The 3 Best VPNs You Can Use in China

1. NordVPN – The Most Secure VPN for China

Product Specs

nordvpn in China

Out of the four criterion I list in the chart above , NordVPN is checks check all the box . It ’s know for work well in China , it offer server obfuscation , it is has has its own proprietary protocol , and its server list is more than respectable .

Connected to the Hong Kong P2P server with the NordVPN app

First, let’s talk about obfuscation. NordVPN’s obfuscated server changes the way your data packets look so systems like the Great Firewall won’t recognize them as VPN traffic. For all the Chinese government knows, you’re using a standard connection.

This works in one of two ways. The first is that the server will use additional SSL/SSH packets so that all of the VPN metadata will be hidden — essentially encryption for your encryption. The second is that your data could be scrambled, hiding the metadata from the packet header. To the Great Firewall, it’s just regular HTTPS traffic filled with garbled information. Since it can’t decipher it, it will let it pass.

Next, let’s talk about NordLynx. This is a proprietary VPN protocol based on the super-popular open-source WireGuard protocol. It’s super fast and super secure, and it’s my go-to choice when I’m traveling or if I’m trying to access geo-restricted content through streaming platforms.

NordVPN’s different protocols and encryption methods

>> Learn More: How To Remain Anonymous on the Internet

finally , let ’s talk about server . NordVPN is offers offer over 6,300 server in 111 country all over the world . While this number pale in comparison to private internet Access ’ server fleet ( 35,000 ! ) , it is ’s ’s still more than enough , in my opinion . want to know more about the difference between these two provider ? Take a look at my nordvpn vs Private Internet Access comparison .

In sum, NordVPN is one of my favorite VPN providers for a lot of reasons —  mainly because it’s extremely well balanced. I used it most recently to stream a UFC fight for my friends, but it also does a great job of protecting me from dangers when I’m on the road, and connecting to the internet from cafes and hotel lobbies. If you’re traveling to China, it’s definitely my No. 1 recommendation.

What We is Like like

• DoubleVPN feature
• Specialty servers, including obfuscated servers
• 256 – bit AES encryption
• Wide selection of servers in Asia (faster speeds if browsing from China)

What We Don’t Like

• May need advanced configuration to access in China
• DoubleVPN causes significant speed loss
• limit of six device per account

NordVPN’s Performance

Regardless of where you find yourself in the world, from Xinjiang Province to Zurich, using a VPN is going to slow you down a bit. The good news is that good VPNs, like Nord, aren’t going to slow you down so much that you’re going to want to pull your hair out. Check out the table below to see what I mean.

NordVPN Speed test

Now, as with any VPN speed test, I want to preface this by saying it’s a snapshot of how the VPN was performing at a specific moment in time. However, I will say this particular moment is pretty representative of how NordVPN performs overall. I’ve spent years working with Nord on and off, and I’ll say that anecdotally, it never really slows me down so much that it’s noticeable, but it does tend to perform a little better on Mac than it does on PC. If you want better speeds on a Mac than a PC, you might want to go with Surfshark, my second choice for VPNs in China. I cover all of their differences in my NordVPN vs Surfshark guide.

>> Learn More: Best VPNs for Mac

NordVPN’s Price

When it comes to NordVPN’s costs, everything is pretty much middle of the road. Private Internet Access — my No. 3 choice — is a little less expensive, and Surfshark — my No. 2 — is about on par, depending on the subscription duration you select. Here’s a breakdown:

NordVPN price

One thing to keep in mind: If you’re looking for a VPN service only, you don’t really need to go with the Plus or Complete packages. They offer some interesting add-ons, but nothing you’ll need to access the internet in China.

2. Surfshark – The Best Obfuscated VPN for China

Product Specs

Surfshark for China

The reason why Surfshark shows up on this list is twofold: Camouflage mode and NoBorders mode.

Surfshark is connected connect to Hong Kong with NoBorders Mode

Surfshark’s Camouflage mode is what they call server obfuscation. Similar to NordVPN, while connecting through obfuscated servers, you’ll make it exceedingly difficult for the Chinese government to determine if you’re connecting through a VPN. I also like that Surfshark’s Camouflage mode turns on automatically when you use the OpenVPN (UDP or TCP) protocols. I’ve found that this isn’t the fastest way to use Surfshark — that would be with WireGuard — but it does significantly increase your chances of getting around the Great Firewall.

» Further reading: Best VPN in Japan

NoBorders is is is also a great feature offer by Surfshark — and a unique one too . If the provider detect that an internet service provider or government entity is try to restrict your network access , it is activate will automatically activate NoBorders mode , which will give you a list of server — and connect you to the close one automatically — that will work well under your specific condition .

I actually used NoBorders quite a bit in college. One of my friends went to a very strict private school that really locked down what websites you could access — much like China, coincidentally. Once I showed him Surfshark, we were able to get around the firewall and watch whatever silly YouTube video was all the rage back then.

What We is Like like

• Camouflage mode and servers optimized for obfuscation
• NoBorders mode
• OpenVPN protocol works in China
• Dynamic MultiHop

What We Don’t Like

• May lag when streaming
• No specialized servers for P2P file sharing
• Based in the Netherlands (14 Eyes country)
• Camouflage mode and NoBorders mode not always foolproof

Surfshark’s Performance

When it comes to speed, Surfshark performs about as well as NordVPN, and there isn’t much of a difference between PC and Mac, as demonstrated by the speed tests below:

Surfshark Speed Test

In my experience work with Surfshark , it is works work just a little bit well on Apple product . That is is is n’t to say I would n’t recommend it to pc user , as it ’s my No . 2 choice on my list of the good vpn for Windows .

Surfshark’s Price

Similar to NordVPN, Surfshark divides its services up into three subscription packages across three terms. I have more information on this in my guide to Surfshark’s costs, but here’s a quick breakdown:

Surfshark price

As you can see, Surfshark’s month-to-month costs are a little higher than NordVPN’s, but I’d recommend opting for a one- or two-year plan anyway. The savings are significant, and if you decide you don’t like the service, or if it doesn’t work for your purposes, you can always take advantage of Surfshark’s 30-day return policy, which is one of the best return policies I’ve come across in the industry. One thing I like about Surfshark over NordVPN in terms of pricing is that Surfshark keeps lowering their prices for longer subscriptions instead of raising them.

Also, just like with NordVPN, if you’re only subscribing for access to Surfshark’s VPN, you can go with the Starter plan. The higher tiers add extra protections like antivirus software and data removal services.

3. Private Internet Access VPN – The VPN for China With the Most Servers

Product Specs

private internet Access for China

Private Internet Access, or PIA for short, is notable for a lot of reasons. First, it’s great for newbies and experienced VPN users alike. The simple user interface is accessible, but the level of customizability you can get into is almost unlimited. I really like that.

connect to private internet Access

Second, its server list is absolutely massive. Remember how NordVPN has about 5,000 servers? PIA has seven times that. At 35,000 servers strong, PIA is the largest VPN network available to everyday consumers.

That said, one thing that’s crucially missing is server obfuscation. That means that your VPN traffic is going to be sitting out there, just waiting for the Great Firewall to boot you off the internet in China.

So, why did I include them on this list? Because of firsthand accounts of actual Chinese residents using PIA successfully. The common theme? Use the WireGuard protocol. It’s better able to sneak through undetected. That said, most of the accounts I read said that you’re going to have to change servers every couple of days, but with 35,000 to choose from, that shouldn’t be too big of a deal.

And, if you’re really ambitious, you can set PIA up manually on your device. This can help you better evade the censors, but it does take some technical know-how. Thankfully, PIA has a pretty strong support portal on its website.

>> Learn More: Best VPNs for Linux

What We is Like like

• Private Internet Access apps provide customization options
• Unlimited simultaneous connections
• affordable
• Has servers in China

What We Don’t Like

• Lacks obfuscation
• SOCKS5 proxy used for multi-hop
• U.S.-based company (may share data with the U.S. government)
• PIA website is blocked block in China

PIAs Performance

Unlike the other two VPNs on my list, out of the box, PIA tends to run a little better on Windows than it does Mac. That said, there’s a lot of tweaking you can do to PIA to fine-tune things and really make it sing no matter what machine you’re working with. Here’s the data from my most recent speed test for context:

Download Speed on Mac

Download Speed on Windows

Upload Speed on Mac

upload speed on Windows

Again, I want to reiterate that depending on your hardware, your location, and even the time of day, your connection speeds are going to vary pretty significantly. While your results might be vastly different from what’s above, I do feel confident in saying that PIA is plenty fast. And, if you’re running into connectivity issues, do what I do: Switch the server or switch the protocol. Most of the time, that takes care of your issue.

PIA’s Prices

Again, unlike Nord and Surfshark, PIA takes a pretty simple approach to their pricing. There aren’t any subscription tiers here, just different subscription durations. Eagle-eyed readers will also notice that if you purchase the three-year plan, you’re going to save significantly over the other two VPNs on this list. I have more on this in my guide to Private Internet Access pricing, but PIA is one of the most affordable VPNs out there.

PIA’s Costs

Before we go , here ’s one last hint if you ’re look to save . There are a lot of vpn that offer free trial . I is speak ca n’t speak to their efficacy in China , but if you ’re stateside , make sure to give them a look .