Best VPN for WeChat to access it securely anywhere

There are over a billion active WeChat users, but despite being one of the world’s most popular instant messaging apps, this service has some real privacy issues. Below, we’ll explain how to protect yourself, hide your actual location, and keep the contents of your messages as secure as possible with the best VPNs for WeChat.

Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) encrypt your internet connection and spoof your location, preventing government surveillance and allowing you to access your usual websites wherever you travel. Of course, there’s only so much you can do, given WeChat’s privacy policy, but we’ll discuss this later.

In a hurry? Here’s a quick guide to the best VPNs for WeChat but you can also scroll further down for a more in-depth review of each.

Best VPNs for accessing WeChat from anywhere:

1. NordVPN: The best WeChat VPN. Secures your network activity and unblocks most messager apps, even in China. Has a strict no-logging policy and a risk-free 30-day money-back guarantee.
   TIP In our testing we found that the cheapest NordVPN plan (Standard) works perfectly for WeChat.
2. Surfshark: Our top low-cost option. Boasts high speeds, strong security features, and a total lack of connection limits. Works flawlessly in China.
3. ExpressVPN: A fast, secure VPN that’ll let you privately browse WeChat from anywhere. Minimal setup required, and several mirror sites for Chinese users.
4. CyberGhost: This beginner-friendly VPN offers reliable connections to 10,000+ servers and a great set of security tools. Great for making video calls.
5. IPVanish: Quick and lightweight, with a top-notch security offering. This zero-logs VPN lets you connect as many devices as you like and unblocks several popular streaming services, as well as WeChat.
6. PrivateVPN: A speedy VPN that offers a higher degree of privacy than most of its rivals. Works great with WeChat and allows 10 connections at once.
7. Private Internet Access: Versatile, easy to use, and effective at unblocking stubborn geo-blocked services. Expansive server network.

Best VPNs for WeChat: 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 WeChat.

Best VPN for WeChat

You could spend forever mulling over the differences between rival VPN providers, but instead, we recommend finding a service that is a solid all-rounder. Below, you’ll find the criteria we used to determine which VPNs are best for WeChat:

• Offers access to a large network of servers
• Performed well in our most recent speed tests
• Can reliably bypass region-locking on services like Hulu
• Uses numerous advanced security features to protect your online privacy
• Has a no-log policy, preferably one that’s been independently-verified
• Provides apps for desktop and mobile devices

This is just a summary but you can read more about how we test and rank the VPNs we recommend in the methodology section below. For now, let’s take a closer look at the ones that impressed us.

Here’s our list of the best VPNs to access WeChat from anywhere:

1. NordVPN

unblocks wechatTested Dec 2024

NordVPN is our #1 recommendation for WeChat. It offers unlimited bandwidth and has a network spanning roughly 60 countries, making it an excellent choice for high-resolution video calling. NordVPN works perfectly with a wide range of messaging apps, and even offers obfuscated servers specifically designed for beating governmental censorship. Up to six simultaneous connections are permitted.

This service has a particularly impressive set of security features. First, there’s an internet kill switch, automatic malware scanning, and AES 256-bit encryption, as well as DNS, WebRTC, and IPv6 leak protection. NordVPN follows a strict no-logs policy and accepts three cryptocurrencies (Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Ripple). Help is available over live chat, 24 hours per day.

NordVPN has Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS apps. If you’d like to secure every device on your network, it can also be manually installed on a wide range of network routers.

BEST VPN FOR WECHAT:NordVPN is our top choice. Secure your online activity and avoid deep packet inspection while traveling. Comes with a risk-free 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full NordVPN review.

2. Surfshark

unblocks wechatTested Dec 2024

Surfshark is the best budget VPN for WeChat. It has speedy servers in 100+ countries and works with a huge number of platforms, from Netflix to Facebook. Better still, this VPN delivers exceptionally high speeds and allows you to connect all of your devices with a single account. Customer support is available around the clock and staff will be more than happy to help if you have issues browsing in China.

This VPN protects you against DNS and IPv6 leaks, hides your activities with AES 256-bit encryption, and ensures you never inadvertently browse without protection using a kill switch. Additionally, it boasts a NoBorders mode that can bypass even the most stringent web blocking. Surfshark has a strict no-logs policy and has verified this with multiple audits. Plus it accepts Ethereum, Ripple, or Bitcoin for even greater anonymity.

Surfshark users can install macOS, Android, iOS, Windows, and Linux apps. It can be manually configured before use with supported network routers.

TALK PRIVATELY ANYWHERE:Surfshark is an affordable VPN with a ton of privacy features and very high speeds. Still not convinced? There’s also a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Take a look at our comprehensive Surfshark review.

3. ExpressVPN

unblocks wechatTested Dec 2024

ExpressVPN offers reliable performance and access to servers in 100+ countries, making it a fantastic choice for anyone looking to use messaging apps safely. What’s more, this service excels at accessing geo-restricted content, so you’ll be able to regain access to your usual services while traveling. No additional setup is needed to use this service in China (provided you install it before you arrive), and support is available 24/7 over live chat.

This VPN keeps you safe by blocking ads and malicious websites automatically. It also offers uncrackable encryption, a kill switch, and IPv6 and DNS leak protection. Most importantly, ExpressVPN refuses to log any data that could identify you. It’s based in the British Virgin Islands, a location with no mandatory data-retention laws, so there’s no need to worry about governmental interference, either.

ExpressVPN has apps for iOS, Android, Windows, Linux, and MacOS. Additionally, it has custom firmware that makes it easier to install on supported network routers.

ULTRAFAST CONNECTIONS:ExpressVPN reliably unblocks WeChat and other popular chat apps. It offers high speeds, 256-bit encryption, a robust logging policy, and knowledgeable support. There’s also a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full ExpressVPN review.

4. CyberGhost

unblocks wechatTested Dec 2024

CyberGhost has a vast network of over 10,000 servers in 100+ countries, including China making it a solid choice whether you’re using WeChat, streaming, or just looking to prevent your internet provider from throttling your connection. It’s very fast, too, and has no bandwidth limits, so you can do what you like, as much as you like. Better still, this VPN lets you protect up to seven devices simultaneously.

This service’s security features include DNS and IPv6 leak protection, a kill switch, and effectively-uncrackable 256-bit AES encryption. There’s also a feature that sends your data via a random port (which helps you avoid VPN-detection measures on public wifi networks). CyberGhost doesn’t store any data that could identify you. Privacy-conscious users can sign up almost completely anonymously by paying in Bitcoin. Additionally, live chat-based support is available around the clock.

CyberGhost has mobile (Android and iOS) and desktop apps (macOS, Windows, and Linux). To use this VPN with your wireless router, you can install it manually.

SECURE AND RELIABLE:CyberGhost is both highly secure and easy to use. It’s fast enough for flawless streaming, torrenting, or chatting, plus it has special servers for securely accessing stubborn platforms like Netflix. This VPN offers a 45-day money-back guarantee.

Interested? Find out more in our in-depth review of CyberGhost.

5. IPVanish

unblocks wechatTested Dec 2024

IPVanish is a veteran provider with more than 2,000 servers in 60 countries. One of the best things about this VPN is that it doesn’t limit the user in any way. For instance, its speeds are high enough for most purposes. It unblocks a wide variety of geo-restricted services, and, best of all, there’s no limit on the number of devices you can connect. Need help? Customer support is available 24/7 over live chat.

This VPN puts in a strong showing when it comes to security too. It offers 256-bit encryption, a kill switch, DNS and IPv6 leak protection, and there’s even the option to block local connections. Users can scramble their OpenVPN traffic, which helps prevent you from being detected by services that usually block VPN users. IPVanish follows a strict no-logging policy, so your privacy is in good hands.

IPVanish provides lightweight, easy-to-use apps for Android, Windows, macOS, and iOS. It works with Linux systems and supported network routers via manual installation.

PRIVACY-FIRST VPN:IPVanish doesn’t keep any logs and comes packed with strong security features. Further, it offers consistently high speeds, unlimited bandwidth, unlimited connections, and a 30-day money-back guarantee.

For more info, read our full review of IPVanish.

6. PrivateVPN

unblocks wechatTested Dec 2024

PrivateVPN only has around 200 servers, but it offsets this by covering 63 countries and providing far higher speeds than many of its rivals. As such, it’s already a strong choice for anyone looking to video chat or stream safely. This VPN also boasts exceptional streaming capabilities and not only works with services like Netflix but can even bypass China’s Great Firewall. And you can have 10 simultaneous connections per account.

This service uses 256-bit encryption, a kill switch, and protection against IPv6 and DNS leaks to keep your activities hidden at all times. That’s not all: it also boasts a stealth mode capable of hiding the fact that you’re using a VPN at all. Additionally, PrivateVPN has a strict no-logs policy. For even greater privacy, users can choose to pay in Bitcoin. If you run into any problems, you can reach support staff 22 hours per day via live chat or email.

PrivateVPN comes with apps for Android, iOS, macOS, and Windows. Users can follow manual setup guides to install it directly on Linux systems or routers.

LIGHTNING FAST SPEEDS:PrivateVPN is extremely fast, making it a natural choice for anyone looking to stream or video chat. It also pays particular attention to user privacy, with advanced security features and a no-logs policy. A 30-day money-back guarantee is also included.

Check out the complete PrivateVPN review.

8. Private Internet Access

Unblocks WechatTested Dec 2024

Private Internet Access (PIA) has above-average speeds and thousands of servers in 80+ countries. As you might expect, this makes it a popular choice for people looking to use WeChat, stream, torrent, or make video calls. Notably, PIA has recently scrapped its connection limits, and now allows you to protect every device you own simultaneously. Live chat-based support is available around the clock.

Of course, if you’re looking to chat safely, security features are a top priority. PIA includes 256-bit AES encryption, as well as IPv6 and DNS leak protection, a kill switch, and a simple togglable feature that blocks ads and malware automatically. Crucially, this service doesn’t keep any logs whatsoever. It accepts Bitcoin and a wide range of other cryptocurrencies, giving you more ways to sign up anonymously.

PIA offers apps for macOS, iOS, Windows, Android, and Linux. Further, it can be manually installed on supported home routers.

PLENTY OF CHOICE:PIA has thousands of speedy servers, solid unblocking ability, and very powerful security features, meaning there really isn’t much it can’t do. What’s more, it comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read the full PIA review for more info.

How to use WeChat with a VPN

It’s easier than you might think to protect your activities from snoopers with the right VPN. Just follow the simple steps below, and you will be messaging privately on WeChat in no time.

Here’s how to use WeChat with a VPN:

1. First, sign up for one of the VPNs above (we recommend NordVPN).
2. Next, install the VPN app on any device you use often. Usually, you’ll be permitted at least five connections at once, but this number varies from one provider to another.
3. Log in and connect to your chosen server. WeChat is available nearly everywhere, so the location doesn’t really matter, but you’ll usually find that the closer your chosen server, the higher your speeds.
4. Finally, open the WeChat app or web client and log in. You should now be able to chat as normal, regardless of your physical location.
5. If you experiencing problems, try a different server, clear your cookies and cache before trying again, or contact your VPN provider for more assistance.

Methodology: How we chose the best VPNs for WeChat

It’s trickier than you might think to find a VPN that’s suitable for WeChat. Plenty are too slow and others can’t access services you normally use back home. To ensure we only recommended the best, we used the criteria below to weed out subpar candidates:

• Server options: The more locations your VPN supports, the more likely it is that there’ll be a server nearby. Additionally, having a presence in more countries means that you can theoretically access more content.
• Performance: Video calling isn’t the most data-intensive task, but you’ll still need decent speeds to avoid lag. That’s why we only recommend services that impress during our regular VPN speed testing.
• Unblocking ability: Traveling in a country where VoIP services like WeChat are inaccessible or just want to watch TV shows from back home? Whatever the case, a VPN can help. We look for those that work reliably with popular services like BBC iPlayer, Stan, and Disney+.
• Security and privacy: It’s probably not possible to keep your conversations private on WeChat but to secure the rest of your traffic, we look for VPNs with 256-bit encryption, leak protection, and a kill switch. A no-logs policy is another must-have, and we welcome any additional security tools a service might offer.
• Ease of use: Our top VPNs are beginner-friendly, support multiple operating systems and provide live chat-based support. Some even let you connect all of your devices simultaneously.
• Price: If a service charges more than seems reasonable, we simply won’t recommend it. Additionally, we provide info on available deals, discounts, free trials, and money-back guarantees to keep the price as low as possible.

This is actually only the first part of our testing process. If you’re interested in learning more, we have a post that explains how we test VPNs in more detail.

Using a VPN to access WeChat: FAQs