Is ExpressVPN good for gaming? [ExpressVPN Review] | TGG

Is ExpressVPN good for gaming? [ExpressVPN Review]

Check out our ExpressVPN review to learn if it should be your go-to VPN app for gaming!

Updated on Dec 30, 2022
Is ExpressVPN good for gaming? [ExpressVPN Review]




ExpressVPN is a reasonably popular VPN provider that is starting to be used more and more by gamers. The creators of this VPN company claim that they have the best and most secure VPN servers for gaming on the market right now. So, how true is this statement? We'll check it out in our ExpressVPN gaming review, where we'll focus on the aspects that matter most to us — gamers. Oh... and we might have a nice discount for you.

ExpressVPN
4.6 / 5

ExpressVPN is a VPN app that will surely satisfy gamers who value wide server selection and simplicity.

PROS!
CONS
Pricing
3 / 5
Reputation among gamers
5 / 5
Numbers of locations
5 / 5
Support
5 / 5
Gaming Performance
5 / 5

Please notice that we tested ExpressVPN on the video games CS:GO, PUBG, Rocket League, Halo Infinite, Warzone, World Of Tanks, Minecraft, League Of Legends, GTA VI, Rainbow Six: Siege, Roblox, Dota 2, Star Wars Battlefront 2, Fortnite, Valorant, Overwatch 2 and Rust  2.

ExpressVPN Discount Codes

ExpressVPN offers users an updated page with discount codes. Undoubtedly, you will find what you are looking for there. Click here to get access to it.

Also, make sure to click on the link below. We will keep it updated so that you land on the page with the best discount available for gamers.

VISIT EXPRESSVPN

Pricing (3/5)

Let's start with a deeper look at the ExpressVPN offer. Their cheapest plan is $99.5 annually with an extra 3 free months ($6.67 per month), and that's actually a pretty high price for a VPN service (in comparison with PureVPNNordVPN and IPVanish), but still cheaper than VyprVPN. And sure, you can say that ExpressVPN is pretty advanced and has many features, which explains that high pricing. 

ExpressVPN Price

However, their main rival with the most similar features (Surfshark VPN) offers a price of $2.49 per month in their cheapest plan; this is a noticeable difference. Make sure to visit ExpressVPN using our link to get the discount on the order page.

It's worth mentioning that ExpressVPN comes with a 30-day money back garantee, after which you can get a full refund, with no explanation needed. Still, ExpressVPN is definitely not the most affordable VPN app, and that’s why we give it a 3/5 rating.

VISIT EXPRESSVPN AND PROFIT OF THE 30-DAY MONEY-BACK GUARANTEE

Reputation Among Gamers (5/5)

ExpressVPN may be the best VPN provider when it comes to gaming specifically. If you aren't concerned about changing the server location, just the IP address itself (e.g., because of an IP ban), it will do just great. 

ExpressVPN’s virtual servers are one of the fastest on the market and have almost no effect on Ping and Upload speed. Players often claim that they don’t really feel any additional latency when using ExpressVPN, and we also felt that way when we reviewed it. When we connected to the server suggested by the Smart Location feature, the differences in pings were minimal to nonexistent. 

ExpressVPN supports all possible platforms you can use for gaming. Whether you play on PC, Mac, console, or your mobile device, ExpressVPN offers an easy-to-use app for all of these platforms. All you have to do is choose your server and click on that big connect button, and you’re ready to go.

ExpressVPN for gamers

ExpressVPN also has a well-developed split tunneling system built in their app. However, it is straightforward to use, which is not necessarily the case with other VPN software.

ExpressVPN Gaming Performance (5/5)

Even though ExpressVPN is not the most affordable VPN provider out there, its services are top-notch

During our few weeks of testing, there were times when we had it running in the background - that's how fast their servers are. 

And this is what we mean when we decide to invest in a VPN provider; to make the difference as little as possible. For comparison, the pings we achieved using ExpressVPN’s Smart Location feature and without it:

CS:GO:

  • Average ping without ExpressVPN: 15 ms
  • Average ping using ExpressVPN: 28 ms

Valorant:

  • Average ping without ExpressVPN: 21 ms
  • Average ping using ExpressVPN: 30 ms

Warzone:

  • Average ping without ExpressVPN: 38 ms
  • Average ping using ExpressVPN: 56 ms

Rocket League:

  • Average ping without ExpressVPN: 44 ms
  • Average ping using ExpressVPN: 49 ms

Overwatch:

  • Average ping without ExpressVPN: 31 ms
  • Average ping using ExpressVPN: 74 ms

Dota 2:

  • Average ping without ExpressVPN: 18 ms
  • Average ping using ExpressVPN: 26 ms

So, with virtually every game, the ping was ultimately higher, but not so much, and it was tough to feel any difference in any other game than Overwatch. Remember that, this case might look different for you, mostly depending on your location.

And honestly, this is currently the best VPN in this regard out of all the ones we tested, but you know, this high price is not there without a good reason.

How does split tunneling on ExpressVPN work?

Split tunneling is a feature that allows you to specify which programs and devices you want to route your connection over the VPN server and which you don't. This can be an incredibly important feature for gamers! For example, when you talk to your teammates on ex. Discord, you want to hear them as well as possible without any lags or glitches. However, we won't always be able to play with them using our original IP, and this is where split tunneling will do the job. You'll be able to enjoy high-quality communication and access to the game that you normally wouldn't have. With ExpressVPN, you can set up your split tunneling in a matter of seconds. 

  1. Click on the Menu icon and select “Options” in the upper-left corner of your ExpressVPN app.
How to use split tunneling with ExpressVPN 1
  1. Go to “General”.
How to use split tunneling ExpressVPN 2
  1. Find “Split Tunneling” and enable it.
How to use split tunneling with ExpressVPN 3
  1. To manage apps you want to use your split tunneling for, just go to Settings and adjust your preferences.
How to use split tunneling with ExpressVPN 4

Numbers of locations (5/5)

ExpressVPN has over 3,000 servers in 160 different locations (94 countries) at the moment of writing this article! Not only is server selection really wide, but each of these servers works exceptionally well. And if you don't know which server to go for, ExpressVPN will help you choose the most beneficial server location (aka Smart Location) by analyzing data and comparing the speed of each of them. You can do such a comparison yourself by clicking on the Menu icon and selecting "Speed Test".

ExpressVPN Server Location Number

So, not only do you have a wide variety of server locations to choose from, but you also don't have to do extra research on which server will work best for your next gaming session because you can check it yourself within seconds. We also know that representatives from the gaming community connect worldwide, so with the vast selection of locations on ExpressVPN, you won't have to worry if you can play with your friend from the other part of the world because you probably will without any problems. 

Express VPN Gaming Review

Moreover, if you would like to use increasingly popular streaming platforms such as Google Stadia, GeForceNow, or Amazon Luna, but they are not available in your country, then you can check out how they will work just by using ExpressVPN, as the locations offered in this VPN app give you the opportunity to test them all. And if they don't work very well, then you can reach out to ExpressVPN support for a refund within 30 days of making your purchase. This is one of the easiest 5/5 ratings we have ever given in our reviews.

Support (5/5)

ExpressVPN meets all the standards that any customer support should have (much like CyberGhots). They have people there who answer your questions promptly and are really helpful. 

ExpressVPN Live Chat Support

Moreover, ExpressVPN also has tons of articles that address various problems and are available in many languages; you can learn more here. So, if this is your first VPN app, and you expect to use their support several times, you don't have to worry about anything! They will definitely help you out.

This article contains affiliate links which are marked . If you grab anything we mention using our referral links, we may get a small commission. However, there’s no extra cost to you. If you’d like to learn more, check out our affiliate disclosure page.
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