Best VPN Protocols for Gaming in 2025

When I choose my VPN protocol, I’m setting the foundation for my connection’s speed, stability, device compatibility, and security. That’s why any time I’m using a VPN for gaming I want to be sure I’m using the best VPN protocol for gaming possible.

In a hurry? Here are the best 5 VPN protocols for gaming

The top five gaming VPN protocols are:

Key takeaways

1. A VPN protocol is an essential component of your VPN server’s speed, stability, and security.
2. A good VPN protocol can lower latency, decrease packet loss, and provide DDoS protection.
3. WireGuard and its equivalents, Lightway and NordLynx, are the fastest VPN protocols for gaming.

How to choose the best VPN protocol for gaming

Here’s what I’m looking for in a VPN protocol:

• Latency. Low latency ensures the smallest delay between an action and the game’s response for top gaming performance.
• Packet loss. A VPN protocol should send data across its private network with minimal risk of packet loss.
• Geo-spoofing. VPN tunneling protocols that bypass firewalls and geo-restrictions let you access games worldwide.
• DDoS protection. Protocols that hide your real IP address and physical location protect you from DDoS attacks.
• Compatibility. I prioritize protocols that work smoothly with most home and mobile devices.

Best VPN tunneling protocols for speeds and security in gaming

As an avid gamer, I don’t just look for the best VPN for gaming. I also want the best gaming protocol, so I’ve put together this VPN protocol comparison the help my fellow gamers.

1. WireGuard

WireGuard is lightweight, open-source, stable, and secure! With just 4,000 lines of code compared to OpenVPN’s 70,000, it’s way faster than the competition, and it uses the fast and secure ChaCha20 for encryption.

2. Lightway

I’m impressed with ExpressVPN’s WireGuard equivalent, Lightway. It uses just 2,000 lines of code supporting incredibly fast speeds and stable connections on your VPN server. The ChaCha20 encryption quickly and effectively secures the Internet connection.

3. NordLynx

NordVPN’s proprietary protocol NordLynx is among my favorite gaming protocols. TheWireGuard equivalent offers blazing-fast speeds, as well as stable and secure connections for superior gaming performance.

4. SoftEther

If you’re willing to take an extra step to download this third-party, open-source VPN tunneling protocol, SoftEther, it’s worth it. It’s one of the fastest protocols available, and it uses military-grade encryption to secure your connection.

5. OpenVPN

If security is your number one priority, OpenVPN is just the tunneling protocol you’re looking for. While you’ll compromise a bit on speed, the security is unparalleled, and it’s compatible with all of the common platforms, making it one of the more versatile options.

VPN protocols by latency

Tunneling protocols have a big impact on latency. To help you get the lowest latency, I ranked the latency on different VPN protocols from lowest to highest:

• WireGuard. Low latency
• IKEv2/IPSec. Low latency
• SoftEther. Moderate latency
• OpenVPN. High latency

3 best VPNs with the fastest VPN protocols

Here are the 3 best gaming VPN service providers. When using a VPN for gaming speed is essential, and all of these VPN providers have what it takes to support a great gaming experience without compromising on security, or privacy.

1. ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN’s proprietary tunneling protocol, Lightway, offers impressive speed without compromising security.

Features: One of the main selling points of this VPN is the Lightway tunneling protocol, but it’s also got other great features like an ad-blocker, malware protection, a password manager, split tunneling, and more! With 3,200+ server locations in 105 countries, you can always find a nearby server for optimal speeds.

Speed: ExpressVPN has the speed needed for lag-free gaming. On my ISP, I had a download speed of 90.3 Mbps. When connected to a US server, my connection speed was almost the same at 89 Mbps.

Privacy and security: ExpressVPN protects your privacy and secures your data with military-level encryption, an automatic Kill Switch, leak protection, and a verified no-logs policy.

Performance: Not only do I enjoy a lag-free gaming experience using ExpressVPN, but it performs flawlessly for streaming and torrenting.

Streaming: The same software that lets you access games in other regions also lets you stream geo-restricted movies and TV shows on Netflix, Hulu, HBO Max, and more!

Compatibility: The user-friendly ExpressVPN apps are compatible with gaming consoles, smart TVs, mobile devices, PCs, and routers. You can connect up to 8 devices at once.

Pricing: This premium VPN is available for $6.67/month plus 3 months free and you’ve got 30 days to try it out risk-free.

2. NordVPN

NordVPN is one of the best gaming VPNs, partially thanks to its proprietary NordLynx protocol and the fast, stable, and secure connections it supports.

Features: Nord has a network of 7.100+ servers in 118 countries so you can always find a nearby VPN server! Its advanced features include Threat Protection, Meshnet, dedicated IP addresses, and more!

Speed: One of the best things about NordVPN is its impressive speed. When I connected to a US server, I got a download speed of 93 Mbps, which was impressively close to my baseline of 95 Mbps.

Privacy and security: NordVPN’s high-end security features include a no-logs policy, military-grade encryption, a Kill Switch, and DNS & IP leak protection.

Performance: In addition to NordVPN’s connection speeds supporting lag-free online gaming, you’ll also enjoy buffer-free streaming and quick torrenting.

Streaming: When you’re looking for a way to relax other than gaming, you can access tons of movies and TV shows on Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, and more without geographical restrictions getting in your way.

Compatibility: You can connect up to 10 devices simultaneously and find a user-friendly VPN app for desktops, laptops, mobile devices, Smart TVs, gaming consoles, and more!

Pricing: You can subscribe to this premium VPN for the reasonable price of $3.39/month plus 4 months free and you’ve got 30 days to try it out risk-free!

3. Surfshark

Surfshark is a budget VPN that comes with the recommended WireGuard protocol and plenty of advanced features to enhance your gaming experience.

Features: I’ve never seen another budget VPN with so many great features, including split tunneling, ad blocking, malware protection, data breach monitoring, dedicated IP, and more! Plus, users have access to 3,200+ VPN servers in 100 countries worldwide!

Speed: I tested Surfshark’s speed using the WireGuard tunneling protocol on a US server and was impressed with the results. The download speed was 83 Mbps which wasn’t hugely different than my baseline of 94 Mbps.

Privacy and security: Surfshark protects your connection with a zero-logs policy, a Kill Switch, leak protection, and military-grade encryption.

Performance: If there’s heavy online traffic you may get a bit of lag, but the 24/7 live chat support can direct you to a faster server and you’ll be enjoying lag-free gaming in no time!

Streaming: You can easily access worldwide content on all of your favorite streaming services using Surfshark, including Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, and more!

Compatibility: Surfshark apps are compatible with PCs, mobile devices, gaming consoles, smart TVs, and more, and subscribers get unlimited simultaneous connections.

Pricing: Sign up for the 2-year starter pack for just $1.99/month and get 4 months free! You’ve got 30 days to try it out risk-free!

Tips to increase your Internet speeds while gaming

Here are some simple tips:

• Choose one of the fastest VPN protocols, such as Wireguard, Lightway, NordLynx, or SoftEther.
• Connect to the VPN server closest to you, this keeps latency low and prevents high ping.
• For the fastest Internet connection, use an ethernet cable to connect your device to your router so you won’t get slowed if your wireless signal is weak.
• Take advantage of split tunneling; by only allowing some of our data packets to go through the VPN tunnel, while the rest uses the ISP’s network, less data needs to pass through at once, leading to faster speeds.
• An overcrowded server can slow you, so try connecting to a different VPN server if you find you aren’t getting the speed you want.
• Try rebooting your server, there may be a glitch slowing you that a simple reset can fix.
• Resetting your device can give it a much-needed rest that may help it work faster.

FAQ

What is the fastest VPN protocol?

WireGuard and its equivalent proprietary protocols, Lightway and Nordlynx, are the fastest VPN protocols.

Is TCP or UDP VPN better for gaming?

Both of these common VPN protocols have different strengths. TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) is the ideal VPN protocol if you are looking for reliability and accuracy, while the UDP protocol (User Datagram Protocol) is best if you prioritize low latency and responsiveness.

Is WireGuard or OpenVPN better for gaming

In online gaming, where your data transmission speed is essential, WireGuard is the better tunneling protocol. OpenVPN is best when online security is your number one priority.

Is OpenVPN good for gaming?

I wouldn’t recommend using OpenVPN for gaming. The VPN protocol offers the best network security, but it’s not as fast as Wireguard.

Which VPN protocol has the lowest latency?

WireGuard is the VPN protocol with the lowest latency.

Conclusion

For a smooth and secure gaming experience, finding the right VPN protocol is essential. The best protocols for gaming combine high speed with solid security, and WireGuard as well as the Lightway and NordLynx equivalents top the list. Pair it up with a great VPN service like ExpressVPN and I know I’m set up for a great gaming session!