Best VPNs for Xbox One and Xbox Series in 2024

Xbox is the most popular gaming console out there, and for the safest, fastest gaming experience, gamers want the protection that a high-quality VPN provides.

Not every VPN has the balance of speed, low latency, privacy, and security features that gamers need. To best protect yourself, this article reviews the top 5, so you can choose the best VPN for Xbox for you.

How to Get a VPN for Xbox

The first step in getting a VPN for Xbox is selecting the VPN service that is best for you and purchasing a subscription. Check out the list of the 5 top picks for an Xbox VPN below.

Once you’ve subscribed, you need to decide what set-up you prefer, since you can’t use the VPN directly on your Xbox console.

One option is to connect the VPN app to your router’s control panel, allowing you to cover all of your home devices at once, including your Xbox console.

You can also share a VPN connection over wi-fi; all you need to do is enable a mobile hotspot on your computer and then connect the Xbox to that mobile hotspot.

Another possibility is to use an Ethernet cable to connect your PC to the Xbox One console.

Whatever method you choose, it all starts with getting a subscription to a superb VPN for Xbox.

5 Best Xbox VPN Services

If you’re looking for the best VPNs for Xbox, here are our top 5 recommendations:

1. ExpressVPN

When it comes to gaming, Xbox users want the fastest VPN you can get, which makes ExpressVPN the best VPN for Xbox. Its Lightway protocol is known for its incredibly fast and private connections, or if you are setting up the app on your router, the IKEv2 protocol also has great speed. ExpressVPN’s fast download speed and very low ping mean you won’t miss that crucial shot in the game because your server can’t keep up with your quick reaction time.

ExpressVPN uses the best security features, including military-grade encryption, IP and DNS leak protection, and a Kill Switch. Its Perfect Forward Secrecy is an enhanced security feature that changes your encryption key every time you log on.

Your privacy is safe with ExpressVPN. The company maintains a strict no-logs policy and is located in the privacy-friendly British Virgin Islands, which is outside the prying eyes of the 5/9/14 Eyes alliance, which allows mass surveillance and sharing of information among western countries in the interest of national security.

ExpressVPN can get past the toughest geo-blocks, including those in China, so Xbox users can easily access regionally exclusive games, and take advantage of the lower pricing that you can often find in other countries. Since you can connect to game servers around the world, you can easily play against friends all over the world.

You also get the bonus of accessing geo-blocked content on all the major streaming services, including BBC iPlayer, Amazon Prime Video, Netflix, and much more. With over 3,000 servers in more than 94 countries, all of the wonderful gaming and video content from around the world is at your fingertips.

The fact that ExpressVPN can unblock content confirms that it’s doing a great job of hiding your actual IP address, so you know you are protected from DDoS attacks and Swatting.

The MediaStreamer feature provides Smart DNS, which boosts stability and makes for easier setup. It also has an install wizard that helps set up your VPN app on your router, which is a great way for all your devices, including your Xbox, all at once.

Express is also one of the best VPNs for Nvidia Shield.

ExpressVPN is compatible with most home and mobile devices and has great router support so you can cover multiple devices at the same time.

The customer service with ExpressVPN is highly professional, quick to respond, and available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, via live chat, so it can help you set up your VPN app to protect your console. You can try ExpressVPN for up to 30 days, then if you decide it’s not for you, it’s easy to cancel via the 24/7 live-chat support and you will get a full refund.

2. NordVPN

NordVPN has a reputation for being one of the best VPN providers for good reason. It is one of the most secure VPNs for Xbox One and Xbox, while still maintaining the fast speed gamers need. It’s one of the fastest VPNs on the market, with low ping and low latency on which gamers can rely.

The newest and fastest protocol, NordLynx is incredibly fast, though it’s not compatible with the router app. Fortunately, the IKEv2 is almost as fast and works well with routers. You can also get a dedicated IP address so you don’t have to worry about other VPN users slowing you down or influencing your connection.

You can’t beat the security you get using NordVPN, with its military-grade encryption, Kill Switch, IP and DNS leak protection, and DDoS protection. The Double VPN feature routes your traffic through two different VPN servers, making it twice as hard to find your real IP address.

With NordVPN located in Panama, you are safely outside the prying eyes of the 5/9/14 Eyes Alliance, and your privacy is further ensured by its strict no-logs policy.

You count on NordVPN to get past the toughest geo-blocks, so you can access game servers around the world. You can also unblock streaming platforms, including Amazon Prime Video, BBC iPlayer, Netflix, Hulu, and more!

With over 5,400 servers in more than 60 countries around the world, you have great access to the massive amount of geo-restricted content worldwide.

NordVPN is compatible with all the major home and mobile devices, and comes with great router support so you can cover all of your devices at once.

The NordVPN subscription comes with great 24/7 live-chat support to help you with setting up the app with your gaming consoles and any other bumps in the road you experience using your VPN.

Try the VPN risk-free! You can always cancel within the first 30 days and get your money back.

3. Surfshark

A reliable VPN with unlimited simultaneous connections at a great price puts Surfshark toward the top of the list for best VPN for Xbox. Not only is the price great, but Surfshark has unlimited bandwidth, keeping its speed up and latency down.

Surfshark is a secure VPN provider, providing military-grade encryption, DNS and IP leak protection, and a multi-hop mode to make sure IP addresses remain secret. The Shark Alert feature will even give you a heads-up if there’s any sign that you’ve been hacked.

The verified no-logs policy ensures that your privacy is safe, and since it’s based in the British Virgin Islands, you are outside the jurisdiction of the 5/9/14 Eyes Alliance.

Surfshark can unblock Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Hulu, Disney Plus, and lots more streaming sites. It’s also great at accessing geo-restricted games or allowing you to take advantage of the lower prices you may find in other countries.

There are more than 3,200 servers available in more than 94 countries, giving you access to all the online gaming and geo-restricted entertainment you want.

The Smart DNS feature makes for easy Xbox VPN setup, and if you need any help, you can easily reach out to the 24/7 live-chat support for advice.

Try Surfshark and if you aren’t totally happy with it, just cancel within the first 30 days, it’s easy to do and you’ll get all of your money back.

4. CyberGhost

If you are looking for a VPN with easy setup and use that works well with Xbox. CyberGhost is a great option. The download speed is fast and the ping is low, especially when linked to local VPN servers, allowing for a good gaming experience.

CyberGhost is a safe VPN provider. It has military-grade encryption, an automatic Kill Switch, DNS and IP leak protection, and DDoS protection.

The VPN boasts a strict no-logs policy, and since it’s based in Romania, it’s outside the jurisdiction of the 5/9/14 Eyes Alliance.

CyberGhost unblocks content on streaming services, including BBC player, Hulu, Disney Plus, and more. It can also get past blocks on most online gaming streaming platforms.

The server network includes more than 8,900 servers in more than 91 countries around the world. It has gaming-optimized servers and you can purchase a dedicated IP address.

The VPN subscription comes with 24/7 live-chat support and you have a whole 45 days to try the VPN, and if you aren’t delighted, just cancel and get a full refund.

5. Private Internet Access (PIA)

Private Internet Access is a virtual private network that is reasonably priced and an easy-to-use VPN for Xbox One. Its got decent Internet speed and unlimited bandwidth that helps keep the VPN connection fast.

You get great VPN protection with PIA since each VPN server has military-grade encryption, a Kill Switch, IP and DNS leak protection, and port forwarding.

PIA maintains a strict no-logs policy to protect your privacy, even though it is based in the US, which is within the 5/9/14 Eyes Alliance.

While Private Internet Access isn’t the best VPN for unblocking content, it can unblock BBC iPlayer, Amazon Prime Video, and some of the Netflix libraries.

One of the benefits of PIA is its massive server network, with over 29,000 servers in more than 78 countries around the world. PIA also offers dedicated IP addresses so you don’t need to worry about other network users affecting your functionality.

PIA offers Smart DNS, which makes it easier to set up your VPN for Xbox One and allows you to keep your IP address secret without also needing to encrypt so you can maintain a fast Internet connection.

Every PIA VPN client gets the support of their 24/7 live-chat support and the protection of their 30-day money-back guarantee.

Why You Need a VPN for Xbox

A high-quality VPN is the best way to protect yourself from a DDoS attack, where a competitor can force you out of a game by using multiple computers to flood your network, since it keeps your IP address hidden and can absorb the onslaught so you can keep playing.

The best VPN providers can boost gaming speeds by bypassing any ISP throttling your Internet service provider imposes.

A good VPN for Xbox One can bypass geo-blocks and allow you to access game serves from around the world so you can enjoy regionally exclusive games and take advantage of the lower pricing you can often find in other locations.

How to Choose the Best VPN for Xbox 

The best VPN for Xbox will have great Internet speeds, low latency, and low ping so you don’t have to worry about missing that game-winning shot because your computer’s Internet connection can’t keep up with your awesome reaction times.

For the best protection against DDoS attacks and swatting, your VPN for Xbox One needs top-of-the-line privacy security features that can keep your IP addresses hidden from your competitors.

Choose an Xbox VPN that can unblock geo-restricted content on your favorite streaming services so you can enjoy watching great movies and playing games that are only available in specific locations.

Make sure you are going to get all of the help you need from your VPN service with 24/7 live-chat support.

You can take advantage of the lower prices that come with a longer contract without risk as long as the Xbox VPN comes with a 30-day trial period.

How to Set Up a VPN on Xbox

Here are some options for setting up a VPN on your Xbox:

Setting up a VPN for Xbox One on a router

To set up a VPN for Xbox One on your router:

1. Find the router’s IP address. On a Windows PC, open the Command Prompt and enter the command ipconfig and press enter and find the IP address under Default Gateway.
2. Log onto the router’s control panel and enter the router’s IP address and log in. In order to find the default login information, do a Google search for your router model’s default login details.
3. Follow the steps listed in your VPN’s router installation guide for your router model.
4. Use the router’s control panel to establish the connection on your network.
5. On your Xbox, go to the settings menu, click on Network, and select “Set Up Wireless network then follow the prompts.”

Now all of the devices connected to your router, including your Xbox game console, are protected by your VPN.

Using a Windows PC VPN connection for your Xbox

To use your Xbox on your Windows PC:

1. Download a high-quality VPN app onto your PC.
2. Use an Ethernet cable to connect your PC and Xbox.
3. Search for Run in the start menu, then type in cpl to open the Network connection.
4. Select the Ethernet connection associated with your VPN and click Properties.
5. Select the Sharing tab.
6. Click on the box for “Allow other network users to connect through this computer’s Internet connection.”
7. Click on private network connection.
8. Select Xbox One Ethernet connection and press OK.
9. Press the Xbox button on your Xbox controller.
10. Press the RB button three times.
11. Select settings, Network tab, Network settings, then test network connection.
12. As long as the VPN is running on your Windows PC your Xbox will remain connected to the VPN.

Sharing a wi-fi VPN connection on Windows 10

For sharing a Wi-fi connection on Windows 10:

1. Go to settings on your laptop, click on Network and Internet, then select Mobile Hotspot
2. Select wi-fi and enable Mobile Hotspot.
3. Return to settings, Network, and Internet and then click on Change adapter options.
4. Click on your chosen VPN Windows Adapter and go to properties.
5. Select the Sharing tab and check “Allow other network users to connect through this computer’s Internet connection box,” then click on Microsoft Wi-Fi Direct Virtual Adapter.
6. Connect your Xbox to your laptop Wi-Fi hotspot.

Sharing a Wi-Fi VPN connection on macOS

To share your VPN’s connection on macOS:

1. Use an Ethernet cable to connect your Mac to the Internet.
2. Create an L2TP/IPsec VPN on your Mac. If you need help, just reach out to the 24/7 live -chat support.
3. Go to system preferences and select sharing, then go to Internet Sharing but don’t enable.
4. Select the VPN connection on the drop-down menu and check “To computers using.”
5. Under wi-fi Options, set up your wi-fi password.
6. Now click Enable in Internet Sharing.
7. Connect to the VPN and connect your Xbox to your Mac wifi hotspot.

Can I Use a Free VPN for Xbox One?

Even the best free VPN for Xbox is unlikely to provide the security, privacy, speed, and unblocking capability that you want.

A free VPN needs to make a profit somehow, and some do this by selling your private information, such as your browser history and IP address, which makes you vulnerable to online threats.

Free VPNs tend to save money by investing less in data, speed, and bandwidth, which leads to slower speeds, higher latency, and higher ping that can lead to a less-satisfying gaming experience.

Free VPNs tend to be less reliable at unblocking geo-restricted sites, so you may not be able to access all the great games and low prices you can find in other countries.

Instead of using one of the free VPNs, subscribe to a VPN plan you can rely on that fits your budget. Give it a try and if you decide it’s not worth it, just cancel within the first 30 days and you can get all of your money back.

FAQs

VPN (Connect to Xbox): Conclusion

The best Xbox VPN protects you from DDoS attacks and swatting attacks while still maintaining great speed, low ping, and low latency, for a great gaming experience. You also get access to the lowest prices and best games found all around the world without geo-blocks holding you back.

For the very best Xbox VPN with top speed, security, and privacy protections, check out ExpressVPN.