Best VPNs for Dota 2: The Fastest VPNs to Reduce Lag in 2024

Dota 2 is an online tag-team battle game. It is usually played between two teams (comprising five players each), with each team occupying and defending their base. Each player controls his “hero,” which has a patterned style of play. A team wins when they destroy the opponent’s “Ancient.”

Based on the gameplay of Dota 2, speed and accuracy are of utmost importance, and when you play “heavy” games like this, your Internet Service Provider throttles your speed at some point. When your connection speed reduces, the game lags at your end, and before you know it, your opponents have razed down your Ancient. Also, players cheat by sending Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks to your device to interrupt your gameplay so that they can win.

However, a Virtual Private Network (VPN) has the power to bypass those challenges, especially ridding your connection of speed throttling. A VPN with reliable encryption and leak protection detail can protect you from any form of DDoS attack. Finally, a VPN allows you to choose the specific game server you’d like to play so that you can team up with your friends abroad.

Top Recommended VPNs for Dota 2

There are many VPNs in the cyber market today, and a good number of them are very reliable. Given so many options, it might be quite tasking to select one VPN to bank on. This guide helps to create a seven-VPN shortlist to make your selection easier.

Overall Best in Our Tests

ExpressVPN

Overall score: 9.8

• Super-fast servers
• AES 256-bit encryption
• Supports private protocol, Lightway
• Money-back guarantee

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ExpressVPN offers one of the best VPN services in the world, and it’s not a surprise that it makes probably every top list. This VPN has 3,000+ servers across 94 countries in the world with fantastic services that range from speed enhancement to connection security and access to geo-blocked content.

With ExpressVPN, you have the opportunity to select a server in a specific region so that you can play Dota 2 with your friends in that location. Also, you will not experience any speed throttling when you play the game online. This VPN also offers you unlimited bandwidth of data so that you can game all day.

The VPN provider doesn’t keep data logs. So you won’t have to worry about any traffic being traced back to you. Meanwhile, it has a kill switch to halt your data transmission if you lose connection with the VPN server. Those features help to retain an anonymous status all through.

In the advancement of security, ExpressVPN uses 256-bit Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) to encrypt your game traffic to give you adequate protection against DDoS attacks. This VPN also has a Split Tunneling feature. So you can access your local e-shops and play opponents abroad without having to switch the VPN off. ExpressVPN allows you to game safely on up to five devices at a time.

Cheapest Option

NordVPN

Overall score: 9.6

• Incredibly fast servers
• Great security features
• Verified no-logs policy
• Unblocks streaming platforms

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30-Day Money-Back Guarantee!

Coming second on this list is NordVPN. It is a perfect competition for ExpressVPN because it does well in delivering the best VPN services you could think of. NordVPN has over 5,400 servers spread across 59 world countries. Each country is well served with a reasonable number of servers, and those servers are stable and fast enough for your Dota 2 adventures.

Since NordVPN has servers all over the world, you can choose a particular Dota 2 game server so that you can be paired with users in that country. Also, you have nothing to worry about when it comes to speed. The VPN doesn’t slow down your connection; instead, it has measures that block out game buffering.

This VPN service operates a strict and duly audited no-log policy and has a kill switch technology. The combination of those two gives a system built to promote user anonymity to the peak.

NordVPN secures your connection with military-grade encryption. You also get a DoubleVPN feature that further cements your security while you game on Dota 2. The VPN also has leak protection and adblocker (CyberSec) components, intending to make your gaming experience seamless. NordVPN allows you to protect a maximum of six devices with one subscription.

Best for Connecting Multiple Devices

Surfshark

Overall score: 9.5

• Allows unlimited simultaneous connections
• Integrates Stealth mode
• Multihop feature available
• 3,000+ servers

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This VPN company engineers its VPN to deal with challenges in streaming, browsing, torrenting, and of course, gaming. Surfshark has 3,200+ servers in over 60 countries globally. It is nice to know that these servers don’t lag or get exposed to security issues.

If Dota 2 is your priority, Surfshark has you covered because it gives you the freedom to play as much as you want with unlimited bandwidth. Furthermore, Surfshark is fast in its strive, and you won’t have any problem with ISP throttling. As you get the privilege to game freely, you can select different servers to have a taste of how good Dota 2 gamers in other countries are.

Using a VPN is technically against the Steam user agreement, so it is vital that your VPN masks your IP address and is not keeping any data that can be traced back to you. Surfshark is another good VPN for that course. It also has a kill switch that disconnects your internet if you lose connection with the VPN so that you remain invisible.

Surfshark uses AES-256 to protect the traffic emanating from your gameplay so that no snoop can poke into your connection. It also offers a MultiHop feature that routes your traffic through multiple servers for additional security. Surfshark uses highly secure protocols. It has a split tunneling feature (Whitelister), and an adblocker (CleanWeb). It also allows you to connect as many devices as you please to just one Surfshark account.

A solid veteran

HideMyAss

Overall score: 8.5

• Free service trial
• Strong security features
• 256-bit AES encryption
• $2.79/month (save 75%)

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Pun intended! The might is actually not as foul as it sounds. The official mascot of the company is a donkey, or better put, an Ass. So it’s understandable why the VPN company would want you to hide your Ass. HideMyAss (HMA) has 1,100+ servers sparsely distributed across 190+ countries, but the good thing here is, it covers more locations.

When HMA hides your IP address, it strikes two birds with one stone. Firstly, it protects you from potential snoops while you game. Secondly, it gives you the luxury of technically selecting the Dota 2 game server you want to play. The VPN delivers high-speed gaming with zero-buffering. Also, you get unlimited bandwidth of data.

HMA keeps a court-audited no-log policy, so you can trust that your traffic and timestamps are not a public affair. The VPN also has a kill switch and an IP Shuffling technology. The technology changes your IP address randomly from time to time, so it’ll be impossible for cyberattacks to target you specifically.

In conclusion, this VPN implements military-grade encryption detail into its service. It even has specific protection against DDoS attacks. It allows you to optimize your device’s network with the VPN to get connected to the VPN service the moment you get connected to the internet. HMA frees slots for five simultaneous connections to one subscription payment.

Best VPN with a Free Version

ProtonVPN

Overall score: 9.4

• Free version available
• Strong security features
• Reliable no-logs policy
• Allows Perfect Forward Secrecy

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30-Day Money-Back Guarantee!

ProtonVPN is another big-game VPN service. You can not go wrong with this VPN because it has all you need in abundance. ProtonVPN has 1,000+ servers in over 54 countries. Those servers are very fast, stable, secure, and built to give you the best of all.

This VPN provider particularly has servers dedicated to streaming, and those servers are available to only their Plus and Visionary subscribers. To play Dota 2 online, we recommend using any of those servers because they are engineered to deliver top-notch services for “heavy” online activities like gaming. The servers also cancel out ISP throttling and offer unlimited bandwidth of data. 

However true that speed and accuracy are essential, you need to maintain a secure connection, and ProtonVPN is a great go-to VPN in that aspect. This VPN is based in Switzerland, so it’s no-log policy is technically backed by the law because Switzerland has one of the most significant privacy policies in the world. ProtonVPN has a kill switch and uses only the entirely secure protocols.

ProtonVPN uses 256-bit AES, and with that encryption standard, hackers can’t infiltrate your connection. It also has a Perfect Forward Secrecy policy, and all that just works to give you ultimate protection against DDoS attacks. ProtonVPN allows you to protect up to ten devices while you and your friends play Dota 2 at the same time.

Easiest to use based on our tests

UltraVPN

Overall score: 0

• Offers a 30-day money-back guarantee
• Unlimited bandwidth
• Cheap subscription plan. Starting at $6.99, save 22%

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UltraVPN stays up to its word of having the ability to unblock the whole web. Regardless of what you want to do online, this VPN has a big-enough umbrella. It has 1,000+ ultra-fast servers in over 100 countries. To access the web, you just need to connect to one of UltraVPN’s servers.

UltraVPN has a fantastic mechanism to mask your IP address, so when you connect to a server abroad, you can play on a selected Dota 2 game server. Also, you get to enjoy a zero-buffer gaming experience with unlimited bandwidth of data. So you can play as many battles as you want.

This VPN service doesn’t just do well with speed and stability; it also has privacy and security features to improve its ratings amongst VPN enthusiasts. UltraVPN operates a no-log policy, and you can trust the stability of the servers.

Furthermore, on security, the VPN service encrypts all traffic emanating from your device with the “almighty” AES-256. That encryption standard is so reliable because there are too many potential code combinations to decrypt it. UltraVPN also has a virtual Secure Firewall that acts against DDoS attacks, keeping your gaming connection free of targeted bugs. This VPN provider allows the connection of three devices at a time.

Offers the best money-back guarantee

CyberGhost

Overall score: 9.3

• 45-day money-back guarantee
• 7,000+ reliable servers
• Strict no-log policy
• Tough security features

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Ordinarily, the name of this VPN mirrors the full essence of a VPN— virtuality and privacy. CyberGhost has an easy-to-use interface, and it delivers top speed on all of its 7,000+ servers spread across 90+ countries worldwide. This VPN has the highest server count on this list.

Your IP address is your online identity. To that effect, it is a direct representation of your location and your traffic. You can make yourself appear to be in America, so that you can access the American Dota 2 server. CyberGhost offers unlimited bandwidth of data, so there are no boundaries to the amount of game data you can play.

CyberGhost has a reputation for reinforcing your connection to optimum privacy. It keeps a no-log policy and operates the technology of a kill switch. Both systems work hand in hand to prevent any form of leak in confidentiality. You can trust CyberGhost when it comes to privacy. 

This VPN service uses 256-bit AES in conjunction with some of the most robust VPN protocols. CyberGhost also delivers the full extent of leak protection detailing, and with all those features, you can be sure no DDoS attack will successfully infiltrate your connection. With CyberGhost, you can enjoy seamless Dota 2 gaming on up to seven devices with just one subscription.

How to Set Up a VPN for Dota 2

VPNs have a mechanism of hiding your IP address behind the guise of a virtual IP address used by several other users. This way, nothing can really be traced back to you. The use of VPNs has various other benefits (as discussed earlier in this article), which you can take advantage of by securing the services of the VPN.

Follow the procedure below to set a VPN up for Dota 2.

1. Create an account with the VPN and pay for any of its subscription plans.

2. Download and install the VPN app on your device.

3. Log in to the VPN app. 

4. Toggle settings and features to your taste.

5. Select a server of your choice.

6. Launch Dota 2 and game without limitation.

Frequently Asked Questions About the Best VPNs for Dota 2

How can I reduce my ping time on Dota 2?

You can play Dota 2 with a reduced ping by using a VPN. You can reduce latency in Dota 2 by selecting a server near the game server you’re trying to connect to. It will help decrease ping times, giving you a better gaming experience. Many VPNs offer many other benefits like having good cybersecurity, privacy, and anonymity when browsing. Using a VPN will also guarantee your safety, and it’s used for updates by default.

Can I use a free VPN for Dota 2?

No, free VPNs are not recommended for gaming. Although a  free VPN may look like a good option, the flaws are numerous. First, they are known to have high latency problems. They also have smaller server networks which often lead to connection drops. Many free VPNs also have poor privacy policies or even sell users’ data to third parties. Moreover, they have mediocre security features and won’t provide the protection and privacy you need. We recommend that you use a paid VPN for Dota 2. 

Will I get into trouble for playing Dota 2 with a VPN?

Playing Dota 2 with a VPN is completely safe. You’ll never get banned for simply being connected to the VPN. However, ensure you only play the game while connected to a safe and reputable VPN; otherwise, Dota 2 could flag your account for review.

Which VPN server should I connect to when playing Dota 2?

To guarantee the best connection possible, you need to connect to a VPN server from the same region as your Dota game server. If you play on a server in another region, the latency is higher —which means it will take longer for your commands to reach the game server. This will make you more vulnerable to attacks, which makes for a far less enjoyable experience. To ensure the best possible connection, connect to a VPN server close to or in the same region as your game server.

Conclusion

Steering clear of game lag (due to speed throttling) and DDoS attacks comes pretty easy with any of the VPNs discussed in this guide. To enjoy Dota 2 beyond the regulars, all you need is the VPN and a fully charged device because your gaming will be so seamless, you might lose track of time.