Facts checked 17 Oct 2026 Formula published below
Best VPN for censored countries
In China, Russia, Iran and other countries, ordinary VPN traffic is detected and blocked. What matters there is obfuscation, which makes VPN traffic look like normal web traffic, and what people inside the country report actually works.
Top pick
ExpressVPN 96/100
Uses automatic obfuscation (with the protocol on Automatic) to disguise VPN traffic.
What matters for censored countries
Obfuscation is the deciding feature
Deep packet inspection spots standard VPN protocols. Each VPN below is scored first on its stealth mode.
Install before you go
VPN websites are often blocked in these countries, so download the app and sign in before you travel.
Check the law
VPN use is illegal in a few countries and restricted in others. The list below comes from our country tracker.
The top 3
#1
ExpressVPN 96/100
Uses automatic obfuscation (with the protocol on Automatic) to disguise VPN traffic.
Try ExpressVPNFull ranking
| # | VPN | Score | Breakdown | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ExpressVPN | 96/100 | Stealth / obfuscation 10 · Privacy & audits 8 | Try ExpressVPN |
| 2 | NordVPN | 88/100 | Stealth / obfuscation 9 · Privacy & audits 8 | Try NordVPN |
| 3 | Proton VPN | 84/100 | Stealth / obfuscation 8 · Privacy & audits 10 | Try Proton VPN |
| 4 | Surfshark | 78/100 | Stealth / obfuscation 8 · Privacy & audits 7 | Try Surfshark |
| 5 | Private Internet Access | 55/100 | Stealth / obfuscation 5 · Privacy & audits 8 | Try Private Internet Access |
| 6 | CyberGhost | 44/100 | Stealth / obfuscation 4 · Privacy & audits 6 | Try CyberGhost |
Which VPNs connect in the strictest countries
| Country | ExpressVPN | NordVPN | Proton VPN |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🇦🇫 Afghanistan | Connects | Connects | Connects |
| 🇦🇿 Azerbaijan | Connects | Connects | Connects |
| 🇧🇭 Bahrain | Connects | Connects | Connects |
| 🇧🇾 Belarus | Connects | Connects | Connects |
| 🇧🇫 Burkina Faso | Connects | Connects | Connects |
| 🇧🇮 Burundi | Connects | Connects | Connects |
| 🇹🇩 Chad | Connects | Connects | Connects |
| 🇨🇳 China | Unreliable | Unreliable | Unreliable |
| 🇨🇺 Cuba | Connects | Connects | Connects |
| 🇨🇩 DR Congo | Connects | Connects | Connects |
| 🇪🇬 Egypt | Connects | Connects | Connects |
| 🇬🇶 Equatorial Guinea | Connects | Connects | Connects |
| 🇪🇷 Eritrea | Unreliable | Unreliable | Unreliable |
| 🇪🇹 Ethiopia | Connects | Connects | Connects |
| 🇬🇦 Gabon | Connects | Connects | Connects |
| 🇬🇳 Guinea | Connects | Connects | Connects |
| 🇮🇷 Iran | Unreliable | Unreliable | Unreliable |
| 🇮🇶 Iraq | Connects | Connects | Connects |
| 🇱🇦 Laos | Connects | Connects | Connects |
| 🇲🇱 Mali | Connects | Connects | Connects |
| 🇳🇮 Nicaragua | Connects | Connects | Connects |
| 🇳🇪 Niger | Connects | Connects | Connects |
| 🇵🇰 Pakistan | Unreliable | Unreliable | Unreliable |
| 🇵🇸 Palestine | Connects | Connects | Connects |
| 🇷🇺 Russia | Unreliable | Unreliable | Unreliable |
| 🇸🇸 South Sudan | Connects | Connects | Connects |
| 🇸🇩 Sudan | Unreliable | Unreliable | Unreliable |
| 🇹🇯 Tajikistan | Connects | Connects | Connects |
| 🇹🇿 Tanzania | Connects | Connects | Connects |
| 🇹🇷 Turkey | Connects | Connects | Connects |
| 🇺🇬 Uganda | Connects | Connects | Connects |
| 🇺🇿 Uzbekistan | Connects | Connects | Connects |
| 🇻🇪 Venezuela | Connects | Connects | Connects |
| 🇻🇳 Vietnam | Connects | Connects | Connects |
| 🇾🇪 Yemen | Connects | Connects | Connects |
From our country status pages. Countries where VPN use is illegal are left out.
How we scored
Nobody pays for a position here. Each VPN's score out of 100 uses these weights:
- Stealth / obfuscation
- 82%
- Privacy & audits
- 18%
Ratings are our editorial scores for the six VPNs we track. Country pages add whether each VPN connects there and what visitors report. How we track
Questions people ask
What is the best vpn for censored countries?
On our scores, ExpressVPN (96/100), then NordVPN and Proton VPN. The weights used are listed on this page.
Which VPN works in China?
None works reliably all the time. Our China page shows which VPNs currently connect and what visitors there report.
We earn a commission if you buy a VPN through our links. It never changes what we report as blocked. How we pick