5 Paid + 5 Free VPNs for the Philippines: Based on Test Results
Although there are no official reports that the authorities of the Philippines make journalists and bloggers delete content, many sites are banned in the country.
5 best VPNs for the Philippines
- ExpressVPN: Servers in 105 countries, up to 14 simultaneous connections, 256-bit encryption, easy to use.
- NordVPN: 9,200 servers in 137 countries, 6 gadgets per subscription, AES 256-GCM ciphering.
- Surfshark: 30-day money-back guarantee, 4,500+ servers in 100+ countries, user-friendly application.
- CyberGhost VPN: 11,500+ servers in 100 countries, 7 devices per 1 account, AES 256-bit encryption.
- PIA: 35,000 + servers in 91 countries, 10 devices simultaneously, easy to use the app.
5 free VPNs the Philippines
- ProtonVPN: One of its 4 plans is 100% free. You’ll be restricted in server locations, speed, and some functions.
- Windscribe: It’s a paid VPN provider with the opportunity to use its service for free. The period of use is unlimited.
- Hide.me: Access to servers in 5 locations for 1 device is possible thanks to its free package.
- HotspotShield: Secure browsing is possible without payment. HotspotShield free plan provides its subscribers with this opportunity.
- TunnelBear: A free package from a premium provider with traffic restrictions to 500MB per month (max 1.5GB).
Recommendation: Before subscribing to a VPN service in the Philippines, study their brief overview on this page. For more details, click the link at the end of each overview.
Internet freedom in the Philippines
Though surprising it may sound, according to the latest estimate in the sphere, the Internet in the Philippines is stated to be free. However, there are some violations like obstacles to access, user rights infringement, content limitations, etc.
The most resonant cases are connected with:
- Spreading destructive memes about the national election complaint in 2016 was criminally charged.
- The country’s first antitrust law has been signed this year.
- A dedicated government agency has been created for the ICT sector.
- Mobile phone network shutdowns took place in the year 2017 not once.
The journalists in the Philippines are very cautious while writing about some events. Thus, they prefer to censor their reports themselves.Nevertheless, more than half of the Philippines residents would like to reduce the existing censorship to visit all possible websites and not to be restricted in the content to access.
What about access to social media platforms in the Philippines?
The government of the Philippines does NOT restrict its residents in access to social media services like Twitter and Facebook. They are easily accessible while surfing the Internet with a Philippine IP address.Thus, in the Philippines, the main law connected with the issues of internet privacy, freedom, and security is Magna Carta for Philippine Internet Freedom.
This legal document was considered to become a guarantee for internet users’ civil rights, for instance, freedom of expression. The Magna Carta has been created to defend civil rights for internet freedom and privacy, primarily by common netizens. There are also legal explanations for cybersecurity, cyberwarfare, cyberterrorism, and cybercrime matters.
Comparison of VPN services for the Philippines
| ExpressVPN | NordVPN | Surfshark | CyberGhost | PIA | |
| Rating | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| Jurisdiction | British Virgin Islands | Panama | The Netherlands | Romania | Sweden |
| No-logs policy | Independently audited | Independently audited | Independently audited | Independently audited | Court-proven |
| Speed | 100+ Mbps | 100+ Mbps | 100+ Mbps | 100+ Mbps | 100+ Mbps |
| Servers | Servers in 105 countries | 9,200+ servers in 137 countries | 4,500+ servers in 100 countries | Servers in 100 countries | 35,000+ servers in 91 countries |
| Simultaneous connections | 14 | 10 | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Starting price | $2.99/month | $3.49/month | $2.49/month | $1.59/month | $2.19/month |
| Review | ExpressVPN review | NordVPN review | Surfshark review | CyberGhost review | PIA review |
| Discount |
What’s the best VPN for people in the Philippines?
To find the best services that work in this country successfully, I’ve tested 70+ VPN apps on different devices.I’ve compared their server parks, compatibility with different operating systems, security functions, and speed.According to my test results, ExpressVPN is the leader that has surpassed NordVPN, Surfshark, PIA, and CyberGhost VPN.
1. ExpressVPN
Overview
ExpressVPN is compatible with all platforms and operating systems and therefore can protect any device.Due to its diskless servers and 100% no-logs policy, it guarantees anonymous access to the Internet whereas servers placed in 105+ locations worldwide serve to go round any restrictions.
Price
ExpressVPN prices
| 1 month | 1 year | |
| Price (monthly) | $14.99 | $2.99 |
| Money-back guarantee | 30 days | 30 days |
Conclusion
- Reliable in terms of unblocking Hulu, Netflix, and other services
- Best-in-class security and privacy
Read more: ExpressVPN review
2. NordVPN
Overview
NordVPN is the service with powerful protection against government snooping, monitoring, and censorship.It has placed its servers in 137+ countries of the world that guarantees unrestricted access to any content on the Internet.
Price
NordVPN plans & prices
| 1 month | 1 year | 2 years | |
| Price (monthly) | $12.99 | $4.99 | $3.49 |
| Money-back guarantee | 30 days | 30 days | 30 days |
Conclusion
- Cryptocurrency payment is possible
- Lots of outstanding security functions (kill switch, Onion over VPN, obfuscation, etc.)
Read more: NordVPN review
3. Surfshark
Overview
This relatively new VPN provider is recognized by modern internet users for its top-notch service at a low cost. You can lower the price even more by entering the Surfshark coupon code "OFFCN" when you sign up. Besides, it’s possible to try the service without payment thanks to its free trial period.As for restrictions bypassing, Surfshark has put up a good performance. It unblocks any site whereas a user’s real IP keeps private.
Price
Surfshark prices
| 1 month | 6 months | 2 years | |
| Price (monthly) | $3.39 | $6.49 | $2.49 |
| Money-back guarantee | 30 days | 30 days | 30 days |
Conclusion
- No leaks and fast speed on all tested servers in the Philippines
- Proprietary VPN protocol to protect subscribers' data
Read more: Surfshark review
4. CyberGhost VPN
Overview
After numerous tests, I’d like to mention that CyberGhost VPN is better to use on the devices running on Android and Windows. On these OSs, the app provides users with all functions and features.Data leaks weren’t observed.
Price
CyberGhost VPN prices
| 1 month | 1 year | 2 years | 3 years | |
| Price (monthly) | $12.99 | $4.29 | $1.59 | $2.29 |
| Money-back guarantee | 45 days | 45 days | 45 days | 45 days |
Conclusion
- Handy server swithing
- Attractive application with numerous functions
Read more: CyberGhost VPN review
5. Private Internet Access
Overview
Thanks to its large network capacity and affordable prices, PIA is a good solution for people living in or visiting the Philippines.However, sometimes I had to try dozens of servers to unblock streaming services.
Price
PIA prices
| 1 month | 1 year | 2 years | |
| Price (monthly) | $11.95 | $3.33 | $2.19 |
| Money-back guarantee | 7 days | 7 days | 7 days |
Conclusion
- Suitable for torrenting
- Proven no-logs policy
Read more: PIA review
Free VPN apps for the Philippines
I understand that not all people can spend even a penny on apps. That’s why I’ve created a list of VPN services that offer free packages for their subscribers.Warning: VPNs do their best to make users upgrade to the premium through their free plans. Such free packages have many restrictions that make internet use less convenient.
Free ProtonVPN
Restriction:
- Servers in only 145 countries
- 1 allowed connection
- Medium speed
- Lack of P2P support
The provider doesn't restrict its subscribers in time or traffic.
Free Windscribe
Restrictions:
- 10GB traffic per month
- The number of countries is 63
- 1 connection per account
A good application to unblock numerous news sites and streaming services.
Free Hide.me VPN
Restrictions:
- No support for streaming
- Servers in 46 locations
- 10GB of monthly traffic
Free HotspotShield VPN
Restrictions:
- Daily traffic is no more than 500MB
- Only one allowed connection (in the US)
- Streaming is restricted
Free TunnelBear
Restrictions:
- Monthly traffic i s 500MB - 1.5 GB
- All countries are available
User-friendly application without limits in functions.
FAQ
When do you need VPN to unblock Netflix in the Philippines?
1. You are not from the Philippines, but you have to travel to this country for business. You want to watch your Netflix favorites from your Netflix account. These Netflix movies might be unavailable for Netflix in the Philippines.
2. You are from the Philippines and have an account at Netflix for the Philippines. You learned that a new Netflix movie was released, but it is not available for Netflix Philippines. You have to access US Netflix, but how?
The answer is on the surface! Want to know how?
Netflix is now available in more than 190 countries around the world, including the Philippines. Nevertheless, everyone wants to access US Netflix because it offers the biggest collection of Netflix movies and series, more than Netflix in the Philippines.
Lucky you are if you have already subscribed to a VPN for the Philippines.
Why?
That’s simple! You can unblock Netflix in the Philippines with the help of a VPN for the Philippines. Just subscribe to a VPN from the list in this article and connect to one of the US-based servers.
The reasons to use a VPN in the Philippines
There are many reasons to use VPN services for the Philippines. Although the Republic of the Philippines is an island state, the internet is not a rare phenomenon there.
People know such terms as Wi-Fi, router, spying, and whatnot. They are also aware of cybersecurity statistics worldwide. That is why the question of VPN use is relevant for this country.
1. Free Wi-Fi hotspots are not safe for internet users without VPNIf you like to visit cafes and spend time there using Wi-Fi hot-spots, you should make this connection secure. With a reliable VPN, an insolent hacker sitting at the next table will not catch your banking card data with CVV code and will not steal the password you use to pay for services online. And it is not important what device you are using: a laptop or a smartphone.2. ISPs track your online activitiesPeople who appreciate anonymity don’t like that any system administrator of the provider has access to the data about their internet activity. Your provider will not know about the websites you visit and the sites will not identify their visitors' thanks to a VPN service.3. Some websites are blocked by employersSome employees like visiting websites like YouTube, Facebook, and whatnot during the lunch hour. But it is not always liked by the employer. Stop being monitored even at work.4. Other sites are geo-restricted in the PhilippinesDo you want to see the internet the way it should be – visit the pages without any restrictions being in the Philippines? The number of websites banned for this country is changed with every passing day and the page you have left to study today may be blocked for you tomorrow. Besides, there are situations when the appropriate page is to be inaccessible, but the ISP blocks the website entirely.5. Certain services are not available for the PhilippinesAny service can restrict access to it for the Philippines. Sometimes it is even possible to get a discount living in a concrete place. With the help of a VPN, you have a chance to become a resident of any country and be ready to estimate the bonuses of the services.6. Torrenting is not always a secure activityThere are millions of people all over the world who prefer torrenting to streaming. And it is obvious why:♦ a man should not pay for the movies, soft or music;
♦ any content is easily accessible;
♦ it’s possible to download soft or a new episode before its official release.
But unfortunately, it is not always legal to download such torrent files. To steer clear of such troubles it is recommended to use a VPN and keep anonymous on the Internet.
7. Resourceful hackers target your dataAdversaries aim at stealing user personal information all the time. It does not matter what type of data they get, hackers always know what to do with it. Using a VPN, all your traffic is ciphered and therefore cannot be used by crackers.
What is the best VPN to use in the Philippines?
If you are going to live in the Philippines, you need to know that the country’s Department of Justice monitors all the online activities within the country including emails, Facebook posts, messaging, and video chats without any warranting.
Therefore, having decided to travel to this popular tourist place or living there you need to be on pins and needles for not to become a victim of the government or adversary surveillance on your online deals.
One of the best solutions for making your network protected from multiple online threats is to run the best VPN for the Philippines. But what makes a VPN the best for the Philippines?
So, a top-rated VPN for the Philippines should offer several essential characteristics:
a vast variety of server locationsstrong encryption protocolsunlimited bandwidth and speeda trial version or a money-back guaranteesupport of different payment methods24/7 professional technical group assistance
Free VPN for the Philippines: can it work?
The attractiveness of free VPNs is that they are downloaded and used for free, you do not pay money for them!
Let’s have a look at the pros and cons of free VPN services for the Philippines:
Pros of free VPN services for the Philippines
You don’t pay money for free VPN services, so you can save a job for yourself!Free VPN services are usually easy to install and operate with!Most of the free VPN services are compatible with multiple platforms!Cons of free VPN services for the Philippines
Free VPN service providers offer few VPN server locations, so your opportunities for unblocking various sites are limited.Encryption is not strong enough to be protected online: poor protocols and data encrypting.Free VPN services for the Philippines can be easily identified by Netflix (even weak paid VPN services for the Philippines are often revealed!)Free VPN services may track users’ logs, which is not real privacy online (some of them are even suspected of selling users’ data to third parties).As you can see there are more cons than pros in free VPN services for the Philippines, and these are only key negative moments in free VPN services. For this reason, our recommendation is to use a respectable paid VPN service for the Philippines.
