The Best VPN for Xbox in 2025: Lag-Free and Secure Gaming

We understand that online privacy may not be your top priority when looking for the best VPN for Xbox in 2025. Given the power of modern gaming consoles, you’re likely seeking a VPN to change your IP address and access geo-restricted games, exclusive gaming servers, and streaming libraries from around the world.

That’s all well and good. However, on top of those benefits, a good VPN can also protect you from DDoS attacks that would disrupt your gameplay and even prevent bandwidth throttling by your internet service provider (ISP). Whether you’re using a Series S or X, Xbox One, or Xbox 360, you’d be enhancing your overall gaming experience.

The catch? You can’t embark on those epic quests with just any VPN. You need high-quality gear with the right features to handle the demands of online gaming. This article will explore five of the best VPN services you can use on Xbox consoles.

VPN for Xbox: Why You Need a Gaming VPN

The Xbox is basically a big-screen entertainment hub these days. On top of your regular gaming, you can watch movies and TV shows on Netflix, enjoy live streams on Twitch, use social media, and browse the internet.

You can even connect your cable or satellite box to your console and use it as a pass-through device.

Here’s how an Xbox VPN service can come in handy:

1. Protect Your Device and Data: Gaming should be fun, but sore losers (and other bad actors) can hit you with DDoS attacks, SWAT you, or even hack your Xbox. A solid Xbox VPN reduces the chances of such attacks by encrypting your device and hiding your IP address.
2. Bypass Geo-Restrictions: Thanks to a VPN, you can access games before they are released in your region. That also applies to movies and shows on streaming platforms like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video.
3. Beat Throttling and Minimize Lag: Heavy data use can lead to your ISP deliberately slowing down your connection speed. However, when you use a VPN, your ISP can’t see what you’re doing and cannot throttle your connection. What’s more, an Xbox VPN can reroute you closer to a gaming server and actually reduce your ping.

The Best VPN for Xbox: Our 5 Top Options of 2025

Loads of VPNs claim they’re the best providers for gaming. Unfortunately, many of those are not only inadequate, they’re downright poor choices for your Xbox.

To help you cut out the noise, we assessed 40+ VPNs and drew up a list of the five best options to choose from.

1. NordVPN

Based on our experience, NordVPN offers the best VPN service for Xbox users. We like several features provided by the best VPN service on the market. For instance, you can get a dedicated IP address to run your own game server.

And then there’s Meshnet. The feature lets you create virtual networks for gaming with your buddies that beat traditional LAN. It comes with more control over the game settings, and you can link up with friends globally while managing access. You don’t even need port forwarding because your devices can communicate directly (and securely).

You also get lightning-fast connection speeds and lower pings. NordVPN’s custom protocol NordLynx retains as much as 90% of your original speed. We didn’t experience laggy gameplay during our tests on the Xbox while playing AAA titles like PUBG and Cyberpunk 777, even while connected to distant servers. And 4K videos streamed like a dream on various platforms.

NordVPN has a massive fleet comprising more than 6,400 servers across 111 countries to connect to. Combine that with its unrivaled unblocking capabilities, and you won’t have any issues accessing the early releases and foreign streaming libraries you’re interested in on your Xbox.

As for keeping nasty gamers and their attacks away, it packs several top-rate features, like military-grade encryption and a kill switch. Threat Protection blocks trackers and prevents you from downloading malware. Plus, its dark web monitor scans the dark web for signs of your leaked data. On top of that, the Panama-based VPN has a strict no-logs policy.

For all that, NordVPN is easy on the wallet (feel free to check out the latest promotions at NordVPN) and has a 30-day money-back guarantee so you can test it out risk-free.

Visit NordVPN

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2. ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN’s user-friendly apps are relatively easy to set up, so you’re not wasting time instead of gaming. You can skip drawn-up configuration processes and get its exclusive Aircove router with a built-in VPN. The router easily shares VPN-enable connections with your Xbox and other devices on your local network.

Speaking of exclusives, its custom Lightway is one of the fastest protocols. We only encountered lagging when we switched to servers located thousands of miles away, and even that was few and far between. Streaming on apps like Netflix and Hulu played out perfectly, whether on HD or 4K resolutions.

ExpressVPN lets you lower your latency between gaming servers by connecting to locations near the network hosts. That works because it has 10 Gbps servers in 160 countries, with plenty of them to choose from.

Unblocking early releases (not available yet in your country) and servers is a breeze. Without any hassles, we could stream region-locked titles on Netflix US from outside America as well as BBC iPlayer from abroad.

With its MediaStreamer, ExpressVPN not only supports Xbox One and Xbox 360, but it’s also compatible with PlayStation 3, 4, and 5.

ExpressVPN helps you sidestep DDoS attacks and other security issues. It employs AES 256-bit encryption to scramble your data and has a kill switch and DNS leak protection. Third-party auditors have pored over its no-logs policy and found it airtight.

The only significant downside is its subscription plans, which are rather pricey. That said, a 30-day money-back guarantee lets you decide whether it’s worth it. Hint: it is.

Visit ExpressVPN

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3. Private Internet Access

PIA VPN supports gaming on a wide array of platforms, including Xbox consoles, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, Meta Quest, Amazon Luna, and Steam Deck. Its massive network leaves the competition in the dust. The collection, with its over 30,000 servers in 91 countries, is perfect for multiplayer gaming experiences with friends around the world.

Every server location has ping measurements attached, which we found quite handy for skipping those with higher latency. We like that you can save those with low ping rates for later. The measurements are pretty accurate, too — we cherrypicked a few servers that promised smooth, steady gameplay and experienced just that.

What’s more, the provider’s servers have 10 Gbps ports. And because your data can’t be inspected while connected to Private Internet Access, there’s no bandwidth throttling to worry about.

Private Internet Access protects your online traffic against DDoS attacks, swatting, and other targeted malicious activities that could ruin your gaming experience. It offers a choice between AES 128-bit and AES 256-bit encryption algorithms. The latter is the gold standard, but it does come with a slight trade-off in performance, so we like that the former is set by default. You can switch between them.

Privacy-wise, it’s just about the most transparent Xbox VPN. Apart from quarterly transparency reports, its strict no-logs policy has undergone independent auditing multiple times. Plus, all of the VPN’s apps are open source.

PIA is one of the most affordable quality VPNs on the market. You can take it for a spin for up to 30 days risk-free before committing to your purchase.

Visit Private Internet Access

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4. Proton VPN

Proton VPN effectively hides your activity from your ISP so it cannot throttle your connection because you’ve been gaming for hours or on a Twitch marathon. For our experts, it’s a top VPN for Xbox consoles.

Your internet speed doesn’t take a big hit when you connect to the provider’s servers. During our tests, we manually downloaded Starfield’s massive update on the Xbox Series X, and the 24 GB update breezed along impressively. Its VPN Accelerator feature is built into all its apps to deliver up to 400% faster speeds over an unstable internet connection.

It’s also a good VPN for streaming. We encountered no issues unblocking Netflix US and several other libraries on the Xbox. Over the course of our testing, Proton VPN reflected those capabilities on other platforms like BBC iPlayer and Amazon Prime Video.

Gaming with Proton VPN is safe, even if you’re playing games or streaming over public Wi-Fi. No surprise there, considering its parent company is behind the security-focused Proton Mail. Thanks to its industry-standard encryption, other players can’t see your actual IP address. Consequently, they can’t SWAT you or employ other nasty attacks.

Proton VPN offers an attractive monthly plan that is cheaper than most competitors, making it a strong contender for the title of best Xbox VPN of 2025. If you give it a go, you’ll be backed by the VPN’s 30-day money-back guarantee.

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5. Surfshark

Reliable Surfshark wraps up our list of the best VPNs for Xbox. The provider promises to reduce lag for seamless online gaming, and it proved accurate during our tests with Surfshark.

All of Surfshark’s servers have up to 10 Gbps ports. Combine that with modern protocols like WireGuard and an impressive collection of servers across 100 countries, and you’ll never have to struggle with overcrowded servers.

Surfshark is also one of the best providers you can use for streaming. Even though it shies away from revealing those capabilities, we’ve found that it effortlessly bypasses geo-blocks to grant unrestricted access. Whether you’re itching to get in on a release not yet in your region or to unblock Netflix, it has you covered.

It’s an excellent option for steady gaming and streaming, but Surfshark doesn’t compromise your security while at it. AES 256-bit encryption masks your IP address, so it would be extremely difficult to target you with DDoS and other attacks. Plus, its stacked arsenal has everything from a kill switch to data breach alerts and an ad-blocker. On top of that, Surfshark’s no-logs policy makes it clear that it won’t collect or store any details that could lead back to you.

Price-wise, Surfshark isn’t as cheap as it used to be, but its long-term plans are of good value. Whatever plan you decide on, a 30-day money-back guarantee comes attached.

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How We Chose the Best VPNs for Xbox

Speed: Low latency. Smooth streaming (even in 4K resolutions). Both of these require blazing-fast internet speeds. Because VPNs inherently impact your connection speed, we only selected providers that keep it to the minimum.

Security: The providers on our list have top-rate features to safeguard you from real security risks like DDoS attacks, swatting, and phishing scams.

Privacy: A VPN may keep third parties from looking in, but it sees your IP address. That’s why it’s super-important that it doesn’t store your activity or connection logs.

Network and Unblocking Capabilities: The Xbox is an all-round entertainment device. So, we prioritized VPNs with thousands of servers across dozens of countries. The best of them can bypass geo-blocks so you can tap into gaming servers, exclusive games, as well as international streaming services and libraries.

Support: The ideal VPN for Xbox should have robust guides to help you set up the VPN. In addition, you want responsive customer support available 24/7 when you need assistance.

How to Set Up a VPN on Your Xbox

VPNs don’t natively support the Xbox, which rules out downloading and installing them directly as you would on your phone or computer. That said, there are a few other roads to the same destination:

• Use an Ethernet cable
• Use mobile hotspot
• Use a router

It goes without saying that you need a VPN subscription to begin with. We’ll demonstrate the methods below using NordVPN, our favorite VPN for Xbox.

1. Use Mobile Hotspot

This is the simplest approach and takes all of five minutes. You’ll be sharing your VPN-protected internet connection as a mobile hotspot so the Xbox can connect to it. However, it’s not as great for fast speeds as the next option and drains your PC’s battery life.

1. Go to Settings and select “Network & Internet.”
2. Select “Mobile hotspot” and toggle on “Share my internet connection with other devices.”
3. Select Wi-Fi in the “Share my Internet connection from” dropdown.
4. Click “Change adapter options” under “Related settings.”
5. Find your active VPN connection (e.g., “TAP-NordVPN Windows Adapter”). Right-click on it and select “Properties.”
6. Click “Sharing” and check the box that says, “Allow other network users to connect through this computer’s Internet connection.”
7. Select “Local Area Connection” from the dropdown menu under “Home networking connection*.” It could be numbered, but make sure to choose the option with an asterisk.
8. Launch the VPN app on your PC and connect to a server.
9. Connect your console to the hotspot network.

2. Use an Ethernet Cable

We especially like this method because a wired connection reduces latency compared to wireless. That said, you need the cable connected to your PC and Xbox whenever you use the console. Besides, it only allows one active connection at a time.

On Windows

1. Connect your Xbox to your PC using the Ethernet cable.
2. On your PC, go to Settings and select “Network & Internet.”
3. Select “Network and Sharing Center” and click “Change adapter options.”
4. Right-click on the TAP adapter (e.g., “TAP-NordVPN Windows Adapter”) and select “Properties.”
5. Click “Sharing” and check the box that says, “Allow other network users to connect through this computer’s Internet connection.”
6. Select “Ethernet” from the dropdown menu under “Home networking connection.” Click “OK” to apply changes.
7. Launch your VPN app and connect to a server, and the VPN now protects your Xbox.

On macOS

1. Connect your Xbox to your Mac using the Ethernet cable.
2. Go to “System Preferences” and select “Sharing.”
3. Select “Internet Sharing.”
4. Choose your VPN connection under “Share your connection from.”
5. Select how you’ll share the connection under “To computers using”
6. Check the box next to “Internet Sharing” to toggle it on. Confirm your choice. Your status should show “Internet Sharing: On” with a green indicator.
7. Launch your VPN app and connect to a server.

3. Use a Router

Finally, you can share your VPN connection with your Xbox through your router, but only if it’s compatible. The benefits? You get to protect every device on your private network, not just your gaming console. Plus, you can leave it on permanently.

That said, it won’t work with some routers, so check if yours supports VPNs. You can rule yours out if you bought it from an ISP. That is, unless you’re prepared to flash the router, but that’s a cumbersome process for most people and can damage it.

VPN services have different instructions for installing their service on supported routers. Here are the steps our top VPNs for the Xbox:

• Set up a router with NordVPN
• Set up a router with ExpressVPN
• Set up a router with Private Internet Access
• Set up a router with Proton VPN
• Set up a router with Surfshark

Once done configuring your router, connect to the network through the router’s control panel.

Does a Free VPN for Xbox Cut It?

The allure of free is undeniable, but you get what you pay for — and that rings true for gaming, especially on a high-performance console like the Xbox.

A free VPN will struggle to deliver the high speeds necessary for smooth online gaming on Xbox consoles, including the best free providers. They typically have small networks, which translates to overcrowded servers.

Besides, many free VPNs have limited data caps (that will dry up quickly while gaming or streaming) and may very well throttle your bandwidth in the middle of a mission.

What’s more, free providers may collect your data extensively and bombard you with ads. And because they tend to have subpar security and privacy tools, they may be ill-equipped to safeguard your data and device from the activities of malicious gamers.

Conclusion

Your Xbox console could do with an extra layer of protection to prevent sore losers from attacking you. Besides, a VPN for Xbox enhances your experience with access to exclusive games, servers, and streaming services.

We’ve highlighted and discussed the best VPNs to choose from for Xbox.

Our top choice? NordVPN. It comes with several gaming-friendly features, delivers blazing-fast connection speeds, and all but guarantees your privacy and security.

Try NordVPN Today

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FAQs

Still have questions? The answers to these FAQs may help.

Can I run a VPN on my Xbox?

No, you cannot directly install a VPN on an Xbox console. However, you can connect your Xbox to a VPN-enabled computer via Ethernet cable or mobile hotspot. You can also share a VPN connection from your router.

Does a VPN affect Xbox?

On one hand, a VPN may slow down your connection and introduce latency. Conversely, it can help you bypass ISP throttling and reduce your ping, which means smoother gameplay and streaming.

Can I use any VPN for gaming?

For best results, you need a fast VPN for an enjoyable gaming experience. Your preferred VPN must have widespread servers to help you overcome lagging and industry-standard features to protect you from various attacks.