Every visitor needs a VPN for China, but it’s not always easy to know what is the best option.
It doesn’t matter whether you’re coming as a tourist, a student, an English teacher or even to do business, the need for a Virtual Private Network or “VPN” in China is universal. At this point, China censors so much of the internet that it affects every single foreigner who enters the country.
Personally, I’ve used a VPN in China for many years, and it has been important to give me access to my corporate email (which is Google-based), VoiP calling, and even the guilty pleasure of social media (Facebook, Instagram, etc.).
That’s why it’s important to find the best VPN for China
Without a VPN, all of these services would be inaccessible in China.
Before we go too far, if you’re simply looking for a recommendation of a VPN that works in China, I’m going to point you in one of three directions: ExpressVPN, NordVPN and/or Surfshark.
Personally, I pay for subscriptions to all of these VPNs (two act as backups), and I recommend them all as the best VPN for China because they’ve worked consistently here.
They each also offer 30-day money back guarantees in case you don’t like them.
As you read down further, this short table of contents will show you that we’re going to cover:
- Why do you need a VPN for China?
- China VPN Tips – Understanding the internet in China.
- Reviews of the Best VPNs for China
- ExpressVPN – Best overall VPN for China
- NordVPN – Fastest VPN for China
I hope you’ll find my decade of experience useful as you do your research on the best VPN for China in 2023!
*Full Disclosure* Some of the links in this article are affiliate links, which means that I may receive compensation if you choose to use services listed here. I don’t recommend anything I don’t personally use, however, and I’m very grateful for your support to keep this site free!
Why Do I Need a VPN in China?
This is a great question: do you really need a VPN at all when entering China?
My answer is typically a resounding yes.
However, I admit that’s because I want to access websites and apps that are blocked in China like Instagram, Gmail, WhatsApp, and YouTube among the hundreds of others.
But let’s be honest – access to these email and social sites isn’t absolutely necessary.
I’ve lived without the internet for a few months before and, believe it or not, I didn’t die.
If you think you can stomach a few weeks without sharing updates about your trip on social media, I do see tons of value in finding your inner zen through a technology detox while traveling through China.
Consider this, though: Countries like China have popularized the use of VPNs for the purpose of evading censorship.
But the real reason for a Virtual Private Network is…
Security
As you travel outside of your home country, much of the internet you use will be connecting to public WiFi.
Whether you realize it or not, these public connections are often NOT secure and leave you vulnerable to hacks, stolen passwords, and worse.
VPNs were developed to encrypt your data so that no matter where you’re connecting from, the data you transmit (banking info, passwords, emails) remains private.
It’s just an added bonus that this technology also help you tunnel past internet censorship! 🙂
If you’re still with me, I imagine you’ve decided you need a VPN. So, now let’s go over the basics of the best VPN for China.
China Internet Basics and VPN Tips
After having run an online business in China for many years, I’ve learned a lot about how to cope with China’s internet and how to find/use a good VPN. Hopefully, you’ll find these tips valuable as well.
So, let’s go through these four tips one-by-one to bring you up to speed.
Tip #1: China’s Internet Isn’t Centralized
Most people I speak with see China’s internet – or any nation-state internet – as a centralized system, meaning they think it’s all controlled through a single entry/exit point somewhere in Beijing.
Unfortunately, that’s not the case. While officials in Beijing certainly set the tone and make orders about what should be blocked and censored, it’s really up to the provinces and counties to police their own internet.
What does this mean for you, a traveler in China?
It means that the internet across China isn’t uniform and what opens and works in one city doesn’t always open and work in another. It also means that the IP addresses for some VPNs (which is the way they connect to the outside world) might get blocked without any warning.
It’s important to find a VPN that focuses specifically on the China market.
It’s no secret that the Chinese government doesn’t approve of VPNs (even though its government officials may use them). To prevent ordinary Chinese citizens from using VPNs, the Chinese government is always re-tweaking its Great Firewall whenever a VPN provider manages to dig a hole through it.
I’ve often described the relationship between the Chinese government and VPN providers as one that is always fighting a war of attrition.
China’s Great Firewall (censorship) is always updating and changing.
The best VPNs for China are dedicated to responding to these changes. They are well-staffed with teams focused on consistently develop improvements to their software to get you over the Great Firewall.
Anyone else in the VPN market not focused specifically on China cannot keep up with the Chinese government’s own tech improvements to its Internet censorship.
Tip #2: Free VPNs and Proxies Suck
Often times, I get emails from travelers asking me if a good free VPN will work in China. My answer is always the same…
Free VPNs and proxies suck in China (and they’re dangerous)
Remember that China is always revamping the Great Firewall to restrict content it deems sensitive for its citizens. The investment to make the Great Firewall ever taller is tremendous.
With that said, do you think free VPNs can make enough money to pay good engineers to compete with the Chinese government?
Hopefully you’re nodding with me in agreement. If not, you’re welcome to try your free VPN of choice, but be warned that it likely won’t work when you arrive in China.
Or if it somehow does, a free VPN will likely sell your information to the highest bidder.
Tip #3: China’s WiFi Often Requires a Chinese Phone Number
I get a number of people who write and ask about how easy it is to use WiFi in China.
The good news is that China’s WiFi network is growing at an amazingly rapid pace. Airports, coffee shops, and shopping malls are usually all providing free WiFi.
But there’s a catch.
Usually, these WiFi networks require a mobile text-generated passcode in order to log on. If you don’t have a Chinese phone number, you can’t use the WiFi.
There are ways to use your phone in China or to purchase a Chinese phone number, but just be aware that not all WiFi will allow you to connect in China.
Tip #4: Install a VPN on all Your Devices BEFORE Leaving for China
My last piece of advice for you is to sign-up and install your VPN on all devices and phones before you leave for China.
In recent years, the Chinese government has blocked all VPN provider websites to limit its citizens from accessing the Internet beyond the Great Firewall.
VPNs have responded by randomizing their URL connections, but it’s still a risk to arrive in China and hope you can download and install a new VPN.
So, do yourself a favor and make sure you download and install your VPN for China on all your devices before boarding your plane!
China Mike’s Recommended VPN for China
Now having gone through all my top tips, I want to share with you what I consider to be the best VPN for China.
These are also VPNs I have used in my daily life for years and continue to trust.
ExpressVPN – Recommended VPN for China (3 Months Free!)
You’ll often read in the news each year when China’s People’s Congress convenes that the Internet is under tight lock down bringing all VPNs out of service.
Well, while lots of VPNs have gone out of service during these points in time, ExpressVPN has consistently worked at keeping foreign expats connected to the outside Internet.
For me, that’s a true testament on how reliable ExpressVPN is for China and the high-speeds you see when using the service is another perk that distinguishes it from the competition.
ExpressVPN is also super easy to install and when you’re incredibly busy planning your trip to China, not having to worry about configuring the VPN on your multiple devices is a huge win.
Although I’ve had troubles with ExpressVPN like with any service I’ve used, it’s consistently been reliable over the past few years.
Special Discount: If you want to try ExpressVPN, they have offered a special deal for readers of China-Mike. If you use this link to visit ExpressVPN, they will give you 3 months free on an annual plan!
NordVPN – Recommended VPN for China (up to 75% off)
Remember when I was telling you that you need a VPN that is focused on the China market?
NordVPN is among those providers.
NordVPN is well aware that China’s Internet restrictions vary across the country and has created its Obfuscated Servers feature to account for this and keep you connected to VPN servers from China.
They are also quick to adapt whenever the Chinese government makes upgrades to the Great Firewall, which checks my selection criteria box that your VPN provider should have a dedicated team to respond to improvements in the Great Firewall.
Having used NordVPN for many years now, I’ve always been satisfied with their service and really enjoy the look and feel to the NordVPN apps.
NordVPN is always running their own specials, which sometimes include NordPass, which is a password manager app worth trying.
Surfshark VPN – Unlimited Devices
The strength of Surfshark is its (relative) obscurity.
While popular VPNs like ExpressVPN and NordVPN often find themselves the target of China’s censorship, that’s not always the case with smaller or up-and-coming VPNs.
Surfshark is a VPN that offers all the same features that you’ll get with the other two VPNs (kill switch, no logging, high encryption, etc.). The difference is that they allow for unlimited simultaneous connections.
If you’re having trouble with another VPN in China and want to try something different, I recommend Surfshark as an option.
Surfshark offers a 30-day money back guarantee, so you can try risk-free.
Bonus: Astrill VPN – Most Reliable China VPN
For as long as I’ve been in China (which is more than a decade!), Astrill has been a go-to option for expats wanting to access the uncensored internet in China.
As with each of these VPN services, it’s been through it’s share of times when it’s working well vs times when it hasn’t.
In general, however, Astrill has a record of providing the most consistent, un-interrupted connection status for a VPN in China. I don’t use it as my primary VPN, but it has made for an excellent backup that almost always works when my primary fails me.
They’re not the cheapest, and they have premium add-ons that add even more to that price, but if ExpressVPN and NordVPN have failed you, this is definitely worth a shot.
Astrill generally doesn’t provide discounts, other than the price break when you purchase an annual plan.
Which is the Best VPN for China?
You don’t have to let China’s Great Firewall prevent you from accessing your favorite websites and apps in China. Instead, take my tips and suggestions and sign up for the best VPN for China in 2022.
ExpressVPN, NordVPN and Astrill have rarely let me down and Surfshark has been a wonderful addition to this list for me. I can always count on their service to get me beyond the Great Firewall.
A VPN is one of many recommended China travel resources here on China Mike. Make sure you check my list so you don’t forget something that you didn’t realize you needed to have ready!
