Best VPN for Thailand 2020: Surfing with a Smile

Thailand is a popular destination for backpackers and digital nomads alike. It caters to even the poorest of budgets and is well-known for its culture, crazy nightlife, beautiful beaches and diverse food. While you’re there, you’re most likely going to want to use the internet, so you should arm yourself with one of our best VPN for Thailand picks.

Using a virtual private network isn’t just a smart idea for security. Thailand suffers from internet censorship, though it isn’t as bad as the Great Firewall. Plus, there are other reasons to use a VPN, which we’ll explain in this article.

Best VPN for Thailand 2020

Online Censorship in Thailand

Thailand’s internet has restrictions. Over 6,000 URLs were blocked in 2017 because they were deemed threatening to national security or in conflict with public morals or public order. Section 20 of the Cyber Crime Act allows officials to request a court order to block such content. Internet service providers must block access to websites under the court order.

The content includes pornography and gambling. Some political blogs and anti-royal content is blocked, too. Thailand’s lese-majeste law prohibits criticism of the royal family and it extends to online content.

Though torrenting is fine and torrent websites are available, those found to be infringing copyright can have their services cancelled by their ISP. 

It’s legal to use a VPN in Thailand, but some providers’ websites are blocked by ISPs. You can get around that, though, by downloading a VPN before you arrive in the country.

Online Surveillance in Thailand

Thai policies allow for government surveillance, and though social media is available, it’s monitored. A centralized watch center reviews and decides whether social media content is inappropriate or illegal, such as criticism of the country’s monarchy.

Though Thailand’s constitution was renewed in 2017, it still includes parts of the interim one. For example, Section 44 gives authorities the power to surveil internet users’ activities and order ISPs to remove certain content.

ISPs must retain traffic data for at least 90 days, but officials can instruct them to keep it for up to two years. Officials must have a warrant to access the data, but some cases, such as violations of the Computer-Related Crime Act, fall under the Department of Special Investigations’ powers. 

DSI investigators can intercept online communications and personal data without judicial oversight. Users suspected of speech crimes online can be uncovered and private chat records have been used as evidence. Under Section 18 of the Computer-Related Crime Act, the government can order individuals to decode encrypted computer data without a court order, too. 

A controversial cybersecurity law was introduced in 2015, with critics saying it invaded privacy and allowed for surveillance. It was enacted in 2018 and includes increased provisions for surveillance. 

Biometric data, such as fingerprints and face scans, is collected when registering new SIM cards, effectively taking away anonymity. The data is then stored at the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission.

The Thai government bought spyware from Hacking Team between 2012 and 2014. Plus, it has a license to import communications interception equipment from Switzerland and the UK.

Freedom of Speech in Thailand

Freedom of speech in Thailand is curtailed by its strict lese-majeste law. Comments that are critical of the monarchy are blocked by authorities. Those who post such comments or are critical of the National Council for Peace and Order can be prosecuted and put under surveillance. 

For example, a man was sentenced to 18 years in jail in 2017 because he posted videos on Facebook that were deemed insulting to the monarchy. Even sharing critical social media posts can be dangerous.

Section 14 of the Computer-Related Crime Act bans the introduction of false information into a computer system that causes damage to the public, which refers to crimes such as hacking. That said, it has been incorrectly interpreted and used by judges to prosecute speech. 

Journalists and media outlets can be penalized for criticizing the government. News channels have been suspended and reporters have been detained without charge.

Cybercrime in Thailand

While all the above subjects are important, let’s not forget about connectivity in Thailand. If you’re traveling, you may find yourself using public WiFi hotspots. There’s nothing wrong with doing that, but there’s no way to know how safe the connection is. 

After all, cyberthreats in Thailand are increasing, according to the cybersecurity company Symantec. Hackers and viruses could be waiting to pounce, so it’s best to protect yourself with a VPN and a decent antivirus.

What Makes a VPN the Best for Thailand

Though most VPNs have the same features, they’re not implemented at the same level. That’s why it’s important to make sure you pick the right one for Thailand. 

An important feature is security because you’ll be vulnerable to prying eyes and snooping without it. Good security will keep you safe and hide you from online dangers, so make sure the VPN you choose implements it well. If the provider includes a kill switch, that’s a bonus because it’ll cut your connection if the VPN fails, ensuring that you’re not left open to attack.

Privacy is just as important. Though you may think that’s covered under security, it’s not. VPNs honor your privacy by not keeping a log of your online activities, so make sure the one you pick has a no-logs policy.

To circumvent censorship, you’ll need a lot of servers to choose from. The more servers, the better your chance of finding a suitable one. That’ll also help you get past geoblocks. 

Geoblocks restrict content to a particular country, so if you’re not there, you won’t be able to view it. If you want to access content that’s restricted to Thailand, you’ll need servers there.

Let’s take Netflix as an example. If you’re out of the country and want to access the Thai version, you’ll need to connect to a Thai server. If you’re craving a Netflix session, check out our best VPN for Netflix comparison for advice.

If you plan to stream or torrent, you’ll want to make sure the service includes unlimited bandwidth and has good speeds. You don’t want to be waiting forever for content to load and wasting your limit in the meantime. Once you hit the bandwidth limit, the VPN will stop working and leave you insecure.

There are other factors to consider, too, such as which devices are supported and whether the VPN is user-friendly. You may also want to consider how many devices it allows, the quality of customer service and how much the VPN costs.

With the above factors in mind, we’ve looked through our VPN catalogue to find you the most suitable VPNs for Thailand.

1. Best VPN for Thailand: ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN is a fantastic provider that has all the bells and whistles you need. It’s often given a top spot in our VPN articles, and with good reason. It has excellent security to keep you safe and includes an automatically enabled kill switch. It also has a strict no-logs policy, so there’s no record of your activity online.

It has a huge server network with over 3,000 servers in 94 countries, some of which are in Thailand (it’s our top pick to get a Thai IP address with reason).

You won’t have a problem with speed because it’s the fastest VPN we’ve tested. There’s also unlimited bandwidth, and it can get into all streaming platforms, which is why it’s our best VPN for streaming.

Other Reasons We Like ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN is easy to use. In fact, it’s great for first-time users. That said, more experienced users will like it, too. You can use it on Windows, macOS, Android and iOS, you can connect up to five devices at the same time. 

If you run into problems, there’s a handy knowledgebase for self-help. If that’s not enough, there’s 24/7 live chat and email support. Live chat will get you the fastest answer, but email is better for more technical issues. Read our ExpressVPN review for the details.

Unfortunately, ExpressVPN is expensive. You can save money by choosing a longer plan, though. Plus, there’s a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can make sure it’s what you want.

ExpressVPN Review

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CyberGhost

Another decent choice is CyberGhost. It has great security with a kill switch that’s always on to keep you protected. Plus, it doesn’t keep a log of your online activities.

More than 4,000 servers make up its network and they can be found in 58 countries. Among them are 10 in Thailand. It has fast speeds, but it can slow down over long distances. Still, you’ll benefit from unlimited bandwidth and its ability to get into most streaming platforms. CyberGhost also allows for torrenting, as you can read in our CyberGhost review.

Other Reasons We Like CyberGhost

You can install CyberGhost on Windows, macOS, Android and iOS. Its interface was updated not too long ago, and though it takes getting used to, it’s easy to use. CyberGhost lets you connect up to seven devices at once, earning it a place in our best VPN for multiple devices piece. That said, seven is the installation limit, too.

There’s a knowledgebase, which is one of the best we’ve seen and offers great self-help. You can also contact support through live chat and email. The live chat isn’t great for technical questions, though, so we suggest you point those at the email team. 

CyberGhost is an inexpensive but good service. The monthly rate is bad, though, so we suggest signing up for a longer period because it’ll work out cheaper.

A free seven-day trial is available for Android and iOS, so you can test it first. There’s also a money-back guarantee that applies to. You get 14 days to change your mind on the monthly plan or 45 days on longer subscriptions.

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NordVPN

NordVPN is a great service that’s comparable to the one in our top spot, as you can see in our ExpressVPN vs. NordVPN head-to-head. It has brilliant security, including double-hop encryption, which adds protection to your connection. A kill switch is included, too, and there’s a strict no-logs policy.

It has many servers dotted over 60 countries, so you should have no problem bypassing restrictions. Plus, there are five in Thailand for accessing Thai content. Like CyberGhost, it has good speeds, but it can slow down over long connections. You’ll get unlimited bandwidth, and it’s great at getting into streaming platforms.

NordVPN is our best VPN for torrenting, so if that’s what you’ll be up to, it’s a good choice. Read our NordVPN review for more information on the service.

Other Reasons We Like NordVPN

You can use NordVPN’s easy-to-use clients on Windows, macOS, Android and iOS, and up to six devices can be connected at a time.

A handy knowledgebase is available to fix small issues. If you need extra help, there’s 24/7 live chat and email support. Live chat will get you the fastest response, but the help is good either way.

NordVPN offers great value for your money. The monthly price is fair, but the longer plans work out better in the end. There’s a 30-day refund window in case you decide you don’t like it, too.

NordVPN Review

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VyprVPN

You can also use VyprVPN in Thailand. It’s not as good as our other choices, but it makes the cut because of its excellent security. It’s customizable and has its own Chameleon protocol to add protection to the VPN tunnel. There’s a kill switch and a no-logs policy, too.

Its server network is lacking, with less than 1,000 in 64 countries. Still, that should be enough to get around blocks, and it has servers in Bangkok if you want content restricted to Thailand.

Though its speed should be okay for most activities, they’re not great. You get unlimited bandwidth, though, and it allows for torrenting. It’ll also get into most streaming platforms. Read our VyprVPN review for more details.

Other Reasons We Like VyprVPN

Clients are available for Windows, macOS, Android and iOS. They’re easy to use, despite looking dated. You can connect up to three devices at a time with the Standard plan, but the Premium option allows up to five.

There’s a knowledgebase available to help with minor problems. Otherwise, you can get support through 24/7 live chat and email, but the answers can be brief.

VyprVPN has monthly and annual subscriptions. The annual ones work out better, though. Plus, you can choose between the Standard or Premium plans. The latter will get you two extra device connections and the Chameleon protocol. There’s a 30-day refund window you can make use of to see if you like it.

VyprVPN Review

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TorGuard

Our last selection is TorGuard, which is a good provider, despite its position on this list. Its security is great and customizable, with many protocols to choose from. There’s a kill switch that’s automatically enabled, too. TorGuard doesn’t keep logs.

It has over 3,000 servers in 55 countries, including some in Thailand, so you’ll have plenty of options. Switching servers could be better, though, because you have to disconnect from the VPN each time you want to do so. 

It’s fast, but it can be slow down depending on the location and security settings you use. There’s unlimited bandwidth and it allows for torrenting. It’s blocked by Netflix, but you can get around that by purchasing one of its streaming IP addresses. They’re $7.99 per month each, but they’re guaranteed to work.

You can read more about that service in our TorGuard review. The options helped it win in our best VPN with dedicated IP addresses comparison.

Other Reasons We Like TorGuard

TorGuard is compatible with Windows, macOS, Android and iOS, but the mobile version can be annoying during setup. Up to five devices can be connected at the same time with the standard version, and you can purchase more connections for $1 per month each. 

If you run into problems, you can use the handy knowledgebase and forum for help. Live chat is available, too, but it’s linked to a contracted customer service company, so the help you receive may not be great. You can contact someone through email, though, which is better.

TorGuard’s monthly price isn’t bad, but longer plans work out better. There’s a seven-day money-back guarantee, too.

Torguard Review

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Final Thoughts

No matter where you are in the world, your safety online is key. With Thai authorities monitoring the internet and the risk of cyberattacks, it’s best to ensure your safety with a VPN service that has great security. You’ll also want plenty of servers to choose from for getting around blocks, as well as some in Thailand for content restricted to there. 

ExpressVPN is the best choice because it’s one of the best VPN services available and it covers everything you need. It provides an excellent service with many features. Plus, with the 30-day money-back guarantee, you’ve got nothing to lose. 

If you’ve been to Thailand and used a VPN, let us know about your experience in the comments below. Thank you for reading.

ExpressVPN Review

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