Best VPNs for China

Need to access censored services like YouTube, Facebook, or Twitter in China? Want to prevent government surveillance? We recommend the best VPNs for China.

China engages in high levels of online surveillance and censorship. It tracks internet users, monitors their web visits, and places their communications under surveillance.

The Chinese government blocks access to many Western services and restricts access to content critical of the Communist Party and its policies. Due to these blocks, internet users in China cannot access Facebook, Twitter, Gmail, Reddit, YouTube, ChatGPT, and many other popular services.

Using a VPN in China is an excellent solution. A VPN is an online privacy tool that encrypts your internet connection and lets you connect to a server outside of China. This allows you to discreetly bypass any blocks imposed by China's "Great Firewall."

Unfortunately, very few VPNs currently work in China. The government actively forces Chinese ISPs to block access to VPN websites. It also uses its nationwide firewall to restrict access to a massive list of VPN servers. This means you must pick your VPN provider carefully.

The good news is that some VPNs provide obfuscation technology that is able to evade the blockade. This conceals VPN traffic as regular HTTPS, making it harder to detect. As a result, those VPNs can bypass Chinese censorship while also allowing subscribers to use their VPN without being singled out.

In this guide, we have carefully pinpointed reliable and secure VPNs for China. Our recommendations have everything you need to gain privacy in the country, allowing you to access any internet service you require. If you're in a rush and don't want to read the full reviews, here's a quick summary of the best China VPNs:

1. NordVPN: The best VPN for China. With strong AES-256 encryption, a kill switch, obfuscated servers, and the secure OpenVPN protocol. It works to bypass censorship in China, and can access Netflix and other Western streaming services. Comes with a risk-free 30-day money-back guarantee.
2. Surfshark: The cheapest VPN for China. Has servers in 100+ countries. Strong security features and obfuscation to evade China’s Great Firewall. Works with popular streaming services.
3. ExpressVPN: Provides obfuscation by default when you connect using OpenVPN. Has a reliable no-logging policy, strong AES encryption, and a kill switch. 
4. VyprVPN: A zero-logs VPN based in Switzerland. Strong privacy features, including a kill-switch, AES encryption, and its custom “Chameleon” obfuscation. 
5. Mullvad: A secure VPN that provides Shadowsocks and V2Ray bridges for obfuscation. Fast speeds, but does not work with popular streaming services
6. PrivateVPN: A reliable VPN that works in China using Stealth Mode. Works with popular Western streaming services, social media, and much more.
7. Hotspot Shield: Works in China thanks to its proprietary Hydra protocol, which includes obfuscation by default.

Summary table

We found the best VPNs for China by carefully testing market-leading services that include obfuscation to bypass China’s firewall.  Below, you can see a list of criteria we used when selecting our top VPN picks for China:

• Obfuscated servers and Stealth VPN protocols that work in China
• A global server network, preferably with servers in China
• Fast servers that don’t slow you down when streaming or gaming
• A no-logs policy that protects your data and browsing habits
• Robust VPN protocols with reliable 256-bit encryption
• A kill switch and security against DNS leaks
• Access to popular streaming services and other Western services while in China
• World-class customer support

When picking VPNs for China, we value security and privacy above all else. That's why our top three recommendations must have diskless servers that can quickly be erased in an emergency. This extra layer of protection ensures your personal information and browsing habits remain private – even if government authorities raid a data center.

To make it into the top three VPNs for China, the provider must also have undergone third-party security audits. This helps to provide transparency and gives Chinese users peace of mind knowing that the service has been independently verified.

The best VPNs for China

Here's our list of the best VPNs for China:

NordVPN is a fantastic option for anybody living in or visiting China. The VPN maintains various mirrors of its website, which you can find the address of by emailing the company. This helps people in countries like China take out a subscription and download the application to their devices. However, we still generally recommend that you take out your subscription and have the VPN working on your devices before traveling to China.

NordVPN uses top-notch security, with AES-256 encryption for its OpenVPN protocol, a kill switch, obfuscated servers, DNS leak protection, and MultiHop (DoubleVPN) for added security. It runs its entire network on diskless servers and has a solid no-logging policy that has been independently verified.

The VPN is fast thanks to its proprietary server network and its proprietary NordLynx protocol. We recommend sticking to OpenVPN with obfuscation while in China.

With servers located in 59+ countries and over 5,500 servers in total, NordVPN can prevent server congestion and allow you access to tons of international services, including Netflix US, Hulu, ESPN, BBC iPlayer, beIN Sports, HBO Max, and many more.

NordVPN is fast enough to make private video calls on VoIP services that have been blocked in China, such as WhatsApp or Skype. It will allow you to access restricted Western services, including social media apps like Facebook and Twitter, or even vital university portals. The provider has also made its Meshnet private tunnel free for everyone.

Apps are available for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, and Firestick It has manual setup options for Linux and routers, which means you can use it on any device you own. Those apps come with split tunneling and a threat Protection feature that blocks ads, trackers, and malicious sites.

We think NordVPN is a fantastic option for anybody who will be visiting China and wants to maintain access to home services. You can test it risk-free by using its 30-day money-back guarantee. And if you need help using the VPN you can rely on its 24/7 live chat support.

BEST VPN FOR CHINA: NordVPN is our top-rated VPN for China. It is easy to use, reliable and has many excellent privacy and security features. Hosts mirrors of its website and obfuscated servers to bypass the Great Firewall. Has undergone a full audit of its apps and server network. Perfect for streaming content from Netflix US, HBO Max, and iPlayer. Has a risk-free 30-day money-back guarantee.

Surfshark was released in 2018, which makes it relatively new. It quickly became popular with consumers due to its impressively low prices. It has feature-packed apps that make it an outstanding value for gaining privacy and accessibility in China.

Apps are available for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, and Linux (GUI). You can use it to gain privacy at home, school, work, or on public WiFi. Best of all, you can install and use those apps on an unlimited number of devices, which means you can share your account with friends and family.

In addition to being based in the British Virgin Islands and having a solid no-logs policy, Surfshark VPN comes with AES-256 encryption, a kill switch, DNS leak protection, malware filtering, ad-blocking, obfuscation, and a “No Borders” mode (to help get you connected in countries like China). It also comes with split tunneling on Windows and Android.

Surfshark has servers in 100+ countries, which gives you plenty of options. However, it doesn't have servers in China, so please keep this in mind. The good news is that Surfshark's servers are RAM-only. It can instantly clear them in an emergency, for example, if a data center is raided. Surfshark has also completed a third-party audit of its network and policies.

Surfshark can provide access to popular streaming sites like Netflix, Hulu, and BBC iPlayer while visiting China. It works with social media, YouTube, news sites, WhatsApp, and any other Western services blocked by the Chinese government. Plus, it is super-fast thanks to its WireGuard protocol. You can test it risk-free using its 30-day money-back guarantee.

CHEAPEST VPN FOR CHINA: Surfshark is perfect for users in China who want something reliable but cheap. It is fast thanks to its WireGuard implementation, and it works for streaming many popular Western TV platforms. Allows unlimited devices to connect with a single account. Has live chat support and a 30-day money-back guarantee. 

ExpressVPN is a fantastic VPN that was first launched in 2009. This makes it one of the longest-running VPNs on the market. Impressively, considering how long it has been around, the VPN has maintained a completely clean track record of providing privacy and data security for its users.

The VPN has apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android. Those apps aren't as feature packed as some of our other recommendations. Traffic obfuscation kicks in automatically, which makes it harder for the Chinese authorities to crack down.

In addition to obfuscation, the VPN comes with a kill switch, DNS leak protection, a solid no-logs policy, and diskless servers that can be erased by pulling the plug in an emergency. A built-in threat manager blocks trackers and malicious sites, and a free Smart DNS service to help you watch US TV platforms on consoles or other devices that won’t let you install a VPN directly.

Live chat support is available around the clock, and the agents are both friendly and helpful. The servers are available in 94+ countries, but not in China for privacy reasons. Those servers work to access nearly 20 Netflix regions, Hulu, HBO Max, ESPN, BBC iPlayer, and just about every other service we have ever tested it with. You can compare it to any other VPN thanks to its 30-day money-back guarantee.

SOLID ALL ROUNDER: ExpressVPN works well for streaming Western services in China. Fully audited by a third-party security firm and has diskless servers. Kill switch and obfuscation to bypass censorship safely in China. Provides a 30-day money-back guarantee to test its service.

VyprVPN was first launched in 2009, which like ExpressVPN, makes it one of the longest-running VPNs on the market. The VPN has completed a full third-party security audit of its apps, API, infrastructure, and policies. You can trust the VPN’s no logging policy and apps to keep your browsing safe.

VyprVPN has solid apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android which makes it suitable for use at home, at work, and on public WiFi. You can install and use the VPN on up to 10 devices consecutively, which is usually enough for most power users – and families who need the use of a VPN. 

Servers are available in 70+ countries around the world, and they work to access Netflix US, BBC iPlayer, Disney+, and most other services. Best of all, the VPN has proprietary obfuscation for its OpenVPN protocol that provides access to users in China.

In addition, the VPN has a solid no-logs policy, a system-level kill switch, DNS leak protection, and automatic WiFi protection to ensure you never connect to unknown WiFi networks without the VPN’s protection. You can try it yourself using its 30-day money-back guarantee. The drawback? It is a touch pricey compared to some of our other recommendations.

SOLID OBFUSCATION: VyprVPN has apps for all platforms that come with solid OpenVPN with AES-256 encryption. Proprietary obfuscation works to bypass China’s Great Firewall. Based in Switzerland and has a no-logs policy. Works with popular streaming services. Provides a 30-day money-back guarantee to test its service.

Mullvad VPN is a service based in Sweden, a country that has no mandatory data retention directives that apply to VPNs. Its watertight no-logging policy promises never to keep records of what you do while connected. 

When it comes to privacy and security features, Mullvad is extremely advanced. It provides both Shadowsocks and V2ray bridges for OpenVPN, which are solid obfuscation methods known to work in China. And, it implements OpenVPN with solid AES-256 encryption.

The apps are feature packed with a kill switch, DNS leak protection, a choice of protocols, DNS-based ad blocking and malware filtering, MultiHop connections, and Tor over VPN. It provides port forwarding and split tunneling, which makes it fantastic for torrenting.

In addition to being secure enough for users in China, the VPN has super speedy servers in 41+ countries. However, those servers do not work with popular streaming services like Netflix US and Hulu. So, if streaming Western services from China is important to you, we would recommend shopping elsewhere.

You can use a Mullvad subscription on up to five devices, which is quite limited compared to some of our other recommendations. This VPN is also quite pricey long term. If you only intend to visit China for a short time, this VPN is actually very cheap and will let you access Facebook, YouTube, Google, and other popular services during your stay.

SUPER ADVANCED: Mullvad VPN has more privacy and security features than just about any other VPN. Robust obfuscation and a kill switch make it ideal for bypassing government blocks securely. Servers are available in just 41 countries. No live chat support. Better suited to advanced users who need advanced features. 30-day money-back guarantee.

PrivateVPN is another provider based in Sweden that puts user privacy first. It works in China thanks to its Stealth VPN mode, which uses OpenVPN with Shadowsock bridging to bypass the Great Firewall of China. 

A solid no-logging policy means that the VPN never has any records of what its users do online, and the VPN has a completely proprietary server network. It also has solid AES-256 encryption, a kill switch, DNS leak protection, and port forwarding; making it a solid option for torrenting.

Servers are available in 63+ countries, which gives you plenty of options for bypassing blocks and accessing region-locked services. It works with various Netflix regions, Hulu, HBO Max, Amazon Prime Video, and other popular streaming platforms, making it a decent all-rounder.

In terms of drawbacks, the VPN is a touch slow compared to our other recommendations. However, it worked for streaming without buffering when we tested it. It also lacks split tunneling, ad blocking, and malware filtering, so if you want these features we would recommend looking elsewhere.

Live chat support is available on its website at any time of day, and you can try the VPN risk-free thanks to its 30-day money-back guarantee. A solid VPN that you can use on up to five devices simultaneously.

GOOD FOR SEEDING: PrivateVPN is a reliable VPN with solid obfuscation to bypass the Great Firewall of China. Works to access Western streaming services like Netflix US. Strong encryption and a kill switch. Port forwarding is good for seeding on your torrent client. 30-day money-back guarantee.

Hotspot Shield is a VPN that is best known for its free service. Its proprietary Hydra protocol implements obfuscation by default, which makes the paid version a viable option in China. 

The free plan only provides access to a server in the US and it is pretty slow due to server congestion. The paid version, however, has excellent speeds and lets you connect to servers in 80+ countries (some of which are virtual locations provided with DNS routing). This gives you plenty of options for bypassing blocks in China.

The fact that it is based in the US may put some users off the service, particularly due to this VPNs slightly iffy logging policy which keeps a number of connection logs. 

Its Hydra protocol is sometimes criticized for being closed-source. However, nowadays the Chinese government has become very effective at detecting open-source obfuscation methods, so Hotspot Shield’s proprietary tunneling protocol may actually hold some benefits.

That said, we would probably recommend one of the other services above if you are a political dissident or someone who intends to regularly bypass content that has been blocked by the government. If your only aim is to watch Netflix US, this VPN could be a decent option. 

You can try it using its 45-day money-back guarantee or take its free plan for a test run to see whether it unblocks the services you need.

AUTO WIFI CONNECT: Hotspot Shield is a fast premium VPN with a limited free plan. Proprietary Hydra protocol includes obfuscation by default. Works to access social media and streaming services in China. Has a kill switch and DNS leak protection. Connects automatically when you join an unknown or untrusted WiFi network and offers a 45-day money-back guarantee.

Methodology: How we chose the best VPNs for China

We test and review VPNs using carefully chosen criteria as part of our testing methodology. This lets us compare the market to find the best VPNs for specific use cases, such as bypassing restrictions in China. Below, we have provided information about how we selected the best VPNs for China:

• Diskless servers: Our top three recommendations all provide a network of servers that run exclusively in RAM. The data passing through those servers exists only in volatile memory and the VPN provider can delete everything simply by pulling the plug. This adds an extra layer of protection and allows the VPN to comply with its no-logging policy, even if it is suddenly raided by the authorities of the country where a server is located.
• Third-party audits: Our top three providers must also have had audits of their apps, data privacy policies, and network infrastructure. These kinds of audits allow consumers to know that the VPN doesn't have underlying vulnerabilities and that the VPN is properly set up to provide the privacy it claims on its website.
• Global server network: This allows you to get an IP address anywhere around the world, bypass local blocks in China, and access international streaming services such as YouTube, Netflix, Hulu, and BBC iPlayer while visiting China.
• Strong security features: For a VPN to be safe enough to use in China, it is vital that it has solid watertight encryption, a kill switch, and obfuscation to get around the Great Firewall. Our recommendations were all chosen because they meet these minimum requirements.
• Advanced features: We always attempt to recommend VPNs that provide useability and versatility and have as many advanced features as possible. We have recommended VPNs that have split tunneling, port forwarding, MultiHop connections, Tor over VPN, and Smart DNS. If you require any of these features, specifically check each summary carefully to be sure you pick the right VPN.
• Excellent customer support: If you are new to VPNs you may have some teething issues. That is why we have only recommended VPNs that take customer care seriously. Our recommendations have both email and live chat support that you can contact at any time of day on their websites.
• Fast servers and protocols: Many VPNs slow down your internet making it hard to watch HD videos, play games, download torrents, and make video calls. In this guide, we recommended VPNs with fast Tier-1 networks and super tunneling protocols designed to give you the fastest VPN connection possible.

China VPN: FAQs

Can I use a free VPN in China?

No. The Chinese government is extremely effective at using Deep Packet Inspection to block VPNs. This means that the vast majority of VPNs do not work in China. 

The few VPNs that do work in China rely on obfuscation to conceal VPN traffic from the national firewall. As a result, only technically proficient VPNs that continuously make efforts to bypass Chinese blocks work.

Unfortunately, implementing obfuscated servers and staying ahead of China’s VPN blocks is expensive and requires constant vigilance. As a result, we know of no free VPNs that provide access to users in China.

In addition to lacking the features necessary to work in China, free VPNs are too risky to use in China. Free VPNs lack encryption, suffer from leaks, have app and server vulnerabilities, and have even been known to hide tracking libraries and spyware in their apps. 

This makes free VPNs completely unsuitable for gaining privacy in China, where it is possible internet users could get in trouble for bypassing the government’s strict blocks

What is censored online in China?

The Chinese government enforces strict online censorship using its "Great Firewall" system. The Chinese government enforces these blocks for political reasons, in order to prevent criticism of the Communist Party and to silence dissenters.

Unfortunately, the Chinese government abuses its power to track internet users, monitor their web visits, track their communications metadata, and force all Chinese companies to provide information about their users to the authorities.

As a result of the government’s overreaching powers, the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) blocks any websites and services that are considered a danger to national security and peace. This results in many Western services, including blog sites, news sites, social media sites, human rights websites, and many more being censored.

It also makes it impossible to access any information or news that is critical of China and the Chinese government, making it almost impossible to escape the bubble of propaganda maintained by the Communist Party. This hugely infringes on freedom of speech and human rights in the country.

Unfortunately, the list of websites that have been completely blocked or partially restricted by the Chinese government numbers in the thousands. That makes it hard to provide a comprehensive list here. However, we have listed some of the blocks below:

• Google services
• Facebook and Messenger
• Instagram
• Twitter
• Twitch
• Reddit
• YouTube
• Blogspot
• WhatsApp
• Steam
• Linkedin
• Tumblr
• Signal
• Medium
• DailyMotion
• Vimeo
• Pinterest
• New York Times
• The Guardian
• BBC
• Discord
• The Washington Post
• Bandcamp
• NBC News 
• DuckDuckGo
• Bloomberg

It is also worth noting that the government has also ordered for ISPs to block access to VPN websites where people subscribe to VPNs. It is often impossible to access a VPN provider’s website from within China to take out a subscription.

As a result of these VPN blocks, we strongly recommend that internet users subscribe to a VPN, download the VPN software, and install their VPN onto their device before traveling to China

What laws allow for censorship and surveillance in China?

China enforces various laws and regulations that allow the authorities to crack down on websites and engage in online surveillance. The Chinese Communist Party uses these strict measures to monitor online activities and censor content deemed to be politically sensitive, harmful to the state's interests, or a threat to the nation’s peace. In addition to censoring the internet and engaging in widespread surveillance, the government also maintains a stranglehold over the nation’s media, which further strengthens its ability to restrict access to information.

Below, we have included some of the laws that enable Chinese Authorities to engage in widespread surveillance and censorship of the internet:

• The Cybersecurity Law (2017): Provides Chinese authorities with the ability to monitor and censor online activities. Requires Chinese ISPs to block websites and provide access to user data, including web browsing histories and metadata. Forces companies working in China to store data on local servers that can be requested by the government.
• The National Intelligence Law (2017): Allows Chinese authorities to carry out widespread surveillance. The law requires all organizations and individuals to cooperate with intelligence requests.
• The National Security Law (2015): Provides definitions for national security and grants authorities overreaching powers. The law criminalizes those who engage in “subversion, separatism, and terrorism”. Human rights groups criticize the law for being ambiguous, meaning it can be exploited to prosecute citizens who engage in peaceful protests. Allows the government to carry out surveillance, seize private property, and detain individuals without proper oversight. Can be exploited to prosecute citizens critical of the government using secret trials.
• Real-name Registration System (2012): Requires citizens to provide identification when they purchase a mobile phone or Internet subscription. ISPs use this to inform authorities if a user is suspected of a crime.
• Regulation on the Administration of Telecommunications Services (2017): Introduced licensing for VPNs to crack down on citizens’ ability to bypass censorship.

Are VPNs legal in China?

This is definitely something of a gray area, however, the general consensus is that it is not illegal to have a VPN installed on your device or to use a VPN for corporate privacy, and carrying out online business safely. With this in mind, using a VPN to engage in any legal activities is not technically criminalized.

However, the act of using a VPN to conceal or engage in online crimes remains illegal. Due to the ambiguous language contained in the National Security law, using a VPN to access or promulgate information critical of the government could be deemed illegal. And anybody who the government believes is disturbing the peace could be detained, and even prosecuted in a secret trial. 

Under these circumstances, a suspect’s devices would be seized, and the use of a VPN could potentially be used as further evidence to claim the suspect had engaged in crimes against the state while attempting to conceal those crimes. 

The stark reality is that China is an authoritarian state, and, if the government decides that you have acted against the interests of the state, your actions will almost certainly be used against you in any way possible, even if you did nothing wrong. 

For these reasons, it is vital that individuals who intend to use a VPN carefully consider how they use it, how those actions might be perceived by other citizens or the government, and whether the benefits outweigh the potential consequences

Can I watch Chinese TV with a VPN?

Very few VPN providers nowadays have servers in China. This is due to the fact that the VPN would need to register with the government and provide the government with access to those servers. This would violate the VPN’s no-logging policy. 

One way around this is to provide a virtual server in China that is actually hosted elsewhere. This uses clever DNS routing to provide an IP address in China so that you can access local servers there.

Unfortunately, nowadays most VPNs even find this too risky and have chosen to completely halt providing access to Chinese IP addresses altogether. As a result, the trustworthy VPNs recommended in this guide do not have server locations in China, and you will not be able to use them to get a Chinese IP address from elsewhere in the world.

Can I watch Netflix US with a VPN in China?

If you are visiting China on vacation or while traveling for business, you may want to watch your Netflix account while staying in your hotel. Unfortunately, Netflix is not currently available in China, which means that you will need to connect to a VPN server back home in the US (or in another country where Netflix is available).

When you connect to a VPN server in the US, Canada, the UK, or elsewhere where Netflix is available, you get a valid IP address in that country. This makes Netflix believe that you are back home, which means you can log in and stream your account while in China or anywhere else that it is blocked.

The important thing to remember is that Netflix has blocked the vast majority of VPNs. This means that you must stick to one of our top recommendations. We have personally tested over 50 VPNs to check which work with Netflix, and we always try to ensure that our top recommended VPNs work with popular international services, including Netflix US, Hulu, ESPN, and BBC iPlayer.

Does a VPN make me anonymous online in China?

A VPN encrypts your internet connection, providing online privacy by preventing local networks, ISPs, and government agencies from tracking your online activities. However, it's important to note that a VPN cannot guarantee complete online anonymity. Even with a VPN, if you log in to a platform using your real identity, that service can still identify you.

To achieve comprehensive online anonymity, it is necessary to take additional steps, such as using anonymous accounts, burner email addresses, privacy-enhancing browser extensions with tracker blocking, forwarding SMS services like Google Voice, and even accessing the web using the Tor browser. While a VPN is a vital tool for enhancing online privacy, it is just one piece of the puzzle for those seeking true anonymity.