Best League of Legends VPNs
Secure Your LP. Stabilise Your Ping.
Surfshark VPN
The "Warmog's Armour" for Your Connection
Missing a Smite steal or flashing into a wall because of a lag spike is the quickest way to tilt your entire team. While Riot Direct has improved global routing there are still moments where ISP throttling during peak hours causes major jitter. If you want to keep your ping stable and protect your IP address during Clash tournaments you need a VPN that can handle the pace of League of Legends.
TOP LEAGUE OF LEGENDS VPN RANKINGS
Surfshark: The Team Player
Surfshark claims the top spot for its sheer value and utility. It offers unlimited simultaneous connections which means you can secure every laptop in your gaming house without needing extra subscriptions. The Nexus feature rotates your IP address without disconnecting you from the game server adding a layer of stability that is rare to find elsewhere.
Why it works:
- Nexus: Routes traffic through a network of servers rather than a single point to ensure your connection holds up during intense team fights.
- Camouflage Mode: Masks your VPN traffic to look like regular browsing so your ISP will not throttle your bandwidth during ranked sessions.
- CleanWeb: Keeps your browser free from ads when you are checking builds on analytical sites like U.GG or OP.GG.
NordVPN: The Hyper Carry
NordVPN acts as the carry for players who need pure speed. It utilises the NordLynx protocol which is built around WireGuard to keep data overheads minimal. This results in quicker response times which is vital for high mechanical play on champions like Irelia or Yasuo.
Why it works:
- Meshnet: Lets you create a secure LAN environment to play custom games with friends without worrying about port forwarding.
- Threat Protection: Blocks malicious websites and trackers that might target your account details.
- Server Count: Over 6,000 servers ensure you can always find a node with low load near the Riot data centre in Amsterdam or Chicago.
ExpressVPN: The Reliable Support
ExpressVPN is the dependable support that never misses a ward. Their proprietary Lightway protocol is lightweight and incredibly stable which is perfect for avoiding packet loss. It is one of the few VPNs that works consistently well with Riot Vanguard without requiring constant configuration tweaks.
Why it works:
- Zero Jitter: Lightway ensures your ping line stays flat so you can predict minion health perfectly for last hits.
- Router App: Install it directly on your router to protect consoles or gaming PCs that are locked down.
- Global Reach: Excellent coverage in key LoL regions like Korea, NA, and Europe.
CyberGhost: The Jungler
CyberGhost is ideal for players who want to roam between regions without hassle. It features Gaming Optimised Servers that are clearly labelled in the app. This saves you time as you do not need to test random servers to find a stable connection for your match.
Why it works:
- Gaming Profile: Filter the server list to show only those nodes optimised for online multiplayer gaming.
- Ping Display: See the latency of every server before you connect so you always pick the fastest option.
- Smart Rules: Configure the VPN to launch automatically when you open the Riot Client.
PureVPN: The Specialist
PureVPN is a solid pick if you need specific network features like Port Forwarding. While League of Legends does not typically require open ports for standard play having this option is excellent for hosting custom tournaments or ensuring an Open NAT type.
Why it works:
- Port Forwarding: Useful for advanced users who want full control over their NAT type and network ingress.
- 20Gbps Servers: High bandwidth capacity ensures your connection does not choke during patch days.
- Audit History: An "Always-On" audit policy gives you confidence that your data remains private.
League of Legends VPNs Compared
| VPN Service | Ping Impact | Best For | Verdict | Actions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Surfshark | Low | Unlimited Devices | #1 Overall | |
| NordVPN | Lowest | Raw Speed | Fastest | |
| ExpressVPN | Consistent | Stability | Reliable | |
| CyberGhost | Variable | Ease of Use | Simple | |
| PureVPN | Average | Port Fwd | Features | |
| PrivadoVPN | Good | Free Plan | Freemium | |
| IPVanish | Good | US Players | US Based | |
| Hide.me | Low | Advanced | Secure | |
| ZoogVPN | High | Budget | Cheap | |
| iTop VPN | Average | Simple | Good UI |
Connection Health: Ranked Infrastructure Analysis
The Reality: League of Legends servers in Europe (Amsterdam/Frankfurt) and North America (Chicago) handle millions of players daily. Sometimes the path your ISP takes to reach these hubs is inefficient and bounces your data through too many nodes. This results in high ping and the dreaded "Attempting to Reconnect" message.
The Threat: While Riot Direct has improved stability significantly competitive players and streamers are still targets for DDoS attacks. If your IP address is exposed via a third-party voice app or a peer-to-peer connection malicious actors can flood your network and force you to disconnect.
Competitive Utility for Summoners
Beyond securing your connection a VPN offers several strategic benefits for LoL players who want to bypass ISP throttling and improve ranking:
- Optimised Routing: You can bypass bad ISP hops by connecting directly to a VPN server that sits physically closer to the Riot data centre.
- Region Independence: Play with friends on EUNE or NA servers from EU West with a connection that is often more stable than standard international routing.
- Throttling Evasion: Encryption prevents your ISP from identifying your traffic as gaming data which stops them from throttling your speed during peak evening hours.
- IP Protection: Keep your real IP address hidden from anyone who might want to disrupt your promo series or track your location.
Setup Protocol: Eliminating Input Delay
To ensure your mechanics are not hindered by lag follow these essential steps to lower ping in League of Legends:
- Use WireGuard/Lightway: Always select these modern protocols in your VPN settings as they offer superior speed compared to OpenVPN.
- Proximity is Key: Connect to a VPN server that is near the game server region (e.g. choose a German VPN server for EU West).
- Wired Connection: Always use an Ethernet cable rather than Wi-Fi. A VPN can fix routing but it cannot solve local wireless interference.
- Close Background Apps: Shut down bandwidth-heavy applications like 4K streams or large downloads to prioritise your gaming traffic.
Riot Vanguard & Account Safety
Understand the rules before you enter the Rift with a VPN active:
- VPNs are Permitted: Riot Games generally allows the use of VPNs to reduce lag or play with friends. It typically does not conflict with Vanguard's kernel anti-cheat.
- Regional Pricing Abuse: Never use a VPN to spoof your location to buy RP or skins from a cheaper region (like Turkiye). This violates the Terms of Service and will likely result in a permanent ban.
- Account Sharing: Using a VPN to hide that you are sharing an account or boosting someone else is strictly forbidden and Vanguard's behavioural analysis may still catch you.
FAQs for LoL Players
Does a VPN reduce ping in League of Legends?
It often does if your ISP has inefficient routing to the Riot Direct backbone. A VPN can force a more direct path to the game servers which lowers latency and reduces packet loss.
Is it safe to use a VPN with Riot Vanguard?
Yes as Riot allows VPNs for connectivity improvements. Vanguard targets kernel level cheats rather than network tools. However you must not use a VPN to exploit regional pricing in the store.
Can I play on other regions with a VPN?
Yes. A VPN stabilises your connection when playing on overseas servers such as an EU player joining friends on NA or EUNE servers.
