How to Get a Filipino IP Address in 2020: Mail from Manila
If you’re a Filipino abroad and you want to catch up on local news or tune into ABS-CBN for the next episode of Maalaala Mo Kaya, you’re going to need an IP address in the Philippines. That’s thanks to wonderful geoblocks, which are also the reason why you’ll see a different Netflix library to that of the Philippines. That’s not all, though.
Accessing your Filipino bank account or other important services can also be difficult. You can bypass the restrictions easily with a VPN, though, and this guide will tell you how. We’ve listed three VPN services that’ll get you a Philippines IP address, but if you’re in a rush, we recommend you install ExpressVPN. You should check out our best VPN for the Philippines if you plan on visiting the country.
How to Get a Filipino IP Address
Getting a Filipino IP address isn’t a daunting task, no matter what your location. There are a couple of ways you can do it, too. Firstly, you can use a proxy server to get different IP addresses. It’s an easy option, but it’s also a bad option when it comes to security. As you can read in our VPN vs proxy vs Tor guide, a proxy is not secure, which means you’re fresh meat for cyber criminals.
With that in mind, it’s a better idea to use a virtual private network. A VPN includes in-built security and privacy to protect you from online dangers, so that alone makes it a better choice. Our best VPN list has some great options, but to be suitable, the VPN also needs to have servers in the Philippines.
Step-by-Step: How to Get an IP Address for the Philippines
- Sign up to a VPN service that has Filipino servers (ExpressVPN is our top choice)
- Download the VPN app for your device
- Launch the app and sign in
- Search for a Filipino server, connect to it and access online services as usual
1. ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN is the top option for getting a Filipino IP address. It not only has servers in the Philippines, but it also comes with some of the best security and privacy features around. It’s also the fastest VPN we’ve tested, which is important given the Filipino online infrastructure.
You also get unlimited bandwidth and it can access all streaming services, making it our best VPN for streaming overall. You can use it on Windows, macOS, Android and iOS with up to five simultaneous connections. Our ExpressVPN review goes into more detail, but you could use the 30-day money-back guarantee to see if you like it.
Pros:
- Fast speeds
- Accesses all streaming platforms
- Top security & privacy
Cons:
- Pricey
2. CyberGhost
CyberGhost has a whopping 76 servers in Manila, so you’ll have no problem getting a Filipino IP address. It has great security and privacy, as well as decent speeds — though they can become slow over long distances. You also get unlimited data and the use of CyberGhost’s dedicated streaming servers, including for Netflix.
It can be used on Windows, macOS, Android and iOS, and you can connect up to seven devices at the same time. There’s more information in our CyberGhost review, but you can take advantage of the free trial that’s on offer to see if you like it. Mobile users get seven days and desktop users get one day, but there’s also a long money-back guarantee.
Pros:
- 76 servers in the Philippines
- Inexpensive
- Free trial
Cons:
- Inconsistent speeds
3. Private Internet Access
We can also recommend Private Internet Access. It has 24 Filipino servers and comes with good security and privacy. One thing to note, though, is that PIA uses 128-bit encryption out of the box, so you’ll need to tweak the settings to get the recommended 256-bit encryption. You can connect 10 devices at a time, and it’s compatible with Windows, macOS, Android and iOS.
It has unlimited data and its speeds are mostly fast, but it may not be the best choice if your main activity will be watching your favorite shows online. PIA can’t get into some streaming platforms, but it can get into Netflix. You can read our PIA review for more, or take it for a spin knowing you’re covered by a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Pros:
- Cheap
- Gets into Netflix
- Mostly good speeds
Cons:
- Has trouble accessing some streaming platforms
- Can be slow
The Dangers of Using a Philippines IP Address
Although connecting to a Filipino IP address isn’t dangerous as such, there are a few bits of information that can give cause for concern in the online world. For instance, there is evidence that government surveillance is probably, especially since such technology worth $185,000 was sold to the Philippines in 2018.
On top of that, the rate of cybercrime in the Philippines has risen. That includes identity theft and online scams. Using a VPN whenever you access the internet — in any location — will keep you safe from all of that, but it wouldn’t hurt to install a good antivirus, too. That’s especially important if you use free public WiFi.
Final Thoughts
If you’re outside of the Philippines and need to access content or a specific website that’s restricted to the country, then a Philippines IP address is what you need. To get one, you need to download a VPN and connect to a Filipino server, so it’s important to check if the VPN service has servers there first.
We recommend using ExpressVPN. It has servers in the country, and it has excellent security and privacy, meaning you’ll be protected the whole time. Plus, if you like to stream, ExpressVPN can get into any streaming service. It comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee, too, in case you don’t like it.
Have you used a VPN to get a Filipino IP address? Let us know about your experience in the comment section below and, as always, thank you for reading.
Sandra Pattison is from the rolling hills of the United Kingdom where, when she’s not enjoying that one day of summer, she researches and writes on online security and censorship around the world. Writer by day, mother morning, noon and night, during her little free time she enjoys photography and likes to be spontaneous, but mostly ends up sipping tea with her pinky out.