Mullvad
With its exceptionally low 13.5% average internet speed loss, Mullvad is one of the fastest VPNs we tested. Accordingly, Mullvad is an excellent VPN for gaming, where snappy speeds and low latency are paramount. At just $5 per month, Mullvad is pretty cost-effective, undercutting much of the competition. Its combination of wallet-friendly pricing, blazing-fast connectivity and cutting-edge privacy features makes Mullvad a solid option for gamers with serious privacy concerns.
Its network of 634 servers in 48 countries falls well below the thousands of servers in 90 to 100 countries you’ll get with many VPN rivals, including ExpressVPN, NordVPN, Proton VPN, Surfshark and PIA. Because of its comparatively small server network, Mullvad isn’t ideal for international travel. Plus, Mullvad isn’t great for streaming — in our testing, it worked fine for Netflix and Disney Plus, but not Amazon Prime Video. Still, if you’ve got serious privacy concerns but need a fast yet budget-friendly VPN for gaming, Mullvad is a solid choice.
IPVanish
IPVanish is a OK for VPN for casual users, but its high 44% average internet speed loss makes it unsuitable for serious gamers. (IPVanish is owned by the same parent company as CNET, Ziff Davis.) The monthly plan sets you back $13 per month. You’ll pay $40 for 12 months of service on the annual plan, then $90 per year after that. A two-year subscription goes for a fairly cheap $53 for 24 months of service and renews at $90 per year billed annually. While many VPN providers restrict the number of devices you can use at once, IPVanish flaunts unlimited simultaneous connections.
IPVanish’s apps are uncomplicated, working equally well for beginners and seasoned tech enthusiasts alike. With a VPN enabled, IPVanish’s speed loss is significantly higher than ExpressVPN and NordVPN — its unpredictable speeds make it a tough sell for video gamers who demand low lag. Likewise, IPVanish’s servers pepper 56 countries, which is well below providers like NordVPN, ExpressVPN, Proton and Surfshark. Once promotional pricing runs out after a year or two (depending on your plan), IPVanish’s prices are underwhelming, considering its uneven upload/download speeds and comparatively modest server network. With its uneven connection speeds, average pricing and smaller server contingent, other VPN providers outstrip IPVanish for gaming — and general use.
Private Internet Access (PIA)
Private Internet Access is a capable budget-friendly alternative to Surfshark. If you’re looking for something even cheaper than Surfshark, but still a decent option for most gaming situations, then PIA is a good way to go. PIA’s speeds were slower than ExpressVPN and NordVPN — we measured a 49% average download speed loss in our testing — but it’s hard to complain for the price. You’ll get access to a robust network of servers spanning 91 countries — which is slightly fewer than ExpressVPN, NordVPN, Proton VPN and Surfshark.
We also like how customizable the PIA app is. If you like to tinker with software and customize your experience to your exact specifications, you’ll be right at home with PIA. You can customize how much information related to your connection you want the app to display. But what’s even more useful to gamers is that you can customize the level of encryption for your connection, so you can dial in the perfect balance of speed and security for your gaming session. PIA works well across all major platforms and costs only $12 per month or $40 per year.
