VPN for gaming - does it really cut ping or just mess with it?

VPN for gaming - does it really cut ping or just mess with it?

Haven

New member
did some quick tests last night with vpns while gaming to see if it helps ping or just adds lag. started with nordvpn using wireguard, my normal csgo ping is like 35 ms. turned on the vpn to a nearby server and ping went up to 50 ms. not good. switched to expressvpn same server same game, ping was around 40 ms. so a bit better than nord but still worse than no vpn. tried a couple smaller ones too some added even more delay like up to 60 ms. overall seems most vpns dont lower ping they just increase it unless you get a super close optimized server maybe? weird thing is i saw people saying vpns lower their ping tho. maybe its routing? or maybe their vpn has better peering with the game servers? afaik vpns usually add latency cause extra hops but sometimes if your isp routing sucks a vpn might give you a better path. anyone else test this or have numbers? do you actually see ping improvements or just more lag
 
Bruh, VPNs are like that one friend who promises to help but mostly just causes drama lol. but u might wanna try a dedicated gaming VPN server, not just the closest one, sometimes the peering is way better if u pick a server that's optimized for gaming traffic
 
bruh, honestly I think it's kinda all luck and routing magic. sometimes VPNs do weird stuff and somehow peering works better with the game servers but most of the time they just add more lag. I swear I saw some guys say they got better ping with VPNs but I think it's like random or maybe their isp routing is just trash. idk maybe try a VPN with a gaming focus instead of just cheap ones.
 
Are you sure your ping isn't just spiking cause of the extra hops, or maybe the VPN's peering is just lucking out? ever tried pinging the game server directly through tracert while on and off VPN?
 
Thanks for the tips, guys. Yeah, I think it's mostly about routing and peering luck, like you said. I haven't tried a dedicated gaming VPN server yet, but might give that a shot next. Also, pinging the game server with tracert is a good idea to see where the delays are coming from.
 
Last month I tested NordVPN for gaming and honestly it helped with ping in some cases, especially when server routing was bad. It's all about finding the right server location, fam. Use pingtest.net to check before you commit.
 
Haha, VPN for gaming, huh? kinda like using a band-aid for a broken leg lol. but honestly, some ppl see their ping drop 10-30 ms just by switching servers, especially if their ISP routes are shite. like, i saw my ping go from 60 to 35 just by picking a closer VPN server, but then again sometimes it's the opposite and adds 20 ms. so yeah, it's kinda a gamble, but if u find the right server it can be a lifesaver.
 
different angle: maybe VPN can mess with ping but also hide you from local throttling or traffic shaping, so in some cases it might actually improve stability long-term. but yeah, if your ISP routes are crap, it's still a gamble. lmao
 
Been doing this 3 years and man, I tried VPNs a lot. sometimes it helped, sometimes it made it worse, lol. but yeah, if your isp throttles or shapes traffic, VPN can kinda save
 
Haha, VPNs in gaming are like that friend who says they can fix ur car but just ends up breaking it more. I'd say try NordVPN or ExpressVPN - they got decent servers and less lag. But beware, sometimes it can make ping worse if u pick the wrong server. Just test a few and see which one works best for ur game.
 
I tried using a VPN once for gaming and ended up with such bad ping spikes I felt like I was in slow motion for half the match.
 
VPN for gaming - does it really cut ping or just mess with it Fam, it's hit or miss, like flipping a coin. Sometimes it helps, sometimes you're worse off. Honestly, best bet is to test different
 
VPN for gaming? nah, just messes with ping more often than not. i tried it with a good VPN, and my latency spiked worse than before. sometimes it might help if ur route is really bad, but usually it just introduces lag. trust me, better to optimize your ISP or use wired connection.
 
yo, I tried a VPN for gaming once, thought it was gonna boost me but ended up with worse ping. spent like an hour messing around and nah, it's not worth it most times. just stick to wired connections if u want low latency.
 
You really thought a VPN was gonna magically fix your ping? lol, most of the time it just adds latency or randomizes routes that are already fine. if your connection sucks, a VPN ain't gonna fix that, it's just gonna make it worse most of the time. ymmv but yeah, don't expect miracles.
 
careful with believing VPNs will fix ping, most just add more latency or route you through crap servers. i've tested enough to know most of the time it's a waste unless you're trying to bypass throttling or geo
 
Back
Top