5 Best VPNs for the Philippines in 2023 — Streaming & Privacy

When visiting the Philippines, you lose access to international content and services (like Netflix US and Disney+) without a VPN. Geo-restrictions also prevent Filipinos from watching local streaming services, including PTV or RPN, when traveling abroad.

Your online privacy is also at risk in the country unless you’re using a decent VPN. Cyber threats are increasing in the Philippines (and worldwide), especially on public WiFi networks. Local ISPs must also retain your data for at least 6 months, and can share it upon official request.

My team and I tested over 80 services to find the best VPNs for the Philippines. These services have reliable global networks that bypass geoblocks for popular online services. Additionally, each of my recommendations offers advanced encryption (AES 256-bit) and security features to safeguard your privacy.

ExpressVPN is my top choice for the Philippines. It has lightning-fast servers in the country and worldwide to access your favorite content from anywhere. Your confidential data is thoroughly protected by military-grade encryption and a strict no-logs policy. Better yet, you can try ExpressVPN risk-free (it comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee).

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The Best VPNs for the Philippines — Full Analysis (Updated in 2023)

All the VPNs on this list have extensive global networks to let you access the content you need while in the Philippines. They also offer fast servers and up-to-date protocols for reliable streaming, gaming, and torrenting. Beyond that, each of these VPNs uses strong security measures to keep you safe online. Trustworthy no-logs policies mean your confidential information is in safe hands.

These VPNs work on popular operating systems, offer responsive customer support, and provide multiple simultaneous connections. You can try each of them risk-free, thanks to their reliable money-back guarantees.

1. ExpressVPN — Global Network to Bypass Geo-Restrictions in the Philippines and Worldwide

Unblocking international content with ExpressVPN is effortless thanks to servers in 94 countries (including the Philippines). I accessed my accounts on Netflix US and Amazon Prime Video while testing ExpressVPN’s servers in the US. This means you can watch shows like The Wheel of Time while in the Philippines. This VPN also has servers in the country, so you can stream local services like RPN and GMA News TV trouble-free from anywhere.

My speeds were more than fast enough for UHD streaming and lag-free gaming. They clocked in at 55 Mbps on the US and the UK servers, while servers in the Philippines averaged 69 Mbps. These are excellent results (UHD streaming only requires 25 Mbps), as my base speed is 76 Mbps.

Additionally, the VPN supports P2P traffic and unlimited bandwidth lets you torrent without data caps or slowdowns. I had no delays or disconnects when downloading files on Filipino servers.

Your data is also protected by military-grade encryption (AES 256-bit — the strongest protocol available) with HMAC authentication. Perfect Forward Secrecy regularly changes your encryption keys, making it nearly impossible for hackers to decrypt your data. The VPN also offers robust tunneling protocols, including the secure OpenVPN and the super fast Lightway. I used Lightway to minimize my latency in Halo: Infinite and switched to OpenVPN to safely manage my BDO Unibank account.

There’s also a useful Network Lock feature — ExpressVPN’s kill switch — that cuts your internet connection if you accidentally disconnect from the VPN. Even though I never lost my connection, it was good to know it was there to prevent accidental data exposure. What’s more, I didn’t detect any IPv6, DNS, or WebRTC leaks on servers in the Philippines.

ExpressVPN’s strict no-logs policy prohibits it from collecting or sharing your personal information too. Additionally, RAM-only servers (TrustedServer technology) erase your data on each server reboot. The VPN is also headquartered in the British Virgin Islands (outside the 5/9/14 Eyes Alliances international surveillance pacts). You can even sign up with a “burner” email account and pay with Bitcoin for extra privacy.

All of the apps are beginner-friendly. The MediaStreamer (SmartDNS) feature also lets you bypass geoblocks on devices without native VPN support. This helped me watch Disney+ and Hulu from my PS5 without problems. You can contact customer support via 24/7 live chat or email with any inquiries. I got an informative answer to all my questions no matter when I got in touch.

The subscriptions are quite expensive, with the most affordable plan starting at $6.67/month. Still, ExpressVPN offers regular discounts to make it more wallet-friendly. I saved nearly 49% and got 3 free extra months when I signed up for a 12-month plan.

I tested the 30-day refund policy and found it straightforward as well. If the VPN doesn’t meet your needs, you can easily get your money back. After a few weeks I applied for a refund via live chat (to speed up the process). The conversation with the support agent lasted only a few minutes. Just 3 days later, the money was back in my PayPal account.

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2. CyberGhost — Optimized Servers for Streaming Your Favorite Global Platforms in the Philippines (and Beyond)

CyberGhost offers optimized servers for streaming, gaming, and torrenting. The app includes a server list organized by the type of activity. Streaming servers are labeled with their locations and the platform they unblock, to help you find the best one for specific services. I easily accessed my Netflix US and Hulu accounts while testing CyberGhost’s dedicated servers.

There are plenty of regular servers in the Philippines and beyond, too. So, you can bypass global geoblocks to watch It's Showtime from outside the country. I also had no problems watching INC and TV5 from abroad on the Filipino servers.

This VPN was fast on all the servers I tested, averaging 65 Mbps. I streamed in 4K without buffering and played online games lag-free — even on long-distance servers in Chicago and London. So, playing League of Legends isn’t a problem. The VPN even uses data compression on websites to improve your page load speed. Plus, it doesn’t cap your bandwidth, so you don’t have to worry about data limits.

Your browsing activity is kept safe with robust security features. CyberGhost uses top-grade encryption (AES 256-bit and RSA 2048-bit) and security protocols (including secure OpenVPN and fast WireGuard). Like ExpressVPN, you also get extra protection with HMAC authentication and a kill switch feature. I enabled the automatic WiFi protection that launches the VPN on new networks, so I didn’t worry about hackers on public hotspots in Manila.

The strict no-logs policy and location in Romania (beyond the 5/9/14 Eyes Alliances jurisdiction) help you remain private. You can even pay a small extra fee to use dedicated NoSpy servers managed by internal employees for extra privacy. I also enabled the HTTPS protection that automatically redirected me to safe versions of web pages. The VPN passed all my IPv6 and DNS leak tests too.

It took me just 5 minutes to download and configure CyberGhost for my Windows laptop and Android phone. The extensive guides on the website are helpful if you’re a VPN newcomer. There’s also responsive 24/7 live chat support, should you have any queries.

The monthly subscription is quite costly and has a limited 14-day money-back period. However, the long-term plans are available for as low as $2.19/month and offer an extended refund policy. That’s why I went with the 3-year plan to save the most.

Plus, you can try CyberGhost for free during its 45-day money-back period. I canceled my subscription and applied for a refund via email. The process was automated, and I had the entire sum on my Visa card in 4 days.

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3. Private Internet Access (PIA) — Customizable Encryption to Balance Your Security and Speeds

Private Internet Access lets you personalize your security based on your needs. You can select between two encryption algorithms: AES 128-bit and AES 256-bit. I used AES 128-bit for streaming and gaming, as it's faster (but doesn’t sacrifice protection). The highly secure AES 256-bit is excellent for e-banking and online shopping. This VPN also has a good selection of tunneling protocols, including WireGuard and OpenVPN.

Thanks to a trustworthy zero-logs policy, your confidential data stays private too. The provider owns and manages the whole network, to avoid third-party interference. If you want to stop pop-ups and trackers on news sites like Philstar, you can use its built-in ad blocker (MACE). I also had zero IP or DNS leaks when testing PIA’s Filipino servers. There’s a kill switch to prevent accidental data exposure, too.

Unblocking online services is easy with the global network across 84 countries. I had full access to my accounts on Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, and BBC iPlayer while in Manila. You can also connect to servers in the Philippines to stream IBC or RPN while away from the country. So, nothing stops you from watching recent episodes of He's Into Her.

I had consistently fast speeds too. Even faraway servers in the US were quick enough for UHD streaming and smooth gaming from the Philippines. The VPN is a good choice for downloading and sharing files as well — it offers P2P support and unlimited bandwidth.

The only issue with having so many advanced settings is that PIA’s apps might be confusing if you’re new to VPNs. However, beginners can use pre-configured profiles for streaming, gaming, and torrenting without any configuration. There are also many helpful guides on the website. I quickly found the guide for Smart DNS setup and it was easy to follow. Plus, there’s 24/7 online chat if you need further help.

PIA’s long-term plan stands out as the most affordable (starting at $2.03/month). I went with the 2-year option, which offered the best overall value.

Getting my money back was straightforward with the 30-day refund policy. So, you can always get your first payment refunded if you have any problems. I created a support ticket asking for a refund (on the official website). My bank account was reimbursed 5 days later.

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4. PrivateVPN — Torrent Reliably in the Philippines With Network-Wide P2P Support

You can torrent on any server in PrivateVPN’s P2P-friendly network. I configured port forwarding and the SOCKS5 proxy for a speed boost and my average speed was 52 Mbps. That meant I could download a 10 GB file in under 25 minutes while testing PrivateVPN’s servers in the Philippines. It also offers unlimited bandwidth, so you can download as many files as you want.

I had no problems accessing my Amazon Prime Video account to watch Reacher and The Boys either. This VPN lets you unblock your accounts on plenty of international streaming platforms too, including Hulu, Disney+, and HBO Max. Plus, there are many servers in the Philippines to let you stream GMA News TV and other Filipino services beyond the country’s borders.

All the apps I tested were user-friendly, and it’s possible to set it up with Android TV, Kodi, and Roku. You can chat directly with the developers to get help (they’re available 22 hours a day on live chat). There’s also free remote VPN installation available for the desktop apps (Windows, Mac, and Linux).

My sessions always remained secure, thanks to advanced encryption (AES 128-bit and 256-bit) and many tunneling protocols (including OpenVPN). I found no IPv6, DNS, or WebRTC leaks on any servers. Plus, you can disguise your VPN traffic as a regular internet connection with Stealth VPN (obfuscation) to avoid sophisticated firewalls. There’s also a kill switch to maximize your protection against leaks.

One worry is that PrivateVPN is located in Sweden — a member of the 5/9/14 Eyes Alliances. Thankfully, the provider also has a reliable no-logs policy and doesn’t share your personal information with third parties. It even manages its whole server infrastructure to minimize interference.

The most affordable plan starts at $2/month. I found the 1-year plan the most cost-effective as all subscriptions have the same features.

Trying PrivateVPN is essentially free, as it’s backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee. I just asked the support team for a refund after using the VPN for a while. The money was transferred to my Visa card in 6 days.

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5. IPVanish — Unlimited Simultaneous Connections to Cover All Your Devices in the Philippines

You can use IPVanish on all your devices at the same time. The service supports all major devices and media streaming players (including Kodi and Amazon Fire Stick). Surprisingly, all my connections were stable while I tested IPVanish on 9 devices at once (my PC, 2 iPads, and 6 Android phones). I found the apps easy to use on all the devices I tested, but there’s 24/7 live chat available if you need help.

The VPN uses the same robust encryption protocols as CyberGhost (AES 256-bit and RSA 2048-bit). It also protects your connection with multiple security protocols (including PPTP, L2TP/IPSec, and OpenVPN) and Perfect Forward Secrecy. I never had any IP/DNS leaks throughout my testing either.

Your data is kept safe with a proven zero-logs policy. IPVanish even manages its own servers to prevent outsiders from tampering with your data. You can enable the kill switch to protect you against data exposure if the VPN fails too (although that never happened to me during my testing).

When testing servers in the United States, I achieved a recorded speed of 44 Mbps, indicating that the service is swift enough to accommodate smooth streaming and competitive gaming. Additionally, there are no data caps in place, enabling you to download large files without any limitations.

Unfortunately, this service doesn’t have servers in the Philippines. However, it lets you unblock Filipino content with plenty of servers nearby (in South Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, and Taiwan). Plus, the global network lets you access international streaming services like BBC iPlayer, Netflix US, and Disney+. So, it’s possible to watch The Mandalorian from Manila.

You can get IPVanish for as low as $2.49/month. The 1-year plan is the best option, as it also offers a money-back guarantee (which the monthly plans don’t have).

Getting a refund is trouble-free during the 30-day money-back period. I simply canceled my subscription and requested a refund via the website’s dashboard. My Paypal account was credited in 7 days.

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Tips on How to Choose the Best VPN for the Philippines

In my quest to discover the top VPNs for the Philippines, I conducted thorough tests to evaluate their ability to bypass geo-restrictions, safeguard data, and maintain optimal speeds. Nonetheless, if you prefer to conduct your own research, you can utilize the following criteria as a helpful checklist:

• Global server network (including the Philippines) — Servers in the Philippines, neighboring countries, and worldwide help you access Filipino and other international content (like PTV and BBC iPlayer).
• Fast connection speeds — Look for a VPN that doesn’t reduce your speeds by more than 50%.
• High-grade security and privacy features — Get a VPN with high-end encryption, IPv6/DNS leak protection, and a no-logs policy to protect your privacy.
• Easy-to-use apps — Make sure your VPN has straightforward apps for your operating systems, live chat support, and multiple simultaneous connections.
• Trustworthy money-back guarantee — Pick a provider with a solid money-back guarantee, so you can claim a full refund if the VPN doesn't meet your standards.

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FAQs on Using a VPN for the Philippines

Are VPNs legal in the Philippines?

Yes, using a VPN is legal in the Philippines (as it is almost everywhere). Many citizens and visitors use VPNs with top-grade encryption and robust security features to enhance online privacy. This lets you protect your sensitive data as well as access Filipino and international services.

That said, VPNs are illegal or heavily regulated in some countries (like China, Russia, or Belarus). So, you should always check local laws before using a VPN.

Can I use a VPN for gaming in the Philippines?

You can game online with a VPN if it offers high-speed servers near your location. If you’re in Manila, just connect to a VPN with servers in the Philippines to minimize your in-game latency. This dramatically increases your chances of getting that “Chicken Dinner” in PUBG Lite. Some VPNs also provide servers optimized for gaming to improve your in-game ping even further.

Why do I need a VPN for the Philippines?

The best VPNs for the Philippines let you avoid geo-restrictions for popular online services. Using a VPN with a global network allows you to access your accounts on international platforms (like Netflix US and Disney+). You can even use your VPN to watch Filipino streaming services abroad and get better region-based prices on shopping sites.

It’s also recommended to use a VPN to protect yourself online in the Philippines and worldwide. Cyber threats are growing internationally, putting your privacy at risk. Also, local ISPs can collect, retain, and share your personal data with the government. This is especially important if you use unsecured public WiFi networks around the Philippines.

What is the best free VPN for the Philippines?

Free VPNs aren't the best option for the Philippines. Using a premium VPN with a money-back guarantee is a much better way to safely access geoblocked content. Free services tend to lack the necessary security features to keep you safe online. Some bombard you with ads until you upgrade to a paid plan. Others even sell your data or infect your device with malware.

Even if you find a more secure free service, you’re likely to face restrictions. Free VPNs tend to limit your server access, speeds, bandwidth, and data. So, you can’t access popular international services, get a Filipino IP address, or reliably stream UHD content.

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The Bottom Line

When it comes to the Philippines, only premium VPN services enable you to bypass geoblocks seamlessly while maintaining optimal connection speeds. It is crucial to select a VPN that effectively shields your personal data and online activities from potential hackers and intrusive entities.

My top choice for the Philippines is ExpressVPN. Its high-speed global servers help you access international and Filipino content in the highest quality. Additionally, it has top-grade security features (AES 256-bit encryption, a no-logs policy, and TrustedServer technology) to safeguard your privacy. You can try ExpressVPN risk-free as it offers a 30-day money-back guarantee.

To summarize, here are the best VPNs for the Philippines