Your PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X or S consoles don’t support VPN apps directly, but that doesn’t mean you can’t enhance your gaming privacy using a VPN anyway. While you can use a VPN on your PC to bridge a connection to other devices like a makeshift router, running a VPN directly on your router doesn’t prevent you from shutting down your computer, for instance.

Whether you want to mitigate the impact of DDoS attacks, access content from other regions or reduce your ping on distant game servers, there are a few straightforward ways to get VPN protection on your console without ever touching a computer.

Why bother with a VPN on your console at all?

There are a few solid reasons to route your console traffic through a VPN, from privacy protections to streaming geo-restricted content and accessing faraway game servers. But you'll want one of the fastest VPNs on the market so you can keep the bulk of your bandwidth. One of the best VPNs for gaming or best VPNs for Xbox will provide privacy protections without slowing your internet speeds down significantly.

Protection from attacks 

Competitive gamers and streamers are more at risk of DDoS attacks than the average gamer, but it can happen to anyone if you encounter a trigger-happy hacker during your gaming session. A DDoS, or distributed denial-of-service, attack floods a targeted device (like your PS5 or Xbox) with fake internet traffic to slow it down or crash it. A VPN masks your public IP address, making it significantly harder for sore losers to keep you offline even if they knock your connection out for a moment.

Access to region-locked content

Streaming apps like Netflix offer different libraries depending on your location. With a VPN, you can change where apps and websites think you’re connecting from, which allows you to browse catalogs from other countries. Plus, some games are released earlier in certain regions or offer content exclusive to a particular country’s online store. If you want a VPN for streaming, check out the best VPNs for Netflix and Amazon Prime Video.

Potentially better routing

If your internet provider uses inefficient routes to game servers, connecting through a VPN server closer to those servers can sometimes lower your ping, or how long it takes your computer to “talk” to a game server. You may also get access to multiplayer lobbies closer to the VPN server if you use a server geographically closer than your physical location.

Bypass ISP throttling

Some internet providers slow down certain types of traffic, like gaming traffic, during peak hours. Since a VPN encrypts your traffic, your ISP can’t identify what you’re doing, so your traffic can’t be selectively throttled.

Please bear in mind that you should always check the terms of service for your games, as well as the console you’re using. Using a VPN to circumvent regional restrictions or manipulate matchmaking may break the ToS and could cause your account to be penalized.

The easiest option: Buy a VPN router

If you want VPN protection without any technical hassle, the simplest approach is a router that comes preconfigured with VPN support. Plug it in, connect your console through Wi-Fi or Ethernet and you’re done.

ExpressVPN’s Aircove and Aircove Go routers are purpose-built to be plug-and-play. They ship with ExpressVPN already installed, offer Wi-Fi 6 connectivity for fast speeds and let you assign different devices to different server locations simultaneously using their “Device Groups” feature. It’s the most user-friendly option if you’re already an ExpressVPN subscriber, but it’s also a little pricey at $169 for the Aircove Go portable travel router or $189 for the Aircove home router. However, both come with an ExpressVPN 30-day free trial.

There’s also FlashRouters, which takes a slightly different approach. The company sells routers from manufacturers like Linksys and Netgear with VPN-ready firmware already installed. These routers work with most major VPN providers, including NordVPN, Proton VPN and Surfshark, so you’re not locked into one service, unlike with ExpressVPN’s Aircove. All routers come with a one-year warranty, but you’ll need to subscribe to an extra service plan if you want tech support.

Do it yourself: Configure your existing router

If you already own a compatible router, you can set up a VPN yourself and skip buying new hardware.

First, you’ll need to check whether your router supports VPN connections. Many modern routers include built-in VPN client functionality, so keep an eye out for OpenVPN or WireGuard support in the specs. If your router doesn’t natively support a VPN, you may still be able to flash it with firmware that offers VPN support. However, you should be aware that you’ll need some technical know-how to carry out the process, as there’s a risk you could brick your router if you apply the firmware incorrectly. Additionally, flashing firmware may void your router’s warranty.

Generally, the process for installing a VPN on your router looks a little like this:

1. Subscribe to a VPN that supports router installation. NordVPN, ExpressVPN and Surfshark all provide detailed router guides.
2. Log in to your router's admin panel (typically by entering 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1 in your browser).
3. Find the VPN settings, usually under Advanced Settings.
4. Download configuration files from your VPN provider and enter your credentials as directed.
5. Connect your console to the router. All traffic now routes through the VPN automatically.

Every router interface is a little different, so follow your VPN provider’s specific instructions through their support portal. Most offer 24/7 support if you get stuck.

What about Smart DNS?

A smart DNS service isn’t quite the same as a VPN, but could be worth using if you mostly want to stream region-restricted content, like foreign Netflix libraries or BBC iPlayer. Instead of encrypting all of your traffic, a smart DNS redirects your DNS requests to a DNS server that provides responses to a specific location. Essentially, this tricks apps and websites, like streaming services, into thinking you’re somewhere else, allowing you to access region-locked content.

It’s far simpler to set up than a full VPN, especially on devices that don’t natively support VPN apps, like game consoles, Rokus and some smart TVs. All you have to do is change the DNS settings on your console to the DNS servers your VPN provider offers with its smart DNS service. There’s virtually no speed overhead because there’s no extra encryption. Plus, a smart DNS works on any device that allows you to manually change your DNS settings. Some VPN providers -- like NordVPN and ExpressVPN -- include smart DNS services with their plans, or you can find dedicated smart DNS subscriptions.

However, a smart DNS provides very little in the way of extra privacy or security. Your ISP can still see which websites you visit or internet-connected apps you use, and your public IP address is exposed in some online games, leaving you vulnerable to DNS attacks. In some cases, you may be able to connect to different regions for matchmaking, but it really depends on a game-by-game basis. To top it off, streaming services are getting better at detecting and blocking smart DNS services.

So, when it comes down to it, a smart DNS is great if you just want to check out a streaming service’s foreign library on your console. For anything involving privacy, you’ll need an actual VPN.