After testing 30+ VPNs on PS4 and PS5, my team and I found a few that can secure your gameplay with minimal lag. Plus, they all have worldwide server networks, so you can access geo-restricted games and streaming platforms without issues. My top recommendation for PlayStation is ExpressVPN. It offers strong security features, ultra-fast speeds, and low ping times for secure and smooth gameplay. It’s also super easy to set up on a PlayStation. You can even try ExpressVPN risk-free as it’s backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee. If you don’t like it, you can get a full refund. Get ExpressVPN On PlayStation Try ExpressVPN Now
Best VPNs for PlayStation — Full Analysis (Updated in March 2023)
1. ExpressVPN — Superfast Speeds and Low Ping for Lag-Free Gaming on PlayStation
ExpressVPN offers excellent speeds and low ping, so you can play PS games without lag. During my tests, I recorded an average download speed of 88.5 Mbps on its nearby servers. This is a speed drop of less than 3% from my baseline connection of 90 Mbps. Plus, my ping was always below 32 ms, which is ideal for online gaming. I could play Apex Legends on my PS5 with minimal lag. In order to use the VPN on your PlayStation, you can either set it up on your router or share your VPN connection from your PC. Of all the VPNs I tested, I found ExpressVPN to be the easiest to set up on a router — all you need to do is install its custom firmware. By following ExpressVPN’s guide, I installed it successfully in just 5 minutes. ExpressVPN also offers a dedicated app for routers. This allows you to easily change server locations and VPN settings with just a few clicks. Most VPNs require you to edit your router settings every time you wish to change your server. ExpressVPN’s dedicated app means you can spend less time fiddling with settings and more time gaming. Connecting your PlayStation to ExpressVPN gives you access to its vast server network. This means you can access geo-blocked games and compete against opponents from across the world. During my tests, I could match with gamers from many different regions. Plus, you’ll always have a server near you for low-latency gaming. In addition, it has strong security to keep your gameplay secure. For instance, all its apps come with AES 256-bit encryption, IP leak protection, and an automatic kill switch. This encrypts your gaming traffic and keeps your IP address hidden, making it virtually impossible for hackers to locate your home network and launch DDoS attacks. MediaStreamer lets you access geo-restricted streaming platforms on your PlayStation without much effort. There is no need to install ExpressVPN on your router or share the VPN connection from another device — you just enter your assigned MediaStreamer DNS address into your PlayStation’s network settings. Using this, I could access Netflix US, HBO Max, BBC iPlayer, and Hulu on my PS5 within minutes, even though these platforms aren’t available in my country. The downside is that ExpressVPN is a little pricier than other VPNs — the lowest price is $6.67/month. However, it often has deals or promotions running — I got 49% off with its longest-term plan when I signed up. ExpressVPN’s long-term plan always offers the best deals and discounts, so I’d recommend choosing it over the more expensive short-term plans. No matter which plan you choose, you can try ExpressVPN out risk-free because it’s backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee. To test this myself, I contacted support through the 24/7 live chat and asked for my money back. Support wasn’t pushy and only asked a few questions about my experience with the service. After that, my request was approved, and I got my refund in 2 days. Try ExpressVPN On PlayStation
2. CyberGhost — Gaming-Optimized Servers to Easily Find the Ideal Server for Playing PS Online
CyberGhost offers specialized servers for gaming so it’s easy to find an ideal connection. This lets you easily connect to a low-ping server in just a few clicks. You can find them listed under the “For Gaming” category within the app. I tested 3 of its gaming servers and recorded an average ping of 44 ms. There was no noticeable lag when I played PUBG on my PS5. You’ll also be protected from DDoS attacks with its robust security features. It comes with military-grade encryption, an automatic kill switch, and IP leak protection to keep your online data safe and private while gaming. I ran 6 of CyberGhost’s gaming servers through leak tests while connected with my PlayStation and never found any. Its SmartDNS service lets you easily access region-locked streaming content on PS. You can choose codes from 5 different locations, including the US, UK, and Japan. I was able to unblock Hulu and watch content in HD without interruption, despite being based outside the US. Like ExpressVPN, CyberGhost can be installed on certain routers. However, you will be unable to choose a specific server to connect to — you can only specify a country in the router settings and CyberGhost will automatically pick a server in that location. This can mean you’ll be connected to a server that isn’t gaming-optimized, which could lead to higher latency. However, you can choose to share your VPN connection from your PC instead, which gives you total control over your selected server. CyberGhost’s monthly subscription is pretty expensive. However, you can get CyberGhost for just $2.11/month if you opt for a long-term plan. The long-term options also come with an extended money-back guarantee period (45 vs. 14 days with the monthly plan). I tested its 45-day money-back guarantee and made sure it’s reliable and hassle-free. After using the VPN for 39 days, I contacted support via its 24/7 live chat feature and asked for a refund. I wasn’t pressured to stay, and my request was approved almost immediately. In 4 days, I got my money back. Try CyberGhost On PlayStation
3. Private Internet Access — Customizable Security to Optimize Your Connection for PS
PIA offers tons of customizations, so you can optimize your connection for PS games. For example, you can choose between a variety of VPN protocols — including the industry-standard OpenVPN, WireGuard, and more. With OpenVPN, you also have the option to change the encryption level depending on your needs. During my tests, 128-bit encryption gave me 13% faster speeds than 256-bit. While it may not be as secure as 256-bit, it’s still virtually impossible to crack. Its huge server network lets you play PS games with players across the globe. It also ensures speedy connections as there are plenty of nearby servers you can connect to. A large server network also means that you don’t have to worry about server overcrowding further slowing you down. While testing, I always had reliable connections and consistent speeds. Not only were speeds consistent, but they were also fast. On its nearby servers, I received an average of 78 Mbps (a drop of 13% from my baseline connection). The ping was always below 60 ms on its nearby servers. This is a significantly higher ping than I got with ExpressVPN, and I did experience a little bit more lag. However, as long as you aren’t playing competitive and fast-paced online games, anything below 90 ms is acceptable. While PIA is compatible with routers, you’re locked to using the OpenVPN protocol. However, you can share your VPN connection through a hotspot instead, which allows you access to all customization options. Private Internet Access is reasonably priced. Its longest plan only costs $2.03/month. If you opt for a short-term subscription, you’ll spend considerably more than you would with long-term plans. Your best option is to get the longest-term subscription as it offers the best value. It comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can test Private Internet Access totally risk-free. To make sure they would hold true to the guarantee, I contacted support through 24/7 chat and asked for a refund. After I answered a couple of questions, my request was approved and I got my money back 5 days later. Try PIA On PlayStation
4. NordVPN — Plenty of Servers to Easily Get a New IP and Change Game Location
NordVPN has a wide range of servers across the world to easily change your IP. With a new IP, you can access multiple gaming regions to access specific content. While connected via my router, I tested the NordVPN US, UK, and Japanese servers and my IP changed to those regions. Fortnite games worked without any lag or location-based issues. This means your gaming sessions aren’t restricted to the features available in your real location. Its proprietary protocol, NordLynx, is fast (although not quite up there with ExpressVPN). My base speed of 70Mbps only dropped 22% with minimal ping. Regardless of the distance, I didn’t see any noticeable lag — even on the Japanese server. GTA Online played smoothly while my PS5 was connected to my router. Your gaming sessions are secure with Nordlynx, too. It’s based on the ultra-secure WireGuard protocol, but with double NAT technology (extra layer of IP protection). AES-256-bit encryption also helps guard against DDoS attacks and other potential cyber threats while gaming. In addition, a kill switch and leak protection mean your real IP is never exposed. One small downside is that it took a while to connect to some servers. For example, one US server took a good 12 seconds to change my IP. However, this wasn’t a frequent enough occurrence to be too bothersome. Subscriptions for NordVPN are available from $3.29/month. I recommend the long-term plan to get the best value for your money; shorter, more expensive plans don’t get you anything extra. There’s no risk in trying NordVPN as it’s backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee. Getting a refund after using the VPN for a while was extremely straightforward. I requested it via the 24/7 live chat and had confirmation almost instantly. My credit card was reimbursed within a week. Try NordVPN on Playstation
5. Surfshark — Unlimited Connections to Cover All Your Devices
Surfshark provides unlimited device connections — perfect for securing other devices outside your router network. Usually, VPNs place a limit on this, so you could only connect your router and a handful of devices away from home. While testing, I used Surfshark on my router for my PS5, plus my laptop, iPhone, and tablet without connectivity issues. Servers located around the world are reliable and fast for PS4/5 gaming. Apex Legends worked with a new IP using a US server, successfully changing my location. Despite being a considerable distance away my ping stayed low (<64ms), and my speed didn’t drop more than 24% at most using the Fastest location option. With Surfshark’s smart DNS, you can change the region on your Playstation without a router. This simply involves entering DNS numbers (provided by Surfshark) in your Playstation settings. It doesn’t provide the same security benefits as using your router, but it can help bypass gaming (and streaming) geoblocks. One thing I wasn’t a fan of is that Surfshark is based in the Netherlands — a member of the 14 Eyes intelligence-sharing alliance. Despite this, it has a strong no-logs policy so your data isn’t logged in the first place. Any data is erased by the RAM-only servers on reboot, anyway. Plans start at just $2.30/month. The best bet is the long-term plan as it’s the most cost-effective. Short-term plans offer exactly the same features but end up costing more. You can try Surfshark risk-free with its 30-day money-back guarantee. The process is quick and reliable if you need a refund. I used the 24/7 chat to cancel and make my request. After answering a few short questions, I had the money back after a week. Try Surfshark on Playstation
Quick Comparison Table: PlayStation VPN Features
This table compares the features of my top-recommended VPNs for PlayStation. This includes the lowest monthly price, average ping on nearby servers, and the number of countries it has servers in. I also included the number of devices you can connect at the same time and whether the service offers Smart DNS, which lets you unblock streaming apps directly on your PlayStation. Try ExpressVPN Now
Benefits of Using a VPN With a PS4/PS5
A VPN can offer more benefits to your PlayStation gaming than you might realize. Rather than just add some extra security to your connection, it can help enhance your gaming experience in several ways. Here are just a few of the benefits of using a quality VPN with PS4/5. Get ExpressVPN On PlayStation
Tips on How to Choose the Best VPN for PlayStation
A high-quality VPN for your PlayStation should offer you low latency and an extensive server network. It should also be easy to set up on a router and offer good compatibility with popular router brands and models. I selected the VPNs on this list using these criteria:
Low ping. The lower your ping, the quicker your input will be registered by the game. For most online games, you should aim for a ping rate of less than 100 ms for enjoyable gameplay. Competitive, fast-paced games may require a ping as low as 35ms. Each VPN on this list gave me a ping of less than 100 ms on nearby servers. Fast speeds. This allows you to securely download large PlayStation games and updates without slowdowns. A speed drop of more than 40% on nearby servers is unacceptable. I tested each VPN on this list to ensure they’re fast. I never experienced a speed drop of more than 30%, even on distant servers. Large server network. You should look for a VPN with many servers located in different locations. The more servers, the less likely you are to run into overcrowding that can slow down speeds. Also, the closer the server, the lower your ping — meaning you’ll get less lag in-game. Robust security features. To stay private and safe while playing PlayStation games online, features such as AES 256-bit encryption and IP leak protection are essential. These will protect you against DDoS attacks. Easy to set up on consoles. Choose a VPN that can be easily installed on a router. All of these VPNs offer detailed and easy-to-follow setup guides for routers on their sites. Plus, they can also be set up as VPN hotspots, so you can connect your PlayStation through your Mac or PC, too. Also make sure the VPN supports fast protocols for routers like WireGuard, IKEv2, or Lightway. Good for streaming. Make sure your VPN reliably unblocks popular streaming services, like Netflix, Hulu, and HBO Max. This way, you can access geo-restricted content on your PS. It’s even better if it offers a Smart DNS service, as this allows you to avoid creating a VPN hotspot or setting up the VPN with your router. You can get to streaming right away. Value for money. The best VPNs for PlayStation offer premium performance, extensive server networks, and valuable features at affordable prices. You shouldn’t have to break the bank to get good service. In addition, many VPNs (like ExpressVPN) offer big discounts throughout the year, especially with their long-term plans. Responsive customer support. Good customer support will help you deal with problems more effectively. All of the VPNs in this list offer 24/7 live chat support, so you can get help at any time, regardless of your time zone. Reliable money-back guarantee. A vendor that offers a money-back guarantee is confident in its services. All the VPNs I’ve listed come with a reliable and trustworthy money-back guarantee, which lets you test them with your PlayStation and claim a full refund if you’re not satisfied.
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How to Set Up a VPN on Your PlayStation Console
There are 4 methods for setting up a VPN on PlayStation consoles. The PC and Mac methods are the easiest to set up but have a limited range. If you want strong and reliable connections, your PlayStation will have to be pretty close to your desktop. With the router setup, the range is much better (can be upwards of 45 meters). The Smart DNS method is the fastest, but it cannot be used for gaming. It’s only good if you want to access region-locked streaming services on your PlayStation. I recommend the PC method for ease of use and the router method for more reliable performance.
PC Method — Ethernet or WiFi
Mac — Ethernet or WiFi
Router Method
When you set up a VPN on your router, every device connected to it (PS4/PS5 included) will be covered by the VPN as well. Unfortunately, not all routers are compatible with VPNs. If that’s the case for you, then I would recommend the PC method instead. In addition, every router has a specific set of instructions to get a VPN set up on it. These instructions are only for setting up ExpressVPN’s router app on an ASUS router. Contact your VPN’s support team if you’re unsure how to set it up on your particular router.
Smart DNS Method
By using a Smart DNS, you’ll be able to access geo-restricted streaming platforms on your PlayStation. Not every VPN offers a Smart DNS service. Also, remember that you cannot use this method to game in different regions — it’s solely for streaming on region-locked apps. Finally, note that Smart DNS services do not encrypt your connection, so you won’t have the same level of security that a VPN offers. Try ExpressVPN On PlayStation
Can I watch Netflix with a VPN on a PlayStation?
Yes, you can. There are several ways to do this, but the easiest method is using Smart DNS, which is a feature many VPNs offer. All you have to do is copy a code into your PlayStation’s network settings and reboot your console. When you open the Netflix app, the regional library of the DNS code you chose should load automatically. However, Smart DNS usually only comes with a handful of locations and it doesn’t offer the same security features as a full VPN app. To access the most Netflix content on your console, you can set your VPN up on your router or create a VPN hotspot on your computer and connect your PS4/PS5 to that connection. This will give you full use of the VPN’s security features and access to its entire network on your console, allowing you to unblock more regional Netflix libraries.
How do I use a VPN on a PS4/PS5?
There are 3 ways to use a VPN on a PlayStation. You can connect your VPN to a PS4/PS5 by sharing a VPN connection from your computer. This is the easiest way to make full use of a VPN app on PlayStation. Just create a hotspot with your computer with the VPN connected, connect your PlayStation to the hotspot, and control the VPN through your PC. You can also connect a VPN to your PlayStation by installing it on your router. Some VPNs (like ExpressVPN) come with router apps which make it fast and easy to choose your desired server and change VPN settings. Other VPNs don’t have apps and you have to control them manually through your router’s control panel. Finally, some VPNs come with a Smart DNS tool, which lets you change locations directly on your PlayStation really easily. However, it doesn’t offer the security and privacy protection of a full VPN app. This is a great option for unblocking streaming apps, but isn’t great for staying safe while gaming online.
Can I set up a VPN on my PS4 or PS5 without a PC?
Technically, you can set up a VPN on your PlayStation device using your smartphone. All of the VPNs in this list are also compatible with both Android and iOS. So, you could install the VPN on one of those devices and share a WiFi hotspot from your phone. Then, just connect your PlayStation to the hotspot. Bear in mind that games require a lot of data, which could cost you a lot of money if you have limited data on your phone plan.
Can I use a free VPN on a PlayStation?
You can, but it’s not recommended. Instead, it’s better to use a low-cost premium VPN that comes with a reliable money-back guarantee. This way you can test the VPN out without limitations and claim a full refund if you’re not satisfied with it. Free VPNs have tiny server networks, which can lead to overcrowding. This causes slow speeds and unreliable connections. It wouldn’t be uncommon to experience unplayable amounts of lag and repeatedly disconnect while gaming. Also, free VPNs don’t usually offer router support, so you’d be stuck using a VPN hotspot. This can lead to weak and unreliable connections if your hotspot device is far from your PlayStation. Not only that, but free VPNs usually cap data at about 1-5 GB per month, which is just not enough to game or stream for any significant amount of time (you can stream in HD for about 1 hour with 1 GB of data). Worst of all, some free VPNs have been known to share user data with third parties. They’re simply not worth the trouble when you can try premium VPNs risk-free.
Will a VPN improve my ping on PlayStation?
In some cases, yes. It can do so by sending your data packets through a more direct route than they would normally travel through your ISP connection. However, to make that happen, you have to pick a server that’s close to your physical location. That’s why it’s important to choose a VPN that has a worldwide server network. If you choose a long-distance server, then you’re likely to experience high ping issues, which can result in noticeable lag while gaming on PlayStation. Try ExpressVPN on PlayStation
Get the Best VPN for PlayStation Today
A good VPN can improve your PlayStation experience. The problem is that many VPNs fail to keep your gaming sessions secure and can cause lag due to high ping. That said, ExpressVPN is an excellent option for PlayStation. It’s superfast, secure, and easy to use on PS. Plus, it lets you connect to international gaming servers and unblock geo-restricted gaming and streaming content. You can try ExpressVPN risk-free as it’s backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee. If you’re not satisfied, you can get a full refund.
To summarize, the best VPNs for PlayStation in 2023 are…
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