My team and I tested over 80 free VPNs and found a handful that offer top-tier security and work well with PlayStation — some of them could even bypass geoblocks. However, I encountered many that aren’t safe and come with limitations like slow speeds and limited bandwidth. My top choice is ExpressVPN because it has great speeds for gaming and a huge server network that easily bypasses geoblocks, plus it’s easy to set up on your PS4/PS5. It’s not 100% free like the other VPNs in this list, but it offers a 30-day money-back guarantee so you can try it risk-free for a limited time. If you decide it’s not the right VPN for you, it only takes a few days to get a full refund. Try ExpressVPN for PlayStation Now!
Best Free VPNs for PS4 and PS5 (Updated March 2023)
1. ExpressVPN — Superfast Speeds For Smooth Gaming and Streaming on Your PS4/PS5
ExpressVPN speeds are really fast for gaming. I tested speeds on 5 local servers and had an average download speed of 45 Mbps (it’s best to have speeds of at least 15 Mbps for online gaming). Even on long-distance servers I didn’t experience significant speed loss and always had speeds over 15 Mbps. Every server I tested was more than fast enough for me to play Modern Warfare on my PS4, so you won’t have to deal with choppy gameplay. One of the reasons my speeds were so impressive is because it offers its own superfast security protocol called Lightway. Many other security protocols (like OpenVPN) can slow your speeds down too much for gaming, but Lightway just as secure without slowing speeds. This alongside military-grade encryption, built-in leak protection, and an automatic kill switch ensures you’re protected from online threats (like DDoS attacks that can crash your game). I always want to stay anonymous on public gaming servers for this reason, so I ran 5 of ExpressVPN’s servers through leak tests and no IP, DNS, or WebRTC leaks were detected on any of them. On top of that, ExpressVPN operates under a verified strict no-logs policy and all of its servers are RAM-based. This means there’s no way your personal data can be shared because it’s not stored. ExpressVPN also has a huge server network (3,000 servers in 94 locations), so you can access more international game servers and unblock a lot of restricted streaming content on your PS4/PS5. During my tests, I accessed 12 different Netflix libraries (including the US, UK, and Australia), Disney+, and Hulu and watched in HD with no annoying buffering. Setting up ExpressVPN on your PlayStation is also really easy and you can do it in a few ways. My favorite is SmartDNS which it calls MediaStreamer because it only takes a couple of minutes to set up and it’s great for unblocking streaming apps on your console. However, SmartDNS doesn’t change your IP or encrypt your traffic, which leaves you vulnerable to online threats while gaming. To get full protection, you can connect your PlayStation to a device that’s compatible with VPNs (like your router or PC). I chose to connect my PS4 to ExpressVPN through my PC’s internet connection. The 24/7 live chat support agent I asked for help was super knowledgeable and directed me to an online guide that showed me all the steps to do it — I had the full VPN connected to my console in 10 minutes. ExpressVPN has tons of other features, too. Its entire network is P2P-friendly, making it one of the easiest VPNs to use for safe torrenting. It also has a split tunneling feature that lets you choose which apps or websites use the VPN connection and which ones don’t. Since you can connect 5 devices with a single subscription, you can use all these features and stay safe with your other devices as well. The only downside to ExpressVPN is it’s not technically free, except for the 7-day free trial available on Android devices. You can take advantage of its money-back guarantee and test it out completely risk-free — if you’re not impressed then you can claim a full refund within 30 days. I tested the refund policy and it was hassle-free — it only took 3 days to get my money back. I contacted customer support and told them I wasn’t satisfied and they promptly approved my refund over live chat. Try ExpressVPN RISK-FREE Now!
2. CyberGhost — Large Server Network to Easily Access Geoblocked Content
CyberGhost offers impressive speeds and low latency, which is perfect for gaming. I tested 10 of its servers in the US, UK, and the Netherlands, and my speed never dropped under 33 Mbps. The Netherlands server successfully bypassed ISP throttling, boosting my speed by 30%. This allowed me to play Black Ops IV on my PlayStation and lag was never an issue. You’ll have no problem keeping up with any multiplayer game! It uses military-grade AES-256 type encryption and has strong IP and DNS leak protection. This means that no hacker could access your personal information or launch a cyberattack on you. I ran leak tests on all the servers I tested and each of them kept me anonymous. On top of that, it runs under a strict no-logs policy, so it doesn’t store any data about you or your online activity. With thousands of servers around the world, you’ll always find a reliable connection. This is really useful, as you can access discounted games and addons from different countries without leaving your house. It’s incredibly easy to watch geo-restricted movies and shows thanks to its specialized streaming servers. You only need to select the one you need from the app, and you open a new world of entertainment. To set it up, I installed CyberGhost on my router using the comprehensive guides on its website. The process only took 15 minutes and I was all ready to play. For increased protection, you can connect through your computer’s internet connection. The support agent I got in contact with sent me the tutorial and I connected my PS to the VPN in no time. CyberGhost allows up to 7 connections with only one subscription, which is great if you want to access geo-blocked content from all your devices. It also allows secure P2P transfers on all its servers and has a smart ad blocker that automatically stops ads and popups from showing. You’ll be able to access the internet from your PlayStation without being delayed by ads and malware. You can try CyberGhost completely free for 24 hours before you decide — you don’t even need to input your payment details. After that, you can take advantage of its extended 45-day money-back guarantee and get a full refund if you’re not happy. I got my money back quickly after contacting the support team and explaining that I didn’t need the VPN anymore. The agent approved it after a 3 minutes chat and I had the full amount back in 5 days. Get CyberGhost FREE for PS4/PS5!
3. Proton VPN — Unlimited Data for Unrestricted Play
Proton VPN’s free plan gives you good speeds and unlimited data, so you can game as much as you want. On its website, the free plan says you get “medium” speeds. However, using the “Quick Connect” feature, I was surprised to experience only minor speed loss (the NL-FREE#9 server gave me speeds averaging 40 Mbps). I got an impressive average speed of 30 Mbps on the US-FREE#2 server as well, so even long distance servers are fast enough to play games like Fortnite on your PS4/PS5 (15 Mbps is enough). Proton VPN is also a super trustworthy and safe VPN. It has a strict no-logs policy so you’re sensitive information isn’t stored or shared. With 256-bit encryption, built-in leak protection, and an automatic kill switch you’re safe from online threats while gaming on public servers. I ran 4 of its free servers through leak tests and didn’t experience any IP or DNS leaks, so your personal information is hidden from all the gamers sharing the same server. I was impressed that you can download free config files to set Proton VPN up on your router. No other free VPN I tested offers router support unless you pay for a premium subscription. I checked out the setup guide on its website and as long as you have a compatible DD-WRT router, the process is pretty simple. You just have to make sure you input the “free” data during setup. Unfortunately, my router isn’t compatible but I was able to connect by sharing my PC’s internet connection to my PS4 with an ethernet cable. Either way it’s a simple process to get your PlayStation connected. However, you only have access to 17 servers in 3 locations with the free plan (unfortunately none of them could unblock streaming apps like Netflix). When I was running tests, all of the free servers were at about 90% capacity. I was surprised my speeds were so good with so many people using them at once. So much overcrowding can cause significant slowdowns, so keep in mind you might experience slow speeds caused by crowded servers. On the plus side, I was automatically given a 7-day free trial of the Plus plan when I signed up with my email. With that I could connect to hundreds more servers, had access to more security features, and unblocked Hulu, Netflix, and Disney+ on my PlayStation. Get Proton VPN FREE for PS4/PS5!
4. Hotspot Shield — Game Safely with a Unique Security Feature Built for Speed
Hotspot Shield has its own unique security protocol called Hydra — it’s super secure and built to improve speeds over long distance connections. This is pretty necessary because if you use the free plan, you only have access to 1 server and it’s in the US. That means if your actual location is far away from there, your speeds will be slower. However, I was impressed with my speeds using Hydra during my tests. From my location in Western Europe, I had an average speed of 30 Mbps on the free US server. Since 15 Mbps is enough, I was able to play GTAV online without lag on my PS4. When you pair Hydra with Hotspot Shield’s military-grade encryption and leak protection, your private data is kept incredibly safe. No other gamers will be able to see your personal IP, so you can’t fall victim to online attacks that might mess up your game. I tested the free US server to be sure, and no IP or DNS leaks were detected. While you can get around 15GB of free data per month, it’s limited to 500MB per day. Games vary in how much data they use, so depending on the game this could be very limiting. You would get about 5 hours of gameplay with Fortnight, but just 1.5 hours with Destiny 2. This also isn’t even enough data to watch an entire movie in standard definition — but this didn’t really matter since the free server doesn’t unblock any streaming apps anyway. Hotspot Shield’s free plan doesn’t come with router compatibility, so you have to set it up on your PS4/PS5 by sharing your PC’s internet connection, which isn’t difficult. However, it will give you slower speeds compared to setting it up with your router. It took about 20 minutes for me to connect my PS4 through my PC and I was still able to play Fortnight online without noticeable lag. Get Hotspot Shield FREE for PS4/PS5!
5. hide.me — Reliable Speeds for Safe Occasional Gaming Safe
You get good speeds for gaming with hide.me. I tested the German and Netherlands servers (since they’re closest to my location) and had an average speed of 39 Mbps, which is more than double what you really need (15 Mbps is fast enough for most games). Even on the Canadian server I had a steady 29 Mbps and could play GTAV online without noticeable lag. With military-grade encryption and built-in leak protection your personal info is hidden, leaving you well-protected while gaming online. When I ran the free servers through tests, no IP or DNS leaks were found. I also really liked that you can choose between 4 security protocols with the free plan (including IKEv2 and OpenVPN). Most free VPNs don’t give you so much choice. Unfortunately, the fastest option (WireGuard) is only available to premium users, so I stuck with IKEv2 because it gave me better speeds. I was pretty happy with the 10GB per month data allowance. This is enough data to keep you protected while gaming on your PS4/PS5 for about 50 hours. However, it’s not a lot if you’re interested in streaming on your PlayStation — 10GB is only enough to watch for 3 hours in HD quality (and on top of that, none of the free servers could bypass geo-restrictions on any popular streaming apps). Unfortunately, it was really difficult to set hide.me up on my PlayStation. You have to manually configure VPN sharing to get it to work (unlike the other VPNs I’ve shortlisted). However, hide.me has 24/7 live chat support — even for free users. So even though it was a bit of a complicated process, support helped me through the setup and I eventually got it running on my PS4 using my PC in about 45 minutes. Get hide.me FREE for PS4/PS5!
6. TunnelBear — Tons of Servers to Find a Reliable Connection for Gaming
TunnelBear gives you access to all of its servers, so you can easily find a fast and reliable connection for gaming on your PS4/PS5. I had good speeds on local servers when I tested them (with an average of 31 Mbps on the Netherlands server) — I was able to play Fortnite without lag. However, the farther a server was the slower my speeds were — I had speeds of only 8.5 Mbps on the US server, which wasn’t fast enough for me to play games without a lot of lag. With so many servers to choose from, you can also connect to more international game servers. However, because my speeds dropped so much over long distances, it wasn’t worth playing on servers really far away from my actual location — my game was too choppy. It also comes with military-grade encryption, leak protection, and an automatic kill switch (called Vigilant Bear) to keep you safe on public game servers. Just to be sure, I ran a few of its servers through leak tests and they all passed with no IP or DNS leaks. TunnelBear is a safe VPN to use. You only get 500MB of data per month with TunnelBear’s free plan, which is not a lot. But you can tweet the company and they’ll top you up with another 1GB each month. I saw the option when I first opened the app on my PC and it only took 30 minutes to get my total monthly data to 1.5GB (that’s enough for around 7 hours of gaming). Get TunnelBear FREE for PS4/PS5!
7. Speedify — Speed-Boosting Technology for Lag-Free Gaming
Speedify uses technology called channel bonding to increase connection speeds and reliability. You can combine all of your available internet connections to boost speeds. When I connected my mobile data and home WiFi, I saw a 30% increase in speed. Another benefit of this is that you won’t get kicked out of your game if your internet cuts out. Speedify will automatically switch over to the other connection so your game keeps running smoothly. Channel bonding made my speeds fast enough to game on local and international gaming servers. After connecting my PS4 via my PC, I was able to play GTAV online without any lag — on the local Belgian server I had an average speed of 39 Mbps, which is almost double what you really need. I could even game on long-distance servers without noticeable lag during my tests. Using the New York one, I had an impressive speed of 32 Mbps. With servers in 30+ locations, you can play with your friends who live abroad without lag. It’s also a super safe VPN with military-grade encryption, built-in leak protection, and a no-logs policy. All 5 servers I tested were leak-free, so you’re kept safe while gaming on shared servers. I was impressed that I could unblock Netflix, Disney+, and Hulu using the free Denver server. However, I could only watch Netflix Originals — and since you get 2GB of free data per month, you can only stream for 4 hours in SD, anyway (it’s enough for around 10 hours of gameplay, though). Get Speedify FREE for PS4/PS5!
Warning: Free VPNs to Avoid and Why
You always need to be careful when considering free VPNs. There are a lot of dangerous and untrustworthy apps out there that can share your data with third parties and advertisers without your knowledge. I also came across numerous free VPNs that were riddled with malware and other viruses during my tests. The following VPNs are not safe and should be avoided:
Hola: Hola advertises itself as a VPN, but it’s not. It’s a P2P network where other people use your computer’s IP address. Meaning, if someone uses your IP address and does something illegal, you could be the one who gets in trouble. CrossVPN: Was infected by a trojan virus that installed itself onto the devices of anyone who downloaded the app. OKVPN: When I tested OKVPN, it made ads appear in other apps on my device. EasyVPN: Also can make unwanted ads show up in other apps. Psiphon: Its partner companies can track your data usage and use it to send you targeted ads. Hoxx VPN: Not actually a VPN, but a proxy. It keeps logs of your activity to sell to third parties. Archie VPN: Infested with malware. Hat VPN: It shares its free users’ location and is full of malware. SuperVPN: Stores logs and is also infested with malware. Tuxler: Keeps logs and shares that info with advertisers. GO VPN: This isn’t a VPN, but a proxy server. You’ll see targeted ads within its app, suggesting it shares your personal data. Hexatech: Also a proxy that gives advertisers access to your browsing history and data. FinchVPN: Comes with lots of malware. VPN One Click: Installs malware onto your device.
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Tips on How to Choose the Best Free VPN for PS4/PS5
Of all the free VPNs I tested, most of them couldn’t even be set up on a PlayStation console. After narrowing down the ones that actually work on PlayStation, these were the other crucial features I looked for that can help you decide which free PS4/PS5 VPN is best for you:
A completely free service: I made sure my recommendations don’t require billing information, so you’re guaranteed privacy and you won’t be accidentally charged. Enough speed and data for gaming: It’s best to have download speeds of 15 Mbps for smooth online gaming. Of course it depends on the game, but all of these VPNs gave me speeds well over this recommendation. You’ll need a free service that doesn’t cap speeds and offers enough data so you can game safely for at least a few hours (minimum 1.5GB per month). Easy to set up on PlayStation: Keep in mind, PS4/PS5 consoles aren’t VPN compatible. You need to make sure that the free VPN supports connection sharing on PCs (all of the ones in this list do), so you can easily connect your PlayStation with your computer. Strong security and privacy: Many free VPNs aren’t trustworthy and some of them aren’t strong enough to keep your online activity fully protected. All of the free VPNs in this list have strong 256-bit encryption, leak protection, and don’t store any information that can identify you personally. You should look for a free VPN that offers these security features (at the very least), so you’re safe while gaming online. Can bypass some geoblocks: Since streaming services are constantly upgrading their VPN-blocking technologies, it’s really hard to find a free VPN that can overcome the blocks. Not many free services update their servers and some only offer a few to free users, so it’s best to find a VPN with a lot of server locations. However, that still won’t guarantee you access. I only found 2 free VPNs that could bypass geoblocks for streaming: ExpressVPN (reliably) and Speedify (not so reliably).
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How to Set Up a Free VPN on Your PlayStation
There are a few different ways to connect your PlayStation to a VPN. You can’t just download and install a VPN from the PlayStation Store because PS4/PS5 consoles aren’t compatible with them. The fastest way to connect your PlayStation to a VPN is to use one that comes with SmartDNS, like ExpressVPN. This lets you stream geoblocked content directly on your console. However it won’t encrypt your traffic or hide your IP address. If you want full protection, then you need to connect your PS4/PS5 using your VPN-enabled router or PC. Most free VPNs don’t offer router support, so you’ll have to use your computer which can decrease speeds. I always use ExpressVPN because you can set it up with SmartDNS, your router, and your PC and none of the other free VPNs offer this level of versatility.
With SmartDNS (using ExpressVPN)
With Windows Ethernet
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With Windows WiFi
With Mac
With Your Router
Using a VPN on your router means that every device connected to the router is protected by the VPN as well. However, very few free VPNs offer router support. You’ll have to use the computer method instead, which can slow down your speeds a bit. Only 2 of the free VPNs in this list offer router support (ExpressVPN and Proton VPN). I recommend using ExpressVPN because it’s easy to set up and has fast gaming speeds with tons of servers to choose from. Keep in mind every router and VPN provider will have its own set of steps to get set up. For detailed steps about how to set up your VPN on your router, visit your provider’s website or contact its customer support. Try ExpressVPN on Your PS4/5 Risk-Free!
Will a free VPN unblock Netflix on my PlayStation?
Probably not. Free VPNs are rarely powerful enough to bypass Netflix’s anti-VPN software. They simply don’t have the resources to continuously replace IP addresses that have been blacklisted by Netflix. I always recommend ExpressVPN for unblocking geo-restricted content on PlayStation because it has a massive server network that’s constantly updated. That means if Netflix flags a specific IP address and blocks it, ExpressVPN will soon update it to a new one that works. You can test ExpressVPN completely risk-free because it offers a money-back guarantee. Then you can unblock streaming apps like Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, and HBO Max on your PS4/PS5 reliably at and claim a full refund within 30 days if you’re still not satisfied.
What is the best free VPN for gaming?
I recommend ExpressVPN to anyone who wants to use a VPN for gaming. Free VPNs generally limit your speeds, data, and server selection so much that they’re too slow and not ideal for gaming. You can test ExpressVPN out for yourself without risk because it’s backed by a money-back guarantee. If you’re not impressed, just claim a full refund within 30 days. That way you get unlimited bandwidth, super fast connections, and a massive selection of servers worldwide. Proton VPN is the best completely free option for gaming. But keep in mind that you can only use 3 servers that are usually overcrowded (so they can be slow).
Are free VPNs safe to use on PS4 and PS5?
Only a few free VPNs are safe to use on gaming consoles. I discovered that a lot of free VPNs are dangerous because they share your private information and browsing history with third parties. Some of the free services I tested came with harmful malware packaged with the app. However, all the free VPNs in this list have been tried-and-tested on PlayStation and are safe to use. I read each one’s privacy policy as well and none of them store any data that can identify you personally.
How do I get a free VPN on my PlayStation?
You need to connect your PS4/PS5 to a device that is compatible with VPNs. For the best speeds and performance, using a router is ideal. However, most free VPNs don’t offer router support unless you pay for a premium membership. So, you can also connect your PlayStation to your PC’s VPN-enabled internet connection. I made sure all the free VPNs in this list support VPN sharing, so you can use your PC to connect your console without hassle.
Can I get games cheaper and earlier with a VPN?
No. A VPN doesn’t allow you to change the region of your PSN account, which is what determines which PS Store you have access to. If you want to access games that are released earlier in other regions (or that cost less because of conversion rates) all you need to do is create a new PSN account and select the appropriate region. Keep in mind, you also need a payment method linked to that region.
Why should I use a VPN on my PlayStation?
A VPN can benefit your PS4/PS5 in a few ways. However, free VPNs usually limit the number of benefits you’ll have, like speed and how many servers you can use. If you want a VPN that offers all of the features below (plus more), I recommend ExpressVPN because you can test it out risk-free (it offers a 30-day money-back guarantee) without any limitations.
The Bottom Line
Even though some free VPNs have strong security features to keep you safe while gaming, they have too many limitations like slow speeds, limited data, and can’t be set up on gaming consoles. They also struggle to unblock popular streaming platforms, so you might not be able to stream your favorite shows on your PS4/PS5. That’s why my top choice is ExpressVPN because it has superfast speeds for gaming and streaming, strong security features, and is really easy to set up on PS4/PS5. You can try it risk-free for 30 days with its money-back guarantee and ask for a full refund if you don’t think it’s right for you.
Top VPNs for PS4/PS5 You Can Try Risk-Free with Money-Back Guarantees
The information above can be used to track you, target you for ads, and monitor what you do online.
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