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The best gaming VPN out there
DDoS protection. Worldwide access. Secure gaming experience.
Limited time: 60% off 2-year plan
Why do you need a VPN for gaming?
Protect yourself from DDoS attacks
Our gaming VPN protects your computer from unwittingly participating in or becoming a victim of distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks. It’s no secret that some gamers use DDoS for competitive advantage either to slow you down or shut you out of the game completely.
Once you become a target, multiple computers start flooding your IP address with trash data to overwhelm your network. This is where VPN servers come in — while they won’t make you 100% DDoS-proof, they can absorb a lot of punishment. And if the DDoS attack doesn’t stop, you can simply hop onto another one of our 5500+ gaming VPN servers.
Play games on any platform
NordVPN supports all major platforms, including Windows, Linux, macOS, iOS, Android, and even Android TV. But if you have a few different consoles and want always-on protection, consider installing NordVPN on your router. You’ll only have to do it once, and a VPN router for gaming will protect all connected devices in your home with bulletproof encryption – including your Xbox One, Playstation 5, and Nintendo Switch.
Avoid bandwidth throttling
Everyone hates lag — especially when it blindsides you in the middle of a match. Unfortunately, internet service providers (ISPs) can strangle your connection based on your online traffic type, and this might include prolonged gaming sessions.
NordVPN helps you avoid bandwidth throttling by hiding your data traffic from your ISP through encryption. Automated systems sniff out signs of streaming or gaming, but they can’t bring down the banhammer if they don’t know what you’re doing. So while encryption-powered security might add a few milliseconds to your ping, it’ll stop the man upstairs from grinding your game to a halt.
Get more with our gaming VPN
Best VPN speed performance
A fast internet connection is the cornerstone of multiplayer games — go slow and you’re just free points for your opponents. The very best VPNs manage to protect your data traffic without any noticeable dips in speed. NordVPN happens to provide the fastest VPN experience on the planet, making it the best VPN for gaming.
Mobile protection
Best VPN for gaming on the go. Access your favorite online games from anywhere on your phone when you can’t take your other devices with you. NordVPN will ensure a fast, safe, and stable connection on whatever app you’re using.
Split tunneling
Split tunneling gives you more control over your connections.
You might prefer playing some games without a VPN – and that’s up to you. But to make sure your other connections stay private while you play, use the split tunneling feature to exclude your game from the VPN tunnel. Traffic from all other apps will be encrypted, but your game will stay on the local network.
You can also do it the other way around and only have certain games connected to a VPN. This way, your browser and other online apps will be unencrypted and connected to the local network.
Data traffic security
NordVPN provides state-of-the-art encryption for all of your online traffic. Home Wi-Fi networks can be hacked, but you should be extra careful with public Wi-Fi. Whether you want to sneak in a game at your hotel room, frag strangers on the Xbox, shop on your Playstation, or simply meet new friends on the Nintendo Switch, NordVPN lets you play in security and privacy.
How to set up a VPN for gaming
Enjoy smooth gaming with top-notch security easily.
01
Use a VPN app
Download the NordVPN app on your gaming device. We have apps for all the major platforms, so you can easily switch it on on your gaming PC, laptop, or mobile device.
02
Install it on your router
Looking for security while gaming on your console? Install NordVPN on your Wi-Fi router, and every device connected to it will be protected by bulletproof encryption.
03
Configure it yourself
Prefer manual connection? You may set up a NordVPN connection on your devices yourself. It takes more know-how, but you can find detailed tutorials in our Help Center.
But don't just take our word for it
Is NordVPN the best VPN service for privacy? Let's ask our users and tech experts.
PewDiePie111M subscribers
“Browse the internet safely, but most importantly, freely. A VPN is one of those things that are just good to have. I recommend NordVPN.”
CaseyNeistat12M subscribers
“NordVPN is a very good VPN, they’re very highly regarded in the industry. I’ve been using it for 3 years, it’s not problematic, I use it on my iPhone, my Android, my Mac laptop.”
Philip DeFranco6M subscribers
“I’ve been a NordVPN customer for years, and if you still haven’t checked it out you’re missing out on the peace of mind one gets when securing your personal data and internet activity.”
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Only one step left to start secure gaming online.
30-day money-back guaranteeFrequently asked questions about gaming VPNs
Is there a free gaming VPN?
Never trust a free VPN to secure your privacy. Free VPNs cover their costs by exploiting their users with advertising malware, by embedding third-party trackers in their software, and selling your bandwidth for a profit to their paid users. All the while, choking your internet speeds to coax you into a paid plan. Premium gaming VPN is a reliable choice in terms of online restrictions, high speeds and DDoS attacks.
You can get the NordVPN app or browser extension free for 30 days, as part of a free trial.
You can get the NordVPN app or browser extension free for 30 days, as part of a free trial.
Can a VPN reduce ping?
In most cases VPN won't improve your ping. However, a VPN might overall improve your gaming experience if you're noticing that ISP is throttling your connections based on the traffic type, such as gaming.
Is a VPN good for gaming?
A VPN is good for many things, including gaming! In addition to protecting your privacy and preventing anyone from intercepting your data, a VPN will mitigate the effects of DDoS attacks. If you’re gaming VPN-free, you not only risk becoming a victim of a DDoS attack, but also unwittingly participating in one.
Keep in mind that while data encryption can have a slight impact on your connection speed, it also might prevent your ISP from throttling you and may even lead to less ping.
Keep in mind that while data encryption can have a slight impact on your connection speed, it also might prevent your ISP from throttling you and may even lead to less ping.
Can you get banned for using a VPN for games?
Using a VPN by itself is hardly ever frowned upon. However, some online storefronts prohibit the use of VPNs for purchasing games in other countries to enforce regional pricing and availability. If they discover that you created a new account specifically to play games in that region, it could end up banned.
That said, systems that detect such cases are very faulty, as they often end up wrongly banning travelers and expatriates. If you think your account was banned in error, make sure to contact the storefront’s customer support and explain your situation.
That said, systems that detect such cases are very faulty, as they often end up wrongly banning travelers and expatriates. If you think your account was banned in error, make sure to contact the storefront’s customer support and explain your situation.
Do pro gamers use a VPN?
Professional online gamers are even more likely to use a VPN for gaming than regular users. They need stable speeds, so they must make sure their ISP won’t mess with their connection. But more importantly, they need protection from DDoS attacks that are prominent in the online gaming world.
Jealousy, competitiveness, or simply hate drives other players to team up and try to flood their opponent’s network and slow them down. But they need their victim’s IP address to do that, and using a VPN hides it from other players.
Jealousy, competitiveness, or simply hate drives other players to team up and try to flood their opponent’s network and slow them down. But they need their victim’s IP address to do that, and using a VPN hides it from other players.
Does VPN cause lag to other players?
No, using a VPN for gaming will have no impact on other users in the game. If your gaming group is lagging, something else is to blame – like too many players connected to the same server.