Kristel van Hoof
Updated on: December 25, 2023
Short on time? Hereβs the best free VPN for China in 2024:
- π₯ ExpressVPN: Not 100% free, but itβs the best VPN for China. You can try it risk-free for 30 days with its money-back guarantee. It has obfuscation on all servers, advanced security features, the fastest speeds in the industry, an extensive server network, unlimited data, and affordable plans.
Itβs difficult to find a free VPN that works reliably in China. The Chinese government has implemented strict internet regulations and censorship laws, which collectively are known as the Great Firewall of China. In addition, it actively blocks access to many popular VPN services.
Plus, many free VPNs lack necessary security features, such as strong encryption protocols or a strict no-logs policy, that can leave your online activities vulnerable to surveillance or hacking. Additionally, most free VPNs come with data caps and small server networks that can give you slower speeds and connection drops.
Instead, itβs best to use an affordable premium VPN for China (like ExpressVPN). Paid VPNs usually come with obfuscated servers that hide the fact that youβre using a VPN, advanced security features, unlimited data, and high-speed global networks.
I tested more than 20 free VPNs to find the best ones for China. All of the free VPNs listed here work in China, but keep in mind that they come with limitations like data caps and small server networks.
Quick summary of the best free VPNs for China in 2024:
- 1. π₯ExpressVPN β Best overall VPN for China in 2024.
- 2. π₯Private Internet Access β Robust security features and customizable apps.
- 3. π₯Hotspot Shield β Fast free VPN for browsing in China.
- 4. Windscribe β User-friendly free VPN that is great for beginners.
- 5. hide.me β Secure free VPN for browsing the web in China.
- Comparison of the Best Free VPNs for China in 2024.
Using a VPN in China could be against the law. Chinese laws regarding VPNs are very strict, especially with companies and institutions, and they affect both residents and visitors. While there are no known cases of the government penalizing foreigners or residents for VPN use, itβs wise to exercise caution. I neither promote nor condone the use of VPNs for illicit purposes, and I recommend doing proper research and complying with all local rules and guidelines.
π₯ 1. ExpressVPN β Best Overall VPN for China
ExpressVPNΒ is my favorite VPN for China in 2024. It offers robust security features like obfuscated servers that hide the fact youβre using a VPN, the fastest speeds in the industry, and unlimited data. The VPN isnβt completely free, but itβs backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can test it risk-free.
I like how all of its servers automatically obfuscate your VPN traffic. The Great Firewall uses deep packet inspection (DPI) to detect and block VPNs that it doesnβt approve of, but obfuscation scrambles your VPN data so that it looks like normal internet traffic. This makes it much more difficult for the Chinese government to detect and block your VPN connection.
ExpressVPN takes your online privacy seriously. It has a verified no-logs policy, meaning that the VPN doesnβt collect any information about your online activity. I also feel extra safe knowing that it uses TrustedServer technology, which means that all of ExpressVPNβs servers are RAM-only. Each time a server is rebooted, all of your data is wiped away. This is particularly important when youβre in China because it minimizes the risk of the Chinese government accessing your data and information.
I also like ExpressVPNβs own Lightway protocol, which offers lightning-fast connections without sacrificing your security or privacy. In addition, Lightway is designed to work with obfuscation technology.
ExpressVPN keeps you safe online with other great security features. Its Threat Manager feature blocks apps and sites from communicating with trackers and protects you from shady websites. Whatβs more, ExpressVPN comes with full leak protection β when I tested 10 different servers, I didnβt find any DNS, IPv6, or WebRTC leaks.
I like that the VPN offers APK files for users who need to install the VPN on their Android devices in China, where Google Play is not available. In addition, you can contact the providerβs email support to get access to mirror URLs that allow you to download the VPNβs apps in China
ExpressVPNβs plansΒ start at $6.67 / month. The VPN also often offers special discounts with extra months for free.
Bottom Line:
ExpressVPN is the best VPN for China in 2024 β it has obfuscation on all servers, maintains blazing-fast speeds, and offers robust privacy features. Plus, it offers APK files and mirror URLs so you can download ExpressVPN while youβre in China. Itβs not totally 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
π₯2. Private Internet Access β Great Security & Highly Customizable Apps
Private Internet Access (PIA)Β is an excellent choice if youβre in China. It comes with strong security and privacy features, has easy-to-use apps with lots of customization options, and maintains fast speeds. PIA isnβt 100% free, but it offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, which is plenty of time to fully test the service.
PIA offers advanced security and privacy features, including an ad and malware blocker called PIA MACE, which is the best on the market. Next to that, it comes with full leak protection to ensure that accidental leaks wonβt give away your data. Plus, you can use its Shadowsocks obfuscation protocol to make your VPN traffic look like regular traffic.
PIA has a strict no-logs policy that has been verified by independent security audits and has also been proven true in multiple court cases. The VPN provider also releases regular transparency reports where it proves that it doesnβt keep logs of your online activity. This gives me extra confidence that PIA wonβt have any data to turn over to the Chinese government. In addition, I like that PIAβs apps are open-source, meaning that anyone can check the code to see if itβs secure.
I particularly like that you can customize PIAβs apps completely to your liking. You can switch between 128-bit AES (secure but faster) and 256-bit AES (higher security but slightly slower speeds) encryption, split-tunnel IPs and apps, change local port connections, and more. The VPN offers apps for Windows, Android, iOS, and macOS and allows unlimited simultaneous device connections.
In terms of speeds, PIA offers fast and reliable connections that are ideal for browsing, streaming, and downloading while in China. During my tests, I experienced only 1β2 seconds more load time. Although the speeds were not as fast as ExpressVPNβs speeds, they were still fast enough to stream in HD and browse the web without any slowdowns.
Private Internet AccessΒ has plans starting at $2.11 / month. The longest plan provides the best value and also sometimes includes extra months of service for free.
Bottom Line:
Private Internet Access is an excellent VPN that consistently works in China. It offers strong security and privacy features, fast speeds, customizable apps that work with a wide range of devices, and obfuscation technology. Itβs not completely free, but it offers a 30-day money-back guarantee for all plans, so you can try it risk-free.
Read the full Private Internet Access review
π₯3. Hotspot Shield β Fast Free VPN to Browse the Web in China
Hotspot ShieldΒ maintains fast speeds, which allows you to browse the internet from China without annoying slowdowns. The provider claims the free plan limits speeds, but my speeds were still fast enough to stream in HD. In addition, the free version comes with unlimited bandwidth, but keep in mind you can only use servers in 3 countries, including the US, the UK, and Singapore.
The VPN also has Hydra, a proprietary protocol that provides obfuscation. The providerβs reps told me they canβt guarantee the free VPN plan will always work in China, but it should most of the time. If youβre looking for more consistent access to the web in China, try ExpressVPN or Private Internet Access.
Hotspot Shield keeps your online experience secure with advanced features. For example, it comes with perfect forward secrecy, which changes your encryption keys with each VPN session. In addition, you also get DNS leak protection.
I like that you can use Hotspot Shieldβs free version without signing up. This creates an extra layer of privacy because you donβt have to provide any personal information. And the providerβs apps are also easy to use. The interface is simple to navigate, and there are helpful explanations for pretty much all settings and features.
Hotspot Shieldβs paid plansΒ start at $2.99 / month, and they provide access to all server locations and streaming and torrenting support. 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. It comes with advanced security features, including its proprietary Hydra protocol that obfuscates your traffic, as well as unlimited data. However, it offers only 3 server locations. Upgrading to the premium plan gives you access to Hotspot Shieldβs extensive server network and streaming and torrenting support.
Read the full Hotspot Shield review
4. Windscribe β Easy-to-Use Free VPN Thatβs Great for Beginners
Windscribeβs user-friendly interface makes it easy to navigate and perfect for beginners. It comes with a quick-connect button that connects you to the fastest server location in just one click. In addition, I like that it offers 10+ free server locations and that I could add servers to my favorites by clicking on the heart icon next to them. And, I like how the VPN allows unlimited connections.
The VPN comes with robust security and privacy features, including perfect forward secrecy, RAM-only servers, and full leak protection. It also has R.O.B.E.R.T, a pretty good ad blocker, but itβs rather limited with the free plan.
You can obfuscate your traffic by connecting to the Stealth or WStunnel protocol in Windscribeβs app. The Stealth protocol hides your OpenVPN traffic in a secure tunnel (TLS tunnel). and the WStunnel protocol encapsulates your traffic using WebSocket, making it look like regular internet traffic. The support reps told me Windscribeβs free plan might work in China, but they canβt guarantee it β if thatβs a dealbreaker for you, again, consider getting ExpressVPN or Private Internet Access.
Keep in mind that the free plan comes with 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 you can get an extra 5 GB per month if you tweet about Windscribe.
Windscribe also has premium plans starting at $5.75 / month, giving you access to all of its servers in more than 62 countries and unlimited data. Thereβs only a 3-day refund for all plans.
Bottom Line:
Windscribe is a user-friendly VPN with a free plan that might work in China. It has an intuitive interface, maintains good speeds, and allows unlimited device connections. Unfortunately, it comes with a data cap that starts at 2 GB. Upgrading to its premium plan gives you access to unlimited data and Windscribeβs full server network, including locations in Hong Kong and Singapore.
Read the full Windscribe review
5. hide.me β Good Security Features for Browsing the Web in China
hide.me offers obfuscation when using the OpenVPN protocol. This is great because it helps you avoid DPI blocks. You also get other strong security features like full leak protection, perfect forward secrecy, and RAM-only servers. hide.meβs reps told me the free plan works well in China, but they canβt guarantee 100% uptime β with ExpressVPN and Private Internet Access, thatβs not an issue.
I was a bit disappointed with hide.meβs long-distance speeds during my tests. Although I had good speeds on nearby servers, I experienced a significant drop in speeds on long-distance ones. Also, keep in mind that your data is capped at 10 GB per month, which may be enough to stream only 2β3 movies in HD.
The VPN has user-friendly apps. I particularly like that 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 one device connection at a time.
hide.meβs paid plans start at $2.22 / month,Β and they provide unlimited data and access to the providerβs full server network. All of hide.meβs 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. In addition, it maintains good speeds on nearby servers and has 5+ free server locations. Unfortunately, it comes with a monthly data cap of 10 GB and has slow speeds on long-distance servers. Upgrading to its paid version gives you access to unlimited data and the full server network.
Comparison of the Best Free VPNs for China in 2024
How to Choose the Best Free VPN for China in 2024
- Ensure that the VPN works in China. All of my VPN recommendations can bypass Chinaβs firewall without detection. I prefer using ExpressVPN because itβs the most reliable when it comes to letting you use a VPN in China. It even has mirror URLs so you can download the VPN within China.
- Look for a VPN with strong security. A VPN should keep your data safe while online in China. All VPNs listed here come with industry-standard security features like 256-bit AES encryption, DNS leak protection, and a kill switch that disables your internet connection should your VPN connection ever drop.
- Check for a no-logs policy. A VPN that keeps logs of your online activity defeats the purpose of using a VPN. Opt for a VPN that has a strict no-logs policy to ensure that it doesnβt log any data.
- Opt for a VPN with enough data. Free VPNs often come with data caps that are just enough for a few hours of browsing. If you want to use the VPN for streaming, gaming, or video calls, make sure you choose a free plan that has at least 5 GB per month.
- Check 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.
- Get a VPN that provides good value. You should look for a provider that has affordable 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 work in China.
- 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 β 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.
- 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 donβt limit your speeds.
Top Brands That Didnβt Make the Cut
- IPVanish. This is a premium VPN that offers unlimited connections and good speeds for torrenting and gaming, but unfortunately, it doesnβt work in China.
- NordVPN. NordVPN is a user-friendly VPN with advanced security features and a strict no-logs policy. However, it doesnβt work in China.
- Proton VPN. A free VPN with unlimited data and very good security and privacy features. However, it doesnβt 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 doesnβt offer online freedom because it would have to log and share your data with the authorities.
Theoretically, itβs possible to use a non-approved VPN in China. That said, you could get fined for using a non-approved VPN. That said, 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 use any of the VPNs on my list, this shouldnβt happen. I recommend using ExpressVPN because it has obfuscation on all its servers and advanced security features, and itβs been verified to work in China.
That said, if you are experiencing issues, hereβs what you can try:
- Change server locations. Sometimes certain server locations might not work in China, so switching to a different one may resolve the issue.
- Switch protocols. Most VPNs offer multiple protocols like OpenVPN, WireGuard, L2TP/IPSec, or IKEv2/IPSec, and some may work better than others in China. Try changing protocols in the VPN appβs settings until you find one that works in China.
- Ensure that youβre using a VPN with obfuscation. Using the VPNβs server locations or protocols that have obfuscation can help you bypass censorship by making your VPN traffic look like regular internet traffic.
How do I set up a free VPN on my device in China?
Just download and install the VPN app from the providerβs 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 itβs 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. And 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 itβs unlikely to work well. Free VPNs donβt usually work well in China or with streaming sites β the free VPNs I recommend say their free plans work in China, but they canβt guarantee 100% uptime.
Instead, I recommend getting an affordable paid VPN like ExpressVPN, which is compatible with 100+ streaming platforms (including iQIYI and Youku) and works in China without issues.
