Be The First To Play Newly Released Games Early
Just like movies, PlayStation games are released on different dates around the world. The majority of PS4 and PS5 games are launched earlier in the Australian and Japanese regions than the US and UK.
But, with a VPN for PlayStation, you have the edge over others by playing a newly released game from anywhere. The above-listed VPN services have more than hundreds of servers in prime regions of the world and offer a range of locations that you can connect to for playing recent releases.
Why Do You Need A VPN For Your Games Console
VPNs are a useful security measure for all devicesincluding your gaming consoles. You’ll mostly hear about using them on your PC and smartphone, but they offer several benefits for PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch users too.
Notably, they mask your IP address, so it makes it much harder for obsessive gamers or cybercriminals to trace your location. VPNs also protect you from Man-in-the-Middle attacks and help fight off malware. That’s especially handy if you’re using your Switch on-the-go and connect to a public network.
VPNs offer further advantages to gamers, like being able to enjoy region-locked content and potentially getting early access to titles.
But can you really connect your PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch to a VPN?
How Do I Get A Free VPN On My Playstation
You need to connect your PS4/PS5 to a device that is compatible with VPNs. For the best speeds and performance, using a router is ideal. However, most free VPNs dont offer router support unless you pay for a premium membership. So, you can also connect your PlayStation to your PCs VPN-enabled internet connection. I made sure all the free VPNs in this list support VPN sharing, so you can use your PC to connect your console without hassle.
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How To Use A VPN On A Ps4 With A Windows Pc
To use a VPN on your PS4 via a Windows PC, you can set up a virtual access point on your computer and connect to it. Essentially, your computer will share the VPN connection with your PS4.
Youll need an Ethernet cable, and your computer needs an Ethernet port and Wi-Fi card to make all the connections. This method is not as technical as it may sound. Heres how to quickly set it up:
Can I Use My Phones VPN For My Ps4
Setting up and using a VPN on a PC or smartphone is easy, but its not so simple on consoles, particularly Sonys upcoming PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5. VPN apps NordVPN and ExpressVPN arent available on Sonys platform, which means browsing the PlayStation Store, installing an app like ExpressVPN and connecting to the internet are no longer possible.
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Noborders Mode To Game Anywhere
Surfshark can bypass geoblocking and access all the popular streaming sites, including Netflix U.S. and HBO Max. Plus, Surfhsarks NoBorders mode allows you to automatically mask your VPN traffic as regular traffic in restrictive regions, so you wont have any issues accessing servers even when gaming or streaming in countries with internet censorship.
While Surfsharks monthly subscription isnt the cheapest, its two-year plan is a very affordable, long-term option. Additionally, youll also have a 30-day money-back guarantee, in case you change your mind.
Surfshark Plans
Cons:
- Inconsistent speeds
CyberGhost comes in 4th on our list for various reasons. Its a great choice for the PS4 and PS5, and it has even earned a spot on our best VPN for gaming list. While it might not be the fastest VPN, its ping remained consistently low across various locations, which reduces the chance for a connection loss or buffering while gaming.
Plus, CyberGhost has an impressive number of servers, around 7,800, spread across 112 locations in 91 countries. This gives you more access to a server network thats less likely to be overloaded in one location, plus the more server locations allow you to get better game deals.
How To Set Up VPN On A Ps4
If you want to encrypt your internet connection on your PlayStation 4, you can! You can use a VPN on PS4, and some providers also work on PS3 if you are using the older version of the gaming console. Before purchasing a VPN, its best to check that it supports a PS4 since not all providers work on every single operating system.
However, to set up a VPN on a PS4 is a complicated process. You cant simply download VPN apps for your PS4, and there isnt just one connection method. You may need to use a LAN cable and access the network settings on your PS4 and computer. Here are two ways how you can install a VPN on your PlayStation 4.
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Set Up Expressvpn For Ps4 Via Ethernet Cable
Lastly, if you wish to try the third method, youll need a Windows computer with an ethernet port thats connected to the internet via Wi-Fi.
Heres how you can get started:
Step 1: Just as I showed you earlier, start by right-clicking the network icon. When you see a small popup tray, click on Open Network & Internet settings.
Step 2: After that, click on Change adapter options to see a new pop up window.
Step 3: Right-click on the network adapter of ExpressVPN and click on Properties.
Step 4: Click on the Sharing tab and click on the check box besides the option that says: Allow other network users to connect through this computers Internet connection. After that, select the name of the ethernet network that you wish to share. Once everythings done, click on OK.
Step 5: Lastly, using an ethernet cable, connect your PS4 to your computer. Finally, you can launch the ExpressVPN app on your computer to start using unrestricted internet.
You can use this method to set up and use ExpressVPN with Smart TVs, Xbox, and other devices.
Unblock Amazon Prime Instant Video On Playstation
Amazon Prime Instant Video is another service that cannot show everything, everywhere, due to license restrictions. With a VPN for PlayStation, you can pretend to be in a different country to access large amounts of extra content on Amazon. See our Amazon prime guide for information about using a VPN with prime and to find out what the is.
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Tips On How To Choose The Best Free VPN For Ps4/ps5
Of all the free VPNs I tested, most of them couldnt even be set up on a PlayStation console. After narrowing down the ones that actually work on PlayStation, these were the other crucial features I looked for that can help you decide which free PS4/PS5 VPN is best for you:
Set Up Windows 10 VPN With Ps4
- Run Command Prompt as admin*.
- Paste this to create a hosted network**:netsh wlan set hostednetwork mode=allow ssid=ConnectionName key=Password
- Replace ConnectionName and Password with what you want.
- Paste this to start the hosted network***:netsh wlan start hostednetwork
*If you cant run Command Prompt as admin, check out our quick fixes.
**You can check if your Windows 10 PC supports hosted networks using netsh wlan show drivers.
***If the hosted network cant start, make sure to diagnose and fix the problem.
The wireless option is preferred when you dont have the possibility to plug an Ethernet cable into your Windows 10 PC and PS4. Plus, you dont have to keep the gaming console and desktop close together, as long as the router is nearby.
However, your Windows 10 PC must support hosted networks in order for this to work. If your Wi-Fi card is too old, you have to buy a new Wi-Fi adapter.
On top of that, Wi-Fi connections arent as stable as Ethernet connections, which is a huge requirement for PS4 online gaming.
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Does Port Forwarding Work With A VPN
While technically a VPN could be combined with port forwarding, NordVPN doesnt support this. We care about our users and dont encourage them to browse online with open ports. The security risks are too high, and we dont want you to end up with malware.
However, if youre playing games online on your PC or smartphone, having NordVPN enabled significantly enhances your security.
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Does Nordvpn Work On Ps4
NordVPN works great with PS4. NordVPN is fast, reliable, and secure, however, you cant install its app directly on gaming consoles. To make NordVPN work on a PS4, you will need to either configure NordVPN on your router, share a virtual hotspot connection, or provide a VPN connection to your PS4 via an ethernet cable.
Sounds complicated right?
Dont worry, its not that hard. In this guide, I will show you exactly how to set up NordVPN on PS4 in the easiest way possible. So without further ado, lets get started.
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Why Would I Use Nordvpn On My Ps4
Before I tell you why you should use NordVPN specifically with your PS4, let me first tell you some of the perks of configuring a VPN with your gaming console.
If you use a VPN with your PS4, youll be able to:
- Get early access to gaming titles
- Beat price discrimination
Now that weve gotten that out of the way, lets talk about NordVPN.
NordVPN without a doubt is one of the best VPNs out there. The reason why I say this is that NordVPN offers 5500+ servers in 59 countries with built-in DDoS protection. With so many servers, you can say goodbye to high pings that can ruin your gaming experience.
Aside from that, NordVPN is fast in terms of speed. Using my 100 Mbps connection, I managed to get downloading speeds up to 96.92 Mbps during testing. With such fast speeds, I was able to easily unblock and watch Netflix shows in HD quality without any buffering.
As for security features, NordVPN offers 256-bit encryption, Kill Switch, a variety of VPN protocols including OpenVPN, No logs policy, and much more.
Price-wise NordVPN starts from $3.49/mo which is slightly on the pricier side, but you can avail of the maximum discount through our NordVPN lifetime guide up to 66% Off. But with this VPN, you do get 6 simultaneous connections and a 30-day NordVPN money-back guarantee. You can also purchase the NordVPN account via the PayPal payment method.
Learn more about this VPN service by reading out a detailed NordVPN review.
How To Set Up A VPN On Playstation 4
The easiest way to activate a VPN on your PlayStation 4 is to sign up for a quality VPN service like SlickVPN and input the VPN information in your WiFi router settings manually. The catch is that your router must be DD-WRT compatible. Check DD-WRT supports your current router by going to their official website and clicking on the link for Router Database.
Once youve checked for DD-WRT compatibility, follow these steps to set up a virtual private network on your router, after which youd be able to form a connection between the VPN configured router and your PS4 console.
Alternatively, you can use a PC to link the VPN to your PS4. As with the router method, make sure youve subscribed to a reliable VPN service.
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Why Do I Need A VPN To Play On Playstation
Using a VPN with your PlayStation will enhance your gaming and streaming experience for a number of reasons.
- Unblock geo-restricted streaming content. You can load up apps from all your favorite streaming sites on your PS4 or PS5, but youll only be able to watch your countrys content library. With a VPN set up, youll be able to bypass geo-restrictions to watch content from any region you like! American Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Sky Sports, ESPN – the choice is yours.
- Access games first. PlayStation games are often released on different dates in different regions. A lot of big releases drop in Japan and Australia before they hit Europe or the USA. With a VPN set up, you can connect to a server location anywhere in the world and access games from that region.
- Switch up your servers. Having access to servers worldwide also means you can connect to gaming servers in different countries to play with friends overseas.
- Stay protected from DDoS hits. With a VPN service hiding your IP address, youll never have to worry about DDoS attacks. DDoS attacks are the last thing a gamer wants. They cause slow speeds and all-out crashes, which will get in the way of a good gaming session.
How A Ps4 VPN Can Make Things Better
You may be surprised to see how many ways reinforcing your PlayStation 4 with a VPN can improve your life. Here are five big ones, in no particular order. You can use a PS4 VPN to:
You probably spotted at least one reason a VPN on PS4 would improve your life. So lets continue by talking about what characteristics you want to see in a PS4 VPN.
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Free VPN For Ps: Best VPN Alternatives Out There
No matter what you want to explore either the world of Fortnite or want to stream a movie PS4 can satisfy all your needs. Having a VPN can help you unlock greater experiences and even get you add-ons that you wouldn’t otherwise get without it.
Sonys PlayStation 4 is an incredible gaming machine and a free VPN for PS4 will further improve your overall experience with the device.
No matter what you want to explore either the world of Fortnite or want to stream a movie PS4 can satisfy all your needs. Having a VPN can help you unlock greater experiences and even get you add-ons that you wouldn’t otherwise get without it.
Set Up A VPN For Ps4 Or Ps5 With A Smart Dns
One way of setting up VPN access on your PlayStation is through the use of a Smart DNS. This is a relatively simple process that should be easy to follow, even if youre not a hugely tech-savvy person.
There are two caveats to this approach, however. The first is that not all VPN providers offer functionality with this method and the second is that itll only give you half of your VPN benefits. While it will allow you to change your region and access restricted content, it wont encrypt your data. If the encryption is essential to you, take a look at the next method below.
The first step is obtaining a Smart DNS from your VPN provider for you to use with your PlayStation. NordVPN, ExpressVPN, and Surfshark are all known to provide it, but the process for obtaining the Smart DNS will vary somewhat from provider to provider. Log in to your account and you should be able to find the path for obtaining this address, but if in doubt, please contact your providers customer support team and theyll point you in the right direction.
Anyway, once youve got it, heres how to do this process on a PS4:
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Can You Use A VPN To Get Ps Games Cheaper & Earlier
Its often claimed that by spoofing your location with a VPN, you can change the region of your PlayStation Store and get access to early game releases, geo-restricted in-game content , and cheaper regional pricing. Unfortunately, this isnt true.
You cannot use a VPN to change the PlayStation Store region of your PlayStation Network account.
The region of your PS Store is determined by the location and address you enter when creating your PlayStation Network account. If you input the US as your location, then youll only ever be able to access the US PlayStation Store, no matter where you are in the world. The accounts region cannot be changed after it has been created.
Therefore the only way to gain access to early game releases and cheaper store prices is to create a new PSN account and register it in your desired region.
For instance, games tend to be released first in the Asia-Pacific region, because of its time zones. To be one of the first people in the world to play a new game, youll need to create a new PSN account and register your address as somewhere in Asia-Pacific. Youll then be able to download the game from the PS Store.
There are a few caveats that make changing your PlayStation region quite a complicated and impractical solution, though:
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