How to Unblock Instagram in Russia in 2024

After labeling Meta as "extremist" in March 2022, Russian prosecutors argued in court that Instagram and Facebook were used to spread anti-Russian messages and ultimately managed to get the apps banned in the country. The social media apps lost millions of users due to privacy concerns, as Russian authorities and ISPs can see your every move on the Web.

That said, a reliable VPN is all you need. With one, you can unblock Instagram in Russia and ensure you're not tracked online. VPNs change your virtual location and IP address, encrypt your data, and can even help you avoid malicious websites and malware.

In this guide, we'll discuss how to unblock Instagram in Russia with a VPN, show you the best VPNs for the job, explain why a VPN is essential in this case, and tell you how to pick the best option. We'll end with some helpful FAQs.

How to Unblock Instagram in Russia With a VPN

The goal is to change your virtual location by connecting to a VPN server outside of Russia. So, you'll need to sign up for a VPN, download its app, and connect. Just use these steps:

1. Subscribe to a VPN that works in Russia reliably (we recommend NordVPN)
2. Download the VPN app on your computer or smartphone and install it.
   
3. Launch the app and use your account details to log in.
4. Connect to a server from a country where Instagram isn't blocked. That's it!
   

We recommend Romania, Finland, or similar countries located close to Russia. That way, you'll get the best possible speeds while watching Instagram videos, uploading pictures, or sharing stories.

What Is the Best VPN to Access Instagram in Russia?

Your search for the best option should be based on certain strict criteria. The first of all is the ability to unblock Instagram and other social media apps. You'll need servers near Russia for that, as well as plenty of servers worldwide. Your chosen VPN must also offer fast speeds and stable performance.

Next, obfuscated servers are essential, as you'll want to hide your VPN data from your Internet provider. A kill switch is also beneficial, as it prevents data leaks. Strong protocols, proven encryption, and an audited no-logs policy should also be present.

You'll also want a sufficient number of simultaneous connections and apps for all your devices. In the end, ensure that you pay a fair price and that you get a generous money-back policy in addition to 24/7 customer support.

1. NordVPN - Our Best-Rated VPN for Instagram in Russia in 2024
2. Surfshark - User-Friendly Instagram VPN for Russia with Many Servers
3. ExpressVPN - Powerful Instagram VPN with Advanced Security Options
4. CyberGhost VPN - Capable Instagram VPN with Servers Near Russia

1. NordVPN - Our Best-Rated VPN for Instagram in Russia in 2024

NordVPN is an ultra-capable VPN provider that checks all the right boxes. It can unblock Instagram with ease, as well as a whole range of other social media apps, websites, streaming services, and more. This VPN offers servers in countries like Finland, Latvia, Estonia, Romania, and more. In total, you get 6,500+ servers in 111 countries globally.

We can also praise NordVPN's performance. It's among the fastest VPN providers and offers ultra-smooth performance across nearby and remote servers. A group of its servers are obfuscated, which gives you an additional layer of privacy protection. You can also count on a kill switch.

This VPN is powered by protocols like NordLynx, OpenVPN, and IKEv2/IPsec, which are paired with AES-256 and ChaCha20 encryption ciphers. Plus, you get 10 simultaneous connections, as well as software for practically any device imaginable. More precisely, this VPN works on Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, various dedicated streaming devices, and even routers.

All that is available for $2.99/month (2-year subscription plan). Your purchase will be backed by a generous 30-day money-back policy. In the end, expect 24/7 live chat support, in addition to a whole slate of other support resources, such as email support, FAQs, explainers, and more.

2. Surfshark - User-Friendly Instagram VPN for Russia with Many Servers

Surfshark has always been known as a very user-friendly VPN service. That said, it's also a highly robust one. It can unblock Instagram every single time, as well as practically any other blocked website or app in Russia. You can count on servers in Estonia, Latvia, Finland, and Romania, as well as 3,200+ servers in 100 countries in total.

You'll also be happy with this VPN's performance. It can deliver ultra-fast speeds no matter which server you pick. There's barely noticeable throttling, which puts Surfshark among the fastest VPN apps. You also get obfuscation across its entire network, which you can enable on-demand. Of course, a kill switch is available across all platforms as well.

Surfshark is built upon robust protocols like OpenVPN, WireGuard, and IKEv2/IPsec. It also comes with AES-256 or ChaCha20 encryption ciphers, which can stop even the most persistent trackers. There's also a no-logs policy. This VPN supports unlimited simultaneous connections and works across a range of devices. There are apps for computers, phones, tablets, streaming devices, and more.

Right now, Surfshark is available for only $1.99/month (2-year plan). You'll get a 30-day money-back guarantee, giving you plenty of time to test-drive this VPN. Finally, let's not forget Surfshark's 24/7 live chat customer support, email support, installation guides, and similar services.

3. ExpressVPN - Powerful Instagram VPN with Advanced Security Options

ExpressVPN puts a lot of emphasis on the protection of sensitive data. However, it's also a great option for bypassing censorship and geo-blocks. It can unblock Instagram in an instant, as well as Facebook and other blocked websites. In terms of its Russian-centric servers, you'll find VPN locations in Finland, Latvia, Estonia, and Romania, as well as thousands of servers in 105 countries.

Expect extra-fast performance whether you plan to connect to remote or nearby servers. The provider features obfuscation on all servers, meaning your VPN activity is disguised as usual HTTPS traffic. Plus, Its built-in kill switch also ensures your identity remains safe even during disconnects.

You'll have a great set of available protocols: OpenVPN, Lightway, and IKEv2/IPsec. These are coupled with AES-256 and WolfSSL encryption types, as well as a no-logs policy. In addition, ExpressVPN supports up to 8 simultaneous connections. Needless to say, this VPN supports a wide range of devices, including computers, phones, tablets, streaming devices, and VPN-ready routers.

The lowest you can pay for ExpressVPN is $6.67/month (annual subscription plan). No matter which plan you pick, ExpressVPN will provide you with a 30-day money-back guarantee. Its customer support is also high-end, with 24/7 live chat on board, as well as email support, an active blog, installation guides, and plenty more.

4. CyberGhost VPN - Capable Instagram VPN with Servers Near Russia

CyberGhost VPN offers every industry-standard feature required to unblock Instagram, Facebook, and a host of other platforms with its service. It is mostly focused on unblocking streaming sites like Netflix, Crunchyroll, and the like, so you'll get plenty of options overall. You'll find servers in Finland, Latvia, Romania, and even Russia, as well as thousands of servers in 100 countries globally.

Expect medium-fast speeds from this provider. Nearby connections are typically quite fast, but some throttling can happen when connecting to overly remote servers. So, it would help to have a relatively fast baseline connection. Sadly, there's no obfuscation here, but you get an always-on kill switch. In other words, no data leaks can happen.

Furthermore, CyberGhost is based on WireGuard, OpenVPN, and IKEv2/IPsec. There are also very strong encryption ciphers, such as AES-256 and ChaCha20. Also, CyberGhost VPN supports 7 simultaneous connections, and it delivers easy-to-use applications for Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, streaming devices, and even routers.

It also comes at a great price: only $2.03/month for its 2-year plan. You'll also be surprised to know that CyberGhost has a 45-day money-back guarantee on its long-term plans. In terms of customer support, expect 24/7 live chat support, installation guides, support tickets, and more.

Why Do You Need a VPN to Use Instagram in Russia?

Instagram app is blocked in Russia by default. Following Instagram's algorithmic changes, Russia concluded that the social media app did nothing to prevent calls for violence against the country's soldiers following the invasion of Ukraine. Once Meta, Instagram's parent company, was labeled an extremist organization, access to the app became impossible.

That said, VPNs remain the most reliable way to unblock social media in Russia. They change your IP address to a different country - one without such glaring censorship problems. Aside from giving you access to social media sites like Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter, VPN encryption also allows you to hide your browsing activity from your Internet provider.

While prosecutors have said that it's not illegal for Russian citizens to unblock Instagram, you never know when the situation might change for the worse. That said, make sure to use the best VPN for Russia you can find, as you'll want equally powerful privacy features and content-unblocking abilities.

We'll remind you that NordVPN remains the best option. It gives you unrestricted access to Instagram and any other social media app. It's also perhaps the most capable VPN in terms of privacy, encryption, and securing your sensitive data.

What to Look for When Choosing a VPN for Unblocking Instagram in Russia

There are several essential features you should look out for during your research for the best Instagram VPN for Russia. Here they are, in no particular order:

• Top-of-the-line encryption such as OpenVPN, WireGuard, or equivalent.
• Leak protection and a kill switch to prevent IP and data leaks at all times.
• A no-logs policy that's either been independently audited or proven effective through other means.
• Recommended: obfuscated (or stealth) servers to hide your VPN traffic.
• Servers located around Russia to get the best possible performance while browsing Instagram.

Other useful but not completely necessary features include ad-blocking, anti-tracking, malware and phishing domain filtering, anti-malware, and "Double VPN" (for when you really want to cover your tracks).

Can You Use a Free VPN to Unblock Instagram in Russia?

Yes, you can use a free VPN to unblock Instagram in Russia, but most of them are unreliable and can expose your traffic to your Internet provider. Since Russia is quite aggressive in blocking VPNs and social media apps like Instagram, you need more than a free VPN can offer.

Keep in mind that free VPNs come with limited server networks, giving you very few options to unblock sites. Also, most are painfully slow, making it impossible to scroll through videos. You'll also encounter half-backed apps, no support for simultaneous connections, and low-end encryption.

It's a known fact that most free VPNs can leak and expose your data. Even more worryingly, some of them can be malicious, focused on propagating malware and spyware.

If you're set on using a free VPN, at least use a well-known one, such as Proton VPN. However, even that VPN will limit the number of countries you can connect to, and it will restrict your speed as well. On the plus side, you'll get high-end data protection and unlimited bandwidth.

Final Thoughts

Due to the Kremlin's insistence on monopolizing the conversation around Ukraine, people can't share fun moments online, keep up with friends, or even maintain their online businesses. That said, Russia's ban on Instagram seems to be here to stay for a while. However, you can unblock Instagram in Russia with a VPN, which will also give you complete privacy online.

More precisely, VPNs like NordVPN allow you to bypass the ban with state-of-the-art data encryption, obfuscation technology, super-fast servers, and a track record for quality. With this VPN, no one will know what you do online - not even your Internet provider.

Have trouble unblocking Instagram in Russia? Is your VPN provider's website blocked? Leave us a comment, and we'll be glad to help you get back on track.