Valorant is a popular free-to-play First Person Shooter. The game was developed by Riot Games and had around 3 million players per-day during beta alone. Unfortunately, some countries, like Iran, have been blocked from playing the game altogether. In other locations, VoIP is restricted by the government – which causes the in-game chat feature to be unavailable – making it extremely difficult to play. As a result, many gamers are searching for a VPN for Valorant.
With a Valorant VPN, anybody can conceal their real IP address from Valorant’s servers to make an account that is registered to a different region to play the game. In this article, we discuss the best VPNs for Valorant, and explain how you can unblock the game and play with friends located overseas.
What are the best Valorant VPN services?
We take a look at the best Valorant VPN services below. All of these services have the features you need to unblock Valorant, however, for more information about each service scroll below the list for an in-depth analysis of each VPN.
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ExpressVPN
– The best VPN for Valorant. It’s consistently one of the fastest VPNs we test, has servers in 94+ countries, and has great apps. -
NordVPN
– Lightning fast | Apps for all platforms |24/7 live chat support -
CyberGhost VPN
– A great value Valorant VPN. It has easy to use apps for all popular platforms, fast servers in 88+ countries, and it’s cheap. -
Surfshark
– The cheapest VPN for Valorant. It’s fast, secure, and it you can use it on unlimited devices with one subscription. -
Private Internet Access
– A secure VPN that also unblock Valorant. It has fast connections, Apps for all platforms, and a proven No-logs policy.
Connecting to a VPN in a different country is an easy way to bypass any local blocks enforced by the government. Whether you live in Iran and want to regain access to the game, or you live in the UAE or Saudi Arabia and you simply want to unblock the in-game VoIP chat feature, you can do so with a Valorant VPN.
To ensure you can safely unblock the game without any issues, we have listed services with the following features:
- Fast servers
- Strong encryption
- A no-logs policy
The best Valorant VPNs | In-depth analysis
We take a closer look at the best VPNs for Valorant below. All of these services have recommended services that are known to provide fast speeds for gaming, and fast servers where you need them to unblock Valorant. If you would like any more information about these services, check our detailed VPN reviews.
ExpressVPN is the best VPN for Valorant. It is one of the fastest VPNs we test, has servers in 94+ countries, and it’s great for gaming making it ideal for unblocking Valorant regions.
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Pricing
From
$6.67 –
$12.95 -
Available on
- Windows
- macOS
- iOS
- Android
- Linux
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Unblocks
- Netflix
- iPlayer
- Amazon Prime
- Hulu
ExpressVPN is a highly reliable VPN that provides both strong privacy and excellent unblocking capabilities. With servers in 94 countries, you will always be able to find a server nearby – or in a specific location where you have Valorant friends. As a result, you will be able to find matches in a foreign language (or your native tongue if you happen to be living overseas).
ExpressVPN is consistently one of the fastest VPNs in the world, which makes it great for playing Valorant and being able to use the live chat feature in-game. Plus this VPN has live chat support 24/7. In addition, you can use this VPN on up to 5 devices simultaneously, which makes it good value for money. An outstanding VPN for Valorant that you can trial completely risk-free for 30-days thanks to its money-back guarantee.
A fast VPN that is perfect for playing Valorant or any other blocked game servers
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Pricing
From
$3.71 –
$11.95 -
Available on
- Windows
- macOS
- iOS
- Android
- Linux
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Unblocks
- Netflix
- iPlayer
- Amazon Prime
- Hulu
NordVPN is a no-logs VPN provider based in Panama that is extremely strong on privacy. It is a reliable service with apps for all popular platforms that will easily let you bypass local censorship, access internationally geo-restricted content, or unblock content restricted by an admin at work, at school, or on public WiFi.
NordVPN is ideal for playing Valorant online because it has super-fast servers in 59 countries – including servers where you need them to play Valorant. Plus, NordVPN offers a wealth of market-leading security features that make it a good option for just about anybody.
It also has rare privacy features such as double-hop connections, VPN over Tor, DNS-based malware protection, Smart DNS, and more, all at a very reasonable price point. An easy to use and reliable VPN with 24/7 live chat, excellent setup guides, and cheap subscription plans. Well worth testing using its 30-day money-back guarantee.
CyberGhost is a low cost Valorant VPN. It’s reliable, has fast servers and excellent apps for Android, iOS, Windows, and Mac.
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Pricing
From
$2.25 –
$12.99 -
Available on
- Windows
- macOS
- iOS
- Android
- Linux
-
Unblocks
- Netflix
- iPlayer
- Amazon Prime
- Hulu
CyberGhost VPN is a well-known provider with a superb reputation. It is a no logs service with strong encryption, and it provides superb speeds for playing Valorant.
With CyberGhost you get access to servers in 88 countries, which means you can play in many different Valorant regions, or unblock the game anywhere where VoIP is restricted. And it is secure to ensure your ISP can’t detect that you are unblocking the game (or using VoIP).
We enjoy using this VPN on all platforms because it is extremely easy to use. And, this VPN permits up to 8 simultaneous connections, which is great. A fantastic all-rounder with live chat support and a generous 45-day money-back guarantee.
Surfshark is the cheapest VPN for Valorant. It has fast servers in 63+ countries, fully-featured apps, and you can use it on an unlimited number of devices with one subscription.
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Pricing
From
$2.49 –
$12.95 -
Available on
- Windows
- macOS
- iOS
- Android
- Linux
-
Unblocks
- Netflix
- iPlayer
- Amazon Prime
- Hulu
Surfshark is a VPN based in the British Virgin Islands that is extremely well-liked by subscribers (it has 4.5 stars on TrustPilot). The VPN allows an unlimited number of simultaneous connections with a single subscription, which means you can unblock Valorant on as many devices as you like both at home and on public WiFi.
Surfshark has servers in over 63 countries around the world, and they are lightning-fast for playing Valorant, streaming, and making VoIP calls either in-game or on TeamSpeak. Surfshark unblocks huge numbers of sought-after streaming services around the world like Netflix US, BBC iPlayer, and Amazon Prime, which makes it super-versatile.
It is also super secure thanks to its kill-switch, obfuscation, and OpenVPN encryption. Plus it has live chat. A great VPN that comes at a mind-blowingly low price! Well worth testing using its 30-day money-back guarantee.
Private Internet Access is a secure VPN for Valorant. It has advanced security features, it has proven in court that it doesn’t keep logs, and It’s perfect for techy users in need of a private VPN.
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Pricing
From
$2.69 –
$9.95 -
Available on
- Windows
- macOS
- iOS
- Android
- Linux
-
Unblocks
- Netflix
- iPlayer
- Amazon Prime
- Hulu
Private Internet Access (PIA) is a US-based provider that keeps zero logs, a claim it has proven in court. PIA VPN has more than 13,000 servers in 75 countries, it provides strong OpenVPN encryption, and is one of the most popular VPN services among Reddit users. It also has live chat support and access to Netflix US. Add to that its fast speeds for playing Valorant and you can see why PIA is a good choice.
PIA also has advanced apps for all platforms that come with more security and privacy features than just about any other VPN. And it even lets users customize their encryption levels (which can allow you to get even better speeds for playing Valorant). An excellent VPN with live chat support and a 30-day money-back guarantee.
How to Access different Valorant regions with a VPN
Using a VPN to access a different Valorant region is easy. Simply follow the steps below to get your VPN up and running:
- Subscribe to the VPN provider that best suits your needs.
- Download and install the VPN software from your chosen provider’s website.
- Login to the VPN app using your credentials.
- Connect to a VPN server in the region where you have friends (or a region where Valorant and VoIP is allowed).
- With the VPN still connected, head over to Riot’s website and create a new Valorant account that is registered to that region.
Remember to connect to your VPN whenever you play Valorant to ensure that Riot does not figure out you are in a different region from where the account was registered
When you’re playing Valorant in a different region, your ping could increase considerably, depending on how far you are away from that server. Thus, if you are attempting to access Valorant from a country where it is blocked – or where it doesn’t work properly because VoIP is blocked – then it is recommended that you connect to a VPN server that is as close to you physically as possible. This will ensure that you can access the game while still getting the best speeds.
Why are these the best Valorant VPNs?
For a Valorant VPN to be useful it must have servers in plenty of locations around the world. If you want to play with friends in a particular region, then it will be necessary to check with the VPN provider to make absolutely certain that the VPN has a server there.
The good news is that all of our recommendations have servers in upwards of 60 countries, so you shouldn’t have any problems. To ensure we have recommended Valorant VPNs that are 100% suitable to the task, our experts looked for the following features:
- Lightening-fast servers that are ideal for gaming and VoIP chat
- A large global network of servers
- Apps for all platforms that are reliable and easy to use
- Strong VPN encryption to prevent your ISP from tracking what you are doing (important if you are bypassing VoIP restrictions)
- A kill switch to cut the internet if your VPN drops out (prevents Riot from noticing you are in a different location)
- Value for money
- Excellent custom care with live chat support
Can a VPN lower Ping time on Valorant?
For a VPN to conceal your location and allow location spoofing, it must route your traffic via the VPN server on its way to Valorant’s servers. This will usually cause your internet connection to slow down ever so slightly, and will usually cause your Ping to rise.
However, by connecting to a VPN server that is closer to the gaming server, it is possible to sometimes improve your ping. For this reason, we do recommend a little trial and error (by connecting to various server locations near to and between your physical location and location of the Valorant server).
On the whole, however, playing a Valorant server outside of your home region will likely increase your Ping.
Will a Valorant VPN reduce lag?
Due to the reasons mentioned above, a VPN is very unlikely to reduce in-game lag. In fact, encrypting your internet traffic for privacy purposes using a VPN, is more likely to increase lag. This is why it is essential to pick a fast VPN that provides a choice of fast encryption protocols.
If you are suffering from high-levels of lag, we recommend that you open your VPN’s settings and opt for either OpenVPN UDP, L2TP/IPsec, or IKEv2. Alternatively, try each protocol to see which performs best for you.
How fast does my Internet need to be to play Valorant?
Because even the fastest VPNs will slow down internet connection speeds a little bit, it is important to understand that anybody who is paying for very slow internet speeds will likely suffer if they connect to a VPN.
If, for example, you are currently paying for average internet download speeds of 5 Mbps, a VPN will cause your internet to drop to below 5 Mbps which will make it hard to play Valorant. For this reason, we recommend that anybody using a VPN has minimum download speeds of 20 Mbps and minimum upload speeds of around 5 Mbps.
Can I use a free VPN for Valorant?
If you want to create a new Valorant account in a different region, but are not living in a country that has a Valorant block, or VoIP blocks, you may be able to change your region by creating a new account while connected to a free VPN.
However, please bear in mind that the majority of free VPN services shouldn’t be trusted as they harvest user data, contain malware, and almost always fail to back up any “unlimited” claims. In fact, even the best free VPNs usually come with:
- Data caps – which can cut you off mid-game
- Speed restrictions – causing lag
- Few servers to chooser from – meaning you may not be able to connect to a useable server
The good news is that all of our recommendations have money-back guarantees and VPN free trials so you can try out the VPNs risk-free. This means that you can test the VPN with Valorant to make sure it works exactly as you had hoped.
Valorant Privacy issues
As you may be aware, anybody who plays Valorant must also install and run Riot Game’s anti-cheating software Valorant. That software has caused a fair amount of controversy because it is always on in the background, even when you aren’t playing Valorant.
Despite the many conspiracy theories, most people agree that Vanguard is benevolent. It starts up with Windows and remains on at all times to scans for apps that could be exploited for cheating on Valorant. Vanguard then blocks some of that software if and when it is discovered
Gamers who don’t cheat – and don’t have apps on their system that help with cheating – largely go unaffected by the presence of Vanguard on their system. That said, Vanguard is like an antivirus program in the way it is always on, and it could slow down your system slightly by scanning if you don’t have a lot of memory and your computer is already a little sluggish.
How does Vanguard work?
Vanguard is designed to tackle the problem of wallhackers and aimbotters. Unless it is uninstalled, Vanguard will launch with Windows on startup. This is because it includes a kernel-mode driver. Once up and running, the client checks for software used to run cheats while playing Valorant.
The important thing to remember is that Vanguard does not collect any data about your PC or send anything back to Riot. It simply needs to run when you are playing Valorant to prevent cheating.
How to turn off Vanguard
If you don’t want Vanguard to run in the background on your system when you aren’t playing Valorant, you will need to turn it off.
The good news is that Riot has now created a way for people to switch Vanguard off. so, if you aren’t planning on playing Valorant, and you want Vanguard to stop running and taking up memory, you can do so in the system tray:
- Open your system tray
- Right-click on the Vanguard icon
- Click on Exit Vanguard
- Agree to the prompt that asks you if you are sure.
Remember that you will need to restart Vanguard to play Valorant.
Finally, please bear in mind that Vanguard is not deleted automatically when you delete Valorant. So, if you do decide to stop playing Valorant, you will need to uninstall Vanguard separately to prevent it from automatically running each and every time you start your computer.
It is also worth noting that some users have taken to uninstalling Vanguard whenever they aren’t playing Valorant. Most players might consider this overkill, but it is the only way to prevent Vanguard running on startup, because it is in the kernel.
Conclusion
Ready to get serious with your gaming? Don’t want to be the victim of a DDoS attack? If you want to change your region, increase your privacy, and upgrade your gaming experience as a whole, you’re going to want a fast and secure VPN. Here’s a quick reminder of our top picks for VPNs for Valorant. Be sure to take advantage of their money-back guarantees so you can put them to the test without risking your cash!
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ExpressVPN
– The best VPN for Valorant. It’s consistently one of the fastest VPNs we test, has servers in 94+ countries, and has great apps. -
NordVPN
– Lightning fast | Apps for all platforms |24/7 live chat support -
CyberGhost VPN
– A great value Valorant VPN. It has easy to use apps for all popular platforms, fast servers in 88+ countries, and it’s cheap. -
Surfshark
– The cheapest VPN for Valorant. It’s fast, secure, and it you can use it on unlimited devices with one subscription. -
Private Internet Access
– A secure VPN that also unblock Valorant. It has fast connections, Apps for all platforms, and a proven No-logs policy.