Best Free Gaming VPNs in 2024: For Optimal Gaming Experience

With a server collection of over 3000 servers serving users in 94 countries, ExpressVPN gives the avid gamer a chance to explore several games. As one of the fastest VPN services, ExpressVPN allows gamers to have the best video quality and speed, which ultimately leads to a pleasurable experience. You will have no issue playing games that utilize P2P file-sharing as ExpressVPN supports it.

You can trust ExpressVPN with your data as it uses TrustedServer technology to keep users’ data off non-volatile memory. Its straightforward No-Log Policy and its headquarters in the privacy-friendly British Virgin Islands contribute to maintaining its users’ privacy. Gamers can also pay in cryptocurrency to stay completely anonymous.

Security-wise, ExpressVPN has the ammunition to reduce the risk of hackers stealing your data. Its security layer consists of AES-256 encryption, secure VPN protocols (OpenVPN, IKEv2/IPSec, and L2TP/IPSec), perfect forward secrecy, Tor over VPN, Double VPN, and leak protection.

ExpressVPN supports several devices, including PS5, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch. You can check its website for instructional guides if you want to set it up on your game console. Its cheapest subscription plan (one-year) will cost you $8.32 per month, while its monthly plan costs $12.95. ExpressVPN’s 30-day refund policy allows you to use its services risk-free for 30 days after subscribing.

NordVPN, like ExpressVPN, is another premium VPN you can bank on. Its more than 5000 servers spread across 59 countries in different regions allows you to unblock several shows and games. You can also depend on NordVPN when it comes to speed and P2P file-sharing activities. It is a top choice if you’re looking to stream games in the best video quality available.

You don’t have to worry about privacy as NordVPN is under the jurisdiction of privacy-friendly Panama. Its privacy-enhancing features include a warrant canary, obfuscated servers, and a bitcoin payment option. NordVPN is as trustworthy as it gets; your data is always in safe hands.

When it comes to security, NordVPN takes a serious stand against malicious entities. Its CyberSec feature thwarts phishing campaigns, blocks ads, and prevents you from accessing known malicious websites. NordVPN’s WireGuard-based NordLynx protocol also ensures you have a fast connection without sacrificing security. Other security components include 256-bit encryption, Split Tunneling, Double VPN, and Onion over VPN.

NordVPN also supports many platforms, including gaming platforms like Google Stadia, GeForce Now, PlayStation, and Xbox. Users pay $3.71 monthly for NordVPN’s 2-year plan (cheapest) and $4.92 monthly for its yearly plan. All subscription packages have a 30-day risk-free money-back guarantee.

ProtonVPN has 1000 plus servers operating in 54 countries, with a vast amount in North America and Europe. Its free version only permits access to servers in the United States of America, Japan, and the Netherlands. This limits the number of countries you can bypass restrictions.

It scales through geo-restrictions on leading streaming websites like Hulu, Netflix, and Amazon Prime, among others. You can also download torrent files due to P2P file-sharing support. A notable drawback is its inconsistent speed. On the flip side, there is no limit to the amount of data you can use. Most VPNs provide bandwidth caps, but this VPN considers a trade-off between speed and bandwidth to satisfy its users.

Operating in Switzerland gives it an edge when it comes to privacy. Its clear-cut privacy and no-log policy also reinforce ProtonVPN’s commitment to keeping you anonymous and safe. It is pleasing to know that all applications are open source and independently audited by security experts.

Hacking-resistant AES-256 encryption protects your data along with strong hashing and authentication ciphers. It supports IKEv2/IPsec and OpenVPN: two of the most secure VPN protocols. Other security features include perfect forward secrecy, Tor over VPN, a kill switch, and DNS leak protection. There are also Secure Core servers, which move your internet traffic through several servers before reaching the final destination.

ProtonVPN has applications for Windows, Android, macOS, and iOS. Installation instructions for Routers and Linux systems are also available. The free subscription plan permits only a single device to use with the VPN. Other paid plans will increase the number of simultaneous connections you can have.

Hide.me’s server structure consists of 1800 servers spread over 72 locations. Asides from significant server support in North America and Europe, there are servers on every continent. Unfortunately, with the free version, you only have permission to join servers in five locations: Germany, US East, US West, Canada, and the Netherlands.

It’s a beautiful selection for streaming as you can unblock shows on superior platforms like Netflix, DAZN, BBC iPlayer, HBO Now, and Disney+, among others. A significant number of servers permit P2P sharing. Therefore, you can download torrent files without any complication.

Characterized by fast momentum, several speed tests show that gamers will have no problems using this VPN. The only drawback is the free version comes with a data transfer limit of ten gigabytes of data per month. Avid gamers will choose to avoid this VPN due to this single limitation or upgrade to a paid version.

Its privacy policy discriminates against collecting logs, and it abides by that policy. Working in Malaysia also means your privacy will remain free from exposure as no authority can forcefully request user data to be released. Since they do not keep logs, there isn’t any data to give.

This VPN supports secure VPN protocols like OpenVPN, IKEv2, WireGuard, Softether, and SSTP. In addition to 256-bit encryption protecting your network, you also have a kill switch, split tunneling, and stealth guard. These features work together to give you maximum protection.

Hide.me has support for different operating systems and platforms. You can only use one device on the free plan, but that number can change if you configure it on a router. It has options for other subscription plans, with discounts for longer plans.

Windscribe’s server network consists of 110 locations in 63 countries. This gives you access to unblock several geo-restrictions depending on your country of choice. Its free plan gives you access to only eleven of those countries, including the United States of America, Canada, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, France, Netherlands, Norway, Germany, Romania, Turkey, and Hong Kong.

Understanding that speed is a vital feature for gamers, Windscribe ensures decent speed. However, your experience can vary depending on the distance between your location and the server. Gamers who depend on torrenting will enjoy using Windscribe because it supports P2P file-sharing.

Regarding security, Windscribe supports the use of AES-256 encryption, OpenVPN, and IKEv2, among other tough hashing and authentication protocols. You can be sure malicious hackers will waste their time trying to compromise your network. A perfect forward secrecy feature sets up new encryption keys regularly to ensure tight security.

There is a Stealth Mode feature to unblock content in countries that specifically block VPNs, like China. You also have a unique feature that blocks adware, malware, and specific subjects, depending on your preference. A firm no-log policy and DNS/IPv6/WebRTC leak prevention are other security components of Windscribe VPN.

There are applications for top platforms, extensions for browsers, and support for several others. A free account on Windscribe allows only about 10 gigabytes of data every month on a single device, which is more than most free VPNs give. Its paid subscription is cheap. Apart from the monthly and yearly plan, you can build a plan that suits your needs.

Hotspot Shield has over 1800 servers spread across over 80 nations. Access to an ample amount of servers guarantees unblocking various programs in different countries. Its major drawback is that the free plan offers only one server location: the USA. Major streaming platforms cannot block this VPN. You have access to Netflix, Amazon Prime, BBC iPlayer, and others. You can also download several torrent files, as all servers tolerate P2P file-sharing.

It has a one-of-a-kind Catapult Hydra protocol that improves performance by reducing latency. Durable, reliable, and consistent speed make this VPN the right choice for gamers. However, the free version allows a maximum speed of 2 Megabits per second. This might not be enough for resource-intensive games.

You might want to stay away from this VPN if your privacy is of great concern. Hotspot Shield’s privacy policy indicates they collect more logs than reputable VPN service providers and distribute them to third parties. It is no wonder the free version is not ad-free. Although it is secure to use with features like 256-bit encryption, 2048-bit RSA for authentication, perfect forward secrecy, IP/DNS/WebRTC leak protection, and malware protection.

There is a bandwidth limit of 500 MegaBytes daily on a single device, which equates to about 15 gigabytes per month. Despite being compatible across several platforms, you can only connect to one device using the free version. You can have up to five connections at the same time if you upgrade to its paid versions.

Canada-based TunnelBear was founded in 2011 by Daniel Kaldor and Ryan Dochuk. Although American security company McAfee bought it in 2018, it maintains its status as an independent firm. It doesn’t have many features, but its simplicity, speed, and ease of use will attract a fair number of users.

TunnelBear has servers operating in about 26 countries, with Europe taking a significant portion of servers. Unfortunately, unlike other VPNs on this list, it has difficulties unblocking top websites like Netflix, BBC iPlayer, and Hulu.

Although there is little or no information about torrenting on their website, TunnelBear servers support P2P file-sharing. So if you depend on downloading torrent files, you should have no complications.

Gamers require fast connections to enjoy the gaming experience, and TunnelBear is up to the task. Speed tests show why this free VPN service provider is an option for many users. However, not as consistent as some of the fastest VPNs, it does its job pretty well. The only problem is that you have a data transfer limit of 500MB per month. Users looking for free VPN services will not find this attractive, as game fanatics will exhaust that in a few hours.

In securing your connection, it uses flawless AES-256 encryption and other secure VPN protocols. It is also one of the most transparent VPN service providers, with a comprehensive privacy policy and regular security audits.

It has applications for iOS, macOS, Android, and Windows. Browser extensions for Opera, Chrome, and Firefox are usable. Its free subscription plan allows for only one device. You get unlimited data transfer and five simultaneous links if you change to a paid plan.