Have you ever been caught in the snare of geographical barriers, wanting to play Valorant but being held back due to regional blocks? This is especially true in countries like Iran and Syria that block Valorant completely. Or perhaps you faced the frustration of being unable to coordinate with your squad mates due to VoIP communication restrictions? Such constraints can diminish the essence of a seamless gaming experience. But don’t worry; our in-depth research and testing team at Comparitech has uncovered a robust workaround: leveraging a VPN for Valorant.
A VPN isn’t merely a digital tool. It’s your shield against prying eyes, ensuring your online activities remain untraceable by ISPs, government entities, or local network operators. Beyond ensuring your privacy, a specialized VPN for Valorant masks your IP address, allowing you to navigate the restrictions ISPs set. Our comprehensive guide lays out a blueprint on how to utilize a VPN to establish a Valorant account in a different region. Moreover, we’ve curated a list of the best VPNs for Valorant, designed specifically to grant you unobstructed access. Get back into the game today!
The best VPNs to play Valorant online from anywhere:
Below you can see a quick list of the best VPNs for Valorant. To find out more about each Valorant VPN, scroll down for in-depth summaries that will help you pick between them!
- NordVPN: The best overall Valorant VPN. Fast servers in multiple Valorant regions. Highly secure. Lightning-fast NordLynx protocol. Apps for all devices. 30-day money-back guarantee.
TIP In our testing we found that the cheapest NordVPN plan (Standard) works perfectly for Valorant. - Surfshark: Best Budget VPN for Valorant. Allows you to connect an unlimited number of devices. Perfect for families. Super secure encryption and a no-logs policy. Advanced apps for all platforms.
- IPVanish: Very fast servers for smooth Valorant gameplay. Built-in leak protection keeps your IP address safe from DDoS attacks. Great for streaming and has no device connection limit.
- ExpressVPN: Highly secure and versatile. Fast thanks to its proprietary Lightway protocol, great for Valorant. Servers in 94 countries. User-friendly apps for Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android. No logs.
- CyberGhost: Superb option for beginners. Clearly labels servers by use purpose. Over 7000 servers in 89 countries to avoid congestion, including Valorant locations. Highly efficient and secure. AES encryption and a no logs policy.
- Private Internet Access: Most customizable option. Lets you implement granular control over the encryption. DNS leak protection and a Kill-switch. Shadowsocks proxy. Servers in 80+ countries.
- PrivateVPN: Outstanding if you also want to torrent. No logs policy and bare-metal servers in 65 countries. Advanced apps for all platforms with a kill-switch, DNS leak protection, and a kill-switch. Fast speeds for Valorant gaming.
Many VPNs claim to protect your privacy and offer a fast, reliable connection but most (especially free VPNs) limit your connection speed or leak information.
We regularly test the top 70 VPNs for security and speed and this list only includes VPNs which are fast, reliable and are highly rated for privacy and security. Plus we only recommend VPNs which offer a full-money back guarantee allowing you to try them risk free.
WANT TO TRY THE TOP VALORANT VPN RISK FREE?
NordVPN is offering a fully-featured risk-free 30-day trial if you sign up at this page. You can use the VPN rated #1 for Valorant without limits or restrictions for a month—great if you want to play Valorant in a country where it is restricted.
There are no hidden terms—just contact support within 30 days if you decide NordVPN isn't right for you and you'll get a full refund. Start your NordVPN trial here.
How to use a VPN for Valorant
Not all VPNs have fast servers that work to play Valorant. This means you must pick a VPN carefully. To help you out further, we have explained how to set up a Valorant VPN below.
Here’s how to use a VPN for Valorant:
- Pick a recommended VPN for Valorant. We suggest NordVPN because it has fast servers in many countries that Riot Games has Valorant servers.
- Head over to the VPN’s website and sign up for a subscription.
- Download the VPN app and install it onto your device.
- Connect to a VPN server in a country where Valorant is available, such as the US. This will give you a US IP address. Then head over to the Valorant website to log in and play.
- If you’re still having issues accessing Valorant, we recommend clearing your cookies and cache and trying again.
The Best VPNs for Valorant
VPN services are not all created equally, and not all are suitable for Valorant. Below, we have included some of the important criteria we used to pick the top VPNs for Valorant.
- Can reliably access various Valorant regions
- Works to bypass VoIP blocks so that you can communicate in matches
- Large global server network that works to bypass regional blocks
- Apps for Windows and other devices to let you play Valorant
- Robust security features
Later in this article, we will explain more about how we test and recommend VPNs.
Best Valorant VPNs – Our hands-on review
We’ve compared the most important features of the top VPNs here. Prefer to read the in-depth reviews? Start with NordVPN – our #1 choice VPN for Valorant.
| No value | NordVPN | Surfshark | IPVanish | ExpressVPN | CyberGhost | Private Internet Access | PrivateVPN |
| Website | NordVPN.com | Surfshark.com | IPVanish.com | ExpressVPN.com | Cyberghost.com | PrivateInternetAccess.com | PrivateVPN.com | Ranking for Valorant: | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | Avg Speed (Mbps) | 100+ Mbps | 100+ Mbps | 100+ Mbps | 100+ Mbps | 100+ Mbps | 100+ Mbps | 74 Mbps | Popular Sites Unblocked | 95% | 88% | 85% | 86% | 85% | 70% | 85% | Simultaneous Connections | 10 | Unlimited | Unlimited | 8 | 7 | Unlimited | 10 | Devices Supported | Windows, MacOS, iOS, Android, Linux | Windows, MacOS, iOS, Android, Linux, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV | Windows, MacOS, iOS, Android | Windows, MacOS, iOS, Android, Linux, Smart TVs, Routers | Windows, MacOS, Linux, iOS, Android | Windows, MacOS, iOS, Android, Linux | Windows, MacOS, iOS, Android, Amazon Fire TV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best deal (per month) | $2.99 74% off 2 year plans + 3 EXTRA months | $1.99 87% OFF + 4 months free | $2.19 The cheapest MONTHLY Black Friday plan! | $4.99 SAVE: 82% + 6 months free on 2 year plans | $2.03 SAVE 84% on the 2 year plan + 4 months free! | $2.03 SAVE 83% on the 2 yr plan + 4 months free | $2.00 Save 85% on a one year plan + 24-months free |
Here’s a list of the best VPNs for Valorant:
1. NordVPN
Apps Available:
- PC
- Mac
- IOS
- Android
- Linux
- FireTV
Website: www.NordVPN.com
Money-back guarantee: 30 DAYS
NordVPN is our top pick for Valorant for a number of reasons. It is a super-secure VPN with servers in 60+ countries, and those Tier-1 servers are incredibly fast to let you play games, torrent, or stream in HD. Best of all, this VPN provides its proprietary NordLynx protocol; a secure WireGuard fork that is specifically designed to be fast (ideal for playing multiplayer games like Valorant).
NordVPN has apps for all popular platforms, including an excellent Windows app that you can install and use to play Valorant on a different region’s server.
In terms of privacy, the VPN is watertight thanks to its trustworthy no-logs policy. It also provides a wealth of advanced features, including DNS leak protection, a kill-switch, Double VPN, Tor over VPN, malware protection (CyberSec feature), and a free Smart DNS feature. It is also one of the few VPNs that work with over a dozen Netflix regions, iPlayer, Hulu, and many more.
You can install the VPN on up to 6 devices and test it risk-free using its 30-day money-back guarantee.
Pros:
- Risk-free 30-day money-back guarantee
- Servers in 59 countries, including many locations with Valorant servers
- Super secure encryption and a no-logs policy
- Has 24/7 live chat support
- Advanced VPN apps with a kill-switch and obfuscation
Cons:
- Some servers initially take a while to connect
Our score:
BEST VPN FOR VALORANT:Our top pick to unlock Valorant. Superfast NordLynx protocol is great for streaming in HD and playing games. Secure and reliable. No-logs policy. Fast enough to torrent and unblock games. Works with Netflix, Hulu, and more. Has a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Read our full NordVPN review.
2. Surfshark
Apps Available:
- PC
- Mac
- IOS
- Android
- Linux
Website: www.Surfshark.com
Money-back guarantee: 30 DAYS
Surfshark is a relatively young VPN provider that was first launched in 2018. Since then it has risen to be a consumer (and reviewer) favorite because of its incredible feature-to-cost ratio. The VPN has a superb Windows app that you can use to connect to servers in over 65 countries. This includes many locations where Riot has Valorant servers.
Apps are also available for iOS, Android, and macOS, which means that you will be able to use this with Valorant for mobile when it drops. You can also use it to access around 20 different Netflix regions, iPlayer, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, HBO Max, and a wealth of other geo-restricted services from around the world.
If you are in Iran or Saudi Arabia and you want to unblock Valorant or use its VoIP chat feature without being monitored by the government, you can count on Surfshark’s strong encryption. Plus, the VPN app has a kill-switch, DNS leak protection, malware filtering, ad-blocking, obfuscation, and split tunneling. This makes it ideal for torrenting and doing other data-intensive tasks.
In terms of speeds, Surfshark is one of the fastest VPNs thanks to its excellent WireGuard implementation. It also has live chat support to help you with using the VPN, and a 30-day money-back guarantee; so that you can compare it against Nord or any other VPN risk-free.
Pros:
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- Unlimited simultaneous connections
- Super-fast WireGuard protocol
- Servers in 65+ countries
- Strong on privacy with many advanced features
Cons:
- Some servers are slower than others
Our score:
BUDGET VPN FOR VALORANT:Surfshark represents incredible value for money. Works to access many popular streaming services from around the world. Superfast servers in 65 countries to access Valorant and any other restricted games. Can access approximately 20 Netflix regions. Allows torrenting. Unlimited connections to share your account with family.
Read our full Surfshark review.
3. IPVanish
Apps Available:
- PC
- Mac
- IOS
- Android
- Linux
Website: www.IPVanish.com
Money-back guarantee: 30 DAYS
IPVanish is a solid choice for gamers. The US-based provider – which has been around for more than a decade – consistently ranks as one of the faster VPNs during our speed tests. It owns the majority of its network hardware which helps ensure connections are both consistent and secure.
IPVanish protects gamers’ true location with built-in leak protection. We verified that this feature was effective by connecting to an IPVanish server and carrying out IP, DNS, and WebRTC leak tests. The provider also has a built-in ad, tracker, and malware blocker. Its no-logs policy has been independently audited, and it places no limit on the number of device connections.
Apps are straightforward to use and available for Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, and FireTV. These come with a kill switch, split tunneling, and an auto-connect feature for untrusted networks. Users can choose between three connection protocols: WireGuard, OpenVPN, and IKEv2. WireGuard is used by default and is the fastest. Switching to OpenVPN gives you access to the Scramble feature that obfuscates traffic to navigate VPN blocks.
IPVanish works well with a range of popular streaming platforms, including Amazon Prime Video, Netflix, Disney+, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, and Max. It’s good for torrenting, too, with subscriptions that include free access to a SOCKS5 proxy.
Pros:
- Very fast speeds
- Built-in leak protection
- Unlimited device connections
- Obfuscation available
- Great for streaming
Cons:
- Based in a Five Eyes country
Our score:
FAST AND SECURE:IPVanish keeps your connection details private while playing Valorant. It’s fast enough to ensure uninterrupted gameplay and great for non-gaming activities like streaming. Plans come with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Read our full IPVanish review.
Get Deal >4. ExpressVPN
Apps Available:
- PC
- Mac
- IOS
- Android
- Linux
Website: www.ExpressVPN.com
Money-back guarantee: 30 DAYS
ExpressVPN has been around since 2009. This makes it one of the most experienced and long-established VPN providers on the market. In that time it has proven itself to be a highly trustworthy VPN provider that provides an exemplary privacy-focused service. This includes solid AES-256 encryption, a kill-switch, DNS leak protection, and obfuscation to stop your ISP detecting VPN use.
Apps are available for Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android. This means you can use the VPN right away to play a different Valorant region. It also means it is pre-prepared for when the Valorant mobile version drops. The apps have a wealth of security features, and it even throws in a smart DNS service so that you can stream on more devices.
We love this VPN’s proprietary Lightway protocol, which is ideal for streaming on Netflix, Hulu, and other international services. Plus, this VPN allows torrenting and has live chat support to help you with any issues you might have. Test it yourself with its 30-day money-back guarantee.
Pros:
- Servers in 94 countries and over 3000 in total
- Strong privacy features, including a kill switch and AES encryption
- Advanced apps for all platforms and no-logs policy
- Lightway protocol perfect for playing Valorant
- Works with Hulu, Netflix, Disney+, and more
Cons:
- Quite expensive compared to our other recommendations
- Streaming servers are not labeled
Our score:
HIGHLY RELIABLE:ExpressVPN is versatile, reliable, and secure. Works to access around two-dozen Netflix regions. Trusted no-logging policy. Lightway protocol is speedy. 30-day money-back guarantee.
Read our full review of ExpressVPN.
5.CyberGhost
Apps Available:
- PC
- Mac
- IOS
- Android
- Linux
Website: www.Cyberghost.com
Money-back guarantee: 45 DAYS
CyberGhost is a provider based in Romania that is particularly good for beginners due to its simple apps – and well-designed, uncomplicated feature set. The service has a superb Windows app that lets you connect to over 7000 servers in 89+ countries. This allows you to plan on various Valorant regions or unblock the game in countries like Iran or Syria.
The VPN is secure thanks to its AES-256 encryption and a kill-switch. That said, there is no obfuscation to conceal VPN use from your ISP in countries where VPNs are frowned upon. Apart from this one advanced feature, which many gamers may not require, the VPN is ideal for gaining online privacy and security and will prevent local network administrators, wifi hotspots, and ISPs from being able to detect what you do online. This makes the VPN ideal for unblocking Valorant on a college campus or perhaps at work.
If you play Valorant professionally and want to protect yourself against hackers when playing in tournaments, CyberGhost will also protect you against DDoS attacks that will get you kicked from a server during a match. Mobile apps are also available, which means you can use the VPN to play the new Valorant mobile versions when they drop. Plus, this VPN works with Netflix, iPlayer, and other popular services.
Pros:
- 7000+ servers in 89 countries
- Perfect for beginners
- Apps for all platforms with strong security and a no-logs policy
- Has a 45-day money-back guarantee
Cons:
- Fewer advanced features than our other recommendations
- Doesn’t work in China
Our score:
EASY TO USE:CyberGhost is perfect for beginners. Works with most popular streaming platforms, including Netflix. Servers in 89 other countries. Fast WireGuard protocol to play Valorant online or to stream in HD. Allows torrenting. Can protect your privacy at home and on public wi-fi. No logs policy. Generous 45-day money-back guarantee.
Read our full CyberGhost review.
Get Deal >6. Private Internet Access
Apps Available:
- PC
- Mac
- IOS
- Android
- Linux
- FireTV
Website: www.PrivateInternetAccess.com
Money-back guarantee: 30 DAYS
Private Internet Access (PIA) is a US-based VPN provider that comes highly recommended by privacy advocates on Reddit. The VPN is based in the US, which may put some users off, but the service makes up for this with reliable AES encryption and a no-logs policy that it has proven in court on more than one occasion.
PIA offers much more security customization than its competitors. This allows you to strengthen or weaken the encryption depending on your needs. This may come in handy if you are an advanced user. Although PIA does not have a dedicated VPN obfuscation feature, it does throw in a Shadowsocks proxy. It also has DNS leak protection and a kill switch.
Servers are available in over 80 countries and PIA has over 10,000 in total. This is an incredibly large network of servers that ensures it never has server overload or congestion. One slight caveat is that this VPN is not as good at unblocking international streaming services as some others. However, it does work with Netflix US and a few other regions, and it does provide WireGuard connections that make it fast for HD streaming and playing Valorant.
You can try the VPN risk-free for 30-days and install it on up to 10 devices. It has 24/7 live chat support if you have any issues whatsoever with using or setting up the VPN.
Pros:
- 10,000 servers in 80+ countries, including many Valorant regions
- Reliable apps for all platforms, with a kill switch and leak protection
- Fast speeds for playing Valorant
- 30-day money back guarantee
Cons:
- Works with fewer streaming services than competitors
- Lacks obfuscation
Our score:
HIGHLY CUSTOMIZABLE:PIA is super-fast for playing games thanks to its WireGuard protocol. No logs policy. Works with Netflix. Shadowsocks proxy. 10 simultaneous connections. 30-day money back guarantee
Read our full Private Internet Access review.
Get Deal >7. PrivateVPN
Apps Available:
- PC
- Mac
- IOS
- Android
- Linux
Website: www.PrivateVPN.com
Money-back guarantee: 30 DAYS
PrivateVPN is a service based in Sweden, a location that is ideal in terms of privacy because of a lack of mandatory data retention directives. The service runs a highly secure service with over 250 bare metal servers in 63 countries. It is a no-logs VPN that supports consumer rights to torrent. Thus, torrenting is permitted throughout its network.
Despite having fewer servers in each country compared to its competitors, PrivateVPN provides lightning-fast connection speeds. This makes it great for playing Valorant. It is also one of the few VPNs that can access around 20 different Netflix regions. It also works with iPlayer, Hulu, HBO Max, and many other international platforms.
Apps are available for Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android. This will let you play Valorant on a PC (or mobiles when it is released). Plus, it has important features like a kill-switch, AES encryption, obfuscation, split tunneling, port forwarding, and SOCKS5 proxy. Overall, we find this VPN very easy to use, and it is very cheap considering its high level of service. Live chat support is available for around 22 hours per day.
Pros:
- Strong on privacy, with plenty of advanced features
- Servers in 63 countries to play Valorant
- Apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android
- No logs policy and AES encryption
Cons:
- Fewer servers in each country to pick from
- Live chat isn’t 24/7
Our score:
HIGHLY SECURE:PrivateVPN is perfect for gaining privacy and freedom online. No logs policy. Servers in 63 countries. Fast speeds to stream in HD and play multiplayer games like Valorant. Allows torrenting. Has a SOCKS5 proxy, kill-switch, and obfuscation. Outstanding for streaming Netflix and many other services. Has a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Read our full PrivateVPN review.
Our Methodology: How we find the best Valorant VPNs
There are hundreds of VPNs on the market and they are not all suitable for playing games like Valorant. We use a precise VPN testing methodology to find and recommend VPNs suitable for specific use cases, including to play Valorant. Here’s what we look for:
- Apps for all platforms to let you play Valorant on any device
- Servers worldwide to let you get the best possible speeds and access
- The ability to unblock VoIP to be able to play Valorant in countries where VoIP is restricted.
- The ability to bypass geo-restrictions and access popular services like Netflix, Hulu, iPlayer, internet banking, etc.
- A no-logs policy that ensures the VPN never retains details about what its subscribers do while connected to its servers.
- Outstanding customer service to help you with using your VPN 24/7.
- Plenty of useful privacy features, including obfuscation, split tunneling, DNS leak protection, malware filtering, ad blocking, and more.
Valorant VPN FAQs
Can I use a free VPN for Valorant?
No. Although there are many free VPNs advertised online these are not suitable for playing Valorant, and we urge you to stay away from 99% of them.
Free VPNs are oversubscribed and have very few, sluggish servers. This means that they will cause severe ping issues and lag when you try to play Valorant. Furthermore, free VPNs do not have the privacy and security features you need to unblock Valorant in countries where it is restricted. This can make using a free VPN a huge threat to your personal safety, depending on where you live.
Free VPNs have been found to lie about the level of security they provide. They often have no encryption, serious app or server vulnerabilities, concerning IP and DNS leaks, and incredibly invasive privacy policies that allow them to harvest your data and sell it to third parties.
In addition, free VPNs have been found to conceal spyware in their apps. This makes using free VPNs extremely dangerous because they will give you a false sense of security while potentially increasing your exposure to online threats and snooping.
Where does Riot have Valorant servers?
If you want to unblock Valorant in a country where it is restricted, the primary thing you require is an IP address in a country where Valorant has servers. Although most VPN providers will have a server in (at least) one Valorant-friendly country, it is vital for those servers also to be fast if you want to be able to play Valorant without ping issues.
All of our recommended VPNs have fast servers in more than one country where Riot has Valorant servers. Some have servers in upwards of ten Valorant countries. The important thing to remember is that you will get the best possible connection speeds and reliability when connected to a VPN server in a country that is closer to you geographically.
Here’s a list of where Riot have Valorant servers:
- UK
- USA
- Australia
- Bahrain
- Brazil
- Chile
- France
- Germany
- Hong Kong
- India
- Japan
- Mexico
- Poland
- Singapore
- South Korea
- Spain
- Sweden
- Turkey
Can a VPN improve my Ping playing Valorant?
Generally speaking, a VPN should not be considered a tool for improving your internet speed or ping rate. This is because a VPN must encrypt your traffic and route it further (via the VPN server) on its way to the final location (the Valorant server). This creates an additional journey for your data to travel.
The “fastest VPNs” are so-called because they have tier-1 servers that tunnel your traffic without significantly affecting the connection speeds you pay your broadband or mobile internet provider for. As a result, your internet should behave and feel the same without the VPN and while the VPN is connected. This is ideal because many VPNs have sluggish servers that slow down your internet up to 90%. Needless to say, these VPNs are not suitable for playing Valorant because they will cause significant ping and latency issues.
The VPNs we have recommended, on the other hand, have been chosen because they have fast servers and tunneling protocols that are ideal for data-intensive tasks like gaming, torrenting, and HD streaming.
Our VPN recommendations have a wide choice of servers, positioned in and around Valorant regions. This means that you could potentially find a sweet spot that slightly reduces your ping. It all depends on how the VPN can alter the way traffic is routed from you to its final destination (the Riot server). This will be unique to your specific circumstances, so we recommend connecting to a VPN server as close to you as possible to see how it affects your ping rate. Alternatively, you could try a VPN server close to the Valorant server itself to see how that affects your ping.
Finally, a VPN could significantly improve your ping (and connection speed) if your ISP is throttling your bandwidth. A VPN can prevent ISP throttling, so it is always worth trying a VPN if you believe your ISP is purposely limiting your connection when you do certain tasks, such as playing games.
How fast should my internet be to play Valorant?
As with most online multiplayer games, it is recommended that you have internet speeds of at least 10 Mbps to play Valorant. Most games do fine on 1 to 3 Mbps so 10 Mbps gives you plenty of room for the VPN to slow down your connection slightly (which even the fastest VPNs will do).
Although the faster your connection is the better it will probably be for playing Valorant, there is no need to stress if you are paying for slower internet. You can still try a VPN using its money-back guarantee. Our recommendations should not affect your speeds much because they are specifically designed to be fast for gaming and HD streaming.
Can I use a VPN to play Valorant at school or at work?
Yes. Many college and university campuses block games like Valorant to ensure that students are being productive with their studies. This can be frustrating if you have legitimate downtime and you just want to play a few Valorant matches.
The same is true of many employers. Business network administrators in hotels, offices and many other workplaces block games like Valorant, Minecraft, and Fortnite. They do this to ensure staff aren’t slacking off. Of course, if you are in an industry where there is a lot of downtime and you have nothing to do, this can be annoying
With a VPN, you can bypass any restrictions placed on a local network. As soon as you connect to a VPN server any local restrictions are lifted and you can use the internet as if you were back at home. This gives you the option to play Valorant (or any other game) at work or in school if you want to.
Best of all, a VPN also provides privacy, which means the school or work network administrator will not be able to tell that you are playing Valorant or bypassing other restrictions. This gives you the freedom to use the internet as you wish.
Can I play Valorant with players from different regions?
Yes. By creating a Valorant account in a different region, you can play with and against people located in that geographic location. This is perfect if you’re an expat living abroad and you want to play matches with people that speak your own language.
Some Valorant players even report that playing different regions at different times of the day can match you against easier opponents. This is great news if you want to have fun and win more matches. Or just gain more experience without being killed by the “sweaty” players right out of the gate.
When is Valorant coming to mobile devices?
Riot Games has been promising a mobile version of Valorant for a while now. The good news is that Valorant for mobiles is actively in development, and it appears to be getting closer to release!
Can I use a VPN on a mobile device to play Valorant?
All of our recommended VPNs for Valorant have apps for both Android and iOS. This means that when Riot does finally release Valorant for mobiles, you will be able to use our recommended VPNs to play from anywhere in the world. If Valorant is not available in your app store when it is released, you can connect to a different region to access that app store and download Valorant.
Can I use a VPN to enter a Valorant tournament online?
There are Valorant tournaments occurring in many regions around the world. Some of those tournaments have large cash prizes, which means that if you are a talented Valorant player in a decent five-man squad, you could earn cold hard cash!
As you might expect, different tournaments occur in different countries and require a local Valorant account to enter. With a VPN, you can connect with players and tournaments happening all over the world to increase the number of tournaments available to you.
Are there privacy concerns surrounding Valorant?
In order to play Valorant, you must also install Riot’s anti-cheating software Vanguard. This software scans your computer for software that can allow you to cheat, making the game fairer for everybody involved. Because the Vanguard software is always on, and can scan your PC, some users have previously raised privacy concerns on forums like Reddit.
The reality is that although Vanguard is designed to scan your computer for cheat-enabling software from the moment it starts up (it includes a kernel-mode driver) there is no evidence that the software is doing anything nefarious. Vanguard does not do anything other than scan for software that can be used to cheat in-game. Thus, its only purpose is to prevent wallhackers and aim botters.
Vanguard does not harvest your data or send it back to Riot, and most people agree that the anti-cheating software is completely safe and benevolent. That said, it does take up some system resources, which means that it could theoretically affect the performance of your computer if it is not very powerful. Other than this minor consideration, there is nothing particularly concerning about Riot’s Vanguard software.
