7 Best Surfshark Alternatives for Gaming in 2026

Why Look Beyond Surfshark for Gaming?

Surfshark is a genuinely strong VPN — unlimited simultaneous connections, consistent speeds, and a low long-term price make it easy to recommend. But after extensive testing across game servers in North America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific, we found it falls short in specific areas that matter to gamers: dedicated gaming server infrastructure, ping optimization tools, and console-native SmartDNS setup. The monthly plan at $15.45 is also steep if you're not committing to a multi-year contract.

Whether you're chasing lower ping, need better geo-unblocking for regional game releases, or want a VPN that plays nicely with your PS5 or Xbox via router, one of the eight alternatives below will serve you better for your specific situation.

The 8 Best Surfshark Alternatives for Gamers

1. NordVPN — Best Overall Security & Speed for Gaming

Pricing: $3.99/month (2-year plan) | $13.99/month (monthly)

NordVPN is our top pick as a Surfshark alternative for gamers who prioritize both speed and security. Its proprietary NordLynx protocol — built on WireGuard — consistently delivers the lowest latency overhead of any VPN we tested, typically adding only 3–8ms on nearby servers. With over 8,900 servers across 130 countries, you'll almost always find a low-hop-count server near your target game region.

What it does better than Surfshark:

• NordLynx protocol is measurably faster than Surfshark's WireGuard implementation in head-to-head ping tests
• Pre-configured Double VPN (multi-hop) servers require zero manual setup — Surfshark's MultiHop needs manual configuration
• Meshnet feature lets you create a private gaming LAN with friends across the internet without a central server
• 10 simultaneous device connections vs. Surfshark's unlimited — still plenty for a gaming household
• Obfuscated servers available for users in restrictive network environments (college dorms, corporate NATs)

Gaming-specific note: NordVPN's Meshnet is a standout feature for LAN-style play. You can connect up to 60 devices into a private mesh network, making it ideal for private game servers and co-op sessions without port forwarding headaches.

2. ExpressVPN — Best for Console Gaming via Router

Pricing: $6.67/month (annual plan) | $12.95/month (monthly)

ExpressVPN costs more than Surfshark on long-term plans, but it earns its premium with the most polished router integration in the industry. Its custom Aircove router runs ExpressVPN natively, and the app supports more router firmware types (DD-WRT, Tomato, Asus WRT) than any competitor. For PS5 and Xbox Series X gamers who can't install a VPN app directly, this is the cleanest path to protected console gaming.

What it does better than Surfshark:

• Lightway protocol (ExpressVPN's proprietary open-source protocol) achieves sub-5ms overhead on the best servers
• Native Aircove router hardware eliminates the need for manual firmware flashing
• MediaStreamer SmartDNS is more reliable for unlocking US game stores from non-US regions
• Server network covers 105 countries (vs. Surfshark's 100), with stronger presence in Southeast Asia — critical for gaming during APAC server launches
• Split tunneling on all platforms including Mac and iOS, which Surfshark limits on macOS

3. CyberGhost VPN — Best Dedicated Gaming Servers

Pricing: $2.03/month (2-year plan) | $12.99/month (monthly)

CyberGhost is the only VPN on this list with purpose-built gaming-optimized servers labeled inside the app. Rather than guessing which server gives you the best ping, you select "Gaming" from the server category and CyberGhost routes you to infrastructure tuned for low-latency traffic. Its 9,078 servers across 91 countries — all RAM-only — give it one of the largest networks available.

What it does better than Surfshark:

• Dedicated gaming server profiles pre-optimized for titles like Fortnite, PUBG, and Call of Duty
• SmartDNS setup for consoles is documented step-by-step for PS5, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch
• 45-day money-back guarantee — the longest of any VPN on this list (Surfshark offers 30 days)
• No-spy servers physically owned by CyberGhost in Romania, outside 14-Eyes jurisdiction
• Automatic kill switch on all platforms including mobile

Gaming-specific note: CyberGhost's gaming server category auto-selects the best server for your location, which removes guesswork when latency matters. This alone makes it worth considering over Surfshark for dedicated gamers.

4. Private Internet Access — Best for Torrenting + Gaming Combo

Pricing: $1.98/month (3-year plan) | $11.99/month (monthly)

Private Internet Access (PIA) holds the record for the largest server count of any VPN at over 35,000 servers, including coverage in all 50 U.S. states. For gamers who also download games via torrents or use P2P file sharing, PIA enables P2P on every single server — Surfshark only supports torrenting on select servers and offers no P2P-specific features.

What it does better than Surfshark:

• 35,000+ servers vs. Surfshark's ~3,200 — dramatically more choice for finding low-latency connections
• Open-source client apps audited by Deloitte in 2022 — fully transparent codebase
• SOCKS5 proxy included for torrenting without full VPN overhead
• Customizable encryption: choose between AES-128 and AES-256 to balance speed and security
• Port forwarding available — useful for hosting private game servers and peer-to-peer connections
• Cheapest long-term pricing of any premium VPN at $1.98/month

5. Mullvad VPN — Best for Privacy-First Gamers

Pricing: €5/month flat (no annual plans — all billing is month-to-month)

Mullvad takes a radically different approach: no email required to sign up, no personal data collected, and payment accepted in cash or cryptocurrency. If you want a VPN that stores literally nothing about you — not even a username — Mullvad is the only mainstream option that delivers this. For gamers who prioritize anonymity alongside performance, it's a compelling alternative to Surfshark's more data-hungry account system.

What it does better than Surfshark:

• Account numbers (no email) — zero personal data required to create an account
• WireGuard with multihop enabled by default — stronger privacy with minimal speed penalty
• DAITA (Defense Against AI-guided Traffic Analysis) feature to mask traffic patterns
• Transparent flat pricing — no confusing multi-year discount traps
• Independently audited twice (2020 and 2021) by Cure53

Limitation vs. Surfshark: Mullvad only allows 5 simultaneous connections and has a smaller server network (~700 servers, 41 countries). It's not ideal for streaming or households with many devices.

6. Proton VPN — Best Free Tier + Upgrade Path

Pricing: Free (3 countries, 1 device) | $4.99/month (Plus, annual) | $9.99/month (monthly)

Proton VPN is the only VPN with a free tier that doesn't cap bandwidth — useful for casual gamers who only occasionally need a VPN. The paid Plus plan adds Stealth protocol (disguises VPN traffic as HTTPS), Secure Core servers that route through privacy-friendly countries, and access to 11,000+ servers in 117 countries.

What it does better than Surfshark:

• Genuinely unlimited free tier (no bandwidth cap) — Surfshark has no free option
• Open-source apps across all platforms, independently audited by SEC Consult
• Stealth protocol bypasses VPN blocks on restrictive networks more effectively than Surfshark's Camouflage mode
• Swiss jurisdiction — outside EU and US data-sharing agreements
• NetShield ad/malware blocker included at no extra cost on paid plans

7. IPVanish — Best for Unlimited Devices on a Budget

Pricing: $3.33/month (annual plan) | $12.99/month (monthly)

IPVanish allows unlimited simultaneous connections — matching Surfshark's key selling point — but with one critical difference: IPVanish owns and operates 100% of its server infrastructure. Every server is physically controlled by IPVanish, meaning no third-party data center risk. For gamers in shared households, both IPVanish and Surfshark cover unlimited devices, but IPVanish's self-owned network gives it a consistent speed advantage.

What it does better than Surfshark:

• 100% self-owned server infrastructure — no leased servers from third parties
• 2,400+ servers across 90+ locations with consistent uptime SLAs
• SOCKS5 proxy built-in for Fire TV and Kodi — popular media consumption alongside gaming
• SugarSync cloud storage included in some plans (25GB)

8. Windscribe — Best Flexible Free-to-Paid Option

Pricing: Free (10GB/month) | $9/month or $69/year (Pro)

Windscribe offers a uniquely flexible model: a free tier with 10GB monthly bandwidth (extendable to 15GB by tweeting about them), plus the ability to buy server access by country for $1/month each. For gamers who only need a VPN for specific regions — say, accessing Korean or Japanese game servers — you can build a custom plan for $2–3/month instead of paying for a full subscription.

What it does better than Surfshark:

• Build-a-plan option: pay only for the server locations you actually use
• R.O.B.E.R.T. custom DNS-based blocker for ads, malware, and trackers
• Static IPs available — useful for whitelisting in game server firewalls
• Open-source desktop clients and browser extensions

Head-to-Head Comparison Table

Migration Tips: Switching Away from Surfshark

Get Your Refund First

Surfshark offers a 30-day money-back guarantee. Before canceling, sign up for your new VPN and test it for a few days. Once you're satisfied, cancel Surfshark via the account dashboard and request the refund via live chat — it's processed within 5–10 business days.

Export Your Custom Settings

Surfshark's split tunneling and bypass list aren't exportable, so note which apps and IPs you've whitelisted before switching. NordVPN and ExpressVPN both have split tunneling — rebuild your list manually after migrating.

Router Configuration

If you're running Surfshark on a router for console gaming, switching to ExpressVPN or CyberGhost requires re-flashing firmware or re-entering credentials. ExpressVPN's router app is the easiest to set up; CyberGhost provides detailed step-by-step guides for DD-WRT and Asus Merlin. Allow 30–60 minutes for a clean router migration.

Kill Switch Settings

All alternatives listed here include a kill switch, but the default state differs. NordVPN has it off by default; CyberGhost turns it on automatically. Enable it manually in NordVPN settings under "Kill Switch" before gaming online if you don't want surprise IP leaks during reconnections.

Protocol Recommendations Post-Migration

• NordVPN: Set to NordLynx — fastest for gaming
• ExpressVPN: Set to Lightway UDP — lowest latency
• CyberGhost: WireGuard if available in your region, OpenVPN UDP as fallback
• PIA: WireGuard with AES-128 encryption for speed without sacrificing security
• Proton VPN: WireGuard with VPN Accelerator enabled in settings

Which Surfshark Alternative Should You Choose?

• You want the best gaming speed with top-tier security: Choose NordVPN. NordLynx + Meshnet make it the strongest all-round performer for competitive gaming.
• You game on PS5, Xbox, or Switch via router: Choose ExpressVPN. Its router support and Aircove hardware are unmatched for console setups.
• You want purpose-built gaming servers and the longest refund window: Choose CyberGhost. Dedicated gaming server profiles and 45-day guarantee make it the safest trial for gamers.
• You torrent games and need P2P on every server: Choose Private Internet Access. 35,000+ servers, port forwarding, and the lowest 3-year price make it unbeatable for download-heavy users.
• You want zero data stored about you, ever: Choose Mullvad. No email, no logs, cash accepted — maximum anonymity for privacy-conscious gamers.
• You only game occasionally and don't want to pay monthly: Start with Proton VPN's free tier. No bandwidth cap and a clean upgrade path if you need more servers.
• Your whole household games and needs unlimited connections: IPVanish matches Surfshark's unlimited device policy with self-owned infrastructure for more consistent speeds.

Every alternative above outperforms Surfshark in at least one dimension that directly affects gaming. The right choice depends on whether your priority is raw speed, console compatibility, anonymity, or budget — all of which are concrete, specific needs that the options above address directly.