5 Best VPNs for GTA 5 in 2023 (For Low Ping)

Grand Theft Auto is one of the most popular gaming franchises in the world. GTA 5, in particular, is considered one of the best video games ever made. Not only this, it’s the most financially successful entertainment product of all time. Even nearly eight years after its initial release, GTA 5 is still one of the fan favorites, especially when it comes to its online platform.

But, as an Internet-based game, GTA Online does have obstacles that can hinder your gameplay. DDoS attacks, annoying lag, and high ping are just several of the most significant problems. Plus, you could also experience a limited version of the game depending on your country of residence. Playing GTA Online on an unsecured connection can also lead to your losing significant amounts of in-game progress due to hacker attacks that don’t necessarily target your own network or device, but rather the character you’ve devoted dozens of hours of your life to.

However, choosing the right VPN can be challenging. That’s why we’re here to help you out. We’ve done extensive research on the best VPN in the market to filter out the top five services that are worth your attention and money. Check them out below and learn everything you need to know about using a VPN for GTA 5.

VPN for Gaming Comparison

	NordVPN	Surfshark	AtlasVPN	PrivateVPN	ExpressVPN
Website	NordVPN.com	Surfshark.com	AtlasVPN.com	PrivateVPN.com	ExpressVPN.com
Ranking for Gaming	5/5	4.8/5	4.6/5	4.6/5	4.8/5
Avg. Speed	46,4 Mbps	40,1 Mbps	35,9 Mbps	43,6 Mbps	42,2 Mbps
Server count	5400+	3200+	750+	200+	3000+
Logs	No-logs	No identifiable logs	No identifiable logs	No logs	No identifiable logs
Suitable for Games	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes
Devices supported	Windows MacOS Android iOS Gaming Consoles SmartTVs	Windows MacOS Android iOS Gaming Consoles	Windows MacOS Android iOS	Windows MacOS Android iOS	Windows MacOS Android iOS Gaming Consoles SmartTVs
P2P Traffic	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes
Best Deals	63% OFF + Gift	Save 81%	83% OFF	Save 85%	3 months FREE

Why You Need a VPN for GTA 5

Many GTA 5 players use VPN services to improve different aspects of their gaming experience. Here are a few of the most significant reasons why you need a VPN for GTA:

• Improve Network Performance – A powerful and fast VPN service will help lower your ping and latency. In line with this, it can also help improve your overall network speed if your ISP is throttling your traffic. All of this will ensure more enjoyable and lag-free gaming when playing against other GTA Online gamers.
• Enhance Your Security – Competitive players play Grand Theft Auto 5 with a VPN to add an extra security layer to their connections. GTA 5 servers can often get pretty toxic, and some players can cross the line and try to attack your device or network. By routing your actual IP address to the service’s encryption tunnel, you can protect yourself from these issues. This means you’ll never have to worry about any unexpected DDoS attacks or hacking attempts.
• Keep Your Online Activity Private – GTA 5 Online is a game with loads of explicit content that includes violence, drugs, and nudity. As such, it might be wise of you to keep your gaming details private from the prying eyes of your Internet Service Provider, as well as the government of your country. Many people are unaware of this, but in certain countries, such as Algeria for example, governments are free to look into the citizens’ online activity without probable cause or a warrant. A high-quality, premium VPN service is the only way to keep yourself protected with a cloak of anonymity.
• Bypass Restrictions and Censorship –  A VPN for GTA 5 is also useful if you live in a country that restricts some of the game’s features or bans it entirely. You can simply connect to a server in a different country, change up your IP address and enjoy playing the game. Even if the game is available in your country, it might be limited in features due to local laws. One of the most glaring examples of this is the in-game casino, which is banned in a staggering 55 countries! With the ability to switch between locations, you can experience the game without any limitations or censorship. 

Best VPNs for GTA 5

1. NordVPN

As the fastest-performing, best all-around, and most secure VPN, NordVPN takes the top spot as our first choice for the top VPNs for GTA 5. It has close to 5500 servers in 59 countries worldwide, which is the largest server network out of all the services outlined in this article. 

All of these support NordVPN’s top-quality NordLynx protocol. This protocol is handy for gaming, as it provides high speeds without compromising any security features. And, with its obfuscated servers, you don’t have to fear getting caught for using a VPN in GTA 5.

NordVPN also excels from a security standpoint. All of its servers are RAM-based, and the service has a strict no-logs policy. Additionally, you can count on full DDoS and DNS leak protection. NordVPN also offers the best customer service in the industry. This includes extensive guides, great live chat support, and a very helpful blog page. 

Furthermore, it comes at a great value, as you can get a long-term subscription for just a couple of bucks per month. You can even take advantage of a 30-day money-back guarantee, no questions asked.

NordVPN Speed Test for Gaming Results

Speed Test	NordVPN
Website	NordVPN.com
Average Speed – North America (United States)	46,4 Mbps
Average Speed – Europe (United Kingdom)	45,2 Mbps
Average Speed – Asia (Singapore)	35,3 Mbps
Best deal	63% OFF + Gift

2. Surfshark

Surfshark is one of the most affordable VPN services, looking at its long-term plans. Along with this, it’s also one of the most feature-packed services around. Some of the best features include the in-house Whitelister and Camouflage Mode. The service provides extremely fast and stable network speeds.

Besides performance, Surfshark is also an excellent choice if you want complete privacy when playing GTA 5. It doesn’t keep any activity logs. Moreover, it offers great IP and DNS leak protection. All of its server connections are protected by AES-GCM-256 encryption.

It offers apps compatible with all gaming devices GTA 5 works on and allows you to simultaneously connect an unlimited number of devices. All of this makes it a great choice if you want to play GTA Online with your friends or set the service across many different devices in your household.

Surfshark Speed Test for Gaming Results

Speed Test	Surfshark
Website	Surfshark.com
Average Speed – North America (United States)	40,1 Mbps
Average Speed – Europe (United Kingdom)	39,2 Mbps
Average Speed – Asia (Singapore)	35,8 Mbps
Best deal	Save 81%

3. AtlasVPN

Atlas VPN is one of the best choices in the market when it comes to gaming. It offers leading speeds with 750+ optimized servers, which means saying goodbye to awful ping and latency and hello to enjoying a lag-free online GTA 5 game. Geo-restriction is also an outdated issue if you use Atlas VPN, as it will allow you to cross borders and access a wide range of games all over the world. 

Additionally, Atlas VPN will protect you against DDoS attacks and help you to avoid throttling by preventing your ISP from interfering with your connection. 

Atlas VPN will not only improve your gaming experience but will enhance your privacy and security online. The Killswitch feature will protect you even if your VPN disconnects for some reason. Try this VPN out, and if for some reason it is not a perfect fit for you, Atlas offers a 30-day money-back guarantee.

AtlasVPN Speed Test for Gaming Results

Speed Test	AtlasVPN
Website	AtlasVPN.com
Average Speed – North America (United States)	35,9 Mbps
Average Speed – Europe (United Kingdom)	34,2 Mbps
Average Speed – Asia (Singapore)	29,9 Mbps
Best deal	83% OFF

4. PrivateVPN

PrivateVPN offers more than 200 server locations in 63 countries worldwide. More importantly, in terms of gaming, the service doesn’t put any caps on speed or total bandwidth. You can also switch between servers as many times you want and how often you want, without any limitations.

Additionally, PrivateVPN comes with a well-balanced set of privacy and security features. From a gaming perspective, this includes some convenient mechanisms such as an automatic kill switch, DNS leak protection, and IPv6 leak protection. From a general VPN usage perspective, it’s good to know that all of PrivateVPN’s servers are P2P-friendly and support port forwarding.

It offers a handful of advanced settings but keeps its overall layout very simple and easy to use. It’s an excellent choice for all GTA 5 players looking for a convenient and straightforward VPN. It’s not the fastest or most robust service on the market but is a very capable VPN for GTA Online.

PrivateVPN Speed Test for Gaming Results

Speed Test	PrivateVPN
Website	PrivateVPN.com
Average Speed – North America (United States)	43,6 Mbps
Average Speed – Europe (United Kingdom)	45.9 Mbps
Average Speed – Asia (Singapore)	40,1 Mbps
Best deal	Save 85%

5. ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN is an excellent VPN for online activities in general, not just playing games. This is because it supports complete DDoS protection and a very reliable kill switch. The service uses in-house TrustedServer technology and employs strong DNS leak protection. It’s based in the British Virgin Islands and doesn’t keep any logs of user activities.

Plus, even with so many handy characteristics, the interface is an absolute breeze. All of this does come with a slightly higher subscription price. However, ExpressVPN’s premium service justifies every penny. ExpressVPN holds the reputation of being both one of the fastest and most secure VPNs on the market. With this VPN, you never have to compromise on any aspect of your service.

ExpressVPN Speed Test for Gaming Results

Speed Test	ExpressVPN
Website	ExpressVPN.com
Average Speed – North America (United States)	42,2 Mbps
Average Speed – Europe (United Kingdom)	40,9 Mbps
Average Speed – Asia (Singapore)	38,1 Mbps
Best deal	+3 months FREE

GTA 5 VPN Services Ban

Yes, there is a GTA Online VPN ban. Using a GTA Online VPN is a clear violation of the game’s Terms of Service and EULA. There have been many examples of GTA Online players getting banned for using VPN and proxy services.

With that said, you can avoid the Rockstar VPN ban if you stick with one of the five top VPNs we’ve recommended on this page. Each of the five VPNs comes with the necessary security and performance features. They are fully capable of providing you with smooth and unrestricted gameplay.

Are GTA 5 Bans Permanent?

There are two types of bans you can get in GTA 5. The first is a temporary ban that warns you not to repeat the unapproved behavior. The second ban is a permanent ban for your account and not your IP address. In other words, while the service does monitor IP activity, the ban will affect your entire account, not just your IP address.

This is something to remember if you plan on using a VPN as a long-term solution for playing GTA 5. If Rockstar bans your account permanently, you’ll have to create a new account. Using a VPN, in this case, won’t help you avoid the ban, as the ban is not tied to your IP address. This is another reason why it’s crucial to use a strong and proven VPN that will slip through undetected.

Related Reads:

• Best VPNs for CS:GO
• Best VPNs for Valorant
• Best VPNs for PUBG
• Best VPNs for Call Of Duty

Using Free VPNs for Grand Theft Auto Online

In recent years, there has been a tremendous uptick in the number of VPN providers out there, including premium and free VPN services. While certain popular VPN programs that do not charge users for using them can be useful for brief periods of browsing the Internet or accessing short-form, geo-locked content, they have certain issues that might prevent you from playing online games.

Slow Gaming Speed

First of all, free VPNs don’t grant their users access to dedicated gaming servers. In most cases, you won’t even get a choice regarding which server you want to connect to at all, as these services simply don’t have an extensive server network, to begin with. In order to play games online with a VPN, access to speed-optimized servers is an absolute must-have to maintain a stable connection that will keep your ping low. Furthermore, most free VPNs are not available for gaming consoles, so if you don’t play GTA online on PC, you won’t be able to use them anyway.

Privacy Concerns

Keeping multiple VPN servers operational is a costly ordeal. Expenses related to running a team of professionals to maintain the software also need to be taken into account. It is also rather unlikely for any team of highly-skilled developers to run the service free of charge merely for the good of humanity. Add all of these factors together, and a clear question begins to emerge: how does a high-quality, free VPN service make money? Well, in most cases, the answer is user data.

Any free VPN app carries the risk of being a malicious program, designed to obtain access to your personal information for the purpose of selling it to advertisers, which is the exact opposite of what a Virtual Private Network is supposed to do. If you do decide to use a free VPN provider, make sure to thoroughly research it online before establishing a VPN connection in order to protect your data.

Bandwidth Throttling

Finally, free VPN services are known to throttle your connection speeds after a while of using them. Because of their low bandwidth capacities, they need to optimize their speed across the board to keep their connection available to large numbers of users at a time. You need fast and reliable connections to get the best GTA online experience possible, and that’s simply not achievable with free providers.

GTA 5 VPN FAQs

Can I use a free VPN for GTA online?

No, you should never use a free VPN service for GTA Online. It will only get you in more trouble, as you’ll likely get banned by the game. Overall, free gaming VPNs are always a poor choice for gaming for a number of reasons. They are significantly slower, more barebone, and less secure than the premium paid VPN services.

Can I use a VPN for GTA 5 Casino?

Yes, you can use a VPN to enjoy social gambling in the GTA 5 Casino. Depending on where you live, using a VPN is the only way to play games in the GTA Online Casino. This is because Rockstar blocks certain regions in which it doesn’t have licenses for virtual gambling.

Will the Rockstar Launcher work with a GTA V VPN?

Yes, you can open the Rockstar Launcher with a VPN service. Moreover, some players have found that this is the only way the Launcher will open up on their device. The problem with the Rockstar Launcher not working is primarily DNS-based. That’s why connecting to a VPN allows you to fix this issue without any effort.

Can I play GTA 5 on Xbox One with a VPN?

Yes, you can set up a VPN for Xbox One to play GTA 5. While you can’t install it the same way you would on your PC, there is still a way around this issue. This is to set up the VPN service directly on your router. The same goes if you want to play GTA 5 on PS4 or any upcoming console version releases.

GTA VPN Services – Summing it Up

A VPN for GTA 5 can dramatically increase your gaming experience. Not only this, but it will also protect you at all times, so you can play as much as you like, entirely worry-free. With that in mind, choosing the right VPN for GTA 5 is crucial if you want to avoid any issues down the line when gaming. 

To ensure you have an untroubled online gaming experience, we strongly advise you to stick with our tested and proven VPN services. If you can’t decide between the five services we’ve listed above, we recommend NordVPN for GTA Online. It comes with all of the features you need and is completely reliable and trustworthy.