Best VPNs for China in 2026: What I Actually Use as a Kiwi Living There

This post contains affiliate links. If you buy through them, I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
I only recommend VPNs I’ve personally tested.

I’ve been living in China for almost a year now, and nothing prepared me for how completely different the internet works here. Google is gone. Instagram is gone. YouTube, WhatsApp, Gmail – all blocked. If you’re moving to China from New Zealand (or anywhere, really) then getting a reliable VPN isn’t optional. It’s as essential as a power adapter.

The problem I’ve found since moving here is, that most “best of” VPN lists are written by people who’ve only come to China on holiday. I’ve tested these on the ground for the past 12 months, in my apartment, on Chinese WiFi and on a local SIM. Here’s what I’ve found actually works.

Why you need to sort your VPN before you land

This is the part most people get wrong.

Downloading a VPN in China doesn’t work. The App store doesn’t carry them, you need a VPN to reach the VPN sites and these are all blocked inside China. If you arrive without one already installed and working, you’re in a frustrating catch-22 until you can find an undercover VPN seller through local friends.

There is a work-around if you have an international e-sim setup, in that you will still be able to download using your e-sim network. However, e-sim plans are more expensive than local cell-phone plans and if you’re moving to China you’ll want a local number ASAP.

My best advice is, download and set up your VPN while you’re still in New Zealand. Test it before you board the plane. This single piece of advice will save you hours of stress on arrival.

The two VPNs I actually use in China

1. ExpressVPN — My Daily Driver

After a few months of testing, ExpressVPN is what I use every day. It’s not the cheapest option, but it’s the one that’s given me the fewest headaches. I use this VPN when connected to wifi at home, school and work.

What I like:

• Connects fast — usually under 10 seconds
• Reliable through periods of increased blocking (around Chinese national holidays, crackdowns get more intense and cheaper VPNs often drop out)
• Works on my phone, laptop, and tablet simultaneously
• The kill switch actually works, which matters when you’re on a shaky connection

What’s not perfect:

• More expensive than competitors
• Occasional slowdowns during peak evening hours
• Only works on WIFI (not public WIFI networks) – this makes it easy to use at home but on the go can be frustrating

Speed in practice: I can stream Netflix NZ and YouTube without buffering most of the time. I can also access NZ specific TV apps like TVNZ and Whakata Māori without any issue (region specific access only). Video calls back to family in New Zealand are clear. It’s not like being back home, but it’s workable.

Cost: Around NZD $15–$20/month, less if you go annual.

2. Astrill VPN — the expat community’s favourite

Ask any long-term expat in China what VPN they use and a significant number will say Astrill. It has a cult following in the expat community for good reason: it’s specifically engineered to work in China in a way that general-market VPNs aren’t.

What I like:

• StealthVPN protocol is purpose-built to evade deep packet inspection (the technology China uses to detect and block VPNs)
• Consistently recommended in expat forums and WeChat groups
• More resistant to the crackdowns that knock other VPNs offline

What’s not perfect:

• Pricier than ExpressVPN on some plans
• Interface feels a bit clunky compared to modern apps
• No free trial

Who it’s best for: If you’re staying in China long-term and reliability during sensitive periods is your priority, Astrill is worth the extra cost.

Cost: Around NZD $20–$25/month.

What about NordVPN and other popular options?

NordVPN is widely recommended elsewhere and it’s a solid VPN globally — but in my experience, and based on what I’ve heard from other expats, its performance inside China is inconsistent. It sometimes works fine, sometimes doesn’t. For that reason, I can’t comfortably recommend it as your primary China VPN. It might work for you, it might not. With ExpressVPN and Astrill, you know what you’re getting.

Other cheap VPNs (you’ll see lots of $2/month options): avoid them for China. They don’t have the infrastructure to keep up with the firewall, and you’ll spend more time troubleshooting than actually online.

Tips for using a VPN in China day-to-day

A few things I’ve learned the hard way:

Keep multiple VPNs installed. I run both ExpressVPN and Astrill. On the rare occasion one is having issues, I switch to the other. Redundancy is everything.

Download the apps before you leave NZ. As mentioned above — you cannot access VPN websites or most app stores for VPN apps from inside China.

Have the customer support contact saved. When your VPN isn’t working at midnight and you need to troubleshoot, you’ll want that email address already saved in your phone.

Expect occasional disruptions around major events. Chinese New Year, the National Congress, sensitive anniversaries — these periods see increased VPN blocking. Both ExpressVPN and Astrill push protocol updates during these times, so keep your apps updated.

Use the app’s recommended server. Don’t get clever trying to pick specific servers. Both apps have a “recommended” or “smart” option that automatically picks the best route. Use it.

Quick comparison

My recommendation

If you’re moving to China and want one VPN to start with: get ExpressVPN. It’s the easiest to set up, the most reliable day-to-day, and has a 30-day money-back guarantee so you can test it risk-free.

If you’re planning to stay long-term or you’re particularly concerned about reliability during political events, add Astrill as a backup. I pay for both and consider it a non-negotiable cost of living here.

Frequently asked questions

Is using a VPN in China illegal? The legal situation is nuanced. China restricts VPN use and technically only government-approved VPNs are legal for businesses. In practice, millions of expats and locals use commercial VPNs daily and enforcement against individual foreign residents is essentially unheard of. That said, I’m not a lawyer — do your own research and make your own call.

Will a free VPN work in China? Almost certainly not reliably. Free VPNs lack the infrastructure to keep up with China’s firewall updates. Some don’t work at all; others work occasionally. Don’t rely on one.

Do I need a VPN if I’m only visiting for a short time? Yes. Even for a week, you’ll want access to Google Maps, WhatsApp, and your email. Get ExpressVPN — the monthly plan is cheap and you can cancel after your trip.

What devices can I use my VPN on? Both ExpressVPN and Astrill work on iPhone, Android, Mac, Windows, and more. Most plans allow 5+ simultaneous connections.

Living in China as a New Zealander comes with a learning curve, but the VPN situation is one you can totally solve before you land. Got questions? Drop them in the comments — I check in regularly.

— Nicola, writing from somewhere in China