Best VPNs for China travel 2025

Internet users in China have to contend with the Great Firewall – China’s extremely powerful and restrictive internet controls that block countless websites within the country. Sites like YouTube and Facebook are restricted, as are useful apps like WhatsApp. If you want to stay connected and access unbiased information, a China VPN is the only way to do so.

However, some VPNs can’t bypass the Great Firewall. That’s why I tested more than 20 VPNs for China to find connections that not only worked and could bypass restrictions, but that offer robust security measures to help you avoid surveillance.

Whether you’re a resident of China or traveling to the country temporarily, I’ve chosen the best China VPNs to use to bypass restrictions and unblock websites and communication apps. Each of these VPNs will also keep you safe from tracking and surveillance while you’re within China.

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Which VPN works in China: my recommendations

As of May 2025, NordVPN currently ranks as the best VPN for China. I’ve been using NordVPN for years to bypass restrictions and access my usual services when splitting my time between the UK, US, and Europe. But I’ve also used it to avoid the Great Firewall and remain connected to loved ones via WhatsApp and Messenger. Surfshark is my secondary VPN for China and offers similarly powerful unblocking thanks to its Camouflage Mode and extensive server network.

During my in-house tests, I also came across several other VPNs that work in China – though typically only when connecting with powerful obfuscation features. Here’s a summary of other VPNs for China that can bypass restrictions:

Choosing a VPN for China depends on what you need the VPN for, with some VPNs offering broader server networks and others having lower subscription prices for example. However, in order to work in China, VPNs typically require obfuscation features to bypass the Great Firewall’s powerful restrictions.

Verdict:

Best China VPNs: in-depth reviews

1. NordVPN

   Best VPN for China overall
   9.8
2. Surfshark VPN

   China VPN with low-cost subscriptions
   9.5
3. Proton VPN

   Secure VPN for China with free tier
   8.6
4. ExpressVPN

   China VPN with high-speed obfuscated connections
   8.4
5. CyberGhost VPN

   VPN for China with 45-day guarantee
   8.9

As China runs its own social media networks, the country chose to block competing foreign services including YouTube and Facebook. So, I tested more than 20 VPNs to help visitors and residents in China access their social media profiles, Gmail services, and other blocked apps and web services. I also tested each VPN on different devices, as Apple complies with Chinese regulations and VPN apps may disappear from the App Store once you’re within the country.

Top 1. NordVPN – overall best VPN for China

In 2025, NordVPN is the best VPN for China and still works - but you must set it up correctly. Before you connect, I advise you to enable the kill switch in settings. Next, find and connect to an obfuscated server. Without these steps, you’re likely to struggle because regular servers can easily get blocked by the Great Firewall.

Easily bypass the Great Firewall

I tested NordVPN on trips to Beijing and Shanghai, and it’s one of few remaining VPNs that could consistently bypass the Great Firewall and unblock my most-used apps and web services like Instagram, Gmail, and YouTube. Provided that I remained connected to an obfuscated server, I was able to access everything without restrictions. This includes keeping in touch with friends and family on WhatsApp and checking my bank accounts back at home.

Industry leading security features

NordVPN is one of my go-to VPNs thanks to its superior security features. When connected to public Wi-Fi in China, you’re exposed to government surveillance and tracking. However, with NordVPN’s obfuscation features and AES-256 encryption, I could use public internet hotspots without worrying about my identity or online activities being tracked. What’s more, NordVPN passed all my leak tests too – there are no IP or DNS leaks that could suddenly result in you being blocked or having your location leaked.

Fastest servers

Speed is important with a China VPN because some VPN services suffer slowdowns within the country, particularly when streaming or video calling. However, I saw consistently high speeds with NordVPN, especially when connected to the neighboring Hong Kong and Japan obfuscated servers. I could stream YouTube videos in HD, video calls didn’t lag, and uploads worked fine when I wanted to share content on social media.

Pricing

NordVPN is one of the most affordable China VPNs, at just $3.39/month with a 76% coupon code. There's a 7-day free trial if you're on Android, but you can get a 30-day money-back guarantee across all platforms, allowing you to fully test the VPN yourself for over a month.

For more information, read our detailed NordVPN review.

Top 2. Surfshark – inexpensive VPN for China

Surfshark still works in China in 2025, but as with NordVPN, you’ll need to enable the kill switch and No Borders mode. This obfuscation feature is designed for highly restrictive countries like China – without it, most regular servers were immediately blocked.

Offers extra features to bypass censorship

I’ve used Surfshark as a secondary VPN on numerous trips to China. It consistently succeeded in unblocking Google services, as well as YouTube, Instagram, and WhatsApp once I’d enabled No Borders mode. I recommend that you choose obfuscated servers in nearby regions like Singapore or Japan for the best speeds. Some servers didn’t work, but others got me through the Great Firewall and let me use the internet unrestricted.

Comes with a huge server network

One thing I really like about Surfshark is its vast server network of 3200+ servers in 100+ countries. Armed with this fleet, I had loads of options for secure connections, even when some servers were blocked. I connected to reliable servers in Hong Kong, Japan, and Singapore, accessing unbiased news sources from back home, social media websites like Facebook, and WhatsApp. No Borders mode ensured that I could always bypass the Great Firewall.

Unlimited device connections and fast speeds

One of my favorite things about Surfshark is that you can connect unlimited devices under a single account. This is useful if you’ve got a phone, laptop, tablet, and potentially a friend or colleague who needs an unrestricted connection. However, while some servers were solid for video calls and HD streaming, others slowed down significantly. So again, I recommend sticking with servers in neighboring countries like Hong Kong and Japan for the most consistent performance.

Pricing

Surfshark's pricing is among the cheapest you'll find in VPNs for China. Prices start at just $1.99/month with an 87% coupon code. What's more, you can use the 7-day free trial on both iOS and Android. After that, there's a 30-day money-back guarantee to fully test out the service risk free for a month.

Pricing

Top 3. Proton VPN – freemium China VPN with robust security features

Proton VPN works in China in 2025, but only when you use the Stealth protocol – an obfuscation feature. Without it, I couldn’t find a working connection. While Proton VPN offers a free tier, you’ll need to be a premium user to access features required for use in China.

Strong encryption and privacy

For VPN privacy in China, Proton VPN is among the best VPN services I’ve tested. In addition to AES-256 encryption, it uses perfect forward secrecy – preventing any decryption of your sensitive data. This is backed by a working kill switch that helps keep you secure on public Wi-Fi hotspots. During my tests, Proton VPN passed all leak tests, proving that it’s an airtight VPN for China where internet tracking is commonplace.

Provides great obfuscation

What made Proton VPN stand out during my tests is its Stealth protocol. I tested more than 20 VPNs that claim to work in China, but few could actually get past the Great Firewall as reliably as Proton VPN could when I enabled this feature. With Stealth, I easily connected to Japan, Singapore, and US servers without being blocked by any Chinese restrictions. It wasn’t the fastest VPN I’ve tested, but I was even able to stream US television.

Has the best free VPN plan

Proton VPN is the only VPN I tested that has a truly-free VPN plan for China. Unfortunately, the free servers are limited to a handful of countries, and you can’t choose which one you connect to. What’s more, they lack obfuscation – the Stealth protocol is only available to paid users. However, while I couldn’t find a working free connection in China, the free tier was ideal for stopovers in other nearby countries and to test the service prior to leaving for my trip.

Pricing

Proton VPN's premium tier isn't the cheapest VPN for China option, at $2.99/month on the lowest tier when you use a 70% discount code to get the cheapest prices. While there’s no free trial, you can try the free tier first to see how Proton VPN performs. Plus, there’s a 30-day money-back guarantee available on all operating systems.

For more information, read our detailed Proton VPN review.

Top 4. ExpressVPN – fast, secure VPN connections in China

ExpressVPN still works in China in 2025 and doesn’t require you to choose specific servers or fiddle with settings. Simply install the app, enable the kill switch, and access the internet unrestricted.

No complicated setup required

Due to its price, ExpressVPN isn’t my first choice – but it’s a handy go-to China VPN thanks to its simplicity. I’ve used ExpressVPN in Shanghai, Beijing, and rural parts of China without being blocked by the Great Firewall. This is because you don’t need to be picky about the servers you choose. ExpressVPN routinely refreshes its server fleet, and even non-obfuscated servers can usually bypass restrictions with ease thanks to ExpressVPN’s proprietary Lightway protocol.

Great for streaming and video calls

ExpressVPN’s speeds were consistently fast, even in more rural areas where other VPNs can slow to a crawl. I tested ExpressVPN with YouTube and Netflix, and it could easily handle 1080p streaming without lag during my tests in mainland China. What really impressed me though was how well it held up during videoconferencing on Zoom and in WhatsApp video calls.

Highly secure privacy features

Security-wise, ExpressVPN employs secure 256-bit encryption and a kill switch to safeguard your personal data and your connection. ExpressVPN also passed my IP and DNS leak tests, so you’re not at risk of leaking your real IP or DNS requests and potentially being tracked. Since it uses perfect forward secrecy, your encryption keys rotate with each new session, meaning that nobody could access your data even in the event they could access your session data.

Pricing

ExpressVPN is known for being one of the pricier VPNs you can use in China, but its lightning-fast, optimised service represents solid value for money. Pricing begins at $4.99/month with a 48% discount code. You can also get a 7-day free trial on mobile devices and a 30-day money-back guarantee after that on all platforms.

For more information, read our detailed ExpressVPN review.

Top 5. CyberGhost VPN – China VPN with extended free-use period

In my tests, CyberGhost could be inconsistent in China. On occasion, I managed to connect using servers in Hong Kong and Singapore, but some connections got blocked or offered up slow speeds. I recommend this as a backup option for getting a VPN in China.

Beginner-friendly and easy to use

If you’re new to VPNs, CyberGhost’s apps are among the easiest to get to grips with. It offers a simple and clean interface with an easy Kill Switch toggle. With this feature enabled, I could quickly browse for connections among CyberGhost’s 11700+ VPN servers. Unfortunately, CyberGhost lacks obfuscation, though I was still able to bypass restrictions thanks to the sheer size of the server network and NoSpy servers that add enhanced privacy.

Vast server network

CyberGhost has one of the largest server networks I’ve seen in my experience with over 80 VPN services, offering 11,700+ servers in 100+ countries. A handful of nearby servers in locations like Singapore and Hong Kong worked for me during off-peak hours. However, speeds varied a lot and servers were occasionally blocked after working previously. Social media, email, and Google services all worked fine during my initial tests, but video streaming performance was on and off.

Solid privacy features

Despite lacking obfuscation features for enhanced privacy and unblocking power, CyberGhost kept my data protected. The VPN uses standard but powerful 256-bit encryption, an automatic kill switch, and DNS/IP leak protection that was proven in my test circuit. So, while it may not always get you past blocks as quickly as competing services, your identity and location will remain protected throughout.

Pricing

CyberGhost is an affordable China VPN with pricing starting from $2.19/month when you use an 83% discount code. CyberGhost also offers one of the longest money-back guarantees at 45 days, plus there is a 24-hour trial on Windows, 3-day trial on Android, and 7-day trial for iOS.

How to use a VPN in China

The Chinese government controls access to the internet through a countrywide internet monitoring system known as the Great Firewall. However, using a VPN in China allows you to bypass the Great Firewall and use the internet without restrictions. This restores access to blocked services like Google, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, WhatsApp, and Gmail.

Using a VPN in China is simple – here’s a quick-start guide based on my research and in-country tests with the best VPN services to choose:

1. Sign up for one of the VPNs I’ve recommended. I advise choosing NordVPN, now 76% off, for its reliability in mainland China.
2. Download the VPN app from the official website or App Store before you travel. In China, the apps are often unavailable for download.
3. Install and open the VPN, then sign into your account.
4. Enable the kill switch to ensure that your connection is protected.
5. Choose and connect to a server outside of China. Nearby servers like Japan, Singapore, or Hong Kong are usually fastest – but look for obfuscated servers.

It’s not illegal to use a VPN in China, but the government has a list of approved VPNs and considers these the only approved options. Using a VPN that isn’t state sanctioned could land you in trouble, though you’re unlikely to face harsh penalties. It’s likely that in the worst-case scenario, your phone could be confiscated and wiped. However, since state-sanctioned VPNs offer no privacy, I strongly advise you to download your VPN before you leave for China

Bypass the Great Firewall with NordVPN

How I tested VPNs for China

The most important aspect of mine and my colleague's tests with VPNs for China was making sure that each recommended service could actually bypass Great Firewall restrictions. However, our tests went deeper than that, looking in particular at the security features offered by each provider. While there are no reports of visitors being penalized for using a VPN to bypass restrictions, the risk is always present.

During my most recent time within mainland China, and through networking with my colleagues in the region, we verified that each recommended VPN service:

• Includes a strict no-logs policy: This is crucial to ensure that no data is tracked, collected, or stored while you’re connected to a VPN server in China. I ensured that each recommended VPN stores zero user data logs.
• Offers connections in neighboring regions: Fast connections are essential for streaming or simply keeping in touch with loved ones. Servers in countries like Hong Kong and Japan helped to keep speeds consistently high during our tests.
• Features powerful privacy tools: Obfuscation is important for China as the Great Firewall can detect VPN traffic without it, thereby blocking your VPN. While CyberGhost is a rare exception, obfuscation tools are critical.

Once I’d identified VPNs for China that met these criteria, my team and I tested them with a host of the most popular services that are blocked in China: Zoom, Gmail, Instagram, WhatsApp, YouTube, and Netflix, among others. We then looked at which VPN services had the greatest success rate unblocking sites in China.

Our tests also included comprehensive speed tests using Ookla Speedtest to benchmark average connection speeds, before connecting to each China VPN and retesting our speed.

The result was that NordVPN is the clear frontrunner and best VPN for China, offering powerful obfuscation and other privacy features, with a strict no-logs policy. Surfshark VPN came close as a powerful secondary option I have routinely used to unblock the Great Firewall, and Proton VPN is a solid third choice.

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FAQ

Is a VPN illegal in China?

Technically, it is illegal to use or operate a VPN in China without government approval – but this law mostly applies to VPN operators and companies. Individuals visiting China who need a VPN can usually do so without any comeback. Still, it's wise to avoid drawing attention to your use of VPN services since authorities in restrictive countries can be unpredictable.

Can foreigners use a VPN in China?

Foreigners can typically use a VPN in China without consequence, but it’s highly restricted and most VPN services are blocked unless approved by the state. Even if you access a working VPN like the best VPNs for China listed above, you should be wary that using a VPN to access blocked services could attract unwanted attention. Still, the majority of tourists continue to do so without issue so long as you avoid breaking any laws.

Can China tell if you're using a VPN?

Yes, China can detect VPN usage via its countrywide internet surveillance system, the Great Firewall. This firewall uses methods like deep packet inspection (DPI) to single out and block VPN traffic. However, when you choose one of the best VPNs for China with robust security features, like NordVPN, you can bypass these blocks thanks to powerful obfuscation features.

What happens if you use VPN in China?

Using a VPN is technically legal, though there are restrictions in place that limit VPN usage. As of 2025, there are no verified instances of tourists being arrested for using a VPN in China. However, anti-VPN measures imposed by the Great Firewall will limit your ability to bypass restrictions unless you choose a premium VPN like NordVPN. Above all, I recommend avoiding state-sanctioned VPNs; these providers are only approved by China because they’re willing to share user data with the government.

What VPN works in China?

NordVPN is the best VPN that still works in China as of May 2025, thanks to powerful obfuscated servers and other privacy protections that disguise VPN traffic and hide your identity. During my tests within the country, Surfshark and Proton VPN also performed admirably – though in every case, I recommend enabling your kill switch and ensuring you use obfuscation to stand the best chance of getting a secure connection that can bypass the Great Firewall.

Why do you need a VPN in China?

You need a VPN in China because of the Great Firewall, a government-controlled internet surveillance system that blocks popular Western websites and applications. Without a reliable VPN that can bypass these stringent internet blocks, you won’t be able to access common social media platforms, apps like WhatsApp and Instagram, and Google’s services for example. What’s more, China imposes heavy monitoring and surveillance across its countrywide internet networks, but a VPN prevents them from being able to track you, your internet usage, and your location.

How to use VPN in China on an iPhone?

To use a VPN on your iPhone in China, download a proven China VPN from the App Store – NordVPN can bypass the Great Firewall with its powerful obfuscated servers. Next, create an account, then enable your kill switch to ensure you won’t be detected if your connection stutters. Finally, connect to a server in a location outside of the country. I recommend choosing a nearby country like Hong Kong or Japan for the best performance. Make sure you choose an obfuscated server or connect with an obfuscation protocol if you choose a VPN other than NordVPN.

Which VPN has China servers?

No premium VPNs offer servers in China because to legally operate servers there, they would have to follow government rules on logging user data and handing over data on request. This is a huge breach of privacy. Some VPNs may offer virtual IP addresses in China, but true no-log servers within China are extremely rare. Astrill VPN for example has servers in mainland China, but they are subject to the data laws outlined above and thus could pose a risk to your privacy.