A large crackdown on VPN services in China that often transpires leads to more VPNs not working properly in the country. Many are still wondering – is Proton VPN working in China? In today’s article, we’ll report our findings and see how well the provider performs in this country in 2026.
Bear in mind that we tested both free and paid versions as part of this analysis. On our site, you’ll find a full review of Proton VPN that’ll give you more info. Today, we’re focusing strictly on the aspect of bypassing censorship in China and whether you can use this service in this country reliably.
Is Proton VPN Working in China?
As part of our team, we have several writers and testers residing in this country. Our team gladly provided them with a copy of Proton VPN for testing purposes. The result wasn’t so happy in the end, and the takeaway is that, in 2026, Proton VPN is NOT working in China. Deep packet inspection in this country is extremely strong.
As a result, pretty much all modern VPNs are blocked. The authorities use many advanced censorship tools, such as keyword and URL filtering, which makes the situation far worse. The free plan, essentially, behaves like the paid plan. During our testing, we frequently alternated between Proton VPN’s free and paid VPN apps.
We also enabled Alternative Routing and StealthVPN, both of which are designed to fight censorship. Unfortunately, all attempts were futile. After performing these tests and seeing that Proton VPN in China isn’t working, we went to its site. And there, among many support-related articles, we saw this:
Proton VPN itself claims that it doesn’t work reliably. Better said, it doesn’t guarantee it’ll work reliably, and mentions only anecdotal evidence that it sometimes works. The article dates back to 2019, but as explained, it’s still valid. The company offers a solution in the form of Tor Bridge, but it’s nothing like using a VPN.
Alternatives to Proton VPN That Work in China
With this provider failing to overcome the Great Firewall, the only option is to switch to another. If Proton VPN isn’t working in China, you might be wondering which providers do. We have a few alternatives:
1. NordVPN
Pros
- Obfuscated servers work in China
- Torrenting and streaming are allowed
- Modern post-quantum encryption
- Advanced security features
- Affordable biennial Basic plan
Con
- Higher renewal costs
NordVPN is a household name with millions of active users. Its obfuscated servers do wonders for people in censored countries like China. Being among the top three China VPNs, its obfuscated servers will mask your VPN traffic the same way, hiding your online identity completely.
This allows you to slide under the Great Firewall and breathe fresh air on the internet. NordVPN delivers staggering performance thanks to the NordLynx protocol and 8,700+ fast servers with 10 Gbps ports. Furthermore, the provider is P2P-optimized, with servers close to China for fast torrenting.
NordVPN is easy to use, and additional setup in China isn’t required. You have to install the app and enjoy it. Bear in mind that it also has Double VPN servers for two solid encryption layers, along with Threat Protection Pro to block malware, trackers, and ads. We should mention NordVPN’s certified zero-logging.
Based in Panama, NordVPN is highly privacy-friendly. Take into account its kill switch, AES-256 encryption, split tunneling, and Private DNS. All these make it one of the safest, most reliable companions for online privacy. Users in China reported that NordVPN shows excellent results in terms of bypassing geo-blocks.
As such, it works with Netflix and Hulu. NordVPN is affordable. Its plans have a 30-day refund policy, and getting NordVPN is risk-free. Overall, NordVPN is the most reliable VPN you can get in China or abroad. We have an extensive NordVPN review, so read it if you’re enticed, or immediately grab its discount below.
2. ExpressVPN
Pros
- Built-in VPN obfuscation
- Reliable Lightway Turbo protocol
- Audited for storing no logs
- It blocks trackers and ads
- Broad device compatibility
Cons
- Slightly expensive high-tier plans
- No Multi-hop/Double VPN
ExpressVPN is a top-of-the-line provider that focuses on user privacy and security. The provider works in China thanks to obfuscation that masks your VPN connection and makes it look like a regular connection. This helps to bypass DPI and use the internet normally. It’s applied to all your connections without further tweaks.
You have to select a server location, connect to it, and you’re all set. ExpressVPN has 3,000 servers in 105 countries and over 160 locations, so you have a heap to pick from. As ExpressVPN works in China with excellent performance, its 10+ Gbps servers can reach their full potential.
You can use this provider for streaming, torrenting, and even light gaming in China. The company built its reputation on a stringent no-logging policy with jurisdiction in the British Virgin Islands. This provides total privacy, and with RAM-only servers, you can be sure no excessive logging is happening in the background.
On top of that, ExpressVPN has a proprietary DNS server to handle your DNS requests. This is improved with AES-256 encryption and a kill switch. Users also get Threat Manager for blocking malicious sites and dangerous trackers. Extras include apps for all platforms, 14 simultaneous connections, and 24/7 support.
Plus, there’s a 73% discount and four free months for the biennial Basic plan. Compared to Proton VPN, which isn’t working in China, it’s priced similarly, but it works more reliably overall. Again, you can read our ExpressVPN review or right away grab it at an exclusive price.
3. Surfshark
Pros
- Obfuscation (NoBorders mode)
- Unlimited simultaneous connections
- Exemplary speeds and performance
- Antivirus is in the mid-tier plan
Cons
- Occasional connection issues
- Slightly confusing desktop apps
Proton VPN may not work in China, but Surfshark, a cheaper VPN, does. It offers built-in VPN obfuscation with the NoBorders mode. It automatically fires up and shields you against DPI that prevents regular internet access. NoBorders works on all devices, so even on a phone or a tablet, you can sidestep annoying blocks in seconds.
Surfshark has a sizeable network, which includes 4,500 servers in 100 countries. Many are close to China for decent performance. The VPN uses WireGuard, a protocol built for speed, and relies on 10 Gbps server ports. Some servers, particularly in Amsterdam, now have 400 Gbps ports for extreme speed improvements.
Surfshark is not superior to NordVPN, but it’s more equipped than Proton VPN. Pick the One plan, and you’ll get virus protection. All plans have Multi-hop, AES-256-bit encryption, and ad-blocking. However, Surfshark also includes an IP Rotation function, which rotates your IP periodically to keep you private.
Device compatibility is broad, with support for all major platforms. Simultaneously, you get unlimited concurrent connections, which even pricier NordVPN and ExpressVPN don’t offer. Price-wise, Surfshark’s Starter plan is about $1.99 per month, but the next tier, with antivirus, is usually under $2.79 per month.
As always, you get a 30-day money-back guarantee and a seven-day free trial on iOS and Android if you want to test it. Surfshark is a good option overall, and close to Proton VPN in day-to-day performance.
What About Astrill VPN?
Since Proton VPN in China isn’t working, we gave you three great alternatives. Many wonder if Astrill VPN is working in this country as well. The answer is yes. It’s incredibly reliable as well, but it’s a VPN we wouldn’t recommend buying and using. It’s too expensive, so much so that the price alone will deter you from buying it.
NordVPN’s most expensive plan will have you pay under $70 per month, while Astrill’s cheapest plan costs $12.5 a month. The cheapest plan is a 2-year deal at a whopping $300 every 2 years. Let’s not forget its VIP add-ons and a private IP with limited traffic, which can raise the price of this VPN significantly.
We tested Astrill VPN recently, and if you read this review, you’ll see that we weren’t satisfied with what we got for the price. NordVPN, ExpressVPN, and Surfshark remain better choices that you’ll pay several times less.
Does Proton VPN Work in China? The Final Verdict
After a thorough examination, it’s clear that using Proton VPN in China isn’t such a smart idea. Both free and paid plans do not provide any usability in this country, despite offering different protocols and security features. Even its Secure Core servers fail to perform under the pressure of the Great Firewall.
The solution is to get another provider, and we recommend NordVPN, ExpressVPN, and Surfshark. As the three most prestigious VPNs, you’ll find them reliable in China, Iran, the UAE, Russia, Turkey, and many other countries. Price-wise, they’re very similar to Proton VPN, but inevitably offer more in this case.
We don’t advise using Astrill VPN unless you have excess money you want to spend. It’s too expensive for what it offers, with blatant pricing of basic plans and bonus features. Instead, take advantage of exclusive discounts on NordVPN, ExpressVPN, or Surfshark, and enjoy the VPN in China fuss-free.
