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5 Best VPNs for RuneScape (OSRS Botting & Bypass IP Bans)

Best VPN for RuneScape

First released over 20 years ago, RuneScape has grown to become the largest and most-updated MMORPG, now with over 200 million accounts created. Despite RuneScape being the online game with the biggest number of global players, you still might run into issues when playing it. 

As you will find in most other online games, RuneScape servers are geographically blocked. Even if you manage to access the game, you might experience lag and ping issues when gaming. To add to this, if you want to build up your stats quickly, OSRS botting is almost guaranteed to land you a block within a few days.

Time, we feel, to take a look at the best VPNs for Runescape and address this common issue once and for all.

VPN servers are the best tool you can use to navigate around the geo-blocked Runescape servers and other potential problems and obtain additional benefits to enhance your gaming experience. Let’s take a closer look at why and how you should use a RuneScape VPN and highlight the best VPN servers and best VPN usage for RuneScape.

Best Runescape VPN – our shortlist:

  1. NordVPN – The best VPN for RuneScape.
  2. Surfshark – Feature-rich and advanced service.
  3. Atlas VPN – Superb budget option with unlimited connections.
  4. PrivateVPN – Simple VPN with great speeds.
  5. ExpressVPN – One of the fastest VPNs around.

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Why Is It Recommended to Use Runescape VPN?

There are a handful of reasons why using a VPN for RuneScape is the smart way to play this game. Here are the biggest arguments for using a RuneScape VPN, together with some very good reasons why we should be looking at the best VPNs for Runescape – and not just ‘any old’ VPN client, plucked randomly (which is a common mistake that many gamers make, by the way).

Avoid Geo-Blocks

Depending on your location, some specific servers might be blocked. Luckily, you can get around these annoying obstacles by connecting to a VPN server in the location you want to unblock, no matter what your real physical location is. That way, you can enjoy playing with different players, grab membership deals for less money, and more.

Evade IP Bans

While most RuneScape bans are account-based and not IP-based, the latter can also occur. In this sense, a VPN can be a valuable tool for evading the issue. If you experience IP blacklisting, you can simply switch to another VPN server and continue playing without skipping a beat.

Protect Against Hacking and DDoSing Attacks

Although the RuneScape gaming community isn’t as toxic as some others, there’s still a good deal of cheating involved. Unfortunately, some players don’t stop at anything to get an edge, not just with Runescape but with any online game, in general. Nature of the beast, you might say. 

There have been numerous examples of players getting hacked out of their accounts. Additionally, occasional DDoSing can be a worrisome issue.

However, when connected to a VPN server, you don’t have to worry about any of these problems. This is particularly true if the service offers advanced malware and tracking protection.

Escape ISP Throttling

Chief among the complaints of many gamers is a slow internet connection when hooking up to VPN service providers. If you’ve found your internet connection to be suspiciously slower than usual at times, blame is often directed at the VPN provider unfairly – the chances are, your ISP might be throttling your bandwidth. In this case, a VPN can help you put an end to data bandwidth restrictions and enjoy gaming at fast internet connection speeds. It can also help lower your ping and fix lag issues, which can greatly contribute to the overall experience. 

Runescape VPN Comparison

NordVPNSurfsharkAtlasVPNPrivateVPNExpressVPN
WebsiteNordVPN.comSurfshark.comAtlasVPN.comPrivateVPN.comExpressVPN.com
Ranking for Gaming5/54.8/54.6/54.6/54.8/5
Avg. Speed46,4 Mbps40,1 Mbps35,9 Mbps43,6 Mbps42,2 Mbps
Server count5400+3200+750+200+3000+
LogsNo-logsNo identifiable logsNo identifiable logsNo logsNo identifiable logs
Suitable for Games✅ Yes✅ Yes✅ Yes✅ Yes✅ Yes
Devices supportedWindows
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 Deals63% OFF + GiftSave 81%83% OFFSave 85%3 months FREE

Best VPNs for RuneScape – our detailed list

1. NordVPN

🌐 Website:nordvpn.com
🏢 Headquarters:Panama
📍Servers/Countries:5800+ servers in 60 countries
₿ Accepts CryptocurrencyYes
💸 Deals & CouponsGet 68% off + 3 months extra

NordVPN is almost certainly the best VPN for RuneScape. It’s excellent if you want to unblock the game, bypass the IP ban, or even use it for botting. It has around 5,500 servers with different IPs in 59+ locations around the world.

In case you want to have dedicated IP addresses, this is probably one of the cheapest options on the market (for dedicated IP addresses, specifically). As one of the industry leaders, NordVPN also released the super-fast and modern WireGuard-based protocol NordLynx. It allows you to have a fast, stable internet connection through a relatively fast VPN server with great performance. This can lower the ping while gaming online.

The service has advanced security features and no IP or DNS leaks, with next-generation encryption and an Internet kill switch, also found on the VPN app. When it comes to privacy, it does not keep any logs. Plus, NordVPN is based in Panama, a privacy-friendly location outside the jurisdiction of any international surveillance alliance.

NordVPN fully supports torrenting and P2P traffic, so it’s perfect for those who also download a lot. This provider can protect from malicious websites, intrusive ads, and unblock censored content. NordVPN has a 30-day money-back guarantee on all its very affordable plans.

NordVPN Speed Test for Gaming Results

Speed TestNordVPN
WebsiteNordVPN.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 deal63% OFF + Gift

Pros

  • Thousands of lightning-fast and well-optimized servers
  • Unblocks all the major streaming sites
  • Fully supports Torrenting and P2P
  • Strict no-logs policy and RAM-disk servers
  • Ad blocker and malware protection features
  • Robust security features and military-grade encryption to protect you from DDoS attacks and other online threats
  • 24/7 live chat support
  • 30-day money-back guarantee

Cons

  • Only 6 simultaneous connections
  • No free trial

2. Surfshark

🌐 Website:surfshark.com
🏢 Headquarters:The British Virgin Islands
📍Servers/Countries:3,200+ servers in 100 countries
₿ Accepts CryptocurrencyYes
💸 Deals & CouponsSave 84% Now!

Surfshark is a great and very affordable choice, with more than 3,200 servers in 99 countries worldwide.  It has good connection speeds, an aspect that’s especially important to consider when playing online games, including RuneScape. Apart from this, it also supports P2P and can help you hide torrenting from your ISP.

This VPN has features like DNS and IP leak protection, an Internet kill switch, and only RAM-based servers. It allows connecting an unlimited number of devices per subscription account. Surfshark is also one of the most advanced VPNs you can get. Some of its advanced features include No Borders Mode, Camouflage Mode, and a split tunneling Bypasser feature.

Surfshark does not keep any logs or other information on the servers. It is a safe and solid VPN choice with AES-256 encryption. This VPN is a great budget choice. All plans have a 30-day money-back guarantee, and you can get a subscription for less than a couple of bucks per month if you opt for a multi-year deal. 

Surfshark Speed Test for Gaming Results

Speed TestSurfshark
WebsiteSurfshark.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 dealSave 81%

Pros

  • A very affordable VPN provider
  • Unlimited simultaneous connections
  • Ad-blocking feature
  • Unblocks streaming platforms
  • Ad blocker and malware protection features
  • A fast and light WireGuard protocol
  • Allows split-tunneling and has a multi-hop VPN feature
  • No-log policy and robust security features
  • GPS spoofing on Android devices
  • 30-day money-back guarantee

Cons

  • No free version
  • Does not allow P2P seeding

3. Atlas VPN

🌐 Website:atlasvpn.com
🏢 Headquarters:United States
📍Servers/Countries:1000 servers in 49 locations
₿ Accepts CryptocurrencyYes
💸 Deals & Coupons85% OFF + 3 Months FREE!

If you’re looking for a budget-friendly VPN provider with great features, look no further than Atlas VPN. It’s one of the best VPNs for OSRS, since it has features like WireGuard and more than 750 servers across 44 locations. This is enough to help you minimize your ping and reduce lag. All of its servers support the WireGuard protocol.

In addition, Atlas VPN has strong 256-bit encryption. It features a kill switch and connection protection against IPv4 and IPv6 leaks. In addition to the kill switch, strong encryption, and WireGuard support, the split tunneling feature enables you to take your online experience to a new level.

If you are looking for a cheap yet well-rounded provider, Atlas VPN is definitely the best choice. For its price, it offers high-security features and a decent speed. What’s more, you’ll also find advanced settings like MultiHop+, SafeSwap, and Tracker Blocker. It has three different payment plans as well as a 30-day money-back guarantee.

AtlasVPN Speed Test for Gaming Results

Speed TestAtlasVPN
WebsiteAtlasVPN.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 deal83% OFF

Pros

  • Very affordable plans and it has a free version
  • Fast Speeds
  • Helpful against an ISP throttling your connection
  • Unlimited device support
  • WireGuard protocol, DNS leak protection, and strong security features
  • Torrenting-friendly
  • Unblocks streaming services
  • 30-day money-back guarantee

Cons

  • Limited Linux app
  • Based in the US
  • Not so many servers

4. PrivateVPN

🌐 Website:privatevpn.com
🏢 Headquarters:Sweden
📍Servers/Countries:200 servers in 60 countries
₿ Accepts CryptocurrencyYes
💸 Deals & CouponsSave 85% Now!

PrivateVPN is a good VPN for OSRS and botting as it is not overhyped and not as popular as some of our other VPN picks. In other words, this means that it is less detectable as fewer players use it. Its small but globally reaching network numbers of more than 200 servers in 63 locations

The service comes with unlimited bandwidth and speed, which is great for latency. In addition to unlimited bandwidth, PrivateVPN has torrenting support and can unblock most streaming sites, so you can use it for other activities besides gaming. You might describe PrivateVPN as a very simple VPN. For example, It doesn’t support split tunneling or the WireGuard protocol. But it does come with all the fundamentals, making it a superb choice for beginner VPN users.

Their VPN service has 2048-bit encryption with AES-256, IPv6 leak protection, and an Internet kill switch. It also has a zero-data logging policy. Generally speaking, PrivateVPN is a quality service that is suitable for unblocking and bypassing restrictions. It has a 30-day money-back guarantee on all its plans.

It is worth noting that despite the brand name here, Private VPN does not provide private IP addresses, at least not as standard – just to be clear, less any confusion.

PrivateVPN Speed Test for Gaming Results

Speed TestPrivateVPN
WebsitePrivateVPN.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 dealSave 85%

Pros

  • Supports P2P traffic and allows port forwarding
  • Unlimited bandwidth and great speeds
  • Unblocks most streaming platforms
  • Zero-logging policy
  • Free Static IP servers
  • A fast and light WireGuard protocol
  • 10 simultaneous connections
  • 30-day money-back guarantee

Cons

  • Not as many servers as other VPN providers
  • No split-tunneling

5. ExpressVPN

🌐 Website:expressvpn.com
🏢 Headquarters:The British Virgin Islands
📍Servers/Countries:3000+ servers in 94 countries
₿ Accepts CryptocurrencyYes
💸 Deals & Coupons+3 months FREE!

ExpressVPN (also known as Express VPN International) is another great choice for OSRS, with servers in 160 locations across 94 locations. It’s a very robust VPN with fast speeds, which makes it perfect for gaming. All of its servers support ExpressVPN’s proprietary Lightway protocol.

ExpressVPN is based in the British Virgin Islands and is a privacy-focused VPN with a proven no-log policy and servers that exclusively run on RAM. You can count on AES-256 encryption as well as IP leak and DNS protection

It’s one of the best VPNs for gaming (generally speaking) and is probably the go-to VPN service for most gamers. ExpressVPN is also very good at unblocking content from countries like China or the UAE. It can bypass firewalls and IP-based bans. Likewise, ExpressVPN fully supports torrenting and P2P traffic and can unblock streaming services.

There’s a split tunneling feature for those who want to tailor their connection preferences. While ExpressVPN is a bit on the expensive side, all plans come with a 30-day money-back guarantee for you to make sure it’s worth it.

ExpressVPN Speed Test for Gaming Results

Speed TestExpressVPN
WebsiteExpressVPN.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

Pros

  • Works with streaming
  • Supports torrenting
  • No-logs policy
  • TrustedServer technology with RAM-only servers
  • Premium security features
  • 30-day money-back guarantee

Cons

  • Expensive subscription plans
  • Only 5 simultaneous connections

How to Pick the Best VPN Service for RuneScape?

Even with just five options for you to consider, we have narrowed down the list of the best VPN service options, and after careful review, we are certain any one of these five will be enough for all gamers. Choosing a VPN for RuneScape can be challenging if you don’t know what to look for. To help you out, we’ve drafted a quick checklist you can go by to conveniently pick a service based on what your needs are. With that in mind, here’s how to choose the best VPN RuneScape:

Advantageous Server Selection

When picking the best VPN for RuneScape based on your preferences, one of the paramount aspects to evaluate is the service’s server network. A well-spread-out server network with dedicated IP options will guarantee an enjoyable RuneScape gaming experience.

Additionally, you want fast servers strategically placed in local and remote locations. While RuneScape doesn’t exactly have the most advanced graphics settings, having fast servers will allow you to max out all of the options and still maintain a fast and stable internet connection with low ping.

Quality Privacy Features

Besides the speed and performance aspect of a VPN service, the best VPN for RuneScape also must lock up your privacy with strong features. This includes impenetrable encryption, leak protection, and an automatic kill switch that would cut off your network in case of any connection drops.

The best VPNs also include some extra security and privacy features. They are based in privacy-friendly countries and don’t keep logs of your data or online activities. If you also want to protect against malicious RuneScape players, you’d want to favor a VPN that offers DDoS protection in addition to the above-mentioned privacy features.

Protocol and Advanced Network Customization Options

The VPNs we’ve included on this page all offer a handful of protocols. Some of them even have in-house protocols that deliver a better gaming performance. For a service to be in the running for the best VPN for RuneScape, it should at least support high-end protocols like WireGuard and OpenVPN.

In addition to the protocols, the VPN should also support advanced network features like server obfuscation and split tunneling. With the latter option, you can customize your network and specifically select the apps and sites you want to include or exclude in your VPN connection.

Solid Software Support

RuneScape is available on Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, and Linux devices. So, to ensure that your gaming experience isn’t limited in any way, look for a VPN that ideally supports all of these operating systems. Moreover, the apps should be intuitive and easy to use but still offer reasonable control over configurable settings.

Is It Allowed to Use a VPN On RuneScape?

The use of a VPN itself is not banned on RuneScape. You are allowed to play OSRS with it. However, the game might find your activities unusual and suspicious when playing with a VPN. This is because some players use a VPN to exploit the game in some way or gain an advantage over others. 

Most notably, this includes botting for resources. Still, the most detrimental outcome you can face is an account ban. You won’t experience any legal consequences for using a VPN for RuneScape, even if you use it to mask your botting activities.

Why Is It Not Allowed To Bot in RuneScape?

In simple terms, botting is banned in RuneScape because it fundamentally affects the integrity and overall gaming experience. This activity ruins gameplay for those trying to play by the rules. By not allowing botting in the game, the game’s developer Jagex tries to keep a level playing field for all players. 

Can RuneScape Detect a VPN?

Yes, most of the time, RuneScape can tell without much effort that you are using a VPN. The biggest alarm is raised if the game discovers that you’re using an IP that it knows belongs to a VPN service. Other signs include how frequently you’re changing your IP or whether there are more accounts from the same IP. 

These detection methods are very common across different games and websites. Most of the time, your IP address is validated once you sign in to your account. If Jagex sees that every time you access from a different IP, this might imply the use of a VPN and cause the game’s anti-cheating systems to start monitoring your activities more closely.

Over time, Jagex has collected huge lists of IP addresses and knows which ones belong to VPN providers. The majority of suspicious IP addresses come from a free-of-charge VPN service that is probably blocked already. A premium VPN connection, however, will offer many servers with countless different IP addresses and maintain high-performance levels, so your gaming experience isn’t affected negatively in any way in the same way that free VPNs are liable to do so.

Can Your RuneScape Account Be Blocked For Using a VPN?

Using a VPN for RuneScape might lead to your account getting blocked. VPNs typically have shared IP addresses that many other players use besides you. Shared IP addresses might have a so-called “bad neighbor” effect, meaning that if another player broke the rules, your account might be at risk too.

This does not mean that your account will be blocked, but you will not be able to play using the same VPN server. Therefore, you will need to change it. However, this leads to another potential threat to your account. Often changing VPN servers is where the real block could happen; in turn, unusual behavior might auto-lock your account.

The accounts that have been blocked while using a VPN might be hard to recover. You can appeal to remove the ban, but there’s a chance that it will be denied. As IP addresses can not be proven to be owned by you, you might risk losing your account forever. But there’s still a way to play (or even bot) with zero risks. This leads us to the next section.

How to Play RuneScape with a VPN Without Getting Blocked?

RuneScape and its parent company, Jagex, put a lot of effort into discovering and banning players that use VPNs. This is primarily because a lot of VPN users employ these services for OSRS botting. 

So, if you want to ensure you don’t get caught when using a VPN, here are a few tips on how to use a VPN for RuneScape without getting banned:

  • Use a Trusted VPN – the most crucial aspect to check off the list is to pick a reliable and robust VPN for RuneScape that’s capable enough to avoid bans. The five services we’ve shared above are all adept at this and will prevent you from getting blocked.
  • Get a Dedicated IP Address – apart from signing with a reputable premium VPN for RuneScape, this is the next more important thing to do. When you get a dedicated IP address from your VPN, you’ll ensure that you’re the only one using it. This will make your VPN IP address look like a regular IP. 
  • Don’t Switch Servers Often – switching between VPN servers too often is guaranteed to raise a red flag. Moreover, if you want to change your IP, use a server from the same country and avoid remote servers. 
  • Ensure Protection Against Data Leaks – to prevent your gaming experience from ending due to a block, you should secure your connection from any data leaks. This includes using a kill switch and making certain that your connection isn’t suffering from any IPv6, DNS, or WebRTC leaks. 
  • Take Advantage of Advanced Features – as we’ve mentioned above, some VPNs offer advanced features that let you mask your activities and add an extra layer of privacy and security to your IP address. Most notably, a server obfuscation feature can really come in handy when enjoying RuneScape with a VPN.
  • Be Careful with OSRS Bots – if you want to enjoy RuneScape or OSRS with a VPN so that you can engage in botting, don’t go overboard with this. By botting in moderation, you can slip under the radar while still boosting your stats.

Can I Use a Free VPN for RuneScape?

It is not advisable, to be honest. Free-of-charge VPNs are generally very poor performers for gaming and aren’t suitable for playing RuneScape. As these services don’t charge you any subscription fees, they don’t have the resources that premium VPNs work with. In other words, they often have to compromise on vital aspects of their service.

More precisely, free VPNs often have a limited number of servers. Moreover, these servers significantly limit your connection speeds and often set bandwidth restrictions. So, you’d have a tough time just browsing the Internet, let alone playing RuneScape at higher graphics settings.

If this wasn’t enough to deter you from using a free VPN, we should also mention that playing RuneScape with a free-of-charge VPN puts you at a much higher risk of getting banned than when playing with a premium VPN. This is because free VPNs have far fewer IP address options and lack advanced privacy features.

Related Reads:

Conclusion

A trusted VPN can be a great service if you want to bypass IP bans or unblock OSRS. Moreover, it can bypass restrictions in school or any other country. Hopefully, the information we’ve shared with you, along with our top five VPN recommendations, will provide you with everything you needed to know in order to start using a VPN for RuneScape.

If we had to narrow the choice down to just one VPN service provider, NordVPN is the best VPN for RuneScape, in our opinion. It has excellent speeds for good ping and can unblock it from anywhere. It also offers Dedicated IPs if you want to use one for botting to minimize the chance of your account being locked. This is the go-to VPN service provider of many gamers for a very good reason.

RuneScape VPN FAQs

Can a VPN help me get a cheaper RuneScape membership?

Yes, you can use a VPN to change your IP address and get a RuneScape membership for less money than you would have to pay otherwise. For example, while the subscription prices in the US, the UK, and Eurozone countries are in a fairly similar range, the membership prices in Mexico and Brazil are significantly cheaper.

With this in mind, there’s one caveat that you should remember. When you buy a RuneScape membership from a certain country (for example, when using a Mexican IP address in your VPN app), you’ll have always to use Mexican servers when playing RuneScape. If you decide to go down this route, we recommend using a dedicated IP for safe and convenient access.

Can I play RuneScape while watching Netflix with a VPN?

Yes, you can play RuneScape while watching Netflix with a VPN. That said, the best way to do so is to use a VPN that offers split tunneling. This enables you to watch Netflix through the VPN and enjoy gaming on your regular IP address. That way, you’re not risking a ban for Playing RuneScape with a VPN.

Can a VPN unban my account in RuneScape?

Unfortunately, you can’t use a VPN to get your RuneScape account unbanned. This is because account bans are tied to your username, not your specific IP address. So, instead of trying to trick RuneScape’s servers with a VPN, a better way to try to get your account unblocked is to contact support.

While rumors of RuneScape IP bans are widespread, the truth is that Jagex rarely bans players based on their IPs instead of their usernames. However, if you find yourself in such a situation, using a VPN to switch your IP address can help you avoid an IP ban and continue gaming.

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