What's blocked in Saudi Arabia
Major apps including WhatsApp calls work; adult, gambling 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: Works
- YouTube: Works
- Google: Works
- Works
- Age-gated
- Partly blocked
- Slowed down
- Blocked
App by app
None of the 41 apps we track is blocked or restricted in Saudi Arabia right now.
Not offered in Saudi Arabia
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 Saudi Arabia
Our assessment, plus what visitors in Saudi Arabia are reporting this week.
Picked for streaming and everyday privacy.
Surfshark
ConnectsNot enough votes yet. Tested it here? Tell others below.
NordVPN
ConnectsNot enough votes yet. Tested it here? Tell others below.
CyberGhost
ConnectsNot enough votes yet. Tested it here? Tell others below.
Not sure about these three? See 3 more VPNs ExpressVPN, Private Internet Access and Proton VPN
ExpressVPN
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
Saudi Arabia lifted its ban on internet calling in 2017, so WhatsApp and FaceTime calls generally work. Filtering focuses on adult content, gambling and political or religious material.
Before you connect: Most travellers use a VPN here for privacy on hotel and public Wi-Fi rather than to unblock apps.
Is a VPN legal in Saudi Arabia?
Legal with restrictions
VPNs are widely used and not banned outright, but using one to reach prohibited content is illegal.
This is general information, not legal advice.
Questions people ask
Are any apps blocked in Saudi Arabia?
None of the 41 apps we track is fully blocked in Saudi Arabia right now. Major apps including WhatsApp calls work; adult, gambling and some political sites are blocked.
Which streaming and online services are not available in Saudi Arabia?
HBO Max, Hulu, BBC iPlayer and JioHotstar are not offered in Saudi Arabia. That is the companies' decision, often because of licensing or sanctions.
Is it legal to use a VPN in Saudi Arabia?
Legal with restrictions. VPNs are widely used and not banned outright, but using one to reach prohibited content is illegal.
Which VPN works in Saudi Arabia?
Our picks for Saudi Arabia are Surfshark, NordVPN and CyberGhost. Check the live votes on this page for this week's results.
Report a block
Seeing something different in Saudi Arabia? An editor reviews every report before the page changes.