Best VPNs for Warzone in 2024: Lag-free gaming

Want to access easier Warzone lobbies? In this guide, we explain how to use a Warzone VPN to bypass rank-based matchmaking and access Warzone lobbies internationally. 

Are you a dedicated Call of Duty Warzone player who's tired of facing highly competitive opponents? If so, you're not alone. Many players find Warzone lobbies to be challenging. A Warzone VPN can help level the playing field and increase your chances of getting dubs.

A Warzone VPN allows you to connect to international Call of Duty servers, making it ideal for players living abroad who want to team up with fellow gamers who speak their language. Using a VPN for Warzone can also help you bypass skill-based matchmaking (SBMM), enabling you to access more relaxed lobbies and bot matches.

The best VPNs for Call of Duty, including Warzone, Modern Warfare 3, and Modern Warfare 2, let you change your IP address to a different country. By connecting to a VPN server overseas, you can access different Warzone lobbies, increasing your chances of finding easier opponents. Furthermore, a VPN can help you bypass ISP throttling, which improves your ping and gaming experience.

Ready to showcase your skills and win more Warzone games? In this guide, we'll explain how to use a VPN to find easier opponents in Call of Duty Warzone. We'll also recommend the fastest VPNs for Warzone to ensure you get the best possible connection.

For now, here is our pick of the best VPNs for Warzone:

1. NordVPN: Best VPN for Call of Duty Warzone. Has a massive network of over 5,500 servers in 60+ countries. NordVPN guarantees optimal gaming speeds and makes it simple to access easier lobbies. Robust no-logs policy, 24/7 customer support, and a risk-free 30-day money-back guarantee. Nordlynx protocol is perfect for HD streaming and gaming.
2. Surfshark: A reliable budget-friendly VPN that is perfect for COD Warzone. Offers unlimited connections, making it great for families. Has servers in over 100 countries and super fast WireGuard connections.  Strong security features and a no-logs policy. Offers 24/7 customer support.
3. ExpressVPN: A fantastic all-around VPN choice for players aiming to access easier Call of Duty Warzone lobbies. Has a vast network with more than 3,000 servers across 100+ countries. Its proprietary Lightway protocol ensures fast and reliable connections for gaming. 
4. CyberGhost VPN: A fast, low-cost VPN that is perfect for beginners. Ideal for gamers looking for a more enjoyable Call of Duty Warzone experience. 9,000+ servers in over 100 countries make it easy to access different COD servers. User-friendly interface with dedicated gaming servers. Solid encryption and a no-logs policy.  
5. Proton VPN: A highly reliable, secure, and versatile VPN. Fast speeds for gaming, torrenting, and streaming. Provides servers in 69+ countries, making it an excellent choice for enhanced Call of Duty Warzone matchmaking. Can let you access easier lobbies and bypass ISP throttling. Supports port forwarding for torrenting. 
6. PrivateVPN: A dependable and secure VPN with around 350 servers in 63+ countries. Suitable for gamers who want to find easier Warzone lobbies. PrivateVPN has a no-logs policy and offers strong encryption and a kill switch. 24/7 live chat support.

Summary Table

At BleepingComputer, we take care only to recommend VPNs and security tools that offer world-class protection. To this end, we carefully test leading VPNs in search of providers that have reliable features capable of protecting you against hackers and online surveillance. 

Our recommendation process involves checking each VPN under the hood to analyze its security features, testing the kill switch, checking for DNS and IP leaks, and evaluating the privacy policy to ensure that the VPN is treating user data with care and refraining from keeping logs.

As part of our testing methodology, we test the VPN's performance and ensure that the VPN is fast enough for playing Warzone without lag. We also check that the VPN works to access popular services like Netflix US and that it allows torrenting throughout its network.

If you want to know more about how we test VPNs, you can scroll down to our methodology section. For now, here is a list of the main criteria we used to pick the best VPNs for Call of Duty Warzone:

• Fast servers for gaming.
• Reliable apps that provide quick connections.
• Speedy protocols like WireGuard that are well-suited for gaming.
• A large global server network that can help you find easier Warzone lobbies.
• Excellent value for money.
• World-class support to help you with setting up and using the VPN.
• In order to qualify for one of the top three positions, the VPN must operate a 100% diskless server network and have had its infrastructure audited by a reputable third party.

Best VPNs for Warzone: Detailed reviews

All of the VPNs recommended in this guide are reliable and secure. They all offer fast speeds for gaming and can let you find easier Call of Duty Warzone lobbies. They also have apps for Windows, iOS, and Android that make it easy to play any version of COD Warzone. 

Each VPN differs slightly. Some are cheaper, while others are better for torrenting or streaming. We recommend reading our summaries to find the best VPN for all your needs.

NordVPN takes our top spot as the ultimate VPN for improving your Warzone gaming experience. Based in Panama, NordVPN is a highly secure and reliable VPN with a no-logs policy, secure diskless servers, and apps and servers that have been independently audited.

With a vast network of over 6,000 high-speed servers spanning 60+ countries, including regions where Activision hosts game servers, NordVPN stands out as one of the fastest VPNs for gaming. This speed advantage optimizes your Warzone gameplay and lets you bypass ISP throttling to get the best possible speeds for playing COD.

NordVPN's user-friendly apps are convenient and available for all major platforms. These include Windows and mobile apps for playing either version of Warzone. You can share your connection from a PC to an Xbox or Playstation, or install the VPN on a router to share your VPN connection that way.

Its feature-rich apps prioritize privacy and security, offering essential tools such as a kill-switch, obfuscation, DNS leak protection, Tor over VPN, and double-hop connections. This makes it a secure option for preventing local networks, ISPs, and governments from tracking you online. It also makes it a reliable option for secure remote working or for private torrenting.

This provider maintains a strict no-logs policy and employs solid encryption. We recommend the Nordlynx protocol for playing Warzone. Plus, this VPN works to access Netflix US, Hulu, HBO Max, and many other popular streaming services. You can try the VPN using its risk-free 30-day money-back guarantee.

BEST WARZONE VPN: NordVPN has fast servers in over 60 countries that work to access more Warzone servers. Fast Nordlynx protocol is ideal for HD streaming, gaming, and torrenting. No logs policy. Strong encryption and a kill switch. Risk-free 30-day money-back guarantee. 

Read our full review of NordVPN.

Surfshark is a high-performance VPN that represents incredible value for money. Subscribers get access to a network of 3,200+ servers spanning more than 100+ countries. This gives you plenty of options for accessing international Warzone lobbies, or other region-blocked services like Netflix US, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, and HBO Max.

The provider puts user privacy first. It has a solid no-logs policy that never retains records of your IP address or your activities. Apps are available for all popular platforms and come equipped with strong encryption, a kill switch, obfuscation, ad blocking, malware protection, DNS leak protection, and a SOCKS5 proxy. It allows torrenting throughout its network and provides split tunneling so you can torrent with the VPN while doing other tasks over your regular internet connection.

Surfshark is one of the fastest VPNs for Warzone thanks to the WireGuard protocol. This makes it a reliable option for playing COD or other popular battle royale games like Fortnite and PUBG. 

If you need any help setting up or using the VPN, you can connect with Surfshark agents via 24/7 live chat. It allows unlimited connections, which means you can share your account with friends and family.  

BEST CHEAP VPN FOR WARZONE: Surfshark hosts servers in more than 100 countries, ideal for accessing easier Warzone lobbies. Apps for desktop and mobile to play any version of Warzone. Lightning-fast speeds for gaming and streaming. 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full review of Surfshark.

ExpressVPN is one of the longest-running VPNs on the market. It boasts a solid reputation and an unwavering commitment to user privacy. Its privacy policy, network, and apps have been thoroughly audited by an independent third-party security firm. It has a solid no-logging policy and operates diskless servers in over 100 countries that can be instantly erased in an emergency.

ExpressVPN’s feature-rich applications offer a selection of useful privacy and security tools, making it an exceptional VPN not only for accessing different Call of Duty regions but also for using the internet privately at home, at work, and on public WiFi. 

You can install and use ExpressVPN on Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android. You can play either the desktop version of Warzone for Windows or Warzone Mobile. ExpressVPN's apps come with a kill switch, AES encryption, native obfuscation, and split tunneling, which is a decent feature set. The only drawback is that it is a touch expensive compared to our top picks. 

One of the best things about ExpressVPN is its proprietary Lightway protocol, which offers ideal speeds for gaming, streaming, and torrenting. Plus, in our tests, it worked to stream over a dozen Netflix regions, HBO Max, Disney Plus, Hulu, iPlayer, and other popular streaming platforms. This makes it a reliable all-rounder for accessing streams on vacation or at work.

SPEEDY AND RELIABLE: ExpressVPN’s Lightway protocol is specifically designed to give you fast speeds for gaming and streaming. No-logs policy and strong encryption make it secure for playing Warzone at work. Prevents ISP throttling and tracking. Works with many international streaming services, perfect for when you go on vacation. Comes with live chat support and a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full review of ExpressVPN.

CyberGhost VPN is based in Romania, a location that lacks invasive surveillance agencies and mandatory data retention directives. The VPN is well known for its user-friendly apps that make it easy for gamers to get what they need without a headache.

The VPN is designed with simplicity in mind and has simple apps for Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS – to let you play any version of Warzone. You can also set up the VPN as a virtual WiFi hotspot from any Mac or Windows computer, which makes it easy to share the VPN with an Xbox or PlayStation.

Plus, getting started with CyberGhost is a breeze! Simply download the app and select an international server to gain access to a different Warzone lobby. Despite being easy to use, CyberGhost packs a hefty punch when it comes to security.

Encryption protects you against hackers on public WiFi and gives you privacy against tracking by ISPs or local networks. You can use it to stream or play Warzone at work without being monitored. 

Although it has fewer features than our top picks, it comes equipped with a kill switch and DNS leak protection. It works with Netflix US and other popular streaming services in over 100 countries. It even labels its streaming servers for each country in the app.

BEST WARZONE VPN FOR BEGINNERS: CyberGhost VPN is very easy to use. Fast Wireguard connections are fast for gaming and streaming HD content. Works to access popular streaming platforms like Netflix US.  Solid no-logging policy and robust encryption. 45-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full review of CyberGhost VPN.

Proton VPN is a highly advanced VPN developed by the team behind the private email service ProtonMail. The VPN offers apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android, as well as servers in more than 69 countries – everything you need to access easier Call of Duty Warzone lobbies. 

Proton VPN is one of the few VPNs that allows port forwarding. It also offers split tunneling, MultiHop connections, obfuscation, Tor over VPN, and a choice of protocols. This makes it an extremely advanced VPN and the best option for torrenting as well as gaming.

In our extensive tests, Proton VPN could access various Netflix regions, BBC iPlayer, Hulu, and an array of popular streaming services. The only drawback is that it is a touch expensive.

Proton VPN offers a free plan, however, it is slower than their premium version and only offers servers in the US, Japan, and the Netherlands. The free servers purposefully block streaming platforms like Netflix, so you'll need a paid account to stream on the VPN.

Should you require assistance, live chat support is available on its website.

WARZONE AND TORRENTING: Proton VPN is a highly advanced VPN with many features. Fast WireGuard protocol is perfect for playing games like COD Warzone. Works to access most international streaming services, including US Netflix. 30-day money-back guarantee. 

Read our full review of Proton VPN.

PrivateVPN is a smaller provider based in Sweden that was launched in 2016. The VPN has consistently remained a consumer-favorite service due to its commitment to privacy and its torrenting-optimized servers and port forwarding capabilities.  

This VPN prides itself on a rock-solid no-logs policy and an extensive server network spanning 63+ countries. The only slight drawback is that it is the slowest VPN on this list, so despite being low-cost and excellent, it is still worth using the money-back guarantee to test it against other services before settling.  

Subscribers get access to user-friendly apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android – perfect for playing any version of Warzone. The apps come with a kill switch, obfuscation, DNS leak protection, military-grade encryption, a SOCKS5 proxy, port forwarding, and split tunneling.

It works to stream over 15 different Netflix regions and effectively combats ISP throttling to let you enjoy COD Warzone. It has everything you need to prevent online surveillance and tracking whether you are at home, at work, or on public WiFi.

While PrivateVPN boasts a smaller server count compared to some leading competitors (around 300 servers in total), they are strategically located and work perfectly to watch popular services like Hulu, iPlayer, and HBO Max, They also work to connect to easier Warzone lobbies. 

Live chat is available 24/7 and you can try the VPN using its 30-day trial period. 

ROBUST PRIVACY: PrivateVPN runs servers in 63+ countries that let you access regional Warzone servers. Works to watch Netflix, Hulu, Prime Video, and more. Solid no-logs policy and based in Sweden. Allows up to 10 simultaneous connections. 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full review of PrivateVPN.

Call of Duty Warzone VPN – testing methodology

At BleepingComputer, our priority is to recommend trustworthy VPNs that not only work for specific purposes (such as playing Warzone or accessing streaming accounts on vacation) but also to gain watertight online privacy and security.

To meet this central objective, we use a strict VPN testing methodology. This involves conducting comprehensive speed tests, analyzing VPN privacy policies, testing VPN apps for potential DNS and IP leaks, and conducting a thorough examination of the VPN’s encryption methods and security features.

In our tests, these VPNs were able to access regional COD servers and join easier Warzone lobbies or with teammates and opponents who speak foreign languages. Below, we have included additional information about how we picked the best COD VPNs:

• Robust security and privacy: Our recommended VPNs prioritize user data security. Each VPN featured in this article guarantees strong encryption, advanced protocols, kill switches, and DNS leak protection, ensuring your online activities remain private whether you're at home, at work, or using a public hotspot.
• Privacy features: Every VPN in this guide upholds a no-logging policy, assuring that your IP address, server connections, and browsing history are never collected or shared with any third parties.
• Fast server network: We've purposefully pinpointed VPNs with lightning-fast Tier 1 networks, ideal for playing COD Warzone and other popular online games. 
• Global network: Our recommended VPNs have extensive server networks that work to watch Netflix, regional TV services, and to access any region-locked or censored internet services, including VoIP apps.
• Cross-platform compatibility: The VPNs in this guide have apps that work to play Warzone on any device, and that allow you to set up a VPN-protected WiFi hotspot for playing COD on consoles. 
• Customer support: All our recommended VPNs provide 24/7 live chat support, ensuring prompt assistance is available at any time of day, no matter where you are in the world.

Besides these features, our top three recommendations must also have a fully diskless server network. This ensures that the VPN can comply with its no-logging policy regardless of whether it is served a warrant or raided by the authorities. It also allows the VPN to instantly erase all data passing through a server in case of an emergency. 

In addition, our top three picks have all completed full, third-party security audits of their service. 

How to find easier Warzone lobbies with a VPN

Using a VPN to find easier lobbies is easy once you understand what is going on. Warzone servers use various parameters to create matches. These conditions work together in combination and will affect whether you connect to a local lobby that is packed with strong players – or a quieter lobby that contains bots and easier opponents. 

To help elucidate how this process happens, we have included a list of parameters that affect which Warzone lobby you use. Call of Duty Warzone will take all of these things into consideration when placing you in a lobby:

1. Your distance from the server.
2. Your skill level (COD tries to match you against similarly ranked opponents).
3. The wait time to begin a match (COD doesn’t want to make you wait too long to start a match).

How does a VPN find easier Warzone lobbies?

When you connect to a VPN server that is geographically distant from Call of Duty’s servers, the game struggles to find similarly ranked opponents. Call of Duty is designed to get you into a lobby and play as quickly as possible. If it can’t find enough opponents of a similar level, then you may end up in a lobby with easier opponents or bots. This creates various options for finding easier COD Warzone lobbies:

• Connect to a VPN server closer to a specific Warzone server to play against users in that area.
• Connect to a VPN server that is far away from all COD servers to increase your chances of finding easier opponents and bot lobbies. 

Either of these options can help you to find easier lobbies (or harder lobbies if that is your preference).

How to use a VPN for Warzone

Now that you know how a VPN for Warzone works, you are ready to start using one. Below, we have provided a step-by-step guide for getting a VPN subscription and finding easier Warzone lobbies. You can use the steps below to access regional lobbies and to bypass ISP throttling.

5 steps to use a VPN for Warzone:

1. Select a VPN for Warzone from this list. Our top recommendation is NordVPN, known for its fast servers in 60+ countries. Alternatively, Surfshark is a cheap VPN with more than 100 server locations that can help you find easier lobbies, and ExpressVPN is a fantastic all-rounder. 
2. Download the VPN application onto your gaming PC or mobile device. Our recommended VPNs provide dedicated apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android. You can also share a connection from a laptop or desktop computer to an Xbox or PlayStation console. 
3. Install and log in to the VPN app. You will need to log in using the credentials you used during sign-up.
4. Select a server located near the Call of Duty server you want to use. Alternatively, connect to a server that is far from the server you don't want to use. This will change your IP address and change the way that Warzone connects you to a server.
5. Launch Warzone and play the game as usual. You should now find that you are being matched with different opponents.

Call of Duty Warzone VPN – FAQs

Can I use a free VPN for Warzone?

To play Warzone and access different lobbies, you will need a VPN that is fast and reliable. Free VPNs do not fit that bill for various reasons. Most free VPNs have very few servers to pick from, which means you will not be able to pick and choose your location in order to access different Activision servers. 

In addition, free VPN servers are much slower than premium VPN servers, which means you will suffer from lag and bad ping when you try to play Warzone. This largely rules out using a free VPN to play COD Warzone.

Besides these performance issues, free VPNs are also risky for privacy and security reasons. Many free VPNs have invasive privacy policies that allow them to harvest user data for profiling purposes. They sell this data to data brokers, marketing companies, and other third parties in order to generate revenue.

Free VPNs have been found to lack encryption, suffer from leaks, have app and server vulnerabilities, and even to contain spyware in their apps. These are very serious issues that mean that the VPN is not adequately protecting you against online tracking, surveillance, and hacking.

Where does Activision have Warzone servers?

Activision maintains Call of Duty: Warzone servers across a multitude of global regions. These server placements include:

• North America, including the United States and Canada.
• Europe, with servers scattered across various countries including the United Kingdom, Germany, France, and others.
• Africa (Nigeria).
• Asia, spanning several countries such as Japan and South Korea.
• Oceania, with server hubs established in Australia and New Zealand.
• South America (Brazil).

It's important to bear in mind that the server locations and underlying infrastructure for online games like Call of Duty: Warzone can change over time. Activision may add or remove servers to cater to ever-changing player populations around the world.

Is Activision shutting down Warzone servers?

Activision officially announced it was closing down Warzone Caldera on September 21, 2023. This shutdown comprised all aspects of the game, including gameplay, player progression, inventories, and online services linked to Warzone Caldera. 

The decision to discontinue Warzone Caldera was part of Activision's plans to concentrate on forthcoming Call of Duty content, particularly the existing free-to-play Warzone experience. 

The decision to shut down Warzone Caldera happened following the rebranding of Warzone 2 to "Warzone," which occurred almost a year after the original Warzone was renamed to Warzone Caldera. 

Following the shutdown, Warzone Caldera was also removed from the PlayStation and Xbox, making it completely inaccessible to all players. You must upgrade to the most recent version of Warzone to keep playing.

Can a Warzone VPN prevent ISP throttling?

Yes. When you connect to a VPN, your data is encrypted and your ISP is unable to track your online habits. This stops your ISP from detecting that you’re playing Call of Duty, which can help to prevent ISP throttling.

Ultimately, whether a VPN will work to speed up your Warzone connection and improve your ping depends on your location and whether your ISP is specifically throttling connections to Warzone. 

By taking advantage of a VPN’s money-back guarantee, you can check whether a VPN can improve your performance and will let you try out a VPN for accessing easier lobbies. 

Can I improve my ping with a Warzone VPN?

Some gamers use VPNs to improve their ping by connecting to a VPN server closer to the Warzone game server. The impact of a VPN on ping will vary depending on various factors, including your ISP's routing. 

Testing a VPN with servers close to you, close to the game server, or in-between you and the Warzone server location can help you to find a solution that improves your ping. We recommend testing a few different VPN server locations to see what helps. There's no guarantee a VPN will lower ping, but it's definitely worth experimenting.

The VPNs recommended in the guide are fast, which means that they should keep your internet running quickly. However it is important to remember that even a fast VPN may slow down your internet slightly. This will be most noticeable if you have slow internet. Fortunately, our recommendations offer a money-back guarantee to let you test them risk free.

Is Warzone 2 available on Mac?

Unfortunately, Warzone is not officially supported on Mac. You need to run a Windows emulator on Bootcamp on your Mac in order to play the Windows version of the game.

Is Call of Duty Warzone free to play?

Yes. You don’t need to purchase Call of Duty: Modern Warfare to play Warzone. Warzone is an online multiplayer version of Call of Duty offered completely free of charge by Activision. Purchases are available in Warzone, but this is for cosmetic upgrades only and does not affect game play.