Best VPNs for FFXIV (Final Fantasy) in 2024

Final Fantasy XIV is one of the most popular multiplayer online role-playing games in the market even a whole decade after its re-release in 2013. However, its allure is tainted by matchmaking glitches, frustratingly high ping rates, and servers bursting at the seams with players.

Thankfully, there's a glimmer of hope amidst this stormy landscape. A VPN for Final Fantasy 14 grants you access to worldwide game servers, enhances your online security, and ensures an FFXIV experience free from stuttering and hiccups. Additionally, you'll ward off potential DDoS attacks from shameless adversaries who seek to exploit your IP address.

As the VPN market teems with options, we've ventured on a quest to find and crown the true champion. Embark on your journey below and find out the best VPN for FFXIV in 2024.

Best VPNs for Final Fantasy XIV: shortlist

1. NordVPN

   The best all-around VPN for Final Fantasy XIV
   9.8
2. Surfshark VPN

   Speedy FFXIV VPN with limitless connections
   9.5
3. ExpressVPN

   Fast and secure Final Fantasy VPN
   8.4
4. CyberGhost VPN

   VPN for FFXIV with gaming-optimized servers
   8.9

Why do you need a VPN for FFXIV?

In the vast realm of MMORPGs, Final Fantasy XIV stands as a force to be reckoned with, but even this mighty game has its flaws. High ping, constant lag spikes, and disconnection issues can be a total killjoy. Luckily, the most powerful VPNs (Virtual Private Networks) can fix these and other gaming issues in a blink.

Among countless security and privacy benefits, a robust VPN for Final Fantasy XIV can also enhance your gameplay experience in various ways. These include:

• Global servers. FFXIV checks your IP address every time you log in, which means you can only play in your home region. In turn, playing with your friends in other regions will be impossible unless you use a gaming VPN to change your virtual location. However, keep in mind it may increase ping and lagging.
• Shield against threats. Sadly, not all players play by the rules, resorting to unfair tactics. By employing a VPN, your IP address remains secure, thwarting potential DDoS attacks and preserving the integrity of your gaming experience. This is especially helpful for streamers and competitive players.
• Unhindered speeds. FFXIV eats up data like crazy, so naturally your Internet Service Provider may attempt to restrict your speed. However, with a VPN, your online activities are encrypted, allowing you to bypass ISP throttling and maintain optimal ping for consistent gameplay.
• Better connectivity. Some people play on servers in different regions mainly because their local servers are overcrowded and the limited bandwidth causes immensely unstable game connections. Using a VPN for FFXIV allows you to unchain your virtual location and find less populated servers with better network performance.

The best VPNs for FFXIV: detailed list

1. NordVPN – the ultimate VPN for Final Fantasy XIV
2. Surfshark– VPN for FFXIV with excellent speeds
3. ExpressVPN – performance-focused FFXIV VPN
4. CyberGhost– cheap and versatile Final Fantasy XIV VPN

In search of the best FFXIV VPN, we lined up 28 providers in full-on skirmish trials to prove their worth. A top-tier VPN for Final Fantasy XIV must offer an expansive server network, fast connections, and robust security features to prevent IP or DNS leaks. Since FFXIV is available on both Windows and Mac PCs, along with PlayStation 4 and PS5 consoles, the chosen VPN should support most, if not all, of the aforementioned platforms.

The following 5 VPNs ticked all the right boxes and made it to the top ladder as the best recommendations for any FFXIV player.

1. NordVPN – the best VPN for FFXIV

NordVPN is hands down the best VPN for Final Fantasy XIV. With an extensive network of 7000+ RAM-only servers across 118+ countries, including all locales of FFXIV data centers, you can effortlessly switch between in-game regions. Plus, NordVPN is renowned for its astounding speeds powered by the NordLynx tunneling protocol. Even during the peak hours of the day, it consistently ensured a smooth gameplay experience without the annoyance of egregiously high latency.

In terms of protection, NordVPN offers excellent all-around security. It guards you against active DDoS attacks, while split tunneling allows you to route only FFXIV traffic through VPN servers. You can also use NordVPN Meshnet to create secure virtual networks for LAN gaming over the internet with your friends.

NordVPN provides dedicated applications for all major operating systems, including Android TV and Amazon Fire TV Stick. It also supports gaming consoles like PlayStation, although you'll need to install the VPN on your router for that functionality.

Wanna put NordVPN to the test? Grab yourself a NordVPN coupon and get a special 74% discount for the most popular plans. You can also explore all its features with a free 7-day trial through Google Play Store and continue on any other devices after the registration. After that, every subscription is protected by a risk-free 30-day money-back guarantee.

For a deeper investigation of NordVPN, read our NordVPN review.

2. Surfshark – speedy and secure FFXIV VPN

Surfshark is a fantastic FFXIV VPN for your entire raid team. With the ability to connect unlimited devices simultaneously and lightning-fast WireGuard connectivity, it ticks all the right boxes to secure a high place on this list. Additionally, Software-Defined Networking, introduced with the Nexus update, makes your connections more stable and fast. It works by routing all VPN server traffic through one unified network rather than a single VPN tunnel.

Surfshark VPN boasts an extensive network of 3200+ servers across 100+ countries. Notably, all of their servers operate exclusively on RAM, ensuring optimal performance and enhanced security. Moreover, Surfshark is one of the rare providers offering dedicated IP servers, allowing you to maintain a consistent connection from the same IP address if desired.

Surfshark ensures seamless compatibility across the most popular operating systems and streaming devices. It even goes the extra mile by extending support to popular gaming consoles such as PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 (router configuration required).

Elevate your Final Fantasy XIV experience with Surfshark and save 86% by using a discount code. Rest easy knowing that all subscriptions are backed by a 30-day money-back warranty. You can also test the waters with a 7-day free trial through an Android, MacOS, or iOS app stores and continue on any supported device.

For a deeper investigation of Surfshark VPN, read our Surfshark VPN review.

3. ExpressVPN – reliable and feature-rich Final Fantasy VPN

ExpressVPN is a highly secure and excellent FFXIV VPN option with thousands of servers across 105 countries, ensuring reliable gaming connections. With industry-leading AES-256 encryption and a kill switch feature, it guarantees data privacy and prevents IP leaks. ExpressVPN's independently audited no-logs policy further enhances user privacy.

The VPN's in-house-built Lightway tunneling protocol offers fast and stable connection speeds without compromising security. ExpressVPN's features include Stealth servers for bypassing VPN blocks, split tunneling for personalized VPN connections, and Threat Manager for blocking online trackers and malicious activities while browsing.

ExpressVPN offers user-friendly apps for major devices, along with a router applet that simplifies setup and allows secure connections for unlimited devices. However, a maximum number of 8 simultaneous connections applies without router usage.

Although ExpressVPN's main drawback is its relatively high price, there is a current offer of 48% off through ExpressVPN discount codes to sweeten the deal. Additionally, if you have second thoughts, the VPN offers a 30-day money-back guarantee for added reassurance and a 7-day free trial to experience the full ExpressVPN offerings.

For a deeper investigation of ExpressVPN, read our ExpressVPN review.

4. CyberGhost – affordable and versatile VPN for FFXIV

CyberGhost is a standout choice among Final Fantasy XIV VPNs with its expansive network of over 11700 servers across 100 countries. It prioritizes seamless gaming experiences by delivering exceptional connection speeds and effective bypassing of online blocks.

With a strong focus on security and privacy, CyberGhost employs AES-256 encryption, a strict no-logs policy, and an automatic kill switch to protect user data and ensure anonymity. The VPN leverages the powerful WireGuard tunneling protocol for lightning-fast speeds, while also offering options like OpenVPN and IKEv2 for flexibility.

CyberGhost also provides specialized high-speed servers for gaming, streaming, and torrenting, catering to diverse user needs and requirements. Additionally, it offers dedicated IP servers in the US, UK, Canada, Germany, France, Singapore, Japan, and even Australia. As a matter of fact, these locations completely correspond with FFXIV data centers, so every game region is at your fingertips.

With its budget-friendly pricing, this Final Fantasy 14 VPN option is already a great choice. Offering an impressive 84% discount, it becomes even more enticing if you keep an eye out for the best CyberGhost deals. Moreover, CyberGhost stands out by providing the longest money-back guarantee period in the industry of 45 days to try their service risk-free.

For a deeper investigation of CyberGhost VPN, read our CyberGhost VPN review.

Final Fantasy XIV VPN comparison

In our book, NordVPN takes the crown as the ultimate VPN for Final Fantasy XIV. It effortlessly achieves blazing speeds, obliterates all geographical barriers in a single swing, and offers a versatile set of tools that extends far beyond the realm of online gaming. And the cherry on top? It comes at an extremely great price, considering the immense value it delivers.

How we tested VPNs for FFXIV

Finding the best option is no huge feat if you know what you’re looking for. So, we tested the 28 most known VPN brands and narrowed it down to the Top 5 list of the best FFXIV VPNs. Of course, we focused our trials on the following criteria to test out the best ones out there:

• Global coverage. A broad network in Japan, North America, and Europe is crucial if you want to access various global servers and play with your friends abroad. We handpicked gaming VPN services with loads of servers and locations close to the main FFXIV data centers to lower your latency.
• Performance. When it comes to network-heavy tasks, speed is everything, and that’s doubly true for online gaming. WireGuard and other modern tunneling protocols play a huge part in the quality of your server connections by limiting the speed loss to a minimum. All of our top picks showed great connection speeds and rank among the fastest VPNs out there.
• Compatibility. Catering to the diverse community of FFXIV, we opted for VPNs that extend their compatibility to cover a wide range of platforms, including PCs as well as PS4 and PS5 consoles. Even wider device support was a big bonus when choosing our top contenders.
• Security. Essential security measures like a kill switch, AES-256 encryption, and leak protection defend against threats like doxxing and DDoS attacks. All of our top picks provide great defense against similar threats.
• Pricing. Price doesn’t always mean value. That’s why we gathered up the top FFXIV VPNs with the best price-to-value ratio considering the features, security, and performance for your hard-earned cash. Even better, you can try all of them out either through free trials or take advantage of included money-back guarantees.

How to play Final Fantasy 14 with a VPN?

Final Fantasy XIV is available on various platforms, including Windows, MacOS, and two of the latest PlayStation consoles. Even though playing FFXIV with a VPN requires no advanced tinkering, the prep phase differs between the PCs and PS consoles. Whether you land on one side or the other, here are the short guides on how to play Final Fantasy online with a VPN.

Play FFXIV with a VPN on a PC

Playing Final Fantasy XIV with a VPN on a PC is really easy and requires no more than a few minutes of preparation. Here’s what you need to do:

1. Pick a reliable gaming VPN. Our #1 is NordVPN, now 74% off
2. Install your chosen VPN and launch the app.
3. Make sure the fastest tunneling protocol is enabled.
4. Connect to a server in the game region of your choice.
5. Start the game.

Enhance FFXIV on PC with NordVPN

Play FFXIV with a VPN on PlayStation

Setting up a VPN for a gaming console is a tad bit more complicated than on the PCs. Nevertheless, you can do it pretty quickly if you follow the steps:

1. Grab a VPN with router support. We recommend NordVPN, now 74% off
2. Download and install the VPN on your local router. If you need help with that, follow our guide on how to install a VPN on a router.
3. Connect to a server in your desired location.
4. Connect your PlayStation console to the router.
5. If you’re connecting to a server outside your original game region, create a new PSN account located in the chosen country.
6. Launch Final Fantasy XIV.

Play FFXIV lag-free with NordVPN

VPN not working with Final Fantasy: solution

Occasionally, even the most reliable VPNs may encounter performance hiccups. However, there's no need for panic. In fact, the workarounds of such issues may be quite simple. Here are the potential causes and solutions to overcome them:

• Switch VPN servers. It’s possible that the VPN server you initially connected to is either blacklisted or experiencing excessive congestion. A quick server switcheroo does the trick most of the time. Additionally, ensure that you go for a server closer to your geographical location for the most optimal performance.
• Keep the VPN updated. Similar to any other software, a VPN app may encounter performance issues if not kept up to date. Ensure that you have the latest version of the VPN client installed and if the issues persist, consider reinstalling the application entirely.
• Check for IP & DNS leaks. A leaking IP or DNS will instantly give away your true whereabouts. Since you are locked to your home region, if you’re connecting to a data center elsewhere, your IP address must coincide with it. Test your connection with third-party tools like ipleak.net and enable any available IP and DNS leak protection measures before hopping back into the game.
• Reinstall router drivers. A rare occasion of running through multiple VPNs on your router may lead to driver corruption. If that’s the case, consider removing the existing drivers and reinstalling them altogether to eliminate any potential issues.

By following these steps, you can effectively troubleshoot and overcome pretty much all common obstacles that may arise when connecting to FFXIV through a VPN. If you still face some unmentioned obstacles, a 24/7 customer service is guaranteed with all top VPNs for FFXIV.

How to improve FFXIV online gameplay

Final Fantasy XIV is by no means perfect. However, even with some shining flaws, a super lively and ever-growing community has found a lot of tips and tricks to improve your FFXIV experience. As a matter of fact, a lot of them are surprisingly easy and effective.

Here are some of the most helpful recommendations we’ve got:

1. Don’t use Wi-Fi if possible. Final Fantasy 14 is extremely network-sensitive. Many users do not recommend using Wi-Fi, and it’s generally better to instead connect with a cable. Unstable connections often result in high ping, packet loss, and intermittent lag spikes causing sudden disconnection.
2. Try different data centers. There are numerous reports of some servers, namely in North American data centers, being extremely overpopulated. This leads to more than just exorbitant login queues but rather completely overloaded server bandwidth, especially during prime hours of the day. If you’re willing to do a trade, you can go for less populated regions, such as Oceania with less lively worlds, but also sustainable server connections. This, of course, requires an FFXIV VPN at your disposal
3. Go for a VPN with static IP. Some players using a VPN noticed huge improvements in their connectivity when switching from a random IP connection on a VPN to a dedicated one. A dedicated IP on a VPN network means you’re the sole owner of that particular IP address. According to players on Reddit, even with an increase of 60ms ping to 80ms while using a VPN, they experienced almost no latency and hugely improved overall network stability.
4. Switch your ISP. This might sound harsh at first, but FFXIV players in the US noticed that some Internet Service Providers are the most common link between the worst game connection cases.

FFXIV AT&T lag: how to fix it

More often than not, it appears that a lot of lag-related issues with FFXIV boil down to a pretty flawed network infrastructure. For example, some AT&T customers investigated these problems head-on to find what causes so much instability. What they found was that AT&T and FF server hosting company NTT is “not on the best terms”.

Furthermore, an FFXIV player RoombaRaces unveiled online that the lag starts usually when AT&T passes their traffic to NTT. According to RoombaRaces, he contacted NTT’s network operations center (NOC) regarding the findings, but the given answer did not clarify the situation that much:

“This is due to a known congestion issue between us and AT&T which is already being investigated. Efforts are ongoing to alleviate the congestion, but due to the NDA, the GIN NOC is unable to disclose any specific details”

Fortunately, this is solvable pretty consistently using a VPN for FFXIV. In this case, a VPN connection lets you bypass the faulty AT&T link with NTT and remove the artificial bottleneck entirely. Numerous Final Fantasy XIV players on Reddit confirm that a VPN solved the problem flawlessly with no hassle whatsoever.

Problems like these are nothing new in the realm of online gaming, but I personally wouldn’t hold my breath for the salvation. Until the problem is fixed, you can use the best VPN to prevent such nonsensical issues. We highly recommend going for NordVPN as it packs one of the fastest network connections and covers all FFXIV data center regions. You can see all that for yourself with a free 7-day trial and a risk-free 30-day money-back guarantee.

Is it legal to use VPN with FFXIV?

Playing Final Fantasy 14 with a VPN is completely legal and will not get you in trouble. However, there are some hidden caveats. The game does a geo-location check through your IP address every time you log in to the game. If they notice a lot of IP changes in quick succession, your FFXIV account gets locked for a short period of time.

According to Square Enix, this is a safety precaution against potential hacking attempts, but some players report that enabling Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) allegedly bypasses it. While using VPNs, you’re pretty much guaranteed to get a random IP address every time you connect to its servers. This, in turn, might add a few hiccups from time to time.

On the other hand, you can easily avoid that and improve your network connectivity in one go by using a VPN with a dedicated IP address. For example, opting for a speedy VPN, such as NordVPN or Surfshark, and getting a static IP can optimize network performance, improve network stability, and reduce latency.

Do we recommend a free VPN for Final Fantasy XIV

We strongly advise against using free VPN software for Final Fantasy XIV. These services are generally ineffective in bypassing blocks, and even if they do, they tend to worsen lag issues. The primary reason for this is the strict limitations imposed by free providers, which result in throttled speeds and significant data limits.

Moreover, relying on free VPNs puts your security and privacy at risk. Many of these services are known for logging user data and selling it to third parties. Some may even lack adequate encryption or offer lackluster features, failing to ensure your confidentiality. There have been instances of malware disguising itself as legitimate VPN services, further compromising user safety.

If your goal is to improve your FFXIV experience, a better approach is to take advantage of free VPN trials and combine them with money-back warranties. For instance, NordVPN offers a 7-day free trial and a 30-day money-return guarantee, allowing you to use the complete service for over a whole month.

Try NordVPN risk-free now

Conclusion

Playing Final Fantasy XIV without a reputable VPN can significantly impact your gaming experience. Dealing with overcrowded servers, DDoS attacks, and ISP interference can cause frustrating lags and disruptions during your adventures.

Fortunately, you can level up your gameplay and enhance your online protection with a reliable VPN. We highly recommend NordVPN, as it offers advanced tools to shield you from cyber threats and improve your connection speeds. Dodge those pits of lag spikes and embark on an immersive gaming adventure with your best gaming companion!

Have you encountered any connection problems in FFXIV? What do you think is the best VPN for Final Fantasy XIV? Let us know by leaving a comment!

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FAQ

What is the best VPN for FFXIV?

We found that Final Fantasy XIV performed the best with NordVPN. Throughout our tests, we noticed only a minuscule increase in the ping, while almost completely getting rid of latency and improving overall network stability.

Should I use a VPN for FFXIV?

Yes, many users recommend playing Final Fantasy XIV with a VPN. There are numerous benefits to using an FFXIV VPN. Some of the pros include more stable server connections, protection against DDoS attacks, and the ability to switch regions in just a few clicks.

How to use NordVPN for FF14?

The process of using NordVPN for FFXIV depends on the platform you’re playing on. If you’re playing on a PC, simply subscribe to NordVPN, install the app, connect to a server in your chosen region, and you’re good to go. PlayStation users need the extra step of installing NordVPN on their router.

Can I get banned for using a VPN for Final Fantasy?

Playing Final Fantasy 14 using a VPN is safe and will not get you banned. However, the game checks your IP address for location upon login. Frequent IP changes can temporarily lock your FFXIV account. The best way to avoid it is to go for a fast VPN offering a static IP, such as NordVPN or Surfshark.