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The Best VPNs for Telegram

Top10.com Staff
Image - Best VPNs for Telegram

Can’t access Telegram from your location? Worried about whether it’s as secure as it claims? A VPN for Telegram adds another layer of security to your messages.

More than 200 million people around the world use Telegram regularly to send private, secure, and encrypted messages through their smartphones, tablets, or computers. Because of its strong security credentials, some authoritarian governments have viewed Telegram to be a threat and have ordered it blocked in their countries. Fortunately, there is a way around such restrictions: you guessed it, a virtual private network, or one of the best VPN apps.

Breaking Down our Top10 Choices: Which is Best For Your Needs:

  • CyberGhost - Best for reputation
  • Norton Secure VPN - Best for online security
  • NordVPN - Best for fast streaming
  • Hotspot Shield - Best for ease of use
  • ExpressVPN - Best for service
  • Avast - Best for simplicity
  • HideMyAss - Best for range of server locations
  • Surfshark - Best for power users
  • ZenMate - Best for low-budgets
  • PrivateVPN - Best for consistency
Show more

The Best VPNs for Unblocking Telegram

  • 1
    CyberGhost

    CyberGhost

    • Number of Servers6,000
    • Price$2.75
    • Money-back guarantee45 days

    CyberGhost provides a VPN for all Telegram-compatible operating systems and devices. Users can access everything with handy one-click settings. For example, press “Surf Anonymously” to start your VPN session from the fastest server possible. Press “Choose my VPN Server” if you wish to choose your own server from the well over 6,000 servers available. 15 million users around the world trust CyberGhost for its strong and secure VPN.

    Pros
    • 6,000 servers
    • Excellent security features
    • Up to 7 device connections
    Cons
    • Cheapest plan needs a 3-year commitment
    • No phone support
  • 2
    Norton Secure VPN

    Norton Secure VPN

    • Number of Servers30
    • Price$4.99
    • Money-back guarantee60 days

    Norton is a common household name when it comes to online security, but the company is far from being a one-trick pony. Norton has expanded its offerings in several directions, and the addition of a stand-alone VPN product is one of its latest offerings. As with everything it does, Norton’s VPN is impressive, providing some seriously strong security features, including secure browsing on mobile and desktop devices, ad-blocking and tracking-blocker, IP cloaking, real-time threat protection, dark web monitoring, and password manager. What’s more, Norton delivers fast speeds for downloading and uploading and even unblocks Netflix US accounts.

    Pros
    • Basic 1-year, 1-device plan
    • Secure up to 5 devices simultaneously
    • Reliable security features from a trusted name
    Cons
    • Unusual plan pricing structure
    • Not as many servers or locations as most big-name VPNs
  • 3
    NordVPN

    NordVPN

    • Number of Servers5,500+
    • Price$2.99
    • Money-back guarantee30 days

    NordVPN is another popular VPN for Telegram. Subscribers can use their account to run NordVPN simultaneously across up to 6 devices, which is great for people who want to sync their Telegram messages across their desktop, phone, and tablet. It offers all the tight security features that can be expected of a top VPN service provider, including a zero-logging policy.

    Pros
    • Unblocks Netflix US
    • DoubleVPN for added security
    • Unlimited bandwidth
    Cons
    • No phone support
    • Per month pricing plan is expensive
  • 4
    Hotspot Shield

    Hotspot Shield

    • Number of Servers2,500
    • Price$3.49
    • Money-back guarantee45 days

    Hotspot Shield has been around since 2005 and has built its secure VPN services from the ground up. With its own home-grown protocol, Hydra, Hotspot Shield is able to give customers lightning fast speeds for both streaming and downloading. And this service unblocks geo-restricted content including Netflix accounts. Hotspot Shield is also incredibly easy to use, with a sleek user-interface and intuitive design. With 5 device connections, browser extensions, and great security features like automatic kill switch, Hotspot Shield has earned its place on the top 10 list of best VPNs.

    Pros
    • Fully supports torrenting
    • Easy-to-use system
    • Special proprietary Hydra protocol
    Cons
    • Some data leaks
    • Slow customer support
  • 5
    ExpressVPN

    ExpressVPN

    • Number of Servers3,000+
    • Price$6.67
    • Money-back guarantee30 days

    ExpressVPN is a superb option for Telegram users, with more than 2,000 servers worldwide. It offers clients for iOS, Android, Windows, Mac, and Linux, covering the full range of operating systems that Telegram can be used with. It has strong security credentials, running on the OpenVPN security protocol and guaranteeing 99.99% uptime.

    Pros
    • Chrome and Firefox extensions
    • 3,000+ servers around the globe
    • Good privacy policy
    Cons
    • Most expensive VPN on the market
    • Only 3 simultaneous devices
  • 6
    Avast

    Avast

    • Number of Servers55
    • Price$1.67
    • Money-back guarantee30 days

    Avast VPN comes from the same people as Avast Antivirus, which speaks to its strong security credentials. It offers a smaller number of servers than its competitors, but most of these servers are in countries where Telegram is available (including 16 in the United States) and all are backed by its highest security. Avast allows users to access Telegram from up to 5 devices simultaneously with 1 account.

    Pros
    • Some of the fastest download speeds around
    • Automatic kill switch and DNS leak protection
    • Fully supports torrenting
    Cons
    • Only certain servers unblock Netflix
    • Plans are pricey
  • 7
    HideMyAss

    HideMyAss

    • Number of Servers1,100
    • PriceFrom $2.99
    • Money-back guarantee30 days

    HideMyAss is another VPN service owned by Avast, one of the world’s leading online security companies. It has the largest number of server locations available on the market: with 191 countries on offer, you’d still be able to access Telegram even if almost every country bans it!

    Pros
    • Unlimited bandwidth switches
    • Up to 5 simultaneous connections
    • Works with routers and other IoT devices
    Cons
    • Logs some connection data
    • No kill switch for mobile
  • 8
    Surfshark

    Surfshark

    • Number of Servers1,700+
    • Price$2.21
    • Money-back guarantee30 days

    Surfshark is a relatively new name in the VPN world, but it’s making big waves. For one thing, Surfshark lets you connect an unlimited amount of devices. Plus, you can use your VPN on just about any device including iOS, Android, PC, Mac, Linux, FireTV, and more. There’s even a Chrome and Firefox extension for easier connection. Surfshark also has a full set of internet security features to keep you safe whether you’re surfing the web, watching a show, or shopping online. Things like ad and tracking blockers, anti-malware and anti-phishing guards, and whitelister are all included in your VPN subscription.

    Pros
    • Excellent internet security features
    • MultiHop and Camouflage Mode for added security
    • DNS leak protection
    Cons
    • App interface isn’t great
  • 9
    ZenMate

    ZenMate

    • Number of Servers298
    • Price$2.05
    • Money-back guarantee30 days

    ZenMate is a smaller name in the VPN industry, but it packs a pretty powerful punch for a lesser known brand. For one thing, it covers every device you could imagine, including iOS, Android, Mac, PC, Linux, and routers. You can even get a browser extension for Firefox, Chrome, and Opera. What’s more, ZenMate has got to be one of the easiest VPNs you'll ever use. You can click a single button, and your entire security system is up and running instantly. You can protect up to 5 devices with a single ZenMate account too. Get super fast speeds and join more than 40 million other users who are loving this product.

    Pros
    • One of the cheapest full-service plans out there
    • Easy, one-click connect
    • Works with all devices
    Cons
    • Logs IP addresses
    • Customer support needs work
  • 10
    PrivateVPN

    PrivateVPN

    • Number of Servers80+
    • Price$3.82
    • Money-back guarantee30 days

    PrivateVPN offers users some serious security features like 2048-bit encryption with AES-256, IPv6 leak protection, and automatic kill switch built-in. Plus, you can cover all your devices from Mac to PC, Android, iOS, Linux, and router devices. PrivateVPN also makes life easier for users by covering a huge range of protocols, torrenting-friendly servers, and unlimited bandwidth and speed. The service really delivers the ultimate in customer support, though, by providing free remote help and installation. Connect up to 6 devices at one time and enjoy a solid, no traffic logging policy, thanks to this Sweden-based VPN service.

    Pros
    • Incredible 99.98% uptime
    • Up to 6 simultaneous device connections
    • Over 100 server locations around the globe
    Cons
    • Fewer servers than the competitors
    • Cheap but not the cheapest option available

What is VPN for Telegram?

VPNs offer users security and anonymity, providing an encrypted connection between the user’s device and the internet and concealing their real IP address. VPNs also allow you to bypass geographic restrictions by logging on from a remote server in a different location from the one where the user is physically located. This makes VPNs perfect for using Telegram in restricted countries. In Russia and want to use Telegram? Simply log on to a VPN server in any country where Telegram isn’t blocked (such as the US) and start messaging.

Why it's Important to Have VPN for Telegram

 While VPNs are celebrated for giving us access to otherwise restricted parts of the internet, they’re equally as important for preserving the access we already have. This is becoming increasingly apparent in light of bans issued by authoritative governments who have blocked access to apps—often without notice—leaving users suddenly cut off from platforms such as Telegram, which they’ve come to rely on for everything from messaging to news updates and business transactions.

The best example of this is Russia’s ban on Telegram, which occurred virtually overnight and left millions of users without access to a primary mode of communication. More than an inconvenience, this led to widespread problems for users who lost access to conversations, contacts, business interactions, and any other actions they’d performed on the app. Anyone in Russia without a VPN had to scramble to install one in order to regain access to Telegram and all they’d stored on it. 

 Since the Russia ban, Telegram has been blocked in several other countries (more on this below). It may be easy for those of us in democratic countries to take our own internet freedoms for granted. But the Russia ban, and the magnitude of problems it caused in its wake, is a good example of why we should view VPNs not only as a means of connecting us, but also of keeping us connected to what we’ve become accustomed to.

How to Use a VPN to Unblock Telegram

A VPN can be used on all the same devices and operating systems that Telegram can be used, namely: Android, iOS, and Windows for smartphones and tablets; and PC, Mac, MacOS, and Linux for desktop. This makes Telegram accessible virtually anywhere—while at home, traveling, in the office, or anywhere else—and it also makes VPN for Telegram a viable option for any device or in any location.

Using a VPN to unblock Telegram requires 2 steps: the first is logging on to a remote VPN server; the second is accessing Telegram.

To use a VPN: 

  • Sign up to your chosen VPN (such as the top 5 VPNs for Telegram listed below).
  • Install the VPN provider’s client to your preferred device or devices (some VPN providers allow you to log in to as many as 6 devices with 1 account).
  • Configure your VPN settings.
  • Log on to a server in a country where Telegram isn’t blocked (i.e. anywhere aside from the authoritarian regimes listed in the section below).

Once you’ve logged into your remote server, you’re free to log in to Telegram and start messaging your friends.

Where is Telegram Blocked? 

Telegram is blocked in many of the usual countries that tend to block online communications services that don’t bow to their authoritarian laws. As of the time of writing, this included the following countries:

  • Russia
  • China
  • Saudi Arabia
  • Iran
  • North Korea (although let’s be honest, pretty much the entire internet is blocked in North Korea).

At time of writing, Telegram was still available in Turkey, Azerbaijan and a handful of other countries that routinely block access to communications and social media services like YouTube and Facebook. The problem with the countries that tend to block access to certain internet sites is that they often do so with very little notice. Therefore, the only way to prevent a situation in which you’re suddenly blocked from Telegram is to have a VPN account ready.

Is Telegram as Secure as It's Hyped up to Be?

Telegram advertises the following security features:

  • Messages are heavily encrypted.
  • It is cloud-based, allowing you to access messages from multiple devices.
  • Servers are spread worldwide for security and speed.
  • Messages are safe from hacker attacks.
  • Users can self-destruct their messages with a timer.
  • Users can send personal and business secrets in a secret chat mode.
  • Source code and protocol (MTProto) is open for review by everyone, making it more transparent than WhatsApp.

Despite the ongoing debate over Telegram’s and WhatsApp’s security credentials, the truth is that no messaging app is 100% secure. Various analyses have shown that Telegram is not immune to security vulnerabilities. Moreover, some users may not be aware that certain Telegram settings aren’t switched on automatically; for example, users must go into the settings and enable secret chat if they wish to add extra encryption to sensitive messages. 

Whether you’re in a country where Telegram is blocked or a country where Telegram is free and openly available, a VPN provides an added layer of security: it conceals your real IP address, allowing you to bypass any geolocation restrictions and message with anonymity.

Frequently Asked Questions
Why it's important to have VPN for Telegram?+-

Telegram has been blocked by certain governments, meaning that a good VPN service is essential for certain users who want to access it. On a more general level, Telegram still has security lapses that privacy-minded users may find insufficient without added security via a VPN.

Is Telegram as secure as it's hyped up to be?+-

Telegram has security weaknesses as do all messaging apps. Some of them are simply a matter of auto-settings: to ensure maximum security, users will have to manually enable extra encryption measures by choosing secret chat. Otherwise, Telegram offers solid security features that are on par with its competition.

Where is Telegram blocked?+-

Telegram has been blocked in Russia, China, Saudi Arabia, Iran, and North Korea.

Top10.com Staff
Top10.com's editorial staff is a professional team of editors and writers with dozens of years of experience covering consumer, financial and business products and services.