TikTok is going through the wars at the moment. In many countries around the world, a TikTok ban has been enforced on government devices, but the biggest news is in the US. As the controversial RESTRICT Act heads through the Senate, we could see a TikTok VPNs become essential if the Chinese-owned app is totally banned.
The US's reasoning behind this is that TikTok's links with China, combined with its intrusive data collection and potential for surveillance of users, presents a possible risk to national security.
We won't get into the discussion of whether Facebook, Google, and many other daily services are just as bad, but the facts are that in a matter of months it may be necessary to use one of the best VPN services to gain access to the video-sharing app.
What's more, the US isn't the only country that's taken a dislike to TikTok. The UK, much of the EU, Iran, India, Taiwan are just a few of the other regions that have taken some form of action against ByteDance's app. So, if you do want to access the app, just keep reading to find out the best TikTok VPNs available today.
Why is TikTok being banned?
Why you can trust Tom's Guide Our writers and editors spend hours analyzing and reviewing products, services, and apps to help find what's best for you. Find out more about how we test, analyze, and rate.
TikTok is widely regarded to be one of the worst offenders when it comes to harvesting user data. The US, Canada and EU have already enacted bans on using the app on government devices, and a US-wide bans could be in the pipeline.
Whether this ban is performative or not is debatable, because many apps also do the same – Meta's Facebook and Instagram, and Twitter to name a few. However, the crux of the matter is that TikTok is a Chinese-owned app, and this is deemed to be much riskier than apps based in Western nations.
Our top 3 TikTok VPNs:
ExpressVPN, NordVPN, and Surfshark are all excellent providers with world-class security and well-made apps for all devices. Our #1 choice is ExpressVPN thanks to its all-round excellent performance, and a proven track record of unblocking censored media around the world.
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 Netflix VPN 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
Because 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 – and if – the US ban is implemented. While TikTok is inevitably fighting the decision, 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, we 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 FAQ
Will a TikTok VPN be illegal?
Depending on breaking news, it's difficult to estimate exactly if, how or when TikTok has been 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 is apparently about the protection of data rather than illicit content, so the end user should be at very little risk.
However, the wording of the RESTRICT Act is worrying, and the bill's development should be closely monitored.
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.
