TikTok is now banned in India, and other countries, including the US, Australia, Pakistan, and Japan have considered similar bans. Despite its parent company being from China, TikTok is unavailable in the country, and a Chinese version called Douyin is used instead.

We’ve covered the potential risks to cybersecurity that TikTok users face and why some authorities are eager to ban it in a separate article, so we won’t rehash those arguments here. Instead, we’ll focus on how to access TikTok from any country with a VPN.

Short for Virtual Private Network, a VPN is a service that encrypts your internet connection and routes it through an intermediary server. This server acts as a middleman between your device and the content you want to access; in this case, TikTok. By connecting to a VPN server in another country, you can access apps, websites, and services that are otherwise unavailable in your own country.

How do I unblock TikTok with a VPN?

There are a couple of ways that a country might ban TikTok. In China, for example, internet service providers block access to TikTok servers, making the app unusable. In India, app stores are required to remove TikTok, so unblocking it means you must access another country’s version of Google Play or the Apple App Store.

If your internet service provider is blocking access to TikTok, sign up for one of the VPNs recommended below and follow these instructions below.

Here’s how to unblock TikTok if your ISP is blocking access:

  • Download and install the VPN app onto your device, we particularly recommend NordVPN.
  • Open the VPN app and select a location in a country where TikTok is not blocked
  • Connect to the VPN
  • 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.

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

There are no hidden terms—just contact support within 30 days if you decide NordVPN isn’t right for you and you’ll get a full refund. Start your NordVPN trial here.

  • Fast speeds for uninterrupted video streaming
  • Strong security and no logs of your activity
  • Plenty of servers in countries where TikTok is not banned
  • Apps for iOS and Android
  • Money-back guarantee

If you just want a quick VPN recommendation, here’s a summary of our top picks:

Best VPNs for TikTok:

  • NordVPN: Our #1 choice for TikTok. Unblocks almost anything. Top-of-the-line security and fast speeds. Comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
  • Surfshark: Budget VPN for TikTok with excellent unblocking and an easy-to-use app.
  • ExpressVPN: The fastest VPN we’ve tested yet. Works in China.
  • CyberGhost: Fast servers in more than 90 countries.
  • IPVanish: Strong security and unlimited devices on a single plan.

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 2023

unblocks TikTokTested Jan 2023

Apps Available:

  • PC
  • Mac
  • IOS
  • Android
  • Linux
  • Background
  • FireTV

Website: www.NordVPN.com

Money-back guarantee: 30 DAYS

NordVPN is our top recommendation. One of the fastest VPN’s we’ve tested, it’s perfect for streaming endless TikTok videos no matter where you are in the world. It even works in China. 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.

BUDGET CHOICE:NordVPN offers one of the best user experiences for a fraction of the price, plus it comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Pros:

  • One of the fatest VPNs we’ve tested
  • Servers in 60+ countries
  • Good for streaming
  • Zero logs

Cons:

  • Occasional unreliable server

Our score:

Read our full NordVPN review.

2. Surfshark

unblocks TikTokTested Jan 2023

  • PC
  • Mac
  • IOS
  • Android
  • Linux

Website: www.Surfshark.com

Surfshark was made to unblock region-locked content, and TikTok is no different. With more than 3,200 servers in 60 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.

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.

  • Ideal for streaming

  • Good speeds

  • Unlimited simultaneous connections

  • Strong security

  • Some slow speeds

  • Smaller server network

Read our full SurfShark review.

3. ExpressVPN

Website: www.ExpressVPN.com

With servers in 94 countries, ExpressVPN makes unblocking TikTok is easy. It’s among the fastest VPNs we’ve tested to date. Every connection is secured with the latest in VPN encryption and privacy standards, and every server is optimized for speed. Customer support is available around the clock if you run into any issues. ExpressVPN can unblock TikTok from inside mainland China.

BEST VPN 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.

  • Fast connections

  • Servers in 94 countries

  • 24/7 live support

  • Great for streaming

  • Very secure

  • A bit more expensive than the competition

Read our full ExpressVPN review to find out more.

4. CyberGhost

Website: www.Cyberghost.com

Money-back guarantee: 45 DAYS

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. Speeds are fast and consistent, and there’s no data cap, so 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.

  • Easy unblocking

  • Good for streaming

  • Servers in 60+ countries

  • Not as fast

  • Doesn’t work reliably in China

Read our full CyberGhost review.

5. IPVanish

Website: www.IPVanish.com

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.

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. It also works with a fair number of streaming sites including Netflix.

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

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

  • Strong security and impressive speeds

  • No logs

  • Round the clock support

  • Not as good for streaming

  • Doesn’t accept Bitcoin

Read our full IPVanish review.

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:

  • Network size: 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.
  • Speed and reliability: Because TikTok videos are super 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 excel in our speed tests.
  • Unblocking capabilities: At some point, you might want to watch something else. Our international team tested the VPNs above with popular services like Netflix, HBO Max, Disney+, and Hulu to see just how well they handled strict regional restrictions.
  • 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. Of course, if a service offers even more advanced features or something like an anti-censorship mode, even better.
  • Ease of use: We prioritize VPNs that are easy enough for beginners to use, with apps for a wide range of platforms. That means we want to see one-click connection, live chat-based customer support, and ideally, an easy way to bypass country-wide blocking.
  • Price: We’ll never recommend a service that charges more than it’s worth. Further, we always include details on available discounts, deals, or money-back guarantees to make sure you never pay more than you absolutely have to.

If you’d like to learn more, we have a whole post detailing the different stages of our VPN testing process.

  • On your Android device, open your VPN app and connect to the country you want to switch to
  • Open the Google Play app.
  • Tap Menu (three horizontal bars) > Account.
  • 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.
  • 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.

Alternatively, here’s how to change an existing Apple ID to a new country:

  • On your iOS device, open the VPN app and connect to the country you want to switch to.
  • Open the Settings app.
  • Tap your name, then iTunes & App Store.
  • Tap your Apple ID, then View Apple ID. Sign in if prompted.
  • Select Country/Region > Change Country or Region.
  • Choose the country that your VPN is connected to.
  • Agree to the terms and conditions.
  • 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.

Disclaimer: we are not legal experts and every country’s laws are different. Nothing we’ve said above should be considered legal advice. You should check your local laws before using TikTok in a banned country.