Best VPN for China in 2026: These Five Still Work

Even the best VPN for China isn’t as reliable as it used to be. The Great Firewall is volatile. It changes and strengthens each day, so finding a reliable VPN for China is incredibly difficult. This firewall is a result of Chinese political beliefs, and the reason for extreme surveillance and arduous website blocks.

Chinese residents can’t use Google, YouTube, Gmail, Instagram, and thousands of other sites, apps, and platforms. Simultaneously, many of the best VPNs for China in the past don’t work anymore, leaving them helpless. Well, not everything is so bleak in 2026. After extensively testing over 50 services, we found hope.

The five providers below are the only VPNs that still work in China in 2026 that we can genuinely recommend, with only minor and occasional connection issues typical in today’s day and age. Be aware that the Great Firewall evolves and situations change, so if the chosen VPN doesn’t work today, it may work tomorrow or another day. As always, we’ll update this list accordingly.

Best VPN for China – Top 5 VPNs That Still Work in 2026

Having tested dozens of providers, we were baffled at how the majority couldn’t make it past the Chinese firewall. This is the reason why our list contains just five options. After extensive trial and error, we found that we can rely on these five:

1. NordVPN (The Best VPN for China Overall)

Many say that commercial providers don’t work well in this country. Well, NordVPN begs to differ, as it was and still is our best VPN for China in 2026. The secret lies in its obfuscated servers that mask your VPN traffic and make it look regular. In return, you bypass the Great Firewall of China and use the internet normally.

While obfuscating your traffic, NordVPN keeps the performance high for some of the best VPN speeds around. This comes down to its great server infrastructure. NordVPN uses 10 Gbps servers and has 8,900+ globally. Obfuscation uses OpenVPN TCP, but apart from that, NordLynx also occasionally works.

NordVPN excels in privacy and security, which Chinese VPN users will love. The provider uses strong 256-bit (post-quantum) encryption, with a kill switch to prevent IP leaks. Another perk is Threat Protection Pro, which blocks trackers and ads to keep you safer. NordVPN doesn’t store logs and is based in Panama.

This enhances your privacy further. Even if the Chinese authorities seize any server, they would find nothing because NordVPN uses RAM-only servers that wipe their data with each restart. What about entertainment? Well, NordVPN works with Netflix. It also has dedicated P2P servers that you can use for torrenting.

The VPN works like a charm on macOS, iOS, Android, Windows, Linux, and other platforms. As the icing on the cake, it’s also affordable, at around $3.00 per month.

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2. ExpressVPN (Best VPN for China for Speed and Reliability)

ExpressVPN doesn’t struggle in China like some of its competitors. Having tested it, we can say it’s a reliable VPN to use in China without special tweaks. We love the obfuscation that comes with every connection. This means you can pick any server and go with it, and the VPN will automatically apply it.

Another anonymity-related fact is that this VPN doesn’t store any logs and has well over 20 audits on its no-log policy, apps, and other aspects. As one of the leading VPNs in China, it’s safe to use. You’ll, again, get AES encryption, a reliable kill switch, and IP/DNS leak protection for airtight security. It’s also a strong choice for US users connecting to China, since its US server network stays consistently accessible from within the mainland.

We appreciate its Private DNS servers that prevent third-party DNS providers from tracking your activities. ExpressVPN relies on RAM-only servers, like NordVPN. Like its rival, it also has a proprietary protocol, Lightwy Turbo, which combines speed and security, even when using this great VPN in China.

While Multi-hop (Double VPN) servers are lacking, Advanced Protection, free in every plan, makes up for it with ad-blocking and tracker protection. Its easy-to-use apps are welcome for beginners, and with up to 14 simultaneous connections, device protection is effortless. But how much is ExpressVPN?

ExpressVPN costs nearly as much as NordVPN. Its Basic plan starts at $3.49 per month for two years, with four free months. As the best VPN for China, it has a 30-day refund policy to test it risk-free.

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3. Surfshark (Best Cheap VPN for China)

Surfshark might surprise many, as it’s high up on our list of best VPNs to use in China. This cheap little VPN offers the Camouflage Mode or obfuscation, which masks your VPN traffic and makes it easy to get over the Great Firewall. Surfshark worked six out of ten times in our tests; great for a $1.99/mo VPN.

Surfshark uses WireGuard for optimal stability and connection speed. Security is amplified by MultiHop servers that route traffic through two servers for more encryption. IP Rotation is also there. It rotates your IP periodically, keeping your connection active to make you untraceable; it’s unique to Surfshark.

If you spend more on the One plan, Surfshark throws in antivirus protection, a surprisingly effective security feature that we discussed in our Surfshark review. Despite its jurisdiction changes recently, Surfshark is a no-log service, as explained in the privacy policy and by a few third-party auditors.

Surfshark’s biggest benefit is unlimited simultaneous connections that many good VPNs for use in China lack. The provider is great for streaming too, unblocking over 30 Netflix catalogs. All this for $1.99 per month sounds unreal, but Surfshark’s promises were never false and never will be. See for yourself below.

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4. Astrill VPN – Does It Work in China?

Astrill VPN works in China in 2026 — and occasionally more reliably than Surfshark and ExpressVPN. This provider has all you need to make it past the firewall. There’s the Stealth VPN protocol that masks your VPN traffic. OpenWeb, another protocol it offers, also works fuss-free.

This provider is a technological marvel, working in this country with stellar performance and incredible reliability. Its 10 Gbps server fleet spans over 142 cities, so it’s great too. Astrill VPN includes many security features, such as MultiHop, kill switch, WireGuard, and IPv6 leak prevention. The provider is also famous for privacy.

But, we didn’t expect less from the best VPN in China. Astrill is based in the Seychelles Islands, a privacy-friendly jurisdiction with no data retention and other intrusive laws. This allows the provider to not store logs and makes you 100% anonymous in China. Compatibility-wise, Astrill VPN works on all major platforms.

Sadly, it’s limited to only five simultaneous connections. It’s undoubtedly one of the best-rated VPNs for China, but it comes with a fatal flaw for many. Astrill VPN’s price is very high, and the cheapest 2-year plan is $12.50 per month. For comparison, NordVPN’s equivalent costs around $3.20 on average.

Astrill has lots of features, but so do NordVPN, ExpressVPN, and Surfshark at lower prices. It’s worth noting that it doesn’t have a free trial or a money-back guarantee, so you must be sure you really want this VPN for China.

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5. Mullvad VPN – Does Mullvad Work in China?

Mullvad VPN works in China — that’s the short answer. In our tests with Mullvad, it was far from perfect, as it still had occasional issues. We can approximately say it works five out of ten times, which is still great given the intensity of the Great Firewall.

This provider uses 10 Gbps servers with AES-256 encryption and OpenVPN and WireGuard support. You’ll also find its MultiHop or Bridge Mode useful to increase your safety. Mullvad’s performance is stellar. However, enabling obfuscation will slightly decrease the speed at the cost of privacy.

Mullvad isn’t fond of logging, which the best VPNs for China shouldn’t do anyway. Besides, it doesn’t require your email for registration, instead relying on account numbers to provide service. Mullvad is simple to use and works on all devices, so even iPhone and Android users can enjoy a wealth of security features.

However, being in last place, Mullvad suffers from a few issues. The most obvious is not working with streaming services. Mullvad isn’t very fast and limits you to five simultaneous connections. At least you don’t need to commit to it, and you can pay as you go, plus you get a 30-day money-back guarantee.

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How to Buy and Use a VPN in China: Our Recommendations

You now know all about the best VPNs for China in 2026, but using one can be problematic for some. VPNs are usually very simple to use and require a connection to the server for the associated benefits. Well, China is a bit different and requires a tad more effort. We need to determine if you’re traveling or live there.

If you’re traveling, you must subscribe to a VPN beforehand. The most critical step is to buy your VPN for China before you land — VPN websites are blocked on the mainland, so you won’t be able to purchase or install one once you arrive. When you get there, the process should look like this:

Subscribe to NordVPN

• Open the app and sign in.
• Enable the kill switch to prevent unwanted data leaks.
• Connect to an obfuscated server (NordVPN). If you’re using ExpressVPN, you can connect to any server without tweaks. If you’re using Surfshark, enable NoBorders first and then connect to a server.
• Go ahead and test the connection – everything should work reliably.

Do Free VPNs Work in China in 2026?

While the presented premium providers offer unwavering performance in China — or in similarly restrictive regions like India for TikTok — free providers drop the ball and aren’t as great. During our testing, we involved a few great free VPNs as well, but had no luck. Think of them as Lite versions of paid VPNs. They’re made for basic browsing and average security.

The biggest flaw of free VPNs is their lack of advanced security features and, consequently, obfuscation. We tested Proton VPN, Hide.me, Windscribe, PrivadoVPN, and a few others. While these providers were safe and with no logging, they couldn’t bypass the Great Firewall. Some of these providers offer unlimited data.

Proton VPN even supports OpenVPN TCP, often used for these cases. However, our tests were unsuccessful. We don’t recommend free VPNs for China because many aren’t safe. 100% free options like Turbo VPN, Hola, Urban-VPN, and others are notorious for logging and even IP and DNS leaking.

Such services are better left untouched even outside of this country. The best VPN for China should fire on all cylinders and be both safe and fast. These lack both aspects, making them poor. Now, that’s not the end of the world. You can use NordVPN, ExpressVPN, and others for free thanks to their 30-day refund policy.

That said, if you no longer need them, you can request a refund and be reimbursed. It’s as if you were using a free VPN for a month, but actually a good one.

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Why Use a VPN in China? Do You Really Need It?

In most cases, we say that this service is unnecessary. You can go online, play games, and do your thing without security and privacy. However, China makes things difficult if you’re not using a capable VPN in China. Let us remind you of this. China blocks thousands of websites, apps, and platforms. Some include:

• Google (including Google services like Gmail, Docs, …)
• Social media sites (Facebook, X, Instagram, TikTok, …)
• Porn sites (Pornhub, Xvideos, RedTube, …)
• Streaming sites (YouTube, Netflix, Hulu, Max, …)
• News platforms (Bloomberg, Reuters, The New York Times, …)
• VoIP services (Skype …, Telegram, Discord, WhatsApp, Signal, …)

As you can see, it’s impossible to use the internet properly and enjoy every other app or platform that users worldwide can — including AI tools like ChatGPT. These websites can only be unblocked by bypassing censorship, exactly what the best VPN for China does. This applies everywhere from Beijing to Shanghai — a Beijing VPN and a Shanghai VPN are one and the same, since the Great Firewall operates uniformly across the country. Apart from censorship, the authorities don’t shy away from spying and surveillance.

For example, they have their version of Skype called TOM-Skype, which allows the government to spy on your conversations. The government will monitor your every step. They’ll know which sites you’re on, what you’re downloading, with whom you’re talking, and much more. This is especially problematic for US users, expats, or businesses connecting between the US and China who need uninterrupted access to American platforms.

A reliable VPN that works in China disconnects you from this matrix, hides your IP address, and encrypts your traffic to prevent monitoring and spying. This allows for a greater degree of internet freedom and privacy. So, to answer the second question, you need a VPN in this country. It’s pretty much a necessity in 2026.

Popular VPNs That Don’t Work in China

Many popular providers advertise as being great for bypassing censorship, even going as far as offering Stealth VPN and other functionalities. In practice, many of these are great only for mild censorship and weaker firewalls – not for China. We’ll list a few to help you avoid pitfalls and avoid spending your money in vain.

❌ CyberGhost

CyberGhost is an excellent option if you want to stream movies on Netflix or download torrents. Unfortunately, as much as we love it, we mourn its lack of obfuscation, which seriously harms this provider’s reliability in China and similar countries. Have we tested it? Yes – this VPN wouldn’t work in China, no matter what.

Again, this comes down to the lack of obfuscation that would allow you to get over deep-packet inspection. Our experts recommend changing CyberGhost for NordVPN before you go to the mainland.

❌ Proton VPN

Proton VPN openly admits to not working in this country, and this is honest, which we respect. Interestingly, Proton offers Stealth VPN on macOS. It works well in the UAE, Turkey, Qatar, and other mildly censored regions, but fails in the mainland. Compared to our #1-rated VPN for China, NordVPN, this one is as secure.

But you need much more if you’re in this country. In 2026, Proton VPN’s firepower won’t suffice to jump over the wide and tall Great Firewall. For context, when stacking up Mullvad, Surfshark, and Proton VPN on China performance, only the first two cleared our firewall tests — Proton did not.

❌ Private Internet Access

Private Internet Access was mentioned many times on Reddit as a VPN working in China. Unfortunately, this was a few years ago, when PIA’s obfuscation with Shadowsocks could beat the Great Firewall. In 2026, very few people used this provider successfully. We know of some users satisfied with PIA in China.

Even our team managed to make it work from time to time, but not reliably and with great speed. PIA is more reliable than Proton VPN and CyberGhost, don’t get us wrong. However, it’s far from usable in this country.

❌ IPVanish

IPVanish often makes it to the lists of the best overall VPNs. Practice showed that this provider is far from NordVPN, ExpressVPN, or Surfshark. While IPVanish offers obfuscation, it won’t work against Chinese censorship. We even confirmed it by testing it, and noticed that we couldn’t connect to it at all.

We switched to OpenVPN, then WireGuard, and used a kill switch and all the security features we could conjure. Nothing worked, and IPVanish remained useless.

Are VPNs in China Legal?

Contrary to Turkmenistan, Belarus, and a few other locations where VPNs are strictly illegal, we title China a gray zone. The government restricts the use of VPNs but doesn’t outright ban them. This means you won’t end up in jail for using one. Simultaneously, VPNs and their websites are heavily blocked.

This is why it’s recommended to subscribe to a service before you arrive in China. If you’re already there, you can use tourist hotels’ WiFi networks to do this because they’re less censored. Either way, we haven’t heard of anyone going to jail or being fined for using reliable VPNs in China.

You can use them to watch content, unblock sites, and preserve your privacy. The only thing to worry about is selling and/or promoting VPNs, which is illegal. The authorities let people use only government-approved providers, but this isn’t viable for many because they keep logs and lack privacy.

If you’re going to use a VPN, better do it without bragging, promoting, or anything similar. Ask a Chinese lawyer about VPN-related laws if you’re unsure what to do. A lawyer will explain to you how to use it and what not to do. Also, refer to our guide, where we address the question of VPNs’ legality in many regions.

Best VPN for China: Summary

China is a specific country. Its culture and cuisine are some of the most revered, but its politics, censorship, and surveillance deter many people from venturing there. With the best VPNs for China in 2026, things will be much easier. At least you can visit this country and still enjoy online privacy and freedom.

NordVPN and ExpressVPN are the best VPN brands for China right now, with a great price-to-performance ratio. They’ve consistently topped our tests alongside Surfshark since 2024 — if you’ve been asking whether NordVPN, ExpressVPN, or Surfshark work in China, the answer for all three is yes. Surfshark is the cheapest premium VPN for China, and its unlimited connections and NoBorders mode are a perfect match for budget-oriented users.

Astrill VPN is likely more efficient than Surfshark, but roughly six times more expensive for the same 2-year plan. We then have Mullvad, the most anonymous option. It’s time to get over the ever-present Chinese Great Firewall and reclaim your freedom. Choose your VPN and make it happen.

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