What's blocked in Turkmenistan
Every major foreign platform is blocked, including Google, WhatsApp, YouTube and Telegram, and VPNs are actively hunted.
- WhatsApp: Blocked
- Voice & video calls: Blocked
- Telegram: Blocked
- Signal: Blocked
- Discord: Blocked
- Facebook: Blocked
- Instagram: Blocked
- X (Twitter): Blocked
- TikTok: Blocked
- YouTube: Blocked
- Google: Blocked
- Works
- Age-gated
- Partly blocked
- Slowed down
- Blocked
App by app
| App | Status | Since | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blocked | |||
| Voice & video calls | Blocked | WhatsApp, FaceTime, Signal and Telegram calls | |
| Telegram | Blocked | ||
| Signal | Blocked | ||
| Discord | Blocked | ||
| Messenger | Blocked | 2018 | Follows the Facebook block. |
| Viber | Blocked | ||
| Blocked | |||
| imo | Blocked | ||
| Blocked | 2018 | ||
| Blocked | |||
| X (Twitter) | Blocked | ||
| TikTok | Blocked | ||
| YouTube | Blocked | 2009 | |
| Snapchat | Blocked | ||
| Blocked | |||
| Threads | Blocked | Follows the Instagram block. | |
| Bluesky | Blocked | ||
| Blocked | |||
| Blocked | |||
| RedNote (Xiaohongshu) | Blocked | ||
| Netflix | Blocked | ||
| Prime Video | Blocked | ||
| Twitch | Blocked | ||
| Spotify | Blocked | ||
| Roblox | Blocked | ||
| Fortnite | Blocked | ||
| PUBG Mobile | Blocked | ||
| Free Fire | Blocked | ||
| Steam | Blocked | ||
| Blocked | |||
| ChatGPT | Blocked | ||
| DeepSeek | Blocked | ||
| Wikipedia | Blocked | ||
| PayPal | Blocked | ||
| Binance | Blocked |
Not offered in Turkmenistan
These companies don't sell their service here. That's a business or sanctions decision, not government censorship.
The 3 VPNs that fit Turkmenistan
Our assessment, plus what visitors in Turkmenistan are reporting this week.
Picked for heavy censorship: each can disguise VPN traffic.
VPN use is illegal or effectively banned in Turkmenistan. VPN use is effectively banned and enforcement is aggressive.
ExpressVPN
Doesn't connectNot enough votes yet. Tested it here? Tell others below.
Switch to automatic obfuscation (protocol set to Automatic) before connecting.
NordVPN
Doesn't connectNot enough votes yet. Tested it here? Tell others below.
Switch to NordWhisper or obfuscated servers before connecting.
Surfshark
Doesn't connectNot enough votes yet. Tested it here? Tell others below.
Switch to NoBorders mode before connecting.
Not sure about these three? See 3 more VPNs Proton VPN, Private Internet Access and CyberGhost
Proton VPN
Doesn't connectNot enough votes yet. Tested it here? Tell others below.
Switch to the Stealth protocol before connecting.
Private Internet Access
Doesn't connectNot enough votes yet. Tested it here? Tell others below.
Switch to the Shadowsocks proxy option before connecting.
CyberGhost
Doesn't connectNot enough votes yet. Tested it here? Tell others below.
Switch to a nearby server (CyberGhost has no stealth mode) before connecting.
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
Turkmenistan blocks virtually all foreign social media and messaging and is one of the hardest places on earth to get an open connection. Authorities block VPN servers in bulk and have required citizens to swear not to use them.
Before you connect: Commercial VPNs rarely connect. Visitors should plan for very limited internet.
Is a VPN legal in Turkmenistan?
Illegal or effectively banned
VPN use is effectively banned and enforcement is aggressive.
This is general information, not legal advice.
Questions people ask
Which apps are blocked in Turkmenistan?
Yes. WhatsApp, Voice & video calls, Telegram, Signal, Discord, Messenger, Viber, WeChat and 28 more are blocked in Turkmenistan.
Can I make WhatsApp calls in Turkmenistan?
Voice and video calls are blocked in Turkmenistan. Text messaging is not affected in the same way.
Which streaming and online services are not available in Turkmenistan?
Disney+, HBO Max, Hulu, BBC iPlayer and JioHotstar are not offered in Turkmenistan. That is the companies' decision, often because of licensing or sanctions.
Is it legal to use a VPN in Turkmenistan?
Illegal or effectively banned. VPN use is effectively banned and enforcement is aggressive.
Which VPN works in Turkmenistan?
Our picks for Turkmenistan are ExpressVPN, NordVPN and Surfshark. Connections are unreliable here, so switch on each one's anti-censorship mode: ExpressVPN (use automatic obfuscation (protocol set to Automatic)), NordVPN (use NordWhisper or obfuscated servers) and Surfshark (use NoBorders mode). Check the live votes on this page for this week's results.
Will a VPN work during an internet shutdown in Turkmenistan?
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 Turkmenistan? An editor reviews every report before the page changes.