Best VPNs for Thailand in 2024: Beat Censorship and Geo-Blocks

In an era where digital liberties are at stake, Thailand has witnessed a sharp downturn in internet freedoms. Laws that heavily censor content and bolster surveillance powers are not just headlines; they’re today’s stark reality. With comprehensive research and rigorous testing, we’ve discovered that a VPN for Thailand isn’t just a recommendation in these restrictive environments. It’s a necessity.

A Virtual Private Network (VPN) is your shield. It encrypts your online activity, rerouting it through an external server, making it challenging for prying eyes to track you. Whether using public Wi-Fi or browsing at home, this tool guarantees enhanced privacy. Plus, for ex-pats and travelers, it can bridge the gap with home and help you regain access to your home streaming services such as US Netflix, BBC iPlayer, ESPN, or Sky. Services that are usually unavailable in Thailand because of geo-blocks.

In this post, we’ll explain exactly how to use a VPN to browse securely and access your favorite international content in Thailand. Plus, we review each of the best VPNs for the job. Not got time to read the whole post? We’ve got you. Here’s a quick summary.

Best VPNs for Thailand:

1. NordVPN Best VPN for Thailand. Strong privacy credentials, wide server network, excellent speeds, and access to multiple streaming channels. Comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
   TIP In our testing we found that the cheapest NordVPN plan (Standard) works perfectly for Thailand.
2. Surfshark Best budget-friendly option for Thailand. Puts major emphasis on user security and easily unblocks a wide range of streaming platforms abroad.
3. IPVanish Fast, secure VPN service. A popular choice for torrenters and Kodi users. Unlimited simultaneous connections.
4. ExpressVPN Fast and secure provider with great unblocking capabilities, strong encryption, and privacy protocols. 24/7 customer support.
5. CyberGhost Beginner-freindly. Vast server network great for getting a Thai IP addresses or IPs from almost any other country. Ideal for accessing streaming services.
6. ProtonVPN Highly secure and reliable VPN with a no-logs policy and advanced features. Servers in 85+ countries, including Thailand.
7. Hotspot Shield: A no-logs VPN with reasonable performance and beginner-friendly apps. Great for streaming Thai content during a trip abroad. Offers 24/7 support over live chat.
8. PrivateVPN Reliable VPN service that offers users access to lots of streaming websites over a highly secure connection. A strong option for Thailand.

How we chose the top VPNs for Thailand

It can be difficult to decide on a VPN service for Thailand, as there are so many available, but not all are of the same quality. Our picks for the best VPN for Thailand are based on the following criteria:

• Wide global server network so you can access a variety of international content
• Speeds fast enough for uninterrupted streaming, browsing, and downloading.
• Strong security and privacy protocols to protect your online activities
• Keeps zero logs of user activity
• Customer service available should you need it

This is just a brief summary, but you can read more about our scientific testing methodology later on in this article. For now, let’s take a closer look at the ones that made our list.

The best VPNs for Thailand: 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 Thailand.

Best VPNs for Thailand

At Comparitech, we personally test all VPNs before we recommend them to you. The following reviews are based on our first-hand experences.

Here are our picks for the best VPN for Thailand:

1. NordVPN

Dec 2024 Works In ThailandTested Dec 2024

NordVPN is our top choice VPN for Thailand. It operates more than 6,000 servers in 100 countries, including 10+ servers in Thailand. You can connect depending on your exact requirements, such as stringent privacy, video streaming, anonymity, dedicated IP, and more. The service works with many streaming service providers, including Netflix, Hulu, and BBC content, such as iPlayer, without problems.

NordVPN delivers impressive speeds, even if you use its Thai servers from thousands of miles away. Following our testing, it returned an average of 161.52 Mbps, which is plenty for anyone looking to stream, chat, or torrent with a Thai IP address. There was a slight variance depending on the time of day we tested it, but that’s to be expected. Besides, a difference of 15 Mbps between its highest and lowest results is barely noticeable.

This VPN service provider has a no-logs policy, enabling you to browse with complete privacy. NordVPN’s security standards are amongst the best in the business—It uses the 256-bit AES protocol encryption standard by default and provides a kill switch and DNS leak protection.

There are desktop clients for Windows and MacOS, and you can download mobile VPN apps for iOS or Android.

BEST VPN FOR THAILAND:NordVPN is our top choice. It boasts a large server network, fast speeds, unlimited bandwidth, and great unblocking capabilities. This provider even offers a risk-free 30-day money-back guarantee.

Want to know more? Read our full review of NordVPN here, or watch the video review below.

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2. Surfshark

Works in ThailandTested Dec 2024  

Surfshark is a highly versatile service with over 3,200 servers in over 100 countries. It offers decent speeds, unlimited bandwidth, and the ability to access major platforms like Netflix US, Amazon Prime Video, and BBC iPlayer from anywhere in the world. While most VPNs only let you connect six devices at most, Surfshark has no limit and, as such, allows you to protect all of your devices simultaneously.

Surfshark was the fastest VPN we tested, though it was a close race. It averaged 162.10 Mbps, just over half a megabit more than NordVPN. Whether you hope to watch Channel 7 securely or just download files as quickly as possible, this provider has you covered. The only downside is that its speeds were a little less impressive in the evening (around 24 Mbps slower than in the morning). Let’s take a look at those full results:

This service takes your security very seriously. It protects your traffic from prying eyes using 256-bit AES encryption, protection against IPv6, WebRTC, and DNS leaks, and a kill switch (present in all app versions). There’s also automatic ad-blocking, malware-scanning, and the NoBorders option that lets you bypass country-wide internet restrictions. Surfshark doesn’t log any personally identifiable information, although you can pay in Bitcoin if you’d like. You can reach support 24/7 via email or live chat.

Surfshark offers iOS, Android, MacOS, Windows, and Linux apps. If you’d prefer, you can manually configure it for use with your home router.

BEST BUDGET VPN:Surfshark strikes the perfect balance between speed, security, and affordability, making it a strong general-purpose VPN. With a no-logging policy and a 30-day money-back guarantee, this service is well worth your time.

Read our full review of Surfshark here, or check out the video review below.

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3. IPVanish

Works In ThailandTested Dec 2024

IPVanish servers are optimized for speed, stability, and security, with around 2,000 of them spread across more than 60 countries. Servers in Bangkok allow users to access Thai content from abroad. This provider can also access multiple streaming platforms from abroad, including the notoriously difficult BBC iPlayer.

IPVanish has spent a lot of time and resources improving its performance lately, and it shows. After testing this VPN multiple times a day, it delivered an average speed of 153.28 Mbps. For context, that’s roughly what you’d need to stream ten 4K videos simultaneously! Our experts noted a small amount of speed variation across the three tests but nothing that would raise an eyebrow. Below, we’ll examine those speed tests in more detail:

This is one of the few VPN providers out there that are completely logless, so there’s no tracking of online activities or retention of any user data. Encryption protocols are tough. By default, the company leverages 256-bit encryption on the OpenVPN protocol, SHA512 authentication, and a DHE-RSA 2,048-bit key exchange with perfect forward secrecy. IPVanish includes an internet kill switch, which means traffic will be temporarily halted if the connection drops out of the blue.

IPVanish is popular with Kodi users because it lets them download the Android APK directly to their device. The interface is also remote control-friendly for Kodi devices without a keyboard and mouse.

There are apps for both iOS and Android, and there’s desktop support for Windows and MacOS.  A bonus with this provider is that you are allowed as many connected devices as you’d like, as opposed to the typical offering of five.

FAST AND SECURE:IPVanish gives you solid security in a speedy package. Allows unlimited device connections and offers a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full review of IPVanish.

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4. ExpressVPN

Works In ThailandTested Dec 2024

ExpressVPN operates over 3,000 servers spread across 100+ countries, including options in Thailand. That means if you’re a Thai resident traveling abroad, you can access local television such as Truevision. The service evades the Netflix war on VPNs without breaking a sweat. It’s similarly compatible with both Hulu and BBC iPlayer and supports torrenting. Customer support is available 24/7 via live chat if needed.

ExpressVPN is known for its extensive network, so naturally, it’d have servers in Thailand. This might not be the quickest provider around (averaging 123.56 Mbps) but it is capable of handling tasks like torrenting, live streaming, and playing online games without breaking a sweat. Further, we noticed minimal difference in speed when the VPN’s obfuscation is active. The chart below shows ExpressVPN’s performance at three different times of day:

ExpressVPN stores no logs that can identify you, such as real IP addresses. It uses 256-bit AES-CBC protocols as well as HMAC authentication and perfect forward secrecy. An internet kill switch is included, referred to as a ‘network lock’, which means it’ll freeze all traffic if the connection drops, keeping it secure. Their inbuilt DNS leak protection ensures total privacy.

Unlimited bandwidth is offered, which makes it an excellent choice for torrenting and P2P filesharing. Server switching is allowed from their vast array of server locations. They are hard to beat when it comes to downloading speeds.

There are mobile VPN apps for Android and iOS, or you can download desktop clients for Windows, MacOS, and Linux.

LAG-FREE STREAMING:ExpressVPN is great at unblocking geo-restricted services, plus it offers military-grade encryption protocols and fast download speeds. Plans include a 30-day no-quibbles money-back guarantee.

Read our in-depth review of ExpressVPN here, or check out our video review below.

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5. CyberGhost

Works In ThailandTested Dec 2024

CyberGhost offers an easy-to-use interface and a fast, reliable service. It has an extensive network of more than 10,000 servers in 100+ countries, including over 25 VPN Thailand servers. The service works with multiple streaming platforms, including Netflix and BBC iPlayer, and has speeds that are more than fast enough for uninterrupted streaming.

This is another strong choice for anyone who wants to perform data-intensive tasks without compromising on security. CyberGhost delivered average speeds of 123.41 Mbps (a hair slower than ExpressVPN) and boasted a reasonable degree of consistency. Its lowest result was still almost 120 Mbps, so you’re not going to struggle when it comes to streaming or torrenting. On that note, CyberGhost was able to access the vast majority of geo-blocked services we tried without much trouble. Here are the complete results of our speed testing:

This VPN service provider uses some of the toughest encryption standards. Specifically, it leverages 256-bit AES encryption on the OpenVPN protocol by default, along with 2,048-bit RSA keys and MD5 HMAC authentication. These are considered to be top-tier standards. An internet kill switch is also included, which means web traffic will be halted if the connection drops unexpectedly. DNS leak protection is built-in, and the service maintains no logs of online activities or user data.

You can download a VPN app for Android and iOS, and desktop clients for Windows and MacOS are available.

VALUE AND PERFORMANCE:CyberGhost provides access to lots of geo-restricted content and its easy-to-use VPN software and apps are ideal for beginners. Plans come with a 45-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full review of CyberGhost.

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6. ProtonVPN

ProtonVPN has one of the best reputations on the market because the same team behind Proton Mail developed it. The service is based in Switzerland, a country renowned for its stringent privacy laws. The VPN has a fully audited no-logs policy, and the applications come with advanced features such as AES encryption, a kill switch, a variety of protocols, obfuscation, multi-hop connections, and Tor over VPN. To gain additional security, you can also connect to self-owned Secure Core servers in 60 locations.

ProtonVPN is known for its speed, thanks to the WireGuard protocol, which is particularly efficient for streaming, gaming, torrenting, and private video calls in Thailand. Its servers in Thailand provide local IP addresses, allowing you to access Thai streaming services and overcome any blocks at work.

ProtonVPN has a great reputation on privacy but how do its speeds hold up? Pretty well, it turns out. Our testing returned an average speed of 96.15 Mbps, which is more than you’ll need to stream, torrent, or browse the web safely in Thailand. Unfortunately, there was a high degree of variance, with a full 155 Mbps of difference between this VPN’s highest and lowest results. Find out more using the chart below:

In our tests, ProtonVPN successfully provided access to various Thai streaming services, including AIS PLAY, TrueID, MONOMAX, WeTV Thailand, LINE TV, iQIYI Thailand, DOONEE, and Nung2HD. It also supports streaming platforms in over 85 countries, including the US and the UK.

Torrenting users will find ProtonVPN’s split tunneling and port forwarding feature perfect for seeding. 24/7 live chat support and a 30-day money-back guarantee are available to set up and test the VPN. A highly advanced VPN that costs a few extra dollars compared to our top recommendations.

FULLY FEATURED:ProtonVPN is a highly secure and reliable VPN based in Switzerland. The VPN has a superb reputation, a no-logs policy, and more advanced features than most of its competitors. It has servers in over 85+ countries, including Thailand. 24/7 live chat support is available on its website, and it has a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Find out more in our ProtonVPN review.

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7. Hotspot Shield

Works in ThailandTested Dec 2024  

Editor’s Note: Hotspot Shield is owned by Pango, Comparitech’s parent company. 

Hotspot Shield operates servers in over 80 countries including Thailand, making it a perfect choice for any international traveler. It’s highly versatile, supporting P2P traffic and working with a ton of popular streaming platforms including Netflix, Channel 7, and Disney+. There are even servers specially designed to help you watch US and British content from abroad. Users can secure up to 10 devices at a time and contact support day or night via live chat.

Don’t be fooled by the clean, beginner-friendly apps. Hotspot Shield pays close attention to your privacy, using unbreakable encryption, a kill switch, and leak protection to shield your traffic from prying eyes. Further, it’s been audited to prove that it’s telling the truth about its no-logs policy. To beat online censorship in Thailand, just activate the custom Hydra protocol (and make sure that auto-protect is turned on, since you’ll likely be using public wifi fairly often).

Just like before, we ran three speed tests. The results were fairly close, no matter what time of day we tested, leading to an overall average speed of 91.13 Mbps. Now, that’s far from the highest speed we’ve seen but it’s still more than enough for simple tasks like streaming or downloading large files. Here’s a chart breaking down Hotspot Shield’s speed results:

Hotspot Shield has apps for iOS, Windows, Android, MacOS, and Linux. Alternatively, you can follow manual setup instructions to get it running on most home routers.

QUICK AND SECURE:Hotspot Shield is a great everyday option. It balances speed, security, and streaming ability, while keeping the overall cost down. All plans come with a 45-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full review of Hotspot Shield here.

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8. PrivateVPN

Works in ThailandTested Dec 2024

PrivateVPN is a strong choice offering exceptional security, reliable performance, and excellent streaming capabilities for users in Thailand, whether they’re traveling or residing there.

One of the standout features of PrivateVPN is its ability to unblock popular Thai streaming services such as TrueID, Line TV, and AIS Play, making it easy to access your favorite content from anywhere. A strict no-logs policy keeps your online activities private and secure.

Let’s start by addressing the elephant in the room: PrivateVPN delivered lower average speeds than any other provider in this list. However, at 70.87 Mbps, it’s far from sluggish. You’ll be able to stream live Thai TV, free from any noticeable lag or buffering, and a gigabyte file should only take around two minutes to download. Below, you’ll see how PrivateVPN’s speeds compared at various times of the day:

PrivateVPN’s network comprises servers in 63 countries, providing a wide range of options for bypassing geo-restrictions. Its generous 10-device limit ensures that you can protect multiple devices simultaneously.

The VPN employs military-grade 256-bit AES encryption to safeguard your data, giving you peace of mind while browsing the internet. In addition, PrivateVPN’s apps are user-friendly, making them perfect for beginners, while its live chat support is available for selected hours to assist with any concerns or inquiries.

PrivateVPN offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, allowing you to test the service risk-free and decide if it fits your needs correctly.

EXCELLENT PRIVACY OFFERING:PrivateVPN includes a 10-device connection limit, beginner-friendly apps, and a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full PrivateVPN review.

Methodology: Finding the best VPNs for Thailand

Plenty of VPNs work in Thailand but we’re interested in finding the best, most reliable options on the market. This is trickier than you might think given how complex these services are under the hood. Our experts created an in-depth testing process that evaluates each VPN in five key areas: speed, network scale, security, streaming, and value. Below, we’ll explain why we chose these areas in particular and explore our testing method in more detail:

Thailand speeds

VPNs used to have a bad reputation for slowing down your connection. That said, there’s been real progress over the last few years and now, it’s rare to see a reduction of more than 30 percent. That’s good news because slow speeds can lead to pages that take forever to load or worse, random disconnection; not exactly what you want when browsing in a country where the internet is heavily-censored like Thailand.

Of course, you can get completely different results even if you run two speed tests back to back. To make things fair and remove as much volatility as possible, we decided to test each VPN’s Thai servers three times over the course of a day. Then, we’d average the results to get a more representative idea of the speeds you can actually expect. Note that our tests were run from the UK – you’ll generally get better performance the closer you are to your chosen server. Here’s a look at each provider’s average speed:

Next, our team weighted and averaged the results relative to one another. Both NordVPN and Surfshark earned a perfect score, with IPVanish following closely behind. ExpressVPN and CyberGhost tied for third place, though they were quite a bit behind the others.

Server availability

Our first goal was to find out if potential recommendations could actually get you an IP address from Thailand. Once we’d eliminated those that didn’t, we took a look at how many other locations users could access. After all, Thailand is a big place and most providers only have servers in Bangkok – if you’re quite a bit away, you may actually get better performance from a server in Malaysia, Cambodia, or Vietnam. We also considered how many servers were in each location, though not every VPN makes this information public.

After noting down what each provider had to offer, we assigned scores which were then weighted and normalized. The reason for this is simple: it makes it easier to compare services side by side since even relatively small differences in score will be simple to spot. See for yourself:

ProtonVPN was the top scorer here, earning an impressive 9.8 out of 10. CyberGhost and NordVPN tied for second, each with 9.6. PrivateVPN unfortunately had the lowest score, partially because it supports around 60 locations (most of its rivals support around 100) and only operates around 200 servers globally. Still, for what it’s worth, we found its Thai servers to be pretty reliable.

Security and privacy

The primary goal of any VPN is to make sure you’re able to browse the internet safely. This is doubly important if you’re in a country (such as Thailand) where your online activities can see you jailed. To determine if providers were really living up to their privacy claims, we evaluated each of our recommended VPNs on 15 security-related criteria, as shown below:

Just like before, we normalized and weighted the results, ensuring each VPN ended up with a score out of 10. One of the first things you’ll notice is that competition was fierce here, with none of our top providers scoring less than 8.6 points.

This was a very close race. NordVPN and Surfshark tied for first place, each earning 9.5 points, while ProtonVN took second, with 9.3, ExpressVPN came in third at 9.2. While there’s always room for improvement, these services only lost out for very minor reasons such as having slightly shorter authentication keys or lacking more advanced features like a stealth mode or local traffic blocking.

Streaming

One of the most common reasons people use a VPN is to access geo-blocked platforms (like Channel 7 or Thai PBS) during a trip abroad. With this in mind, we put each of our top VPNs up against a series of increasingly difficult to unblock streaming services. We also checked for reliability; if our experts had to try multiple servers to find one that worked, that was taken into account. Finally, we looked for anything that’d make streaming easier. This might include task-specific servers, a Smart DNS service, or even just automatic ad-blocking tools. Here’s everything our top picks had to offer:

And after assigning normalized and weighted scores, we end up with this:

We actually have a three way tie for first place between NordVPN, Surfshark, and ExpressVPN. IPVanish was close behind, but then there’s a bit of a falloff. Unfortunately, Hotspot Shield and PrivateVPN tied for last place too, with 8.6 points each. They’re still good choices but can sometimes struggle with less popular streaming platforms (and you may have to try a few servers to find one that’s suitable).

Value for money

People sometimes gravitate towards free VPNs, but that’s a poor choice, especially somewhere like Thailand. We know that price is an important factor for a lot of our readers though, which is why we’re so stubborn about making sure you’re not overcharged. In this step of our analysis, we look at each VPN’s standard monthly price, its lowest price, and how frequently it goes on sale. One more thing: every VPN we recommend must have a money-back guarantee so you can try it with no risk at all. Here’s everything we considered when assigning scores:

As you can see, Surfshark came out on top, closely followed by IPVanish. Both of these providers have scrapped their connection limits and offer steep discounts on long-term plans, plus a student discount. Hotspot Shield, on the other hand, scored just 6.8 points. That’s because it has just two subscription terms and a slightly higher minimum price point.

How to use a VPN in Thailand

Using a VPN is easier than you might think. Just follow these simple steps to get started.

Here’s how to use a VPN in Thailand:

1. Sign up to your chosen provider (we recommend NordVPN).
2. Download the appropriate VPN app for your device.
3. Connect to a server in your desired location. For example, you’d connect to a US VPN server and gain a US IP address to access US Netflix or a server in Thailand to browse securely within the country and access Thai content.
4. Navigate to the stream, and you should have unrestricted access.
5. If you’re struggling to access sites, try clearing your browser’s cookies and cache and reloading the page. Alternatively, try a different server or contact your VPN’s customer support team for assistance.

Note that if you’re hoping to catch a live stream, for example, of a sports event, it’s best to test the connection ahead of time. This way, you’ll have time to troubleshoot any issues that may arise without missing any of the game.

How to get a free VPN for Thailand

We understand the temptation to try and get a VPN for Thailand for free, and indeed, the most cursory internet search will turn up plenty of free services. But the majority of them are just not worth using.

Firstly, free VPN services tend to cluster their servers in the most sought-after locations, such as the US and Europe, so you might struggle to find one with servers in Thailand. If you do find one, it’ll likely offer a slow, frustrating service. Free VPNs tend to have low server numbers and high user numbers, leading to long wait times, download caps, bandwidth throttling, and terrible speeds.

Also, free VPNs come with some worrying security issues. Many lack basic encryption, leaving you just as exposed as if you weren’t using a VPN at all. More worrying still, several free VPN providers have been caught mining and selling user data, while others come laced with Malware.

In short, we recommend avoiding free VPNs and coughing up a few dollars each month for a reputable VPN rather than running a huge risk. However, if you’re 100% set on finding a free VPN for Thailand, there are a few things you can try.

How to get a free VPN for Thailand:

• Choose a reputable VPN that has a free basic level. These often come with limited server locations and data caps but are at least secure and keep no logs.
• Opt for a VPN that offers a free trial. These range from 1 – 7 days, so it could be enough if you just want to be protected for a short time.
• Make the most of the money-back guarantees of the providers we’ve listed here. They range from 30 to 45 days, so they should be enough to cover you for a vacation or short work trip. Unlike free trials, you do have to pay upfront but can at least rest assured that if you’re not 100% happy with the service, you can claim a full refund. Check out our step-by-step guide to claiming a full refund from NordVPN to see how simple it is.

The future of the internet in Thailand

Thailand is a hotspot for travelers, ex-pats, digital nomads, and more. However, advocacy body Freedom House emphatically states that the country’s cyber landscape is ranked as “not free” with the arrest of bloggers and content blockage pointed as the main concerns.

2016 saw the arrest of social media users for controversial posts and harsh sentences handed down to bloggers for things like insulting the government and public officials. A newly inducted law recommended 10-year prison sentences for vague offenses like “influencing voters”, which was used to silence online discussion for proposed constitutional changes. 2017 saw the start of a renewed internet censorship campaign.

Freedom House notes that the history of military coups in the country has something to do with this censorship. Since the last coup, journalists, academics, and other activists have been subjected to greater surveillance, and hundreds of people have been harshly interrogated. The government has also attempted to procure sophisticated surveillance tech and tried to develop plans for a single national internet gateway similar to China’s Great Firewall.

The Electronic Frontier Foundation notes that changes to cybercrime laws in Thailand are ambiguous, vague, and lack accountability. There’s a real attempt to stifle freedom of expression, especially on digital platforms, and to maintain control of Thai society.

See also:

• Visitors’ guide to online privacy and security in Thailand

Using a VPN in Thailand: FAQs