Best VPN for Gaming in 2026
Lowest ping, DDoS protection, and early access to geo-locked games
A gaming VPN needs to be invisible -- adding as little latency as possible while protecting you from DDoS attacks and letting you access geo-locked content. Rankings are based on ping impact, jitter stability, and DDoS protection across competitive gaming scenarios.
ExpressVPN is the best VPN for gaming thanks to its Lightway protocol delivering the lowest ping increase (just 3-5ms on nearby servers). NordVPN's Meshnet feature is a standout for LAN-over-VPN gaming.
Visit SiteWhat to Look For
Every millisecond counts. We measure ping increase across 30+ game server locations and track jitter stability during extended sessions.
Competitive gamers are targeted. We verify that the VPN masks your real IP and can absorb DDoS attacks without dropping.
More server locations mean a server closer to your game server. Routing efficiency and smart server selection are key factors.
Console gaming requires router-level VPN. We check for native router firmware and easy setup guides.