In today’s world, internet access is available almost everywhere. We log into public networks without a second thought. However, with public networks, you can never be sure who is tracking your network traffic and browser history. This is why having a VPN is important.
VPN stands for virtual private network and it allows you to secure your private credentials when surfing online.
In this article, I’ll share with you why VPN is so important and give you my top 5 picks so you can find the best VPNs for Asia.
Why you should use a VPN
Typically when you try to access a website, you first connect to your internet service provider that then sends you to the website. It’s nice and easy. When you do this, your internet connection passes through your IP’s server, meaning that “they” can see everything you do online.
With a VPN enabled, you will connect to a secure encrypted server that will hide your IP address and protect your data. This way, you can safely log into your banking app and protect your passwords and credit card numbers. You don’t need to worry about someone waiting online to hack your data and get access to your emails, browser history, etc.
On top of being safe, VPN is also necessary to access blocked websites. Especially in Asia, many sites, such as streaming sites and social media sites, can be blocked by the government, making them only accessible with a VPN. Or what about geo-restricted content.
We’ve all been there. As you’re waiting for the newest season of your favorite Netflix series is finally out… You then realized it’s not available in your location due to regional restrictions… With a VPN you can simply choose a server in a different country where the show is available and voila!
Logging into your online bank from Asia can be a red flag for your bank. They might think that someone is hacking your account, and freeze it. Having a VPN is an easy way to be located in any country without actually physically be there.
Based on your location and need, you can choose the server that serves you best. Different VPN providers have servers in different countries and regions. Their prices differ a lot so doing your research before signing up for one is important.
To help you choose the best VPN for Asia – here are my top 5 picks.
| VPN provider | Price per month | Cheapest deal | Server locations | Servers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NordVPN | $11.99 | $3.99/month (2-year plan) | 58 | 5,500+ |
| ExpressVPN | 12.95$ | $8.32/month (1-year plan) | 94 | 3,000+ |
| Surfshark | $12.95 | $2.49/month (2-year plan) | 95 | 3,000+ |
| IPVanish | $7.50 | $3.99/month (1-year plan) | 75+ | 1,300+ |
| SaferVPN | $12.95 | $2.50Tmonth (3-year plan) | 34 | 700+ |
5 VPNs to use while in Asia
Let’s dive into the best VPN available in Asia. Note that the best VPN costs money, but you can also use some for free. In this list, you’ll find one free VPN.
NordVPN
With NordVPN, you can secure up to 6 devices with one account – computers, smartphones, routers, and more. With their quick connect button, you’ll be connected to one of their servers, chosen to fit you by an algorithm. You could choose the server yourself from 58 countries.
They have over 5500 servers in these countries to choose fromIn Asia, NordVPN has servers in India, Thailand, Hong Kong, South Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, and Indonesia. There are about 500 options in total in these countries.
They have a no-log policy meaning that they don’t log your internet activity that goes through their servers. This way they also can’t share your information or browser history with advertisers, government agencies, or any other third parties.
Your internet activity will stay private. With their military-grade encryption, you can be sure that your data is secured.
We all know that internet connections crash every now and then. NordVPN has a Kill Switch for these moments. If the internet connection would accidentally drop at any moment, the Kill Switch will automatically block your device from accessing the web.
The monthly price for NordVPN starts at $11.99. The price will, however, get lower when you sign up for a longer contract. With a 2-year contract, the monthly price will be only $3.99.
Committing to a 2-year contract might seem like quite the commitment… NordVPN will give you a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can test it first to see if it’s the right fit.
The little extra that makes NordVPN a good choice is their 24/7 live chat customer service that will help you with any problems around the clock.
I use NordVPN myself – it’s my top pick!
ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN tops NordVPN with the number of countries with servers. Currently, they have servers in 25 countries around Asia.
When you work online, and your progress depends on the internet speed, you don’t want to keep getting interrupted by slow internet. With ExpressVPN, you can run a quick speed test to see which servers have the best speed index, latency, and download speed.
For all of us, occasional Netflix users, this is great too. Nobody wants to waste time waiting for your favorite show to load. With ExpressVPN, simply choose the fastest servers and start streaming.
ExpressVPN offers the option of VPN split tunneling – Some of your internet traffic is routed through an encrypted VPN server while some of your devices or apps access the internet directly.
This way, you can choose which of your traffic will go through the VPN server and which won’t. This allows you to, for example, use foreign and local internet services at the same time
ExpressVPN is a bit more pricey than some of the other options – the monthly price is $12.95. The membership includes all ExpressVPN apps, 24/7 customer support, and high-speed unlimited bandwidth.
With their great customer support, you get to communicate with real humans who will help you to solve any problem you may have. If you sign up for a year, the monthly price will go down to $8.32. All of their plans are also covered by a 30-day money-back guarantee.
I used ExpressVPN while I was in China, and it was working fine!
Surfshark
Surfshark is an excellent VPN for online privacy and security. It offers a wide range of features that make it an excellent choice for those looking to protect their online activity. Surfshark is a fast and reliable VPN that can unblock websites and bypass geo-restrictions.
With a 2-year plan, you’ll pay only $2.49 per month, which is a great deal. Surfshark also offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can try it first, and get a full refund if you’re unhappy.
If you’re looking for a VPN that offers great value for money, Surfshark is definitely worth considering.
You’ll even find over 3000 servers in 95 countries, which is quite a lot.
IPVanish
The monthly price for IPVanish is $7.50. It’s among the cheapest, though, with a 1-year plan – in which case the monthly price is $3.99. With IPVanish you’ll have a 7-day money-back guarantee after signing up for a plan.
At IPVanish, your privacy is important. They have a strict no-log policy that keeps all your activity private while browsing. They allow you to have 10 simultaneous connections on multiple devices.
IPVanish is located in the United States which could be a problem for some of you. In the United States, the government has the authority to ask companies to provide their users’ information.
However, because IPVanish doesn’t log their users’ connections or activity, you don’t have to worry about them handing over your information.
They have over 1,300 servers in 75+ locations. Over 60 of those servers are located in Asia. Although they don’t have servers in every Asian country, you can still connect to nearby servers and receive good speed and stay protected.
SaferVPN
SaferVPN has established its position as one of the best VPN-providers in the world. They offer reliable service, good speed, and plenty of servers around the world. Their mission is to provide safe and secure internet usage for anyone, anywhere.
By pushing boundaries, they “seek to develop the next generation of easy-to-use cybersecurity products and applications”. They aim to make cybersecurity easy, accessible, and user-friendly for all. This is possible through transparency and trust.
SaferVPN works together with Movements.org, a human rights crowdsourcing platform. Together they want to provide safe and private internet access to activists and dissidents living in closed societies worldwide.
When connecting to a server, it automatically suggests the best option for you. You can also manually choose a server from their over 700 servers located in 34 countries. in Asia, they have servers in 5 countries.
The monthly plan for SaferVPN is $12.95. If you sign up for a 3-year contract, your monthly price will go down to $2.50. SaferVPN is a great and cheap option, especially if you are willing to commit to a long-term plan.
They offer an anonymous payment option with bitcoin, so you can stay anonymous online and from them.
You can connect 5 simultaneous devices with one account. They have simple and easy-to-use apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Chrome, and Firefox and also offer a free chrome extension.
Final Thoughts For VPN Severs In Asia
These are my top picks for a VPN for Asia. Note that there are a lot more options to try. I hope that you’ll find the one that suits your needs.
Remember that when in Asia, your location plays a big part in which provider works for you. So check which providers have servers in the locations you need.
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