Free vpn for china for windows

This guide is for those who are dealing with Great Firewall and looking for a free VPN China to access certain blocked websites and social apps.

China uses the most powerful censorship tool known as Great Firewall (GFW) to control the country’s online censorship system. It blocks the range of websites and slows down the internet connection. In this guide, we’ll tell you how you can avoid these issues using the best free VPN China.

Since China restricts access to VPN websites within the country you need to download one prior to traveling to China. There are many free VPN services that lack standard security and privacy features. But our team has personally tested some good free VPNs that are completely free and safe to use in China. Check out the in-depth analysis of the 5 best free VPN to use in China.

However, to be on the safe side we always recommend you use trustworthy VPN services, to counter this heavy censorship and online regulation. ExpressVPN, with a 30-day money-back guarantee, is our top recommendation to tackle Chinese censorship.

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Note: Free VPNs don’t always have the resources to defeat Chinese censorship mechanisms. For a complete, fool-proof solution, I’ll advise you to use a well-reputed best VPNs for China to safely access the web from within China as well as outside China.

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What You Need to Know About free VPNs for China

Free VPNs come with a few limitations: server limitations, bandwidth limitations, logging policies, and more. Due to these reasons, it’s always better to pay and get a premium VPN instead using a free VPN China.

1. Bandwidth limitations:

Free VPNs have bandwidth limitations that one needs to cater to. Mostly, these limitations are not even enough to enjoy the VPN’s services for the whole day. One can barely sustain any online activity like streaming Netflix or playing a video game with a data limit. You cannot download or upload files either, let alone torrent.

2. Server and speed limitations:

Free VPNs offer limited servers that users can use to unblock services. These server locations can be as low as three. However, with only a few servers, one cannot expect speeds to be great either due to traffic overload.

Furthermore, limited servers do not let you unblock any service you like. So, for example, you cannot unblock BBC iPlayer without a UK server.

3. Logging policies and shady reputations:

Free VPNs d not have effective logging policies like they claim to have. While they promise they offer it, we know VPNs collect user data and sell it to third parties. This leads to shay reputation of the VPN, and it’s better to avoid them than use them at the risk of your privacy.

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5 Best Free VPNs for China – [In-depth Analysis – 2023]

After carefully evaluating their reliability, performance, and security features, the following free China VPNs have been selected.

Don’t forget! All VPN websites are blocked in China, so you need to download and install the VPN you choose before arriving in the country.

1. ExpressVPN – Best VPN with a 30-day Money-back Guarantee for China

ExpressVPN is the best free VPN for 30 days trial. It deserves the first spot on this list despite being a premium VPN. With a 7-day free trial, you can definitely try out its unlimited bandwidth, unblocking features, and best-in-class encryption.

Since its inception, this VPN company has established a track record of dependability and reliability. With over 3000 servers in 94 countries including servers in the neighboring Hong Kong! It also makes use of cutting-edge TrustedServer technology.

During our tests, we were able to both unblock all the websites and streaming services we tried it on as well as block the websites we wanted to in China. You can also access QQ music with ExpressVPN Hong Kong servers outside China. Similarly, restricted platforms like Amazon, Disney+, HBO Max, and US Netflix can be unblocked by ExpressVPN instantly.

On a 100 Mbps connection, ExpressVPN speed delivered remarkable download speeds of roughly 89.38 Mbps and upload speeds of 84.66 Mbps. These were the quickest VPN service speeds that we have ever measured.

Also, when downloading torrents with ExpressVPN P2p optimized servers we experienced no hurdles as well.

Additionally, ExpressVPN provides cutting-edge security features including the strongest encryption protocol, AES-256 encryption. In addition, it offers malware detection, DNS leak protection, and IP leak protection. Despite its extensive features, ExpressVPN is still reasonably priced.

ExpressVPN has great compatibility with all devices including Windows, Linux, iOS, Android, macOS, and smart TVs. The ExpressVPN MediaStreamer tool may be used to configure any device, even those without dedicated VPN software. With its MediaStreamer feature, you can effortlessly set up ExpressVPN on Apple TV and unblock streaming services from within or outside of China on devices like smart TVs and gaming consoles.

Although it’s not the best free VPN China, if you’re seeking a user-friendly and dependable VPN China free, ExpressVPN works in China and provides high levels of security, fast speeds, and built-in obfuscation.

iOS users can download ExpressVPN on iPhones, take advantage of the free trial, or test the service’s reliability for 30 days with any subscription plan.

If your ExpressVPN is not working in China, contact its live chat support which is available 24/7 to solve user queries. For more information related to this VPN service, Check out ExpressVPN Review blog.

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2. ProtonVPN – Free VPN China with Unlimited bandwidth 

ProtonVPN is another decent free China VPN app. The best feature of this VPN is its unlimited bandwidth. In addition, the VPN provides excellent security through OpenVPN over UDP and OpenVPN over TCP.

It has no servers within China but is reliable for bypassing the GFW and restrictions against foreign content within China. Unfortunately, if you’re looking for a free VPN for China server, then this isn’t for you.

You can unblock Netflix with ProtonVPN free US servers in China and enjoy its geo-restricted content. You can also unblock other popular streaming services like Hulu, Amazon Prime, and BBC iPlayer.

However, like most VPNs, its functionality within China wavers with time. As such, it might not always work within China. But the service it delivers is fast and smooth and enables access to blocked social media sites unavailable in China.

We did a ProtonVPN speed test on its free servers. It delivered an average download speed of 43.27 Mbps and an upload speed of 21 Mbps on a 100 Mbps connection only. Since it’s a free VPN offering unlimited bandwidth, you can’t expect high speeds.

While its servers are present only in 3 countries, it still offers the best service a free VPN for China can. ProtonVPN does not collect any logs and has an easy-to-use app for all devices. It also offers a kill switch that ensures that your identity doesn’t leak even when the VPN connection drops.

When it comes to compatibility, ProtonVPN covers the basics pretty well. It has custom clients for Windows and Mac, along with apps for Android and Linux. You can also install ProtonVPN on your Roku and Kodi devices.

Find more about this service in our ProtonVPN review.

There is a free trial of ProtonVPN for those users who want to try its Singapore server since it’s not available on its free version. You can also cancel ProtonVPN within 30 days of the money-back guarantee and get a full refund.

If you are not sure if using free ProtonVPN is safe you can learn more about this VPN service in our ProtonVPN review.

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3. Windscribe – Popular Free VPN for China with 10 GB/ mo data

Windscribe has a moderate success rate working in China. Still, Windscribe is a pretty good VPN service to have if you’re looking for a free VPN for China. The service offers a 10 GB/month bandwidth limit, but you can connect to unlimited devices simultaneously.

Moreover, it offers servers, including the UK, which are quite effective for users within China that want to access blocked services like Gmail, Snapchat, and WhatsApp in China.

This China free VPN  is also famous as a free VPN for Facebook. It is also a great free VPN for watching BBC iPlayer and other geo-blocked streaming services in China such as Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, and more.

However, During Windscribe speed testing, we recorded an average download speed of 65.21 Mbps and an upload speed of 34.75 Mbps on a 100 Mbps connection, which is quite less.

Its privacy policy is exceedingly impressive, and the security features make it a VPN that can’t be ignored if you want to break through China’s GFW and evade the government’s surveillance. Therefore, Windscribe is one of the best free VPN in China.

Windscribe offers relatively good speeds on its servers and keeps minimal essential logs. In addition, it offers 256-bit encryption, a kill switch, and a built-in Adblocker in its app.

Windscribe also has an amazing feature called ROBERT that is essential to combat malware in the device. It also supports port forwarding, which can be a useful feature for downloading torrents.

You can use Windscribe through its dedicated apps on Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS. There are also extensions of this VPN for Chrome, Firefox, and Opera browsers.

This is not it. Windscribe can be set up manually on routers. Devices like Nvidia Shield, and NAS are also supported and you can easily install Windscribe on Firestick, Roku, and Kodi.

There is also a free trial of Windscribe with which users can access 10 servers worldwide. You can also cancel your Windscribe subscription easily.

You can also read this Windscribe review for more details.

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4. Hotspot Shield – 500 MB bandwidth per day private browsing

Hotspot Shield is the best free VPN for Chinese citizens to browse the internet privately. It offers 500 MB of free data per day, which is not bad as it adds up to 15 GB of data per month. 

However, with Hotspot Shield, if you run out of your daily limit, you need to wait for the next day to use an additional 500 MB of free data.

Its free subscription only allows a single server located in the United States. If you want access to other server locations, you will have to upgrade to the premium VPN plan of Hotspot Shield to enjoy a sizable server network of 1800 servers that are spread over around 80 countries.

Even on its free plan, Hotspot Shield can easily unlock Netflix and Hulu. It also demonstrated the ability to unblock other streaming services, but the 500 MB daily bandwidth constraint prevented us from fully utilizing its capabilities.

Another limitation is that Hotspot Shield monetizes its free VPN with ads, so you’ll be getting annoying ads and pop-ups after every minute or so, which becomes very annoying.

Nonetheless, Hotspot Shield performed admirably. It outperformed some other VPNs we tested, with download and upload rates of up to 50 Mbps and 35.62 Mbps, respectively.

In terms of security, Hotspot Shield is a great option with built-in malware protection and a proprietary Catapult Hydra Protocol that makes sure you get the maximum speeds on your PC. In addition, the provider uses AES-256 encryption to protect user data from outside intrusions.

Hotspot Shield is compatible with devices like Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS.

Similarly, the service also provides dedicated browser extensions for Chrome and Firefox as well. However, you can use Hotspot Shield on your Linux devices through the Chrome extension. To my surprise, the provider does not support Routers at the moment.

You can learn more about this service in our Hotspot Shield review.

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5. UrbanVPN – Best Free VPN that Works in China

The next VPN on our list is UrbanVPN, it is the best free VPN with China server. It has a far smaller network of 500 servers spread across 21 countries, including the China and Hong Kong location with basic security features to bypass GFW.

Netflix can be unblocked using UrbanVPN, but only in the US. It is still a solid option for a free VPN even though it is less effective than the other VPNs in unblocking other services and apps.

Overall, UrbanVPN’s performance is respectable, although it falls short of the two other VPNs’ in terms of slickness. Although there are a few sporadic connection drops, it is not a serious issue.

UrbanVPN’s speed test results showed acceptable, respectable speeds. The upload rates frequently topped 26 Mbps, and the download speeds reached 30 Mbps.

UrbanVPN is only compatible with Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS devices. One simultaneous connection is permitted in the free version; four simultaneous connections are allowed in the premium version.

UrbanVPN provides standard AES-256 encryption as well as a respectable no-logs policy and a kill-switch feature. Additionally, it supports P2P torrenting and offers live chat help 24/7.

For more information on UrbanVPN, read our UrbanVPN review.

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Quick Comparision: Free VPN China

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Criteria for ranking and testing the free VPN for China

We ranked the VPNs above after testing all the aspects below:

Reliably bypasses the GFW

When we talk about China, we need the VPN to bypass the GFW and geo-restrictions and allow access to websites and streaming services blocked in the country.

Fast Speeds

We checked if the VPNs offer decent to high speeds on all their servers or not. Of course, we want the services to offer better services in China, so speed was our major concern. Unfortunately, throttled speeds are annoying and much harder to use.

Enough Data

VPNs have certain data limitations on their free versions. Users can only use their VPN until the data limit runs out. We mentioned some VPNs above with unlimited data limits, so you can enjoy watching Netflix for a long time.

Reliable customer support

In case you experience technical difficulties, having a live chat option available round-the-clock is useful. If that isn’t an option, it ought to at least offer support for your inquiries via email, a contact form, or a searchable knowledge base.

Alternative download methods

I verified that each VPN on the list provides a link to an APK file so you may download it secretly from China. Some VPNs, like ExpressVPN, also feature mirror URLs enabling an additional method of downloading and signing up.

Free trial period

If a VPN is offering a free trial, we would recommend you use that instead of using a free China VPN. Because the free trial includes security features and unlimited data to safely bypass the Great Firewall.

Internet Kill Switch

Having a kill switch feature is important in case your internet connection drops. Your VPN IP can leak which might cause problems in countries like China. The VPNs listed above offer basic to premium security features like a kill switch, 256-bit encryption, etc. While some of the VPNs above keep essential logs, they don’t put you at risk of anything.

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Tips for Using a Free VPN in China

You might need to use a free VPN with extra caution there since China is not a VPN-friendly country. We’ve included some key pointers for using a free VPN in China:

Installing a VPN app on your device before traveling to China

This is due to the fact that accessing a VPN in China is far more difficult because you won’t be able to download VPN apps from the websites of the majority of VPNs because those sites are also prohibited. Additionally, China blocks Play Store, App Store, and Google search engine so you won’t be able to download any VPN app there.

However, If you are already in China you can go to any hotel and use their wifi to download VPN apps apk versions from Yahoo because they are mostly connected to VPNs.

Choose your VPN carefully

Before selecting a free VPN, you must weigh the benefits of your selection. The first factor you should take into account is whether the company has servers in China or other surrounding nations. The speed of your browsing as well as the reliability of these servers’ connections must then be considered. Finally, advanced features, protocols, and servers need to take into consideration.  Only in this way, you can bypass the Great Firewall.

Connect to the Nearest Servers

The speed of a server increases with proximity to its location. So it’s a good idea to connect to servers in nearby countries when using a VPN in China. Korea, Japan, and Hong Kong are excellent alternatives for this. You must connect to a server in the nation where the geo-restricted content is available if you wish to access it. For instance, you must establish a connection to a server in the United States in order to access Netflix US.

Always have another VPN as Back Up

Since China often blocks VPNs it’s better to have more options than have one VPN app. So in case of any censorship, you must have a backup free VPN if you intend to reside in China or travel there frequently.

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VPNs You Need to Avoid Using in China

Free VPNs already come with a bunch of risks. However, some VPNs put you at a great risk instead of offering quality services. Some of these might steal your data, and they might put you at risk of being caught. So let’s check out which one they are:

1. Betternet:

This VPN is known to reveal your identity and data to third parties. This VPN is also accused of giving people malware and ransomware on their devices. Therefore, it’s better to avoid Betternet than any other. Check out more in our Betternet review.

2. HolaVPN:

Nothing you have is secured through Hola. Hola is one VPN that has been collecting user data and bandwidth for a long time. Unfortunately, this VPN doesn’t offer secure services and does not protect your IP from leaking. Apart from privacy violations, Hola does not work with Netflix or other popular streaming sites. Read more about this service in the HolaVPN review.

3. Hide.me:

Hide.me is another VPN to avoid using in China because of its dubious logging policy. It does offer a good amount of free data, but you cannot access Netflix or use it to stream or torrent. You can get more details in this Hide.me review.

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Best Free VPN for China: FAQs

No free VPNs have servers in China. The reason is having servers in China would make a VPN’s no-logs policy worthless due to the nation’s intrusive data retention laws. Additionally, free VPNs often only offer a small number of server locations, primarily in the US or Europe. However, some free VPN services provide secure servers in close-by locations like Hong Kong. Using these servers will let you access banned websites with a quick connection since these regions are not covered by the GFW.

No, a free VPN is not likely to bypass internet censorship in China. Because to get over China’s censorship, VPN providers must use advanced features and encryption protocols. Free VPNs typically do not provide any of these functions, and it is quite doubtful that they ever would.

A free VPN that works in China is ExpressVPN. Although it’s not entirely free, you can still benefit from the 7-day free trial and the 30-day money-back guarantee. Using ExpresssVPN in China will let you stream, torrent, or play games risk-free without a ban or interruption for at least a month.

To get a free China VPN you need to;

• Install a VPN. Our suggestion is ExpressVPN because it offers limitless data and built-in obfuscation on every server to get around the GFW. ExpressVPN is supported by a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can test it out risk-free.
• Connect to a server located outside of China. As well as turning on obfuscation if necessary, the kill switch and leak protection should all be enabled.
• Start using your apps and browse websites normally. In China, almost 300,000 websites and apps are restricted, but with a VPN, you may still avoid all these restrictions easily.

The Great Firewall of China is a national initiative to block access to internet information from people inside the nation. China has strict censorship laws in the country. This has enabled them to block all important websites in the country. You cannot access Netflix, Facebook, WhatsApp, etc., in China. You need to reliable VPN service to pass this to access anything you like.

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Final Thoughts

Windscribe is the best free VPN China owing to its powerful capability to counter Chinese censorship technologies. As such, if you’re traveling to China or living in the country, you can rely on this VPN to free the internet in China from pointless government restrictions.

But, a free VPN provider comes with many limitations, so to Chinese internet users, we recommend using top-tier premium VPN providers such as ExpressVPN to circumvent the Great Firewall of China.

ExpressVPN possessed the capability to easily bypass the Great Firewall of China restriction and offer you ultimate online security, privacy, data protection, and unblocking experience. ExpressVPN is known all over the world for offering excellent VPN services with state-of-the-art security, features, accessibility, and performance to its users.

If you hurry up, you can also avail of ExpressVPN’s limited-time “12 months + 3 months free” subscription that comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

More Free Resources:

• Top Free VPN for Kodi
• Free VPN iPhone
• Overall Best Free VPNs
• Facebook
• Canada
• Free VPN for UK
• Free VPN FireStick

China is one of the most restricted countries in the world. The government controls the internet and keeps a close eye on its people. Moreover, if you’re traveling to the People’s Republic, you’ll notice that most Western apps are blocked. So, whether you’re a local or a tourist, a VPN can help you circumvent China’s ruthless restrictions. And if you can’t get a premium service, you might try downloading a free VPN for China.

Nevertheless, you should know that no-pay virtual private networks are less reliable than their premium counterparts. Bypassing the Great Firewall might be impossible. And even if you do manage to get around it, you’ll face abysmal connectivity and other curbs. Therefore, in this list, you’ll find some free trial VPNs that you can use trouble-free in China.

Thus, let’s see which free VPN works in China.

Best free Chinese VPNs: shortlist

1. The best free VPN for China

   9.7

2. Free China VPN with infinite connections

   9.3

3. Safety-oriented free VPN for China

   9.1

Why you would want to use a VPN in China

Firstly, China is brutal when it comes to censorship. Thanks to the Great Firewall, almost all Western media and content are blocked in the country. Thus, watching silly videos on YouTube, getting info from Wikipedia, or sending a message on Whatsapp is impossible. Luckily, a top-notch China VPN can punch through the Wall and give you access to the content you want.

Moreover, China’s digital landscape is under a giant magnifying glass. Whatever you do online, Internet Service Providers (ISPs) log every move and might snitch on you if you try to access forbidden content. Thus, picking a reliable free VPN is a wise decision if you want to stay anonymous online. It will encrypt your data and hide your IP address. Therefore, you will be untraceable.

Additionally, online security should be your main priority whether you’re in China or elsewhere. Hackers and swindlers might take advantage of your data if you don’t take extra precautions. That can result in financial loss or identity theft. Thus, to protect yourself against malware and other online calamities, you might want to get a VPN that offers strong encryption and additional ad/malware blockers.

Top Free VPNs for China: overview

If you want to bypass VPN blocks and access free internet, you’ll need the best China VPN. A reliable service should offer hardcore encryption, a kill switch, and DNS & IP leak protection. Plus, server obfuscation will come in handy, as it can mask your traffic and help you avoid Deep Packet Inspections (DPI).

1. NordVPN – the fastest free trial VPN for China

Top VPN provider

Number of countries covered:
60

Number of servers:
5400

Support:
24/7 live chat, Email

• NordLynx-fuelled performance

• Firewall-bypassing features

• Independently-audited and secure

• Only 6 simultaneous connections

NordVPN is an unbeatable free VPN for China. While it doesn’t have a free version, you can still use it at no cost for more than a month. Simply sign up for the 7-day free trial and then take advantage of the 30-day money-back guarantee. And if you’re satisfied with the service, grab a NordVPN coupon and commit for just $3.49/month.

Escape China’s surveillance quickly & easily with the network of 5400+ servers across 60+ countries. Plus, you won’t have to suffer through endless loading screens, thanks to the NordLynx tunneling protocol, which makes NordVPN the fastest VPN on the market.

Another notable aspect of the hardware is that all servers are RAM-only, meaning they can’t store data long-term. Other security features include Threat Protection, Double VPN, Onion over VPN, and split tunneling.

As for bypassing the Great Firewall of China, it won’t pose an issue. NordVPN offers obfuscated servers that hide all tracks of VPN usage, effectively fooling Deep Packet Inspection (DPI). So, you can easily download torrent files or watch your favorite shows on Netflix US, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, or Disney Plus.

For a deeper investigation of NordVPN, read our NordVPN review.

2. Surfshark VPN – top free China VPN for multiple devices

Top VPN provider

Number of countries covered:
100

Number of servers:
3200

Support:
24/7 live chat, FAQ

• Infinite connections

• WireGuard for excellent speeds

• Camouflage mode

• Unaudited no-logs policy

Another suitable VPN for China is Surfshark VPN. Of course, no free version exists, but you can use it for an extended time without paying a dime by exploiting a little loophole. It entails signing up for the free 7-day trial version and utilizing the 30-day money-back guarantee. Afterward, subscriptions start at $2.30/month with a  special discount code.

Moreover, the Chinese government won’t be able to snoop on you, thanks to market-leading encryption, leak protection, and a robust kill switch. Moreover, Surfshark adheres to a zero-logs policy, meaning they don’t collect information about you. Plus, Surfshark is one of the best multiple-device VPNs, so you can protect an infinite amount of gadgets.

Furthermore, performance won’t be an issue, regardless of the location you connect to from the 3200+ servers in 100+ countries. Additionally, the WireGuard tunneling protocol and Nexus technology ensure zero lag and incredible speeds.

As for breaking through firewalls, Surfshark offers Camouflage and NoBorders modes. One masks VPN traffic as regular traffic, while the other enables VPN use in restrictive regions. MultiHop is another notable feature, allowing users to route internet traffic through two VPN servers for twice the encryption. So you can easily play games, torrent, and stream in China.

For a deeper investigation of Surfshark VPN, read our Surfshark VPN review.

3. Proton VPN – Switzerland-based free VPN for China

Number of countries covered:
66

Number of servers:
1700

Support:
Email, knowledge base

• Great security

• User-friendly apps

• VPN Accelerator for great speed

• Torrenting not allowed with freemium

If you’re looking for a completely free and super secure VPN for China, choose Proton VPN. The free version provides a reliable kill switch, top-tier encryption, IP & DNS leak protection, and a strict zero logs policy. Moreover, you’ll find free servers in the US, the Netherlands, and Japan.

Moreover, the free Proton VPN has no data caps for its costless version, which is quite rare for free VPNs. However, bypassing geo-blocks and torrenting or streaming will be impossible with a no-pay Proton VPN. Additionally, you’ll only get 1 connection and slower speeds. Luckily, you can solve this issue by opting for a premium.

The full version offers 1700+ servers in 66+ countries. Plus, the WireGuard tunneling protocol will ensure stable and smooth connectivity in Mainland China. If that’s not enough, you can boost your speeds by up to 400%, thanks to the VPN Accelerator technology. Also, the Stealth feature will help you avoid DPI and browse freely in China.

Apart from that, you can enjoy the most popular streaming platforms, access blocked games, or torrent files that you want. Meanwhile, Netshield will ensure that no malware, annoying ad, or trackers disturb your online experience. So, don’t hesitate and grab a  Proton VPN coupon. That way, you’ll get a subscription for as little as $3.99/month. Moreover, if you don’t feel like Proton VPN is for you, get your money back in 30-days.

For a deeper investigation of Proton VPN, read our Proton VPN review.

4. Atlas VPN – free China VPN with great performance

Number of countries covered:
37

Number of servers:
750

Support:
Email, tickets, FAQ

• WireGuard tunneling protocol

• Streaming-optimized servers with premium

• Allows torrenting

• No router firmware

Atlas VPN is one of the top free VPNs on the market that also works in China. The no-pay version has servers in the Netherlands, New York, and Los Angeles. Moreover, you can use P2P file sharing in all free locations. Plus, you’ll get 2 simultaneous connections that you can use for your phones or computers.

And while it’s safe and private, Atlas VPN freemium has some drawbacks. For example, accessing geo-blocked content on streaming platforms might be difficult. Moreover, the connectivity might get shoddy due to overcrowding. And sadly, you’ll only get 5 GB/month of data with the free version.

But these things shouldn’t be an issue with the paid version of Atlas. It utilizes the WireGuard tunneling protocol, which ensures super-fast speeds. More so, you’ll get 750+ pieces of hardware in 37+ countries to choose from. Additionally, some servers are streaming-optimized, so you can get 4K-ready speeds. Thus, enjoy BBC iPlayer, Crunchyroll, or Disney+ in high definition!

Moreover, Tracker Blocker will fend off viruses, malicious ads, and rootkits. Meanwhile, you can utilize MultiHop+, which adds an extra layer of security and privacy. And as there’s no device limit, you can share Atlas VPN with your friends. Thus, grab a  special coupon and get a plan for as little as $2.05/month. Plus, a 30-day money-back guarantee will protect your subscription.

For a deeper investigation of Atlas VPN, read our Atlas VPN review.

5. Ivacy VPN – torrent-friendly free China VPN

Number of countries covered:
69

Number of servers:
5700

Support:
24/7 live chat

• Strong security features

• Extremely affordable premium

• Torrenting allowed

• Less features for iOS & Mac

If you want to enjoy the benefits of P2P file sharing in China, pick the free version of Ivacy VPN. It’s an excellent choice as there are no data caps. Moreover, torrenting is allowed on all free servers in the Netherlands.

More so, you don’t have to register to use Ivacy VPN, which further boosts your anonymity. However, the speeds might be disappointing when downloading large files. Also, if you want to stream Netflix US, Hulu, or Disney+, you need to opt for the premium.

The paid version offers 5700+ servers in 69+ countries and the WireGuard tunneling protocol. The combo of these two ensures smooth and stable connectivity in China. Moreover, you share Ivacy with your household, as there are 10 simultaneous connections. Not to mention, torrenting, gaming, and streaming won’t be a problem.

So, we suggest getting the cheapest VPN for only $1.00/month with an Ivacy VPN discount coupon. And if something goes awry, you can get your money back in 30-days.

For a deeper investigation of Ivacy VPN, read our Ivacy VPN review.

Free VPN for China: comparison

Now that you know about the Top 5 free China VPNs, you can see them side-by-side here and compare which one’s the best:

Tear down restrictions with a VPN

How we picked the best free China VPNs

The consequences of using a shoddy free VPN in China might be severe. Therefore, if you want to bypass the Great Firewall of China and stay safe, you’ll need a top-tier service. So, when looking for the best China VPN, you should pay extra attention to these essential requirements:

• Obfuscation. This feature will help you avoid the Firewall and access your desired content. Additionally, it covers up your tracks and makes it seem like a regular connection. Not to mention, you won’t have to worry much about DPIs.
• Privacy. A trusty free VPN for China should not collect logs or sell your information to third parties. Also, it should protect you from the all-seeing government of China. In addition, it would be best if your VPN is based outside the Fourteen Eyes jurisdiction.
• Security. At the very least, a free VPN should offer a robust kill switch, IP & DNS leak protection, and AES-256 encryption. Even better if your service provides features such as malware blockers or MultiHop.
• Speed. You don’t want an even slower connection. Thus, pick a provider that utilizes the WireGuard or NordLynx tunneling protocols. Plus, compare VPN speeds on our connectivity test page.
• Servers. An abundance of servers means more entertainment possibilities. Plus, you’ll be able to unblock various websites in China. Moreover, choose a VPN with hardware not too far from your location if you want better speeds.
• Free trial period. Most free VPNs aren’t capable of bypassing the Great Firewall. Thus, if you need a super reliable service, pick a free trial VPN. That way, you’ll get all nifty features for a limited time.

Are VPNs legal in China?

Like in many other authoritarian countries, VPN usage is basically illegal in China. However, you can use government-approved services, but they provide zero privacy, and you won’t be able to access geo-blocked content.

Nevertheless, many providers, such as NordVPN, Surfshark, or Proton VPN, remain active and accessible. You can also find some other free services that work in China. However, it’s better to be safe than sorry and pick a reliable free trial China VPN.

What’s blocked in China?

As mentioned before, most of the content available in Western countries is banned in China. The government censors the media for political reasons and social control.

Here’s is just a fraction of apps, websites, and platforms that are blocked in China:

Access anything with the Top VPN for China

How to use the best free China VPN

Whether you use Android, iPhone, Windows, or any other OS, you’ll need a reliable free VPN for China to access restricted content and apps. However, you’ll need a service compatible with multiple devices for maximum convenience.

However, not all VPNs work in China. Therefore, if you want to save money, you can get one of the cheapest VPNs from our list. Most of them offer all the right features to bypass China’s restrictions and censorship.

How to use free VPN for Android in China

To protect your mobile and tablet, you’ll need the best Android VPN for China. You can get one if you follow the instructions below:

1. Choose a reliable free trial VPN for China. Our #1 choice is NordVPN, now with a massive discount
2. Install the application on your Android device
3. Choose a server nearby. For example, Hong Kong
4. Now browse freely in China!

How to use free VPN for iPhone in China

If you’re an iOS user, you should utilize the finest iPhone VPN to bypass restrictions. To get one, you have to:

1. Pick a trusty free trial VPN for China. Our frontrunner is NordVPN, currently with 57% discount
2. Install the app on your iPhone or iPad
3. Join a server nearby, such as Taiwan
4. Amazing. Now the Great Firewall of China doesn’t stand a chance!

How to use free VPN for Chrome

Some top-tier free VPNs offer browser extensions for Chrome. They only protect your browser’s traffic, but it’s still a great way to protect yourself online in China. To get one, you have to:

1. Get a robust free trial VPN. Our recommendation is NordVPN, now with a massive discount
2. Download the VPN add-on from the Chrome Web Store
3. Launch the extension and choose a server nearby. For example, Japan
4. Now your internet traffic on Chrome is secure!

Snatch the ultimate Chrome VPN extension

Best VPN for China according to Reddit

Reddit is one of the best places to look for answers. Many people share their experiences and share their honest opinions about things. And China VPNs are no exception. So, we rummaged through various subreddits and found which virtual private networks work best in China.

Unsurprisingly NordVPN was one of the top choices. That’s because it offers supersonic speeds, obfuscated servers, and loads of hardware globally. Nevertheless, some Redditors have other opinions, which you can find in our best VPNs according to Reddit article.

Is free China VPN the right choice for local users?

It’s up to you whether you want to take a risk and use a shoddy free VPN for China. Below you’ll find a few videos that will help you decide if you want to use a free VPN in China:

Free China VPNs you must avoid

By now, you know about the most reliable free VPNs for China. However, loads of no-pay services will do more harm than good. Therefore, if you don’t want to get in trouble or riddle your devices with malware, here are some free China VPNs you should avoid:

• Hola VPN – actually a P2P network, meaning that you’ll be accountable for any illegal actions happening on the network
• VPNBook – will collect your logs and riddle your Mac with malware
• GOVPN – leaks your IP and DNS also will infest your devices with viruses
• BetternetVPN – keeps your logs to create targeted ads
• TurboVPN – another malware machine
• OKVPN – avoid it at all costs, as it’s a malware injection machine

Bottom line

With heavy internet censorship regulations in China, you can still access your favorite internet services using the above Free VPN for China. However, to make the most of VPN services, it is vital that you define your needs. Imperative to note is that these VPNs come with varying bandwidth limits.

Therefore, we recommend grabbing the best free trial VPN on the market – NordVPN. It will help bypass the Great Firewall of China in no time. Additionally, it has loads of nifty features like obfuscated servers and Double VPN that will provide extra safety. Lastly, it’s super fast, so you won’t have to deal with endless loading screens.

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You may also like to read:
Best VPN for Russia
Free VPN for Disney+
Best VPN for Taiwan
Free VPN for gaming
Best VPN for Hong Kong
Free VPN for Windows

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FAQ

Is it legal to use a VPN in China?

The VPN technology itself is not illegal in China. However, there are a lot of restrictions around virtual private networks. You might get fined or imprisoned if you get caught using one for personal use. Herefore, you need a reliable free VPN that will surely encrypt your data and hide your personal details.

What should I do if my VPN stops working in China?

The first thing you should do is restart your device. If that doesn’t work, try connecting to a different server. Alternatively, get in touch with customer support, so they could solve your problem. Your last resort is to get a new free VPN for China.

Which free VPN works in China?

The best free VPN that works in China is NordVPN. While it’s not completely free, you can take advantage of the 7-day free trial and the 30-day money-back guarantee. That way, you can stream, torrent, or game trouble-free in China for over a month.

How do I get a China VPN for free?

The best way to get the best free China VPN is by picking the Proton VPN free version. Then you simply have to register and choose a free server. After that, all you have to do is launch your browser and start surfing!

Which VPN gives China servers?

Unfortunately, there’s no reliable free or paid VPN that offers servers in China. However, most top free China VPNs have servers nearby. You can choose from neighboring countries like Japan, Hong Kong, India, Taiwan, or South Korea.

Can I use Proton VPN in China?

Yes, Proton VPN is among our top free China VPNs. It offers amazing security and privacy. Plus, it has servers in Japan, which is not too far from China. Additionally, with the Stealth VPN feature, you can avoid DPI and other problems. However, it’s only available with a premium subscription.

Особенности бесплатных VPN для Китая

Чтобы поддерживать сервера, восстанавливать доступ после атак и в целом обеспечивать хорошее соединение для миллионов пользователей в Китае ВПН-провайдеру нужны мощности, а значит – и деньги. Сервис как-то должен зарабатывать:

• Предоставлять бесплатным пользователям ограниченный сервис, мотивируя их перейти на платный пакет;
• Показывать рекламу или просить установить приложения;
• Продавать данные поиска и интернет-отпечатки пользователей третьим лицам.

Первый вариант наиболее безопасный. Поэтому мы рекомендуем выбирать ограниченные бесплатные пакеты от надежных платных провайдеров.

Особенно осторожными надо быть, скачивая бесплатный ВПН для Китая на Android или iPhone – к телефону обычно привязан онлайн-банкинг, там полно личных данных, так что не стоит рисковать своими финансами и файлами, к которым такие программы получают доступ.

NordVPN со скидкой 70%

3 лучших бесплатных ВПН для Китая

В Китае нашим соотечественникам чаще всего нужен доступ к мессенджерам – Instagram, WhatsApp, Telegram, Viber, Skype, Facebook Messenger, и неработающим сайтам или сервисам – Google, Facebook, Vk, Одноклассники, Youtube. Если вы едете на несколько дней в путешествие или деловую поездку, вам вполне хватит даже ограниченного бесплатного ВПН для Китая. Вы сможете выйти на связь, запостить фото, воспользоваться Гугл-картами, Gmail, поисковиком.

Внимание: После блокировок 2021 года многие ВПН сервисы в Китае работаюn нестабильно. Можно потратить время на тестирование бесплатных VPN, в итоге вы сэкономите пару чашек кофе, но уже на следующий день ВПН может не работать. Мы советуем попробовать NordVPN — он самый стабильный, есть 30 дней возврат денег в любом случае. Если вам понравится, вы сможете перейти на тариф $4.92 / месяц.

Hotspot Shield

Довольно популярный сервис. В бесплатной версии предлагает 750 Мб в день, причем можно пользоваться и расширением для браузера, где доступны 14 стран кроме США, и ВПН-клиентом, где доступно только США. Лицензионное соглашение позволяет программе собирать статистику, включая информацию о cookie и сеансах связи, и показывать пользователям рекламу, но если вам просто нужен доступ к сети, и вы готовы мириться с некоторыми неудобствами – сервис вполне подойдет. Учтите, что даже в платной версии компания продолжит собирать данные, так что с ней стоит быть осторожным.

TunnelBear

Любимый многими сервис, правда, с существенными ограничениями для бесплатной версии – всего 500 МБ на месяц, хватит для связи на несколько дней, но маловато, чтобы нормально общаться в видеомесенджерах и даже листать ленту на протяжении всего месяца. Зато не ведет никаких логов, не собирает информацию, а также не ограничивает сервера – доступны все, как и в платной версии. А количество мегабайт на месяц можно увеличить, если рассказать о сервисе в соцсетях.

Windscribe

Еще один бесплатный ВПН для Китая, но уже с 2 Гб трафика в месяц, а если подтвердить e-mail – получите все 10 Гб. Вполне прилично, если пользоваться с мобильного телефона или поездка недолгая. При этом предлагает большой выбор точек подключения – 11 стран. Обеспечивает хорошее шифрование. В некоторых регионах скорость иногда сильно падает, но в целом, вполне стабильная – хватает и для мессенджеров, и для бодрого просмотра веб-страниц.

Сравним данные и возможности:

Внимание: На декабрь 2021 года только NORDVPN показывает хорошие результаты и не поддается блокировке китайского файрвола (全国公安工作信息化工程). С помощью купона вы можете приобрести НОРД ВПН со скидкой 72% (при годовой подписке). Не теряйте время на тестирование бесполезных программ, в Китае они не работают.

Купон на NordVPN(-70%)

Альтернатива бесплатным ВПН в Китае

Если вы едете в Китай надолго, например, работать по контракту полгода или год, вам будет маловато предоставляемых бесплатными ВПН-сервисами мегабайт. Как вариант, можно поставить сразу несколько приложений, и переключаться между ними, если вам так удобно, но нормальных скоростей все равно ждать не стоит. А можно выбрать платный сервис, который даст безлимитный доступ сразу для нескольких устройств, гарантирует конфиденциальность, высокую скорость и подключение к множеству стран.

Если покупать пакет на полгода или год, цена в пересчете на месяц составит примерно от 3 до 8 долларов, или около 20-50 юаней. Причем за 50 вы получите доступ к самому быстрому ВПН в мире, еще и на пяти устройствах одновременно.

Express VPN со скидкой

Если сервис вас чем-то не устроит, на протяжении 7-30 дней можно будет полностью вернуть оплату. Только внимательно читайте условия возврата.

30-дневным возврат денег (NordVPN)

Однозначно можно рекомендовать следующие ВПН для Китая:

• ExpressVPN – лидер в Китае, самый быстрый, простой и надежный сервис;
• NordVPN – ВПН с самыми мощными алгоритмами анонимности и шифрования;
• Ivacy VPN – стремительно набирающий популярность недорогой сервис. Иногда бывают проблемы в Китае.

Внимания также достоин PureVPN – читайте в наших подробных обзорах.

Особенности скачивания, настройки и использования

Имейте в виду: скачивать бесплатный VPN для Китая на ноутбук, телефон или планшет нужно до въезда в страну. Изнутри у вас не будет к ним доступа, разве что из Гонконга или Макао. Активировать (покупать лицензию, регистрироваться, подтверждать) тоже нужно заранее – вы не сможете зайти на сайт ВПН без ВПН, чтобы скачать VPN (下载 虚拟专用网).

Судя по отзывам о бесплатных VPN для Китая, некоторые пользователи самонадеянно скачивали всего одно приложение, и приехав в страну, обнаруживали, что в их регионе сервис просто не работает.

• Если вы используете платный ВПН (已付 虚拟专用网), вы можете быть уверены, что даже в поездках в удаленные регионы у вас будет связь.
• Если бесплатный – качайте несколько штук, чтобы попробовать переподключаться, если что-то пойдет не так.

Внимание: VPN и Proxy — не одно и то же! Ищите именно ВПН, а не бесплатный прокси для Китая.

Читайте наши подробные обзоры об особенностях интернета в Китае, о ВПН для браузера или телефона, чтобы сделать правильный выбор.

Free VPN’s for China // The One’s You Must Download

What is a VPN, why do I need one, and which one is the best free VPN for China?

All of these questions, plus much more are answered below!

What is a VPN?

Firstly, just in case you don’t know what exactly a VPN is, let’s give you a quick breakdown.

In short, a VPN (Virtual Private Network) is a service that conceals a user’s IP address (i.e. location) to provide private internet access and allow access to otherwise censored or restricted websites and services.

We have a whole host of blog posts relating to VPN’s including one in particular which we get asked about a lot at LTL during school days which is…

👉👉👉 Find out how to download a VPN in China right here?

How to Download VPN in China – Top 5 Tips

The Great Firewall of China – How to Download VPN in China? VPN’s – How they work Most people are at least vaguely aware of the need to use a VPN to conquer the “great firewall of China” – the…

Why do I need a VPN in China?

In short – you will need a VPN service to access many of your favourite websites.

A VPN is key to access YouTube in China, as well as how you are able to use Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Snapchat.

This is because the “Great Firewall of China” censors or blocks many of these sites.

Whether you’re planning a trip to China or if you’re thinking about coming to work or even take up an internship in China, downloading a VPN beforehand is a must.

Some opt for a paid VPN, however, for those in China for a shorter time, a free VPN service for use in China may be the better option.

In a nutshell – if you plan to spend more than a month in China a PAID VPN is what we’d recommend. Any shorter length of time and you should get by with a FREE VPN.

There are advantages and disadvantages of using a free VPN.

The main one being a lack of privacy when using a free VPN as your information could be sent to third parties.

A quick Google search will leave you inundated with hundreds of different kinds of VPNs – many of them already blocked by China.

So how do you know which VPN’s really work in China this 2022?

We’ve put together an ultimate list of the 8 best FREE VPNs for use in China that work in 2022: 

Free VPN China #1 || Hotspot Shield

Free VPN China #2 || Hide.me

Free VPN China #3 || TunnelBear

Free VPN China #4 || Windscribe

Free VPN China #5 || Betternet

Free VPN China #6 || Star VPN

Free VPN China #7 || Atlas VPN

Free VPN China #8 || Proton VPN

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Free VPN for China || Quick Comparison

First of all let’s have a look at how our eight top free VPNs for China compare on some of the key things you should be looking for from a VPN:

• If there is a monthly or daily data limit when using the VPN.
• The number of devices you can connect to (e.g. phone, computer tablet).
• How many different server locations are available for a VPN connection.
• If you encounter any problems with your VPN what support is available to you to help fix it.

VPN	Data Limit	Device Connections	Locations	Support
Hotspot Shield	500MB/day	1	1 (US only)	Support centre
Hide.me	10GB/month	1	5	24/7 Livechat
TunnelBear	500MB/month	1	23	Bot live chat
Windscribe	10GB/month	Unlimited	10+	Bot live chat
Betternet	Unlimited	1	1 (US only)	Via Email only
Star VPN	Unlimited	1	30+	Via Email only
Atlas VPN	Unlimited	1	3	Support centre
Proton VPN	Unlimited	1	3	Support centre

Free VPN for China

1. Hotspot Shield

• 500 MB per day
• US server location
• Pay for more features option
• Browsing ✅

This is one of the most popular VPN services used by millions of people throughout the world (over 500 million to be precise).

However, you’ll have a limited amount of data usage per day. The user interface is very easy to use and it has very fast speeds, with many extra features. We think that the limited 500MB is extremely generous.

But if you’re wanting to use it for anything else aside from social media and emails, such as streaming, you may want to look further.

If you wish to stream, you’ll have to join the paid plan which will set you back 2.99USD per month if you join their 3 year plan.

NOTE | It is also important to note that this free version of hotspot has limited countries which you can connect to (although this is the case with a lot of free VPN’s).

You will need to sign up to the premium version to enjoy connections to Hong Kong, Taiwan etc.

Generally for people who live in China connections to these locations are better as they are closer and can therefore be speedier. It’s good to have different choices to switch between.

2. Hide.me

• 2GB per month
• 3 server locations
• Strong Privacy Policy
• Speeds above average

The massive 2GB allowance per month for free compensates for the fact that there are only three servers you can access.

This, as well as the fast speeds it provides. This free VPN service also has a very good privacy policy for a free VPN which helps to keep your data secure.

Hide Me is also widely regarded to have pretty strong speeds compared to its competitors coming out above average.

Slow VPN speeds can slow you internet connection right down and if this gets you edgy, you’l want to bare that in mind!

3. TunnelBear

• 500mb per month
• Worldwide server locations
• Options to pay extra for more services
• Strong Privacy Policy

TunnelBear is a very trusted VPN and if you’re worried about privacy when using a free VPN, look no further.

TunnelBear has one of the best privacy policies – however, this does come at a price with a restriction of 500mb PER MONTH.

This means that if your friends send you a few photos on Facebook messenger it could be wiped out pretty easily.

However, a big advantage is being able to access servers worldwide (apart from Australia). And there are cute bears everywhere!

Best VPN into China (2022): The Best VPN’s To Use In China

The Best VPN’s [for 2021] – With the sheer amount of different VPNs available, it is hard to know which is the best VPN into China. Here’s our guide.

4. Windscribe

• 10GB Per month
• Great for streaming due to large allowance
• Multiple devices (unlimited!)
• Live Chat Support not 24/7

10GB and unlimited devices…?! Yep, you read correctly.

This is THE VPN for those who want to watch private internet access to enjoy Netflix and stream lots of videos on Youtube or download lots of content.

The unbeatable 10GB per month for free definitely sets it apart from any other free VPN for China.

PSST – want to learn Chinese online today? Get signed up in seconds with us at LTL. The #1 ranked Mandarin in China!

Play

5. Betternet

• Unlimited monthly data
• Great for streaming due to large allowance
• Only US servers (paid options available for more features)
• Privacy Policy openly not strong

This is the perfect free VPN for China for those who want to browse as much as they want without any data restrictions – but this comes at a price.

Betternet is very open about the fact that they keep logs.

If you’re worried about privacy – this is not the VPN for you.

However, if a lack of privacy and occasional pop-up ads don’t bother you, this is a firm choice.  

6. Star VPN

• Unlimited data
• 50+ locations
• No credit card, registration or log in required.
• Weak privacy policy

Star VPN is our 6th free VPN for China we would recommend for you.

Why? The unlimited monthly data (as with Betternet) is one of the main reasons here.

We’ve found it to be pretty reliable. What we have to remember with free VPN’s is that you can really get a mixed bag of VPN’s.

For every good experience, there will probably be a bad one, but with Star VPN, we found the positives outweigh the negatives, hence selecting as our next VPN of choice.

Be aware, however, that they do have quite a weak privacy policy.

Although claiming to keep no logs, when you look in to it further it is stated that third-party services are allowed to monitor data for research and advertisement purposes.

7. Atlas VPN

• No data caps
• Convenient for streaming
• No logs policy

Atlas VPN is a relative newcomer, only being launched in 2020. Atlas VPN came out of nowhere and made a lot of noise and it looks like they are set to continue being a strong contender for 2022.

As free VPN’s go this one isn’t bad at all when it comes to streaming and speed.

No data caps is a huge bonus meaning you don’t need to watch your usage.

The negative? You only get 3 server locations on the free version, which means for example, if you want to connect to the UK VPN to watch Sky or BBC, you have to upgrade to a paid subscription.

Either way, Atlas VPN is an excellent service for streaming, especially if you don’t want to overspend.

8. Proton VPN

• Unlimited data
• No ads
• Zero logs
• Strong privacy policy

Proton VPN claims itself to be the best free VPN available (well they all do that).

However, having tested Proton VPN ourselves, we can say that is definitely up there as one of the best free VPNs for sure.

As with any of the free VPNs on our list having unlimited data is a big plus. But what makes Proton VPN just a bit better than some of the others is their privacy policy. Not only do they not log online activity, but user data is also protected by Swiss privacy laws.

Added to this is that there is no advertising, so if you hate having to close adverts this is certainly the VPN for you.

The only real downside to Proton VPN is that on their free version they only offer three server locations, so you are quite limited. The speed also isn’t super fast, so you need to be mindful of that.

Free VPN for China || Conclusion

There are many different factors to consider when picking your free VPN for China.

Ultimately however, only you know what’s important for you in terms of data allowance, privacy or speed.

Pick your VPN according to the factors important to you, whether it be speed, number of devices or privacy, and happy surfing!

NOTE – Remember, we have a strong list of great paid VPN options too which we’d recommend if you are staying in China for longer than a few weeks, here is one more really strong VPN we like a lot, you can sign up with them below:

If you’re already in China and haven’t downloaded a VPN before arriving, it can be a bit trickier to access your favourite websites.

Follow our steps for information on how to download a VPN if you’re already in China.

How to Download VPN in China – Top 5 Tips

The Great Firewall of China – How to Download VPN in China? VPN’s – How they work Most people are at least vaguely aware of the need to use a VPN to conquer the “great firewall of China” – the…

Free VPN for China || FAQ’s

Are free VPN’s as good as paid VPN’s?

Generally no, you get what you pay for. We would widely recommend if you are spending longer than a few weeks in China to go for a paid option.

Having said that, there are still plenty of handy free versions for short time periods.

Do all VPN’s offer free trials?

No, this depends on the VPN. If you find one you like, it’s worth contacting their support to see what they can offer.

How do I know which VPN is best for me?

It depends really on what factors are most important. Is privacy important, is speed important, do you want a reliable connection. What about all the above…

Do some research online and you’ll discover which are the best suited ones to you.

What does VPN stand for?

Virtual Private Network

Are there also Paid VPN’s?

Want more from LTL?

Want to learn Chinese from the comfort of you own home? Then our 24/7 Online Chinese lessons might be the thing for you.

We offer a 7 day free trial to all new online students where you can study Mandarin 24/7.

Come and check it out free of charge and see what you think!

If you wish to hear more from LTL Mandarin School why not join our mailing list.

The Great Firewall (GFW) uses some of the world’s toughest VPN-blocking tech. It also blocks VPN websites, making them difficult to get from within the country. And without a VPN, several apps and websites (especially for news and socials) are inaccessible there. Few free VPNs have the budget or the means to bypass the GFW.

Many free VPNs have weak security and fail to protect your privacy which is particularly worrisome in China. Fortunately, there are a few totally free, safe VPNs you can rely on in China.

That being said, I prefer to use a reliable VPN like ExpressVPN. Although it’s not 100% free, it outperforms the free options with its top-notch security features designed to bypass the GFW and its superfast speeds. It also comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee, so if you’re not fully happy with it, getting a full refund is easy.

Try ExpressVPN Risk-Free

Important! Non-government-approved VPNs are prohibited in China. No visitor has ever been prosecuted for using a VPN in China, but please use your discretion and act with caution. In addition, it’s advised that you download your VPN before traveling there as many VPN sites and apps are blocked.

Try ExpressVPN for China

Best Free VPNs for China — Full Analysis (Updated 2023)

1. ExpressVPN — Best VPN for China with Military-Grade Security Giving Full Access to Blocked Sites

The GFW uses the highly advanced Deep Packet Inspection (DPI) to detect and block VPNs. ExpressVPN offers automatic obfuscation on every server, which detects the use of DPI. It then scrambles your metadata so you can bypass the GFW without even needing to configure any settings.

That’s partly due to Lightway; ExpressVPN’s proprietary security protocol. Like WireGuard, it’s lightweight, secure, and fast. Unlike WireGuard, it was built to work with obfuscation technology. It gives you easy access to blocked apps, sites, and services from China on up to 5 devices at once. On top of this, every server uses private DNS, which means your requests go directly through ExpressVPN — and not any third party.

ExpressVPN gives you access to socials, Google, and a host of streaming platforms, which most free VPNs can’t do

ExpressVPN’s long-distance speeds are the fastest I’ve tested, so you can stream from China without lag. Most VPNs cut your speeds by at least 40-50% at long distances. However, when I tested ExpressVPN’s servers in Spain and Brazil, I lost just 7% on average, and could even stream in Ultra HD. You have access to local servers in Macau and Hong Kong (I hardly noticed the speed loss of 4%). Plus, it offers unlimited data, unlike any totally free VPN on this list.

It uses military-grade encryption and chooses the best settings for your network by default. RAM-only servers make it next to impossible to store your data with its TrustedServer tech. Plus, ExpressVPN’s independently-verified no-logs policy and headquarters in the British Virgin Islands (outside of the 5/9/14 Eyes) protect your online privacy further.

ExpressVPN offers 2 mirror URLs, so you can download the app in China. These URLs are regularly updated to ensure they work. But it’s always best to email support to ask for the most up-to-date links (support@expressvpn.zendesk.com). This way, you can also download the Android app as an APK file, contact its 24/7 live support, and download the most recent software updates. Plus, an agent can help recommend the best servers to use from China.

ExpressVPN isn’t 100% free, but it’s my #1 choice for China because no completely-free VPN can rival it for speed, security, and access to blocked sites and apps. But you can try ExpressVPN risk-free because it offers a solid 30-day money-back guarantee. This makes it easy to get a full refund if you’re not 100% satisfied. Plus, you can pay privately since it accepts cryptocurrency.

I made sure the refund guarantee was upheld and asked for my money back using its 24/7 live chat feature. The agent didn’t even ask me any questions or pressure me to stay, so my refund was approved in a few minutes. My money was back in my account 4 days later.

Start Risk-Free With ExpressVPN

2. Hotspot Shield — Great for Unblocking US Streaming Platforms From China

Hotspot Shield can unblock Disney+ US and HBO Max from China, as well as YouTube, Spotify, WhatsApp, and Facebook. During my tests, I beat HBO Max’s tough blocks to watch an episode of Curb Your Enthusiasm. It took a few seconds to load and it played without buffering. That’s partly because Hotspot Shield allows access to its premium proprietary protocol, Hydra, instead of the standard OpenVPN which is easier to block.

Its Hydra protocol is optimized to maintain high speeds over long distances while keeping you super secure

The monthly data allowance is an impressive 15GB. Unlike most free VPNs, your data doesn’t come in a monthly lump sum; it’s broken down into 500MB/day blocks. I actually found that really useful for browsing and watching 1 episode of a show each day, and it ensured I didn’t burn through my monthly data within a few days as I do with other free VPNs.

Hotspot Shield has solid and consistent speeds for streaming and browsing in China. Despite the app stating its single free server location (in the US) is capped, I got a speed reduction of just 17%. That’s decent for a free VPN, especially considering I’m around 12,000 miles away. There was also only a minor reduction to my latency and upload speeds, meaning Gmail and Instagram were responsive and browsing was smooth.

You have the option of creating a free account, but you can still use the app without signing up. Not creating an account means you can use Hotspot Shield on unlimited devices and 500MB/day on every device. The biggest annoyance was the number of ads that popped up trying to get me to upgrade.

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3. TunnelBear — Obfuscation and a Kill Switch Keep Your Data Hidden While Browsing in China

TunnelBear provides a kill switch and obfuscation for free, which is rare. The kill switch, VigilantBear, cuts off all traffic if your VPN connection drops, while DNS leak protection is automatic. The obfuscation feature is called GhostBear, and during my tests, I had no issues accessing bbc.com, Outlook, or Amazon. GhostBear isn’t available on the iOS app however, so TunnelBear isn’t the best choice if you want a free China VPN for iPhone.

TunnelBear’s GhostBear feature obfuscates your connection to access blocked sites like YouTube in China

You get free access to its full network of 2,600 servers in 47 countries — most free VPNs offer far less. Nearby server locations include Malaysia, Taiwan, and Indonesia. Its US location let me unblock Netflix with no problem. But Netflix was the only major streaming platform I could access. Connections are quick enough for HD streaming; I got an average speedloss of just 9%.

It has a highly effective built-in ad blocker that prevents annoying interruptions, too. It blocked 87% of ads and trackers during my tests. Ads eat up bandwidth and slow down loading times, especially when you connect to distant servers. So preventing these slowdowns can make a huge difference; especially since TunnelBear only allows 500MB of monthly data.

That said, the 500MB monthly data cap is my biggest concern; this converted to just 30 minutes of HD streaming on Youku. However, you can get an extra 1GB of data if you tweet about TunnelBear on Twitter. When I tested it, I got my top-up within an hour. You don’t have to provide payment details for the free plan, just an email address. I recommend using a throwaway one for extra privacy.

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4. hide.me — 10GB/Month Data for Streaming and Browsing in China

hide.me gives you 10GB of data/month, which is a lot more than most free VPNs. I tested hide.me for a month and only used 4.58GB, which allowed me to watch 2 full movies on Netflix US. Additionally, all 8 free locations support P2P file sharing, so you can also use it to download large torrent files safely. I downloaded 3 movies on uTorrent and still had data left over for casual browsing.

With hide.me, you can connect to US — West Coast with the superfast WireGuard protocol to stream Netflix securely

You can save even more data with split tunneling, which lets you select apps to bypass the VPN. I did this with Chrome so I could access local sites like iQiyi. At the same time, I routed Opera through the VPN to read The New York Times and message friends on WhatsApp.

There are 5 protocols to choose from and 2 of them (SSTP and SorftEther) are optimized to bypass firewalls like the GFW. If you ever have issues connecting within China, you can try each protocol in the app, or set the VPN up manually. For assurance that your data and IP don’t accidentally leak, it offers StealthGuard. Using this, you can assign specific apps to only work while connected to hide.me.

Unlike most free VPNs, hide.me offers 24/7 live chat on the website. You can contact support to help troubleshoot any connection issues you might have. When I reached out, the agent walked me through how to change my DNS settings so that the VPN would be harder to detect.

You need to sign up with an email and you can only use hide.me on 1 device at a time. What was also disappointing was that I couldn’t access a lot of streaming sites like Prime Video, HBO Max, Hulu, or Disney+.

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5. Speedify — Combine Multiple Internet Connections for Smooth Communications From China

Speedify combines internet connections to boost your speeds. It’s particularly great if you want to unblock VoIP services in China, like Skype, Zoom, or WhatsApp. Its channel bonding feature allows you to combine multiple WiFi, cellular, or ethernet connections for better speed and reliability. During my tests, Speedify actually increased my iPhone’s upload speed from 0.9 Mbps to 3.8 Mbps.

You can use Speedify’s channel bonding to boost your speeds for better connections and less lag

You can use Speedify’s free Starter Plan privately since it doesn’t require email registration, so you can technically use it on as many devices as you want. You get 2GB of data/month, which is enough for around 3.5 hours of SD video calls (about an hour in HD).

To keep speeds fast, Speedify uses 128-bit encryption rather than 256-bit. That makes it slightly less secure than other VPNs, however, it can still bypass the GFW and adheres to a strict no-logs policy.

The free service gives you access to all of Speedify’s servers in 35 countries. From its Singapore location, I could access Chinese sites like Dianping, Sina, and Jingdong. However, there were a few locations that returned an error message saying, “Sorry, this server is at full capacity”. That said, when I did connect, I scrolled Facebook for an hour without interruptions.

On the downside, Speedify isn’t the best at accessing streaming sites. It failed to access Netflix, Disney+, ESPN, Hulu, and BBC iPlayer — but I could stream videos on YouTube. I was also a bit disappointed that you don’t have access to customer support — only its online FAQ database.

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Quick Comparison Table: Free China VPN Features

The VPNs on my list are all reliable and safe to use in China, but there are significant variations in the features they offer. Which one you choose may depend on why you want a VPN.

If privacy is your priority, consider obfuscation, a kill switch, and leak protection. For streaming, look for reliable access to platforms, fast speeds, high data allowance, and multiple locations.

Try ExpressVPN Risk-Free

Tips on How to Choose the Best Free VPN for China

Finding a premium VPN that works in China is challenging enough, never mind a free one. Here are the factors I considered when choosing free VPNs for China.

• Reliably bypasses the GFW. It’s useful to have a selection of protocols in case one gets blocked. Obfuscation (sometimes called Stealth) can help you bypass the GFW by hiding your VPN use and making it look like regular internet traffic. Custom DNS settings allow you to beat DNS-level blocking.
• Bypasses geo-blocks. For example, if you want access to US content from China, then you need a VPN with servers in the US. Unfortunately, most free VPNs only offer servers in a handful of locations. So make sure to choose one that offers the ones you need and can actually access the geoblocked content you want (many free VPNs fail to unblock streaming platforms, but work well for websites and social media apps).
• Fast speeds. China has little bandwidth for international traffic, so fast speeds are essential to make your browsing bearable on international sites. Nearby servers also give you much faster speeds than ones far away, so look for servers in places like Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, or Indonesia. In addition, make sure the free VPN doesn’t throttle speeds — none of the ones in this list do.
• Enough data. A free VPN is fine for light browsing, but they have limits. For more data-intensive activities like streaming, gaming, and VoIP calls, I recommend using a low-cost premium service for better reliability in China.
• Top security features. Free VPNs often lack key security features, which you shouldn’t compromise when you’re up against the GFW. All the VPNs on my list have 128 or 256-bit encryption to hide your data. I also ensured they all passed a DNS/IP leak test and offer kill switches to maintain online privacy in China.
• Alternative download methods. I checked that every listed VPN offers an APK file link, so you can download it discreetly from China. Some VPNs (including ExpressVPN) also have mirror URLs for an alternative way to sign up and download.
• Reliable customer support. It’s helpful to have 24/7 live chat in case you run into technical issues. If that’s not available, it should at least provide support via email, a contact form, or a searchable knowledge base to answer your questions.
• Cross-platform compatibility. I made sure each VPN supports the most popular devices and operating systems.

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Warning! Risks of Free VPNs

A lot of free VPNs out there are dangerous to use. Some make money by monitoring your data and selling it to third parties. This can compromise your security, not to mention lead to a barrage of “personalized” ads. Some free VPNs are super sketchy and have been known to come with viruses and malware embedded in the apps as well.

On top of that, a lot of free VPNs simply don’t have the resources to provide the advanced security needed to maintain your privacy online, and especially not in China. Some have weak or broken encryption, while others don’t offer important features like leak protection or a kill switch.

Tips to Get a VPN From Within China

The Great Firewall blocks VPNs, so it’s best to get one before you travel to China. Google Play is completely blocked in the country. The Apple App Store is available, but thousands of apps are missing, including non-government-approved VPNs. On top of that, you’ll probably find your VPN’s website is blocked within the country, so you can’t download the app directly.

There are a few workarounds you can try if you’re already in China and are struggling to get a free VPN:

• Use a mirror site. For example, ExpressVPN has 2 mirror sites for users in highly censored countries where its regular website isn’t available. It regularly switches up the URLs to avoid blocks from China and other countries, so you can download it, update the software, and even get in touch with customer support. You can request an up-to-date address from ExpressVPN at support@expressvpn.zendesk.com.
• Change your App Store’s location. The Apple Store isn’t blocked in China (unlike the Google Play Store). Still, you won’t find any VPNs on it that aren’t monitored by the government. You can create a new Apple account and set the country to one where VPNs are available to overcome this. Or change the region of your current account. Just log into the App Store, go to your profile, and tap Country/Region.
• Use hotel WiFi. Many hotels in China have VPNs integrated into their WiFi, so tourists can visit the regular websites they use at home. If you can connect to a hotel’s WiFi that offers this, you should be able to download a VPN.
• Use a web proxy. While proxies are less secure than VPNs, they can change your location so you can bypass the GFW and access the VPN’s website to download the app.
• Download an APK file. Third-party sites offer APK files for all the VPNs on this list. However, be aware that third-party links aren’t always safe and sometimes contain malware. If you’re trying this method, I recommend installing antivirus software first.
• Use Tor browser. The GFW tries to block Tor, so the configurations needed for it to work in China change almost daily. Therefore, this method is quite time-consuming. However, once set up, you can use Tor to bypass the GFW and access VPN websites to download a free VPN.

Try ExpressVPN for China

FAQs on the Best Free VPNs for China

Is it legal to use a VPN in China?

Only state-approved VPNs are legal to use in China. But since VPN companies tend to advocate for online freedom, many VPNs offer technologies specifically designed to allow people in China to overcome online censorship. It’s not possible for a VPN to provide this if it’s been approved by the Chinese government because it would have to log and share data with those authorities.

And while using a VPN that’s not approved could result in a fine or charge, there have been very few cases of this happening. There are no recorded cases of visitors or tourists being prosecuted for using a VPN in the country. Even still, we recommend you read up on the latest rules and regulations and to be informed.

Which free VPNs have servers in China?

Not many. Since China has such invasive data retention policies, having servers in the country would invalidate a VPN’s no-logs policy. Plus, free VPNs usually only offer a few server locations, usually in the US or Europe. That being said, some free VPNs offer safe servers in places nearby like Macau, Hong Kong, Singapore, or Indonesia. These regions aren’t subject to the GFW, so using these servers will allow you to access blocked sites with a fast connection.

What can I do if my VPN stops working in China?

First of all, make sure you’re using a VPN that’s been verified to work in China. Very few VPNs work reliably to bypass the GFW because it uses advanced technology to block VPN connections. If you’re still running into problems, here are some solutions you can try:

• Change protocols. Go into the security settings and try to connect using each protocol. Proprietary protocols are a good choice since they’re not as highly used, so they tend to be harder to detect and block: ExpressVPN’s Lightway and Hotspot Shield’s Hydra are 2 examples.. You can also fiddle with your protocol’s settings — try using TCP rather than UDP.
• Enable obfuscation. Scrambling your data can help you bypass the GFW by making your VPN look like regular internet traffic. Check to make sure obfuscation (sometimes called “Stealth”) is toggled on.
• Enable the kill switch and leak protection. If your VPN is leaking any of your real info, chances are the VPN connection will be detected and blocked, so it’s important to enable both these important settings.
• Change ports or DNS settings. The GFW uses port and DNS blocking among other methods. Some apps like hide.me let you switch ports and manually configure your device’s IPv4 and IPv6 DNS settings to 1.1.1.1 (Cloudflare).

Which free VPNs have Android APK files for download?

All the VPNs on my list have APK files, although ExpressVPN is the only VPN on this list with an official APK for Android. The company hosts it on its own website so you can be certain it’s legit. The other VPNs have APK files but they’re on third-party sites. Wherever possible, I recommend that you only download APK files from the VPN’s official site. Third-party downloads can be risky since the files aren’t verified.

Why is my VPN so slow in China?

With so much foreign content blocked, there is little bandwidth for data leaving China. A VPN with nearby servers in Macau or Hong Kong is the best option to maintain speed. These independent states aren’t subject to the Great Firewall (GFW). The GFW uses advanced monitoring called Deep Packet Inspection, which slows speeds for foreign sites. Therefore, international sites are considerably slower than local ones.

While all VPNs slow you down a little, free VPNs take this further by imposing data/speed caps and limiting their server networks. So if you need smooth browsing and streaming, it’s best to go with low-cost premium VPN that doesn’t limit your speeds.

Why can’t I access Google and other sites and platforms in China?

The Chinese government heavily censors online content for political reasons. The safest way to access blocked content from China is with a VPN. VPNs encrypt your data to prevent firewall blocks and route it through remote private servers outside China. This gives you access to sites that the GFW blocks such as Google, YouTube, and Facebook. Even better is if your VPN offers obfuscation, which scrambles your data to make it look like regular traffic to evade the GFW’s VPN blocks.

Blocked socials include Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat, WhatsApp, and Instagram, as well as sites such as Google (and related services), Yahoo, YouTube, Spotify, Netflix, and other streaming platforms. Independent news sources such as the BBC and The New York Times are also unavailable. You can use our handy tool to check to see if any URL is currently blocked in China.

Try ExpressVPN in China

Get the Best Free VPN for China Today

Many free VPNs aren’t secure enough to work in China. DNS leaks, weak encryption, and outdated protocols can mean you fall foul of the Great Firewall. The VPNs on this list can bypass the GFW safely and reliably and don’t cost a dime.

My #1 recommendation for China is ExpressVPN. Its advanced obfuscation technology means you can bypass the GFW undetected without even needing to configure anything. Plus, it easily accessed every blocked app, website, and streaming platform I tested it with. And while it’s not free, its reliability and unlimited data make it undeniably better than any free VPN. You can try ExpressVPN completely risk-free, though, because it offers a 30-day money-back guarantee.

The best VPNs for China that come with money-back guarantees are…

VPN Pro – это приложение, при помощи которого на персональном компьютере, работающем под управлением Microsoft Windows, легко организовать безопасное и анонимное подключение к сети. Также обеспечивается доступ к

Приложение известно практически каждому человеку, обеспокоенному безопасностью своего пребывания в сети с компьютера. Именно при помощи Avast SecureLine VPN можно надёжно скрыть реальный IP-адрес, разблокировать все ранее недоступные

Astrill VPN – это максимально простой VPN-клиент для компьютера, отличающийся легковесностью, а также минимальным количеством различных дополнительных функций.

iTop VPN – симпатичный VPN-клиент, полностью переведённый на русский язык, отличающийся наличием бесплатной версии, а также достаточным функционалом для организации безопасного и анонимного подключения с компьютера.

Check Point Endpoint Security VPN – это широкий набор инструментов для организации безопасности и анонимности в сети. Программа содержит ошеломляющее количество различных полезных инструментов, в том числе умеет

PureVPN – это продвинутый инструмент для организации максимально безопасного и анонимного пребывания в сети с компьютера. Программа отличается большим количеством различных полезных функций, но имеет и недостаток. Здесь

Touch VPN – один из самых простых VPN-клиентов для компьютера. Программа даже не имеет пользовательского интерфейса, а сразу после запуска автоматически организовывается максимально безопасное и анонимное подключение к

VPNGame – это сборка на базе OpenVPN, позволяющая обеспечить доступность всех игровых сервисов в любых проектах. Более детально предложение мы рассмотрим ниже, также расскажем о его правильной установке

При помощи данного приложения вы сможете организовать безопасное и анонимное подключение к сети с компьютера. Вместе с этим все сайты, которые ранее отказывались открываться, станут доступными.

VPN Monster – это простейший клиент для Windows, позволяющий организовать по-настоящему защищённое соединение при посещении различных сайтов с компьютера. Любые блокировки будут сняты, а ваш реальный IP-адрес надёжно

If there was ever a country where a VPN would be most useful to you, China is that country. China is famous for its Great Firewall that blocks out a lot of websites. The Asian country also censors social media platforms such as Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram. If you are planning a trip to China or are already there and having issues because of the censorship, a VPN can make everything relatively easier.

A VPN (Virtual Private Network) connects you with a server in any country of choice. Thus, while in China, the VPN masks your IP address, making it seem like you were in a different country. That way, you will be able to access all the restricted sites in China.

Additionally, a VPN serves other purposes. For instance, it helps secure your network. Also, you will be able to access geo-blocked content on platforms such as Netflix, Hulu, iPlayer, etc. Hence, while in China, you can stream content from Netflix in other countries with no issues. You will access all of these benefits once you settle for a VPN.

Below, you will find a review of some of the best free VPNs for China.

Best Risk-Free VPN Services for China

Security and speed are undoubtedly the two most important factors while using a VPN. The Great Firewall has one of the most sophisticated censorship systems in the world. You need a VPN with strong security features to be able to bypass it. Also, your VPN of choice should have high browsing and streaming speeds. Thus, even when you gain access to restricted content, you will not experience lags. 

Risk-free VPNs offer these two factors and give you the option to get your money back if you don’t like their services. They do this using a refund policy that specifies the risk-free period. However, once the risk-free period is over, you cannot get your money back. Let’s look at a couple of the best risk-free VPNs for China.

ExpressVPN is the best risk-free provider you can find in China. It has a range of servers – over 3000, to be exact. Some of these servers are in the neighboring countries of Taiwan, Japan, and Hong Kong. These servers’ proximity will make sure you stream and surf at an excellent speed.

ExpressVPN gets around Chinese virtual blocks easily. At the same time, it makes sure that no one compromises your data through its military-grade encryption. Its kill switch also protects your information if your connection becomes compromised or unstable. It also has a DNS leak feature that ensures essential data does not get leaked while you make use of the VPN.

ExpressVPN is easy to use and set up. While in China, it would only take only a few clicks to set up an account. It even allows you to connect five devices simultaneously. ExpressVPN grants you a 30-day money-back guarantee. This simply means that within the 30-day window, you can request a refund if you are unsatisfied with the quality of service it provides. You would have to set up an account first and get on a subscription plan. However, the process for requesting a refund is smooth and seamless; hence you need not worry.

NordVPN is another provider you ought to give serious consideration to in your search for a VPN to use in China. NordVPN has more than 5000 servers, easily one of the highest you could find. These servers are optimized for speed and located in neighboring countries like Singapore, Japan, Hong Kong, etc. You will never have to struggle to find a VPN to connect to while in China.

Additionally, NordVPN designed these servers to get around all sorts of restrictions while keeping your security in mind. The servers have unlimited bandwidth, so there will be no cap on how much data you can use. If you want to use the VPN to stream geo-blocked content from platforms like Netflix and Hulu, NordVPN makes that possible. Its 256-bit AES encryption makes you virtually undetectable as you use the internet. It also maintains a strict no-logs policy.

You can install and run NordVPN on six devices simultaneously with one subscription. You will get the same level of premium service on all of those devices. If you have any challenges, NordVPN’s 24/7 support staff will be willing to guide you properly.

Best Completely Free VPN Services for China

Completely free VPN services do not have a risk-free period; they are free until you stop using them. However, they have their limitations which we will discuss below. Let’s look at the best free VPN services you can use to bypass internet censorship in China.

ProtonVPN is a privacy-focused VPN service that was developed by the same team that developed ProtonMail. While this VPN service provider does not have servers in China, its servers in Hong Kong will give you access to country-specific Chinese content. Apart from China and Hong Kong, ProtonVPN has servers in 53 other nations. This allows its users in China to have several options if they need to bypass heavy internet censorship. 

However, ProtonVPN’s free subscribers can only use servers in three countries: Japan, Holland, and the USA. These countries have a lot of country-specific content free subscribers can unblock. Otherwise, they would need to take advantage of ProtonVPN’s 30-day money-back guarantee to get full access to the service. 

With ProtonVPN, you can rest assured that your privacy is intact as it operates using an air-tight no-log policy. In addition, its base in Geneva, Switzerland, is a privacy-friendly environment for VPN service providers. Furthermore, ProtonVPN’s security features are world-class. You have 256-bit encryption, leak prevention, perfect forward secrecy, Double VPN, malware/ad protection, a kill switch, and Tor over VPN. 

Overall, ProtonVPN does a great job at ensuring its users have best-in-class protection from malicious entities. Additionally, its software applications are open source, and SEC Consult has audited them to ensure there are no vulnerabilities. It is also cross-platform compatible as it is available for use on different devices. However, using its free plan, you can only protect your connection on one device at a time.

Due to China’s heavy internet restrictions, there are very few VPN service providers with servers there. However, Hong Kong is an alternative server location that can do most of what a server in China can do, including reaching sites only available in China. Malaysia-based Hide.me is one of the VPN services with at least a server location in Hong Kong. Its server fleet consists of more than 1800 servers resident in 72 locations. 

Unfortunately for people that want to connect to servers in Hong Kong, Hide.me’s free package only includes server locations in Germany, Holland, Canada, and the US. For most people living in China, the free package will meet their needs if the purpose of using Hide.me is to get past internet censorship. 

Hide.me keeps you away from bad actors using AES-256 encryption to protect your internet connection. In addition, you have an array of VPN protocols available, including OpenVPN, WireGuard, IKEv2/IPSec, SSTP, and Softether. Furthermore, Hide.me is a privacy-friendly service provider. 

It does not store personal data or data that third parties can use to identify its users. Also, it keeps no logs of your internet connection history. Besides, Malaysian law does not require Hide.me to keep your data. With a free Hide.me account, you cannot use more than 10GB in a month and can only connect to a device as it does not allow simultaneous connections. 

TunnelBear has servers in over 40 countries globally. Like most VPN services, it does not have servers in China. Sadly, it doesn’t have servers in Hong Kong too. So, you might need to look for another VPN service if the primary purpose of using this VPN application is to access Chinese sites and media. However, people living in China can connect to TunnelBear’s entire server fleet as its free version does not restrict access to any of its servers. 

Also, you can download and upload torrent files as it does block P2P traffic. While TunnelBear is fast and reliable, it has a significant drawback: its free package limits your data usage to 500MB per month. There are a few things you can do to increase it to 1.5GB. For example, you can tweet about the VPN service provider. However, the data limit will not appeal to people that consume a lot of data, such as avid gamers or video content creators. 

TunnelBear is safe to use as it utilizes 256-bit encryption combined with robust VPN protocols such as OpenVPN, IPSec, and IKEv2, to ensure a secure internet connection. In addition, a security firm known as Cure53 annually audits TunnelBear’s infrastructure to ensure it does not have any security issues that can leave it vulnerable to attacks. Furthermore, it abides by a watertight zero-log policy. 

With native applications and instructional guides, TunnelBear is cross-platform compatible. Finally, you can have up to five concurrent VPN connections with a user account.

Hotspot Shield is the only VPN service provider on this list that has servers in China. It also has servers in other Asian countries, including Hong Kong, Singapore, South Korea, and Vietnam. Overall, you have access to over 1800 servers in at least 80 countries. However, its free users only have access to servers in the US. This means you would have to subscribe to connect to servers in China. 

Fortunately, Hotspot Shield’s 45-day money-back guarantee gives users the opportunity to use its premium services risk-free for 45 days. People using the free plan will discover a bandwidth limit that prevents them from having a connection faster than 2MBps and a 500MB daily data usage limit. Hotspot Shield does not keep any logs of your internet activities. This ensures that even when government agencies have jurisdiction to collect data, there will be nothing to give up. 

Hotspot Shield is an excellent provider that places a lot of emphasis on security. It even has its unique protocol known as Catapult Hydra as well as other protocols, including OpenVPN, WireGuard, and IPSec. In addition, Hotspot Shield makes use of an advanced encryption algorithm to keep internet connections impenetrable. Furthermore, it uses in-built malware protection that protects you from malware and unwanted ads.

Hotspot Shield allows you to connect up to 5 devices at the same time. However, its free users cannot use it on more than a single device. Hotspot Shield is cross-platform compatible and has a 24/7 customer care support team to attend to your needs.

Trust.Zone is one service provider you can trust. It does not have servers in China, but its reliable server network in Hong Kong gives users easy access to Chinese content. Apart from these two locations, Trust.Zone has servers in more than 30 countries. These servers have top streaming and browsing speed. 

In addition, specific servers are available for specific streaming platforms. For instance, there are servers for Netflix, the BBC, etc., which enhance the ease of connecting and stream content from these platforms. However, its free version is only available for three days and prevents you from using more than 1GB of data for that period. 

Trust.Zone is emphatic about its no-log policy; it does not keep track of your internet activities. Additionally, it wipes off your internet presence, ensuring that no one gets access to them, even the government. This is especially important for China as the government uses ISPs to monitor residents’ internet activities. It also makes use of a robust encryption algorithm, perfect forward secrecy, an automatic kill switch, in-built leak protection, and strong VPN protocols such as OpenVPN, WireGuard, IKEv2, and L2TP/IPSec.

With a warrant canary, Trust.Zone can inform its users of any government interference in its daily operations. It doesn’t matter what device you own; you can trust this VPN service provider to have installation guides you can follow. One device per user is the policy when it comes to Trust.Zone’s free package.

Is it Legal to Use a free VPN in China?

There is no straightforward answer to this question. Some people consider it illegal because China has banned many popular VPN service providers from operating in the country and removed their applications from its country-specific Apple and Android application stores. However, there are other VPN services that operate in China as companies, especially international corporations, need VPNs to communicate with the rest of the world. 

China is trying to regulate its VPN industry by allowing only those approved by its agencies to operate. This means that before a business can use a VPN in China, it has to get approval from the government. However, this does not apply to individuals. You are likely not to go to jail if the Chinese government finds out you’re using a VPN, especially if you’re a foreigner living in China. 

However, the Chinese government can decide to make life miserable for you if they discover you’re using a VPN. One way they can do that is by blocking your cell service, preventing you from calling or texting, as well as connecting to the internet. To get your cell service back on, you will need to delete all banned applications, including VPN applications. So, while using a free VPN in China, ensure you’re using one that is hard to detect. 

Tips for Using a Free VPN in China

Due to the fact that China is not a VPN-friendly location, you might need to be extra careful when using a free VPN there. Below, we have compiled important tips you need to consider when using a free VPN in China. 

1. Install Before Traveling 

If you are traveling to China, you will do well to install the VPN before your plane lands. This is because it is a lot harder to get access to a VPN while in China. Google Play Store and Apple AppStore are all blocked in China. Furthermore, the websites of most VPNs are blocked, too, so you wouldn’t be able to download VPN apps from there.

However, if you live in China, getting access to VPN apps might be a bit dicey. There are a number of friendly hotels around. They have VPNs integrated with their WiFi networks. You can make use of their network to download your app. Alternatively, you can download the Apk versions of the VPN apps. You can download them using Yahoo’s search engine because China banned Google.

2. Carefully Consider All Your Options 

You have to consider your options carefully before deciding on a free VPN. The first criteria you need to consider is whether the provider has servers in China or countries nearby. Next, you have to look at the browsing speed as well as the stability of the connection of these servers. Finally, the protocols and servers should have features that are up to date. That is the only way they can get around the Great Firewall. 

3. Connect to the Closest Servers

The closer a server’s location is, the higher the speed of the server. Hence, while using a VPN in China, do well to connect to servers in neighboring countries. Countries such as Korea, Japan, and Hong Kong are ideal for this. However, if you want to access geo-restricted content, you will have to connect to a server in the country it is available. For instance, to access Netflix US, you will need to connect to a server in the United States.

4. Consider Having a Backup VPN 

Most of the VPNs discussed above are reliable. However, the Chinese government is not. The Chinese government is notorious for censorship, especially with the government in power at the moment. The crackdown on VPNs has escalated in recent years. VPNs are being targeted and taken down regularly. Some providers routinely suspend providing services for a while before coming back up. In the case where your provider is either targeted or goes offline of its own accord, you will need to have an alternative. If you are going to spend a lot of time in China or live there, you need to have a backup free VPN.

What to Look Out For in a Free VPN for China

Choosing a VPN is hard enough with the many available options. However, selecting a VPN for China is more challenging. It’s even worse when you’re opting for a free VPN. Here, we outline what to look out for in a free VPN for China.

• Number of Servers: An excellent VPN for any country must have multiple servers in different locations. This is because a large server count ensures that you wouldn’t experience overcrowded servers and slow connection speeds. A VPN for China likewise must have servers stationed in the country. However, it is difficult to find a VPN with servers in China. So, you can look for a provider with servers in neighboring countries like Singapore, Japan, Korea, and Hong Kong.
• Strict No Log Policy: Internet service providers (ISP) track you through your internet connection logs. The Chinese government can access such records. Therefore, when choosing a VPN, you must select one that doesn’t store or share users’ internet logs. This way, the government can’t track your internet activity.
• Reliable Encryption: Encryption prevents third parties from accessing your data. This means that an excellent free VPN for China must have military-grade encryption. You can also ensure you pick a VPN with end-to-end encryption. Finally, you can be safe from the government, hackers, and data snoops with such an encryption level.
• Internet Kill Switch: When your internet connection drops, it affects your VPN connection. When this happens, your real IP address may leak. That’s why an internet kill switch is essential for a Chinese VPN. A kill switch automatically disconnects your internet connection when your VPN connection drops. Consequently, your IP address wouldn’t leak.

Cross-Platform Support: Chinese residents use many gadgets and operating systems. Therefore, a VPN for China must have apps that are compatible with most of these platforms. Furthermore, a VPN that allows multiple simultaneous connections on one subscription is also a great choice.

Frequently Asked Questions on VPNs for China

How can I use a free VPN to get past internet censorship in China?

After deciding the free VPN service you want to use, you need to download and install the application on your device. Many free VPNs have manual installation instructions if you cannot get their apps on the Chinese Playstore and App store. Next, create an account if the free VPN service requires you to do so. Otherwise, connect to a server located outside China. 

Should I use a free VPN to bypass internet censorship in China?

No. We do not recommend using free VPN services to bypass internet censorship in China. This is because free VPNs usually do not have the sophistication needed to bypass China’s great firewall undetected. Even premium VPNs have a hard time getting past it. We recommend you get in touch with your VPN service provider if you need to use their services in China. Unfortunately, some free VPN services don’t have a reliable customer support structure. 

Which sites and VPN applications are banned in China?

China has banned several social media, news, and entertainment sites. Notable mentions include Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, Netflix, Google, Yahoo, Whatsapp, Signal, Telegram, BBC, CNN, Slack, YouTube, Spotify, Blogspot, etc. In addition, you will not find popular VPN applications such as NordVPN, ExpressVPN, ProtonVPN, Hotspot Shield, and TunnelBear on the Chinese Playstore or App store.

Conclusion

The heavy internet restriction in China is saddening. However, with a VPN, you can still conduct your normal internet activities unhindered. You just need to pay attention to make sure that the VPN you choose can get around the Great Chinese Firewall. You can be sure of this with the VPNs above.

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