Gjurgjica Panova
Updated on: February 4, 2025
Fact-checked by Hazel Shaw
Short on time? Here’s the best VPN for Shanghai in 2025:
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🥇 ExpressVPN
: Comes with obfuscated servers that can bypass China’s DPI blocks in Shanghai, hides all of your online activities from your Chinese ISP with advanced security features, and maintains the fastest speeds on the market. Plus, it has a large server network in 105 countries, including ones near Shanghai, and works with 100+ streaming apps. All plans have a 30-day money-back guarantee.
In Shanghai, and most regions of China, the Great Firewall restricts the internet. The government controls what online content people can see, usually favoring sites that agree to share data with them.
To access the free internet, you can use a VPN. A VPN hides your real IP address and gives you a new IP address from the server location you connect to. Plus, it encrypts your traffic so malicious third parties (like Chinese internet service providers) won’t be able to spy on your online activities, such as the sites you visit, the apps you open, or the files you download.
After weeks of testing, I found the best VPNs for Shanghai that maintain reliable connections in China. My favorite is ExpressVPN because it’s highly secure and the fastest VPN on the market. Due to strict regulations in China, VPN connections may be unstable, but ExpressVPN offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, giving you peace of mind if the service doesn’t meet your needs. Editors’ Note: ExpressVPN and this site are in the same ownership group.
Quick Summary of the Best VPNs for Shanghai in 2025
Disclaimer: China’s strict regulations can sometimes cause VPN connectivity issues. Still, ExpressVPN is pretty reliable and offers a 30-day money-back guarantee for new users to try it risk-free. The Chinese government only approves using certain VPNs that comply with its bans and requirements. There are no instances of individuals being punished for using VPNs, but it’s best to be cautious. I don’t recommend using a VPN for illegal activities, including copyright infringement, and I encourage following local laws and regulations.
Editors’ Note: Intego, Private Internet Access, CyberGhost and ExpressVPN are owned by Kape Technologies, our parent company
🥇1. ExpressVPN — Best Overall VPN for Shanghai
Approved by our experts
ExpressVPN is my top choice for Shanghai. It can access the web in Shanghai thanks to its obfuscated servers — the VPN has servers in 105 countries, including ones near Shanghai, like Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Japan. These servers hide your VPN traffic to make it look like regular internet traffic (ExpressVPN recommends using the Automatic protocol in Shanghai).
The VPN is also extremely secure as it comes with tons of advanced security features, including:
- RAM-only servers. These servers write data to the RAM instead of the hard drive. So, every server reboot erases all data.
- Full leak protection. ExpressVPN comes with full leak protection against DNS, WebRTC, and IPv6 leak protection. I ran a bunch of leak tests while connected to the provider’s servers, and it never leaked my IP address.
- An audited no-logs policy. ExpressVPN’s no-logs policy has been independently audited and verified, confirming that the VPN doesn’t store your IP address, browsing history, or what files you download.
- Perfect forward secrecy. This security feature changes the encryption key for each session, minimizing the amount of data potential hackers could access.
This provider had the fastest speeds in my speed tests. Websites loaded instantly, and I had no issues watching videos in HD and 4K. I really like ExpressVPN’s split-tunneling feature. It allows you to choose which apps use the VPN tunnel and which don’t, so you can access both local and blocked content without having to turn off your VPN.
ExpressVPN also has mirror links, which are duplicates of its website under different URLs that the Chinese government hasn’t blocked. This way, you can download the VPN even if you’re in Shanghai. To get a mirrored link, you need to contact ExpressVPN’s customer support team via email.
The VPN is great for streaming in Shanghai. It can access 100+ streaming sites including 10+ Netflix libraries, Amazon Prime, Hulu, Max, as well as iQiyi and Tencent video.
ExpressVPN has plans starting at £4.00 / month. Each plan has a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Bottom Line:
ExpressVPN is my favorite VPN for Shanghai. It has obfuscated servers that can get around China’s internet restrictions. You can also download it via a mirror link from Shanghai. It works with 100+ streaming services, maintains the fastest speeds on the market, and comes with useful extra features, like split-tunneling. All plans have a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Read the full ExpressVPN review
🥈2. Private Internet Access — Strong Security Features + Customizable Apps
Private Internet Access (PIA) is secure and works in Shanghai. Its Shadowsocks protocol makes your VPN traffic look like regular traffic, allowing you to connect to a server in another country and visit any website you want. The VPN has servers in 91 countries, including Hong Kong and Taiwan, and can access 30+ streaming sites, like Netflix and Disney+.
I found PIA’s apps quite customizable — you can personalize 20+ settings. For example, I changed encryption levels from 256-bit AES to 128-bit AES for faster connections (and the latter is still very secure). Plus, you have connection options, like whether to automatically connect to the VPN on unsecured Wi-Fi networks.
PIA comes with advanced security features, like RAM-only servers, full leak protection, an audited no-logs policy, and perfect forward secrecy. PIA also has the best ad blocker on the market, called PIA MACE, which blocks malicious sites and ad trackers (and they won’t see your browsing data).
The VPN has great privacy features. PIA releases regular transparency reports that prove that it doesn’t store or share user data with the authorities. In addition, PIA’s apps are open-source, meaning anyone can examine the source code for security issues.
Private Internet Access has affordable plans starting at £1.69 / month. All plans have a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Bottom Line:
Private Internet Access has strong security features and is highly customizable. Its Shadowsocks obfuscation protocol masks your VPN traffic as regular traffic, so it can work in Shanghai. Plus, it has good streaming support, great privacy features, and fast speeds. All of PIA’s plans are backed with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Read the full Private Internet Access review
Editors’ Note: Private Internet Access and this site are in the same ownership group.
🥉3. PrivateVPN — Intuitive Interface With Decent Speeds
PrivateVPN is good for browsing the internet in Shanghai and protecting your privacy online. Its obfuscation setting is known as Stealth VPN, and it works reliably at various times of day. Plus, the VPN has servers in 63 countries that work with popular streaming sites such as Hulu, Netflix, and Max. It also offers servers near Shanghai for the best possible speeds.
The VPN has a user-friendly interface, so it’s a great option if you’re new to VPNs. It’s easy to use the Stealth VPN and manually connect to a server. Plus, you can use the Simple View, which doesn’t allow much customization, or switch to Advanced View, which allows you to change some settings.
The provider comes with perfect forward secrecy, DNS and IPv6 leak protection, and RAM-only servers. However, it’s missing RAM-only servers, and its no-logs policy hasn’t been independently audited — unlike ExpressVPN and Private Internet Access.
PrivateVPN’s plans start as low as £1.86 / month. All plans have a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Bottom Line:
PrivateVPN is easy to use, very secure, and has fast speeds. It works in Shanghai due to its Stealth VPN feature and can access top streaming sites. PrivateVPN has affordable plans that come with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Read the full PrivateVPN review
4. TunnelBear — Beginner-Friendly VPN
TunnelBear is a user-friendly VPN that works in Shanghai. Its obfuscation tool, called GhostBear, can be enabled with a single click.
The VPN has servers in 47 countries, which is a smaller server network than ExpressVPN’s 105 countries. However, TunnelBear’s servers are evenly spread out across the globe with servers in Taiwan and Hong Kong and its servers can access top streaming services, like Netflix and Amazon Prime.
This provider has decent security features, like an audited no-logs policy and full leak protection. However, I don’t like that the VPN lacks RAM-only servers and perfect forward secrecy like most other VPNs on this list.
TunnelBear has plans starting at £3.34 / month. While there’s a free plan, it only allows 2 GB per month, which is only enough for a couple of hours. Unfortunately, it doesn’t come with a money-back guarantee.
Bottom Line:
TunnelBear is a great Shanghai VPN for beginners. It has servers in countries near Shanghai, maintains fast speeds, has good streaming support, and comes with high-end security features. The VPN doesn’t offer a money-back guarantee, but there’s a limited free plan if you want to test it out.
Read the full TunnelBear review
5. VyprVPN — Strong Security Features
VyprVPN has its own proprietary Chameleon protocol that hides your VPN connection. It has servers in 70+ countries that can access 45+ streaming sites like Netflix and Hulu, and it’s got servers in nearby locations, including Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan.
The VPN has advanced security features. It provides DNS leak protection, comes with perfect forward secrecy, and its no-logs policy has been independently audited.
I like how user-friendly VyprVPN’s apps are. There are helpful explanations for all settings and features, so you won’t feel overwhelmed about using them. I particularly appreciate that the kill switch can remain active even after you close the VyprVPN app, so you don’t accidentally go online unprotected.
VyprVPN’s plans start at £5.00 / month. Every purchase is backed with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Bottom Line:
VyprVPN comes with a Chameleon proprietary protocol that helps you connect to a nearby country outside of Shanghai with fewer internet restrictions. It’s secure, can access lots of streaming sites, fast, user-friendly apps, and backs its plans with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Quick Comparison Table
Editors’ Note: Intego, Private Internet Access, CyberGhost and ExpressVPN are owned by Kape Technologies, our parent company
Testing Methodology: Comparison & Ranking Criteria
I used our thorough testing methodology to ensure I only recommend the best VPNs that meet our high standards for use in Shanghai. Each VPN was tested in real-life scenarios to assess its security features, speeds, ease of use, and value. Below are the criteria I used to decide which VPNs to include on my list and how each one ranked.
- I checked if their obfuscation works in restrictive countries like China. I made sure that all the VPNs on this offer obfuscation that can evade detection and access the free and open internet from Shanghai.
- I looked for strong security features. All of my VPN picks come with essential security features, such as 256-bit AES encryption, a kill switch that disconnects you from the internet if the VPN connection fails, and a strict no-logs policy to ensure privacy and protect against data tracking.
- I tested the VPNs’ speeds. All VPNs reduce your connection speed due to the encryption process, but the best VPNs for Shanghai can maintain fast speeds across all servers, even with obfuscation (which further slows down a VPN’s speeds). ExpressVPN had the fastest speeds in my tests.
- I tested the mobile & desktop apps to make sure they work in Shanghai. Every VPN on my list lets you use obfuscation on mobile and desktop. I also made sure obfuscation is easy to enable across all apps.
- I assessed the value for money. All the VPNs come with generous money-back guarantees, affordable pricing plans, and extra features like split-tunneling to allow you more control over their internet traffic in Shanghai.
Top Brands That Didn’t Make the Cut
- CyberGhost VPN. CyberGhost VPN is a secure and fast VPN with a large server network. However, it doesn’t reliably work in restrictive countries like China.
- NordVPN. NordVPN has top-notch security features and fast speeds across all servers. However, its customer support representatives confirmed it won’t work in Shanghai.
- Surfshark. Surfshark is a user-friendly and affordable VPN, but it doesn’t work in restrictive countries like China.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the best VPN for Shanghai?
ExpressVPN is my top choice for Shanghai — it can evade detection in China thanks to its obfuscated servers. Although connections can be unstable in China due to the country’s restrictions, the VPN is generally reliable and offers a 30-day money-back guarantee.
It also has the fastest speeds on the market, advanced security features, can access 100+ streaming sites (including lots of different international libraries), and really user-friendly apps.
Can you use a free VPN for Shanghai?
Yes, but I don’t recommend it. Most free VPNs don’t reliably work in restrictive countries, have slow speeds and small server networks, and put data caps on a daily and monthly basis. Instead, I recommend purchasing a top VPN, like ExpressVPN — it can bypass China’s firewall, has fast speeds, and provides strong security features.
Can you use a VPN in Shanghai?
The use of non-government-approved VPNs is banned in Shanghai. Although there aren’t any instances of individuals being fined for using a VPN, it’s important to follow the local laws and regulations.
Will a VPN slow down my internet speed in Shanghai?
Most VPNs will slow down your speeds, but top VPNs can minimize this speed loss. Some speed reduction is expected due to the encryption process and rerouting of traffic. Luckily, the VPNs on this list maintain fast speeds across all servers. ExpressVPN had the fastest speeds in my tests.
