VPNs have become popular in the gaming community recently. Whether it is to play anonymously or play with your friends from across different regions, people use VPNs for online gaming for different reasons. Stick around to find out what the concept of a VPN is about and how you too can use one to game better online.
What is a VPN and Why Should I Care as a Gamer?
A Virtual Private Network (VPN) is a service that can create a secure and encrypted internet connection with your device of choice. Your Internet traffic will be routed through a remote server, masking your IP address, and making whatever you do on the Internet private.
If you are wondering why you need to use a VPN for your online gaming experience, there are a handful of positives. For starters, using a VPN can protect you from attacks such as DDoS or doxxing. Since the VPN has hidden your IP address, your identity is shielded and you cannot be targeted.
Using a VPN can equally help improve latency and reduce lag. It is common for Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to throttle users' connection if they are working with a lot of bandwidth. However, a VPN can help you avoid this since your online traffic is hidden from your ISP.
This benefit might be controversial, but VPNs can help in accessing gaming content that are restricted to certain geographical locations. Other benefits include playing banned games or just gaming with people from other geo-restricted countries and servers.
The Best VPNs for Online Gaming
Now that you know some of the benefits of using a VPN for online gaming, here are some recommendations.
1. ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN boasts of being a simple and straightforward VPN to use. The pricing of its annual plan costs $6.67 per month. You also get three months extra for free, including a choice of servers in 105 countries.
2. NordVPN
NordVPN could easily take up the number one spot as well. It has great speeds and offers customer support 24/7. It is cheaper than ExpressVPN with plans beginning at below $3.50 per month, with a 30-day money-back guarantee included.
3. Surfshark
If you need a cheap gaming VPN that doesn't compromise on privacy and speed, this is your top bet. Surfshark costs less than $2.50 per month and has a 30-day money-back guarantee. It also comes with unlimited simultaneous connections.
4. Proton VPN
Fast, secure, and well-designed, Proton VPN is great not just for gaming but for streaming as well. It costs $9.99 per month, but also has a free plan which is objectively the best on paper.
How to Use a VPN to Play Games Online
After our list, you might be curious on how to use a VPN to play games online. Here's how.
- Select a VPN of Your Choice: Pick a VPN you prefer after assessing what works best for you.
- Create an Account: After you have made your choice, sign up with the VPN service to create your account. Complete the necessary payment process if required.
- Download and Install: After registration, download the VPN application and install it.
- Log In: Open the downloaded VPN application and log into your created account.
- Select a Server Location: Pick a country or region you wish to connect to, depending on your gaming needs.
- Connect to the VPN: If selecting a server doesn't automatically connect you, locate the activation button through the app's interface.
Final Notes
Just like that, you will now be able to enjoy the advantages to using a VPN for online gaming. Remember to always use a VPN responsibly to not violate established terms of service. Game away!