With one of the best VPNs for Steam, you can ensure access to fast, low latency, and highly secure servers. This ensures a seamless experience while browsing the Steam store or playing games. After testing over 30 VPNs, I’ve found the best VPN for Steam to be ExpressVPN, thanks to its highly secure and lightning-fast servers. You can buy ExpressVPN in confidence with its 30-day money-back guarantee. Getting a refund is easy if it doesn’t meet your expectations. Protect Steam with ExpressVPN
Short on Time? These Are the Best VPNs for Steam
Access Steam with ExpressVPN
The Best VPNs for Steam in 2023
1. ExpressVPN — The Highest Speeds for the Fastest Steam Downloads
Key Features: ExpressVPN offers exceptionally high speeds while connected to Steam, so you can make use of Steam’s huge bandwidth capabilities to download content from your library. I measured speeds of over 300Mbps while connected to a local server — enough to download Modern Warfare II (30GB) in 14 minutes, or the massive GTA V (over 100GB) in just 48 minutes. Better yet, my ping was always low enough to make sure there was never any lag. Just keep in mind that your speeds will be dependant on your base connection. With a base speed of 350Mbps, the impact of connecting to ExpressVPN was minimal. If your base speeds are on the lower end then you may feel a more significant impact on your browsing experience. Thanks to the 3000+ servers in over 94 countries, you’ll be able to access your home Steam store practically everywhere you travel around the world. I’ve tested plenty of ExpressVPN’s local and faraway servers and have come away extremely impressed with its reliable connections and no loading issues on Steam. Alongside speed, privacy and security are ExpressVPN’s top priorities — it has many powerful features to keep you secure while on Steam at all times, including:
256-bit encryption scrambles your traffic so it’s unreadable to third parties IP masking protects against DDoS attacks and helps change your digital geolocation Independently audited no-logs policy guarantees no storing of your activity Kill switch blocks your internet connection in case of a VPN server disconnection Proprietary Lightway Protocol offers high speeds and security.
You can access your Steam library on up to 5 devices at the same time with ExpressVPN. This includes all primary Steam-supported devices like Windows, macOS, and Linux, although you’re covered on numerous others including PS5, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Android, iOS, Fire TV, and Android TV. You can even set up the router app so all your connected devices are protected at once. ExpressVPN’s powerful functionality comes at a slightly higher monthly cost of $6.67 compared to the other VPNs on this list. However, at this price, you’re getting great value thanks to the 49% off of the 1-year + 3 months subscription, plus 3 additional months free. You can buy ExpressVPN with confidence thanks to its 30-day money-back guarantee. I tested the policy by contacting ExpressVPN via their 24/7 live chat and asking for a refund. With no additional questions asked they confirmed my request, and I had the money back in my account 3 days later. Access Steam with ExpressVPN
2. CyberGhost — Optimized Gaming Servers for Fast & Low-Latency Steam Connections
Key Features: With servers optimized for gaming, CyberGhost is a brilliant pick for Steam. These servers allow for high-speed and low-latency connections, resulting in fast downloads and lag-free connections to your favorite games. The 4 optimized gaming locations are in New York, London, Frankfurt, and Paris. You can see each server’s latency from your location so you can be sure they’re a good choice. Even if you don’t live close to an optimized server, the 9633+ regular servers in over 91 countries still offer high performance for gaming. CyberGhost’s server list also shows you the distance from each server, so you can quickly gauge which is closest. I tested several global CyberGhost servers with Steam and some online games and experienced stable connectivity across them all. CyberGhost is more than capable of keeping you safe while accessing your Steam library, including the following security features:
Audited no-logs policy so your online activity isn’t stored IP masking helps protect against DDoS attacks Military-grade encryption converts your data into a secret code so it’s unreadable Always-on kill switch stops accidental traffic leaks if your VPN connection drops NAT firewall offers additional protection against network threats IKEv2, Open VPN, and WireGuard protocols so you can choose the connections that work best for your needs.
If you’d like to access Steam on multiple devices while protecting others in your home, you’ll be glad to hear that CyberGhost supports 7 devices simultaneously. I tested this by connecting 2 Windows PCs, a MacBook, and 4 mobile phones, without any impact on speeds or server stability. The main issue with CyberGhost is that its short-term plans aren’t as cost-effective as the other VPNs on this list. Fortunately, I’d mainly advise signing up for one of the affordable long-term plans like the 2-year + 2 months subscription for just $2.19/month. You can try CyberGhost risk-free using its generous 45-day money-back guarantee. Just like ExpressVPN, CyberGhost’s refund policy is no questions asked. I verified this by contacting CyberGhost’s 24/7 live chat. Within 5 minutes they approved my refund, and I got the money back 4 days later. Access Steam with CyberGhost
3. Private Internet Access — Massive Server Network for Steam Access Anywhere
Key Features: If a large server network is your main desire in a VPN, Private Internet Access’ 35000+ servers in 84 countries have you covered. With so many servers to choose from, you should always have nearby options to get connected to Steam. One of the main reasons for this large network is PIA’s heavy reliance on virtual servers. Since they’re not strictly tied to the server hardware’s physical location, PIA’s virtual servers can offer distant geolocation while maintaining higher speeds and lower ping. They also allow PIA to add new servers rapidly which provides a huge amount of new IP addresses in case Steam or other services block existing ones. Some of PIA’s powerful security features that help safeguard Steam include:
256-bit encryption keeps your traffic anonymous An audited no-logs policy ensures your activity is never monitored or stored An optional kill switch stops data leaks if your connection drops OpenVPN, WireGuard, and IPSec (on iOS) protocols provide a balance of speed and security.
PIA can be used on 10 devices at once, so you can protect Steam and your online gaming sessions on multiple devices at once. No matter how many devices I connected simultaneously (up to 8 in my case), I didn’t experience slowdowns or any other issues. Although the default options should be plenty for most people, if you’re a beginner VPN user then you may feel a little overwhelmed by PIA’s interface. Fortunately, between the detailed guides and good labeling of options, you should always get the right info when you need it. On the other hand, if you’re a more advanced user you’ll likely be happy with PIA’s offering! You can get access to this powerful feature set for as little as $2.19/month. With its 30-day money-back guarantee you can try PIA with zero risk. I’ve checked how easy this is myself — after emailing PIA support with my request, I received a reply in under an hour with immediate approval. The money was back in my account 6 working days later. Access Steam with PIA
4. PrivateVPN — Affordable VPN for High-Performance Steam Connections
Key Features: PrivateVPN is the most affordable premium VPN for Steam, costing as little as $2.00 monthly with its 3-year plan. Even so, I found it offers impressive performance, with high speeds and low-latency servers around the world. You can easily find the best server for your gaming needs since PrivateVPN shows you each server’s ping (relative to your location). This made finding a good server for Steam and my online gaming library particularly simple. I ran multiple Steam downloads while connected to a local PrivateVPN server, reaching high speeds of over 280Mbps. Although this was over 20-30% slower than my baseline internet speeds, it’s still plenty for fast Steam downloads. Besides maintaining fast Steam connections, PrivateVPN also keeps you secure with the following features:
256-bit level encryption hides your traffic to make it unreadable to others No-logs policy makes sure your activity isn’t stored to a drive Toggleable kill switch protects your sensitive data if the VPN drops out Strong security protocols including OpenVPN, L2TP, IPsec, PPTP, and IKEv2.
My main complaint with PrivateVPN is its relatively small network size. This won’t be an issue if you have the servers you need in your vicinity, but it’s worth checking first before committing to a plan. As I’ve mentioned before though, I was very impressed with PrivateVPN’s general price-performance ratio which makes it one of the top monthly VPN choices. On top of the affordable plans, you can try PrivateVPN risk-free with its 30-day money-back guarantee. The easiest way to do this is by contacting support via email — I tested this myself and was pleased to get a reply within just 2 hours. I did need to send back 1 follow-up response to confirm I wanted the refund, but the agent then almost immediately confirmed it. I had the money back a week later. Access Steam with PrivateVPN
5. IPVanish — Connect to Steam on unlimited Devices at Once
Key Features: IPVanish allows for unlimited simultaneous device connections, so you can secure your Steam account on all your devices. Whether I was just browsing the store or actively downloading, none of the 4 IPVanish-connected computers I used suffered from any slowdown. I played Warzone 2 and Hell Let Loose with IPVanish active and was impressed by the performance. While connected to local UK servers there was no noticeable lag — only while measuring my ping did I see a decline from 35ms to 57ms, which practically makes no difference during gameplay. To make sure your gaming experience is as smooth as possible, IPVanish’s interface includes detailed information about your connection. These servers keep you and your Steam connection secure with a number of the latest techniques, including:
An audited no-logs policy, guaranteed to never store your traffic details 256-bit encryption protects your connection Optional kill switch protects your traffic and original IP from leaks Independently-owned server network allows for faster maintenance and physical security against bad actors.
My top subscription recommendation for IPVanish is its 1 year plan at $3.99 per month. When you take its unlimited simultaneous device connections into account, it ends up being a fantastic per-device value proposition. Note that IPVanish doesn’t offer Smart DNS functionality. This is primarily an issue if you want to get a VPN connected to your smart TV or game on your console as well as PC and intend to stream content there. However, you can easily set up a hotspot for your console via your Windows or macOS device. All IPVanish’s plans come with a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can try it risk-free. IPVanish also has by far the easiest refund method I’ve used with any VPN since you can just log in to your online dashboard and submit the refund form. I tested this myself — after immediate approval I got the money back 4 days later. Access Steam with IPVanish IPVanish unblocks: Steam, Twitch, Netflix, Showtime, Discovery+, Paramount+, ITV Hub, ESPN, Vudu, and more.
Comparison Table: 2023’s Best VPNs for Steam
How I Tested and Ranked the Best VPNs for Steam Games
These are the main factors I used to rank the best VPNs for Steam:
High speeds: To take advantage of Steam’s high download capabilities. Low latency: Ping indicates the level of lag (latency) you’re likely to encounter while gaming online — the lower the better. Server choice: Servers should be widely available in your region and around the world in locations you want to connect to. Security: Military-grade encryption and IP masking are the two main ways in which a VPN protects you while connected to Steam, along with other more advanced security features. Privacy: Rock-solid IP & DNS leak protection, reputable zero-log policies, and additions like RAM-based servers. Device compatibility: Steam is primarily supported on devices that can run Windows, macOS, and Linux, so the VPN should also be available on these 3, in addition to other popular devices like Android and iOS. Multiple simultaneous connections: It should be possible to protect Steam on multiple devices while connecting several more.
Quick Guide: How to Use a VPN With Steam in 3 Easy Steps
Can I get banned for using a VPN with Steam?
Technically, VPN usage on Steam goes against the platform’s Subscriber Agreement. If you avoid doing the following you should increase your odds of being unaffected:
Don’t use a VPN to buy cheaper games or DLC in a different region. Don’t use a VPN to bypass content blocks on games.
Technically, Steam also states that using a VPN “for any other purpose” can result in a ban. However, situations where people are banned for using a VPN with Steam are rare. I’ve been using VPNs with Steam for several years and have never encountered issues.
Can I use a VPN to change my Steam region?
You can change your Steam region with a VPN, but you also need to make a Steam purchase with a payment option local to that region to complete the change. In practice, this eliminates most misuse, since having a local bank account in a country where you don’t actually live isn’t common. Be aware that if you do use a VPN to change Steam regions without actually living there, Steam reserves the right to ban your account. I don’t condone using a VPN to change your Steam region against its Subscriber Agreement terms.
Will a VPN for Steam slow down my internet?
It depends, although VPNs tend to reduce your speeds by at least a little. This is because your traffic is first encrypted and sent to the VPN server before continuing on to its final destination. Depending on the server’s location in relation to where your traffic is going, this rerouting can either reduce speeds or in some cases actually increase them. You can keep your speeds as high as possible when a VPN is active by doing the following:
Set your Steam download region to the one nearest to you (found in Settings > Downloads > Download Region). Connect to a VPN server that’s as close as possible to your location.
Can I use a free VPN with Steam?
After testing many of the best free VPNs, I wouldn’t advise using any of them with Steam. Free VPNs almost never offer a good enough combination of security, speed, and server variety. When it comes to using Steam, this can result in poor download speeds and no protection against DDoS attacks. Also, most free VPNs have monthly data limits that are smaller than the size of most games. Free VPNs have even been found to sell user data for additional profit — the polar opposite of what you want in a cybersecurity product. Instead, try one of the top premium VPNs on the market to ensure both your data and connectivity are taken care of. Access Steam with ExpressVPN
Securely Access Steam With a VPN
Finding a VPN that allows for fast Steam downloads, lag-free online gaming, and that’s also highly secure isn’t easy. The right VPN can make all the difference between easy access to game downloads or Steam and your games there being a slow, laggy mess. Fortunately, after testing over 30 VPNs I can confirm that ExpressVPN’s blazing-fast and widespread global server network make it the #1 VPN for Steam. You can buy ExpressVPN in confidence thanks to its 30-day money-back guarantee. Secure Steam with ExpressVPN
