Updated on: July 19, 2024
Short on time? Here’s the best VPN for Call of Duty in 2024:
- 🥇 ExpressVPN : Maintains lightning-fast speeds while playing Call of Duty, is compatible with cloud gaming platforms, comes with excellent gaming security features, and has easy-to-use apps for all devices, including routers. It also backs all plans with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
I love playing Call of Duty online, but there are a few issues — I never really know if my privacy is safe, if my internet connection is secure, and if my internet service provider (ISP) is throttling my connection speeds. Plus, I hate how it’s so hard to get into bot lobbies to improve my CoD skills.
Fortunately, there’s an easy way to solve all of my concerns — using a VPN. This service allows you to play CoD safely and anonymously from anywhere in the world without your personal data being leaked and without your ISP purposely slowing down your speeds because you’re gaming online. Plus, using a VPN is the easiest way to get into bot lobbies.
Unfortunately, many VPNs are just downright terrible for playing Call of Duty — most of them have very slow speeds, causing me to get lower scores and to lose to my opponents. Other VPNs have buggy apps and lack essential security features that don’t protect you from Distributed-Denial-of-Service (DDoS) attacks, which can disrupt your game and internet connection.
However, all the VPNs on my list are great for gaming — my #1 pick is ExpressVPN due to its blazing-fast speeds, very strong security features, and extremely intuitive apps. Editors' Note: ExpressVPN and this site are in the same ownership group.
Quick summary of the best VPNs for Call of Duty in 2024:
- 🥇 1. ExpressVPN — Best overall VPN for playing Call of Duty in 2024 (dedicated router app for PS and Xbox).
- 🥈 2. Private Internet Access — User-friendly VPN for Call of Duty (also has fast speeds & good security tools).
- 🥉 3. CyberGhost VPN — Low-ping dedicated servers for gaming & convenient VPN connection automation tools.
- 4. Proton VPN — Best free VPN for Call of Duty (has unlimited data & fast gaming speeds).
- 5. Surfshark — Great for avoiding DDoS attacks (also comes with really intuitive apps).
- Plus 2 more!
Editors' Note: Intego, Private Internet Access, CyberGhost and ExpressVPN are owned by Kape Technologies, our parent company
🥇 1. ExpressVPN — Best VPN for Call of Duty in 2024
ExpressVPN is the best VPN for playing Call of Duty. It has the fastest speeds on this list, easy-to-use apps for all devices (including a native router app), and top-notch security features.
In my tests, it provided me with smooth Call of Duty sessions — I didn’t experience crashes, and my connection to the gaming servers never dropped after multiple rounds, ensuring that I kept my rank. ExpressVPN has very fast speeds thanks to Lightway, which is its proprietary protocol that’s faster than other popular protocols like OpenVPN and IKEv2/IPSec. Plus, it also has servers in 105 countries, which makes it very easy to game on nearby servers and provides the fastest speeds.
I also like how ExpressVPN supports cloud gaming services, which stream video games to portable devices like smartphones and tablets. I was able to seamlessly play Call of Duty on my smartphone through GeForce Now while connected to ExpressVPN’s servers.
I really like how ExpressVPN has user-friendly apps. It takes just a few minutes to download and install ExpressVPN on your Android, iOS, Windows, and macOS, and I was able to install it on my router in less than 5 minutes so I could play CoD on my Xbox and PlayStation. If you don’t want to deal with the router app, ExpressVPN even has its own router (Aircove) available for purchase that includes built-in VPN benefits and fast and reliable Wi-Fi connections.
Plus, I like using the Shortcuts feature when I play Call of Duty. This tool lets you set up 1-click shortcuts for apps and sites that show up on your VPN connection screen after you connect to ExpressVPN — so I get instant access to Call of Duty after securing my traffic with the VPN.
ExpressVPN has monthly and yearly plans and comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee. ExpressVPN is a little pricier than some of the other top VPNs, but with our exclusive 49% discount, you can get it for only $6.67 / month.
Bottom Line:
ExpressVPN is my favorite VPN for Call of Duty in 2024 — it has extremely fast speeds for gaming, it’s very secure, and it supports cloud gaming. Plus, it has easy-to-use apps for all devices, including a router app and even its own router. Also, it backs all purchases with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Read the full ExpressVPN review
🥈 2. Private Internet Access — User-Friendly VPN for Call of Duty
Private Internet Access (PIA) is one of the most easy-to-use VPNs for gaming. Its apps have a very intuitive design, which makes it extremely simple to find and change different settings and enable the provider’s features. Plus, I like how all apps provide quick, helpful explanations for all settings and features.
In addition, PIA allows unlimited simultaneous connections, which means you can install and use it on as many devices as you want. This is helpful if you have a lot of people in your household who like to play Call of Duty.
The provider has apps for all major platforms (iOS, Android, Windows, and macOS), and it also has manual router support so that you can use it to game on consoles. On top of that, it comes with step-by-step tutorials that show you how to configure its service on routers — on average, it shouldn’t take you more than 10–15 minutes to do that.
What’s more, PIA also has really good gaming speeds. It has servers in 91 countries, making it very easy to game on nearby servers for the fastest speeds. I also like how it displays the server ping, which represents how long it takes for your device to communicate with the VPN server — the lower the ping, the faster your speeds. This metric makes it easy to narrow down which servers would provide the best speeds.
Additionally, PIA comes with an excellent ad blocker, which is useful for getting rid of ads on websites that host Call of Duty guides. I also like its Identity Guard feature, which checks if your email or passwords have been involved in a data breach, including your gaming login credentials for Call of Duty.
Private Internet Access has affordable plans, which start at only $2.19 / month, and all plans come with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Bottom Line:
Private Internet Access comes with really user-friendly apps for mobile and desktop devices. The provider also allows unlimited simultaneous connections, maintains fast gaming speeds, and has a large server network. Plus, it provides useful security features for gaming, and it backs all plans with a 30-day refund.
Read the full Private Internet Access review
Editors' Note: Private Internet Access and this site are in the same ownership group.
🥉 3. CyberGhost VPN — Dedicated Gaming Servers + Great Automation
CyberGhost VPN has 90+ gaming servers in 4 countries (the US, the UK, Germany, and France), which provide faster downloads and gaming speeds than its regular servers — in my tests, these servers provided me with speeds that were about 8–13% faster than regular servers. It’s also great that the VPN shows the ping for each gaming server, making it easier to narrow down which one to connect to for the fastest speeds.
If for whatever reason you don’t want to use the gaming servers, you get access to a huge server network, numbering locations in 100 countries. So, you should still be able to get fast speeds while playing Call of Duty since it’s easy to connect to nearby servers.
CyberGhost VPN is great for people who are new to VPNs. The app design is intuitive, allowing you to easily navigate the interface and find all settings. All of the features and settings have short definitions, so you always know what they do. I like how easy it is to find the provider’s gaming servers, as they have their own dedicated tab on the left side of the main menu.
The VPN also provides excellent automation for VPN connections via its Smart Rules feature. For example, I used the feature to configure the CyberGhost VPN to automatically connect me to a gaming server and launch Call of Duty when I open the VPN client.
CyberGhost also comes with strong security features. One of my favorites is Identity Guard, which alerts you if your login credentials are compromised — so you can use this tool to protect your logins for Call of Duty and any game launchers you use to play the game.
CyberGhost VPN offers plans that start at $2.19 / month and backs all long-term plans with a lengthy 45-day money-back guarantee (the monthly plan has a 14-day money-back guarantee).
Bottom Line:
CyberGhost VPN has dedicated gaming servers, a very large server network, intuitive apps, and convenient automation tools for playing Call of Duty while connected to the VPN. It also covers all long-term plans with a 45-day money-back guarantee.
Read the full CyberGhost VPN review
Editors' Note: CyberGhost and this site are in the same ownership group.
4. Proton VPN — Best Free VPN for Call of Duty
Proton VPN’s free version provides unlimited bandwidth, which means you can use it to play Call of Duty as much as you want — some free VPNs limit how much data you can use each day or month. The free version comes with servers in 5 countries (the US, the Netherlands, Romania, Poland, and Japan), and it only lets you connect 1 device.
Also, the free plan automatically connects you to the fastest server for your location. It doesn’t let you choose which server you use. I actually find this a bit convenient when playing Call of Duty — instead of manually finding and connecting to a server, I just launch Proton VPN, automatically connect to a fast server, and start gaming right away.
Upgrading to Proton VPN’s paid plans is worth it since it provides more perks, like servers in 100 countries, support for up to 10 connections, and access to VPN Accelerator. The latter is a feature that is designed to boost VPN speeds on distant servers — this would come in handy if you play Call of Duty on distant servers to get into bot lobbies.
The paid version also includes access to Profiles, which allows you to customize how you connect to the VPN (it’s similar to CyberGhost VPN’s Smart Rules tool). You can name the profile and color-code it, choose which protocol it uses, and pick which country and server it connects to.
What’s more, the provider has easy-to-use apps for all major platforms, and it comes with router support too — though, you’ll need to manually set up the VPN on your router (it doesn’t have a router app, like ExpressVPN).
Proton VPN has monthly and yearly plans that start at $3.59 / month and come with a prorated 30-day money-back guarantee.
Bottom Line:
Proton VPN has the best free plan for playing Call of Duty — it provides unlimited bandwidth, fast speeds, and access to intuitive apps. And upgrading to the paid version provides access to many perks, including a huge server network and a speed-boosting feature. The VPN also backs all plans with a prorated 30-day refund.
Read the full Proton VPN review
5. Surfshark — Great for Avoiding DDoS Attacks
Surfshark has really good anti-DDoS protection. While all the VPNs on this list are great for avoiding DDoS attacks while playing Call of Duty, Surfshark’s IP Rotator feature makes it stand out — this tool regularly changes your VPN IP address while you’re connected to the VPN, which makes it much harder for anyone to track your VPN IP and DDoS your connection to the VPN.
Even better, IP Rotator will change your VPN IP address without dropping your VPN connection — so, using this feature won’t disrupt your Call of Duty matches.
Plus, the VPN has servers in 100 countries and fast gaming speeds. You can also configure it to display the server ping, which makes it easy to find and connect to the fastest server location.
And Surfshark is really easy to use as well. Its apps come with an intuitive interface, and provide helpful explanations for all settings and features. And the provider also allows unlimited simultaneous connection.
That said, if you wanted to use a cloud gaming platform (like GeForce Now) to play Call of Duty, I wouldn’t use Surfshark since there’s only a 50-50 chance it works with cloud gaming services. It’s better to get ExpressVPN instead since it guarantees 24/7 compatibility with cloud gaming platforms.
Surfshark’s prices start as low as $2.19 / month, and there’s a 30-day money-back guarantee for all purchases.
Bottom Line:
Surfshark provides very good anti-DDoS protection via its IP Rotator feature. In addition, it has a large server network, fast connection speeds, intuitive apps, and support for unlimited connections. And it also backs all of its plans with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Read the full Surfshark review here
6. NordVPN — Security-Focused VPN for Call of Duty
NordVPN has very good security features for CoD players. For starters, it has Dark Web Monitor, which alerts you if your NordVPN login credentials are compromised. If you use the same login details for your CoD account, you can use this feature to keep an eye on them too.
NordVPN also includes one of the best ad blockers I’ve tested, Threat Protection Pro, which blocked the majority of ads and annoying pop-ups on CoD guide sites, while also preventing me from going to suspicious websites. Unlike most ad blockers, it even remains active while the VPN is off, which makes it very helpful for all users. And this feature also has an app vulnerability scanner on Windows, which alerts you if the CoD app is outdated.
And, the provider also has really good gaming speeds, mostly thanks to its proprietary NordLynx protocol that’s built around the WireGuard protocol (which is very fast). Plus, NordVPN also has servers in 111 countries. In addition, it comes with split-tunneling, which is a feature that lets you pick which apps use the VPN, and which ones use your local internet connection — if you use it to only route Call of Duty traffic through the VPN, you might boost your gaming speeds.
Other than that, NordVPN has intuitive apps for all major platforms, and it has router support too (but it sadly doesn’t come with a convenient router app, like ExpressVPN does).
NordVPN comes with affordable plans that start at $6.67 / month. All plans come with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Bottom Line:
NordVPN provides high-end security for CoD gamers via its Dark Web Monitor and Threat Protection Pro features. It also maintains fast speeds, has a large server network, and comes with split-tunneling. Also, it has a 30-day money-back guarantee for all of its plans.
7. PrivateVPN — Good VPN for Beginners
PrivateVPN is a very simplistic VPN for playing Call of Duty — there’s a minimalistic dashboard, there aren’t a lot of features or settings to worry about, and it’s very easy to navigate the app and connect to a server.
I like how the Windows app has Simple View and Advanced View modes. The Simple View is perfect for new users because the only options you have are connecting to a server and accessing live support and your account — the Advanced View provides users with more customization.
All of the servers display the ping, and the ping speed is indicated by a color-coded system — green for good, yellow for average, and red for slow. So, I was always able to quickly find the fastest gaming servers. PrivateVPN also lets you change your encryption level to boost your speeds in the Advanced View. But, I think it’s a shame that the provider doesn’t come with split-tunneling (like ExpressVPN and Private Internet Access), as that tool would be even more useful for boosting your CoD speeds when connected to the VPN.
PrivateVPN has affordable plans that start at $2.00 / month and comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Bottom Line:
PrivateVPN is very user-friendly, making it a great Call of Duty VPN for beginners. It also has good speeds and displays the server ping, which is a useful metric. Plus, it backs all plans with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Read the full PrivateVPN review
Quick Comparison Table
Editors' Note: Intego, Private Internet Access, CyberGhost and ExpressVPN are owned by Kape Technologies, our parent company
Testing Methodology: Comparison & Ranking Criteria
I followed our tried-and-true testing methodology to choose and rank the best VPNs for Call of Duty. I’ve tested each with Call of Duty on different devices to evaluate their ease of use, security and privacy, and speed performance, among other things. Here’s a more detailed look at the criteria I used:
- I made sure each VPN offers anti-DDoS protection. VPNs protect you against DDoS attacks by hiding your IP address (hackers can’t use it to DDoS your network). A DDoS attack is when another user routes large amounts of traffic to your network, forcing you offline, disconnecting you from the Call of Duty server, or creating lag to slow down your connection. Most of the VPNs on my list also have anti-DDoS protection on their servers. This way, you’re protected even if someone decides to DDoS the VPN server you’re connected to.
- I looked for VPNs with great security features. Every VPN on this list comes with industry-standard VPN security features (bank-grade 256-bit AES encryption, kill switch, and a no-logs policy), strong leak protection, and secure protocols. Most even have advanced security features, such as full leak protection, RAM-only servers that wipe all data on each reset, and perfect forward secrecy, which changes the encryption key for each VPN session.
- I prioritized VPNs with large server networks. A large server network allows you to connect to a nearby location for the fastest possible speeds or any location you want to get into bot lobbies in Call of Duty and avoid peak hours.
- I tested each VPN’s speeds. All VPNs slow down your speeds because they encrypt your data, but good VPNs minimize the speed loss. The VPNs on this list didn’t cause any lag or slowdowns when I played Call of Duty. ExpressVPN has the fastest gaming speeds.
- I checked their ease of use. The VPNs on this list have easy-to-use apps for iOS, Android, Windows, and macOS with intuitive interfaces and 1-click connections. They also have router support so you can connect your Xbox and PlayStation consoles to a VPN server.
- I considered every VPN’s overall value. I only recommend VPNs that allow multiple connections, offer affordable plans, and back each purchase with a money-back guarantee.
Why Use a VPN With Call of Duty
A VPN is the best and easiest way to get into bot lobbies in Call of Duty. Bot lobbies offer an easier matchup because they have players with skills that don’t measure up to yours or those you typically match with. These players might be new to the game and/or have very low kill/death averages.
Call of Duty’s matchmaking system appears to use a Skill-Based Matchmaking (SBMM) algorithm (there’s no official confirmation), that pits you against players of a similar skill level. This way the system promotes fair play in the game, but it also makes advancing or winning more challenging as it consistently matches you with tough competitors.
The matchmaking system in the game also looks at your geographical location and time zone. Since matches are ideally created based on the availability of players fitting the matchmaking criteria in your region, playing during peak times in your area could mean tougher competitions due to a larger pool of players.
A VPN solves all of these “problems” by changing your IP address, which shows your geographic location.
Connecting to a server in a different country, where the overall skill level is lower than in your location, can not only put you in matches more favorable in terms of competition but also lets you find games at times when your local player base is less active. For example, playing from the US during local evening times can be more competitive due to a higher player count. Connecting through a VPN to a server in a region where it’s off-peak hours, like the UK, during their early morning hours, can result in less competitive matches.
This also means you can use a VPN to improve your overall skills in the game by facing a different caliber of opponents and experiencing different game dynamics based on regional play styles. Just remember that there’s no guarantee that a VPN will always get you into a bot lobby — it will only increase the odds of that happening.
I also recommend using a VPN for Call of Duty to protect your security and privacy in-game. For example, being connected to a VPN means a sore loser won’t be able to directly DDoS you and force you offline.
What’s more, your ISP won’t be able to throttle your speeds when you play Call of Duty if you’re connected to a VPN. Some ISPs slow down your speeds if they detect heavy-bandwidth activities, like playing Call of Duty, to minimize network congestion. Since VPNs encrypt all of your traffic, they can’t see what you’re doing online, and in turn, can’t throttle your Call of Duty speeds.
Top Brands That Didn’t Make the Cut
- Astrill VPN. Astrill VPN has good speeds for gaming, but its apps look pretty outdated (though, they’re still easy to use). However, I don’t like how expensive it is, as its plans start at $12.50 / month.
- TunnelBear. This provider is very easy to use, and it also provides good gaming speeds and a pretty large server network. But while it has mobile and desktop apps, it doesn’t come with router support — so you can’t use it to play Call of Duty on consoles.
- Perfect Privacy VPN. Perfect Privacy VPN is secure, with fast speeds on local servers and unlimited device connections. However, its server network is small, it has noticeable slowdowns on distant servers, it doesn’t offer split-tunneling, its customer support is terrible, and its Windows app is buggy. Overall, the VPNs on this list offer a much better value for playing Call of Duty.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the best VPN for Call of Duty?
ExpressVPN is my favorite VPN for Call of Duty in 2024 — it has excellent security features (including protection against DDoS attacks), maintains very fast speeds while playing Call of Duty, is compatible with cloud gaming platforms, has very intuitive apps, and comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Do you need a VPN for Call of Duty?
Yes, I strongly recommend using a VPN when you play Call of Duty online. A VPN provides extra layers of security and privacy for gaming. Plus, a VPN might increase your odds of getting into bot lobbies, and it also makes it harder for your internet service provider to throttle your CoD speeds.
How do I install a VPN on a gaming console?
To use a VPN on your gaming console, you’ll have to configure the software on your router. Gaming consoles like PlayStation and Xbox don’t natively support VPN software, so there’s no direct way to set it up on them.
The steps you need to follow to configure the VPN on your router vary based on the type of router you have and the VPN provider you use. In most cases, you’ll need to download the VPN files to a computer, remotely access your router and upload the VPN files. Once the VPN is set up on the router, all you’ll have to do is connect your gaming console to the router network and launch Call of Duty.
All VPNs I recommend here can be set up on a VPN-compatible router, but only ExpressVPN has a dedicated router app you can directly install on your router.
Can you use a free VPN for Call of Duty?
Yes, you can use a free VPN for playing Call of Duty, but I usually don’t recommend this. Most free VPNs lack important security features, log your traffic, are slow, limit how much data you can use, and have glitchy apps. But if you insist on using a free VPN, try Proton VPN’s free plan since it provides unlimited data and fast speeds.
However, I strongly recommend that you purchase a premium VPN like ExpressVPN. It’s extremely secure, provides very fast speeds for playing Call of Duty, has intuitive apps for most platforms, works with cloud gaming platforms, and offers a 30-day money-back guarantee.
What’s the fastest VPN for Call of Duty?
In my tests, ExpressVPN provided me with the fastest speeds for playing Call of Duty — I connected to gaming servers instantly, I always had low ping, I didn’t experience lag, and large updates downloaded really fast.
