How to access TikTok anywhere with a VPN

Despite being downloaded more than half a billion times in 2025 alone, TikTok is inaccessible in several countries including Afghanistan, India, Nepal, Taiwan, and China (where an app called Douyin reigns). Good news though: regaining access to TikTok abroad is easier than you might think. I’ll explain how to unblock TikTok with a Virtual Private Network (VPN) and suggest the best services for the job.

Before I begin, let’s talk a little bit about VPNs. These services encrypt your data, stopping your ISP from finding out which sites you visit and stopping the sites you visit from finding out who (and where) you are. They also change your IP address, making it harder to trace your activities back to you. However, while using a VPN with TikTok will allow you to access it abroad, it will not address most of the app’s extensive list of intrusive privacy practices. 

Without further ado, let’s dive right in. Here’s a short description of my top TikTok VPNs and what makes each so special.

These are the best VPNs for unblocking TikTok:

1. NordVPN: #1 choice VPN for unblocking TikTok. Can access almost anything, including other social media apps, news sites, and streaming platforms. Top-of-the-line security and very fast speeds. Comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
   TIP In our testing we found that the cheapest NordVPN plan (Standard) works perfectly for TikTok.
2. Surfshark: The best budget VPN for unblocking TikTok abroad. Delivers high speeds and lets you connect any number of devices. Very strong on security, with the ability to access most popular streaming platforms.
3. Total VPN: A fast and secure service that works great with TikTok, Netflix, and YouTube, among many other platforms. 24/7 support and easy to use apps.
4. ProtonVPN: A zero-logs VPN boasting very high speeds, a truly huge network, and great streaming ability. Live chat-based support and a high device limit.
5. ExpressVPN: Unblocks TikTok on school networks and in restrictive countries like China. Has advanced security features, including a no-logs policy and always-on obfuscation.
6. IPVanish: Robust security and unlimited devices on a single plan. Perfect for watching or sharing content on TikTok, even in places where the app is blocked.
7. CyberGhost: An array of servers in more than 100 countries, so you can watch your favorite viral videos from anywhere in the world. Great for streaming and suitable for those with no VPN experience.

How to unblock TikTok with a VPN

If your Internet Service Provider, employer, or college blocks access to TikTok, don’t panic. You can easily bypass the TikTok ban by following the steps below.

Here’s how to unblock TikTok from anywhere:

1. Sign up for one of the VPNs in this list (I recommend NordVPN).
2. Install the VPN app, open it, and select a server in a country where TikTok is not blocked.
3. Wait a few moments for the VPN to connect. When the screen changes to say “Connected”, you’re good to go.
4. Try using TikTok as you normally would. There shouldn’t be any problems but if you’re still having trouble accessing the platform, I’d suggest clearing your cookies and cache or speaking with your VPN’s customer support team.

If TikTok is unavailable in your app store, see sections further down on how to change app store locations on iOS and Android.

Criteria: How I found the best TikTok VPNs

There are plenty of VPNs to choose from but most won’t deliver the superfast speeds, powerful privacy, and unblocking ability that you’ll need to use TikTok safely and regularly. My testing evaluated providers on the five main areas below:

• Speed: If you want to watch TikTok without every video taking forever to load, you’ll need a service with consistently high speeds. I tested each VPN multiple times, checking the speeds of their US servers on a 250 Mbps connection.
• Features: I looked for VPNs with plenty of servers in countries where TikTok is not banned. Then, I checked whether they offered obfuscation since this might be needed in countries where major VPN sites and TikTok are both blocked.
• Security and privacy: To make sure I only recommend services with exceptional security offerings, I evaluated VPNs on more than a dozen criteria including their encryption strengths, supported protocols, and audit histories.
• Ease of use: Many people turn to VPNs solely to get around TikTok bans. With this in mind I looked for hassle-free VPNs by scoring them against 10 criteria related to user-friendliness.
• Streaming: I tested each VPN to see how reliably they could access major region-locked platforms like TikTok, Netflix, and Amazon Prime Video from abroad. I also noted any times when I had to try multiple server.

You can read more about this testing process and see the results of those tests in the methodology section below. First, let’s take a closer look at the providers that impressed us.

Best TikTok VPNs compared

I’ve compared the most important features of the top VPNs here. Prefer to read the in-depth reviews? Start with NordVPN – the #1 choice for TikTok.

Best VPNs for accessing TikTok

Here’s a detailed list of the best VPNs to unblock TikTok from India, China, or any other country:

1. NordVPN

Feb 2026 unblocks TikTokTested Feb 2026

NordVPN is the best overall VPN for unblocking TikTok abroad. In fact, it even works with tricky streaming services like Netflix, BBC iPlayer, and Amazon Prime Video too! There are roughly 8,000 servers spread across 120 countries, a custom NordWhisper protocol capable of beating censorship in places like China. It’s possible to protect up to 10 devices at the same time and customer support staff are on-hand 24/7 just in case you need assistance.

To find out how quick this VPN is, I tested its UK servers in the morning, at midday, and in the afternoon using a 250 Mbps connection. With an average speed of 223.02 Mbps, NordVPN was actually the fastest service I tested, and more than capable of handling day to day activities like streaming, playing online games, or making video calls. Let’s take a closer look at those results:

When it comes to security, there aren’t many services that can rival NordVPN. It keeps you safe using unbreakable encryption, a customizable kill switch, and automatic DNS and IPv6 leaks, as well as NordLynx, which is a privacy-focused fork of the WireGuard protocol. NordVPN refuses to log any details of your activities and has been audited multiple times. There’s also a combined ad and tracker-blocker and split tunneling functionality in case you’d like to let certain apps bypass the VPN.

Apps are available for Windows, MacOS, iOS, Android, Amazon Fire TV, and Linux. Alternatively, you can follow manual setup instructions to get it running on routers.

FASTEST SPEEDS:NordVPN is the best option for unblocking TikTok abroad. Delivers a strong set of security tools, works with a ton of streaming apps, and includes a 30-day money-back guarantee so you can try it risk-free.

Read our full NordVPN review.

2. Surfshark

unblocks TikTokTested Feb 2026

Surfshark is the top low-cost VPN for regaining access to TikTok abroad. Not only does this provider have 4,500 servers in 100+ countries, it’s also extremely adept at unblocking region-locked content. For instance, I can confirm Surfshark works with Netflix, Hulu, and ITVX, to name but a few major platforms. Support staff are on-hand 24/7 and there’s no limit to how many devices you can connect at once.

I ran several performance tests on Surfshark’s UK servers, keeping a close eye on their top speeds and consistency at various times of day.  Surfshark did very well here, with an average speed of 214.38 Mbps. For context, that’s only marginally slower than NordVPN, and well above what’s needed for streaming, torrenting, or any other data-intensive task. Here are my full results:

If you’re hunting for a highly-secure service that won’t break the bank, look no further. Surfshark is packed with advanced features like an adult content filter, ad and tracker-blocker, and a tool that changes your IP address every few minutes. There’s also a stealth mode in case you need to circumvent extreme online censorship. Of course, this VPN also has unbreakable encryption, an audited no-logs policy, a kill switch, and protection against WebRTC, IPv6, and DNS leaks. Finally, there are multi-hop servers and a fake persona generator for anyone who needs an even higher level of privacy.

Apps are available for Windows, MacOS, iOS, Android, and Linux. These are well-designed and come with a particularly user-friendly GUI (even the Linux app). Surfshark also provides setup instructions for routers.

BEST BUDGET TIKTOK VPN:Surfshark is my top budget VPN for unblocking TikTok during a trip abroad. Has a strong privacy toolkit, the ability to access stubborn geo-blocked services, and a lack of connection limits. All plans come with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full SurfShark review.

3. Total VPN

unblocks TikTokTested Feb 2026

Total VPN is a reliable, versatile service with a network spanning more than 80 countries. It boasts exceptional unblocking ability, easily accessing TikTok, BBC iPlayer, and many similar platforms from countries where they aren’t normally available. If you need help, you can get in touch using a 24/7 ticket system (though I haven’t experienced any problems). Users can protect up to five devices at once.

Is Total VPN fast enough for watching TikToks, going live, or taking part in video calls? To find out, I put its British servers to the test three times. This provider delivered an average speed of 198.68 Mbps on a 250 Mbps connection, which is an incredible result. Simply put, the odds of you encoutnering any kind of playback or performance issues are vanishingly small (as long as your base speeds are decent).

When it comes to privacy, Total VPN has you covered. Its uncrackable encryption ensures snoopers can’t see what you get up to online and can’t stop you visiting whatever sites you want. This is backed up by a kill switch (on all platforms except Windows) and protection against IPv6 and DNS leaks. This service doesn’t keep any logs of your activities and can be configured to only access TikTok if the VPN is active. There’s even an obfuscated protocol named Hydra in case you want another layer of privacy.

Total VPN offers apps for Windows, MacOS, iOS, and Android. There’s no support for Linux or routers at the time of writing.

USE TIKTOK ABROAD:Total VPN has the speed and security needed for you to watch TikToks safely while traveling. Also a great choice for bypassing regional limitations. Annual plans come with a 30-day money-back guarantee, with a 14-day guarantee on shorter plans.

Why not check out our complete Total VPN review?

4. ProtonVPN

unblocks TikTokTested Feb 2026

ProtonVPN has a great reputation thanks to its creators’ other project, Proton Mail. However, it’s an impressive service on its own, with more than 15,000 servers throughout 120+ countries and the ability to access a huge list of geo-blocked services, from TikTok to Amazon Prime Video. Up to 10 devices can be connected at the same time and there’s 24/7 assistance via live chat, just in case you need it.

My next task was to measure ProtonVPN’s performance. Following three tests at different times of day, its British servers had an average speed of 166.93 Mbps, which is more than 10 times the recommended speed for watching 4K video. No matter whether you’re hoping to play games, stream, or torrent, this VPN is quick enough to handle it. You’ll find my full results below:

There’s a lot to like where security is concerned. For instance, ProtonVPN uses unbreakable 256-bit  ChaCha20 encryption and an independently-verified no-logs policy to make sure your browsing habits stay private. There’s also DNS and IPv6 leak protection, automatic tracker-blocking, and a kill switch, plus a stealth protocol that can hide the fact you’re using a VPN at all. Thinking about gaming or torrenting? In that case, you’ll appreciate ProtonVPN’s split tunneling and port forwarding features too.

ProtonVPN apps are available for iOS, Android, MacOS, Windows, and Linux. Users also have the option of manually installing this VPN on most home routers.

ZERO-LOGS VPN:ProtonVPN can securely access TikTok, Prime Video, and plenty of other major platforms. What’s more, it boasts a wide range of privacy features, a high connection limit, and a 30-day money-back guarantee on all paid plans.

Interested? Take a look at our full ProtonVPN review.

5. ExpressVPN

unblocks TikTokTested Feb 2026

ExpressVPN has more than a decade of industry experience and a network spanning 105 countries. This service automatically obfuscates your data if it realizes you’re somewhere with extreme censorship, allowing you to easily unblock TikTok, BBC iPlayer, Instagram, and Snapchat from abroad. It recently increased its connection limits too, so you’ll be able to share your account with family. If anything doesn’t work as expected, there’s 24/7 assistance over live chat.

In my opinion, ExpressVPN’s apps are some of the simplest around. You can connect directly from the home screen. Better still, any expeditions into the server list or settings should be painless thanks to the well-organized menus.

ExpressVPN is one of the few VPN providers that has parental controls.I tested ExpressVPN’s fastest-available UK servers in the morning, at lunchtime, and in the afternoon, resulting in an average speed of 125.04 Mbps (on a 250 Mbps connection). That’s a solid result, and well above what’s required for any day to day task. In other words, you’re effectively guaranteed a speedy connection, even at peak times or when others in your home are using the internet too. Take a look:

Don’t be put off by the fairly barebones menu; ExpressVPN actually has quite an expansive set of security features, it’s just that most are enabled by default. Rest assured: even though the menu doesn’t show leak protection, unbreakable encryption, or a kill switch, they’re all included! This service also boasts split tunneling functionality, an ad and tracker-blocker, adult content filter, and its own protocol (Lightway) that claims to be several times faster than OpenVPN. Most importantly, ExpressVPN has been audited to prove it doesn’t keep logs. 

ExpressVPN now has a tiered pricing system. This means you can grab a highly-versatile, secure, and speedy service for a lower price than ever before. You can protect up to 10 devices on the Basic plan, 12 on an Advanced plan, and 14 with a Pro subscription.

Apps are available for Windows, MacOS, iOS, Android, Linux, and Amazon Fire TV. It also offers a Smart DNS service for streaming US TV on devices without full VPN support, and router firmware that simplifies the process of securing your whole home network.

GOOD FOR TIKTOK:ExpressVPN lets you access TikTok from any country with ease. It’s an intuitive, privacy-focused service with automatic obfuscation and exceptional streaming abilities. What’s more, ExpressVPN comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full ExpressVPN review to find out more.

6. IPVanish

unblocks TikTokTested Feb 2026

IPVanish is another strong pick for users hoping to access TikTok while traveling abroad. Its network recently grew to 3,200 servers in 100 countries, and while this service won’t work in China, it’s able to bypass less-stringent censorship using its OpenVPN scrambling tool. I’ve had great results using IPVanish to unblock Prime Video, Paramount+, and Peacock, among other services. There’s no simultaneous connection limit and users can speak to support staff at any time via live chat.

When it comes to speed, IPVanish usually ranks quite highly. Still, it’s important to retest regularly since most VPNs roll out updates fairly often. I tested IPVanish’s British servers three times, resulting in an average speed of 163.59 Mbps. With speeds like this, you can expect buttery smooth streaming, gaming, and torrenting. There was only around 11 Mbps of variance too, so it’s a highly consistent service.

The real question is whether IPVanish can adequately protect your from snoopers. I’m happy to say that it can, thanks to its uncrackable AES-256 encryption, built-in leak protection, and kill switch. Just recently, it added a link safety checking tool, multi-hop servers, and a combined tracker/ad-blocker. IPVanish has a zero-logs policy and has proven it via multiple audits. You can even choose to let certain apps or websites bypass your encryption using IPVanish’s split tunneling feature.

This service now offers an Advanced plan which costs a little over a dollar more each month. In return, you’ll get the VPN itself, a remotely-accessible browser, and a terabyte of cloud storage. That’s not bad considering the storage would usually cost more than this on its own!

Apps are available for Windows, MacOS, iOS, Android, Android TV and Amazon Fire TV. IPVanish’s website has setup instructions for most popular router brands.

HIGHLY VERSATILE:IPVanish is an adaptable, reliable VPN that unblocks TikTok, Netflix, and more. Boasts a robust set of privacy tools, a total lack of connection limits, and an ever-growing network. Annual plans come with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full IPVanish review.

7. CyberGhost

unblocks TikTokTested Feb 2026

CyberGhost prides itself on its ability to access stubborn geo-blocked platforms abroad. However, its obfuscation is fairly basic, and won’t help in places like China. Everybody else though, will appreciate the task-specific servers that tell you which are best for streaming Netflix, BBC iPlayer, and Amazon Prime Video. There are others designed for torrenting and maximizing privacy, plus 24/7 support in case your preferred platform isn’t mentioned. Users can connect up to seven devices at once.

I tested CyberGhost’s British servers at several different times of day to get a feel for its performance. This service delivered an average speed of 151.01 Mbps, which is more than enough for any activity. However, I’d prefer if there was less variance, since this VPN’s morning and noon results were nearly 50 Mbps apart. Let’s take a look at my full test results:

While this is a newcomer-friendly service, it offers an expansive set of security and privacy tools. From the moment you connect, you’re taken care of using unbreakable encryption, a kill switch, automatic ad and tracker-blocking, and CyberGhost’s proven no-logs policy. Additionally, it offers split tunneling support, basic obfuscation, and a smart rules feature that lets you give specific instructions for specific situations. For instance, you could have CyberGhost connect to a British server whenever you launch the TikTok app.

CyberGhost apps are available for Windows, MacOS, iOS, Linux, and Android. Manual setup is required for routers.

UNBLOCK TIKTOK:CyberGhost lets you access TikTok from anywhere without a hitch. Built with novices in mind. Perfect for any day to day task including streaming, unblocking TikTok, or chatting with friends. All plans include a 45-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full CyberGhost review.

Does TikTok use SIM card region to determine user location?

Yes. TikTok does use SIM card data to detect a user’s location. However, it primarily relies on IP addresses to detect user locations. In countries where TikTok is already banned, such as India, users have successfully bypassed the block using a VPN without changing their SIM card. This suggests that TikTok prioritizes IP-based location tracking (rather than SIM-based restrictions).

If the US ban takes effect, a VPN should allow users to access TikTok by routing their connection through a country where the app remains available. While there’s no guarantee, TikTok has not heavily cracked down on VPN usage in other banned regions, which gives hope that the US will be able to rely on a VPN to use TikTok.

Can I unblock TikTok with a free VPN?

I don’t recommend using free VPNs. They lack the performance and security of paid VPNs and offer far fewer locations to connect to. Many free VPNs monitor your online activity and collect personal data to sell for advertising revenue. They typically impose data caps or bandwidth limits, which can prevent you from using TikTok. This is why I’d recommend either making the most of free-trials or choosing a low-cost paid VPN provider with a privacy-first policy.

What Countries Have Banned TikTok?

With the exception of India and Afghanistan, few countries have banned TikTok. However, a number of countries such as Norway and the UK) have implemented partial TikTok bans, typically on governmental devices. This is due to security and privacy-related concerns surrounding TikTok’s parent company and its links to the Chinese government (and that user data such as browsing history could be shared between the two).

Here’s a list of countries that invoked either full or partial bans of TikTok:

Full TikTok ban

• Afghanistan
• India
• Nepal
• Somalia

Partial TikTok ban

• Australia
• Belgium
• Canada
• Denmark
• Estonia
• France
• India
• The Netherlands
• New Zealand
• Norway
• Taiwan
• United Kingdom

How do I change my Google Play country?

If TikTok has been removed from Google Play in your country, here’s how to switch to another country’s version of Google Play so you can download it:

1. On your Android device, open your VPN app and connect to the country you want to switch to
2. Open the Google Play app.
3. Tap Menu (three horizontal bars) > Account.
4. Under Country and profiles, you’ll see the option to Switch to the country you’ve chosen with your VPN. To do so, you’ll need a local form of payment for that country. If you don’t have one, consider buying a prepaid debit card for that country.
5. The Google Play Store will automatically change to the new country within the next 24 hours.

Note that you can only change your Google Play country once per year, and you may lose access to your account balance and previous purchases.

How do I change my Apple App Store country?

If TikTok has been removed from the App Store in your country, the easiest way to get TikTok is to create a new Apple ID. This will let you choose a new country without being physically present or entering a local payment method.

Alternatively, here’s how to change an existing Apple ID to a new country:

1. On your iOS device, open the VPN app and connect to the country you want to switch to.
2. Open the Settings app.
3. Tap your name, then iTunes & App Store.
4. Tap your Apple ID, then View Apple ID. Sign in if prompted.
5. Select Country/Region > Change Country or Region.
6. Choose the country that your VPN is connected to.
7. Agree to the terms and conditions.
8. Select a local payment method. If you don’t have one, consider buying a prepaid debit card for that country.

Note that you might lose your existing store credit and purchases when switching countries.

TikTok FAQs