Best VPNs for Pokemon GO

Want to catch the best Pokemon from a different country? A VPN for Pokemon GO will hide your true location and unblock special content from across the world.

Can’t find any Pokemon to catch locally? Or perhaps you’re after region-specific rarities, like the elusive Americas-only Azelf? In either case, a VPN can help. The best VPNs for Pokémon GO allow players to spoof their virtual locations – opening up opportunities for accessing more Pokémon, PokéStops, and gyms. Note that Pokémon GO players will also need to spoof their GPS coordinates – but more on that later.

A virtual private network (VPN) allows users to connect to – and assume the IP address of – any server in the VPN provider’s network. Furthermore, the VPN software encrypts the traffic flowing to and from the user’s device and the VPN server, making it indecipherable if captured by attackers or analyzed by Internet Service Providers (ISPs).

We’ll examine individual VPN providers later in the article. For now, here’s a summary of our top choices for Pokémon GO.

1. NordVPN: Our top VPN for Pokémon GO. Allows subscribers to choose RAM-only servers from 60+ countries. Offers strong encryption, one-click access to the Tor network, and effective obfuscation. Plans come with a risk-free 30-day money-back guarantee.  
2. Surfshark: Best budget VPN for streaming. Enables Pokémon GO players to change their location to any one of 100+ countries. Its Android app has a GPS override tool that matches your physical and virtual locations. 
3. ExpressVPN: Has RAM-only servers in 94+ countries and provides Pokémon GO players with the fast, secure connections that they need. Obfuscation is enabled by default and a dedicated router app is available. 
4. CyberGhost: Notably fast connection speeds and an audited no-logs policy. Gives Pokémon GO players access to RAM-only servers in 91+ countries. It’s also great for streaming, with servers optimized for specific platforms. 
5. PrivateVPN: Enables Pokémon GO players to choose between servers in 63+ countries. These provide fast, secure connections and access to numerous streaming platforms. Allows port forwarding and up to 10 simultaneous device connections.
6. Proton VPN: Protects your data with strong encryption while playing Pokémon GO and has servers in 68+ countries. Its VPN Accelerator tool provides fast connection speeds and it's a great choice for streaming and torrenting.  
7. IPVanish: Owns the majority of its network, which consists of servers in 51+ countries. Very fast connection speeds for seamless Pokémon Go gameplay. Subscriptions include unlimited device connections. 

Summary Table

To find the best VPNs for Pokémon Go we considered several aspects of each provider’s performance – not just the territorial range of their server network. The list of criteria used for testing is summarized below. You can read more about it in the testing methodology section later in the article. 

• Good spread of servers
• Fast connection speeds
• Strong privacy and security features
• Ability to access streaming services
• User-friendly apps
• Helpful customer support

To be included as one of our top three providers, we additionally require VPNs to have a RAM-only server network, independently audited software and infrastructure, effective obfuscation, and a location beyond the reach of cross-border spying alliances. 

Best VPNs for Pokémon GO

Now let’s explore each of our recommended providers in a little more detail:

NordVPN makes it easy for Pokémon GO players to use any of its RAM-only servers in 60+ countries. Connections are consistent and fast, with the company using its own protocol for additional security. 

NordVPN has servers optimized for various tasks, including one-click access to the Tor network, establishing MultiHop connections, and obfuscating traffic so that it can bypass VPN blocks in countries such as China. 

Well-designed apps are available for Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Amazon Fire TV, and Linux. These come with 256-bit encryption, leak protection, a kill switch, and split tunneling. A built-in Threat Protection tool automatically blocks ads, trackers, and malware. Plus, its Meshnet private tunnel feature is now free for everyone to use.

NordVPN works with all major streaming platforms and is fast enough for watching 4K videos. It has a SmartPlay tool that enables VPN-incompatible devices to bypass geo-restrictions. Alternatively, subscribers can configure a router connection that will protect every connected device – regardless of whether it natively supports VPN software. 

The company has a strict no-logs policy that’s been independently verified three times. It is currently shoring up its security by co-locating its servers. This involves buying – rather than renting – servers and housing them in purpose-built data centers. NordVPN began this process following a minor attack on a third-party data center in Finland in 2018. 

BEST VPN FOR POKEMON GO: NordVPN is our recommended provider. It has RAM-only servers in 60+ countries and offers fast, stable connections. It works in countries that restrict internet access and plans come with a risk-free 30-day money-back guarantee. 

Surfshark makes it easy to catch region-specific Pokémon thanks to a large network of RAM-only servers in 100+ countries. Furthermore, its Android app has a GPS spoofing tool that enables Pokémon GO players to spoof their physical location as well as their virtual location. 

Subscriptions are reasonably priced and allow users to connect as many devices as they want simultaneously. Other features include access to static IP addresses, built-in leak protection, and 256-bit encryption.

The company’s Nexus technology allows users to choose entry and exit servers for MultiHop connections and can rotate their IP addresses in session for additional privacy. 

Apps all have a full GUI and are available for Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Amazon Fire TV, and Linux. They can be used in countries where internet use is tightly controlled – thanks to Surfshark’s Camouflage mode. 

Surfshark provides easy access to a host of streaming platforms and is easily capable of streaming video in 4K. Its smart DNS service enables VPN-incompatible devices like smart TVs and game consoles to bypass location blocks.

In 2022, Surfshark merged with NordVPN’s parent company – Nord Security. In a press release issued at the time, Surfshark reassured customers that it would continue to operate autonomously.

GREAT VALUE: Surfshark provides access to rare Pokémon via RAM-only servers in 100+ countries and a GPS-spoofing tool in its Android app. Subscriptions include unlimited device connections and come with a 30-day money-back guarantee. 

ExpressVPN provides a highly secure service with RAM-only servers available in 94+ countries. Speeds are easily fast enough for smooth Pokémon GO gameplay and connections are protected by ExpressVPN’s Trusted Server Technology. Amongst other things, this involves each server’s operating system being reinstalled on a weekly basis.

The company has its own proprietary connection protocol and a dedicated Onion site on the Tor network. Obfuscation is enabled by default, which makes it easier for users in countries like China to access censored content. 

ExpressVPN works well with all popular streaming platforms. Its MediaStreamer smart DNS proxy helps devices that don’t natively support VPN apps bypass geo-restrictions. What this proxy doesn’t do is encrypt users’ traffic. A safer option is therefore to use the ExpressVPN router app, which allows users to configure a VPN connection that covers their entire home network.

ExpressVPN has apps for Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Android TV, Nvidia Shield, Amazon Fire TV, and Linux. These come with 256-bit encryption, a kill switch, split tunneling, built-in leak protection, and a Threat Manager Tool. 

In 2021, ExpressVPN was bought by cybersecurity firm Kape Technologies. Prior to becoming involved in cybersecurity, Kape Technologies operated under the name of Crossrider and specialized in the creation of software designed to inject adverts into users’ browsers. 

At the time of its acquisition, ExpressVPN said that it would operate as a separate service from other Kape brands. It has since undergone multiple audits of its software and server network, which have verified its no-logs policy.  

TRUSTED SERVERS: ExpressVPN provides Pokémon GO players with access to RAM-only servers 94+ countries and automatic obfuscation. Connection speeds are very fast and an app for routers is available. Plans come with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

CyberGhost provides Pokémon GO players with access to servers in 91+ countries. Connection speeds are notably fast and certain servers are optimized for gaming, as well as for individual streaming platforms, and torrenting.  

Apps are available for macOS, iOS, Android, Android TV, Nvidia Shield, Amazon Fire TV, and Linux. These come with DNS, IPv6, and WebRTC leak protection, plus a kill switch. What they don’t have is obfuscation or access to MultiHop servers. Split tunneling is available, but only for Android.

The company has some 9,588+ servers in its network and the service works well with the likes of Netflix, Hulu, Crunchyroll, Amazon Prime Video, ITVX, and BBC iPlayer. Windows-users get the additional benefit of being able to link named apps to optimized servers. For example, Netflix can be set to automatically connect to CyberGhost’s Netflix-optimized servers.

CyberGhost is one of the VPN brands bought by Kape Technologies – a company with a somewhat unsavory past. Since its acquisition in 2017, CyberGhost has had independent audits of its server network and management systems. These have verified its no-logs policy. The company has also continued to share any third-party data requests in its quarterly transparency reports.

FAST CONNECTIONS: CyberGhost helps Pokémon GO players spoof their GPS location as well as offering RAM-only servers in 91+ countries. Connections are secure and speeds are extremely fast. Plans come with a 45-day money-back guarantee. 

PrivateVPN is an independent provider with an effective stealth mode that lets people access Pokémon GO in countries with severe censorship. Players can enjoy fast, stable connections while trying to catch Pokémon in 63+ countries. 

The company allows port forwarding, which means those interested in torrenting can do so more efficiently by connecting to additional peers in a swarm. PrivateVPN has P2P-optimized servers that can cope with large file transfers. 

A range of streaming platforms are accessible using PrivateVPN, including Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, BBC iPlayer, ITVX, Disney+, and Hulu. Other features of the service include protection against IPv6 and DNS leaks, access to a SOCKS5 and HTTP Proxy, and up to 10 simultaneous device connections.

Apps are available for Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, and Amazon Fire TV. These all come with variable encryption and an app-specific and system-wide kill switch. As well as choosing between 128-bit and 256-bit encryption, users can choose whether to connect using the OpenVPN with UDP/TCP, L2TP, IPsec, PPTP, or IKEv2 protocols. 

PrivateVPN acts as both its own server host and ISP for additional network security. The company has never had a data breach and adheres to a strict no-logs policy – though this has yet to be independently audited. 

STEALTH MODE: Independent provider that lets Pokémon GO players connect to 63+ countries. It allows port forwarding and its stealth mode can bypass Chinese VPN blocks. Plans come with a 30-day money-back guarantee. 

Proton VPN is strong on privacy and security. It uses the latest encryption standards and has SecureCore servers that route traffic through high security, company-owned data centers in Switzerland, Iceland, and Sweden.

Pokémon GO players will appreciate the existence of servers in 68+ countries, as well as the VPN Accelerator tool, which boosts speed using a modified version of the OpenVPN connection protocol.   

Other features include built-in leak protection, one-click access to the Tor network, split tunneling, and a kill switch. Port forwarding is permitted, which makes both seeding and leeching more efficient when torrenting. 

Proton VPN is a good choice for streaming and is able to access major platforms like Netflix, BBC iPlayer, ITVX, Peacock, and HBO. 

Its apps are all open-source and available for Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Android TV, and Linux. These protect internet traffic using 256-bit AES encryption for the OpenVPN and IKEv2 protocols and ChaCha20 for WireGuard.

Proton VPN’s no-logs policy has been verified through independent audits of its software and infrastructure. Subscriptions allow up to 10 simultaneous device connections, though the service is compatible with routers if more are needed. 

STRONG ON PRIVACY: Proton VPN offers Pokémon GO players secure connections and access to servers in 68+ countries. The service is great for both streaming and torrenting. Plans come with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

IPVanish provides Pokémon GO players with enviably fast connection speeds and access to servers in 51+ countries. The company owns the majority of its network hardware, which helps limit the number of people who have access to its servers.

Subscriptions include unlimited device connections and access to a SOCKS5 proxy. Other features include strong encryption, automatic start-up, split tunneling, a kill switch, and built-in DNS leak protection.

Apps are available for Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, ChromeOS, and FireTV. While there’s no Linux app, a connection can be manually configured. All apps use WireGuard as the default connection protocol, though OpenVPN, IKEv2, or IPSec are available if preferred.

IPVanish works with many of the most popular streaming platforms, with the notable exception of BBC iPlayer. 

In 2016, the company – which claimed to keep no logs – was able to provide the US Department of Homeland Security with data logs relating to one of its customers. Since the incident, the company has changed ownership several times. Under current owners, Leviathan Security audited IPVanish and verified its no-logs policy.

FAST SPEEDS: IPVanish allows Pokémon to be caught in 51+ countries and provides fast connections for smooth gameplay. Subscribers can use as many devices as they want simultaneously. Plans come with a 30-day money-back guarantee. 

Methodology for choosing the best VPNs for Pokémon GO

Choosing between the many VPNs on offer is no easy task – particularly if you’ve never used one before. As part of our comprehensive testing methodology, there are several things we look out for. The most important of these are discussed below. 

• Good spread of servers: If you want to catch country-specific Pokémon then you’ll need a VPN with servers in a range of countries. We look for providers that have servers in all the countries where Pokémon are most likely to be found. Ideally, providers will have multiple servers in any one country.
• Fast connection speeds: For consistent Pokémon GO gameplay it helps to have a fast and stable internet connection. This is also true when playing other games or streaming. To ensure your VPN doesn’t cause frustration, always choose one that is at least as fast as your base connection speed. We regularly perform speed tests to ensure we only recommend those that can at least stream HD video without buffering.  
• Strong privacy and security features: While playing Pokémon GO it’s important to ensure that your data is safe and secure. To this end, you should only use providers that at least offer strong encryption, a kill switch, leak protection, and a strict no-logs policy. Ideally, they should also provide access to MultiHop servers, obfuscation, split tunneling, and port forwarding.
• Ability to access streaming services: As well as being useful for playing Pokémon GO, some VPNs are also great for accessing additional streaming content from your favorite platforms. We say “some” as very few VPNs actually work with the big-name platforms. We regularly test providers to find those that can access the likes of Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Hulu.
• User-friendly apps: The best VPNs make apps that are packed with features but can nevertheless be navigated intuitively by first-time users. This requires a well-thought-out GUI and consistency across platforms.  
• Helpful customer support: The best value VPN subscriptions last for at least a year. It’s therefore prudent to check that they are willing and able to provide assistance for the duration of the subscription. We value providers that offer 24/7 live chat, email support, and maintain a detailed and relevant knowledge base.

Bonus points

To make it to one of our top three positions, VPN companies must additionally offer the following features:

• Access to China: The Chinese state has been trying to prevent its citizens using VPNs for the past decade. Very few providers are able to bypass the advanced blocking systems that currently exist. Those that can – of which they are just a handful – are highly valued.
• Diskless servers: The better VPN providers use servers that operate solely on RAM. This ensures the complete erasure of all data stored on the server as soon as it is powered off or restarted. This improves security in that individual servers have no information to disclose even if compromised.
• Incorporation outside the scope of intelligence alliances: Many countries participate in intelligence sharing networks, with the Five Eyes alliance being the most prominent among them. Although national laws typically forbid countries from directly spying on their own citizens, members of these alliances have the ability to request their partners to carry out surveillance on their behalf. The gathered data then becomes accessible to all participating nations. To lessen the risk of being compromised, the better VPNs incorporate their companies in countries beyond the reach of known alliances.
• Audited software and infrastructure: It’s not a good look for the VPN industry when purported "zero logs" providers are discovered to have retained records of their users' online activities. To restore consumer faith, some VPN companies engage third-party auditors to scrutinize their software and infrastructure. As well as verifying no-logs claims, these audits identify any potential vulnerabilities that may jeopardize security.

How do I change my GPS coordinates for Pokémon GO?

There are plenty of apps available for spoofing your GPS – though their success rate appears to be a little hit-and-miss. 

Alternatively, Android users with a Surfshark subscription can spoof their GPS with the provider’s mock location feature. This forces their phone to use the location provided by the VPN rather than that provided by the GPS sensors. To do this, follow these instructions: 

1. Tap “Settings” then “About phone”
2. Scroll down until you see “Build number”. Quickly tap on “Build number” seven times. A message saying that you are now in Developer mode will appear.
3. Go back to the “Settings” page and tap “System” and the “Developer options”.
4. Scroll down to “Select mock location app” and tap it.
5. Tap the Surfshark entry to set it as the mock location app.

The Pokémon GO creators were relatively quick to realize this mock location workaround was being used. Users who don’t want to risk their account being suspended should therefore also hide the fact that they’re using a mock location. 

This requires using the “Mock Mock Locations” module, which is available here. This module will prevent other apps from knowing that you’re using a mock location in your device settings. However, to use an Xposed module like Mock Mock Locations, you’ll either need to root your device or install a TWRP – or similar – recovery. Be warned – rooting your device is an involved process that can permanently damage your phone – as well as void its warranty. It also puts the onus on you to keep the device’s security up-to-date.   

But what about iOS? It might not surprise you to learn that GPS-spoofing on an iPhone is more difficult. One method involves jailbreaking your device to use a third-party app repository like Cydia, while the other involves using a modified version of the Pokémon Go app. Jailbreaking the device is highly risky unless you know what you’re doing, while modified Pokémon Go apps risk introducing malware onto your device. Proceed with caution in both cases. 

Can I use a free VPN for Pokémon GO?

We wouldn’t recommend it. Free VPNs have small server networks that tend to struggle with the large number of users they attract. This leads to slow and inconsistent connections that can spoil Pokémon GO gameplay. 

More seriously, most free VPNs don’t provide users with adequate security or privacy. Some fail to encrypt internet traffic, while others leak users’ IP addresses. Most have some form of logging policy and employ trackers to collect data. This can be sold to advertisers and data brokers.  

If you can’t afford to pay for a VPN subscription, some of the reputable providers offer a free pared-down version of their full service. These will, at least, use strong encryption and keep your IP address hidden. However, they won’t provide you with the fastest speeds or the largest range of servers. For these, you’ll need to upgrade to the paid versions.   

Pokémon GO VPN FAQs

Are some Pokémon only in certain regions?

Yes, there are Pokémon that can only be caught in a particular region, or continent. Using a VPN means that players don’t need to travel to a different country for the sake of a rare Pokémon. Some of the hundreds of place-specific Pokémon include:

• Pharaoh Furfrou Trim: Egypt
• Torkoal: South Asia
• Farfetch'd: Japan and South Korea
• Chatot: Southern hemisphere
• Corsola: Northern Australia
• Basculin: Anywhere within Europe
• Kangaskhan: Australasia

Is location spoofing illegal with Pokémon Go?

Using a VPN to change your location is not illegal – unless you live in countries where VPNs themselves are illegal. However, note that the company behind Pokémon Go – Niantic – considers VPN use to be cheating. 

Specifically, its terms of service state that “using any techniques to alter or falsify a device’s location (for example through GPS spoofing)” is considered cheating and that “apps may not work on devices that Niantic detects or reasonably suspects to be cheating”. Niantic says that it “may suspend or terminate” the accounts of players caught using a VPN.  

How do I know if my location has changed?

This is easy enough to do. Resources such as whatismyipaddress.com will give you your Public IPv4 address together with an approximate location. You can find your GPS coordinates by tapping on the blue dot used to represent your location in Google Maps.