There are many benefits of using a virtual private network on your Xbox console. Of course, you get the added layer of protection for your data, but the perks go beyond that. A solid and well-tested VPN can prevent your internet service provider from throttling your speed based on the kind of data you’re using, help you overcome geoblocking to connect with game servers around the world and ensure that your fellow players can’t see your true IP address (making it harder for someone to locate you for DDoS or swatting attacks).
But finding the best VPN for Xbox can be tricky. While there’s an array of VPN services to choose from, not all of them offer competitive speeds, not all of them work with video streaming, and only some support Microsoft’s Xbox platform. That’s why we’ve hands-on tested all the major VPN players. While these Xbox recommendations aren’t based on direct install testing on the device, we’ve run each VPN through a battery of tests to target the typical needs of Xbox privacy configurations. All of our top recommendations for this list offer strong privacy, high-performance speeds with connection stability and are compatible across home Wi-Fi routers to ensure home-wide console protection.
Keep in mind that this is an evolving list as we continually do more VPN research and testing. Be sure to check back regularly since we’ll be updating this guide as new Xbox VPN contenders emerge. In the meantime, for help getting your VPN up and running on your Xbox console, check out how to set up a VPN on Xbox. Below, you’ll find our recommendations for the best VPN for Xbox.
Price $13 a month, $60 for six months or $100 for a yearLatest tests No leaks detected, 18% speed loss in 2023 testsNetwork 3,000-plus servers in 160 locations across 94 countries Jurisdiction British Virgin Islands
Number of servers: 3,000-plus in 94 countries
Price $79 for the first two years or $60 for the first year (then $100 per year afterwards) or $12 a monthLatest tests No leaks detected, 10% speed loss in 2023 tests Network 5,600-plus servers in 84 locations across 59 countriesJurisdiction Panama
Price $12 a month or $54 for the first year (then $90 annually)Latest tests No leaks detected, 26% speed loss in 2023 testsNetwork 2,000-plus servers in 75-plus locations across 52 countriesJurisdiction United States
IP address number: 40,000
FAQs
What’s the best VPN for Xbox?
- ExpressVPN received a CNET Editors’ Choice Award for best overall VPN. We evaluate VPNs based on their overall performance in three main categories: speed, security and price. Express isn’t the cheapest, but it’s among the fastest and, so far, is the most secure. (Note that we’re currently re-evaluating ExpressVPN based on the news mentioned above.)
- NordVPN is a die-hard heavy hitter. It has an enormous network that’s constantly getting faster and more secure and is easily the most reliable service we’ve tested.
- IPVanish, our third choice, offers competitive speeds and has one of the best user interfaces, encouraging you to get under the hood and learn the mechanics powering the technology.
Why do you need a VPN on your Xbox?
Investing in a VPN to protect your Xbox’s privacy opens up a slew of benefits: You can more easily join games on servers around the world, circumvent geoblocking restrictions on YouTube and Netflix content, and dodge any shady data-throttling practices your internet service provider tries to pull.
