8 Best VPNs for Telegram in 2024

If you’re trying to access Telegram in Russia, Iran, India, or other parts of the world where it is blocked, your best bet is to log in via a Virtual Private Network (VPN). A VPN for Telegram encrypts all the traffic flowing to and from your device and tunnels it via an intermediary server in a location of your choice, allowing you to access sites and services that would usually be blocked.

By using a VPN, you can obfuscate your location, thereby tricking state authorities in Russia by making it impossible for them to detect that you’re based there. The encrypted tunnel also makes it very difficult for ISPs, hackers, and surveillance agencies to monitor your online activity.

In this article, we’ll show you how to access Telegram in Russia, Iran, India, or anywhere else with a VPN and the best providers for this purpose. We get into plenty of detail on each of the VPNs, but if you are short of time and can’t read the whole article, here’s a brief breakdown of our top picks:

Best VPNs for Telegram:

1. NordVPN Our #1 choice VPN for accessing Telegram. Unblocks Telegram from just about anywhere that restrictions are in place. Has some of the fastest streaming and downloading servers that we’ve tested. Excellent privacy and security features. Includes a 30-day money-back guarantee. TIP In our testing we found that the cheapest NordVPN plan (Standard) works perfectly for Telegram.
2. Surfshark A great budget contender for a Telegram VPN. Well-priced and delivers reliability, security, a strict no-logs policy, and unlimited connections.
3. IPVanish Security and circumventing blocked sites are their top features. Exceptional speed and no connection limits.
4. ExpressVPN Solid all-rounder with a vast server network that unblocks most geo-restricted sites and services, including Telegram. Easy to use and has great privacy features.
5. CyberGhost Reliable provider with a huge server network spread across the globe. Good for beginners and advanced users. Privacy and security are solid.
6. PrivateVPN Privacy-first VPN with a no-logs policy and a growing network of servers. Impressive speeds and unblocking capabilities.
7. PureVPN An ultra-fast, easy-to-use service with beginner-friendly apps and 24/7 support. Excels at beating strict online censorship and works almost anywhere in the world.
8. ProtonVPN Quick enough for any task, whether video calling, live streaming, or torrenting. Comes packed with privacy features, though it may be a little advanced for novices.

How we found the top Telegram VPNs

Hundreds of VPNs are on the market, but they aren’t all created equal. Below are just some of the minimum standards that a VPN needs to meet before we recommend it for use with Telegram:

• Can reliably unblock Telegram and other platforms
• Robust security parameters so that your location is guarded at all times
• Apps for popular platforms, including Android and iOS
• Large range of server locations in Europe and North America
• A strict no-logs policy so that browsing remains private
• Easy to use for beginners, but with enough features for advanced users

This is just an overview of our testing criteria, but you can read about it in more detail in the methodology section below.

The best VPNs for Telegram: 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 Telegram.

The best VPNs for Telegram

Here at Comparitech, we personally test all the VPNs before we recommend them. These reviews are based on our first-hand experience. Let’s take a look at the ones that impressed us.

Here’s our list of the best VPNs for accessing Telegram from anywhere:

1. NordVPN

Dec 2024

NordVPN is our top choice for a Telegram VPN. It is an example of a completely logless VPN that doesn’t record user data, ensuring your complete online privacy.

The provider has been in the VPN business for over a decade — helping it build a robust product. It offers over 6,000 servers spread across 100+ countries, with a large variety in the West. NordVPN also ranks as the fastest VPN in our speed tests.

Encryption standards are hardy and will keep you protected at all times. NordVPN uses 256-bit AES encryption by default coupled with 2,048-bit SSL keys. In addition, DNS, WebRTC, and IPv6 leak protection are included.

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

NordVPN speed test data

BEST VPN FOR TELEGRAM:NordVPN is our top pick. Excellent speeds. Works to access Telegram from anywhere. Solid security and privacy performer. Includes a 30-day money-back guarantee, making it risk-free.

Want to know more? Read our full review of NordVPN here, or check out our video review below.

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2. Surfshark

Surfshark is a budget-friendly, privacy-focused VPN that does not log user information and offers many security features.

It has a growing network of over 3,200 servers covering more than 100 countries. There are many European locations, as well as a good spread in the Americas and Asia Pacific region, along with a few Middle Eastern and African locations.

This VPN offers tight security. It boasts 256-bit encryption on the WireGuard protocol, SHA512 authentication, and a 2,048-bit key exchange. Apps include a kill switch, leak protection, and automatic Wi-Fi protection.

Mobile apps are available for Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android.

Surfshark speed test data

TOP BUDGET CHOICE:Surfshark packs a ton of security features into a great value product. Doesn’t log user information and allows an unlimited number of connections. 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full review of Surfshark here, or check out our video review below.

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3. IPVanish

IPVanish doesn’t store user data, which should ease privacy concerns. Better still, it offers some of the fastest speeds we’ve seen and can secure all of your devices simultaneously.

It offers over 2,000 global servers spread across 75 locations. The US occupies the bulk of this list, and there are more than enough options in mainland Europe.

Encryption standards are top-tier. It uses 256-bit encryption on the WireGuard protocol by default, SHA512 authentication, and a DHE-RSA 2,048-bit key exchange with perfect forward secrecy.

You’ll find apps for Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android.

IPVanish speed test data

PRIVATE AND SECURE:IPVanish offers strong privacy and security that works well with Telegram. Provides protection against DNS leaks and keeps no logs. 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full review of IPVanish.

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4. ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN guards your data zealously. First-class encryption protocols are in place; specifically, the service leverages military-grade encryption standards, HMAC authentication, and perfect forward secrecy. An internet kill switch, which ExpressVPN refers to as a ‘network lock,’ is included.

The company doesn’t store detailed traffic logs but retains metadata to improve the service. It’s incorporated in the British Virgin Islands, which means it’s out of the jurisdiction of government authorities in the US and the UK.

When you sign up, you’ll find over 3,000 server locations worldwide. There are plentiful options in Europe and North America.

There are ExpressVPN apps for Linux, Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS.

ExpressVPN speed test data

GREAT ALL-ROUNDER:ExpressVPN is fast and reliable. Confidently unblocks Telegram. Also solid for all major streaming services. Great privacy features and keeps no logs. 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our in-depth review of ExpressVPN here, or check out our video review below.

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5. CyberGhost

CyberGhost is based in Romania and is not subject to any mandatory data retention laws. It doesn’t record any user activity on its servers, either. The VPN company offers various privacy and security features to protect your internet connections.

By default, all traffic is secured by 256-bit encryption on the WireGuard protocol, along with perfect forward secrecy. An internet kill switch is included.

The company has over 9,000 servers online at the moment, the majority of which are housed in Europe and North America. Finding an adequate connection to unblock Telegram should be relatively straightforward.

Additional security features include an ad blocker, anti-malware defense, and anti-tracking. Apps for Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS mobile devices are available.

CyberGhost speed test data

SOLID SECURITY:CyberGhost ihas a vast network of servers for unblocking Telegram. Ideal for beginners who are looking for a fast, reliable connection, an easy-to-use interface. Stores no logs and streams HD video reliably. Try it risk-free with the 45-day money-back guarantee.

Here’s our extensive CyberGhost review.

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6. PrivateVPN

PrivateVPN popped up quite recently, but that doesn’t mean its product is sub-par by any standards. It’s based in Sweden and offers features and performance that are on par with the other providers on this list. 256-bit AES encryption and perfect forward secrecy on the OpenVPN protocol are included. A kill switch is offered, too.

PrivateVPN doesn’t store any user logs, so any record of trying to access Telegram in Russia is scrubbed from sight.

Currently, a little over 200 servers are spread across 63 countries. This seems tiny as compared to the huge options offered by other providers, but the range of locations in Europe and North America should do the trick.

PrivateVPN speed test data

GREAT SPEED:PrivateVPN is a good family choice. Unblocks Telegram. Also good for secure and private browsing and torrenting. 30-day money-back guarantee.

Here’s our review of PrivateVPN.

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7. PureVPN

PureVPN is a great way to get an extra layer of protection while using Telegram. By default, it uses uncrackable encryption and leak protection, plus there’s a kill switch on most platforms. Further, thanks to its automatic obfuscation, this service works just about anywhere, including countries with strict censorship, like China. With average speeds of nearly 400 Mbps, it’s a solid choice for live streaming, video calling, or any day-to-day task. Customer support is available 24 hours per day over live chat, though staff do sometimes take a few minutes to respond.

This VPN puts your privacy first. How do we know? Because it follows a strict no-logging policy and has been audited four times to prove it. If you choose the Plus or Max subscriptions, you’ll also gain access to a tracker-blocking feature. In a perfect world, this would be available to all users, and there’d be at least one way to pay anonymously, but these are fairly small complaints.

PureVPN has apps for Android, iOS, MacOS, Windows, and Linux. It can also be manually installed on most home routers (follow the website’s setup guide for instructions).

PureVPN speed test data

BEAT RESTRICTIONS:PureVPN can help you bypass country-wide censorship and use region-locked platforms from anywhere. Not only that, it’s quick, security-conscious, and novice-friendly. All plans come with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full review of PureVPN to learn more.

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8. ProtonVPN

ProtonVPN has almost 5,000 servers spread across 91 countries so that you can get a high-speed, low-latency connection from just about anywhere. We’ve had good results using this VPN to access platforms like Telegram, Netflix, and Amazon Prime Video though it’s worth noting that it’s not a reliable option for anyone visiting China. There’s a generous 10-connection limit and 24/7 customer support too, so you’re never more than a few minutes away from help.

When it comes to security, ProtonVPN is one of the best around. It uses uncrackable encryption, supports multiple protocols, and blocks ads, trackers, and malware by default. Not only that, it follows a true no-logs policy (a fact that independent auditors have verified). There’s a wealth of advanced tools, including port forwarding and split tunneling support, plus an accelerator designed to push your speeds as high as they can go. Accepts Bitcoin and cash payments, which makes it as easy as possible to sign up anonymously.

ProtonVPN apps are available for iOS, Android, Windows, Linux, and MacOS. Alternatively, you can follow manual setup instructions to get it running directly on your home router.

ProtonVPN speed test data

ZERO LOGS:ProtonVPN refuses to store details of your activities and its speeds are truly impressive. A strong choice for accessing Telegram safely, but also suitable for things like streaming. Limited free plan and a 30-day money-back guarantee with every paid subscription.

Check out our complete ProtonVPN review.

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Finding the best VPNs for Telegram: our methodology

While there are plenty of VPNs to choose from, not all are ideal for use with Telegram. We were able to narrow down the options with our methodology. This takes the following into account:

• Servers worldwide: Telegram is available in most countries with a few exceptions, including China and Iran. Having access to a VPN with servers in dozens of countries worldwide means you can access the messaging service with ease. It also means you can find a faster server close to your location!
• Speed: We conduct speed tests on each VPN. This helps us find the fastest VPNs for use with Telegram as well as for streaming and torrenting. Indeed, most are fast enough for 4K streaming without lag or buffering. Furthermore, all of the VPNs included in this post offer unlimited bandwidth
• Unblocking: Aside from Telegram, many websites and services may be geo-blocked due to copyright or censorship. This may be anything from a news site to a streaming service to another messaging service such as Signal or WhatsApp. Whatever the case, the best VPNs find ways around such blocks.
• Security: While Telegram provides end-to-end encryption if you activate it in settings, there are some slight concerns. For example, it uses its own proprietary encryption protocol. A VPN encrypts all of your internet traffic and protects you from leaks. In fact, some VPNs even have Double VPN servers.
• Privacy: We’ve explored 140 VPN logging policies, finding those that best protect your privacy. This is particularly important while using messaging services such as Telegram, for which you have to provide your phone number and which even record some data such as your IP address.
• Ease of use: A VPN needn’t be difficult to use. In fact, you should be able to connect to a server in a matter of seconds (adjusting your settings can usually be done in just a few clicks, too). In particular, we look for beginner-friendly apps as well as live chat and email support (preferably available 24/7).
• Value for money: Even some of the most expensive VPN providers lack some of the above features. Fortunately, we’ve found a number of VPNs that offer all of them while remaining value for money. All include at least a 30-day money-back guarantee, while some also have free trials, and our VPN discount coupons allow you to save even more.

Our VPN testing methodology goes into further detail about how we test VPNs by looking at key criteria, including speed, security, and even customer support.

Using a free VPN to access Telegram

The first and foremost consideration of users trying to access Telegram where it is blocked should be the guarantee that their private data is protected at all costs. That’s because you’re trying to circumvent government restrictions, which puts you directly in the crosshairs of the state. And that’s no trifling matter.

Unfortunately, free VPN services carry the inherent risk of poor encryption and pitiful speeds. The fact that they’re free should be a dead giveaway—such services aren’t charities and are definitely in the business of making money. Many of them have been caught inserting tracking cookies in order to mine their users’ data and sell it to third-party advertisers.

If you opt for a free VPN, you’re unlikely to receive a premium experience. Expect frequent disconnections and lingering concerns that your digital footprint is being monitored. For peace of mind, we advise using a paid, reputable VPN.

How to unblock Telegram with a VPN

Although Telegram is blocked in certain countries, it is fairly simple to regain access with a VPN. Follow the simple steps below to set up a VPN for Telegram on any PC, Windows, Android, or iOS device.

Here’s how to change the download location and unblock Telegram with a VPN:

1. Sign up with a VPN for Telegram. We particularly recommend NordVPN.
2. Download and install the VPN app or browser extension for your device.
3. Open the VPN app or browser extension and connect to a server in your home country (or any country in which Telegram is not blocked). This will provide you with a new IP address.
4. Download the Telegram App for your device.
5. Log in to Telegram, and you should now be able to send and receive messages! If you’re still encountering restrictions, try clearing your browser’s cookies and reloading the page.

If you’re having difficulty changing your Google Play region (or any other app store), you can also sideload the Telegram .APK file directly.

VPNs for Telegram: FAQs