hide.me
A rare genuinely usable free plan (no card, P2P allowed on the 10 GB free tier) plus audited no-logs claims twice over - DefenseCode 2015 and Securitum 2024…
audited crypto accepted
intro €2.69/mo (about $3.04/mo)
VPNs in Hong Kong
legal
VPNs remain legal in Hong Kong - there is no ban, registration requirement or documented provider blocking - but the National Security Law imposed on 30 June 2020 (Article 43) authorizes police to compel service providers to remove or block content, and the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance (Article 23, March 2024) expanded security offences. Since 2020 ISPs have blocked a small set of politically sensitive sites (HKChronicles, confirmed by Hong Kong Broadband Network; a Taiwanese government site; the June 4th Museum; Hong Kong Watch; the 2021 Hong Kong Charter; WordPress.com per RSF reporting), while Freedom House notes the mainland censorship regime 'does not yet apply' in Hong Kong. Hong Kong is not one of the 72 countries covered by Freedom on the Net 2024.
What works there
commercial VPNs (sites blocked by ISPs in 2021 remained reachable via VPN in contemporaneous reporting)
Honest advice: Install and configure a VPN before arrival and assume devices can be inspected in national-security cases, since NSL warrants override some common-law protections. VPN use itself is lawful and unblocked, but treat the platform as a surveillance jurisdiction: keep sensitive accounts and logs off local devices.
VPN providers with servers in Hong Kong
From each provider's own public server list, 2026-10-31. A local exit IP matters for expats who want "home" catalogues, and for lower latency.
| Provider | Cities | Servers | Visit |
|---|---|---|---|
| NordVPN | 1 | 35 | Visit |
| Private Internet Access virtual IP | 1 | 10 | Visit |
| Mullvad VPN | 1 | 5 | Visit |
| IVPN | 1 | 4 | Visit |
| Windscribe | 1 | 4 | Visit |
| Surfshark | 1 | 1 | Visit |
| hide.me | 1 | 1 | Visit |
| ExpressVPN | 2 | n/a | Visit |
Where a provider's list is not machine-readable (Proton, CyberGhost, PureVPN and others), it is missing here on purpose - we do not guess.
Obfuscation-capable providers
Providers that document obfuscation or stealth protocols - the feature class that matters where VPN protocols themselves are blocked. Useful in Hong Kong mainly while traveling to or through censored networks.
Mullvad VPN
The most honest VPN on the internet, and in 2026 still the one this industry is measured against: numbered accounts, cash or Monero accepted, open-source…
court-proven no-logs audit open source crypto accepted
intro €5/mo (about $5.65/mo)
CactusVPN Smart DNS
CactusVPN is the bundle case in the Smart DNS vertical: a 2011 Moldovan three-friends shop that once sold Smart DNS as its own product line and has now folded…
audited
intro $3.96 /mo
Amnezia VPN (self-hosted with obfuscation)
The most credible self-hosting on-ramp in the VPN space, built by and for people inside the censorship: the app is free and open source, you connect it to your…
audited open source
intro $5 /mo
IVPN
The anti-affiliate champion candidate holds up: no affiliate program (stated out loud on the homepage), flat honest pricing, quarterly warrant canary, annual…
audit canary open source crypto accepted
intro $5/mo
Proton VPN
The most honest mainstream deal in 2026: open-source apps, real audits, a genuinely usable free tier with no data cap, and a transparent renewal model - and in…
audit open source crypto accepted
intro $3.49/mo renews $83.88 / 12 mo ($6.99/mo)
Tips & tricks for Hong Kong
- VPN use remains legal in Hong Kong, with no registration or outright ban. Most commercial VPNs continue to work for accessing blocked content, including sites like HKChronicles and the June 4th Museum that ISPs have restricted since 2020. However, the National Security Law (Article 43) and the 2024 Safeguarding National Security Ordinance (Article 23) empower authorities to demand data from service providers and expand what constitutes a security-related offence.
- While the mainland Chinese firewall does not fully apply here, politically sensitive content may be blocked, especially around sensitive dates or events. A working VPN can help access such material, but assume network monitoring is possible. Authorities can compel local ISPs and potentially tech providers to cooperate under national security warrants, which override some traditional privacy safeguards.
- Install and test your VPN before arriving. Use strong, unique passwords and avoid logging into sensitive accounts on devices used locally. Assume devices could be subject to inspection in high-risk situations, particularly at border crossings or under national security investigations.
- For expats or frequent travelers, use your VPN to access home-country streaming or banking services, but be aware of latency—especially on connections routed through distant servers. Consider keeping a second provider ready; if one service slows or becomes unreliable during periods of unrest or political tension, you have a fallback.
- Do not rely on a VPN for complete anonymity or protection in legally sensitive activities. While using a VPN is lawful, actions perceived as undermining national security—even online—carry serious risks under expanded legal powers. Avoid accessing or sharing content that could be construed as supporting secession, subversion, or collusion with foreign forces.
- Have two VPNs configured. Escalation windows—such as political anniversaries or protests—may bring increased scrutiny or ad hoc blocking. If performance degrades or access fails, switch providers promptly.
FAQ
Is using a VPN legal in Hong Kong?
VPNs remain legal in Hong Kong - there is no ban, registration requirement or documented provider blocking - but the National Security Law imposed on 30 June 2020 (Article 43) authorizes police to compel service providers to remove or block content, and the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance (Article 23, March 2024) expanded security offences. Since 2020 ISPs have blocked a small set of politically sensitive sites (HKChronicles, confirmed by Hong Kong Broadband Network; a Taiwanese government site; the June 4th Museum; Hong Kong Watch; the 2021 Hong Kong Charter; WordPress.com per RSF reporting), while Freedom House notes the mainland censorship regime 'does not yet apply' in Hong Kong. Hong Kong is not one of the 72 countries covered by Freedom on the Net 2024.
What actually works in Hong Kong?
Per current research: commercial VPNs (sites blocked by ISPs in 2021 remained reachable via VPN in contemporaneous reporting). During crackdowns or sensitive periods, even working methods can be disrupted - have at least two options configured.
Which providers ship the needed obfuscation?
hide.me, Mullvad VPN, CactusVPN Smart DNS, Amnezia VPN, IVPN, Proton VPN document obfuscation features. Self-hosted AmneziaWG or VLESS/Reality on your own server is the strongest option.
last checked 2026-11-04 · information, not legal advice