What is the strongest VPN for China?

The strongest VPN for China would be ExpressVPN due to its superior speed, robust security features like AES-256 encryption and TrustedServer technology, and its reliable ability to bypass the Great Firewall. However, NordVPN, Surfshark, VyprVPN, and Astrill VPN are also strong contenders, each with their unique strengths.

Key Features of a Strong VPN for China

A strong VPN for China requires a combination of speed, security, reliability, and the ability to bypass China’s sophisticated censorship system, the Great Firewall.

High-level Encryption

Most VPNs use a high level of encryption, typically AES-256, to ensure your data stays secure. This military-grade encryption standard is almost impossible to break, keeping your online activity hidden from prying eyes. A robust VPN also uses perfect forward secrecy, which generates a new encryption key for each session, further enhancing security.

Multiple Servers

A reliable VPN has a wide range of servers spread globally, including countries near China such as Japan, Hong Kong, and Singapore. This provides the user with multiple connection options, reducing the likelihood of network congestion and improving connection speeds. Top-tier VPN services typically offer thousands of servers across the globe.

Obfuscation Features

China’s Great Firewall employs deep packet inspection (DPI) to block VPN traffic. Therefore, a strong VPN needs to use obfuscation techniques to disguise VPN traffic as regular HTTPS traffic. This feature is sometimes referred to as “stealth mode” or “camouflage mode”.

Kill Switch Mechanism

A kill switch is an essential security feature of a strong VPN. If your VPN connection drops unexpectedly, the kill switch will automatically disconnect your device from the internet, preventing data leaks.

No-logs Policy

Strong VPNs enforce a strict no-logs policy, meaning they do not store any information about your online activity. This is important because it guarantees that, even if the VPN provider is compelled to share information with authorities, there would be no data to hand over.

ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN stands out as one of the most reliable VPNs for use in China. Its combination of speed, security, and overall reliability make it a go-to choice for many users.

 Speed and Efficiency

ExpressVPN is known for its high-speed servers, which ensure a smooth and reliable internet experience, even when connected to servers on the other side of the globe. Though speeds can fluctuate depending on the server and your location, ExpressVPN consistently ranks among the fastest VPNs on the market.

Security Features

ExpressVPN uses AES-256 encryption, the same standard used by governments and security experts worldwide. It also features a Network Lock, their implementation of the kill switch technology, which ensures your data never leaks if your VPN connection drops.

Obfuscation Capabilities

To bypass the Great Firewall of China, ExpressVPN uses specific obfuscation techniques that disguise VPN traffic as regular internet traffic. This helps users maintain access to the unrestricted internet.

Servers and Locations

ExpressVPN boasts a network of over 3,000 servers in 94 countries. Having a wide selection of servers increases the chances of finding a fast and reliable connection.

Pricing

As of my last update in September 2021, ExpressVPN typically offers three pricing tiers:

• Monthly: Around $12.95/month
• Six Months: Around $59.95, equivalent to $9.99/month
• 12 Months: Around $99.95, equivalent to $8.32/month

These prices include up to five simultaneous connections and a 30-day money-back guarantee.

No-logs Policy

ExpressVPN is headquartered in the British Virgin Islands, a jurisdiction without data retention laws. Therefore, ExpressVPN follows a strict no-logs policy. They don’t collect or keep any logs of your activity, including browsing history, traffic destination, data content, or DNS queries.

NordVPN

NordVPN offers a range of features and capabilities that make it another popular choice among VPN users in China. It provides excellent security, wide server selection, and advanced privacy features.

Speed and Efficiency

NordVPN operates more than 5000 servers in 59 countries. These many servers usually ensure fast and reliable connections for users. While the speed can vary based on your location and the server you choose, NordVPN is typically known for delivering good speed performance.

Security Features

NordVPN uses the robust AES-256 encryption standard to protect your data. They also feature a kill switch that prevents any data leakage if the VPN connection suddenly drops.

Obfuscation Capabilities

NordVPN features obfuscation servers that can hide the fact you’re using a VPN. These servers are specifically designed to bypass internet restrictions such as the Great Firewall of China.

Pricing

As of my last update in September 2021, NordVPN offers the following pricing plans:

• Monthly: Around $11.95/month
• Yearly: Around $69 (about $5.75/month)
• 2 Years: Around $84 (about $3.49/month)

All NordVPN plans include up to 6 simultaneous connections and a 30-day money-back guarantee.

No-logs Policy

NordVPN is based in Panama, a country with no mandatory data retention laws. They strictly adhere to a no-logs policy, which means they don’t track, collect, or share your private data.

Surfshark

Surfshark is a newer VPN service that has quickly gained a strong reputation for its reliability and performance, especially for users in China. It’s known for its affordability and strong security measures.

 Speed and Efficiency

Surfshark provides a reliable and fast service, with over 3200 servers in 65 countries. These servers ensure that users can connect to a wide range of locations, which can enhance the connection speed and stability.

Security Features

Surfshark uses the industry-standard AES-256 encryption to protect user data. In addition, it also includes a kill switch feature to prevent any data leaks if the VPN connection drops suddenly.

Obfuscation Capabilities

Surfshark offers a feature known as Camouflage Mode. This mode uses obfuscation techniques to hide your VPN traffic, making it harder to detect and block, even by sophisticated systems like the Great Firewall of China.

Pricing

As of my last update in September 2021, Surfshark offers these pricing plans:

• Monthly: Around $12.95/month
• Six Months: Around $38.94 (about $6.49/month)
• 24 Months: Around $59.76 (about $2.49/month)

Unlike many other VPNs, Surfshark offers unlimited simultaneous connections and provides a 30-day money-back guarantee.

No-logs Policy

Surfshark is based in the British Virgin Islands, a jurisdiction with strong privacy protections and no mandatory data retention laws. This allows Surfshark to adhere to a strict no-logs policy, ensuring your online activities aren’t tracked or stored.

VyprVPN

VyprVPN is recognized for its unique technology called Chameleon™, which makes it a preferred choice for users in China who need to bypass restrictive networks. This Switzerland-based VPN provider ensures robust security and reliable performance.

Speed and Efficiency

VyprVPN has a self-owned and managed network of over 700 servers in 70 locations around the world. Owning their servers ensures better security and performance, including speeds. However, the speed can vary based on the server chosen and the user’s location.

Security Features

VyprVPN employs AES-256 encryption, providing a high level of security for user data. In addition, they also offer a kill switch feature, which safeguards any data from exposure if the VPN connection drops.

Obfuscation Capabilities

VyprVPN features the unique Chameleon™ protocol, which scrambles VPN traffic to ensure it is less detectable by internet restrictions such as the Great Firewall of China.

Pricing

As of my last update in September 2021, VyprVPN’s pricing tiers are as follows:

• Monthly: Around $12.95/month
• 1 Year: Around $45 (roughly $3.75/month)
• 2 Years: Around $60 (roughly $2.50/month)

These prices include up to five simultaneous connections and come with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

No-logs Policy

VyprVPN has a strict no-logs policy. The company is based in Switzerland, which has strong privacy laws, further enhancing its privacy protection commitment. They do not track or record user activities, providing an added layer of privacy.

Astrill VPN

Astrill VPN is another popular choice for users in China due to its robust features and reliable performance. Established in 2009, it has garnered a reputation for its capabilities to bypass internet restrictions effectively.

Speed and Efficiency

Astrill VPN operates over 300 servers in more than 60 countries. While the exact speed can depend on the server location and user’s proximity to it, Astrill VPN is known to provide solid and consistent speed for its users.

Security Features

Astrill VPN employs the industry-standard AES-256 encryption for securing user data. In addition, it provides a kill switch feature that ensures no data leakage if the VPN connection suddenly drops.

Obfuscation Capabilities

To bypass network restrictions such as the Great Firewall of China, Astrill VPN offers a feature called StealthVPN. This technology disguises VPN traffic as standard SSL traffic, making it less detectable by firewalls and network administrators.

Pricing

As per the last update in September 2021, Astrill VPN’s pricing plans are:

• Monthly: Around $20/month
• 6 Months: Around $90 (roughly $15/month)
• 1 Year: Around $120 (roughly $10/month)

These plans include unlimited devices and a 7-day money-back guarantee.

No-logs Policy

Astrill VPN has a strict no-logs policy, ensuring that your online activities aren’t tracked or stored. The company is based in Seychelles, which doesn’t have mandatory data retention laws, allowing for enhanced privacy protections.

VPNs Comparison

Below is a comparison of the five VPNs we’ve discussed so far.