Facebook may be one of the most popular social networks in the world, but that doesn’t mean you can access it in every country. Heck, even some companies and schools in the West prohibit access to Facebook.
Luckily, there are good VPN services that let you bypass all kinds of restrictions, whether they have been enacted by a government or some organization. In other words, with a VPN app running your computer, smartphone, tablet or router — you can get around those restrictions and access Facebook… and do so much more.
Speaking of “so much more,” you shouldn’t get a “one-trick pony”; instead get a VPN that will also let you surf the web anonymously, download files with BitTorrent, stream movies and TV shows, and so on.
To get the best VPN for Facebook (and other things), we suggest going through the list below. All of these services “get the job done,” but for the best experience — grab the one at the top, and let it do its magic in the background while you safely and securely access every corner of the Interwebs. It’s actually that easy. 😉
Pros
Cons
- 5,000+ servers in the network
- Easy to use - install it and forget it
- One license is good for up to 6 devices
- Strict zero-logs policy
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- Chrome extension is just a proxy
- You can't pay with PayPal
Summary
Its network includes more than 5,000 servers spread across 60 countries, which directly translates into faster speeds. NordVPN is also very secure, relying on the strong 256-bit encryption combined with secure VPN protocols (OpenVPN, WireGuard, IKEv2/IPSec). But as a user, you get a seamless experience with all this technology "doing its thing" in the background.
NordVPN is well suited to pretty much every task you throw at it — whether it's accessing a banned site from some country that filters out the internet, torrenting, accessing streaming services, or just wanting to keep a low profile on the web. It also doesn't keep any logs.
We highly recommend NordVPN to anyone looking for reliable service.
Pros
Cons
- Good for both torrenting and streaming
- Works in China
- Solid network with servers in 60+ countries
- Easy to use apps on multiple platforms
- Live chat isn't always available
- Fairly pricey
Summary
Whether you need a VPN for watching Netflix shows or downloading files via BitTorrent, Astrill can help you out — all while keeping your identity under the radar. And this is especially true if you live or work in China when the company's stealth protocols will kick in to let you access all the popular sites that are by default blocked by the country's censors.
Astrill's apps are easy to use and available on all popular platforms. Nevertheless, they still manage to provide a host of advanced features tech-savvy folks are used to get. Highly recommended, again, especially if you're looking to bypass the Great Firewall of China.
Pros
Cons
- Feature-rich yet easy to use
- One of the best VPNs around
- Strong no-logging policy
- Reliable support you can reach 24/7
- Limited number of servers in Africa and the Middle East
- Kinda pricey
Summary
ExpressVPN has great desktop apps for Windows and Mac, mobile apps and browser extensions. Also, it is well suited for video streaming services such as Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer and others.
However, what makes it stand out is its ease of use. We can't emphasize this enough. One could tell a lot of time has been spent making sure even the advanced features are easily accessible. And we love it for that. Plus, let's not forget ExpressVPN's speed which tends to leave other services in the dust.
Pros
Cons
- Fast download and upload speeds
- Works with Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, etc.
- Great for torrenting
- Advanced privacy features (i.e. Tor over VPN)
- Relatively small number of servers
- There are no browser extensions
- Live chat support is not always available
Summary
Specifically, you can rely on PrivateVPN for both torrenting and streaming, without paying a premium. It is, in fact, one of the most affordable options in its league and we love it for that.
Customer support may not be on par with bigger players but it's not like you should experience many problems anyway. You will get the same level of security and privacy as with other services, and a single license will let you run PrivateVPN on up to 6 devices. Pretty cool.
Pros
Cons
- Works in China
- Many servers in Asia
- Strict zero-logs policy
- Advanced services like VyprVPN Cloud
- No browser extensions
- Torrenting could be better
Summary
It manages to bypass restrictions in high-censorship countries and elsewhere by relying on its proprietary Chameleon protocol, which can easily slide under the radar.
VyprVPN is also great for accessing video streaming services such as Netflix, Disney+, Hulu and so on — delivering the true buffer-free experience every single time. It will also work with BitTorrent, and consequently - Kodi.
VyprVPN has a strict zero-logs policy. Period.
The original Facebook
For those who haven’t heard the story before, access to the original Facebook was limited to Harvard students. Then Columbia, Stanford, and Yale were added before the service was expanded to include the rest of the Ivy League, MIT, and higher education institutions in the Boston area, then various other universities, and lastly high school students. Since 2006, anyone who claims to be at least 13 years old has been allowed to become a registered user of Facebook, though this may vary depending on local laws.
Now, we all know what Facebook is all about and how it works. Here are some things you may have missed:
In May 2018 at the company’s F8 conference, Facebook Dating was announced. As a result, shares in competitor Match Group fell by 22%. Facebook Dating includes privacy features and friends are unable to view their friends’ dating profile. The service launched in the U.S. on September 5, 2019.
In November 2018, smart displays branded Facebook Portal and Facebook Portal Plus (Portal+) were launched with support for Amazon’s Alexa personal assistant service. The devices include video chat function with Facebook Messenger.
On May 2, 2019 at F8, the company announced its new vision with the tagline “the future is private”. A redesign of the website and mobile app was introduced, dubbed as “FB5,” alongside plans for improving groups and end-to-end encryption on its platforms. Also announced was the ability for users on Messenger to communicate directly with WhatsApp and Instagram users.
Facebook-Cambridge Analytica scandal
The infamous Facebook-Cambridge Analytica data breach occurred in early 2018 when millions of Facebook users’ personal data was harvested without consent by Cambridge Analytica to be predominantly used for political advertising. This data breach was the largest known leak in Facebook history. The data was collected through an app called “This Is Your Digital Life” created by Dr. Aleksandr Kogan (at the time Dr. Aleksandr Spectre), a Cambridge academic, in 2013 and consisted of a series of questions to build psychological profiles on users. The app went beyond harvesting the personal data of the users that completed the questions, but also included the users’ Facebook friends. Cambridge Analytica sought to sell the data of American voters to political campaigns and ultimately provided assistance and analytics to the Ted Cruz and Donald Trump campaigns.
The data breach was disclosed in 2018 by Christopher Wylie, a former Cambridge Analytica employee, in interviews with The Guardian and The New York Times. In response, Facebook apologized for their role in the data harvesting and their CEO Mark Zuckerberg testified in front of Congress. These happenings sparked an online movement #DeleteFacebook, which trended on Twitter.
Why do you need a VPN for Facebook?
Facebook is not accessible throughout the world with even some organizations in the West prohibiting its constituents (students, employees, etc) to access the popular social network. This happens because Facebook accepts all kinds of content, with little or no moderation, and displays what people post publicly. This in turn can sometimes threaten oppressive governments especially in totalitarian regimes while also propelling fake news, hate speech and misinformation thus undermining the credibility of online platforms and social media. Many countries have banned or temporarily limited access to Facebook and other social networking websites.
Here’s how Facebook censorship works by country:
- Austria – the country has laws prohibiting Holocaust denial causing 78 Facebook posts to be banned from the country in 2013.
- Bangladesh – Facebook is accessible in Bangladesh as of late 2017.
- China – you can’t access Facebook and many other social networks from China. Except if you have a good VPN.
- Egypt – Facebook in Egypt was blocked for a few days in Egypt during the 2011 Egyptian protests.
- Ethiopia – Ethiopia blocked Facebook many times for days during Oromo Protests that started in November 2015.
- France – like Austria and Germany, France has laws prohibiting Holocaust denial. Because of this, 80 Facebook posts were blocked in 2013.
- Germany – no Holocaust denial posts are acceptable in Germany. Also, there were some other posts and groups praising the Nazi regime which were banned.
- India – many Facebook posts were banned in India, especially those connected to local riots. In fact, India leads the list of content removal.
- Iran – where Facebook is blocked alongside Twitter and other social networks.
- Israel – Israel has one of the most openly cooperative relationships with Facebook and the Israeli Justice Ministery boasted that Facebook had removed 95 percent of its requested content.
- North Korea – you can’t access Internet in most of North Korea, let alone Facebook – which is banned there.
- Malaysia – Facebook was blocked for a few days in Malaysia during the 2011 Egyptian protests.
- Mauritius – Facebook was blocked on the 8 November 2007 because of a fake profile page of the Prime Minister. Access to the service was restored on the next day.
- Pakistan – On 25 November 2017, the NetBlocks internet shutdown observatory and Digital Rights Foundation collected evidence of nationwide blocking of Facebook alongside other social media services, imposed by the government in response to the violent Tehreek-e-Labaik protests.
- Russia – In 2014, Russia demanded that all links on Facebook be blocked that supported Russian opposition Aleksei A. Navalny.
- Sri Lanka – In March 2018, Facebook was blocked for 3 days in Sri Lanka due to racial hate speeches being rumored around the country.
- Sudan – In December 2018, the Sudanese government blocked Facebook, along with other social media sites, which were being used by anti-government protesters to organize protests against President Omar al-Bashir. The restrictions were lifted 68 days later.
- Syria – Facebook used to be inaccessible in Facebook, but in February 2011 – the service was un-blocked from all ISP’s and the website remains to be accessible.
- Tajikistan – In November 2012, Tajikistan blocked access to Facebook in response to comments posted online, spreading “mud and slander” about President Emomalii Rahmon and various other officials.
- Thailand – In 2017, Thailand asked Facebook to remove 309 posted items that were said to be illegal by standards of Thailand. However, Facebook only deleted 178 of the items, leaving 131 still on Facebook.
- Turkey – Facebook was blocked on 27 February 2020 at 23:30, along with several other social media sites. It happened the day that the military crisis in Idlib escalated.
- United Kingdom – In the United Kingdom on April 28, 2011, the day before the wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton, a number of politically motivated Facebook groups and pages were removed or suspended from the website as part of a nationwide crackdown on political activity.
- Vietnam – Facebook was blocked in Vietnam for two weeks in May 2016 due to protest of dissidents.
As that’s the case with all other services, a good VPN will help you bypass restrictions in all countries.
Look beyond Facebook
You need a VPN for many things, not just for accessing Facebook. A good VPN will:
- Protect your privacy from the government and big corporations
- Bypass restrictions imposed by the government or various organizations
- Change your IP address so you get unrestricted access to Netflix, Disney+, iPlayer, HULU, and other video streaming services
- Encrypt and protect private data from cybercriminals
- Download files with BitTorrent anonymously
The top contenders that check all these boxes — while also let you access Facebook from all around the world — include the following:
