How to get bot lobbies in COD: Black Ops 7
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With Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 around the corner, more and more players are wondering how the game’s skill-based matchmaking (SBMM) system will impact gameplay. In the past, many users have found it hard to play against strong lobbies, often bottom-fragging and missing out on progressing with their military rank and prestiging their weapons.
One way to avoid a battle against your local wannabe pros and cheaters is to play in a bot lobby. To do so, you’re going to need a reliable VPN to connect you with a region where the player base is smaller, thus increasing the number of bots on your server.
In this article, I’ll teach you how to get bot lobbies and give you my top 5 COD: Black Ops 7 VPNs.
How to get CoD: Black Ops 7 bot lobbies with a VPN
- Subscribe to a reliable gaming VPN, I recommend NordVPN now 77% OFF
- If you’re playing on a console, install the VPN on your router; if you’re playing on PC, install it on your computer
- Connect to a country with lower usage, e.g., Turkey, between 9 PM ET and 6 AM ET
- Launch Black Ops 7 and enjoy your bot lobby
Other Methods to Get Bot Lobbies in CoD Black Ops 7
While using a VPN is the most popular trick players mention, there are several built-in, legitimate ways to access bot lobbies in Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 without altering your connection or matchmaking region.
Custom Games (Solo Bot Lobbies)
You can manually create your own bot lobbies:
- Go to Multiplayer → Custom Games
- Choose your mode and map
- Add bots and set their difficulty (Easy, Normal, Veteran)
This is the most reliable method for practice, leveling weapons, or casual play.
Custom Games With Friends
Invite friends to your party and start a Custom Game together:
- You control bot count, difficulty, and map
- Everyone shares the same relaxed, AI-only experience
Great for co-op warmups or group practice.
Matchmaking Fallback to Bots
Occasionally, the game fills empty spots with bots:
- Happens when matchmaking can’t find enough players
- Most common in casual modes or off-peak hours
This isn’t guaranteed, but it’s another way to land in a bot-heavy lobby without effort.
Best Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 VPNs
- NordVPN – overall best VPN for BO7 bot lobbies
- Surfshark – speedy BO7 VPN with unlimited simultaneous connections
- Norton VPN – gaming VPN with excellent security features
- ExpressVPN – CoD VPN that is simple to set up on a router
- CyberGhost – cheap VPN for BO7 with a large server fleet
We spare no effort to test the products & their features. All information is gathered by our in-house research team & fact-checked by our team of experts. Discover the ins and outs of our testing procedures.
Why do you need a VPN for Call of Duty: Black Ops 7?
The main draw of a VPN for Black Ops 7 is the ability to match up in bot lobbies. By routing your connection through a low playercount area like Eastern Europe or Turkey during its nighttime hours, you’ll be able to avoid the overly competitive players and annoying griefers.
However, the best VPNs for gaming also have additional advantages that may help you when playing Call of Duty. These include:
- Avoiding ISP speed throttling. Some ISPs throttle gaming speeds. By using a VPN, the ISP won’t be able to detect that you’re playing a game, thus giving you better bandwidth.
- DDoS protection. Sometimes hackers like to get themselves a win by DDoSing their competitors. A VPN will keep your IP address private, helping you avoid DDoS attacks.
- Access to preferred regions. If you don’t like playing in your current region, you can always use a VPN to switch to a region where the competition is less or more intense.
In past Call of Duty games, Activision never banned VPNs, meaning they should be safe to use during your gameplay. This shouldn’t change, as for the most part, VPNs do not give players a discernible advantage.
What are BO7 bot lobbies?
BO7 bot lobbies are game rooms filled with computer-controlled players. These are often used to grind for levels and prestiges without facing off against highly competitive players.
Bot lobbies usually appear in places with low player counts and player bases, with the game automatically filling out the game with computer-controlled players to speed up the matchmaking process.
Best Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 VPNs – detailed list
To help you pick the best VPN for getting Black Ops 7 bot lobbies, I compiled a list of the 5 best VPNs that can help you get bot lobbies in Call of Duty without any issues or slowdowns.
1. NordVPN – best Black Ops 7 VPN for bot lobbies
| Servers/countries: | 9,500+ servers in 149 countries |
| Speed retention: | 83% |
| Simultaneous connections: | 10 |
| Current deal: | Get 75% OFF NordVPN + 3 months free |
NordVPN has been Cybernews' #1 VPN pick for a long time, with good reason. Offering a massive server fleet and some of the best speed retention, NordVPN is a perfect choice for gamers.
Servers. NordVPN offers 9,500+ servers in 149 countries, including countries in Africa, Eastern Europe, and the Middle East. This means you’re easily going to find the perfect location for your bot lobbies.
Performance. In our latest VPN speed tests, NordVPN scored the fastest results among the products we tested, retaining 83% of its speed on average. This should be more than enough for a stable gameplay experience, particularly against bots. It should also do a great job while streaming, browsing, and torrenting, giving you an excellent VPN for day-to-day use.
Security and privacy. NordVPN offers excellent security based on AES-256 and ChaCha20 encryption. Privacy-wise, it features a no-logs policy that has been independently audited six times and is based in the privacy-friendly jurisdiction of Panama. Combined with excellent leak protection and an industry-standard kill switch, your data is sure to be safe. On top of that, NordVPN Plus and higher-tier plans include Threat Protection Pro, which further protects your devices from harmful websites and malware.
Compatibility. NordVPN supports PC, Mac, iOS, Android, and simple installation on routers, allowing you to easily use the VPN with your console.
NordVPN starts at $3.49/month, and it offers a money-back guarantee so you can try it out risk-free to see whether it fits your needs.
2. Surfshark – best VPN to play BO7 on multiple devices
| Servers/countries: | 4,500+ servers in 100 countries |
| Speed retention: | 81% |
| Simultaneous connections: | Unlimited |
| Current deal: | Now up to 85% OFF Surfshark + 3 months FREE |
Surfshark is a great choice if you need a VPN that you can share with your entire household. Whether your family plays CoD or needs access to streaming platforms from around the world, Surfshark will allow you to do so with unlimited simultaneous connections. Thanks to promo code OFFCN, you can also get it cheaper than ever.
Servers. Surfshark has a fleet of 4,500+ servers in 100 countries, which should be more than enough to find a location that will generate a bot lobby. However, if you want a more robust network, NordVPN is an excellent choice.
Performance. Surfshark has consistently scored excellent speeds in our tests. In our latest ones, it trailed NordVPN ever so slightly at 81% download speed retention. What I really enjoyed is that it supports unlimited devices, meaning that even a large household or family can use one account without any issues.
Security and privacy. Surfshark offers AES-256 and ChaCha20 encryption to ensure your traffic stays safe. Privacy-wise, an independently audited no-logs policy ensures that even Surfshark won’t be able to monitor your online activity.
Compatibility. Surfshark offers excellent compatibility across multiple devices, including PC, Mac, iOS, and Android. The installation process on routers is also very straightforward, allowing you to easily get bot lobbies on your console.
Surfshark’s plans start at $2.49/month, and the provider offers a 30-day money-back guarantee.
3. Norton VPN – reliable BO7 VPN with extra security
| Servers/countries: | 2,000+ servers in 65 countries |
| Speed retention: | 72% |
| Simultaneous connections: | 10 |
| Current deal: | Now up to 54% OFF Norton VPN |
Norton VPN is an excellent service that can be bundled with a top-rated antivirus suite. If you’re looking to get Black Ops 7 bot lobbies while keeping your devices secure, Norton VPN is a great choice.
Servers. Norton VPN doesn’t have as expansive a server network as the other providers on this list. However, with servers in 65 countries, you should easily find a location that is appropriate for bot lobbies.
Performance. Norton VPN performed slightly worse than NordVPN and Surfshark, achieving 72% download speed retention on average. This should still be enough for gaming, streaming, and torrenting on a day-to-day basis.
Security and privacy. Norton VPN has a no-logs policy, but unlike NordVPN and Surfshark, it doesn’t offer RAM-only servers, which can be a privacy risk in certain scenarios. Other than that, it offers all the usual VPN security, along with an advanced security suite bundled with the Norton VPN Plus plan, which will further protect your devices.
Compatibility. Norton VPN is available for most desktop and mobile devices. It also offers simple installation on a router, allowing you to easily use it to play in bot lobbies on your PlayStation or Xbox. Unfortunately, it only offers 5 to 10 simultaneous connections, depending on the plan.
Norton VPN starts at $3.33/month, but I would recommend the $4.17/month Plus plan to take advantage of Norton’s advanced features. All plans come with a generous 60-day money-back guarantee.
4. ExpressVPN – top VPN for BO7 with simple router setup
| Servers/countries: | Servers in 105 countries |
| Speed retention: | 75% |
| Simultaneous connections: | Up to 14 |
| Current deal: | Now up to 80% OFF ExpressVPN + 4 months FREE |
ExpressVPN is one of the more popular VPN providers on the market, with good reason. It offers excellent privacy, fast speeds, and a stable connection. All of that should make geting bot lobbies in CoD: Black Ops 7 extremely easy.
Servers. ExpressVPN doesn’t disclose the number of servers it offers, but the last time it did, the number was around 3000. This isn’t as robust as NordVPN, but should be enough for finding the perfect spot for your BO7 bot lobby.
Performance. ExpressVPN maintained a respectable 75% download speed retention in our tests. While this is less than Surfshark and NordVPN, it should still be enough for gaming, browsing, streaming, and torrenting without any issues.
Security and privacy. ExpressVPN offers an audited no-logs policy supported by RAM-only servers. In combination with its AES-256 and ChaCha20 encryption, your data is safe from prying eyes. It also offers a Threat Manager feature which works in the background, blocking suspicious websites and connections.
Compatibility. Available on virtually all mobile and desktop platforms, ExpressVPN can be manually configured on most popular routers. ExpressVPN also offers Aircove routers with fully built-in ExpressVPN functionality. These can be quite expensive, though, starting at $169.90, with a 6-month ExpressVPN subscription bundled.
ExpressVPN starts at $2.49/month, offering from 10 to 14 simultaneous connections depending on the plan.
5. CyberGhost – BO7 VPN with dedicated gaming servers
| Servers/countries: | Servers in 100 countries |
| Speed retention: | 55% |
| Simultaneous connections: | 7 |
| Current deal: | Get 88% OFF CyberGhost + 2 months FREE |
CyberGhost is a popular VPN that offers special gaming-optimized servers for better performance. On the flip side, it’s not the easiest to set up on a router, so I’d definitely recommend this one to PC players.
Servers. CyberGhost has servers in 100 countries. Given the choice, you’re sure to find a place perfect to generate a bot lobby in CoD: Black Ops 7. What’s even better is that some of CyberGhost’s servers are gaming optimized, meaning that your connection will have less lag and stutter.
Performance. CyberGhost’s results have varied over time during our speed testing. While in the past, it consistently scored among the top performers, our latest test shows that it only retains 55% of download speed on average. While this still should be enough for gaming, browsing, and streaming, it might be frustrating if you want to download a larger file.
Security and privacy. CyberGhost has a strict no-logs policy, which has been audited twice by Deilotte Romania. This ensures that its AES-256 and ChaCha20 encryption will protect your data from everyone, including CyberGhost itself.
Compatibility. CyberGhost offers up to 7 simultaneous connections on PC, Mac, iOS, and Android. It also works on Linux, albeit without a graphical interface. Router-wise, configuration can be a bit tricky, especially compared to ExpressVPN.
CyberGhost VPN’s pricing starts at $1.59/month, with a generous 45-day money-back guarantee.
Comparison of VPNs for CoD: Black Ops 7
| VPN | Rating | Servers | Speed retention | Price (lowest price per month) | Free trial | Router support (for PS/Xbox) | Bypasses BO7 SBMM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NordVPN | 9,500+ servers in 149 countries | 83% | $3.49/month | ✅ Yes, 3-day (Android) | Manual configuration | ✅ Yes | |
| Surfshark | 4,500+ servers in 100 countries | 81% | $2.49/month | ✅ Yes, 7-day (macOS, Android, iOS) | Manual configuration | ✅ Yes | |
| Norton VPN | 2,000+ servers in 65 countries | 72%
| $3.33/month | ✅ Yes, 7-day | Manual configuration | ✅ Yes | |
| ExpressVPN | Servers in 105 countries | 75%
| $2.49/month | ❌ No | Dedicated Aircove router applet and manual configuration | ✅ Yes | |
| CyberGhost | Servers in 100 countries | 55%
| $1.59/month | ✅ Yes, 1-day on a desktop, 3-day on Android, and 7-day on iOS | Manual configuration | ✅ Yes |
Best locations for Black Ops 7 bot lobbies
The best locations for Black Ops 7 lobbies will depend on a few factors. While in general, the Middle East, Africa, and Eastern Europe are regionscountries with low player bases, this will depend on the exact time of day. That’s why, I prepared a little cheat sheet to help you find the best location depending on the time of day, pointing to locations where the userbase is likely to be low during off- hours.
| Time of day (ET/EDT) | Best countries | Local time |
| 8 AM-12 PM | Australia, Papua New Guinea | 10/11 PM-2/3 AM |
| 12 PM-4 PM | Australia, Papua New Guinea | 2/3 AM-6/7 AM |
| 4 PM-8 PM | Mongolia, Hong Kong | 4 AM-8 AM |
| 8 PM-12 AM | Turkey, Qatar, Kenya | 11 PM-3 AM |
| 12 AM-4 AM | Senegal, Ghana | 4 AM-8 AM |
| 4 AM-8 AM | Chile, Bolivia | 4 AM-8 AM |
Note that this isn’t scientific. With players all around the world, Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 may introduce some new players to the game. As countries become richer, residents are also more likely to purchase PCs and consoles for playing their favorite games.
Final thoughts
Whether you’ll just be tired of tryhards, or are looking for a place to easily grind your progress in the new Call of Duty, you should prepare for launch. The best way to do that is purchasing a top VPN like NordVPN or Surfshark can help you have the choice of the way you play Black Ops 7. By following the guide above, you’ll be able to easily set up CoD: BO7 bot lobbies and play the game without worrying about people who take it a bit too seriously.
FAQ
How to get rid of SBMM in Black Ops 7?
To get rid of skill-based matchmaking in Black Ops 7, you need to use a VPN like NordVPN to spoof your location to one where the game is less popular, thus populating your lobby with bots.
What are the most popular countries or server locations for getting easier lobbies in Call of Duty: Black Ops 7?
The most popular countries for getting easier lobbies in Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 are places outside of North America and Western Europe at night. For evening games US time, Turkey, Qatar, and Kenya are great choices.
Is using a VPN to get bot lobbies in Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 considered bannable or risky?
No. So far, we haven’t heard any reports of players being banned on other Call of Duty games. While Activision’s Terms of Service can be interpreted as prohibiting VPNs, it’s very unlikely you will be penalized for using one.
How do VPN connection speeds affect gameplay experience in Black Ops 7?
Essentially, the faster the VPN, the lower your ping. A low ping guarantees the fastest reaction times, thus avoiding lag and stutter.
