- WhatsApp has quickly risen through the ranks of instant messaging to become one of the most common platforms available.
- With support for mobile devices, web and PC, WhatsApp is versatile, but some countries have restricted its use.
- To get around these restrictions, you will need a VPN like PIA. For more information on VPNs, check out our dedicated VPN page.
- If you want to bypass geo-restrictions for online content, check out our detailed guides found in the VPN Unblocking Section.
WhatsApp is the most popular cross-platform instant messaging application that is used by more than 1.3 billion people around the world for text chats, voice chats, voice calls, and video calls. It is easy to use, and that is one of the reasons why it became so popular with users.
While WhatsApp has its advantages, certain countries have blocked access to WhatsApp due to government censorship. In some countries the censorship is partial. Users can send a text message but cannot make voice calls (VoIP) and video calls.
VPNs can help you unblock WhatsApp censorship in any country. However, not all VPNs work the same. Authoritarian states have even blocked VPNs, making it difficult to use WhatsApp without switching to a new VPN, every other day.
The easy solution to this problem is to find a VPN provider that has thousands of servers in different countries and can route your internet traffic through the countries that have no restrictions on WhatsApp.
In this article, we take a look at the best VPNs to unblock WhatsApp so you can get back in touch with family and friends via WhatsApp.
Contents index
- The best VPNs to unblock WhatsApp
- Private Internet access (recommended)
- Private internet access
- Surfshark
- ExpressVPN
- NordVPN
- IPVanish
- Hotspot shield
- Conclution
- Frequently asked questions: using VPN with WhatsApp
The best VPNs to unblock WhatsApp
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Private Internet access (recommended)
Price: $ 2.85 / month
Pros:
- Unlimited bandwidth
- Use PIA on 10 devices simultaneously
- Encrypt your data to ensure maximum protection.
- Use 3,000+ servers in 45+ countries.
- Stay anonymous with IP masquerading
- Get rid of ads, trackers, and malware
Cons:
- Slightly dated user interface but still very easy to use
Even though some countries have tried to restrict internet access and which apps you can use, a VPN like Private Internet Access can allow you to bypass these restrictions with ease. Once the client has been registered and installed, simply select one of the thousands of servers and start browsing.
PIA’s military-grade encryption ensures that your data remains safe, passed through a secure VPN tunnel, and even if it is intercepted, it cannot be read by anyone.
Plus, you can give PIA a try and see how well it protects your data and helps you avoid geo-restrictions with the guarantee that if you’re not satisfied with the results, you have a 30-day period to get a refund. We are sure you will love using it, but the safety net is there if you are not sure.
Private internet access
Private Internet access allows you to use services like WhatsApp in regions where the application has been restricted. Enjoy a huge discount right away!
$ 2.85 / month Buy it now
two
Surfshark
- Price: $ 11.95 per month for a monthly plan, or $ 1.99 per month for a 2-year plan
Pros
- Strong AES-256 encryption technology and protocols
- Unlimited devices are allowed.
- Torrent support, wide availability of Netflix library access
- Delete switch and a no-logs policy
- Fast and stable
Cons
- Not as many servers as other providers
Surfshark has fast speeds and stable and secure connections. It is available in more than 50 countries with more than 800 servers to choose from. This VPN provider does not restrict the use of torrents and gives you the ability to access an extensive network of Netflix libraries, as well as WhatsApp, Amazon Prime, and other popular apps.
You won’t see any shortage of encryption with this VPN. It offers the latest 256-bit technology and includes a no logging policy so that only you know your activity when browsing or downloading a torrent. A kill switch will keep you anonymous if the server you are using ever goes offline.
You will find the interface in all applications to be intuitive and easy to use, and speaking of applications, you will also find that Surfshark has done an excellent job of providing private internet access for users who want to use all types of platforms. , ranging from Windows and macOS to Android, iOS, and Linux.
Surfshark does not have a free trial version, but it does have a 30-day money-back guarantee if you are not satisfied with the VPN service. You can choose from three different pricing options when signing up for a subscription.
⇒ Get Surfshark VPN now
3
- Price– $ 12.95 per month
Pros
- Lightning fast VPN servers
- Multiplatform support
- Netflix and WhatsApp unblocking support
- Strong encryption
Cons
- Expensive monthly plans
- Only 3 devices of simultaneous connection
ExpressVPN is among the most recommended VPNs on the internet, and that’s for all the right reasons. The company is located in British Virginia; It is a fast, secure, and feature-rich VPN that allows you to unblock services like Netflix and WhatsApp with ease.
ExpressVPN has a strict no-logging policy and comes with an IP cloaking feature. We also didn’t detect any data leaks or DNS loss in our tests.
When tested on a 100 Mbps connection, ExpressVPN offered exceptional speed with the following statistics:
- Download speed:82 Mbps
- Upload speed:52 Mbps
- Server:UE
On the privacy and security front, ExpressVPN comes with features like Kill-Switch, strong AES-256 encryption based on the OpenVPN tunneling protocol, Linux support, and more.
You can unblock not only WhatsApp but also geo-restricted services like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and BBC Network, etc. It also has torrent support and is TOR compatible.
On the other hand, you can only connect up to 3 devices at a time using an account which can be a deciding factor if someone wants to share it in a group. Monthly plans are also expensive compared to other VPNs.
You can use the free trial on your smartphone to give it a try, and it also comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee, in case you’re not satisfied with the service.
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- Also Read: 7 Best VPNs for Jordan to Avoid Being Monitored
4 4
NordVPN
- Price– $ 11.95 per month
Pros
- Strong encryption
- Kill switch
- Connect up to 6 devices simultaneously.
- Support for TOR, Netflix, WhatsApp
- Fast and reliable
Cons
- Expensive monthly plans
NordVPN is fast and reliable. Slightly less expensive than ExpressVPN, it is based in Panama, making it the safest of all, and it comes with all the essential features to ensure your security and privacy online.
NordVPN is fast and maintains speed consistently. On a 100Mbps connection, we got the following result on the EU server.
- Upload speed: 48 Mbps
- Download speed: 76 Mbps
We tested it for DNS leaks and did not find any instances where it was found unprotected.
Other add-ons that come with NordVPN include IP cloaking for anonymous browsing, Kill Switch that disconnects the internet if the VPN is interrupted, and can connect up to six devices at once with one account that is better than the 3-device limitation in ExpressVPN.
NordVPN has over 4800 servers located in over 60 countries, which is nice but not on par with ExpressVPN.
NordVPN is still expensive for monthly plans, but if you go for annual plans, the charges drop considerably. It also comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
⇒ Download NordVPN now
- Also Read: 8 Best VPNs to Make Video Calls on Windows 10 PC [2019 Guide]
5 5
IPVanish
- Price– $ 10 per month
Pros
- Affordable monthly plans
- Simultaneous connection support of up to 10 devices
- Strong security and encryption features
- 7 day money back guarantee
- Netflix, WhatsApp, Torrent download support
Cons
- Company based in the United States
If you want to keep your identity secret, IPVanish can help you do so with its state-of-the-art security and encryption protocols, and the no-logging policy is strict.
However, since the company is located in the US, you should take IPVanish’s word that it will not share your browsing data with intelligence agencies.
The advantages of IPVanish over other VPNs include its next-generation security protocols and 10 simultaneous connections allowed on multiple devices that are higher than any other VPN on the market.
IPVanish is fast. On a 100 Mbps connection, we record the following result.
- Download speed: 82 Mbps
- Upload speed: 43 Mbps
The speed is better than CyberGhost and is on par with ExpressVPN. But, if you use any server based in the US, the speed drops drastically to 33 Mbps for download and 20 Mbps for upload, which is also the case with other VPNs.
The user interface isn’t the best of the lot, but it is doable. Users can select servers by country and city manually or let IPVanish find the best one for them. You can also view the upload and download usage statistics through the app.
IPVanish does not record user data. It comes with the strong AES-256 bit encryption which is currently the best in the business.
While IPVanish supports torrenting and Netflix unblocking, it does not come with Tor compatibility.
IPVanish’s monthly plans are lower than any other VPN mentioned so far. It also comes with a 7-day money-back guarantee. With all the features on offer, IPVanish is definitely worth a try, but only for those who agree that their VPN provider is located in the US.
⇒ Get IPVanish now
- Also Read: 6 Best VPNs for Cryptocurrencies for Secure Transactions
6 6
Hotspot shield
- Price: Free limited plan / $ 12.99 per month
Pros
- Fastest VPN
- Strong encryption
- Kill Switch support
- Torrents and Netflix unblocking are allowed.
- Simultaneous connection of up to 5 devices
Cons
- Some registration problem
- Expensive monthly plans
Hotspot Shield is a free VPN that you can download on your smartphone and computer. It also comes with a premium Elite version that costs $ 12.99 per month.
Hotspot Shield is popular and has over 650 million worldwide, making it one of the most popular VPN clients on the market today.
The free version of Hotspot Shield comes with a bandwidth limit. It also shows ads in the browser at times, which means that Hotspot Shield stores some user data to show relevant ads.
These problems do not exist in the premium Elite version. What sets Hotspot Shield apart from other VPNs is its speed.
We tested the VPN with a 100Mbps connection and got the following results for the EU server.
- Download speed: 92 Mbps
- Upload speed: 45 Mbps
The speed is even better on the UK server and marginally slower on the Asian servers. However, for the US server, the speed is not good.
The Hotspot Shield UI is one of the best things about this VPN client. Shows connection status, connected server and country, IP address along with data usage statistics up and down.
You can download torrents and unblock Netflix using the VPN. However, it is not compatible with Tor at the moment.
Hotspot Shield is recommended if you want the fastest VPN for a short time and also if you are looking for a free VPN. It also comes with a money back guarantee in case you bought the Elite plan and didn’t like the service.
⇒ Get Hotspot Shield now
Conclution
In addition to state authorities, WhatsApp is also blocked by educational institutions and private companies to prevent employees and students from using WhatsApp.
As of now, there are at least 13 countries in the world, where the state authorities have completely banned WhatsApp for various reasons, while some countries have only blocked the voice calling functions of the application.
We’ve included VPNs that offer strong security and privacy features like 256-AES encryption and the Kill switch to keep your connection private and prevent any data leaks, while allowing you to bypass any restrictions from ISPs.
It is important that you select the correct VPN based on your requirements and budget. Make sure you go through all the points carefully before committing to any of the VPN services recommended by us.
Frequently asked questions: using VPN with WhatsApp
- Does VPN work for WhatsApp?
Yes, you can use a VPN with WhatsApp if the VPN client has a corresponding application for their platform. Private Internet Access offers support for the main application platforms: iOS, Android, Mac and Windows and can protect up to 10 devices at a time.
- Is WhatsApp Video Calling With VPN Safe?
All data can be intercepted before reaching its destination. However, if you use a VPN like PIA, the data sent by your device is encrypted with military-grade algorithms, making it virtually
unreadable to anyone other than the intended recipient.
- How to use WhatsApp with VPN?
- Sign up for private internet access
- Download the application for your device
- Log in and connect to one of thousands of servers around the world
- Use your device as normal to make WhatsApp video calls or voice calls
