Ranked for getting through censorship Facts checked 17 Oct 2026 Scores recalculated live
Best VPN for China
Best VPN for China is ExpressVPN, 80 out of 100. Second is NordVPN, 75 out of 100. Third is Proton VPN, 72 out of 100. ExpressVPN is the best choice for China because it had the highest getting through censorship score. In total, 36 of the apps we track are restricted in China.
Top pick right now
ExpressVPN 80/100
Obfuscation is automatic; keep the protocol on Automatic and update the app before you travel.
Why you'd use a VPN in China
What is blocked
WhatsApp (blocked), Voice & video calls (blocked), Telegram (blocked), Signal (blocked), Discord (blocked), Messenger (blocked), Viber (blocked), Facebook (blocked). The status page has dates and sources for each one.
Not every VPN gets through
Our records show NordVPN (unreliable), ExpressVPN (unreliable), Surfshark (unreliable), Proton VPN (unreliable), CyberGhost (doesn't connect) and Private Internet Access (doesn't connect) here, which is why connection status carries extra weight in this ranking.
Before you connect
Install and test your VPN before you land. App stores in China do not list foreign VPN apps, and provider websites are blocked.
Is a VPN legal in China? Legal with restrictions. Only government-approved VPNs are legal. Enforcement against individual tourists is rare, but VPN traffic is actively detected and slowed, especially around political anniversaries.
The top 3 for China
#1
ExpressVPN 80/100
Unreliable
Obfuscation is automatic; keep the protocol on Automatic and update the app before you travel.
Try ExpressVPN#2
NordVPN 75/100
Unreliable
Uses NordWhisper or obfuscated servers to disguise VPN traffic.
Try NordVPNTop 3 for China at a glance
| VPN | Score out of 100 | Stealth | Connection | Privacy | Status in China |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. ExpressVPN | 80 / 100 | Automatic obfuscation (10/10) | 5/10 | 8/10 | Unreliable |
| 2. NordVPN | 75 / 100 | NordWhisper or obfuscated servers (9/10) | 5/10 | 8/10 | Unreliable |
| 3. Proton VPN | 72 / 100 | The Stealth protocol (8/10) | 5/10 | 10/10 | Unreliable |
Scores are out of 100. Stealth, Connection and Privacy are the ranking’s 0–10 factors; Status is whether the VPN connects in China.
Full ranking of the 6 VPNs we track
| # | VPN | Score | Connects here | Visitor reports | Website (OONI) | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ExpressVPN | 80/100 | Unreliable | Not enough yet | Too few tests | Try ExpressVPN |
| 2 | NordVPN | 75/100 | Unreliable | Not enough yet | Blocked on some networks 51 tests | Try NordVPN |
| 3 | Proton VPN | 72/100 | Unreliable | Not enough yet | Website patchy 49 tests | Try Proton VPN |
| 4 | Surfshark | 68/100 | Unreliable | Not enough yet | Website blocked 51 tests | Try Surfshark |
| 5 | Private Internet Access | 35/100 | Doesn't connect | Not enough yet | Too few tests | Try Private Internet Access |
| 6 | CyberGhost | 28/100 | Doesn't connect | Not enough yet | Website loads 22 tests | Try CyberGhost |
"Connects here" comes from our China status page. Visitor reports count the last 14 days. Website checks come from OONI measurements over 30 days, refreshed 10 Nov 2026; a blocked website doesn't mean the app is blocked, but you'll need to install the app another way.
How we scored
Nobody pays for a position here. Each VPN gets a score out of 100 from these weights, chosen because the main reason to use a VPN in China is getting through censorship:
- Stealth / obfuscation
- 45%
- Connects in this country
- 30%
- Privacy & audits
- 10%
- Visitor reports
- 15%
Feature ratings are our editorial scores. If a VPN has too few visitor reports, that weight is shared among the other factors. A VPN that doesn't connect here is capped at 35. How we track
Questions people ask
What is the best VPN for China?
On our current scores, ExpressVPN (80/100), followed by NordVPN (75) and Proton VPN (72). Scores weigh getting through censorship most heavily for China and update as visitors there report what works.
Is using a VPN legal in China?
Legal with restrictions. Only government-approved VPNs are legal. Enforcement against individual tourists is rare, but VPN traffic is actively detected and slowed, especially around political anniversaries.
Do all VPNs work in China?
No. Our records show ExpressVPN (unreliable), NordVPN (unreliable), Proton VPN (unreliable), Surfshark (unreliable), Private Internet Access (doesn't connect) and CyberGhost (doesn't connect). Pick one with an obfuscation mode and install it before you need it.
Why does this ranking change?
Part of each score comes from visitor reports in the last 14 days and from whether each VPN currently connects in the country. When those change, the order changes. The formula is shown on the page.