This article will teach you how and why you should use NordVPN on your PS5. We will show you how to install it on both your console and router, allowing you to reap many benefits.
PlayStation 5 is one of the best gaming consoles available, but it has limitations. Specifically, some of its games are region-locked, meaning you won't be able to access them everywhere. The same applies to popular streaming platforms like US Netflix, BBC iPlayer, and Hulu. DDoS attacks are also very common and may fully disrupt your gaming session.
Luckily, you can solve all of these challenges by using NordVPN – a high-end VPN for PS5. It will not only allow you to play geo-restricted games but also boost your security and let you regain your privacy.
Although PS5 does not directly support VPNs, there are things you can do to make it work. This article will guide you on how to set up NordVPN and show you exactly how to use it to gain an advantage in gaming on PS5.
Key takeaways for using NordVPN for PS5
- NordVPN enhances PS5 gaming by minimizing lag, providing top security features, unlocking geo-restricted games, and allowing users to regain their privacy.
- If you want the best deal when subscribing to NordVPN, use our 74% off coupon.
- You can set up NordVPN by installing it on your router, sharing a PC connection, or using Smart DNS to easily bypass regional restrictions.
- To get the most out of NordVPN on PS5, select a close VPN server, enable all security features, and adjust VPN protocols till you reach peak performance.
How Does NordVPN Work?
NordVPN lets you change your IP address by connecting to one of its dedicated servers. This provides an illusion that you are physically located in said country, which may let you access restricted games. Once connected, your outgoing traffic will also be encrypted. This will protect you from DDoS attacks while preventing anyone from monitoring your online behavior.
Also, if a game is only available in Canada, you can simply connect to a NordVPN server in Canada to gain access (See our guide on the best VPNs for Canada).
Of course, you will gain many other benefits from NordVPN.
Why do you Need NordVPN for PS5?
NordVPN may improve your speed and significantly enhance your security and privacy. Here are all the features that make it a worthwhile investment:
- Protect Yourself While Gaming: NordVPN uses military-grade AES 256 encryption to neutralize DDoS attacks and prevent third parties from accessing your outgoing information. It also has a powerful real-time scanner that eliminates malware, blocks ads, and removes trackers. Finally, there is a kill switch that stops your identity from leaking online if everything else goes wrong.
- Get Faster Speeds: Your internet service provider (ISP) is likely limiting your gaming speed to control your bandwidth usage. This can easily increase your latency and affect your gaming performance. NordVPN can prevent this from happening and give you a competitive edge. In fact, it is one of the best no-lag VPNs.
- Access Geo-Restricted Games: Depending on your location, some games may be unavailable or have heavy limitations. NordVPN provides 6,300+ servers in 111 countries you can connect to, effectively lifting all restrictions. Thanks to its massive server network, this may be the ultimate VPN for Pokemon Go, as it allows you to catch many exotic Pokemon.
- Play New Games Early: NordVPN lets you connect to VPN servers in countries in earlier time zones, like New Zealand and Australia. This allows you to play new titles before any of your friends.
- Buy Games at Discounted Price – This is one of the top VPNs for Steam, as it allows you to change your region and buy new games for cheap (although we do not recommend this).
- Gain Unlimited Bandwidth: You can use NordVPN to play and download new games without limitations.
- Multiple Simultaneous Connections: NordVPN allows you to hold ten connections simultaneously, making it easy to protect other devices on your network.
- Strong Cross-Platform support: This VPN can is available on computers, smartphones, and other modern devices. You can also install it on your router, which will allow you to protect your gaming consoles as well. NordVPN ranks consistently among the top VPNs for Android.
- Excellent Smart DNS Tool: If your router doesn't support NordVPN, you can still use its Smart DNS feature to access games that would otherwise be restricted.
- Regain Your Privacy & Anonymity: This provider follows a strict no-logs policy and uses RAM servers, so your data won't be stored. You can also connect to obfuscated servers to prevent your ISP from knowing that you're using NordVPN.
- Unlocks Everything – You can use NordVPN to access various platforms and websites that would otherwise be unavailable in certain countries. This includes cloud gaming platforms, which makes it an excellent GeForce Now VPN.
- Reasonably Priced: NordVPN has one of the best price/quality ratios, giving you premium services at affordable prices.
- Premium Customer Support: If you get stuck, you can contact NordVPN's customer service 24/7 through live chat.
- Convenient Refund Policy: You won't need to take any risk, as NordVPN has a 30-day money-back guarantee.
See all NordVPN features here >
We also have an in-depth guide on using NordVPN for gaming that goes into all these details and more.
How to Setup NordVPN on Your PS5
1. Using Smart DNS
You can activate NordVPN’s Smart DNS feature to quickly access bot lobbies and restricted games on your PlayStation 5.
Note: Using a Smart DNS will let you bypass regional restrictions, but it won’t encrypt your connection. To protect yourself and experience the full benefits of having a VPN, you’ll have to install NordVPN on your router. More on that later.
- Visit this site and find out your IPv4 address.
- Sign in to your NordVPN account and visit the dashboard.
- In the SmartDNS tab, click Enable > Activate SmartDNS.
- Turn on your PlayStation 5 and go to Network Settings.
- Select your connection, then visit Advanced Settings.
- Put your DNS Settings on Manual.
- Fill out your Primary DNS and Secondary DNS with the values you’ve received by activating Smart DNS.
- Use NordVPN on PS5 to protect yourself and play geo-restricted games.
2. Router Installation
By setting it up on your router, you'll be able to experience the full benefits of using NordVPN on PS5. This will also allow you to protect other consoles and modern devices. Additionally, it is convenient since you won't need to install this VPN separately on every device.
Note: For this to work, you will need a router that is compatible with the OpenVPN protocol. NordVPN has a list of routers you can use. If you want to look at some alternatives, check our guide on the best VPN routers.
- Make sure that your router is compatible with NordVPN.
You can check this by visiting NordVPN's tutorial page and typing the name of your router model in the search bar. - Find out your router's IP address.
You can usually find it on a sticker on the back of your router. Alternatively, you can simply Google “control panel IP address for [insert router model].” - Visit your router's control panel.
To access it, paste your router's IP into any browser. - Install NordVPN on your router.
This process can differ significantly depending on your router. It is best to visit NordVPN's tutorial page and follow a guide for your specific model. - Connect your PS5 with your PC.
Using an Ethernet cable is best, as you will get a more reliable and faster connection. - Use NordVPN on PS5 to unlock new games.
Note: If you cannot complete this process, we recommend contacting NordVPN's customer support.
3. Creating a Virtual Router
If your router doesn't support VPN firmware, you can always set up a virtual one on your computer. The downside is that you will have to use different VPN protocols.
- Download and install the NordVPN app on your PC.
- Log in with your user credentials.
- Visit Control Panel > Network and Internet > Network and Sharing Center > Change adapter settings.
- Right-click on your NordVPN connection and open Properties
- Go to the Sharing tab and tick the first box.
Find your PS5 network in the dropdown menu below.
- Connect your PS5 to your PC via an ethernet cable.
Wi-Fi would likely be too slow and unreliable. - Connect to any VPN server.
In this case, you'll have to choose between UDP and TCP protocol. - Start using NordVPN on PS5!
Alternative VPNs for PS5
While NordVPN is our top VPN for PlayStation 5, there are many other providers that you might consider. Now, let's do a quick overview of the best VPNs for gaming that provide router support, allowing you to install them on your PS5.
1. Surfshark – Budget PS5 VPN with Unlimited Connections
Website | Surfshark.com |
Based in | The Netherlands |
Logs | No logs (audited) |
Price | $1.99/mo. |
Support | 24/7 live chat |
Refund | 30 days |
Deal | 87% Off Coupon |
Surfshark is a premium, no logs VPN service that is also very affordable. It has 3,200 servers in 100 countries and uses advanced VPN protocols, such as WireGuard. Surfshark is ideal for gaming, as it provides consistent and fast connection with low latency. As such, it is one of the best VPNs for Call of Duty.
To keep your data Secure, Surfshark uses AES 256 encryption, a kill switch, and various leak protection tools. It can hold unlimited simultaneous connections and comes with a powerful Smart DNS feature.
For more details, check out this Surfshark VPN Review. We have also written an extensive guide on using Surfshark for Gaming.
2. ExpressVPN – Reliable VPN for PS5
Website | ExpressVPN.com |
Based in | British Virgin Islands |
Logs | No logs (audited) |
Price | $6.67/mo. |
Support | 24/7 live chat |
Refund | 30 days |
Deal | 49% Off Coupon |
ExpressVPN is a powerful no-logs service with 3,000+ servers in 105 countries. Its Lightway protocol provides a consistent and fast connection required for gaming. ExpressVPN can easily bypass all geo-restrictions, so you can access new games and join bot lobbies.
Regarding speed, ExpressVPN is somewhat behind other services. However, it is still a top VPN for Minecraft and similar games that don't take up a lot of bandwidth.
This VPN supports router installation, but SmartDNS is also available if your router isn't supported. To protect your outgoing data, it uses a combination of AES 256 encryption, kill switch, leak protection, and split tunneling. Learn more about this provider in our in-depth ExpressVPN Review.
Learn more about this provider in our in-depth ExpressVPN Review. If you need help with setting it up on other devices, head on to our ExpressVPN for Gaming article.
3. IPVanish – Fast and Secure US VPN Service
Website | IPVanish.com |
Based in | USA |
Logs | No logs (audited) |
Price | $2.19/mo. |
Support | Email and Chat |
Refund | 30 days |
Deal | 83% Off Coupon |
IPVanish combines a strict no-logs policy and AES 256 encryption to give its users the highest security standard available. There are 2,000 servers in 50+ countries you can connect to quickly start playing geo-restricted games.
IPVanish is available on most modern platforms and can be installed directly on your router. It supports all popular VPN protocols, including WireGuard, which will provide some of the fastest connections. Cutting-edge speed, in combination with low latency makes this a great VPN for Modern Warfare 3 and similar fast-paced games.
IPVanish can hold unlimited simultaneous connections, allowing you to use it on all your VPN-friendly devices. The only downside is that it is based in the US, which is not a good privacy jurisdiction.
Our IPVanish VPN Review will answer all of the remaining questions you might have.
We recommend you try a few VPNs before fully committing to determine which best suits your needs. For more information, check out our guide on the top VPNs for PS5.
Conclusion
In conclusion, a VPN like NordVPN or its alternatives can significantly enhance your PS5 gaming experience. From improving speed and performance to providing robust security and access to geo-blocked content, the benefits are plentiful. Setting it up on your PS5 is straightforward, and with the right server and VPN protocol adjustments, you’ll be gaming securely and seamlessly in no time.
To get the best deal on NordVPN, use the coupon below.
NordVPN's Black Friday Deal is live:
Get 74% Off NordVPN with 2-year subscriptions plus 3 extra months:
(Coupon is applied automatically; 30 day money-back guarantee.)
Check out our other VPN gaming content below:
- Best VPNs for PUBG
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- Best VPNs for Warzone Mobile
- Setting up a Meta Quest VPN
- Best VPN for WoW
- Best VPN for FFXIV
- Best GTA Online VPNs
- Best VPNs for LoL
- Best VPNs for Quest 2
- Best VPN for Dota 2
- Best VPN for CS:GO
- Best VPNs for Warzone
- Best VPN for Streaming
NordVPN for PS5 FAQ
Can I Use NordVPN on the PS5?
While NordVPN isn't directly supported, you can still use it on your PS5. To do that, you will have to install it on your router or create a virtual router on your PC. Alternatively, you can set up NordVPN's Smart DNS, although this won't make you private or secure your connection.
Is it legal to use NordVPN on the PS5?
It is legal to use NordVPN on the PS5. However, you will run into trouble if you use it for nefarious purposes.
How does NordVPN improve gaming on the PS5?
NordVPN can effectively protect you against DDoS attacks by encrypting your traffic. It will also let you bypass geo-restrictions, allowing you to play any game you want. Most importantly, NordVPN improves gaming performance by reducing ping and latency.
Are there alternatives to NordVPN for PS5 gaming?
Yes, if NordVPN doesn't suit your needs, we recommend using Surfshark, ExpressVPN, or IPVanish.
What are the benefits of using ExpressVPN and Surfshark for PS5 gaming??
Both ExpressVPN and Surfshark provide fast speeds needed for gaming. They use advanced AES encryption and follow a strict no-logs policy to protect your privacy and improve security. With them, you can bypass all restrictions and play any games you want on your PS5. You will also be able to access bot lobbies to find weaker players for your favorite online games.
The “Ultimate NordVPN PS5 Guide” was last edited on April 19, 2024.
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