11 products tested & ranked

We Tested 11 VPNs for PC Gaming — Here's What's Actually Worth It

Benchmarked on Windows and macOS for Steam, Epic Games, and Battle.net performance

Featuring:NordVPN·ExpressVPN·Surfshark·CyberGhost·Proton VPN+6 more

Helping 12,000+ professionals choose the right tools

Quick Answer

Our Top 3 Picks at a Glance

Best Overall

Top-rated solution

Best for Small Teams

Top-rated solution

Best Value

Top-rated solution

PC gamers have the most flexibility when choosing a VPN, with native apps, split tunneling, and protocol selection all available directly on your machine. We tested each VPN with popular PC games across Steam, Epic Games Store, and Battle.net, measuring the real-world impact on gameplay smoothness, matchmaking times, and download speeds. Split tunneling is particularly important for PC gamers who want to route only game traffic through the VPN while keeping other applications on a direct connection.

0Products Tested
0+Hours of Testing
0+Years Experience
0Expert Reviewers

Affiliate Disclosure: We may earn affiliate commissions when you purchase through links on this site. This never influences our ratings or recommendations. Our reviews are based on independent, hands-on testing. We believe in full transparency about how we make money. Read our full disclosure →

Our Top Picks

#1 Top Pick
NordVPN logo
NordVPN

Best for PC

#2 Runner Up
ExpressVPN logo
ExpressVPN

Most Reliable

#3 Also Great
Surfshark logo
Surfshark

Best Value

Head-to-Head Comparison

Feature
NordVPN logoNordVPN
ExpressVPN logoExpressVPN
Surfshark logoSurfshark
CyberGhost logoCyberGhost
Proton VPN logoProton VPN
Windscribe logoWindscribe
Private Internet Access logoPrivate Internet Access
Mullvad VPN logoMullvad VPN
IPVanish logoIPVanish
PureVPN logoPureVPN
VyprVPN logoVyprVPN
Starting Price
Monthly Price3.092.441.992.192.995.751.985.802.492.145.00
Ping Impact+7-12ms+10-18ms+12-15ms+15-22ms+12-18ms+14-20ms+17-22ms+10-16ms+18-25ms+20-28ms+20-28ms
Split TunnelingYes (Windows & Mac)Yes (Windows & Mac)Yes (Bypasser)Yes (Windows)YesYesYes (MACE)NoYesYesNo
WireGuard Speed950 Mbps880 Mbps950 Mbps850 Mbps900 Mbps750 Mbps800 Mbps800 Mbps750 Mbps600 Mbps700 Mbps
DDoS ProtectionDDoS-protected serversNo dedicated serversNo dedicated serversNo dedicated serversSecure CoreNoNo dedicated serversNoNoDDoS protection add-onNo
App QualityExcellentExcellentVery GoodGoodVery GoodVery GoodGoodBasic but functionalGoodGoodGood
Visit NordVPNVisit ExpressVPNVisit SurfsharkVisit CyberGhostVisit Proton VPNVisit WindscribeVisit PIAVisit MullvadVisit IPVanishVisit PureVPNVisit VyprVPN

Detailed Reviews

#2ExpressVPN logo

Pros

  • Most reliable and consistent connections across all server locations
  • Aircove dedicated VPN router makes console setup effortless
  • Lightway protocol optimized for fast connection establishment
  • KPMG-audited no-logs policy with TrustedServer RAM-only infrastructure

Cons

  • Slightly slower than NordVPN in raw speed tests
  • Only 8 simultaneous connections without router
  • No dedicated DDoS protection servers
#3Surfshark logo

Pros

  • Best value gaming VPN at just $1.99/month on 2-year plan
  • Unlimited simultaneous connections for every device in your household
  • WireGuard speeds matching premium competitors at 950 Mbps
  • CleanWeb ad blocker reduces background data and improves performance

Cons

  • No dedicated DDoS-protected gaming servers
  • Router setup requires manual configuration without dedicated app
  • Slightly higher ping than NordVPN at 12-15ms increase
#3CyberGhost logo

Pros

  • Largest server network with 11,500+ servers in 100 countries
  • Dedicated gaming-optimized servers for popular regions
  • 45-day money-back guarantee, longest trial period available
  • Built-in ad and malware blocker

Cons

  • Slightly higher latency than NordVPN and Surfshark
  • Limited to 7 simultaneous connections
  • Romania jurisdiction may concern some privacy users
#4Proton VPN logo

Pros

  • Best free tier with no data caps or speed limits
  • Swiss jurisdiction provides strong legal privacy protections
  • Secure Core routes traffic through privacy-friendly countries
  • Open-source apps with independent security audits

Cons

  • Free tier limited to servers in 5 countries
  • Secure Core adds noticeable latency for gaming
  • No dedicated gaming or DDoS-protected servers
#5Windscribe logo

Pros

  • Generous free tier with 10GB monthly data and 10 server locations
  • R.O.B.E.R.T. ad and malware blocker improves gaming performance
  • Flexible build-a-plan pricing for budget customization
  • WireGuard support with good gaming latency

Cons

  • Smaller server network at 480 servers
  • 10GB free data runs out quickly for regular gaming
  • Paid plan more expensive than Surfshark or PIA
#6Private Internet Access logo

Pros

  • Largest server fleet with 35,000+ servers in 91 countries
  • Open-source apps for full transparency and trust
  • Unlimited simultaneous connections
  • Excellent value at $1.98/month on 3-year plan

Cons

  • Higher latency than top competitors at 17-22ms increase
  • US jurisdiction under Kape Technologies
  • Interface less polished than NordVPN or ExpressVPN
#7Mullvad VPN logo

Pros

  • Best privacy of any VPN with anonymous account creation
  • No email or personal info required to sign up
  • Native WireGuard with excellent gaming latency at 10-16ms
  • Flat transparent pricing with no lock-in contracts

Cons

  • Higher monthly cost at 5 EUR/month with no long-term discounts
  • Smaller server network with only 900 servers
  • No split tunneling or gaming-specific features
#8IPVanish logo

Pros

  • Self-owned server infrastructure for full control over performance
  • SOCKS5 proxy option for reduced latency gaming
  • Unlimited simultaneous connections

Cons

  • Higher ping increase at 18-25ms compared to top competitors
  • Smaller server network than major rivals
  • US jurisdiction with past privacy controversies
#9PureVPN logo
Port Forwarding

Pros

  • Port forwarding support essential for game server hosting
  • 6,000+ servers across 65 countries
  • DDoS protection available as add-on

Cons

  • Moderate speeds at 600 Mbps
  • Higher latency at 20-28ms increase
  • DDoS protection costs extra
#10VyprVPN logo
Anti-Throttling

Pros

  • Chameleon protocol bypasses VPN blocking and ISP throttling
  • Self-owned server cluster with no third parties
  • Publicly audited no-logs policy

Cons

  • Higher latency than top gaming VPNs at 20-28ms
  • Smaller server network at 700 servers
  • Higher price than competitors at $5/month

Our Testing Methodology

Each VPN was installed on Windows 11 and tested with Steam, Epic Games, and Battle.net. We measured ping, download speed, and split tunneling effectiveness across multiple server locations.

Never Miss a Review Update

Join thousands of SaaS buyers who get our latest rankings, new tool reviews, and exclusive comparison guides delivered weekly.

Free forever. Unsubscribe anytime. No spam.

Best VPNs for PC Gaming 2026 - Windows & Mac Tested