How to Get a Hong Kong IP Address in 2024 With a VPN
When you’re in Hong Kong, adding a bit of security to your browsing experience isn't just a suggestion, but a necessity. Internet censorship is strong, and keeping your actual IP address (and identity) private is important. We’ll show you the easy steps of how to get a Hong Kong IP address using a VPN.
Written by Andrej Hadji-Vasilev (Writer)
Reviewed by Aleksandar Kochovski (Writer)
Last Updated: 2024-09-30T21:16:13+00:00
All our content is written fully by humans; we do not publish AI writing. Learn more here.
Key Takeaways: How to Get a Hong Kong IP Address
- Sign up for NordVPN by going to its website and grabbing a 73% discounted plan.
- Install the VPN client on your device.
- Connect to a VPN server in Hong Kong.
The Best VPNs to Get a Hong Kong IP Address
- NordVPN — Top-tier VPN with uncompromising performance. New NordVPN subscribers get up to 73% reduced rates on long-term commitments.
- Surfshark — Budget-friendly VPN with unlimited connections. Explore Surfshark’s features with a 30-day return policy, and grab extended plans at a 86% discount.
- ExpressVPN — Intuitive protection for VPN newcomers. Get 49% off the first year with ExpressVPN, covered by its 30-day money-back guarantee.
Facts & Expert Analysis
- A VPN is the best way to get an IP address in Hong Kong and add a bit of privacy to your online activity.
- NordVPN is the overall best choice for a Hong Kong IP. However, Surfshark and ExpressVPN are solid and competitive alternatives.
- There is a growing level of internet censorship in Hong Kong, so exercise caution when browsing online and pay attention to changing laws.
There are many reasons why someone might want a Hong Kong IP address, but the two biggest ones are internet privacy while online in the region, and access to local sites while being abroad.
Starting with the former, China has been increasingly cracking down on democratic freedoms in Hong Kong, especially with freedom of speech (both online and with real life protests) and with critical news publications. Recent examples include blocking the HKChronicles publication and the Transitional Justice Commission.
Additionally, people who want to access local sites — from bank accounts to online entertainment — will need an IP address based in Hong Kong to get around geoblocks. For example, if people want to enjoy TVB while abroad, they’ll need a Hong Kong IP address because it’s not available outside of the territory.
The way to get a Hong Kong IP address is by using a VPN, or virtual private network. A VPN will allow you to get an IP that tells websites and services that your location is somewhere else, plus encrypt your data and hide your actual IP address. Read on for step-by-step instructions on how to get a Hong Kong IP address using a VPN, and which VPNs are the best for the job.
Achieve Online Privacy and Security Even as a VPN Novice
- Comprehend the essential role a VPN plays in safeguarding your digital life
- Gain a deep understanding of how VPNs function under the hood
- Develop the ability to distinguish fact from fiction in VPN promotions
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08/13/2021
Reformatted the steps and updated the article to include the latest Hong Kong news.
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10/01/2024
We optimized this article’s user guide and recalibrated the VPN rankings for accuracy.
How to Get a Hong Kong IP Address
Admittedly, there are other options of getting a Hong Kong IP besides a VPN. Namely, a proxy comes to mind because it’s sometimes simpler than a VPN. However, a proxy won’t encrypt your data or add any security to your browsing whatsoever. Plus, any basic route-tracing service can find your actual IP address in an instant.
A VPN is a much more secure option, as users get an IP that disguises their real one and that data is encrypted and secure. Most VPN providers also offer additional security or functionality, like a kill switch, P2P-optimized servers and a slew of other features you might find handy.
Below are the steps on how to get a Hong Kong IP address with a VPN. We’ll use NordVPN as an example because it’s the best VPN for Hong Kong, plus it’s simple to download and install.
Step by Step: Get a Hong Kong IP Address With a VPN
- Download and Install NordVPN
First, head over to NordVPN’s website and choose a plan. You can get up to a 73% discount, risk-free because it’s covered by the 30-day money-back guarantee. It’s two-year plans offer the best value.
Political activists and journalists would benefit from NordVPN’s secure servers when sharing sensitive information online. - Select a Hong Kong Server
Use the search bar to find “Hong Kong” or use the scroll bar and scroll down to find the country. Once you see the country, hover your mouse on it to find the three-horizontal dots and click on it to see the list of server locations. If there are no horizontal dots that appear, it means it only has one server for that location.
- Connect to the Server
Once you’ve chosen a server in Hong Kong, all you have to do is click the “on” button, and that’s it. You’re now connected, protected and have a Hong Kong IP.
The Best VPNs to Use for a Hong Kong IP Address
There are five key things to look for in a Hong Kong VPN: servers in Hong Kong, strong security, a large server spread, good speeds and device compatibility. We have three excellent VPN providers that’ll get you an IP in Hong Kong, and you really can’t go wrong with any of them.
1. NordVPN — Best VPN to Get a Hong Kong IP Address
Very Fast
Very Fast
Very Fast
NordVPN is the best VPN to get an IP address in Hong Kong. The service has a proven track record when it comes to performance, and with servers in Hong Kong, it’s perfect for our list. Speeds are solid, and device compatibility is great with apps for pretty much any operating system and platform out there, including gaming consoles, Raspberry Pi devices and Chromecasts.
NordVPN also comes with a Double-VPN functionality. So if you’re connecting to Hong Kong and want a bit of added security, you can add a second “middleman” to the internet connection for a bit more privacy.
Pricing-wise, a two-year plan gets you a very reasonable monthly price, and a 30-day money-back guarantee has you covered in case you change your mind and want a refund. You can find out more about NordVPN in our NordVPN review.
- *The prices are charged in the first billing cycle only. Renewal prices vary.
- Unlimited GB
- 10
- Yes
- *The prices are charged in the first billing cycle only. Renewal prices vary.
- Unlimited GB
- 10
- Yes
- *The prices are charged in the first billing cycle only. Renewal prices vary.
- Unlimited GB
- 10
- Yes
2. Surfshark — Best Budget VPN for an HK IP Address
Very Fast
Very Fast
Good
- Unlimited GB bandwidth, Unlimited devices, Secure VPN, Ad blocker, Cookie pop-up blocker. Plans renew: $59.76 for one year, $59.76 per year for the two-year plan.
- Unlimited GB
- Unlimited
- Yes
- Everything in Starter, plus Antivirus protection, Identity protection, Email Breach and Credit Card Alerts, Online Alias Plans renew: $79 for one year & $79 per year for the two-year plan.
- Unlimited GB
- Unlimited
- Everything in One, plus Data removal Plans renew: $269.25 for one year, $404.65 for two years
- Unlimited GB
- Unlimited
3. ExpressVPN — Best Beginner-Friendly VPN for an HK IP Address
Very Fast
Very Fast
Very Fast
- Unlimited GB
- 8
- Yes
Can I Use a Free VPN to Get a Hong Kong IP Address?
When it comes to keeping your browsing secure, using a free VPN usually isn’t a good idea. We did a roundup of free VPN providers, and the results were, well, not that impressive. That being said, Windscribe is a notable exception to the “all free VPNs are bad” rule, providing solid speeds and a generous 10GB free plan.
Sure, there are limitations to the free pan, but it’s impressive that Hong Kong is one of the 10 server locations included for free. So if your budget is zero, we strongly recommend using Windscribe (though it won’t be great for streaming shows because of the data cap).
30-Day Money-Back Guarantees
If you only need an IP address from Hong Kong for a short while, NordVPN , Surfshark or ExpressVPN all offer excellent money-back guarantees. You can use the 30-day money-back guarantee with to do your thing and then cancel for a refund of your subscription.
Risks of Using a Hong Kong IP Address
Hong Kong is a region currently caught between the freedoms promised when the UK gave the semi-autonomous territory to China in 1997, and the increasing restrictions being imposed by the Chinese government, like the National Security Law in 2020.
Although government legislation does technically allow freedom of speech and expression, and VPNs are still legal in the territory, it’s a good idea to keep an eye on any legal changes from the Chinese government.
Internet Censorship in Hong Kong
The government has imposed some restrictions after passing the 2020 National Security Law, including granting it the authority to order internet service providers (ISPs) to delete information posted online.
Since the passing of the National Security Law, some ISPs have blocked some websites, usually for political or governmental reasons. However, there’s no denying that freedom of expression — both online and offline — are shrinking in Hong Kong, so it’s important to stay up to date on the latest news from the area.
Final Thoughts
At the end of the day, whether you want to add a bit of privacy and security to your browsing experience or access Hong Kong-only content that’s location-restricted, a VPN is the way to go. We’ve suggested three excellent options with servers in Hong Kong, and it’s up to you to choose the one that suits your needs best.
We recommend NordVPN for the job. Skeptical? Put NordVPN to the test yourself — its 30-day money-back guarantee means you can try it without any financial commitment.
Do you go for NordVPN’s no-compromise functionality, or do you save a bit by opting for Surfshark? Or maybe you don’t want to pay at all, so Windscribe takes the win as a free VPN. Let us know in the comments, and as usual, thank you for reading.
FAQ
You can connect to a Hong Kong VPN by downloading a reliable VPN — such as NordVPN, Surfshark or ExpressVPN,- and searching for the location in the list of servers.
When you’ve connected to a server in Hong Kong, you can do a Google search for “what’s my IP,” and you’ll get your IP as a result.
While IP addresses aren’t “assigned” to a country, one could perform a route trace and find a user’s location using their IP address.