Table of Contents
Mullvad
With its exceptionally low average internet speed loss of 13.5%, Mullvad is one of the fastest VPNs we’ve tested. Mullvad is also an excellent VPN for gaming, where fast speeds and low latency are paramount. At just $5 per month, Mullvad is quite cost-effective and undercuts much of the competition. The combination of wallet-friendly pricing, blazing-fast connectivity, and advanced privacy features makes Mullvad a solid option for gamers with serious privacy concerns.
Its network of 684 servers in 44 countries is much smaller than the thousands of servers in 90-100 countries that you’ll get with many VPN rivals, including ExpressVPN, NordVPN, Proton VPN, Surfshark, and PIA. Because of its relatively small server network, Mullvad isn’t ideal for international travel. Additionally, Mullvad isn’t great for streaming: in our tests, it worked fine with Netflix and Disney Plus, but not with Amazon Prime Video. Still, Mullvad is a solid choice if you have serious privacy concerns but need a fast but budget-friendly VPN for gaming.
Read our Mullvad VPN review.
IPVanish
IPVanish is an OK VPN for casual users, but its high average internet speed loss of 44% makes it unsuitable for serious gamers. The monthly plan will set you back $13 per month. You’ll pay $42 for 12 months of service on the annual plan, then $90 per year. A two-year subscription costs a fairly cheap $72 for 24 months of service, renewing at $90 per year, billed annually. While many VPN providers limit the number of devices you can use at once, IPVanish boasts unlimited simultaneous connections.
IPVanish’s apps are straightforward and work equally well for beginners and seasoned tech enthusiasts. 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 demanding low lag. Likewise, IPVanish’s servers are spread across 56 countries, far below providers like NordVPN, ExpressVPN, Proton, and Surfshark. Once promotional pricing expires after a year or two (depending on your plan), IPVanish’s pricing is disappointing given its uneven upload/download speeds and relatively modest server network. With its uneven connection speeds, middling prices, and smaller server count, other VPN providers outshine IPVanish for gaming — and general use.
Read our IPVanish review.
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, PIA is a good option. PIA’s speeds were slower than ExpressVPN and NordVPN — we measured an average download speed loss of 49% in our tests — but it’s hard to complain about the price. You get access to a robust network of servers spread across 91 countries — which is slightly less than ExpressVPN, NordVPN, Proton VPN, and Surfshark.
We also like how customizable the PIA app is. If you like to tinker with software and tailor your experience to your exact specifications, you’ll love PIA. You can customize how much information about your connection you want to display in the app. But even more helpful for gamers, you can adjust the level of encryption for your connection, so you can find the perfect balance of speed and security for your gaming session. PIA works well on all major platforms and costs just $12 per month or $40 per year.
Read our PIA review.
