Is it legal to use a VPN with Instagram?

Do you live in Belarus, China, Iran, Iraq, North Korea, Oman, Russia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, or the United Arab Emirates? If you answered "no," your local jurisdiction considers VPNs legitimate privacy tools.

How can I have Instagram music from anywhere?

Instagram music is a story customization tool on Instagram that allows you to enhance your stories very much. However, copyright issues stand in the way of this feature being available worldwide. Yet, even if it's not supported in your country, you can use Instagram music by connecting to Instagram from a VPN server based in a country where this feature is available.

Will Instagram know if I'm using a VPN?

Instagram belongs to Meta (formerly Facebook). And Meta and Google are the real-life versions of Big Brother on the internet. Hence it's relatively safe to assume that Facebook knows everything about you. But does it make a difference? Instagram knows that many users use VPNs to connect to the service, yet they've deployed no counter-measures. So it seems that Instagram doesn't care if you use VPNs, even if it can tell.

Should I use free VPNs to unblock Instagram?

Unless the free VPN you have in mind is the free version of a reputable premium VPN such as AtlasVPN or ProtonVPN, we advise you to stay away from free VPNs, whether for Instagram or otherwise. Free VPNs are very resource-deficient compared to a good paid service, translating into a bad user experience with Instagram or any other task you plan. Additionally, most free VPNs are not as free as advertised. They collect user data extensively, so if you don't pay for the service in money, you do by giving up your privacy. If money is a problem for you, consider using Surfshark, an excellent service that costs fewer than 3 USD monthly. Or AtlasVPN, which offers a fully functional free VPN that respects your privacy.

Why is Instagram blocked?

Network administrators in schools and workplaces routinely block Instagram and other recreational websites because they're supposed to promote productivity within the workplace or the institution. Also, some countries block Instagram. China is the most notorious example, but not the only one. It's part of the government's censorship program that seeks to control all the information available to its citizens. Iran and North Korea are further examples, and they also block it out for ideological and political reasons.

Can you use a proxy to change your Instagram location?

Yes, you can use a proxy server for this purpose. However, while a proxy will mask your IP address so you can change some Instagram settings, it won't offer the security you can have in a VPN. Therefore, we advise you to use VPNs for changing your Instagram location instead. Also, keep in mind that free proxies often raise the same problems as free VPNs.

Can Instagram still track me if I'm on a VPN?

Yes, it still can. If you use Instagram on your phone, the tracking follows your GPS location, not your IP address. GPS locations can be spoofed, too, as IP addresses; search our website for a guide to achieve that goal.

Five Best VPNs for Instagram in 2023

Sneak peek at using Instagram with a VPN

There are scenarios in which it’s impossible to get access to Instagram. For instance, if your government blocks Instagram (which is rare), or there’s a restriction from your school or workplace, then you can’t access the platform. But that doesn’t mean that you’re locked out of your account. You can easily solve this problem by using a premium VPN service to bypass whatever blocking measures prevent you from reaching the Instagram servers. This article explains all about this alongside listing the best Instagram VPN service providers.

Instagram is here to stay, and there’s no doubt about that; a billion users and growing attest to that fact. Granted, many individuals among that billion use it once a month only. But even if it still lags behind Facebook in terms of user numbers, let’s not forget that cardinality isn’t everything. Instagram seems more influential and relevant than its older, big brother.

However, not everybody loves Instagram. System admins in schools, universities, many corporations, and places of work invest a lot of attention in blocking Instagram. And some governments in the world also make an effort to keep Instagram at bay. (China comes to mind, but it’s not the only one.)

But if you are an Instagram user who wants to keep up to date about every picture, story, and message you can get on this network, there’s good news for you. Not only you will be able to get Instagram unblocked, a good VPN service will go around even the tightest restriction you can imagine. So, if you need your Instagram fix guaranteed, with a top-notch VPN, you’ll never miss an update again, wherever you are, whatever the blocks in place.

Top VPN for Instagram – Quick list

Our staff tested many VPNs in the market to determine the best five options for Instagram access. We will describe each one in full detail in this article. But if you are already conversant with VPN lore or don’t have the time to read everything, here’s our quick list.

ExpressVPN. The biggest name in VPN-land delivers the goods where Instagram is concerned better than anybody else. It’s our top choice.
Private Internet Access. The VPN with the largest server network by far is also very user-friendly and fully committed to user privacy.
NordVPN. An excellent VPN that works hard to lead the industry with the most updated technology and many exciting extra features.
Surfshark. The VPN offers the best value for money, with no device limit and great functionality.
AtlasVPN. Not the biggest name on our list, but an excellent option nevertheless. It has a fully functional free service, a rarity.

How to use Instagram through a VPN

Taking your first steps into the VPN-verse to unblock Instagram couldn’t be easier. It takes a handful of actions only. Here’s how you should proceed.

Choose a VPN from our list. ExpressVPN is the best, Surfshark fits into any budget, and AtlasVPN has a free program. But either option will work.
Search and find the app your chosen VPN offers for your platform (Android, iOS) and install it.
Launch your VPN app. Log in using your account’s credentials.
Pick a server in any location you like.
Once you’re online through your VPN’s network, open your Instagram and start navigating normally.

Still facing problems? Clear your browser’s cookies and cache, and try again if you still can’t see Instagram. If the block remains effective, ask your VPN for help.

The best VPNs for Instagram in 2023

Any decent VPN will unblock Instagram on most of the world’s local networks. But there is one tough cookie: China. Bypassing the Great Firewall of China is no mean feat, and only the best China VPNs in the industry can manage such a feat.

Here is our list of the top five options that serve as a secure VPN to use Instagram.

1. ExpressVPN

Our top pick VPN for using Instagram. It has unique security and privacy features with blazing-fast servers.

Visit ExpressVPN

3,000 VPN servers spread across 94 countries

Strong AES-256-bit encryption standard

Web leak protection

TrustedServer technology

P2P optimized nodes

Kill switch

Boasts zero-logs policy

Allows up to 5 simultaneous connections

30-day money-back guarantee

Pros

Apps with a user-friendly interface
Maintains high-level security and privacy
Large global server network

Cons

Big-budget VPN

ExpressVPN is the service we can recommend as the best one for Instagram. It’s no surprise since we often find that it’s the best VPN in the industry for any task you could have in mind.

The encryption algorithms in ExpressVPN combine the strictest security with the latest technology so that you can have security and performance in the same package.

The ExpressVPN server network includes more than 3,000 servers in 94 countries, giving you plenty of choices. In addition, the “Smart Location” feature finds the best possible service you can use at any given time and links your device to it.

Were you looking for a VPN that can beat the Great Firewall of China? This one does. You don’t need to tweak anything or use any particular setup out of the box. It just works.

ExpressVPN has a kill switch (called “Network Lock“) that pulls your device offline if the secure VPN tunnel is lost.