How to unblock WhatsApp with a VPN

Heidi Finigan | Last Updated:

VPN Streaming Expert

WhatsApp is one of the most secure free messaging apps in the world. Its main draw is a robust end-to-end encryption system, ensuring that messages are fully encrypted as they digitally travel between devices and leaving them undecipherable even when intercepted. However, it is this very focus on security which was landed the app on several government blacklists during 2024. Users from countries such as Brazil, China and Saudi Arabia are blocked from using the app, on grounds that it could possibly be used by criminals and terrorists to communicate in secret.

We believe that these government attempts to take away their citizens’ rights to privacy are dangerous and unfair. That’s why we’re here to provide a solution: By using a VPN, you can bypass these restrictions and use WhatsApp even in countries where it is banned. This even works with other chat applications such as Snapchat, Skype, Omegle and WeChat, just to name a few. VPN services work by redirecting your internet traffic to a foreign server, making it appear as if you’re using the internet from a different location than you actually are.

Five-step VPN Set Up Guide for WhatsApp

Interested in using WhatsApp to send secure private messages safe from prying eyes? We walk you through the five-step process of using a VPN to unblock WhatsApp below.

  1. Research and pick out a VPN service to subscribe to – our favorite for WhatsApp is NordVPN due to it’s impressive security features, and ability to avoid detection from Government agencies (including both in China and Saudi Arabia).
  2. Download the VPN program online, installing it on your WhatsApp device.
  3. Install and login to your VPN program.
  4. Connect to a foreign vpn server. This server needs to be in a country where WhatsApp is not blocked by the government!
  5. Use WhatsApp … set-up is complete! Join WhatsApp by downloading the messaging app and creating an account, and enjoy chatting online in private.

Best VPN to Unblock WhatsApp

Not sure which VPN service to invest a subscription into? Here are two which we recommend for unblocking WhatsApp:


1. NordVPN

image of the NordVPN homepage

We recommend going with NordVPN for WhatsApp over any other VPN on the market. Not only is it fast and reasonable priced, it goes above and beyond when it comes to security. It applies incredibly secure military-grade AES 256-bit encryption for all of your internet activity, making it next to impossible for any third parties to see your private messages, or for the government to discover and block your use of WhatsApp.

And if one layer of encryption isn’t enough for you, NordVPN offers its subscribers the ability to encrypt their internet traffic twice through their Double VPN feature. By routing your internet activity through not just one but two separate VPN servers, each applying their own layer of encryption, your privacy becomes twice as secure.

NordVPN themselves have no interest in what you’re up to. They adhere to a strict no-logs policy, a claim verified by an independent audit. No records kept on your internet activity mean that none of your private messages can be leaked or given up to the authorities.

They’ve also got you covered if you live in a country where VPN use is illegal. Many countries which ban WhatsApp also ban VPN use, but NordVPN’s obfuscated servers are able to disguise your VPN connection as an ordinary internet connection, avoiding detection by the authorities.

Paying for NordVPN is easy as well, with the wide range of payment options which they accept. Importantly, they make it possible for subscribers to pay in cryptocurrency, which is much more secure and harder to trace than other forms of online payment. All of these robust security features make NordVPN a clear choice if you’re most concerned with online privacy.

NordVPN Prices:

Below are the latest NordVPN subscription prices, current as at March 2024:

  • 1 Month: $11.95
  • 1 Year: $4.92 (Save 58%)
  • 2 Years: $3.67 (3 Months Free + Save 69%)

Note: All prices are in USD, and are Per Month.

NordVPN Summer Deal - March 2024: sign-up for a 2 Year Plan, get 3 months free, and save a huge 51% off the regular monthly price! WIth this deal you end up paying a very low $3.99 per month. Bargain! Head over to NordVPN now to check out their fantastic Summer Deal while it's still on!

visit NordVPN


2. ExpressVPN

image of the ExpressVPN homepage

While ExpressVPN comes in as our second choice for its slightly higher subscription fees ($8.32/month compared to $3.67 for NordVPN), it packs many impressive features which make their service worth the investment. They have an extremely wide network of 3,000 servers spread across 95 countries, allowing you to always find a suitable nearby server to connect to, and provides 24/7 customer support through online live-chat to help you defeat any technical difficulties that might arise.

Like NordVPN, they also make security a priority. All of your data is encrypted with the same high-level military-grade AES 256-bit encryption which NordVPN uses, and processed by RAM-based servers which wipe all data on each restart.

No logs are kept on any of your internet activity either, and ExpressVPN is deliberately incorporated in the British Virgin Islands to protect the little user information (like your account name, email and payment details) which ExpressVPN does have on you. This location keeps them out of the legal jurisdiction of other countries, and also means that the company is not subject to any data retention laws.

ExpressVPN Prices:

Below are the latest ExpressVPN subscription prices, current as at March 2024:

  • 1 Month: $12.95
  • 6 Months: $9.99
  • 15 Months: $6.67 (Special Deal: 3 Months Free + Save 49%)

Note: All prices are in USD, and are Per Month.

ExpressVPN Deal - March 2024: sign-up for a 1 Year Plan, and pay only $8.32 per month. That's a whopping 35% Discount off the regular monthly price! Head over to ExpressVPN now to take advantage of this hot deal!

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Is Using a VPN Legal?

Yes, WhatsApp does not forbid using a VPN to access its services. However, some countries such as Iran, China and the UAE either outlaw the use of VPNs altogether, or heavily restrict their use. If you plan on using a VPN in these countries, it’s important to do your research and pick out a provider with effective server obfuscation, in order to hide your VPN use from the authorities.

In Which Countries is WhatsApp Banned?

WhatsApp is currently completely banned in a total of 13 countries, which are: Bangladesh, Brazil, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Monetenegro, Saudi Arabia, The Gambia, Turkey, Uganda and Zimbabwe. WhatsApp’s voice calling function is blocked in an additional five countries, which are Azerbaijian, Bahrain, Morocco, the United Arab Emirates and Uzbekistan.

How Secure is WhatsApp?

WhatsApp is reputed for its tight security and strong encryption among messaging apps. It employs end-to-end encryption for all of its messages, meaning that your messages are encrypted on your device, sent digitally to the recipient, then decoded on the receiving device. Even if these messages are intercepted in transmit, it should be impossible for the interceptor to decode them.

There are currently no known cases where WhatsApp encryption has been compromised. Private WhatsApp messages have only been “leaked” when either the recipient of the sender of these messages themselves turned over this content.

Is a Free VPN Good Enough for WhatsApp?

 No, we do not recommend any free VPNs for WhatsApp. Free VPNs often have very limited server locations, which means that their servers are easily discovered and blocked in countries which limit VPN use. Even worse, many of these free VPN providers make money by collecting data on you, which is then sold to shady buyers online. Using a free VPN might further compromise your privacy instead of protecting it, defeating the purpose of using a secure messaging app like WhatsApp in the first place.

Related reading…

Here are some other chat related websites that you may also be interested in finding more information about:

PRIVACY ALERT: Websites you visit can see your current IP Address:

  • Your IP Address: 44.197.113.64
  • Your Location: Ashburn, US
  • Your Internet Provider: Amazon.com

* Scammers, Governments, and Advertisers can use this information to track and target you.

Our recommended vpn service provider for general all-round internet security and online privacy is NordVPN. It offers an excellent selection of online security and internet privacy features, excellent speed, and the ability to unblock your favorite streaming services (Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime, BBC iPlayer).

Visit NordVPN

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