Does Astrill VPN work in China?
Yes. Astrill is the VPN most consistently reported as working in mainland China, mainly thanks to its StealthVPN and OpenWeb protocols.
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Astrill in China at a glance
- Status this week
- Working
- Price
- From ~$12.50/mo
- Protocols
- StealthVPN, OpenWeb, WireGuard
- Best for
- Anyone who needs a VPN that just works in China and is willing to pay for it.
The long-time expat favourite. Expensive, but its StealthVPN and OpenWeb protocols are built specifically to get through the Great Firewall and are consistently reported as working.
Good
- Consistently reported working by expats
- China-specific protocols
- Good speeds
Not so good
- Most expensive mainstream option
- Dated apps
How to set up Astrill for China
- Buy and install Astrill before you leave. Its website is blocked inside China.
- Install it on every device you are bringing, and sign in on each one while you still have open internet.
- Switch the protocol to StealthVPN (or OpenWeb on desktop) instead of the default.
- Pick a nearby server such as Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore or US West, and use the speed test in the app to compare.
- Install a second VPN as a backup in case Astrill has a bad week.
More detail: how to set up a VPN before your trip and what to try if your VPN stops working.
Alternatives to Astrill
- Does Surfshark work in China? · From ~$2.50/moWorking
- Does ExpressVPN work in China? · From ~$8/moHit or miss
- Does Proton VPN work in China? · From ~$5/mo (paid tier)Hit or miss
Head-to-head
Astrill in China: questions
- Why is Astrill so expensive?
- Astrill spends heavily on protocols and servers designed specifically to get past the Great Firewall, and most of its customers are in China. You are paying for reliability, not extra features.
- Which Astrill protocol should I use in China?
- StealthVPN is the usual choice on phones and laptops. OpenWeb is a lighter option on desktop that is good for browsing. If one stops connecting, switch to the other before changing servers.
- Can I buy Astrill once I am already in China?
- It is much harder. The Astrill website is blocked in China, so buy and install it before you travel. If you are stuck, a roaming SIM or international eSIM usually lets you reach the site.