8 Best VPNs for Hong Kong and some to avoid in 2024

Amid the escalating challenges to Hong Kong’s celebrated autonomy, it is increasingly under threat with growing interference from Beijing. The capital’s increasing influence now shadows its cyberspace, prompting the recognized watchdog, Freedom House, to downgrade Hong Kong to “partly free”. This isn’t mere conjecture; it’s a researched fact and carries a resounding message: If you’re not using a VPN in Hong Kong yet, now is the critical time to reconsider.

A VPN, or Virtual Private Network, is more than just a digital buzzword. It’s a protective shield that encrypts every byte of data flowing into and out of your device. This cloak not only defends against the prying eyes of hackers but fortifies your digital identity against increasingly intrusive governmental oversight and censorship. For those living in or traveling to Hong Kong, a VPN bridges the digital divide, granting access to cherished geographically restricted content like BBC iPlayer, US Netflix, and BeIN Sports, to name a few.

In this article, we list the best VPNs for Hong Kong, explain how to use them, and answer some common VPN questions. We go into more detail about each of the ones we recommend later, but if you’re pressed for time, here’s a snapshot of our findings:

Best VPNs for Hong Kong:

1. NordVPN Our top VPN for Hong Kong. A veteran provider that doesn’t compromise on speed. Good at unblocking popular streaming content. Strong privacy and security. Strict no-logs policy. 30-day money-back guarantee.
   TIP In our testing we found that the cheapest NordVPN plan (Standard) works perfectly for Hong Kong.
2. Surfshark Best budget VPN for Hong Kong. A fast service that puts major emphasis on security and privacy. Boasts excellent unblocking ability and even works in mainland China.
3. IPVanish Torrent-friendly VPN service with good speeds, no logs, and strong encryption. Allows unlimited simultaneous connections.
4. ExpressVPN Well-designed apps that provide strong privacy and excellent security, and the ability to unblock tons of restricted overseas content.
5. PureVPN Including AES encryption and a kill switch. Torrenting is permitted throughout its network. Unlimited device connections.
6. PrivateVPN Strong security and privacy, and can access US Netflix and more. Owns its servers. Popular in Hong Kong and includes a 10-device connection limit.
7. CyberGhost Beginner-friendly provider catering to those who want privacy and the ability to access their home Netflix library while in Hong Kong.
8. ProtonVPN Servers are available in over 112+ countries, and it’s ideal for bypassing restrictions to watch Hong Kong TV abroad.

Why do you need a VPN in Hong Kong?

Residents of Hong Kong don’t have the same kind of walled-off internet that’s prevalent in mainland China, but that doesn’t mean the Communist Party isn’t watching your every move. Democratic activists in Hong Kong attest that Chinese authorities monitor residents’ web activity, emails, and online communications. Many people have been arrested for holding views that advocate independence from China as well as being critical of the Chinese government.

VPN encrypts all of your online communications so that anyone snooping on your connection won’t be able to decipher its contents or what you do online. A VPN protects you from various online threats, including malware, man-in-the-middle attacks, and denial-of-service attacks. This is especially important for people visiting Hong Kong for business or leisure who plan to use public and/or unsecured Wi-Fi networks at hotels, restaurants, airports, and cafes.

Furthermore, a VPN can unblock a wide range of content and services from abroad. These include geo-blocked streaming sites like Hulu, Amazon Prime, BBC iPlayer, and Netflix libraries in other countries.

How we found the top Hong Kong VPNs

Plenty of VPNs are on the market, but they don’t all provide the same level of service. We rank our VPNs based on a series of tests, which are carried out in the following areas:

• Speed: We carried out multiple speed tests to determine the speed of each provider’s Hong Kong servers.
• Features: We examined which providers offered automatic public Wi-Fi protection and which could bypass the most stringent VPN blocks. We also considered how many device connections each permitted.
• Security and privacy: To keep your connection safe while in Hong Kong, you should choose a VPN that is strong on security and privacy. We use 16 different metrics to evaluate which providers offer the best protection.
• Ease of use: If you’re trying a VPN for the first time, you’ll unlikely want to wrestle with complicated software. We evaluate providers against ten different criteria to determine which offer a user-friendly service.
• Streaming: VPNs are a popular way to access new streaming content, making this a key area for testing. We used nine different metrics to evaluate each VPN provider’s suitability for streaming.

The results of our tests—and a more detailed explanation of the tests themselves—are included in the methodology section later in the article.

The best VPNs for Hong Kong: Our hands-on review

We’ve compared the most important features of the top VPNs here. Prefer to read the in-depth reviews? Start with NordVPN – our #1 choice VPN for Hong Kong.

The best VPNs for Hong Kong

At Comparitech, we aim to bring you the best and most accurate VPN advice on the internet. To do this, we personally use and test every VPN before we recommend them to you. The following reviews are based on our first-hand experiences and extensive real-world testing.

Here is our list of the best VPNs for Hong Kong:

1. NordVPN

Dec 2024 Works in Hong KongTested Dec 2024

NordVPN is our number-one choice VPN for Hong Kong. It’s well-known in the VPN business because it’s been around for over a decade and has built a winning product. It’s fast, doesn’t store any user data, allows multiple connections, and has an excellent network of servers.

NordVPN retains no metadata about browsing habits, timestamps, or choice of servers. This policy has thwarted attempts by authorities to obtain user information; nothing was available on its servers. The company is also based in Panama, so there aren’t any mandatory data retention laws to comply with.

NordVPN has over 6,800 servers in 110 countries — with options to connect depending on your specific requirements. There are 70+ servers in their Hong Kong network. The service works with Netflix, Hulu, and BBC iPlayer without breaking a sweat.

To determine whether NordVPN’s Hong Kong servers were fast enough for streaming and other tasks, we carried out multiple speed tests over the course of a day. The results are below.

The provider was impressively quick, with an average download speed of 161.33 Mbps. This was almost double the combined average speed of the other tested VPNs. If you want a fast VPN, then this is it.

NordVPN allows a paid subscription to be used with a total of 10 connected devices. All internet traffic is secured by AES-256 encryption, which comes as standard. It’s coupled with 2,048-bit SSL keys and DNS leak protection.

Easy-to-use iOS and Android apps, as well as desktop software for Windows, Linux, and MacOS, are available.

BEST VPN FOR HONG KONG:NordVPN is our first choice. Extremely fast and versatile. Works well in Hong Kong. Excellent security features and accommodates up to 10 devices. Includes a risk-free 30-day money-back guarantee.

Here’s our full review of NordVPN.

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2. Surfshark

Works in Hong KongTested Dec 2024

Surfshark is a great value, highly versatile service with 3,200+ servers across 100+ countries. It’s fast enough for flawless live streaming and works with some of the most stubborn services abroad, including Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and BBC iPlayer, as well as sites prone to government censorship.

We tested the speeds of Surfshark’s Hong Kong servers to find out what sort of experience someone accessing local services might have. You cans see the results below.

Surfshark was fractionally slower than NordVPN, with an average download speed of 160.1 Mbps. This makes the provider suitable for streaming in the highest resolution, placing long-distance video calls, or gaming.

Surfshark hides your activities from prying eyes with AES-256 encryption, a kill switch, and protection against WebRTC, DNS, and IPv6 leaks. It also has a NoBorders feature that reshapes your traffic, hiding the tell-tale characteristics of VPN data and concealing that you’re using a VPN.

This service is based in the British Virgin Islands, with no mandatory data retention laws. Accordingly, it doesn’t keep any personally identifiable information, meaning that you’re effectively untraceable once connected. You can pay in Bitcoin, Ripple, or Ethereum if you’d prefer even more excellent protection.

Surfshark has apps for Android, Windows, iOS, MacOS, and Linux. Manual installation is required for use on supported internet routers.

BEST BUDGET VPN:Surfshark not only keeps your activities private, it does so at a very reasonable price. Allows you to secure all of your devices at once. Decent speeds, advanced security features, a no-logs policy, and a 30-day money-back guarantee make this service a great choice for anyone in Hong Kong.

Read our full review of Surfshark here.

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3. IPVanish

Works in Hong KongTested Dec 2024

IPVanish is another feature-rich VPN service that prioritizes strong encryption, a stringent privacy policy, and fast streaming and download speeds. It’s an entirely log-less VPN, meaning there’s absolutely no data retention.

To secure web traffic, IPVanish uses 256-bit encryption on the OpenVPN protocol by default, SHA512 authentication, and a DHE-RSA 2,048-bit key exchange with perfect forward secrecy. The lattermost feature means that your past data will remain encrypted, even if there’s a breach.

The company allows unlimited devices on one account. Their server network is spread out worldwide with an option to connect to over 2,000 possible choices, including several in Hong Kong.

We wanted to know how fast IPVanish’s Hong Kong servers were, so we carried out several speed tests over the course of a day. You can see the results below.

IPVanish was consistently fast during testing, with an average download speed of 112.88 Mbps. This was 20 Mbps faster than the combined average download speed of the other tested providers. This means you’ll have little trouble doing all the things you normally do while connected.

Apps for both iOS and Android are available, as well as desktop support for Windows and MacOS.

The company’s basic plan costs just over $2 a month for the first two years, so it’s a superb VPN for bang for your buck. Its Advanced plan costs a dollar a month more and includes a sandboxed secure browser and 1TB of cloud storage.

UNLIMITED DEVICES:IPVanish can connect any number of devices. Uncongested network with good connection speeds, privacy, and extra security. A favorite for Kodi and Amazon Fire Stick. Works well in Hong Kong but won’t work in China. 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full review of IPVanish.

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4. ExpressVPN

Works in Hong KongTested Dec 2024

ExpressVPN offers fast speeds combined with military-grade encryption protocols and an attractive design. It’s easy to set up and simple enough for even newcomers to the VPN world to figure out. The company operates over 3,000 servers spread across 105+ countries, and Hong Kong is included in the list.

We tested the speed of the provider’s Hong Kong servers over the course of a day. You can see the results below.

ExpressVPN averaged 67.96 Mbps, which is a decent enough result — provided you have a solid connection speed (ours was 250 Mbps).  If not, you’re better off opting for one of the faster VPN providers on this list.

ExpressVPN doesn’t store any detailed user logs. The only information recorded is the metadata of the “date (not time) of connection, choice of server location, and total bandwidth used”. Your individual IP address will never be logged. This should ease privacy concerns.

Encryption parameters are hardy, and DNS leak protection is included as standard. ExpressVPN uses 256-bit AES-CBC protocols as well as HMAC authentication and perfect forward secrecy. An internet kill switch is included, which the company calls a ‘network lock’. This excellent security feature means all web traffic will be temporarily halted if the connection drops unexpectedly.

ExpressVPN can circumvent the Netflix VPN ban. It’s also compatible with Hulu and BBC iPlayer and supports torrenting. The provider allows five simultaneous connections, which isn’t huge, but the service and unlimited bandwidth make up for it.

Included are easy-to-use apps for Android and iOS as well as desktop clients for Windows, MacOS, and Linux.

PRIVACY AND SECURITY:ExpressVPN is privacy-focused, with RAM-only servers and powerful obfuscation. Scores highly for unblocking Netflix and other streaming sites. 30-day no-quibbles money-back guarantee.

Here’s our in-depth review of ExpressVPN.

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5. PureVPN

Works in Hong KongTested Dec 2024

PureVPN is a budget-friendly VPN for Hong Kong expats. With plans starting as low as US$1.96 per month, you can access popular Hong Kong streaming platforms like myTV SUPER, ViuTV, and TVBAnywhere+ without breaking the bank. Hong Kong IPs are particularly useful for bypassing workplace content restrictions or retrieving Hong Kong-specific search results while traveling abroad.

To find out how fast the provider’s Hong Kong servers were, we carried out several speed tests. You can see the results in the chart below.

PureVPN performed well throughout the day of testing, with an average overall download speed of 107.57 Mbps. This is fast enough for diverse activities such as streaming, gaming, torrenting, and private video calls.

The provider’s strong security measures guarantee your online activities remain secure and private when using a Hong Kong IP, perfect if you want to access Hong Kong services or news without being monitored.

The VPN is compatible across multiple operating systems, including Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, and Linux. These applications are equipped with essential security features like a kill switch, AES encryption, and DNS leak prevention.

PureVPN is a good choice for streaming Hong Kong-based content as well as international services like Netflix US, Hulu, HBO Max, ESPN, Disney+, and British channels including BBC iPlayer and ITVX.

For those interested in torrenting, PureVPN offers port forwarding. However, it is important to note that this feature is an add-on that costs a little extra.

While the response time for live chat support might not be the quickest, the overall reliability is outstanding considering the low cost of a subscription. Plus you can test it yourself using its 31-day money-back guarantee.

AMAZING VALUE:PureVPN offers one of the cheapest and most reliable ways to get a Hong Kong IP address. It is easy to use and comes with everything you need to gain watertight online privacy and security, including AES encryption and a kill switch. Torrenting is permitted throughout its network. It has a 31-day money-back guarantee to test it yourself.

Find out more in our PureVPN review.

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6. PrivateVPN

works in Hong KongTested Dec 2024

PrivateVPN is a competitive choice for users in Hong Kong despite its smaller server network. It’s a top pick for the region with excellent privacy features, strong streaming capabilities, and a 10-connection limit.

To find out how fast its Hong Kong servers were, we carried out several speed tests while connected. The results are below.

PrivateVPN achieved an average download speed of 40.35 Mbps. This is fast enough for day-to-day tasks and streaming — but only if you have a relatively good base connection speed (ours was 250 Mbps). If you don’t, then choose from one of the top three providers discussed earlier.

Owning and managing its network, PrivateVPN ensures no third-party access to user traffic. Strong encryption, a kill switch, and leak prevention provide a secure browsing experience, while the zero-logs policy and Bitcoin payment option add extra privacy.

PrivateVPN excels at accessing streaming services, including Netflix and Prime Video. it’s also a great option for torrenting, as it allows port forwarding.

The user-friendly interface offers customization, and its platform compatibility ensures easy installation. Users can adjust settings, such as encryption levels and server connections, with nearly 24/7 live chat support available.

10 DEVICE LIMIT:PrivateVPN is excellent at unblocking streaming services, includes live chat support and doesn’t collect logs. 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full PrivateVPN review.

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7. CyberGhost

Works in Hong KongTested Dec 2024

CyberGhost is a good Hong Kong VPN option for beginner users because it’s easy to set up, great for streaming and incorporates military-grade encryption. The company is headquartered in Romania, which means there aren’t any mandatory data retention laws to comply with. It also has a stated policy of not storing any user data. This should ease privacy concerns.

CyberGhost has been adding new server location options at breakneck speed. Right now, there are over 10,000 servers spread across 100+ countries, including 70+ VPN servers in Hong Kong. We tested how fast these were by carrying out several speed tests while connected. The results were variable, as you can see from the chart below.

CyberGhost’s fastest speed was 107.80 Mbps, though it’s slowest was 18.42 Mbps. So, while it certainly has potential, you may need to switch between servers to find the quickest option.

CyberGhost works with Netflix, BBC iPlayer and a host of other platforms. Servers are available that are optimized for particular streaming services, which is a great time-saving feature.

Encryption standards are robust – the company deploys 256-bit AES encryption on the OpenVPN protocol by default, along with 2,048-bit RSA keys and SHA256 authentication. These are considered to be top-tier. An internet kill switch is also included.

Apps are available for both Android and iOS, as well as a desktop client for Windows and MacOS. One paid account allows for five devices to connect at a single time.

VALUE AND PERFORMANCE:CyberGhost has a simple set up. Works well in Hong Kong. Good option if you are looking for an easy-to-use interface and strong unblocking ability. 45-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full review of CyberGhost.

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8. ProtonVPN

Works in Hong KongTested Dec 2024

ProtonVPN is a highly reliable and reputable VPN service based in Switzerland. This is a country with superb privacy laws. In addition to the provider’s excellent reputation for privacy (it is well known because it also developed the private email service Proton Mail) the VPN has a rock-solid no-logs policy that has been independently audited.

The VPN apps are equipped with AES encryption, a kill switch, and various protocols, including sophisticated features like obfuscation, multi-hop connections, and Tor over VPN. This makes it one of the most advanced VPNs on the market.

ProtonVPN’s use of OpenVPN and its strict no-logging policy make it an excellent choice for getting a Hong Kong IP address while ensuring your online activities remain private. This is ideal for bypassing wi-fi restrictions at workplaces or navigating around government-imposed internet blocks in Hong Kong.

To gauge its performance, we carried out speed tests while connected to the provider’s Hong Kong servers. You can see the results below.

ProtonVPN’s speeds fluctuated through the day. Like CyberGhost, you’ll be able to find a fast server if you try (there are plenty available). If you don’t want to try, opt for one of the faster providers discussed earlier.

Our tests showed that ProtonVPN works to watch popular Hong Kong streaming services like Netflix Hong Kong, myTV SUPER, ViuTV, and TVBAnywhere+. It is also compatible with major international services like Hulu, HBO Max, Sling TV, and BBC iPlayer.

ProtonVPN’s advanced features are particularly advantageous for individuals in countries with severe censorship, however, it does not support users in mainland China. Additionally, the VPN supports split tunneling and port forwarding, making it an excellent option for torrenting.

Live chat support is available in the members’ area, meaning you can get help with using or setting up the VPN at any time of day. A 30-day money-back guarantee means you can test the VPN on your devices risk-free.

FULLY FEATURED:ProtonVPN is perfect for advanced users who want a VPN for using the internet privately. It is great for torrenting and gaining watertight online privacy. Servers are available in over 112 countries, and it’s ideal for watching Hong Kong TV abroad. 24/7 live chat support is available on its website. 30-day money-back guarantee.

Find out more in our ProtonVPN review.

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Our methodology: Identifying the best VPNs for Hong Kong

There are plenty of VPN providers on the market, but they don’t all provide the same level of service, nor are they all fit for every job. We like to make sure that the services we recommend are a good fit for any task you have in mind. We found the most suitable VPNs for Hong Kong by testing them in the following areas:

Speed

All VPNs slow your connection to some extent due to the additional routing and encryption processes involved. However the amount of speed you lose varies widely. With the best VPNs it’s unnoticeable.

For this article, we carried out three speed tests for each VPN while connected to their servers in Honk Kong. We used the desktop version of the Ookla speed-testing app, which was installed on a virtual machine that had been rate-limited to 250 Mbps. This speed was chosen as it’s the median average of fixed broadband speeds in the US. This helps us replicate the average users’ real-world experience.

As you can see, NordVPN and Surfshark were by far the fastest providers that we tested. If you plan on streaming in 4K, gaming or placing international video calls, these two VPNs are excellent choices.

Features

Before going online in Hong Kong, some VPN features are particularly worth looking out for. We scored providers on whether they had automatic public Wi-Fi protection so that users never unwittingly went online without a VPN when not at home. We also scored them on whether they had obfuscation effective enough to bypass blocks in China. Finally, we scored them on how many simultaneous device connections they allowed.

These scores were combined to create an overall ‘features’ score. This makes it easier to compare providers.

Surfshark has the best features overall, with unlimited device connections, powerful obfuscation and automatic wi-fi protection. NordVPN is a great second-best option.

Security and privacy

Given the scale of state surveillance in China, your privacy is of paramount importance. We look for VPNs with a no-logs policy (and if they’ve been audited to prove it, even better). We also like to see some sort of anonymous payment option, as well as several security features. You can see all the metrics we used to evaluate providers in the table below.

Each of the above criteria was given a score, which we combined to create an overall score out of ten. We can use this to meaningfully compare providers.

NordVPN and Surfshark are your best options if you want to keep your connection safe. ProtonVPN is also an excellent option.

Ease of use

We all like VPNs that make your life easier rather than more difficult. To find out which VPNs provide the smoothest service, we used the criteria shown in the table below.

We scored providers on each criteria, and then combined these scores to give a score out of 10 for comparison.

NordVPN has the easiest to use service overall, with a cleverly designed app and a hassle-free onboarding and offboarding process. IPVanish is a solid alternative.

Streaming

We tested the VPNs to check that they could access the local variants of popular streaming platforms such as Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Disney Plus. We also evaluated them on several other metrics, as you can see below.

We assigned a score to each of these metrics so that we were left with an overall score out of ten. This makes it easier to compare providers.

NordVPN, Surfshark, and ExpressVPN are all fantastic options for streaming, providing seamless access to all popular streaming platforms. All three also offer a smart DNS service, which enables you to spoof the location of devices that are otherwise incompatible with VPN software.

Some VPNs to avoid in Hong Kong

One of the major factors in opting to use a VPN to browse the web is the reassurance that your privacy and anonymity will be respected. After all, that’s why they were conceptualized in the first place. The VPNs we’ve recommended in this list have no documented cases of handing over customer data, but there are a few out there that aren’t so forthcoming. We recommend you avoid them.

Here’s one such case:

HolaVPN

Israel-based Hola once had a massive user base of almost 50 million – people were attracted to its free VPN extension for Chrome. Unfortunately, it chose to undo all the good work and turned the community into a huge botnet army.

A part of individual bandwidth was put aside for attacks on other websites, distribution of pornography, and other nefarious online activities. And that’s with users completely in the dark.

Using a free VPN in Hong Kong

Some cash-strapped users tend to opt for a free VPN service. But it’s better if you know the full picture before diving into something you might regret.

Many free VPN providers have been caught mining and selling user data. Even if that doesn’t happen to you, there are definitely going to be things like download data caps, bandwidth throttling, and a feeble selection of servers. Such services aren’t built to relentlessly guard your privacy either, so don’t expect world-class service.

Free VPN companies have to make money, too. So, you’ll definitely be bombarded with invasive advertisements and migraine-inducing popup windows. Our recommendation to stay safe on the internet is to cough up a few dollars each month for a reputable provider. Free VPNs just aren’t worth the additional risk you take.

How do I use a VPN in Hong Kong?

In this section, we’ll take you through two use cases. Follow these steps if you’re a foreign expatriate and would like to obtain an IP address from outside of Hong Kong while physically located in the country.

Here’s how to use a VPN in Hong Kong:

1. Browse through our list of suitable VPN services, we particularly recommend NordVPN.
2. Register and pay for the online service. Once that’s done, download the companion apps (for your phone) or software (for PC or MacOS)
3. Clear your cookies and cache in all web browsers (Firefox, Chrome, Internet Explorer, UC Web) to remove old location identifiers
4. Restart your device
5. Open the VPN companion software and log in
6. Select a server from the country you’re trying to obtain an IP address – such as the US or UK
7. Allow a few seconds for the connection to be established. Once that’s done, there should be a green notification icon in the taskbar
8. Browse the web like you normally would. You’ll notice that host websites will assume your true location is in the country you’re currently connected to. This will open up things like streaming media content and local online banking services

The other scenario is for residents of Hong Kong who are traveling abroad and need a local IP address. This could be for streaming content, accessing online banking, or any other requirement.

Here’s how to get a Hong King IP address from abroad:

1. Browse through our recommendations and settle for an option that works for you, we particularly recommend NordVPN.
2. Register and pay for the online service – select either a monthly or annual plan depending on how much you would like to spend initially
3. Once that’s done, download the companion apps (for your phone) or software (for PC or MacOS)
4. Clear your cookies in all web browsers (Firefox, Chrome, Internet Explorer) to remove old location identifiers
5. Restart your device
6. Open the VPN companion software and log in
7. Select a server in Hong Kong and click connect
8. Allow a few seconds for the connection to be established. Once that’s done, there should be a green notification icon in the taskbar
9. Browse the web like you normally would. You’ll notice that host websites will assume you’re now physically located in Hong Kong thanks to your Hong Kong IP address

Using a VPN in Hong Kong: FAQs