Updated on: April 26, 2024
Short on time? Here’s the best DDoS protected VPN in 2024:
- 🥇ExpressVPN: It comes with anti-DDoS protection on all servers, has strong security features, and delivers super-fast speeds for gaming. Plus, its apps are very easy to navigate, and it has a 30-day money-back guarantee.
A Distributed Denial-of-Service (DDoS) attack can force you offline while gaming. This happens when another player routes tons of traffic to your network. The best way to protect yourself from DDoS attacks is with a VPN.
A VPN has servers placed in countries all over the world, and when you connect to a server, the VPN replaces your IP address with one from the server location. So, if another player tries to target you with a DDoS attack, they’ll target the VPN’s IP address instead of yours — and many of the top VPNs include DDoS protection on each server.
However, not all VPNs are good at protecting you from DDoS attacks. Many are missing anti-DDoS protection, have poor security features, or have small server networks that can’t handle the amount of traffic a DDoS attack sends to the server.
I tested and found the best VPNs for protecting you against a DDoS attack. My top choice is ExpressVPN because it has anti-DDoS protection on all servers, maintains fast speeds, offers a native router app, and comes with top-notch security features.
Quick summary of the best DDoS-protected VPNs:
- 1. 🥇ExpressVPN — Best DDoS protected VPN in 2024 (with anti-DDoS protection on all servers + fast speeds).
- 2. 🥈Private Internet Access — Secure and private VPN for online gaming (with highly customizable apps).
- 3. 🥉CyberGhost VPN — Good pick for gamers new to VPNs (with intuitive apps + launch automation rules).
- 4. Surfshark — Solid VPN for users on a budget (with affordable plans + intuitive interface).
- 5. PrivateVPN — Minimalistic VPN with user-friendly apps + fast speeds for online activities.
🥇1. ExpressVPN — Best DDoS Protected VPN
ExpressVPN is my top choice for protecting your gaming traffic from DDoS attacks. The VPN comes with anti-DDoS protection across all servers, meaning that if other players try to DDoS you, they’ll target ExpressVPN’s IP address unsuccessfully — it’s just one of the many reasons why it’s the best VPN for gaming.
This VPN is very secure. It comes with the following security features:
- Full leak protection. ExpressVPN has protection against DNS, WebRTC, and IPv6 leaks, which could expose your real IP address and make you vulnerable to DDoS attacks. I experienced no leaks during my tests with the IP checker.
- RAM-only servers. The VPN uses RAM-only servers, which run on volatile memory. This means that every server reboot erases all data.
- Perfect forward secrecy. This security feature changes the encryption key for each session to minimize the amount of data potential hackers could access.
- An audited no-logs policy. Its no-logs policy has been independently audited, confirming that the VPN doesn’t store your browsing history, what files you download, and connection logs.
- Advanced Protection. ExpressVPN’s Advanced Protection protects you from ads and ad trackers that appear on gaming sites. It also prevents connections to shady gaming sites with players that could DDoS you.
I like that ExpressVPN has an easy-to-install router app that makes it simple to use on gaming devices that don’t have native VPN support, like Xbox and PlayStation consoles. It took me about 8–9 minutes to set up the VPN on my router. In addition, ExpressVPN has its own router, Aircove, which comes with all of the benefits of the VPN and would protect every device in your home from a DDoS attack.
I was really impressed with the VPN’s speeds. Thanks to its lightning-fast proprietary protocol called Lightway, websites loaded instantly, and I could play games without any interruptions since my ping remained low. What’s more, ExpressVPN has servers in 105 countries, so you can always find a local server to get the fastest speeds and lowest ping.
The provider is a great choice for gaming. It provides support for cloud gaming services, which are platforms that stream video games to portable devices like tablets and smartphones. It works with tons of popular cloud gaming services, including PlayStation Now and GeForce Now.
ExpressVPN’s plans start at $6.67 / month. All plans have a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Bottom Line:
ExpressVPN is the best overall DDoS protected VPN. It has anti-DDoS protection on all servers, has industry-leading security features, and maintains fast speeds. The VPN has great gaming support and a router app for gaming on your Xbox or PlayStations. Plus, all plans come with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Read the full ExpressVPN review
🥈2. Private Internet Access — Strong Security and Privacy Features + Customizable Apps
Private Internet Access (PIA) has top-notch security features. It comes with anti-DDoS protection on all servers. Plus, the VPN has RAM-only servers, an audited and verified no-logs policy, perfect forward secrecy, and full leak protection. I’m also a big fan of the ad blocker PIA MACE, which always blocks ads on gaming sites, and prevents connections to malicious sites that host online games.
Moreover, PIA has an Advanced Kill Switch feature, which disables internet access if you’re not connected to the VPN. By enabling this feature, your IP address will always be protected from DDoS attacks when playing online games.
I love how customizable PIA’s apps are. For example, you can easily change encryption levels from 256-bit AES to 128-bit AES for slightly faster speeds for gaming. In addition, you can set automation rules to connect/disconnect from the VPN depending on which Wi-Fi network you join.
PIA had fast speeds during my tests. Gaming sites loaded in 1–2 seconds, and I was able to game with minor lag. What’s more, the VPN has servers in 91 countries and shows the latency (how long it takes for the internet signal to travel to the server) for all locations so you can easily find the fastest one. However, PIA is a bit slower than ExpressVPN.
I don’t like that it lacks cloud gaming support, and PIA doesn’t guarantee it will work with cloud gaming platforms. The good news is that I was still able to game on platforms like GeForce Now and Amazon Luna using PIA.
PIA also offers step-by-step guides for installing the VPN on your router, but it doesn’t have a router app like ExpressVPN. That said, PIA offers unlimited simultaneous connections, so you can still easily protect all your devices from DDoS attacks.
Private Internet Access offers low-cost plans that start at $2.03 / month. Each plan has a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Bottom Line:
Private Internet Access has strong security and privacy features and offers anti-DDoS protection on all servers. Plus, it has customizable apps and maintains fast speeds. That said, it lacks cloud gaming support and a router app, though it still has good router support. All plans have a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Read the full Private Internet Access review
🥉3. CyberGhost VPN — Great VPN for Beginners
CyberGhost VPN has great apps for beginners. I like the Smart Rules feature, which lets you customize your connections. For example, you can set the VPN to automatically connect to a server when you open a gaming app like Steam. You can also choose to only include certain gaming websites from the VPN tunnel instead of all your traffic.
I like that CyberGhost VPN has anti-DDoS protection on all servers. It also comes with 70+ dedicated servers for gaming in the US, the UK, Germany, and France. These servers are optimized to provide fast and safe connections. My colleague in the US was able to game without any lag using its US gaming servers.
This provider has RAM-only servers, a no-logs policy that passed an independent audit, perfect forward secrecy, and DNS and IPv6 leak protection. Moreover, the Identity Guard feature informs you if your email address and passwords, like ones connected to your gaming accounts, have been a part of a data breach.
The VPN had decent speeds in my tests. Gaming sites loaded in 3–4 seconds, and I played some online games with only minor interruptions. Additionally, CyberGhost has servers in 100 countries — you’ll easily find a server (if you don’t want to use the gaming servers) in your area with the fastest speeds for gaming.
CyberGhost has apps for many devices, like iOS, Android, Windows, macOS, and Linux. There’s no router app, but you can easily install the VPN on your router with the VPN’s installation guides. Plus, there’s a Favorites tab where you can list your frequently used servers.
CyberGhost VPN’s plans start as low as $2.03 / month. Long-term plans have a 45-day money-back guarantee and the shortest plan has a 14-day money-back guarantee.
Bottom Line:
CyberGhost VPN has beginner-friendly apps and anti-DDoS protection on all servers. In addition, the VPN is secure and has decent speeds and apps for major devices. Long-term plans come with a 45-day money-back guarantee and the shortest plan has a 14-day money-back guarantee.
Read the full CyberGhost VPN review
4. Surfshark — User-Friendly VPN With Affordable Plans
Surfshark has user-friendly apps. Its interface is simple to navigate, and you can connect to a server just by clicking on the Quick Connect button. There’s a search bar to help you find the best and fastest server easily and all features and settings have short explanations. In addition, the VPN has apps for most major devices and router support (manual only).
The VPN has one of the cheapest plans on the market. So, it’s a great option if you’re on a tight budget and are looking for a VPN with anti-DDoS protection on all servers and strong security.
Speaking of, this provider is pretty secure. It has an audited no-logs policy, RAM-only servers, perfect forward secrecy, and DNS leak protection. In addition, Surfshark has an IP Rotator feature that regularly changes your VPN IP address without dropping your VPN connection. This means other gamers will have a hard time targeting you with DDoS attacks since your IP address is always changing.
Surfshark also has an ad blocker called CleanWeb. It got rid of most ads on gaming sites and prevented me from connecting to shady gaming sites. However, I prefer Private Internet Access’ PIA MACE more, as it’s able to block all ads and pop-ups.
During my tests, Surfshark had fast speeds. Gaming websites loaded in 5–6 seconds, but I had a high ping while gaming on distant servers — but the VPN has servers in 100 countries, so finding a server near your location won’t be an issue.
Surfshark has affordable plans starting at $2.29 / month. Every plan has a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Bottom Line:
Surfshark is an intuitive VPN that offers affordable plans. It has advanced security features, IP Rotator, and an ad blocker. The VPN maintains fast speeds and all plans have a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Read the full Surfshark review
5. PrivateVPN — Minimalistic VPN With Decent Speeds
PrivateVPN offers apps that are great for beginners and advanced users. For example, the Windows app offers a Simple View and Advanced View. The Simple View is for beginners as it keeps customization options to a minimum while the Advanced View allows users to have more control over their settings.
I like that PrivateVPN has anti-DDoS protection on all servers. However, I’m not as impressed with its security features compare to the other VPNs on this list. It has DNS and IPv6 leak protection and perfect forward secrecy, but it lacks RAM-only servers and its no-logs policy hasn’t been audited. ExpressVPN and Private Internet Access have both of these plus more.
In addition to the standard kill switch, Private VPN also has an Application Guard on the desktop apps, which shuts down selected gaming apps if the VPN disconnects. This way, you won’t expose your IP address to other gamers and become vulnerable to DDoS attacks.
The VPN maintained decent speeds in my tests. Websites loaded in 7–8 seconds, and I could play online games with some lagging. Plus, the VPN has a small server network in 63 countries but its servers are evenly distributed across the globe.
PrivateVPN’s plans start at $2.00 / month. All plans have a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Bottom Line:
PrivateVPN can be adjusted for beginners and advanced users. It has decent security features and an Application Guard to protect your IP address while gaming if the VPN connection drops. Moreover, it has good speeds and plans with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Read the full PrivateVPN review
Comparison of the Best DDoS Protected VPNs in 2024
How to Choose the Best DDoS Protected VPN in 2024
- Look for a VPN with anti-DDoS protection. All the VPNs on this list come with anti-DDoS protection built-in on all servers to help you avoid DDoS attacks.
- Consider strong security features. I only recommend VPNs that come with industry-standard security features, including 256-bit AES encryption, a no-logs policy, and a kill switch, which disables internet access if the VPN disconnects to prevent data leaks.
- Choose a VPN with fast speeds. All VPNs slow down your speeds due to the encryption process, but top VPNs can minimize this slowdown and maintain fast speeds across all servers. ExpressVPN had the fastest speeds in my tests.
- Go for a user-friendly VPN. The VPNs listed above are simple to navigate, which makes it easy to find the fastest server. Plus, they have apps for most major devices. ExpressVPN offers a router app as well.
- Get a VPN that offers good value. The VPN should have generous money-back guarantees, and extra features, like an ad blocker. I also suggest purchasing a VPN with affordable plans.
Top Brands That Didn’t Make the Cut
- NordVPN. NordVPN has strong security features and maintains fast speeds for gaming. While the VPN changes your IP address, it lacks anti-DDoS protection.
- Pure VPN. Pure VPN is secure and pretty fast, but anti-DDoS protection costs extra. All of the VPNs on my list include this security as part of their normal pricing plans.
- TunnelBear. Although TunnelBear has anti-DDoS protection on all servers, the VPN’s speeds can’t match the VPNs on this list. Plus, its server network is small, and it doesn’t offer a money-back guarantee.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which VPN is the best for DDoS protection?
ExpressVPN is the best DDoS protected VPN. It has anti-DDoS protection on all servers, so even if another gamer tries to target you with a DDoS attack, it will unsuccessfully target ExpressVPN’s IP address instead. Moreover, the VPN has top-notch security features, maintains fast speeds, and offers cloud gaming support.
Can you still get DDoS-attacked with a VPN?
Using a VPN protects against DDoS attacks by masking your real IP address. It routes your internet traffic through a secure server, making it more difficult for attackers to directly target your device. All the VPNs on this list have anti-DDoS protection on all servers, so it’s highly unlikely another user can even successfully attack the VPN’s server.
Can I use a free VPN for DDoS protection?
Maybe, but I don’t recommend it. Many free VPNs lack anti-DDoS protection, offer poor security, and have slow speeds. Instead, I recommend purchasing a premium VPN, like ExpressVPN. It has anti-DDoS protection on all servers, top security, and super fast speeds.
How do DDoS protected VPNs work?
DDoS protected VPNs work by routing your internet traffic through their secure servers, masking your real IP address. The VPN provider’s infrastructure is equipped to identify and mitigate DDoS attacks, providing an additional layer of protection for your connection.
