Snapchat 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 Snapchat.
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 Snapchat… 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 Snapchat (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
Summary
Its network counts more than 6,200 servers in over 110 countries — which directly translates into faster connection speeds. NordVPN is also very secure, relying on the strong 256-bit encryption combined with secure VPN protocols (OpenVPN, WireGuard and IKEv2/IPSec). But as a user, you get a seamless experience with all this technology working for you in the background.
NordVPN is well suited to pretty much every task you throw at it — accessing Snapchat, being just one of them. You can also rely on NordVPN to access other banned sites, torrenting, video streaming services like Netflix and Disney+ — or just 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
Astrill is not the most affordable option on the market, but it gets the job done and that — we think — is what matters at the end of the day.
In addition to Snapchat, Astrill will have your back whether you need it for accessing video streaming platforms or downloading files via BitTorrent — all while keeping your identity under the radar. And this is especially true if you live or work in China where the company's stealth protocols 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 imaginable devices. Nevertheless, they still manage to provide a host of advanced features tech-savvy folks will appreciate. A highly recommended VPN.
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
There are a few other VPNs that come close — and in some cases even outshine ExpressVPN — but as far as the majority of users are concerned, this is the best VPN service they could buy.
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 and 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. So whether you need a VPN for Snapchat or anything else - ExpressVPN won't let you down.
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
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 by relying on its proprietary Chameleon protocol, which can easily slide under the radar. The same capability lets VyprVPN users access Snapchat from wherever life takes them.
VyprVPN is also great for accessing video streaming services such as Netflix, Disney+, HBO and so on — delivering the true buffer-free experience every single time. It will also work with BitTorrent and Kodi.
VyprVPN has a strict zero-logs policy. Period.
Snapchat 101
Created by former Stanford students Evan Spiegel, Bobby Murphy, and Reggie Brown – Snapchat is a popular social media and messaging app that allows (mostly young) users to send pictures and messages that are usually only available for a short time before they become inaccessible to their recipients. That, at least, was the initial idea that made Snapchat popular; today, the service also offers “Stories” with 24 hours of chronological content, along with “Discover” – which lets brands show ad-supported short-form content. It also allows users to keep photos in the password-protected space called “my eyes only.”
The birth of Snapchat
It is said that Reggie Brown brought the idea of disappearing pictures application to Evan Spiegel because Spiegel had prior business experience. The two then pulled in Bobby Murphy, who had experience coding, and worked closely together for several months.
On July 8, 2011 – the first version of Snapchat was launched as “Picaboo” on the iOS operating system. In September 2011, the app was relaunched as Snapchat.
In its first blog post, CEO Evan Spiegel described Snapchat as a service that “isn’t about capturing the traditional Kodak moment.” Rather, it’s “about communicating with the full range of human emotion — not just what appears to be pretty or perfect.”
For one reason or another, Reggie Brown was ousted from the company months after the original app (Picaboo) was launched, but that hasn’t ended then. Consequently, lawyers were involved, and in September 2014 – Brown settled with Spiegel and Murphy for $157.5 million.
The growth of Snapchat
During the years, Snapchat had a wild ride and is one of the most used apps in the world today. Here are some of the key dates depicting that growth:
- As of May 2012, 25 Snapchat images were being sent per second.
- As of November 2012, users had shared over one billion photos on the Snapchat iOS app, with 20 million photos being shared per day.
- In October 2012, Snapchat was released for Android.
- In June 2013, Snapchat version 5.0, dubbed “Banquo,” was released for iOS, featuring several speed and design enhancements — including swipe navigation, double-tap to reply, an improved friend finder, and in-app profiles.
- Also in June 2013, Snapchat introduced Snapkidz for users under 13 years of age, allowing them to take snaps and draw on them, but without the ability to send snaps to other users.
- In October 2014, Snapchat’s first paid advertisement, in the form of a 20-second movie trailer for the horror film Ouija, was shown to users.
- In January 2015, Snapchat launched its “Discover” feature, allowing for paid advertising by presenting short-form content from publishers.
- As of May 2015, Snapchat users were sending 2 billion videos per day, reaching 6 billion by November. By 2016, Snapchat had hit 10 billion daily video views.
- In April 2016, NBC Olympics announced that it had reached a deal with Snapchat to allow stories from the 2016 Summer Olympics to be featured on Snapchat in the United States.
- In September 2016, Snapchat Inc. was renamed Snap Inc. to coincide with the introduction of the company’s first hardware product, Spectacles – smart glasses with a built-in camera that can record 10 seconds of video at a time.
As of March 2020, Snapchat had 229 million daily active users with more than 4 billion Snaps being sent each day.
Why do you need a VPN to access Snapchat?
You don’t need a VPN to access Snapchat in most countries, but in some places — the service is blocked. For those places, you should use a VPN to first connect to a distant server (say in Europe or the United States), and then freely access Snapchat and other services that may be blocked.
Speaking of blocked services, several countries are blocking access to most popular social media services and Snapchat is, obviously, affected. All the “usual suspects” are there — including China, North Korea (where the Internet itself is hard to access), and a few countries in the Middle East such as Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and UAE.
Like that’s not enough, access to social media (including Snapchat) may also be blocked in some workplaces, universities, schools, and so on. But, again, with a good VPN – you can bypass those and all other restrictions internet censors throw your way.
Look beyond Snapchat
You (all of us, really) need a VPN for many things, not just Snapchat. 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 letting you access Snapchat from anywhere — include the following:
