Fortnite has been an addicting game since it was launched in 2017, and it maintains its popularity even 5 years later.
At the moment, Fortnite is available in three different versions that share the same game engine: Fortnite Battle Royale. In this Battle Royale game, up to 100 players fight until there is a single survivor left!
Developed by Epic Games, about 350 million gamers worldwide currently play Fortnite. If you are one of them, I’m sure you know the game isn’t problem-free.
At times, there are IP bans that are mostly unjustified, throttling by an ISP, connection errors, latency issues, DDoS attacks, and fear of malicious players. While these might seem like huge deterrents, players are still itching to play this game.
Thankfully, all these issues can be handled by using one of the best VPNs for Fortnite.
Let’s see how a VPN can work to solve these issues, and what other benefits a VPN provider offers…
In a Hurry? Here Are the Best VPNs for Fortnite
Why You Need a VPN for Fortnite
There are several issues that people face while playing Fortnite or other online games. Some of these are IP bans, restrictions by governments, organizations, schools, etc. using firewalls, ISP throttling, and the most dangerous of them all, DDoS attacks.
A Fortnite IP ban is especially annoying because it is often unjustified and it takes very long to get rid it. Some of the valid reasons for an IP ban are:
Cheating and bug usage
Alliance with another player in solo mode
Standing still and doing nothing (AFK)
VPN usage (detected if using an insufficient service)
By utilizing a VPN, you will be easily able to beat the IP ban as well as all the other issues that you face while gaming online.
Surprisingly, if you use a premium VPN, you can even hide the fact from all the Epic games that you are using a VPN.
Additionally, a VPN helps you bypass geo-restrictions and stream global content, access blocked websites, torrent without any worries, and enjoy the best gaming experience ever.
VPN software redirects your internet traffic through an intermediary server located in a different country, hiding your real IP address and providing you with a new IP address that belongs to the VPN server that you select while establishing your connection. This protects you against DDoS attacks and threats to your identity, since it is actually hidden.
How to Choose the Right VPN for Fortnite
There are thousands of VPN services on the market, making it pretty difficult to decide on the best one to use for Fortnite.
To solve this problem, I have prepared a list of features that need to be present in a VPN before subscribing to it:
High-speed connection – Always get a VPN that offers fast and stable connections. This helps maintain ping rate and latency to the optimum level. Also, a good download speed is helpful if you use the service for streaming and torrenting.
Wide server network – A wider VPN server network allows you to choose from a lot of server locations to get a new IP address. This also helps protect you when you are traveling and get access to endless blocked websites, content, and games on the go.
Anonymity – It is imperative that your VPN provider is able to outsmart Fortnite’s anti-cheating system so that you don’t get detected by the game so you don’t wind up banned.
Military-grade encryption and protection – It is important that you hide your IP, secure your data and online privacy, and protect yourself from attacks by malicious players. Security features, like an automatic Kill Switch, DNS leak protection, strict no logs policy, AES-256-bit encryption, and more, to ensure full protection against prying eyes.
Tried and trusted money-back guarantee – A trusted money-back guarantee helps you try a VPN service risk-free. With such a policy in place, you can choose to cancel the subscription within the refund period if you do not like the service.
How to Play Fortnite Abroad or Remove the IP Ban
At first, it might seem difficult for a non-tech-savvy person to use a VPN and get used to it.
However, if you go through the steps presented below, you will be able to easily get around the Fortnite IP ban and play the game without any restriction, even if you have no VPN experience:
- Choose one of the premium VPNs listed below. Our top recommendation is ExpressVPN since it has the most reliably fast speeds.
- Subscribe to the service. We recommend choosing the 12-month plan, since it will give you the best price.
- Download the VPN app on your device and log in to it.
- Connect to one of the VPN servers closest to a Fortnite server, or closest to your physical location. This ensures lower latency.
- Download and start playing Fortnite right away!
7 Best VPN Providers for Playing Fortnite
After testing over 20 VPNs with Fortnite, these are the 7 best VPNs for Fortnite for which we can vouch for:
1. ExpressVPN
With a massive network of over 3,000 speed-optimized, low-latency servers, ExpressVPN boasts the widest server network among all the options listed here.
It is also the fastest VPN service on the market to play Fortnite, stream content on OTTs, download torrents, and access geo-blocked websites from any place in the world.
With its unlimited bandwidth, you never have to worry about being cut off in the middle of your game.
It is loaded with several security features, like an automatic Kill Switch to keep your data secure when the VPN connection drops, IPv6 and DNS leak protection, a no-logs policy, and air-tight protection of AES-256-bit-encryption. And since your internet service provider won’t see that you are gaming, you won’t have to worry about annoying throttling that can ruin your game.
Additionally, it also has a split-tunneling feature to let you choose which websites should use the VPN connection and which ones should use your regular ISP connection.
ExpressVPN offers apps for all operating systems like Android, Windows, iOS, macOS, and Linux.
Though Linux platforms and some supported routers require manual configuration, ExpressVPN has 24/7 customer support to help you with this, or with any other troubleshooting issues.
- Best Fortnite VPN with speed-optimized servers
- 5 simultaneous connections
- Over 3,000 servers across over 94 countries
- Provides advanced online security to users
- User-friendly VPN with compatible apps for all the devices
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- More expensive monthly plans
2. NordVPN
NordVPN stands out from its competition in its top security, making it one of the best Fortnite VPN services if you are looking to protect yourself from online snoopers, cyber threats, and DDoS attacks by nasty players.
NordVPN has all the security features that other VPN providers offer, like military-grade encryption, a no-logs policy, and a Kill Switch that protects your data from leaking in case of VPN disconnection, and it also has RAM-only servers, which are wiped clean on every reboot.
NordVPN also has a double VPN option that provides an extra server connection. This extra server further secures your connection, but it will slow you a bit more, so you should use this feature sparingly.
Similar to ExpressVPN, NordVPN also has split tunneling to let you decide which apps should use the VPN and which ones shouldn’t.
Moreover, there is no capping to bandwidth, so you can play freely for hours together without worrying about your game being cut off.
- High speeds
- 6 simultaneous connections
- More than 5,500 servers across 60+ countries
- Provides great security and a double VPN feature
- Budget-friendly compared to ExpressVPN
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- Slower apps for PC
- No router app
3. Surfshark
Surfshark is one of the few budget-friendly Fortnite VPNs listed here, and it also allows unlimited simultaneous connections to its users at this very affordable price.
With all the security attributes, like a Kill Switch, a zero-logs policy, AES-256-bit encryption, DNS/IPv6 leak protection, and more, Surfshark also gives you all that you can expect from a VPN to protect you.
Features like NoBordersMode and split tunneling also come in handy while playing online games, and you will get unlimited bandwidth so you can fight until you win the game.
Only a few VPNs on the market, including Surfshark, support the WireGuard protocol which is a newer, faster, and more secure protocol for VPNs. Additionally, its top-notch encryption and ad-blocking feature block malware, tracking, and ads.
Surfshark (as well as ExpressVPN and NordVPN) is one of those few VPNs that even works in countries with strict internet privacy laws, like China.
- Very high-speed servers
- Unlimited simultaneous connections
- 3,200+ servers in more than 95 countries
- Great security and privacy features
- Cheaper than ExpressVPN and NordVPN
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- Slower speeds than the top two
- Buffering issues
4. CyberGhost
With reliable, high-speed connections, CyberGhost is one of those few VPNs that do not require much knowledge to use, making it one of the best VPNs for beginners.
With a vast server network of more than 8,900 servers spread across over 91 countries, you get a lot of options from which to choose for high-speed and different content, and more of a chance to reduce internet lag.
This Fortnite VPN has all the essential attributes to protect its subscribers from cyber threats and crimes, with a Kill Switch, zero-logs policy, AES-256-bit encryption, DNS and port forwarding leak protection, and HTTPS redirection.
Similar to Surfshark, CyberGhost supports WireGuard protocol and also has advanced automatic ad and malware blocking.
All the other VPNs on my list back you with a 30-day money-back guarantee, but CyberGhost gives you a 45-day money-back guarantee to let you try its service risk-free, so you can test it out for a month and a half to see if it is the best VPN for you in when it comes to gaming.
- Provides high-speed internet
- 7 simultaneous connections
- Over 8,900 servers across more than 91 countries
- Offers advanced privacy and security features by default
- A budget-friendly VPN
- 45-day money-back guarantee
- There are limited options to make the payment
5. UltraVPN
For a fairly small service, such as UltraVPN, it is rare to get stable connections, good speeds, and all the essential security features that you get with this one.
Though it only has It has about 100 servers in around 60 countries, this VPN is packed with the industry-standard protections, like a zero-log policy, Kill Switch, DNS leak protection, and 256-bit encryption. However, your privacy might sometimes be compromised since (despite its no-logs policy) this provider does log some information and it is located in the USA, which is a member of the 5-Eyes alliance.
Like other providers on the list, though, it can unlock content from many streaming platforms and can help you unlock geo-restricted websites and games from anywhere in the world.
- Good and stable connection speeds
- 6 simultaneous connections
- 100+ servers in over 60 countries
- Offers all the decent security features
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- Logs some information
- Not compatible with smart TVs
- Based in USA
Costing just about a couple of dollars a month, PIA is the best VPN when it comes to affordability, but that’s not the only reason why it is in the top 7 VPNs.
PIA has an army of a whopping 29,000+ servers across more than 78 nations, which means you can enjoy playing Fortnite from virtually anywhere around the world with a fast and stable connection.
It is also super efficient at unblocking geo-restricted content on several streaming platforms and websites from practically every corner of the globe thanks to its huge roster of servers.
With a maximum of 10 simultaneous device connections, you can connect almost all of your devices at home simultaneously; and with unlimited bandwidth, you will all be able to maximize your usage.
PIA also has all the security attributes that we have been discussing so far, like a Kill Switch, a zero-logs policy, DNS custom configuration, split tunneling, port forwarding, and PIA Mace that can block ads, trackers, and malware.
You can also choose to purchase an add-on if you want a dedicated IP. Using this feature, you get a dedicated IP address from any country that you want, which is ideal for businesses where tight security of data is crucial.
- Fast internet speeds
- 10 simultaneous connections
- Has more than 29,000 servers across over 78 countries
- Great privacy and security features
- The most budget-friendly VPN on the list
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- Some servers annoy you with drops in speeds
- No smart DNS support
- Based in USA
7. IPVanish
IPVanish honors its name in that it literally helps your real IP vanish from sight when you connect to one of your VPN servers, making you completely untraceable online.
Surfshark is not the only VPN that allows you to connect an unlimited number of devices simultaneously through a single user account. IPvanish also allows this, which means you can protect the devices of your entire household and play Fortnite with all your friends with just a single VPN service.
In addition to all the security attributes that other Fortnite VPNs on my list offer, IPVanish offers a host of advanced features, like blocking LAN traffic and obfuscating OpenVPN traffic.
This Fortnite VPN offers a remote-friendly interface and allows downloading torrents at very high speeds. With over 1,900 servers across 50 countries, IPVanish is one of those few VPNs that operates its entire server network on its own and doesn’t trust any third party for this.
Like several other VPNs, this, too, has unlimited bandwidth, which means you can play as much as you want!
- Good internet speeds
- Unlimited simultaneous connections
- Over 1,900 servers in more than 50 countries
- Provides you with good security and privacy features
- Cheaper than ExpressVPN and NordVPN
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- Isn’t capable of unlocking major streaming services
- Based in USA
Can I Use a Free VPN for Playing Fortnite?
As you may have expected, there are a lot of downsides to using a free VPN.
First, free VPNs or proxy services do not have a lot of reliable servers that can provide consistent and fast connections for you.
With a smaller number of server locations, you can run out of servers during IP bans, encounter server crowding, and you likely won’t be able to access content from a lot of streaming services from around the world.
Second, a free VPN isn’t entirely capable of hiding your VPN usage from the Epic games, so you will likely be detected by their anti-cheating system sooner or later and suffer the consequences.
Third, free VPNs do not provide the same top-notch security that paid VPNs offer. Most of them either contain spyware or earn money by logging and selling your personal data.
For these reasons, I never suggest using free services.
Instead, I urge you to use any of the premium VPN service providers that I have listed above, all of which provide a money-back guarantee for at least 30 days.
This way, you can use any of these services for about a month and then, if you plan to cancel, you can get a full refund. So you would practically be using a premium service at no cost for about a month.
FAQs
Yes, you certainly can, but you should only use a tried-and-tested VPN that has proven effective at outsmarting Fortnite.
If you are caught playing Fortnite using a VPN to help access a Fortnite server, your IP can get banned from the game.
We strongly advise that you not use a free or non-vetted VPN for Fortnite.
NordVPN is one of the best VPNs for Fortnite that doesn’t put you in a situation to choose between security and speed. In addition, it also offers an extra layer of protection with its double VPN feature.
This security-oriented VPN for Fortnite provides you with fast VPN connections as well as a network of more than 5,500 servers from which to choose. So, in case of an IP ban, you will not run out of options to continue playing Fortnite.
Yes. If Fortnite detects that you are using a VPN for Fortnite, your IP will be banned right then and there.
However, that rarely happens with a good VPN, like ExperessVPN or NordVPN.
Unless you, or anyone using the same VPN server, cheat or breaches the rulebook of Fortnite, your chances of getting banned with a VPN are minimal.
With a good quality VPN, your chances of getting kicked out of the game are almost nil. Still, if Fortnite throws up this error message, it means there is one of these issues:
IP address conflict
Obsolete VPN client
Low-quality VPN service
Faulty IP ban.
A faulty ban is usually rolled back by the developers within 2-3 days, but if that doesn’t happen, you can write to its technical team for support.
The fastest way to reduce pings is to switch from a wireless connection to one that is wired. However, if that is not possible in your case, you can try using the following tips:
Make sure your internet connection isn’t being used simultaneously downloading or torrenting.
While using a VPN, connect to a server closer to your physical location.
Use port forwarding.
Try and reduce the distance between your device and your router.
Fortnite bans all the IP addresses where it senses cheating and any illegitimate activity.
However, such bans can easily be bypassed by switching your IP address using any of the Fortnite VPNs.
If you use a versatile VPN for Fortnite, it can hide the fact that you are connected through a virtual private network and you will be able to avoid the Fortnite ban.
If your IP is banned, you can use a VPN to change your IP to another game server.
This way, when you access Fortnite, you will appear to be located in the region of the VPN server that you have connected to, trading in your old VPN for a new one that is not banned.
The developers of the game do not give the exact details of the server locations of the game, but the regions where the servers are located are Brazil, Europe, Oceania, Asia, the Middle East, and the East and West coasts of the US.
Conclusion
Fortnite is a Battle Royale game that became an instant hit in 2017 and has about 350 million players all over the world today. Although it is so popular, it has its issues, with the IP ban being the major one.
Nonetheless, you can get around such bans by using a VPN. Through a VPN, you can re-route your internet traffic through a remote server located in another country, helping you change your virtual location and your IP, which means you can play Fortnite with this new IP.
The best VPN that I can recommend for gaming is ExpressVPN. So, subscribe to it now and start gaming!
