What's blocked in Ethiopia
Platforms are reachable nationally, but Amhara spent a year offline until July 2024 and YouTube was reportedly restricted in several cities in June 2025.
- 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
None of the 71 apps we track is blocked or restricted in Ethiopia right now.
Not offered in Ethiopia
These companies don't sell their service here. That's a business or sanctions decision, not government censorship.
- Disney+
- HBO Max
- Hulu
- BBC iPlayer
- JioHotstar
- Peacock
- BGMI (Battlegrounds Mobile India)
Working normally
Chat & calls
Social media
Video, TV & music
Games
Privacy & tools
The 3 VPNs that fit Ethiopia
Our assessment, plus what visitors in Ethiopia are reporting this week.
Picked for heavy censorship: each can disguise VPN traffic.
ExpressVPN
ConnectsNot enough votes yet. Tested it here? Tell others below.
NordVPN
ConnectsNot enough votes yet. Tested it here? Tell others below.
Surfshark
ConnectsNot enough votes yet. Tested it here? Tell others below.
Not sure about these three? See 3 more VPNs Proton VPN, Private Internet Access and CyberGhost
Proton VPN
ConnectsNot enough votes yet. Tested it here? Tell others below.
Private Internet Access
ConnectsNot enough votes yet. Tested it here? Tell others below.
CyberGhost
ConnectsNot enough votes yet. Tested it here? Tell others below.
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
Freedom House rates Ethiopia Not Free (30/100). Most cities in Amhara were under an internet shutdown for about a year until July 2024, Oromia saw local disruptions in October 2024, and YouTube was reportedly restricted in several cities around June 2025. The 2023 social media blocks were not repeated nationwide, but at least ten online journalists were arrested in 2024–2025.
Before you connect: Keep a VPN installed for sudden platform blocks during unrest.
Is a VPN legal in Ethiopia?
Legal
There is no specific VPN ban.
This is general information, not legal advice.
Questions people ask
Are any apps blocked in Ethiopia?
None of the 71 apps we track is fully blocked in Ethiopia right now. Platforms are reachable nationally, but Amhara spent a year offline until July 2024 and YouTube was reportedly restricted in several cities in June 2025.
Which streaming and online services are not available in Ethiopia?
Disney+, HBO Max, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, JioHotstar, Peacock and BGMI (Battlegrounds Mobile India) are not offered in Ethiopia. That is the companies' decision, often because of licensing or sanctions.
Is it legal to use a VPN in Ethiopia?
Legal. There is no specific VPN ban.
Which VPN works in Ethiopia?
Our picks for Ethiopia are ExpressVPN, NordVPN and Surfshark. Check the live votes on this page for this week's results.
Will a VPN work during an internet shutdown in Ethiopia?
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 Ethiopia? An editor reviews every report before the page changes.