What's blocked in United Kingdom
Nothing major is blocked, but since July 2025 many sites ask for ID or face scans under the Online Safety Act.
- WhatsApp: Works
- Voice & video calls: Works
- Telegram: Works
- Signal: Works
- Discord: Age-gated
- Facebook: Works
- Instagram: Works
- X (Twitter): Age-gated
- TikTok: Works
- YouTube: Works
- Google: Works
- Works
- Age-gated
- Partly blocked
- Slowed down
- Blocked
App by app
| App | Status | Since | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Discord | Age-gated | Jul 2025 | |
| X (Twitter) | Age-gated | Jul 2025 | |
| Age-gated | Jul 2025 | Age checks for some communities. |
Not offered in United Kingdom
These companies don't sell their service here. That's a business or sanctions decision, not government censorship.
Working normally
Social media
Video, TV & music
Games
The 3 VPNs that fit United Kingdom
Our assessment, plus what visitors in United Kingdom are reporting this week.
Picked for streaming and everyday privacy.
NordVPN
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CyberGhost
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ExpressVPN
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Not sure about these three? See 3 more VPNs Surfshark, Private Internet Access and Proton VPN
Surfshark
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Private Internet Access
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Proton VPN
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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
The UK's Online Safety Act age checks came into force on 25 July 2025. Platforms like X, Reddit and Discord now verify age before showing some content, and adult sites require ID. Many adults use a VPN for the privacy of not handing ID to dozens of websites.
Before you connect: Use a VPN for privacy, not to put children in front of adult content.
Is a VPN legal in United Kingdom?
Legal
VPNs are legal. Parliament has debated age checks on VPNs, but no rule has passed. Using a VPN does not make it legal for under-18s to access age-restricted content.
This is general information, not legal advice.
Questions people ask
Are any apps blocked in United Kingdom?
None of the 41 apps we track is fully blocked in United Kingdom right now. Discord, X (Twitter) and Reddit have some restrictions. Nothing major is blocked, but since July 2025 many sites ask for ID or face scans under the Online Safety Act.
Which streaming and online services are not available in United Kingdom?
Hulu and JioHotstar are not offered in United Kingdom. That is the companies' decision, often because of licensing or sanctions.
Is it legal to use a VPN in United Kingdom?
Legal. VPNs are legal. Parliament has debated age checks on VPNs, but no rule has passed. Using a VPN does not make it legal for under-18s to access age-restricted content.
Which VPN works in United Kingdom?
Our picks for United Kingdom are NordVPN, CyberGhost and ExpressVPN. Check the live votes on this page for this week's results.
Report a block
Seeing something different in United Kingdom? An editor reviews every report before the page changes.