Does Windscribe work in China? We often hear this question when discussing this VPN, especially on Reddit, where it’s quite popular. However, answering this question is quite hard. The provider used to work a few years ago and was, in fact, among the most reliable VPNs to use in China.
In recent years, or perhaps, months, Windscribe experienced a massive downfall. Namely, hundreds of users complained about Windscribe VPN not working in China properly. Then, again, out of nowhere, some people claimed that the provider still works relatively well.
We can say that using Windscribe in China is quite flimsy, so to speak. The provider works and then fails to work, only to work again until it fails quickly. Our tests showed exactly the same, which we’re going to discuss in this Windscribe China review.
Using Windscribe in China: Here’s What to Try
Windscribe’s reliability in China seems to be all over the place according to Reddit users and our team.
Our testers in this country had quite a rough time with it (as mentioned in our Windscribe review). At moments, the service would connect perfectly only to not work the next moment.
To answer the question of does Windscribe work in China, we’d have to say maybe. In 2024, it’s quite hard to say, especially with recent changes and enforcement of the anti-VPN firewall in this country. Still, if you’re looking to use Windscribe VPN in China, you can consider tweaking a few things.
In this guide, we’ll go over a few of them but we can’t guarantee for sure our methods will work.
Enabling Stealth
First of all, you want to try and use Windscribe’s Stealth protocols. However, these are available on Windows, so you’ll get the best results on this platform. The provider offers two protocols called:
- Stealth
- Wstunnel
The first one uses OpenVPN TLS, which is known for being able to bypass censorship in countries like China, Iran, Turkey, and a few others. The second protocol, Wstunnel, uses OpenVPN encapsulated in a WebSocket, which, again, helps with getting over DPI or deep packet inspection.
You can find these protocols in Settings, where you can simply enable them, connect to a server, and try to use Windscribe in China.
Using a Kill Switch
If this fails, you can try using a kill switch to ensure you’re not leaking your IP address in the case of a VPN connection drop. However, if the first method fails, this one is unlikely to work, as it’s just a minor fix. You can still try to enable IP/DNS leak protection just in case.
Switching to Double Hop Servers
Finally, to use Windscribe VPN in China, you can use Double Hop servers. They’ll route your traffic through two servers, preventing you from being tracked. These servers add to your privacy and security and might be enough to overcome the Great Firewall.
Just be aware that they’ll slow down your connection due to two layers of encryption, so you won’t be getting the best speeds.
Windscribe Alternatives That Work in China in 2024
If you’re tired of tweaking Windscribe to work in China and you just want a more reliable option, you’re at the right place. Our team tested dozens of providers in this country and from our experience, we can confirm they’ll work far better than this service.
1. ExpressVPN
The first option is ExpressVPN. It uses obfuscation which is applied to every VPN connection automatically. This makes pretty much every server suitable for people in China, who can then enjoy ExpressVPN’s blazing-fast performance and 3,000 servers.
On top of that, the provider requires no special tweaks to work. You’ll need to install it, connect to a server, and go online freely. Granted, this provider can have issues from time to time as well but you’ll be able to resolve them with 24/7 customer service easily.
Besides, you’ll get two amazing protocols Lightway and OpenVPN, both of which are extraordinary for getting over censorship. ExpressVPN offers AES encryption and comes with a no-logging policy, which helps preserve your privacy in a censored country like China.
Furthermore, its easy-to-use apps are here for all platforms, with 8 simultaneous connections. Overall, this is quite an approachable VPN with an attractive price for the annual plan. We recommend grabbing its 49% discount and 3 free months for this plan below to save additional money on ExpressVPN.
2. NordVPN
NordVPN is another premium-grade VPN to use if Windscribe isn’t working in China. The provider is equipped with obfuscated servers, which use OpenVPN TCP to get over the firewall. Like ExpressVPN, it barely requires any tweaking to work.
Connect to an obfuscated server from the list, and boom – you’re all set. NordVPN prides itself on having fast speeds while packing some serious security-oriented weaponry. We’re talking about 256-bit encryption, a kill switch, and IP leak prevention to make sure you’re anonymous online.
Moreover, NordVPN packs Threat Protection to help you get rid of viruses, malware, and ads. Not to mention its amazing Meshnet feature for reliable remote access. Users can also enjoy NordLocker for a cheap price in the Complete plan, which gives you 2 more terabytes of cloud storage.
NordVPN is a complete package that you’ll be impressed with, especially coming from Windscribe. To ensure you’re getting a fair deal on it, use the button below. You’ll get a discounted price for the 2-year plan with a splendid 30-day money-back guarantee.
3. Astrill VPN
The last Windscribe alternative is Astrill VPN – of course, if you’re looking for a VPN to use in China. Astrill is an option we don’t recommend due to its overly expensive price. However, the provider is incredibly reliable, with proprietary protocols like OpenWeb and Stealth VPN.
OpenWeb proved to be very reliable in China, being able to bypass the Great Firewall with ease. Astrill VPN even offers the option to get a private IP and VIP-addons in China, optimized for gamers who want the fastest speeds and lowest latency.
Another perk of Astrill VPN is advanced security and a no-logging policy, making it perfectly safe to use. In 2024, it’s surely in the top 3 most reliable providers for this country but its price is simply too much to fathom for most users.
For example, its cheapest plan is $12.5 a month, yet, it’s a 2-year plan, so you’ll be paying $300 every 2 years. Bear in mind that Astrill VPN offers no refunds either, so if you end up disliking it, there’s no way to ensure you’re not losing money.
Summary: Does Windscribe work in China?
In the end, we can’t say too good things about using Windscribe VPN in China. While the provider used to be reliable, in recent times, it started becoming less of a viable choice for people in this country.
We simply don’t recommend relying on Windscribe, as it’s very hard to anticipate its performance in China.
With this in mind, it’s better to use ExpressVPN or NordVPN instead. Both providers excel in performance, security, privacy, and obfuscation, which instantly earns our recommendation. Astrill VPN is another choice, alas, with a price that goes way above these two VPNs’ most expensive plans.
One thing to mention is that we tested the paid version of Windscribe because its free version is even less likely to work. That said, you should definitely avoid using free VPNs in China, let alone pay for one and end up being disappointed because it doesn’t work properly.
