The best VPN for Warzone helps you access easy lobbies and game without lagging. We rolled up our sleeves to do speed tests and figure out which VPNs can do that easily, and this is our top 5:
- NordVPN: The best VPN for Warzone
- PIA: The largest server network
- CyberGhost: Dedicated gaming servers
- Surfshark: Affordable pick for easy lobbies
- ExpressVPN: Best option to play Warzone on consoles
NordVPN is the best choice you can make if you need a Warzone VPN. Even if you’re not after easy lobbies, you can still use NordVPN to prevent ISP throttling, play anonymously, and defend yourself from DDoS attacks while streaming Warzone.
Keep reading to find out why all of these options make our list.
Call of Duty: Warzone is one of the most popular games of this generation. Activision nailed their entry into the Battle Royale genre, leveraging Call of Duty’s brand recognition and Modern Warfare’s excellent gunplay.
Warzone is played by millions of people around the globe. Activision uses skill-based matchmaking (SBMM), which puts you in matches with players that share a similar skill level. But you can get around that by using a VPN.
With a VPN, you can avoid that, boost your K/D ratio, and rack up some easy wins. If you aren’t in the mood for intense matchups, using a VPN is a great way to get around skill-based matchmaking.
We tested 15+ VPNs to find the top 5 VPNs for Warzone that work best. Here’s our detailed comparison.
The Top 5 VPNs for Warzone
Based on our research and testing, NordVPN is the best VPN for Warzone. However, it’s got a lot of competition. Here’s a brief comparison showing the top 5 VPNs for Warzone and how they stack against each other.
| Features | NordVPN | PIA | CyberGhost | Surfshark | ExpressVPN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of servers | 5,600+ | 33,000+ | 9,200+ | 3,200+ | 3,000+ |
| Number of countries | 59 | 84 | 91 | 100 | 94 |
| Ping (ms) on nearby servers | 5-10 | 30-50 | 6-12 | 7-14 | 5-11 |
| Protocols | OpenVPN, IKEv2, NordLynx | OpenVPN, WireGuard, L2TP/IPsec, PPTP | OpenVPN, IKEv2, WireGuard | OpenVPN, IKEv2, WireGuard | OpenVPN, IKEv2, WireGuard, Lightway |
| Price | $2.99/month | $2.03/month | $2.03/month | $1.99/month | $6.67/month |
| Get it here | Get NordVPN | Get PIA | Get CyberGhost | Get Surfshark | Get ExpressVPN |
If you want to know what makes each of these options great, read on. We’ll outline the pros and cons of all VPN providers.
1. NordVPN: The best Warzone VPN overall
- Very low ping (5-10ms) on close servers
- 5,900+ servers across 59 countries
- Unlimited bandwidth
- Robust security features
- OpenVPN, IKEv2, and NordLynx protocols
NordVPN is one of the (if not THE) fastest Warzone VPN on the market. It’s one of the best gaming VPNs right now, and performs exceptionally well with Warzone.
When we tested NordVPN’s speeds, we maintained 90-99% of our original connection speed after connecting to nearby servers. And the distant servers didn’t perform much worse.
With more than 5,900 servers across 59 countries, you won’t have any trouble finding a decent lobby in all major countries where Warzone has a solid player base. The server choice, the great speeds, and support for fast VPN protocols like their proprietary NordLynx, which is built around WireGuard.
Not to mention, NordVPN has an amazing security suite. If you’re streaming Call of Duty Warzone, you won’t have to worry about DDoS attacks or anything similar if you use NordVPN. And all of this is just $2.99/month, with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
- Fast and large worldwide network of VPN servers
- No logs, perfect for privacy
- Great for streaming sports and Netflix
You can try out NordVPN’s free trial, which lets you use it for 30 days and get your money back if you’re dissatisfied. Or, learn more in our NordVPN review.
2. PIA: Warzone VPN with excellent server choice
- Ping under 80ms
- Over 33,000 servers in 84 countries
- Unlimited bandwidth
- Reliable protection against DDoS attacks
- OpenVPN, WireGuard, L2TP/IPsec, PPTP protocols
PIA ranks second on this list because of its expansive server network and its admirable performance with Warzone. Based on our testing with the game, we got pings between 30-50ms, so your gameplay won’t be affected by much.
If your internet connection is good enough (at least 100 Mbps), then PIA is a great choice. It has 33,000+ servers in 84 countries. So no matter where you live, you’ll probably find a nearby VPN server in a country where Call of Duty Warzone’s not popular.
This can help you unlock bot lobbies and have a relaxed game. PIA also has a very good security infrastructure. It will hide your IP address, and keep you anonymous while you join games, chat over Discord, or browse Warzone subreddits.
And the best part? It’s very cheap. You can get PIA for $2.03/month, with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
- Strong focus on privacy and security
- Good price
- Fast and stable servers
If you want to learn more about Private Internet Access, check out our PIA VPN review.
3. CyberGhost: Reliable Warzone VPN with dedicated gaming servers
- Very low ping (6-12ms)
- 9,300+ servers in 91 countries
- 10 Gbps servers with no bandwidth limits
- Supports split tunneling
- OpenVPN, IKEv2, and WireGuard protocols
CyberGhost is one of the best VPNs for Warzone, and it does so well simply because of its gaming-optimized servers, which are specifically designed for fast-paced shooters like Warzone, Valorant, or Overwatch 2.
If you connect to their standard servers, you’ll notice a speed drop of around 15 Mbps. However, if you pick any of their servers from the For Gaming section (in the app), the impact is marginal.
The only downside is that gaming-optimized servers are only located in Frankfurt, Paris, London, and New York. So, if you’re connecting from a distant country (such as India), the speed drop will be significant.
The good thing is that CyberGhost has standard servers in 91 countries. Their standard servers are fairly good too, especially if you have a fast connection.
And don’t worry, you won’t have to dig deep into your pocket for this one. You can get CyberGhost for as little as $2.03/month, and it comes with a 45-day money-back guarantee.
- Very user-friendly
- High quality for a low price
- Torrents and Netflix possible
CyberGhost’s free trial is great if you want to try it risk-free. Check our full CyberGhost review to get more information about this excellent VPN.
4. Surfshark: Affordable Warzone VPN with fast servers
- Low ping (7-14ms)
- 3,200 servers in 100 countries
- Excellent protection from DDoS attacks and other cyber threats
- Protects against bandwidth throttling
- Offers OpenVPN, WireGuard, and IKEv2
If you’re looking for an affordable VPN without sacrificing speed or performance, you can’t go wrong with Surfshark. It’s under $2 a month, and comes with a slew of excellent features, such as split tunneling, a kill switch, and DNS leak protection.
We tested its connection speed on dozens of servers while playing Warzone, and the results were really good. We only had 7-14 ms of ping on nearby servers.
Even on faraway servers, we maintained speeds of over 70 Mbps (our base speed was 100 Mbps). You only need about 35-50 Mbps to play games online without substantial latency, so Surfshark is an excellent VPN for Warzone.
And if you stream simultaneously, it also protects against DDoS attacks and other online dangers. It costs $1.99/month, and you get a 30-day money-back guarantee.
- Very user-friendly and works with Netflix and torrents
- 30-day money-back guarantee. No questions asked!
- Cheap with many extra options
Interested in learning more about this VPN? Check out our full Surfshark review.
5. ExpressVPN: The best option for playing Warzone on consoles
- Minimal impact on latency (5-11ms)
- 3,000+ servers across 94 countries
- No bandwidth restrictions
- Military-grade AES-256 bit encryption
- Offers OpenVPN IKEv2, Wireguard, and Lightway protocols
ExpressVPN performed really well in our speed tests with Warzone. When connected to nearby servers, the ping was between 5-11ms, which means the impact on your gameplay experience will be marginal.
But that’s not even ExpressVPN’s biggest advantage. You see, installing a VPN on consoles is nearly impossible. Users often install a VPN on their Wi-Fi router and then connect to their console. That’s why it’s a great VPN for changing the region on your PS4 or the PS5.
You can easily set up ExpressVPN in a few steps on your console, making it easier to quickly start gaming if you play on an Xbox or a PlayStation.
That’s not all. ExpressVPN also has a huge VPN server network spread across 94 countries, and military-grade encryption to keep you safe online.
The only disadvantage is its steep price, and that’s why it’s so low on the list. ExpressVPN will set you back $6.67/month.
- Very easy-to-use VPN
- Perfect for anonymous browsing, downloading, and streaming (i.e., Netflix)
- 3,000+ servers in 94 countries
For more information, check out our ExpressVPN review. You can also get a 30-day free trial for ExpressVPN and try it without any restrictions.
How We Picked the Best VPNs for Warzone
Call of Duty Warzone is a competitive online FPS. So right off the bat, speed is the most important thing when looking for a VPN. Playing Warzone is no fun if you’re lagging and can’t react in time to enemy movements.
But that’s not the only thing we looked at in our research and tests. Here are the key factors we took into account for our list of the best VPNs for Warzone.
Speed
High ping (ms) when playing any online game is the worst, more so when playing competitive shooters. We only picked VPNs that maintain decent connection speeds when connected to nearby servers.
Server network
If you’re looking for a Call of Duty Warzone VPN, you most likely want a quick fix to get into bot lobbies. So we only chose VPNs that have a large server network. This way, no matter where you live, you’ll be able to find a nearby server and avoid skill-based matchmaking.
Online protection
If you play Warzone and engage with communities on Discord or Reddit, dozens of third parties see your IP address. This exposure is one of the reasons that gaming streamers get DDoSed or even doxxed. We only picked VPNs that offer protection.
Price and service
Good VPNs stand out with more than just features. For this list, we only picked VPN providers that offer excellent value for money, and provide a money-back guarantee too.
How to Install a Warzone VPN
If this is your first time using a VPN, you might be confused by all the technical terms. But don’t worry, using a VPN is quite simple. To help you get started, we’ve created guides on how to install the best Warzone VPNs on your device.
How to install a VPN on your Windows PC
If you use a Windows PC to play Call of Duty Warzone, you’re in luck. It’s really easy to get started, and you’ll be joining bot lobbies in no time. Here’s how to install a VPN for Warzone on your PC:
- Subscribe to a VPN. We recommend NordVPN due to its high speeds and large server network.
- Download the VPN app from your provider’s site. A download button is usually readily available on a thank you page or even the home page.
- Double-click on the .exe file you just downloaded. It should be in the default “Downloads” folder of your PC.
- Go through the installation process. You will be prompted with explanations every time you need to click “Next” or “Finish”.
- Open the VPN application. If you want to play Warzone in bot lobbies, pick a country where it’s not too popular (check the list below).
- Press “Connect.”
- Start playing Warzone and enjoy free games without any risk.
How to install a Call of Duty Warzone VPN on consoles
Installation on consoles is a bit more complicated. In fact, unless your PS or Xbox is jailbroken, you won’t be able to install a VPN application on it.
Instead, you’ll need to either install the VPN on your router (the hard way) or turn another device into a router (the easy way). Here’s how to turn your PC into a virtual router:
- Connect your PC to the internet via a LAN cable.
- Connect to the VPN service of your choice. We recommend NordVPN.
- Open Command Prompt. Type “cmd” in the search bar to pull it up quickly.
- Copy this line: netsh wlan set hostednetwork mode=allow ssid=XXXXX key=YYYY
- Change the “XXXXX” to a network name, and the YYYY to a password.
- Paste this into Command Prompt and hit enter. Your new connection is now set up.
- In Command Prompt, type “netsh wlan start hostednetwork” and press enter.
- Connect your console to the new network.
If you want a detailed guide, check out our article on setting up a virtual router on your PC. If you don’t have a Windows PC, you can set up a virtual router on your macOS device too.
Countries with Bot Lobbies in Warzone
To ensure a balanced match, COD: Warzone uses SBMM (Skill-Based Match Making). This bundles players together based on their online shooter chops.
But what happens when there aren’t enough similarly skilled players on a server at a given time to create a match? COD replaces potential players with bots, or weaker players. That’s where the name “bot lobbies” comes from.
Warzone is popular in places like the US or China. If you live there, you probably won’t get into bot lobbies. However, there are places where Warzone isn’t as popular, like:
- Hawaii
- Egypt
- Argentina
- Sri Lanka
- Singapore
If you connect to a server in one of these regions, you have a much higher chance of getting an easy lobby. However, manipulating SBMM and finding bot lobbies isn’t an exact science. It’s really down to you to experiment and see which servers are near your location and feature easy lobbies.
Is NoLag a Good VPN For Warzone?
NoLag is a popular VPN for Warzone. It’s specially designed to help you find bot lobbies, and it’s pretty easy to use. So a lot of people pick that when they’re looking for the best VPN for Warzone. And if you just want a quick and easy solution, it’s definitely a decent pick.
But we don’t recommend it. First, because it’s really expensive. NoLag VPN will set you back $4.90/month for an annual subscription. NordVPN is only $2.99/month, and decently fast VPNs like CyberGhost can be as cheap as $2.19/month.
Second, because you’re sacrificing a lot of features. Cheaper VPNs like CyberGhost come with military-grade encryption, content-unblocking features, and world-class support. There’s no reason you would want to spend more on a VPN with less features.
VPNs to Avoid
While researching and testing the best VPNs for Warzone, we found a few apps that we don’t recommend. Not all of these are outright bad, but they just don’t fit the needs of anyone that wants to enjoy Call of Duty Warzone. Here they are:
tr>
| VPN Provider | Why You Should Avoid It |
|---|---|
| BeetVPN | Slow connection speeds and logs data |
| NoLagVPN | Expensive and stripped of features |
| Betternet VPN | Collects user data and sells to third parties, and has been known to infect devices with malware |
| Hola VPN | Logs online activity and doesn’t encrypt your connection |
| Trust.Zone | Promises several VPN protocols but only offers one |
A free VPN can be attractive if you don’t want to spend any money on VPNs. But trust me, a free VPN won’t do much to help you play Warzone. Free VPNs have very few servers, so they can’t maintain reliable speeds.
You’ll just struggle with ping for a few minutes before giving up. Even a fast internet connection isn’t enough to overcome this. Plus, you don’t get any useful features like DNS leak protection, gaming optimized servers, or your pick of any server location.
Conclusion: The Best VPNs for Warzone
Warzone is an amazing game. The thrill of clutching a round and besting your opponents is unique. But sometimes you don’t want to challenge yourself.
You just want a chill game in an easy lobby. And that’s exactly what a VPN can get you. Just connect to a server where COD: Warzone isn’t popular and enjoy being matchmade with bots, or weaker players.
NordVPN is the best pick if you want free games in Warzone. And it can do way more for you. It will keep your ping low, protect you from DDoS attacks, and help you enjoy tons of geo-blocked content online.
If you want to make the most out of your games, don’t forget to also check out:
- The best VPNs for PlayStation
- How to remove a Fortnite IP ban
- The best VPNs for Minecraft
- The 7 Best VPNs for Xbox
Here’s some frequently asked questions to help clear any doubts you might have.
Any place where COD isn’t popular is a good VPN location for Warzone. The closer it is to you, the lower your ping will be too. We recommend Hawaii, but it’s not the only option. You can switch locations using any of the best VPNs for Warzone.
The best gaming VPN is NordVPN. Its speed, reliability, and easy installation on routers make it the best option for gamers. It’s also one of the best VPNs for playing Warzone.
There’s no mention in Activision’s terms of service about the use of a VPN. So it’s not directly banned. And we haven’t heard any stories of “shadow banning.” So yes, you can use a VPN on Warzone.
If you get a premium VPN service, you just need to install it, choose a server and press “Connect.” If you need a more detailed guide, check out our article about the best VPNs for Warzone.
