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Whether you're new to playing Minecraft or have your own Minecraft server, you might want to consider a virtual private network (VPN.) A VPN can help make sure your internet connection stays stable and offers protection for your IP address, and the best VPNs for Minecraft are NordVPN, Surfshark VPN, or ExpressVPN.
NordVPN wants you to play Minecraft with Meshnet, which connects players to gaming servers as if they're all on a local area network (LAN). Surfshark has unlimited connections and many servers. Finally, ExpressVPN maintains fast speeds, so network traffic won't slow down your gaming.
NordVPN: Best for cloud storage
Surfshark: Best for unlimited devices
ExpressVPN: Best for speed
Honorable mentions
How we test VPNs
FAQs
Bottom line: The best VPNs for Minecraft
The best VPNs for Minecraft 2024
No matter if you’re a casual gamer who plays on a console or a Minecraft mod expert, using a VPN can increase your security, peace of mind, and overall gaming experience. Incorporating a VPN into your Minecraft gaming helps protect you from distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks, gives you a smooth experience by thwarting throttling, and hides your IP address.
Minecraft also likes to block VPNs, so using a service with obfuscated servers can help you get past those blocks. Connection speeds are also important and having a fast VPN — like one of our top three — will allow you to access Minecraft without worrying about throttling by your internet service provider (ISP).
- NordVPN: Best for cloud storage
- Surfshark: Best for unlimited devices
- ExpressVPN: Best for speed
Top 3 VPN services for Minecraft compared
VPN | NordVPN |
Surfshark |
ExpressVPN |
Starting price | $3.59/mo (billed every two years) | $1.99/mo (billed every two years) | $6.67/mo (billed annually) |
Free version | |||
Streaming support | Yes — Netflix (unofficially), Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, BBC iPlayer, Disney Plus, DAZN | Yes — Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, BBC iPlayer Disney Plus, DAZN, Hotstar, YLE Areena, AbemaTV | Yes — Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, BBC iPlayer, Disney Plus |
Learn more | Get NordVPN | Get Surfshark | Get ExpressVPN |
NordVPN: Best for cloud storage
Who it’s best for
If you’re the kind of gamer who likes creating new mods in Minecraft or having a lot of saved data, NordVPN is a great option because it can be bundled with NordLocker for additional storage options.
What we liked
NordVPN has a lot of features we like. The Meshnet feature is free for everyone, even if you don’t have a NordVPN account. It lets you operate as if you’re on a LAN so you can game with friends without compromising security.
We obviously love the NordLocker addition that you can add to your NordVPN subscription. This means you have secure file protection in your cloud storage. We’re also big fans of NordVPN’s obfuscated servers, which allow you to use a VPN without looking like you’re using one.
Mod creators or anyone hosting a server may require extra storage. This is why the NordLocker option bundled with NordVPN is a great choice for gamers who fit in this category.
What we didn’t like
NordVPN isn’t the most budget-friendly option available. There are less expensive options like CyberGhost and Private Internet Access (PIA), which are also pretty good VPNs for gaming. Since NordVPN has more options and features that could be great for gamers, however, we opted for Nord.
Nord services have a lot of different plans, which may get confusing. You can bundle all of Nord’s products or purchase them separately. There are also different subscription lengths. This may get confusing for someone who’s navigating VPN usage for the first time. It’s not a deal breaker, but it’s worth mentioning.
NordVPN specs
Price range | $3.59–$15.99/mo |
Free version | No, but it offers a 30-day money-back guarantee |
Number of servers | 6,200+ servers in 111 countries |
Number of connected devices | 10 |
VPN protocol | IKEv2/IPsec, OpenVPN, NordLynx (WireGuard) |
No-logs policy | No logs |
Unblocks Netflix? | Yes (unofficially) |
Torrenting support | Yes |
Learn more | Get NordVPN |
Surfshark: Best for unlimited devices
Who it’s best for
Gamers with a variety of devices may not want limits put on how many their VPN will cover. Surfshark is one of a few VPN providers that offer unlimited simultaneous device connections with a subscription.
What we liked
We found that Surfshark is easy to install and use, which is great because it offers unlimited simultaneous connections on a single plan. You can connect all of your devices, not just your console or gaming PC, to make sure you’re both protected and avoiding ISP throttling.
Surfshark is fast, has up to 10 Gbps servers, with over 3,200 servers total. All of this means you can game with limited buffering and interruptions.
Surfshark also employs obfuscated servers, which can help avoid VPN blockers and bans. These servers hide the fact that you’re using a VPN. Since Minecraft is a game that likes to block VPNs, obfuscated servers are necessary to be safe online while gaming.
Finally, Surfshark is still pretty affordable. If you purchase a multi-year subscription, you’ll be able to snag it at a lower price than NordVPN or ExpressVPN. We like that a lot.
What we didn’t like
Surfshark is headquartered in The Netherlands, which is a Nine Eyes country. The Eyes alliance countries give each other permission to spy on each other’s citizens. While Surfshark maintains it doesn’t keep logs, it’s still located in a country that doesn’t necessarily value privacy.
As Surfshark has expanded its product offerings, it has added landing pages that might be confusing. This shouldn’t be a problem if you just want to purchase the VPN, but if you want to bundle other services, you may be clicking around a while before you find what you’re looking for on the site.
It’s not the worst problem to have, but we think an exceptional product like Surfshark should streamline its site.
Surfshark specs
Price range | $2.19–$17.95/mo |
Free version | No, but it offers a 30-day money-back guarantee |
Number of servers | 3,200 servers in 100 countries |
Number of connected devices | Unlimited |
VPN protocol | WireGuard, IKEv2, OpenVPN |
No-logs policy | No logs |
Unblocks Netflix? | Yes |
Torrenting support | Yes |
Learn more | Get Surfshark |
ExpressVPN: Best for speed
Who it’s best for
If you’re looking for a VPN that won’t slow down your connection, ExpressVPN is notoriously fast. We know that gaming requires split-second decisions. Winning or losing could come down to a speed glitch, and no one wants that.
What we liked
ExpressVPN tops any list as one of the best VPN services available. Speed is a guarantee with this VPN, so we know it won’t slow down gaming, streaming, or anything else that requires a lot of bandwidth, like watching Netflix. Couple the speed with ExpressVPN’s obfuscated servers to hide your VPN usage, and you have a pretty powerful tool.
We’re also big fans of Aircove. It’s the first router to come preinstalled with any name-brand VPN. If you’ve ever tried to configure a VPN service onto your router, you know it can be a headache. This Wi-Fi 6-enabled router is already set up and ready to go.
Since ExpressVPN allows for only eight simultaneous connections, you can get around protecting all your devices in the home with this router option. It uses only one of those eight connections, leaving seven more available if you need to take your gaming on the go.
What we didn’t like
All of that power and speed comes with a hefty price tag. Even if you purchase the Aircove, you’ll still need an ExpressVPN subscription to use the service. This is definitely an instance of “you get what you pay for” because this service is excellent but costly.
ExpressVPN specs
Price range | $6.67–$12.95/mo |
Free version | No, but it offers a 30-day money-back guarantee |
Number of servers | Unknown number of servers in 105 countries |
Number of connected devices | 8 |
VPN protocol | Lightway, OpenVPN, IKEv2 |
No-logs policy | No logs |
Unblocks Netflix? | Yes |
Torrenting support | Yes |
Learn more | Get ExpressVPN |
Honorable mentions
While we believe NordVPN, Surfshark, and ExpressVPN are the best VPNs on the market for Minecraft, they may not be quite what you’re looking for in a service. Our honorable mentions are tested, reliable VPN options. If our three top choices aren’t for you, try out one of these.
- CyberGhost: CyberGhost pays special attention to gamers. It claims you can set it up and be gaming in less than five minutes. We like the 45-day money-back guarantee and its partnership with FlashRouters to make covering your entire home easy.
Get CyberGhost | Read Our CyberGhost Review
- Private Internet Access (PIA): With over 10 years in the industry, PIA offers open-source software and 24/7 customer support. It claims fast speeds. We like PIA VPN because it's reliable and wallet-friendly.
Get PIA | Read Our PIA Review
- Proton VPN: The 30-day money-back guarantee offered by Proton VPN means you can try its services without worrying about a commitment. It claims it uses a VPN accelerator to increase your speeds, which gamers should love. It also has a reliable free plan.
Get Proton VPN | Read Our Proton VPN Review
How we test VPNs
We tested the best Minecraft VPN by making sure you could play Minecraft with gaming servers offered by the VPN service. Minecraft restrictions, server bans, and an IP ban are some reasons a person may want to use a VPN provider to play Minecraft.
Free VPNs could give away your IP address, so we wanted to make sure the best VPN for Minecraft was one that hid any IP addresses in case you play by port forwarding.
Essentially, we wanted to make sure any product we recommend is going to work for your experience. This is why you should take advantage of the money-back guarantee offered by each service if you find it isn’t for you. It’s also why you should stick with a paid VPN rather than a free VPN.
FAQs
Does a VPN work on Minecraft?
Yes, a VPN works on Minecraft, but not every VPN. Minecraft actively blocks free VPNs, which means you’ll need to use a quality, paid VPN to reap the benefits while playing. We suggest NordVPN, Surfshark, or ExpressVPN. All of these services offer fast speeds, quality servers, and safe connections.
How do you set up a VPN on Minecraft?
Setting up a VPN on Minecraft depends on your device. If you’re using a mobile device, you’ll need to download the mobile app and enable it from there. For a desktop, you can download your operating system’s compatible VPN app. Once you activate it, make sure to enable gaming mode if your VPN offers that feature.
For people playing Minecraft on consoles, some VPN providers are compatible with various consoles. If your VPN service isn’t compatible with your gaming console, try installing the VPN on your internet router to blanket your entire home in protection.
ExpressVPN sells the Aircove router with the ExpressVPN software preinstalled, but you’ll still need an active subscription to use it. You can also check out our full guide on the best VPN routers.
How do you bypass VPN detection on Minecraft?
The best way to bypass VPN detection while you play Minecraft is to use a VPN with obfuscated servers. VPNs are legal in most places around the world, but that doesn’t stop private companies from wanting to block them.
Obfuscated servers hide VPN usage so unblocking Minecraft is easy without compromising online security. Casually playing Minecraft on a console or mobile phone doesn’t pose as much of a risk as gaming with open ports and shared servers.
Bottom line: The best VPNs for Minecraft
The best VPNs for Minecraft sessions are going to offer fast speeds, obfuscated servers, and unlimited data like NordVPN, Surfshark, and ExpressVPN. If you want additional cloud storage, NordVPN and NordLocker have you covered in one convenient dashboard.
Unlimited simultaneous connections are a hallmark of Surfshark’s platform, and ExpressVPN has been proven to be fast by independent testing.
3 best VPNs for Minecraft 2024
Starting price | Best for | Learn more | |
NordVPN |
Starts at $3.59/mo (billed every two years) | Best for cloud storage | Get NordVPN |
Surfshark |
Starts at $1.99/mo (billed every two years) | Best for unlimited devices | Get Surfshark |
ExpressVPN |
Starts at $6.67/mo (billed annually) | Best for speed | Get ExpressVPN |