When thinking about the Philippines, your mind is likely filled with some of the most amazing tropical beaches. However, many search for the best VPN for the Philippines because of its troubling internet space. According to the Freedom House report, this country is now “partly free.”
This means frequent censorship, as well as website blocks that usually include porn sites. Another problem lies in the lack of freedom of speech and numerous journalists’ deaths in the past three decades. Internet surveillance is not to be forgotten, as the authorities got a hold of additional surveillance tools.
As a result, the Philippines isn’t exactly the safest country when talking about the online space. Thankfully, the best VPN service can help you tremendously in the Philippines (or anywhere else). Its ability to encrypt your traffic will ensure you leave no footsteps for your ISP and the authorities to follow.
Rest assured, a VPN also allows you to get over numerous geo-blocks and access foreign sites and streaming platforms. Now, there’s only one burning question left. What is the best VPN for the Philippines? Well, we have 5 amazing providers for you today, so stick along for the ride.
Top 5 best VPN services for the Philippines
- CyberGhost – best VPN to use in the Philippines
- ExpressVPN – fastest VPN for the Philippines
- NordVPN – best for security
- Surfshark – a really affordable VPN
- Private Internet Access – feature-rich Philippines VPN option
Best Philippines VPN: Our List for 2024
A good VPN that works in the Philippines will help you get rid of all the annoyances we mentioned above. Our team tested dozens of them, but we found these 5 VPNs to be the most reliable.
Make sure you read our mini-reviews of each provider and see why each VPN for the Philippines made it to our list.
1. CyberGhost
CyberGhost is definitely the best VPN for the Philippines in 2024.
This VPN offers 70 fast servers in Manila, making it useful even for those abroad. However, if you’re in the Philippines, you’ll be more pleased with its impressive speeds and more than 10,000 worldwide VPN servers in 100 countries.
CyberGhost, despite its cheap price, is no slouch. Its 2-year deal with a few free months is only about $2 a month, plus, users get a 45-day money-back guarantee. For this silly price, CyberGhost works with Netflix and is among the most reliable options for online entertainment.
Rest assured, torrenting is allowed and CyberGhost even supports no-lag gaming thanks to its WireGuard protocol. Security-wise, this “thing” is a beast. Aside from AES-256 encryption, it uses IPv6 leak protection and a kill switch to keep snoopers and ISPs away.
Another benefit is that it uses RAM-based servers, which prevent unwanted logging and boost your privacy. Each server is wiped clean after a restart, so all information is deleted. CyberGhost uses Private DNS to handle your DNS requests, plus, there’s a no-logging policy with an audit from Deloitte.
There’s a stark difference compared to low-quality free VPNs. CyberGhost is working on all devices with the option to enjoy its 7 simultaneous connections. On top of that, the provider has NoSpy servers that it owns and operates independently, so those in need of additional privacy won’t suffer.
Needless to say, this value king offers dedicated IPs, antivirus, and this security updater to keep all your apps up to date. Although it doesn’t offer obfuscation, you should know that this isn’t a necessary feature when using a VPN in the Philippines.
If you, however, decide to visit China, you might want to use the next pick on our list of the best VPNs for the Philippines as it offers this feature.
Snatch the Best VPN for the Philippines: CyberGhost
Pros
- 70 servers in Manila
- AES-256 encryption
- OpenVPN and WireGuard protocols
- Servers for streaming and torrenting
- Based in Romania (keeps no logs)
- Advanced IPv6/DNS leak protection
Con
- Not the best for bypassing DPI
2. ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN is the second best VPN for the Philippines because of its slightly higher price. It’s not expensive compared to Astrill VPN but it is compared to CyberGhost. Our team lets you claim its exclusive 49% discount for the annual plan and get 3 FREE months on top of that if you want.
The decision to get it will be more than sensible. ExpressVPN’s 3,000+ servers in 105 countries are blazing fast, with ExpressVPN’s Lightway protocol. Offering state-of-the-art encryption, the provider’s security is top-notch, with additions like split tunneling and a kill switch.
TrustedServer technology is a masterclass feature, as it means the provider offers RAM servers. In terms of bypassing geo-blocks, ExpressVPN is remarkable. Its ability to access 15+ Netflix libraries and unblock online betting sites is undeniable. Torrenting support is here across all servers too!
We found ExpressVPN extremely simple to use, more so than CyberGhost. Rest assured, you’ll find the Philippines VPN servers on the list, so if you’re out of the country, you can still access local content. ExpressVPN includes something called Keys, which is a password manager that will be welcome.
Let’s not forget about its Advanced Protection, which can now block ads and trackers. ExpressVPN crafted its apps with surgical precision, offering great optimization for all main platforms and systems. You’ll find it more than satisfying for the price because of its no-logs policy.
Unlike CyberGhost, ExpressVPN has a few security audits from companies like KPMG, Cure53, and PwC. These tech giants verified that ExpressVPN is a safe and secure VPN for the Philippines.
Who are we to disagree? Check out its special discount below and test the VPN risk-free.
Protect Your Identity With ExpressVPN
Pros
- 3 free months for the 12-month plan
- Useful for watching Netflix in the Philippines
- 3,000+ servers across the globe
- Advanced Protection (ad blocker)
- Includes an automatic kill switch
- Several independent audits
Con
- Less affordable than CyberGhost
3. NordVPN
Speaking of risks, you don’t want to be without a VPN in the Philippines. And if the previous two picks don’t scratch your itch, perhaps NordVPN will. The VPN has a litany of features that are hard to explain and mention in one go. That’s why reading our full NordVPN review is better.
We’ll mention that the VPN has no servers in the Philippines but if you live there, this isn’t an issue. You get nearly 6,000 servers in 60 countries, which is more than enough. Coupled with Double VPN servers to double your encryption, you’re already off the grid and away from your ISP’s monitoring.
Another thing to mention is NordVPN’s NordLynx protocol. It’s not only extremely fast but capable of streaming on a plethora of platforms. Even better, NordVPN offers P2P servers but also obfuscation to help you cope with censorship in various countries. Threat Protection is phenomenal.
This feature consists of antivirus, anti-malware, and an ad blocker, offering all-around protection. We like NordVPN’s modern apps that you can use on all your devices, alas, only on up to 6 of them at a time. Regardless of this limit, NordVPN remains one of the best VPNs for the Philippines.
It has several independent security audits, for instance. Also, users enjoy its advanced kill switch to keep IP leaks away, along with split tunneling to tunnel only specific apps or sites through the VPN. NordVPN’s dedication to security doesn’t end there, as the VPN offers Meshnet.
It’s great for hosting secure LAN parties and safe remote control. NordVPN’s 2-year deal is the best one and you’ll find its 30-day refund policy handy for risk-free testing. However, we’re sure you wouldn’t want a refund once you get a taste of its greatness.
Stay Safe Online in the Philippines With NordVPN
Pros
- NordLynx protocol
- It includes antivirus for free
- Fast speeds
- Double VPN functionality
- Optimized for torrenting
Cons
- No Filipino VPN servers
- 6 simultaneous connections
4. Surfshark
Whether abroad or in the Philippines, Surfshark is a worthy Filipino VPN. It has servers in Manila, with 3,200 more of them in 100 countries around the planet.
The VPN is known for being very affordable but also for offering unlimited simultaneous connections. Much better than NordVPN!
While it’s slower than NordVPN, Surfshark performs decently, especially with WireGuard enabled. Besides, WireGuard is faster than OpenVPN, although the latter works better against censorship. Now that we mentioned it, the VPN comes with NoBorders, which applies obfuscation to your traffic.
If you want more advanced quirks, there’s MultiHop, which doubles your encryption by routing your traffic through two servers. Surfshark offers Static IPs but users can get optional Dedicated IPs for various purposes. Users in the Philippines will be astonished at how reliable it is for streaming.
Netflix can be unblocked easily and users often enjoy Hotstar and ABC with it. Surfshark has native Onion Over VPN support for roaming the dark web. Furthermore, the service uses 256-bit encryption and includes Private DNS servers that add to your privacy tremendously.
We don’t like its Dutch jurisdiction but that doesn’t seem to phase Surfshark. It keeps no logs nonetheless, which is confirmed in a few independent audits. Regardless of that, we think that Surfshark is one of the top VPNs for the Philippines because it offers everything you need at a reasonable price.
Its Surfshark One plans are slightly more expensive and offer antivirus, true incognito mode, and a dark web monitor. For all the information about the latest deals and discounts, make sure you click the button below and discover all of Surfshark’s benefits.
Get Surfshark for the Philippines Here
Pros
- MultiHop
- 10 Gbps servers in the Philippines
- One of the best VPNs for streaming
- Easy-to-use applications
Cons
- Occasional speed drops
- Expensive monthly plans
5. Private Internet Access
Private Internet Access is often regarded as a secure VPN regardless of your location. It offers Philippines VPN servers but apart from that, it’s ever-present in the world, with 30,000 servers in around 90 countries. We mentioned its safety first because it’s the focal point of this VPN.
PIA offers military-grade encryption with all the fancy features you can find in more expensive VPNs. For instance, it supports WireGuard, along with proxy options like SOCKS5 and Shadowsocks. The latter is useful for avoiding censorship and can be handy in the Philippines.
The VPN comes with a kill switch and DNS leak protection to bolster your security. We like the option to enable port forwarding and use custom ports depending on the protocol. PIA is an American VPN but it keeps no logs, which it even proved in court a few times.
This is even better when you consider its RAM-only servers that wipe all data with each restart. Private Internet Access isn’t the most intuitive VPN and its apps can be a bit outdated and not the best-looking. However, it balances them out with unlimited simultaneous connections.
Many are worried about its lack of the Fire TV VPN app but this can be fixed by sideloading the app. Besides, PIA isn’t the most reliable service for streaming, although it’ll work with a few Netflix catalogs. Torrenting is allowed at least and users can enjoy P2P on all servers.
Like Surfshark, this is a modestly-priced provider with plenty of good things about it. Dedicated IPs, antivirus, and even 500 GB of free pCloud storage are at this price, which goes below $60 for the first 2 years. If you don’t believe us, take a closer look at this deal underneath.
Pros
- Unlimited simultaneous connections in each plan
- Servers based on RAM
- Shadowsocks with obfuscation
- Dedicated IPs
Cons
- It’s based in the USA
- Slower speeds compared to its rivals
- Streaming capabilities are subpar
Why Do You Need a VPN for the Philippines?
Having presented our top 5 best VPNs for the Philippines, we need to explain why such a service might be useful to you.
Is a VPN needed in the Philippines? Well, it surely is and we listed our reasons for that below. Bear in mind we made this guide for people in and out of the Philippines because some of them will want this country’s IP abroad.
Primarily, however, we focused on Filipinos in their country or tourists who found themselves there. Here’s how a Filipino VPN can benefit you.
Bypassing Censorship
Censorship in the Philippines is on the rise, being the main problem regarding the internet. While not as severe as China or Iran, the Philippines isn’t a country where you’ll enjoy the internet the most. First, we need to mention numerous arrests and prosecutions of bloggers and journalists.
This comes as a result of criticizing the governing party but also because of the anti-online-libel laws. Such cases are punished immediately and those found guilty will face charges of up to several years in prison. Another problem is violence against bloggers and journalists.
Many of them suffered horrible deaths but very few killers were brought to justice. The fear sprung into action in many residents, as low conviction rates took place, which, in a way, encouraged additional violence. Duterte, the president of this country seems like the situation doesn’t bother him.
In fact, he openly stated that journalists who defend or attack Filipino politicians should be killed. In short, censorship is a big problem here and it not only harms freedom of speech but also makes the country far less safe than you’d expect it to be.
The best way to get over censorship and freely express your thoughts is by using a VPN that works in Philippines. It’ll encrypt your traffic and hide your original IP address. In doing so, you can go online as a completely different person and do blogging and news reporting with lower chances of being traced.
Getting Around Government Surveillance
Censorship wouldn’t be possible without government surveillance. As we already said, the authorities got a hold of pretty expensive surveillance gear recently, which tells us a lot about their plans. The best VPN for the Philippines is, again, handy, because of its ability to conceal your online activities.
Remember that surveillance is quite dangerous and leads to losing your privacy. Besides, this means the authorities in this country will know your every step online. If you happen to do anything they don’t like, you can be targeted and made suspicious of anything they deem inappropriate.
VPNs with a no-logs policy, RAM-only servers, and AES-256 encryption can prevent this. They’ll completely cut you off from your ISP in this regard, preventing it from snooping around and monitoring your activities. With this service, even going on the dark web is fully anonymous.
Avoiding Geo-Restrictions
Geo-restrictions are an integral part of the internet. Think about Netflix, Disney+, Hotstar, and many online bookies. At one point, you’ve surely come across a geo-restriction message on any of these sites. Well, this is one of many reasons people are using the best VPN for the Philippines.
For instance, a VPN can unblock various Netflix catalogs, thereby, letting you access more shows and movies. Moreover, VPNs are capable of unblocking online gambling/betting sites and even adult portals that are usually blocked in the Philippines.
If you’re abroad, you might want to access local Filipino content. Well, a VPN is a nifty addition for it lets you change your IP to the Philippines and access it. This way, when abroad, you can access TV5, CNN Philippines, Myx, and other prevalent channels.
For instance, streaming US TV in the Philippines is easy with a VPN, as long as you have an American IP.
Saving Money on Traveling
If you’re planning your vacation in the Philippines, you might want to consider the price of it. Flight tickets and hotel rentals will be priced not only according to the time of the year but also your location. VPNs can be used for traveling because of their ability to alter your online location.
You can change your IP to a less-developed country and when you check prices of flight tickets, get cheaper deals. The Philippines isn’t the cheapest location but this service can aid in saving additional cash and spending it on delicious food or different venues on this tropical majesty.
What About Free VPNs for the Philippines?
Our team finds it difficult to recommend any free VPNs for the Philippines. They’re limited in bandwidth, offering not more than 10 GB a month. This won’t be enough for bandwidth-intensive activities such as streaming or torrenting.
Free VPNs also offer no servers in the Philippines, which is yet another downside.
If you find yourself abroad, this means you won’t be able to access local banking portals or TV channels. Not all free providers are bad and some VPNs for the Philippines will be safe and secure. However, for the most part, you’re looking at insecure, unsafe VPNs that are better left untouched.
Hola VPN is a prime example but others like Urban VPN and Betternet should also be mentioned. Many will find such VPNs unsatisfactory because of their slow speeds, small server parks, and the lack of proper support and simultaneous connections.
But to give you a few more options, we can recommend some free VPNs for the Philippines as long as you’re aware they’ll not give you the best experience. We even found one provider with free servers in this country, so let us go through our recommendations promptly.
Atlas VPN
Atlas VPN offers amazing security, with bank-grade encryption, full WireGuard support, and a kill switch. This provider’s free version is reasonably fast too and the provider operates under a strict no-logs policy, which is great for preserving your privacy.
On some occasions, it works with Netflix US but these occasions happen once in a blue moon. Atlas VPN is limited to 3 server locations in the US and the Netherlands and its 5 GB bandwdith limit is as annoying as it sounds. Let’s not forget about its lack of simultaneous connections and 24/7 support.
While the VPN is easy to use and set up, you’ll find it extremely infuriating after a while. Especially if you’ve ever used CyberGhost or ExpressVPN.
ProtonVPN
ProtonVPN is no less infuriating despite offering unlimited monthly bandwidth. This free VPN for the Philippines is slower because of this while having servers only in the US, the Netherlands, and Japan. Still, ProtonVPN is very safe to use, with support for advanced protocol, RAM-only servers, and Private DNS.
The VPN even keeps no logs and includes port forwarding and split tunneling. Sadly, as it’s a free VPN, you can expect it to lack P2P and streaming support. ProtonVPN completely blocks torrenting, while bypassing geo-blocks is one of its weakest points.
TunnelBear
We don’t recommend TunnelBear because it’s a subpar VPN. Why is it on the list then? For one reason only – because it offers Filipino VPN servers for free. Bear in mind it’s limited to just 2 GB a month and offers basic features, such as a kill switch, AES encryption, and IP leak protection.
Its GhostBear function for getting over censorship isn’t working nearly as expected, plus, like ProtonVPN, it blocks P2P traffic. TunnelBear is very slow as well and while its 47-country server list sounds impressive, everything else sucks, including customer service and device support.
How to Get a Filipino IP Address
If you opt for a VPN provider with servers in the Philippines, getting an IP address from the Philippines is an easy feat. Here’s how to do that with CyberGhost.
Get a Filipino IP address with CyberGhost
- Subscribe to CyberGhost. Claim its special discount through our site to save the most money.
- Download and install CyberGhost to your device. It supports all platforms, and with 7 simultaneous connections, you can protect all your devices.
- Open CyberGhost and sign in with the credentials you provided during the subscription.
- In the app, select “All Servers” to open the full server list.
- Scroll down until you find the Philippines. Double-click on it or tap once (Android/iOS) to connect.
- Once the connection button turns yellow, the connection is successful. Feel free to ensure you have a Filipino IP on iplocation.net, as displayed below.
Conclusion
Using a VPN in the Philippines has become a necessity nowadays. With excess censorship and government surveillance, the #1 priority is keeping your identity safe. To do that, you can use one of our 5 best Filipino VPNs in 2024. No doubt, CyberGhost will most likely suit you the best.
Its modest pricing with amazing performance and security sounds pretty attractive. However, if you’re after a top-notch option with no compromises, ExpressVPN will likely be even better. Other options like NordVPN, Surfshark, and PIA are not to be discarded because of their obvious qualities.
NordVPN is among the most feature-rich services, while Surfshark and PIA offer unlimited simultaneous connections. In the end, the choice is on you. With the 5 best VPN providers in Philippines, we can guarantee online privacy and security, along with all the other benefits of a VPN.
