Astrill vs NordVPN in China
Astrill is the better choice for China this week. It is rated "working", while NordVPN is "mostly blocked".
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Side-by-side comparison
| Feature | Astrill | NordVPN |
|---|---|---|
| Status in China | Working | Mostly blocked |
| Price | From ~$12.50/mo | From ~$3.50/mo |
| Protocols | StealthVPN, OpenWeb, WireGuard | NordLynx, Obfuscated servers |
| Best for | Anyone who needs a VPN that just works in China and is willing to pay for it. | Use outside China. Inside China, bring something else. |
| Good | Consistently reported working by expats. China-specific protocols. Good speeds. | Cheap. Good outside China. |
| Not so good | Most expensive mainstream option. Dated apps. | Mostly blocked in China. Obfuscated servers unreliable. |
Each VPN in detail
Astrill VPN
Yes. Astrill is the VPN most consistently reported as working in mainland China, mainly thanks to its StealthVPN and OpenWeb protocols.
NordVPN
Mostly no. Despite the marketing, NordVPN is blocked for most people in mainland China. Its obfuscated servers occasionally connect but are not reliable.