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The Best VPNs to Get a Hong Kong IP Address

Callum Tennent oversees how we test and review VPN services. He's a member of the IAPP, and his VPN advice has featured in Forbes and the Internet Society.

Fact-checked by Simon MiglianoAdditional Testing by Alyx Morley

Our Verdict

ExpressVPN is the best VPN for Hong Kong. It has servers in 26 Asian countries including Hong Kong, all of which delivered excellent speeds in our tests. Thanks to its built-in obfuscation, you can use ExpressVPN to access blocked apps like TikTok or ChatGPT from Hong Kong, or to stream geo-restricted Cantonese movies and TV from anywhere in the world.

How to get a Hong Kong IP Address header image

When you connect to a VPN server in Hong Kong, you’ll get a Hong Kong IP address that lets you access Cantonese movies, TV shows, and other websites from anywhere in the world.

Hong Kong VPN servers are also a popular option for people in Mainland China seeking to bypass website blocks implemented by the Great Firewall.

However, not all VPNs have servers in Hong Kong. Those that do aren’t always safe, and they can’t always unblock popular streaming platforms or censored websites.

That’s why we’ve spent thousands of hours manually testing and reviewing 65 VPN services to find the VPNs that truly meet these criteria.

What Is the Best Hong Kong VPN in 2024?

The best VPNs for connecting into Hong Kong are:

  1. ExpressVPN: Best Hong Kong VPN Overall
  2. NordVPN: Best Alternative VPN for Kong Kong
  3. Windscribe: Best Free Hong Kong VPN

The best VPN for Hong Kong in 2024 is ExpressVPN, with an overall Hong Kong rating of 9.3/10. Its Hong Kong servers excel at unblocking Cantonese streaming services from abroad, including Hong Kong Netflix, Viu, ViuTV & Tubi. Thanks to its fast speeds and built-in obfuscation, ExpressVPN also works to access blocked apps from Hong Kong, or to connect into Hong Kong from Mainland China and other countries.

Our recommendations are the result of five testing categories: Hong Kong server coverage, streaming capabilities, connection speeds, logging policy, and technical features.

The three VPNs we recommend in this guide all have VPN servers in Hong Kong, meaning you can get a Hong Kong IP address and access geo-blocked websites and apps from abroad. In our tests, they worked with Hong Kong Netflix, Hong Kong Disney+, Viu, ViuTV, Tubi and more.

They also work to access other geo-restricted apps, including Hong Kong video game lobbies, online banking apps (like Bank of China), and ChatGPT.

The 3 Best VPNs for Hong Kong (Detailed Analysis)

To help you find the right VPN for Hong Kong, here’s a list of desirable features to look out for when choosing a VPN:

  • Hong Kong Servers: Large server network covering Hong Kong and at least 15 Asian countries.
  • Hong Kong Streaming: Access to popular geo-blocked streaming sites and apps, like Hong Kong Netflix, Hong Kong Disney+, Viu, and ViuTV.
  • Speed: Fast VPN connections to nearby and long-distance server locations.
  • Security and Technical Features: OpenVPN and WireGuard protocols, AES-256 and ChaCha20 encryption, and an effective kill switch.
  • Privacy and Logging Policy: A no-logs policy proven in real-world cases, diskless servers, and a safe jurisdiction.

Comparison of the Best Hong Kong VPNs:

Why Trust Us?

We’re fully independent and have been reviewing VPNs since 2016. Our ratings are based on our own testing results and are unaffected by financial incentives. Learn who we are and how we test VPNs.

1. ExpressVPN: Best Hong Kong VPN Overall

ExpressVPN has servers in Hong Kong and 26 other Asian countries, all of which work to unblock streaming services in Hong Kong and globally.

ExpressVPN's app for iOS

Pros Cons
Multiple servers in Hong Kong Expensive
Consistently unblocks Hong Kong Netflix, Viu, ViuTV & Tubi Undisclosed number of Hong Kong IP addresses
Fast connections with secure Lightway protocol Unreliable with Disney+
Doesn’t store user data & uses diskless servers
Seven-day free trial on mobile & 30-day money-back guarantee
24/7 live chat support
Overall Hong Kong Rating: 9.3/10

This overall score is based on the following category ratings. To learn more, read our Hong Kong VPN testing methodology.

Hong Kong Servers: 9.0/109.0

Hong Kong Streaming: 9.5/109.5

Speed: 9.7/109.7

Security & Technical Features: 9.6/109.6

Privacy & Logging Policy: 9.2/109.2

ExpressVPN is our top choice for getting a Hong Kong IP address. With 26 VPN servers in countries across Asia — including Hong Kong — ExpressVPN has one of the largest server networks in the region.

It’s highly secure, delivers lightning-fast speeds, and unblocks more websites and apps than any other VPN we recommend.

ExpressVPN also includes in-built obfuscation for bypassing the Great Firewall with ease. You can use ExpressVPN to access blocked apps like TikTok and ChatGPT from within Hong Kong, or connect into Hong Kong from mainland China and access websites like YouTube and Instagram.

Cheapest Price: $6.67/mo over 15 months
Hong Kong Servers: Undisclosed
Unblocks Viu: Yes
Unblocks Hong Kong Netflix: Yes
Logging Policy: No Identifying Data
Compatible with: Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, Chrome OS

Anonymous & Secure Connections Into Hong Kong

You can easily get a Hong Kong IP address with ExpressVPN by connecting to one of its servers in Hong Kong. Its server list is easy to navigate: split into different continents and then separate countries and regions.

ExpressVPN's Hong Kong servers on macOS.

ExpressVPN’s Hong Kong servers are named Hong Kong – 1 and Hong Kong – 2.

Unlike other VPNs that store server information on physical hard drives, ExpressVPN uses diskless servers. This prevents the VPN from logging any of your usage data and makes it almost impossible for a third party to extract data from a server.

It also uses a proprietary protocol, Lightway, which uses the AES-256 cipher to encrypt your sensitive data. This protocol is completely open-source, so anyone can inspect it or read Cure53’s audit of the VPN to verify its security.

Unblocks Hong Kong Netflix & Viu From Outside Hong Kong

After thousands of hours of streaming tests, ExpressVPN is our highest-rated VPN for streaming. It unblocks 18 Netflix libraries, including Hong Kong, Japan, the US, and India. In fact, ExpressVPN is the best VPN for Japan and Japanese Netflix.

By connecting to one of ExpressVPN’s Hong Kong servers, we were able to unblock Hong Kong Netflix exclusives like Ip Man, Helios, and An Autumn’s Tale. ExpressVPN also unblocks Cantonese movies and TV shows on Viu, ViuTV, and Tubi.

ExpressVPN unblocking Cantonese content on Netflix.

We used ExpressVPN to watch Ip Man 2 on Netflix.

In addition, the VPN unblocks global streaming platforms like iQIYI, Amazon Prime Video US, BBC iPlayer, US Disney+, HBO Max and Hulu.

Unfortunately, ExpressVPN is unreliable for accessing Hong Kong Disney+, which features lots of new Cantonese movies and TV shows.

Use ExpressVPN for Free For 37 Days

You can get ExpressVPN 100% for free using its seven-day free trial on iOS and Android. We like that it doesn’t take payment details upfront when you sign up for the free trial on iOS. However, Android users will have to remember to cancel the subscription before the first payment is deducted.

Our experts recommend combining this seven-day free trial with ExpressVPN’s 30-day money-back guarantee. This way, you can try out the service risk-free and get a free Hong Kong IP address with a trusted and safe VPN service.

2. NordVPN: Best Alternative for Hong Kong

NordVPN offers 70+ fast servers in Hong Kong and 11 other Asian countries. It has a range of advanced features like dedicated IPs, static IPs, double VPN, and a tracker blocker.

NordVPN's app for iOS

Pros Cons
70+ servers in Hong Kong Fails to unblock Hong Kong Netflix
Unblocks Hong Kong Disney+, Viu, ViuTV & Tubi Servers in fewer Asian countries
Extra security features like double VPN and dedicated IPs Fails to beat online censorship in China
Affordable subscriptions Minor server breach in 2018
Private logging policy & no IP or DNS leaks Renews at a higher annual subscription price
Seven-day Android free trial & 30-day money-back guarantee
Overall Hong Kong Rating: 9.2/10

This overall score is based on the following category ratings. To learn more, read our Hong Kong VPN testing methodology.

Hong Kong Servers: 9.2/109.2

Hong Kong Streaming: 8.5/108.5

Speed: 9.7/109.7

Security & Technical Features: 9.9/109.9

Privacy & Logging Policy: 8.8/108.8

NordVPN is our second-best VPN for a Hong Kong IP address. You can get access to 70+ VPN servers in Hong Kong, or 11 other Asian countries nearby, including Taiwan, Japan, and South Korea.

It’s one of the most popular VPNs in the world, with a huge number of advanced technical features. It’s fast enough for HD and 4K streaming, allows P2P traffic, and offers 24/7 live chat customer support.

Despite its strong performance, NordVPN has some shortcomings that prevent it from taking first place in our recommendations. It can’t unblock Hong Kong Netflix, has fewer server locations in Asia, and struggles to beat online censorship in China.

Cheapest Price: $3.29/mo over 2 years
Hong Kong Servers: 70+
Unblocks Viu: Yes
Unblocks Hong Kong Netflix: No
Logging Policy: No Identifying Data
Compatible with: Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, Chrome OS

70+ VPN Servers in Hong Kong

NordVPN has over 70 servers in Hong Kong, including P2P and obfuscated VPN servers. ExpressVPN and Windscribe Free do not disclose the exact number of servers available to users in Hong Kong, so it’s refreshing to see NordVPN be so transparent.

NordVPN's Hong Kong servers on macOS.

Using NordVPN on macOS, we were able to choose between 62 Hong Kong servers.

You can also connect to 169 VPN servers in Japan, 19 servers in Taiwan, and 34 servers in South Korea to browse the web freely without online restrictions.

All of NordVPN’s servers are physically located in the country, as opposed to virtual server locations. In our testing, we found this decreases the amount of CAPTCHAs you receive when browsing.

Customizable Security Settings & Advanced Features

NordVPN is an excellent choice for security and technical features. It’s a highly secure VPN with more additional features than almost any other alternative.

This includes an effective kill switch, a double VPN feature, dedicated IP addresses, static IP addresses, SOCKS, split tunneling, Smart DNS, and more.

All of NordVPN’s apps use NordLynx, a variation of the WireGuard protocol, by default. This means your web traffic is encrypted by the sophisticated ChaCha20 cipher.

Unblock Cantonese TV Shows & Movies

In our tests, NordVPN easily unblocked Cantonese streaming services like ViuTV and Viu. Our experts were able to seamlessly watch TV shows like Battle of the Throne 2 and The Finite Adventure Crew on ViuTV in HD while connected to NordVPN.

We were also able to access Cantonese movies using a US IP address with TVB Anywhere and Tubi.

Streaming Anita on Disney+ while connected to NordVPN's Hong Kong server.

We used NordVPN’s Hong Kong server to unblock Anita on Hong Kong Disney+.

However, like most VPNs we tested, NordVPN failed to unblock Hong Kong Netflix. Despite this, NordVPN is still an excellent VPN for streaming Cantonese movies and TV shows on other streaming platforms.

Visit NordVPN or read our detailed NordVPN review.

3. Windscribe Free: Best Free VPN for Hong Kong

The only free VPN with multiple Hong Kong servers. It’s also one of the best VPNs for bypassing online censorship.

Windscribe Free's VPN app for iOS

Pros Cons
Get a free Hong Kong IP address 10GB monthly data cap
Free servers in 11 countries Undisclosed number of servers in Hong Kong
Unblocks Hong Kong Disney+, Viu, ViuTV & Tubi Fails to unblock Hong Kong Netflix
Secure & privacy-friendly VPN
Minimal-logs privacy policy & built-in VPN kill switch
Unlimited device policy
Overall Hong Kong Rating: 6.4/10

This overall score is based on the following category ratings. To learn more, read our Hong Kong VPN testing methodology.

Hong Kong Servers: 7.5/107.5

Hong Kong Streaming: 8.5/108.5

Speed: 8.8/108.8

Security & Technical Features: 8.1/108.1

Privacy & Logging Policy: 8.9/108.9

Our tests prove that Windscribe Free is the best free VPN for Hong Kong. In fact, it’s the only free VPN to offer a server location in Hong Kong. If you want to get a Hong Kong IP address for free, Windscribe Free is by far the best choice.

Cheapest Price: Free
Hong Kong Servers: Undisclosed
Unblocks Viu: Yes
Unblocks Hong Kong Netflix: No
Logging Policy: No Identifying Data
Compatible with: Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android

Get a Hong Kong IP Address for Free

Windscribe Free is the only safe free VPN with servers in Hong Kong. Using Windscribe Free’s Hong Kong server, you can access geo-restricted apps like Bank of China or ChatGPT, or stream Cantonese content on ViuTV or Hong Kong Disney+.

Streaming a Cantonese TV series on Viu while connected to Windscribe Free's Hong Kong server.

With Windscribe Free, we streamed White War, a Cantonese drama series, on Viu.

If you want to stream Cantonese content on Viu or ViuTV, Windscribe Free is a great choice. In addition, it can stream American platforms like Hulu and HBO Max, as well as UK Netflix. Our VPN experts didn’t experience any buffering when streaming with Windscribe Free.

Bypasses Hong Kong & Mainland Chinese Online Censorship

Windscribe Free is also one of the best VPNs for China, with an impressive 85% success rate in bypassing censorship, meaning you can use its Hong Kong server to access websites blocked in China.

In the past year, its Stealth and WStunnel protocols have proven extremely effective in our hands-on testing.

Windscribe Free's Hong Kong servers.

Windscribe offers the same servers in Hong Kong on both its free and paid versions.

In fact, Windscribe Free is even better than a majority of paid VPNs when it comes to bypassing Chinese censorship. You can use it to access blocked apps and websites in Hong Kong for free, like ChatGPT or TikTok. You can also use it to bypass online restrictions from Mainland China.

10GB Monthly Data Cap

Windscribe Free’s 10GB monthly data cap is pretty generous for an ad-free VPN. But it’s still much more restrictive than a paid VPN like ExpressVPN or NordVPN, both of which offer unlimited data.

Its free speeds are also much slower than paid alternatives. To put this into perspective, here’s a table comparing the local average speeds of the best VPNs for Hong Kong:

VPN Speed Comparison

Windscribe Free is slower than ExpressVPN and NordVPN

Speed chart showing Windscribe's local and international speeds are slower than competitors.

Windscribe Free also doesn’t unblock Hong Kong Netflix, so if you want reliable access to that library, you will have to pay opt for ExpressVPN.

How to Get a Hong Kong IP Address Using a VPN

We used ExpressVPN to get a Hong Kong IP address and unblock Viu.

Here’s how to get a Hong Kong IP address using a VPN:

  1. Sign up for a VPN service with Hong Kong servers. We recommend using ExpressVPN to connect to Hong Kong because it unblocks the most Hong Kong streaming services, has fast connection speeds, and uses robust encryption. However, Windscribe Free is a great alternative for getting a Hong Kong IP address for free.
  2. Install the latest version of the VPN app onto your device. Navigate to the VPN provider’s website and download the app onto your computer or mobile device.
  3. Connect to a VPN server in Hong Kong. Find the server list in your VPN app and select a Hong Kong server.
  4. Verify your new IP address. Open your preferred internet browser and use an IP checker tool to confirm your IP address and geolocation has changed to Hong Kong.

How to Watch Hong Kong TV & Movies From Abroad

If you’re based outside of Hong Kong, you might find it difficult to stream new Cantonese drama series and movies.

Not only is access to certain Hong Kong streaming platforms tied to certain mobile networks in Hong Kong, some streaming services only offer Mandarin-dubbed Cantonese content.

Our VPN researchers tested the most popular streaming services to evaluate which were best for streaming original Cantonese TV shows and movies. Here’s a table listing the most popular streaming services with Cantonese movies and TV:

Streaming Service IP Address Free Content Paid Content
Viu Hong Kong Yes Yes
ViuTV Hong Kong Yes Yes
Hong Kong Netflix Hong Kong No Yes
Hong Kong Disney+ Hong Kong No Yes
HMVOD* Hong Kong No Yes
Tubi US Yes No
Criterion Channel US No Yes

*Only available with a valid Hong Kong phone number.

Getting a Hong Kong IP address isn’t always the best way to stream Cantonese content. For example, TVB Anywhere is designed for people outside of Hong Kong to access TV shows from home.

If you’re based in the US, Tubi is a legal free movie platform that features Cantonese movies.

Here’s a more detailed list of the best streaming services for watching Cantonese movies and TV shows from abroad:

1. TVB Anywhere

IP Address Required: Available Internationally
Paid Subscription Available: Yes
Free Content Available: Yes

TVB is Hong Kong’s most popular broadcasting company. It owns TVB Anywhere, a streaming service designed for Hongkongers living abroad. You can use it to watch TVB content from anywhere in the world, including the US, Europe, and other countries in Asia.

TVB Anywhere with a US IP address.

We used TVB Anywhere to stream Forensic Heroes, The Invisibles, and Let Me Take Your Pulse.

There is some free content on TVB Anywhere. However, the majority of content is restricted to paying subscribers. Our VPN researchers were able to watch TV shows on TVB Anywhere while connected to VPN servers in the US.

2. Tubi

IP Address Required: US
Paid Subscription Available: No
Free Content Available: Yes

Tubi is a legal (and free) streaming site owned by Fox Corporation. The platform is fully supported by ads and features a huge range of international movies, including some from Hong Kong. All movies from outside the US are labeled Foreign/International on the platform.

Tubi's Cantonese content.

We used ExpressVPN’s New Jersey server to unblock Line Walker 2 and watch it in the original Canontese dub.

Unlike some other streaming platforms we recommend in this guide, which require you to get a Hong Kong IP address, you can’t use a Hong Kong IP address to access content on Tubi. Instead, we recommend connecting to a server in the US to unblock its library of Cantonese movies.

3. Viu

IP Address Required: Hong Kong
Paid Subscription Available: Yes
Free Content Available: Yes

Viu is an extremely popular Hong Kong-based streaming service. It has TV shows and movies from across Asia and even Viu Original content. It’s available in 16 markets, including Hong Kong, Indonesia, Singapore, the Philippines, Thailand, and more.

Streaming Viu connected to Proton VPN's Hong Kong server.

Viu offers original Cantonese TV shows like #lovesignal, as well as Korean, Thai, Malay, and Indonesian shows.

If you’re based outside these regions, you’ll have to use a VPN to get a Hong Kong IP address to watch Viu’s library of content. We were able to unblock Viu with the best VPNs for Hong Kong easily and watch a drama series for free.

4.ViuTV

IP Address Required: Hong Kong
Paid Subscription Available: Yes
Free Content Available: Yes

ViuTV is a Cantonese TV channel, whereas Viu is a separate online streaming service owned by the same parent company. The TV channel offers a wide range of ViuTV Originals, including variety shows, dramas, and movies in Cantonese.

ViuTV is completely geo-blocked outside Hong Kong, which means you have to use a VPN to unblock its content from abroad.

Streaming ViuTV while connected to NordVPN's Hong Kong server.

We used NordVPN to stream the first episode of 940920 in Full HD on ViuTV.

You can use a VPN to watch popular Cantonese shows like ERROR Crazy Trip, 940920, King Maker, Ink at Tai Ping, The Finite Adventure Crew, and more.

5. Hong Kong Netflix

IP Address Required: Hong Kong
Paid Subscription Available: Yes
Free Content Available: No

Despite Netflix being banned in Mainland China, Hong Kong is currently not included in the ban. In fact, Netflix features Cantonese films and TV shows for its audience in Hong Kong.

Streaming Hong Kong Netflix while connected to Windscribe's paid Hong Kong server.

The Hong Kong Netflix library includes titles like Ip Man, Jackie Chan’s Project A, and The Midnight After.

Netflix has extremely sophisticated VPN detection technology, meaning only a few VPNs are reliable enough to bypass its geo-blocks consistently. We found that ExpressVPN is currently the only VPN able to unblock Hong Kong’s Netflix library consistently.

6. Hong Kong Disney+

IP Address Required: Hong Kong
Paid Subscription Available: Yes
Free Content Available: No

Disney+ has an excellent collection of Cantonese TV shows and movies available with its monthly subscription. With a Hong Kong IP address, our VPN experts were able to stream geo-blocked Cantonese movies and TV dramas from abroad.

Disney+'s Hong Kong library

Disney+ has a Hong Kong spotlight collection featuring Where The Wind Blows, Lost Love, Everything Under Control, and more.

If you’re not able to access Disney+’s Cantonese library using a Hong Kong server, we suggest using a Singapore VPN server instead. Lots of Cantonese movies and TV shows are also available in the Singapore Disney+ library.

VPNs You Should Avoid for Hong Kong

Our team of VPN experts also found some VPNs not suitable for connecting into Hong Kong.

Here’s a list of VPN services we don’t recommend for Hong Kong, and why:

CyberGhost

Connected to CyberGhost's Hong Kong server, we come across a CAPTCHA.

We encountered a lot of annoying CAPTCHAs while using CyberGhost’s Hong Kong servers.

CyberGhost is an excellent VPN service with 74 servers in Hong Kong. However, it’s not able to bypass online censorship in Hong Kong and China. We also experienced more than the usual amount of frustrating CAPTCHAs while connected to CyberGhost’s Hong Kong VPN servers.

Astrill VPN

VPN Speed Comparison

Astrill’s international speeds are noticeably slower than its rivals

Speed chart showing Astrill is slower than rivals.

Astrill VPN has never failed to bypass the Great Firewall of China in our tests. It also has multiple Hong Kong VPN servers and unblocks Cantonese streaming platforms. However, it’s much slower than the best VPNs for Hong Kong and doesn’t unblock Amazon Prime Video, HBO Max, or Disney+.

Surfshark

Surfshark failing to connect in mainland China.

In mainland China, Surfshark often fails to connect to a VPN server at all.

Surfshark is another high-quality VPN service, and with 52 servers in Hong Kong, it was a strong contender for our recommendations. It just missed out on a spot in the top three because it doesn’t have as many technical features as NordVPN and doesn’t unblock censored websites in Hong Kong or mainland China.

In the past year, Surfshark has only been able to unblock websites in China 18% of the time, which is disappointing compared to Windscribe Free’s 85%.

Urban VPN

Urban VPN's website

Urban VPN’s website alludes to the fact that it’s a peer-to-peer network.

Despite its popularly, Urban VPN is one of the worst VPNs for China. Firstly, it’s actually a peer-to-peer proxy network that doesn’t encrypt your data at all. Even worse, it logs your IP address and browsing activity. We highly recommend avoiding Urban VPN at all costs. It’s not a good hong kong VPN.

Hong Kong VPN

Hong Kong VPN's awful privacy policy

Hong Kong VPN’s privacy policy was written using a generic privacy policy template.

Hong Kong VPN, developed by Helalik, is a popular free VPN on the Google Play Store. However, its privacy policy states it may collect your IP address, device information, timestamps, and other statistics. The privacy policy itself is also created using a generic template from “privacypolicytemplate.net.”

EXPERT ADVICE: If you have a question about a VPN’s performance in Hong Kong, email us at hello@top10vpn.com, and we’ll provide relevant insights and recommendations.

Which VPNs Have Servers in Hong Kong?

There are dozens of VPNs with Hong Kong servers that didn’t make our list of recommendations. These VPNs either didn’t have as many VPN servers in Hong Kong, didn’t unblock as many streaming platforms, or weren’t as fast as the VPNs listed above.

Here are all the VPN services we’ve reviewed with Hong Kong servers:

  • Astrill VPN
  • Atlas VPN
  • Avira Phantom VPN
  • Bitdefender VPN
  • CyberGhost
  • ExpressVPN
  • FastestVPN
  • Hide.me
  • Hotspot Shield
  • IPVanish
  • Ivacy VPN
  • IVPN
  • Kaspersky VPN
  • Mozilla VPN
  • Mullvad VPN
  • NordVPN
  • Norton Secure VPN
  • PrivadoVPN
  • Private Internet Access
  • PrivateVPN
  • Proton VPN
  • PureVPN
  • SkyVPN
  • StrongVPN
  • Surfshark
  • TorGuard
  • VPN Proxy Master
  • VPN Unlimited
  • VPN.AC
  • VPNArea
  • VyprVPN
  • Windscribe VPN
  • Windscribe VPN Free
  • X-VPN

There’s also several popular VPNs without Hong Kong servers at all, including HideMyAss, Perfect Privacy, TunnelBear VPN, and ZoogVPN.

A majority of free VPNs like Atlas VPN Free, TunnelBear Free, Proton VPN Free, and PrivadoVPN Free also don’t have servers in Hong Kong.

Why Do You Need a VPN for Hong Kong?

When you connect to a VPN server in Hong Kong, you’ll get a Hong Kong IP address that lets you access familiar content and accounts that might be blocked in different countries.

Hong Kong VPN servers are also a popular option for people in Mainland China seeking to bypass the Great Firewall.

1. Unblock Local Apps & Streaming Services

If you’re outside Hong Kong, you might not be able to access Cantonese websites, original Cantonese films, or TV on Hong Kong streaming services. For example, Viu and ViuTV block any IP addresses from outside Hong Kong.

A VPN enables you to get a Hong Kong IP address and bypass these geo-restrictions on streaming services, allowing you to stream Cantonese movies and TV from anywhere in the world.

You can also use a Hong Kong IP address to access essential apps like Bank of China without alerting your bank to a change in location.

2. Bypass Online Censorship in Mainland China

Many people in mainland China use Hong Kong VPN servers to bypass the Great Firewall of China. Hong Kong’s proximity to other Chinese cities and relatively free internet access makes it a great VPN location if you’re in mainland China.

Other nearby Asian countries, like Taiwan, Japan, and South Korea, are also popular VPN server locations if you want to access websites like Google, YouTube, and Instagram.

Unblocking websites in China using Astrill VPN

We used Astrill VPN to unblock YouTube in China.

If you’re traveling to China, we recommend installing Astrill VPN, which has never once failed to bypass online censorship in China. Windscribe Free is a great back-up option to have on your device as well.

3. Enhance Your Internet Security & Privacy

A VPN enhances your internet security, making it harder for your internet service provider and hackers to track your online activity.

Analyzing ExpressVPN's browser extension encryption using packet-sniffing software

ExpressVPN’s browser extensions encrypted all our network traffic.

It does this by encrypting all the traffic leaving your device. An effective VPN will hide your real IP address, geographic location, websites you visit, the apps you use, the fact you’re using a VPN, and more.

The best VPNs have a no-logs policy to prevent internet activity being linked back to users. They’re based in a country with no data retention laws. They use diskless servers, which never save data onto physical hard drives. Lastly, they conduct independent audits to verify their logging practices and the security of their VPN server network.

Is It Legal to Use a VPN in Hong Kong?

VPNs are 100% legal to use in Hong Kong, and it’s legal to get a Hong Kong IP address from abroad.

Mainland China’s internet censorship does not yet apply to Hong Kong, meaning you can access a majority of apps and websites blocked by the Great Firewall. This includes VPN provider websites and apps, which are censored in Mainland China.

However, the passing of Article 42 of the Hong Kong National Security law in 2020 authorized Hong Kong police to force people and service providers to delete information which posed a threat to national security.

Since then, the Hong Kong government has begun blocking news websites and anti-government websites.

People have discovered religious, political, and military Taiwanese websites have been blocked and cannot be accessed without a VPN in Hong Kong. In addition, several internet service providers in Hong Kong have blocked Hong Kong Watch, a human rights organization based in the UK.

How We Test VPNs for Hong Kong (Methodology)

We’ve created a bespoke testing methodology for finding the best VPNs for Hong Kong. This testing process evaluates a VPN’s server coverage in Hong Kong, its ability to unblock Cantonese streaming platforms, download speeds, privacy policy, and security.

You can find the categories and their respective weightings in the chart below:

Pie chart showing the breakdown of our Hong Kong methodology, which is calculated using 5 metrics. Hong Kong server locations 30%, Hong Kong streaming 30%, speed 20%, security and technical features 10% and privacy and logging policy 10%

The best VPNs for Hong Kong excel in these five testing categories.

The table below summarizes how our top Hong Kong VPNs perform in every testing category. These scores contribute to the overall VPN for Hong Kong rating.

VPNs with a data cap receive a reduction to their overall rating.

1. Hong Kong Server Locations: 30%

Minimum Requirement: A virtual server location in Hong Kong.
We Recommend: Multiple virtual servers in Hong Kong, covering a variety of locations.

To qualify for this list, each VPN has to have multiple VPN servers in Hong Kong. Without a virtual or physical Hong Kong server, it would be impossible to get a Hong Kong IP address.

Our team of VPN experts analyze each VPN’s list of server locations. To qualify for recommendation, a VPN must have multiple servers in Hong Kong and in nearby countries like Taiwan, Japan, and South Korea.

2. Hong Kong Streaming: 30%

Minimum Requirement: Unblocks Viu, ViuTV and Tubi.
We Recommend: All of the above, as well as Hong Kong Netflix and Hong Kong Disney+.

Streaming services, like Netflix and Disney+, often geo-restrict their content due to licensing and distribution agreements. In practice, streaming services do this by blocking certain IP address locations from accessing certain content libraries.

The best VPNs for Hong Kong are able to bypass these geo-restrictions and access Cantonese content with a Hong Kong IP address.

To calculate each VPN’s Hong Kong streaming rating, we test every VPN’s ability to unblock popular Hong Kong streaming services, as well as international streaming services with Cantonese content, from outside Hong Kong.

The streaming platforms we test include: Hong Kong Netflix, Hong Kong Disney+, Tubi Viu and ViuTV.

3. Speed: 20%

Minimum Requirement: An average international download speed greater than 60Mbps, and ping lower than 100ms.
We Recommend: An average international download speed above 80Mbps, and ping lower than 50ms.

We manually test the average download speed, upload speed, and ping time of every VPN before and after connecting to servers in Hong Kong from the US.

Our automated VPN speed tests also monitor the most popular VPN’s speeds constantly. This data is updated every eight weeks to maintain up-to-date statistics.

Having fast download speeds ensures a VPN can stream video in higher quality, download files quicker, and browse geo-restricted web pages without buffering.

4. Security & Technical Features: 10%

Minimum Requirement: Secure open-sourced protocols, like OpenVPN and WireGuard, and AES-256 (or equivalent) encryption.
We Recommend: All of the above, as well as IP leak protection and a reliable VPN kill switch.

To test a VPN’s security and technical features, our VPN researchers use a range of tools that can prove how secure a VPN is.

We use Wireshark to analyze web packets once connected to a VPN, measuring how well a VPN encrypts your traffic. We also use a kill switch test to judge whether a VPN leaks your real IP address and a DNS leak test to judge the security of a VPN.

To score highly in this category, a VPN must offer safe protocols and offer some advanced features, like a functioning kill switch.

5. Privacy & Logging Policy: 10%

Minimum Requirement: Privacy-friendly logging policy, supported by court cases or independent audits.
We Recommend: No-logs policy confirmed by real-world events, trustworthy ownership, and RAM-based (diskless) servers.

A VPN’s privacy policy reveals how much sensitive data it monitors and stores about your online activity and your device.

The worst VPNs log excessive amounts of data, like your real IP address, browsing history, and internet service provider. This information could be used by a hacker or law enforcement to identify you.

To evaluate a VPN’s logging policy, we analyze each and every policy to track how many data points it saves about its users. The best VPNs for Hong Kong do not store identifying data and use diskless VPN servers to avoid storing sensitive information.

Data Cap Reduction: Up to 50%

While free VPN services can be enough for some users, it’s important to acknowledge the limitations their data caps impose on VPN users.

To account for these limitations, we apply penalties to free VPNs that enforce data caps, with stricter penalties reserved for the most restrictive data caps. Here’s how it breaks down:

  • Unlimited bandwidth: No deduction to the overall rating
  • 10GB per month: -20% to the overall rating
  • 500MB per day: -25% to the overall rating
  • 5GB per month: -30% to the overall rating
  • 1GB per month: -35% to the overall rating
  • 200MB per day: -40% to the overall rating
  • 500MB per month: -50% to the overall rating

FAQs

What’s the Best VPN for Connecting to Hong Kong?

ExpressVPN is the best VPN for connecting to Hong Kong. It has multiple servers in Hong Kong, unblocks Cantonese streaming services like Viu and ViuTV, and it unblocks Tubi and Hong Kong Disney+, which feature Cantonese movies and TV shows.

Which VPN Has the Most Servers in Hong Kong?

NordVPN and CyberGhost have more than 70 Hong Kong servers, which is more than any other VPN. Surfshark and PureVPN also have over 50 Hong Kong servers.

Which Free VPN Has Servers in Hong Kong?

The only free VPN with servers in Hong Kong is Windscribe Free. It comes with 10GB of free data per month and multiple free servers in Hong Kong. Windscribe Free also unblocks Cantonese content on Viu, ViuTV, Hong Kong Disney+, and Tubi.

Which VPNs Work in China?

Astrill VPN works 100% of the time in China. It can unblock search engines and social media platforms like X (previously Twitter) and Instagram with ease. Our tests proved its StealthVPN protocol to be the most effective, but OpenWeb and OpenVPN are also reliable options.

Windscribe Free is the best free VPN for bypassing Chinese internet filters. You can use its Hong Kong VPN server, Stealth, and WStunnel protocols without having to pay for a subscription.