Top Picks for VPNs That Work in China for 2023

Using the internet in China can be a challenge due to the Great Firewall, which blocks access to many popular sites and services. Fortunately, Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) can bypass the firewall and provide secure access to the internet.

However, not all VPNs are created equal, and choosing the right one can be difficult. In this guide, I’ll take a closer look at the best VPNs to use in China, including NordVPN, Surfshark, and ExpressVPN, as well as what you need to know before using a VPN in China.

What to Know Before Using a VPN in China

Before choosing a VPN, it’s essential to consider a few factors to ensure uninterrupted access to resources behind the Great Firewall. Here are some things to keep in mind:

1. Get a VPN before entering China.?The Chinese government blocks VPN provider websites, making it difficult to download a VPN once in China.
2. Know where you’ll be staying.?Some web resources may be available in one province and blocked in another.
3. Get a Chinese SIM card.?Your regular card may not work in China, so it’s important to make sure your device is compatible.
4. Many sites and services will be unavailable without a VPN, including search engines, social media, messaging, news sites, streaming platforms, and Wikipedia.

Best VPNs for China — Detailed List

#1. NordVPN —

The Best VPN for China Based in Panama, NordVPN offers 5500+ servers in 60 countries, including 70+ servers in Hong Kong and surrounding countries.

NordVPN uses AES-256 encryption, has a triple-audited no-logs policy, and allows anonymous payments with cryptocurrencies. With NordVPN’s proprietary NordLynx, users can achieve excellent speed performance.

NordVPN is perfect for streaming, unblocking all popular streaming platforms, including Netflix, Hulu, and more. NordVPN’s Threat protection feature secures users from malware threats and malicious ads.

NordVPN supports all popular devices and can cover up to 6 devices with one subscription. NordVPN’s price starts at $3.49/month and comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Get NordVPN

• Detect malware during the download
• Protect your passwords and files
• 30-day money-back guarantee

=> Get 2 years of NordVPN with 59% off + gift

#2. Surfshark —

The Cheapest VPN for China Surfshark offers affordable VPN plans, starting at $2.49/month. Surfshark can unblock plenty of geo-restricted sites and offers a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Surfshark provides users with unlimited simultaneous connections, making it an excellent choice for families or groups.

Surfshark has a no-logs policy and offers anonymous payment options, ensuring user privacy. With Surfshark, users can bypass the Great Firewall and access streaming platforms, such as Netflix, Hulu, and more.

=> Try SurfShark

#3. ExpressVPN —

Secure VPN for Internet Users in China ExpressVPN offers servers in 94 countries, including Hong Kong and Taiwan. ExpressVPN uses AES-256 encryption and has a no-logs policy.

ExpressVPN is also an excellent choice for streaming and can unblock popular streaming platforms, including Netflix and Amazon Prime Video.

ExpressVPN offers a kill switch and DNS leak protection to ensure user security. ExpressVPN supports all popular devices and can cover up to 5 devices with one subscription.

=> Try ExpressVPN (30-Day money back guarantee)

How to choose VPNs in China

1. Evaluated each VPN based on the following criteria:

• Security:?evaluated features such as secure tunneling protocols, strong kill switches, and leak protection
• Privacy:?used only true no-logs VPNs with anonymous payment options
• Speed:?picked from the fastest VPNs to ensure some juice left for streaming or torrenting after beating the Great Firewall
• Streaming:?checked if VPNs can help with geo-blocking
• Torrenting:?looked for VPNs that allow downloading speedy, freely, and securely
• Customer support:?ensured 24/7 customer support with a live chat option
• Price:?selected reasonably priced VPNs without compromising security or privacy

2. Recommended NordVPN, Surfshark, and ExpressVPN as the best VPNs for China based on the above evaluation criteria

3. Advised users to plan in advance and download and set up VPN software before landing in China to bypass restrictions

4. Mentioned that OpenVPN, PPTP, and L2TP tunneling protocols are blocked in China, and advised users to connect using obfuscated servers

5. Stated that VPNs are legal in China but severely restricted, and travelers can still download and use some VPN apps, but locals may face serious consequences if caught using them

6. Explained the Great Firewall of China censors internet access inside the country by blocking certain websites and using sophisticated methods such as IP blocking, DNS tampering, keyword filtering via Deep Packet Inspection (DPI), and manual blocking

7. Mentioned that China sees VPNs as dangerous and detrimental to its policy, as they help unblock websites and services by bypassing the Great Firewall and give citizens access to foreign sources that spread government propaganda

8. Listed popular media platforms that are blocked in China, include social networks, streaming sites, game publishers, news and informational pages, search engines, internet censorship circumvention websites, file-sharing websites, messaging apps, and cloud storage and sharing websites.

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Originally published on Medium.com