The Best VPNs for China

The Best China VPNs Analyzed

1. 1. Astrill VPN: Best VPN for China

   Visit Astrill

   Add to compare

   Pros

   • StealthVPN & OpenWeb are the most effective protocols for China
   • Fast servers optimized for China
   • Nearby VPN servers in Taiwan and Hong Kong
   • Kill switch & no IP, DNS or WebRTC leaks
   • Accepts anonymous Monero payments
   • Easy to set up and use

   Cons

   • More expensive than its competitors
   • Free trial unavailable to China users
   • No refund policy

   Overall Rating for China: 9.6/10

   To learn more, read our testing methodology.

   • Success Rate in China:
     10/10
   • Obfuscation Technology:
     9.8/10
   • Privacy & Logging Policy:
     8.3/10
   • Speed:
     7.8/10
   • Nearby Servers in China:
     9.6/10

   Astrill VPN is unquestionably the best VPN for China. During our testing over the past 4 years, it has never failed to bypass the Great Firewall and unblock international websites.

   It offers effective stealth protocols, VPN servers in Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Japan, as well as robust AES-256 and ChaCha20 encryption.

   Special SuperCharged servers are incredibly fast. The VPN service is easy to use and deletes any collected data after each VPN session. There’s also great customer support via live chat.

   We use Astrill weekly on our PC in Shanghai to unblock VPN websites and install VPN software that is censored by the Great Firewall. It’s fast, secure, and advanced enough to be our backup VPN.

   The main drawback: Astrill is very expensive compared to its competitors. However, in our experience, bypassing online censorship is a daily part of life in China and Astrill VPN is the most reliable way to do it.

   

   Works In China	Yes
   Cheapest Price	$12.50/mo over two years See all plans
   Data Leaks	No
   Logging Policy	Some User Logs
   See all features
   Jurisdiction	Liechtenstein
   Compatible with	Windows macOS iOS Android Linux +more

   Two Stealth Protocols for 100% Reliability in China

   Astrill operates two stealth protocols that are both effective at circumventing Chinese web blocks: StealthVPN and OpenWeb. Both are proprietary protocols based on OpenVPN, and perform extremely well in countries with sophisticated censorship.

   

   We used Astrill VPN to unblock YouTube in China.

   As a result of this, Astrill consistently outperforms all the other VPNs we’ve tested on our Shanghai server. Astrill has worked in China 100% of the times we’ve tested in the past 4 years — more than any other VPN.

   Nearby Servers in Hong Kong, Japan & More

   Astrill offers server locations in neighboring locations, like Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan, and IP addresses in South Korea for the fastest speeds. There are nearby servers on the US West Coast too, including in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and San Jose.

   

   Astrill offers five city-level servers in Hong Kong and multiple ‘China Optimized’ US servers.

   Our speed tests show an impressive average of 92Mbps on a local 100Mbps connection. It is marginally slower than competitors like Hide.me and Windscribe.

   However, our speeds significantly improved when we connected China SuperCharged servers — designed for lightning-fast speeds in China. We experienced no issues installing apps or streaming video.

   Astrill owns all its DNS servers, which means there is no chance your traffic will be routed via less secure third-party servers. All connections are secured with AES-256 and ChaCha20 encryption, as well as a working kill switch.

   Mixed Logging Policy

   Astrill comes with some drawbacks, but none of its faults are serious enough to outweigh its incredible ability to unblock websites in China.

   Firstly, the VPN collects some data for the duration of your VPN session, including: connection time, IP address, device type, and VPN app version. Once the session is over, this data is permanently deleted.

   You can use Astrill VPN on all popular devices. The OpenWeb protocol, built for bypassing the Great Firewall, is thankfully available on Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS. However, StealthVPN isn’t supported on iOS.

   How to Use Astrill VPN in China

   Astrill VPN isn’t the most prettiest app, but there are great options for customizing your connection for China.

   Play

   

   In our tests, Astrill unblocked Netflix and Instagram in China.

   Here’s how to use Astrill VPN in China:

   1. Launch Astrill VPN.
   2. Select StealthVPN from the drop-down menu of protocols.
   3. Now select a server labeled Supercharged for the best speeds in China.
   4. If you can’t connect, use the OpenWeb protocol and Kansas China Optimized server.

   Visit Astrill

   or read our full Astrill VPN Review.

   
   

2. 2. Hide.me: Fastest VPN in China

   Visit Hide.me

   Add to compare

   Pros

   • Budget-friendly alternative to Astrill VPN
   • Custom multi-hop servers unblock websites in China
   • Reliable kill switch & secure protocols
   • Private logging policy & based in privacy haven
   • Accepts anonymous Monero & other cryptocurrency payments
   • Knowledgeable and fast customer service

   Cons

   • No diskless servers
   • Free version doesn’t work as well in China
   • Kill switch not automatically active

   Overall Rating for China: 8.6/10

   To learn more, read our testing methodology.

   • Success Rate in China:
     8.4/10
   • Obfuscation Technology:
     9.5/10
   • Privacy & Logging Policy:
     8.9/10
   • Speed:
     9.8/10
   • Nearby Servers to China:
     8.2/10

   Hide.me is a budget-friendly and private VPN that easily unblocks websites and streaming services in China.

   It’s also one of the fastest VPNs we’ve ever tested, even on long-distance connections. On local connections, say from Mainland China to Hong Kong, you can expect to see minimal speed loss of 4%.

   Hide.me’s obfuscation is very effective at circumventing the Great Firewall, but it’s more suited to advanced users because of its complicated setup.

   Hide.me’s one-month deal is better than most VPNs, just $9.95, or you can sign up for $6.67 per month (12 month deal). For this price, you can unblock popular streaming services like US Netflix, Disney+, Max, and more.

   

   Works In China	Yes
   Cheapest Price	$2.69/mo over 26 months See all plans
   Data Leaks	No
   Logging Policy	No Identifying Data
   See all features
   Jurisdiction	Malaysia (Privacy Haven)
   Compatible with	Windows macOS iOS Android Linux +more

   Effective Obfuscation with 84% Success Rate in China

   Hide.me offers robust AES-256 encryption and a secure kill switch, which prevents your IP address from leaking. Hide.me’s kill switch is one of the best we’ve tested and will keep your IP address hidden in China.

   Hide.me also offers a wide range of secure protocols, including OpenVPN, WireGuard, SoftEther, and SSTP. Even better, all of these protocols are available on desktop and mobile apps.

   If you’re based in China, it’s important to have at least two obfuscated protocols to find one that circumvents the firewall on that day. Once connected, you can use the VPN to unblock streaming services like Netflix, Disney+, and BBC iPlayer.

   

   We used Hide.me’s multihop feature to bypass the Great Firewall in our tests.

   By far, the most useful feature for people in China is Hide.me’s multi-hop tool, which is the best for bypassing Chinese online restrictions. You can use it to establish a double VPN connection with entry and exit servers of your choice.

   This is much better than other VPNs which give you preset double VPN servers and don’t let you customize your connection to this degree.

   Minimal Logs & Based in a Privacy Haven

   Hide.me is based in Malaysia, a privacy-haven, and has never experienced a data breach.

   The VPN keeps minimal connection data logs for troubleshooting: your email address and amount of monthly data you use. It doesn’t log browsing activity, your real IP address, or your location.

   It also releases yearly transparency reports showing the number of data requests received and how they have nothing to hand over. Hide.me even accepts Monero and Bitcoin payments to reduce the traceability of subscriptions.

   How to Use Hide.me in China

   Hide.me’s app is simple to use and loads fast in China. However, it does require some extra steps to configure obfuscation.

   Play

   

   Hide.me is most reliable in China when you set up two custom servers for multihop.

   Here’s how to use Hide.me in China:

   1. Open Hide.me and click on the Locations tab.
   2. Click on Add Custom Location. Enter your display name.
   3. Copy and paste ep-de.hideservers.net and click Add Location.
   4. Set up another custom location with ep-uk.hideservers.net. You can now view your custom servers in the server list.
   5. Click on the Multihop tab and click +Add Multihop.
   6. Select one of your custom servers as the entry server and choose your exit server. We recommend choosing Japan or Taiwan. These server combinations are automatically saved in the Multihop tab.

   Visit Hide.me

   or read our full Hide.me Review.

   
   

3. 3. PrivateVPN: Best Cheap VPN for China

   Visit PrivateVPN

   Add to compare

   Pros

   • Cheap 1-month, 3-month & 3-year deals
   • Stealth mode works well in China
   • AES-256 encryption & strict no-logs policy
   • Kill switch prevents IP leaks on Windows and macOS
   • Intuitive and easy-to-use apps

   Cons

   • Delays in connecting to server
   • Lacks WireGuard, diskless servers & multi-hop servers
   • Leaks IPv6 address on Linux

   Overall Rating for China: 8.4/10

   To learn more, read our testing methodology.

   • Success Rate in China:
     8.2/10
   • Obfuscation Technology:
     9.1/10
   • Privacy & Logging Policy:
     9.3/10
   • Speed:
     9.1/10
   • Nearby Servers to China:
     8.5/10

   PrivateVPN is a secure and affordable VPN that works great in China. At just $2.00 per month on a three-year deal, it’s one of the cheapest VPNs available and excellent value for money.

   PrivateVPN offers city-level servers in Hong Kong, Taipei, Tokyo, Seoul, and New York. Its apps cover all popular devices, and they’re super easy to use. PrivateVPN is also one of the best VPNs for streaming video on Netflix, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, and more.

   The VPN service has private DNS servers, labeled ‘Dedicated IP’, which are fantastic for bypassing geo-blocks and maintaining security. It also uses secure AES-256 encryption, OpenVPN, and DNS leak protection.

   

   Works In China	Yes
   Cheapest Price	$2.00/mo over 3 years See all plans
   Data Leaks	No
   Logging Policy	No Logs
   See all features
   Jurisdiction	Sweden (14 Eyes Member)
   Compatible with	Windows macOS iOS Android Linux +more

   Impressive 82% Reliability in China & Excellent Value for Money

   Our tests show the VPN has improved its China success rate from 79% in 2022 to 82% in 2024. This is largely thanks to its sophisticated implementation of Shadowsocks obfuscation.

   A three-year subscription with PrivateVPN is only $2.00 per month. In comparison, Astrill VPN’s best monthly price is $12.50 — over six times the amount of PrivateVPN.

   If you want more flexibility, you can sign up for a monthly subscription for $9.90 per month, or a three-month deal for $6.00 per month. These savings make PrivateVPN a great option if you’re traveling to China for a short period of time.

   

   Tests with our Shanghai server in 2024 prove that PrivateVPN unblocks Medium in China.

   A Verified No-Logs VPN

   PrivateVPN only saves your email address, which is used for logging in. This information is not linked to your activity in any way, and is standard practice for almost all VPNs.

   It doesn’t collect any user-identifying information, such as your real IP address, browsing activity, bandwidth usage, or timestamps.

   You can even decrease transaction traceability by paying with decentralized Bitcoin — but it doesn’t offer Monero like Astrill VPN or Hide.me does.

   PrivateVPN is one of the few VPNs that’s had its no-logs policy verified in a real-world case. We have seen documents that prove PrivateVPN has been unable to comply with law enforcement requests for user data.

   How to Use PrivateVPN in China

   PrivateVPN’s apps are simple and ideal for beginners. You might have to be patient with the app — we sometimes experience delays when connecting to servers from China.

   Play

   

   We used PrivateVPN’s stealth mode to bypass the Great Firewall.

   Here’s how to use PrivateVPN in China:

   1. Launch PrivateVPN and click Advanced View.
   2. In the left-hand tabs, click on Stealth VPN.
   3. Toggle on Stealth VPN and select Port 443 from the down-down menu.
   4. Go back to the Dashboard and change your Connection Type to OpenVPN+TCP+443 > AES-256-CBC encryption.
   5. Choose your server. We recommend servers in Japan, Taiwan, or Hong Kong.

   Visit PrivateVPN

   or read our full PrivateVPN Review.

   
   

4. 4. Windscribe Free: Best Free VPN for China

   Visit Windscribe

   Add to compare

   Pros

   • Free servers in 11 countries
   • No need to give card details & private logging policy
   • Obfuscation protocols on desktop & mobile
   • Reliable kill switch
   • Trustworthy VPN provider

   Cons

   • 10GB data cap
   • No human live chat support
   • No independent logging audit
   • Based in Canada (Five Eyes nation)

   Overall Rating for China: 6.8/10

   To learn more, read our testing methodology.

   • Success Rate in China:
     8.5/10
   • Obfuscation Technology:
     9.4/10
   • Privacy & Logging Policy:
     8.9/10
   • Speed:
     8.8/10
   • Nearby Servers to China:
     7.0/10

   Windscribe Free is the best free VPN that works in China. In our tests, it’s actually the second most reliable VPN for China, performing even better than Hide.me and PrivateVPN.

   All versions of the app (on Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS) offer obfuscation protocols, strong security, and a trustworthy logging policy. They’re also extremely easy to use, as we would recommend Windscribe Free to complete beginners.

   Like most free VPNs, Windscribe Free comes with a 10GB monthly data cap and restricted server choice, so you will have to limit VPN use. Despite these limitations, its reliability makes it stand out as the best free VPN for China.

   

   Works In China	Yes
   Cheapest Price	Free
   Data Leaks	No
   Logging Policy	No Identifying Data
   See all features
   Jurisdiction	Canada (Five Eyes Member)
   Compatible with	Windows macOS iOS Android Linux +more

   Two Obfuscation Protocols with 85% Reliability in China

   Windscribe has two highly-effective obfuscation protocols available: Stunnel (called Stealth in the app) and WStunnel. Stunnel wraps OpenVPN traffic in TLS, whereas WStunnel wraps it in WebSocket.

   Based on our 2024 tests, the best Windscribe Free server for China is Hong Kong, Victoria. Offering a free server in Hong Kong is extremely rare for a free VPN, as they don’t usually prioritize users in censored regions.

   We love to see Windscribe making obfuscation available on both the free and paid version of the app. This is better than Astrill VPN, which doesn’t offer a free trial for users in China.

   

   Windscribe Free gives you access to both obfuscation protocols on Windows and macOS.

   Both of these features make sure your VPN traffic blends in seamlessly with ordinary HTTPS internet traffic.

   During the last three months, Windscribe Free has been 86% successful in bypassing China’s firewall using this server.

   A Safe & Trustworthy Free VPN for China

   Windscribe Free is the safest free VPN for use in China. Its commitment to privacy and security is evident with its secure AES-256 encryption, diskless VPN servers, and open-source code.

   Its reliable kill switch (or Firewall) prevents your real IP address and data packets from leaking outside your VPN tunnel in case your internet drops.

   There are ways it can improve, though. We’d like to see Windscribe conduct independent security and privacy audits. To compare, Proton VPN Free has published a no-logs audit in 2022, which verified its free and paid VPN servers don’t collect activity logs.

   10GB of Data per Month & Limited Server Locations

   Windscribe Free has servers in 11 countries. The best servers for China are: Hong Kong, the US, Canada, and the UK.

   With these servers, Windscribe Free consistently unblocks BBC iPlayer, UK Netflix, Disney+, Max, and more. If you’re visiting China from the US or UK, it’s a great option for unblocking your favorite TV shows and movies from home.

   However, keep in mind that Windscribe Free has a 10GB data cap, which does restrict the number of movies and TV shows you can watch. The data renews every month automatically, so you don’t have to manually refresh data and risk facing firewall blocks.

   How to Use Windscribe in China

   Windscribe’s desktop apps have a user-friendly interface. You can enable features and switch between protocols in seconds.

   Play

   

   We used Windscribe Free to access Facebook and Medium in China.

   Here’s how to use Windscribe in China:

   1. Launch Windscribe.
   2. In the top-left, select the Settings icon.
   3. Go down to Connection, scroll down and change Connection Mode to Manual.
   4. Under Protocol, select either Stealth or WStunnel.
   5. If your connection doesn’t work, change to the other protocol.

   Visit Windscribe

   or read our full Windscribe VPN Review.

   
   

Which Free VPNs Still Work in China?

Most free VPNs struggle in China due to the complex and costly nature of circumventing censorship.

Windscribe is the only safe free VPN that works in China. Through our rigorous testing, Windscribe Free has consistently proven its efficacy, with an impressive success rate of 85%.

Windscribe Free is still the best free VPN for China.

We used to recommend PrivadoVPN Free and Atlas VPN Free, but they’ve both recently encountered issues.

PrivadoVPN Free’s monthly data refresh triggers firewall blocks, while AtlasVPN discontinued operations in April 2024 due to financial constraints.

NOTE: Our investigations have found that many popular free VPNs are secretly owned by Chinese companies, which presents a risk to your privacy. In one study, we revealed that half of the top-ranked VPN apps in Taiwan’s Apple App Store have ownership links to mainland China.

Full China VPN Test Results

We conduct tests with our Shanghai desktop every two weeks to record which VPNs are working to bypass the Great Firewall. The table below shows the effectiveness of popular VPNs at accessing blocked websites in mainland China.

Years of testing VPNs in China have taught us you have to follow very specific instructions and enable obfuscation to circumvent firewalls. The table above includes the best tips we’ve collected over the years for using VPNs in China.

The chart below summarizes how 15 popular VPNs performed in our China tests over the past 12 months:

Click to view an enlarged version of our bar chart.

Contrary to what many websites state, ExpressVPN and NordVPN are no longer reliable options for China. In our tests, we found they don’t work most of the time to unblock websites in China, as we explain in more detail below.

VPNs That Don’t Work in China

We’ve tested 65 VPN services in China and the majority do not work. This includes some of the best and most popular VPNs.

This is because the Chinese government actively tries to identify and block unofficial VPN connections.

Here is a list of other popular VPNs that have never, or very rarely, work in China:

• CyberGhost
• HideMyAss
• IPVanish
• Mullvad
• Surfshark
• Proton VPN
• TunnelBear
• VyprVPN

Due to the changing nature of firewalls, some VPNs get better at bypassing them over time. However, others have decreased in effectiveness. Below, we’ve listed some popular VPNs that we no longer recommend for China:

Private Internet Access

PIA used to be the best cheap VPN for China, but was hit by the Great Firewall update at the end of 2022. In the past year, it’s dropped from 57% to 50% in China.

ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN used to be one of the best VPNs for China due to its inbuilt obfuscation. However, it was severely hit by the GFW update at the end of 2022 and hasn’t recovered to previous levels of performance.

In the past year, it’s only worked 64% of the time in China.

NordVPN

Despite what other websites claim, NordVPN is a poor choice for China. In the past year, the NordVPN app has worked 0% of the time in our tests with a PC in Shanghai.

NordVPN’s website even explains: “Unfortunately, we are currently experiencing some connectivity issues in the China region as our server configurations for manual connections and applications have recently been blocked.”

How We Test VPNs for China

We test for a number of key decision-making factors when testing the safest and most reliable VPNs for China.

For China specifically, we test for:

• The ability to bypass the Great Firewall in Shanghai.
• AES-256 encryption, OpenVPN, and other safe connection protocols.
• Effective traffic obfuscation technology.
• Fast international speeds from China.
• VPN servers in mainland China or nearby countries.
• Specialized servers for bypassing Chinese censorship.
• China-specific support (such as additional app download links).
• No ties to the Chinese government or companies.

The table below summarizes how the top VPNs for China performed in these key testing categories:

VPNs with a data cap receive a reduction to their overall rating.

Here’s a breakdown of exactly what we test for when recommending China VPNs:

1. Success Rate in China: 70%

Minimum Requirement: 50% censorship success rate in China.
We Recommend: Over 70% success rate in China.

To test VPNs in China, we use a virtual Windows 10 PC located in Shanghai. Our team manually tests 15 popular VPN services every two weeks to see if they can bypass the Great Firewall.

Our Chinese IP address and geolocation.

We track success rates of VPNs over the past three months and 12 months by trying to connect to servers outside mainland China and accessing YouTube, Instagram, or Google.

Additionally, we follow any specific instructions provided by the VPN service during testing, or get in contact with customer support if the VPN struggles to connect.

Ratings are based on the VPN’s success rate over the last 12 months. For example, an 82% success rate results in a rating of 8.2/10.

2. Obfuscation Technology: 5%

Minimum Requirement: Active obfuscation technology.
We Recommend: Multiple obfuscation options like proprietary protocols, OpenVPN XOR and Stunnel functionality.

While test results are pivotal in determining a VPN’s efficacy in China, the inclusion of obfuscation features indicates whether a VPN invests in circumventing censorship.

Obfuscation technology serves to mask your VPN traffic, making it indistinguishable from regular internet traffic to get past firewalls and VPN bans. It comes in many forms, such as stealth protocols, obfuscated servers, and proxy solutions.

OpenVPN Stunnel, XOR Scramble and Shadowsocks proxies are among the most effective obfuscation techniques. Certain VPN services, such as Astrill and Windscribe, offer their own proprietary obfuscation protocols.

In regions with online censorship like China, Russia, and Turkey, where VPN usage is heavily monitored, obfuscation technology becomes indispensable.

3. Privacy & Logging Policy: 5%

Minimum Requirement: Transparent privacy policy with only anonymized logs.
We Recommend: Strict zero-logs policy.

Choosing a VPN that respects user privacy and doesn’t log sensitive information is extremely important, particularly for users residing or traveling in China. Given the Chinese government’s prohibition of unauthorized VPNs, maintaining anonymity is crucial to avoid fines.

You shouldn’t use a VPN that records your timestamps, IP address, or any other information that could identify you and your internet activity.

Crucially, you should avoid VPNs that’s based in China, or affiliated with Chinese businesses or the government. Our research uncovered that many of the most popular free mobile VPN apps in the US are Chinese-owned, and an additional four had links to China.

When searching for the best VPN for China, we analyzed the privacy policies and ownership structures of VPNs with the best performance in China. We disqualified any VPNs with links to mainland Chinese businesses and government.

4. Speed: 10%

Minimum Requirement: Consistent download speeds over 60Mbps on connections to nearby countries.
We Recommend: Speeds of 70Mbps or faster for long-distance connections.

The GFW regularly uses bandwidth throttling to censor web content originating from outside the country. Users often encounter error messages that say your server took too long to respond when faced with such restrictions.

Our speed testing methodology involved assessing local speeds from the US, and international download speeds while connected to Australia, Singapore, and the UK.

By comparing these speeds with and without VPN usage, we calculate the percentage drop in performance.

Top-tier VPNs exhibit minimal speed loss when connected to servers within the same continent. Connecting to servers far away can result in slower internet speeds.

5. Nearby Servers to China: 10%

Minimum Requirement: Servers in Asia or the US West Coast.
We Recommend: Multiple obfuscated servers in both Asia and the US West Coast.

For VPNs aiming to circumvent the GFW effectively, the availability of servers in nearby countries is crucial for maintaining fast speeds.

Servers in nearby Asian countries, particularly in Hong Kong, are typically the best choice for achieving high-speed connections.

Additionally, our testing includes servers in Taiwan, Japan, Singapore, and South Korea.

Servers on the US West Coast also deliver good speeds from China and are ideal for accessing US streaming services, such as Netflix and Disney+.

 

Data Cap Penalty: Up to 50% Reduction

Almost all free VPNs come with a data cap. Like with most limitations on free VPNs, this is imposed to encourage users to upgrade to a premium subscription.

If you use up your data cap, the rest of your internet activity will be outside the VPN tunnel. Consequently, your ISP can monitor the webpages you visit, and you won’t be able to access blocked websites in China.

We apply a penalty to the VPN’s final overall rating for China based on its data cap:

• Unlimited bandwidth: No deduction to the overall rating
• 10GB per month: -20% to the overall rating
• 500MB per day: -25% to the overall rating
• 5GB per month: -30% to the overall rating
• 1GB per month: -35% to the overall rating
• 200MB per day: -40% to the overall rating
• 500MB per month: -50% to the overall rating

The Great Firewall of China

The Great Firewall of China (GFW) is a nickname given to China’s internet censorship system, which operates through state legislation and internet filtering technologies.

Since its inception in 2003, the GFW has empowered Chinese authorities to monitor and restrict internet access in mainland China.

The Great Firewall censors the internet by imposing restrictions, slowing down connections, or outright blocking access to specific websites, applications and online services.

Unlike online censorship in other countries, China’s Great Firewall has been ingrained in the country’s internet infrastructure since the early days of the internet, making it a fundamental component of its online governance.

The Great Firewall uses a combination of five methods to block websites and apps:

1. IP Blocking: Preventing access to specific URLs by blocking their IP addresses.
2. DNS Spoofing: Redirecting traffic from targeted websites to alternate destinations, effectively blocking access.
3. Keyword and URL Filtering: Scanning website content and URLs for specific terms deemed sensitive or prohibited.
4. Deep Packet Inspection (DPI): Analyzing data packet headers to identify destination IP addresses, allowing authorities to block access to target websites.
5. Manual Actions: Utilizing a large workforce to manually censor content deemed inappropriate.

The GFW’s operations are complex and multifaceted, with the Chinese Communist Party (China’s ruling political party) maintaining a high level of secrecy regarding how internet censorship functions within the country.

By combining these technologies and constantly upgrading infrastructure, China has established the most effective and dynamic system of online censorship in the world.

Does the Great Firewall Block Every VPN?

While China’s Great Firewall actively blocks VPN connections, it cannot block all VPNs.

The Chinese government has been blocking VPNs to some degree since 2011, with intensified measures taken since 2022, and promises of it being even greater in the future.

Although not entirely successful in eliminating VPN usage, many popular VPNs like NordVPN and Proton VPN have become unusable in China.

Even VPNs equipped with effective obfuscation tools occasionally fall victim to the GFW’s censorship.

During times of heightened political unrest or on significant anniversaries such as June 4, the Chinese government intensifies crackdowns on VPNs, making access to blocked websites more challenging.

However, reliable VPN providers like Astrill and Hide.me typically find workable solutions quickly.

How Do the Top VPNs Beat the Great Firewall?

Top VPNs evade the GFW by routing encrypted traffic through servers in other countries before reaching the target website, concealing the traffic’s destination.

While censors can identify VPN traffic through Deep Packet Inspection (DPI), advanced VPNs use obfuscation technology to disguise VPN traffic as normal HTTPS internet traffic.

Despite these measures, the GFW manages to block certain VPN servers by blacklisting associated IP address ranges, resulting in sporadic service availability.

Can You Beat the Great Firewall without a VPN?

There are other circumvention tools that can unblock websites and apps in China, but they’re usually not as effective as VPNs.

Most VPN alternatives don’t protect your privacy and aren’t guaranteed to work.

Here’s a list of five circumvention tools that can work in China:

1. Proxies (Shadowsocks): Proxy servers like Shadowsocks spoof your IP address but might not encrypt internet traffic, making it visible to ISPs or government agencies, depending on the provider.
2. Lantern: Lantern, an open-source peer-to-peer software funded by the US government, uses volunteers located in countries with less stringent internet restrictions to circumvent web censors. However, it doesn’t provide anonymity as your web activity is visible to others.
3. Mirror Websites: Websites release copies or mirrored copies if the original has been blocked by the GFW, allowing continued access.
4. Tor: The Onion Router (Tor) anonymizes web traffic by routing it through a network of servers, but it’s a lot slower than VPNs and requires careful configuration. China actively blocks access to Tor, given its reputation for activism and free journalism.
5. FreeBrowser: A free web browser for Android devices with built-in circumvention technology. However, user reviews are very mixed. It’s only a web browser, so your internet traffic outside of it will still be censored.

Which Websites Are Blocked in China?

In China, many popular websites and apps are inaccessible due to the GFW. You can use our tool to test whether a specific website is blocked in China.

For example, the Google Play Store is completely unavailable, while Apple’s App Store is heavily restricted and lacks VPN applications.

Some of the most popular websites and services unavailable in China include:

• Google (blocked since 2014)
• YouTube (blocked since 2011)
• Facebook (blocked since 2009)
• Twitter (blocked since 2009)
• Instagram (blocked since 2014)
• WhatsApp (blocked since 2017)
• Skype (blocked since 2017)
• Pinterest (blocked since 2017)

VPN websites are blocked 73% of the time, so it’s best to set up VPN apps before traveling to China.

For Android users, some VPN websites offer .apk files for direct installation — though these are often blocked in China. It’s also important to exercise caution when downloading files from third-party .apk websites, as they may contain malware.

ExpressVPN offers an .apk file for direct installation.

Moreover, China’s GFW can block access to any internet-dependent services, including email apps (such as Gmail), streaming services (like Spotify or Max) or instant messaging (like Slack and Snapchat).

Are VPNs Legal in China?

In mainland China, government-approved VPNs are considered legal. These VPN services must obtain permission from the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) to operate.

However, to comply with regulations, these VPNs typically compromise user privacy by logging and sharing data with local authorities, undermining their effectiveness in protecting user privacy.

Using an unauthorized VPN technically carries potential fines of up to 15,000 yuan (around $2,200), although instances of fines for VPN users, particularly foreigners, are rare.

However, a programmer in Northern China faced a record fine of over 1 million yuan for using a VPN to work for a foreign company. Local authorities confiscated his earnings and issued a penalty for using “unauthorized channels” to access international networks.

Opting for a reputable, secure VPN based outside China greatly reduces the risk of authorities identifying your VPN traffic. Even if detected, the likelihood of facing consequences for its use is minimal.

It’s crucial to avoid unsafe VPNs with inadequate encryption and security standards, as they can leave your online activities vulnerable to exposure.