Want to cut straight to the chase? The best Philippines VPNs is ExpressVPN and NordVPN.
Traveling or living in the Philippines can be boring if you embark on the trip without proper planning on how to use the internet. This is so as you may not be able to access some geo-blocked content like Netflix US, etc. If you can’t do away with the blocked content and those favorite internet services you use to visit while at home, you definitely should consider preparing for a VPN to unblock the restriction.
The benefits you’ll derive from using a VPN in such a country are limitless including unrestricted access to the internet across the globe, protection from prying eyes and hackers, as well as hiding your online identity.
Most importantly, you need to be aware of the law in place in the Philippines concerning internet censorship and increased online libel charges. On September 12, 2012, the Philippine Congress passed into law the Cybercrime Prevention Act.
The act was enacted primarily to completely combat crimes committed against and by means of a computer. Some of the cyber crimes they intended to checkmate with this act include child pornography, cyber-squatting, identity theft, cybersex, libel, and illegal access to data.
Why You Need a VPN In Philippines
You might be wondering why on earth do you need a VPN in the Philippines after all you’re not going there to be committing a crime or engage in illegal internet activities. Well, you need a VPN while vacating in the Philippines for the reasons we gave above. Let’s cut the crap and see other vital reasons why you need a VPN in the Philippines.
Beating The Internet Censorship
First, you need to have at the back of your mind that by virtue of the said 2012 Cybercrime Prevention Act, the Philippine government has a wide surveillance power to not only limit the access residents in the country have to certain platforms or content but to also control what they can see online.
Getting Around Geo-Blocked Content
Getting around certain content such as Netflix US and Hulu is a serious task if you’re living in the Philippines. For this reason, you need a VPN to unblock those contents and be able to enjoy that content they used to view in their home country. Needless to say, if you’re coming to the Philippines from the US, you should prepare for this as it’s a tall order to access certain geo-content as you do access home.
For Internet Security and Privacy
Today, the level of internet and data breaches is a serious threat to companies and individuals using the internet. You don’t want to browse the internet while your security and privacy are at risk of being hacked and used against you. So to stay safe and secure from these threats, you need a VPN to access the internet. This will ensure security for most sensitive data like your password, login details, etc, and prevent them from falling into the hands of hackers and other snoops.
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Best 5 Philippines VPNs
| Brand | Starting price | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| 1. ExpressVPN | $8.32/month | Encrypts Users’ Web Traffic |
| 2. NordVPN | $11/month | Cyber Threats |
| 3. Private Internet Access | $2.19/month | Easy access |
| 4. CyberGhost | $4.49/month | Fast gaming |
| 5. Windscribe | Free | Free plan |
#1 ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN is reputable for being one of the fastest VPNs to ever exist around the globe. With over 3,000 VPN server networks cutting across 94 countries and 160 locations including the Philippines, you can rest assured you’ll be able to access their server during your vacation almost anywhere in the world.
Also, the VPN allows you to select from their wide range of servers and stream your favorite content like Netflix US and Hulu, plus the Speed Test feature is another great advantage for you. This allows you to determine how faster you want your server speed by exploring the Speed Test feature of ExpressVPN and allow the VPN to automatically select the fastest server for you.
If you’re the type who loves to stream or download non-stop or without having to be cut short by bandwidth or speed usage, ExpressVPN is the right choice. However, this VPN is not without its shortcoming in that it allows only the connection of 5 devices simultaneously. We don’t see this as a fundamental drawback is you can beat the limitation by installing the VPN to your home router. Doing this, the VPN will automatically provide encryption for every device you connect to it.
Pros
- Fast server speed
- Compatibility with platforms like Linux, iOS, Mac, Windows, Android, etc
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- 24/7 technical and customer support
- A strict no-logs policy
Cons
- Slightly expensive than the competitors
- 5 devices connections simultaneously
Get started with ExpressVPN today.
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#2 NordVPN
For everyone who knows what it means to have a VPN that guarantees top security, they’ll stop at nothing to get their hands on the best VPN. NordVPN is without a doubt one of the VPNs that do the job perfectly well as far as the top security of users is concerned. With a double-hop server and a kill switch feature, the VPN essentially provides double encryption for your connection to the server. And upon that, it does all of this on strictly no-logs policy.
Additionally, NordVPN is useful for torrenting but you need to be aware of how you use this feature when in Iran. You should be careful and make sure you don’t engage in sharing copyrighted content as this is a serious crime in Iran and could lead you to jail.
NordVPN has over 5,500 servers dotted around 59 countries. However, one drawback you’re likely to face with NordVPN is unstable server speed, which tends to be slow until you find the right server. So you have got to switch servers to find one with a fast server. And, you should be able to find one with fast speed in no time.
Fortunately, Nord VPN offers a 30-day money-back guaranty for you to try it out and you can decide if it feels right for you or not.
Pros
- Works with Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS
- Up to 6 devices simultaneous connections
- Strict no-logs policy
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- Bandwidth with no limits
- Affordable option if you choose the longer plan
Cons
- Difficult open VPN configuration
- Not suitable for torrenting on all servers
- Variable speeds. This means one server is faster than others and you tend to switch servers to find the fast one
Get started with NordVPN today.
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#3 Private Internet Access
When it comes to the widest server coverage, Private Internet Access comes first on our list. Although this VPN provider might not be rated high on speed and customer support score, it offers lots of essential services such as total digital privacy, strong security, ad-blocking, and hidden torrenting. The good thing is if you get started with the VPN now, you can get their 2 months free service to access your favorite content like TV shows, apps, and more without any restriction and regardless of your location.
As of the time of this writing, Private Internet Access has 24 geo-located networks of servers in the Philippines and over 35,550 servers spreading across 78 countries. This means you’ll be able to access the server anywhere in the Philippines and you can easily access gee-blocked content like Disney plus, Netflix US and Hulu, BBC player, among others.
Pros
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- Wide server
- Ease of use on platforms like Windows, iOS, Android, Linux, and macOS
- Up to 10 devices can be connected simultaneously
- 24 Philippines-based servers
Cons
- Irregular server download speed, which makes one server faster than others
Get started with Private Internet Access today.
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#4 CyberGhost
We selected CyberGhost VPN because of its being user-friendly and strong windows client. It is jam-packed with the most essential features and unlocking success thereby making it easy for you to access geo-blocked content like Netflix, among others. The VPN service comes with 256-bit encryption, which means you’re protected from IP and DNS leaks and your data is safe and protected from the prying eyes of hackers and malware.
CyberGhost has over 7,400 servers spread across 91 countries with 28 different servers dedicated to Manila thereby making it easy to bypass blocked content and browse the web anonymously.
There is, however, one drawback you might need to know about CyberGhost: certain servers seem to be very slow and the VPN doesn’t unblock all blocked content especially when used to unlock some major streaming services. Other than this, CyberGhost remains an excellent VPN to rely on when it comes to browsing the internet securely and anonymously without the fear of being limited by any internet censorship.
Pros
- Affordable VPN for a tight budget
- Blazing-fast connection
- Strictly no-logs policy
- Allows the simultaneous connection of up to 7 devices with one subscription
- Suitable for Windows, macOS, iOS, Linux, Android, etc
Cons
- Inability to unblock major streaming services
- Ineffectiveness in countries with high internet censorship like UAE, China, etc.
Get started with CyberGhost today.
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#5 Windscribe
Windscribe offers both paid and free plans for its users. As a Canada-based service provider, it provides you with the opportunity to browse the internet privately and stay protected from tracking by corporations, government agencies, and individuals.
With Windscribe’s free plan, you’re provided with 10 GB per month of data, access o over 10 countries, and unrestricted connections.
Windscribe has a blend of strong security and adequate servers across different countries of the world including the Philippines. While the free plan gives you access to just a few servers, Filipino servers are only accessible to their paid users. Also, there are some other limitations with using the free plan of Windscribe. These include limited bandwidth, limited access to servers such as the Windflix servers, and more. The good thing about this provider is that the service is one of the cheapest VPNs you can get out there. With $2 per month, you can get started to enjoy the many features that come with the VPN.
Pros
- Free plan to try it out
- Pocket friendly for all budgets
- Server presence in the Philippines
Cons
- Slightly slow in speed
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Is It Legal to Use a VPN In the Philippines?
The simple answer to the above question is NO. The truth about the internet censorship in the Philippines or the rationale behind the Cybercrime Prevention Act enacted in 2012 was not to target lawful users of VPN services so long as you’re not using it for hate speech or for sharing copyrighted content. Another thing to be wary of is libel. Libel is a criminal offense in the Philippines that is punishable by either fines or imprisonment. So you should stay away from anything that can land you in trouble while vacating or living in the country.
Using a VPN in the Philippines becomes necessary if not compulsory when you consider the expected rise in cybercrimes in the country in 2021. For this reason, it may be unsafe to not use a VPN service in the country especially if you’re to use public WiFi. With a VPN, you can browse privately and stay safe from the dangers of using public WiFi.
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Wrapping Up On Best VPN For Philippines
Traveling or staying abroad including the Philippines comes with many benefits. You’ll have the opportunity to meet new people, make new friends, and visit beautiful places you have never been to before. As good as all these may sound; there are limitations you must prepare to face especially when it comes to using the internet abroad. As you’re planning for your trip, you must have at the back of your mind you might not have the same level of access to the internet as you do back home. For this reason, you need a VPN to bypass geo-blocked sites.
The need for a VPN is limitless and it includes protecting you from hackers and malware, unblocking content, and offering you internet security and privacy.
With our list of best VPN for the Philippines above, you can rest assured your security and privacy are guaranteed while living in the Philippines. But don’t forget that choosing a VPN isn’t enough if you have not considered the right factors like the speed of the VPN’s server, security, and privacy.
Fortunately, all the VPNs highlighted above come with all those factors including some other essential factors you can ever think of. In fact, most of the VPN services on our list have servers in the Philippines. And if you choose to try any one of the VPN now, you have till the next 30 days to decide if it feels right for you or not. And, within the 30-day refund window, you can ask for a full refund if you don’t like what you get.
So can you see the good thing about it? What are you waiting for now? Go ahead and try any of our recommended VPN services in this list and let’s have your feedback.