Streamline online gaming with these multiplayer-friendly VPNs.
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Virtual private network (VPN) software is primarily used for greater online anonymity and security. But VPNs are multifaceted tools. Some are great for streaming and other VPNs can be beneficial for online gaming.
For a great gaming VPN, the primary focus should be on a minimal impact to latency once connected, whether that’s in Australia or stretching out to opposite corners of the world like the UK and the US. A minimal impact to download and upload speeds can be important but are ultimately secondary to latency. Prices range from around €5 to $19.99 per month for a VPN that works great with gaming.
VPN pricing: Different VPN providers charge in different currencies. To maintain accuracy, we don't publish currency conversions where a VPN doesn't offer plans in the Australian dollar (AUD).
These are the best VPNs for gaming we've tested
- : Proton VPN
- : PureVPN
- : Private Internet Access VPN
- : Windscribe VPN
- : NordVPN
Why use a VPN for gaming?
VPNs can be used for many things, but we’d generally advise against using one for online gaming. Why? VPNs tend to add latency to your connection, which can impact real-time online tasks, including gaming. That said, sometimes a VPN is a great tool for online gaming that offers better server routing than your internet provider, particularly when it comes to playing games in countries outside of Australia.
Compare VPNs for gaming
Brand | Cheapest price | Simultaneous connections | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Promoted Pick
$2.14/mth for 2-year Standard Plan Was Deal: Get 82% off PLUS 6 extra months | 10 | Get PureVPN Deal | |
| US$3.59 /mth US$86.11 for the first 2 years | 10 | View Plans | |
| US$2.14/mth US$57.95 2-year plan + 3 months extra | 10 | View Plans | |
| US$2.03/mth $79 3-year plan + 3 months free | Unlimited | View Plans | |
| US$5.75/mth US$69 1-year plan | Unlimited | View Plans | |
| US$3.39/mth US$81.36 2-year plan + free eSIM data from Saily | 10 | View Plans |
VPNs typically advertise annual and multi-year subscriptions in terms of monthly value, but the full duration fee is paid upfront.
Proton VPN
Best VPN for gaming
Servers
11,482
Countries
117
Simultaneous connections
10
🔥64% off 2-year planUS$3.59/mth
Pricing and availability only accurate as of last page update.
Pros
Excellent global latency
Acceptable download speed changes
Acceptable upload speed changes 
Cons
Potentially overwhelming interface
Could have better download/upload speeds The best VPN for gaming is one that consistently offers low latency wherever you connect in the world. And that’s exactly what Proton VPN does with admirable results. For Australian latency, there was no impact to latency during my tests. Admittedly, this is because Proton VPN has VPN servers in the same city as me. So factor that in if you’re not in a populous part of Australia where VPN servers tend to be. Still, that’s a great result and makes it an excellent pick for online gaming.
Additionally, Proton VPN is only a few milliseconds slower than the fastest VPNs we’ve tested when connecting to US servers. Proton VPN also has bragging rights to the best latency results for connecting to servers in the UK, too. While the impact to download and upload speeds isn’t the best, it’s still contextually acceptable next to its peers. Alternatively, consider TunnelBear VPN, PureVPN, Mullvad VPN or Windscribe for low-latency gaming in Australia, the US or the UK.
PureVPN
Best affordable VPN for gaming
Servers
6,500+
Countries
78
Simultaneous connections
10
Two-year planUS$2.14/mth
Pricing and availability only accurate as of last page update.
Pros
10 simultaneous connections
Lots of servers and locations
Simplified Windows server switching Cons
Manual server switching is PC only
Must use non-AU servers for P2P
Some Windows software issues It’s a three-way tie for the best overall latency: ProtonVPN, Mullvad and PureVPN.
ProtonVPN is the best overall of those three, and Mullvad has the cheapest monthly pricing with a fixed €5 fee. That said, PureVPN is a higher-rated VPN than Mullvad and it still offers competitive pricing. PureVPN is top of the VPNs we’ve reviewed for annual pricing, and it also sits in the top five for monthly and multi-year subscriptions. Whichever subscription you go with, there are 10 simultaneous connections with lots of servers and location options. PureVPN scored equal-first ranking for latency in my tests (alongside Proton VPN and Private Internet Access). While US latency wasn’t the fastest, it’s still decent, and PureVPN was second for lowest UK latency (behind Proton VPN).
For cheap low-latency alternatives, consider Mullvad VPN or TunnelBear VPN.
See the best of the best
The truth of the matter is that most of our top VPN picks will be good for gaming. That's because we review and rank VPNs on the qualities that make them good for gaming in the first place.
Private Internet Access VPN
Best gaming VPN for Australian servers
Servers
35,000+
Countries
91+
Simultaneous connections
Unlimited
Three-year plan starts atUS$2.03/mth
Pricing and availability only accurate as of last page update.
We’ve tested more than a dozen VPNs at Reviews.org and only Hotspot Shield had a double-digit impact on latency (at a comparatively high 22ms). While every other VPN had a single-digit change to latency, there were a few that had no change whatsoever when connecting from Sydney home office to Sydney-based VPN servers. Of those, Private Internet Access is our top pick after its recent updated review redemption. For starters, it’s a competitively priced VPN that offers unlimited simultaneous connections. While it’s great for Australian gamers (and non-gamers), there’s a network of 35,000+ global servers, which also makes it a good choice for gaming in other faraway places. Best of all, Private Internet Access is easy to use, reliable and fast to connect.
For VPN alternatives that also scored 0ms changes to latency in our Sydney-to-Sydney tests, consider Proton VPN, PureVPN and Hola VPN.
Windscribe
Best VPN for US gaming
Servers
Unknown
Locations
134
Simultaneous connections
Unlimited
Annual plan starts atUS$5.75/mth
Pricing and availability only accurate as of last page update.
Not only does Windscribe have bragging rights to the equal lowest US latency, it’s also equal first for the best latency in Australia. There’s a minimal impact on Australian download and upload speeds but, admittedly, that starts to change when you shift to the US (acceptable) or to the UK (noticeably slower). Still, latency is what matters most when it comes to a gaming VPN. One of the best perks of Windscribe, though, is it allows for unlimited simultaneous connections, so you can install it on any compatible gaming device in the home. While it does have a low global server count, Windscribe is an excellent streaming companion for bypassing geoblocks.
For low-latency US alternatives, consider Mullvad, TunnelBear or IPVanish.
NordVPN
Best VPN for UK gaming
Servers
7,300+
Countries
118
Simultaneous connections
10
Annual plan starts atUS$4.99/mth
Pricing and availability only accurate as of last page update.
NordVPN isn’t just our pick of the best VPN for streaming games in the UK, it’s also our pick of the best VPN service available today. In terms of UK latency, it was a mere 2ms slower than Proton VPN, albeit with a lesser impact to download and upload speeds. For those curious to use NordVPN for gaming in other parts of the world, it was only 3ms slower than Windscribe and IPVanish for US servers, and only 1ms slower than our best results for Australian latency. While restricted to six simultaneous connections, NordVPN is also great for streaming and has plenty of servers around the world. If you’re after an extremely versatile VPN for gaming and everything else, NordVPN is well worth considering.
For alternatives, consider Proton VPN, ExpressVPN or Atlas VPN.
How we chose the best VPNs for gaming
The main way we determine the best gaming VPNs for our categories is by first running a variety of speed tests. We start our comparisons with a baseline speed test without a VPN connected. All tests are performed on an Ethernet-connected Windows 11 PC with no other devices or apps using the internet.
We then connect to the fastest available servers in Australia, the US (typically Los Angeles) and the UK (usually London). If there’s an option for a manual server connection, we may test these for differences in results. The logic with testing these locations is not only because they’re popular places to play for Australians, they’re also at extreme distances from Australia (Sydney, specifically). This paints a picture of how well a VPN should perform with shorter connection distances.
Finally, we also consider the impact on download and upload speeds, depending on the region, though this is secondary to latency. We also use other factors—such as the number of simultaneous connections, server counts and locations, as well as price—to help separate contenders from category winners.
What to look for in a gaming VPN
TLDR:
- If you want a good gaming VPN experience, remember that price isn't the only differentiator.
- Look at the number of servers in the location you want to play in.
- Choose a VPN provider known for low-latency and, if possible, use a wired connection instead of WiFi
A good gaming VPN is one that has minimal impact on the latency of your internet connection. That said, the best way to address latency is to opt for an internet provider renowned for low latency (use the best NBN providers according to ACCC data as a guide) and, where possible, use a wired Ethernet connection instead of wireless WiFi.
For a right-fit gaming VPN, choose one that works best in the countries you play (or want to play) the most. Alternatively opt for a versatile all-rounder instead. Not every VPN is as good at handling latency the world over as it may be for certain locations.
If there are close contenders in your comparisons, look for differentiators. Price is the most obvious one, but so too is the number of servers in the locations you tend to play. More servers, means better options of uptime and fewer overloaded connections.
Frequently asked questions about gaming with VPNs
VPNs generally aren’t good for gaming because they tend to add latency to your internet connection. That said, there are VPNs with minimal latency impact or those that may have better server routing than your internet provider.
The best VPN for gaming is the service that offers the lowest impact on latency. For our Sydney-based tests, we recommend Proton VPN overall, Windscribe for US gaming and NordVPN for UK gaming.
VPNs tend to increase ping (latency). That said, there are VPNs with no impact (or a minimal one) on latency, depending on how close you are to the nearest VPN server. In our tests, those VPNs were Proton VPN, PureVPN, Private Internet Access and Hola VPN. Additionally, certain VPNs handle traffic routing better than internet providers, which can also help reduce connection latency. The other benefit is it makes your device appear as though it’s connecting from another country. This can be used to access Netflix libraries in other countries or access streaming services that are geoblocked.
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