Best VPNs for Hong Kong: Unblock The Web While Staying in HK

article by Rebecca Lori
January 12, 2020
If you live in Hong Kong or plan to take a trip there for business, you may be wondering why you need to use a VPN in Hong Kong. There are many reasons why you should use a Hong Kong VPN service, and we will talk about them more in-depth within this article. In countries such as Russia, it’s quite clear why you need to use a VPN to have free access to the internet. Censorship laws are strict in Russia and the only way you can bypass this is to use a VPN.

Why Use a VPN in Hong Kong?

Hong Kong is relatively free when it comes to internet censorship, and its residents are able to access almost any websites they wish…but notice we said “almost”. All locations fall prey to geographical blocking due to copyright infringements and licensing laws.

If you want to unblock MyTV or access US Netflix, then you will need a VPN in Hong Kong. Not only will you be able to access blocked content, but your internet activity will be anonymous and you’ll be much safer too. A VPN gives you a level of security that you would never be able to achieve otherwise. It funnels your information to a secure server and encrypts your data so it’s unreadable in the wrong hands.

Most VPN services use military-grade encryption techniques, coupled with added security features such as a kill switch, DNS leak protection, no-log policies and more. The question shouldn’t be…why use a VPN in Hong Kong? The question should be…why wouldn’t you use a VPN in Hong Kong?

What is the Best VPN for Hong Kong?

Below, you’ll find a selection of our best VPNs for Hong Kong:

#1 ExpressVPN

Express VPN 210X100

The clue is in the name. You guessed it, ExpressVPN is one of the fastest VPN services in the industry, and with over 1700 servers in 100 countries, it’s easy to see how its users can access these super fast speeds. You’ll always gain a faster connection when you choose a server location close to your current location. This is where ExpressVPN stands above many other companies who simply cannot offer this volume of servers.

If you’re looking for a VPN to unblock MyTV or give you access to Netflix in another country, then ExpressVPN is ideal. This VPN will enable you to watch your favorite content – buffer-free and seamless. Another great feature that scores this VPN top marks is that there is no limit on bandwidth. You can literally use this as much as you like for a reasonable monthly fee, and you won’t find any restrictions with your usage. You’ll always be anonymous with this VPN, and your data will be totally safe.

The company uses military-grade 256-bit encryption and around five different encryption protocols for added measure. Protocols they use include: OpenVPN’s UDP and TCP and SSTP. To keep you extra safe and secure, there’s a kill switch feature that will cut your connection if it’s compromised, and it also features DNS leak protection. The company operates a strict no-logs policy, meaning your true IP address, internet activity or any other sensitive information is kept safe from anyone who might be watching.

We found the subscriptions to be reasonable, and they even offer a 30-day money-back guarantee so you can test out the product first. Setting up your VPN can always be a bit of a concern when you sign up to a new service, but worry not – ExpressVPN has an excellent reputation for customer service, so if you encounter any issues they should be resolved pretty fast.

Find out more about ExpressVPN and their features here.

#2 CyberGhost

CyberGhost VPN

If you’re based in Hong Kong and need a decent VPN, then CyberGhost makes a good choice. Whether you want to Unblock MyTV, access US Netflix or just be able to watch your favorite streaming websites whilst away from home, CyberGhost is able to do this for you, with ease.

If you’re looking for a connection that is fast and super secure, then look no further than this Hong Kong VPN service which can bypass geo-blocks and easily handle streaming and downloads, with its fantastic speeds. The sheer volume of servers is breathtaking. They have 5944 servers in 90 different countries. They don’t put speed over security either, as your safety and anonymity online is their number #1 priority.

CyberGhost uses the strongest AES 256-bit encryption methods to protect you, alongside a number of additional features that make the subscription well worth the monthly fee. The 3-year package provides the best value, and the company offers a 45-day money-back guarantee if you’re not happy to continue with the package.

More information can be found here.

#3 SurfShark

Surfshark VPN

We take quite a few different things into consideration when we look at which VPNs to recommend, and the subscription cost is something that we feel should fairly reflect the service. With SurfShark you get really good value for money, as the quality is high and the cost is pretty low.

If you’re looking for a VPN that will give you access to MyTV and allow you to watch your favorite shows whilst away from Hong Kong, then this service won’t disappoint. One of the best features of this particular VPN, is that you can use it across multiple devices and on unlimited devices too, so not only can you stay safe using it on your smartphone whilst using public wifi, but you can use it at home on your PC or laptop too. A malware blocker and ad blocker enables you to visit streaming sites and remain safe and secure without fear of picking up viruses too.

Read more in this review to find out if SurfShark is the best VPN for Hong Kong.

#4 ZenMate

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Based in Germany, ZenMate has around 45 million users with servers spread across 30 different countries. Controversially, the company uses 128-bit encryption methods as opposed to the more commonly used 256-bit encryption. However, not only is this encryption method strong enough to keep you secure, but it also retains better speed, so it’s ideal for streaming movies and downloading content. You can try this product for free for seven days before subscribing, and you are able to use it on up to 15 devices.

Read more about it here.

#5 ProtonVPN

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This Swiss-based VPN service will keep you safe and secure whilst watching your favorite movies in Hong Kong. They provide a fast connection and the best security in the industry. As it’s based in Switzerland, it’s protected by some of the strongest privacy laws in the world. They are not bound to give third parties any information on its users, so your data is safe with them. With approximately 474 servers in 36 countries, you can expect pretty decent speeds too.

ProtonVPN uses military-grade encryption methods with extra safe security protocols. The company also operates a strict no-logs policy, so it will never store your information or reveal information about your internet activity at any time.

Read more about ProtonVPN here.

Privacy Laws & Regulations in Hong Kong

Despite online freedom of speech being widely recognized in Hong Kong, there are still cases where the Royal Hong Kong Police have actively shut down ISPs with regards to a violation of censorship laws. Most content is accessible on the internet in Hong Kong, but there are strict laws against what the law deems as “obscene”. In Hong Kong, there is a level of monitoring that occurs on the internet, so you never know if your activity is being watched. The best way to avoid internet censorship and geographic blocks is to use a good quality VPN.

Streaming in Hong Kong

Like most other locations in the world, streaming is super popular in Hong Kong. This is why it’s absolutely essential that you use a VPN when visiting streaming sites and browsing content online. Often, when you sign up to streaming services, personal information is required such as an email address and credit card details. Unless you’re using a VPN, this information is left wide open – meaning you’re easy bait for hackers. Keep your connection fast and secure and ensure your data is encrypted using a VPN.

Here are the most popular streaming sites in Hong Kong:

Launched a few years ago, Amazon Prime is available in Hong Kong and is a popular service for streaming and downloading movies, TV shows and documentaries online. The problem with websites such as Prime, is that your local content will likely be unavailable should you try to watch it outside Hong Kong. A VPN will resolve this issue quickly of course, by allowing you to choose an alternative IP address.

Although not available in mainland China, Netflix is available in Hong Kong. This popular streaming site is one of the most renowned places to catch the very best movies, TV series and documentaries. The problem is, when you try to watch your Netflix account in China, you would find that your favorite shows could in fact be blocked. This can be very frustrating when you are paying for a subscription service and want to access your content while away from home. Again, a VPN can help you bypass these geo-blocks easily.

One of the most regularly visited websites in Hong Kong, YouTube is the go-to website to catch the latest music videos and movie trailers, as well as ridiculous cat videos and uploaded movies and TV shows that can be streamed.

Bottom Line – Why You Need a VPN in Hong Kong

No matter where you are based in the world, we believe that everyone should use a VPN whenever they are online.

There are numerous reasons and below, we have listed our most important:

Be Safe

When you are browsing content online, how safe are you really? We all tend to do things without giving it a second thought, but when it comes to using the internet, using our own ISP or public wifi, how likely are you to encounter security issues? The answer is sadly, very likely. How many times have you run a virus scan, only for the results to reveal that several threats were discovered?

If you regularly visit torrent sites or download content, then this risk is vastly increased. Malware is being created all the time, designed to cause damage to your system and steal your data. Streaming sites are a breeding ground for malware and viruses. Another risk is using public wifi to access private and sensitive data. If you do this, you are leaving yourself wide open to cyber attacks. A VPN encrypts your data so you and your personal information could be hidden from anyone that could potentially hack the server. Which in itself, is highly unlikely.

Unblock MyTV

One of the most frustrating things is when your favorite content is blocked in different countries. If you want to watch your Hong Kong Netflix whilst in China, then you’re going to find yourself blocked. China doesn’t yet have its own version of Netflix, and content on Netflix is often subject to licensing laws, which means that movies and shows that are allowed in one country are illegal to be shown in others. Netflix users are also often disappointed to discover that the best movies and TV series are only available on US Netflix.

The solution is simple. Use a good quality VPN and choose an alternative IP address from a different country. If you want to access US Netflix for example, you’ll need to use a US IP address. Having access to a VPN means that you should never have issues with geo-blocking again and your connection will always be safe and secure. Most subscription packages are relatively inexpensive and many offer free trials or money-back guarantees if you’re not happy with the service. You literally have nothing to lose by giving it a go!