If you want to travel or reside in China, you may know that internet restriction is severe. To connect to the global internet, you’ll need a VPN (Virtual Private Network) that can get over China’s Great Firewall while also protecting your online privacy.
However, not all VPNs function well in China. I live in China, and I have tried many VPNs over the years. Some famous VPNs like ExpressVPN, CyberGhost, PureVPN, and more are not working in China.
Based on our own testing and customer reviews, we will examine the top 5 VPNs for China in 2024. You may use one of these VPNs for Streaming, unlocking censorship, protecting privacy, etc.
Windscribe – Free VPN Working in China
Windscribe is a relatively young VPN service that has grown in popularity among Chinese consumers. It contains a one-of-a-kind feature known as R.O.B.E.R.T., which is a customized ad blocker and virus blocker that can also block domains and IP addresses linked with the firewall.
Windscribe’s servers are located in over 60 countries, including Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan, and Singapore. It also offers WireGuard, a fast and secure VPN technology that might help you perform better.
Windscribe features a straightforward and user-friendly program for Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, and Linux. It offers a free plan with 10 GB of data per month as well as a competitively priced pro package.
During my use, sometimes I need to change a few protocols before connecting to Windscribe. Once connected, it never fails. With Windscribe on, I can easily use ChatGPT and Microsoft Copilot.
Hide.me VPN Also Offers a Free Plan
Hide.me VPN is a new VPN provider that works well in China. It has servers in 79 different locations and on 6 continents, including some in Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan, and Singapore. You can use Hide.me to bypass the Great Firewall and protects your data from prying eyes with modern encryption and obfuscation techniques.
Whether you want to watch your favorite shows, or visit social media, Hide.me VPN can assist you. Hide.me VPN . It also has a rigorous no-logs policy, which means they never store or disclose information about your online behavior. With hide.me VPN, you can experience the internet the way it should be: free and open.
Hide.me VPN offers a free plan with 10GB of traffic. You don’t even need to register an account to use its free VPN. The premium plan is quite affordable at the moment, which is as cheap as 2.59 USD per month.
ProtonVPN – Unlimited Traffic
ProtonVPN is a VPN service that prioritizes privacy and is intended to provide safe online browsing. It is developed by the same people that created ProtonMail. What I love about ProtonVPN is that the free plan of ProtonVPN does not have a traffic limit.
Also, it offers strong encryption, a strict no-logs policy, and sophisticated security features. However, sometimes, I find it hard to establish a connection. Once connected, it works great though.
Surfshark
Surfshark is a newcomer to the VPN market, but it has impressed many users with its performance and features. It has over 3200 servers in 65 countries, including some in Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan, and Singapore.
Surfshark also supports Shadowsocks, which is a proxy protocol that can bypass the firewall
and provide fast speeds. Surfshark has a clean and easy-to-use app for Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, and Linux.
Surfshark is very cheap and offers a 30-day money-back guarantee. Be aware that the Chinese government has recently blocked some servers, so you may switch servers to establish a VPN connection.
Shadowsocks
Shadowsocks is a one-of-a-kind proxy program that has gained popularity for circumventing Chinese internet restrictions. Shadowsocks, unlike typical VPNs, act as a proxy server, allowing users to access prohibited material.
It encrypts and routes internet traffic through a distant server, allowing it to avoid restrictions. Many third-party suppliers offer Shadowsocks servers, and users can even build up their own. Instead of the Shadowsocks client, you can also use Clash for Windows or Android. For iOS or macOS, you can download the Shadowrocket app.
VPN for China with a Free Trial
Astrill is one of the oldest and most popular VPNs for China, which I have been using since 2015. It has a large network of servers around the world, including some in China itself, which can provide fast and stable connections.
Astrill also offers a StealthVPN mode, which can disguise your VPN traffic as regular HTTPS traffic and avoid detection by the firewall. There was a time when Atrill protocols, including OpenWeb, OpenVPN, and Wireguard, all failed, but TtealthVPN works. I also love Astrill Smart Mode, which allows you to visit local and international sites at high speed with high-end stealth and security.
Astrill has a user-friendly app for Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, and Linux, as well as a router applet that can cover all your devices at home. Astrill is not cheap, but it offers a 7-day free trial and a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Note: If you request a 7-day free trial from the Astrill Support team, don’t tell them that you are in China.
Conclusion
While internet censorship causes considerable obstacles in China, VPN services provide viable methods for lifting limitations and connecting to the global internet. These VPNs for China include powerful encryption, obfuscation technologies, and massive server networks.
It is, nevertheless, critical to select VPN providers that can react to these internet censorship changes. If you have the budget, I recommend Astrill, the best-performance VPN in China. Otherwise, Hideme and Windscribe are free VPNs that are working fine in China in 2024.