Best VPNs for the Philippines in 2024
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Learn moreWhether you're a citizen or a traveler, using a VPN in the Philippines has tremendous value. Internet freedom has been a matter of concern in the country for years. Numerous news and adult content sites have been blocked in the Philippines for various concerns over defamation and more. Additionally, the government has implemented several laws that require ISPs to track and record user activities and law “violations.” A VPN is a must for anyone who wants to retain their online privacy.
A reliable VPN service allows you to use the internet privately and securely without anyone tracking your activities. On top of that, a VPN helps anyone bypass geo-restrictions and access blocked content, as well as watch favorite shows and movies, like The Voice Philippines or It's Showtime.
In this article, we tested 41 number of VPNs and ranked the best 5 VPNs for the Philippines, including 2 free VPNs that excel in security, bypassing censorship and geo-blocks, overall performance, and other aspects.
Best VPNs for the Philippines in 2024
- NordVPN – the best secure Philippines VPN to bypass restrictions
- Surfshark – top VPN for the Philippines to get around censorship
- PureVPN – privacy-focused VPN for the Philippines to access restricted sites
- Windscribe – best and most private freemium Philippines VPN
- Hotspot Shield – freemium VPN for bypassing geo-restrictions in the Philippines
Why use a VPN in the Philippines?
Anyone in the Philippines should use a VPN to protect their own online security and anonymity. It is especially recommended for journalists, broadcasters, and activists. In the Philippines, you can face prison for reporting against the government or just posting comments considered defamatory. Furthermore, disinformation has been at an all-time high in the Philippines ever since before the 2022 presidential election, and DDoS attacks are another prominent cyber threat.
By masking your IP address and encrypting your online activities, a VPN can help you stay secure and protect the anonymity of your identity online. Your ISP and the government will not be able to track your online activities, including the sites you visit or comments you post. Additionally, you will be able to access services and content that might not be available in the Phillippines, including domestic and foreign news publications, pornography sites, and other
The best VPNs for the Philippines – detailed list
After testing 41 of providers, we came up with a well-researched list of the best 3 paid VPNs for the Philippines. To compile this list, we looked at the providers’ privacy policies and security infrastructure, server locations, capabilities to bypass censorship and other restrictions, pricing, and some additional features.
1. NordVPN – the best security suite to protect your privacy in the Philippines
Based in: | Panama |
Servers/countries: | 6400+ servers in 111 countries |
Price from: | $2.99/month |
Current deal: | Get 74% OFF NordVPN + 3 months free |
NordVPN is the best Philippines VPN choice when you need a full security suite. The provider has an impressive arsenal of features all wrapped in one user-friendly dashboard.
Servers. NordVPN has a massive fleet of 6400 servers in 111 countries. It has 2 servers in the Philippines, as well as plenty of nearby locations to choose from, including servers in Hong Kong, Singapore, the US and UK. You will be able to access content not available in the Philippines easily, including blocked news and adult content sites, as well as streaming services such as BBC iPlayer or different Netflix libraries.
Performance. NordVPN shows excellent performance in speed, as well as with unblocking geo-restricted content, when gaming, and for torrenting. During our tests, we managed to unblock Netflix, Max, BBC iPlayer, and other platforms with NordVPN. When gaming and torrenting, the lag was minimal, and files downloaded exceptionally fast, respectively.
Security and privacy. NordVPN is based in Panama, which is a privacy-friendly jurisdiction, and has a strict, independently audited no-logs policy. You can rest assured that no ISP or government will be able to spy on your online activities. Additionally, it offers features like a kill switch to prevent data leaks, as well as Threat Protection for blocking ads and dangerous websites. Furthermore, NordVPN uses AES-256 and ChaCha20 encryption to secure your data.
Price. The subscription prices of NordVPN start from $2.99/month for 10 simultaneous connections. You also get a 30-day money-back guarantee and can even try it beforehand with a free NordVPN 7-day trial on Android.
Read more about this provider in our NordVPN review.
2. Surfshark – secure and well-performing VPN for Philippines
Based in: | The Netherlands |
Servers/countries: | 3200+ servers in 100 countries |
Price from: | $1.99/month |
Current deal: | Now up to 87% OFF Surfshark + 4 months FREE |
Surfshark is one of the top choice for the country's citizens and travelers outside the Philippines. This provider has everything you need – servers in the Philippines, top-notch security, excellent speeds, and an impressive global server count.
Servers. Surfshark boasts a network of 3200+ servers in 100 countries, including server locations in the Philippines. You'll be able to easily get a Philippines IP address and access Philippines-exclusive content, or get an IP address in neighboring countries like Malaysia or Hong Kong, as well as servers in the UK and US. This will help you access services that may be geo-restricted, such as BBC iPlayer or US streaming services like Max or Hulu.
Performance. Surfshark shows excellent performance with streaming, gaming, and torrenting. With the WireGuard protocol and some specialized servers, we were able to unblock all Netflix libraries and play games like Warzone 2.0 on various servers with minimal lag.
Security and privacy. Surfshark is based in the Netherlands, in which the laws don’t require VPNs to collect any user data. Thus, Surfshark can fully comply with its independently audited no-logs policy. Your ISP or the government won’t be able to see what you do online. Additionally, Surfshark has a kill switch for IP and DNS leak protection, as well as an obfuscation mode for extra anonymity and privacy. To ensure that outsiders can't access your data, Surfshark protects it with advanced AES-256 and ChaCha20 encryption.
Price. You can get a Surfshark subscription with unlimited simultaneous connections for as low as $1.99/month. The provider offers a free Surfshark 7-day trial on Mac, iOS, and Android devices as well as a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Read more about this provider in our Surfshark review.
3. PureVPN – privacy-minded provider when you need IP in the Philippines
Based in: | British Virgin Islands |
Servers/countries: | 6500+ servers in 65 countries |
Price from: | $2.14/month |
Current deal: | Now 83% OFF PureVPN + 3 FREE months |
PureVPN is another great provider with servers in the Philippines that delivers advanced privacy protection. It aims to make your connection anonymous and your data secure.
Servers. PureVPN offers 6500+ servers in 65 countries, including servers in the Philippines – you’ll be able to get a Philippines IP address easily. With it, you’ll be able to access shows only available in the Philippines content libraries. Additionally, you can connect to servers in the US and the UK as well to access even more diverse content.
Performance. PureVPN shows good performance when it comes to bypassing geo-restrictions and censorship. In our testing, we were able to unblock a handful of streaming sites like Netflix, as well as sites for adult content and news. Its connection speeds are also pretty good when connected to the WireGuard protocol.
Security and privacy. PureVPN’s no-logs policy is always on audit, which means it is constantly making sure it does not collect user data. Additionally, it is also based in the British Virgin Islands, which is a privacy-friendly jurisdiction. Just like Surfshark and NordVPN, PureVPN comes with a solid kill switch.
Price. PureVPN prices start from $2.14/month, letting you connect 10 devices. It also offers a 31-day money-back guarantee.
Read more about this provider in our PureVPN review.
The best free VPNs for the Philippines – detailed list
If you're on a tight budget, try out a free VPN for the Philippines. After all, using a free VPN is better than not using one at all.
1. Windscribe – ultra secure freemium VPN for Philippines
Based in: | Canada |
Servers/countries: | 480+ servers in 69 countries |
Price from: | $5.75/month |
Current deal: | Now up to 55% OFF! |
Windscribe is a free but secure VPN for the Philippines that keeps your identity hidden. It comes with solid features and transparency reports.
Servers. This freemium provider comes with a modest server fleet compared to paid providers. It has a total of 480 servers in 69 countries. However, only the paid version has servers in the Philippines. With the free version, the closest server location is Hong Kong, so you will still be able to unblock some geo-restricted content and maintain fairly good speeds. You can also get free IP addresses in 11 countries in total, including the Netherlands, the US, Canada, and more.
Performance. The free Windscribe version can unblock a few streaming sites, and the speeds are fairly good for casual browsing. Additionally, the free version has a bandwidth limit of only 2GB/month, which is enough for some casual browsing. The best streaming performance, unlimited bandwidth, and connection speeds can only be unlocked with the paid plans.
Security and privacy. While Windscribe’s no-logs policy has not been audited, this provider regularly publishes transparency reports. Additionally, the free Windscirbe version also has a firewall, which acts as a kill switch and prevents data leaks. With the paid version, you also get access to features like an ad blocker, and double-hop. Windscribe uses advanced AES-256 and ChaCha20 encryption to secure your traffic.
Price. If you feel like the freemium version is not powerful enough, prices for Windscribe premium service start at $5.75/month. The subscription has unlimited simultaneous connections but only a three-day refund policy.
Read more about this provider in our Windscribe review.
2. Hotspot Shield – free Philippines VPN for unblocking streaming platforms
Based in: | United States |
Servers/countries: | 3200+ servers in 85 countries |
Price: | $2.99/month |
Current deal: | Now up to 77% OFF! |
Hotspot Shield is a freemium VPN for the Philippines with great unblocking capabilities. It delivers fast speeds, excellent server count, and leak protection.
Servers. The provider has a solid fleet of 3200+ servers across more than 85 different countries. However, the free version doesn't offer the Philippines location. Instead, you can get IP addresses with the closest Singapore servers or countries like the UK, New York, and Los Angeles.
Performance. Hotspot Shield is great for streaming. During our tests, it successfully unblocked major streaming platforms. So, you can watch Netflix, BBC iPlayer, and YouTube with no issues.
Security and privacy. If you're especially security-minded, Hotspot Shield may not be a sufficient provider for you. While its paid version delivers adequate protection, the no-logs policy does not apply to the free version. Additionally, you'll need to get a subscription to unlock features like a password manager or antivirus. On the brighter side, the provider comes with great leak protection. The reliable kill switch protects your data from leaking even if the VPN connection drops. Hotspot Shield also uses efficient AES-128 encryption.
Price. If you'd rather get the benefits of a paid version, it will cost you $2.99/month. An additional bonus is a 45-day money-back guarantee.
Read more about this provider in our Hotspot Shield review.
How we tested these Philippines VPNs
We test and review each VPN before including it in our rankings. Here’s how we tested and evaluated these free and paid VPNs for the Philippines:
- Firstly, we tested and evaluated the security measures of each VPN, free and premium. We looked at encryption and authentication methods, security features such as kill switches, threat protection, ad blockers, dark web monitoring, IP and DNS leak protection functionality, and more.
- We ensured that each provider in this list has a no-logs policy (best if independently audited), and is based in a privacy-friendly country. This is to make sure that your chosen VPN provider will not collect your online activity data and you’ll be able to stay anonymous and private online at all times.
- We reviewed the provider’s server networks – whether they offer servers and IP addresses in the Philippines, and if not, what are the closest available locations. For freemium providers, we also compared the servers available with free vs with paid plans and considered the limitations that this difference brings up.
- Furthermore, we also tested the VPNs ability to bypass geo-blocks and other restrictions, such as censorship. We tested and made sure these VPNs, both free and paid, are able to unblock at least some, if not all, streaming platforms, most popular news, and social media sites, as well as adult content websites.
- For paid VPNs, we also considered the starting price and what the most affordable plans offer. For free VPNs, we compared the features available with the free version vs with the paid version and took that into account while making our final rankings.
- Finally, we compiled our evaluations to produce comprehensive rankings of each Philippines VPN – by taking into account the best security and privacy measures, unblocking capabilities, the biggest and most diverse server networks, and the most affordable pricing or features available with the free version.
Why use a VPN in the Philippines?
Using a VPN in the Philippines can provide several benefits, including:
- Enhanced privacy and security. Privacy on the internet is not a guarantee. Thus, you need to take measures to ensure no one knows what you do online. A VPN can efficiently encrypt your internet traffic, making it difficult for anyone, including your internet service provider (ISP), government, or cybercriminals, to intercept or spy on your online activities.
- Identity protection. If you want to roam the web anonymously for whatever reason, a VPN can cover your tracks. It masks your IP address and location, making it impossible for anyone to track down who you truly are.
- Accessing censored content. While not as prevalent as in such countries as Iran or China, censorship in the Philippines exists. The government has been known to censor certain websites and content, such as political or religious websites. You can bypass these restrictions using a VPN and access the content you want.
- Bypassing geo-restrictions. Other than security, VPNs are especially useful for entertainment. That's right, with a VPN, you can easily bypass any geo-restrictions and catch up on any Filipino TV series or access the worldwide streaming platforms from the comfort of your home.
Best VPNs for the Philippines compared
Brand | Rating | Streaming services | Logging | Servers | Simultaneous connection | Price starting from |
NordVPN | Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, Disney+, and more | No logs, independently audited | 6400 servers in 111 countries | 10 | $2.99/month | |
Surfshark | Netflix, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, and more | No logs, independently audited | 3200 servers in 100 countries | Unlimited | $1.99/month | |
PureVPN | Netflix, BBC iPlayer, YouTube | No logs, always-on audit | 6500 servers in 65 countries | 10 | $2.14/month | |
Windscribe | Netflix, BBC iPlayer, YouTube | No logs, not audited | 480 servers in 69 countries | Unlimited | $5.75/month | |
Hotspot Shield | Netflix, BBC iPlayer, YouTube, Amazon, Hulu, and more | Yes | 3200 servers in 85 countries | Up to 10 | $2.99/month |
How to choose a VPN for The Philippines
There are a few security and privacy features that you should look for when choosing a good VPN to use in the Philippines:
- No logs policy. A VPN with an independently audited no-logs policy will ensure that your online activities remain private and anonymous. Your ISP or the government won’t be able to see what you do online – this is especially important if you’re a journalist, or activist, or want to access sites that are banned in the Philippines.
- Country of jurisdiction. Choose a VPN that is based in a privacy-friendly country – this means that the country’s laws don’t require VPN providers to record or provide the government with any personal user information.
- Server network. Pick a VPN that has many servers across the globe, especially in countries such as the US, and GB. By connecting to these countries, you’ll be able to bypass censorship and other internet restrictions in the Philippines easily. Additionally, you’ll be able to also access streaming and other content libraries from other countries.
- Servers in the Philippines. If you need a Philippines IP address, make sure that the provider you choose has servers in the Philippines.
Some other things to pay attention to when choosing a VPN for the Philippines include security features such as a kill switch, IP leak protection, and an ad blocker. Other features like obfuscated servers can help bypass heavier internet restrictions more easily. You can read more about these features in our reviews for each VPN provider, or head to a VPN’s official website.
How to get a Philippines IP address in 2024
Using a VPN is unbelievably simple, especially if you choose a provider like NordVPN. Its user-friendly design makes the whole process so simple it can be done in three steps. Here's how it works:
- Head to the NordVPN website
- Download and install the VPN app
- Sign up for the service
- Then, pick the Philippines server and connect to it
- Go to the browser and try to access the geo-blocked service. That's it!
Internet censorship in the Philippines
According to the Freedom House, the internet is only partially free in the Philippines, with a score of 65/100, with content limitations, misinformation, and user surveillance being key areas of concern:
- In 2017, many pornography sites such as Pornub, XHamster, and RedTube were blocked, mostly due to suspicions that these sites host child pornography.
- In June 2022, orders were issued to block 26 websites under alleged affiliations with the Communist Party of the Philippines, New People’s Amy, and the National Democratic Front.
- The laws in the Philippines also require ISPs to log and retain any information that might violate the laws, or log and retain any information about a specific user for 6 months, if requested.
Are VPNs legal in the Philippines?
Yes, it is legal to use a VPN in the Philippines. There are no laws that prohibit that, and many citizens as well as visitors use VPNs in the Phillippines for better online privacy and security, as well as to bypass internet censorship and access geo-restricted content.
However, regardless of VPNs being legal in the Philippines, if the government suspects illegal activity or feels that national security is threatened, it may still attempt to monitor or restrict VPN use. To prevent potential surveillance, we recommend choosing a VPN provider with a strict no-logs policy and privacy-friendly jurisdiction.
Can I watch Philippines TV from another country using a VPN?
Yes, it is possible to watch Philippines TV from another country using a VPN. Connecting to a VPN server in the Philippines allows you to access streaming content as if you were physically present in the country. This can be useful for Filipinos living abroad who want to keep up with their favorite TV shows, news, and sporting events, as well as anyone interested in watching Philippine content.
ABS-CBN, GMA Network, TV5, and CNN Philippines are some of the most popular TV channels in the Philippines. These channels provide a wide range of content, such as news, drama series, variety shows, and sporting events.
If you're a big fan of series, there are plenty of streaming platforms that may spark your interest. Apart from the well-known Netflix, the Philippines has such services as HOOQ, iWantTFC, and Viu. These are subscription-based platforms that offer a variety of movies and TV shows you can binge-watch with a VPN, no matter where you are.
Should I use a free VPN in the Philippines?
Sure, you can try out a free VPN in the Philippines and see how it goes for you. Yet, no matter how lucrative free VPNs may look, a paid VPN is typically a better choice for several reasons. Undoubtedly, paid VPNs can offer higher security as they invest more in building efficient server infrastructure and offer advanced encryption technology. As a result, they are more effective at bypassing censorship and geo-restrictions and protecting you from data leaks.
In contrast, free VPNs are often slower, lack security features, and come with limitations such as the number of devices and data caps. These VPNs remain free by omitting other important services, such as customer support. So, you may need to figure out technical issues on your own. Additionally, free VPNs typically offer small server fleets.
All these drawbacks aside, most regular users will benefit more from a free VPN rather than no VPN at all. It's especially true for those who simply need more privacy online. Yet, if you're a journalist with your career or freedom at stake, getting a paid VPN, such as NordVPN, will allow staying anonymous and safe on the web.
Final thoughts
Using a VPN in the Philippines has many benefits. Not only does it allow you to safeguard your privacy, but it also bypasses government censorship. Even if privacy doesn't concern you, VPNs provider other value. They can unblock geo-restricted content and help you get better deals for purchases.
Yet, you have to pick the right provider to reap the vast value a VPN can provide. We recommend NordVPN. This provider has slayed all of our tests, proving it's the best VPN for the Philippines. It offers top-notch security without compromising speed or performance. The provider offers a large fleet of servers, including in the Philippines, so you can get a Philippines IP address easily. The best part is that it is budget-friendly and costs just $2.99/month.
However, if you don’t have the budget for a paid VPN, Windscribe is the best free VPN for the Philippines – not as feature-rich and powerful as NordVPN, but with a strict no-logs policy and advanced security.
FAQ
What is the best VPN to use in the Philippines?
According to our test, NordPVN is the best VPN for the Philippines. It has advanced security features, excellent speed, and impressive unblocking capabilities. On top of that, the provider boasts an impressive server fleet, with a handful of them in the Philippines and other countries.
Can NordVPN be used in the Philippines?
Yes, NordVPN can be used in the Philippines. In fact, it is recommended to use, as NordVPN is capable to access geo-restricted content from other countries and protect your online privacy and security with advanced features.
How much does a VPN cost in the Philippines?
While ultimately, the price depends on the provider you choose, getting a Philippines VPN is not expensive. Our recommended provider is NordVPN which costs only $2.99/month. Given such a low price, the provider has impressive security features and excellent performance.
Which VPN has a Philippines server for free?
If you need a free Philippines server, TunnelBear may be a good option for you. While its performance can't match top providers like NordVPN, it is still better than not using a VPN at all.
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