What's blocked in Hong Kong
Google, WhatsApp, YouTube and Instagram all work; TikTok withdrew in 2020 and some political sites are blocked.
- WhatsApp: Works
- Voice & video calls: Works
- Telegram: Works
- Signal: Works
- Discord: Works
- Facebook: Works
- Instagram: Works
- X (Twitter): Works
- TikTok: Blocked
- YouTube: Works
- Google: Works
- Works
- Age-gated
- Partly blocked
- Slowed down
- Blocked
App by app
| App | Status | Since | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| TikTok | Blocked | Jul 2020 | TikTok withdrew from the market. |
Not offered in Hong Kong
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 Hong Kong
Our assessment, plus what visitors in Hong Kong are reporting this week.
Picked for streaming and everyday privacy.
NordVPN
ConnectsNot enough votes yet. Tested it here? Tell others below.
Surfshark
ConnectsNot enough votes yet. Tested it here? Tell others below.
ExpressVPN
ConnectsNot enough votes yet. Tested it here? Tell others below.
Not sure about these three? See 3 more VPNs CyberGhost, Private Internet Access and Proton VPN
CyberGhost
ConnectsNot enough votes yet. Tested it here? Tell others below.
Private Internet Access
ConnectsNot enough votes yet. Tested it here? Tell others below.
Proton VPN
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
Hong Kong is outside the Great Firewall, so global apps work. TikTok pulled out after the 2020 National Security Law, and a handful of pro-democracy sites have been blocked under that law.
Before you connect: If you are travelling on to mainland China, set up your VPN here first.
Is a VPN legal in Hong Kong?
Legal
VPNs are legal.
This is general information, not legal advice.
Questions people ask
Which apps are blocked in Hong Kong?
Yes. TikTok is blocked in Hong Kong.
Which streaming and online services are not available in Hong Kong?
Hulu, BBC iPlayer, JioHotstar and ChatGPT are not offered in Hong Kong. That is the companies' decision, often because of licensing or sanctions.
Is it legal to use a VPN in Hong Kong?
Legal. VPNs are legal.
Which VPN works in Hong Kong?
Our picks for Hong Kong are NordVPN, Surfshark and ExpressVPN. Check the live votes on this page for this week's results.
Report a block
Seeing something different in Hong Kong? An editor reviews every report before the page changes.