Best VPNs for Xbox One 2024

Virtual private networks are mostly used on PCs, laptops, and mobile phones. That said, they can also enhance your data security and keep you protected from hackers, malware, DDoS attacks, and other cyber threats on games consoles like the Xbox One.

In this article, we’ll explain why you should use an Xbox One VPN and provide detailed reviews of the top 10 VPN service providers, so you can see how leading VPNs like NordVPN, ExpressVPN, and PIA compare, and choose the best VPN for Xbox One.

The 10 Best Xbox One VPNs for 2024

It’s difficult to say outright what the best VPN for Xbox One is. There are plenty of excellent VPNs on the market that will help you stay protected while gaming online, prevent DDoS attacks, and keep your accounts and passwords safe from hackers.

Here is a list of the best VPNs for Xbox One:

1. NordVPN— Overall, the Best Xbox One VPN in 2024
2. ExpressVPN— Best Xbox One VPN for Security
3. Private Internet Access — Offers Superb Protection from DDoS Attacks
4. Surfshark One — One of the Most Budget-Friendly VPNs for Xbox One
5. PrivadoVPN — The Best Free VPN for Xbox One Gaming
6. CyberGhostVPN — Leading Xbox VPN for Dedicated Gaming Servers
7. Pure VPN — Quality Xbox One VPN, but Expensive with All the Add-Ons
8. Ultra VPN — Decent Speeds for Gaming, but Has a Limited Number of Servers
9. IPVanish — Superb for Speed on Same-Country Servers
10. StrongVPN — A Great Option, but not the ‘Strongest’ for Xbox One Gaming

The Top VPNs for Xbox One in 2024 Reviewed

In order to choose the best Xbox VPN, you have to take into account speed range, security features, server distribution, and price. We have reviewed the 10 fastest, most reliable VPNs for Xbox One to help you make the right decision.

1. NordVPN — Overall, the Best Xbox One VPN in 2024

NordVPN is one of the most popular virtual network service providers among gamers. Popular Twitch streamers, YouTubers like PewDiePie, and content creators like Critical Role all have great things to say about NordVPN.

Alongside an immensely successful advertising campaign, NordVPN has won the trust of gamers thanks to its incredible speed, stable performance, and advanced security features.

NordVPN uses best-in-class encryption to ensure a safe gaming experience and prevent any third parties from snooping and potentially gaining access to your data, including your ISP. As an additional layer of defence from DDoS attacks and other cyber threats, NordVPN encrypts your traffic twice through its double VPN feature.

If you opt for NordVPN for Xbox, you’ll be able to choose between 5,400+ servers in 59 countries. NordVPN also features a proprietary NordLynx protocol that’s optimized for speed and stability — perfect for gamers!

You can try NordVPN now risk-free with the 30-day money-back guarantee.

2. ExpressVPN — Best Xbox One VPN for Security

ExpressVPN is one of the fastest and most reliable VPNs for Xbox One online gaming. While the average speed decrease in the VPN industry is around 20%, ExpressVPN boasts an average of 8%, thanks to its proprietary Lightway VPN protocol. Apart from gaming, this makes ExpressVPN a great VPN for streaming geo-restricted content on Netflix and other popular streaming platforms.

There are over 3,000 ultra-fast servers to choose from, which makes ExpressVPN the cream of the crop no matter where you are in the world.

Apart from masking your IP address and protecting your data, ExpressVPN helps you bypass ISP throttling and offers an incredibly smooth gaming experience thanks to unlimited bandwidth.

ExpressVPN also features a built-in speed test, allowing you to select the server with the smallest ping, so you can enjoy a lag-free online gaming experience. The company runs a private DNS on its own servers, which further enhances both speed and data security.

On the whole, you certainly can’t go wrong with ExpressVPN for your gaming, browsing, and everything in between.

Plus, with pricing starting at just $9.99/month to cover an unlimited number of devices, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a better Xbox One VPN.

3. Private Internet Access — Offers Superb Protection from DDoS Attacks

Private Internet Access (PIA) VPN is a phenomenal Xbox One VPN. It follows all the industry standards regarding data encryption, VPN protocols, data security, and privacy.

PIA VPN is fast too, as it boasts, by far, the most servers, plus it has 10Gbps network connections. This means that you’ll have zero issues with lag while you game, and it adheres to a strict no-logs policy and hides your online activity from third parties, including your ISP.

Together with powerful VPN protocols, this ensures a safe online gaming experience without noticeably slowing down your internet speed. Much like all other popular VPN service providers, PIA VPN prevents DDoS attacks, protects your accounts and passwords, and defends you against malware and other harmful software.

Private Internet Access also offers premium add-ons, such as an antivirus and a dedicated IP address. There are ample servers to choose from, and you can connect to a different server to unblock restricted content in seconds, straight from your Xbox One.

4. Surfshark One — One of the Most Budget-Friendly VPNs for Xbox One

Surfshark One is more than just an Xbox One VPN. You also get the Surfshark Antivirus to protect your devices from malware and other harmful programs, as well as an alert system that’ll immediately notify you of any data leaks.

This is incredibly useful when gaming on Xbox One since you’ll be alerted if any of your passwords or accounts have been leaked, so you can update your passwords and prevent hackers and scammers from accessing your gaming account.

Surfshark VPN also utilizes the powerful Advanced Encryption System (AES) and offers three lightning-fast, secure VPN protocols to choose from — WireGuard, IKEv2/IPsec, and OpenVPN UDP/TCP.

On top of all this, Surfshark also offers a private DNS and obfuscated, RAM-only servers, meaning nobody can monitor or trace your online activity.

One of the biggest advantages Surfshark VPN offers to gamers is the fact that it doesn’t enforce any limitations on bandwidth or speed. With over 3,200 servers to choose from, this means you’ll be able to enjoy a lag-free gaming experience while being fully protected from hackers, malware, phishing attacks, or DDoS.

5. PrivadoVPN — The Best Free VPN for Xbox One Gaming

Usually, we steer clear of free VPNs, but today, a very worthy name makes our top 5 as we’ve tested it ourselves.

Although PrivadoVPN lacks the server count you’d see with VPNs like NordVPN and ExpressVPN, the quality of their servers is top-notch and with them distributed across 63 countries, you’re bound to find reliable connections for your gaming sessions.

The best aspect about this VPN is, of course, that it has a Freemium plan that gives you 12 server options and a whopping 10Gigs a month — all you need to do is insert a valid email address.

But besides this, the security on offer is on par with VPNs that have been in the field for decades! This includes a no-logging policy, powerful protocols like OpenVPN, IKEv2, and WireGuard, plus kill switch and leak protection.

P.S. All of this is included for free. You can try PrivadoVPN for free to get a better idea of whether it’s best for your gaming needs.

6. CyberGhost VPN — Leading Xbox VPN for Dedicated Gaming Servers

CyberGhost VPN is another excellent choice for console gamers, as well as a great VPN for iPhone and Android. It’s a serious contender for the title of the best VPN for Xbox One, Xbox Series S, and Xbox 360, thanks to its superb protection from DDoS attacks and cyber threats.

CyberGhost VPN relies on industry-standard AES-256 encryption and uses secure VPN protocols to hide your IP address, prevent data breaches, and keep your passwords, emails, and payment information 100% secure.

It’s also one of the fastest VPNs on the market, so you’ll never experience any speed drop-offs or lag. In fact, CyberGhost VPN prevents your ISP from throttling your internet speed, which they would otherwise do when you engage in data-intensive activities — like playing Call of Duty: Modern Warfare — to unclog their servers.

CyberGhost VPN offers over 8,000 servers in 91 countries across the globe. This means you can connect to a local server and enjoy a secure online gaming experience without having to worry about the VPN slowing down your internet speed.

This VPN service provider even goes a step beyond with dedicated gaming servers that feature unlimited bandwidth, memory, and storage.

7. PureVPN — Quality Xbox One VPN, but Expensive With All the Add-Ons

PureVPN is a decent virtual private network service, but we’re hesitant to recommend it if you’re planning on using it exclusively for gaming on your Xbox.

While PureVPN is comparable to the best VPNs for Xbox One in terms of servers, speed, and data security, a huge drawback is the fact that DDoS protection is a paid add-on.

That said, if you’re willing to pay extra for protection against DDoS attacks, PureVPN will provide a fast and secure gaming experience. Their secure servers have been recently upgraded to support a 20 Gbps connection, so you won’t experience any lag spikes or drop-offs in connection speed.

PureVPN also features excellent DNS leak and IPv6 leak protection, so your gaming accounts and passwords will stay fully protected.

8. UltraVPN — Decent Speeds for Gaming, but Has a Limited Number of Servers

UltraVPN isn’t the best choice for gamers due to its limited number of servers. While the company boasts that its servers are optimized for speed, gaming, and torrenting, there are only 34 servers in North America, with most of the U.S. servers located on the East Coast.

If your physical location is close to the server’s location, you won’t notice any issues. However, if you have to connect to a distant server, you might notice a considerable decrease in internet speed when using UltraVPN.

One redeeming factor of UltraVPN is Passwatch — a password manager that can generate strong, virtually uncrackable passwords and keep your accounts and other sensitive information fully protected.

Aside from a comparatively small number of servers, UltraVPN stands toe-to-toe with the best VPN services on the market. It features military-grade encryption, a secure firewall, and built-in protection against malware, phishing, and cyberattacks. Unfortunately, it doesn’t seem to offer protection against DDoS attacks, which is a big reason for gamers to opt for a better alternative like NordVPN.

9. IPVanish — Superb for Speed on Same-Country Servers

IPVanish is another great option for gamers, given its ultra-fast speeds on same-country servers and the ability to connect to a server with the lowest ping. You can use the ‘Fastest Available Server’ option to instantly connect to the best server and start gaming right away.

There are over 1,400 servers to choose from across 57+ countries, ensuring a high-speed connection virtually anywhere in the world. Most IPVanish servers are in the U.S., making it an ideal choice for gamers in the States.

Regarding privacy and security, IPVanish offers the same level of protection as other top-tier VPNs. It will hide your IP address, protect your Wi-Fi connection, safeguard your accounts and passwords, and stop hackers and other cybercriminals in their tracks.

You can also opt to include advanced security features in your subscription plan, such as a SOCKS5 Proxy to maximize speed and a VPN killswitch for an additional layer of protection.

While we wouldn’t call it one of the absolute best VPN apps for Xbox One, IPVanish is still a decent choice, especially considering its affordability.

10. StrongVPN — A Great Option, but Not the ‘Strongest’ for Xbox One Gaming

StrongVPN lives up to its name and provides excellent online protection, keeping your passwords, emails, and credit card information safe from cyber threats with its powerful end-to-end encryption.

However, that’s pretty much all it does. It doesn’t feature DDoS protection or other powerful add-ons that the best VPNs for Xbox One provide by default.

StrongVPN offers a little over 500 servers to choose from, which is a fraction of the number offered by leading VPN service providers like NordVPN, ExpressVPN, and PIA.

It’s also registered in a U.S. jurisdiction, meaning your ISP will have access to your online activity logs and may choose to throttle your internet speed to deal with server congestion. This may cause higher ping and lag spikes, which is infuriating for any Xbox gamer.

If you’re looking for a better alternative, we strongly recommend NordVPN.

Top VPNs for Xbox One Compared

Why Use a VPN for Xbox?

While it’s not necessary to use a VPN when gaming on your Xbox, having one offers a myriad of benefits on top of enhancing your online security. Whether you want to reduce ping and prevent lag spikes or ensure you’re safe from hackers and DDoS attacks, a VPN provides that extra layer of protection and the following benefits:

Enhance Online Security

A VPN hides your IP address and physical location and encrypts all traffic between your Xbox One console and online servers. This means nobody can trace or monitor your online activity, be it cybercriminals, advertising agencies, or your internet service provider. Having a VPN ensures all your passwords, accounts, and credit card information are fully protected.

The best Xbox VPNs also offer other useful features for extra security, such as double VPN, PassWatch, ad-block, and malware protection.

Prevent DDoS Attacks

We all know those sore losers who threaten to DDoS you after losing an online match. While these are empty threats in most cases, it’s better to be safe than sorry. A VPN routes your traffic through a secure server, making it impossible to DDoS you, no matter how tech-savvy the attacker might be.

Improve Gaming Speed

Regardless of how fast your internet connection might be, your internet service provider (ISP) may limit your speed if their servers are under heavy load. This can cause lag spikes and high latency, which can be rage-inducing.

VPNs route your network through their own servers and prevent your ISP from monitoring your online activity, allowing you to bypass ISP throttling and enjoy a lag-free gaming experience.

Some VPN providers also enable you to automatically connect to the fastest servers, and a few of them even feature VPN accelerators that can increase your speed and improve connection stability.

Read more about the best VPNs for gaming here.

How do Xbox One VPNs Work?

You can’t install a VPN directly on your Xbox One or any other console. Instead, you either have to configure it on your router to ensure that all your internet traffic is encrypted or set up a new network on your PC or laptop that is connected to the VPN.

Once you establish a VPN-protected online connection, all you have to do is select the secure Wi-Fi network from your Xbox’s settings.

If everything is set up correctly, a VPN will encrypt all your data while gaming on your console, mask your IP address, protect you from malware and cyber attacks, and allow you to access online content — be it game servers or TV shows on streaming platforms — without any location restrictions.

Are Xbox One VPNs Safe?

Yes, every VPN we reviewed in this article is completely safe and can be used on any device, including your PC or laptop, mobile phone, and Xbox One. Most VPN providers adhere to a strict no-log policy, meaning they never store your data and don’t monitor your online activity.

Only a handful of VPNs with U.S. jurisdictions, like UltraVPN, are required by law to keep some activity logs. Even then, the VPN itself is completely safe, with the only difference being that your ISP has access to your online logs and is required to provide them if the government has a justifiable reason to request them.

Free VPNs for Xbox One vs. Paid Xbox VPNs

There aren’t many VPNs that are completely free to use. With thousands of servers spread across the world, it would be difficult for any VPN service provider to offer a VPN completely free of charge.

That said, PrivadoVPN offers a completely free account, so you can test out the VPN first-hand before paying for a monthly subscription. One thing to note is that free accounts are usually heavily limited in terms of features and server access. You can typically only select a handful of servers.

In general, though, if you want to stay protected while gaming on your Xbox One and ensure your accounts, passwords, and other sensitive data are safe from hackers and other cyber threats, paid VPNs are a much better option.

Are Xbox One VPNs Legal?

VPNs are perfectly legal in the vast majority of countries around the world. That said, there is a small handful of countries that outright ban the use of VPNs.

If you live in any of the following countries, we strongly advise against using a VPN:

• Russia
• Belarus
• China
• North Korea
• Iran
• Iraq
• Turkey
• Turkmenistan
• United Arab Emirates
• Oman
• Uganda

Apart from the countries that have outright banned VPNs, the status of virtual private networks is uncertain in Cuba, Egypt, Vietnam, and Bahrain.

What is the Best VPN Country for Xbox One?

When deciding what server to connect to, there are multiple factors you should consider. Every VPN provider has servers in various countries across the globe, but the server distribution will vary from one provider to the next. Generally speaking, most VPN providers have a plethora of servers in the U.S. and Canada, as well as all across Europe.

The next thing you need to pay attention to is the ping. You should always connect to a server that’s both close to the game server and your physical location. In other words, if you’re in the U.S., you should connect to one of the U.S. servers. The same goes for Xbox gamers in Europe — connect to a server in your country if available or the country that’s geographically closest to you.

How to Use a VPN on Xbox One

Since you can’t install a VPN directly on your Xbox One, your best bet is to install it on your router. This has the added benefit of encrypting your online data on any device.

Here are step-by-step instructions for setting up NordVPN on your Xbox One:

Step 1: Sign up for NordVPN

Navigate to NordVPN’s official website and choose the pricing plan that suits you best.

Enter your payment information and create an NordVPN account to get started.

Step 2: Download ExpressVPN on Your PC, Laptop, or Phone

You can’t download a VPN on your console, so you’ll have to use another device to set up a VPN-protected network for your Xbox One.

Click “Download VPN” from the website’s navigation and choose the VPN app version based on your operating system.

Simply double-click on the NordVPN download file and follow the prompts on your screen:

Step 3: Install ExpressVPN on Your Router

To install NordVPN on your router, you’ll install the firmware from their website and select your router model. You’ll receive an activation code that you’ll use later on in the process.

From here, you’ll go to your router’s admin panel and select “Connectivity”. Choose the NordVPN firmware you downloaded, and click “Start”. If you’re not sure how to do this, please follow NordVPN’s official guide.

Step 4: Choose the VPN-Protected Network on Your Xbox One

Navigate to settings on your console, and under Wi-Fi settings, choose the VPN-protected network you previously set up. That’s it — you’re ready to start gaming while protected by NordVPN!

Best Xbox One VPN FAQ