Best VPN for Steam in 2024

Steam is one of the largest gaming networks around! Steam users looking for a secure internet connection for their Steam account can find it with a Virtual Private Network(VPN).

With so many VPNs available on the market, it’s hard to know which one is best, so we’ve compiled a list of the 5 best VPNs for Steam. Each one offers fast speeds, access to worldwide Steam content, and a secured Steam account.

In a hurry? Here are 5 best VPNs for Steam

Here’s a quick summary of the 5 best Steam VPNs.

Why you need a VPN for Steam

There are lots of benefits to using a VPN for Steam. VPNs offer players online security and privacy, protection from DDOS attacks, access to their favorite games from home while traveling abroad, and more.

Advantages of using a VPN for Steam

Here are the advantages of using a Steam VPN.

• Protection from DDOS attacks. A Steam VPN will hide your true IP address, so you’ll be safe from DDOS attacks on your game server.
• Prevents bandwidth throttling: Your Steam VPN sends all of your data through an encrypted tunnel. Since your ISP can’t see what you are doing, they won’t have reason to throttle your bandwidth for using too much data.
• Play with friends in other countries: Many multiplayer games are set up so you compete against players in your own country. If you want to play against someone in a specific location, you can by connecting to a remote game server with a Steam VPN!
• Pay less for games. The price for Steam games can vary by location. You can use a VPN to connect to a server in a country that offers lower prices and saves some cash.
• Access games sooner. You don’t have to wait for a game to be released in your own country before you can play. Use a Steam VPN to link to a location with an earlier release date and enjoy!
• Bypass geographic restrictions: Every country has its own laws and regulations around video games. If a game you want to play is banned in your location, you can still access it with a reliable VPN.

Disadvantages of using a VPN for Steam

While there are a lot of great reasons to use a VPN for Steam, it does have a few disadvantages that it is important to keep in mind.

• VPN usage is not permitted on Steam. The user consent includes the following clause stating the user will not use a VPN and can be banned from the site for VPN use:

“You agree that you will not use IP proxying or other methods to disguise the place of your residence, whether to circumvent geographical restrictions on game content, to order or purchase at pricing not applicable to your geography, or for any other purpose. If you do this, Valve may terminate your access to your Account.”

• Can affect gaming performance. The process of encryption and travel to a remote gaming server can slow your overall connection speed, which can lead to lag while you play Steam games.
• Not always effective. Steam is constantly updating its software to detect and prevent VPN usage, so there’s no guarantee it will work when it comes to bypassing geo-blocks.

How to choose the best VPN for Steam

When choosing the best VPN for Stream, here are the most important features to look for:

• Speed. You need a fast VPN for stable connections and to avoid lag and stuttering while playing games online.
• Geo-spoofing. Select a VPN that easily bypasses geo-blocks so you can access any Steam region you want.
• Server network: Steam VPNs should have a large server network. This not only allows you to access Steam content worldwide but also helps you avoid slowdowns from overcrowding on your VPN server.
• Compatibility. Select a VPN that offers easy-to-use apps and that are compatible with your preferred device for Steam gaming.
• Customer service. Stick with VPN services that include 24/7 live chat support and a money-back guarantee.

5 best VPNs for Steam

We’ve done a lot of research in search of the best Steam VPN to play all of the Steam games from Dota 2 to Maplestory and more, and narrowed the field down to the 5 best VPNs for Steam.

1. ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN took the number one spot for best VPN for playing online games with Steam. It has all the speed, security features, and geo-spoofing capability needed in a VPN for online gaming.

Features: Features include split tunneling, ad blocking, Smart DNS, obfuscated servers, a password manager, and more! You also get access to a large network of servers, including over 3,200 servers in 105 countries!

Speed: Express is the fastest VPN we tested, especially when using its proprietary and ultra-fast Lightway protocol.

Privacy and security: ExpressVPN secures your internet connection with military-grade encryption, a kill switch, RAM-only servers, DNS leak protection, a strict no-logs policy, and more.

Performance: The blazing fast speeds with ExpressVPN mean you can enjoy gaming without any latency-related lag disrupting your play, as well as supporting buffer-free streaming, and fast torrenting.

Streaming: ExpressVPN can get past the toughest geo-blocks on popular streaming sites like Netflix, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, BBC iPlayer, Max, Hulu, Vudu, and more.

Compatibility: The apps on ExpressVPN are easy to use and work with all kinds of devices including Windows, Linux, macOS, Android, and iOS. It allows up to 8 simultaneous connections.

Pricing: When you select a 12-month subscription you pay $6.67/month and get 3 months free. The 30-day money-back guarantee allows you to try out the VPN risk-free.

2. NordVPN

The incredibly fast speeds, secure connections, reasonable price, and top geo-spoofing capability make NordVPN one of our favorite VPNs for Steam gaming!

Features: Steam users who choose NordVPN as their service provider have over 6,400 servers in 111 countries available to choose from. Top features include double VPN, obfuscated servers, ad blocking, malware protection, and more!

Speed: The speed on NordVPN is more than fast enough for smooth gaming whether you connect to nearby servers or ones across the ocean. For the best connection speed, use their proprietary NordLynx protocol!

Privacy and security: The security features on NordVPN include a verified no-logs policy, military-level encryption, a kill switch, IP & DNS leak protection, RAM-only servers, and more!

Performance: NordVPN provides smooth, uninterrupted connections whether you are looking to play games, stream videos, browse, or torrent.

Streaming: You can access all of your favorite streaming platforms, including Netflix, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, BBC iPlayer, Max, Hulu, Vudu, and more, without having to worry about geo-blocks getting in your way!

Compatibility: Subscribers can use NordVPN’s intuitive apps on up to 10 devices at once. There’s an app for Windows, Linux, macOS, Android, and iOS devices.

Pricing: Subscription plans begin at $3.39/month when you sign up for 24 months and include a 30-day trial period.

3. Surfshark

Surfshark offers faster speeds and more features than any other VPN in its price category, plus subscribers can connect as many devices as they want for one low cost!

Features: Despite its low cost, you still have tons of features to choose from with Surfshark, including split tunneling, anti-virus, data breach monitoring, ad blocking, malware protection, and more! It also has a huge server network, including 3200+ servers in 100 countries!

Speed: While you may experience rare instances of buffering or lag, the 24/7 live chat support can direct you to a nearby server with improved internet speed to resolve any issues.

Privacy and security: You can count on a secure VPN connection with Surfshark. The VPN provider offers a verified zero-logs policy, a kill switch, RAM-only servers, leak protection, military-grade encryption, and more!

Performance: Surfshark can not only access Steam content worldwide, but it also offers a fast and stable connection for smooth gaming, streaming, torrenting, and browsing online.

Streaming: You can use Surfshark to bypass the geo-blocks on Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, BBC iPlayer, Max, Hulu, Vudu, and other popular streaming platforms.

Compatibility: You can use Surfshark with all major operating systems including Windows, Linux, macOS, Android, and iOS. Users are allowed an unlimited number of simultaneous connections.

Pricing: The Surfshark 24-month starter package is available for just $1.99/month and includes 4 months for free and a 30-day money-back guarantee.

4. CyberGhost

Known for its user-friendly apps and top security features, CyberGhost is a great VPN for beginners and advanced users alike!

Features: There are 11,500+ servers in 100 countries in CyberGhost’s network, including dedicated gaming servers. Its apps are highly customizable and allow for split tunneling.

Speed: The speed on CyberGhost is variable; for fast speeds, stick with the Wireguard protocol and nearby servers while you play games.

Privacy and security: You can count on secure and private internet access with CyberGhost. Your internet traffic is secured with military-grade encryption, a no-logs policy, RAM-only servers, a kill switch, leak protection, and more.

Performance: CyberGhost is capable of providing uninterrupted gaming, streaming, browsing, and torrenting; however, once in a while, you may find your connection is slow, and you’ll need to ask the live chat support to direct you to a faster server.

Streaming: CyberGhost is known for its ability to bypass geo-blocks on sites like Netflix, Disney+, Amazon Prime, BBC iPlayer, Hulu, Vudu, and more.

Compatibility: Whether you are looking for a Windows app, Android, iOS, macOS, or Linux, CyberGhost is easy to set up and use. Users can connect 7 devices at the same time.

Pricing: The best deal on CyberGhost is the 2-year + 4-month plan for $2.03/month and it comes with a 45-day money-back guarantee.

5. ProtonVPN

A fast, secure, and private VPN with the only free version of a VPN for Steam that we recommend.

Features: Paid subscribers to Proton VPN have access to 8,600 servers across 112 countries and features like an ad blocker, malware protection, double hop mode, port forwarding, and split tunneling. The free service lacks many of the advanced features and includes just 26 servers in 5 countries.

Speed: When connected to a local New York City server, we retained 94% of the baseline download speed and 92% of the upload speed. On a London server, we maintained 91% of our download speed and 90% of the upload speed. The free plan delivers slower speeds.

Privacy and security: Both the free and paid versions of the Proton VPN service come with robust features to protect your data in Montenegro, including a no-logs policy, AES 256-bit encryption, a kill switch, and leak protection.

Performance: Proton VPN’s speed and reliability make it a strong performer for streaming, torrenting, gaming, and browsing. The free version does have limitations on speed and the size of the server network.

Streaming: Proton VPN can bypass geo-blocks on popular streaming services including Netflix, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, Vudu, and more. Both the free and paid version has no limits on bandwidth or data so you can stream what you want, though the range of countries available on the free version is highly limited.

Compatibility: The Proton VPN apps work with Macs, Linux, smart TVs, mobiles, PCs, and more and you are allowed up to 10 simultaneous connections.

Pricing: In addition to its free version, Proton VPN Plus is available for $4.99 per month for the 2-year plan. All subscription plans come with a 30-day trial.

How we picked and analyzed the best VPNs for Steam

We conducted an in-depth analysis of dozens of VPNs, and several VPN services stood out. Here are the features we prioritized when choosing a Steam VPN.

• Speed. We looked for VPNs with excellent speed and low latency for smooth gameplay.
• Server network. We prioritized VPNs with a broad server network for the best speed and access to any Steam store you want.
• Geo-spoofing. The VPNs we selected have a strong track record for effectively spoofing locations.
• Compatibility. We selected VPNs that allow for multiple devices and have a high level of device compatibility.
• Customer service. All of our selected VPNs come with 24/7 live chat support and a money-back guarantee.

Can I use a free VPN for Steam?

Free VPNs are less secure and less reliable at getting past geo-blocks than trusted subscription providers. Since free VPN usage is more likely to be detected, you’re at higher risk of getting banned from Steam. In addition, free VPNs often limit speed, bandwidth, and data, so you are likely to experience high latency and lag during gameplay.

Can I get banned for using a VPN with Steam?

Yes. You can get banned for using a VPN with Steam. The company’s policy states that it has a right to terminate your account for VPN usage of any kind. It also states that users cannot use a VPN to circumvent geographical restrictions or purchase games at a lower price.

Any time you use a VPN with Steam, you are taking on some risk that you will get banned; however, our experience indicates that a ban is highly unlikely as long as you are not using your VPN to purchase a game in a region other than your own.

Games restricted in different Steam regions

Here is a list of where some of the more popular Steam games are restricted. If you want to access any of these games while you are in a restricted location, you will need to use a secure VPN.

PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds (PUBG):

• China
• Iraq
• Jordan
• Libya
• Morocco
• Nepal
• Pakistan
• Syria

Fortnite:

• China

Battlefield 4:

• China

Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS: GO):

• China

World of Warcraft (WoW):

• China

Grand Theft Auto V (GTA V):

• United Arab Emirates (UAE)

Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege:

• China

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt:

• United Arab Emirates (UAE)

Fallout 3 (uncensored):

• Australia
• Germany

Outlast:

• Saudi Arabia

Red Dead Redemption 2:

• United Arab Emirates

Call of Duty: Black Ops 4:

• China

FAQ

Can I use a VPN on Steam?

Yes. It is possible to use a VPN on Steam. While Steam does not allow the use of VPNs, if you aren’t using your VPN to make a Steam purchase or to access content in a restricted region, you’re unlikely to get banned.

What is the best VPN for Steam?

ExpressVPN! It is blazing fast, secure, private, and has the best performance for bypassing geo-blocks.

Does Steam allow VPNs?

No. Steam prohibits all VPN usage. If you avoid using your VPN for access to geo-restricted content, it’s highly unlikely you’ll get into trouble for using one.

Is it legal to unblock Steam with a VPN?

It depends. If you are using the VPN to access blocked content after you’ve moved to a new country, it is permissible. If you are using it to access content that is blocked in your region due to local laws or copyright agreements it is not legal.

Can you get banned for buying games from a cheaper region?

Yes. Using a VPN to get a better price on games violates Steam’s terms of agreement and can get you banned from the site.

Will using Steam slow down my connection?

It is possible. Steam allows for bandwidth throttling, which can slow your connection.

Conclusion

A VPN is a great tool for Steam users looking to avoid bandwidth throttling by their internet service provider or for an extra layer of protection against hackers and DDOS attacks. Not every VPN supports fast and secure Steam traffic. We recommend ExpressVPN for the best service!

We recommend ExpressVPN for Montenegro thanks to its superior safety, privacy, speed, and user-friendly apps.