Best VPN for Valorant (Free & Paid): Top Picks & Advice

Valorant is one of the most popular multiplayer video games in the world. It’s got a rapidly growing player base comprising gamers from all over the world. Online gamers often have to contend with numerous issues, including network glitches and privacy intrusions. For Valorant gamers who want to bypass IP bans, play without the worry of DDoS attacks and reduce lag and ping times, this article goes over every little detail.

With a good VPN service, all the issues mentioned above can be easily avoided for the best gaming experience.

This article discusses in detail the best VPN for Valorant and online games in general.

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	✅ Best All Rounder
Hola	🔥 Best Free VPN

How We Test

Our dedicated team of experts goes above and beyond to ensure that our VPN recommendations are accurate, trustworthy, and cater to the diverse needs of our readers. Read on to find out how we test VPNs.

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Best VPNs for Valorant

The best VPNs for Valorant and other online games 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 provides high-speed servers that ensure minimal latency when playing games like Fortnite, PUBG, League of Legends, Valorant, and Hearthstone. It also features NordLynx – an enhanced WireGuard protocol that boosts download speeds and elevates the overall gaming experience. With a base speed of 52.4Mbps, we achieved an average download speed of 43.5Mbps using NordVPN.

See the table below for a brief overview of NordVPN:

List of key features:

1. WireGuard modern tunneling – Available
2. P2p-optimized servers – Available

Boasting over 5,600 servers across 60 countries, NordVPN offers a vast selection of servers to support high-speed online gaming. The tailored NordLynx tunneling protocol has also been tested and proven to enhance the overall gaming experience for Valorant players.

NordVPN’s Kill Switch feature effectively blocks internet access when the VPN server connection is interrupted. To start using NordVPN for online gaming, we recommend the 2-year standard subscription plan as the best option for newcomers, as it offers the most significant discount.

Check out the major pros and cons of NordVPN below:

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🏆 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 simple to find a nearby Surfshark server with superior ping and speed for Valorant players. Popular games like Call of Duty: Warzone, Overwatch, Minecraft, PUBG, and Apex Legends perform well with Surfshark VPN. In our tests, with a base speed of 39.2Mbps, Surfshark delivered an average download speed of 23.7Mbps.

See the table below for a brief overview:

List of key features:

1. Unlimited devices per license – Available
2. Ad blocker – Available

One Surfshark license allows you to use the VPN for Valorant and other online games on an unlimited number of devices. This means gamers can connect multiple devices to different Surfshark servers, with over 3,000 available across 100+ countries and locations. To make it even more attractive, Surfshark offers a heavily-discounted 2-year plan at just $2.39/month.

Surfshark VPN employs AES-256 GCM encryption technology to safeguard gamers online. It enhances this protection with a built-in ad blocker for a smoother gaming experience. Surfshark is also among the few VPNs that support the WireGuard tunneling protocol, which improves download speed and ping rate for online gaming. For added security, it’s always a good idea to enable the Kill Switch feature, which blocks unprotected connections if the VPN server is down or disrupted.

Below are the significant benefits and drawbacks of Surfshark VPN for gaming:

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🏆 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 choose the discounted 2-year plan to experience games like Fortnite, Minecraft, Valorant, and Overwatch with minimal latency, thanks to IPVanish’s super-fast VPN servers. During our tests with IPVanish, the lowest speed recorded was 10Mbps. It’s also worth noting that IPVanish allows online gaming on multiple devices with a single VPN license.

See the table below for a quick overview:

List of key features:

1. Unlimited connections per license – Available
2. Unlimited bandwidth – Available

IPVanish is one of the few VPNs that permit the use of one license across multiple devices, making it suitable for gaming, video streaming, and more. With over 2,200 IPVanish servers in 75+ countries, gamers have a wide range of options to connect to. The 2-year plan, priced at $3.33/month, is a great deal considering it allows for multiple simultaneous connections.

A standout feature of IPVanish is its combination of high-end encryption and XOR cipher obfuscation, making its connections virtually unbreakable. It’s nearly impossible to track down gamers using IPVanish.

For the best gaming experience with IPVanish, it’s recommended to use the WireGuard tunneling protocol, which enables good download speeds and low ping rates for online gaming.

Here are some of the pros and cons of IPVanish that gamers should note:

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🏆 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 excel at reducing ping time and effortlessly bypassing IP bans. Another advantage of ExpressVPN is its ability to unblock Netflix and circumvent geo-restrictions with ease. It’s an excellent VPN for online games like PUBG, Minecraft, Valorant, and Call of Duty. In our network tests with a base speed of 53.3Mbps, ExpressVPN achieved an average download speed of 48.9Mbps, which is quite impressive.

See an overview of ExpressVPN below.

List of key features:

1. Netflix Unblocking and geo-restrictions bypass – Available
2. Numerous servers – Available

While ExpressVPN does not support the WireGuard protocol, it offers the high-speed Lightway protocol as an equally effective alternative. This proprietary Lightway protocol, unique to ExpressVPN, has been tested and proven to deliver a seamless gaming experience. Regardless of the protocol used, users’ data is always protected with AES-256 encryption when using ExpressVPN. The Kill Switch feature, referred to as “Network Lock” by ExpressVPN, effectively safeguards a gamer’s device, activating when there is a connection loss or the VPN server is down.

However, ExpressVPN’s premium pricing might deter gamers looking for a more budget-friendly VPN service. Nevertheless, ExpressVPN offers a 30-day money-back guarantee and a 7-day free trial for users to test its service.

Below are the pros and cons of using ExpressVPN for Minecraft and other online games:

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🏆 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

CyberGhost stands out as the top VPN for Valorant and various other online games. It’s among the few VPN services offering dedicated high-speed servers specifically for gaming. In our speed tests, CyberGhost consistently achieved an average connection speed of 45Mbps and a ping of 41ms.

See the table below for an overview of CyberGhost VPN:

List of key features:

1. Dedicated Gaming servers – Available
2. Dedicated Torrenting servers – Available

gamers enjoy the best gaming experience regardless of their location. CyberGhost goes above and beyond by providing game-optimized servers – a true game-changer for gamers seeking the best VPN.

CyberGhost apps support the WireGuard tunneling protocol, which enhances download speeds and ping rates. Additionally, the Kill Switch feature guarantees maximum privacy in case of connection loss. Most importantly, CyberGhost employs AES 256-bit encryption to protect gamers’ data and all users of its VPN service.

CyberGhost simplifies subscription and pricing by offering highly competitive plans. Its 2-year plan costs just $2.19/month and includes a bonus 3-month extension. Moreover, CyberGhost provides a 45-day money-back guarantee – the most generous offer in the industry.

While CyberGhost has numerous benefits, it also has some drawbacks. Below are the pros and cons of using CyberGhost VPN for PUBG, online gaming, and other purposes.

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🏆 Best Free VPN: Hola

• Website: https://hola.org/
• Based in: Israel
• Servers/countries: Multiple servers in 217 countries
• Unblocks Netflix: Yes
• Current Pricing: $2.99/month
• Supported Platform: Desktop, Mobile, TVs

Hola VPN has numerous fast servers in 217 countries around the world. The servers provide high-speed and stable VPN connections that power Valorant and many other games like PUBG, Overwatch, Fortnite, and Minecraft.

When Halo VPN was tested at a base speed of 39.8Mbps, the servers delivered between 24.2Mbps and 25.4Mbps download speeds.

See the table below for a brief overview:

List of key features:

1. Free Plan – Available
2. 20 devices per license – Available
3. Popup (Ad) blocker – Available

Hola VPN offers a limited free plan that can be used to try out the VPN service for an unlimited period. The free plan does not come with any data limit but rather a 1Hr per day connection time limit and only 2Mbps speed. This is enough to test Valorant and any other online multiplayer game with the VPN before paying for a premium subscription.

In addition, Hola VPN offers the Ultra Advanced plan, which allows up to 20 simultaneous connections (devices) per license. And even the lower-priced Premium Unlimited plan allows up to 10 devices per license. This means that avid gamers only need one license to connect multiple devices to the VPN service.

Hola VPN uses a military-grade (256-bit AES) encryption standard to secure its users’ data and internet traffic. This protection system helps shield gamers against cyber attacks and privacy intrusions. The premium Hola VPN plans also allow users to toggle on a built-in Popup (Ad) blocker, which improves the overall gaming experience.

Beyond fast connection speed, Hola VPN servers are also optimized for streaming. This simply means that gamers can also enjoy high-quality Twitch streams and all other streaming services. The Hola VPN servers can also unblock geo-restricted content and give access to regional game releases.

Below are the top benefits and drawbacks of Hola VPN.

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How we selected and tested this VPN

We considered the following factors before selecting the best Free VPN for Valorant.

1. Servers and locations

Hola VPN provides multiple servers in 217 countries all over the world. This gives gamers the freedom to choose a VPN server with better ping and lower latency for gaming. The plethora of server locations also helps to bypass geo-restrictions and government censorship in various parts of the world.

2. Speed

With 217 server locations (countries) available, gamers can always find a nearby Hola VPN server with the fastest connection speed.

It’s also good to know that Hola VPN is a fast-growing VPN company that is constantly improving its services to reach the highest standard in the industry.

3. Security and privacy

Hola VPN stick to the industry standard by protecting users’ data with 256-bit AES encryption. It also allows premium users to turn off its Logging feature.

There’s also a built-in PopUp blocker that comes with the Hola VPN app and browser extension. It functions like a regular Ad Blocker for stopping unwanted adverts and popups while playing games online.

4. Additional features

Hola VPN follows the “minimalist” approach, and it does not have any extra features except for the built-in PopUp blocker. The VPN app is overly simple and with minimal features.

5. Price

Hola VPN offers a Basic Limited plan that is completely free of charge. The plan allows gamers to try out the VPN service with some limitations. The good thing about the free plan is that it gives access to servers in 5 countries and allows up to 1Hour of connection per day.

The premium plans offered by Hola VPN give unlimited access to all its features. The available premium subscription plans are as follows.

• Premium Unlimited – $2.99/month
• Ultra Advanced – $7.99/month

The Premium Unlimited plan allows a maximum of 10 devices per license, and the connection speed is capped at 250Mbps. The more expensive Ultra Advanced plan allows up to 20 devices per license and a higher connection speed of up to 450Mbps.

Why do I need a VPN for playing Online Games?

Here are some of the reasons why online gamers need VPNs:

• Online security: VPNs encrypt users’ internet traffic and make it difficult to steal users’ data. They also provide anonymity by concealing the IP address and location of gamers. That way, stalkers and hackers can’t target attacks at a gamer who uses VPN.
• Conquer IP Ban: By default, VPNs always change users’ IP addresses upon establishing a connection. This built-in feature makes it easy to bypass IP ban in any online game.
• Bypass bandwidth throttling: When connected to VPN, Internet Service Providers (ISPs) can hardly tell if a user is gaming on their network or not. The VPN encryption technology hides users’ internet activities and therefore helps to bypass bandwidth throttles of many ISPs.
• Bypass Geo-restrictions: With VPN, a gamer can easily access game releases and other content unavailable in their location. All the gamer needs is to connect to a VPN server location where the geo-restricted content is available.

How to use a VPN for Online Gaming

Here are simple steps gamers can follow to use a VPN for online gaming.

• Create an Account – Many VPN providers require new users to create an account on their website to enjoy the VPN service.
• Pay for the subscription – Choose a free plan (if available) or pay for a premium plan.
• Download the VPN app – Get the VPN app from the provider’s website or the appropriate mobile App Store.
• Install the VPN – After downloading, it’s important to install the VPN app on a device to set it up.
• Set up the VPN app – Login into the VPN app with an account with a free or premium plan. Pick a server location and connect.
• Configure gaming devices for VPN – In most cases, gaming devices can’t install the VPN app directly, so they need manual configuration. They can be configured with Smart DNS, SOCKS5, and/or HTTP proxy settings provided by the VPN provider.

Online Games keep kicking you out? Here’s how to fix it

Many things can be responsible for online games kicking out a player. Here is a list of the common causes and the quick fixes for them.

• Slow Internet: m
• Outdated drivers: Having obsolete drivers can also be the reason for an online game kicking out a player. The quick fix is updating the device driver or hardware itself.
• VPNs not allowed: Some online games just don’t allow VPNs at all. In such cases, it’s advisable to disconnect from VPN and re-run the game.
• Software conflicts: The Antivirus software on a gaming device could be having conflicts with the game itself, thereby causing a gamer to be kicked out. It’s best to temporarily deactivate the antivirus app when playing such a game.
• Missing or Corrupt game files: When game files are missing or corrupted, a player can experience being kicked out. The quickest way to restore the problematic files is by running the repair tool in a game’s launcher program.
• Other Causes: For other problems that can’t be solved with the above fixes, it’s advisable to contact game support directly.

Where are Online Game’s servers located?

Online games’ servers can be located anywhere in the world. Game developers often decide where they host the game servers.

However, the gaming industry is packed with players from all over the world, and game developers are not “blind” to this fact. It’s the main reason why many popular games now have servers located in different parts of the world. This structure helps players to get lower latency by connecting to a nearby game server.

How to choose the best Online Game server location?

Choosing the best game server location requires considering the following factors.

• Game genre: There are some games that will work fine when connected to a game server with a higher latency. In addition, selecting a server that is appropriate for the game genre is essential.
• Ask other players: It can be easier sometimes to just ask other players about the best server in a location. It’s even more important to ask when setting up a multiplayer game.
• Test different servers: By testing different game server locations, a player can easily tell which is best for them at that point in time.
• Check the server load and latency: Overpopulated servers will most likely have so much load and, therefore, might not be the best. Also, servers with higher latency are generally considered not so good for most games.

Can using a VPN reduce ping in Online Gaming?

Yes, but it’s not that simple. Many gamers have confirmed using expensive VPNs to reduce their game pings. This is possible because some VPN providers route their network packets through better channels than some Internet service providers (ISPs).

However, VPNs generally add a layer of security to a user’s internet connection. This extra layer often causes a slight increase in ping and latency for most VPN services. The absolute truth is that a gamer’s local internet connection will ultimately determine how low or high their ping will be for any game.

Can I play Online Games with a free VPN?

Yes, online games can be played with a free VPN. Unfortunately, the experience will never equal that of premium VPN services.

Many free VPN plans and services are maintained at low or no cost. This simply means that users should never expect high-quality premium services when using a free VPN plan or service. In some cases, the free VPN provider would even keep connection logs and restrict the bandwidth that is accessible.

In most cases, free VPNs are only good for testing the waters before opting for a premium VPN subscription. Avid gamers will never rely on free VPNs to power their favorite online games for a long time.

Final thoughts

In choosing the best VPN for Valorant, it’s important to consider connection speed and stability. This is why premium VPNs are always recommended for online gaming in general. They usually offer multiple server locations that can help gamers get the lowest ping and latency in any game.

It is also important to consider the refund policy and availability of a free plan or free trial. These factors often help to filter out VPNs that perfectly match a gamer’s needs.

Valorant VPN FAQs

Is it OK to use VPN on Valorant?

Using a VPN for playing Valorant and many other popular online games is perfectly legal and OK. However, VPNs won’t stop Valorant from penalizing players who cheat, misbehave, and engage in suspicious activity.

Which VPN gives the best ping?

There are many VPNs that help to reduce game ping, but there’s no absolute best. The reason is that different gamers have varying internet connection speeds and needs, which ultimately affects the overall performance of any VPN they use.

Does VPN stop lagging?

By default, VPNs are not designed to stop game lags. In most cases, a slow internet connection is usually the culprit, and the quick fix is to upgrade to a faster network.

Which free VPN is the strongest?

Free VPN plans offered by reputable VPN companies are generally considered the strongest. This is because the free VPN plans such companies offer are usually limited versions of their premium services.

How do I lower my ping?

The best way to get a lower ping for gaming is by upgrading to the fastest network service provider. After doing so, a game can consider additional options like using premium VPN services.

How do I optimize my VPN for gaming?

The best way to optimize VPN for gaming is by connecting to nearby VPN servers that offer the best speed and stability. It is also good to try out different VPN connection protocols.

Does VPN hide IP?

Yes, all premium VPN apps conceal users’ IP addresses and locations. Each time a user switches to a new server location, the VPN will change their IP address and location to match that selection.

Which country has the fastest Internet?

A recent statistical report by Wisevoter shows that Monaco has the fastest Internet with an average download speed of 319.5Mbps. Other countries with fast Internet include Singapore (300.8Mbps), Chile (298.5Mbps), Hong Kong (292.21Mbps), People’s Republic of China (280.0Mbps), and Switzerland (279.8Mbps).

Does VPN drain the battery?

VPNs usually run in the background and only drain a small percentage of a device’s battery. Nevertheless, gamers might notice faster battery drain when using VPNs. This is because the VPN app, internet connection, and game app are draining the battery simultaneously.

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