Updated on: October 9, 2024
Short on time? Here’s the best VPN for Telegram in 2024:
- 🥇 ExpressVPN : It can easily access Telegram reliably in countries where it’s blocked. It supports obfuscation on all of its servers in 105 countries (more than any other VPN), which means you can connect to any location to use Telegram. And, its obfuscation automatically turns on when needed, so it’s super easy to use. Additionally, it comes with useful extras like a password manager to further secure your Telegram account. ExpressVPN backs all of its plans with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Lots of good VPNs work with Telegram, but many can’t unblock the app on restricted networks, such as at your school or workplace, which use content filtering to stop you from using distracting apps. Even fewer VPNs can access Telegram in restrictive countries, like China and Iran, as many of them don’t offer obfuscation that hides VPN traffic.
After extensive research and testing, I created a list of the best VPNs for Telegram. Of the bunch, my favorite is ExpressVPN — it can access Telegram reliably from anywhere, supports obfuscation on servers across 105 countries, and is very easy to use. Editors' Note: ExpressVPN and this site are in the same ownership group.
Quick Summary of the Best VPNs for Telegram
Editors' Note: Intego, Private Internet Access, CyberGhost and ExpressVPN are owned by Kape Technologies, our parent company
🥇1. ExpressVPN — Best Overall VPN for Telegram
ExpressVPN is my #1 VPN for Telegram in 2024. Its obfuscation, which disguises your VPN traffic to look like regular internet traffic, is supported on all of its servers in 105 countries (more than any other VPN on this list), so you can find a nearby server to connect to for lag-free chats on Telegram. Plus, it’s very easy to use — it turns on automatically as needed, so long as you are using the recommended Automatic VPN protocol.
ExpressVPN’s obfuscation allows you to access Telegram in restrictive countries like China, where the app is banned. It also lets you use the app on restricted networks, like at a school or workplace.
This provider has great mobile apps for Telegram, but I particularly like its iOS app — it comes with obfuscation and a kill switch, so Telegram won’t be able to see your IP address in case you lose connection to the VPN.
It offers split-tunneling on Android, Windows, and macOS, which allows you to route only your Telegram app traffic through the VPN while the rest of your traffic continues to use your regular internet connection. This can be particularly useful if you only want to unblock Telegram or if you want to use apps that need to have your real location (such as food delivery services) without having to constantly turn the VPN on and off.
Another extra feature that ExpressVPN comes with is a good password manager, called ExpressVPN Keys, which can make your 2-step verification password for Telegram more secure by helping you generate a strong password and storing this password in a digital vault. Finally, ExpressVPN has a malicious site blocker (Advanced Protection) that stops you from visiting any shady sites you might come across on different Telegram channels.
ExpressVPN’s plans start at $4.99 / month, and it backs all of its plans with a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can try it out for yourself risk-free.
Bottom Line:
ExpressVPN is the best VPN for Telegram in 2024. It can reliably access Telegram in restrictive countries and on restrictive networks that block Telegram thanks to its top-of-the-line obfuscation, which turns on automatically and is available on all of its servers. Additionally, you get a password manager for 2FA on Telegram and a malicious site blocker for shady URLs on Telegram. All subscriptions are backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Read the full ExpressVPN review
🥈2. Private Internet Access — Great for Bypassing Censorship + Highly Customizable
Private Internet Access (PIA) can consistently unblock Telegram in restrictive countries and on restrictive networks. PIA’s obfuscation is available on 5+ server locations, including in the US, the UK, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Canada, and Japan. I like how the locations are well spread out, but ExpressVPN supports obfuscation on all servers, which gives you a lot more connection options.
And, unlike with ExpressVPN, you have to manually enable the feature. The good news is this is an easy process — simply go to the settings menu, click on the Multi-Hop tab, enable it, and then pick a nearby server. What I don’t like is that obfuscation isn’t available on iOS — to unblock Telegram on iOS, I recommend ExpressVPN.
What I really like about PIA is that you get tons of customization options to optimize your Telegram experience. For example, it’s one of the few VPNs that lets you use 128-bit AES encryption rather than the standard 256-bit AES encryption, which is still very secure and can improve your speeds. It also lets you change your port to 443, which can be used if you’re having trouble connecting in a restrictive country, like China or Russia, because it’s almost impossible to block.
In terms of extra features, PIA comes with the best VPN ad, tracker, and malware blocker in the industry. I had a colleague send me several known shady links through Telegram, and PIA managed to detect and block all of them.
PIA also comes with a data breach monitor, called Identity Guard, which will alert you if your email address has been compromised in a data breach — this provides an extra layer of security if you receive your Telegram login codes via email instead of SMS.
PIA’s plans start at a very affordable $2.03 / month, and it backs every purchase with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Bottom Line:
Private Internet Access is a customizable VPN for unblocking Telegram in restrictive countries and on school and work networks thanks to its obfuscation feature. It offers tons of settings you can tweak to optimize your Telegram experience. Additionally, the provider comes with an ad, tracker, and malware blocker, and a data breach monitor. Every purchase comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Read the full Private Internet Access review
Editors' Note: Private Internet Access and this site are in the same ownership group.
🥉3. NordVPN — Has a Malware Scanner for Sharing Files on Desktop
NordVPN is a great VPN for sharing files through Telegram on restricted or regular networks. If you use Telegram on Windows or macOS, you get the Threat Protection Pro feature. This is an ad, tracker, and malware blocker — it protects you from malicious links, and it can also scan any files you’re sent for malware. That said, NordVPN’s malware scanner is no replacement for a proper antivirus program, which has better malware detection rates and provides more comprehensive protection.
I also like how Threat Protection Pro scans for app vulnerabilities and alerts you about them — this helps you make sure the Telegram app is always up-to-date, so that there are no security exploits in the app.
This provider comes with obfuscated servers in 15+ countries that you can connect to if you need to unblock Telegram at your school or workplace. I like how these servers are located in a separate server menu under Specialty servers, so they’re easy to find. However, NordVPN doesn’t work in censorship-heavy countries — to access Telegram in a country that bans the app like China, I recommend ExpressVPN or Private Internet Access.
Also, like Private Internet Access, NordVPN comes with a data breach monitor. It detects and alerts you if the email address linked to your Telegram account (if any) has been compromised.
NordVPN comes with tier-based subscriptions. It’s best to get the Plus subscription (costs $3.89 / month) since it provides access to Threat Protection Pro. The provider also has a 30-day refund for all plans.
Bottom Line:
NordVPN is a great VPN for securely sharing files through Telegram on desktop thanks to its malware scanning capabilities. It’s also good for unblocking the app on restrictive networks, such as your school or workplace (but not in restrictive countries like ExpressVPN). NordVPN backs all of its plans with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
4. Surfshark — Great for Unblocking Telegram on Restricted Networks
Surfshark provides an excellent set of tools for unblocking Telegram on restrictive networks. My favorite is the NoBorders feature — it turns on automatically when it detects that you’re on a restrictive network and provides you with a list of servers that can circumvent the network’s restrictions.
I like its Camouflage Mode, too, which hides your VPN traffic, so you can use the VPN with Telegram even if your network admin blocks VPNs. The downside is these tools can’t consistently unblock Telegram in restrictive countries. If you’re in a country that blocks the Telegram app, I instead recommend trying ExpressVPN or Private Internet Access.
This provider is good for keeping you safe on Telegram, too. Its IP Rotator changes your VPN IP address constantly (without disrupting your connection), so it’s more difficult to track you. Also, Surfshark’s CleanWeb blocks malicious links that any Telegram channel or user might send your way.
Surfshark’s plans start at $1.99 / month, and all purchases are backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Bottom Line:
Surfshark is great for accessing the Telegram app on restrictive networks, thanks to its NoBorders servers and obfuscation tool (Camouflage Mode). The VPN can also change your IP address constantly to foil tracking attempts, and block malicious links. Surfshark backs every subscription with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Read the full Surfshark review
5. PrivateVPN — Easy-to-Use VPN for Unblocking Telegram
PrivateVPN is a great VPN for beginners who want to unblock Telegram. Like ExpressVPN and Private Internet Access, PrivateVPN’s obfuscation tool is capable of bypassing government censorship, so it can reliably access Telegram in countries that ban the app.
It’s also super intuitive to use. I like how you can change between Simple View and Advanced View on its desktop apps. Simple View hides some settings and information to avoid overwhelming new users, but veterans can toggle on Advanced View to gain more control over their VPN experience.
There are a few areas where PrivateVPN falls short of its competitors though. It has a much smaller server network compared to the other VPNs on this list (it only has servers in 63 countries), and it lacks any extra features, like split-tunneling, malware blocking, or data breach monitoring.
PrivateVPN’s plans start at an affordable $2.00 / month, and it backs all purchases with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Bottom Line:
PrivateVPN is an easy-to-use VPN that can reliably unblock Telegram in restrictive countries. However, the VPN has a smaller server network than its competitors, and it’s thin on extra features, like split-tunneling, malware blocking, or data breach monitoring. All PrivateVPN subscriptions come with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Read the full PrivateVPN review
Quick Comparison Table
Editors' Note: Intego, Private Internet Access, CyberGhost and ExpressVPN are owned by Kape Technologies, our parent company
Testing Methodology: Comparison & Ranking Criteria
For this article, I assessed each VPN using our proven testing methodology with an emphasis on factors that are especially important for Telegram, such as the ability to unblock Telegram and its security and speeds. The following is a detailed breakdown of the testing criteria I used to decide what VPNs to put on my list and where to rank them:
- I made sure each VPN can unblock Telegram. If your school, workplace, or country has blocked the Telegram app, you’ll need to get a VPN with obfuscation. ExpressVPN supports obfuscation on all of its servers and works very well in restrictive countries, like China and Iran.
- I assessed each VPN’s privacy and security features. I only recommend VPNs with industry-standard security features, including 256-bit AES encryption, a strict no-logs policy (the provider doesn’t track your online activities), and a kill switch, which shuts down your internet connection if your VPN connection drops. All of the VPNs on my list also have leak protection, to ensure your real IP address is never revealed to your chat partners or Telegram — this is also super important if Telegram has blocked your IP address.
- I tested each VPN’s speeds. All VPNs will reduce your internet speeds slightly due to the encryption process, but the best VPNs minimize the speed loss to a point where you don’t even notice it. The VPNs I recommend deliver instant messages and lag-free calls on Telegram.
- I chose VPNs that are easy to use. The VPNs I recommend are easy to set up (downloading and installing the app only takes 2–3 minutes) and have intuitive apps for Android, iOS, Windows, and macOS, so you can protect your Telegram communications on any device.
- I looked for VPNs that provide good overall value. The VPNs on this list all have reasonably-priced plans, offer a minimum of 5 simultaneous connections, come with useful extra features, like split-tunneling, a password manager, and a data breach monitor, and back all purchases with a money-back guarantee.
Top Brands That Didn’t Make the Cut
- CyberGhost VPN. It’s one of our top VPNs — fast, secure, and easy to use with great streaming support. However, it doesn’t have an obfuscation feature, so it can’t access Telegram on restricted networks at work or school, or in countries that ban the service.
- HMA VPN. HMA VPN provides decent speeds and security. But for its price, it simply doesn’t offer as much as its competitors. Additionally, it lacks obfuscation, so it won’t be able to access Telegram on networks or in countries that block the app, and its customer support is awful.
- TunnelBear. It’s a fun and beginner-friendly VPN with a decent free plan, and it can access Telegram in countries that ban it. However, it doesn’t offer as fast speeds as the other VPNs on my list, and its server network is considerably smaller (it has servers in only 47 countries).
Frequently Asked Questions
Which VPN is best for Telegram?
ExpressVPN is the #1 VPN for Telegram. It protects against all forms of IP leaks (DNS, IPv6, and WebRTC), provides blazing-fast speeds for instant messaging and lag-free calls, and has easy-to-use desktop and mobile apps. Additionally, it’s able to access Telegram from anywhere in the world, including restrictive countries, like China and Iran, where it’s blocked, thanks to its excellent obfuscation feature.
How do I unblock Telegram with a VPN?
To access Telegram in a country where it’s blocked, follow these three simple steps. First, subscribe to a good VPN. Next, connect to a server in a country where Telegram isn’t blocked. Finally, launch the Telegram app, and that’s it! Enjoy chatting with your friends and family more securely.
Note that if the country you’re in also blocks VPNs, you may need to get a VPN with obfuscation. Obfuscation disguises your VPN traffic as regular internet traffic, so the VPN will work even in countries that block VPNs.
Should you use a VPN with Telegram?
Yes, Telegram is a pretty secure messaging app, but it’s not perfect. Notably, it collects your IP address, which can be easily traced back to you. Using a good VPN helps keep you anonymous while chatting by hiding your real IP address behind an IP address belonging to your provider.
Where is Telegram blocked?
The availability of Telegram in a country may change at a moment’s notice. But currently, the app is blocked in China, Iran, Thailand, Pakistan, and Cuba. In the past, it’s been blocked in other countries, like Russia, Indonesia, and Spain.
Using a VPN, it’s possible to access Telegram in a country where it’s blocked. A VPN changes your IP address, so it makes it seem like you’re accessing the app from a different country. ExpressVPN is the best VPN for accessing Telegram from anywhere — it’s speedy, secure, and easy-to-use, and it comes with obfuscation, so it works in countries that also block VPNs.
