Best VPN For Gaming in 2025: Low Ping & High Privacy
Gaming needs two things from a VPN: minimal added latency and reliable throughput. Secondary concerns are privacy and the ability to access geo-locked content or avoid ISP throttling. Below I rank options I use and recommend, starting with my top two picks (NordVPN, Surfshark), then solid alternatives depending on budget, privacy appetite, or console use.
Affiliate disclosure: I personally use and recommend NordVPN and Surfshark and am an affiliate for both. If you buy either through the links on this page I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
1. NordVPN — Best overall for gaming and privacy
Why it’s #1: Excellent balance of speed, low latency, and advanced privacy tools. Network routes and WireGuard-based protocol (NordLynx) give stable, low-ping connections in most regions, while audited privacy features (obfuscation, double-VPN options) cover the privacy side.
Best for: Competitive PC/console gamers who also want strong privacy and streaming support.
Pros: Fast, stable, strong privacy toolkit, lots of servers, good app ecosystem, Meshnet for virtual LAN parties.
Cons: Slightly more expensive on short plans; advanced features can be overkill for casual users.
2. Surfshark — Best value for unlimited devices
Why it’s #2: Very competitive speeds and WireGuard support at a lower price point; unlimited simultaneous connections are ideal if you run multiple consoles, phones, and a gaming PC. CleanWeb and Camouflage mode help with ISP/traffic obfuscation.
Best for: Households or streamers who want good performance across many devices without high cost.
Pros: Great value, unlimited devices, consistently low latency on common routes.
Cons: Slightly fewer specialty servers than Nord; occasional route variance depending on server.
Alternatives worth considering
ExpressVPN — Premium speeds and extremely reliable routing; often the best pick for console gamers who travel or use remote regions, but it’s pricier.
Proton VPN — Strong privacy-first choice with transparent practices and open-source apps; pick paid tiers for best speed.
Private Internet Access — Highly configurable, value pricing, and strong leak protection; good for power users who want custom routing or port forwarding.
Mullvad — Strong, anonymous-account privacy model; excellent if you prioritise anonymity over extras like streaming-optimised servers.
Buying tips for gamers
Prefer WireGuard-based protocols (NordLynx, WireGuard) for the best latency and throughput.
Test servers near your game server region — local routing matters more than raw server count.
Use a wired connection where possible; VPNs add overhead, so eliminate local Wi-Fi jitter first.
Check simultaneous device limits if you share the VPN across the household or stream from multiple machines.
Look for a money-back guarantee to test real-world latency in your typical play sessions.
Quick recommendations by use case
Competitive esports / low ping priority: NordVPN or ExpressVPN.
Multiple devices / family setup: Surfshark.
Console-first (easy setup on router): ExpressVPN or NordVPN (good router support).
Privacy-first and anonymous signup: Mullvad or Proton VPN.
Closing note
If your priorities are privacy plus consistently low ping, NordVPN and Surfshark are the two strongest, practical choices I use and recommend—NordVPN for the best all-around performance and privacy features, Surfshark for the best value and unlimited-device convenience. Use their trial/money-back windows to test latency on your usual game servers before committing.
Full affiliate disclosure: I personally use NordVPN and Surfshark and recommend them for gaming and privacy. This page contains affiliate links to those providers; if you purchase through those links I may receive a commission. I only promote services I use and trust.