Worried about how to unblock TikTok should the US ban go ahead? We have good news! You can continue using TikTok as usual, with one minor addition – a Virtual Private Network. We introduce a VPN TikTok hack that will enable you to enjoy the popular social media platform from anywhere in the world, effortlessly.
After the word spread that the United States is banning TikTok for political and national security reasons, many people and news outlets started speculating whether the ban will actually happen and when. The related bill has already passed through the House of Representatives and the Senate and was signed by President Joe Biden, however, it's not in effect yet.
A bill such as this one could take months to go ahead or could be entirely dismissed if its Chinese owner ByteDance agrees to sell the company to a new manager in the US. Most political experts speculate that it's all one big show to make China sell the platform.
But, whatever the outcome, it doesn't need to affect you. By installing a strong and reliable VPN, you can bypass any TikTok political or geo-restrictions in one click. Continue reading to learn how and discover more about other VPN benefits and tips.
How to unblock TikTok in the US
A VPN is the ultimate online privacy tool that helps you sneak past all sorts of online restrictions, including political bans and geo-blocks. The software encrypts your online data and changes your IP address, which not only makes you untraceable online but also shields your overall privacy and security.
Best of all – most renowned VPN providers come with intuitive apps that install within minutes, and make it a piece of cake to turn on the service when required.
Here are the four simple steps to bypass the US TikTok restrictions:
- Choose a reliable VPN with a large server network. Reputable brands, like ExpressVPN and NordVPN, offer an impressive choice of servers, consistent speeds, great promotions, and a money-back guarantee.
- Subscribe, download, and install the VPN app on your device.
- Pick a server in a country nearby that allows free TikTok usage, such as Mexico, Brazil, or Colombia, and connect.
That's it! Now that your virtual location has switched to a country that does not ban TikTok, you can watch its content freely and privately. The same goes if you're trying to access TikTok from Canada, Australia, or any other country that no longer supports the platform – just pick a server in a neighboring country that does, press connect, and you're all set.
Why do we recommend connecting to a country that's not too far away geographically? This way, you avoid latency issues (if data needs to travel farther to a distant server) and potentially improve your VPN speed and overall performance.
What are the best VPNs for unblocking TikTok in the US and worldwide?
Without further delay, here are our top VPN picks that allow you to access TikTok from anywhere in the world, including the US.
- ExpressVPN - The best TikTok VPN It's a privacy leader with a vast server network, great unblocking power, and blazing speeds. Offers a 30-day money-back guarantee.
- NordVPN - The best value for money TikTok VPN. Offers chart-topping speeds and advanced privacy features, supported by customizable subscription plans.
- Surfshark - The best multi-device VPN for TikTok. You get sleek apps for all platforms, cutting-edge privacy features, and unlimited simultaneous connections.
- Private Internet Access - A cheap and secure VPN for using TikTok in the States. Offers thousands of fast servers worldwide and a strict zero-log policy for less money.
- PrivateVPN - The best TikTok VPN for beginners. You'll benefit from fast servers optimized for streaming, easy-to-use apps, and stellar 24/7 customer support.
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| TEST WINNER ExpressVPN | NordVPN | Surfshark | Private Internet Access | PrivateVPN | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Website | ExpressVPN | NordVPN | Surfshark | Private Internet Access | PrivateVPN |
| Ranking for tiktok | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| Performance | 10 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 7 |
| Reliability | 9 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 7 |
| Free trial | |||||
| Total servers | 3000 | 6200 | 3200 | 3386 | 200 |
| Payment | PayPal Visa/MasterCard Amex Cryptocurrency | PayPal Visa/MasterCard Amex Cryptocurrency | PayPal Visa/MasterCard Amex Cryptocurrency | PayPal Visa/MasterCard Amex Cryptocurrency | PayPal Visa/MasterCard Amex Cryptocurrency |
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| Supported platforms | Windows macOS iOS Android | Windows macOS iOS Android | Windows macOS iOS Android | Windows macOS iOS Android | Windows macOS iOS Android |
The best TikTok VPNs
Using a VPN can save you a lot of time and effort when trying to access TikTok from a country where this platform is restricted, but that's far from the only VPN benefit. In this section, you can read more about our top VPN picks and their best usage across different devices and countries.
As a bonus, we also list some of the advanced VPN features that can help you maximize your VPN potential.
ExpressVPN provides fast and reliable TikTok unblocking. It's consistently speedy, with servers everywhere, and offers revolutionary privacy features. ExpressVPN Demo ExpressVPN is our number one recommendation for unblocking TikTok, should the US ban go ahead. The service is renowned for its blazing-fast connection speeds, crucial for social media apps based on video content, like TikTok. With servers in 105 countries
countries across the globe, you can access TikTok from anywhere, making it ideal for users in regions where TikTok is blocked or restricted. ExpressVPN uses military-grade AES-256 encryption to secure your data, ensuring your TikTok activity remains private and secure. Additionally, the service offers a strict no-logs policy, so no records of your online activity are kept, safeguarding your privacy on TikTok. What's more, this privacy policy was tested and verified in all of ExpressVPN's independent audits, along with its other advanced security features. Other ExpressVPN key features for TikTok users include: NordVPN is a great value VPN for TikTok users in the US and worldwide. It's among the fastest VPNs on the market, with customizations to suit a variety of needs. NordVPN is another VPN industry leader with millions of users across the globe. It's an excellent choice for TikTok users in the US, thanks to its robust encryption methods that ensure secure and private access to TikTok even if the ban goes into effect. On top of that, its advanced privacy features, such as Obfuscated servers and Double VPN, guarantee your TikTok activity is protected from prying eyes. With over 6,200
servers in 111 countries
, you can rely on NordVPN’s stable and fast connections – without congestion or buffering. NordVPN is also consistently one of the fastest VPNs we test. I regularly use it for data-intensive tasks, such as streaming on Amazon Prime, and it's always a smooth experience. NordVPN is more than a VPN. Among others, it offers an advanced feature called CyberSec, which blocks ads and malware, protecting you from dangers that are common on TikTok and similar platforms. NordVPN provides user-friendly apps for various devices, simplifying access to TikTok, as well as: Surfshark is a sought-after VPN solution for TikTok users in the US and across the globe. You get lots of features, servers everywhere, and unlimited connections. Surfshark Demo Surfshark is a popular VPN for TikTok users, featuring a generous allowance to connect unlimited devices simultaneously and customizable plans. This service is perfect for households with multiple TikTok users and those who like to be in charge of their VPN expenses Surfshark comes with more than 3,200
servers in over 100 countries
, enabling you to unblock TikTok from US and other banned countries with ease. The service uses robust AES-256 encryption, ensuring your TikTok activity is secure and private, along with advanced VPN protocols, such as OpenVPN and WireGuard, that provide a high level of performance too. It includes a CleanWeb feature that blocks ads, trackers, and malware, providing a cleaner TikTok experience, along with: A budget VPN for TikTok with impressive security features and a vast server network. Offers an audited and court-verified zero-logs policy. PIA Demo Private Internet Access (PIA) is the best US-based VPN for TikTok, boasting tens of thousands of fast servers in over 100 countries
in the States and worldwide. This vast network helps maintain fast and stable connections, ensuring smooth streaming of TikTok videos. The provider uses robust encryption methods to keep your TikTok activity private and secure. The service also offers an automatic kill-switch that disconnects your device from the internet if the VPN connection drops, preventing any data leaks. PIA offers a proven track record of protecting user privacy, as well as: PrivateVPN is a user-friendly service that unblocks social media platforms with ease, including TikTok. Great privacy features and server optimizations are included. PrivateVPN Demo PrivateVPN is the most beginner-friendly choice for TikTok users in the States and across the globe. Despite its small price tag, it doesn't compromise on features or performance, offering high-speed connections ideal for streaming TikTok videos without buffering. This VPN is available on all popular platforms (Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android), and allows for up to 10 simultaneous connections, quite impressive for the price you pay. The provider has a decent server network, ensuring you can unblock TikTok from various locations (not as large as the above service providers, though). Like most of our other top VPN recommendations, it comes with a Stealth Mode to help you bypass deep packet inspection and firewalls and access TikTok even in heavily restricted regions. PrivateVPN’s Stealth Mode and other super accessibility features make it a solid choice for TikTok users. You also get: Smart-DNS functionality – Provides faster and more reliable access to TikTok by optimizing DNS queries for speed and security. Notably, PrivateVPN includes smart-DNS functionality on every single one of its servers. 1. ExpressVPN
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Methodology – How we've picked the best VPNs for accessing TikTok from the US
With the potential ban of TikTok in the US, finding the right VPN to unblock the app can feel a bit overwhelming – there's a sense of urgency and too many VPNs to choose from. Not to mention, most VPN providers use exaggerated advertising to attract subscribers, making it challenging to identify a genuinely good option. As a result, users, especially the ones new to the technology, might end up subscribing to a VPN service that doesn't meet their expectations or needs.
At ProPrivacy, we use a comprehensive methodology to select the best VPNs for unblocking TikTok in the US and worldwide. Some of the most important factors we considered include:
- Server spread – We choose VPNs with a wide server network across various regions, ensuring stable and fast connections in countries where TikTok is not banned.
- Performance – We speed-test VPNs daily to ensure seamless streaming and browsing on TikTok and similar platforms.
- Privacy and security – We check the security and privacy of VPNs to safeguard users' online data while using TikTok. Features like secure AES encryption, a strict no-logs policy, and advanced tools like a kill-switch are essential.
- User experience – We review and compare the user interface, ease of installation, and customer support of each VPN on this list to ensure the best experience for TikTok users across a variety of devices.
- Value for money – We recommend only the VPNs that offer the best value for money, considering the advanced features and other benefits they offer, including a money-back guarantee.
By evaluating and comparing VPNs against these criteria, we recommend the best VPNs for unblocking TikTok, and your other online activities like streaming, gaming, and working online. Our recommended VPNs combine performance, privacy, and affordability, creating a more enjoyable TikTok experience while making you more secure online.
Why is TikTok banned in some countries?
There are several different reasons why some countries decide to ban TikTok, but they primarily relate to national security, privacy, and cultural concerns. Some governments fear that the Chinese-owned platform, infamous for collecting extensive user data, could potentially expose their information, posing a national security threat. For example, India banned TikTok and dozens of other Chinese apps, including WeChat, on the national level. The main arguments they gave for this move were privacy and security concerns.
Additionally, some see TikTok as a platform used for spreading misinformation, propaganda, and inappropriate or culturally insensitive reels. These issues have led to bans or restrictions in some parts of the world as a precautionary measure to protect citizens from such (bad) influence. Afghanistan blocked the social media platform, along with the popular video game PUPG, claiming that it's protecting young users from "being misled."
Some regions, like the EU, imposed partial restrictions on the platform. British authorities, as well, have banned TikTok for government ministers and civil servants for security reasons. Officials said the ban was a "precautionary move" and it doesn’t apply to non-government employees and their personal devices.
The full list of the countries that have partially or entirely blocked TikTok so far goes like this:
- Afghanistan
- Australia
- Belgium
- Canada
- Denmark
- European Union (for The European Parliament, European Commission, and the EU Council staff)
- France
- India
- Indonesia
- Latvia
- Netherlands
- Nepal
- New Zealand
- Norway
- Pakistan
- Somalia
- Taiwan
- United Kingdom (on mobile phones used by government ministers and civil servants)
- United States
But don't worry, you can continue using your TikTok account even if you're staying in one of these countries. Choose any of the strong VPN services from the above, and regain your online freedom in only a few minutes.
Why the US wants to block TikTok
The United States has considered banning TikTok on several grounds, emphasizing national security and privacy concerns as the main reasons. Here are the main points:
- Concerns about data security and user privacy – Most US officials have stated concern about ByteDance collecting personal information from American users and potentially sharing it with the Chinese government. They argued that the sensitive data could be used for surveillance or to benefit Chinese intelligence.
- Prevention of foreign influence and propaganda – Next are the worries about the Chinese government potentially misusing TikTok to spread propaganda or bend public opinion of the US citizens by manipulating the platform's content.
- National interest – The push to ban TikTok has found support in various legislative efforts and executive orders concerning the national interest. These efforts include the attempts to force ByteDance to sell TikTok to a US company to mitigate these risks.
- Cybersecurity risks – These extend beyond the US. There are broader cybersecurity concerns about potential app vulnerabilities. These could be exploited by hackers or state enemies, leading to individual or mass cases of malicious activities.
While these are the surface reasons cited, the problems go much deeper, involving various legal, political, and economic concerns and negotiations.
Can I use a free VPN for accessing TikTok in the US, should the US ban go ahead?
While it is technically possible to use a free VPN to access TikTok in the US if a ban were to be implemented, it's not something that we'd recommend. Free VPNs often come with significant performance and security limitations. Not only are you likely to experience fewer server options, slower speeds, and data caps, which can ruin your TikTok experience, but also free VPNs come with weaker security measures.
Some free VPN providers might even log and sell your data, compromising your sensitive data and overall privacy. If possible, it's always better to use a reputable paid VPN service, especially in situations like these where you need to bypass restrictions implemented by the government and access foreign services.
However, when recommending paid services, we don’t believe you should pay for overpriced VPNs. There are plenty of excellent cheap VPN providers that will amaze you with their security features and versatility.
Conclusion
In conclusion, a reliable VPN offers an instant yet safe solution for TikTok users facing potential access restrictions. They not only help bypass geo-blocks but also enhance online privacy and security.
Whether the US ban on TikTok goes ahead or not, the importance of VPNs in today's digital age cannot be overstated. Their convenient apps can help you regain internet freedom and access global content (including TikTok) in a few clicks – which frankly is priceless.
How to unblock TikTok in the US FAQs