The Xbox One was released by Microsoft in May 2013. It has great graphics and a wide selection of games that all can enjoy. Along with the Xbox One, Microsoft brought the Kinect for games. Kinect will now let you Skype through the TV, change the TV’s volume, switch between your apps, tv, and games on command, and it allows you to exercise while playing. The Xbox One has seen several major updates and its Kinect feature makes gaming, streaming, and running apps easier. Connecting to a VPN will help you get around geo-restrictions to play your favorite games and access streaming services in other regions. Let’s check out a list of the best VPNs for Microsoft Xbox One.
| Rank | VPN Service | Our Score | Server Locations | Visit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  | 9.8 | 160 |  |
| 2 |  | 9.4 | 87 | |
| 3 |  | 9.2 | 95 | |
| 4 |  | 9.0 | 110 | |
| 5 |  | 8.8 | 73 | |
Not all online functions are accessible from every country. To get past the geographical restrictions to play with friends online, run apps, and stream Netflix while on vacation outside of the supported regions, I would recommend a VPN service. A VON will change your IP Address to any location that you choose. If you pick an IP in the supported zones, then you will get past the geographical restriction. Along with this a VPN can help decrease lag, increase connectivity, get past firewalls, and decrease DDoS attacks.
The games that Xbox One has include a mix of Kinect and regular controller games. The games are both online and offline. Some popular Xbox One games include:
- Halo: The Master Chief Collection, Red Dead Redemptoin 2, Sea of Thieves, Apex Legends, Forza Horizon 5, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, Minecraft, The Wircher 3: Wild Hunt, Halo Infinite, Grand Theft Auto V, and Elden Ring
Xbox One has a lot of apps and streaming services. The system has a very wide selection which offers something for just about everyone. Apps and streaming services include:
- YouTube, Xbox Video, Xbox Music, WWE Network, WorldGaming, VUDU, Vine, VH1, VEVO, Verizon FiOS TV, USA NOW, Upload Studio, UFC, Twitch, TuneIn, Time Warner Cable, Telemundo Now, TED, Team Stream from Bleacher Report, Syfy Now, STARZ Play, Sling TV, Skype, SHOWTIME ANYTIME, Pandora, NHL Gamecenter LIVE, NFL, Nerdist, Netflix, NBC, NBA Game Time, MTV, MUZU.TV, MOVIEPLEX Play, Major League Gaming, MLB.tv, Machinima, Internet Explorer, iHeartRadio, IGN, Hulu Plus, HBO GO, GoPro Channel, FXNOW, FUNimation, FOX NOW, ESPN, ESL, EPIX, ENCORE Play, EA Access, CW, Crunchyroll, Crackle, Comedy Central, CinemaNow, CBS News, Break, Bravo Now, ABC News, Amazon Video.
A new thing for the Xbox is that Xbox One supports social media like Facebook. Through these social media sites you can post clips of your game play. Another new improvement is that the console allows you to save your avatar pictures, it will show your bandwidth usage, and it includes a new friends section.
Xbox One is a great console made by Microsoft. The system along with Kinect allow for better app performance and streaming on your TV. The gameplay and graphics are great on most games. The Xbox One and the new Kinect have gotten a lot of upgrades since their former counter parts, to improve the gamer’s experience. The games are all very fun. Overall, the Xbox One is a great system that you and friends will enjoy.
Once again I recommend using a VPN service to unblock geographic restrictions for online games and watch streaming media services in other countries. A VPN will give you an IP address from the server location you choose. This will allow you to access services like Netflix while on vacation outside the supported regions. It will improve performance and reduce lag. Elite gamers will also appreciate the added DDoS protection.
How to choose a VPN for Xbox One
There are several important factors to take a look at to answer this question. Here are the criteria we are using.
- SmartDNS feature – allows you to switch your DNS setting on the Xbox One to another country. This is very helpful to play games and stream content in other regions of the world
- Large and reliable network of servers in the United States, Europe, and Asia
- Router app (ExpressVPN) or setup guides for those who want to run their Xbox One and all home Internet devices through a single VPN connection.
- The latest VPN protocols (Lightway, NordLynx, WireGuard) for good gaming performance
- 24/7 technical support and at least a 30-day money-back guarantee
Now, let’s take a look at the best VPNs for Xbox One.
1. ExpressVPN – Best VPN for Xbox One with SmartDNS and router app
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With servers on every continent except Antarctica, ExpressVPN operates 160 server locations in 94 countries. That means they have one of the largest VPN networks, and they have a presence in almost half the counties in the world. While the service may be more expensive than some of its competitors, you get a premium VPN dedicated to privacy (ExpressVPN keeps no activity logs, so your browsing is kept private) with some of the fastest speeds, apps for every device, and 24/7 customer support to help troubleshoot any issues.
Even though there was a short time where sports were not available, many still love them. However, some do not care what the sports are anymore. If you are a sports fan, there are some excellent reasons why connecting to a VPN server with ExpressVPN would be a good idea. No matter what you want to watch or where you live, you will gain access to the various streaming services by connecting to one. Simply select the area of the sport or the specific coverage you want to see, and you can watch as you wish to.
The ExpressVPN team goes the extra mile to provide a feature rich service. They are also strong privacy advocates. They offer a $5,000 Future of Privacy scholarship every year to help promote privacy among college students. Just a quick example of their dedication to spreading the message of privacy around the world. Just as important, they offer a premium network to allow for fast connections. This makes the service an excellent choice for downloading and streaming. Test their network for yourself with their 30-day money-back guarantee. Sign up for 12 months and get 3 months free with our ExpressVPN deal.
2. NordVPN – NordPlay Smart DNS helps switch regions on Xbox One
If you are a gamer, there are some advantages to connecting to a NordVPN server. One of the biggest ones will help you avoid lag. If you connect to one of the busier game servers, increased latency can be an issue. With NordVPN, though, you could be assigned to a less active server or make the distance shorter between you and the game server. Either one of those things could make a difference, whether you are a competitive player or one that plays more casually.
No matter what you like to stream online, NordVPN can help stop some of the interruptions you will face. If you are not aware, some internet service providers (ISPs) monitor customer’s traffic to look for streaming patterns. While some say they do not, it is not uncommon for companies to throttle speeds, especially during peak times. Connecting to a VPN, however, will mask the traffic so that episode 12 of your binge fest doesn’t include the spinning wheel of death. No one wants to deal with buffering issues.
3. Private Internet Access – custom DNS to change locations on Xbox One
Since the world now spends more time on mobile devices than desktop computers, WiFi grows ever-more essential. If you are one of the many that does, we suggest that you connect to a VPN server from Private Internet Access to protect your privacy. The truth is, hackers are mostly invisible. They could be across the room or at the next table over. Since using Private Internet Access will encrypt your WiFi data and utilize a firewall, you can make sure that everything you do is protected.
Setting up your Private Internet Access account is easy to do. The company is a well-established brand and has been in the VPN community for a long time. Gone are the days when setting up a VPN was involved, and only a computer person could handle it easily. These days, if you need help setting up your connections or have questions, there are a few different options you have. Those include their knowledgebase, extensive guides, and even a 24/7 customer service team to help you in your time of need.
4. CyberGhost – specialized servers for gaming
If you play older games that move to browsers or games that you would natively play in one, you should consider connecting to a CyberGhost VPN server. Unfortunately, some games can take a while to load. Of course, that depends on the browser you choose. Often, that is because of ads or processes that are running in the background when loading the page. By connecting to a VPN, you will be able to block all of the things that could slow you down when playing your favorite browser games.
For everyone that keeps a sharp eye on privacy, you will be glad to know that CyberGhost does, too. One of the ways they do that is by using 256-bit military-grade AES encryption as your chief option. Keep in mind that in many countries, ISPs have a legal obligation to store logs on their customers for as much as two years. Because of that, keeping yourself safe with a VPN should be as big of a priority to you as it is to them.
5. IPVanish – allows unlimited devices
For everyone concerned that the setup for your IPVanish account is going to be complicated or you will not be able to get it quickly and easily established, they offer several different apps to use. Those include apps for Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, Amazon Fire TV, Linux, and Chrome OS. Additionally, you will find easy setup guides for your router. Of course, you will find others available as well. As you can see, IPVanish has you covered, so whichever system you use will be smooth.
If you are looking for a service with a few encryption protocols, IPVanish has you covered. Those include IKEv2, L2TP/IPSec, and OpenVPN (still considered to be the gold standard in the community). While those are all excellent options to choose from, IKEv2 is very popular these days. The experts consider it to be what is known as an NGE (Next Generation Encryption) protocol. That means you can count on it to provide you with a healthy level of safety and security. It is especially helpful for mobile devices.
