Kristel van Hoof
Updated on: January 22, 2025
Fact-checked by Hazel Shaw
Short on time? Here’s the best free VPN for China in 2025:
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🥇 ExpressVPN
: While it’s not free, it’s the best VPN for China and covers all plans with a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can try it risk-free. It allows access to the open internet, hides your VPN traffic from China’s deep packet inspection, and protects you from government monitoring in China. The VPN works with 100+ streaming sites and popular social media apps on desktop and mobile.
The best free VPNs for China that work there hide your online activities and VPN use from the Chinese government. This way, you can visit sites that are normally blocked in the country.
After weeks of research and testing, I found completely free VPNs that match that description. They may not work 100% of the time, but I also share troubleshooting tips. Note that these free VPNs have some limitations, like data caps, small server networks, allow just one simultaneous connection, and curb your speeds.
For the most reliable connections in China, I recommend a premium VPN. My top pick, ExpressVPN, includes unlimited data and access to social media, messaging, and email apps, as well as 100+ streaming sites. It also has excellent privacy features to keep your online activities anonymous from the Chinese government. Editors’ Note: ExpressVPN and this site are in the same ownership group.
Quick Summary of the Best Free VPNs for China in 2025
Connectivity in China can be unpredictable, leading to occasional VPN disruptions. ExpressVPN is typically reliable and offers a 30-day money-back guarantee for new users, ensuring peace of mind if any issues arise. Using a VPN in China may be against the law due to strict regulations. There are no known cases in which the government penalizes individuals for VPN use, but I recommend following local laws.
January 2025 update: This article has been audited and updated to include new information on VPN compatibility with popular social media and messaging apps in China. We’ve also added details on desktop and mobile support, as well as more insights into how we tested each VPN to ensure they work in China (most of the time).
🥇 1. ExpressVPN — Best Overall VPN for China
ExpressVPN is my favorite VPN for China in 2025 because it automatically detects Deep Packet Inspection (DPI), which China’s Great Firewall uses to block your VPN traffic. It then enables obfuscation across all servers to hide your VPN use (by making it appear as regular internet traffic) from the Chinese government. It doesn’t have a free plan, but it’s backed by a no-questions-asked 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can test it risk-free.
The ExpressVPN site is inaccessible in China, so if you’re already in the country, you can ask its email reps to send you a mirror URL (a duplicate site address that’s not blocked) to download the VPN on all of your devices. ExpressVPN offers excellent customer support via email — its representatives typically take no more than 2–3 hours to respond and will provide you with tips for troubleshooting your connection while in the country.
ExpressVPN protects your online activity in China thanks to an no-logs policy that’s been independently audited and confirmed — the VPN doesn’t collect any information about the website you visit or files you download. As such, it doesn’t have anything to share with the Chinese government even if a court requests it. It also uses RAM-only servers, which wipe all data with each reboot, minimizing the risk of the Chinese government accessing your information.
Plus, 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. It can also access Instagram and similar social media apps from China, as well as Google, messaging apps, and more.
ExpressVPN’s plans start at £4.06 / month. The VPN also often offers special discounts with extra months for free. You can even pay in cryptocurrency for better privacy and via international processors like UnionPay.
Bottom Line:
ExpressVPN is the best VPN for China in 2025. 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. It’s not free, but it offers a 30-day money-back guarantee for all plans, so you can try it without risk.
Read the full ExpressVPN review
🥈2. Hotspot Shield — Fast, Free, Unlimited-Data VPN to Browse the Web in China
Hotspot Shield’s free plan offers unlimited data and maintains fast speeds, making it ideal for browsing in China 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.
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 no streaming support on the free plan, but it works with social media sites like Facebook and messaging apps like WhatsApp.
Hotspot Shield keeps your online experience in China private — it has a strict no-logs policy, so it doesn’t log or share any data about what you do online while in China, though it’s a shame that it hasn’t been audited like ExpressVPN’s.
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 start at £5.42 / month, and they provide access to all server locations and streaming and torrenting support, as well as 24/7 live chat. In addition, all plans come with a generous 45-day money-back guarantee.
Bottom Line:
Hotspot Shield has 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. Upgrading to the premium plan gives you access to Hotspot Shield’s extensive server network and streaming and torrenting support.
Read the full Hotspot Shield review
🥉3. Windscribe — Good Free Server Selection for China
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.
Windscribe obfuscates your traffic via the Stealth or WStunnel protocol. The Stealth protocol hides your VPN traffic from your Chinese ISP in a secure tunnel (TLS tunnel). and the WStunnel protocol encapsulates your VPN traffic using WebSocket to make it harder to detect. Still, the free plan might not work in China 100% of the time.
The VPN comes with RAM-only servers and a no-logs policy, though it’s never been audited like ExpressVPN’s has. You also get limited access to R.O.B.E.R.T on the free plan, which can improve browsing speed and privacy by blocking intrusive ads and tracking scripts commonly found on Chinese websites.
Windscribe’s free servers access sites like Netflix and Amazon Prime from China, as well as apps like Snapchat, TikTok, and Instagram. That said, there’s a data cap of 2 GB per month, which is about enough to stream for an hour in HD. You can increase the data cap by 10 GB per month if you provide your email address and get an extra 5 GB per month if you post about Windscribe on X. Plus, I like how the VPN allows unlimited connections.
Windscribe also has premium plans starting at £4.68 / month, giving you access to all of its servers in 68 countries and unlimited data. There’s only a 3-day refund for all plans.
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. Upgrading to its premium plan gives you access to unlimited data and Windscribe’s full server network, including servers in Singapore.
Read the full Windscribe review
4. hide.me — Good Security Features for Browsing the Web in China
hide.me is great for safely browsing the open web from China. It includes RAM-only servers and an audited no-logs policy, and it doesn’t require an email address to create a free account.
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). The VPN’s reps told me the free plan works well in China, but they can’t guarantee 100% uptime.
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.
The VPN gives you access to servers in 5+ countries, such as the US, UK, and Germany, which can access apps like TikTok and Instagram, but there are no free servers near China (the closest one is in the Netherlands), so you’ll likely get less than ideal speeds most of the time. The good news is you can filter its 5+ free server locations by ping, which allows you to pick the fastest server location available.
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 and Windscribe.
hide.me’s paid plans start at £1.94 / month, and they provide unlimited data and access to the provider’s full server network. All of hide.me’s plans are backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee.
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. Upgrading to its paid version gives you access to a full server network and perks like streaming support.
5. TunnelBear — User-friendly VPN for China
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. TunnelBear also offers Encrypted Server Name Indication (ESNI) on Android, which encrypts the SNI field to help bypass the Great Firewall.
The only downside to GhostBear is that it’s not available on iOS or the latest macOS — ExpressVPN (or any of the other free VPNs I recommend) is a better pick if you’re an iOS or macOS user in China.
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 biggest downside is that you only get 2 GB of free data a month, which means only a couple of hours of securely browsing from China. For more online time, Hotspot Shield gives you unlimited data.
TunnelBear’s paid plans start at £3.38 / month, and there’s no money-back guarantee (but you get access to all features on the free plan).
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. Upgrading to its paid version gets rid of the 2 GB monthly data cap.
Read the full TunnelBear review
Quick Comparison Table
Editors’ 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 VPN works 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 looked for a VPN with strong security. All of my VPNs listed come with industry-standard security features like 256-bit AES encryption, which protects you from surveillance, as well as DNS leak protection and a kill switch that prevents any exposure of your online activities.
- I made sure the VPN offers 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.
- Limited server options. Free VPNs have a small server network. This can greatly compromise your speed, as you could be forced to connect to a distant or overcrowded server.
- 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.
- Slow speeds. VPN providers often throttle speeds on free plans. This can result in slow speeds and annoying interruptions. Fortunately, most of the VPNs I mention here don’t limit your speeds.
- No customer support. Access to helpful customer support from China is of great help if your VPN stops working or has trouble connecting. Most VPNs don’t include customer support for free users and the majority of free VPNs don’t have any kind of support at all. The VPNs I recommend here have email support you can reach out to for help from China.
Free vs. Paid VPNs for China
The VPN you use in China must protect your data and privacy. Every VPN on my list has advanced security features including a kill switch, 256-bit AES encryption, and a strict no-logs policy. Some also include extra features like RAM-only servers and perfect forward secrecy for enhanced privacy.
The majority of free VPNs lack other important features, though, such as large server networks, unlimited data and speeds, and multiple device connections. There’s also usually a lack of streaming and torrenting support.
Here are some examples: hide.me has unlimited data but doesn’t have streaming support or multiple device connections. Windscribe only allows 10 GB of data per month but has decent streaming support and unlimited connections.
In comparison, premium VPN plans have a lot more to offer, including unlimited data, server networks with dozens or hundreds of locations, can access top streaming services, allow torrenting, offer unlimited speeds, and more. Plus, these plans almost always have money-back guarantees.
All things considered, there are some good free VPNs (like the ones on my list), but paid plans are much better overall.
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.
- Atlas VPN. Atlas VPN allows unlimited connections on its free plan but can’t guarantee that it will 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?
Only government-approved VPNs are legal in China. This means that VPN providers have to obtain a license to operate within the country. However, a VPN that has been approved by the Chinese government still doesn’t offer online freedom because it would have to log and share your data with the authorities.
Theoretically, it’s possible to use a non-approved VPN in China. That said, you could get fined for using a non-approved VPN. However, there have been no reports 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.
