Do you need a VPN for gaming? An honest answer (and NordVPN's real prices)
Most gamers don't need one. Here's when a VPN can help, and what NordVPN actually costs after the intro period.
How this was researched: features and prices come from each vendor's official pages (linked below) as of the date shown. We have not run hands-on benchmarks for this article. Where we haven't tested something, we say so. Content is AI-assisted and researched from official sources; no hands-on testing. Links currently go to official sites and are not affiliate links (affiliate links coming soon).
Short answer: for most players, no. A VPN routes your traffic through an extra server, so it doesn't make your connection inherently faster. We haven't run our own ping tests, so we make no speed claims here.
When a VPN can make sense
- Privacy on public or shared Wi-Fi (dorms, hotels, LAN events).
- Hiding your home IP address from other players if you stream or play competitively.
- Bundled extras you'd otherwise pay for separately, such as a password manager or malware protection on higher tiers.
Also check the game's own rules: using a VPN to change region can break some games' or stores' terms of service.
NordVPN pricing (official page, Oct 15, 2026)
| Plan | 2-year intro | 1-year intro |
|---|---|---|
| Basic (VPN, threat-blocking DNS, Dark Web Monitor) | $3.49/mo · $94.23 for first 27 months | $5.49/mo · $65.88 first year |
| Complete (+ anti-malware, ad blocker, password manager, 1 TB storage) | $4.49/mo · $121.23 for 27 months | $6.49/mo · $77.88 first year |
| Prime (+ identity theft insurance, credit monitoring) | $7.49/mo · $202.23 for 27 months | $9.49/mo · $113.88 first year |
Every plan covers 10 devices and has a 30-day money-back guarantee. Renewals cost more: NordVPN shows Basic renewing at $139.08/year.
Source: nordvpn.com/pricing. Checked Oct 15, 2026.