VPN sign-ups surge in Egypt following Discord ban

VPN sign-ups are surging in Egypt amid a national ban of Discord. The move is an example of internet censorship and many are turning to the best VPNs in order to bypass the ban.

Beginning on January 9, 2026, Proton VPN has seen sign-ups increase to 320% over the baseline. We can assume other VPN providers, especially free VPNs, are also seeing an increase in sign-ups.

It's not clear who ordered the ban, but it appears to be blocked by several internet service providers (ISPs). At the time of writing, the ban is still in place and we don't know if it is temporary or permanent.

Internet censorship has already reared its ugly head multiple times in 2026. Egypt joins Pakistan, Iran, and Jammu and Kashmir in placing major internet restrictions on their citizens.

300% spike in VPN sign-ups

According to the Proton VPN Observatory, sign-ups to Proton VPN Free began to rise on January 9, 2026. As of January 12, 2026, sign-ups were 320% above the usual baseline.

David Peterson, Proton VPN General Manager, first reported a 103% increase in sign-ups on January 10, 2026. He reported that Discord was being blocked by two ISPs – Vodafone and WE (Telecom Egypt).

Peterson shared that Egypt has recently restricted "some social and VoIP platforms in an attempt to suppress emerging youth-led activism."

It isn't clear who ordered the ban and there has been no official government statement.

Users on Reddit have confirmed the Discord block. Vodafone and WE were both cited as not working. Orange users also reported trouble but Etisalat appeared to work for some users. However, all users who were using a VPN said they were able to access Discord – regardless of their ISP provider.

This shows the Discord block is not as extreme as in other countries – for example China or Russia. Using a VPN to connect to a server in a country where Discord isn't blocked should be enough for people to access the app.

Egypt and internet censorship

Egypt does have a history of internet censorship, but it is generally more moderate than other countries in the region and countries with more authoritarian governments.

According to the Surfshark Internet Shutdown Tracker, Egypt has restricted the internet once since 2015, at an average of 2.3 days, and ranks 28th in Africa for disruptions.

This current Discord ban could signal an increase of internet restrictions in Egypt. People in the country should consider using one of the best Egypt VPNs to keep their data safe and the internet open.

However you should always exercise caution when looking for ways to bypass internet restrictions as there may be associated risks.

Of the major VPN providers, Proton VPN leads the way when it comes to anti-censorship features. It boasts a free plan, the obfuscating Stealth protocol, Guest Mode, and the ability to disguise its VPN app.

NordVPN, ExpressVPN, Surfshark, Mullvad VPN, and more also offer obfuscation as standard or dedicated obfuscating protocols.

VPN obfuscation helps mask your VPN traffic, enabling you to effectively circumvent almost all forms of internet restrictions. One of the only times VPNs are rendered useless is when the internet is totally shut off – we are currently seeing this in Iran.