The Top VPNs for China That Still Work in November 2023: A Comprehensive Comparison

China has its own internet landscape, featuring many apps and services unknown in other countries. In fact, most services commonly used elsewhere are inaccessible there, complicating communication with the outside world. Currently, using a VPN is the easiest and most effective method to circumvent these restrictions.

As expatriates who have lived in China since as early as 2010, we have regularly faced the challenges posed by the Great Firewall. In this monthly-updated article, we aim to share our extensive experience in using VPNs in China to achieve unrestricted internet access.

Best Working VPNs for China (our choice)

ExpressVPN: Fast, easy to use, and a reliable VPN for China. The recommended choice for non-tech-savvy people.

PureVPN: Cheap, complete, and easy to use. Recently one of the most reliable choices for China.

Surfshark: Cheap, very complete and it has an excellent performance in China. A good alternative to the big providers.

Ivacy: Good performance in China at a very low price. The recommended choice to have as a backup.

Important: You should always keep your VPN updated to make sure it works at its best.

What is a VPN and Why Do I Need One in China?

As you probably already know, the internet doesn’t work like we would like it to in China, and a large number of websites and apps are blocked by the “Great Firewall.” Among these websites and apps that you can’t access are Facebook, WhatsApp, YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, and all Google Services.

There are many other blocked websites, and depending on what you do, it may be virtually impossible for you to work in China without a VPN (Virtual Private Network). In addition, most of the services that aren’t blocked but are allocated outside China, are extremely slow.

To solve this problem, you can install a VPN, which masks your I.P. address so that your laptop appears to be connected from the U.S. or Japan even if you are in China

A VPN will allow you to bypass the firewall and access any website you want. However, you need to choose wisely, even though there are dozens of VPN services available, only a few work well in China. We have tested several of them for more than 10 years and today we’re going to review the ones we like the most.

Essential Tips for Using a VPN in China

1. Update the VPN app or software: It’s essential for you to always have the latest version of the VPN program or app. The Great Firewall of China is constantly being modified to limit VPN use in the country. The majority of the software updates offered by the main VPN providers have the purpose of ensuring that their VPN continues to be accessible in China.
2. Install the VPN before traveling to China: If you wait until you’re in China to install (and purchase) the VPN, it can be quite difficult due to the following reasons:
   • Google Play is blocked in China.
   • The Apple AppStore (and other app markets) don’t let you download VPN apps
   • Many VPN provider websites are blocked in China.
To avoid any problem it is better to install and contract the VPN before going to China

Note: Some VPNs offer alternative websites that are accessible in China. We try to make it so that the links that you find in this article are also accessible from China, but this isn’t always possible.

3. Use obfuscated servers: The Chinese Great Firewall has the capability to detect VPN connections and block them. However, some VPN providers, such as the ones mentioned here, offer obfuscated servers that mimic regular internet traffic. This technique helps bypass VPN blocking and allows users to access restricted content in China.
4. Check VPN provider’s recommendations for China: The best VPNs normally offer constantly updated information about how to connect effectively your VPN in China. Here you’ll find some tips on how to connect the most popular VPNs in China.
5. The closest servers are usually the fastest: A VPN’s speed often depends on the distance between your connection and the server. Servers in countries surrounding China, such as Korea, Japan, and Hong Kong, tend to be the fastest. However, sometimes servers in the United States are faster because they have fewer users connected to them.
6. We recommend having a backup VPN: No VPN is infallible, and even less so in China. If you’re going to be in China for a long time and having unrestricted Internet access is essential for you, you should consider having at least one backup VPN.

   Pressure on VPNs has greatly intensified over the past years, and all VPNs have undergone breakdowns in service at some time. Even though a good VPN tends to recover in a few hours or days, having a second VPN can be very useful if needed.

7. Test out your VPN before going to China: It’s important to become familiar with your VPN before going to China. Check its connectivity, speed, and whether it’s capable of giving you access to geographically restricted websites or services (such as a local streaming service). If the VPN doesn’t offer good performance in your country, it probably won’t work in China.
8. There’s no best VPN for China: No VPN is better than the others all the time and everywhere in China. The majority of VPNs have different performances depending on the place in China, the type of connection, the device you are using, among other circumstances. Many VPNs offer a money-back guarantee, so you can try out multiple options before committing.

How to Choose a VPN for China

• Does it work in China? The large majority of VPNs don’t work well in China. The VPNs that we recommend in this article normally work well in China and have a have a proven record of adapting when the restrictions are intensified.
• Is it fast? Although there are VPNs that work in China, their speed leaves a lot lacking. After trying many VPNs, we can say that ExpressVPN, PureVPN, Surfshark and, Ivacy are among the fastest that we have used. In any event, a VPN isn’t a magical solution, so don’t expect to have the same speeds as when you’re in your country.
• Is it stable? Another common problem is that the connection is unstable (it gets constantly disconnected). The VPNs that we have chosen rarely lose their connection once they are connected.

• Does it offer good technical support? It’s essential for a VPN to have 24-hour technical support that can solve your problems in a few minutes if you have any questions or problems with your connection. Besides, the technical support should be capable of quickly solving the problems that may come up during each update to the Great Firewall.
• Is the software updated regularly? This is very important because, in China, new measures affecting VPN performance are implemented constantly. The best VPNs regularly update their software in order to adapt to the new restrictions imposed in countries like China.
• Does it offer obfuscated servers?: This is an essential feature to consider when choosing a VPN. Without obfuscated servers, your VPN most probably won’t be able to connect. However, while obfuscated servers are essential, they alone may not be sufficient to ensure reliable and effective VPN performance.
• Does it offer encryption protocols that work in China? Good VPNs offer multiple encryption protocols to ensure security and good performance. Currently, it’s important for the VPN that you choose to have at least two of the following protocols: Open VPN, Lightway, Wireguard, IKEv2/IPsec and L2TP/IPsec.

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• What’s the Best?

Features					What’s the Best?
Main Advantage	Fastest and Easiest to Use	Cheap and Complete	Extra Options	Cheapest (among the best)	It depends on your needs!
Money Back Guarantee	30 days	30 days	30 days	30 days
Monthly Plan	12.95 USD	10.95 USD	12.95 USD	9.95 USD
Yearly Plan	6.67 USD/month (exclusive offer: 3 months free)	3.33 USD/month	3.99 USD/month (first year)	3.99 USD/month
Support	24/7/365	24/7/365	24/7/365	24/7/365
Server Count	3,000+	6,500+	3200+	5,000+
Countries with Servers	105	88	65	56
Payment Methods	Credit Card, Paypal, Bitcoin, Alipay, Union Pay and others	Credit Card, Paypal	Credit Card, Paypal, Amazon Pay, Bitcoin, Sofort	Credit Card, Paypal, Bitpay, Alipay, Perfect Money
Desktop Apps	Windows, Mac, Linux, Chromebook	Windows, Mac, Linux, Chromebook	Windows, Mac, Linux	Windows, Mac
Browser Extension	Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Safari	Chrome, Firefox, Edge	Chrome, Firefox	Chrome, Firefox
Mobile Apps	Android, iOS, Windows Phone	Android, iOS, Windows Phone	Android, iOS, Windows Phone	Android, iOS, Windows Phone
Simultaneous Connections	Yes (until 8)	Yes (until 10)	Unlimited	Yes (until 5)
Encryption Protocols	Lightway, OpenVPN, IKEv2	OpenVPN, IPSec/IKEv2, WireGuard	IKEv2, OpenVPN, Shadowsocks, WireGuard®	OpenVPN, IKEV, L2TP
Dynamic IPs	No	No	SDN Technology	No
Languages Supported	16	18	13	5
	Try ExpressVPN➤	Try PureVPN➤	Try Surfshark➤	Try Ivacy➤

VPN Features Description

• Money Back Guarantee: This is an important feature when choosing a VPN, most of all in China. Even though the four VPN generally work well in China, every place is different. One VPN can work better than another in Shanghai but worse in Changsha, so it is important to have the opportunity to test the VPN before making a year commitment.
• Support: When it comes down to using a VPN in China, it’s extremely important to have access to a support team that can help you when your configuration, for any reason, doesn’t work anymore.
• Server Count: This is a very important feature, as the more servers there are, the less likely it is that your connection will be slow or get cut out due to too many users using the same server.
• Countries With Servers: This is a basic function, especially if you want to access content restricted to a specific country. Besides, it is also necessary to obtain a good browsing speed, as the closer you are to the server, the better the potential speed will be. Therefore, having a large number of servers in countries around China increases the possibility of finding one with good services.
• Browser extension: Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, and Safari, the two most widely used browsers, allow the possibility of adding small programs (or extensions), which provide new useful tools when browsing the web. Some VPNs offer extensions for these browsers that are used to be able to control a VPN and see the state of the connection easily from your browser while surfing the web. Although it is not an essential option, it makes the use of VPNs much easier and avoids closing and opening the browser every time you change servers or want to connect/disconnect the VPN.
• Simultaneous Connections: Today, being able to have simultaneous connections is a basic feature of a VPN, as having a reliable and free connection to the internet is not just necessary for your laptop but also for your cell phone, tablet or other devices. Having simultaneous connections saves you from the problem of having to connect the VPN depending on which device you want to use to access the internet. With this, for example, you can check Google Maps on your cell phone while you check your Gmail on your computer.
• Encryption Protocols: Encryption protocols are important to improve security. Having various possibilities will ensure that you have more weapons to avoid the Great Firewall, as some encryption protocols don’t work at times. The protocols that tend to work the best are OpenVPN (desktop) and IKEV2 (mobile devices), although the newer protocols WireGuard and Lightway offer better speed and stability.

What VPN Should I Use in China?

We know this is a lot of info to digest and if you aren’t a tech expert, you might be a bit lost. To help you make the right choice, we suggest that you choose the best VPN depending on your priorities (speed, price, user-friendliness, and security).

• If you’re looking for a fast VPN, then ExpressVPN offers the Lightway protocol, a good number of servers close to China and in our tests, tends to always be one of the fastest.
• If you’re looking for a user-friendly VPN then, once more, ExpressVPN is the easiest of the four VPN to use.
• If you need a secure connection for transmitting sensitive data, then you should go for VyprVPN, which offers more protocols including Chameleon, their own servers and Nat Firewall, for an extra layer of security.
• If you all you care about is the price, then Ivacy is the cheapest option among the best VPNs.
• If you need a VPN that can connect to servers from many different countries, ExpressVPN is the one that offers the most possibilities.

Still not sure what VPN should you choose?

Top VPNs in China (survey)

Your opinion is important for us, click here and tell us what’s your favorite VPN for China!

Most popular VPNs in China

Below you’ll find a short review of some of the most popular VPN in China. These reviews are based on our experience using these VPN in China, so they are based on subjective criteria.

Fastest VPN in China

Determining which VPN is the fastest is quite a complicated question, as it depends on a lot of factors (encryption protocol, Chinese city from which you are connecting, the website you want to visit, and the VPN server you connect to, among many other factors).

To try to answer this question, we tested the connection speed of the VPNs that we recommend in China. We tested the ping, download speed, and upload speed while connected to different VPN servers while accessing websites located in the United States, Europe, and Hong Kong. While the results obtained are complicated to interpret due to the high number of parameters involved, we have been able to come to some conclusions:

• The VPNs tested offer good connection speeds: In general, tests show a ping of less than 250 ms and upload and download speeds which in the majority of cases are better than speeds without a VPN.
• ExpressVPN seems to be the fastest VPN: In the different tests that we carried out, in the majority of cases, ExpressVPN is the VPN that offers the best results for the three indicators (ping, download speed, and upload speed).
• The values of the tests vary greatly: In China, the connection speed is subject to substantial fluctuations depending on the day and time, which directly impacts the VPN’s performance. Additionally, the speed can also vary depending on the specific server you are connected to and the geographical location of the website or data source you are trying to access.

While ExpressVPN seems to be the fastest, this may depend on the place in China from which you are connecting. If you want to verify the performance of your VPN, in this article you can test your connection speed and also explain how to interpret the results obtained.

With these results, you will be able to know if your VPN works well (the values will be similar to or even better than without the VPN). You will as well find out the quality of your connection in China (the values you obtain without a VPN).

Main VPN Encryption Protocols

Encryption protocols are an essential feature when it comes to choosing a VPN, as they determine its level of security and its ability to overcome internet blocking in China and other countries. Below you can find the main encryption protocols:

• PPTP (Point-to-Point Tunneling Protocol): PPTP, with 128 bits, is the weakest encryption protocol, and because of this, it is faster than other protocols. In addition to its speed, it has the advantage of being supported by the majority of devices.
• L2TP/IPSec (Layer 2 Tunneling Protocol/Internet Protocol Security): L2TP/IPsec is a 256-bit encryption protocol that is very robust but quite slow. Its main advantage is that this protocol can be used on the majority of mobile devices.
• OpenVPN: OpenVPN can be either 160 or 256 bits, and is a protocol that offers a very high level of security combined with a more than respectable speed. The main problem it has is that it is often not supported by default in many mobile devices, in particular, iOS systems.
• IKEv2 (Internet Key Exchange version 2): IKEv2 is often used in conjunction with IPsec for secure communication. It is lighter and more stable than OpenVPN while retaining a certain level of customization. However, it’s only available over UDP. IKEv2 has significant advantages, particularly in terms of speed. Its ability to quickly reestablish connections if they are interrupted makes it especially suitable for mobile devices that frequently switch between networks.
• Chameleon: Chameleon is a protocol very similar to OpenVPN 256 bits, offering a good speed with very robust encryption. It has the feature that it is specially designed so that the connection cannot be identified as a VPN, therefore avoiding it being blocked.
• StealthVPN: Encryption protocol based on OpenVPN with an additional layer of traffic obfuscation. StealthVPN works with both TCP and UDP, and like Chameleon, it is designed specifically to prevent connections through automatic firewalls from being detected.
• OpenConnect: Open source protocol that works with both TCP and UDP. It was designed to replace Cisco’s AnyConnect SSL VPN. The protocol uses a TLS authentication system and DTLS to encrypt traffic. It usually has performance similar to OpenVPN.
• SSTP (Secure Socket Tunneling Protocol): This is one of the fastest protocols, and can even be faster than PPTP. Also, it offers encryption that is almost as robust as LTP2/IPSec. However, this protocol is difficult to implement on the majority of systems and is normally only compatible with Windows.
• WireGuard This is a new open-source protocol with a lot of potential and that should be taken into account. Some VPN providers like NordVPN, VyprVPN, Surfshark, StrongVPN, PureVPN, or TorGuard already offer it. It is a very fast, stable, and secure protocol since it works directly at the kernel level of the operating system. The protocol still needs some development
• Lightway: This is a new open-source protocol and exclusive to ExpressVPN which is similar to WireGuard. It’s faster and more stable than OpenVPN while maintaining very robust encryption.

With regards to China, most VPN protocols are currently blocked in China and it’s necessary additional measures, like obfuscated servers to bypass the Great Firewall. The protocols that tend to be the most secure and stable are OpenVPN, WireGuard, and Lightway. In the case of mobile devices, IKEV2 tends to work quite well.

Performance of VPNs in China

Before starting this section, we would like to inform you that these conclusions are not based on objective data; rather, they are based on our personal experience using VPNs in China.

1. VPNs work better outside of large cities: We haven’t found any technical data to confirm our observations, but it seems like the Great Firewall is particularly effective in big cities like Beijing and Shanghai. As a result, it’s harder for VPNs to connect reliably in these places. Some VPNs don’t work in these cities at all, while others work better in smaller cities.
2. Poor internet connections limit VPN performance: When your VPN won’t connect, it’s easy to assume that the problem is with the VPN itself. But poor internet connections can actually be the main reason, especially in places like hotels or cafes where Wi-Fi may be spotty. Even mobile data connections in big cities can be so congested that VPNs can’t function properly.
In addition to a good VPN, make sure that you have a decent Internet connection
3. Different VPNs don’t always behave the same: It’s common that depending on the place you’re connecting from, some VPN work better than others. For example, ExpressVPN might work better from your workplace internet connection, whereas NordVPN might work better from home.

What to do if your VPN doesn’t work?

China is constantly updating the Great Firewall to make VPN connections harder, and even the best VPNs can fail or have difficulties connecting.

Some providers offer regularly updated pages with the current status of the VPN in China and offer suggestions on the best way to connect them in China. Below is a list of links to the most popular VPN information pages:

How to connect ExpressVPN in China

How to connect NordVPN in China

How to connect Ivacy in China

How to connect Surfshark in China

How to connect VyprVPN in China

How to connect VPNArea in China

Below you’ll find some general recommendations in case your VPN stops working:

• Update its software: It’s important to always be running the latest version of the software, as many of the updates are done to prevent the VPN from being blocked by the Great Firewall.
• Give the VPN permissions: Sometimes VPNs can be detected as malware by your operating system or your anti-virus. Try deactivating your Firewall/anti-virus and see if this solves the problem. If you want to use the VPN, you will have to give it permission so that your firewall doesn’t block it. It’s important to make sure you’re using a trustworthy VPN (like the ones we recommend in this article), as many VPNs can be dangerous for your laptop or smartphone.
• Check if you are using obfuscated servers: Some VPNs, such as ExpressVPN, automatically enable obfuscated servers by default in China. However, many VPNs have this option disabled by default due to the potential impact on connection speeds.
• Change server: Even though many VPNs have the option to connect to the server with the best performance automatically, sometimes it’s useful to test which server works the best with your connection. As a general rule, choose servers located in countries nearby for better VPN performance
• Change encryption protocol: In our experience, currently, the only protocol that works well in China is OpenVPN (or versions of it, such as Chameleon). However, if you experience difficulties, you can always try other protocols, which sometimes work as well. In order, I would try the following protocols: WireGuard / Lightway, OpenVPN UDP, OpenVPN TCP, IKEv2, L2TP/IPSec, and SSTP. Don’t bother trying PPTP, as it has never worked in China.
• Contact the technical service: If none of the above has worked for you, you can contact your VPN’s technical department to find out what is happening (it might be temporarily out of service in China) and get a recommended configuration for getting around the Great Firewall. This is why we place a lot of importance on the quality of the VPN’s technical service. Good VPNs respond efficiently and are capable of quickly reacting when the Great Firewall blocks their service.
• Port forward to port 433: This is a more technical solution and isn’t usually necessary. We don’t recommend it for the majority of users.

What is IP leaking and how can it affect me?

When you use a VPN, in theory, your IP address is masked and external observers and the websites you visit can’t determine your real IP address.

To put it simply, IP leaking is when your real IP address is discovered by the webpage you are visiting (normally through the execution of a script) despite you using a VPN. This causes you to lose your anonymity and your geolocation may be detected.

In addition to the anonymity problems that this may pose, IP leaking can make a VPN useless for accessing geographically restricted websites.

While there are many ways of avoiding IP leaking, some of them are quite complicated for people who aren’t experts on the subject. Even so, there are simple measures that can substantially reduce the likelihood of this happening.

Obviously, the better your VPN, the lower the likelihood of IP leaking.

The other precaution has to do with choosing your browser. Studies carried out on multiple browsers show that without a doubt, Microsoft Edge is the worst of them all and in this sense, Safari is the most secure. Opera and Google Chrome are similar and despite being better than Edge, are quite insecure. Mozilla Firefox is quite secure without reaching the same level as Safari.

Is it legal to use a VPN in China?

We aren’t lawyers and we are certainly not qualified to provide any legal advice. So what follows is result of our extensive research on the topic.

There are many rumors and contradictory information on the subject, but as far as we know, using a VPN isn’t illegal in China. Even if it’s true that VPN gets often blocked, on the other hand, VPN is a necessary tool to improve security at companies, and because of this, it would make little sense to declare all VPN to be illegal.

However, at the beginning of 2017, the Chinese Ministry of Industry and Information Technology declared that the VPN services in China need to obtain a government approval.

While this legislation appears to only refer to VPN providers operating from within China, it’s not clear how this legislation is also being applied to VPN providers operating outside of China like the ones we recommend.

Since 2017, the apps for the main VPNs have not been available in the Apple App Store in China. However, this doesn’t stop you from using them (you can download them outside of China or configure the VPN manually).

In any event, you should keep in mind that when using a VPN, it doesn’t necessarily have to be illegal: it depends on the situation, and whether what you do with the VPN can be illegal or not. For example, if someone uses a VPN (to avoid being identified) to scam people, it’s obvious that this activity is illegal and will, therefore, be prosecuted.

For more information on the subject, we published a comprehensive guide on Chinese 2017 cybersecurity law and its consequences.

What Websites are Blocked in China?

The list of websites blocked in China is long and changes every day. Generally speaking, the most popular social networks (Facebook, Youtube, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, etc), messaging applications (WhatsApp, Messenger, Snapchat, Line, etc.), blogging platforms (WordPress.com, Blogspot, etc), Google services (Google.com, Gmail, Google Maps, Google Hangouts Google Docs, etc) and media websites that may be or have been critical towards China (The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg and LeMonde, just to provide some examples) are blocked.

Then, there are websites or software that aren’t blocked but are so slow that they become practically useless. The most common example is probably Skype, which works on and off (for calls, messages usually work fine).

Generally speaking, most of the websites that aren’t hosted on a Chinese server will be slow, when you try to connect from within China.

The best way to overcome this problem is, of course, to choose a VPN that is working well in China!

Best Free VPNs for China

We recommend that you NEVER use a free VPN. They are normally a serious risk to your security and privacy or simply don’t work. Maintaining a VPN that works in China implies a significant financial expense, and therefore you should ask where the VPN is getting this money from.

My recommendation is that you should carefully examine any VPN of this type before installing it, as in many cases, it will install other things, such as programs that display ads while you are browsing, programs that store your browsing data to sell it to third parties or programs that use your computer as a server (your laptop and your Internet connection will work much more slowly). Plus, in the worst case, they are simply viruses or malware.

Given that they only a few USD a month, there is no doubt that the best option is to buy a decent VPN.

If I haven’t convinced you, this article gives some recommendations on free VPNs for China.

Other Frequently Asked Questions

Photo Credits: 1. Photo by Gerd Altmann on Pixabay
2. Photo by Gerd Altmann on Pixabay
3. Photo by Gerd Altmann on Pixabay