Proton VPN vs ExpressVPN in China
Both are hit or miss in China this week. Neither should be your only VPN, so pair one of them with a VPN that is reported as working.
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Side-by-side comparison
| Feature | Proton VPN | ExpressVPN |
|---|---|---|
| Status in China | Hit or miss | Hit or miss |
| Price | From ~$5/mo (paid tier) | From ~$8/mo |
| Protocols | Stealth, WireGuard, OpenVPN | Lightway, OpenVPN |
| Best for | Privacy-focused travellers who want a reputable backup VPN. | People who already pay for ExpressVPN and want to try it alongside a more reliable option. |
| Good | Reputable privacy-focused provider. Stealth protocol. | Polished apps. Good support. Often works. |
| Not so good | Free tier blocked. Hit or miss. | Reliability has dropped. Frequently blocked during sensitive dates. |
Each VPN in detail
Proton VPN
Sometimes, on paid plans. Proton VPN's Stealth protocol gets through for some users, but the free tier is almost always blocked in China.
ExpressVPN
Sometimes. ExpressVPN still works for many people in China using the Lightway protocol, but reliability has dropped and it can be down for days during sensitive periods.