The news is in: the Supreme Court has ruled that TikTok will be banned in the US, beginning Sunday, January 19. Due to this, interest in the best TikTok VPNs has surged – and here, I'll share my top recommendations.
Nobody is quite certain what will happen when TikTok is banned in the US. However, using a VPN is the most reliable way of accessing blocked sites and content. They work by encrypting your connection, making it impossible for your internet provider or the government to see what you're doing, thus making it impossible to censor.
Of course, we haven't been able to test this yet. However, the providers I have included here have the best record of unblocking content and evading government censorship in other countries around the world. As soon as the ban becomes active, we'll test them and share our results here. Crucially, all of these providers both feature in my guide to the best VPNs, and have 30-day money-back guarantees so you can get a refund if they don't work.
My top 3 TikTok VPNs
My top recommendations for the best TikTok VPNs are NordVPN, ExpressVPN and Surfshark. This is down to their excellent unblocking skills and ability to help you access content from around the world. My #1 VPN is NordVPN, thanks to its fair pricing, excellent privacy and super stable apps.
Why is TikTok being banned?
TikTok is widely regarded to be one of the worst offenders when it comes to harvesting user data. Last year, the US, Canada and EU enacted bans on using the app on government devices, and it's now finally time for a blanket ban.
When it comes to harvesting user data, TikTok is widely regarded to be one of the worst offenders, so much so that in 2023, the EU, Canada and the US banned use of the app on government devices. Now, a complete US-wide ban seems likely.
Some have called the ban performative, pointing out that many other social media apps do the same thing as TikTok, including Meta's Facebook and Instagram, as well as X (formerly Twitter). However, the crux of the matter is that TikTok is that it is a Chinese-owned app, which has been deemed to be much riskier than apps based in Western nations.
How does a TikTok VPN work?
A VPN works by encrypting and rerouting your internet connection through its own servers located all across the world. In effect, this means it can make you appear to be in any country of your choice.
Also, seeing as a VPN routes your traffic through its own servers and makes it invisible to your ISP, any restrictions or blocks imposed by said ISP can be avoided. That means you can access things like torrenting sites which, while legal, are blocked by most providers.
Most commonly used to access blocked streaming media (check out our guide to the best Netflix VPN services guide for more info), some users think that the same technique might also grant them access to TikTok. However, due to the ban not yet being implemented, we can't guarantee any details or that a certain TikTok VPN will work. If you're worried about that, all our recommended providers come with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
The downsides of TikTok VPNs
As the TikTok ban is very new, it’s difficult to say how the process will work. Reports of TikTok VPN usage in India – where it’s been banned for some time – are unclear. Some say that VPNs are perfectly effective, while others find the restrictions impassable.
It all depends on how the US ban is implemented. We believe the US may follow much the same route as the Indian government, which means the mobile apps will be removed from app stores and service may degrade as time passes and updates can't be installed.
However, I highly recommend you seek out the most recent information about the legalities of the situation yourself to fully inform yourself of any risks, and no VPN services mentioned on this page claim to be either foolproof ways of accessing TikTok, or specifically designed for this purpose.
TikTok VPN FAQs
Will a TikTok VPN be illegal?
Depending on breaking news, it's difficult to estimate exactly how TikTok will be banned – but we're comfortable saying that VPNs themselves are unlikely to become illegal.
However, using a VPN doesn't make any illegal activity legal, like downloading pirated software.
We're unlikely to see TikTok use criminalized, and if you do get access we doubt you'll be punished. After all, the legislation concerns the protection of data rather than illicit content, so the end user should be at very little risk.
What else could I use a TikTok VPN for?
Other than potentially accessing TIkTok, there are tons of other VPN uses.
One of the most popular reasons for having a VPN is to access geo-restricted streaming content. Netflix, for example, serves different shows to people in different countries, so you'll be able to watch content that's not available at home. Also, if you're on holiday, you'll be able to watch the shows you're used to at home.
The main reason for having a VPN, though, is to maintain privacy and anonymity online. You'll be able to avoid trackers and targeted adverts, and your internet service provider won't be able to see what you're browsing on the web.
Disclaimer
We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example: 1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service). 2. Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad. We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.
