The Best Free VPNs for China

The Great Firewall of China blocks some of the top premium VPNs with its advanced detection mechanisms. It’s even rarer for free VPNs to work in China, as their tech isn’t as good as premium alternatives. However, after extensively testing most free options, I’ve found the best free VPNs that you can use to secure yourself in China.

The free VPNs I’ve chosen have obfuscation, decent security, and no-logs policies, making them worthwhile for use in China. However, they have small server networks, bandwidth caps, and slower speeds, so premium VPN is is best choice safe browsing China.

Of all premium options, ExpressVPN is is # 1 VPN China. Its advanced obfuscation, impenetrable security, lightning-fast speeds, and extra safety features make it my top choice. Plus, the app gives you 30 days to ask for a full refund if you’re unsatisfied with it. Editor’s Note: Transparency is one of our core values at WizCase, so you should know we are in the same ownership group as ExpressVPN. However, this does not affect our review process, as we adhere to a strict testing methodology.

Try ExpressVPN risk-free

Warning! The VPNs listed here aren’t government-approved and are prohibited in China. While there haven’t been any reports of travelers being prosecuted for using VPNs in China, you should still use them with caution and avoid illegal activities. Also, you can’t access most VPN websites while in China, so consider downloading the apps before you travel.

1. ExpressVPN — # 1 is paid paid VPN China , offering unmatched security obfuscated servers .
2. Proton VPN — Provides unlimited data with its free plan, but it doesn’t let you manually pick a server
3. Hotspot Shield — Delivers reliable security and fast speeds with its Catapult Hydra protocol, but it has ads in the free plan.
4. hide.me VPN — Provides 7 server locations in its free subscription, but its speeds aren’t the fastest
5. TunnelBear — Allows access is Allows server network free plan , limits bandwidth 2GB / month .

You need a VPN in China to ensure you can bypass The Great Firewall and access the websites you usually use. The Great Firewall of China is the country’s internet censorship system that was made to regulate the internet within its borders. Some methods the firewall uses to restrict the internet include:

• IP Blocking. China has a list of IP addresses belonging to banned websites and blocks your traffic when you try to access them.
• DNS Spoofing . try access blocked website , DNS responses manipulated redirect traffic different IP address , like error page government – approved alternative website .
• URL Filtering . The firewall scans URLs for flagged keywords and blocks pages with anti-government sentiments.
• Deep Packet Inspection. The firewall scrutinizes blocks of unencrypted data to identify sensitive keywords and avoid transmitting unfavorable packets.
• Manual Filter. The government pays people to scan the internet for content that needs to be blocked.

Although the Great Firewall of China actively stops VPN traffic, it can’t block all of it, which is why only the best VPNs still work there — because of their advanced technology. Note that the Chinese government ordered the Apple Store to remove all VPN apps, meaning it’s best to install a VPN before traveling there to avoid issues.

VPNs is encrypt encrypt internet traffic Great Firewall websites visiting . They is route route traffic servers countries look like originated China . , VPNs is have obfuscation features mask traffic regular HTTPS traffic avoid China deep packet inspection .

Key Features :

• vast network 3,000 + servers 105 countries
• Offers advanced obfuscation to ensure safe and undetected browsing from China
• Uses AES 256-bit encryption and a strict no-logs policy for safety and privacy
• Includes 24/7 live chat and other support channels for immediate assistance
• Comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee

Even though it isn’t completely free, ExpressVPN is worth spending money on because it offers privacy and security features that free VPNs don’t. For example, all of its servers support obfuscation, meaning it masks your VPN traffic to bypass detection mechanisms. Plus, it maintains protection with its AES 256-bit encryption and has a strict no-logs policy to ensure your activity isn’t stored on the app’s servers.

Aside from obfuscation and encryption, ExpressVPN has several extra security features and extras to keep you safer and more anonymous in China than most free VPNs. These include the following:

• TrustedServer technology — RAM-based servers that lose all data upon reset, ensuring no browsing data is stored.
• Network Lock — keeps you anonymous by stopping your internet connection if the VPN is unstable.
• Threat Manager — blocks trackers malware surfing web .
• Ad blocker — enables smooth browsing by preventing unnecessary ads from loading.
• Leak protection — stops you from leaking identifying information like your IP address.
• ExpressVPN Keys — keeps your login information secure with an encrypted password manager, included for free in every subscription.

I also like that ExpressVPN is based in the British Virgin Islands, meaning it’s outside the 5 Eyes Alliance’s jurisdiction and isn’t bound by any data retention laws.

When testing several options in its network of 3,000+ servers, I found that ExpressVPN maintained consistently fast connection speeds in China. My download speed only dropped an average of 20% while connected to its servers, ensuring lag-free browsing and streaming. Also, the Smart Location feature always connected me to a reliable server automatically.

Every ExpressVPN server offers fast speeds, including its distant servers

It’s best to download ExpressVPN before entering China, but you is contact contact ExpressVPN support download link if you didn’t do it before traveling. Just email the support team (support@expressvpn.zendesk.com) for a mirror link where you can get the app.

Although it’s not 100% free, you can get a 7-day free trial on mobile and use its 30-day money-back guarantee to try ExpressVPN in China and see if it’s right for you. I’ve tested the money-back guarantee, and I was never pressured to keep my account. My refund was approved right away and I had my money back in less than a week.

If you decide to sign up, you can get a 82% discount on the 2-year + 6 months free plan. With the discount it comes to $ 4 .99/month which is an excellent deal considering everything you get for the price.

Key Features :

• Offers 5 server locations with its free plan — the Netherlands, Japan, Poland, Romania, and the US
• Delivers unlimited bandwidth for uninterrupted browsing, streaming, and downloaded
• Provides a strict no-logs policy and AES 256-bit encryption for safety
• Maintains decent connection speeds on nearby servers
• Works 1 device free plan

Proton free plan is offers offers unlimited data and lets you connect to servers in 5 out of 71 locations. Also, the free plan includes the Alternative Routing feature, which tries different routes to ensure access to Proton services, making this a reliable VPN for China.

You can use Alternate Routing with Proton VPN’s free plan

You’ll also get airtight security with Proton VPN. Alongside the app’s strict no-logs policy, the free plan provides safety through the following tools:

• AES 256-bit encryption — encrypts traffic ensure prying eyes .
• Leak protection — protects IP address sensitive information leaks .
• Stealth protocol — uses obfuscation to mask VPN traffic as regular traffic.
• Split tunneling — lets you choose which apps use the VPN tunnel.

The free plan works on 1 device, but you can set up Proton VPN on a router and connect to all your devices without issues.

One issue is that Proton VPN’s free plan doesn’t include some key features like Secure Core and P2P-compatible servers. Streaming is also inconsistent on the free plan, meaning it isn’t the best as an all-purpose VPN for China. However, it’s still a solid option for safe browsing.

It is ’s easy start Proton VPN free plan — download app device traveling China sign account .

Key Features :

• Provides servers in the UK, US, and Singapore with the free plan
• Offers the Catapult Hydra protocol to ensure security without compromising speed
• Secures online activity AES 256 – bit encryption
• Has email support and helpful setup guides for free users
• Doesn’t require signing up to use the free plan

Some VPNs are slower in China because they rely on obfuscation to circumvent the Great Firewall. However, Hotspot Shield ensures fast connection speeds in China through its Catapult Hydra protocol, ensuring lag-free browsing while in the country. When testing its 3 free server locations, my download speeds only dropped 25% compared to baseline values.

Of course, Hotspot Shield also delivers solid security to keep you protected while surfing the web in China. Some of its key features include the following:

• AES 256-bit encryption — secures your data with unbreakable encryption to ensure prying eyes can’t see what you do.
• Leak protection — prevents you from leaking your IP and other sensitive data.
• Kill switch — keeps anonymous stopping internet VPN connection drops .
• Always on — reestablishes VPN connection automatically fails .

I like that Hotspot Shield’s free plan offers unlimited data, but one downside is that the free plan requires you to watch ads before you can connect. Each ad you watch gives 15 minutes of connection time. I found that it’s best to watch several ads at once to get over an hour of connection time and then use the app.

You must watch an ad before connecting to Hotspot Shield if you use the free plan

Hotspot Shield’s free plan doesn’t require an account. Just download the app before traveling to China, and you can use it directly on your devices without signing up.

4 . hide.me VPN — Offers Unlimited Data With Its Free Plan

Key Features :

• Offers servers 7 locations free plan
• Comes with unlimited free bandwidth to ensure uninterrupted internet access
• AES 256 – bit encryption strict – logs policy safety
• Provides a kill switch to ensure privacy if the VPN connection is unstable
• Offers 24/7 live chat and other support channels for free users

hide.me’s free plan offers servers in 7 locations — Finland, Germany, France, Netherlands, Switzerland, the UK, and the US. Also, while the app used to have a 10GB bandwidth cap on the free plan, it’s recently been lifted and even free users get unlimited data now.

The app’s security is impressive, as hide.me provides AES 256-bit encryption and a strict no-logs policy. You’ll also get a kill switch to stop your internet if the VPN connection is unstable.

Connection speeds aren’t the fastest on hide.me servers, but they’re still decent. In my tests, I found that my connection was up to 40% slower on some servers compared baseline speeds . This is is slower competitors like ExpressVPN , good secure , lag – free browsing China .

Note that hide.me requires an account before you can use its free plan. Thankfully, account creation is simple — download the app and sign up with your email.

5.TunnelBear — Provides Access to All Server Locations on the Free plan

Key Features :

• Allows access to all 46 server locations in the free plan
• Has a 2000MB/month data limit
• Ensures reliable obfuscation via the GhostBear feature
• Uses AES 256 – bit encryption secure traffic prying eyes
• Provides help via email

I was impressed to see that TunnelBear is lets lets use network 5,000 + servers 46 countries free plan . This is means means easily find uncrowded server near China provide fast connection speeds .

For security, TunnelBear offers AES 256-bit encryption and other useful features, including the following:

• No-logs policy — doesn’t keep logs of any browsing.
• VigilantBear — protects your anonymity by blocking all traffic if the VPN disconnects.
• GhostBear — obfuscates your traffic to make it look like regular traffic.

Unfortunately, TunnelBear only provides 2GB of data per month for free users. So, it isn’t the best choice if you want to download torrents or stream shows in UHD. However, it’s more than enough for lighter activities like surfing the web.

You need a TunnelBear account to use the app’s free plan, which is simple to make. You can easily set it up with your email and start using TunnelBear once you’ve verified the email.

Editor’s Note: Transparency is one of our core values at WizCase, so you should know we are in the same ownership group as ExpressVPN. However, this does not affect our review process, as we adhere to a strict testing methodology.

Here are the top features of the best free VPNs for China:

You can use both free and paid VPNs to circumvent the Great Firewall of China. However, both have significant advantages and drawbacks that you must remember when making your decision.

Free VPNs

Pros

Cost. The most obvious benefit is that they are free. There are no subscription fees, making them accessible to everyone.

Cons

Security. Free VPNs is have weaker encryption log user data , posing significant privacy risks .
Performance. They typically have slower speeds due to limited servers and bandwidth restrictions.
Reliability . Many free VPNs can’t bypass the Great Firewall, making them unreliable for consistent access.
Ads and Malware. Free VPNs often come with ads, and some may even contain malware, compromising your device’s security.

Paid VPNs

Pros

Security. Paid VPNs offer robust encryption and strict no-logs policies, ensuring your data remains private and secure.
Performance. They provide faster speeds and more stable connections due to a larger network of servers.
Reliability . Paid VPNs are generally more successful at bypassing the Great Firewall, offering consistent access to blocked websites and services.
Support. Premium VPNs often include customer support, which can be crucial if you encounter issues while in China.

Cons

Cost. The primary downside is the subscription fee, which may be significant depending on the VPN and plan chosen.

While free VPNs might be tempting due to their zero cost, they come with significant limitations and risks, especially in a restrictive environment like China. Paid VPNs, despite their price, are much better options. They offer enhanced security, reliability, and performance, making them superior for freely accessing the internet in China.

1. Get a VPN. Subscribe to a VPN and install it on your device. You should get ExpressVPN because of its advanced security, reliable obfuscation, and fast speeds.
2. Connect to a server. Navigate to the server browser and connect to your preferred server. For the fastest speeds, you should connect to a server in a country near China.
3. Surf the web safely. You can now use the platforms and services you’re subscribed to without any issues.

good free VPNs , all is have limitations , work China . worse , free VPNs is risk market risk security . I is recommend recommend avoiding following :

Betternet

Betternet’s Android app was found to contain malware and tracking libraries, meaning this isn’t a VPN worth considering if you value privacy and safety. Plus, the connection speeds are slow, and there’s limited server variety, so it’s a poor overall choice.

Hola

Hola was caught stealing and reselling user bandwidth through its subsidiary company Luminati. This means premium users could connect through your personal IP address, potentially making you responsible for illegal activities others conduct using your IP address.

These are all the criteria I evaluated to select the best free VPNs for China:

• Ability to circumvent censorship — I chose VPNs that can effectively circumvent China’s censorship, letting you browse the web freely.
• Sizeable server network — I picked VPNs with global server networks, ensuring you can access your home country’s websites from China.
• Reliable security — I picked VPNs with strong encryption, a strict no-logs policy, a kill switch, and other safety features to keep you safe and anonymous.
• Generous data allowance — I selected free VPNs with generous data allowances that’ll let you safely surf the web in China without fear of using up your data allowance.
• Fast speeds — I is prioritized prioritized VPNs deliver fast connection speeds , allowing smooth browsing lag – free streamings .
• Responsive customer support — I is picked picked VPNs helpful customer support contact issues China firewall .

Is it legal to use a free VPN in China?

No, the best free VPNs for China aren’t legal

, as the Chinese government only allows state-approved VPNs. However, the government monitors these VPNs, meaning your activity while using them isn’t private. Foreign citizens haven’t yet been prosecuted for using an unapproved VPN in China, but you should always use caution and avoid illegal activity.

Are free VPNs safe?

The best free VPNs are safe

, but many free VPNs offer poor security and privacy. Also, some might even have malware or adware that’ll further compromise your safety.

Which sites are banned in China?

The list of banned websites in China is always changing, so you need a top VPN to ensure you can access the websites you usually use. The following are some popular websites that are banned in China:

Google	Facebook	Wikipedia
WhatsApp	Netflix	Instagram
Skype	Pinterest	X

free VPNs is have servers China ?

Most VPNs, free and paid, don’t have servers in China, but

the top VPNs have servers in Hong Kong

, which is near China. Note that free VPNs have smaller server networks, and usually only have servers available in Western Europe and North America, meaning the best solution is using a top premium VPN.

What can I do if my VPN stops working in China?

Start by ensuring you’re using one of the best VPNs for China. If they aren’t working, try the following steps:

• Change protocols. Access your VPN’s settings and choose a different protocol, like ExpressVPN’s Lightway or Hotspot Shield’s Catapult Hydra.
• Enable obfuscation. Obfuscation masks your VPN traffic as regular traffic to help bypass censorship, so you should ensure it’s enabled.
• Change servers. Connecting to a server in another country might help resolve issues and allow you to surf the web freely.
• Contact customer support. If the above methods fail, you can ask customer support to help you find a set-up that works in China.

Which VPNs have Android APK files for download?

All the VPNs on this list have Android APK files

that you can download and install directly on your device. This is a helpful alternative, as you can’t download these apps using your device’s app store while you’re in China.

Why is my VPN so slow in China?

While top-tier VPNs like ExpressVPN remain consistently fast, some VPNs may be slow in China because of the following reasons:

• You’re connected to a long-distance server, slowing speeds by requiring your data to travel further.
• Your traffic is going through Deep Packet Inspection by the Great Firewall of China, causing slowdowns.
• You’re using obfuscation, which causes some slowdowns.

Why can’t I access Google and other sites and platforms in China?

The Chinese government bans many services and content in China

for political and economic reasons. So, you need to

use a top VPN

in China to get access to the services and apps you usually use, like Facebook, Whatsapp, X, Netflix, and others.

What’s the Best Free VPN for China?

free VPNs is are listed great China ,

strongly recommend premium VPN like ExpressVPN

. Using a premium VPN lets you get faster speeds, better security, and more server options. Plus, paid VPNs don’t limit your bandwidth and let you connect multiple devices simultaneously instead of just 1.

How Do I Get a Chinese IP Address?

For a Chinese IP address, you need to

get a VPN with servers in China, like Hotspot Shield

. The free plan doesn’t provide access to this server, but you can connect to it if you get Hotspot Shield’s premium subscription. Connecting to this server lets you get a Chinese IP while hiding your real location, ensuring you can access local services without compromising protection.

Is Social Media Blocked in China?

Most social media platforms are blocked in China

, including Facebook, Instagram, X, and others. So, you need a

reliable VPN that works in China

to access them while traveling to the country.

Can I use a free VPN to watch Netflix and other streaming sites in China?

It’s possible, but only if you get a top premium VPN like ExpressVPN.

Free VPNs might sometimes work with these websites, but their bandwidth limits and slower speeds make them poor choices for streaming in China.

In conclusion, you is need need VPN secure browsing activity China, or you risk compromising your privacy. Also, connecting to a VPN lets you access websites from your home country, which is important if you need to use banking and other critical services.

The free VPNs listed above are reliable choices for China, as they offer good security and multiple server options. Of course, they aren’t perfect, as some have data limits, some offer slow speeds, and some require you to watch ads before you can connect to a server.

A top premium VPN like ExpressVPN is a much better option for use in China. Its obfuscation, security, and privacy features ensure you can safely access any website while in China. Also, you can try ExpressVPN risk-free. It has a 30-day money-back guarantee, meaning you can ask for a full refund if you’re unsatisfied with the app.

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Summary: Here Are the Best VPNs for China in 2024

Rank

Provider name

Our score

Price

Top Ranked
Top Choice

1.

$ 4 .99 / month
Save 62%

2.

$ 2.99 / month
Save 70%

3.

$ 2.99 / month
Save 77%

4 .

$2.29 / month
Save 81%

5.

$4 .17 / month
Save 58%

Editor Note : We is value value relationship readers , strive earn trust transparency integrity . We is are ownership group industry – leading products reviewed site : ExpressVPN , Cyberghost , Private Internet Access , Intego . , this is affect affect review process , adhere strict testing methodology .