Looking for a VPN for Valorant? The free-to-play game has amassed a wealth of fans since 2020 but, unfortunately, is banned in some countries. Players may have difficulty downloading the game, connecting to servers, or even using the in-game chat feature thanks to VoIP bans.
And that's where a VPN comes in handy. Valorant players can use a VPN to conceal their original IP address and access the game without restrictions – and in this guide, we'll show you how.
Which VPNs are best for Valorant?
If you're in a rush, look no further than the table below! All of the VPNs we've recommended are super-fast (to minimize lag and ping) and have servers scattered around the globe (allowing you to spoof your location with a click). To learn more about any of our picks, keep scrolling for an in-depth analysis.
- ExpressVPN - The best VPN for Valorant. Handles online gaming with ease thanks to its speedy servers. With a 30-day money-back guarantee.
- NordVPN - The best value Valorant VPN. A fast provider ideal for accessing blocked game servers, with subscriptions that won't break the bank!
- Surfshark - The best budget Valorant VPN. A huge network of servers, unlimited simultaneous connections, and easy-to-use apps for all devices.
- Private Internet Access - The best secure VPN for Valorant. A zero-logs service that's perfect for techy users and includes OpenVPN encryption.
- PrivateVPN - The best user-friendly VPN for Valorant. Budget-friendly, with plenty of features to beat hackers and keep you connected to teammates.
You don't have to be a tech expert to use a VPN to play Valorant either. It's a simple process. A VPN allows players to pretend to be in a different country and circumvent any government bans or restrictions. And, if you live somewhere that blocks VoIP communication, you can use your VPN to regain full access to all in-game functions.
Whether you live in Iran and want to regain access to the game, or you live in the UAE or Saudi Arabia and need to unblock the in-game VoIP chat feature, you can do so with a Valorant VPN.
So, to make sure you can safely unblock Valorant regardless of where you are in the world, we've only recommended VPNs with the following key features:
- Speedy servers across the globe
- Robust encryption
- A zero-logs policy
The best Valorant VPNs | In-depth analysis
Let's take a closer look at the VPNs that made our shortlist. These services are quick enough to handle multiplayer games like Valorant, as well as any HD streaming you'd like to do, and pack superb security tools. Plus, with servers around the globe you'll be able to pick a server region that best suits your needs.
If you'd like an even more detailed overview about these services (and a whole host of others), check out our detailed review pages.
ExpressVPN is the best VPN for Valorant. One of the fastest VPNs we test, and with servers in over 94 countries, and a 30-day money-back guarantee. ExpressVPN Demo ExpressVPN is a highly reliable VPN that provides both strong privacy and excellent unblocking capabilities. With servers in 105 countries
, It was easy to find a server in the country I wanted to connect to – allowing me to connect to a specific location where you have Valorant friends. Their server network will also allow you to find matches in a foreign language (or your native tongue if you happen to be living overseas) as some of my friends do. I was blown away by the speed of ExpressVPN's servers. It is consistently one of the fastest VPNs in the world, which makes it great for playing Valorant and being able to use the live chat feature in-game. Plus, this VPN has live chat support 24/7. In addition, you can use this VPN on up to 8
devices simultaneously, which makes it good value for money. An outstanding VPN for Valorant that you can trial completely risk-free for 30-days thanks to its money-back guarantee. NordVPN is the best value VPN for Valorant. With sleek apps, a great GUI, plenty of servers, and a 30-day money-back guarantee. Nord Demo NordVPN is a no-logs VPN provider based in Panama that is extremely strong on privacy. I found that this is a reliable service, and I really liked how easy the apps are to use. It offers users strong encryption, which allowed me to bypass local censorship, access internationally geo-restricted content, and unblock content restricted by an admin on public Wi-Fi. NordVPN is ideal for playing Valorant online because it has super-fast servers in 111 countries
- including servers where you need them to play Valorant. Plus, NordVPN offers a wealth of market-leading security features that make it a good option for just about anybody. It also has rare privacy features such as double-hop connections, VPN over Tor, DNS-based malware protection, Smart DNS, and more, all at a very reasonable price point. An easy to use and reliable VPN with 24/7 live chat, excellent setup guides, and cheap subscription plans. Well worth testing using its 30-day money-back guarantee. Surfshark is the best budget VPN for Valorant. Fast, secure, and with unlimited simultaneous connections. With a 30-day money-back guarantee. Surfshark Demo Surfshark is a VPN based in the British Virgin Islands that is extremely well-liked by subscribers (it has 4.5 stars on TrustPilot). I loved that this VPN allows users to connect an unlimited number of devices to their network with a single subscription. This allowed me to unblock Valorant on as many devices as I wanted, both at home and on public Wi-Fi. Surfshark has servers in over 100 countries
around the world, and they are lightning-fast for playing Valorant, streaming, and making VoIP calls either in-game or on TeamSpeak. Surfshark unblocks huge numbers of sought-after streaming services around the world like Netflix US, BBC iPlayer, and Amazon Prime, which makes it super-versatile. It is also super secure thanks to its kill-switch, obfuscation, and OpenVPN encryption. Plus, it has live chat. A great VPN that comes at a mind-blowingly low price! Well worth testing using its 30-day money-back guarantee. Private Internet Access is the best secure Valorant VPN. Lots of customizable features and a proven no-logs policy. Plus, a 30-day money-back guarantee. PIA Demo Private Internet Access (PIA) is a US-based provider that keeps zero logs, a claim it has proven in court. PIA VPN has servers in 84 countries
, it provides strong OpenVPN encryption as well as WireGuard and IkEv2. I also loved their MACE ad-blocking feature which allows you to browse the web ad-free. It also has live chat support, I found their staff very knowledgeable and helpful. As well as being able to unblock Valorant, this service will also provide access to Netflix US. Add to that its fast speeds for playing Valorant and you can see why PIA is a good choice. PIA also has advanced apps for all platforms that come with more security and privacy features than just about any other VPN, including split-tunneling and multi-hop connections. It even lets users customize their encryption levels (which can allow you to get even better speeds when playing Valorant). An all-round excellent VPN with live chat support and a 30-day money-back guarantee. PrivateVPN is the best user-friendly VPN for Valorant. Full-featured and at a budget price, with great unblocking power and a 30-day money-back guarantee. PrivateVPN Demo PrivateVPN is a fully-featured VPN service, giving users all the benefits of a premium VPN service, without the premium price tag. With fast servers in over 200
locations around the world, you can play Valorant anywhere, and its one-click connect makes it ideal for a budget-friendly first VPN. If you want a bit more control over your encryption, click on "advanced view" to take control over everything from encryption to activating your kill-switch and obfuscation (VPN cloaking). What's more, this service is great for more than just gaming. Its Smart DNS functionality means it's perfect for streaming your favorite shows from anywhere in the world – so you can unblock global Netflix catalogs in the US, UK, and even in Japan! With a 30-day money-back guarantee, you're able to test the service and compare it to its more expensive competitors without risking your cash. Take it for a test drive and you'll see why this is one of our favorite cheap VPNs for Valorant. 1. ExpressVPN
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How to access different Valorant regions with a VPN
Using a VPN to access different Valorant regions couldn't be easier! All you need to do is follow along with the following steps to get your VPN up and running:
- Subscribe to a VPN provider from this guide – whichever one suits you best!
- Download and install the VPN software from the provider's website. This should only take a minute or two.
- Then, log in to the VPN app with your credentials.
- Connect to a VPN server in the region where your friends or active or where Valorant is available to play without restrictions.
- Finally, you'll need to create a new Valorant account registered to that region – which you can do via the Riot website.
Make sure you remember to connect to your VPN whenever you play Valorant in the future, too. This will ensure that Riot doesn't figure out that you're living in a different region to where your account was registered.
If you connect to a VPN to unblock Valorant – or to play on servers in a different country – it is possible that this will cause your Ping to increase. How much your connection suffers will depend on how far you are from the VPN server, and how far the Valorant server is from the VPN server.
If you want to access Valorant from a country where it is blocked – or where it doesn’t work properly because VoIP is blocked – it is always advised that you connect to a VPN server that is as close to you physically as possible. This will ensure that you can access the game while still getting the best speeds.
Why are these the best Valorant VPNs?
Not all VPNs are created equally. For a VPN to work with Valorant it must have plenty of fast servers dotted around the globe. Players who want matches with others who speak their native language will need access to servers in a specific country.
If you want to play with friends in a specific region, it will be necessary to check that the VPN has servers in that region. You can do this on the VPNs website, or by contacting their live chat support.
The good news is that all of our recommendations have servers in upwards of 60 countries, so you shouldn’t have any problems. To ensure we have recommended Valorant VPNs that are 100% suitable to the task, our experts looked for the following features:
- Lightening-fast servers that are ideal for gaming and VoIP chat
- A large global network of servers
- Apps for all platforms that are reliable and easy to use
- Strong VPN encryption to prevent your ISP from tracking what you are doing (important if you are bypassing VoIP restrictions)
- A kill-switch to cut the internet if your VPN drops out (prevents Riot from noticing you are in a different location)
- Value for money
- Excellent custom care with live chat support
Can a VPN lower Ping time on Valorant?
For a VPN to conceal your location and allow location spoofing, it must route your traffic via the VPN server on its way to Valorant’s servers. This will usually cause your internet connection to slow down ever so slightly, and will usually cause your Ping to rise.
However, by connecting to a VPN server that is closer to the gaming server, it is possible to sometimes improve your ping. For this reason, we do recommend a little trial and error (by connecting to various server locations near to and between your physical location and the location of the Valorant server).
On the whole, however, playing a Valorant server outside of your home region will likely increase your Ping.
Will a Valorant VPN reduce lag?
Due to the reasons mentioned above, a VPN is very unlikely to reduce in-game lag. In fact, encrypting your internet traffic for privacy purposes using a VPN, is more likely to increase lag. This is why it is essential to pick a fast VPN that provides a choice of fast encryption protocols.
If you are suffering from high levels of lag, we recommend that you open your VPN’s settings and opt for either OpenVPN UDP, L2TP/IPsec, or IKEv2. Alternatively, try each protocol to see which performs best for you.
How fast does my internet need to be to play Valorant?
Because even the fastest VPNs will slow down internet connection speeds a little bit, it is important to understand that anybody who is paying for very slow internet speeds will likely suffer if they connect to a VPN.
If, for example, you are currently paying for average internet download speeds of 5 Mbps, a VPN will cause your internet to drop to below 5 Mbps which will make it hard to play Valorant. For this reason, we recommend that anybody using a VPN has minimum download speeds of 20 Mbps and minimum upload speeds of around 5 Mbps.
Can I use a free VPN for Valorant?
If you want to create a new Valorant account in a different region, but are not living in a country that has a Valorant block, or VoIP blocks, you may be able to change your region by creating a new account while connected to a free VPN.
However, please bear in mind that the majority of free VPN services shouldn't be trusted as they harvest user data, contain malware, and almost always fail to back up any "unlimited" claims. In fact, even the best free VPNs usually come with:
- Data caps – which can cut you off mid-game
- Speed restrictions – causing lag
- Few servers to choose from – meaning you may not be able to connect to a useable server
The good news is that all of our recommendations have money-back guarantees and VPN free trials so you can try out the VPNs risk-free. This means that you can test the VPN with Valorant to make sure it works exactly as you had hoped.
Do I need a fast VPN to play Valorant?
Yes. The vast majority of VPN have slow servers that are no good for playing games like Valorant. These VPNs have inferior networks that will cause a huge amount of lag and ping issues when you try to play Valorant.
The VPNs we have recommended for Volarant all have fast servers that are perfect for streaming, gaming, torrenting, and making videos calls.
Our recommendations also provide fast tunneling protocols such OpenVPN UDP and WireGuard. This allows them to transport your data quickly to get you the best speeds for gaming.
One thing worth bearing in mind is that you will get better speeds if you connect to a valorant server that is closer to you. For this reason, we recommend that you try a few different VPN server locations to find one that works better for you.
Where does Valorant have servers?
To help you find the best server for your needs, we have included a list of Valorant servers below.
Valorant currently has 25 servers. These are located in Brazil, North America, Latin America, Asia-Pacific, Europe, and Korea.
In the US, Valorant has the following servers:
- US West (Oregon)
- US West (N. California)
- US East (N. Virginia)
- US Central (Texas)
- US Central (Illinois)
- US Central (Georgia)
In Latin America:
- Santiago
- Mexico City
- Miami
In the EU:
- Frankfurt
- Paris
- Stockholm
- Istanbul
- London
- Tokyo
- Warsaw
- Madrid
- Bahrain
In Asia Pacific:
- Hong Kong
- Tokyo
- Singapore
- Sydney
- Mumbai
Valorant privacy issues
As you may be aware, anybody who plays Valorant must also install and run Riot Game's anti-cheating software Vanguard. That software has caused a fair amount of controversy because it is always on in the background, even when you aren't playing Valorant.
Despite the many conspiracy theories, most people agree that Vanguard is benevolent. It starts up with Windows and remains on at all times to scan for apps that could be exploited for cheating on Valorant. Vanguard then blocks some of that software if and when it is discovered
Gamers who don't cheat – and don't have apps on their system that help with cheating – largely go unaffected by the presence of Vanguard on their system. That said, Vanguard is like an antivirus program in the way it is always on, and it could slow down your system slightly by scanning if you don't have a lot of memory and your computer is already a little sluggish.
How does Vanguard work?
Vanguard is designed to tackle the problem of wallhackers and aim botters. Unless it is uninstalled, Vanguard will launch with Windows on startup. This is because it includes a kernel-mode driver. Once up and running, the client checks for software used to run cheats while playing Valorant.
The important thing to remember is that Vanguard does not collect any data about your PC or send anything back to Riot. It simply needs to run when you are playing Valorant to prevent cheating.
How to turn off Vanguard
If you don't want Vanguard to run in the background on your system when you aren't playing Valorant, you will need to turn it off.
The good news is that Riot has now created a way for people to switch Vanguard off. so, if you aren't planning on playing Valorant, and you want Vanguard to stop running and taking up memory, you can do so in the system tray:
- Open your system tray.
- Right-click on the Vanguard icon.
- Click on Exit Vanguard.
- Agree to the prompt that asks you if you are sure.
Remember that you will need to restart Vanguard to play Valorant.
Finally, please bear in mind that Vanguard is not deleted automatically when you delete Valorant. So, if you do decide to stop playing Valorant, you will need to uninstall Vanguard separately to prevent it from automatically running each and every time you start your computer.
It is also worth noting that some users have taken to uninstalling Vanguard whenever they aren't playing Valorant. Most players might consider this overkill, but it is the only way to prevent Vanguard running on startup, because it is in the kernel.
Our methodology and research for the best VPNs for Valorant
The type of gamer you are may depend on the level of VPN features you require, how much you're willing to pay, and several other factors you consider when choosing a VPN. For example, you may only want a VPN for Valorant, whereas other users need a VPN that works with Valorant plus streaming services like Netflix. Meanwhile, other users need a VPN for Valorant that allows anonymous torrenting.
Whatever your reason for needing a Valorant VPN, we take several factors into account before adding them to our list. Our research includes the following criteria:
- Regardless of whether you play Valorant or another game, the VPN you choose should be able to unblock your desired game no matter where you are in the world.
- The more server locations a VPN offers, the better. This allows you to unblock games that may only be available in certain regions.
- A good Valorant VPN will offer military-grade encryption, a strict no-logs policy, and, where possible, DNS leak protection and an automatic kill switch.
- A fast connection is vital for any online gamer, but it's essential for those who play first-person shooters like Valorant, where every millisecond counts.
- We look for VPNs that are affordable, with various pricing options to suit different budgets.
- It is essential that the VPNs we recommend are easy to set up and use, even if you're not a tech expert.
- We choose VPNs that offer app support for many devices, including PC, Mac, iOS, Android, and more.
Why not take a peek at our testing process to learn about our full methodology?
Conclusion
Ready to get serious with your gaming? Don't want to be the victim of a DDoS attack? If you want to change your region, increase your privacy, and upgrade your gaming experience as a whole, you're going to want a fast and secure VPN. Here's a quick reminder of our top picks for VPNs for Valorant. Be sure to take advantage of their money-back guarantees so you can put them to the test without risking your cash!
- ExpressVPN - The best VPN for Valorant. Handles online gaming with ease thanks to its speedy servers. With a 30-day money-back guarantee.
- NordVPN - The best value Valorant VPN. A fast provider ideal for accessing blocked game servers, with subscriptions that won't break the bank!
- Surfshark - The best budget Valorant VPN. A huge network of servers, unlimited simultaneous connections, and easy-to-use apps for all devices.
- Private Internet Access - The best secure VPN for Valorant. A zero-logs service that's perfect for techy users and includes OpenVPN encryption.
- PrivateVPN - The best user-friendly VPN for Valorant. Budget-friendly, with plenty of features to beat hackers and keep you connected to teammates.
FAQs
Below you will find the answers to some of the most commonly asked questions about VPNs for Valorant. If you have any other queries, please don't hesitate to drop us a message in the form below the article.