Having a VPN can provide you with tons of awesome benefits, like maintaining your privacy when online and the ability to access previously blocked content due to region-specific restrictions. While gaming, using a VPN can boost your security, minimize lag and help you get around your internet service provider's restrictions (which can slow down your internet connection). That's not to say that using a VPN won't slow your internet speeds a tad; they absolutely can. It's worth noting that a VPN may not be something you'd completely need when in a gaming session, but Xbox consoles are also entertainment hubs, which means having a VPN for streaming may interest you. Popular streaming apps like Netflix, Hulu, Disney Plus and Amazon Prime Video feature a ton of content, with international titles that may not be accessible, depending on your physical location. Plus, it is completely possible to use a virtual private network with Xbox Game Pass to reduce load times and ping.
Integrating a VPN with Xbox consoles -- whether you own a Series X, Series S or One -- can be a complicated process. When using operating systems like Windows, MacOS, iOS and Android, you're usually prompted to download a user-friendly app to help you install the VPN in question. When you're on an Xbox, or gaming console competitors like the Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 5, connecting to a virtual private network must be done in a roundabout way. Setting up a VPN with an Xbox most commonly relies on you having a whole-home router setup. Secondarily, you can also use a Windows PC as a bridge between your VPN and Microsoft Xbox console.
At CNET, we’ve rigorously tested dozens of VPNs, analyzing everything from speed loss and security to streaming performance and price. We also pored over individual providers' help documentation for using VPNs with Xbox consoles, which factored heavily into our selection criteria. Whether you want to use Game Pass while traveling abroad, lower ping on your Series X console or access international Netflix libraries, these are the best VPNs for Xbox.
Show more
Unlike most other platforms, such as Windows, MacOS, iPhone and Android, you can’t install VPN apps directly on Xbox consoles. Microsoft isn’t unique -- there aren’t any VPN apps for the PlayStation 5 or Nintendo Switch either. Instead, you’ll need to use your router as a VPN or a Windows PC as a bridge. Here’s how to use a VPN on Xbox:
- Log in to your router by heading to the correct IP address and entering your username/password combination. Check your router’s documentation if you have it on hand, or if you’re like me, Google it since you recycled that pamphlet already.
- Navigate to a tab like Control Panel, Settings or Network/WAN Setup (when you see fields including DHCP, IP Address, Gateway Address and Subnet Mask, you’re in the correct spot).
- Check the instructions on your VPN provider’s website to set up that service on your Wi-Fi router, then save your changes once you’ve punched in the correct information.
- Connect your Xbox to your router if you haven’t already done so by pressing the Xbox button, heading to Settings > Network > Set up wireless network, then selecting your Wi-Fi network name and entering your password.
Some of the most common IP addresses to use when logging into your router include:
- 10.0.1.1
- 10.0.0.1
- 192.168.1.1
- 192.168.0.1
- 192.168.1.100
- 192.168.2.1
Often, the default username might be admin, user or username. Typical passwords are admin or password. I’m sure that, unlike me, you changed yours to something more secure, so enter the customized username/password combination that you definitely didn’t forget to write down. (If you’re lucky, perhaps it’s saved in your password manager.)
Streaming Xbox Game Pass with a VPN is even easier
Microsoft’s cloud game streaming service, Xbox Game Pass, provides an assortment of titles like Halo, Gears of War and GoldenEye 007, available to play nearly anywhere you’ve got a reliable internet connection. I regularly use Game Pass on my OnePlus 10 Pro Android smartphone while out and about. If you’re in a region where the service isn’t supported or servers are far away, a VPN lets you enjoy your favorite Xbox games. Thankfully, you won’t have to fiddle with router settings; just install your VPN provider’s app on your preferred platform. Then, enable your VPN and fire up Xbox Game Pass in the app or in a browser.
Show more
Leveraging our years of hands-on testing, we’ve curated the following factors to consider when selecting a VPN that works with your Xbox.
Speed
Your VPN’s speed plays a crucial role in gaming or streaming video. Fast internet speeds and low latency enhance your gaming experience. Because all virtual private networks result in some speed loss, you’ll want one of the fastest VPNs available. 4K video streaming on Netflix, Disney Plus or Amazon Prime requires solid internet to avoid buffering and pixelation. A high-performance VPN could also lower your ping. For instance, if you’re connecting to a game server far from your physical location, a virtual network near the game server might keep input lag to a minimum. If you’re having issues, you can attempt to fix your VPN connection.
Network
Whether for tapping into game servers, accessing Xbox Game Pass internationally, or streaming foreign Netflix and Disney Plus libraries, an extensive server network is essential. Look for a high number of servers and a diverse set of countries as well. There are limited choices if your VPN provider boasts a vast list of servers clustered in a small number of locales. Wherever you are around the globe, you’ll enjoy more reliable connectivity with servers closer to your physical location.
Price
Most VPN providers deliver competitive discounts for first-time subscribers, and you’ll usually save more money when signing up for a longer term, like a year or two. We generally advise against springing for more than a 12-month plan. Although your VPN service may be fast, secure and feature-rich initially, that company may go bankrupt, be acquired or suffer a data breach over the next year. Because of the VPN space’s volatility, you should stick to an annual subscription for maximum savings without too much commitment. It’s not just about the lowest price; often more expensive virtual private networks tout fast speeds, large server networks and excellent amenities. Ultimately, you should pick a VPN with the benefits you need.
Streaming support
Since Xbox consoles are all-around multimedia devices, think about entertainment. Streaming with a VPN lets you unlock access to international libraries on services like Netflix, Disney Plus or Amazon Prime. For instance, with a UK VPN enabled you can stream Prey -- normally a Hulu exclusive in the US -- on Disney Plus. The best VPNs for streaming can unblock many streaming services, letting you access foreign content or even enjoy videos while traveling abroad.
Help guides and customer support
Because there’s no directly installable app, using a VPN on Xbox consoles isn’t as straightforward as on other platforms. Instead of downloading an application on your Xbox, you’ll need to run a VPN on your router or connect with your PC as a bridge. We suggest sticking with a company that provides detailed guides explaining how to use a VPN with your Xbox. Additionally, access to 24/7 live chat online and over the phone is helpful if you run into issues during setup.
Privacy
Although gaming is relatively safe, aside from “one more match before bed” morphing into several hours, there are dangers associated with online play. As Kaspersky explains, distributed denial of service, or DDoS, attacks often target gamers. A VPN encrypts your network traffic for additional protection, giving you peace of mind while playing.
PIA
At merely $12 per month or $40 yearly, Private Internet Access is a cost-effective virtual private network that’s priced lower than even Surfshark. Alternatively, PIA offers a $79 three-year package, although we typically advise against shelling out for more than 12 months of service for a VPN upfront. Its beefy privacy and top-shelf transparency make PIA a worthy choice over other budget-friendly VPNs. All its apps are open-source, and we appreciate PIA's commitment to privacy as well as transparency. Streaming content works well on PIA. Netflix, Disney Plus and Amazon Prime Video libraries from the US and UK played great.
While its middling 49% average internet speed loss makes Private Internet Access unsuitable for competitive gaming, it's great for casual users -- and at the price, it's hard to complain. Sporting a vast server network spanning 91 countries, Private Internet Access offers an optimal connection for most folks. Although PIA has fewer server locations than Surfshark, ExpressVPN and NordVPN, it touts more servers than IPVanish. Its excellent Xbox VPN setup guide makes PIA a worthy consideration as a VPN for your Xbox Series X and S. But the unreliable connectivity holds Private Internet Access back when compared with other virtual private network choices with meaningfully faster speeds, including NordVPN, ExpressVPN, Surfshark and Proton VPN.
Read our PIA review.
IPVanish
IPVanish offers unlimited simultaneous connections, intuitive apps and 24/7 customer support via phone or live chat. It handles streaming sites like Hulu, Disney Plus, Netflix and Amazon Prime Video with aplomb. However, its uneven speed loss -- we measured an average 44% in our benchmarks -- means IPVanish isn’t as suitable for gaming as other providers. Likewise, with servers in 56 countries, you have fewer choices than with ExpressVPN, NordVPN or Surfshark. IPVanish is fine for casual users but not ideal for serious gamers. We also found IPVanish’s Xbox VPN guides underwhelming, so it’s a better option for non-Xbox users.
Read our IPVanish review.
Show more