How to get a Hong Kong IP address with a VPN

If you’re looking to access Hong Kong’s most popular services or just want to secure your internet traffic while traveling, a Virtual Private Network (VPN) can help. Below, we’ll recommend the best VPNs for getting a Hong Kong IP address and explain how they help hide your activities from the Chinese government, public hotspot owners, and hackers.

VPNs encrypt your data before sending it through a server somewhere else in the world. This makes websites think that you are in the same country as your chosen server. In other words, by choosing one in Hong Kong, you can get an IP address from Hong Kong no matter where you really are in the world.

Here’s our list of the best VPNs for getting a Hong Kong IP address:

1. NordVPN: #1 VPN for a Hong Kong IP address. Beats strict censorship, offers excellent speeds, and is packed with advanced security features. Includes a risk-free 30-day money-back guarantee.
   TIP In our testing we found that the cheapest NordVPN plan (Standard) works perfectly.
2. Surfshark: Best budget VPN provider. Choose from 100 server locations and access your favorite services anywhere. No connection or bandwidth limits.
3. ExpressVPN: Great all-rounder with 24/7 customer support and servers in 94 countries. No configuration needed for use in China.
4. CyberGhost: Strong privacy offering, ultrafast speeds, and reliable servers in 90 countries.
5. PrivateVPN: Secure your internet traffic on 10 devices simultaneously. Works with most geo-blocked services and prioritizes your online privacy.
6. VyprVPN: Strong security and privacy, good speeds. Owns its own data centers. Popular in Hong Kong and works in China too.

How to get a Hong Kong IP address

New to VPNs and not sure how to get started? Don’t worry, it’s actually pretty simple. just follow the step-by-step guide below.

Here’s how to get a Hong Kong IP address from anywhere:

1. First, sign up for a suitable service. We recommend NordVPN because it is fast and secure. However, Surfshark and ExpressVPN are great options too.
2. Next, download and install the correct version of the software for your device.
3. Connect to one of your provider’s servers in Hong Kong.
4. Try to access a geo-blocked site based in Hong Kong. If it doesn’t load right away, you may have to clear your cache and cookies, but once you refresh the page, it should work.
5. If you’re still struggling, contact your VPN’s customer support team for more help.

Best VPNs for getting a Hong Kong IP address – at a glance

We’ve compared the most important features of the top VPNs here. Prefer to read the in-depth reviews? Start with NordVPN – our #1 choice for gaining a Hong Kong IP address.

The best VPN for getting a Hong Kong IP address

With so many different VPNs competing for your attention, it can be difficult to decide which is best for a given task. When researching the best VPNs for obtaining an IP address from Hong Kong, our team of experts simplified matters by only considering services that met the following criteria:

• Has at least one server in Hong Kong
• Works with Hong Kong’s biggest streaming services
• Offers high speeds, unlimited bandwidth, and reliable connections
• Comes with apps for the most popular platforms
• Uses 256-bit AES encryption and a wide range of security features
• Logs no personally identifiable information (ideally, keeps no logs at all)

Here are the best VPNs to gain a Hong Kong IP address from abroad:

1. NordVPN

Apr 2024

NordVPN is our top choice VPN for gaining a Hong Kong IP address. It offers access to more than 5,400 servers across 60+ countries, with over 70 in Hong Kong alone. This service is very fast, allows P2P traffic, and has no bandwidth limit. Further, users can even use special obfuscated servers to stop the Chinese government from monitoring their activities. NordVPN allows six connections at once and is capable of unblocking even the most stubborn sites abroad, making it ideal for streaming when away from home.

NordVPN also includes a huge range of security features. There’s 256-bit AES encryption, a customizable kill switch, malware scanning, an ad-blocker, and DNS, IPv6, WebRTC, and port forwarding leak protection. There is even Tor over VPN functionality and a Meshnet tool that can securely connect several of your devices together. NordVPN keeps no logs and allows you to sign up anonymously with Bitcoin. Support is available over live chat, 24/7.

NordVPN has apps for Linux, Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS. It can also be manually installed on select wireless routers.

BEST VPN FOR HONG KONG:NordVPN is our first choice. Fast, secure, and boasting exceptional unblocking ability, it’s ideal for Hong Kongers abroad. Has over 70 servers in Hong Kong. Also includes a risk-free 30-day money-back guarantee.

Here’s our full review of NordVPN.

2. Surfshark

Surfshark is a low-cost VPN with roughly 100 server locations (including Hong Kong). It delivered impressive speeds in our latest testing, and works with most major streaming platforms. Just turn on the NoBorders mode to browse the web freely in countries with strict digital censorship. This service allows unlimited connections, includes a Smart DNS feature, and has a 24/7 customer support team, reachable over live chat.

This VPN keeps you safe using 256-bit encryption, a kill switch, and protection against IPv6 and DNS leaks. It’s also capable of blocking tracking cookies, ads, and malicious sites automatically, and includes a few more advanced features like periodic IP address rotation. Surfshark follows a no-logs policy and has verified this with multiple independent audits.

Apps are available for Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, and Android. Plus, you also get a browser extension for Chrome, Edge, and Firefox. Manual configuration is required for routers.

GREAT VALUE:Surfshark is a budget-friendly VPN that allows any number of connections. High speeds, top-tier security features, and a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Find out more in our Surfshark review.

3. ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN has more than 3,000 high-speed servers spread throughout 94 countries, including Hong Kong. It offers unlimited bandwidth, allows torrenting, and is fast enough to stream HD (or even 4K) content with no noticeable buffering. It can even reliably access major streaming platforms like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video abroad. Monthly subscribers are permitted eight simultaneous connections, while those on longer plans get 10.

256-bit encryption is enabled by default, but ExpressVPN also offers a kill switch (desktop versions only) and IPv6 and DNS leak protection. Obfuscation kicks in automatically when the service realizes you’re in a country with strict online censorship, so no additional configuration is required when using it in China. ExpressVPN has a no-logs policy, has been audited, and accepts Bitcoin. If you need help, you can contact customer support 24/7 via live chat.

ExpressVPN apps are available for Windows, Android, Linux, macOS, and iOS. There’s also custom firmware for some routers to make installation easier.

SECURE ALL-ROUNDER:ExpressVPN offers fast, reliable access to geo-blocked services the world over. 24/7 live chat support, robust security features, and a Smart DNS service included, along with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our review of ExpressVPN.

4. CyberGhost

CyberGhost is is an extremely user-friendly service with a network spanning 90 countries. There are around 75 servers in Hong Kong, and thanks to its first-class speeds, you’re effectively guaranteed a fast, secure internet connection. In our opinion, this is one of the best VPNs for streaming, working with a huge range of platforms including Netflix, Prime Video, and Hulu.

This VPN takes care of your security for you, with very little setup required. It includes 256-bit encryption, a kill switch, and DNS leak protection. CyberGhost logs no personally identifiable information and lets you create smart rules that determine when the VPN connects automatically. If you encounter any issues, you can contact support 24/7 over live chat.

CyberGhost offers Windows, Android, Linux, macOS, and iOS apps. It can be manually configured to work with supported network routers.

HIGH-SPEED STREAMING:CyberGhost works with many geo-restricted services. It provides consistent speeds, allows seven simultaneous connections, and comes with a generous 45-day money-back guarantee.

Here’s our in-depth CyberGhost review.

5. PrivateVPN

PrivateVPN has a smaller network than some of its competitors (200 servers across 63+ countries, including Hong Kong), but it makes up for it by having faster speeds. Also, it’s excellent at unblocking geo-restricted content abroad, meaning it’s a strong choice for anyone looking to stream live TV from Hong Kong. As it allows ten connections at once, you can use it to protect all of your most commonly-used devices.

This VPN uses 256-bit encryption by default and features IPv6, DNS, and WebRTC leak protection. It has a strict no-logs policy, so there’s no need to worry about having your activities traced back to you, but if you’d like, you can pay with Bitcoin for added anonymity. The customer support team is very helpful and has the ability to remotely install and configure the software for you, with your permission.

PrivateVPN offers apps for Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS. It works on Linux-based platforms and routers but must be installed manually.

SUPER FAST SPEEDS:PrivateVPN is ideal for streaming content from Hong Kong. Offers rapid speeds, all of the essential security features, and a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Here’s our full review of PrivateVPN.

6. VyprVPN

VyprVPN has a relatively small server network, but it offers an impressive 70+ locations, including Hong Kong. It’s also one of the few companies that’s able to bypass China’s Great Firewall. What’s more, it allows up to 10 simultaneous connections, offers 24/7 live chat, and works with a ton of region-locked services.

This VPN keeps your data secure using 256-bit AES encryption, a kill switch, leak prevention tools, and automatic wifi protection. It even has its own protocol, Chameleon, that was specifically designed to beat digital censorship. VyprVPN doesn’t keep any logs that could identify you, and was one of the first to be independently-audited to prove it. The company also owns and manages entire data centers. As such, it’s in total control of all web traffic, which helps it guard against attacks and ensures minimal downtime.

Apps are available for both Android and iOS, as well as desktop support for Linux, Windows, and macOS. You’ll have to follow manual setup guides to get it running on routers, though.

INDEPENDENT NETWORK:VyprVPN is user friendly, with fast speeds, reliable servers, and strong privacy features. All plans come with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full review of VyprVPN.

Methodology: how we found the best VPNs for Hong Kongers abroad

We know how frustrating it is to end up with an inferior service. That is why our team uses its years of experience testing VPNs to separate the best from the rest. Here are a few key areas we focused on when researching the best VPNs for getting a Hong Kong IP address:

• Server availability: Naturally, we need servers in Hong Kong. We also considered whether these were physical or virtual, as the latter removes any risk of governmental interference.
• Speed: Services have to be fast enough for any day-to-day task, otherwise you risk inadvertently disconnecting and leaving your traffic exposed. We only recommend VPNs that performed well in our latest speed tests, and which are reliable enough for everyday usage.
• Privacy: To keep your activities anonymous, we required candidates to offer 256-bit encryption, a kill switch, leak protection, and a no-logs policy (ideally one that’s been independently-verified). Those with more advanced tools like obfuscation are strongly prefered, though.
• Versatility: Our top VPNs had to be able to access Hong Kong-only platforms like Nowe and Viu. However, we also checked whether they worked with internet banking services, BBC iPlayer, Netflix, and other popular platforms, as well as whether torrenting was allowed.
• User-friendliness: Services must be simple enough for anyone to use. Bonus points if they offer 24/7 support via live chat, unlimited connections, or task-specific servers.
• Pricing: We’ll never recommend VPNs that charge more than they’re worth. Additionally, we look for free trials, money-back guarantees, and discount codes to help keep the cost as low as possible.

Check out our full VPN testing methodology post for more info.

Using a VPN to gain a Hong Kong IP address: FAQs