While I don’t condone the breaking of rules or laws, I found it frustrating to be blocked from using Snapchat for legitimate purposes (such as research for this article). After testing several methods, I found the easiest way to unblock Snapchat is by using a VPN. With the help of a VPN, you can get around firewalls to access Snapchat from anywhere. My team tested over 100 top VPNs — based on our findings, I’ve created a list of the most reliable services for unblocking Snapchat. My top recommendation is ExpressVPN for its obfuscated servers that consistently bypassed all of the firewalls we tested it with. Even better, it’s risk-free to try ExpressVPN with its 30-day money-back guarantee. So if you find it’s not for you, you can claim a full refund. Unblock Snapchat with ExpressVPN!
Why You Need a VPN to Unblock Snapchat
A VPN will help you get around firewalls and censorship to unblock Snapchat. This method works whether you’re dealing with a firewall at work or school, or it’s banned in your country completely. VPN apps hide your online activity so nobody can see that you’re using Snapchat — not even your internet service provider (ISP) or government. Your network admin and ISP can’t monitor your activity, so they can’t prevent you from accessing Snapchat. By routing your traffic through one of its private servers, the VPN masks your location and IP address. Snapchat can’t see your real IP or your physical location — which means VPNs also protect your privacy and safety when using Snapchat. You can use your VPN to hide or spoof your location so no one can use your snaps or the Snap Map to find out where you are.
Best VPNs to Unblock Snapchat in March 2023
1. ExpressVPN — Tons of Servers to Unblock Snapchat From Anywhere
ExpressVPN has 3,000 servers, allowing you to access Snapchat from any location. The app is available for iOS and Android — I used it with my iPhone and found it to be user-friendly and easy to navigate. It even includes a “Smart Location” feature which tells you the fastest connection available in the country of your choosing. This way, you’ll never waste time searching for a reliable server to unblock Snapchat. Obfuscated servers allow you to bypass any firewall, even in highly-restrictive locations. My team tested this out with China’s Great Firewall (most VPNs have trouble getting around this). For this to work, you just have to download the app before traveling to China. By using the specialized servers, we were able to get straight past the country’s bans. You won’t have any issue using Snapchat in strictly-censored countries. With its 256-bit AES encryption and security protocols, ExpressVPN ensures top-notch privacy so you can access Snapchat anywhere. DNS and IP leak protection keep your activity hidden; my tests proved this to be airtight, without any leaks detected. An automatic kill switch offers backup protection in case your connection is lost. Plus, ExpressVPN’s strict no-logs policy means your information is never stored. This way, network administrators, governments, and ISPs can never track you. I was also impressed with ExpressVPN’s superfast servers. I connected to 5 US locations (Miami, New York, Seattle, LA, and Chicago). Each of these servers gave me speeds no lower than 50 Mbps — you only need 2 Mbps for Snapchat. With these lightning-fast speeds, you won’t experience any annoying lag while you send and receive snaps. Subscriptions can be a bit more costly than some services, but I found out you can use ExpressVPN’s latest discount to save 49% on your subscription. Plus, it’s risk-free to sign up with ExpressVPN’s 30-day money-back guarantee. I tested this policy after 3 weeks by using the app’s live chat option. After asking me some questions, the representative was happy to process my request. The entire conversation took less than 5 minutes. Within 4 days, I noticed my payment had been fully returned. Unblock Snapchat With ExpressVPN Now!
2. CyberGhost — Thousands of Servers Unblock Snapchat Without Issues
Cyberghost has a massive server network that allows you to access Snapchat in restrictive locations. My local library bans the app, so I decided to run my tests from there. First, I connected to 3 US locations. Each gave me access to Snapchat in less than a minute. It worked just as well with Germany, Italy, and Spain (even though I’m thousands of miles away from Europe). The dependable servers make it easy to bypass network firewalls. It’s an excellent choice for those who want to unblock Snapchat but have never used VPNs before. It only took a few minutes to download and install the app. It even provides you with information to quickly compare the fastest and closest servers available to you — or, you can simply allow it to select the best one for you. The user-friendly app cuts down setup time, so you can unblock Snapchat without hassle. Your personal information and location are kept private with 256-bit AES encryption combined with DNS/IP leak protection. My tests turned up zero leaks while I used the VPN. Plus, Cyberghost’s no-logs policy is added assurance that no one can trace your activity. This level of anonymity ensures you’ll have no problem unblocking Snapchat from networks that ban it. The only major downside to CyberGhost is that it doesn’t work in China. Without obfuscated servers, it can’t get around China’s infamous Great Firewall. Depending on the ban you’re dealing with, this may not be a serious downfall. It has no problem unblocking Snapchat on WiFi firewalls (like in schools, offices, and libraries). If you’re feeling uncertain, it doesn’t hurt to try Cyberghost with its 45-day money-back guarantee. I found this policy to be trustworthy — when I tested it, the live representative was completely understanding, and I saw my full refund again by the end of the week. Unblock Snapchat With CyberGhost Now!
3. Private Internet Access — Super Reliable Servers For Using Snapchat
Private Internet Access (PIA) has 29,650 servers and counting. Its network expands into numerous Snapchat-friendly countries, making it easy to unblock. Regardless of which location I used — from Seattle to Sydney — I had no issue bypassing the block my local library set on the app. The large server selection ensures you can get past bans to use Snapchat. With PIA, it’s simple to set-your-own encryption level. Depending on the security you need, there are 4 options to choose from; it ranges from no encryption (All Speed, No Safety) to 256-bit AES (Maximum Protection). It was super quick for me to find this option in PIA’s settings under “Connection Preferences”. This way, you can customize your VPN’s function in terms of protection and speeds to enhance your Snapchat experience. Additionally, PIA offers numerous standard security protocols like DNS and IP leak protection, a kill switch, and a no-logs policy. I wanted to be sure your information wouldn’t ever be revealed, so I tested PIA with a DNS/IP leak detector. With zero leaks found, I can safely say you can rely on the VPN to protect you from hackers and prying eyes. Unfortunately, bypassing China’s Great Firewall is inconsistent with PIA. Some users with luck have managed to do so using the L2TP protocol — a less secure but hard-to-detect security setting. However, if WiFi restrictions are your only concern, you’ll have no issue unblocking Snapchat with PIA. You’ll have sufficient time to test PIA without risk with its 30-day money-back guarantee. When finished with testing, I requested my refund through PIA’s 24/7 live chat option; my experience with this went smooth. I didn’t feel pressured by the live agent and had the money again within a week. Unblock Snapchat With PIA Now!
Tip: Do This First To Ensure Your VPN Works With Snapchat
While testing, I learned that you have to disable the location settings on Snapchat to get your VPN to work. If you don’t, your device’s GPS will override the VPN and stop it from working. This is super easy to do, and it adds an extra layer of security. If you’re using a VPN to access Snapchat from work or school, turning off your location settings when sharing snaps prevents you from getting caught. It also ensures no one can track you or find out your location based on your snaps or the Snap Map.
For Android:
For iOS:
For Desktop:
How to Choose a VPN to Unblock Snapchat
The best VPN for Snapchat should have powerful unblocking abilities, be super secure, easy-to-use, and fast enough for you to enjoy Snapchat to the fullest. Here’s what I looked for while testing the top VPNs:
Extensive server network to help you unblock Snapchat from your location. For those that need to get past governmental censorship (i.e. China, Cuba, and Iran), obfuscated server options are likely necessary. Military-grade encryption (AES 256-bit) to ensure your activity is hidden from your network administrator and ISP, allowing you to bypass Snapchat blocks easily. DNS/IP leak protection and a kill switch so your actual IP address and location won’t ever be revealed, even if you temporarily lose connection. Fast speeds so you can send and view snaps without waiting for them to load. User-friendly apps for Android and iOS, so you can easily access Snapchat from your device. Excellent customer care in case you experience any issues using your VPN to unblock Snapchat.
Unblock Snapchat Now!
Can I unblock Snapchat on school Chromebook or WiFi?
Yes, you can! I don’t condone the breaking of laws or rules; so my advice is to consider your case and any penalties that follow if you get caught breaking rules. That being said, for legitimate purposes (i.e., for a research paper about social media), a VPN can certainly help you unblock Snapchat at school. When you connect to your VPN, your traffic gets redirected through one of its private servers, giving you access to Snapchat. My list of recommended VPNs were tested with WiFi firewalls, and had no issue getting past them.
Can I unblock Snapchat without a VPN?
No, I couldn’t find a safe way to unblock Snapchat without a VPN. Some guides I found online recommended using a proxy to unblock Snapchat — but none of them worked for me. Proxies don’t have security features like encryption, leak protection, or kill switches, so they can’t reliably unblock Snapchat. Plus, they don’t protect your information while you snap. The only guaranteed way I found was with a VPN. The VPNs on my list all unblock Snapchat quickly and efficiently while protecting your online privacy and safety at the same time. They’re even risk-free to try out since they all come with a money-back guarantee.
Why is Snapchat blocked?
Snapchat gets blocked for many different reasons. In schools and workplaces, it’s usually to prevent distraction. National bans are more complicated; governments usually implement these for political or cultural reasons. Some VPNs can bypass both of these bans. When dealing with extremely-tough firewalls, like government censorship, I advise using a VPN with obfuscated servers. This is why my top recommendation is ExpressVPN — it works with every type of network and governmental firewall by using these specialized servers.
How can I use Snapchat in China?
You’ll need a super-strong, ultra-secure VPN to help with this. I recommend using a VPN that has obfuscated servers, like ExpressVPN. Its servers provide added security and anonymity that allow you to bypass even China’s Great Firewall. Keep in mind, ExpressVPN’s website doesn’t work in China. So to use the app from there, you’ll have to download your VPN before entering China. Here’s a quick step-by-step set of instructions to get you started:
Will a free VPN unblock Snapchat?
It depends. Free VPNs typically aren’t powerful or discrete enough to unblock Snapchat in countries with strict censorship. While some may be successful in giving you access to the app in less serious situations, like work and school, there are hidden drawbacks to using free VPNs. This usually includes annoying ads, slow servers — and even worse — your information being subject to third-party sales. In my experience, it’s not worth the risk when you can get any of the listed VPNs with a money-back guarantee. There are usually even discount offers for new subscribers found on the VPN websites that can make sign-up costs more affordable.
Start Using Snapchat Now
Snapchat can be a useful resource and a fun way to connect. Unfortunately, most of us will run into a block at some point, preventing use of the app. Luckily, it’s possible to get around this so you can use Snapchat anywhere. After several tests, I found VPNs to be the most effective method to bypass all types of firewalls. After testing the top VPNs, ExpressVPN proved to be the most reliable VPN for unblocking Snapchat. Its specialized servers get past strong firewalls with ease. Plus, it’s super secure and lightning-fast. You can test ExpressVPN and all of its features risk-free with a 30-day money-back guarantee — if you’re not completely happy with it, you’re entitled to a full refund.
To summarize, the best VPNs for unblocking Snapchat are…
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