Using a VPN for internet safety is becoming more and more common, and they’re extremely useful in Bali and all of Indonesia. Indonesia blocks certain websites and makes them inaccessible from anywhere in the country. This can be very inconvenient, and even impacts the work of many remote workers who call Bali their temporary home.
Luckily, a VPN is a quick and easy fix for this problem, and it actually has many more benefits that you might not even know about.
If you’re coming to Bali soon and want to make sure you won’t be locked out of your favourite websites, we’ll tell you all about using a VPN in this article.
This post may contain affiliate links, which means we’ll receive a commission if you purchase through our links at no extra cost to you. This helps us keep Guide Your Travel free and provide high-quality content for you. Please read the full disclaimer for more information.
Why you can trust this article about using a VPN in Bali
Hi, I’m Victoria, and I’m your go-to source for Bali and Indonesia travel information.
I’ve lived on this beautiful island for several years now and visited plenty of times before that, both as a tourist and backpacker. I know how to save money and when to splurge on things, so I’ll introduce you to the best luxury getaways for a special occasion but also the cheapest airport pickups and fun group tours you can join if you want to make friends.
I work online, so having a secure internet connection is incredibly important to me. I’ve been using different VPNs for over 15 years now, so I’ve had quite some time to try out different providers.
I’ve found that some work better than others here in Bali, because most of the time the average internet speed here is quite low, even in big coworking spaces. I’m always on the hunt for new VPNs to try, so I’ll make sure to keep this article updated if anything changes.
All You Need For Your Bali Trip
The best VPN for Bali
The best VPN I’ve found for Bali is, by far, Surfshark. I’ve been with them for over a year now and have found that they provide not only the best value for money but also the best customer service and it’s the best USA VPN, in my opinion.
With other VPNs, I often struggled to get a stable connection, and it would often time out or disconnect for no reason. Using some VPN providers also slows down your internet speed considerably, but so far, I haven’t found this to be the case with Surfshark.
You can get a monthly subscription for around US $15, depending on how long you’ll be in Bali, but I would actually recommend paying upfront for a 12 or 24-month plan, which will be much cheaper. Plus, having a VPN in daily life is highly recommended anyway if you’re using public WiFis to protect your data.
With a longer plan, you’ll pay less than US $3 a month for Surfshark if you catch one of the deals they’re frequently running. You’ll end up paying less for two years of Surfshark than you would for five months on a monthly plan.
Plus, their upgraded plan, which also includes useful features like email, ID and credit card breach alerts, security reports, anti-virus protection, webcam protection and data removal from databases, usually costs less than a dollar more per month and is definitely worth it.
I work online, so I store a lot of very sensitive information on my laptop and various cloud platforms, and knowing I’ve got all this protection included makes me feel a lot safer.
Definitely give Surfshark a try; I’ve had only good experiences so far.
Best eSIM & Physical SIM For Bali
Did you know you can get the best SIM card for tourists delivered to your hotel in Bali at no extra charge? Or get an eSIM, so you’ll be connected from day one.
What exactly is a VPN?
VPN stands for private virtual network, and it encrypts traffic, making it possible to manipulate your location, IP address and data. You’ll be less susceptible to hacking, malware and will make it easier to conceal your identity online.
Some companies even require the use of a VPN for remote workers to protect sensitive data and logins.
While using a VPN on your home WiFi has many benefits, it’s absolutely necessary to use one on public networks, which are often incredibly insecure.
A VPN is activated with the click of a button, so it’s easy and effortless to use.
Best Hotel Deals In Bali
Here are our absolute favourite hotels in Bali – hand-picked and tested by us.
Why you need to use a VPN in Bali
While you should be using a VPN regularly anyway, it’s actually even more useful to have one in Bali for the following reasons.
1. To access blocked websites
Indonesia blocks access to several websites, including gambling sites, adult content, political or religious sites, but also chat forums such as Reddit, educational sites, gaming sites, basic human rights information and much more. Sometimes, it can be difficult to see an exact reason why, and if you’re using search engines like Google in Indonesia, you’re essentially seeing censored results.
This is the case for both for a WiFi network in the country as well as all mobile data providers (even if you’re using an eSIM).
Indonesia has even blocked Instagram, Facebook, WhatsApp, Telegram, PayPal, Vimeo, Tumblr and many more popular websites in the past during political uprisings or until individual censorship deals with each platform were agreed upon.
While these have since been unblocked, the process can be somewhat unpredictable, and there is no way of saying if this will happen again in the future and which platforms will be affected.
It’s better to be prepared and have a VPN that you trust set up. Plus, many times you won’t even notice that a website is banned; it will simply disappear from the search results.
2. To book cheaper flights and hotels
It’s no secret that travel websites adjust their prices depending on where you’re located. With the help of a VPN, you can often find much better deals for hotels, flights or other transport.
I would always recommend trying a few different countries and comparing prices before you book anything. I’ve saved thousands of dollars with this method, making the price of a VPN subscription more than worth it.
3. To protect your data
Your data is easier to access when you’re online than you might think. Protect your personal information like logins, passwords, passport numbers, phone numbers, birthdates and more by using a VPN to add an extra layer of security.
Without one, anyone can tell your IP address, easily being able to find your location. Plus, you never know who has control of a public WiFi network. With just a few clicks, they can access your entire personal data and anything you search online.
4. For online banking
I would never access my online banking without a VPN, especially in Bali, where I’m constantly using public networks. Banking information can be very easy to attain if your connection isn’t secure, and once someone has access to it, it’s often too late before you notice.
My credit card information has been hacked a few times in the past, and now I’m extra careful to make sure that never happens again.
The Best Private Drivers In Bali
The most comfortable way to get around Bali is with a private driver. Read our complete guide or book instantly at the lowest prices with no need to haggle.
5. To watch TV shows
Finally, a more lighthearted reason to use a VPN is to watch Netflix or other streaming platforms abroad. While Indonesia has Netflix, of course, the selection of shows and movies here is very different from that in Europe or the US.
Sometimes, new shows take some time to come out in Indonesia, and I’ve generally found that the selection of movies on streaming services here isn’t the best.
Luckily, with just one click on a VPN, you can make the internet think you’re in Europe or the US and just like that your entertainment selection just got so much better.
Is using a VPN in Bali legal?
Using a VPN is always legal and recommended to improve cyber security in Bali and all of Indonesia.
Best Deals For Unmissable Bali Experiences
How to use a VPN in Bali
Using a VPN couldn’t be simpler. Sign up with a VPN provider, and after setting up your account, you’ll download their application (depending on the provider, of course). This applies to both laptops and phones.
After logging in, you’ll get access to a list of available countries and servers. Choose your desired location and click connect. Once the connection is confirmed, you’ll be able to access the internet normally through your browser or any application that uses the internet.
You’ll need a prior internet connection through WiFi or a mobile data network for a VPN to work, it does not work without internet.
Every time you access the internet while your VPN is connected, your data will be protected.
The Best Way To Experience Bali
Group tours are an incredibly underrated way to travel and you’ll get to experience Bali with new friends without any of the stress of planning. Compare the best tours here or check out my all-time favourite below.
Best VPN for Bali FAQ
It’s highly recommended that you use a VPN while you are in Bali to be able to access blocked websites and protect your data.
Indonesia blocks a variety of different websites, including gambling, gaming, political, religious, and other sites.
Before you go…
Getting a VPN is just the start of your to do list before your Bali trip. Don’t forget to check out our other guides, including our accommodation articles to places like Uluwatu, Nusa Penida, Sanur and the Gili Islands.
You might also like these fun things to do in Padang Bai, the best coral restoration charities in Bali, or guide on how to advertise on a billboard and our currency guide.
Dive deeper into Indonesia and visit places like Kuta in Lombok, Komodo National Park, Sulawesi or Yogyakarta.
Did I miss anything?
If you have any questions or feel like something is missing from this post, please leave a comment below or contact me.
