What is Call of Duty (COD)?
Call of Duty (COD) is one of the most popular first-person shooter video game franchises. With each new release, millions of fans worldwide eagerly await to experience the thrilling gameplay and immersive graphics that the series is known for. However, some gamers encounter issues when trying to play COD games online. One common problem is high ping and lag, which can severely impact your performance. This is where a quality Call of Duty VPN can make a big difference.
VPNs work by encrypting your internet traffic and routing it through remote servers, hiding your IP address and location. This allows you to bypass throttling, improve speeds, and gain access to restricted content.
What to Look for in a VPN for Call of Duty
When choosing a VPN for online games like Call of Duty, there are a few key factors to consider:
- Speed: Look for a VPN that consistently delivers fast speeds. Slow speeds can cause lag, high ping, and a poor gaming experience.
- Low latency: Latency is the delay between your computer and the game server. VPNs with servers near you provide the lowest latency for real-time action.
- Reliability: Make sure your VPN offers a reliable connection without sudden drops that could boot you from a match.
- Bandwidth: COD requires decent bandwidth to transfer data without throttling your connection.
- Dedicated IP: Having a dedicated IP address can help avoid server restrictions and IP bans.
- Multiplatform support: The VPN should work across Windows, mobile, routers, and gaming consoles.
Best VPNs for Call of Duty that Works With COD Mobile
- NordVPN: Best VPN for Call of Duty Overall
- ExpressVPN: Great Alternative VPN for COD
- Surfshark: Best VPN for COD Mobile
- CyberGhost: Low Cost VPN for COD
- IPVanish: Highly Configurable VPN for COD
NordVPN: Best VPN for Call of Duty Overall
NordVPN is another excellent choice that I found works great for Call of Duty. This Panama-based provider has specialty servers optimized for gaming. The ability to get a dedicated IP for COD is a nice advantage if you want extra protection.
Some key benefits of NordVPN for COD include:
- Quick speeds: I recorded impressive speeds up to 180 Mbps with Nord, enough for lag-free online multiplayer.
- Onion over VPN: Extra encryption layers like Onion over VPN keep your gaming activities anonymous.
- Dedicated IP option: Paying for a dedicated IP address can help avoid IP bans if you plan to mod or manipulate COD games.
- Double VPN: NordVPN also offers a Double VPN that routes your traffic through two servers for added privacy.
- Easy to use: Connecting to a high-speed NordVPN server optimized for gaming only takes a couple of clicks.
- It works on all major platforms. NordVPN has user-friendly apps for Windows, MacOS, iOS, and Android.
6300 servers
111 covered countries
30-Day Refund Policy
10 simultaneous connections
Surfshark: Best VPN for COD Mobile
Surfshark is our recommendation if you mainly play Call of Duty on mobile. This affordable VPN provides great performance on Android and iOS.
Some of Surfshark’s best features for COD Mobile include:
- Unlimited devices: A single Surfshark account supports an unlimited number of connections so you can secure all your gadgets.
- CleanWebTM ad blocking: Surfshark can block distracting ads on your mobile device while gaming.
- Camouflage mode: This hides the fact you’re using a VPN from your internet provider for extra privacy.
- Strong encryption: Your COD Mobile gaming data is secured using AES-256 encryption and other protocols.
- RAM-only servers: Surfshark’s network includes RAM-only servers that provide faster speeds by keeping no activity logs.
- 7-day free trial: It’s easy to test Surfshark with COD Mobile for a week risk-free.
3000 servers
65 covered countries
30-Day Refund Policy
Unlimited connections
ExpressVPN: Best VPN for Call of Duty Overall
Out of all the VPNs I tested, ExpressVPN consistently delivered the fastest speeds and lowest ping times across COD games on PC and console. While ExpressVPN is one of the pricier options, you get what you pay for in terms of sheer speed and reliability. It’s worth it for the best COD experience.
Some standout features that make ExpressVPN ideal for COD include:
- Speed: Express clocked blazing fast download speeds up to 100 Mbps in my tests. This eliminates lag and keeps your game running smoothly.
- Zero buffering: I never experienced any throttling or buffering issues with ExpressVPN, even when downloading large game updates.
- Reliability: The network stayed stable whenever I played, with no sudden disconnects or ping spikes.
- 24/7 live chat: ExpressVPN’s customer support is extremely responsive if you need help. They resolved my questions quickly.
- Works on all devices: ExpressVPN has native apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, and game consoles like PlayStation and Xbox.
3000+ servers
105 covered countries
30-Day Refund Policy
8 simultaneous connections
CyberGhost: Low Cost VPN for COD
CyberGhost is one of the most affordable VPNs. It works well with Call of Duty across various platforms and offers a good mix of speed and security at a budget price point.
Some of the key highlights for CyberGhost include:
- Optimized servers: CyberGhost has servers specifically tuned for gaming, streaming, and torrenting.
- Bandwidth Priority: This allocates more bandwidth to your game while reducing bandwidth for other apps.
- Built-in speed test: You can run this test to check the speed of your connection to CyberGhost’s servers.
- No activity logs: CyberGhost doesn’t log or monitor what you do on their VPN for extra privacy.
- 45-day money back guarantee: CyberGhost offers an exceptionally long trial period to test their service risk-free.
125+ Locations
100+ covered countries
45-Day Refund Policy
7 simultaneous connections
IPVanish: Highly Configurable VPN for COD
IPVanish is a highly customizable VPN that works well for Call of Duty, especially if you’re a technical user who likes to tinker with settings.
Some of IPVanish’s best features include:
- Optimized US servers: Their US-based servers are tuned for high speeds and low latency.
- Advanced settings: You can tweak VPN protocols, encryption, ports, and other settings for optimal performance.
- Unlimited switching: Freely switch server locations as needed without restrictions.
- Apps for all platforms: Native apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Fire TV, routers, and more.
- 30-day money back guarantee: Test IPVanish risk-free to see if it works for your specific COD setup.
2400+ servers
90+ covered countries
30-Day Refund Policy
Unlimited connections
6 More Tips for Improving Your Ping in COD Games
Beyond just using a VPN, there are some additional steps you can take to reduce ping and lag in Call of Duty:
- Use a wired Ethernet connection: This avoids issues with a weak WiFi signal that can cause ping spikes.
- Port forwards your router: Forwarding key gaming ports can establish a better connection.
- Limit bandwidth-intensive apps: Close or limit other programs using your internet to preserve bandwidth for COD.
- Try a gaming router: A router optimized for gaming can reduce latency. Popular models include the Netduma and ASUS ROG Rapture.
- Adjust in-game settings: Enable options like network send/receive optimization and turn off motion blur.
- Play on nearby servers: Connect to game servers that are geographically closest to you.
Final Thoughts
Reducing frustrating lag in Call of Duty multiplayer requires finding the fastest, most reliable VPN tailored for low-paying gaming. After extensive testing and research, I recommend ExpressVPN as the top option, with NordVPN as a close second.
Whichever service you choose, be sure to connect to nearby servers and tweak your VPN settings to get the smoothest COD experience possible. A quality VPN, combined with the other tips outlined here, will keep you dominating every match.
Game on!
Frequently Asked Questions About Using a VPN for COD
Is a VPN completely necessary for Call of Duty?
While a VPN is not absolutely required to play COD, it can provide major benefits. By routing your traffic through remote servers, a quality VPN improves speeds, reduces lag, helps avoid throttling by your ISP, and keeps you safer online. This optimized connection gives you an edge in multiplayer matches.
Does a VPN increase ping in games?
No, connecting through a VPN does not inherently increase ping. In fact, a good VPN will often lower your ping by finding faster routes to game servers. The key is choosing VPN servers located near where the game servers are based. This minimizes latency.
Can VPNs get you banned from COD games?
Generally, no, just using a VPN will not get you banned in COD or most online games. However, manipulating your IP address to region hop or exploit regional pricing can sometimes trigger anti-cheat detections. Make sure to use your VPN only for its intended purposes.
Is a free VPN good for Call of Duty?
We don’t recommend free VPNs for gaming due to their slow speeds, limited bandwidth, and lack of features. Paid services like the ones mentioned above are vastly superior for optimizing game connections. Prioritize speed and reliability over getting something for free.
Which gaming platform works best with a VPN?
VPNs work great across Windows PCs, gaming consoles like PS4/PS5 and Xbox One/Series X, and mobile devices. PCs and consoles tend to have the most configuration options, but you can’t go wrong performance-wise on any platform when choosing a top VPN.
What VPN protocol is best for gaming?
For fast, real-time gaming traffic, you should use WireGuard or OpenVPN (with UDP mode enabled). These newer protocols are much quicker than older ones like L2TP/IPsec. Make sure your VPN service offers them.
Verified A Professional Content Writer
Riha Mervana is a professional content writer at SearchVPN.org, with extensive experience crafting engaging and informative content. She has established herself as an expert in the VPN industry, creating content that educates readers on the importance of online privacy and security.
