China is the country with the highest number of citizens in the entire world. However, it is also among the countries with the highest levels of censorship enforced by its government.
The so-called ‘Great Firewall of China’ prevents users from accessing an abundance of websites, limiting their internet access to the content that the country’s government approves.
This means that most of the popular online websites, such as YouTube, social media, and alike are entirely out of bounds for anyone living in China.
Luckily, the use of VPNs can fix this problem, with the only remaining issue being the choice regarding which service to use.
Choosing a VPN for China is more difficult as many don’t work. We’ve tested and reduced the list to a more manageable five working choices, so if you’re looking for a VPN for China, these are the services you should be using.
Best VPN for China
| RANK | PROVIDER | PRICE | COUNTRY LOCATIONS | SIMULTANEOUS CONNECTIONS | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. |  | $6.67 /mo | 94 | 3 | VISIT |
| 2. |  | $5.99 /mo | 25 | 2 | VISIT |
| 3. |  | $3.75 /mo | 21 | 6 | VISIT |
| 4. |  | $5.83 /mo | 21 | 12 | VISIT |
| 5. |  | $3.82 /mo | 59 | 6 | VISIT |
1. ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN is a high-speed VPN service with excellent security and easy, instant setup. The service features servers in over 94 countries around the world, and it can instantly unblock most websites and applications that the Chinese government has blocked.
It is also excellent for reaching online anonymity so that you would not have to face any consequences for accessing blocked content. The service also offers a non-stop customer service, as well as a 30-day money-back guarantee, meaning that you can get your money back if the service does not satisfy your needs.
In our speed tests we found ExpressVPN to be one of the fastest, but more importantly, they’re the most reliable for use in China.
Meanwhile, ExpressVPN can be used on a number of different devices, including routers, laptops, desktops, and phones. It supports Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, and iOS systems, meaning that you can use it on pretty much any device.
Top VPN for China
2. 12VPN
12VPN is another high-speed VPN service which can improve your privacy and allow you to break free of any restrictions.
Similarly to ExpressVPN, it can also cover a large variety of devices and systems. Its interface is highly-optimized and very user-friendly, making it an excellent choice for experienced VPN users and first-time users alike.
The service also provides servers in multiple locations around the world, and it has a two-week money-back guarantee, just in case you are not sure whether or not this is the right VPN for you.
It also offers several plans — for a single month, six months, or one year. The single-month plan will cost $10.90 per month, while the six-month plan costs only $8.99 per month. Finally, the yearly plan costs only $5.99 monthly, which will ultimately allow you to save up to 40% in the long term.
3. VPN.ac
Next, there is VPN.ac, which offers servers in over 20 different countries, including the US, Canada, Mexico, the UK, as well as numerous other European countries.
The service is fast, safe, and built by security professionals. It uses multiple VPN protocols and encryption types; it has no speed limit, nor does it keep activity logs. You can optimize the speed by using one of several options, and you can connect up to 6 devices at the same time.
The service supports multiple systems, including Windows, Android, iOS, and Mac, while it can be used on pretty much any device. It also includes a browser add-on.
Specific modes for users in China allow you to keep connected at most times when other services face blocks.
VPN.ac is fast and reliable, with customer support that answers almost instantly. It also offers several plans, including those for one month ($9), three months ($24), one year ($58), or two years ($90), with the last one allowing users to save up to 62%, as its monthly price is only $3.75.
4. StrongVPN
StrongVPN is another speedy and straightforward tool for achieving online safety and unlocking online content. Even if you are trying to browse the web from China, this service will allow you access to a truly open internet.
It does so by allowing you to connect to as many as 650 servers located in over 20 countries around the world. It features the ‘Best Available Location’ option, meaning that it would choose the best location for you. Besides, it does not keep any information about your activities, connections, or even logging data.
It is also very affordable, with a $10 monthly plan, and a $5.83 per month for a yearly plan, meaning that you can save as much as 42% by choosing this one. Of course, the 30-day money-back guarantee is also included to ensure that you get what you paid for, or get your money back.
5. PrivateVPN
Finally, there is PrivateVPN, which may be one of the best choices for those trying to unlock the internet in China. PrivateVPN is one of the fastest growing VPN services around the world, with lightning speeds and excellent protection.
It allows you to remain undetectable while unlocking the entire internet at max speeds. It also features over 100 servers, some of which are nearby China, in places such as South Korea, Singapore, Hong Kong, but also in 56 other locations.
It does not keep user data, allows six simultaneous connection, as well as a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Why do I need a VPN for China?
As mentioned, China is a country that uses an online filter to block a large portion of the internet and make it impossible to access many popular websites. Furthermore, it is also well-known for monitoring its citizens, meaning that there is no real online privacy for anyone who connects to the web from within the country.
To achieve privacy, security, anonymity, as well as to extend your reach — a VPN service is a necessity. You should note that China is known for its hackers and malware creators, all of which pose a threat to anyone in and out of China.
What sites are blocked in China?
China is blocking a number of foreign websites, from news outlets and social media platforms like Twitter and Facebook to YouTube, Netflix, and numerous other streaming services.
Almost all the most popular websites that the rest of the world take for granted are blocked in China – unless you’re using a VPN of course.
You cannot reach these websites without a reliable VPN service, and instead, China offers its versions of such sites.
However, this prevents information flow and keeps you isolated from the rest of the world, which ultimately defeats the entire purpose of the internet. For online freedom and a free flow of information, VPNs or proxies are necessary, although proxies do not do much in terms of protection.
Do I need a VPN for traveling to China?
The short answer is: Yes, you do. For all the reasons explained previously, using a VPN in China is a necessity. Otherwise, you will only be able to access a handful of websites, most of which are sealed within the country.
Complying with this would mean denying yourself all the services you got used to having access to, not to mention applications on your phone and other devices.
Do I need a VPN if I live in China?
The answer to this is once again: Yes. Whether you are a native citizen of China or an expat, the rules are pretty much the same for everyone within the country.
There are no exceptions as to who can access the ‘outside world’ Internet, and anyone wishing to do so must use a VPN to achieve it.
Final Thoughts
China is a country with pretty harsh rules regarding what you can and can’t access on the internet.
If you are a foreigner who wishes to travel there or become a long-term resident, you will quickly notice that none of the services you usually enjoy can be reached anymore.
The situation is the same for natives, as the Great Firewall of China makes no exceptions.
Luckily, by employing one of the VPN services mentioned above, you can unlock the entire internet, and switching through different servers will allow for a greater level of freedom.
We recommend using servers based nearby in locations such as Hong Kong, South Korea or Japan although with services like ExpressVPN and VPN.ac often servers in the United States also work well.
It’s also worth using modes such as ShadowSocks from 12VPN if you’re only concerned about blocking and not about your privacy.
This means that you will be able to easily access your favorite streaming services, social media websites, news outlets, and pretty much anything else you desire.
Best VPN for China
