5 Best VPNs for FFXIV (Final Fantasy XIV) in 2023

Despite being a more-than-a-decade-old game, Final Fantasy XIV has never been more popular. However, with close to 40 million players visiting FFXIV’s realms and millions accessing the game daily, you’re bound to encounter technical issues sooner rather than later. That’s probably why you’re looking for the best VPN for FFXIV - to help you with the game's lag and latency.

For a variety of reasons, most Internet providers seem to have a poor routing system for FFXIV and other online games, introducing high ping values, which is what makes games like FFXIV stutter and lag. That's why most games come with their own routing system, trying to connect you to the nearest server - but that system doesn't always work.

That said, many players find their network problems disappear when connecting their system to a VPN service. The reason is that a VPN sends your data via an encrypted route to FFXIV's servers. The best VPN for playing Final Fantasy XIV can make your network less congested compared to standard ISP routes. On top of that, it can shield your network from third-party tracking, hackers, DDoS attacks, and more.

Remember that you should be very careful when picking a VPN for Final Fantasy XIV. In our experience, only a few VPNs provide a reliable experience that makes them suitable for playing online games. More importantly, you shouldn’t trust any marketing messages, as you need a VPN proven to offer fast connections and minimal lag. 

Being not only avid fans of FFXIV but also having tested dozens and dozens of VPNs over the years, we’re here to help you find the best FFXIV VPN service. So, let’s jump right in!

How to Play Final Fantasy XIV with a VPN

Setting up a VPN service for Final Fantasy XIV is incredibly easy. Here’s what you need to do:

1. Subscribe to a VPN that works well with FFXIV (our #1 recommendation is ExpressVPN).
2. Download the VPN app on your gaming device(s).
3. Launch the VPN app and when prompted, log in using your credentials.
4. Select a VPN server in a location with faster FFXIV servers.
5. Once your VPN session is established, start playing Final Fantasy XIV. That's it!

At the time of writing this guide, FFXIV's data centers are available across North America, Japan, Europe, and Oceania. It's worth noting that the farther you are from your selected data center, the slower your connection will be. This could adversely affect your gameplay. So, we recommend you pick a data center near your physical location.

Best VPN for FFXIV (Final Fantasy XIV)

There are a few things you should consider before subscribing to a VPN. For instance, the best VPN for Final Fantasy XIV must bring low ping values to avoid latency. Then, consider an option with native applications across the board, solid protocols, and a wide server network. On top of that, it's a good idea to pick a VPN that supports multiple simultaneous connections.

Based on the factors mentioned above and our hands-on experience, these are the 5 best VPNs for FFXIV available right now:

1. ExpressVPN - Our #1-Rated VPN for FFXIV VPN
2. NordVPN - Best for High-End Security & Privacy Protection
3. CyberGhost VPN - Best Option for Privacy & Entertainment
4. Surfshark - Best for Protecting Multiple Devices at Once
5. Private Internet Access (PIA) - Best Open-Source & Fully Transparent VPN

1. ExpressVPN - Our #1-Rated VPN for FFXIV VPN

There are many reasons why ExpressVPN is the best VPN for FFXIV. However, most importantly, this is a very simple-to-use VPN service with amazing privacy-focused features. Aside from that, it’s perfectly suitable for gaming. So, here’s what to expect. 

ExpressVPN works on any device, letting you optimize your FFXIV gameplay on a Windows PC, Mac, and even your PlayStation. When it comes to your game console, you can choose between installing the VPN on a router or running its 'MediaStreamer,' a SmartDNS-like feature.

No matter which method you pick, ExpressVPN has the power to keep your ping under control. It has more than 3,000 servers spread across around 90 countries. No matter where you are, you’ll get to find a server that routes your data in a very effective way. 

Let's not forget that ExpressVPN comes with various VPN protocols (you're free to switch between those at any moment), backed by ultra-strong AES-256 encryption. That gives you complete privacy while playing Final Fantasy XIV and protection against DDoS attacks and similar malicious attempts. 

Intrigued by this VPN? If you want more info, head over to our ExpressVPN review.

2. NordVPN - Best for High-End Security & Privacy Protection

Playing online games can expose your private data to other gamers, some of which might have malicious intentions. So, if you need a VPN to protect your sensitive data while ensuring your FFXIV sessions are buttery smooth, you’ll find NordVPN a great option.

This VPN has been around for quite some time, managing to build a solid set of security-focused features. Aside from 5,000+ of its standard servers, you'll also find specialized servers here. Those help you obfuscate your data using two VPN servers, download data over P2P, access the Tor network, and more. 

Typically, specialized VPN servers come with limited performance. However, NordVPN has managed to evade that downside by creating a custom NordLynx protocol. You can expect smooth speeds and low ping values by fine-tuning the VPN, even if you use a highly remote server. That's something we don't see every day.

You’ll also be happy to know that NordVPN works on any device. It also comes with a simple installation method, thoroughly explained on the VPN’s site. And since you’ll get 6 simultaneous connections, you can also protect your privacy on your non-gaming devices.

There are many more reasons to go for this VPN. If you’d like to learn more about those, here’s our NordVPN review.

3. CyberGhost VPN - Best Option for Privacy & Entertainment

You'll find a range of VPNs claiming to be optimized for gaming. However, most of those don't deliver on their promises. So, if you want to avoid wasting your time (and if you're after gaming-ready VPN servers), your pick should be CyberGhost VPN.

This VPN has a vast server network with around 9,000 units in 90+ countries. Most of those are standard servers. However, you'll find specialized units for streaming, downloading P2P files, and – gaming. Sadly, CyberGhost's gaming servers are available on Windows only. 

We recommend CyberGhost even if you don’t play Final Fantasy 14 on Windows. That’s because its standard servers will also reduce your ping and latency. You can get very fast speeds using any of its servers, but be prepared to do some fine-tuning. 

Lastly, we’ll note that CyberGhost gives you an option to get a dedicated IP address, which is a rare thing in the world of VPNs. Having a dedicated IP helps you avoid anti-VPN measures imposed by online games. Even though FFXIV doesn’t ban VPNs, many other games do.

To see how else this VPN can assist you, read our CyberGhost VPN review.

4. Surfshark - Best for Protecting Multiple Devices at Once

Our list of the best VPNs for FFXIV wouldn't be complete without a beginner-friendly option. If you have never used a VPN before, you'll appreciate an option that comes with an incredibly polished and straightforward interface. Well, that's why we recommend Surfshark.

Surfshark has quite a lot going for it. It’s available on pretty much any device out there. It offers native software for any desktop or mobile platform. And when it comes to PlayStation consoles, you can use Surfshark's SmartDNS feature to re-route your traffic. Of course, this VPN works on routers as well.

Then, you get unlimited simultaneous connections (Surfshark is the only option on our list to offer that). Aside from that, there’s a small group of highly effective protocols, with an option to change between those in an instant. They’re coupled with high-end encryption, protecting you against DDoS attacks when gaming online. 

One of the best things about Surfshark is its speed. Even though its customization options are limited, you can count on getting the lowest possible ping even when using remote servers. So, if you need a very simple VPN that takes care of your latency, Surfshark is the way to go.

Before you reach the final decision, don’t forget to turn to our Surfshark review.

5. Private Internet Access - Best Open-Source & Fully Transparent VPN

Our list of the best FFXIV VPNs also has an option that caters to more advanced users. Private Internet Access offers in-depth customization options, letting you tinker with various aspects of your VPN connection. 

For example, it lets you pick from a range of VPN protocols (WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2, and more). On top of that, you can customize those protocols and pair them with different levels of encryption. You can also automate PIA based on different types of Web connections, use split-tunneling, employ custom DNS servers, and more.

You should also know that PIA gives you 10 simultaneous connections, which seems quite generous. It works on any platform or device. You can also install it on a router, which is the best way to get VPN protection on your game console.

The only downside is that PIA can be slow out of the box. So, you really have to dive into its settings and optimize this VPN connection for gaming. Once you do so, PIA can keep your lag under control while giving you incredibly fast speeds. 

To learn more about what to expect from this VPN, here’s our Private Internet Access review.

Why Do I Need a VPN for Final Fantasy XIV?

You need a VPN for Final Fantasy XIV to reduce lag and network latency, leading to a much more pleasurable gaming experience.

Before you can understand the importance of using an optimized FFXIV VPN, you need to know the locations of FFXIV’s data centers. That said, the MMORPG is powered by eight data centers spread across three locations/regions (check the table below).

Each of those data centers gives you access to a specific Final Fantasy 14 world. Based on which world your character uses, your data travels to that specific server. Speaking of those, here’s the complete list of FFXIV’s worlds, based on the location of their data center.

Based on the FFXIV world your character belongs to, your data routing might be inefficient. For example - if you’re in Australia and use a world hosted on a European server. Paying $18.00 (via 'Home World Transfer Service') to transfer to a world closer to your physical location isn’t always an option, which is where VPNs come into play. 

Highly optimized VPNs will route your traffic based on the VPN server location of your choosing. If you pick a server closer to your location, you can use your VPN to reduce ping and latency. That means your FFXIV gameplay will be much smoother, with online interactions with other characters and objects being instantaneous. 

If you wish to learn more, here’s our article explaining how to use a VPN for gaming.

How to Choose the Best VPN for FFXIV

Here are the most important factors that determine which providers perform better with Final Fantasy XIV, letting you choose the best VPN for the job:

• Servers in Numerous Countries: Having a global server network is an important consideration when picking a gaming VPN for Final Fantasy XIV. The larger the network, the wider the access to Final Fantasy XIV's servers and content. What it means is that VPNs with more locations are less prone to overcrowding, consequently providing better connections.
• High-Speed Connections: For Final Fantasy XIV, you want a VPN with low ping numbers and fast connection speeds. You need to ensure that the VPN in question doesn't throttle your performance. At the same time, the service you pick should also not put a data cap on your usage, so you could keep it on at all times.
• Powerful security tools: For a gaming VPN, you want a service with uncrackable encryption and a kill switch alongside protection against malware and viruses. At the same time, invest in an option with a strict no-logs policy, ensuring that your activities are private at all times.
• Native apps across the board: Having a service that has its app on all major device platforms is particularly important, considering you want to play Final Fantasy XIV on all your devices without interruption. You also want a consistent experience across all platforms. All our recommended services have native apps for both Windows and macOS. They also support router installation, so console players don’t feel left out.

To learn more, check our VPN Buyer's Guide with additional essential information. You can also check our guide that explains what to look for in a VPN, especially if you want the best VPN for FFXIV that's suitable for other purposes as well.

Final Thoughts

The task of a VPN is not just to route your traffic to a remote server but to give you complete online protection as well. In that sense, any Final Fantasy XIV player looking for a smooth gaming experience will appreciate #1-rated ExpressVPN, which comes as the best option available today.

However, you can also keep an eye on our list of the best VPNs for gaming, where you'll find more options suitable for FFXIV and other online games.

That would be all on the best VPNs for FFXIV. If you have any questions, know that we’re here for you. So, make sure to use the comments section below. Thank you for reading!