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Best 5 VPNs for playing PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG)

PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG) is a hugely popular online multiplayer battle royale game. It is available for multiple platforms, but is most accessible on Android and iOS, where its free-to-play model allows anyone to start competing for kills.

Unfortunately, PUBG is sometimes blocked by workplaces and schools, and is also blocked in countries like China and Iraq. The good news is that you can bypass those restrictions to play PUBG anywhere with a VPN. 

In this guide, we will explain how to unblock PUBG. We will show you what a VPN can do, and we will explain why you need a specific VPN provider to get the very best PUBG experience.

 

The best VPNs for PUBG?

A VPN that is suitable for playing PUBG must provide lightning fast connections, or you will end up suffering from lag. Below you can take a quick look at the best PUBG VPNs. If you want more details, you can click on our VPN reviews at the end of each provider.

1. ExpressVPN
Editor's Choice | April 2024

ExpressVPN is the #1 VPN for PUBG players around the world. It's a lightning-fast service, with great unblocking capacity, top-notch privacy features, and a 30-day money-back guarantee.

  • Pricing

    • 12 months + 3 months FREE + Backblaze backup: $6.67/mth
      49% OFF
    • 6 months: $9.99/mth
    • 1 month: $12.95/mth
  • Available on

    • Windows
    • macOS
    • iOS
    • Android
    • Linux
  • Unblocks

    • Netflix
    • iPlayer
    • Amazon Prime
    • Hulu
  • Website

ExpressVPN Demo

ExpressVPN Demo ExpressVPN Demo


ExpressVPN is a provider based in the British Virgin Islands that is absolutely ideal for unblocking PUBG. The VPN has servers in 105 countries around the globe, so you can always find a server nearby. This will ensure that you can unblock PUBG no matter where you are, while still getting optimal speeds. ExpressVPN has apps for all platforms, meaning that you can connect to the VPN and play PUBG on mobile devices, laptops, or desktop machines - the choice is yours.


We love the no-logs policy you get with this VPN, and because it provides military-grade OpenVPN encryption, it will provide watertight digital privacy for accessing restricted content such as PUBG in countries like China or Iraq. Plus, this VPN has a kill-switch to stop you from leaking any data outside of the encrypted tunnel. Admittedly ExpressVPN is a little pricier than other VPNs we have recommended, but you get what you pay for and it's definitely worth comparing to the other services using its 30-day money-back guarantee.


 


 

CyberGhost is a beginner-friendly VPN for PUBG. It comes with easy-to-use and intuitive apps for all platforms, servers in 90 countries, and a generous 45-day money-back guarantee.

  • Pricing

    • 24 months + 3 months FREE: $2.11/mth
      83% OFF
    • 6 months: $6.99/mth
      42% OFF
    • 1 month: $11.99/mth
  • Available on

    • Windows
    • macOS
    • iOS
    • Android
    • Linux
  • Unblocks

    • Netflix
    • iPlayer
    • Amazon Prime
    • Hulu
  • Website

CyberGhost Demo

CyberGhost Demo CyberGhost Demo


CyberGhost is a VPN based in Romania that has servers where you need them to unblock PUBG at work, in school, on public WiFi, or in a country that blocks it. This VPN keeps zero logs, which means you can trust it to never have any records of what you do online. And the VPN has a kill-switch to ensure you never accidentally leak your PUBG use to your ISP. This makes the VPN perfect for playing PUBG in China or Iraq.


We think this VPN is suitable for beginners thanks to its easy-to-use apps. And, because it has apps for all platforms, you can play PUBG on any device. Plus, with CyberGhost VPN you get strong OpenVPN encryption. It also works to unblock Netflix US, BBC iPlayer, Hulu, and much more.


Plus, this generous VPN lets you use the VPN on up to 7 devices simultaneously. It also has fast servers in over 100 countries worldwide, so you can access a PUBG server closer to you (to gain better speeds). Finally, you can test CyberGhost risk-free thanks to its generous 45-day money-back guarantee. An excellent all-rounder that is cheap for what you get.

Private Internet Access is an ideal VPN for privacy-conscious PUBG players. It applies a court-proven zero-logs policy and the latest privacy features, all with a 30-day money-back guarantee. 

  • Pricing

    • 24 months + 2 months FREE: $2.19/mth
      82% OFF
    • 6 months: $7.5/mth
      38% OFF
    • 1 month: $11.95/mth
  • Available on

    • Windows
    • macOS
    • iOS
    • Android
    • Linux
  • Unblocks

    • Netflix
    • iPlayer
    • Amazon Prime
    • Hulu
  • Website

PIA Demo

PIA Demo PIA Demo


Private Internet Access (PIA) is a VPN based in the USA that has excellent apps for all platforms. Those apps are available for all platforms and are ideal for unblocking PUBG, Netflix US, and other geo-restricted services. PIA also provides advanced features such as a kill-switch, encryption customization, and port forwarding. This makes the VPN secure for accessing PUBG or for doing sensitive tasks like torrenting.


We like this VPNs no-logs policy, and we are impressed that the VPN has proven its no-logs claims in court on more than one occasion. Admittedly, other recommendations on this list are faster, so they may provide a better gaming experience on PUBG. However, this is an excellent service that is regularly praised by Reddit's privacy enthusiasts. It is also a highly secure VPN, which is why it is definitely worth comparing to the other VPNs in this guide – using its 30-day money-back guarantee. 

Surfshark is a great value-for-money VPN for PUBG players. It offers fast servers in over 65 countries worldwide, stealth servers, cheap plans, and a 30-day money-back guarantee.

  • Pricing

    • 24 months + 2 months FREE: $2.3/mth
      83% OFF
    • 12 months: $3.99/mth
      70% OFF
    • 1 month: $12.95/mth
  • Available on

    • Windows
    • macOS
    • iOS
    • Android
    • Linux
  • Unblocks

    • Netflix
    • iPlayer
    • Amazon Prime
    • Hulu
  • Website

Surfshark Demo

Surfshark Demo Surfshark Demo


Surfshark is a VPN provider that is highly praised by consumers worldwide. The VPN has servers in over 100 countries that are lightning fast, making it ideal for unblocking PUBG at work, in school, or in a country where the game is unavailable. Surfshark has excellent apps for all platforms, and those apps provide fantastic features for unblocking PUBG and maintaining watertight privacy.


Considering the low cost of a subscription, this VPN is extremely fast – which is why it is such a good option for unblocking PUBG. And this VPN has both a kill-switch and a zero-logs policy which means you can trust it for unblocking PUBG anywhere, including in countries where it is restricted by the government.


We love that this VPN has removed its cap, allowing you to use the service on an unlimited number of devices! And besides unblocking PUBG, it will work with iPlayer, Netflix US, and anything else you can think of. It's well worth testing using its 30-day money-back guarantee.

5. VyprVPN

VyprVPN is a great all-around VPN for PUBG. It comes with a strict zero-logs policy, a whopping 30 simultaneous connections, 70+ locations worldwide, and a 30-day money-back guarantee.

  • Pricing

    • 12 months: $5/mth
      50% OFF
    • 1 month: $10/mth
  • Available on

    • Windows
    • macOS
    • iOS
    • Android
    • Linux
  • Unblocks

    • Netflix
    • iPlayer
    • Amazon Prime
    • Hulu

VYPR Demo

VYPR Demo VYPR Demo


VyprVPN is one of the few VPN providers that has paid for a full third-party audit of its platform. This ensures that the VPN’s apps and servers are doing the things the provider promises, taking the trust level for the VPN to the next level! We love that this VPN has fast servers in over 70 locations worldwide, and because the VPN has a no-logs policy, it will never have any records about what you have done online.


With VyprVPN, you get reliable apps for all platforms that come fully featured with a kill-switch and obfuscation. This makes the VPN suitable for torrenting in privacy, or for unblocking PUBG in a country where it is banned. You also get superb speeds thanks to its proprietary network of Tier-1 servers (owned by its parent company Golden Frog). This VPN is extremely good in terms of both privacy and unblocking, and it can provide access to not only PUBG servers but also Netflix US, iPlayer, and much more. Try it out with its 30-day money-back guarantee to compare it to the other options. 

Why these VPNs for PUBG?

There are hundreds of consumer-facing VPNs on the market, and the vast majority of those are outdated services that provide slow speeds. If a VPN has poor apps and slow servers, it will be impossible for you to enjoy playing PUBG. Our experts have carefully compared the market to find PUBG VPNs that have the following necessary features:

How to unblock PUBG with a VPN

Using a VPN to play PUBG is easy whether you are in China, at work, in school, or on a public WiFi hotspot where it is blocked to avoid congestion. Simply follow the steps below to get your PUBG VPN working:

  1. Choose a PUBG VPN from this guide. We recommend ExpressVPN because it has fast servers and strong privacy features for unblocking PUBG in countries where it is blocked.
  2. Click through to the VPN’s website and subscribe.
  3. Download the VPN software onto the device you play PUBG on.
  4. Connect to a VPN server in a country where PUBG is allowed. If you live in a country where PUBG is available, but need to unblock the service on a local network, simply connect to a VPN server that is close to you to gain optimal connection speeds.
  5. As soon as the VPN connects, you are ready to launch the game and start playing PUBG.

Can a VPN protect against DDoS attacks?

When gamers play PUBG, they may sometimes be knocked out of an ongoing game by a malevolent player seeking an easy win. By using a DDoS attack to flood a victim’s IP address with unwanted requests, it is possible to completely knock the player out of a game. This makes it easier for that player to eventually win by reducing the number of competitors in the round.

This kind of attack can be extremely annoying, particularly for PUBG players who are streaming on YouTube or Twitch for a living. With a VPN, you can protect your PUBG games - and online earnings - by concealing your real IP address.

If a troll does attempt to kick you out of a multiplayer game with a DDoS attack, the VPN server will take the brunt of the attack, leaving you free to compete. Check out our what is DDoS article for more information about this topic.

What is a VPN for PUBG?

A VPN is an online service that uses software to provide both privacy and online freedom. A VPN works by allowing you to connect to a VPN server via software you install on your device. When the connection to the VPN server is established, you appear to be in that location and can access the internet as if you were actually there. 

The VPN also encrypts your data between your device and the VPN server so that when it passes over the local network and through the ISPs servers, it is impossible for those services to track you. Because of this encrypted 'tunnel', you can play PUBG without anybody finding out. And if the VPN offers "split tunneling," as all our suggested ones do, you can even ease bandwidth concerns by picking and choosing what routes through the VPN.

Learn about split tunneling

What can a PUBG VPN do?

A Virtual Private Network is an online service that permits you to pretend to be in a different place. By pretending to be in a different country, you can access geo restricted services that are usually blocked in your area. Some people use a VPN to watch more Netflix, others to unblock restricted video games like PUBG.

With a VPN for PUBG, people living in Iraq and China can bypass local restrictions to play PUBG. PUBG players also use a VPN to bypass the local network restrictions imposed by their WiFi administrator. The result is that they can access PUBG servers at work, in school, and on public WiFi where it is blocked to avoid congestion for other users.

Can a VPN speed up my PUBG connection?

Generally speaking, the answer to this question is no. Most of the time, a VPN will slightly slow down your internet by providing encryption. However, if your Internet Service Provider is known to throttle customers who take up too much bandwidth, a VPN can be used to improve your connection speeds. 

By connecting to PUBG’s servers via a VPN, you make it impossible for your ISP to detect that you are playing the game, and, as a result, throttling is much less likely to occur. If you believe your broadband provider or mobile carrier is throttling your internet, it is definitely worth connecting to a VPN to see if it improves your gaming experience.

Can I play PUBG with a free VPN?

There are some free VPNs on the market that you can use to unblock PUBG. Our recommended services provide strong levels of privacy and the unblocking capabilities you need to play PUBG in any location where it is blocked. However, reliable free VPNs implement download restrictions and bandwidth limitations that will make it tricky to enjoy PUBG.

The difference between a free VPN plan (designed to give you a taste of what the VPN can do) and a paid premium subscription is pretty vast. For this reason, anybody wanting to play PUBG is advised to pay for a VPN subscription. Using a free VPN will give you a false negative impression of what a VPN for PUBG can do.

That isn’t to say you can’t try using a free VPN - you can if you want to. The free VPNs we recommend in the link above are trustworthy services that have strong privacy policies and reliable encryption. 

In addition, we urge you to stay away from non-recommended free VPNs. Studies have revealed the vast majority of free VPNs are insecurely developed with poor encryption (or no encryption at all) and with dangerous privacy policies that allow them to collect user data and sell it on. These kinds of cowboy free VPNs are a risk to your digital health, and for this reason they must be avoided.

Where is PUBG Blocked?

PUBG has been blocked in India, Nepal, China, and Iraq at various times since its release. The good news is that those restrictions have now been lifted in India and Nepal. If you live somewhere that blocks PUBG, you will require a VPN to bypass ISP-implemented PUBG blocks.

Why is PUBG banned in China?

China flag

PUBG is blocked in China because its developer failed to come to a deal with the Chinese government to monetize the service in the country. This is seen as a huge blow to both the company and consumers, with claims that the game was being played by as many as 70 million people in China. 

The good news is that with a VPN you can pretend to be outside of China to play PUBG. However, it may still be tricky to pay for in-game extras. Meaning that you will have to enjoy playing PUBG for free with limited access to extras such as clothing and cool avatars. Alternatively, you could get a virtual card to pay for in-game purchases. 

Why is PUBG banned in Iraq?

Egypt Flag

The Iraqi government decided to ban PUBG in 2019 after it was decided the game was harmful to society. The ban also restricts access to Fortnite and Blue Whale games. The Iraqi government claims that the banned games have a negative psychological and social effect on citizens, particularly young people.

Why is PUBG banned in India?

shutterstock 425893018

As of the 30th October 2024, PUBG removed access to the game for players on Indian servers – 2 months after India outright banned the game and over 100 other apps linked to China with section 69A of the Information Technology Act. This comes on the back of growing tensions between the two nations and claims to be in the interest of India's sovereignty and integrity. Since it was banned, a new version of PUBG was released called Battlegrounds Mobile. Check out Hannah's is Battlegrounds Mobile secure article for more information about this.

Conclusion

If you want to play PUBG without getting hacked or blocked by government censorship, then a VPN is the best way forward. Plus, it can even help you bypass ISP bandwidth throttling! Take advantage of our recommended providers's money-back guarantees and test each service without risking your cash. Winner winner, chicken dinner!

  1. ExpressVPN - The best VPN for PUBG. You get super fast servers in 94 countries, apps for all platforms, and a 30-day money-back guarantee.
  2. TIP

    In our testing we checked that all ExpressVPN plans work for Netflix. The one year plan is the best value: three months free and a 30 day risk-free trial.

  3. CyberGhost VPN - The best PUBG VPN for beginners. It comes with servers in over 90 countries, sleek apps, and a 45-day money-back guarantee.
  4. Private Internet Access - The most secure VPN for PUBG players. It comes with a strong zero-logs policy and a 30-day money-back guarantee. 
  5. Surfshark - The best value-for-money PUBG VPN. It's super-fast, with unlimited simultaneous connections, and a 30-day money-back guarantee.
  6. VyprVPN - VyprVPN is an excellent all-around PUBG VPN. It's a fully audited service with servers in 70+ locations, and 30-day money-back guarantee.

Written by: Ray Walsh

Digital privacy expert with 5 years experience testing and reviewing VPNs. He's been quoted in The Express, The Times, The Washington Post, The Register, CNET & many more. 

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