5 Best VPNs That Actually Work in China in 2026

Key Takeaways

Most VPNs claiming to work in China are blocked. The Great Firewall is constantly updated to detect and block VPN traffic.
ZoogVPN stands out as the most reliable option, boasting nearly 100% uptime, local payment support (via WeChat/Alipay), and a specialized Shadow protocol.
Only VPNs that continuously optimize for China stay reliable. Services like ZoogVPN, NordVPN, and Astrill also maintain dedicated China solutions.
For ZoogVPN, use zooog.info if you are inside China, but use zoogvpn.com if you are outside China
For NordVPN, use nordwangluo.com if you are inside China, but use nordvpn.com if you are outside China

Let me be honest with you: finding a VPN that actually works in China is frustrating. I spent years researching different services, reading through forums, and providing help to people who live in China or travel to China. What I discovered was both eye-opening and, frankly, a bit annoying. Most VPNs that claim to work in China simply don’t.

The Great Firewall of China isn’t some passive barrier. It’s an actively evolving system that constantly identifies and blocks VPN services. So that VPN your friend recommended last year? There’s a good chance it’s been blocked by now. I’ve compiled my findings here to save you the headache I went through.

Quick Comparison Table

VPN Service	Price/Month	Servers	Free Trial	Devices	Reliability	Website
ZoogVPN	From $2.49	1,000+	7 days	10	Excellent	Inside China: zooog.info Outside China: zoogvpn.com
NordVPN	$4.99	5,800+	30 days	6	Very Good	Inside China: nordwangluo.com Outside China: nordvpn.com
AstrillVPN	$15	300+	7 days	5	Very Good	astrill.com
CyberGhost	From $2.11	6,800+	Available	7	Variable	cyberghostvpn.com
Surfshark	From $2.49	3,000+	30 days	Unlimited	Variable	surfshark.com

1. ZoogVPN

The Clear Winner for China

After researching everything I could get my hands on, ZoogVPN consistently came out on top. And honestly? I wasn’t expecting that. It’s not the biggest name in the VPN world, but for China specifically, it just works. And that’s what matters.

What really sets ZoogVPN apart is their Shadow protocol. It’s specifically designed to disguise VPN traffic as regular HTTPS traffic, making it much harder for the Great Firewall to detect and block. During testing, you can experience nearly 100% uptime, which is remarkable given how aggressive China’s blocking has become.

Here’s something that really matters if you’re living in China: ZoogVPN accepts WeChat Pay and Alipay. If you’ve ever tried to pay for an international service while in China, you know what a headache foreign card payments can be. This small detail makes renewals incredibly convenient.

Key Features

1,000+ servers across 70+ countries
Custom Shadow protocol for bypassing the Great Firewall
WeChat and Alipay payment support
Unlimited bandwidth with up to 5 simultaneous devices
Available on Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, and routers
Free plan available; paid plans from $2.49/month with 7-day free trial

Pro tip: If you’re already in China, use zooog.info to sign up (their main site zoogvpn.com is blocked). If you’re outside China, use the regular website.

2. NordVPN:

The Trusted Runner-Up

NordVPN is a name most people recognize, and for good reason. They’ve built one of the largest and most reliable VPN networks in the world. What impressed me is that they haven’t just slapped a “works in China” label on their product; they’ve actually created dedicated infrastructure for it.

Their China-specific service operates through nordwangluo.com, which provides specialized servers and connection methods optimized for getting past the Great Firewall. The 30-day money-back guarantee gives you plenty of time to test it out.

Key Features

5,800+ servers in 60 countries (one of the largest networks available)
Strict no-logs policy that’s been independently audited
Built-in malware protection (Threat Protection feature)
Apps for Windows, Linux, macOS, iOS, Android, plus browser extensions
Priced at $4.99/month with a 30-day money-back guarantee

3. AstrillVPN

Very expensive option

AstrillVPN has been catering to the Chinese market for years, and it shows. They offer a dizzying array of features and VPN protocols to choose from, which gives you flexibility if one method gets blocked. You can simply switch to another.

The downside? It’s expensive. At $15 per month (even with an annual subscription), it costs significantly more than the competition. But for some users, the reliability and feature set justify the premium.

Key Features

300+ servers across 115 cities in 57 countries
Multiple VPN protocols including proprietary stealth options
Unlimited bandwidth with up to 5 simultaneous connections
Works on Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, and routers
$15/month (annual plan); 7-day free trial available

4. CyberGhost

Massive Network, Variable Results

CyberGhost boasts an impressive network of over 6,800 servers in 85+ countries. They also offer free browser extensions, which can be handy for quick, browser-only protection.

Here’s my honest assessment: CyberGhost can work in China, but it’s not as consistently reliable as the top three. Their connection may work fine for weeks, then suddenly struggle when the Great Firewall updates its detection methods. If you’re looking for a budget option and don’t mind occasional hiccups, it’s worth considering.

Key Features

6,800+ servers in 85+ countries
Free browser extensions for Chrome and Firefox
AES-256 encryption with audited no-logs policy
Available on Windows, Android, macOS, Firefox, and Chrome
$6.99/month (6-month plan) or $2.11/month (24-month plan); free trial available

5. Surfshark

Budget-Friendly with Unlimited Devices

Surfshark’s biggest selling point is value: you get unlimited simultaneous connections, meaning one subscription can cover your entire household or all your devices. For travelers or families heading to China together, this can be a significant cost saver.

Like CyberGhost, Surfshark’s performance in China can be hit or miss. It works, but you may need to experiment with different servers or connection modes to find what works best at any given time.

Key Features

3,000+ servers in 100 countries
Unlimited simultaneous device connections
Unlimited data with strong encryption and no-logs policy
Works on Windows, macOS, Fire TV, Android, Linux, iOS, Firefox, Edge
$3.99/month or $2.49/month (2-year plan); 30-day money-back guarantee

Final Thoughts

If there’s one thing I’ve learned from this research, it’s that you get what you pay for, but not always in the way you’d expect. The most expensive option (Astrill) isn’t necessarily the best, and a relatively unknown service (ZoogVPN) outperformed all the bigger names.

My recommendation? Start with ZoogVPN if you want the most reliable experience in China, especially if you’ll be there long-term and want easy payment options. NordVPN is a solid alternative if you prefer a more established brand with a longer money-back guarantee to test things out.

Whatever you choose, install and test your VPN before you arrive in China. If you are in China already, then use the Chinese options from ZoogVPN or NordVPN to download and test. Trust me on this one.