6 Best VPNs For xCloud (Unblock From Anywhere)
The project xCloud is Microsoft’s cloud gaming service that emerged after Google’s Stadia. So far, Microsoft has relied on its Xbox to fill out gaming rooms. But, as cloud technology started to emerge, it decided to try out a more portable solution.
The company’s solution was to integrate Xbox One over a streaming platform. But, more than that, it also aims to offer low-latency cloud-powered gaming. To do this, it will allow users to play games via smartphones and tablets.
Unfortunately, xCloud is not available everywhere. Currently, only players from a little over two dozen countries can access this service. This is why others have to use a VPN in order to access it.
Best VPNs for xCloud – our shortlist:
- NordVPN – Best VPN for xCloud overall.
- Surfshark – Suitable for an unlimited number of devices.
- AtlasVPN – A great budget choice.
- PrivateVPN – Easy-to-use xCloud VPN.
- ExpressVPN – Privacy and security-focused VPN.
- Private Internet Access – Advanced and very customizable service.
How to Choose the Best VPN for xCloud
In order to access xCloud and enjoy the new way of gaming, users will need a reliable VPN on their side. This means choosing a service that meets certain requirements. Here’s what to look for in the best VPN for xCloud:
1. High speeds
Online gaming results in a lot of data traveling between the user’s device and online servers. Meanwhile, a VPN protects users’ data by encrypting it, which tends to slow down the process.
Fortunately, there are some VPNs that are faster than others and can support gaming. Not every VPN can do it, so the user needs to choose wisely to get the best experience.
2. Stability
VPNs are known for their ability to stabilize users’ internet connection. This is often used to prevent ISPs from throttling traffic and affecting your speeds. As a result, with a reliable VPN service, you can get greater connection stability, which is crucial for gaming. In other words, with a stable network, your game will not lag or otherwise suffer. At least, not due to the behavior of your Internet.
3. Server Network
If you want to ensure that you have the best VPN for xCloud based on your requirements, you also need to carefully consider its server network. As the name suggests, these networks consist of servers that span around the world. The best VPNs have servers in many countries around the globe.
By connecting to any of these servers, you can seemingly change your online location to trick xCloud. As a result, you can bypass geo-restrictions and censorship. This is an absolutely crucial feature for using xCloud from countries that don’t support it yet.
4. Number of Supported Devices
Microsoft xCloud is available for a number of devices but primarily targets Android and iOS users, in addition to Xbox consoles. Thanks to the platform’s wide OS support, you can choose how you play and from what device. But, to be able to use a VPN, you need to subscribe to a service that also supports the device you plan on using.
While most VPNs support Android devices, not many of them allow you full setup support on consoles. So, if you wish to use your Xbox for xCloud, you will need to use a VPN that has a dedicated app for it.
5. No-logs Policy
VPNs are, primarily, tools made for achieving online privacy. This is why they have server networks and encryption in the first place. A big part of that is controlling who gets to store and see your online data. Everything that you do on the internet gets stored on your ISP’s servers.
Of course, those who use VPNs can reroute their data to get stored on VPN-owned servers. With that in mind, the top VPNs out there understand users’ need for privacy, which is why they delete all the data. This is the so-called no-logs policy that most good VPNs practice. If you want maximum online privacy, you should ensure that your VPN of choice has such a policy.
6. Security
Apart from privacy, VPNs are also used for greater security. Encryption and security protocols prevent users’ data from being exposed. That way, online criminals cannot steal sensitive information or monitor the network. However, VPNs do more than that. They can protect you from malware, unwanted ads, trackers, and more. Some VPNs even come with DDoS protection, to keep you safe from any malicious online players.
7. Apps
Lastly, VPNs can help with different apps, as well. There are some services that let you decide which apps on your device should be protected by utilizing the split tunneling feature. That way, you can improve your speeds by only covering apps that require high security.
Meanwhile, apps that cannot endanger your private information can operate as per usual. They won’t slow you down, and that means that more speed will go to your xCloud. This enables you to get the best of both worlds and tailor your network to best suit your online activities.
How Can You Play xCloud From Anywhere?
xCloud is currently only available in a handful of locations, as mentioned. But, the main point of this guide is to help you make it available no matter where you are. While this will likely be the reality in a few years, you currently need to use a VPN to make it happen. Getting an xCloud VPN is very easy, as all you need to do is follow a few steps:
- Choose a VPN.
- Go to its website and sign up.
- Download a VPN app for the device you wish to use.
- Install the app, launch it, and log in.
- Find a list of servers and connect to the country of your choice.
That’s it. At this point, you should be able to use xCloud from anywhere in the world. Keep in mind that you shouldn’t connect to really remote servers if you want the best performance. The further away a VPN server is, the higher ping you will have, which will have a negative impact on your gaming experience.
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 |
Best VPNs For xCloud
1. NordVPN
NordVPN excels as an all-around gaming VPN and is undoubtedly the top choice when discussing xCloud VPN services. This VPN offers over 5,600 VPN servers in 59 countries worldwide.
More important than this impressive number is that all of these servers support NordVPN’s innovative NordLynx protocol. This VPN protocol delivers fantastic connection speeds and maintains very stable network connections.
NordVPN is also the safest VPN for gaming. It offers excellent DDoS protection, DNS leak protection, and a kill switch. You can even opt for a dedicated IP address if you want maximum security.
There’s also a convenient split tunneling feature that allows you to customize your network connection. If you want to explore more advanced tools, you can use NordVPN’s features like Double VPN, Onion over VPN, and Threat Protection. These aren’t necessarily gaming-oriented but provide for a great online experience overall.
It’s worth highlighting that NordVPN is primarily a privacy-oriented VPN. It’s based in privacy-friendly Panama and doesn’t keep any data logs of its customers’ activity. Moreover, it runs all of its traffic through RAM-based servers. Taking everything into consideration, your private and sensitive information is completely secure and out of anyone’s reach.
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 |
- 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
- Only 6 simultaneous connections
- No free trial
2. Surfshark
Surfshark is probably one of the best VPNs in the market if you’re directly comparing the overall value for money. It’s one of the cheapest VPNs and works perfectly as a VPN service for xCloud. This is because it’s very light, easy to use, and packed to the top with fantastic features.
Surfshark offers over 3,200 servers in 99 countries. Each server comes with private DNS and adheres to a strict no-logs policy. This makes Surfshark a very safe and reliable gaming VPN. Besides gaming, this service is great for both streaming and torrenting activities. All of its servers are P2P-friendly and support Camouflage Mode.
Surfshark also features the excellent WireGuard protocol, which is capable of providing fast connection speeds. Plus, the service allows you to connect an unlimited number of devices, making it a perfect choice if you’re using xCloud to play games with your friends.
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% |
- A very affordable VPN provider
- Unlimited simultaneous connections
- Ad-blocking feature
- Unblocks streaming platforms
- 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
- No free version
- Does not allow P2P seeding
3. AtlasVPN
Atlas VPN is a worthy alternative when you are looking for the best VPN for xCloud. This provider allows you to access more than 750 servers from 43 locations in the world, and you will definitely be able to access xCloud from anywhere worldwide.
What is more, Atlas VPN has plenty of features that ensure your online privacy – advanced leak protection, military-grade encryption, a tracker blocker, fast servers, low ping, and more. Besides, Atlas VPN guarantees no ISP throttling and prevents DDoS attacks – everything to improve your gaming experience.
With Atlas VPN, you can keep your online activities private and hide your IP address regardless of what you do. And it offers one of the best deals for VPN subscriptions in the market at the moment, so you can take care of your online privacy at a budget-friendly price. Plus, it offers a limited free plan that enables you to try it out without paying a single cent.
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 |
- 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
- Limited Linux app
- Based in the US
- Not so many servers
4. PrivateVPN
PrivateVPN ticks all of the boxes when it comes to top-quality xCloud VPN services. As it offers app clients for all supported xCloud platforms, it provides you with unrestricted gaming options regardless of your preferred gaming device. Plus, you can connect up to ten devices simultaneously. Overall, PrivateVPN’s apps are straightforward to use and very reliable.
Feature-wise, there’s a very solid lineup of great in-app settings. These include a kill switch, data leak protection settings, and a Stealth VPN feature. When setting your VPN location, you can choose between over 200 server locations in 63 countries.
While you can sign up for a monthly subscription plan, PrivateVPN is best for those who commit to a long-term plan. This is because its extended subscription plans make it one of the most affordable VPN services around.
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% |
- Supports P2P traffic and allows port forwarding
- Unlimited bandwidth and great speeds
- Unblocks most streaming platforms
- Zero-logging policy
- Free Static IP servers
- 10 simultaneous connections
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- Not as many servers as other VPN providers
- No split-tunneling
5. ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN is one of the most popular VPNs in the industry. It has been around for ages and is known for its top-quality security properties and blazing-fast connection speeds. The service offers VPN servers in 160 locations across 94 countries. All of these servers support a handful of protocols, including ExpressVPN’s high-performing Lightway protocol.
Of course, there’s no possible way of talking about ExpressVPN without going over its world-class security features. Equipped with military-grade encryption, a kill switch, and DNS leak protection, ExpressVPN keeps your private information under a tight lock.
It also offers special obfuscated servers, which are especially useful if your ISP is throttling your connection and you want to enjoy high-speed Internet for gaming. This feature also enables ExpressVPN to work without fault in more restrictive regions.
With all of this in mind, ExpressVPN is one of the pricier services in the industry. But, if you want a high-performing VPN service and have the money to get it, ExpressVPN is an excellent choice.
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 |
- Works with streaming
- Supports torrenting
- No-logs policy
- TrustedServer technology with RAM-only servers
- Premium security features
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- Expensive subscription plans
- Only 5 simultaneous connections
6. Private Internet Access
Private Internet Access stays true to its name by offering one of the most privacy-friendly services in the VPN industry. Besides this, PIA is also known for having the most extensive server base in the world. It offers tens of thousands of VPN servers in 78 countries worldwide.
All of its servers support the standard OpenVPN, L2TP/IPSec, and PPTP protocols. More importantly, you can count on the sophisticated WireGuard protocol, which is the ablest performer you can pick from. There’s also an automatic kill switch to protect your network in case of any sudden connection drops.
If you’re looking for a capable xCloud VPN that you could also use for streaming and torrenting, PIA is very adept at both. It can unblock all major streaming platforms without any issues. It also offers full P2P support and has a strict no-logs policy, two markings that make an excellent VPN for torrenting.
Private Internet Access Speed Test Results for Gaming
| Speed Test | PrivateInternetAccess |
|---|---|
| Website | PrivateInternetAccess.com |
| Average Speed – North America (United States) | 49,5 Mbps |
| Average Speed – Europe (United Kingdom) | 40.5 Mbps |
| Average Speed – Asia (Singapore) | 39,4 Mbps |
| Best deal | 83% OFF + 3 Months Free |
- Thousands of servers
- Great for torrenting and P2P
- Strong security and encryption
- Block ads, trackers, and malware
- 10 simultaneous device connections
- Anonymous payment methods
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- Based in the US
- Not all streaming services can be unblocked
xCloud VPN FAQs
Why Should I Use a VPN with xCloud?
The main reason why you should use a VPN with xCloud is to access the platform if it’s unavailable in your region. Even if xCloud is available, you should still consider using a VPN for safety, privacy, and performance reasons. No matter if you’re a casual or pro gamer, using a VPN with xCloud brings a lot of benefits.
Is it Legal to Use a VPN with xCloud?
Yes, it’s completely legal to use a VPN with xCloud. You’re already paying for xCloud and aren’t cheating in any way, so you don’t have to worry about any legal issues. That said, depending on where you live, VPN use might not be legal in your country. So, it’s important to check this before downloading an xCloud VPN.
Is it Possible to Get Banned By Using a VPN with xCloud?
No, there aren’t any examples of any player being banned from xCloud for using a VPN. However, from information gathered from Microsoft’s official forums, the service doesn’t recommend using a VPN for cloud gaming. So, there might be a possibility of Microsoft introducing bans for xCloud VPN use in the future.
Can I Use a Free VPN with xCloud?
No, there aren’t any trusted free VPNs that reliably work with xCloud. As it is a cloud gaming platform, xCloud requires a fast and stable network with minimum ping. All of these requirements are impossible for free VPNs to meet, as they simply don’t have the resources to run premium servers.
Moreover, free VPNs come with data restrictions. In other words, you’ll be limited in how much data you can spend before your session becomes unbearably slow and laggy to the point that it becomes unplayable. Knowing this, the only way to use an xCloud VPN is to pick a premium service with proven capabilities.
Why is it Recommended to Use a Premium VPN for xCloud?
The main reason why you should use a premium VPN for xCloud over a free one is its performance. It delivers faster and more stable connections, without any monthly data limits. Additionally, a premium xCloud VPN often comes with advanced security and privacy features and more robust encryption.
