Updated on: April 26, 2026
- 🥇 ExpressVPN : While it's not free, it’s the best VPN for China and covers all first-time purchases with a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can try it risk-free. It allows access to the open internet from China, including social media apps, and offers excellent streaming support. This is possible because it hides your VPN traffic from China’s deep packet inspection, which also protects you from government monitoring.
Finding a free VPN that actually works in China is rare — and even the best ones can be hit-or-miss. After weeks of testing, I’ve narrowed it down to a few that still connect reliably through the Great Firewall (though they do have some limitations). I also made sure each one keeps you anonymous while accessing the open internet in China. Plus, I’ve included tips to help you get them working if you run into any blocks while you’re there.
That said, a premium VPN is your best bet. ExpressVPN is my top recommendation — it’s one of the few that can bypass Chinese censorship. Plus, it includes unlimited data and strong privacy features to keep you anonymous in China. Editor's Note: ExpressVPN and this site are in the same ownership group.
Quick Summary of the Best Free VPNs for China in 2026
VPN connectivity in China can be unpredictable, especially around national holidays or political events, leading to occasional VPN disruptions. ExpressVPN is typically reliable and offers a 30-day money-back guarantee for new users to try it risk-free. VPNs are technically restricted in China, but the government focuses enforcement on VPN providers — not users. I haven’t heard of any tourists or business travelers being fined or detained for using a VPN. If you need a more detailed guide on how to safely get and use a VPN in China, click the link.
🥇 1. ExpressVPN — Best Overall VPN for China
Basic 12-Months plan: $3.99 / month
1-month plan: $12.99 / month
ExpressVPN is my favorite VPN for China in 2026 because it automatically detects when China’s Deep Packet Inspection (DPI) is trying to block your VPN connection, and then scrambles your VPN traffic so it looks like normal browsing. This makes it much harder for the Chinese government to detect and shut down your VPN — and it allows you to access apps like Gmail, social media, and messaging apps.
- Fastest speeds in China
- Hides VPN use on all servers
- Downloadable from China
- Accesses 100+ streaming sites
- No free plan
It doesn’t have a free plan, but it’s backed by a no-questions-asked 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can try it risk-free.
If you’re already in China and can’t access the site, you can email its support team (I got a reply in under 3 hours). It will send a working mirror link, which is a duplicate site address that’s not blocked, so you can install it. In addition, ExpressVPN’s customer support is very knowledgeable and will provide you with tips for troubleshooting your connection while in the country if you need them!
I like how its Threat Manager feature blocks apps and sites from communicating with trackers, so the Chinese government can’t monitor you through cookies and scripts (it also protects you from shady websites).
ExpressVPN offers excellent speeds in China — even with obfuscation, which usually slows down your connection due to the extra encryption and rerouting. This is thanks to its proprietary Lightway protocol, which uses fewer lines of code but doesn’t sacrifice security. Plus, it has lots of servers in nearby locations like Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Japan for getting the best speeds possible.
ExpressVPN allows you to securely stream from China. It works with 100+ streaming sites, which makes it one of the best VPNs for streaming, and it can access different Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Disney+ libraries, as well as sites like Hulu and BBC iPlayer.
ExpressVPN lets you pay in cryptocurrency for better privacy and via international processors like UnionPay.
Bottom Line:
ExpressVPN is the best VPN for China in 2026. It accesses the free and open internet from China, it hides VPN traffic from China’s Firewall on all of its servers, and it’s even downloadable from China where most VPNs are blocked. The VPN is the fastest on the market and has advanced features to hide all of your online activities from the Chinese government.
Read the full ExpressVPN review
🥈2. Hotspot Shield — Fast, Free, Unlimited-Data VPN to Browse the Web in China
1-month plan: $12.99 / month
Hotspot Shield’s free plan offers unlimited data and maintains fast speeds, making it ideal for browsing in China and using apps like Gmail, Instagram, and WhatsApp for as long as you need without dealing with slowdowns. The only thing I don’t like about the free version is that you have to watch ads every 15 minutes on the mobile apps.
- Unlimited bandwidth
- Hydra protocol is very fast
- Doesn’t require an account
- Free server in Singapore
- No streaming support
- Ads on mobile
The free plan works in China most of the time (though there’s no guarantee it’ll always work there) because of its proprietary Hydra protocol, which obfuscates your VPN traffic on all servers and makes it undetectable to China’s Firewall. Hydra is fast because its code is lightweight — it doesn’t use a lot of bandwidth and it saves your battery.
The free version includes access to servers in 3 countries — they’re located in the US, the UK, and Singapore, which is the closest one to China and will give you the best speeds. There’s also no streaming support on the free plan.
I also like that you can use Hotspot Shield’s free version without signing up. This creates an extra layer of privacy because you don’t have to provide any personal information. It also means you can use the VPN on as many devices as you want — logging into an account on the free plan restricts you to a single device at a time.
Hotspot Shield’s paid plans provide access to all server locations and streaming and torrenting support, as well as 24/7 live chat.
Bottom Line:
Hotspot Shield is a very fast, free VPN that works in China thanks to the proprietary lightweight Hydra protocol that hides VPN traffic from China’s Great Firewall. You also get unlimited data, but you have to watch an ad every 15 minutes, and you get access to only 3 server locations.
Read the full Hotspot Shield review
🥉3. Windscribe — Good Free Server Selection for China
1-month plan: $9.00 / month
Build A Plan: $3.00 / month
Windscribe lets you connect to lots of free server locations from China. It includes 10+ free server locations, including in the US, UK, Canada, and even Hong Kong. Its speeds on the free plan are pretty good for browsing and streaming in China, too.
- 10+ free server locations
- 2 obfuscation options for China
- Free ad & tracker blocker
- Works with Netflix & Amazon Prime
- Limited data (up to 10 GB a month)
- No logs policy isn’t audited
Windscribe bypasses China’s VPN blocks with 2 obfuscation protocols: Stealth, which wraps your VPN traffic in a TLS tunnel to make it look like regular HTTPS traffic, and WStunnel, which hides it inside a WebSocket connection — a method often used for real-time web apps. Still, the free plan might not work in China 100% of the time.
The free plan also gets you full access to R.O.B.E.R.T, Windscribe’s ad and tracker blocker. It helps improve speed and privacy by filtering out ads and tracking scripts, including those often found on Chinese websites.
Windscribe’s free servers can access Netflix, Amazon Prime, and apps like Snapchat, TikTok, and Instagram from China. The base data cap is 2 GB/month, which is enough for about an hour of HD streaming, but you can boost it to 10 GB by adding your email. It also supports unlimited device connections.
Windscribe also has premium plans, giving you access to all of its servers in 69 countries and unlimited data.
Bottom Line:
Windscribe is a great free VPN that works in China with a very good free server selection, including one in Hong Kong, which is great for getting the best speeds possible. It offers up to 15 GB of free data, and you can even use it to securely stream on your favorite platforms like Netflix.
Read the full Windscribe review
4. hide.me — Good for Staying Connected to Everyday Apps in China
12-month plan: $4.58 / month
1-month plan: $11.99 / month
hide.me is great for safely using social media and messaging apps from China. It has free servers in 5+ countries, such as the US, UK, and Germany, which can access apps like Gmail and WhatsApp, and it doesn’t require an email address to create a free account. You can even filter these locations by ping, so you don’t have to deal with too much buffering.
- Unlimited free bandwidth
- 5+ free server locations
- Easy to find the fastest location
- No free servers near China
- No streaming support
The VPN avoids DPI blocks in China by obfuscating your traffic when you use the OpenVPN protocol, though hide.me recommends trying the SSTP protocol in China (and disabling the Fallback Protocol option). It works in China, but it’s inconsistent.
hide.me gets good speeds on nearby servers, but I was a bit disappointed with long-distance speeds during my tests. However, it has unlimited data, so you can browse the free web in China as much as you want.
A downside, however, is that the free plan allows only 1 device connection, and there’s no streaming or torrenting support. If you want streaming support, check out ExpressVPN or Windscribe.
hide.me’s paid plans provide unlimited data and access to the provider’s full server network.
Bottom Line:
hide.me provides strong security features that keep you safe on the web in China. It has 5+ free server locations and offers unlimited data, so you won’t have to restrict your time online to safely go online in China. But it’s slow on long-distance servers, and there’s no streaming support.
5. TunnelBear — User-friendly VPN for China
12-month plan: $4.00 / month
1-month plan: $9.99 / month
TunnelBear is great for beginners who need a free VPN in China — its obfuscation feature, GhostBear, takes 1 click to find and enable (under Connections). While you’re there, you can also just set it to Auto, so the VPN automatically obfuscates your traffic when it detects VPN blocks in China’s Great Firewall.
- Free access to all locations
- Easy to enable obfuscation
- Free split-tunneling
- Doesn’t work on iOS & macOS in China
- Slow on distant servers
TunnelBear also offers Encrypted Server Name Indication (ESNI) on Android, which hides the website you’re trying to visit during the connection process, making it harder for China’s Great Firewall to block access based on the site’s name.
The best part about TunnelBear’s free plan is that you get access to all features and perks. This includes streaming support and server locations in all 47 countries, including regions close to China, like Japan, Taiwan, and South Korea.
The downside is that obfuscation isn’t available on iOS or the latest macOS. This means Apple users are better off with one of the other VPNs on this list, especially ExpressVPN. You also only get 2 GB of free data per month — enough for just a couple of hours. For unlimited data, consider Hotspot Shield.
Bottom Line:
TunnelBear is a great free VPN for beginners in China. Its GhostBear feature, which bypasses Chinese ISP blocks, is easy to enable. Plus, you get access to servers in all 47 countries and streaming support.
Read the full TunnelBear review
Quick Comparison Table
Editor's Note: ExpressVPN and this site are in the same ownership group.
Testing Methodology: Comparison & Ranking Criteria
To find the best free VPNs for China, I used our proven testing methodology to determine each VPN’s ease of use, speeds, security and privacy, user-friendliness, and overall value. Here’s what I tested for this list:
- I ensured that the VPNs work in China. The VPNs I recommend can bypass government restrictions and hide VPN use thanks to obfuscation. I prefer ExpressVPN because it offers top-notch obfuscation, customer support for China via email, and even mirror URLs to download the VPN within China.
- I only included VPNs that protect your privacy in China. They don’t log what you do online, and they use strong security features like 256-bit AES encryption, DNS leak protection, and a kill switch so your online activities don’t leak. Some also use RAM-only servers that erase all data on reboot, leaving nothing to hand over even if requested by Chinese authorities.
- I made sure the VPNs offer enough data. The free VPNs I recommend offer 2-15 GB of data and unlimited data, so you can freely and safely stream, game, or make video calls.
- I checked each VPN’s server network for China. Most VPNs on my list have free servers near China, which get you better speeds when browsing and streaming the web, especially with obfuscation on. Most can access top streaming services like Netflix and social media and messaging apps like Instagram and WhatsApp on the free plans, too.
- I tested each VPN’s speeds for reliable and fast connections. Many VPNs that do work in China have slow connections. ExpressVPN had the fastest speeds and most stable connections during my tests.
- I only recommend VPNs that provide good value. I only recommend VPNs that have affordable paid plans that provide access to more extra security features, better speeds, and larger server networks. Also, the paid plans should be covered by a money-back guarantee.
Risks & Disadvantages of Using a Free VPN
- Limited security. Free VPNs often lack the advanced security features that paid VPNs offer, such as an ad and malware blocker, full leak protection, and obfuscation. This makes them more vulnerable and less likely to work with the Great Firewall of China. Luckily, all of the VPNs I mentioned in this article offer advanced security and obfuscation.
- Privacy issues. Free VPNs might gather and trade your information to sell to advertisers as a means of profit. This undermines one of the primary reasons for using a VPN — to safeguard your internet privacy.
- Data restrictions. Free VPNs limit how much data you use on a daily and monthly basis, which means you may only have a couple of hours of browsing or streaming. The time limit reduces significantly in China since you also have to use obfuscation for the VPN to work with the Great Chinese Firewall.
Free vs. Paid VPNs for China
Free VPNs often struggle to work in China. They typically don’t offer obfuscation, have limited servers, data caps, provide slower speeds, and don’t offer support for streaming or torrenting.
The free VPNs I recommend are among the few that offer solid privacy and basic functionality in China, but they still come with limits compared to paid VPNs. For example, hide.me has unlimited data and decent speeds but only allows 1 connection and access to 7 countries. Hotspot Shield also offers unlimited data but doesn’t support streaming or P2P, and restricts you to 3 server locations.
Having Issues With Your Free VPN in China? Try These Troubleshooting Steps
- You can’t access the VPN provider’s website to download the VPN. Reach out to its customer support via email. They’ll be able to provide you either with a mirror link to the website that’s not blocked in China or send you the download files via email.
- The VPN app can’t connect to the server. Make sure the obfuscation feature is on and then try different VPN protocols. If your VPN allows it, configure it to route all traffic through port 443 (Windscribe lets you do this on the free plan). This port is commonly used for HTTPS traffic, making it less likely to be blocked by the Chinese government. If your VPN doesn’t allow you to pick port 443, opt for TCP over UDP traffic — TCP is less likely to be blocked outright, as it closely resembles normal web traffic.
- The VPN disconnects frequently. Change to a different network (e.g., from Wi-Fi to mobile data) to see if the issue persists. If you’re also using a proxy, disable it, as it might interfere with the VPN’s connection.
- The VPN isn’t working well. Your VPN might be leaking DNS requests outside the encrypted tunnel. Test this by visiting a DNS leak test site to check for leaks. If it’s leaking your DNS requests, manually enable DNS leak protection in settings and enable the kill switch. You can also try reconnecting to your VPN to get a new IP address in case the one you’re currently assigned is being flagged and blocked.
- Slow VPN speeds. Choose a server location that’s closer to China to reduce latency and turn off features like double VPN that can slow down your connection. Some VPNs also allow you to choose a lower encryption standard like 128-bit AES which improves speeds on really slow networks. Finally, check if other apps are consuming bandwidth and close them if necessary.
- Specific websites are inaccessible. Remove outdated and corrupted data from your browser to prevent interference with your connection. If that doesn’t work, try a different browser or use private/incognito mode to avoid cached data, cookies, or extensions that may cause conflicts.
Free VPNs to Avoid
- VPN – Super Unlimited Proxy. This VPN collects information like device data and may share anything it keeps with authorities and third parties, like its ad partners.
- Vpnify. This VPN collects usage and cookies data, like information about your browser, timestamps, and your IP address, as well as device information. It also shares this data with third parties and authorities.
- SuperVPN. SuperVPN is dangerous to use because it logs your personal details like your browser type, IP address, and more. Plus, it lacks many important security features and has suffered a large data breach in the past.
- Hola VPN. Hola VPN also isn’t very safe. It’s a P2P VPN, which means you get someone else’s IP address when you connect to a server (and someone else can use yours). This means other people can conduct unethical or illegal behavior using your IP address, which puts you at risk. It also has a poor history with user privacy.
- Phone Guardian. Phone Guardian is really limited, as it only encrypts your data. It doesn’t have any other features that a normal VPN does, like changing your location and IP address, so it’s not very useful.
- Hoxx VPN. Hoxx VPN isn’t good for protecting your privacy, as it logs your information (including your IP address and online activities). Plus, it “may” hold onto this information even after you stop using the VPN.
- TouchVPN. TouchVPN has a really large server network for a VPN (80+ locations), which is impressive, but it logs your IP address and your browsing history.
- TuxlerVPN. TuxlerVPN has shady privacy policies that state it keeps your browser information, contact info, and website activities. It also shares this information with third parties.
- AceVPN. AceVPN lacks essential security features like a kill switch, doesn’t have any device apps (which means you have to manually configure it), and has only a few server locations to choose from.
Top Brands That Didn’t Make the Cut
- Avira Phantom VPN. This free VPN includes good security and decent speeds, but the Chinese government successfully blocks it all of the time.
- PrivadoVPN. It’s ad-free, offers free servers in 10 countries, and has obfuscation, but it doesn’t reliably bypass The Great Firewall.
- Proton VPN. A free VPN with unlimited data and very good security and privacy features. However, it doesn’t work in China.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it legal to use a VPN in China?
Yes, but only VPNs that have been approved by the government are legal there. To get approved, a VPN has to agree to log user data and share it with the Chinese government, though.
The free VPNs I recommend have strict no-logs, so they don’t log or share any user data — and are, technically, not approved by China. Although you could get fined for using a non-approved VPN, I haven’t found a single report of any foreigners in China being punished for the use of non-approved VPNs.
What if my VPN stops working in China?
If you are experiencing issues, you can go through the recommended troubleshooting steps I list here, like making sure the obfuscation feature is on and trying different VPN protocols and servers. If none of the above works, you should reach out to the customer support team — they might have some unique tips to help you get the VPN working!
How do I improve my speeds in China on a free VPN?
There are a couple of things you can do to try to improve VPN speeds in China on a free VPN. The first thing you should do is disable any features that might slow down your connection like double VPN. Then, make sure to connect to a nearby server to reduce latency.
If that doesn’t do much to help, you can opt for a lower encryption standard like 128-bit AES if available and close bandwidth-consuming apps. If speeds remain slow, consider upgrading to an affordable VPN like ExpressVPN, which includes a large server network with many nearby server locations, super-fast speeds, and lots of extra features.
How do I set up a free VPN on my device in China?
Just download and install the VPN app from the provider’s site or the app store. Follow the setup instructions, connect to a server location, and enjoy being able to use the internet with a VPN.
However, keep in mind that the Google Play Store is blocked in China. This means that it’s important to download your VPN before traveling to China. If you forget to do that, I made sure that every VPN on this list offers an APK file link, so that you can manually download and install the VPN on your Android phone in China. Some VPNs, including ExpressVPN, also have mirrored URLs for an alternative way to sign up and download.
Can I use a free VPN for streaming in China?
Maybe, but it’s unlikely to work well. Free VPNs don’t usually work well in China or with streaming sites — the free VPNs I recommend say their free plans work in China, but they can’t guarantee 100% uptime.
Instead, I recommend getting an affordable paid VPN like ExpressVPN, which can access 100+ streaming platforms, including Netflix, Disney+, Amazon Prime, iQIYI, and Youku.
Editor's Note: ExpressVPN and this site are in the same ownership group.
