Products at a Glance
How We Picked the Best VPN for Counter-Strike 2
There are a few things to consider before picking a suitable VPN for CS2: depending on your specific gaming needs, different VPNs will offer different additional benefits. We considered a few different providers, some that offer improvements to connection speeds over long distances, or others that have more varied server ranges across the world. The baseline features of a VPN – namely providing a network proxy that masks your digital activity from interested parties – is taken as a given, so we also factored in other quality-of-life additions that a service can offer for it’s price. The number of simultaneous connections per subscription or a built-in ad-blocker or password manager contributed to the overall ranking.
We settled on five VPN providers, each with different price points and different merits to their respective services – but all highly worthwhile investments as the best VPNs for CS2.
Product Reviews
- NordLynx connection improvements
- Wide server range
- Connection issues at long distances
Topping out our list is the highly-popular NordVPN: sitting at a crossroads of all our top considerations. Affordable, versatile and with built-in features ideal for online games such as Palworld or CS2, this is easily our choice for the best VPN for Counter-Strike 2!
We’d be surprised if you hadn’t heard of NordVPN in 2024, as it’s one of the most popular VPN providers in the world. With over 6,000 servers across 59 countries, you can easily bypass geo-blocking limits set by Steam on their games. With the specialist NordLynx VPN protocol, connection speeds can be actively improved without straining your processing power; and enables you to avoid broadband throttling. We’re also big fans of their Dark Web monitor, which looks for your credentials in data breaches and notifies you to preemptively change your password.
That said, we have noticed some connectivity issues at longer distances: total dropouts are rare, but frustrating. It’s a small enough issue to overcome, however, and we still recommend NordVPN as a top VPN for CS2!
- Additional security features
- Decent server count
- Five-connection limit
With over 3,000 servers in over 94 countries, ExpressVPN offers less than other VPN providers on our list, but compensates with highly secure servers. If security is a pressing concern for your PC, consider this provider as a highly protective solution.
Alongside a host of network connection options across the world, ExpressVPN offers both password management and ad-blocking in its package. This keeps your online data extra-safe, as you avoid troublesome ads, hostile sites, and DDoS attacks. There’s even a kill-switch should the server you’re accessing become privy to an attack, though you’re unlikely to need it. Especially on localized servers, connection speeds are fantastic – though it will of course vary from router to router.
One thing we dislike about ExpressVPN’s service, however, is the cap on connections: as we’ll soon see, many VPN providers allow much more than the five connections per plan that ExpressVPN offers. If you need a secure VPN for CS2 on your PC, however, then this provider is the best option!
- Unlimited connections
- Wide server range
- Limited additional features
The benefit of buying a VPN for CS2 is that you aren’t limited to using it just for your PC: most modern devices come with VPN support, from smartphones all the way through to Apple TVs. SurfShark, with their unlimited number of simultaneous connections, takes the cake as our connectivity pick – allowing you to stretch your subscription beyond a basic VPN for CS2.
With multiple devices all using the same plan, SurfShark offers tremendous value for money as a VPN solution. The number of servers and locations they operate in grows almost daily, with 3,200 servers in over 100 countries at time of writing. SurfShark also offers additional security features such as a password manager and credentials monitor, to enable a highly secure online experience.
That said, those additional features are priced extras – not included in the baseline package. Those wanting the cheapest price for a barebones VPN can obtain it, but other providers do let you stretch your subscription a little further. For a more comprehensive internet security solution, SurfShark is less than ideal, but still warrants a place as one of the best VPNs for CS2!
- Highly secure connection
- Dedicated gaming preset
- Speeds may vary
Employing an intuitive algorithm that optimizes your server preferences based on your choice of activity, Romanian provider CyberGhost is an underrated VPN for CS2. With over 6,800 servers in over 90 countries, this service spoils you for choices and promises total web anonymity for safe browsing, gaming or streaming.
Every one of those servers comes with AES 256-bit encryption, and a promise from CyberGhost of zero logging. The provider also accommodates for PPTP, OpenVPN, and L2TP-IPsec protocols, to ensure boosted connection speeds without skimping on security. It’s also one of the few VPN providers to offer presets for different activities – including gaming, meaning that your server will prioritize certain elements over others to ensure the most stable connection.
However, even with this feature, we found that connectivity speeds could vary wildly from server to server. For a game like CS2, where every frame counts, an unwanted lag spike can be a literal life-or-death difference. The speeds are rarely game-breaking, though, and CyberGhost’s anonymity, connectivity and exclusivity make it a sterling choice for a gaming VPN for Counter-Strike 2.
- Fast connection speeds
- Varied server choice
- Some data collection
Hotspot Shield has been labeled as the “fastest” VPN provider, with a reported 26% increase in download speeds as opposed to having no connection. Alongside all the benefits of a standard VPN, this speed increase can make for a deadly combination with competitive shooters like Counter-Strike 2.
With Hotspot Shield, no limit is placed on your downloading or uploading requirements – enabling you to stream, download or upload data securely as much as you like. A proprietary protocol known as Catapult Hydra helps improve connectivity speeds, for even faster data management. The provider offers over 3,200 servers in over 80 countries, so you’ll be able to reap the benefits of international play with little-to-no impact on your ping.
That said, Hotspot Shield fails in one crucial aspect of internet security: the company admits to gathering some data on users. If you are looking for the highly private connections offered by a VPN, then this provider may not be the right choice. If your only concern is acquiring a fast VPN for CS2, then Hotspot Shield still has you covered!
Are you allowed to use a VPN with Counter-Strike 2?
Steam has no de facto policy against using VPNs for CS2, and the gaming benefits are worth mentioning. VPNs enable players to access international servers, protect their online presence from man-in-the-middle attacks, and even reduce bandwidth throttling. It’s a cheaper investment than a gaming router, and means that competitive Counter-Strike players aren’t limited by their internet service provider.
That said, some users have reported being falsely accused of suspicious account activity when using a VPN – a byproduct of having an anonymized address. Steam’s automated activity-checkers may flag your account, and in the very worst-case this could lead to a temporary disabling or ban, but this is highly unlikely. The only place where VPN use violates CS2 rules is in the online store: players cannot purchase microtransactions using a VPN – as it’s considered a violation of the EULA.
Are VPNs fast?
Yes: Depending on your choice of provider and server, VPNs can improve ping on competitive games and even boost connection to online games.
Does Steam allow VPNs?
Steam allows you to use VPNs, though it doesn’t allow you to make online purchases while using one – as it could lead to you getting discounted products in local areas.
Can you get banned for using a VPN on Steam?
No: Unless the game explicitly forbids them or you use it to complete a microtransaction, Steam won’t ban you for VPN use – though it may flag your account for suspicious activity!
Our Verdict
NordVPN takes the top spot today as the best VPN for CS2! Offering great connection speeds and highly secure localized servers, you can game in peace knowing that your international connection is high-speed – though there’s a snowball’s chance in Hell that it might drop out!
For more on the latest internet security tips – including antivirus and firewall buyer’s guides – stay tuned with us at PC Guide!