What's blocked in Iraq
Apps generally work, but Iraq shuts the internet down for hours during national school exams every year.
- WhatsApp: Works
- Voice & video calls: Works
- Telegram: Works
- Signal: Works
- Discord: Works
- Facebook: Works
- Instagram: Works
- X (Twitter): Works
- TikTok: Works
- YouTube: Works
- Google: Works
- Works
- Age-gated
- Partly blocked
- Slowed down
- Blocked
App by app
| App | Status | Since | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roblox | Blocked | Oct 2025 |
Not offered in Iraq
These companies don't sell their service here. That's a business or sanctions decision, not government censorship.
Working normally
Social media
Games
The 3 VPNs that fit Iraq
Our assessment, plus what visitors in Iraq are reporting this week.
Picked for heavy censorship: each can disguise VPN traffic.
ExpressVPN
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NordVPN
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Proton VPN
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Not sure about these three? See 3 more VPNs Surfshark, Private Internet Access and CyberGhost
Surfshark
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Private Internet Access
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CyberGhost
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We earn a commission if you buy a VPN through our links. It never changes what we report as blocked. How we pick and how we make money
What's going on
Iraq and the Kurdistan Region switch off internet access for several hours on exam mornings to prevent cheating, often for weeks in May and June. Telegram was briefly blocked in August 2023.
Before you connect: A VPN does not help during exam shutdowns, which cut the whole connection.
Is a VPN legal in Iraq?
Legal
No specific VPN prohibition.
This is general information, not legal advice.
Questions people ask
Which apps are blocked in Iraq?
Yes. Roblox is blocked in Iraq.
Which streaming and online services are not available in Iraq?
HBO Max, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, JioHotstar and PayPal are not offered in Iraq. That is the companies' decision, often because of licensing or sanctions.
Is it legal to use a VPN in Iraq?
Legal. No specific VPN prohibition.
Which VPN works in Iraq?
Our picks for Iraq are ExpressVPN, NordVPN and Proton VPN. Check the live votes on this page for this week's results.
Will a VPN work during an internet shutdown in Iraq?
No. A VPN can get around blocks on specific apps and sites, but during a full shutdown there is no connection to the outside world for the VPN to use.
Report a block
Seeing something different in Iraq? An editor reviews every report before the page changes.