How to access TikTok anywhere with a VPN

Are you looking for the best VPN for TikTok? Many countries have blocked TikTok, leading users to wonder how to access TikTok anywhere. This guide can help you bypass TikTok bans in the USA, India, Australia, Pakistan, and more. Learn to unblock TikTok to enjoy short videos no matter where you are – with the added benefit of secure TikTok access.

In this article, we’ll cover the best VPNs that offer a fast VPN connection to avoid buffering while maintaining your privacy. We will explain how to use a TikTok VPN to overcome geo-restrictions and avoid getting a shadow ban.

Whether you’re using an Android or iOS device or want to stream, this guide will help you find a VPN for TikTok. Our recommendations include many servers that allow you to change your IP address location and enjoy TikTok without limits. Find out about VPN obfuscation and which providers can best help you unblock TikTok from the US or elsewhere.

You can see the full details of our testing process later in the article. If you just want a quick VPN recommendation, here’s a summary of our top picks:

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 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 that can unblock the TikTok app even in countries on the blocked list. Works with other social media networks and strong encryption protects your internet traffic.
3. IPVanish: Strong security and unlimited devices on a single plan. Perfect for watching or sharing content on TikTok, even in places where the app is blocked.
4. ExpressVPN: Unblocks TikTok on school networks and in restrictive countries like China. Has advanced security features, including a no-logs policy.
5. CyberGhost: An array of servers in more than 100 countries, so you can watch your favorite viral videos from anywhere in the world. Has incredible speeds and military-grade encryption.

How do I unblock TikTok with a VPN?

A country might enforce a TikTok ban in a couple of ways. In China, for example, internet service providers block TikTok servers, making it impossible to access TikTok or watch TikTok videos.

If your internet service provider or network administrator is blocking your TikTok account or restricting access to TikTok videos, you can bypass the TikTok ban with a VPN. Simply sign up for one of the recommended VPNs below and follow the instructions to access TikTok securely and without restrictions.

Here’s how to unblock TikTok:

1. Download and install a TikTok VPN app onto your device. We particularly recommend NordVPN.
2. Open the VPN app and select a location in a country where TikTok is not blocked
3. Connect to the VPN
4. Open TikTok and start using it as you normally would

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

Key criteria for TikTok VPNs

Not all VPNs are equal. To unblock TikTok in the US, India (or any other country where it’s blocked), you’ll want a VPN that performs well in the following areas:

• Speed: Fast speeds mean you’ll be able to enjoy uninterrupted video streaming. We carried out several speed tests before recommending any VPN providers.
• Features: We looked for VPNs with plenty of servers in countries where TikTok is not banned. We also looked for providers that had some form of obfuscation. This could be necessary for users in countries where the VPN software might itself be restricted.
• Security and privacy: To make sure your connection is safe from interested third parties, we only recommended providers that scored highly on 16 different security and privacy criteria.
• Ease of use: Many people will be turning to VPNs solely to get around TikTok bans. With this in mind we looked for hassle-free VPNs by scoring them against 10 criteria related to user-friendliness.
• Streaming: Some providers get blocked far more easily than others. We used nine different metrics for measuring VPNs’ ability to work consistently with a range of platforms on a range of devices.

Best VPNs for TikTok

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

1. NordVPN

Jan 2025 unblocks TikTokTested Jan 2025

NordVPN is our top recommendation. One of the fastest VPNs we’ve tested, it’s perfect for streaming endless TikTok videos no matter where you are. It even works in China and is a great option to bypass the TikTok ban in the USA.

Speeds were outstanding during our tests. The provider averaged 223.02 Mbps overall, which makes it suitable for just about any online task you can think of.

NordVPN works with plenty of popular streaming sites like Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Amazon Prime Video, Hotstar, and Disney Plus — and is more than fast enough for streaming in 4K.

NordVPN’s strict zero-logs policy and airtight security mean your online activities are always protected. 24/7 customer support is available via live chat if you need it.

Apps are available for Windows, MacOS, iOS, Android, Amazon Fire TV, and Linux. You can connect up to ten devices at once.

FASTEST SPEEDS:NordVPN offers one of the best user experiences and excels at streaming. Great value and comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full NordVPN review.

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2. Surfshark

unblocks TikTokTested Jan 2025

Surfshark was made to unblock region-locked content, and TikTok is no different. With over 3,200 servers in 100 countries, you can access a wealth of content from around the globe. Everything you do online is protected by strong encryption and a no-logs policy.

Speeds are excellent, with the provider averaging 214.38 Mbps in our tests. This was 51 Mbps faster than the combined average speed of the other providers we tested.

Surfshark lets you securely access Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Amazon Prime Video, and much more from abroad. It’s more than fast enough to stream in the highest resolution available.

Apps are available for Windows, MacOS, iOS, Android, and Linux. There’s no connection limit, which makes it a great choice for a family or group of housemates to share.

ACCESS TIKTOK ANONYMOUSLY:Surfshark lets you stream video from TikTok and other sites safely and privately. It comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full SurfShark review.

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3. IPVanish

unblocks TikTokTested Jan 2025

IPVanish is a VPN that emphasizes privacy and security above all else. It includes the latest, strongest encryption without sacrificing speed or ease of use. Users can safely access TikTok from any country.

We carried out several speed tests to find out what speeds users might expect while connected. As you can see from the chart below, IPVanish was very fast.

The provider’s average speed was 183.59 Mbps overall, which makes it fast enough for streaming, gaming, or torrenting. IPVanish works with a large number of streaming sites, including Netflix.

IPVanish allows an unlimited number of simultaneous connections on a single plan, so it’s a good option if you want to share with family or friends. That said, plans are already fairly cheap — a basic subscription costs the equivalent of $2.19 a month. However, for just over a dollar a month more, users get a sandboxed secure browser and 1TB of cloud storage as part of the provider’s Advanced plan.

GOOD VALUE:IPVanish secures your connection and unblocks TikTok without a hassle. It comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full IPVanish review.

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4. ExpressVPN

unblocks TikTokTested Jan 2025

ExpressVPN has servers in 105+ countries, which makes unblocking TikTok easy. Every connection is secured with the latest VPN encryption and privacy standards, and every server is optimized for speed.

We tested how fast its servers were in a series of speed tests. ExpressVPN averaged 95.04 Mbps over all three tests, which is fast enough for using TikTok without issue.

Customer support is available around the clock if you run into any issues. ExpressVPN can unblock TikTok from inside mainland China. It also works with other social media platforms like Instagram and Snapchat.

In addition to TikTok, ExpressVPN works with a huge range of region-locked services, including popular streaming services like BBC iPlayer, Amazon Prime Video, and Hulu.

Apps are available for Windows, MacOS, iOS, Android, Linux, Amazon Fire TV, and certain wi-fi routers.

GOOD FOR TIKTOK:ExpressVPN lets you access TikTok from any country with ease. If you’re not satisfied, take advantage of the risk-free, 30-day, money-back guarantee.

Read our full ExpressVPN review to find out more.

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5. CyberGhost

unblocks TikTokTested Jan 2025

CyberGhost prides itself on its ability to unblock just about anything, so TikTok bans are no match for this VPN. You can choose your favorite streaming service right from the app and access it in seconds from anywhere in the world. This makes it great for traveling internationally.

You’re unlikely to notice that you’re connected to a VPN while using TikTok, thanks to CyberGhost’s speedy servers. In our tests, these averaged 151.10 Mbps, which is a solid result.

These fast speeds and lack of data cap means you can unblock TikTok and watch videos to your heart’s content.

Security is strong, too, and CyberGhost doesn’t store any identifying user logs.

Apps are available for Windows, MacOS, iOS, Android, and Linux.

UNBLOCK TIKTOK:CyberGhost lets you access TikTok from anywhere without a hitch. It comes with a generous 45-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full CyberGhost review.

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Why is TikTok banned in the US?

TikTok is banned in the US due to national security concerns over its Chinese ownership (ByteDance). US lawmakers fear that the Chinese government could access user data and that the app could be used for foreign influence and misinformation. The January 19, 2025, deadline requires ByteDance to sell TikTok’s US operations or face a nationwide ban. Unfortunately for American TikTok fans, ByteDance refuses to comply, which means the TikTok ban will likely be enforced from January 19.

How will the US block TikTok?

The US government has given ByteDance several months to enforce divestment. If the divestment doesn’t happen, TikTok will likely be removed from US app stores to prevent anybody else from downloading and using the app. This means you will need a VPN to switch your app store to Canada – or another country where TikTok is still available.

Besides removing TikTok from Google Play and other app stores, US Internet Service Providers (ISPs) will likely be required to block access to TikTok. This will prevent the TikTok app and the browser version of TikTok from communicating with TikTok servers. As a result, US TikTok users will need a VPN to access their TikTok account.

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.

What is RedNote, and why are US TikTok users migrating?

Many US TikTok users, calling themselves “TikTok refugees,” are switching to RedNote (also known as Xiaohongshu). This Chinese social media platform is popular among young people in China, Taiwan, and other Mandarin-speaking regions.

RedNote combines elements of TikTok and Instagram and has quickly become the #1 app on Apple’s US App Store as users search for new places to share content and connect. With 300 million monthly users, it focuses on lifestyle content like fashion, dating, and travel.

The platform has openly welcomed migrating TikTok users, with over 63,000 posts under the hashtag “TikTok refugee,” offering tips on navigating the app and learning basic Mandarin phrases. For some Americans, joining RedNote is seen as a protest against the TikTok ban.

Can I unblock TikTok with a free VPN?

We 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 we recommend either making the most of free-trials or choosing a low-cost paid VPN provider with a privacy-first policy.

Choosing the best VPNs for TikTok: our methodology

Not every VPN is suitable for TikTok. For instance, some might not be fast enough to stream HD video, and others may not be able to unblock the service in countries where it’s unavailable. That’s why we thinned the list of contenders with a strict set of must-have criteria. Below, you’ll find the characteristics that all of our top VPNs for TikTok share:

Speed

Because TikTok videos are very short, they don’t require extremely fast internet speeds. However, for seamless playback, you’ll need decent performance, which is why we only recommend VPNs that performed solidly in our tests.

We carried out three tests for each provider: one in the morning, one at noon, and one in the afternoon. We used each VPN’s UK servers and a virtual machine for testing. This machine was rate-limited to 250 Mbps, which is the median average of fixed broadband speeds in the US, and thus representative of many of our readers.

As you can see from the chart below, NordVPN was the fastest provider overall. It clocked an impressive average speed of 223 Mbps and was 62 Mbps faster than the combined average speed of the other tested providers.

Surfshark, too, was notably quick and is a great alternative if you’re keen to preserve your connection speed.

Features

Generally, the more servers you have to choose from, the better. That’s because closer servers minimize your connection’s latency, resulting in higher overall performance. Further, large networks usually mean more stable speeds at peak times.

We scored providers on the number of servers they had, together with the number of countries they had a presence in. Finally, we scored them on whether they had obfuscation available.

NordVPN excelled in all three areas, with more than 7,100 servers in 118 countries, and powerful obfuscation that is able to bypass stringent blocks in countries such as China. Surfshark and ExpressVPN are good alternatives for obfuscation and server spread, though their networks are less than half the size of NordVPN’s.

Security and privacy

VPNs are primarily digital privacy tools, so we only recommend those with 256-bit encryption, a kill switch, leak protection, and a no-logs policy. The best providers come with other features, too. You can see which VPNs meet additional criteria in the table below.

We assigned a score to each of these criteria so that we were left with an overall score out of ten. This makes it easier to directly compare providers.

NordVPN and Surfshark scored equally highly for security and privacy. Both providers combine strong encryption, independently audited no-logs policies, and multiple anonymous payment options.

Ease of use

We prioritize VPNs that are easy enough for beginners to use and meet the majority of the criteria outlined in the table below.

Providers were scored on each of these criteria, and the scores combined to give an overall score out of 10 for comparison.

NordVPN had the easiest-to-use service overall, with a simple sign-up process and well-thought-out apps. IPVanish and ExpressVPN are also good for those new to VPN software.

Streaming

At some point, you might want to watch something else other than TikTok. We tested providers with popular services like Netflix, HBO Max, Disney+, and Hulu to see just how well they handled strict regional restrictions. We also measured them against several other metrics, as you can see in the table below.

Each of these metrics was given a score, which we combined to create an overall score out of ten. This makes it easier to compare providers.

NordVPN, Surfshark, and ExpressVPN are all equally solid for streaming. They work with all of the most popular platforms and all offer a smart DNS service for VPN-incompatible devices.

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
• United States

Partial TikTok ban

• Australia
• Belgium
• Canada
• Denmark
• 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.

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