular connection. This reduces VPN server load and improves game performance.
Test Before Competitive Play
Never try a new VPN server in a ranked match. Test in casual modes first, check your ping, and save the best server as a favorite.
FAQ
Will a VPN increase my ping?
A good VPN adds 3-15ms on nearby servers. For most games, this is unnoticeable. In some cases, a VPN can actually decrease ping by providing a more efficient route than your ISP.
Can I use a VPN on PS5/Xbox?
Not directly — consoles don’t support VPN apps. You’ll need to either install the VPN on your router or share your PC’s VPN connection to your console.
Is using a VPN for gaming considered cheating?
No. Using a VPN is not against the terms of service for any major game. However, using a VPN to access region-locked content or manipulate matchmaking (connecting to weaker regions) may violate some games’ rules.
Which protocol is best for gaming?
WireGuard, always. It’s the fastest and most lightweight protocol. NordLynx (NordVPN’s version) and Lightway (ExpressVPN’s version) are equally good.
Gaming VPN tests conducted February 2026 on a 1Gbps fiber connection with standardized testing hardware.