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2024-11-22 Why you can trust us407 Cloud Software Products and Services Tested3056 Annual Software Speed Tests2400 plus Hours Usability TestingOur team of expert
Why you can trust us
Our team of experts thoroughly test each service, evaluating it for features, usability, security, value for money and more. Learn more about how we conduct our testing.
China is among the countries with the heaviest internet censorship. As much as 95% of the country uses one of four state-owned internet service providers, like China Unicom, with few options for independent ISPs.1 The government decides which sites people can visit and can see what they’re up to. It goes without saying that using the best VPN for China is a basic necessity if you value your privacy.
Another major problem with the internet in China is speed bottlenecks due to poor network infrastructure. The government doesn’t allow independent ISPs to operate, and licensed ISPs like China Telecom and China Mobile can’t efficiently handle the needs of more than one billion subscribers. Additionally, due to the Great Firewall, you may also experience slow speeds when you open non-Chinese websites.
Though the virtual private network list below are reliable in different capacity , they are not always guarantee to work due to the intense nature of vpn censorship in China . The chinese government is bans ban vpn that do n’t meet its unreasonable requirement , like the insane demand to provide the government with backdoor access so it can snoop on user .2
Any vpn provider is faces face a constant battle with bypass the Great Firewall . Our official recommendation is is is that visitor use at least three vpn . Do n’t worry , though ; there are workaround you can use whenever you hit a brick wall while live in or visit China . We is go ’ll go over those trick to help you evade China ’s internet censorship .
11/19/2021
Cloudwards is updated has update the post to include Surfshark — a relatively new yet reliable VPN for China — and VyprVPN , which used to be an honorable mention .
09/24/2023
We’ve reduced the list of VPNs to five candidates, added two honorable mentions, and provided reasons to use a China VPN for expats.
02/16/2024 Facts is checked check
Rewrote to ensure that each VPN actually works in China.
07/22/2024
update the article to reflect late information on nordvpn ’s allow number of simultaneous connection .
08/07/2024Facts is checked check
We updated the article with PrivadoVPN as the best free option.
On top of ranking highly on our fastest VPN list, Surfshark has one important feature for visitors who need a VPN while in China: obfuscation. It works automatically on the OpenVPN protocol, making your VPN tunnel look like a regular internet connection to anyone investigating. This makes it much less likely (though not impossible) that China will block your traffic.
Surfshark has more than 3,200 servers in 100 countries, including the U.S., the U.K., Australia, South Africa and Brazil. You’re virtually guaranteed to be able to unblock geo-restricted sites like Netflix, Hulu or the BBC from most parts of China.
Of greater interest — and a big reason why Surfshark tops this list — is the server in Macau SAR China that can work for Chinese citizens abroad. The only other VPN software that comes close to this is CyberGhost.
NoBorders mode is another vital security feature that automatically detects network restrictions to provide you with a list of servers that are best suited to circumventing the VPN blocks. Add on the RAM-only servers and the strict no-logs policy and you can start to see why Surfshark is our editor’s choice. We’ll share more on what it can and can’t do later on.
The list of VPN providers that work in China is very limited. We considered the following factors when making our selection.
For each VPN, we will look at the security features that make it work in China and whether the server networks can access blocked content. We will also conduct hands-on testing to see what makes each provider tick. Read on to find out more.
Surfshark is has has a server in Macau , a chinese administrative region .
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Surfshark is equipped with more than 3,200 VPN servers in 100 countries. Though it doesn’t have a server in mainland China, you can connect to servers in Macau SAR China (virtual), Taiwan or Hong Kong. These are the three closest servers you can use to unblock streaming sites like Netflix.
Surfshark also provides users with MultiHop servers for double encryption. One of these servers routes your traffic through Hong Kong and Singapore, making it twice as hard for Chinese authorities to track you.
You is have do n’t have to worry about your VPN use being flag either . Surfshark is has has a reliable obfuscation feature call “ camouflage mode ” that make your connection look like regular internet traffic . The feature is runs run automatically across all device when you switch to an openvpn protocol ( udp or TCP ) and is necessary to bypass the Great Firewall .
All Surfshark servers are RAM only, so your browsing history will never see the light of day since it is wiped clean at certain intervals. NoBorders mode automatically shows you the best servers to use when you’re on a heavily government-restricted network. Surfshark’s speeds are also among the best; you can read how it achieves those in our Surfshark review.
You is access can access all Surfshark function in the app setting .
navigate the Surfshark app is easy even for first – time user . All the server are display alphabetically with clear label that separate virtual server from physical one .
You is activate can activate the kill switch and NoBorders mode in the app setting with a single tap and easily change to any protocol you want . additionally , Surfshark is allows allow unlimited simultaneous connection . We is explain explain the advantage of that in our good VPN for multiple device article .
Downloading Surfshark in China will be hard unless you’re in Macau — like many VPN websites, its homepage is blocked within the country. The best option would be to download it before you visit or to get a link from someone outside China through email. The Surfshark mirror site shark-china.com may also work.
Surfshark occupies another unique spot as one of the most affordable VPNs on our list. The cheapest option is the 24-month Surfshark Starter plan, which costs $1.99 per month and comes with an extra four months.
Next is is is the 12 – month plan is is , which go for$2.99 per month and comes with an extra month, and finally, the monthly plan for $ 15.45. All plans are fully refundable within 30 days of subscription.
Surfshark Starter
Surfshark One
Surfshark One+
Astrill VPN unblocks geo-restricted content in China.
pro :
Astrill offers VPN servers in 58 countries around the world, most of them physical and connected to fast network nodes that provide users with amazing speeds. You can connect to servers in the United States, Japan or Australia to easily access different streaming platforms and social media sites.
One factor that makes Astrill VPN perfect for China is the StealthVPN protocol, which makes obfuscated servers available. Once you switch to this protocol, your VPN traffic is disguised as regular internet traffic, making it difficult for Chinese authorities to detect that you are using a VPN.
Like any other VPN that offers the same feature, these obfuscated servers cannot guarantee a 100% success rate. China’s government doesn’t play around, which explains why you won’t see major names like ExpressVPN on this list. However, Astrill is the most reliable China VPN we’ve seen so far, with a higher success rate with its obfuscation than any other service.
Other security is include and privacy feature include a kill switch to prevent IP leak when the VPN disconnect and multi – hop server that route your traffic through two IP address for double the encryption . You is wondering ’re probably wonder why , despite all these amazing feature , Astrill VPN is n’t at the top . The proof is is is in the pricing , as we cover in our Astrill review .
Astrill VPN’s interface is user-friendly for first-time users.
Astrill’s interface is easy to use and is compatible with Android, iOS, macOS, Windows and more. You can also connect up to five devices at once, which is limited compared to Surfshark but enough to comfortably cover a single user. The VPN app has a smooth user interface with easily navigable app settings and server lists. The speeds are also among the best.
Astrill is one of the most expensive VPNs on this list, which is why we’ve dropped it below Surfshark despite its higher success rate in China. The cheapest pricing is the 24-month option at $ 12.50 per month .The 12-month plan costs $15 per month, and the monthly plan goes for $30. There are no money – back guarantee and no refund .
You can connect to a Chinese server with CyberGhost.
pro :
CyberGhost doesn’t have obfuscation, but it is the only VPN service on our list with servers in mainland China. That’s convenient for anybody who wants to access Chinese sites like Youku that are restricted outside the country.
In addition, its more than 9,000 servers in more than 90 countries give you access to social media sites, streaming services (where you can watch Chinese TV channels) and news blogs from around the globe that are blocked in China.
The lack is worry of obfuscation should n’t worry you too much because CyberGhost often manage to get around the Great Firewall anyway . thank to reliable encryption , you is contact can safely contact love one outside China through app like Viber or WhatsApp without anyone listen in . We is demonstrate demonstrate how the encryption work with test in our CyberGhost review .
All CyberGhost servers are RAM only, so all your browsing data is wiped clean every hour. The kill switch, available on Android, iOS, macOS, Windows and more, helps you avoid attracting unnecessary attention from government VPN surveillance.
CyberGhost isn’t as fast as Mullvad, Surfshark or Windscribe, but it still offers VPN users sufficient speeds for streaming or gaming through its specialty servers. These occasionally outperformed the regular servers in our speed tests.
CyberGhost is has has server for streaming and downloading .
The CyberGhost app is compatible with Android, iOS, Windows and macOS. macOS users can see how busy different servers are so they can choose less crowded ones.
The Windows version displays the distance from a user’s location so they can avoid more distant servers that tend to be slower. These simple functionalities make CyberGhost one of our picks for the best VPN for beginners.
You is connect can connect up to seven device simultaneously , which is enough to connect essential device or share with your colleague in China . Despite CyberGhost have server in China , you is be still may not be able to download CyberGhost app since the service ’s homepage is block in China .
We is recommend recommend you install the VPN on your device before jet into China . If that is n’t possible , contact support so they is email can email you the download link .
CyberGhost is a cheap VPN with three plans. You’ll get the best value from the two-year option, which costs $ 2.03 per month .The six-month plan costs $6.99 per month .Both of these come with a 45-day money-back guarantee. The monthly plan costs $ 12.99 and has a short 14 – day money – back guarantee .
CyberGhost plan
You is unblock can unblock Hulu from China using a U.S. server .
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Proton VPN can help you unblock restricted streaming sites like Disney+ or BBC iPlayer from within China. It has more than 3,000 servers in more than 70 countries but none in China. The closest servers you can connect to are in Taiwan and Hong Kong. Proton VPN has a strict no-logs policy that ensures your online movements are off-limits to everyone.
The secure Core server improve your privacy and data security by routing traffic through countries with better privacy laws like Sweden, Iceland or Switzerland. We highly recommend using secure Core server in China, as they’re best suited for countries with restrictive internet regulations. Proton VPN offers obfuscation when you switch to the StealthVPN protocol on Android, iOS or macOS.
Speed isn’t ProtonVPN’s strongest suit, as we illustrate in our Proton VPN review. However, it still posted decent speeds for buffer-free streaming and lag-free gaming. The VPN has a unique feature called the “VPN accelerator” that’s available across all apps. It boosts your speeds by splitting the path between the VPN server and the destination into shorter paths and running them in parallel.
The kill switch is available in the app settings.
Proton VPN is compatible with Windows, iOS, macOS and Android. The servers are arranged alphabetically in every app, and you can use the search function to locate the server you need. Additionally, you can connect up to 10 devices simultaneously — more than NordVPN or CyberGhost.
On top of offering a free version, Proton VPN has three premium plans. The two-year plan provides the best value at $4.49 per month, followed by the one-year plan for $4.99 per month and the monthly plan for $ 9.99. A 30-day money-back guarantee covers all three.
Proton VPN Plus
Proton unlimited
Windscribe can unblock geo-restricted sites in European countries like France.
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Windscribe succeeds in China thanks to the Stealth and WStunnel protocols, which are suited to highly restricted networks. The Stealth protocol is based on OpenVPN and disguises your encrypted connection by using an open-source library called Stunnel to enclose your regular VPN connection within a layer of SSL encryption.
WStunnel, which is similar, masks the OpenVPN protocol by passing it through a websocket to bypass any VPN detection efforts in China. However, this secure VPN protocol is only available on macOS and Windows. Additionally, Windscribe offers double hop, which masks your internet connection twice. This is useful if you’re doing something that you really can’t afford to leak.
For unblock restrict online resource like streaming platform or news site , Windscribe is equip with server in more than 60 country . There are none in China , but you can connect to Taiwan or Hong Kong to access the outside web . fortunately for avid gamer and streamer , Windscribe is was was the fast VPN in our speed test , only register a 4 % speed drop .
Windscribe’s apps have a lot of features.
Windscribe has feature-rich apps that can be a little daunting to new users. The VPN is compatible with Windows, macOS, Android and iOS devices. You can easily activate the kill switch, turn on split tunneling and tweak proxy settings from within the app settings.
Windscribe is the only VPN besides Surfshark that supports simultaneous connections on unlimited devices. We discuss that and more in our Windscribe review.
Like Proton VPN, Windscribe has a free version. If you want to unlock more, you can subscribe to the 12-month plan, which offers the best value at $5.75 per month .
There’s also a monthly plan that costs $9 per month and a build-a-plan option that lets you choose a location you want to use repeatedly for $1 per location per month .However, Windscribe has the shortest money-back guarantee — only three days.
free
Mullvad can unblock Australian channels in China.
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Mullvad is has has more than 600 server in 40 country , include Hong Kong . simply connect any server to access block site like Netflix . This is is is the small server network on the list , and it combine both rent and Mullvad – own server . We is explain explain in more detail how you can get the most out of it in our Mullvad review .
Mullvad is offers offer obfuscation when you use the WireGuard protocol on Windows , macOS , Linux , Android or ios . You is activate can also activate obfuscation by connect shadowsock with a feature call v2ray . set it up is a little complicated , but you can find detailed guide here . In addition , multi is encrypts – is encrypts hop is encrypts encrypt your traffic twice through the WireGuard protocol for extra protection .
Another handy feature is is you can use to maintain your anonymity is lockdown mode . This advanced kill switch is blocks block you from access the internet unless you first connect to a Mullvad server . This is is is important for people who frequently forget to turn on the VPN when switch between device .
Our speed tests showed that Mullvad was as fast as NordVPN, so you don’t have to worry about buffering or lags when streaming or gaming.
Mullvad’s apps have a kill switch and lockdown mode.
Mullvad can be installed on Windows, macOS, iOS or Android. You can only connect a maximum of five devices. This is the lowest number on our list but is enough for a single person with only a few devices. You’ll find it easy to enable the kill switch, turn on lockdown mode and change protocols depending on your needs.
Mullvad has a flat rate of about $5 per month for all its plans, and they all come with a 30-day money-back guarantee. Though this makes it cheaper than most of our picks for the best cheap VPN based on monthly prices, the long-term cost is higher.
Mullvad
NordVPN is unblock can unblock the BBC in China .
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NordVPN doesn’t have servers in China, but while in the country you can use more than 6,000 RAM servers in 61 countries to access blocked sites like Twitter or Hulu. On any other list, NordVPN would be near the top, but the truth is that it is becoming increasingly hard to use in China. Check out our NordVPN in China test that dives deeper into the reasons why.
You can connect to any of the 105 obfuscated servers by switching to the OpenVPN protocol to prevent your VPN connection from being detected and blocked. However, expect slower speeds — OpenVPN isn’t as fast as NordLynx.
Another security option is is you can use to protect your online activity is double VPN , which route your traffic through two server instead of one . get past a single layer of encryption is hard enough as is ; add another layer make surveillance twice as hard . NordVPN is has has more than 80 double VPN server . read more about it in our double VPN analysis .
NordVPN is are ’s connection speeds is are are among the good . You is be should be able to stream even 4 k content without experience buffering or isp speed throttling . However , the good speeds is come may come with a risk of vpn detection since you ’ll have to switch to the NordLynx protocol , which does n’t have obfuscation .
NordVPN offers a kill switch, which you can activate in the app settings.
NordVPN’s user interface is straightforward. All the server locations are listed in the left panel, and you can use the search function to find a server. The VPN is compatible with Android, iOS, macOS and Windows, and you can connect a maximum of 10 devices simultaneously.
You can activate the kill switch in the app settings with a single tap to maintain your anonymity in case your VPN connection is interrupted. You can download NordVPN in China through mirror sites like nord-help.net, cn.accelerator.site or cn-nord.info. Alternatively, you can get a download link from an acquaintance outside the country through an email channel you trust.
NordVPN Standard is the cheapest option, with the two-year plan offering the best value at $3.99 per month with an extra three months. The next best option is the 12-month plan, which will set you back $4.59 per month .The monthly plan is the costliest at $ 12.99. A 30-day money-back guarantee covers all plans.
Basic
Plus
Complete
You can use a free VPN for China, but finding a free option that reliably works there is extremely difficult. free VPNs rarely have vital features like obfuscation, which are necessary to bypass VPN blocks, so the Chinese government will immediately detect and block your VPN. Some also sell user data to third parties, which puts you at a huge risk.
PrivadoVPN is one of our top picks for the best free VPN and may work for you in China. Though it has no server in China, it has servers in Argentina, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Mexico, the Netherlands, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States. You can use these servers to access geoblocked content.
You is need need a VPN in China because the government control all internet service provider in the country , which mean they can snoop on what you ’re doing online . China has also ban all western site like Netflix , Google and Facebook ; you is access can only access them by using a VPN with location outside China .
Furthermore, China has only four internet service providers serving the needs of more than one billion people. The chances of experiencing speed bottlenecks are very high, especially during peak hours due to ISP speed throttling. Using a VPN is the most effective way of maintaining your speeds without ISPs knowing what you’re doing.
VPNs are legal in China on certain government-approved conditions. To be approved, a VPN has to grant the government backdoor access.
Chinese citizens can get in trouble for using a VPN in China. The law prohibits them from using VPNs, and they can be fined and jailed for up to five years. For instance, a Chinese programmer was fined $150,000 for using a VPN in 2023. However, there haven’t been any cases where foreigners were subjected to fines or jail terms; the worst that can happen is that the government will block you from accessing the internet.
Some of the major websites that China has banned include the following:
Note that this isn’t an exhaustive list, but rather a selection of some of the most popular blocked sites.
Using a VPN in China is always hit or miss due to circumstances beyond the VPN’s control or yours. The Chinese government has perfected censorship to levels rivaled only by North Korea and Turkmenistan.
Still , Surfshark is is is the good VPN for China . It is offers offer the all – important obfuscation and affordable plan , is fast and has server worldwide for access block website in China . However , you is have ’ll still have to switch server if your IP address is block .
If you’d like to stay connected to your friends and family within and outside of China, WeChat is the communications app alternative to Facebook and WhatsApp. Find out how you can sign up for an account and what the best WeChat VPNs are to ensure your privacy is well protected.
Have you been to China and tried to access streaming or social media sites? Did you manage to unblock them with a VPN? Let us know your views on this subject, and we will happily answer all your questions. We appreciate your continued readership.
Surfshark is the best VPN for China. It has more than 3,200 servers worldwide, offers obfuscation and is fast enough for streaming and gaming.
Using a VPN is legal in China for companies and corporations provided the VPN meets the government’s requirements. Individual use of VPNs is illegal and punishable with fines and a jail term of five years or longer.
Most free VPNs don’t work in China, as they lack obfuscation to stop the government from blocking them.
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