Tim Mocan
Updated on: December 26, 2023
Only 3 Steps (Quick + Easy) to Change Your Steam Country:
- Get a good VPN. My top pick is ExpressVPN — it consistently maintains low ping (how long it takes for an internet signal to travel from your device to the gaming server) on all servers to provide fast gaming speeds, offers excellent security and privacy features, and is very easy to use.
- Download and install the VPN. The process takes about 1–2 minutes — just download the VPN app from the provider’s site and follow the installation wizard’s instructions.
- Connect to a VPN server and log into your Steam account. That’s it! Now, you’re ready to start playing your favorite games!
I love gaming on Steam, but I often run into issues that ruin my experience. When I travel abroad, I sometimes can’t play my games because Steam only lets me play them in my home country (where I created my Steam account). When tons of other people are playing online games, my internet service provider (ISP) often slows down my speeds because I use up too much data while gaming. Also, I hate that I’m susceptible to Distributed-Denial-of-Service (DDoS) attacks, which force me offline.
A VPN is the best way to solve all of those problems. So, I tested the top VPNs in 2024 to find the best ones for Steam. Unfortunately, many VPNs are actually bad for gaming on Steam — they’re slow, hard to use, and don’t provide good security features. But I managed to find a few VPNs that provided me with an excellent gaming experience on Steam. My favorite is ExpressVPN, thanks to its really fast speeds, robust security features, and vast server network.
Steam’s Terms of Service doesn’t explicitly ban VPNs, but some games on the platform restrict VPN use to prevent bypassing limits or impacting gameplay, like exploiting bugs or evading bans. Neither I nor SafetyDetectives support using VPNs for such actions. Always adhere to each game’s ToS rules.
Best VPNs for Changing Your Steam Country With a VPN in 2024
- 1.🥇ExpressVPN — Best VPN for changing your Steam country in 2024.
- 2.🥈Private Internet Access — Highly customizable desktop app + good speeds.
- 3.🥉CyberGhost VPN — Easy to use with dedicated gaming servers.
- 4. NordVPN — Big server network for accessing Steam.
- 5. Surfshark — Feature-rich apps for gaming.
- Comparison of the Best VPNs to Change Your Steam Country.
🥇1. ExpressVPN — Best Overall VPN for Changing Your Steam Country
Approved by our experts
ExpressVPN is my favorite VPN for Steam in 2024 — it has blazing-fast gaming speeds, provides excellent security features, and is very easy to use. It also comes with intuitive apps for all platforms — it usually only took me 5 seconds to find and connect to a VPN server to change my Steam region.
In my speed tests, ExpressVPN was very fast — it only slowed down my connections by 20% on average. I connected to games instantly while playing Dota 2 and Counter-Strike: Global Offensive. Also, I never experienced high ping, not even while connected to distant VPN servers!
ExpressVPN provides industry-standard VPN security features, including an independently audited and verified no-logs policy. It also includes advanced security features like RAM-only servers (every server reset wipes all data) and perfect forward secrecy (changes your encryption key for each VPN connection to make sure hackers can’t compromise past or future encryption keys to spy on your gaming traffic).
I’m a big fan of how ExpressVPN supports cloud gaming, which streams video games to tablets, laptops, and other devices. ExpressVPN works with tons of popular cloud gaming services, including GeForce Now (you can sync your Steam library with GeForce Now to play supported games on it).
I also like that ExpressVPN has split-tunneling, a feature that lets you choose which apps use the VPN and which apps use your local network. I only sent Steam traffic through ExpressVPN and used my local network for general browsing, which increased my gaming speeds.
ExpressVPN has several paid plans, which start at $6.67 / month. While ExpressVPN is a bit pricey, I think it provides excellent value (it consistently ranks as #1 on our list of the best VPNs in 2024 and is our #1 VPN for gaming). Also, it backs all plans with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Read the full ExpressVPN review
🥈2. Private Internet Access — Great for Steam Gaming on Desktop (With Customizable Apps)
Private Internet Access (PIA) is user-friendly, has highly customizable desktop apps, provides great privacy features, and maintains low ping across all servers.
I love how easy it is to use PIA’s desktop apps. The design is intuitive, the interface is very easy to navigate, and most features and settings have quick, helpful explanations. PIA also lets you change 20+ preferences in your settings — for example, I changed the encryption level from 256-bit AES encryption to 128-bit AES encryption (I still enjoyed strong security, but my speeds were 10% faster).
PIA has an independently-audited and verified no-logs policy. Plus, it has confirmed it doesn’t store logs via many court documents. Also, all of PIA’s apps are open-source, meaning anyone can inspect the code for security vulnerabilities. I’m also a big fan of PIA’s Identity Guard feature — it lets you check if the email you use with your Steam account has been compromised in a breach.
In my speed tests, PIA performed almost as well as ExpressVPN. I especially like that PIA managed to consistently maintain low ping during all gaming sessions on Steam. Also, PIA displays the server ping, which helps you find the fastest servers.
And PIA provides very good support for gamers — all of the support reps I spoke with through 24/7 live chat and email were very knowledgeable about Steam gaming, and there’s even a support article that shows you how to reduce your latency in online games when using the VPN.
Private Internet Access is very affordable (the cheapest plan costs just $2.11 / month). PIA comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Read the full Private Internet Access review
🥉3. CyberGhost VPN — Great for Beginners (With Dedicated Gaming Servers)
CyberGhost VPN is beginner-friendly, comes with convenient automation options, has dedicated gaming servers, and provides good security. CyberGhost’s apps are very simple to navigate and use (connecting to a server is a breeze). I also like the Smart Rules feature, which lets you customize your VPN preferences. For example, I set CyberGhost to automatically connect to the fastest server and open Steam when I open the app.
CyberGhost VPN has 90+ dedicated gaming servers in 4 countries (the UK, the US, Germany, and France) that provide faster speeds than its regular servers. In my speed tests, I always had faster gaming speeds and low ping when using the gaming servers — that said, CyberGhost VPN is slower than ExpressVPN and Private Internet Access.
There’s also a feature called My ID Guard, which alerts you if your passwords and email addresses have been compromised (I checked my Steam account credentials and thankfully they were secure). I also like how CyberGhost’s no-logs policy has been audited and confirmed and that it also releases a transparency report that proves it doesn’t share user data.
CyberGhost VPN has cheap prices that start at $2.03 / month, and backs its long-term plans with a 45-day money-back guarantee (the shortest plan has a 14-day money-back guarantee).
Read the full CyberGhost VPN review
4. NordVPN — Vast Server Network for Worldwide Access to Steam
NordVPN has an impressive server network of 6,036 servers in 61 countries so you’re unlikely to get connected to an overcrowded server (which can affect the server’s speeds). Its vast server network, which is evenly spread around the world, also makes it easy to find a server near your location for the fastest speeds when gaming via Steam.
NordVPN performed well in my speed tests (although it wasn’t as fast as ExpressVPN and Private Internet Access). It maintained fast speeds and low ping while I played Elden Ring and Apex Legends on Steam. I also tested NordVPN’s proprietary protocol, NordLynx, and it gave me slightly faster speeds in my gaming sessions.
I was really impressed with NordVPN’s privacy and security features. The VPN provides full leak protection, perfect forward secrecy, RAM-only servers, and an independently audited and confirmed no-logs policy.
I also like NordVPN’s Meshnet feature, which allows you to create a secure and private network for up to 60 devices located anywhere in the world. You can also use it to host Local Area Network (LAN) parties for gaming, which is very convenient.
Plus, NordVPN has user-friendly apps that let you find and connect to a server to change your Steam region in mere seconds. I like that the apps have an interactive map that allows you to connect to your preferred location with one click and that it keeps a separate tab for the servers you marked as favorites (so you don’t have to scroll to the entire server list to find the server you’re looking for).
NordVPN’s plans start at $3.39 / month. Plus, it backs all of its plans with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
5. Surfshark — Good Security Features for Accessing Steam
Surfshark comes with excellent extra features for enhancing your online gaming experience. One of my favorites is IP Rotator, which randomly changes your IP address throughout your session. This helps secure your online privacy while you play video games. Plus, I also like how the Android app includes the Override GPS Location tool — it makes sure your GPS location corresponds to your server location.
Surshark has advanced security features, including RAM-only servers and perfect forward secrecy, Unlike ExpressVPN and Private Internet Access, Surfshark doesn’t offer full leak protection — it only offers DNS leak protection, but it does have a no-logs policy that has been independently audited and confirmed.
I enjoyed playing games on Steam with Surfshark as the VPN provides fast speeds, but not as fast as ExpressVPN and CyberGhost VPN. My gaming speeds with Surfshark were stable for the entire Dota 2 game I played while connected to one of Surfshark’s servers, but I did experience minor lag during my very short Battlerite round, which quickly resolved and didn’t have any impact on my game.
I really like how user-friendly Surfshark’s apps are. I installed its Windows and Android apps in less than 2 minutes, and honestly, I had no issues using them both. The Android app’s Quick-connect feature allowed me to instantly connect to a server and change my Steam country. I also like that the Windows app allows you to check the status of your VPN connection to confirm if your location is hidden or not.
Surfshark is super affordable with plans starting at $1.99 / month, and every plan comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Read the full Surfshark review
Comparison of the Best VPNs to Change Your Steam Country in 2024
How to Choose the Best VPN to Change Your Steam Country in 2024
- Choose a VPN with fast connection speeds. VPNs slow down your connection speeds because they encrypt your traffic and reroute it through a server that’s located further from your local internet network. The good news is top premium VPNs, including all of the VPNs on my list, maintain very fast speeds across all servers so you won’t even notice any lag while gaming.
- Find a VPN that provides anti-DDoS protection. A DDoS attack is when another user overwhelms your network with a lot of traffic. This causes slower speeds, disconnects you from the gaming server, and in some cases, even forces you offline. All the VPNs I recommend come with anti-DDoS protection so you’re protected if someone wants to attack your network.
- Look for advanced security features. I only recommend VPNs with industry-standard VPN security features like 256-bit AES encryption, a kill switch (which drops your internet if you lose your VPN connection), and a strict no-logs policy — each VPN here also had its policy independently confirmed.
- Get a VPN that’s easy to use. All VPNs on my list have an intuitive interface and make it incredibly easy to connect to your desired Steam gaming server.
- Pick a VPN that offers a good value. Every VPN on my list offers at least a 30-day money-back guarantee (CyberGhost VPN comes with a 45-day money-back guarantee on its long-term plans), allows multiple connections, and comes with extra features like split-tunneling.
What Is a VPN and Why Do You Need One to Change Your Steam Country?
A VPN is an online service that lets you connect to different servers around the world. When you connect to a VPN server, it changes your IP address to a new IP address that matches the server’s location. The VPN also encrypts your traffic, making it unreadable.
Steam only lets you play some games in the country where you have an account. So, if you travel abroad, you may lose access to those games. But a good VPN like ExpressVPN can help you access your Steam games when you visit other countries. Just connect to a VPN server in your home country, log into your Steam account, and you’re ready to game!
How to Change Your Steam Country Using a VPN
To change your Steam country with a VPN, you only need to purchase a good gaming VPN, download and install the VPN app to your device, and use the app to connect to a VPN server location that matches your desired Steam country. Then, log into your Steam account and start playing your favorite games.
Other Benefits of Using a VPN While Gaming on Steam
- VPNs encrypt your traffic, which prevents your ISP from seeing what you’re doing online, including gaming. Since your ISP can’t see that you’re gaming (which takes up a lot of bandwidth), there’s less of a chance that your ISP will throttle your speeds when you consume too much data while gaming.
- A VPN can protect you from DDoS attacks, which can disrupt your game and force you offline.
- VPNs let you securely access your Steam account when you use public Wi-Fi by encrypting your traffic so nobody can spy on it.
- A VPN can lower your ping if you establish a connection to a VPN server in the same country as the gaming server. Your traffic may exclusively pass through the VPN server and the gaming server, rather than navigating through 4 or more diverse servers when not using a VPN.
- VPNs change your IP address, which helps evade IP bans. For example, after I received an undeserved IP ban on Counter-Strike, I was able to get around it by connecting to a VPN server.
Is It Legal to Use a VPN With Steam in 2024?
Using a VPN with Steam is legal. VPNs are really useful when using Steam, as they can prevent ISPs from limiting your speed, protect from DDoS attacks, enhance Steam connection security, potentially decrease game lag, and navigate around certain IP bans.
But never use a VPN with Steam to buy games for a cheaper price or get around geo-blocks (to buy in-game items that aren’t available in your country, for example). If you’re caught doing that, Valve can terminate your Steam account. Also, check if the game you want to play allows VPNs — if it doesn’t (the developers might consider it cheating), you may get banned from the game.
Bottom Line
Steam is a great gaming platform, but it has some issues. For example, you can only play some games in the country where you have an account. Using a VPN for Steam solves that problem — if you travel abroad, you can still access your games with a VPN.
What’s more, a VPN also protects you from DDoS attacks and other threats and stops your ISP from throttling your gaming speeds. And it’s very easy to change your Steam country with a VPN — just follow our simple step-by-step guide.
All of the top Steam VPNs on the market come with industry-standard VPN security features like 256-bit AES encryption, a no-logs policy, a kill switch, and good leak protection, and many providers also include advanced features like RAM-only servers.
However, you shouldn’t use a VPN to buy games for a cheaper price or bypass geo-blocks — if you do, Valve might terminate your account. So, I recommend using the VPN to secure your Steam connections and to access your account if you travel abroad.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it legal to use a VPN with Steam?
Yes, it’s perfectly legal to use a VPN with Steam. A VPN is actually a great choice for gaming because it provides great security, lets you play your games when you travel abroad, protects you from DDoS attacks, and stops ISPs from throttling your gaming speeds (ExpressVPN is my favorite VPN to use with Steam).
But don’t use the VPN to buy games for a cheaper price from other countries because that will violate Steam’s terms. Also, remember that each game on Steam has its own rules, so check if the game you want to play allows the use of VPNs (if it doesn’t, you might get banned from playing).
What’s the best VPN for gaming on Steam?
My favorite VPN for gaming on Steam in 2024 is ExpressVPN — it provides blazing-fast gaming speeds, has excellent security and privacy features, and is very easy to use.
How do you change your Steam country with a VPN?
If you travel abroad, Steam won’t let you play some of your games (you can only play them in the country where you have your account). But you can use a VPN to change your location, which will let you play all of your games when you travel abroad. And, it’s very simple to change your Steam country with a VPN — just follow my 3 quick and easy steps.
Can I use a free VPN for Steam?
I don’t normally recommend using free VPNs — they have slow speeds, limit how much data you can use, have buggy apps, and lack important security and privacy features. For example, hide.me has a decent free plan for gamers, but it only allows 10 GB per month (so data-intensive games will quickly use up the allotment), and you only get 1 connection.
I recommend buying an affordable VPN like ExpressVPN, which is my top choice for changing your Steam country and also our top pick for gaming.
