Does VPN Help Reduce Ping? 5 Low Ping VPNs (Tested)

Hey gamers, ever get frustrated with lagging issues that ruin your game? Learning how to lower that high ping could be your key to victory. In this article, we’ll explore how a VPN might be your answer!

It’s not just about hiding your IP address. A VPN can make your game data travel faster, improving your performance and connection. But, choosing the wrong service or server can actually make things worse.

I’m here to help you improve your gaming. We’ll look at how a VPN can cut down latency. We’ll also talk about DDoS attacks and ISP throttling. And, I’ll share the top five VPNs for reducing ping while gaming. Stay with me to conquer your ping and leave lag behind!

My tests show that NordVPN is your best bet for reducing game lag and high ping.

Best Low-Ping VPNs – our shortlist:

1. NordVPN – the best low-ping VPN service for gaming
2. Surfshark – a great choice for no lag and split tunneling
3. PrivateVPN – a great choice for stable gaming
4. ExpressVPN – a good low-latency VPN for gaming with minimal lag
5. AtlasVPN – a budget option to improve ping

Can a VPN Reduce Ping When Gaming?

A VPN can help lower ping in some cases, but it’s not a fix for all. Let’s look at when it works and when it doesn’t.

Let’s see, do VPNs always improve ping when gaming?

When a VPN Can Reduce Ping

Here are some times a VPN might cut your ping:

• Overcoming ISP Throttling: If your ISP slows down your gaming, a VPN can help. It hides your IP and encrypts your data, avoiding throttling and reducing ping.
• Avoiding Network Congestion: High ping can come from too many users on your network. A VPN might send your traffic through a less busy server, lowering your ping.
• Reducing Distance: Ping is affected by how far you are from the game server. A VPN can connect you to a closer server, reducing data travel time and improving ping.

When a VPN May Not Improve Ping

But, there are times when a VPN won’t help or might even make things worse:

• Improving Network Quality: Weak signals or old equipment can cause poor network quality. A VPN can’t fix these issues, so it won’t improve your ping.
• Adding Encryption Overhead: VPNs encrypt your data, but this can slow your connection. The extra load might increase your ping, if the server is far away.
• Using An Optimized Connection: If your network is already set up for gaming, adding a VPN might not help your ping.

In summary, a VPN can help by avoiding throttling, taking less congested paths, and reducing distance. But, it’s not a solution for all problems. If your network has quality issues, a VPN might not help your ping.

Try gaming with and without a VPN to see if it makes a difference.

What Causes High Ping Times?

Ping Speed Test

Ping is key for online gaming, showing how long data takes to get to and from the server. High ping can cause lag, delays, and even disconnections, ruining your game.

Here’s why ping can go up:

• ISP throttling: Some ISPs slow down certain types of traffic, like gaming. This can raise your ping times.
• DDoS attacks: Distributed denial-of-service attacks can flood game servers, causing high ping and crashes.
• Distance: The farther you are from the server, the longer data takes to travel, leading to high ping times.
• Server load: Busy servers can slow down, causing high ping times.
• Network congestion: Too many users on the same network can slow it down, leading to high ping times.
• Network quality: Poor network quality, like weak signals or old equipment, can also cause high ping times.

To lower your ping and improve gaming, using a VPN can be a good solution.

VPN packets take a more direct route than your ISP’s data packets. They also travel faster, reducing distance and improving network quality.

Also, a VPN can help you avoid network congestion, prevent throttling by ISPs, and protect against DDoS attacks.

How to Test Your Ping With a VPN?

For gamers, a low ping is key for a great experience.

Here’s how to test your ping:

1. Choose a ping test tool (For example gameserverping.com)
2. Close other apps that use the Internet connection
3. Start ping test
4. Connect to a VPN server
5. Repeat the ping test
6. Evaluate the results
7. Repeat the test several times

Do tests at different times to get average ping times. This shows how stable your gaming connection is.Keep a log of your ping test results. It helps track the performance of your connection over time.

By testing your ping, you can ensure your gaming sessions are smooth with minimal lag.

Some tests also show download and upload speeds, which are important but less critical than ping.

What is considered a good ping when gaming?

Here are the ping time ranges, you should look at when gaming.

• Under 20 ms is ideal.
• 20-50 ms is good.
• 50-100 ms is okay.
• Over 100 ms may cause lag.
• Over 150 ms will lead to a significant delay.

How to lower your ping using a VPN?

Lowering your ping can significantly improve your online gaming experience. A VPN can be an effective tool in achieving lower ping times. Here are some tips to help you use a VPN to reduce your ping:

1. Choose a VPN with a variety of server locations: The more options you have, the better the chances of finding a server close to the gaming server.
2. Connect to the nearest server: Selecting the VPN server closest to your physical location typically results in lower ping. This is because the data has less distance to travel.
3. Opt for a server near the gaming server: If the game’s server is far from you, connect to a VPN server that is closer to the game server’s location. This can reduce the number of hops and overall latency.
4. Use a wired connection: A wired internet connection can offer more stability and less latency than Wi-Fi. Combine this with a VPN for optimal results.
5. Test different protocols: Some VPNs allow you to choose between protocols. Options like OpenVPN, IKEv2, and WireGuard can have different impacts on speed and ping, so test which works best for your situation.
6. Stop background applications: Ensure no unnecessary applications are running in the background. They could be using bandwidth and affecting ping times.
7. Keep your VPN software updated: Regular updates often include improvements to speed and stability that could positively affect your ping.
8. Evaluate your ISP’s speed: If your base internet connection is slow, even the best VPN might not help lower ping significantly. Look for improvements in your ISP’s service if necessary.

Following these tips can help you achieve a lower ping while gaming using a VPN.

Best Low-Ping VPNs – our detailed list:

1. NordVPN

If you’re looking for the best VPN to lower your ping, NordVPN is your top choice. It has over 5,300 servers in 59 countries. But, the real magic happens when you dive into the details.

Its NordLynx protocol for gaming is top-notch. It supports fast connections with little lag and ping.

NordVPN offers apps and extensions for all major platforms and devices. Its apps are stable and reliable. You’ll enjoy lower latency and ping, with minimal connection drops.

It also has DDoS protection, split tunneling, and a kill switch.

NordVPN is known for its privacy focus. It’s based in Panama and regularly audited. It uses RAM-based servers and has a 100% no-logs practice.

2. Surfshark

Looking for a VPN to boost your gaming? Surfshark is one of the fastest VPNs out there.

With over 3,200 servers globally, Surfshark offers tools to cut in-game latency and lag. It’s not just the number of servers that sets Surfshark apart.

Each server has private DNS and a strict no-logs policy. This means your internet activity stays secret.

You can choose from several protocols, including the highly recommended WireGuard protocol. Surfshark lets you connect an unlimited number of devices at once. This means one subscription can protect your whole household’s internet.

Surfshark is also budget-friendly and offers a 30-day money-back guarantee.

3. PrivateVPN

PrivateVPN is a great choice for a gaming VPN that lowers in-game ping. It’s easy to use and offers reliable performance.

It provides detailed information on your connections, making it easy to find the best settings for low ping. It also has a wide server selection globally for lag-free gaming.

While it’s not the fastest VPN, it maintains stable connections. You can use unlimited bandwidth and connect up to six devices at once. This is perfect for gaming on all platforms and devices in your home. Plus, its impressive uptime of 99.98% makes it great for gaming.

4. ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN is a top-notch service for reducing latency. It provides fast and reliable speeds. With over 3,000 servers in 160 locations across 94 countries, it’s very secure.

It’s not just for gaming. You can use it for torrenting and streaming too. It works great on all major platforms.

But, it’s one of the pricier options. Yet, its ability to lower ping makes it worth the cost.

5. AtlasVPN

If you want a premium service at a low price, Atlas VPN is your go-to. It’s perfect for improving ping. It has 750 fast servers worldwide and a 24/7 support team ready to help.

It uses military-grade encryption, has full leak protection, and special features to reduce ping.

Atlas VPN offers a 30-day money-back guarantee and a no-logs policy. It’s also one of the few providers with unlimited connections for all customers. This means you can secure your entire home with just one account!

Testing Methodology: How I selected VPNs for lowering ping

To find the best VPNs for gaming, I looked at several key points:

• Low ping: The VPN must cut down ping times for better gaming.
• Fast speeds: It should have quick connection speeds for smooth play.
• DDoS protection: It must guard against DDoS attacks to prevent lag and crashes.
• Compatibility with your gaming consoles: Gamers on Xbox, PlayStation, and Nintendo Switch need a VPN that works well with these consoles.
• Extra features: Features like split-tunneling and ad-blocking can enhance your experience.
• Server locations: I looked for VPNs with many servers worldwide for better ping times.
• Price: The cost of each VPN was also a factor.

Conclusion

Using a VPN can greatly improve your online gaming. It keeps you safe from DDoS attacks and lets you access more content.

While any VPN can help, some are better for gaming.

I believe NordVPN is the best for gaming. Its NordLynx protocol and no-logs policy make it top for low latency. Plus, its 30-day money-back guarantee lets you try it without risk.

FAQs

Will a VPN always improve my ping?

No, a VPN won’t always make your ping better. It might make it worse if the VPN server is far from the game server. But, it can help if it connects you more directly to the game server.

Do VPNs affect download and upload speeds for gaming?

Yes, VPNs can slow down your speeds. This is because of encryption and the route your data takes. If the VPN server is far or has limited bandwidth, your speeds might drop.

How do I know if my VPN is helping with ping?

To see if your VPN is helping, test your ping with and without it. Compare the results. If your ping is better with the VPN, it’s working.

Are there any other methods to reduce gaming latency beside using a VPN?

Yes, there are other ways to lower your gaming latency. Try using a wired connection, closing apps in the background, and updating your network drivers. Also, pick gaming servers that are closer to you. Using game mode on your PC or router can help too.

Which VPN is the fastest for gaming?

Some VPNs are great for gaming because they have low latency and fast speeds. For the fastest gaming, check out NordVPN, Surfshark, and ExpressVPN.

How much does a VPN improve ping?

The ping improvement from a VPN varies. It depends on the server’s distance, network congestion, and the VPN’s infrastructure. Generally, a good VPN can cut your ping by 10-30ms or more.

Can a VPN help increase connection speeds?

It’s unlikely a VPN will increase your speed. But, it might happen. If you connect to a distant server or use a busy network, your speed could slow down and your ping increase.

What is a good gaming ping?

A good gaming ping is under 50ms. Some gamers aim for even lower, like 10-20ms, for fast games.

What’s the best VPN server for lowering ping?

The best VPN server for low ping is the one closest to the game server. Most VPNs have a “ping time” feature to help you find the best one.

Can I use a VPN connection for Fortnite to reduce ping?

Yes, using a VPN for Fortnite can lower your ping. Connect to a server near the Fortnite server to reduce data travel distance and lower your ping.

Which VPN is a low ping for ML?

For ML, some VPNs that offer low ping include NordVPN, Surfshark, and ExpressVPN. The best one for you depends on your location and the server you choose.