Thursday, August 27, 2020
You might already be familiar with virtual private networks - or VPNs - on PCs and smartphones, but they can be great tools for consoles like the Xbox too. Finding the best Xbox VPN is the key.
A solid VPN service allows you to go online anonymously, increasing security and privacy, while also unlocking content that may not be available in your country. They manage to achieve this by cleverly diverting your signal so that you appear to be in a different geographical location, and a common use case is watching content on sites like Netflix, that would normally only be available in another country.
While a VPN will also allow you to do this on your Xbox, you can take things one step further by unlocking access to games that might not be available in your country. You also get extra protection against DDoS attacks - a common method of cheating used by nefarious gamers to beat their online competition, often ruining the fun for everyone else.
While the use of a VPN to unblock content is, legally speaking, a gray area, we've rounded up some of the best options to help aid you in your research - but we don't officially condone it ourselves.
How does an Xbox VPN get me access?
A VPN works by cleverly diverting your signal through different servers. As these servers are spread around the world, you're assigned a new IP address, and appear to therefore be in a completely different country.
This means that you can appear to be in whichever country you like, depending on what content you want to access, with the added benefit of increased privacy and security protection.
In practical terms, this means that you can access gaming content on your Xbox that's unavailable in the US, broadening your horizons from the comfort of your gaming chair.
We've tested a bunch of VPN services, and have rounded up five of the best ones for Xbox below:
1. ExpressVPN
Best all round Xbox VPN for most people
Fast connections: Very | Number of servers: 3,000+ | Server locations: 160 | Maximum devices supported: 5 | Can be used with: Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, Linux, PlayStation, Xbox
| Plan Length | Monthly Cost | Discount | Total Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Month | $12.95 | 0% | $12.95 at ExpressVPN |
| 6 Months | $9.99 | 23% | $59.95 at ExpressVPN |
| 15 Months | $6.67 | 49% | $99.95 at ExpressVPN |
Pros
- Flexible installation
- Very fast speeds
Cons
- More expensive than rivals
ExpressVPN tops most lists, and with very good reason - it's one of the best, most reliable, and speediest offerings currently available.
Based in the British Virgin Islands, it serves up a huge number of global servers - 3,000 across 94 different countries, to be exact - while automatically connecting to the best available one, for optimum speed and performance.
If you use your Xbox as a living room PC for web browsing and media, you'll be pleased to hear that ExpressVPN will unblock the likes of Facebook, BBC iPlayer, Hulu, Twitter, Spotify and much more.
Beyond content unlocking, you can also feel reassured that your activity is safe and secure, thanks to 256-bit encryption, a no-log policy, zero-knowledge DNS and a kill switch for any dropped connections.
While there isn't a dedicated app available for consoles like the Xbox, you can easily take advantage of the company's MediaStreamer services, or install its settings directly onto your router. The latter will enable all devices on your home network to take advantage of it, which is an added bonus.
The availability of 24/7 customer support and a 30-day money back guarantee are the icing on an already tasty cake. Sure, it's one of the most expensive options around, but you get what you pay for.
ExpressVPN
This is our top pick for anyone looking to get started with a VPN. It offers a great mix of speed, reliability, outstanding customer service, and affordability. There is a 30-day money-back guarantee, so give it a shot today.
2. Surfshark
Best Xbox VPN for the money
Fast connections: Yes | Number of servers: 1,700+ | Server locations: 100+ | Maximum devices supported: Unlimited | Can be used with: Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, Linux, Playstation, Xbox
| Plan Length | Monthly Cost | Discount | Total Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Month | $11.95 | 0% | $11.95 at Surfshark |
| 12 Months | $5.99 | 50% | $71.88 at Surfshark |
| 24 Months | $1.99 | 83% | $47.76 at Surfshark |
Pros
- Great price
- Plenty of servers
Cons
- Less features for advanced users
Despite its affordability, Surfshark has plenty of servers, with over 1,700 located across 100 locations worldwide. This provides fast, solid speeds, in a package that offers a private DNS, won't track your online activity, and is P2P friendly - the latter being ideal for regular file sharers and torrent users.
Incredibly at this price point, there's no restriction on the number of devices you can use with the service, so you'll never be left wanting for more. Beyond this generosity, you also have access to most of the security features you'll ever need, including protection against malware, annoying ads and web trackers, alongside a kill switch, private DNS and leak protection, and secure protocols including IKEv2/IPsec and OpenVPN.
There's even a useful camouflage mode which will stop your ISP from even knowing you're using a VPN service. With 24/7 support and a low monthly price, this is a great choice for most people, apart from advanced users who want to tinker around with a larger choice of settings.
Surfshark VPN
From $1.99 per month at Surfshark
You can connect as many devices as your heart desires at the same time and never worry about any of them being logged. Surfshark also offers a 30-day guarantee that you'll like the product, or it will give you your money back.
3. Cyberghost
Best Xbox VPN for feature fiends
Fast connections: Very | Number of servers: 6,200+ | Server locations: 110+ | Maximum devices supported: 7 | Can be used with: Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, Linux, PlayStation, Xbox
| Plan Length | Monthly Cost | Discount | Total Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Month | $12.99 | 0% | $12.99 at CyberGhost |
| 12 Months | $5.99 | 54% | $71.88 at CyberGhost |
| 24 Months | $3.69 | 72%% | $88.56 at CyberGhost |
| 38 Months | $2.75 | 79% | $99 at CyberGhost |
Pros
- Lots of servers
- Packed with features
Cons
- Support could be better
One of CyberGhost's biggest selling points is its huge collection of servers - more than 6,200 - spread across more than 110 locations and 89 countries, for true global coverage and solid speeds.
The support for the usual services are all present and accounted for, including Netflix, Disney+, BBC iPlayer, Prime Video and more, all of which are further bolstered by 256-bit encryption, DNS and IP leak encryption, a kill switch, a large selection of protocols, a no logs policy, and more.
A total of seven devices can be supported at once, all of which can enjoy unlimited bandwidth, fast speeds, 24/7 support and a very generous 45-day money back guarantee. Connection methods include connecting your Xbox via connecting sharing, or our personal recommendation - installing CyberGhost directly on your router.
The 18 month plan significantly lowers the monthly cost, which is ideal for regular users. Check out our full CyberGhost VPN review for all the details.
CyberGhost VPN
From $2.75 per month at CyberGhost VPN
CyberGhost makes using a VPN easy by helping you choose the best server to use for certain tasks, and it generally offers some of the best pricing around as well.
4. VPN Unlimited
Best Xbox VPN for privacy lovers
Fast connections: Very | Number of servers: 500+ | Server locations: 80+ | Maximum devices supported: 10 | Can be used with: Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, Linux, PlayStation, Xbox
| Plan Length | Monthly Cost | Discount | Total Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Month | $9.99 | 0% | $9.99 at VPN Unlimited |
| 12 Months | $5.00 | 50% | $59.99 at VPN Unlimited |
| 24 Months | $2.78 | 83% | $99.99 at VPN Unlimited |
| Lifetime | $199.99 | 83% | $199.99 at VPN Unlimited |
Pros
- Generous number of devices supported
- Solid security features
Cons
- Fewer servers than rivals
VPN Unlimited is one of the best Xbox VPN options for those who value their online privacy and security while watching content or gaming.
The service's main top-drawer feature is its DNS firewall, which can cleverly identify and deal with multiple cyberthreats automatically. While its collection of 500 global servers isn't as high as some rivals, it still unlocks all the main services you're likely to use. There's a very generous number of overall devices - ten in total - supported on its plan, which is more than most people will ever need.
Your Xbox can use the service directly via installation on your router, or connection sharing. If you've never done either before, then fear not, as there are clear instructions available online, alongside live chat support if you get stuck.
A 36-month plan drives down the monthly cost considerably, or you can fork out around $160 for a lifetime membership, if you're not afraid of commitment.
VPN Unlimited
From $2.78 per month at VPN Unlimited
VPN Unlimited is one of the only larger players in the space that offers a legit lifetime license. Many of the others have heavily discounted ones at under $30, but you have to pay more here. It's a great option to consider today.
5. NordVPN
Best for a polished experience
Fast connections: Very | Number of servers: 5,000+ | Server locations: 80+ | Maximum devices supported: 55+ | Can be used with: Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, Linux
| Plan Length | Monthly Cost | Discount | Total Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Month | $11.95 | 0% | $11.95 at NordVPN |
| 12 Months | $6.99 | 41% | $83.88 at NordVPN |
| 24 Months | $3.49 | 70% | $83.76 at NordVPN |
| 36 Months | $3.49 | 70% | $125.64 at NordVPN |
Pros
- Large number or servers
- Enhanced privacy
Cons
- Mobile app could be better
NordVPN is probably the most recognizable name on this list, due to its immense YouTube ad campaign, and it's also one of the most solid options to boot.
Standout features include its 5,000+ worldwide servers, which provide fast speeds and solid performance. As with other VPNs on this list, installation can be set up directly via your router, or connection sharing, and all of the key services are supported.
One of NordVPNs standout features is its Double VPN service, which sneakily sends your internet traffic through two VPN servers, offering an extra layer of privacy and anonymity. Other features include a malware and ad blocker, 2,048-bit encryption, a kill switch, browser extensions, DNS leak protection, and a no-log policy.
A 30-day money back guarantee, coupled with 24/7 live online support roundoff Nord VPN's feature list rather nicely. Be sure to check out our full NordVPN review now!
NordVPN
From $3.49 per month at NordVPN
NordVPN is one of the most common and biggest names in the VPN space, and it also happens to be one of the best. It offers amongst the largest number of server options and some high-quality app experiences.
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