Despite its incredible popularity, TikTok has never had it easy. Privacy concerns and its Chinese ownership have led to bans on TikTok around the world, and US President Joe Biden just signed a bill ordering the social media giant to sell off or face a ban in the US. If this happens, you’ll have to use the best TikTok VPN to continue your endless scrolling.
The US reasoning behind this is that TikTok’s ties to China, combined with its intrusive data collection and potential for user surveillance, present a potential national security risk.
We won’t get into the discussion of whether Facebook, Google and many other everyday services are just as bad, but the truth is that in a matter of months you may need to use one of the best VPN services to gain access to the video sharing app.
What’s more, the United States is not the only country that doesn’t like TikTok. The UK, much of the EU, Iran, India and Taiwan are just some of the other regions that have taken some form of action against the ByteDance app, meaning up to three billion people are banned from using the app. . So if you do If you want to access the app, read on to discover the best VPNs for TikTok available today.
My 3 best VPNs for TikTok:
NordVPN, ExpressVPN and Surfshark have proven to be very effective at unblocking content around the world and are my top recommendations when it comes to the best VPNs for TikTok. NordVPN is my number one choice thanks to its combination of excellent privacy, very stable apps, and fair pricing.
Why is TikTok banned?
TikTok is widely considered to be one of the worst offenders when it comes to collecting user data. Last year, the United States, Canada and the EU enacted bans on using the app on government devices, and a complete ban across the United States is now more likely than ever.
It’s debatable whether this ban is performative or not, because many other social media apps also do the same: Meta’s Facebook and Instagram, and Twitter, to name a few. However, the fact of the matter is that TikTok is a Chinese-owned app, and is considered to be much riskier than apps based in Western countries.
How does a VPN for TikTok work?
A VPN works by encrypting and rerouting your Internet connection through its own servers located around the world. In fact, this means you can make it look like you’re in any country of your choosing.
Additionally, since 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 bypassed. That means you can access things like torrent sites that, while legal, are blocked by most providers.
Most commonly used to access blocked streaming media (see our Netflix VPN guide for more information), some users think the same technique could also grant them access to TikTok. However, because the ban has not yet been implemented, we cannot guarantee any details or that a certain TikTok VPN will work. If that’s a concern for you, all of our recommended vendors come with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
The Disadvantages of TikTok VPNs
Because the TikTok ban is so new, it’s hard to say how the process will work. Reports about TikTok VPN being used in India, where it has been banned for some time, are unclear. Some say VPNs are perfectly effective, while others find the restrictions insurmountable.
It all depends on how (and if) the US ban is implemented. While TikTok inevitably fights the decision, we believe that the United States may follow the same path as the Indian government, meaning that mobile apps will be removed from app stores and the service may degrade as time goes on and not updates can be installed.
However, I strongly recommend that you seek out the latest information on the legal aspects of the situation yourself to fully inform yourself of any risks, and No VPN service mentioned on this page is intended to be a foolproof way to access TikTok or designed specifically for this purpose.
VPN for TikTok FAQ
Will a VPN for TikTok be illegal?
Depending on breaking news, it’s difficult to estimate exactly if, how, and when TikTok has been banned, but we’re comfortable saying that VPNs themselves are unlikely to become illegal.
However, using a VPN does not legalize any illegal activities, such as downloading pirated software.
Using TikTok is unlikely to be criminalized, and if you do gain access, we doubt you’ll be punished. After all, the legislation apparently deals with data protection rather than illegal content, so the end user should face very little risk.
What else could you use a VPN for TikTok for?
Besides potentially accessing TIkTok, there are many other uses for VPNs.
One of the most popular reasons to have a VPN is to access geo-restricted streaming content. Netflix, for example, offers different shows for people in different countries, so you’ll be able to watch content that isn’t available at home. Plus, if you’re on vacation you’ll be able to watch the shows you’re used to at home.
However, the main reason to have a VPN is to maintain privacy and anonymity online. You’ll be able to avoid trackers and targeted ads, and your Internet Service Provider won’t be able to see what you’re browsing on the web.
