Best VPNs for IMO so can bypass censorship blocks

IMO has around 200 million monthly users, but many governments and institutions have grown weary as the service grows. IMO – especially its VoIP features – are blocked in countries in the Middle East and more selectively by businesses and educational institutions worldwide. The best way to overcome such barriers is to use a VPN for IMO.

Short for Virtual Private Network, a VPN encrypts all the web traffic flowing to and from your device and routes it via a server outside your current location, thereby masking your identity. It makes tracking online behavior difficult for ISPs, hackers, or government agencies.

We cover each of the VPNs in this article in some detail, but if you only have time for a quick summary, here’s a quick summary of our favorite VPNs for IMO:

1. NordVPN: Our #1 VPN for IMO. NordVPN boasts unmatched speeds and a huge server network with no issues unblocking IMO and most other restricted services and sites. Includes a 30-day money-back guarantee.
2. Surfshark: Budget provider that’s a solid all-round choice. Offers both strong security and reasonable speeds. Allows you to connect unlimited devices.
3. ExpressVPN: With a vast array of fast servers dotted around the globe, this provider can unblock just about every restricted service while maintaining high levels of privacy and security.
4. CyberGhost: Great value provider with some of the fastest servers we have encountered. Easy-to-use apps allow non-technical users to access IMO.
5. IPVanish: Solid privacy features and secure apps. Reliable for unblocking chat and VoIP services such as IMO. Apps don’t work in China.
6. ZenMate: Good unblocking capabilities and reliable privacy features, but their connections and server speeds can be inconsistent.

How we selected the top IMO VPNs

There are a huge number of VPNs on the market, but they don’t all offer the same level of service. To take the guesswork out of it for you, we put together this list of the best VPNs for IMO based on the following factors:

• Speed and reliability of service
• Extensive network of servers globally
• Robust encryption standards to prevent data leakage
• Value for money
• Apps for Android and iOS

This is an overview, but if you want to know more about our VPN testing criteria, check out our methodology section below.

The best VPNs for IMO: at a glance

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

The best VPNs for IMO

Let’s take a closer look at the VPNs that consistently impress us.

Here’s our list of the best VPNs for IMO:

1. NordVPN

Sep 2024

NordVPN is our first choice for an IMO VPN. It’s been around for over a decade, and the experience shows when judged on the core product — blazing fast speeds and solid encryption.

It’s also another company that declines to store any user data. People looking to unblock IMO may have to overcome government restrictions, so it’s vital that their privacy is protected. NordVPN has you covered.

A sprawling server network of over 6,000 spread across 110 countries means you’re getting what you pay for. This service can also be used in a variety of other scenarios since it’s great for streaming, torrenting, and bypassing censorship.

Encryption standards are considered to be gold standard. The company deploys 256-bit AES protocol by default and uses 2,048-bit SSL keys. DNS leak protection is enabled.

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

BEST VPN FOR IMO:NordVPN is our top selection. Extremely fast, solid security and privacy, and works reliably in Dubai and the UAE. Use up to 10 devices at once with great. Risk-free with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Here’s our in-depth review of NordVPN.

2. Surfshark

Surfshark is a wallet-friendly VPN that makes it easy to use region-locked services abroad and can reliably bypass even the strictest online blocking with its one-click NoBorders mode. With steady speeds, unlimited bandwidth, and no connection limit, it’s ideal for anonymous chatting, streaming, or torrenting.

There’s a wide range of security features built-in. These include 256-bit encryption, protection against DNS and IPv6 leaks, and a kill switch that lets you decide which apps stop sending data should your connection drop. Surfshark doesn’t log any personally identifiable data.

This VPN provides access to 3,200+ servers spread across 100 countries. As such, you shouldn’t have any issues finding a high-speed, low-latency connection, regardless of which country you’re in.

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

BEST BUDGET VPN:Surfshark is a speedy, reliable VPN that unblocks a huge range of services (including IMO) abroad. Just as important, it boasts a no-logs policy, powerful security features, and a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full review of Surfshark here.

3. Express VPN

ExpressVPN delivers solid speeds and tight security. The app connects within seconds, and there’s rarely, if ever, any downtime. Apps are beginner-friendly but have enough features to appease advanced users.

ExpressVPN operates over 3,000 servers spread across 100 countries. Encryption standards are top-tier — all servers use 256-bit AES encryption, 4,096-bit RSA keys with perfect forward secrecy, and SHA512 authentication. This VPN even has its own protocol, Lightway, that boasts higher speeds than OpenVPN.

Privacy concerns are eased by the fact that the company doesn’t retain any traffic logs. The only sliver of metadata retention relates to the date (not time) when connected to the service, choice of location, and total bandwidth used. The individual IP address is not logged. An internet kill switch is included – this feature temporarily halts all web traffic if the connection drops or becomes unstable – thereby adding an additional layer of security.

It has apps for Windows, MacOS, Linux, Android, and iOS.

CHAT PRIVATELY ANYWHERE:ExpressVPN works reliably in Dubai and the UAE. It unblocks all major sites and apps, including IMO and Skype. Offers fast connections and servers in a huge range of countries. Try it with the 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full ExpressVPN review here.

4. CyberGhost

CyberGhost does its job efficiently and reliably. It may not have a wealth of options that appeal to power users, but speeds are fast, encryption standards are robust, and it doesn’t cost an arm and a leg, either.

The company is incorporated in Romania which means there aren’t any data retention laws to comply with. It also has an internal policy of zero data storage – ideal for users who may be worried about that.

It’s been constantly adding new servers, too. Currently, over 10,000 are spread across 100+ countries, and these are separated by intended task. For instance, there’s a whole set of servers devoted to accessing streaming services abroad.

CyberGhost uses 256-bit AES encryption on the WireGuard protocol by default, along with 2,048-bit RSA keys and MD5 HMAC authentication. Apps are available for Windows, Linux, MacOS, Android, and iOS.

BEGINNERS CHOICE:CyberGhost is easy to use. Top-rated for privacy, zero logs, and DNS leak protection. Unblocks IMO but can struggle with some other popular streaming sites. 45-day money-back guarantee.

Here’s our full review of CyberGhost for further reading.

5. IPVanish

IPVanish will appeal to privacy advocates because it’s a completely logless service. This means there’s hardly any data retention – no metadata about browsing sessions, choice of servers, or bandwidth used. The service will record a few details when an account is registered for the first time, but it’s possible to circumvent this via anonymous signups.

Speeds are great too – our tests of IPVanish indicated that the service was able to stream 1080p video without any lag. Encryption standards are stringent – IPVanish leverages 256-bit encryption on the WireGuard protocol by default, SHA512 authentication, and a DHE-RSA 2,048 key exchange with perfect forward secrecy. The latter feature makes it impossible for hackers to decrypt past session data in the unlikely scenario of a break in. An internet kill switch is also included.

With over 2,000 servers spread across 75 worldwide locations, it’ll be easy to find a stable server to unblock IMO.

Many users find it an excellent option for Kodi because it allows them to download the Android APK directly to their device. The interface is also remote control friendly for Kodi devices that lack a keyboard and mouse. There are apps for both MacOS, Windows, iOS, and Android.

NO CONNECTION LIMIT:IPVanish is great for families. Unblocks IMO, handles several simultaneous connections well. Recommend for their high standard of privacy, but keep shopping if you want to stream regularly.

Read our review of IPVanish.

6. ZenMate

ZenMate rounds up our list. The service isn’t the quickest or the most efficient but it will get the job done. A generous 30-day money back guarantee means you can cancel if unsatisfied within this period.

There’s a sizable community of almost 40 million who currently use the service, although most are probably in it for the popular free Chrome VPN extension. Paid options will grant you the full network of servers – over 4,200 globally.

The service uses 256-bit AES encryption in conjunction with 2,048-bit RSA keys and SHA 256 for authentication. An internet kill switch is included. These are secure standards, so no complaints on this front. The only issue is that there’s no live chat option either for troubleshooting – you’ll have to resort to emailed requests.

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

Easy to Setup:ZenMate is great for beginners. Reliable with IMO connections. Generally recommended for streaming. They can be prone to slow download speeds, and they don’t have live support. 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full review of ZenMate.

How to access IMO with a VPN?

Follow these steps to unblock IMO if the government, workplace, or institutional restrictions are in play:

1. Sign up for one of the VPN providers mentioned in this list. We particularly recommend NordVPN.
2. Once you’ve registered and made the payment, download the apps for your phone or PC / Macbook directly from the site
3. Clear your cookies and cache to remove old location identifiers and restart your device
4. Login to the VPN app and select a server in Europe or North America – these regions don’t block IMO
5. Wait for a connection to be established – a green light usually indicates this in your taskbar or at the top of your smartphone screen
6. Open your phone or browser and use IMO like you normally would

Methodology: Identifying the best VPNs for IMO

Choosing a VPN at the best of times can be tricky, but this problem is only compounded when trying to find one that works with messaging apps. After all, VoIP services are blocked entirely in several countries. To ensure you have the best possible experience, our top VPNs for IMO had to deliver impressive results in each of the following areas:

• Server choice: In general, the closer you are to your chosen server, the quicker and more reliable your connection will be. That’s why we’ve prioritized VPNs with larger networks; more servers means that wherever you are in the world, it’s likely there’ll be one nearby.
• Speed: Slow speeds are a real nuisance. They cause problems like laggy video calls, robotic-sounding audio, and slow file transfers. To prevent this, we decided to only recommend services that performed well in our most recent VPN speed testing.
• Security: VPNs are privacy tools, so we looked for providers offering 256-bit encryption, a kill switch, and protection against DNS and IPv6 leaks. We also required the best VPNs for IMO to follow no-logging policies, since these offer an even greater level of privacy.
• Unblocking ability: We prioritized VPNs that worked with a wide range of services, like Disney Plus, Amazon Prime Video, and HBO Max, not just IMO. Providers offering a stealth mode were preferred since these usually fare better against country-wide internet blocking.
• Usability: We’re big fans of anything that makes a service easier to use. This could be removing all connection limits, providing specific servers for unblocking chat services, or simply offering 24/7 support over live chat.

This is just one small part of our testing process. Read our full explainer post to find out more about how we test VPNs at Comparitech.

Using a VPN with IMO: FAQs