WeChat is an ever-growing social media, instant messaging, and mobile payment app that is popular in China and beyond, with over 1.2 billion users accessing this platform on a monthly basis.
The problem is, that most of the user interactions on WeChat are allegedly monitored for the sake of China’s National security.
In order to access this messaging app privately and securely from anywhere in the world, though, you are going to need to use a virtual private network (VPN).
A VPN is an important tool that is simple to use for even novices.
VPNs work by encrypting your data, hiding your original IP address, and keeping your traffic hidden from hackers, your Internet provider, authorities, or the government, allowing you to bypass Internet censorship to gain access to the free and open Internet.
Keep on reading for a look at the best providers on the VPN scene that will help you access WeChat freely and securely from anywhere in 2024.
In a Hurry? Here Are 5 Best VPNs for WeChat
5 Best WeChat VPN Providers for WeChat
If you are looking for the best VPN services to unblock WeChat, here are the top services that we recommend:
1. ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN is the best WeChat VPN, with fast connections and the top security features to help users safely access the instant messaging app safely and securely from anywhere.
ExpressVPN can also easily help you access services like Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, Netflix, and BBC iPlayer from blocked locations.
In countries like China that use censorship to block the spread of information, the methods they often use are IP and DNS censorship, keyword filtering, or deep packet inspection.
This VPN also has the latest privacy features that can help users consistently elude the Chinese authorities, such as DNS leak protection, AES 256-bit encryption, a no-logs policy, and obfuscated servers to ensure that your secure VPN connection appears to be just like a regular Internet connection when you are surfing the web. ExpressVPN also has a Kill Switch that will kill your Internet traffic in case your VPN connection drops.
ExpressVPN is compatible with your Windows, Android, iOS, macOS, or Linux devices, and you can connect up to 5 devices simultaneously to one account. If you connect ExpressVPN to your wireless router, though, you will be able to use as many devices as you want with your wi-fi, all of which will be connected to your VPN’s protection as a single device.
You can test ExpressVPN on any of your devices for up to a month with no strings attached to its 30-day money-back guarantee, and contact the live-chat support team at any point if you have questions or concerns.
- Fastest VPN
- Top security features
- 5 simultaneous connections
- Unlimited bandwidth
- Internet Kill Switch
- Able to bypass China’s Great Firewall
- Strict no-logging policy
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- Pricier VPN service
2. NordVPN
NordVPN offers users over 5,400 servers to which to connect in a range of over 60 countries worldwide, and it is a great, reliable service to use if you want to use the WeChat video-calling feature with great resolution.
For advanced security features and online privacy, Nord offers military–grade encryption, a Kill Switch, a strict no–logging policy, a built–in malware blocker, DNS, WebRTC, and IPv6 leak protection, and obfuscated servers. It also offers a double VPN feature for added protection if you choose, but this will slow your connection a bit.
You can use NordVPN on up to 6 devices at once, and it is compatible with your Windows, iOS, Mac, Linux, or Android devices, as well as many routers.
If you want to test it before committing to a long-term plan, you can try this service for up to 30 days with a refund guarantee.
- Double VPN functionality
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- Unlimited bandwidth
- VPN Kill Switch
- DNS leak protection
- Secure internet connection
- Desktop app can cause some issues
3. Surfshark
If you are looking for a more affordable VPN that is similar in functionality to ExpressVPN and NordVPN, Surfshark is it.
Surfshark has a pretty sizable network of 3,200+ servers spread across 65 countries, and it has good speeds that are not quite as fast as the top two VPNs on our list but are still sufficient.
Surfshark has AES 256–bit encryption, DNS and IPv6 leak protection, a Kill Switch, and NoBorders that are good to use in very restrictive regions.
One of the most notable features of Surfshark is that it allows users to connect an unlimited number of devices to a single account, which means that you can use all of your household devices at once for a really nominal subscription fee of $2.49/month.
- Fast server network
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- Unlimited simultaneous connections
- Strict no-logs policy
- NoBorders Mode
- Some buffering
- Some servers won’t work as well
4. CyberGhost
CyberGhost is a VPN with a larger network, boasting over 7,700 servers in more than 90 countries worldwide.
This is another affordable option if you are looking to use WeChat, and it does not put caps on your bandwidth, so you can really do anything you want online with no limit.
You can connect your CyberGhost VPN to your iOS, Mac, Windows, Linux, or Android device, as well as some routers, and you can use up to 7 devices simultaneously on a single user account, which is more than ExpressVPN and NordVPN allow.
In terms of online security, CyberGhost has AES 256-bit encryption and a Kill Switch, as well as a no-logs policy. It also has a built-in malware/ad blocker to help protect you online.
The aspect of CyberGhost that some users are most drawn to is that it offers a 45–day refund guarantee. This is 50% longer than the other VPN plans on the market allow, so you could technically use this VPN for a month and a half for free.
- Affordable Price
- Based in Romania
- No-logging policy
- Military-grade encryption
- Large network of servers
- 45-day money-back guarantee
- Some inconsistent speeds
- Won’t work in China
Private Internet Access (PIA) has a huge network of over 29,000 servers spread across over 78 countries worldwide.
If you want to use this VPN on multiple devices, you can connect up to 10 devices at once to a single account, and connect your app to your Windows, Android, iOS, macOS, or Linux device, as well as some routers.
While PIA does offer good online protection features, like military-grade encryption, its default level of encryption is 128-bit. If you want to change it to 256-bit, you will have to do this manually.
PIA also offers a no-logging policy, but it is important to keep in mind that this VPN service is based in the USA, which is not a privacy-friendly country. The USA is a founding member of the 5-Eyes Alliance, so if any information is logged, it could be passed on to the authorities of countries in the alliance.
- Unlimited bandwidth
- 10 simultaneous connections
- 30-day refund guarantee
- Live-chat support
- Huge number of servers
- Based in USA
- Won’t work consistently in China
About WeChat App
WeChat (or Weixin, in China) is a China-based messaging app that offers users access to voice messages, text messages, broadcast messages, video conferences, photo-sharing, and video–game.
As this app is based in China, WeChat users’ messages are tracked by the Chinese government, which does not sound too appealing to the average WeChat user.
You can also use WeChat for mobile payments, rides, or food delivery.
WeChat is mostly used in China, but there are plenty of international users as well.
If you want to encrypt your data to safely access the WeChat platform, we would recommend using a reputable VPN service, like ExpressVPN.
Why You Need a VPN for WeChat
First, WeChat is blocked by many countries, due to privacy concerns.
If you are located in a country where WeChat is blocked, you can access this app by connecting to a VPN server located in a permitted location.
If you want to access WeChat in a place where it is permitted, you can also use a VPN for WeChat to help you connect to one of the VPN servers in China to view exclusive Chinese language messages and ads, as well as content exclusive to Mainland China.
The VPN that we find to be the most reliable for use in China and worldwide is ExpressVPN.
How to Choose the Best VPN Provider for WeChat
Finding the best VPN for WeChat can be tricky.
To narrow the huge number of providers in the VPN industry to find only the best VPNs for this app, here are some of the criteria to keep in mind:
Privacy and security: Use a VPN for WeChat that offers military-grade encryption, a no-logs policy, a Kill Switch, and DNS leak protection to make sure you can access blocked sites and surf the web privately and anonymously.
Server location: For the best connection when accessing WeChat, the best bet is to use a local server near your actual location. Nearby servers will help you gain access to your blocked site with better speeds and a smoother experience. It is also important to choose a VPN provider with a range of servers in other countries so you can easily access other blocked content when you choose.
Speedy service: Make sure you choose a VPN for WeChat with good speeds so you can avoid buffering or lag when you are making WeChat video calls, streaming, or performing other tasks online.
Ability to get past blocks: Make sure you use only VPN providers that are able to consistently get past network restrictions to unblock WeChat and other blocked content. This is important whether you are using your VPN to access WeChat or to access other restricted content, like Netflix.
User-friendly: Make sure your VPN for WeChat is easy to use even if you are a VPN novice. You should also be able to find a VPN compatible with all of your devices and OS.
Support: Choose a VPN that offers users readily available customer service via live chat.
Guarantee: Make sure the VPN you pick has a refund guarantee so you can test it for a period of a month or more with no strings attached.
How to Use WeChat with a VPN
Using a VPN is a great way to protect yourself from cyber threats. Follow these steps to use a VPN for WeChat:
- Choose a reputable VPN for unblocking WeChat, like ExpressVPN.
- Download and install the VPN app on your device. (You can actually install your app on as many devices as you want and connect up to 5 at once.)
- Connect to a VPN server from your VPN’s list of servers. Typically, the closer the server to your actual location, the better the connection and speed.
- Open WeChat either via the app or the client.
- Sign in to your account and chat away!
Can I Use a Free VPN to Access WeChat in Restricted Regions?
Free VPN use for WeChat is not a great idea.
First, free VPN services typically only offer a small network of servers that are often crowded with users, which will make your speeds suffer tremendously.
Free VPNs also happen to be notoriously bad from a security aspect, lacking in basic privacy and security features, which means that you could find yourself at risk online instead of being protected when going to use one of these services.
Free VPNs also are often the first to have their IP addresses blocked by popular streaming services and websites, so you are very unlikely to be able to gain access to the platforms you are trying to reach when using one of these free services.
Because of their general ineffectiveness and unsecured nature, we would strongly advise that you use a premium VPN for WeChat instead of a free service.
The free services, while they may have a cost, do come with a 30-day (or 45-day) refund guarantee, so you can essentially use them as if they are free for a month (or more) before committing.
You may also like:
FAQs
Yes. A VPN does work with WeChat.
The Chinese government has been known to monitor WeChat users heavily, censoring WeChat messages of users with Chinese accounts.
There is also evidence that foreign WeChat accounts are also being censored by the Chinese government, and we know that WeChat collects personal information on WeChat users, such as their contacts and locations.
If you are worried about your WeChat messages being leaked, it is important to note that WeChat messages are not encrypted, so they can be viewed by prying eyes.
Because of all of these concerns, we would warn you against using this social media app if you would like to keep your conversations private. More secure alternatives to WeChat are WhatsApp, Signal, or Telegram.
The best VPN to use for WeChat is ExpressVPN.
ExpressVPN has a high-speed network of obfuscated servers and is able to consistently unblock your content anywhere in the world.
Yes. If you want to unblock WeChat outside China, you can do this by connecting to a nearby server in a country that permits WeChat access and signing in to WeChat as usual.
Conclusion
WeChat is known to be surveilled by the Chinese government, so your fears concerning your privacy when using this app are definitely founded.
Remember that it is important that you not send any sensitive information or inflammatory material through WeChat, and take heed that you should always be using a VPN with this platform.
The top provider we recommend for use with WeChat is ExpressVPN.
ExpressVPN is a bit more expensive than its competitors, but the few extra dollars are worth it for the reliability and consistency that you will get with this service.
If you want to save a few dollars but still get good quality, we would recommend going with NordVPN, which is a close number 2.
You can get an exclusive discount on ExpressVPN if you check out this deal today!
