What's blocked in Iraq
Apps generally work, but Iraq cuts the internet nationwide on exam mornings, including through May–August 2026, and blocked IMDb and SoundCloud in 2024.
- 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 | Fix |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roblox | Blocked | Oct 2025 | How to unblock |
Not offered in Iraq
These companies don't sell their service here. That's a business or sanctions decision, not government censorship.
- HBO Max
- Hulu
- BBC iPlayer
- JioHotstar
- PayPal
- Peacock
- BGMI (Battlegrounds Mobile India)
Working normally
Chat & calls
Social media
Video, TV & music
Games
Privacy & tools
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's Ministry of Communications orders national internet shutdowns of about two hours on exam mornings; in 2026 they ran from May to the end of August, with separate cuts in the Kurdistan Region. Freedom House rates Iraq Partly Free (41/100). IMDb and SoundCloud were blocked as 'immoral' in November 2024, Telegram was blocked across federal Iraq from April 2026 before being restored, and content creators must register and pay fees since March 2025.
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, PayPal, Peacock and BGMI (Battlegrounds Mobile India) 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.