Key Takeaways:

• Bypassing IP bans and using Discord in restrictive countries are two reasons why you should consider getting a VPN for Discord. 
• ExpressVPN is a no-compromise VPN provider that doesn’t come cheap, but it’s worth every penny if it fits your budget. 
• NordVPN and Surfshark are more affordable picks, though they don’t match ExpressVPN’s performance in some areas. 

Discord is one of the easiest ways to communicate online, whether you’re talking to your in-game teammates, your friends or your classmates. It’s a free platform that we get into detail on in our What is Discord? article, but the gist of it is that you can create or join a server and communicate with text, voice and video chat. So where does a Discord VPN come into play?

Well, with social networks, many schools impose an IP ban, which means that the school computer’s IP address is restricted from accessing the platform. In addition to this, many restrictive countries, such as China, restrict access to apps like Discord. Tunneling your connection through a VPN server can help you bypass both restrictions. 

There are a lot of VPN providers that can be used with Discord. We picked three that do a great job at bypassing IP ban situations, while ensuring excellent performance and a solid focus on security. Spoiler alert: ExpressVPN is the best tool for the job. 

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Top VPNs for Discord

What Makes the Best Discord VPN?

The most important thing is for the VPNs to be able to bypass an IP address ban and work in restrictive countries. All three of the VPNs below do that by giving you a new IP address and hiding the fact that you’re using a VPN. 

The other criteria we looked at were how safe the VPNs are from DNS and IP leaks, how they perform and how good their security is. Whichever one you pick from the list below, you’ll be able to bypass IP ban situations with ease, but there are a few key differences between the providers. 

1. ExpressVPN — Premium performance VPN with a price to match
2. NordVPN — Fast and secure alternative with a large server network
3. Surfshark — Affordable VPN with multi-hop servers

ExpressVPN is the most expensive of the bunch, but it’s certainly worth it if it fits your budget. NordVPN and Surfshark are somewhat more affordable in the long run, and both bypass IP bans without much trouble. There are some features that set the three apart, so let’s look into the VPNs up close. 

The 3 Best VPN Services for Discord

These three VPN services will allow you to access Discord even if you’ve got an IP address ban on your device or you live in a restrictive country. Each of them will perform admirably and secure your internet connection, but which one should you go for? We’re kicking things off with our top choice, ExpressVPN. 

1. ExpressVPN 

More details about ExpressVPN:

• Pricing: $6.66 per month
• Provider website: expressvpn.com

If you’re looking for a no-compromise solution, no VPN does it better than ExpressVPN. It tops our list of the best VPNs for a variety of reasons, and some of those reasons make it the best choice for a VPN for Discord too. It can bypass bans on IP addresses, it hides the fact that you’re using a VPN, and it’s fast and secure. We cover it in more detail in our ExpressVPN review.

ExpressVPN will give you a new IP address and make sure an IP ban can’t keep you from accessing your favorite Discord server. It also works without any hiccups even in restrictive countries, and its obfuscated servers will ensure that your VPN usage goes undetected. 

Proprietary Lightway Protocol

At the core of ExpressVPN is its Lightway protocol. It’s been built from the ground up to ensure the ideal combination of security and performance, and is faster and easier to audit than OpenVPN, which is one of the most popular protocols out there. It uses a relatively small codebase, which allows the entire protocol to be as lightweight as possible. 

ExpressVPN’s major downside is the pricing. Even if you opt for the yearly plan, it’s significantly more expensive than the competition. With that in mind, if you want access to Discord regardless of where you are and your real IP address doesn’t allow that, ExpressVPN is certainly worth it. In case you don’t like it, there is a 30-day money-back guarantee. 

ExpressVPN Plans

• Unlimited GB
• 8
• Yes

30-days money-back guarantee

1-month plan, 6-months plan

1-month plan

$12.95/month

6-months plan

$9.99/month

$59.94 billed every 6 month

Save 22%

15-months plan

$6.66/month

$99.95 billed first 15 months and 12 months thereafter

Save 48%

2. NordVPN

More details about NordVPN:

• Pricing: $3.48 per month
• Provider website: nordvpn.com 

NordVPN’s forte is its speed, which is useful for bandwidth-heavy video calls. If you only need it to unblock Discord, though, you’ll probably be interested in its obfuscated servers, which hide the fact that you’re using a VPN. It also has security features that keep your real IP address hidden and your connection encrypted. 

NordVPN has over 5,000 servers in 60 countries, meaning you’ll be able to find a server close to you that gets you the best possible performance. The apps aren’t exactly impressive, though, and some of its more advanced features might be difficult to set up and use. You can find out more in our NordVPN review. 

NordLynx Protocol for Improved Speeds

NordVPN takes a different approach from ExpressVPN. Rather than doing everything from scratch, NordVPN took WireGuard, improved it from a privacy standpoint and called it NordLynx. WireGuard (and NordLynx, by extension) is a modern and fast VPN protocol that doesn’t skimp on security. This makes the VPN service excellent for Discord users who don’t want to compromise on performance. 

Price-wise, NordVPN is certainly far from a free VPN, but it’s not that expensive either. A two-year subscription will lower that price by quite a margin from the monthly cost, and you’re covered by a 30-day money-back guarantee in case you don’t like it. 

30-days money-back guarantee

Basic

• *The prices are charged in the first billing cycle only. Renewal prices vary.
• Unlimited GB
• 6
• Yes

1-month plan, 1-year plan

1-month plan

$12.99/month

1-year plan

$5.74/month

$68.85 billed every year

Save 55%

2-year plan

$3.48/month

$83.43 billed every 2 years

Save 73%

Plus

• *The prices are charged in the first billing cycle only. Renewal prices vary.
• Unlimited GB
• 6
• Yes

1-month plan, 1-year plan

1-month plan

$13.99/month

1-year plan

$6.86/month

$82.35 billed every year

Save 50%

2-year plan + 3 months

$3.99/month

$107.73 billed every 2 years

Save 71%

Complete

• *The prices are charged in the first billing cycle only. Renewal prices vary.
• Unlimited GB
• 6
• Yes

1-month plan, 1-year plan

1-month plan

$15.99/month

1-year plan

$9.36/month

$112.35 billed every year

Save 41%

2-year plan + 3 months

$5.99/month

$161.73 billed every 2 years

Save 62%

3. Surfshark

More details about Surfshark:

• Pricing: $2.49 per month
• Provider website: surfshark.com

Surfshark has a bit of a theme going, with unlimited bandwidth, unlimited data and unlimited simultaneous connections. This makes it the perfect VPN for Discord users who want to share a subscription and get access to Discord as affordably as possible. You can find out more about it in our Surfshark review. 

Surfshark’s server network is impressive, with 3,200 servers in 95 countries. The VPN also gets you multi-hop servers that tunnel your connection through not one, but two secure servers. This adds a bit more security to your connection. It’s one of the fastest VPNs for downloads and uploads (important for Discord calls), but its latency tends to be quite high. 

Unlimited Simultaneous Connections

If you’ve got friends or classmates who also struggle with IP bans on Discord, Surfshark’s unlimited simultaneous connections allow you to share a subscription. You can connect as many devices as you want at the same time and enjoy Discord despite regional restrictions (or any restrictions, for that matter). 

Even if you don’t want to share a subscription, Surfshark is the most affordable VPN on our list. True, its monthly plan is expensive, but subscribing for two years brings that price down significantly. You also get a 30-day money-back guarantee. 

30-days money-back guarantee

Surfshark Starter

• Unlimited GB bandwidth, Unlimited devices, Secure VPN, Ad blocker, Cookie pop-up blocker. Plans renew: $185.40 for one year, $370.80 for two years
• Unlimited GB
• Unlimited
• Yes

1-month plan, 1-year plan

1-month plan

$15.45/month

1-year plan

$3.49/month

$41.88 billed every year

Save 77%

2-year plan

$2.49/month

$59.76 billed every 2 years

Save 83%

Surfshark One

• Everything in Starter, plus Antivirus protection, Identity protection, Email Breach and Credit Card Alerts, Online Alias Plans renew: $191.40 for one year, $380.80 for two years.
• Unlimited GB
• Unlimited

1-month plan, 1-year plan

1-month plan

$15.95/month

1-year plan

$4.09/month

$49.08 billed every year

Save 74%

2-year plan

$3.19/month

$76.56 billed every 2 years

Save 80%

Surfshark One+

• Everything in One, plus Data removal Plans renew: $215.40 for one year, $430.80 for two years
• Unlimited GB
• Unlimited

1-month plan, 1-year plan

1-month plan

$17.95/month

1-year plan

$6.49/month

$77.88 billed every year

Save 63%

2-year plan

$4.97/month

$119.28 billed every 2 years

Save 72%

How to Use Discord With a VPN

Using Discord with a VPN service is fairly simple. All you need to do is pick your favorite VPN from the list above, download and set it up, then use Discord as you normally would. Here’s a short step-by-step guide that shows how to do so. We’ll use ExpressVPN as an example, but the steps for another VPN will be very similar. 

1. Download a VPN

   Head to its website and click “get ExpressVPN.” After registering for an account, download the app for your device.

   

2. Install & Set Up the VPN

   Once you’ve downloaded your VPN of choice, install it on your device. Start the app and log in using your account details (or, in the case of ExpressVPN, your activation code).

   

3. Connect to a VPN Server

   When it comes to Discord, you can connect to any VPN server you like that’s not in a restrictive country. You may need to try a few different server locations to find the best performance for your location.

   

4. Use Discord

   Once you have your VPN up and running, and it’s connected to a secure server, start the Discord app, and you should be able to enjoy your favorite Discord servers and voice chats. If you hit a snag, refer to our how to install Discord and how to use Discord guides.

   

Final Thoughts

Whichever of the aforementioned VPN services you pick, you’ll be able to access your favorite Discord server and regain access to your text and voice chats, despite IP address bans and restrictive countries’ laws. ExpressVPN takes a no-compromise approach, but comes at a price, whereas NordVPN and Surfshark are easier on your wallet. 

If you hit any hurdle when using Discord, fret not. We have scoured the web to find the most common issues users face with Discord. Our comprehensive ‘Discord is not working‘ has a solution to these issues.

If you’re looking to unblock other social media services, we got you covered. We published a guide on how to unblock social media in Russia and other restrictive countries. We also have guides on specific platforms, such as how to unblock TikTok from anywhere.

Do you want to access Discord safely while you’re at school? Maybe you live in a restrictive country and want to enjoy Discord communities — which one of the VPNs above is your choice? Let us know in the comments, and thank you for reading.

FAQ

• Are Discord Bans IP Bans?

  Yes, aside from your username being banned, Discord will also ban your IP address and the phone number registered to your account.

• Is a VPN Allowed on Discord?

  Discord doesn’t explicitly restrict the use of VPNs, so as long as you don’t use them for spamming and other malicious purposes, you should be good to go.

• Does Discord Ban VPNs?

  No, it is unlikely you will get banned for using a VPN, though you should be careful what you use the VPN for.