Securing your PlayStation with a good VPN service can be pretty hard. First, setting up a VPN on a console is not always straightforward. Second, unless your VPN is of the highest quality, your latency times will go up, thus ruining your gaming experience.
But not all is lost. There are excellent VPNs whose efficiencies are so good that they can even improve your gaming speeds, give you access to restricted resources, and even bring down your input latency. In other words: it’s possible to have all the goodness of a great VPN on your PS5 or PS4, and it can even improve your gaming life. Moreover, the additional security your new VPN will give can protect you from DDoS attacks and have all your traffic thoroughly encrypted with a military-grade AES-256 algorithm.
Our expert staff had a go at several VPNs on the internet, searching for the services that will give you the best possible experience with your PS4. So naturally, ExpressVPN came on top, which is no surprise. This provider is at the top of the VPN verse, and it constantly tops many of the guides we write about the best VPNs for specific purposes.
Best five VPNs for PlayStation (PS4 and PS5) – The quick list
If you are short on time and want to get the gist of this guide, here is our quick list of the best VPN providers for PlayStations in 2022.
- ExpressVPN. A large server network, fantastic speeds, extensive compatibility, and PS4 use without lag.
- NordVPN. One of the most advanced and reliable VPNs on the market, with plenty of specialized servers and extra features.
- Surfshark. The most cost-effective VPN on Earth works well with PS consoles too.
- Private Internet Access. The market has the largest server fleet and a proven user privacy commitment.
- IPVanish. Excellent security and a good server network. A great option in every regard except for video streaming.
The best five Playstation VPN services (for PS4 and others) – Detailed list
1. ExpressVPN
Top VPN for Sony PS4 and PS5 consoles. It has military-grade encryption and blazing-fast servers.
More than 3,000 blazing-fast VPN servers scattered across 94 countries
Boasts TrustedServer technology
Secures internet traffic with AES-256 bits
Implements no-logging policy
A split tunneling functionality that works
Boasts network Lock (kill switch) feature
Supports Tor
Has P2P optimized servers
Each account allows five simultaneous connections
Refund policy of 30 days
Pros
- Incredible security and privacy features
- Has customer service you can rely on
- All server are extremely-fast
Cons
- Comparatively pricier plans
ExpressVPN’s servers have fantastic speeds to let you play with your PlayStation without lag. A seamless gaming experience needs about 10 Mbps of speed. We tested servers in several countries, near and far, with an average of 77 Mbps. So, whatever server we picked, we always had more than enough bandwidth to play comfortably.
And playing is not the whole story. ExpressVPN is the best service for unblocking video streams on your PlayStation or any other device. And they have the MediaStreamer, a video player that lets you easily alter your PS’s virtual location. So all it takes to use it is to type the DNS code into your PS network settings, and the world is your virtual oyster for video streaming.
You can use your VPN with your console if you set it up on your home router or share your PC’s connection with your PS. ExpressVPN facilitates this process because it has a dedicated app for routers, so managing your server locations from the router is straightforward.
ExpressVPN has more than 3,000 servers in 94 countries for you to use. Each nation gives you new options for breaking geo-blocks and the chance to play with people from all over the planet.
This vendor supports numerous VPN tunneling protocols, including OpenVPN (the golden standard), L2TP/IPSec, and Lightway. Lightway is the fastest one, as it’s based on WireGuard, which is the most advanced and efficient protocol. However, WireGuard has some loopholes regarding user privacy which is why ExpressVPN developed Lightway, a WireGuard implementation that harnesses all the protocol’s power without suffering from its privacy issues. Nevertheless, it’s the fastest option, and you can expect to retain about 80% of your baseline speed, at least if you pick this protocol.
The one disadvantage of ExpressVPN is the price. The monthly subscription is 12.95 USD monthly. It’s higher than the market average. However, it doesn’t have to be a deal breaker. First, ExpressVPN’s superior service offers much more than most rest, giving you good value for money. Second, this provider often provides good deals and promotions, so you can save a lot of cash when you subscribe.
Also, there’s always the 30-day money-back guarantee with ExpressVPN. So you can subscribe, try it for 30 days and figure out if it meets your needs. If you find it lacking, you can ask for your money back, no questions asked.
2. NordVPN
One of the best VPN to use on Sony PS4 and PS5 consoles. With its top-notch performance you can count on it.
Network of over five thousand speedy-VPN servers present in 59 countries
Threat Protection (tracking, malware, and ad blocker)
Military-grade standard AES-256-bit encryption
Customizable kill switch feature
Has split tunneling
Multi-hop VPN for double encryption
Allows P2P traffic
Provides Onion over VPN functionality
Obfuscates VPN servers
Observes solid policy for no-logging
Connects up to six devices at once on one account
Comes with a pay-back policy of 30 days
Pros
- Has impressive privacy features
- User-friendly interface
- Live chat available for 24/7 customer support
Cons
- Not friendly for begginers
NordVPN has plenty of great features for all types of users. However, PlayStation users will probably find its speeds to be reason enough to sign up for it. The server in NordVPN’s network allowed us to retain from 90 to 95% of our baseline speed, which is fantastic — and valuable. Even the distant servers gave us very high speeds, which went as high as 65% of our base. So lag-free playing is virtually guaranteed for NordVPN users.
Security in NordVPN is excellent. Once your PlayStation gets NordVPN’s protection, DDoS attacks, malware, and doxxing attacks will cease to worry you. While those advantages look relevant for streamers primarily, every PS user who is only playing games online will have their security enhanced significantly.
Unblocking geo-restrictions is also one of NordVPN’s best features, so you can see HBO Max or Netflix from your PS and play with other enthusiasts from overseas.
NordVPN’s value for money is fantastic. It’s almost as good as ExpressVPN (speeds are better, but not so easy to install on routers), but the price is at the industry’s average.
NordVPN also has a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can thoroughly review it before committing to a subscription.
3. Surfshark
A pocket-friendly VPN service suits very well for Sony PS4 and PS5 consoles.
Has 3,200+ secure-VPN servers located in 95 countries
Deploys robust encryption using AES-256
P2P traffic is permitted on multiple servers
Provides automatic kill switch functionality
Unique camouflage mode
Adheres to a no-logging policy
Impressive ad-blocker feature
Offers double VPN (multi-hop) feature
No limit for simultaneous devices
Pay-back policy of 30 days
Pros
- Affordable
- User friendly for beginners
- Has unique camouflage mode
Cons
- Limited servers as compared to other top-notch VPNs
Surfshark is a premium VPN that everybody can afford, so if you want to have your PS protected within a budget, this is the choice for you.
Surfshark’s speeds are good enough to keep from 85 to 90% of our base speed and our ping times were very small (10 ms on average). These speeds let you play Fornite and Warzone without lag or other problems.
The protocols with this provider are safe against DDoS attacks and IP leaks of all types.
Moreover, Surfshark is also very good at bypassing geo-blocks successfully, so you can turn your PS into a Netflix, Hulu, or HBO Max station, using the best catalog in every service, so you don’t miss that film or show you wanted, but remains unavailable in your country.
This vendor has obfuscated servers, which means that all the traffic shows as standard HTTPS. This trick allows Surfshark users to bypass even the most authoritarian censorship on the planet.
The service is available for as little as 2.39 USD monthly if you pick an extended plan, so you’ll spend less on your VPN than chewing gum. But don’t let the low price deceive you. This VPN can compete with the best in every regard.
4. Private Internet Access (PIA)
Has larger number of servers all over the world and boasts effective ad/malware blocker.
More than 35,000 VPN servers scattered in over 88 countries
P2P supportive traffic
Encryption with AES 128-bits and 256-bits
Protection against malware and adware with MACE
Enforces a policy of no logs
Effective split tunneling
A kill switch with impressive functionality
Strong protection for Web/DNS leaks
Allows ten simultaneous connections per account
Refund your money within 30 days
Pros
- Has an expanded server pool
- Faster connection speed
- Reliable customer service team
Cons
- Based in 5-Eyes group jurisdiction (the US)
Private Internet Access (PIA) is a VPN with robust security. It has IP spoofing, protection against all IP leaks, and a kill switch. Those things protect your data from exposure in the shared gaming servers you’ll probably use with your PS. Also, the PIA server network is the largest in the VPN market, with more than 35,000 nodes. It translates into servers with low loads that can manage large amounts of traffic and are thus immune to DDoS attacks.
While other services have gaming-specialized servers, PIA doesn’t need them, as finding fast servers is straightforward. Your server list displays the latency or ping time, so you can choose the option that will give you the quickest link and avoid lag.
It has a Smart DNS available so unblocking video streaming platforms with your PS is a simple process.
However, to enjoy complete PIA protection in your PS, you must install it on your home router. Alternatively, you can share your VPN’s connection through a hotspot in your PC to your PS4. PIA’s website has all the information you need to do this quickly, or you can get the pre-configured files to skip some of that work.
PIA’s pricing is reasonable, especially if you pick a long-term plan. In addition, it has a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can try it for a month before you commit.
5. IPVanish
Most decent VPN service and especially designed for gaming purposes.
Over 2,200 VPN servers present in 75+ different countries
Government-grade AES-256-bit encryption
Servers are P2P friendly
Has split tunneling feature
Kill switch feature is really effective
No data retention
Strong safety against Web/IPv6 leaks
Reliable 24/7 live chat support
Connects as much devices as you want
Generous 31-day pay-back guarantee
Pros
- Fast speed on most servers
- Top-notch security
- Reliably unblocks streaming services on Chromecast
Cons
- Numerous servers
IPVanish gives you unlimited concurrent connections to the VPN network (like Surfshark), so you can have your whole family protected with your account only. In addition, we proved that the number of devices you have online with IPVanish doesn’t slow down your speeds, so your PS playing experience will remain lagless and with low pins.
IPVanish allows you to pick your preferred server according to load, distance, or ping. So you can quickly find a node in the network with the lowest ping respective to you, which, in turn, will give you the lowest latency in the VPN. It is convenient because most VPNs do not allow you to be that specific on server selection by default.
We would like this service better if it had a Smart DNS feature to facilitate unblocking streaming services on the PlayStations. But this is probably not as important as the fact that IPVanish’s ability to unblock those video streaming platforms is unreliable. You would need to look for another service if you want to have a good streaming VPN.
IPVanish offers pre-configured home routers that you can use at home, so they connect to the VPN by default. Alternatively, you can configure the VPN on your router if you wish. That is the best way to use the VPN because it will protect every device in your home with the VPN service, including your PS. Of course, if you don’t want to bother, you can always share a VPN hotspot from your computer to your PlayStation.
You can have IPVanish from 3.99 USD monthly with the most extended plan. It’s a decent deal for a reputable service. However, you can also try this VPN for 30 days and ask for a refund if you don’t like it.
Why should I use a VPN with my PlayStation?
VPNs offer many advantages for any activity you can do online. In the case of PS users, you can expect the following benefits:
- Security. The VPN encrypts all your data so hackers can intercept it but not understand it or use it in any way.
- Anonymity. A VPN affords you complete privacy and anonymity. Since the rest of the internet won’t know your IP address, they can’t know where you are or gather other information that your IP number can typically reveal.
- Bypass geo-blocks. Most video streaming services offer different content to each country. Also, your favorite game will typically connect you to a server near you by default. The VPN will make the server (in the video streaming service or gaming server) think you’re connecting from elsewhere. Consequently, the video streaming service will give you access to the content reserved for that country, and the gaming server will let you play on a different server and interact with a diverse crowd.
- Improved performance. If you play online often with your PS, your ISP may limit the bandwidth it gives you for that activity. It’s known as throttling. As the VPN encrypts your traffic, your ISP won’t know you’re playing, so it won’t apply the throttling to your account because you’re not playing online as far as they can tell. Hence, your gaming experience could improve significantly.
So, a top-notch VPN can only improve your gaming experience and other sources of entertainment like Netflix. All your VPN options have 30-day money-back guarantees, so test them. We suspect you will like your improved gaming so much that you will keep the service.
Can I use a free VPN with my PS? What is the difference?
Free VPNs are always a tempting alternative. They promise an excellent VPN service that you don’t have to pay. However, it would be best if you didn’t believe everything you read online; your best bet is to keep away from free VPNs.
Free VPNs have several disadvantages compared to paid services. Some of them have to do with functionality, and others with privacy.
On the functionality front, the server networks in free VPNs are smaller. They have a lot of demand and users because they are free. That translates into overworked servers. Logging in can be difficult, and the links can be unstable because many users want to get in. Also, the security protocols you can find in free VPNs are often not that safe (like PPTP). It’s cheaper for them to pick defective protocols, and they have no incentive to improve their choices.
As explained, servers in free VPNs tend to be overloaded, which means that your speeds will be low, a critical factor when you want to use a VPN with your PS.
Another problem with free VPNs is the data caps. Because playing online needs the exchange of lots of data, even if you could find a free VPN that works, your playing session won’t’ last more than a few minutes as you deplete your data for the day or the month.
In other words: free VPNs do not have the resources you will want and need to keep up your PS playing session.
But there’s more.
Most free VPNs work on a business model that turns your privacy into a commodity. First, they turn in a profit by keeping logs on their users. These logs are then sold to data miners and advertisers who know how to use those logs to profile an individual online. So then, these VPNs sell out your privacy instead of protecting it.
In our list, you will find at least a couple of top-notch paid VPNs that can fit into any budget. Please avoid free VPNs unless they are part of a freemium service (like ProtonVPN or Atlas VPN). They are not free at all. It’s just that the price you pay for them is privacy, not money.
How to choose the best VPNs for PS4 and other PlayStations
VPNs are one of the most versatile digital tools, but the market is flooded with mediocre options that will not give you the protection they claim. So there are some criteria you should keep in mind when looking for the best VPNs you can use to protect your PS4/PS5. A good option must give you fast connections, a robust security infrastructure, and an extensive server network with plenty of countries to choose from. We took the following factors into account when selecting the best VPNs to recommend to you in this guide:
1. Reliable money-back guarantee
Providers with money-back guarantees know you will like their service. And they allow you to test it for an extended period until you are sure it’s the VPN you want.
2. Customer support
We are always looking for vendors with excellent customer support. If you have a problem with your VPN, you should be able to solve it as quickly as possible, and efficient, friendly, and knowledgeable customer support agents can help with that.
3. Solid privacy and security
Ensuring your internet security, privacy and anonymity is a VPN’s original purpose. So, it’s the least you should expect from a good VPN, regardless of other valuable features. None of the options in our list keeps logs, and they all have robust AES-256 encryption, which is the standard.
4. Easy to set up on consoles
Since we were looking for the best VPNs to use with PlayStations, this is an essential factor, and it doesn’t go by default in the VPN market. Smart DNS is a good feature because it helps to unblock streaming services. Having your VPN’s full power available to your PS will require it in your router.
Every VPN we included in our list works on various routers, and their knowledge bases have good guides to help you set it up. Alternatively, you can set up a hotspot on your computer, so your VPN protects your PS. If you’re willing to spend a little more money on this, some VPNs sell pre-configured routers that will save you all the hassle of setting up a VPN on PS4 or PS3.
5. Server network
The more servers and countries included in a VPN network, the better. That is because networks with more servers have a lower probability of running into an overloaded server. And if you have more countries to choose from, you will also have more gaming servers.
6, High speeds
High speeds mean low latency and a better, more responsive playing experience. You will need about 25 Mbps to have a responsive game or to see 4K videos. Each of your suggestions will give you those speeds.
Conclusion
A VPN is your best friend as a PlayStation user. A top-notch service will improve your playing experience significantly. However, using a VPN with a PlayStation gaming console is not as straightforward as many other devices, so setting up your VPN for PS use is not the easiest.
However, it’s not impossible either, and the benefits will impress you.
ExpressVPN is the best VPN you can use with your PS. The speeds are impressive, it’s relatively easy to set up, it’s the best geo-restrictions unblocker in the market, and it will protect all your playing activities. And it has a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you lose nothing if you don’t like it.
FAQs
Yes, you can, using several methods. The easiest one is to use a Smart DNS, a feature you will find in most of the best VPNs. All you need to do is to type in the DNS code into your PlayStation’s settings and reboot it. But remember that Smart DNS will only unblock the video streaming platforms. It won’t secure your traffic. You need to use your full VPN service for that. So you’ll need to install your VPN in your home router. Another method is to use your computer to set up a hotspot that your VPN can use, which is easier than using the router.
You can use a VPN on your PlayStation through three methods:
1. Sharing a VPN link from your computer to your PS. Create a hotspot with your computer with your VPN online. Then, connect your PS to that hotspot, and you’re in business!
2. Installing your VPN on your home router. ExpressVPN has a router app that simplifies this process, but all of the best VPNs will let you install them in your compatible router.
3. Using your VPN’s Smart DNS service. This option will let you unblock video streaming services, but it falls short of the security and privacy departments.
You can use your smartphone if you don’t have a computer. Almost every VPN in the market issues iOS and Android apps. So you can install your VPN in your phone, have your phone broadcast a WiFi hotspot, and then connect your PS to that hotspot. While this is possible, you should be careful because it will consume a lot of data, so make sure your phone is online through your router and not using your mobile data plan.
If your VPN is top-notch, the answer is a resounding yes. Here is how:
1. Evade geo-blocks. It gives you the advantage of seeing video streaming services such as BBC iPlayer, Hulu, or Netflix on your PS. If you like watching TV shows and films on your PlayStation, the VPN will give you new layers of content on your favorite video platform that are only available in other countries. Remember to set up a new PSN account set to the country whose content you want to watch because the VPN will not change your PSN country.
2. Avoid ISP throttling, thus increasing speeds. Some ISPs will cap the rate you can use for an intensive activity like gaming when they notice you’re using it a lot. The VPN encrypts your traffic, so your ISP doesn’t know what you’re doing and fails to apply the bandwidth limitation. Hence, the VPN gives you back your internet’s full speed.
3. Access international gaming servers. Most of your games will connect you to a nearby server by default. But a VPN puts your PS in a different country, virtually. Then you can play with that country’s servers and find brand new people to play with.
4. Protection from DDoS. Your game will never crash down again because of a DDoS attack. As you probably know, some competitors flood their opponents with spam to have an advantage. With the VPN, they will never know your IP address, and you will become immune to those attacks.
We always advise our readers to stay away from free VPNs. Instead, subscribe to a top-notch VPN with a reliable money-back guarantee. However, it would be quite a feat to answer the question if you could find a free VPN that works well with your PlayStation. Most free VPNs have overworked servers, low speeds, data caps, and other limitations on their functionality. The result is that they are terrible options in general but even worse for activities like playing online with a PS because it needs high speeds and lots of data. So the functionality in most free VPNs will never give you a decent playing session. But besides that, most free VPNs pose privacy and security risks, which is another reason to stay away from them.
