Best VPNs for China 2026: What Still Works
Let’s be clear: you need a VPN in China. The Great Firewall blocks Google, Gmail, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, WhatsApp, Twitter (X), and hundreds of other sites. Even Netflix and Spotify have limited access. If you want to use the internet like a normal person, a VPN is essential.
Here’s the situation as of 2026 — not all VPNs work, and even the ones that work can be unreliable.
What Works in 2026
AstrillVPN — the most reliable option for China. It uses proprietary protocols that the firewall hasn’t cracked yet. It’s expensive ($20-30/month) and the interface is ugly, but it works when others don’t. The OpenWeb and StealthVPN protocols are the ones to use. Astrill has been operating in China for over a decade and has a dedicated support team that understands the firewall’s behavior.
ExpressVPN — good, but not as reliable as Astrill. It uses Lightway protocol which works most of the time but can be inconsistent during peak hours or political events (when the firewall tightens). Has a better app experience than Astrill. They claim to offer a “network lock” kill switch.
Shadowsocks/V2Ray — not a commercial VPN but a protocol that many tech-savvy travelers use. It routes traffic through an encrypted tunnel that looks like normal HTTPS traffic, making it harder to detect. You need to set it up yourself or pay a provider for access. More technical but more reliable.
What Doesn’t Work
NordVPN has been unreliable in China since 2019. Surfshark has intermittent connectivity. Free VPNs (ProtonVPN free tier, Hotspot Shield free, etc.) are almost universally blocked. Don’t bother — they either don’t work or sell your data.
Setup Tips
Install your VPN before you leave home. This is the most important advice on this page. VPN websites are blocked in China. If you arrive without a VPN installed, you’ll need to find a way to download it — and that’s a headache.
Choose your protocol carefully. OpenVPN (UDP and TCP) is often blocked. WireGuard is increasingly blocked. Astrill’s proprietary protocols or Shadowsocks are the most reliable bets.
Accept that some apps won’t work perfectly even with a VPN. Apple iCloud sometimes slows down. Google Maps can be flaky with navigation. WhatsApp voice calls may cut out. The VPN works, but the firewall still causes interference.
Alternatives and Workarounds
China has its own versions of everything: WeChat instead of WhatsApp, Baidu instead of Google, Weibo instead of Twitter/X, Douyin instead of TikTok (yes, TikTok is Chinese but the global version is different from Douyin). Using these local apps doesn’t require a VPN and they work perfectly. Many travelers find that after a few days, they barely need their VPN except for email and banking.
For specific use cases: Alipay works fine without a VPN for payments. Didi (China’s Uber) has an English interface. Use Amap or Apple Maps instead of Google Maps — they actually work better in China since they’re based on local data.