VPN service expats use in Thailand

[norfolkandchance]

2 hours ago, recom273 said:

Depends what you are using it for ..

 

if you just want something to watch UK and overseas TV, not too fussed about the quality of the picture (still very good) then surfshark is more than OK and cheap.

If you want a reliable provider for overseas TV, then something like PIA and Express are good, they offer specific servers for streaming services, there can be problems from time to time and the provider is usually fast to react. People like Netflix and BBC can easily detect vpn usage,

if you want privacy, mullvad, is the best - and proton. Mullvad is proven to be secure, and proton is swiss based making it secure or you can set up your own on a vps. 
 

if you are looking for something fast, reliable and cheap use a smart dns service, more reliable than vpn. 

I've used NORDVPN for years and the BBC has never detected me.

[Grusa]

5 hours ago, Crazy Noobie said:

I highly recommend:   Express VPN.  I have had others over the years and were not satisfied. Main reason, I stream movies from the USA. so when I used Hulu I would be kicked off. Some websites services can detect that I was using a VPN and they don't allow it. So I hunted down a VPN service where I wouldn't have any streaming problems and Express VPN was the one. I have been using them for over 7 years now and no issues at all.

I second that, plus their customer service is excellent, told me how to get my smart tv to work through one of their servers, avoiding Amazons protections.

[Jimjim1]

Express VPN is based in South America, does not keep any records of it users and puts two fingers up to the feds.

It also has full coverage servers in around 75 countries and rising, and essentially a knock out switch which ensures your security if you get kicked out.

Streaming is a breeze and UK companies including the BBC have not noticed me nor has Amazon Prime.

Problem solving is by email or real time chat in English 24/7 including any setup difficulties.

99 US per year and for me worth every cent.

If you use a recommendation when you buy both of you will get 3 months usage free and you also get a free trial period.

[xylophone]

3 hours ago, recom273 said:

if you are looking for something fast, reliable and cheap use a smart dns service, more reliable than vpn. 

I have to agree with you on that, having tried several VPNs and not being satisfied with any of them, I have now reverted to using Smart DNS Proxy and I'm very happy with it.

[huahinjoe]

On the side note You can also make on your own with a dedicated or vps server, or get a VPN server router or hire an IT expert to setup it for you and place it in your own or your friends, relatives house back home so there will no monthly costs as well and you will even access the local network to share videos or files securely for example.

[Will B Good]

Express VPN.....never had any issues.

[recom273]

3 hours ago, norfolkandchance said:

I've used NORDVPN for years and the BBC has never detected me.

There is a difference between can and have, when 500 people log in from a single ip,address that happens to be in a data center in docklands or park royal to watch eastenders do you think the beeb don’t notice? They don’t particularly care, restricting access is good enough, for example you can’t get a true 1080 stream using a vpn, but if you are in the UK, you can get a 1080 stream. 
 

 

[Mavideol]

8 hours ago, Crazy Noobie said:

I highly recommend:   Express VPN.  I have had others over the years and were not satisfied. Main reason, I stream movies from the USA. so when I used Hulu I would be kicked off. Some websites services can detect that I was using a VPN and they don't allow it. So I hunted down a VPN service where I wouldn't have any streaming problems and Express VPN was the one. I have been using them for over 7 years now and no issues at all.

am with u

[Digitalbanana]

4 hours ago, Peterphuket said:

8 hours ago, rwill said:

I use Surfshark.  It's about $3/month.

On their website, I can't find which countries they have servers in, can't you choose that?

https://surfshark.com/servers

[Don Chance]

If you want movies from the usa just download on torrents. If you want real privacy -  you picked the wrong country.

[RocketDog]

23 hours ago, Pi Tao said:

Proton VPN

 

I've had a Proton Mail account since before the service was actually activated. Now I'm a 'plus' member.

I tried to use their VPN but installation failed because my computer clock didn't match theirs. I worked with support but that didn't help. Then I dug deeper and found that there are very few server locations unless you pay more.

Not worth the trouble or cost to me.

I used Express VPN for 15 years but moved to Trust.Zone because express changes the IP address so often it keeps my private book club torrent tracker from working. I've exhausted all options by working with both parties.

So I'll let my Express account end and move completely to Trust.Zone which is working fine for me. $8.88/month on monthly plan.

[The Fugitive]

8 hours ago, rwill said:

I use Surfshark.  It's about $3/month.

Me too. For the last three years. Never failed to connect or unblock. No speed issues, streams everything perfectly for me.

[NanLaew]

Pure VPN. Third year of ops. No worries.

[Sato]

18 minutes ago, recom273 said:

you can’t get a true 1080 stream using a vpn

Of course you can.

I even stream 4k and 8k content over VPN from the us or europe till here (TH).

I used Express VPN and the last three years NordVPN.

No problem to watch 4k content on Disney+, Netflix and Amazone Prime using the US, UK or German Catalogue.

BBC, US/UK/German Netflix/Disney+/Amazone Prime, German, Swiss, Austria, French, Italien TV all no problem with Express VPN or NordVPN.

They do not recognize their IP adresse's as VPN in opposit to other VPN providers.

[fasteddie]

6 hours ago, KannikaP said:

From where did you learn that please?

OK apparently I'm wrong, it does happen ????

[KannikaP]

3 hours ago, recom273 said:

for example you can’t get a true 1080 stream using a vpn,

Oh yes I can. Well it looks pretty good to me when I watch BBC iPlayer or similar on NORD VPN. As good as if I had downloaded it from P Bay @ 1080.

[Digitalbanana]

Just looking at today's VPN prices at one provider.. an example below where the first 25 months are half the price it seems.

 

* So are people opening new accounts every 25 months to avoid the doubling of fees by simply extending? Whats the business model here, why would VPN companies expect people to pay more for being a loyal customer and extending membership?

 

 

[recom273]

35 minutes ago, KannikaP said:

Oh yes I can. Well it looks pretty good to me when I watch BBC iPlayer or similar on NORD VPN. As good as if I had downloaded it from P Bay @ 1080.

The 1080 shows you get from torrent trackers are capped by UK residents, who can access 1080 HLS streams or use DAB tuners, if you use an VPN you get access to some (upscaled) 1080 streams, as you say they still look good, even the 720 DASH that you can pickup using surfshark are good and reliable. 

 

3 hours ago, Sato said:

Of course you can.

I even stream 4k and 8k content over VPN from the us or europe till here (TH).

I used Express VPN and the last three years NordVPN.

No problem to watch 4k content on Disney+, Netflix and Amazone Prime using the US, UK or German Catalogue.

BBC, US/UK/German Netflix/Disney+/Amazone Prime, German, Swiss, Austria, French, Italien TV all no problem with Express VPN or NordVPN.

They do not recognize their IP adresse's as VPN in opposit to other VPN providers.

We are talking about the different streams available on BBC iplayer.

[recom273]

42 minutes ago, Digitalbanana said:

Just looking at today's VPN prices at one provider.. an example below where the first 25 months are half the price it seems.

 

* So are people opening new accounts every 25 months to avoid the doubling of fees by simply extending? Whats the business model here, why would VPN companies expect people to pay more for being a loyal customer and extending membership?

 

 

I had this with PIA. Apparently users suspect that they allow you access to a faster server in the trial period and change to a server with greater traffic after you have signed up, idk if that's true.

 

I trialed PIA, and after a couple of days I wanted to get a refund and buy a proper subscription, the refund service was really quick, when I chatted to support and said, wow! the service is great, he gave me a coupon code. After my first year, I contacted customer chat and asked for a coupon for a loyal customer .. "no can, sorry but what you could do is sign up for a different account" - VPN and seedbox providers are just cowboys.

[KannikaP]

1 minute ago, recom273 said:

I had this with PIA. Apparently users suspect that they allow you access to a faster server in the trial period and change to a server with greater traffic after you have signed up, idk if that's true.

 

I trialed PIA, and after a couple of days I wanted to get a refund and buy a proper subscription, the refund service was really quick, when I chatted to support and said, wow! the service is great, he gave me a coupon code. After my first year, I contacted customer chat and asked for a coupon for a loyal customer .. "no can, sorry but what you could do is sign up for a different account" - VPN and seedbox providers are just cowboys.

Never flown on Pakistan International Airways before.

[Iamloki]

11 hours ago, SingAPorn said:

Netflix is the worst as they regularly detect VPN's and block,

I use Nord and VyperVPN - switching back and forth based on price at time of renewal. Both are zero logging (though that is relatively new for Vyper). Nord is no "Fourteen Eyes", Vyper is 14 eyes Cooperative. Both have Kill Switches. Nord has split tunneling - not sure if Vyper does or not...

 

Both work with Netflix all over the world. Though not all servers may work. Fyi: Netflix (and others) look at how many users are using the same ISP. When they identify a boat load of people logging in from the server address, they block that server. Both Nord and Vypr have a lot of servers and proprietary protocols.

 

Finally Nord allows for anonymous payment and Vypr didn't when last checked. Both have free trial.

 

A lot of this information is several years old now - so confirm it's still correct.

[SingAPorn]

Just now, Iamloki said:

I use Nord and VyperVPN - switching back and forth based on price at time of renewal. Both are zero logging (though that is relatively new for Vyper). Nord is no "Fourteen Eyes", Vyper is 14 eyes Cooperative. Both have Kill Switches. Nord has split tunneling - not sure if Vyper does or not...

 

Both work with Netflix all over the world. Though not all servers may work. Fyi: Netflix (and others) look at how many users are using the same ISP. When they identify a boat load of people logging in from the server address, they block that server. Both Nord and Vypr have a lot of servers and proprietary protocols.

 

Finally Nord allows for anonymous payment and Vypr didn't when last checked. Both have free trial.

 

A lot of this information is several years old now - so confirm it's still correct.

Ok thanks for the feedback. So Nord seems the best alternative. So you need to pass through a computer to watch TV via a VPN ? Or can a smartTV directly connect via VPN ?

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

On 10/12/2023 at 1:30 PM, mran66 said:

I've been using PrivateVPN for few years now, and just renewed for another 3 yrs at $72. No complaints, also very responsive support if need technical help

I like them and have used them for some years... They're one of my main VPNs among several I subscribe to. And yes, I've also found their support to be quite good.

 

[Iamloki]

4 minutes ago, SingAPorn said:

Ok thanks for the feedback. So Nord seems the best alternative. So you need to pass through a computer to watch TV via a VPN ? Or can a smartTV directly connect via VPN ?

I use both Nord & Vyper through my computer and through my cell. Other than that, it will probably depend on the smart TV and the software they allow to be downloaded. The following is from Google: Yes. You can put a VPN on your smart TV – if the manufacturer and operating system are right. If your smart TV has an app store that features VPN apps, it'll be really easy to set up. In other circumstances, you might need to put in some extra work, like setting up a VPN on a router.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

14 hours ago, Crazy Noobie said:

I highly recommend:   Express VPN. 

Express VPN long HAD a reputation as one of the best VPN providers in the market. Then a couple years ago, they were bought out by a technology company with a dubious past... Not so sure anymore.... They also tend to be one of the more expensive VPN services out there.

 

"In 2021, ExpressVPN announced that it had been acquired by Kape Technologies, which also owns CyberGhost VPN and Private Internet Access VPN, among other privacy and security companies. In a previous incarnation, Kape was an adware company called Crossrider. In 2023, concerns arose after news broke of layoffs within Kape's properties, including its VPNs."

 

https://www.pcmag.com/reviews/expressvpn

 

I had a subscription with them for some years pre-Kape, but ended up dropping it a couple years back when my use of their VPN was increasingly recognized and blocked by various streaming service providers that I use.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

I like Nord and use them a lot these days.... Their connections are reasonably fast and typically do a pretty good job of unblocking various streaming providers without drawing VPN error notifications.

 

But one thing I find annoying about them, as someone who is pretty particular about what exact VPN server I'm connecting to for various purposes, is that they don't label all their servers by location/city names as is the prevailing practice in the industry, and instead just label their servers with 4 or 5 digit number designations, which isn't especially transparent.

 

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

14 hours ago, rwill said:

I use Surfshark.  It's about $3/month.

I've had a Surfshark subscription for some years...and it's soon going to expire and won't be renewed... Because at least in my experience, their connections do a very poor job at avoiding "VPN error" blocks from various major U.S. streaming providers like Amazon Prime Video, among others.

 

[sammieuk1]

Android lots free never paid a penny never will ????

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

12 hours ago, recom273 said:

if you are looking for something fast, reliable and cheap use a smart dns service, more reliable than vpn. 

Dunno about that... One of the disadvantages of various "Smart DNS" services is that they'll only work with the specific streaming services/providers enabled/configured by that DNS provider...

 

Whereas with a traditional VPN, which gives you an IP address in a particular geo-location, that's going to be recognized as being there by ANY and ALL providers a person might use, regardless.

 

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

8 minutes ago, sammieuk1 said:

Android lots free never paid a penny never will ????

And a lot of the free ones have bad reputations for tracking their customers internet usage in great detail and selling that data onward to various private parties, thus compromising users' privacy.  There's often a reason the free VPNs are able to be "free."  Because they're getting paid to "sell" their customers.