9 Best VPNs for Minecraft and how to beat IP bans

Are you looking to stay as safe as possible while playing Minecraft? When you join a multiplayer server, whoever owns it can see your IP address, which allows them to discover your real location, find out who your ISP is, and even target you with DDoS attacks if they’re so inclined. However, it’s extremely easy to avoid these issues: simply connect to a Virtual Private Network (VPN) beforehand.

The only problem is that not every VPN works with Minecraft. Mojang doesn’t want people circumventing server bans, so attempting to use most VPNs will result in an error saying “Connection lost – You seem to be using a VPN or proxy.” There’s no need to worry, though: our team of experts have personally tested dozens of leading services so that we only recommend the very best VPNs for Minecraft.

In this article, we’ll list the top VPNs for Minecraft and explain how to use them to protect yourself and bypass IP bans. We go into more detail on each of the VPNs in this post, but in case you haven’t got time to read the whole thing, we’ll start with a brief summary.

The best VPNs for Minecraft:

1. NordVPN Leads the way as a Minecraft VPN. High speeds, a vast network of servers, and powerful security features. Includes a 30-day money-back guarantee.
   TIP In our testing we found that the cheapest NordVPN plan (Standard) works perfectly for Minecraft.
2. Surfshark Best budget VPN for Minecraft. Reliable, privacy-first service with no device connection limit and plenty of powerful security features built-in.
3. IPVanish Low-latency servers with no connection issues. Also ideal for streaming, downloading, and playing Minecraft due to its good speeds.
4. ExpressVPN Superfast low-latency servers scattered across the globe. Bypasses Minecraft’s anti-VPN detection with ease.
5. CyberGhost Great beginner-friendly VPN for Minecraft with fast servers and a vast network of global servers, making it super easy to game from anywhere.
6. ProtonVPN Versatile service that supports port forwarding and split tunneling. Impressive speeds, and a high level of security.
7. PureVPN High speeds and strong security make this a great Minecraft VPN. Very easy to use and comes with a 10-device limit 24/7 support.
8. Private Internet Access Delivers steady speeds, a wealth of security features, and even a GUI app for gamers on Linux.
9. PrivateVPN Newer and smaller network than its rivals, but impressively reliable and speedy internet connections. Allows up to 10 connections.

How to play Minecraft and remove an IP ban with a VPN

VPNs can seem daunting if you’ve never used one before. However, they’re actually very simple to use. Just follow the steps below to reset your IP address, beat your Minecraft ban, and continue playing securely.

Here’s how to use a VPN to bypass an IP ban on Minecraft:

1. Sign up for a quality VPN for Minecraft (we recommend using NordVPN).
2. Download the appropriate version of the VPN client for your operating system.
3. Choose a server close to your location and connect to it.
4. Try logging into an online world in Minecraft. You should be able to play uninterrupted for as long as you’d like.
5. If you’re struggling to access it, try clearing your browser’s cookies and reloading the page or connecting to a different server. Alternatively, contact your VPN’s customer services team for more help.

How we chose the top Minecraft VPNs

The first step is choosing a suitable VPN to use. However, this can be a tricky process since every service is different, with varying security features, network sizes, and speeds. To help you narrow down the search for the best VPNs for Minecraft, we looked for services that met the following non-negotiable criteria:

• Offers an expansive server network
• Includes apps for all major operating systems and devices
• Provides high-speed, consistent connections suitable for gaming
• Capable of bypassing Minecraft’s VPN detection measures
• Uses strong encryption and additional security features
• Offers access to live chat-based customer support (ideally 24/7)
• Doesn’t log any personally identifiable information

This is just an overview, but you can read about our testing regime in more detail in the methodology section of this article.

Minecraft VPNs compared

We’ve compared the most important features of the top VPNs here. Prefer to read in-depth reviews? Start with NordVPN – our #1 choice VPN for Minecraft.

The best VPNs for Minecraft

Let’s take a closer look at the VPNs that made our list. The following reviews are based on our first-hand experiences and extensive real-world testing.

Here is our list of the best VPNs for Minecraft:

1. NordVPN

Apr 2025 Works with MinecraftTested Apr 2025

NordVPN is our top choice VPN for Minecraft. It’s well-suited to gaming thanks to its expansive network (7,000 servers spread across 100+ countries), built-in DDoS protection, and the ability to sidestep virtually every online restriction. This means you’ll be able to play Minecraft, Fortnite, and Overwatch or take a break and wind down with some Netflix. Up to 10 devices can be secured at any one time.

NordVPN has long been known for its high-end performance, but we like to periodically retest services so we can provide the most up-to-date data. Our team ran three speed tests on this VPN’s US servers using a 250 Mbps connection to see just how fast it really is. Let’s take a look at those results:

Following testing, NordVPN had an average speed of 202.08 Mbps. That’s an exceptional result, actually beating every other provider on this list. When you’re using this service, you’re unlikely to notice any difference in performance unless you’re already used to ultra-high speeds – this means no Minecraft lag. Needless to say, gaming, streaming, and torrenting won’t be an issue.

With 256-bit AES encryption, an application-specific kill switch, anti-malware checking, ad blocking, and protection against both IPv6 and DNS leaks, NordVPN makes it easy to stay safe online. Thanks to its double VPN and Tor over VPN functionality, you can even use it for advanced security setups. This VPN allows you to play anonymously with no online activity or session data recorded.

This service has Android, iOS, Linux, Windows, and MacOS apps. Specific routers are also supported but require manual configuration.

BEST VPN FOR MINECRAFT:NordVPN is our #1 choice. Performs solidly with Minecraft. Connects up to 10 devices simultaneously. Solid security and privacy. Also works well with most gaming sites and achieves consistently good speeds. 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full NordVPN review here, or check out our video review instead.

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2. Surfshark

Works with MinecraftTested Apr 2025

Surfshark is an excellent budget-friendly VPN for Minecraft. It has more than 3,200 VPN servers in 100+ countries, which is ideal for anyone looking to access region-locked streaming platforms abroad. Best of all, unlike most of its rivals, Surfshark has no connection limit. As such, you won’t have to worry about deactivating one device to protect another; just secure all of your devices at once.

Even though this is a low-cost provider, it’s historically performed very well in our tests. In fact, Surfshark regularly outpaces some of its more expensive rivals! We tested its American servers at several times of day to see just how quick and reliable its speeds are. Here are our findings:

With an average speed of 196.35 Mbps, Surfshark is significantly faster than most of the competition. You’ll be able to play Minecraft, stream 4K content, and video call — simultaneously if you feel like it! There was also only 10 Mbps of fluctuation across a full day of testing, which means this is also one of the most reliable VPNs around.

This VPN places major emphasis on user security. It comes with 256-bit encryption enabled by default, as well as online protection against WebRTC, DNS, and IPv6 leaks, a kill switch, and automatic ad-blocking. Most importantly, Surfshark doesn’t log any data that could identify you. Still not convinced? Why not pay in cryptocurrency for even greater privacy; Surfshark accepts Bitcoin, Ripple, and Ethereum. Its apps are very easy to use, but if you’re having trouble, you can contact support 24/7 over live chat.

Surfshark provides apps for Windows, MacOS, iOS, Android, and Linux. It can be manually installed on supported internet routers.

BEST BUDGET VPN:Surfshark lets you connect as many devices as you like, and is very reasonably priced. It also offers user-friendly apps, a wide range of security and privacy protections, and a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full review of Surfshark here or check out our video review below.

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3. IPVanish

Works with MinecraftTested Apr 2025

IPVanish has over 2,400 servers in 100 countries around the world and works with all manner of geo-blocked services. Whether you’re hoping to play games, manually change your location, or just watch TV, this VPN can handle it. Further, it’s one of the few providers that lets you connect as many devices as you like. While it’s a very newcomer-friendly service, support is available 24/7 over live chat.

When it comes to speed, IPVanish has a reputation for being one of the best. To see if that’s true, we performed tests on its servers in the USA and multiple times of day (morning, noon, and afternoon). Take a look at the chart below to see how well it did:

Overall, IPVanish managed to deliver an average speed of 165.97 Mbps, placing it firmly among the fastest VPNs on the market. You shouldn’t have any issues playing Minecraft while connected, even during peak times. That said, its consistency could be slightly better, since there was almost 20 Mbps of fluctuation over three tests.

Despite its lightweight apps, IPVanish actually offers a pretty incredible range of security options. There’s 256-bit encryption, a kill switch, DNS/IPv6 leak protection, and some more advanced features like LAN traffic blocking, timed IP address switching, and OpenVPN obfuscation. Best of all, IPVanish doesn’t log any personally identifiable information, meaning your online activities stay private at all times.

This VPN boasts lightweight apps for MacOS, Windows, iOS, Android, and Amazon Fire TV/Fire Stick. It can also be manually installed on Linux-based systems and supported network routers. Looking to boost your privacy even further? Its new Advanced plan bundles the VPN with secure storage and a cloud-based browser.

UNLIMITED DEVICES:IPVanish has a large network of servers and handles multiple connections well. Easy to use and preferred by users who need high standards of security and privacy. 30-day money-back guarantee on annual plans.

Read our full IPVanish review here, or check out our video review below.

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4. ExpressVPN

Works with MinecraftTested Apr 2025

ExpressVPN makes it easy to find a low-latency connection to play Minecraft on, with more than 3,000 servers operating out of 100+ countries. Its service is fast enough to stream 4K video effortlessly, so Minecraft shouldn’t pose any problem. Further, with DDoS protection built-in, this VPN ensures you’ll be able to connect, even if you’re being targeted by malicious third parties.

This provider has made a big deal of its proprietary Lightway protocol, which minimizes speed loss when using a server that’s far away. It also recently revamped its codebase, making it even more lightweight and boosting performance with the introduction of multi-thread connections. Here’s how ExpressVPN fared in our tests:

With an average speed of 134.92 Mbps, ExpressVPN sits firmly among the fastest providers. Users will be able to stream 4K video, play games, and torrent without any noticeable issues, even if they share their connection with lots of other people. We were blown away by this VPN’s consistency too — there was only 4 Mbps of difference between its highest and lowest test results.

This service is as secure as it is user-friendly. It comes with 256-bit encryption, DNS leak protection, perfect forward secrecy, and a kill switch enabled by default. If you run into any issues, you can contact customer support via 24/7 live chat. With no personally identifiable information recorded, you’ll be able to play, stream, and browse privately.

ExpressVPN has dedicated apps for Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, and Linux platforms. It’s also the only major provider with its own custom router firmware.

PLAY SAFELY ANYWHERE:ExpressVPN is a fast and reliable choice. Great at unblocking all major IP-restricted gaming services. Great security and privacy with 256-bit AES encryption, keep no browser logs, kill switch, and leak protection. Comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full review of ExpressVPN.

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5. CyberGhost

Works with MinecraftTested Apr 2025

CyberGhost has over 11,000 high-speed servers in 100+ countries, so it’s easy to get a low-latency connection wherever you are in the world. This service permits up to seven connections at once and comes with 24/7 live chat-based customer support just in case you have any problems. In other words, it’s a great choice for any everyday task, including playing Minecraft.

CyberGhost has built a reputation for its high speeds and reliable connections. Still, we decided to test its American servers throughout a typical day to better see what it’s capable of. We used a 250 Mbps connection (the average US household broadband speed) and check its performance at three times of day. Here are the results:

This provider delivered an average speed of 129.98 Mbps, which is very impressive. It’s well above what you’ll need to play games, make video calls, or stream seamlessly. However, we’d prefer if CyberGhost was a little more consistent; there was around 23 Mbps of variance over the course of the day.

All of this VPN’s security features are preconfigured, so there’s very little setup required. These include 256-bit encryption, a kill switch (in all versions), a malware scanner, and DNS, IPv6, and WebRTC leak protection. Further, CyberGhost doesn’t log any personally identifiable information, so once connected, you’re effectively untraceable.

CyberGhost has apps for Windows, MacOS, Linux, iOS, and Android. Manual installation is required for use on network routers.

VALUE AND PERFORMANCE:CyberGhost provides high speeds and powerful security features in an easy to use package. Better still, this service comes with a 45-day money-back guarantee.

Interested? Find out more in our full CyberGhost review.

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6. ProtonVPN

Works with MinecraftTested Apr 2025

ProtonVPN has one of the largest networks around, with thousands of servers spread throughout more than 115 countries. It works flawlessly with popular games like Minecraft, COD, Warzone, and Fortnite, and can even help you stream your favorite shows while traveling abroad. However, while there is a free plan available, for the best experience, you’ll want to upgrade to a paid plan. On the plus side, this lets you connect 10 devices simultaneously and chat with customer support staff if something goes wrong.

So just how fast is this service? After all, you’ll need a quick, stable connection to play games without being disconnected randomly. To find out, our experts ran several speed tests at different times of day, using ProtonVPN’s American servers. Let’s take a look at those results:

Once all tests were complete, ProtonVPN had an average speed of 141.31 Mbps. This makes it one of the quickest providers around, and certainly enough for gaming. There was minimal variance throughout the day too, which is always a great sign. Just be aware that if you’re on the free plan, your speeds will be capped; anyone planning to use this VPN regularly should consider upgrading.

So, what makes this service a good choice for gamers? Well, it supports multiple connection protocols, uses uncrackable encryption, and includes a wide range of safeguards such as a kill switch and automatic tracker-blocking. Experienced users can even set up split tunneling or port forwarding (which may be needed to host servers on games). ProtonVPN has a strict no-logs policy in place and has verified this via an external audit. There are even Secure Core servers for maximum privacy, though we wouldn’t recommend these for games where low ping is required.

ProtonVPN offers apps for Android, iOS, Windows, MacOS, and Linux. If you’d prefer, it can be manually installed on most routers (check the website for setup instructions).

HIGH-SPEED VPN:ProtonVPN delivers outstanding performance and gives you lots of ways to stay safe while playing Minecraft. Includes lots of advanced tools and can even block trackers automatically. All paid plans include a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our complete ProtonVPN review.

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7. PureVPN

Works with MinecraftTested Apr 2025

PureVPN has a particularly large network, with more than 6,500 servers across 65 countries. Since it works in countries with strict censorship (such as China and the UAE), you’ll be able to get a high-speed, low-latency connection from just about anywhere in the world. This service excels at beating online restrictions and as such, is a great choice for secure gaming, streaming, or web browsing. Customer support is available 24 hours per day over live chat.

When it comes to speed, this provider has always been competitive. We performed three tests at three times of day, checking to see how fast and consistent its servers in the US really are. Note that we used a 250 Mbps connection; if your base speed is slower, the speeds you actually experience when connected will be too.

All in all, PureVPN delivered an average speed of 130.97 Mbps. That’s far higher than you’ll need to play Minecraft without interruption, and is actually enough to let you multi-task while gaming if you wish. Ideally, its speeds would be a little more consistent but realistically, 15 Mbps of fluctuation is hardly out of the ordinary.

Although this VPN doesn’t offer as many advanced features as some of its rivals, it does have all of the basics. For instance, there’s uncrackable encryption, a kill switch, and protection against DNS and IPv6 leaks. Equally important, PureVPN has been externally audited, proving beyond all doubt that it’s telling the truth about its no-logs policy. Best of all, this VPN recently allowed all users to take advantage of its tracker-blocker, rather than just those on the more expensive plans.

PureVPN has its own Android, iOS, Windows, Linux, and MacOS apps. It provides manual setup guides explaining how to install this service directly on your home router.

GAME SAFELY ANYWHERE:PureVPN makes it as easy as possible to play games securely, regardless of your location. Delivers consistently high speeds, a solid security toolkit, and a 30-day money-back guarantee on all plans.

Read our full PureVPN review.

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8. Private Internet Access

Works with MinecraftTested Apr 2025

Private Internet Access has servers in more than 90 countries and excels at evading detection. In other words, it’s more than fast enough for Minecraft, Fortnite, Call of Duty, or anything else you might want to play. Plus, it’s a solid option for streaming since it works with major platforms like Netflix, Disney+, and more. It’s also one of the only major providers with no connection limit.

Slow speeds can cause all kinds of problems when gaming, from loss of connection to the server to (arguably more annoying) rubberbanding and glitching. To make sure Private Internet Access was fast enough, we tested its American servers at three times of day. You’ll find the results in the chart below:

Straight away, we can tell that PIA has room for improvement, both on speed and stability. That said, it remained fast enough for gaming, live streaming, and video calling, with an average speed of 69.16 Mbps. So long as your base internet speeds are reasonably high, you’re unlikely to notice any issues while using this VPN.

We were impressed by the amount of security tools this VPN had. You can adjust the encryption level to provide slightly faster speeds, choose a custom port to send your data through, and even set up a SOCKS5 proxy. Of course, there’s also leak protection, a kill switch, and a true no-logs policy.

PIA has its own apps for Windows, MacOS, Linux, Android, and iOS. Alternatively, it can be manually installed on supported routers to help you play Minecraft securely on consoles.

GOOD EVERYDAY VPN:Private Internet Access offers a blend of speed security, and versatility that makes it a solid choice for gamers, no matter which platform they’re on. What’s more, it comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Why not check out our full PIA review?

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9. PrivateVPN

Works with MinecraftTested Apr 2025

PrivateVPN has fewer servers than some of its rivals (just around 200, spread across 63 countries), but it’s still well worth considering. It offers steady speeds and exceptional customer support, making it ideal for people who are new to VPNs. Further, with up to 10 simultaneous connections allowed, you and your friends can play Minecraft securely with just one PrivateVPN account.

The last thing anybody wants is to boot up their favorite game and be unable to stay connected. That’s why our periodic speed testing is so important; it lets you know exactly what a VPN is capable of at the time of writing. For instance, the chart below shows PrivateVPN’s speeds at various times of day:

This provider delivered an average speed of 59.98 Mbps, which isn’t the fastest we’ve seen. Despite this, we never had any issues performing everyday tasks like playing online games, watching live streams, or torrenting. Plus, we were impressed by PrivateVPN’s consistency — speeds varied by less than 5 Mbps over the course of a full day of testing.

This VPN has a strict no-logs policy, which means your activities cannot be disclosed even if requested. It uses 256-bit encryption, DNS and IPV6 leak protection, and a kill switch to ensure your traffic is secure at all times. If you’re having trouble, PrivateVPN staff are available 24/7 and can configure the software remotely, with your permission.

PrivateVPN has apps for Windows, MacOS, iOS, and Android systems. It can be manually configured to work with Linux-based platforms and supported routers.

GREAT SPEED:PrivateVPN is a consistently reliable VPN for Minecraft. Also good for secure and private browsing and torrenting. Could do with having more servers and lacks 24/7 support. 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full PrivateVPN review.

Finding the best Minecraft VPNs: our methodology

With so many VPNs all competing for your attention, it can be tricky to tell which ones are worth using and which just want you to feel protected without actually giving you the tools to back that up. Here at Comparitech, we have a robust testing process that involves scoring providers in five key areas. Below, we’ll explain what these are and why they’re so important:

Speed

This one is simple: if your VPN isn’t fast enough, you’ll run into problems staying connected while gaming and could notice your character moving erratically without any input. That’s why we take speed testing very seriously. However, it’s remarkably difficult to get accurate test results due to the inherent randomness of the internet.

To combat this, our team has a specific process for speed tests. First, we run all tests on a 250 Mbps connection (the average US household broadband speed). Then, we connect to the VPN’s fastest-available US server and run tests at three different times (morning, noon, and afternoon). Finally, the average speeds are normalized to get a score out of 10 for each provider, as shown below:

NordVPN took the top spot here, earning a full 10 points. That said, Surfshark wasn’t too far behind. That said, even the slowest services we tested were more than enough to play Minecraft — it’s just the the higher a service’s speed, the more you can do simultaneously and the faster you’ll be connected to the game’s server.

Network suitability

Our next task was to determine how versatile each VPN’s network was. To begin with, we looked into how many countries their network covered. The industry average is about 60 countries but these days, it’s not uncommon to see a provider with more than 100. We also checked how many servers were available (if this data was public) and evaluated how reliable each VPN was when it comes to beating regional restrictions on streaming sites. Here are the results:

NordVPN and Surfshark took first and second place again, with ExpressVPN coming in a close third. If Surfshark had more servers, it arguably might have dethroned its rival for the top spot but for the time being at least, NordVPN wins out.

Security and privacy

One area we’ll never compromise on is user security. As such, every service we recommend has to provide unbreakable encryption, DNS leak protection, a kill switch, and a zero-logs policy at a bare minimum. Of course, we also keep an eye out for extra features, such as malware protection, stealth modes, and split tunneling support. Even if you don’t plan on using them, having more options is never a bad thing. The table below shows every area we considered when assigning scores:

Feeling a little overwhelmed by all this technical info? Don’t worry, that’s normal! To help out, we’ve charted the scores determined from the table above, making it easier to see how different providers compare at a glance, security-wise. See for yourself:

There was a tie for first place here. Surfshark and NordVPN each scored 9.5 points, only losing out due to being based in a Nine Eyes country and slightly-less-than-ideal authentication, respectively. Still, the lowest score we recorded was an 8.6. If nothing else, this shows how tough the competition was in this category and reinforces the fact that every VPN in our list is capable of keeping you safe.

Ease of use

Our team has more than a decade of combined experience using and testing consumer VPNs. We’ve seen all kinds of services, from the ultra-simple to the ultra-advanced and in our professional opinion, the best VPNs are those that cater to newcomers while leaving room for them to customize things once they’re more comfortable. We rated providers based on a variety of factors, including how easy it is to sign up, cancel, and use their service in real-world scenarios. Here’s a full list of judging criteria:

We had another two-way tie for first place here. NordVPN and Private Internet Access each scored an impressive 9.6 points thanks to their streamlined signup and cancellation processes and the ease with which we were able to access stubborn streaming platforms. We also really liked that they offered 24/7 live chat, since trying to solve technical problems on your own can be a frustrating experience.

Value for money

In a perfect world, nobody would have to pay for digital privacy. That’s not the case, unfortunately, but we do everything we can to ensure that you get a high-quality service for as little as possible. To begin with, we refuse to recommend VPNs that charge too much for what they bring to the table. We also consider factors like how often they go on sale, how steep their long-term discounts are, and whether they offer a reduced rate for students or emergency workers. Our one requirement is that they offer a free trial or money-back guarantee.

Surfshark beat all of the competition in this category, scoring 9.7 points of a possible 10 with IPVanish an extremely close second. These VPNs have a couple of things in common: they each allow users to connect any number of devices and boast extremely affordable long-term subscriptions. Better still, they do this while being able to handle day to day tasks like streaming, gaming, and torrenting.

Want to know more? Check out our article detailing the scientific VPN testing methodology we use to pinpoint the services that offer the features you need.

Playing Minecraft with a VPN: FAQs

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