Astrill vs Surfshark in China
Both are working in China this week. Astrill is the more consistent pick; Surfshark makes a good backup. Install both before you fly if you can.
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Side-by-side comparison
| Feature | Astrill | Surfshark |
|---|---|---|
| Status in China | Working | Working |
| Price | From ~$12.50/mo | From ~$2.50/mo |
| Protocols | StealthVPN, OpenWeb, WireGuard | WireGuard, OpenVPN, NoBorders mode |
| Best for | Anyone who needs a VPN that just works in China and is willing to pay for it. | A cheap second VPN to carry alongside Astrill, or a budget first choice for short trips. |
| Good | Consistently reported working by expats. China-specific protocols. Good speeds. | Cheap. Unlimited devices. NoBorders mode turns on automatically. |
| Not so good | Most expensive mainstream option. Dated apps. | Less consistent than Astrill. Support will not promise it works in China. |
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.
Surfshark
Mostly yes. Surfshark's NoBorders mode is built for restricted networks and is reported to work in China for many travellers, though it is less consistent than Astrill.