As one of the biggest free messaging apps in the world, WhatsApp needs no introduction. However, despite its popularity, the app is blocked in some countries. A VPN will help you unlock the messaging app on mobile or desktop, but what if it stops working? Our guide explains what to do if your VPN isn’t working with WhatsApp.
If your current VPN isn’t letting you access messages on WhatsApp, it’s not hiding your real location. When that happens, the network could blacklist the VPN server you’re trying to use. Our guide has details on how to solve the problem in a couple of minutes.
In this article:
At a glance: the best VPNs for WhatsApp
Some of the VPNs we’ve tried over the years are terrible – they won’t hide your location, which means WhatsApp will remain locked up and unavailable in some parts of the world. On the other hand, the VPNs on this page do a fantastic job of unlocking content in seconds, including WhatsApp functionality.
If you don’t want to read our entire article and your current VPN isn’t working with WhatsApp, see the table below.
Note: all of the WhatsApp VPNs below offer a 30-day, money-back guarantee.
| VPN name | Starting price (per month) | Why do we like it? |
|---|---|---|
 ExpressVPN | £5.61 | Offers over 150 servers and around-the-clock live chat support |
 Ivacy | $1 | A cheap but secure VPN with public wi-fi security |
 NordVPN | £2.99 | Servers in more than 50 countries and a built-in malware blocker |
 Atlas VPN | £1.49 | Effective tracking blocker with a strict no-logs policy |
 PureVPN | $2.29 | A trusted VPN that hides your real location at all times |
Can I use WhatsApp abroad?
The vast majority of the time, the answer is yes. However, as some select countries have blocked WhatsApp entirely, you might need a VPN to continue using your account. A VPN spoofs your location, which means WhatsApp services will think you’re in a supported country even if you’re not.
Why is WhatsApp not working with my VPN?
WhatsApp is a region-locked service. If WhatsApp identifies your IP address and sees that you’re not in a supported country, the service will lock up and you won’t be able to message your contacts. By using one of our VPNs, you’ll get a temporary IP address that lets you unlock WhatsApp from anywhere in the world.
Try these fixes for WhatsApp:
1. Try connecting to a different VPN server – Top VPNs for social media and messaging apps offer lots of different servers per country. If the server you’re trying to use to access WhatsApp isn’t working, disconnect from that one and try another one. This is an obvious but crucial tip if your VPN isn’t working with WhatsApp.
2. Contact a support team through your VPN – Lots of VPNs provide customers with a support service to handle technical issues. In fact, ExpressVPN, Ivacy, NordVPN, Atlas VPN and PureVPN all offer 24/7 support.
3. Uninstall and reinstall your VPN software – Sometimes, starting fresh will help. Head into your computer or mobile settings and delete your current VPN entirely. Restart your device, download that same VPN and see if the problem disappears on WhatsApp.
If you’re still having problems using WhatsApp, switch to a much better VPN. All of the VPNs below work with the WhatsApp website and app, so pick one and try it out today.
Free VPNs for WhatsApp
If your current VPN isn’t letting you enjoy WhatsApp, you might be thinking about a free VPN to save money. However, we recommend that you stay away from free VPNs for the following reasons:
⚠️ Some free VPNs aren’t safe. Because you don’t pay a standard, monthly fee, free VPNs for WhatsApp might sell your personal data just to make a profit.
⚠️ Free VPNs can be slow. They might take ages to connect to a server compatible with WhatsApp, and your connection could drop without warning.
⚠️You might not get many servers. The best VPNs have servers placed all over the world, which means you can instantly unlock loads of different websites and apps. However, free VPNs only cover a small number of countries.
The best VPNs for WhatsApp in 2023
ExpressVPN
- 1-month subscription: £10.90 per month
- 6-month subscription: £8.41 per month
- 1-year subscription + 3 months free: £5.61 per month (49% off)
| 🌎 Number of servers worldwide | 160 in 94 countries |
| 📈 Bandwidth allowance | Unlimited |
| 🗣️ 24/7 live chat service | Yes |
| 📱 Number of devices supported at once | 5 |
If the VPN you have at the moment isn’t letting you use WhatsApp, try ExpressVPN for 30 days. Our own connection tests prove this is one of the best VPNs around, and it’s fast regardless of where you’re based. To use WhatsApp from anywhere, simply open up ExpressVPN and connect to a server in a supported country.
This popular VPN keeps your real IP address hidden, which means sites (including WhatsApp Web) won’t know what you’re up to. Every ExpressVPN member has access to more than 150 servers in over 90 countries around the world.
Our verdict: Comparing VPNs for messaging apps, our team has identified ExpressVPN as one of the best for WhatsApp.
Try ExpressVPN with our unique discount code (30-day money-back guarantee)
NordVPN
- 1-month subscription: £10.29 per month
- 1-year subscription: £3.89 per month (40% off)
- 2-year subscription: £2.99 per month (54% off)
| 🌎 Number of servers worldwide | 5,200+ in 59 countries |
| 📈 Bandwidth allowance | Unlimited |
| 🗣️ 24/7 live chat service | Yes |
| 📱 Number of devices supported at once | 6 |
NordVPN lets you use region-locked apps from anywhere, which is ideal if your current VPN isn’t working with WhatsApp. It hosts over 5,000 servers in more than 50 countries, and all of them are protected by military-grade encryption.
NordVPN won’t keep tabs on how you’re using it, so privacy is guaranteed. We really enjoy the CyberSec add-on, which blocks suspicious-looking websites and lowers the risk of your device being infected with malware.
To unlock the full WhatsApp experience, just connect to a NordVPN server based in a country that supports WhatsApp. If you need help, you can contact NordVPN’s 24/7 live chat experts.
Our verdict: NordVPN is easy to set up with WhatsApp. In our own speed tests, it only took a couple of minutes to load up the software, log in and connect to a suitable server.
Try NordVPN with our unique discount code (30-day money-back guarantee)
Ivacy
- 1-month subscription: $9.95 per month
- 1-year subscription: $3.99 per month (save $71.40)
- 5-year subscription + FREE password manager: $1 per month (90% off)
| 🌎 Number of servers worldwide | 5,700 in 100+ locations |
| 📈 Bandwidth allowance | Unlimited |
| 🗣️ 24/7 live chat service | Yes |
| 📱 Number of devices supported at once | 10 |
If you’re in a country that blocks WhatsApp, we recommend Ivacy. This trusted VPN is one of the most affordable options, and it supports 256-bit encryption which keeps cybercriminals away. Ivacy also offers public wi-fi security to protect devices against malware when connecting to public hotspots.
This WhatsApp-friendly VPN enforces a strict no-logs policy, which prevents your valuable personal data from being sold to third parties. By downloading the software today for WhatsApp, you get instant access to over 5,000 VPN servers in over 100 locations around the world. A single Ivacy subscription covers up to 10 different devices at once.
Our verdict: a well-equipped VPN that we recommend for WhatsApp users. Wherever you are in the world, you’ll have no trouble sending messages.
Try Ivacy with our unique discount code (30-day money-back guarantee)
Atlas VPN
- 1-month subscription: £9.83 per month
- 1-year subscription: £2.69 per month (73% off with code BIGDEAL)
- 2-year subscription + 3 months extra: £1.49 per month (85% off with code BIGDEAL)
| 🌎 Number of servers worldwide | |
| 📈 Bandwidth allowance | |
| 🗣️ 24/7 live chat service | |
| 📱 Number of devices supported at once |
We’ve confirmed that Atlas VPN is a reliable shield against online threats, and it can unlock WhatsApp. This VPN comes with a tracker blocker that battles against ads, suspicious websites and phishing links. We think it’s a great choice if you want to enjoy WhatsApp outside a supported country.
Other features of this trusted service include a data breach monitor that alerts you if your personal details have been exposed. Atlas VPN has a no-logs rule, along with a network kill switch that pauses the service if your connection becomes unstable. Users will enjoy over 750 unique servers all over the world.
Our verdict: If WhatsApp is your go-to messaging app, Atlas VPN will easily unlock everything for you.
Try Atlas VPN today with our exclusive code (30-day money-back guarantee)
PureVPN
- 1-month subscription: $12.45 per month
- 1-year subscription: $3.74 per month (70% off)
- 2-year subscription: $2.29 per month (82% off)
| 🌎 Number of servers worldwide | 6,500+ in over 78 countries |
| 📈 Bandwidth allowance | Does not limit bandwidth per user |
| 🗣️ 24/7 live chat service | Yes |
| 📱 Number of devices supported at once | 10 |
PureVPN is one of our favourites to recommend for those that want to enjoy WhatsApp. It’s easy to use, and members have access to optimised servers specifically designed to reduce load times.
With this VPN, data is encrypted and you’re completely anonymous while messaging on WhatsApp. There’s a 24-hour support team, so you can reach out if you have a question. PureVPN is a great VPN that allows you to bypass geo-locked apps without a fuss, even if you’re not currently based in a supported country.
If you’re not fully convinced by this VPN after trying it out, you can easily take advantage of the brand’s 31-day, money-back guarantee.
Our verdict: this awesome VPN provides over 6,500 servers in more than 75 countries around the world. For WhatsApp, it could be a perfect fit.
Try PureVPN with our unique discount code (31-day money-back guarantee)
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