Fortnite is one of the most popular online multiplayer games in the world, with millions of players logging in every day to battle it out on the virtual battlefield. However, like with any online game, Fortnite is not without its challenges, particularly when it comes to IP Bans, network connectivity, DDoS attacks, geo-restrictions, and privacy intrusion or identity theft.
To combat these issues, many Fortnite players turn to Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) as a solution. VPNs offer a range of benefits to gamers, including improved network stability, protection against DDoS attacks, access to geo-restricted content, and enhanced privacy and security online.
In this guide, we will explore some of the best VPNs for Fortnite and how they can help players overcome these challenges and enjoy the game to the fullest.
Let’s dive in.
In a Hurry? Here’s our Picks
Don’t have time to read through all the reviews? Here are our top picks for Fortnite players …
VPN | Best For |
---|---|
NordVPN | 🏆 Overall Best |
Surfshark | 🎮 Best for Multiple Devices |
IPVanish | 🇺🇸 Best for USA |
ExpressVPN | ⛔️ Best for IP Ban Bypass |
CyberGhost | âś… Best All Rounder |
How We Test
Best VPNs for Fortnite
The best VPNs for Fortnite and online gaming are thoroughly examined below:
🏆 Overall Best: NordVPN
- Website: https://nordvpn.com/
- Based in: Panama
- Servers/countries: 5,600+ servers in 60 countries
- Unblocks Netflix: Yes
- Current Pricing: $3.29/month for 2 years (plus 3 months extra) on Standard Plan
- Supported Platform: Desktop, Mobile, Gaming Consoles, TVs, Raspberry Pi and Browser extensions.
NordVPN offers high-speed servers that give very low latency when playing Fortnite, PUBG, League of Legends, Minecraft, and Hearthstone. It also offers NordLynx – an improved WireGuard protocol that boots download speeds and overall gaming experience. With a base speed of 52.4Mbps, we got an average download speed of 43.5Mbps with NordVPN.
See the table below for a brief overview of NordVPN:
No of Servers | 5,600+ |
Compatible with: | Xbox, Playstation, Nintendo Switch, Router, Windows, Mac OS, Linux, iOS, Android, Fire TV Stick, Kindle Fire, Raspberry Pi, and Browser extensions |
Does VPN keep logs? | No |
Number of devices per license | 6 |
Smart DNS Compatible | Yes |
Money Back Guarantee | 30 days |
Kill switch | Yes |
Wireguard Tunneling Protocol | Yes (it’s called NordLynx) |
Price | Complete Plan:
|
List of key features:
- WireGuard modern tunneling – Available
- P2p-optimized servers – Available
With 5,600+ servers in 60 countries, NordVPN has enough servers worldwide to power online games at high speed. The customized NordLynx tunneling protocol has also been tested and observed to improve the overall gaming experience when used.
The Kill Switch feature of the NordVPN app is effective in blocking the internet when the VPN server connection is disrupted. To begin using NordVPN for online gaming, the 2-year standard subscription plan is recommended for starters. It is the most discounted.
Check out the major pros and cons of NordVPN below:
đź‘Ť Pros | đź‘Ž Cons |
---|---|
Good Number of servers | Complex Pricing plans |
Offers P2P-optimized servers for Torrenting and file sharing | |
Easy-to-Use lightweight app | |
Unblocks up to 10 Netflix libraries | |
Verified No-log policy |
🏆 Best for Multiple Devices: Surfshark
- Website: https://surfshark.com/
- Based in: Netherlands
- Servers/countries: 3,000+ servers in 100+ countries
- Unblocks Netflix: Yes
- Current Pricing: $2.39/month for 24 months (plus 1 month extra)
- Supported Platform: Desktop, Mobile, TVs
With servers in 100+ countries, it’s easy to find a nearby Surfshark server with better ping and speed. Popular games like Call of Duty: Warzone, Overwatch, Minecraft, PUBG, and Apex Legends play well with Surfshark VPN. With a base speed of 39.2Mbps, Surfshark gave us an average download speed of 23.7Mbps in our tests.
See the table below for a brief overview:
No of Servers | 3,000+ |
Compatible with: | Xbox, Playstation, Windows, Mac OS, Linux, iOS, Android, Fire TV, Smart TVs, and Browser extensions |
Does VPN keep logs? | No |
Number of devices per license | Unlimited |
Smart DNS Compatible | Yes |
Money Back Guarantee | 30 days |
Kill switch | Yes |
Wireguard Tunneling Protocol | Yes |
Price |
|
List of key features:
- Unlimited devices per license – Available
- Ad blocker – Available
With one license, Surfshark can be used for Fortnite and other online games on as many devices as possible. This means gamers can connect multiple devices to different Surfshark servers with 3,000+ available in 100+ countries/ locations. Even better is the fact that Surfshark offers a heavily-discounted 2-year plan which is charged at $2.39/month.
Surfshark VPN uses AES-256 GCM encryption technology to protect gamers online. It complements this with a built-in Ad blocker that makes online gaming sweeter. It’s also one of the few VPNs that support the WireGuard tunneling protocol. This improves download speed and ping rate when playing online games. For better protection, it’s also good to always turn on the Kill Switch feature. This blocks unprotected connections anytime the VPN server is down or disrupted.
Below are the significant benefits and drawbacks of Surfshark VPN for gaming:
đź‘Ť Pros | đź‘Ž Cons |
---|---|
Servers in 100+ countries | No 6 months (discounted) plan |
Unlimited simultaneous connection per license | |
Features SmartDNS for gaming consoles configuration | |
24/7 customer support | |
Money-back guarantee |
🏆 Best for USA: IPVanish
- Website: https://www.ipvanish.com/
- Based in: United States
- Servers/countries: 2,200+ servers in 75+ locations
- Unblocks Netflix: Yes
- Current Pricing: $3.33 for 2 years (only the first two years)
- Supported Platform: Desktop, Mobile, Fire TV
Gamers can opt for the discounted 2-year plan to enjoy Fortnite, Minecraft, Valorant, and Overwatch at extremely low latency. This is possible by using the super-fast VPN servers of IPVanish. While testing out IPVanish, the lowest speed we got was 10Mbps. It’s also very comforting that IPVanish allows online gaming on multiple devices with just one VPN license.
See the table below for a quick overview:
No of Servers | 2,200+ |
Compatible with: | Router, Windows, Mac OS, Linux, Android, iOS, Fire TV, and Chrome OS |
Does VPN keep logs? | No |
Number of devices per license | Unlimited |
Smart DNS Compatible | No |
Money Back Guarantee | 30 days (for 2 years and 1-year plan) |
Kill switch | Yes (on Mac OS, Windows, and Android) |
Wireguard Tunneling Protocol | Yes |
Price |
|
List of key features:
- Unlimited connections per license – Available
- Unlimited bandwidth – Available
IPVanish is also one of the few VPNs that allow the use of one license on multiple devices. This works for Fortnite gaming, video streaming, and just about anything else. There are 2,200+ IPVanish servers in 75+ countries that gamers can connect to. And it’s fair enough that IPVanish offers a 2-year plan at $3.33/month despite allowing multiple simultaneous connections.
One cool thing about IPVanish is that it combines high-end encryption with the XOR cipher obfuscation feature. This makes its connections a “hard brick” that can’t be cracked. It’s nearly impossible to track down any gamer who uses IPVanish.
It’s best to use the WireGuard tunneling protocol when playing online games with an IPVanish connection. This allows gamers to enjoy good download speed and low ping rates.
Here are some of the pros and cons of IPVanish that gamers should note:
đź‘Ť Pros | đź‘Ž Cons |
---|---|
Supports gaming on many devices with one VPN license | Based in the U.S. and can be forced to hand over user data in the future |
Unlimited bandwidth | No Money-back guarantee for Monthly plan (only the Yearly plans have it) |
Advanced security protocols | |
Verified Zero-log policy | |
Apps are easy to use |
🏆 Best for IP Ban Bypass: ExpressVPN
- Website: https://www.expressvpn.com/
- Based in: British Virgin Islands
- Servers/countries: 2,000+ servers in 94 countries
- Unblocks Netflix: Yes
- Current Pricing: $6.67 for 1 year (plus 3 months extra with discount)
- Supported Platform: Desktop, Mobile, Game Consoles, TVs, Router
ExpressVPN servers are good for reducing ping time and breaking through IP bans easily. Another good thing about ExpressVPN is that it unblocks Netflix and bypasses geo-restrictions effortlessly. It’s a great VPN for online games like PUBG, Minecraft, and Call of Duty. In our network tests with a base speed of 53.3Mbps, ExpressVPN recorded an average download speed of 48.9Mbps. This is really impressive.
See an overview of ExpressVPN below.
No of Servers | 2,000+ |
Compatible with: | Xbox, Playstation, Nintendo Switch, Router, Windows, Mac OS, Linux, Android, iOS, Kindle Fire, TVs, and Browser extensions |
Does VPN keep logs? | No |
Number of devices per license | 5 |
Smart DNS Compatible | Yes (it’s called MediaStreamer) |
Money Back Guarantee | 30 days |
Kill switch | Yes (it’s called Network Lock) |
Wireguard Tunneling Protocol | No |
Price |
|
List of key features:
- Netflix Unblocking and geo-restrictions bypass – Available
- Numerous servers – Available
ExpressVPN is great for playing Fortnite and other online games that require low latency. The 2,000+ servers are sufficient but its server location in 94 countries is most important. Gamers worldwide are always guaranteed to find a nearby server for delivering lower ping rates and a higher download speed.
ExpressVPN does not have a WireGuard protocol on its apps. Alternatively, it offers a high-speed Lightway protocol just as good. This customized Lightway protocol is proprietary to ExpressVPN and it’s been tested and observed to deliver smooth gaming experience. Regardless of the protocol being used, users’ data are always protected with the AES-256 encryption standard when using ExpressVPN. The Kill Switch feature which ExpressVPN calls “Network Lock” is also effective in protecting a gamer’s device. This springs to action, whenever there is connection loss or the VPN server, is down.
Meanwhile, ExpressVPN doesn’t come cheap at all and this might be a turn-off for gamers not looking to spend too much on a premium VPN service. However, ExpressVPN offers a 30-day money-back guarantee and a 7-day free trial to test its service.
Below are the pros and cons of using ExpressVPN for Fortnite and other online games:
đź‘Ť Pros | đź‘Ž Cons |
---|---|
Bypasses IP bans and geo-restrictions (can access banned games) | Limited devices per license |
Offers Lightway modern protocol (faster and more secure) | |
2,000+ servers to choose from | |
Desktop and mobile apps are easy to use | |
Doesn’t keep connection/activity log or any other record |
🏆 Best All Rounder: CyberGhost
- Website: https://www.cyberghostvpn.com/
- Based in: Romania
- Servers/countries: 9000+ servers in 91 countries
- Unblocks Netflix: Yes (with Netflix servers)
- Current Pricing: $2.11 for 2 years (plus 3 months extra with Spring Sale discount)
- Supported Platform: Desktop & Mobile
This is by far the best VPN for Fortnite + all other types of online games. It’s one of the few VPN services that offer dedicated high-speed servers for online gaming. In all of the speed tests that we did, CyberGhost recorded an average connection speed of 45Mbps and a ping of 41ms.
See the table below for an overview of CyberGhost VPN:
No of Servers | 9000+ (including dedicated gaming servers) |
Compatible with: | Xbox One, Xbox 360, PS3, PS4, Router, Windows, Mac OS, Linux, Android, iOS, Game Consoles, Smart TV, Apple TV, FireTV, and Browser extensions |
Does VPN keep logs? | No |
Number of devices per license | 7 |
Smart DNS Compatible | Yes |
Money Back Guarantee |
|
Kill Switch | Yes |
Wireguard Tunneling Protocol | Yes |
Price |
|
List of key features:
- Dedicated Gaming servers – Available
- Dedicated Torrenting servers – Available
CyberGhost has enough provision for gamers all over the world to enjoy the best gaming experience any day, any time. It offers 9,000+ VPN servers in 90+ countries and locations across the globe. CyberGhost pushes this even further by offering game-optimized servers – the best VPN provision for gamers.
The WireGuard tunneling protocol which improves game download speed and ping rate is available on CyberGhost apps. There’s also a Kill Switch feature that ensures utmost privacy when a gamer experiences connection loss. More importantly, CyberGhost uses the AES 256-bit encryption standard to protect gamers’ data and everyone using its VPN service.
CyberGhost takes away the stress of subscription and pricing by offering the cheapest plans. It offers a 2-year plan at $2.19/month with a 3-month extra bonus. Furthermore, CyberGhost offers a 45-day money-back guarantee – the most by any company.
Meanwhile, as much as the VPN is beneficial, it has its downsides. Below are the pros and cons of using CyberGhost VPN for Fortnite, online gaming, and other purposes.
đź‘Ť Pros | đź‘Ž Cons |
---|---|
Affordable pricing plans | P2P traffic is only good on designated servers |
Gaming-optimized servers | |
Over 9100 servers in 91 countries | |
User-friendly app interface on all platforms | |
Supports modern protocols like WireGuard |
Why do I need a VPN for playing Online Games?
In the rapidly-growing world of online gaming and its challenges, here are the reasons for every gamer to use VPN:
- Prevent data theft on public WiFi: VPNs always ensure user data is encrypted. Hence, no need to worry about data theft even when using a public WiFi network.
- Prevent Stalking or Swatting: VPNs also mask the IP address of users. Therefore, stalkers can’t track down the actual location of a gamer using a VPN.
- Protect against DDoS attacks: VPNs give anonymity to gamers. The popular Distributed Denial-of-Service (DDoS) attack is often targeted at gamers whose device details (IP address/ location) are clearly visible. With VPN anonymity, a gamer can enjoy the freedom of being untrackable for DDoS attackers.
- Bypass Bandwith throttles: VPNs help to bypass the bandwidth throttle often placed by networks on gaming activities. The VPNs always encrypt user data. This makes it difficult for ISPs to know when a user is gaming or not.
- Bypass geo-restrictions: With VPNs, gamers can play online games that are banned in their location or country.
- Access regional releases: With VPNs, a gamer can easily access new game releases that are not yet available in their location. The gamer only needs to connect the VPN to a server in the region where a new game is released.
How we selected and tested these VPNs
The list of best VPNs for Fortnite gaming and other online gaming platforms were selected based on the following criteria:
- Servers and locations: Only the VPN apps and services with a higher number of servers and supported countries were picked.
- Speed: Based on several tests, all VPNs highlighted in this article give smooth experience when playing Fortnite and other online games. With NordVPN and others, an average pin of 10ms to 50ms was recorded. For the download speed tests, the VPNs delivered an average of 70Mbps to 300Mbps. Overall, gamers only need to try out different servers to choose the best one for their location.
- Security and privacy: All the VPNs discussed in this article have a no-log policy that has been verified by cybersecurity experts. CyberGhost has also been vetted many times to be sure they only keep connection logs.
- Additional features: Optimized servers, unlimited connections, Ad-blocker, and many other additional features were considered before choosing the VPNs discussed above.
- Price: Only VPNs that charge less than $10/month for their 1-year, 2-year, and 6-month long-term subscription plans were selected for this review.
Will Fornite Ban you from using a VPN?
Popular online games like Fortnite don’t ban gamers that use VPNs. Rather, they ban cheats. If a gamer is caught cheating, their IP address may be banned regardless of VPN usage.
Meanwhile, using multiple VPNs on a device to bypass a previous IP ban may attract Hwid ban (hardware ban). For this reason, it is recommended that gamers avoid “cheating” in games even when connected via VPN.
How to use a VPN for Fortnite
To start playing online games using VPNs, follow these simple steps:
- Pick a reliable VPN provider (this article has a list of the top 5 best for Fortnite)
- Pay for a premium subscription plan
- Download and install the VPN app on available device (Desktop, mobile, or game console)
- Set up the VPN app with the premium account
- Connect to a high-speed VPN server (try out different ones to see which is best)
- Launch the online game and connect to a gaming server
- Play on as usual (the difference is an added level of security, privacy and sometimes lower Ping)
Important Note: VPNs often cause a little drop in internet speed. However, this shouldn’t affect the gaming experience if the gamer has a good internet connection.
Fortnite Keep Kicking you out? Here’s how to fix it
There are numerous reasons why people experience online games kicking them out. Here are some of the common ones and how to fix them.
- Poor Internet connection: Slow internet connection is often the main reason online games kick gamers out. Fortnite and other multiplayer online games do that a lot. The easy solution is to connect to a faster network or contact the internet service provider.
- Outdated drivers: Sometimes gamers get kicked out of online games because of outdated graphics card drivers on their devices. The quick fix is to frequently update the system drivers of devices used for online gaming.
- Software Conflicts: Antivirus software can also cause a gamer to be kicked out if it clashes with the game at some point. A quick fix is to temporarily disable the Antivirus software/app and re-run the game.
- VPN not allowed: Not all online games allow users to connect via VPN. The best way to find out is by running the game with VPN disconnected. If everything works fine without VPN, then it means the game doesn’t allow VPN usage.
- Missing or Corrupted game files: This is also a common cause of getting kicked out by an online game. The easiest way to fix this issue is by running the “Repair” tool or option on the game’s launcher.
Important Note: if any of the above quick fixes still doesn’t solve the issue, please contact the game support directly to lodge a complaint. They might be of better assistance in fixing the issue with that specific game.
Where are Online Game’s servers located?
Online games are often created by different companies that determine where the servers will be located. However, many online games have servers spread across the globe, allowing gamers to choose a game server close to them.
It is not uncommon to see different game servers having varying latency or ping times. This is usually one of the simplest indicators of how close or distant the gaming server is to gamers’ location. The closest gamer server will have a lower latency and ping rate.
How to choose a Fortnite Game Server location?
To choose the best online game server location, consider the following:
- Server distance: For most games, the closest server to a gamer’s location is the best. One easy way to pick the closest server is by choosing the one with the lowest latency or ping rate.
- Server Population: Online game servers with a high population are often slower than the ones that are less populated. It’s always better to connect to the less populated ones first.
- Try out different servers: Sometimes, it’s just better to try out all the different available servers to pick the best one.
- Game Genre: Some games don’t require the lowest latency. Therefore, it’s not a must to always strive for the best server location with low ping/latency. If the game requires fast response time (e.g. Fortnite), then it is absolutely necessary to pick a server with a low ping rate.
- Ask other players: It can be very helpful sometimes to just ask other players about the server location to choose. This is crucial when playing together as a team. The best server in such a case is the one that’s most convenient for all the team members.
Can using a VPN reduce ping in Fortnite?
It can. Many gamers go angry at VPNs for reducing their ping rate. However, this is not so much of a “sure” thing with VPNs.
Generally speaking, VPNs tend to reduce internet speed due to the added layer of routing and data encryption they provide. This additional process will, most often than not, cause a slight delay and increase latency or ping rate. However, some VPN providers like CyberGhost offer special servers that are optimized for online gaming. Despite this, it’s still quite possible to experience a reduced ping rate. This happens when gaming with an optimized server that is also closer to a gamer’s location.
Can I Play Online Games with a free VPN?
You can, but it isn’t guaranteed to be a smooth ride.
Free VPN providers like Open Gate and VPNBook do not own any of the free servers available on their networks. The servers are usually hosted by “unknown” people, and there is no guarantee of safety when using such services.
Regarding speed, free VPN servers are usually overcrowded because they are “free.” So, it is always a “miracle” whenever a free server powers up an online game with good speed.
Fortnite VPN FAQs
Can you use a VPN to get better ping in Fortnite?
A good VPN can improve the ping rate on Fortnite. However, most VPNs are known for adding extra delay or latency to the overall network speed when used.
Can you get banned on Fortnite for using a VPN?
Regardless of VPN usage, anyone can get banned on Fortnite when caught cheating or trying to hack the game.
Which VPN server is best for gaming?
The best VPN server for any online game is usually the one that gives the lowest latency or ping rate. In most cases, VPN servers closer to a gamer’s location will offer better speed than faraway servers.
Is 50 ping good for Fortnite?
With 50 ping, a gamer should have moderate gaming experience when playing Fortnite.
However, gamers generally agree that less than 20 ping is by far the best for enjoying Fortnite.
What is the best way to get 0 ping in Fortnite?
Technically, it’s impossible to get 0 ping in Fortnite or any other online game. To get the lowest possible ping, a gamer can do a couple of things. Firstly, they can choose a nearby game server, use a wired internet connection, upgrade the gaming hardware, and switch to a fast VPN with game-optimized servers.
What VPN bypasses Fortnite?
Here is a quick list of the best VPNs for Fortnite and other online games IP Ban bypass. They include NordVPN, Surfshark, IPVanish, ExpressVPN and CyberGhost. These are the best VPN for bypassing Fortnite and other online gaming restrictions.
How do I bypass Fortnite IP ban?
The easiest way to bypass Fortnite IP ban is by using a reliable VPN to access the game. The use of VPNs also helps to get around IP bans with other online games.
Does Fortnite IP ban hackers?
Epic Games – developer of Fortnite takes strict measures against hackers and people who try to cheat the game. Strict measures that can be taken against a hacker include account ban, IP ban, and Hwid ban or hardware ban.
Does VPN slow down gaming?
It depends on the VPN provider and VPN server being used.
A premium VPN provider like CyberGhost offers special servers optimized for the best online gaming experience on the VPN network.