Best VPNs for COD Black Ops 7 to get easier lobbies

Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 is coming out on November 14, 2025, and fans around the world are preparing to dominate the lobbies. However, lobbies can become frustrating due to the skill-based matchmaking (SBMM) system that makes it difficult to play or progress.

You can use a VPN to find easier COD lobbies. A VPN changes your IP address, so it looks like you’re in another region and can access lower-populated matchmaking pools. Plus, the tool protects you from DDoS attacks by hiding your real IP address.

Continue reading to find out how to get easier bot lobbies in Black Ops 7 as well as the best VPN to change location based on my tests.

How can a VPN help find bot lobbies in BO7?

A VPN changes your virtual location, letting you access SBMM pools in lower-populated regions, which makes it easier to get bot lobbies. The way it works is you connect to a server in a country where it’s an off-peak time, and the VPN changes your IP address. This makes it look like you’re from that location, letting you access easier lobbies.

A VPN also protects you from DDoS attacks – if someone decides to DDoS you, they’ll hit the VPN server instead of your connection. Plus, if your Internet Service Provider (ISP) intentionally throttles with your speed while gaming, the VPN will hide your activities, so your speeds aren’t affected.

Best VPNs for COD: Black Ops 7 based on my tests

I spent days testing over 20 VPNs for gaming to see which ones perform best with COD: Black Ops 7. I tried accessing lobbies in countries where it was off-peak time, tested VPN performance, ran DNS leak tests, and more. Here are my top picks:

1. 1. NordVPN – best VPN for COD: Black Ops 7 overall
2. 2. Surfshark – Black Ops 7 VPN for unlimited devices
3. 3. ExpressVPN – fast VPN for playing COD: Black Ops 7

 

All of these VPNs managed to change my IP address without leaks, so I was successful at getting into foreign lobbies with lower player counts. Let’s take a look at my in-depth results.

1. NordVPN – best VPN for COD: Black Ops 7 in 2025

NordVPN

1

9.7

/10

Visit NordVPN

Pros & cons

• Helps find less-populated lobbies
• Servers in 129 countries
• 92% speed retention rate while gaming
• Offers a dedicated IP for $3.69/month
• Passed the DNS leak test
• Prevents DDoS attacks

• Free trial only for Android users

NordVPN is the best VPN for Black Ops 7 because it offers a large server fleet in 129 countries, great security features, and fast speeds. During my tests, it effortlessly changed my IP address, and I could access bot lobbies easier using servers in Turkey and Egypt, where player counts were lower during off-peak times.

I also evaluated NordVPN’s performance while gaming. It retained an average 92% of initial connection speeds, so Call of Duty didn’t lag during the 15-minute session.

What annoys me during the matches is the random DDoS attacks, and NordVPN helped me prevent them by hiding my IP address. I took it through a DNS leak test, and it showed zero leaks, so my IP address was hidden the whole time.

Plus, you get traffic obfuscation to hide your VPN traffic. And if you want a personal IP address of your chosen location, you can get a dedicated IP for $3.69/month, ensuring even better performance.

NordVPN is available on Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS. You can also set it up on a router so you can use the VPN on your PS5 or Xbox.

The prices of NordVPN start from $2.99/month and come with a 30-day money-back guarantee. You can connect up to 10 devices on one account.

Read more in our NordVPN review.

2. Surfshark – Black Ops 7 VPN for unlimited connections

Surfshark

1

9.6

/10

Visit Surfshark

Pros & cons

 

• Can find easier lobbies
• Servers in 4,500 countries
• Retains 88% of initial connection speeds
• Dedicated IP for $3.75/month
• Showed zero leaks
• Prevents DDoS attacks

• Based in a 14-eye alliance country

Surfshark is a Black Ops 7 VPN that offers unlimited simultaneous connections, so you can share it with other friends who play COD. When testing, out of the servers in 4,500 countries, I successfully accessed bot lobbies in Turkey and Finland due to lower player counts.

In terms of speed, Surfshark showed a buffering-free experience. It retained around 88% of initial connection speeds on average during my gaming session.

As for the DNS leak tests – Surfshark passed it with flying colors. My IP address stayed hidden throughout the match, so no DDoS attackers could reach me. Plus, there’s the traffic obfuscation feature to conceal your VPN traffic and a dedicated IP for $3.75/month.

You can get Surfshark on Windows, macOS, Android, or iOS. It’s also possible to use it on gaming consoles if you set it up on a router.

Surfshark prices start from $1.99/month only. You can enjoy a free 7-day trial or make use of a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Learn more in our Surfshark review.

3. ExpressVPN – speedy VPN for playing COD: Black Ops 7

ExpressVPN

1

9.5

/10

Visit ExpressVPN

Pros & cons

 

• Can find less-populated lobbies
• Servers across 105 countries
• Retains 89% of initial connection speeds
• Dedicated IP for $3.99/month
• Router applet

• A bit more expensive than competitors

ExpressVPN is another fast VPN for playing Black Ops 7, offering a lag-free gaming experience and servers in 105 countries. During my tests, I received lower-populated and bot lobbies with servers in Turkey, Estonia, and Egypt.

My speed tests also proved that ExpressVPN won’t interrupt your matches. It managed to maintain around 89% speed retention rates. While not as fast as NordVPN, it’s safe to say that I saw no visible speed drops.

Like other top VPNs, ExpressVPN didn’t disappoint during DNS leak tests either. My IP address remained hidden from DDoS attackers 100% of the time. The best part – all of the VPN’s servers support obfuscation.

ExpressVPN has apps for Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS. It also has a convenient router applet to make VPN setup on gaming consoles easier.

You can get ExpressVPN starting from $3.49/month and claim a free 7-day trial on Android or iOS. If you also need a dedicated IP, you can get it for $3.99/month.

Find more details in our ExpressVPN review.

4. Private Internet Access – reliable Call of Duty VPN

Private Internet Access

1

9.4

/10

Visit Private Internet Access

Pros & cons

• Can find easier lobbies
• Has servers in 91 countries
• Dedicated IP for $2.50/month
• An average of 88% speed retention rate
• Zero DNS leaks

• Small reconnection lags

Private Internet Access (PIA) is a privacy-oriented VPN that ensures no IP address leaks and protects against annoying DDoS attacks while gaming. During my test, I changed my IP address to Turkey during off-peak times and got into a regional matchmaking pool, which let me access easier lobbies. 

PIA VPN showed around an 88% speed retention rate on average while gaming for 15 minutes. This resulted in no major lagging issues, so I could still keep my aim steady. The only time it lagged was when I decided to switch to another server in the same location, but that’s about it.

In terms of DNS leak tests, the VPN proved that it values privacy and reliability. During the match, it didn’t leak my IP address, no matter how many times I checked.

You can get PIA VPN on Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, or set it up on your router. If you want an IP address just for you, a dedicated IP costs $2.50/month.

Meanwhile, the VPN plans start from from $2.19/month and come with a free 7-day trial for smartphone users. 

Learn more in our PIA VPN review.

5. CyberGhost – low-priced VPN for playing Black Ops 7

CyberGhost

1

9.3

/10

Visit CyberGhost

Pros & cons

• Helps find easier lobbies
• Servers spread across 100 countries
• Offers dedicated IP for $2.50/month
• An average of 86% speed retention rate
• Zero DNS leaks

• No traffic obfuscation

CyberGhost is one of the most budget-friendly Black Ops 7 VPNs, available from $2.03/month only. It has no trouble changing my IP address without visibly affecting performance, so getting into foreign matchmaking pools wasn’t an issue.

I liked that CyberGhost retained around 86% of initial connection speeds during my gaming test. Lagging wasn’t an issue throughout the match.

The VPN also showed zero leaks during the DNS leak test, meaning DDoS attacks won’t disturb your game. What I missed was the traffic obfuscation feature, which hides the fact that you’re using a VPN. If that’s what you need, I’d suggest looking at NordVPN instead.

But CyberGhost can also give you extra privacy with a dedicated IP, which costs $2.50/month.

Like most reputable VPNs, CyberGhost is available on Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, and can be set up on routers. There’s also an extended 45-day money-back guarantee you can use.

Read more in our CyberGhost review.

How I tested these Black Ops 7 VPNs

I spent hours downloading and installing reputable VPNs to my Windows computer for testing it with COD Black Ops 7. I then marked which VPNs helped me access easier bot lobbies, tested their speeds while gaming, and reviewed features. Here’s the full methodology I used for creating this VPN lineup:

• Access to foreign lobbies – 40%. I checked if the chat messages or player names are local to the country whose server I connected to.
• Performance – 25%. I tested each VPN’s speed retention rates and only took into account the ones that retained at least 85% of initial connection speeds while gaming.
• DNS leak tests – 15%. Each VPN had to go through a DNS leak test to prove that they’re not leaking my IP address while gaming. I only included VPNs that showed zero leaks.
• Security features – 10%. I checked for VPNs that offer additional features, like traffic obfuscation for hiding your VPN traffic or a dedicated IP. It helps ensure that your gaming activities are always private.
• Pricing – 10%. The most expensive VPNs didn’t necessarily show the best results, and vice versa. So, my list only includes low-cost monthly price VPNs that aren’t overpriced.

Best Black Ops 7 VPNs compared

If you’re still unsure which VPN to pick, I prepared a quick comparison table of the best Black Ops 7 VPNs, their features, my test results, and more below.

Best Black Ops 7 lobby locations

The best Black Ops 7 bot lobby locations depend on where you’re located and the time of day. Naturally, the lowest player count and less competitiveness should be expected during off-peak hours, which is usually nighttime. So, depending on your location, you can use a VPN to connect to a server on the opposite side of the world.

Here’s an example of the best Black Ops 7 locations if you’re from the US, Canada, or South America:

Note that this table serves as an example of the best bot lobby locations – it doesn’t guarantee easy lobby access. It depends on the country you connect to, the time of day, and your physical location. 

Is it legal to use a VPN to get easier lobbies?

The game developer, Activision, doesn’t explicitly mention that VPNs can’t be used in their Terms of Use. It only states that it’s not allowed to “use, develop, host or distribute cheats, automation software (bots), modded lobbies, hacks, mods or any other unauthorized third-party software in connection with the Product, or engage in any form of cheating, boosting, or booting.”

Based on this statement, it could be interpreted as cheating. However, there haven’t been reports of users being banned or otherwise penalized for using a VPN in the past.

Final thoughts

Fans around the globe are excited for Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 and are turning to VPNs to get into foreign skill-based matchmaking pools with fewer players. Many players also need a VPN to hide their IP address so they can prevent DDoS attacks and play without disruptions.

The best VPN to get bot lobbies in Black Ops 7 is NordVPN. According to my tests, it had no issues accessing matchmaking pools in countries like Turkey and showed zero IP address leaks. Plus, it retains lag-free speeds, so your gameplay is always sharp.

However, the other VPNs on my list are just as great for playing COD. It all depends on your needs, budget, and the extra features or simultaneous connections you want to have.