The need for the best VPN for Hong Kong seems to be growing daily, alongside the need for private internet access and if you’re considering getting one, which should you choose?

It’s what we’ll be answering in this article.

As you may know, Hong Kong has experienced mass protests against the Chinese government and the controversial ‘face mask ban’ and since then, things haven’t really gotten better.

With these increased issues, some are wondering if the next thing to be censored will be the internet. If nothing else, than to use the technology to disrupt protestors and limit their organisational abilities in future.

If you find yourself living in Hong Kong or travelling there soon, you might want to take precautions now and ensure that you have private internet access at all times. This is easiest to achieve with good VPNs for Hong Kong.

After all, nobody can tell whether or not the internet might become restricted. While it likely won’t, it always pays to be prepared for the worst.

With that in mind, here are our top virtual private network choices for use across Hong Kong.

Top 7 Hong Kong VPN services

1. ExpressVPN – Highly Recommended
2. NordVPN
3. CyberGhost
4. VyprVPN
5. VPN.ac
6. Surfshark
7. IPVanish

1. ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN has been praised for being the best VPN choice for China, especially when it comes to bypassing the country’s great firewall. Naturally, that means it is also a decent Hong Kong VPN.

It is based in the British Virgin Islands, so that alone, coupled with its security features stands it in good stead for bypassing any potential blocks elsewhere.

It features servers in 94 different countries, several of which are close enough to provide fast download speeds while still maintaining access to the open internet.

It also has a strict no-logs policy, DNS leak protection, unlimited bandwidth, the ability to unblock streaming services, thousands of IP addresses, and up to 5 simultaneous connections.

Nearby options include locations such as Japan, Singapore, India, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Malaysia, Nepal, Pakistan, and others. Plus, there are servers in Hong Kong itself should they be required.

ExpressVPN is also known for being one of the Virtual Private Networks available for almost any device you can think of. It is also great if you want to access Netflix and other streaming services, such as the BBC iPlayer.

It features dedicated apps for Android, iOS, Linux, Windows, macOS, Chromebook, Routers, Fire TV, consoles, Smart TVs, and many others.

In other words, if the need to open Hong Kong’s internet emerges – ExpressVPN is the best Hong Kong VPN, and it will come in handy. Hopefully, if it doesn’t then it’s still great for keeping you secure all the rest of the time.

Our #1 Recommended VPN

30-day money back guarantee

2. NordVPN

Then, we have NordVPN, which is your second best option among top VPNs for Hong Kong. This is another of the high-speed VPN companies which has over 5,637 VPN servers in 60 different countries.

That includes Hong Kong itself, but also Japan, Singapore, Indonesia, South Korea, Vietnam, Taiwan, Malaysia, and many others nearby.

NordVPN also features numerous apps that can be used on Android, iOS, Windows, Mac, and many other devices, including browser extensions for Chrome and Firefox.

Not only that, but NordVPN was also audited, and it was confirmed that the services’ claims about not keeping logs are entirely true and accurate. This allows you to access the web and apps without fear your actions are being recorded.

NordVPN will even return your money within 30 days after making a payment if you change your mind and decide that you do not like their service.

3. CyberGhost

CyberGhost is another one of the top VPNs for Hong Kong and makes a good option if you’re after server choice with strong encryption.

It is a known, trusted provider that has been around for ages. It also features a strict no-logs policy, and an extensive network of 7,100+ servers that spans 91 countries.

It has 60 servers in Hong Kong and 12 in China. However, you’ll probably want to hop to a nearby server in Singapore, Japan, India, Indonesia, Korea or one of the many others.

CyberGhost also features apps for Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, Android, Chrome & Firefox, Amazon Firestick, Android TV, routers, and more.

Last but not least, it features one of the longest money-back guarantees in the VPN industry – lasting up to 45 days. That means that you get a month and a half of use, with the ability to get your money back at any time.

4. VyprVPN

Another of the best Hong Kong VPN providers that you can use to protect yourself and secure an open internet is VyprVPN.

VyprVPN is well-known for its ability to unblock different content, as well as for having servers in countries that only a handful of VPNs tend to cover. It also offers a high-speed service and they own their entire network making it extra secure.

VyprVPN is among the better VPNs for Hong Kong because it has servers in Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Macau, Malaysia, Maldives, Pakistan, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, and multiple other Asian countries.

It also works on Windows, Mac, Android and iOS, plus a few other devices.

It also features a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you’ve got plenty of time to test it for your usage.

All of that comes with strong protection and a no-log policy, which makes it another excellent VPN choice for Hong Kong, should the situation escalate.

5. VPN.ac

Next on our list is VPN.ac – an advanced VPN service that offers servers in over 20 countries and that comes at some very affordable prices.

While its money-back guarantee is a bit shorter than what other services offer, only lasting for 7 days, this service still has a lot of server locations, including several of them in the USA, Mexico, Canada, the UK, Luxembourg, France, Spain, Netherlands, Switzerland, Italy, Germany, Sweden, Finland, and Romania.

Asian countries also have a few servers, but they include good locations in Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, and even a few in Australia.

This VPN can be used on Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS, and it is compatible with pretty much any device that runs these systems.

It provides fast speeds and is backed by a very knowledgeable, skilled team, meaning that you can use it for reaching out of Hong Kong at any time.

6. Surfshark

Surfshark is a disrupter VPN that has taken the market by storm since it launched just a couple of years ago.

It comes with fast connection speeds, strong encryption, and a no user logs guarantee. Although some connection data is kept and Surfshark is also registered in an EU country now (the Netherlands), Surfshark will still keep Hong Kong user data and web traffic, in general secure.

There are 3,200 Surfshark servers worldwide, including a good selection in Hong Kong and other regional countries such as Taiwan, South Korea, Japan, and the Philippines.

You can download Surfshark onto a huge range of apps and you get unlimited simultaneous connections, which means Hong Kong internet users can protect all their devices and their internet traffic.

Surfshark has great obfuscation technology and works inside China, which means that if restrictions in Hong Kong continue to get worse, it will be able to help.

It also has split tunneling, and other handy tools that make it a reliable VPN to hide your traffic from the government agencies and other third parties.

Surfshark VPN encrypts your connection on computers and mobile apps, it has an internet kill switch, and it can be used for accessing BBC iPlayer and other streaming services. That includes those inside Hong Kong as well, if you wish to access Hong Kong content.

There is also a 30-day money-back guarantee and some of the most competitive prices around – another good VPN option for people in Hong Kong.

7. IPVanish

IPVanish is one of the old guard of VPNs for Hong Kong and it still has plenty to offer Hong Kongers.

It has more than 1,900 servers in 75+ locations. Hong Kong is not catered for at the moment, but nearby Taiwan, Malaysia, Singapore, Japan, and South Korea are all good options. Sadly, IPVanish does not work in China at the time of writing but it is still working in Hong Kong.

IPVanish offers fast connection speeds, robust 256-bit AES encryption and a no user logs policy. This is unaudited at the moment, which is a negative.

IPVanish’s headquarters is in the US which is not ideal for online privacy protection either but we have seen nothing in their privacy policy that Hong Kongers should be concerned about.

As far as anyone can tell, it is a secure VPN and one of the best VPNs for the job, with a massive server network and the ability to access local content. It also has a kill switch, private DNS, and a secure VPN connection that can let you access websites while protecting users data.

There are a lot of IPVanish apps available on a huge range of devices and this VPN comes with unlimited simultaneous device connections.

IPVanish prices remain reasonable and there is 30-day money-back guarantee in place too.

Will Hong Kong internet become censored?

As mentioned, the situation in Hong Kong is complicated, and it is becoming more complex as the years pass.

Our opinion is it is unlikely that the internet will become censored. It would do irreparable damage to both business and the region as a whole, but anything is possible due to the ongoing climate.

Some individuals, such as Charles Mok, previously expressed concerns about this possibility.

He stated that an internet shutdown and bans of individual sites and apps might be a real possibility, especially when it comes to Telegram or LIHKG, VPNs, and other services.

In an article published by the Hong Kong Free Press, a member of the government’s top advisory body, Ip Kwok-him was quoted as saying, “At this stage, the Chinese government will consider all legal means to stop the riots,” he said. “We would not rule out a ban on the internet.”

However, as the riots of 2019 are somewhat of a distant memory, it is unlikely to factor in the future unless similar situations occur.

If this happens, Hong Kong’s citizens might be facing similar issues like those living in mainland China.

Hong Kong already experienced a colonial-era emergency law that banned face masks at public gatherings. Many see this as a violation of the people’s right to privacy and identity protection.

What’s a safe VPN for Hong Kong?

When it comes to choosing a safe VPN for Hong Kong, there are a few things that you should keep in mind.

First and foremost – you must choose a VPN that is registered offshore, meaning that no VPN based in Hong Kong will do.

That also means that the VPN you choose must have servers outside of Hong Kong, as well.

Next, the VPN should have a confirmed no-logs policy, so that it wouldn’t record your online activities.

If you can’t confirm this for any VPN you are considering, it is better not to use that particular service.

You can quickly discover if a VPN’s claim not to keep logs is genuine by looking into audits, which will confirm if these claims are real. ExpressVPN, NordVPN and VyprVPN have all been audited to prove these claims.

Finally, always pick a service that uses the strongest encryption, such as 256-bit AES. Also look out for added security features such as DNS leak protection, IPv6 leak protection and a kill switch.

As for security protocols, most experts agree that OpenVPN is one of the strongest ones out there, with Wireguard a stronger alternative, which is also what you should look for in a service.

What to look for in a VPN for Hong Kong

With the rapidly evolving political situation in Hong Kong, a VPN has never been more important there. But what qualities and features should Hong Kongers be looking for in a VPN service these days?

1. No log policy

Privacy is paramount in Hong Kong which means that you need a VPN which you can sure is keeping no logs of what you are getting up to online.

Most VPNs have a no user logs guarantee and on paper, these look great. But you are really taking a VPN on trust with claims like these. This is why a lot of VPNs are getting their no user logs guarantee independently verified by third-party experts to prove they are genuine.

In Hong Kong, it is well worth looking for a VPN provider that can offer this sort of reassurance or alternatively, one which has seen its no user logs promise tested in a reputable court of law.

2. Apps for your devices

Hong Kong users need the protections that a VPN can offer on all their devices. So before you make the decision about which VPN is best for you, it is worth doing a little audit of all your devices to see where you need to use your VPN.

Then check that your chosen provider has apps for those devices (or failing that a manual installation guide you can follow).

As long as you can protect all your devices, you will be safe with one of the VPNs on our recommended list but check that it works where you need it first.

Also, if you have plenty of devices or you wish to protect your entire family’s devices, consider going for a VPN with multiple simultaneous connections

3. Server locations

Hong Kong based users will assume that they need VPN servers in Hong Kong in order to get a Hong Kong IP address, and for some that will be useful. But it is not essential.

If you want to bypass government censorship in Hong Kong, you are better off connecting to a VPN server in nearby countries like Taiwan or South Korea to get their IP addresses.

After all, if your own Hong Kong IP address cannot help you bypass censorship, then the VPN’s Hong Kong IP address will not be more successful.

Hong Kong servers are useful for accessing Hong Kong’s content from outside the country, such as your favorite Hong Kong shows, or accessing it safely from within.

A lot of Hong Kongers want the reassurance of constantly connecting to servers in those countries or even places further afield like the US and the UK.

Think about where you might want to have IP Addresses (such as Hong Kong IP address) and then double-check the server list of your chosen VPN to make sure it covers all the locations you need.

4. Strong security protocols

The increasing incursions of the Chinese Communist Party into everyday life in Hong Kong means that people are increasingly concerned about their online security, even if they are not actively involved in the pro-democracy movement.

A VPN will help to keep you safe online by encrypting all your data but make sure that the encryption is up to scratch.

256-bit AES encryption is the minimum amount that we would recommend and make sure this is combined with a secure protocol such as WireGuard or OpenVPN protocol.

A VPN is not a security panacea but should be a central part of your online security toolkit alongside anti-virus software and a robust firewall.

How to get a VPN for Hong Kong

Once you have chosen the best VPN for you, the next step is to get it all set up on your various devices. This is a fairly straightforward process.

We have provided a short step-by-step guide for you to follow below using ExpressVPN, our number one recommended VPN as an example, although any Hong Kong VPN has a similar procedure.

1. Sign up for ExpressVPN by clicking a link in this guide and then following the simple onscreen instructions on the ExpressVPN website to sign up.
2. Download the ExpressVPN app onto your devices. Always do this from either your official app store or the ExpressVPN website.
3. Install the apps.
4. Log in to your ExpressVPN account using the details given to you in step 1.
5. Open the app and either click Connect to be hooked up to the fastest available server for your location or otherwise choose a Hong Kong server location from the list and then click connect to hide your dedicated IP address.
6. Wait a few seconds for ExpressVPN to establish a connection.
7. Use the internet as usual safe in the knowledge that you are now protected by ExpressVPN.

If you have any problems connecting to Hong Kong servers, either try a different Hong Kong server or otherwise contact ExpressVPN’s helpful customer support team who will be more than happy to help you get up and running.

Is there a free VPN for Hong Kong?

You might start considering using a free VPNs to reach out or hide your activities.

Let us say right away that this is not recommended, as a lot of free VPNs are owned by Chinese companies.

This may not be true for every free VPN, but there is extensive research that shows many are owned by unknown Chinese entities. In the current climate that could put your privacy at serious risk.

This could be very problematic for Hong Kong users. You can never know who collects your data, and who this data is delivered to for analysis.

Most of them don’t even have servers in Hong Kong anyway, and their server network is tiny in comparison to the best VPNs. This is why we always recommend using only premium VPN services for Hong Kong residents.

However, we understand that you might have to resort to using free VPN services in some situations. If this ends up being true for you – we recommend using ProtonVPN, Riseup.net, or PrivadoVPN.

These are the best VPNs that are most reliable and registered outside both China and Hong Kong, but they still have servers in Hong Kong that you can use.

However, remember there are some significant restrictions with free VPNs such as fewer servers, no automatic kill switch, potentially malicious VPN app, the inability to access geo-restricted content like major streaming platforms, no lightning-fast speeds, no split tunneling, and more.

So you should only consider them in extreme cases.

Summary

The situation in Hong Kong is getting worse by the day, and citizens live in fear that a complete or partial internet shutdown might be coming.

If this happens, you will either be severely restricted in what you can access or be locked out from the wider world.

Again, we suspect this is unlikely, but if the situation continues, anything is a possibility.

In most cases, this can be prevented through the use of VPN technology. Above, we’ve rounded up seven services that will allow you to access any servers or apps that become censored.

By using them, you can protect yourself and hide your identity, as well as keep your internet freedom. In the case that nothing happens in internet censorship, you can be confident your internet connection is secure regardless.

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