Popular microblogging service Twitter is used by millions of people around the world to exchange views, thoughts, and random updates about daily lives. But it’s this popularity that has also caused some consternation: workplaces, colleges, and schools block it to ensure students concentrate on core tasks. Entire countries (most recently, Nigeria) restrict access because of Twitter’s potential to organize protests and ensure that the truth sees the light of day.

If you currently face hurdles in accessing Twitter, then your best bet is to use a VPN to unblock the service.

Short for Virtual Private Network, a VPN masks your location by encrypting all the traffic flowing to and from your device and tunneling it via an intermediary server. Network administrators, ISPs, and nosy surveillance agencies will find it difficult to monitor you on the web. Hence a VPN is a good choice to help you unblock Twitter.

In case you’re short on time, below is our list of the best Twitter VPNs.

Best Twitter VPNs:

  • NordVPN: Our first choice for a Twitter VPN. Vast network of blazing fast servers that retain your privacy. Unblocks most restricted content and is secure. Includes 30-day money-back guarantee.
  • Surfshark: Best budget option. Unblocks Twitter with ease. Good range of security features. Allows any number of simultaneous connections.
  • ExpressVPN: Fast and reliable network that unblocks Twitter wherever it is restricted. Privacy and security features are high-grade and apps are easy to use.
  • CyberGhost: Good choice for beginners. Easy to use. Apps have solid security and privacy features.
  • IPVanish: No issues circumventing Twitter blocks. Fast and secure servers.
  • VyprVPN: Low latency with solid security and privacy. Cheaper options on this list.
  • ZenMate: Great for unblocking Twitter but for streaming or downloading look elsewhere on this list.

The best VPNs for Twitter

To help you out we’ve compiled a list of the best VPNs that work with Twitter flawlessly. They’re ranked on the following factors:

  • Speed and stability of service
  • Large number of server locations in Europe and North America
  • Strong encryption parameters so your location remains hidden
  • Apps for Android and iOS
  • Number of simultaneous connections so you can share with friends and family
  • Ease of use

Whether you want a Twitter VPN on Android, iPhone or PC, you can choose from any of the VPNs on our list.

1. NordVPN

                    Jan 2023

Unblocks TwitterTested Jan 2023

Apps Available:

  • PC
  • Mac
  • IOS
  • Android
  • Linux
  • Background
  • FireTV

Website: www.NordVPN.com

Money-back guarantee: 30 DAYS

NordVPN is our #1 choice for a Twitter VPN. It’s a relative veteran of the VPN business because it’s been around for over a decade. It’ll appeal to power users due to the bevy of customizable options and servers designed for specific purposes. The service gains top points for speed, stability, ease of use, and firm encryption protocols.

There’s zero customer data retention, a policy that has derailed attempts by government agencies to identify Nord users. Servers were physically confiscated in one case but authorities were left frustrated because there wasn’t any incriminating information on them. Users looking to unblock Twitter for political purposes as well as to stay anonymous on the web should feel reassured.

Encryption standards are top-tier. NordVPN deploys 256-bit AES protocol by default coupled with 2,048-bit SSL keys. DNS leak protection is enabled. A single subscription will allow six devices to connect at one time – that’s very generous and one of the highest on our list. An internet kill switch is also included.

When you sign up you’ll notice that there’s a broad server network of more than 5,000 servers in 60 countries. The US alone houses over 1,700 and there are lots of further options in Europe and Canada.

There are apps for Android and iOS as well as desktop clients for Windows, Linux, and MacOS.

BEST VPN FOR TWITTER:NordVPN is our top choice. Blazing fast speeds, strong security features, and allows up to 6 devices to be used simultaneously from one account. Includes a 30-day money-back guarantee for a risk-free deal.

Pros:

  • Fast and reliable connections
  • Operates over 4,000 servers in Europe and North America, great for unblocking censored and restricted content
  • Strong encryption and privacy protections won’t compromise your location
  • Apps for Windows, MacOS, iOS, Linux, and Android
  • 24/7 live chat support available

Cons:

  • The desktop app can be cumbersome

Our score:

Read our full review of NordVPN.

2. Surfshark

Unblocks TwitterTested Jan 2023

  • PC
  • Mac
  • IOS
  • Android
  • Linux

Website: www.Surfshark.com

Surfshark is a budget-friendly provider that ticks all the boxes. It’s excellent at bypassing blocks, can access a range of geo-restricted content, and even works in Nigeria, China, and Turkmenistan.

Surfshark offers a suite of security features including military-grade encryption and perfect forward secrecy. Leak protection and a kill switch in all apps ensure your data remains inside the encrypted tunnel. Extras include automatic wifi protection and the option to send traffic through two VPN servers. No logs are maintained.

Apps are available for Windows, Linux, MacOS, iOS, and Android. Surfshark doesn’t impose a connect limit so you can connect all your devices at the same time.

BEST BUDGET VPN:Surfshark is a solid low-cost alternative. It is known for its ability to bypass restrictions and grant access to blocked sites. Strong security and unlimited devices. 30-day money-back guarantee.

  • Easily bypasses blocks

  • Takes privacy and security very seriously

  • Unlimited devices

  • Strict no-logs policy

  • Some speeds were slow in testing

Read our full review of Surfshark.

3. ExpressVPN

Website: www.ExpressVPN.com

ExpressVPN has solid speeds and incorporates military-grade encryption protocols. The company bolsters its standing in the VPN industry with a smooth and minimalistic design that’s aesthetically pleasing and simple enough even for newcomers to understand.

Encryption standards are resilient and should ensure your browsing habits stay out of the reach of any malicious entity. The company uses OpenVPN connections encrypted with 256-bit AES as default. 4,096-bit DHE-RSA keys are identified by a SHA-512 hashing algorithm. An internet kill switch is also included. ExpressVPN keeps minimal logs and no user-identifying data.

One subscription grants access to five devices simultaneously, making it a handy option to split the bill. There are apps for both Android and iOS as well as desktop software for Windows, MacOS, and Linux.

GREAT UNBLOCKER:ExpressVPN has a vast server network that is optimized for high-speed connections. Great at unblocking most restricted content and sites. User-friendly apps for all operating systems. 30-day money-back guarantee.

  • Plenty of servers in Europe and North America can unblock most restricted and censored content

  • Gets past location detection systems

  • Easy to use apps for both iOS and Android devices

  • Connect up to 3 devices at the same time

  • Doesn’t come cheap, use a coupon for discounts

Here’s our review of ExpressVPN.

4. CyberGhost

Website: www.Cyberghost.com

Money-back guarantee: 45 DAYS

CyberGhost is a relatively inexpensive option that’ll get the job done without giving you the power features packed into some of the other VPN providers on this list. The company is headquartered in Romania and has a stated policy of not storing any user data, so that’s definitely a positive.

At the time of writing CyberGhost operates 3,787 servers in 60 countries. New servers have been added on a weekly basis quite consistently for some time now which is keeping the user to server ratio low. We expect this number to keep increasing.

As for encryption standards, CyberGhost Pro uses 256-bit AES encryption on the OpenVPN protocol by default along with 2,048-bit RSA keys and MD5 HMAC authentication. These are considered to be resilient so it’s unlikely that your data will ever be exposed. There’s an internet kill switch included, too.

The premium version grants simultaneous access to five devices on a single plan. The provider supports both Android and iOS as well as PC and MacOS.

GREAT VALUE:CyberGhost is a great value choice. Strong on privacy, fast speeds and reliable. We found it easy to set up and use. Good for unblocking restricted content. 45-day money-back guarantee.

  • Fast, reliable service

  • Plenty of servers in Europe and North America

  • DNS leak protection and strong security features protect your location

  • Easy to use Android and iOS apps

  • Not suitable for those that need control of advanced features

Read our full review of CyberGhost.

5. IPVanish

Website: www.IPVanish.com

IPVanish is specifically recommended for users looking to benefit from the highest standards of privacy, making it a good fit to unblock Twitter. This doesn’t mean it compromises on speed, though. In our user review the service was able to stream 1080p video without any lag. Overall we gave it a rating of 8/10 coupled with a “great” verdict.

It’s also an example of a completely logless VPN. This indicates IPVanish doesn’t store any activity logs about its users – no timestamps or records about server preferences among other things. Like ExpressVPN, an internet kill switch is included with all paid subscriptions.

When it comes to encryption standards, IPVanish uses 256-bit encryption on the OpenVPN protocol by default, SHA512 authentication, and a DHE-RSA 2,048-bit key exchange with perfect forward secrecy. The latter feature means all past browsing sessions are encrypted forever – even in the unlikely event of a hack.

There’s a robust server network of 1,300 spread across 75 countries, including plentiful locations in Europe, the US, and Canada. Its simultaneous connection policy is generous – a maximum of five devices are allowed to connect at one time.

There are apps for Android and iOS and a desktop client for Windows and MacOS.

UP TO 10 DEVICES:IPVanish is great for families and multiple connections. Unblocks Twitter but can’t unblock as many streaming services as rivals higher on this list. 7-day money-back guarantee.

  • Impressive speeds and reliable connections

  • Strong encryption makes apps secure

  • Provides secure apps for Mac OS X, macOS and iOS

  • Keeps no traffic logs or connection logs

  • No live customer support

  • Apps don’t work in China

Read our full review of IPVanish.

6. VyprVPN

Website: www.VyprVPN.com

VyprVPN is a bit different from the other providers on this list because of its data logging policy. The company stores “the user’s source IP address, the VyprVPN IP address used by the user, connection start and stop time, and total number of bytes used.” This might be troubling for some users but we haven’t noticed any brazen violations of ethics where VyprVPN handed over information to authorities.

Additionally, the company insists that all information is stored only for 30 days and used to improve the product as well as for troubleshooting. VyprVPN also has some of the sturdiest encryption protocols in the industry, so it’s unlikely that your data will be exposed to outside entities in the first place.

Web traffic is secured by the OpenVPN protocol, 256-bit AES encryption, 2,048-bit RSA keys without perfect forward secrecy, and SHA256 authentication. An internet kill switch is included by default with all paid subscriptions.

Users can opt to sign up for the Chameleon ™ protocol for an additional fee. This feature further obfuscates your connection and makes it really difficult for your ISP to figure out that you’re using a VPN to scour the web.

There are over 700 servers spread across the globe with the overwhelming majority located in North America and Europe. A single plan allows three devices to connect simultaneously.

Apps are available for both Android and iOS as well as a desktop client for Windows and MacOS.

Large server network:VyprVPN is user friendly. A solid choice for Twitter. Stores no logs, offers great security and unblocks most streaming services. More pricey than some. 30-day money-back guarantee.

  • Servers provide reliable connections and decent speeds

  • Privacy and security features won’t let you down

  • Great unblocking capabilities, even works well in China

  • Could have more options for advanced configuration

  • No cryptocurrency payment options

Read our full review of VyprVPN.

7. Zenmate

  • PC
  • Mac
  • IOS
  • Android

Website: www.zenmate.com

Money-back guarantee: 30 days

Zenmate first established a name for itself in the VPN space due to its free Chrome extension. There’s also an option to upgrade to a paid service that offers a wider server network and better encryption standards – it’s this product that we’re referring to in this mini-review.

Overall, the service is adequate. The initial positives are that the company has an internal policy of not storing any user information or logs and that the connection is fast. We noticed that browsing and video streaming was smooth – even while streaming 1080p video. Unfortunately, there were also a bunch of DNS leaks across various servers. This is troubling from a privacy angle. You do have an option of availing an initial 14-day free trial so it’s possible to test the service and see if it’s a good fit before signing up for the long term.

Premium packages unlock the entire catalog of 1,000 global servers present in 28 countries. There are ample options in Europe and North America but Zenmate doesn’t specify how many servers are present there specifically.

Encryption standards are decent. The provider uses 128-bit AES encryption in conjunction with 2,048-bit RSA keys and SHA 256 for authentication. An internet kill switch is included.

EASY SET UP:Zenmate is easy to install. Great for unblocking Twitter and even unblocks Netflix in most regions. Not the fastest choice on this list and is prone to DNS leaks and some privacy issues. 30-day money-back guarantee

  • Strong security features, including automatic kill-switch

  • Apps for both iOS and Android

  • Works fine with Twitter

  • Not the quickest servers on this list

  • Email only support

  • We got some DNS leaks during our testing

Read our full review of Zenmate.

Methodology: How we find VPNs that Unblock Twitter

There are hundreds of VPNs on the market and they are not all suitable to access Twitter in countries where it is censored. In addition, many VPNs are slow, and cannot provide the high level of privacy and data security you should expect for the cost. This makes those VPNs a waste of your time and resources.

At Comparitech, we make it our mission to help you. Below, we have included some of the most important features we looked for when recommending VPNs for Twitter:

  • Tons of server locations – The best VPNs have fast servers located globally that can access a wide choice of services. Fast servers mean you can stream, torrent, play games, and engage in video conferencing calls with complete privacy.
  • Watertight security – We only recommend VPNs with reliable VPN protocols like OpenVPN, IKEv2, and WireGuard. We also test for IP, DNS, and WebRTC leaks to ensure the VPN is working correctly. Finally, we check the encryption implementation is secure and future-proof.
  • Advanced privacy features – To access Twitter securely in countries where it is unavailable, it is important to use a kill-switch and obfuscation. We look for VPNs that have these features and other advanced things like split tunneling, port forwarding, a SOCKS5 proxy, malware protection, and ad blocking, among other things.
  • Apps for all platforms – A versatile VPN lets you use your VPN on all your devices. WE look for services with apps for Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Firestick devices, and VPN-compatible routers. Some even have browser extensions for Chrome, Firefox, and Edge for added ease of use.
  • Outstanding customer care – We look for VPNs that go the extra mile to help their subscribers. To that end, we recommend VPNs with both email and live chat support that are available around the clock.
  • Excellent accessibility – We look for VPNs that will let you access Twitter from anywhere in the world, and that have servers known to work with as many popular international platforms as possible.
  • A no-logs policy – A VPN that truly provides online privacy will never track what you do while connected to the VPN or keep any records about your activities. This ensures there is never any data trail that could later be analyzed to see whether you accessed Twitter or other censored services.

Read our full VPN testing methodology for more information about how we test VPNs.

Should I use a free VPN to unblock Twitter?

Free VPNs are a dime a dozen and heavily advertised on the interwebs. Most don’t require credit card details at the time of signup and certainly do their best to appeal to users.

But you should be aware of the fact that such providers offer a mere shadow of the same service parameters that paid options include. There will be things like bandwidth throttling, limited server choices, and data caps. You might also have to wait if there are too many people trying to connect at the same time.

Israel-based Hola is an example of free VPN extension that decided to create a botnet army with their users’ bandwidth.

Even if you can connect successfully, be prepared for lots of pesky advertisements and migraine-inducing popup windows. Some free VPNs have been caught inserting tracking cookies in browsers, mining user data, and selling it to third-party advertisers. Since we don’t think you’re okay with your private data being exposed, our recommendation is to avoid.

How do I use Twitter on a VPN?

You’ll be happy to know, setting up a VPN for the first time is quick and easy on iPhone, Android or a desktop computer. Just follow the simple step-by-step guide below.

Here’s how to unblock Twitter with a VPN:

  • Choose a suitable VPN service that can unblock Twitter. We recommend NordVPN.
  • Download the appropriate VPN app for your device. Most VPNs offer Android, iPhone and desktop apps.
  • Open the VPN app and browse through the server locations and try to select a country/location that’s not too far from you geographically and doesn’t have a history of blocking Twitter.
  • You should now be able to use Twitter like you normally would at home!

Is Twitter not working with a VPN on your browser? Try clearing your browser’s cache and cookies and then reloading the page.

First, you might be in a country that simply does not allow its citizens to access Twitter. This is a move favored by oppressive regimes, largely because it’s difficult to control the flow of unbiased information over social media. Governments that do this include China, Iran, and Turkmenistan. In June 2021, Nigeria became the latest country to ban Twitter, following the platform’s removal of one of the president’s tweets.

It’s also possible that your school, college, or workplace has set up a firewall to prevent you from browsing Twitter when you’re supposed to be doing other things. 

Finally, you may be temporarily banned from Twitter. However, you’ll know if this is the case, since Twitter will have alerted you to the fact, along with a reason for your account’s suspension.

As such, a VPN is a much safer, much more reliable way of accessing Twitter when it’s blocked. As a bonus, these will encrypt your traffic, meaning that even if someone is watching your network, they won’t be able to tell which sites you visit. 

Even in emergency situations, many people resort to Twitter to provide updates and seek help for those affected. By using a VPN, you’re escaping restrictions placed on you by your ISP or workplace and not necessarily engaging in any illegal activity.

Another way to access Twitter is through the dark web with the Tor browser. Tor is a free web browser that allows anonymous communication. However, using Tor can be slow and sometimes difficult to set up.