A VPN (or a virtual private network) is a program that’s used to mask one’s identity and location online. More often than not, these programs are used to conceal one’s web activity from ISPs and cyber criminals. However, they can also be used for gaming. People mainly use VPNs to prevent bandwidth throttling, so they can play games without interference. It’s also common for gamers to use VPNs to change their displayed location, so they can play on international servers, with friends from other countries. VPNs also enable gamers to bypass age-restricted content.

If you are interested in using a VPN for gaming, then you first need to find one. Finding one is easier said than done, though. This post will explore this topic in more detail, explaining how you can find the perfect VPN for you.

Comparison Sites

Before exploring things you need to look for in a VPN, it is worth noting that the most effective way of finding a VPN is to use a comparison site. A site offering articles on the best VPN comparisons will help you to find the one that’s right for you. Such sites employ experts in VPN usage to write articles for them. However, before taking a site’s advice (and using a VPN recommended by them) you should first read their reviews. Reading reviews will help you to get a clear picture of what a site is like, whether or not their reviews can be trusted, and the accuracy of their comparisons.

Free VPNs

The first thing that you should know is that if you are looking for a VPN for gaming, you aren’t going to be able to find one for free. The servers offered on ‘free’ VPNs are usually very slow and aren’t ideal for gaming. You have to pay if you want a good VPN. Thankfully, most VPN providers offer their services for very little. You won’t have to pay a fortune to use VPNs. Most VPN providers have different subscription tiers. You can buy the one that you can afford.

Server Locations

Ideally, you should find a VPN with a large number of server locations for you to choose from. The more servers you have available to you, the more options you will have. It is strongly recommended by most experts for you to choose a VPN that offers a lot of servers, so you can change servers and avoid detection. Some online games forbid the use of VPNs. If you are found to be using one, then you can get banned. Changing servers will help you to avoid detection and ensure that you don’t lose access to the games you enjoy playing. It will also make it easier for you to play on different servers.

Trusted Provider

You need to make sure that the VPN provider you play on is reliable and trusted because you will be entrusting your data to them. If they aren’t trustworthy, then you shouldn’t use them. The best way to determine whether or not a VPN provider can be trusted is to check out their reviews. You will find reviews from previous users, explaining what their time using the VPN was like. Bear in mind, some VPN providers buy fake reviews. It’s usually quite easy to spot such reviews, however. If a provider’s reviews were all posted one after the other and written in the same style, then it is a strong indication that they can be trusted.

Fast Servers

Unfortunately, some VPN providers have very slow servers. If a provider’s servers are slow, this means that you won’t be able to game on them. You need fast servers in order to game effectively. Lag will stop you from performing well in games. Also, some games will actually kick you out of lobbies if you are lagging excessively. Most reliable VPNs will publish information about their server speeds on their website, which you can then check out and compare against other VPN servers.

Popularity

If you plan on using a VPN for gaming, then you need to select one that’s very popular. The more popular a VPN is, the more servers it’ll have. Then, the more servers it has, the less likely it’ll be for individual servers to get overloaded with users. When too many people use a single server, the server begins to slow down. If too many people are using the same server that you are gaming on, you will experience lags and delays.

VPNs can be a great way to make gaming more fun, and faster. However, before you can start using a VPN, you need to do your research, consider the points outlined here, and pay for a subscription. The best way to find VPNs will remain to use comparison sites.

If you enjoyed this article, consider reading our historical look at the future of online-only video games.