Top 5 Best VPN for China

What is the China best VPN? What’s important, a VPN for China that still works in 2021. China has a strong internet restriction that goes by the name ‘The Great Firewall’. To access blocked websites and apps in China, you will need a China VPN. In the guide, we’ll share with you the Top 5 best VPNs for China for your use and the most important tips when searching for the right China VPN service.

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China Best VPN (2024 Update)

China is the top 10 most censoring country and it has long attempted to control its citizens’ access to the outside world using a range of technologies. The ‘Great Firewall of China’ is known and considered to be one of the largest and most advanced internet censorship in the world. It is estimated that nearly thousands of websites and online services are being blocked by the Chinese authorities, include Google, Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, Netflix, Instagram, Wikipedia, WhatsApp, and Slack to name a few.

The good news is, if you reside in or are traveling to Mainland China, you can use Virtual Private Network (VPN) that protects your online activities from observation by the Chinese government. Visitors and residents alike use VPNs in China (and now more and more so in Hong Kong) often use a VPN app to unblock websites and apps. VPN has become an invaluable tool to obtain access to restricted online content or access their Gmail and social media just like back home. Plus, it is good practice that you use a VPN to access any website to protect your privacy.

We have written this VPN guide for travelers to China and recommend some of the best and reliable VPN services that are currently working well in China. Most importantly, some useful tips and strategies for how to use a VPN and stay connected in China.

The Best VPN for China at a Glance

Short of time? Here is a quick rundown of the best VPNs that still work in China and why:

ExpressVPN – Most popular and best VPN for China at fast speed, CNY43/mo.
NordVPN – Proven can unblock all websites in China, CNY24/mo.
VyprVPN – Consistently works in China. Chinese VPN costs are as low as CNY11/mo.
Surfshark – Extremely affordable cheap China VPN with no connections limit, CNY16/mo.
Astrill VPN – Specifically designed to bypass censorship that works in China. CNY64/mo.

USD to China Renminbi Conversion: $1 United States Dollar equivalent to CNY6.4 Chinese Yuan.

How To Use VPN in China: Know this before your travel to China

As known to most internet users before traveling to China, China blocks access to the websites, and this includes the websites of many popular VPN providers even though the VPN itself will work. So you are nearly impossible to subscribe to a VPN from inside Chinese borders.

Therefore, there is one thing that you should know before traveling to China is to sign-up and download your preferred VPN on your laptop or mobile device before visiting China if you are not currently residing there. Otherwise, you won’t be able to open VPN websites since all are blocked in the country.

What makes the best China VPN?

There are many different VPNs that claimed to work in China. But even the VPNs that were working in the past, one day it may become blocked and no longer working in China. There are three main things to consider when choosing which VPN to use in China:

Reliable VPN service in China: A service that has a strong track record of being reliable in China. The VPN service must be reliable and consistent that works in China for 2-3 years.
Good customer service: Quality 24/7 support is also a must-have, to assist you when things aren’t going the way they should when trying to connect VPN in China.
China VPN with a money-back guarantee: It is always good reassurance. You can try to subscribe to a few VPN services, try which VPN works best for you, and then return the others if you like.

How to Use Your VPN in China

To unlocks numerous websites and provides you with a secure browsing experience in China, do the following:

Subscribe to the best China VPN that is best for your needs. ExpressVPN is our top choice.
Download and install the provider’s app(s) on your device(s).
Log into the VPN using your VPN account.
Select a VPN server located outside of China and connect to it.
Enjoy your online anonymity and freedom in China.

Today’s Top 5 Best VPN in China Selection

We found these to be the best VPNs for China:

ExpressVPN: Top Recommended VPN for China – Consistently works in China and high survival rate during China’s VPN blocking. A reliable VPN connection with fast speed.

NordVPN: Reputation VPN that works well in China – Reliable connection, fast speed and works well in China. Super-secure with obfuscated servers to defeat China’s VPN blocking.

VyprVPN: Proven VPN works in China with Reliable Connection – Chameleon encryption protocol continues to offer a reliable way to bust through China’s “Great Firewall.”

SurfShark: Best Cheap VPN in China that Still Work – Excellent unblocking power for blocked services with unlimited device connection at a very reasonable price.

Astrill VPN – Solid VPN That Work in China – Specifically designed To Bypass China’s “Great Firewall”. Expensive but can work in China.

China Best VPN: ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN is the best China VPN on the market and it puts a lot of effort into getting its VPN to work well in China. It clearly knows it has a large customer base in China and goes above and beyond to cater to that clientele and to ensure that blockages are rare and speeds stay fast. To date, it is the most reliable VPN in China with a high survival rate during China’s VPN blocking. The VPN performs perfectly in Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, and many more China districts.

Firstly, ExpressVPN has more than 3,000 servers at 160 locations in 90 countries, including some close to China in places like Hong Kong, Mongolia, South Korea, Japan, and Singapore. So even though ExpressVPN doesn’t have a VPN server in China, you can still access and watch any foreign content of your choice in the mainland of China. Torrenting is allowed on all VPN servers, and Express usually has a handful of servers that work with Netflix.

Plus, those servers use shared IP addresses, which increase your anonymity. The company coats its users with excellent security, with AES-256 encryption and a selection of protocols, plus a kill switch and IPv6 leak protection. The split tunneling lets you route certain apps through the VPN while leaving others untouched. No-logging policy, meaning ExpressVPN never saves your browsing history and your privacy is well protected.

ExpressVPN works across all major desktop and mobile devices and is very simple to use. It offers apps for Android, Windows, macOS, iOS, Linux, and no matter what your platform of choice, ExpressVPN has you covered in China. It is also compatible with routers.

The customer support offerings are some of the best in the business, with 24/7 support chat, email support, a trouble ticket tracking system, and a searchable knowledge base.

ExpressVPN remains popular among users in China for good reason. If you were to ask 10 China travelers or ex-pats what VPN they use, at least 4 would say ExpressVPN. It is the fastest and most reliable VPN amongst all of the VPNs on this guide that works well in China.

If you’re thinking of trying ExpressVPN in China, make sure you use this ExpressVPN Deal, which will automatically add three months free to an annual plan!

Tips for Using ExpressVPN in China:

Here are the important tips when using ExpressVPN in China:

Keep the ExpressVPN software and app up-to-date to take advantage of the latest improvements and anti-blocking features in China.
Connect to the server locations recommended by ExpressVPN, usually in Hong Kong, or Japan to using VPN in China.
Be patient when connecting as it makes multiple tries before finally getting connected.
Contact ExpressVPN’s live support immediately if your ExpressVPN stops working in China.

ExpressVPN China Pros:
+ Great support for desktop and mobile clients
+ Stealth servers are great for use in China
+ Easy to use and install

ExpressVPN China Cons:
– More expensive

China Best VPN: NordVPN

For the past couple of years, NordVPN started paying more attention to the China VPN market, and the effort shows. It is another best VPN in China with reliable protection when connecting inside Chinese borders. Its excellent encryption and obfuscated servers, which ensure your VPN use isn’t detected by the Great Firewall.

NordVPN gained an impressive total of more than 5,000 worldwide servers spread across 62 countries. These servers help bypass restrictions in regions popular for strict censorship imposed by the government. It is also one of the few VPN services that offer obfuscated servers to bypass China’s VPN blocking. You’ll be able to watch the full gamut of streaming media, including US Netflix with NordVPN, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, Amazon, or other international media services residing in China.

For security, NordVPN is boasting of military-grade encryption, powerful DNS leak protection, automatic kill switch, and incredible connection speeds via the secure NordLynx protocol. All are important features when surfing from China. Plus, it also offers options to block ads and malware.

NordVPN offers the best value, offering six simultaneous connections on one inexpensive subscription. All desktop apps, such as Windows, macOS, Linux, and mobile apps on iOS and Android mobile devices work in China. Manual configuration is also possible if you encounter any issues.

Lastly, NordVPN comes at a good price of $3.67/mo with a 30-day NordVPN refund policy.

Tips for Using NordVPN in China:

Here are the important tips when using NordVPN in China:

All the NordVPN apps work well in China. NordVPN offers manual setup support in case the desktop software or mobile app stops working in China. Although manual installation is not as easy as downloading, this method works pretty well in China. Detailed instructions on how to set up NordVPN manually are ready on NordVPN’s support pages.
Alternatively, contact NordVPN’s live support immediately. A real person on the other end of the connection with 24 hours a day, seven days a week will provide solutions for getting the VPN working again in China.

NordVPN China Pros:
+ Next-generation encryption
+ Budget-friendly
+ Competitive speed

NordVPN China Cons:
– Only six simultaneous devices

China Best VPN: VyprVPN

VyprVPN is a great China VPN option that provides fast connections and reliable access to the world on the other side of the Great Firewall. It allows you to access global content from any location you like in China and elsewhere.

To use VyprVPN in China, VyprVPN delivers on its connection security with top-notch encryption, kill switch, auto-reconnect, and DNS leak protection. The Pro version includes a proprietary Chameleon protocol that is specifically designed to avoid VPN blocking by the Great Firewall. It will mask VPN traffic to make it less susceptible to the Great Firewall’s deep packet inspection technology.

VyprVPN offers a decent number of server locations with more than 700 VyprVPN servers around the world. Several of them are located near China in places like Japan, Taiwan, and Hong Kong. The self-owned and self-operated servers ensure your traffic is ever exposed to a third party. Plus, VyprVPN also is one of the few verified zero-logging VPNs on the market, you can be sure that absolutely no one will be able to snoop on your activity.

Apps are available for Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android. And you can take advantage of the service’s excellent router compatibility.

You can try it out with VyprVPN’s risk-free guarantee within 30 days and get a refund if anything goes wrong.

Tips for Using VyprVPN in China:

Here are the important tips when using VyprVPN in China:

Get a list of recommended ports for the Chameleon protocol from VyprVPN’s customer support before traveling to China.
Always use the Chameleon protocol to ensure that you can bypass any China firewall while remaining completely secure.
It’s recently been having troubles if you’re not connected to the chameleon protocol. Contact VyprVPN’s live support immediately if to get the latest tips and solutions for getting the VPN working again in China.

VyvrVPN China Pros:
+ Easy to install and use
+ All plans have unlimited data
+ Does not log DNS requests

VyvrVPN China Cons:
– Only five simultaneous devices

China Best VPN: SurfShark

Surfshark is a reliable option if you’re looking for an affordable and budget-priced VPN provider to tunnel under China’s “Great Firewall. This best cheap VPN provider is doing a great job at unblocking websites and provides fast and secure access to streaming sites. Plus, SurfShark also offers unlimited simultaneous connections to cover every device under one subscription at the lowest pricing.

To protect Surfshark’s connections from observation by the Chinese government, SurfShark is using military-level encryption, as well as a kill switch, DNS leak, and ad-blocking protection. Surfshark also offers a “MultiHop” ability that routes your connection through two VPN servers for added protection. A strict no-logs policy to protect your privacy and keep your data hidden behind the Great Firewall.

Surfshark has a global server coverage with over 3,200 servers located in 65+ countries. Almost all of its servers can unblock streaming services like Netflix, Hulu, and BBC iPlayer with great connection speeds. Besides, Surfshark is also one of the best VPNs for China that allows P2P connection via VPN on certain servers. It has apps available for iOS, Mac, Windows, Linux, and Android and allows you up to unlimited simultaneous connections for the price of one license.

If you’re looking for an affordable VPN that works in China, SurfShark is your choice. While it offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, download SurfShark to see if it really is the best cheap VPN for China.

Tips for Using SurfShark in China:

Here are the important tips when using SurfShark in China:

Log into SurfShark’s website and see the list of SurfShark’s VPN server locations. Choose a server that closer to China (for example, Hong Kong and Taiwan). Select the dedicated server and get connected.
If your SurfShark stops working in China, contact SurfShark’s live support immediately to get the latest tips and solutions for getting the VPN working again in China.

SurfShark China Pros:
+ Budget Price
+ Plays Netflix
+ Unlimited device connection

SurfShark China Cons:
– Average speeds

China Best VPN: Astrill

Astrill VPN is another of the best VPNs for China and successfully bypasses the Great Firewall. The developers have spent a lot of time and offer several features that make it ideal for browsing in highly restricted locations including China, South Korea, and Iran.

Astrill VPN is much smaller than its main competitors, with a relatively low number of servers around the world. It only has more than 300 servers in 60 countries, which might not seem like a lot. But Hong Kong, Japan, Taiwan, Singapore, and some other countries near China are located with servers to optimize connection speed. Download speeds are solid enough to stream video if you pick a server without a heavy load.

The “Smart Mode” from Astrill allows you to use regional IP addresses instead of foreign ones and has proven can bypass censorship detection. It has a proprietary protocol called Stealth VPN, which is specifically designed for countries with high censorship. This great protocol adds an extra layer of security to bypass the automated firewalls of China. Plus, the multi-hop feature routes your traffic through multiple servers to help users break through the Great Firewall of China.

Apps are available for Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Linux, and certain wifi routers.

The downside of Astrill is the prices are expensive with a lot of optional add-ons. Although the price is on the high side, Astrill consistently with reliable VPN connections in China even when all other VPN services have trouble connecting. No money-back-guarantee is provided for Astrill VPN download.

Tips for Using Astrill in China:

Here are the important tips when using Astrill in China:

In order to successfully bypass the firewall, it is highly recommended to purchase the StealthVPN protocol upgrade to give you SUPER FAST speeds.
Install Astrill VPN and choose the StealthVPN protocol prior to arriving in China.
Contact the live phone and chat support teams who are always supported for getting the VPN working again in China.

Astrill China Pros:
+ Proven Work in China
+ Great performance
+ Customizable to fit your specific needs

Astrill China Cons:
– Prices are expensive with add-on
– Poor refund policy
– Two simultaneous connections

Is Using VPN in China Illegal?

This is one of the most common questions about using a VPN in China. The Chinese authorities are undoubtedly aware that there are people using VPN services to bypass the Great Firewall. But there’s currently not technically prohibited in China.

Using a VPN as a foreigner to connect to social media, read Gmail, and watch Youtube is 100% safe as a means to get around the great firewall of China. But selling VPN services in China is definitely illegal and promoting VPN services in China is also bound to cause trouble. Of course, the China government may not be happy about the use of VPN software and ban them.

However, China has not made any laws on using authorized VPNs, so you can use them according to your need. At the same time, we suggest that you should keep your VPN usage as private as possible.

Can I get a Free China VPN?

Yes, you can get a China VPN online, which is available for free. But the chances of a free VPN being able to bypass the Great Firewall of China are slim. We would also strongly advise against using any free version.

Besides, there are multiple reasons to avoid a free VPN in China as most China Free VPNs are missing important features. Chinese VPN that are free have a monthly data limit that will cut your VPN connection when it is over. No kill switch or lower-level encryption will draw unwanted attention to your online activity. It can also inject advertisements and may sell your data.

If you’re going to be relying on your VPN for your work and leisure purposes, we’d strongly recommend you go for a paid version to get you past some of China’s restrictions. You can get unlimited service from a provider like Surfshark Deal for less than $2.50/mo.

Best Free VPN For China

If you’re looking for the best free VPN to use in China, there are also quite a few options and even so, many limitations for the free version. But if you want to try a free VPN, you can try these ones out below:

ProtonVPN comes with a basic free plan with servers in 3 countries. Connect to its Japan server for the fastest connection.
Windscribe gives users 10GB of data for free every month. Free version with servers in 10 countries, including Hong Kong.
Hotspot Shield gives every user 500 MB of data every day. It has VPN servers in China that are able to browse websites with a Chinese IP address, which is incredibly rare.

What popular sites are banned in China?

China has its own platforms and is pushing to support its local businesses by blocking international sites and apps.

Many international websites or services, such as Google, Reddit, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, WhatsApp, Instagram, Pinterest, Netflix, and etc are blocked in China. All Google services (Gmail, Google Translate, Google Search, Google Maps, Google Drive, Google Docs, Play Store, etc) are also not available on the mainland. Online gaming and adult sites are also blocked in China.

Besides, the Chinese government has been implementing even more online restrictions than usual since the start of the coronavirus pandemic. Most websites blocked by the Great Firewall remain blocked permanently, but some are only blocked temporarily during the sensitive period.

VPN can be used to bypass blocking and access those websites or services in China.

Tips For Using VPN in China

Avoid VPNs that are blocked in China – There are many very popular VPN services that work in the USA and other countries but are completely blocked in China. Avoid these VPNs and choose those that work well in China, such as ExpressVPN and VyprVPN that are consistent with reliable connections in China.
Avoid VPN providers based in China – Selling VPN services in China is definitely illegal without the government’s permission. So China-based VPN providers have to shut down their existing VPN services.
Download the VPN Prior in China – Most of the VPN websites are blocked within Chinese borders. If you are traveling to China, make sure you download the VPN before you enter the country.
Always update Your VPN App – If you start having a hard time connecting within China, look to see if there’s an update for the app on your desktop or mobile device.
Contact your VPN Customer Service – Don’t be afraid to use their customer service as they are responsive to help you determine which server would be best to connect to. So it is always to choose a VPN service with 24/7 customer service.
Have a backup VPN Plan – If using a VPN in China is very important to you, it is always ideal to have two or more VPN plan as a backup VPN. In case one fails, they can use the other one instead.

Our Verdict: Best China VPN Download

If you’re traveling to or live in Mainland China, we are strongly advised to use a Virtual Private Network to protect and enhance their online activities while in the country. But the country’s strict censorship system makes many VPNs useless and causing a lot of issues no matter which VPN you use.

We are recommending either using ExpressVPN, NordVPN, or VyprVPN because they provide excellent speed in China without worrying. Besides, those reliable VPN services are constantly monitoring connections and get everything restored the quickest when the censorship hammer comes down.

Stay Safe and keep using VPN services of your choice provided in this guide!

Quick Comparison Table of China Best VPNs:

VPN
Security	AES 256-bit	AES 256-bit	AES 256-bit	AES 256-bit	AES 256-bit
Server	3,000+ in 94 Countries	5,500+ in 59+ Countries	700+ in 70+ Countries	3,200+ in 63 Countries	300+ in 58+ Countries
Connection	5 Devices	6 Devices	Unlimited	Unlimited	5 Devices
Compatibility	Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, routers	Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, routers	Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, routers	Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, routers	Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, routers
Best Price	$6.67/month	$3.67/month	$1.67/month	$2.49/month	$10/month
More Info	Visit Site	Visit Site	Visit Site	Visit Site	Visit Site
Read Review	ExpressVPN	NordVPN	VyprVPN	SurfShark	Astrill