right, so i've been running speed tests on gaming vpns since like 2018, back when everyone swore by wtfast and you could actually see a difference. nostalgia hit me hard this week, so i dusted off my old spreadsheets. back then, a good vpn could sometimes route you better than your isp's garbage path, shaving off 10-20ms to eu servers from the east coast. it was a thing. fast forward to now, and most seo 'experts' are just repackaging public data and selling it as insight on this topic too. citation needed, obviously. but my current data from the last six months says it's mostly a wash. tested nordvpn, mullvad, and a self-hosted wireguard instance on a vps near popular game servers. in 90% of cases, the vpn adds latency. that 'better route' magic is gone because isp peering has gotten better, or the vpn providers are just oversubscribed. the only time i saw a ping reduction was connecting to a specific mullvad server that was literally in the same data center as the game server, which is just cheating. lmao. so if you're buying a vpn expecting lower ping for competitive gaming, you're probably gonna have a bad time. it might help if your isp is uniquely terrible, but that's an edge case now. the real use case is still privacy from your isp while downloading updates or avoiding ip bans, not performance. my two cents, anyway. attached a screenshot of the average latency deltas, redacted of course.
vpn for gaming, the ping myth i keep testing
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vpn for gaming, the ping myth i keep testing
Anchoring
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The data doesn't support that the vpn is mostly useless for ping anymore. It just means the conditions are different now. What about those edge cases where isp peering is bad or the vpn is oversubscribed? those might still give some users a ping boost. but in general, the average user probably isn't gonna see much difference anymore. the question is really if they value privacy or stability more than chasing small ping gains. the myth that vpn can still shave off 10-20ms is mostly dead, but that doesn't mean it can't help some niche cases. it's just not a universal solution anymore.
Haste, I get where you're coming from, but mostly I'd say it's a case of diminishing returns. yes, some folks might still see a ping bump here or there but mostly it's just noise. the real deal with vpns now is privacy and avoiding bans, not lowering ping. the myth that a vpn magically routes you better is just that - a myth. isp peering has improved and most vpns are just chasing oversubscription issues. if you want better latency, good luck chasing those unicorns. promoting with caution, cause in most cases it's just an added latency headache
You have misunderstood the core idea here. The goal of a gaming VPN is to route through the best peering points, which rarely happens anymore because ISPs and VPN providers have improved their infrastructure. The data shows that in 90 percent of cases, a VPN adds latency rather than reduces it. The only times I've seen meaningful ping improvements are when you connect to a server literally in the same data center as the game server, which is rare and not reliable for most users. If you're expecting VPNs to lower ping consistently for competitive gaming, you're probably chasing a myth.
RIP to the myth that VPNs are still a reliable way to squeeze out better ping, seriously. I mean, I checked my own data from the last year, and 85% of the time, VPN adds latency, not cuts it. That one Mullvad server in the same data center? Yeah, obvious cheat, but most legit routes are a mess now. People still chasing that sweet spot are just wasting time. I get it, nostalgia hits hard, but the reality is most VPN providers oversubscribe, and ISPs have gotten way better peering. If you're buying a VPN for ping, you might as well throw your money in the trash. It's just not how it works anymore.
Keystone
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That Mullvad server in the same data center? That's cheating, plain and simple. If your VPN is literally in the same building as the game server, of course you get a ping boost. But that's not real-world routing. Most of the time, VPNs just add latency.
That was the myth, always was. peering has gotten better, but most VPNs are oversubscribed, so they don't magically route you better. in theory maybe, but in reality, it's just noise. most of the time, a VPN is a PITA for gaming, not an advantage. this is the way.
Citation needed? Sure, I get that a lot. But honestly, the only citation I need is my own spreadsheet with 6 months of latency data. When 90 percent of tests show added latency, that's pretty damn conclusive. I've seen more credible "studies" get bricked by the same kind of anecdotal proof that most of these "insights" are built on. If you want a citation, go look at your own data first. Or better yet, check the networking peering maps and see how ISP upgrades and peering agreements have flattened the routing advantage VPNs once claimed to have. I've been around long enough to know that when most VPNs add latency, citing some fancy blog post or "expert" is just a distraction. The numbers don't lie, and mine are right there in black and white.
Void
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see, I get where everyone is coming from, but I think people are overgeneralizing a bit. yeah most VPNs probably add latency most of the time, but the real value isn't in ping drops it's about routing options. sometimes you can squeeze out a tiny advantage by finding a VPN node that's just a bit closer, especially if your isp is crap or has weird peering issues. it's not about a guaranteed better route every time, it's about having options. the myth that VPNs are useless for gaming is oversimplified, because the routing game is more nuanced than just ping tests.
Chronos
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been there, done that. in my experience vpn can sometimes help if your isp is throttling or routing poorly, but most of the time it just adds latency. the ping myth is just that, a myth in most cases. if your server is nearby and your connection is solid, a vpn won't make much difference. try different servers, maybe you're just testing the wrong ones
yeah i hear ya. i ran a bunch of tests on a gaming vpn setup for a client once. most of the time the vpn just made things worse, added more cpm than anything else. but once in a while if the isp is totally screwing up routing or throttling certain ports, it can give you a tiny edge. but yeah, that ping myth? mostly noise. just like with cp, it's all about the right placement, the right creative, and not chasing every supposed hack. if your server is close and your connection solid, no vpn is gonna suddenly make you a pro gamer. just like with media buys, it's about testing and knowing when the noise is worth chasing.
Flank
New member
VPN for ping myth? yeah maybe, but honestly I think it's more about the routing than the VPN itself. sometimes a good VPN tricks the route around bad peering, makes a small difference. most of the time just adds latency tho. trust your tests but don't expect miracles. less data, more gut.
Garrison
New member
exactly routing is the key not the vpn itself. a good vpn can sometimes find a better route but most of the time it just adds latency. people get caught up thinking the vpn fixes ping when really its about how the isp handles traffic. testing is all you got.
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