Best Free VPNs for DDoS Protection in 2023
If you have been enjoying multiplayer games for quite some time, you might have experienced connectivity issues at crucial moments during the game. Unfortunately, this means that you may have been a victim of a DDoS attack.
DDoS (Distributed Denial of Service) means loss of Internet connection, which can happen when other entities flood your IP address with excessive communication requests. These requests result in system overflow, which blocks network connection on the targeted IP address.
A trustworthy VPN not only helps you fend off those unwanted attacks but also employs various other security measures to increase your online protection.
In case you don't want to read the entire article, here’s a quick summary of the best VPN services according to our independent tests and research:
- NordVPN Best VPN for general work and entertainment purposes. I found it to be reliable, high-speed, and easy to set up, and it's one that I use daily for work.
- ProtonVPN (Free Version) Proton is often referred to as the single most trustworthy company in the VPN business. They focus on security over anything else and offer the best free VPN available. This is the company behind ProtonMail.
- CyberGhost VPN was voted as the best gaming VPN for 2023 and is one of the cheapest VPN services among the whole top 10.
VPN with DDoS Protection
RANK
BRAND
DEVICES
STATS
DOWNLOAD
1
6
6 simultaneous devices.
- ● Fastest VPN 2023
- ● Servers: 5300+
- ● Countries: 60+
WHY I LIKE NORDVPN NordVPN has long been regarded as one of the strongest brands in cybersecurity. With one of the largest server offerings on my list and support for most, if not all operating systems, making NordVPN an obvious choice for many. They have 24/7 customer support if you need help getting started. Their app is one of the most well-designed apps I have ever used. NordVPN even accepts cryptocurrencies as payment for extra anonymity.
2
∞
Unlimited simultaneous devices.
- ● Best Cheap VPN 2023
- ● Servers: 3200+
- ● Countries: 65+
WHY I LIKE SURFSHARK: Surfshark VPN is perfect for those who want a cheap and reliable VPN that also has many extra features. "Camouflage Mode" hides your usage from your ISP, "Kill Switch" suspends your connection and protects your information if you temporarily lose Internet access, "MultiHop" to connect from multiple countries at the same time just to name a few. My favorite feature of Surfshark is "Whitelists" which allow the user to exclude specific apps and programs from the VPN connection.
3
7
7 simultaneous devices.
- ● Best Torrent VPN
- ● Servers: 7400+
- ● Countries: 91+
WHY I LIKE CYBERGHOST CyberGhost VPN is the first choice of many other cybersecurity experts, and the reason is clear; they have the most complete VPN service. An incredible number of extra features that are best suited for the more advanced users but also work flawlessly for every-day purposes like P2P-filesharing. Cyberghost VPN also has the longest stretching money-back guarantee at a full 45 days.
4
∞
Unlimited simultaneous devices.
- ● Best Netflix/Streaming VPN
- ● Servers: 35500+
- ● Countries: 84+
WHY I LIKE PIA VPN: PrivateInternetAccess is at the top of my streaming tests, which is a great combination with their easy-to-use UI, Open-Source software and built in adblocker. PIA is also perfect for those who want to be able to pay with PayPal which for some reason, many other VPN services do not support. 30-day money-back guarantee, multiple Netflix libraries, and extremely affordable are the three main selling points for this VPN service.
5
∞
Unlimited simultaneous devices.
- ● Robust/Security focused
- ● Servers: 750+
- ● Countries: 43+
WHY I LIKE ATLAS VPN: Atlas VPN is one of the best new free VPN services. With the free version, you get unlimited data, no ads and zero logging. During my speed tests, Atlas VPN performed very well and could compete with mainstream services. Kill Switch, Ad-blocker, and P2P support all included with a regular subscription, which is incredibly cheap for such a robust service.
6
10
10 simultaneous devices.
- ● Best Free VPN 2023
- ● Servers: 1713+
- ● Countries: 63+
WHY I LIKE PROTONVPN: ProtonVPN is based in Switzerland and is most known for their e-mail service ProtonMail. They currently offer the safest free VPN services on the market. There is also support for TOR usage and P2P file sharing. I highly recommend ProtonVPN if you are intending to do some extensive online sharing. It goes without saying that Proton does not collect logs of any kind and is completely safe to use.
7
10
10 simultaneous devices.
- ● Best VPN for Gaming and Streaming
- ● Servers: 200+
- ● Countries: 63+
WHY I LIKE PRIVATEVPN: PrivateVPN is the strong underdog in the world of VPNs. With a shy number of servers, it is evident that they are focusing on quality over quantity. Overall, PrivateVPN is a very decent choice of VPN, especially if you had enough of the excessive advertising by some of the other more known brands in this list. Setting up the VPN requires extremely little intervention, and you can even pay with Bitcoin.
8
49%
DISCOUNT
DISCOUNT
30 day money-back guarantee.
- ● Best Mobile VPN app
- ● Servers: 3000+
- ● Countries: 94+
10
77%
DISCOUNT
DISCOUNT
45 day money-back guarantee.
- ● Fastest free VPN
- ● Servers: 3200+
- ● Countries: 80+
11
85%
DISCOUNT
DISCOUNT
7 day money-back guarantee.
- ● Great free VPN
- ● Servers: 1000+
- ● Countries: 26+
12
68%
DISCOUNT
DISCOUNT
10 day money-back guarantee.
- ● Best reputation
- ● Servers: 91+
- ● Countries: 17+
14
79%
DISCOUNT
DISCOUNT
15 day money-back guarantee.
- ★ Great adblocker included
- ★ Servers: 1800+
- ★ Countries: 20+
15
66%
DISCOUNT
DISCOUNT
30 day money-back guarantee.
- ● 5 devices simultaneously
- ● Unlimited usage
- ● 50+ locations
16
70%
DISCOUNT
DISCOUNT
30 day money-back guarantee.
- ● Unlimited traffic
- ● Up to 1 Gbps
- ● Free trial
17
85%
DISCOUNT
DISCOUNT
30 day money-back guarantee.
- ● 10 devices
- ● Unlimited bandwidth
- ● Countries: 60+
19
$5.00 /user
14 day free trial/money-back guarantee.
- ● Simple Cloud VPN Setup
- ● Site-to-site VPN Tunneling
- ● Easy Server & User Management
21
67%
DISCOUNT
DISCOUNT
7 day money-back guarantee.
- ● 5 devices
- ● Locations: 65+
- ● 24/7 live support
22
80%
DISCOUNT
DISCOUNT
30 day money-back guarantee.
- ● 10 devices
- ● Countries: 20+
- ● P2P Optimization
23
66%
DISCOUNT
DISCOUNT
Basic, advanced, and pro plans.
- ● Countries: 22+
- ● Locations: 36+
- ● 24/7 live support
24
79%
DISCOUNT
DISCOUNT
30 day money-back guarantee.
- ● Best multi-device VPN
- ● Servers: 1000+
- ● Countries: 200+
What Are the Best VPNs for Handling DDoS Attacks?
Some players resort to the dishonest (and frequently illegal) practice of sending distributed denial-of-service attacks against other gamers. They use these attacks to gain an unfair advantage over their opponents.
Here is our list of the top 5 VPNs that will help protect you and your device from those pesky attacks:
- NordVPN
- ExpressVPN
- Surfshark
- CyberGhost VPN
- Private Internet Access VPN (PIA VPN)
NordVPN
NordVPN’s features include much more than the unbreakable AES-256 encryption and the kill switch. NordVPN actually has a double kill switch – one that disconnects your device from the internet and the other to prevent access to certain apps (both if your VPN connection drops). DoubleVPN technology runs your traffic through two servers, making it unreadable to cyber attackers. Nord’s in-house NordLynx protocol is a new-generation protocol that offers better speeds and security. DDoS protection is available on all of Nord’s servers and is guaranteed to make your gaming seamless.
You can use NordVPN on up to 6 devices simultaneously and get your money back within 30 days if you are not satisfied with the service.
| PROS | CONS |
| Good jurisdiction (Panama), no logs | DoubleVPN can significantly reduce speed |
| 5,600+ servers in 59 countries | Not all Nord servers are equally good for torrenting |
| Additional features: DNS leak protection, Onion over VPN, SmartPlay, Dedicated IP address, Threat Manager | |
| P2P servers for torrenting | |
| 24/7 live chat support |
ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN’s server network covers 94 countries. It offers unlimited bandwidth, DDoS protection, and lower ping and overall lag, making your gaming a pleasant experience. Even though Express does not use MultiHop technology (double VPN), its AES-256 encryption has proven to be unbreakable. In addition, ExpressVPN has a no-logging policy, which guarantees that no information is collected and passed on to third parties. Moreover, its TrustedServer technology ensures that no data is stored on the hard drive.
ExpressVPN is located in the British Virgin Islands, a privacy-friendly country that is a popular location for VPN headquarters.
| PROS | CONS |
| Good safety profile, large server network | Unlimited connections only via router |
| Independently audited | Does not use MultiHop technology |
| Numerous payment options | Maximum of 5 simultaneous connections |
| All Express servers support torrenting |
Surfshark VPN
Surfshark’s three best-selling points for gamers are a reasonable price, unlimited connections, and protection against DDoS attacks. Though the service is affordable, it manages to do so without compromising the security of its users. It uses AES-256 encryption and allows you to choose the protocol most suitable to your needs (IKEv2/ IPSec, OpenVPN). In addition, Surfshark’s extensive server network (3,200+ servers in 100 countries) provides solid speeds.
Surfshark VPN has two more neat features. One is Camouflage Mode, which prevents others from knowing you are using a VPN. The other is the Bypasser, which allows some internet traffic through a VPN server while the rest functions VPN-free.
| PROS | CONS |
| IP Rotator | No Dedicated IP |
| MultiHop technology | Slower than the first two on our list |
| Unlimited number of connections | |
| Obfuscated, RAM-only servers |
CyberGhost VPN
CyberGhost has introduced a VPN for different gaming consoles: PS3, PS4, Xbox One, Xbox 360, and others. One of the big advantages of this is CyberGhost’s DDoS protection. CyberGhost VPN also has great unblocking power, so accessing the PlayStation store anywhere in the world will not be an issue. You can also eliminate that annoying lag by connecting to a VPN server closer to your gaming server.
CyberGhost uses AES-256 encryption and has a strict no-logging policy. In addition, its Romanian jurisdiction makes it safe for torrenting, which is supported on P2P servers. You can also choose which protocol to use: OpenVPN, WireGuard, IKEv2, or L2TP.
| PROS | CONS |
| Available on up to 7 devices simultaneously | Slower speeds on distant servers |
| Secure downloads and streaming | Fewer additional safety features |
| Affordable biannual plan ($2.19/month) | |
| Longer money-back guarantee period (45 days) |
Private Internet Access VPN (PIA VPN)
Although PIA VPN is one of the VPN providers which does not publicly boast the number of its servers, it reportedly has hundreds of thousands in 84 countries. This means that servers are not overcrowded and can provide good speeds.
In addition to AES-256 encryption, PIA VPN has two kill switches: a VPN Kill Switch and an Advanced Kill Switch. The former disconnect your device from the internet if your VPN connection drops. At the same time, the latter prevents you from connecting to the internet if your VPN is not switched on. In addition, PIA’s NextGen server network provides protection from DDoS attacks by assigning you a new IP address every time an attack occurs.
| PROS | CONS |
| Affordable yet reliable | Inconsistent speeds |
| DDoS on all servers | Expensive monthly plan |
| MultiHop technology | Torrenting on servers outside the US |
| Up to 10 simultaneous connections | |
| User friendly |
In Conclusion
In an era of advanced gaming and technology, becoming prey to DDoS attacks is almost unavoidable.
To protect yourself from these attacks, make sure to get a trustworthy VPN. A VPN with strong encryption, a kill switch, and a built-in DDoS system will shield you from most DDoS attacks.
FAQ
Which VPN provider offers the best DDoS protection?
NordVPN and ExpressVPN are the most reliable and expensive options. If you need a somewhat cheaper alternative, choose Surfshark.
Can a VPN protect me from all DDoS attacks?
No. A VPN cannot protect you from the attacks that had already started before you turned on your VPN.
Who carries out DDoS attacks?
These attacks are often initiated by gamers who want to obstruct other players from gaining an advantage in a game. In addition, some hackers attack the websites of small businesses to extort money.
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