Konami's Pro Evolution Soccer turns 25 this year, and despite being widely considered as second best to FIFA, in recent years the game has regained a footing in several national markets.
However, PES, as well as the rest of your gaming experience, can be greatly enhanced by using a VPN - so it's crucial to know how. In this guide, we list the best VPNs for PES and give you tips on how to get the most out of them.
What are the best VPNs for PES
An in-depth analysis of the best VPNs for PES can be found if you scroll down, but here's a summary of our top picks to get you started:
- ExpressVPN - The Best VPN for PES. Reliable, fast and very secure. A VPN that's guaranteed to keep no logs of your activity.
- NordVPN - A shrewd choice for using with PES, with its massive server network and long list of innovative security features.
- Surfshark - A budget-friendly VPN for PES. Very easy to use and can be installed on an unlimited amount of devices.
- CyberGhost VPN - A beginner-friendly VPN that works well with PES. Apps for all platforms and great security features.
- VyprVPN - A sold-all rounder VPN for PES. Good speeds and excellent protection against DDoS attacks. An independently audited service.
All of the services above have the following features to ensure you get the most out of your VPN for PES:
- Fast servers
- Global server network
- The ability to unblock streaming services and games
Compare the VPN services listed in this article based on
| No Value | ExpressVPN | NordVPN | Surfshark | CyberGhost VPN | VyprVPN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Server locations | 160 | 60 | 100 | 117 | 70 |
| ProPrivacy.com SpeedTest (average) | 100 Mbps | 85.9 Mbps | 41.0 Mbps | 63.92 Mbps | 20.9 Mbps |
| Free trial length | 7 days | ||||
| Netflix | |||||
| iPlayer | |||||
| Amazon Prime | |||||
| Hulu | |||||
| Disney+ |
Best VPN for PES | in-depth analysis
We recommend these VPN services for anyone wanting a VPN service for PES.
The best VPN to use with PES. Great speeds, reliable connections and dedicated protection against DDoS attacks means you can't go wrong with this provider. ExpressVPN Demo ExpressVPN is the best VPN to use with PES. It has a global network of over 3,000 servers and a number of them are located in South America, the continent where PES is most popular and potentially where it might be easiest to find a game. It also has servers near the countries where PES has been historically banned, so if you live there and such a problem arises again, you'll quickly be able to get your game back up and running. Despite its huge network, ExpressVPN manages to grace its customers with consistent, reliable connection speeds wherever you choose to reroute your traffic. ExpressVPN has full router compatibility, which means you'll still be secure and protected even if your console doesn't have the capacity to host a VPN directly. There are few VPNs that will keep you safer than this provider – its wealth of security features includes a kill-switch, DNS leak protection, and obfuscated servers so it won't even be obvious you're using a VPN. ExpressVPN also prevents DDoS attacks by completely masking your IP address and making it impossible for the attacker to see it. Want to try it out for yourself? Take advantage of their month-long money-back promise. NordVPN is a shrewd choice for using with PES. For fast-paced games like Pro Evo, a VPN that rises above the rest when it comes to forging lightning-quick connections is well worth the money. Nord Demo NordVPN is a Panama-based VPN that cuts no corners when it comes to speed and security. The quickest VPN on the list, NordVPN will make sure your ping is not reduced by its presence and may even improve it depending on what your ISP is up to. For a fast-paced sports game where every second counts, this provider will make sure you aren't lagging behind, wherever you are – its network of over 5,200 servers in 60 countries
worldwide (including five locations in South America) will make sure of it. For P2P connections on PES, NordVPN will auto-connect you to the best peer-to-peer server for the slickest experience. NordVPN have gone out of their way to equip you with the best security features, including CyberSec which blocks all ads and malware, and a Double VPN feature that sends your traffic through two private servers instead of one. NordLynx, on the other hand, is the provider's own modification of the lightning-fast WireGuard, a very quick but relatively new protocol. So if you're looking for a VPN that won't slow you down, try its 30-day trial period, and get your money back at the end if you aren't happy. Surfshark's budget-friendly price shouldn't deter you – it's an excellent choice for gaming whether your concern is security or speed. Surfshark Demo Surfshark is based in the British Virgin Islands and performs consistently well in our daily speed tests. This VPN has a great attitude towards its users' privacy and can guarantee no logs of their activity are kept. Surfshark's user reviews say it all – 66% of TrustPilot reviews deemed their experience with the provider 'excellent', with another 18% calling it 'great'. It's not surprising, either – you probably get more security features with Surfshark than any other VPN in the same price range. Surfshark's Camouflage Mode is great if you're in a region that bans VPNs, for example, or if you have an internet service provider hell-bent on throttling your bandwidth. However, perhaps its biggest USP is that you can install it on an unlimited amount of devices - so you and your friends half the way across the world can play Pro Evo with protection. Like most of the other providers on this list, Surfshark offers a month-long money-back guarantee - even though 30 days with them only costs a couple of dollars. CyberGhost is a solid all-rounder and works well with PES. It's apps are highly intuitive, meaning it's very easy to configure them before use and then won't cause you any trouble. CyberGhost Demo CyberGhost is an excellent choice for your console or computer if you're planning on playing PES. CyberGhost's NoSpy Servers are based in Romania with their central team, which is geographically close to countries like Bosnia and Belarus, where PES has been banned. The great thing about these servers is that they are not only run by a crack team of security experts but also they can provide extended bandwidth capabilities, which is perfect for playing data-intensive games like PES as it will reduce ping but keep you concealed. CyberGhost has thousands of servers across the world that can support secure P2P connections as well as AES-256 bit encryption, a kill-switch and DDoS attack protection. It also, like some of the other VPNs on this list, has a long history of unblocking some of the most sought-after content from around the world, so you'll still be entertained when you turn Pro Evo off! What's more, if you download their sleek, easy-to-use app today, you'll have 45 days to decide if you want your money back. VyprVPN is an excellent VPN to use whilst playing PES. Not only are speeds among the best in the business, VyprVPN can keep you safe whilst playing online. VYPR Demo VyprVPN is a great choice to use with PES. In terms of security, VyprVPN is especially good at protecting its users from DDoS attacks due to the fact they own all of the servers in their proprietary network, ideal for a game where such attacks have been recorded. It also has an obfuscation tool, the 'Chameleon Protocol', which will be good for users trying to access PES in a country where it might be banned and the government isn't too keen on VPNs, such as Belarus. A top-of-the-range provider like VyprVPN also equips their users with standard security features too such as a kill-switch and industry-standard encryption measures. VyprVPN also ticks another important box when it comes to playing fast-paced games like PES - speed. It performs well on our daily tests and can be counted on to not slow down your connection - it might even improve it if your bandwidth is being restricted. VyprVPN has over 70
server locations around the world, so you can unblock a whole host of geo-restricted content when you get bored of PES - and with a 30-day money-back guarantee, you can always change your mind! 1. ExpressVPN
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5. VyprVPN
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Why do I need a VPN for PES?
There are a number of ways a VPN can improve your Pro Evo experience. Seasoned PES players will be no strangers to the threat of a DDoS attack, which will make your connection time out but requires knowledge of your IP address to action. A VPN would block any DDoS attacker from seeing your IP.
If you play PES on a PlayStation, a VPN will be particularly useful as PES game-matching is region-locked on the PlayStation Network. However, using a VPN will allow you to connect to games in other regions and enter tournaments and competitions hosted in other countries on any console.
If you live in a region where PES isn't the most popular football game on the market, on the other hand, geo-spoofing your location may help you find games quicker.
On top of this, there have been several recent reports of Konami ID accounts being hacked, so encrypting your traffic when playing PES and taking advantage of a provider's other security features would be a wise move.
What to look for in a VPN for PES
When choosing a VPN for PES (and many other games), the factors that need to be considered include:
- The size and spread of their server networks
- Compatibility with consoles and mobile
- Fast and stable connection speeds
- Negligible impact on Ping
- Ability to bypass geo-restrictions
- Excellent security features/DDoS attack protection
- Provision of dedicated P2P VPN servers
Is PES banned in my country?
Although there is no official list of countries where PES is banned, there have been reports in the last couple of years of the game being unavailable in the Southern European nations of Serbia and Bosnia, and others have reported similar further north in Belarus. Users in Malaysia have also reported trouble accessing the game.
So if you'd like to play PES from inside these territories, or anywhere else the game is blocked for that matter, then a VPN is the best tool for the job.
What's the fastest VPN for PES?
We recommend the fast VPNs in our list above. They make reliable, quick connections that shouldn't affect your internet speeds and they also have a host of other features that make them stand out from the crowd.
However, if you're purely looking for speed and nothing else, it may be worth checking out the VPNs we test for speed below:
| ExpressVPN | NordVPN | CyberGhost VPN | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reliability | 9 | 8 | 7 |
| Performance | 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Speed | 100 | 568.0 | 556.2 |
| ProPrivacy.com SpeedTest (average) | 100 | 85.9 | 63.92 |
Will a VPN improve my gaming speeds?
The short answer is: no. The brute fact of the matter is that a VPN is an extra destination your data has to travel to on its journey to the device receiving it, which is why even the best VPNs (usually) won't claim to increase your speeds but instead not affect them.
However, there is a slim chance a VPN may speed you up, which is if your internet service provider is practicing bandwidth throttling, the process of deliberately slowing down of the transmission of data from high-usage users to a given server. If your IP address and internet activity are hidden from your internet provider, they won't know what data you're sending and won't be able to bandwidth throttle you.
Will a VPN improve my speeds on PES?
Unfortunately, PES is reasonably well-known for its latency problems. You might be being bandwidth throttled, or it might be the game itself, but in either scenario choosing a VPN with a negligible impact on ping (i.e. super quick speeds) is the best thing to do.
As mentioned above, a significant percentage of PES games are P2P connections, so geographical location may play a role in connection quality and speeds. If you can work out where in the world the players you're connecting are located, you may be able to connect through a VPN server also located there for an improved connection.
PES is also much more popular and will have more users in some locations rather than others. If you're using an Xbox or PC and can connect to South America, that's definitely worth a shot if all else fails, as the game still has a reasonable foothold there.
Remember, all of the VPNs on this list offer money-back guarantee periods of at least a month, so you can test a provider (as well as your internet connection) out for yourself and see if they improve your speeds.
Why you should avoid free VPNs
Purchasing a free version of a paid product is always tempting - and if you're a PES player, particularly on mobile, you may want to take advantage of one of the many free VPNs on the app store.
There are some good free VPNs out there by all means, but a lot of free VPNs come with issues paid services to don't. In the past, free 'VPNs' have been found to be:
- Infested with viruses and malware.
- Harvesting their user data and passing it on to third parties.
- Clogged up with advertisements.
- Proxy servers rather than real VPNs.
Free VPNs are much more likely to have questionable privacy policies as they have little incentive to actually protect their users - and if they do have premium versions attached to them, they're likely omitting some key features from the free service.
Conclusion
Hopefully, you can now see why you should download a VPN before you kick-off your next PES match - the reasons are virtually endless. Here's a reminder of our top picks again:
From $6.67/month
The Best VPN for PES. Reliable, fast and very secure. A VPN that's guaranteed to keep no logs of your activity.
- ProPrivacy TrustScore:
- 10 out of 10
- Simultaneous connections
- 5
- Server locations
- 160
- Free trial
- No
From $3.69/month
A shrewd choice for using with PES, with its massive server network and long list of innovative security features.
- ProPrivacy TrustScore:
- 9.9 out of 10
- Simultaneous connections
- 6
- Server locations
- 60
- Free trial
- No
From $2.30/month
A budget-friendly VPN for PES. Very easy to use and can be installed on an unlimited amount of devices.
- ProPrivacy TrustScore:
- 9.8 out of 10
- Simultaneous connections
- Unlimited
- Server locations
- 100
- Free trial
- Yes
From $2.11/month
A beginner-friendly VPN that works well with PES. Apps for all platforms and great security features.
- ProPrivacy TrustScore:
- 9.7 out of 10
- Simultaneous connections
- 7
- Server locations
- 117
- Free trial
- Yes
From $5.00/month
A sold-all rounder VPN for PES. Good speeds and excellent protection against DDoS attacks. An independently audited service.
- ProPrivacy TrustScore:
- 9.6 out of 10
- Simultaneous connections
- 10
- Server locations
- 70
- Free trial
- No
Best VPNs for PES - FAQs