5 Free VPNs for China For American Users Safe to Use in 2023?

Last updated: November 14, 2023
William Sams
William Sams
Many websites mislead users by giving inaccurate suggestions for VPNs in China. Read on to understand the slippery slope of free VPNs.
Free-VPN-for-China-For American Users

If you are traveling to China and looking for a free VPN for China For American Users then this guide is for you. There are numerous free solutions available if you choose not to pay for a VPN. However, it’s not so simple to discover a free VPN that genuinely works in the nation and keeps you safe at the same time.

China is a country where using a VPN is a must to use because of the restrictions they have imposed on many international sites such as Facebook, WhatsApp, Twitter, YouTube, Google, Gmail, and more are included in this list. These are the major problem for which you should make preliminary preparations before visiting China.

Every free VPNs have certain drawbacks. Some impose limitations on the amount of data, server list, bandwidth, and security; others may have several unexpected threats.

China is known as one of the highly restricted countries where you can not afford to take risks of using any random VPN. This is why our team has tested more than 30 VPNs and found only 5 free VPNs for China For American Users that work reliably well in all of our testing criteria.

Our top recommendation for the best VPN is ExpressVPN because it’s quick and secure, as well as unblocks websites and services that are restricted in China. So you need use ExpressVPN or  a secure VPN to get a Chinese IP Address in USA

You can check the other 4 free VPNs for China if you don’t have time to read the whole post. Take a quick look at each and decide which best suits your need.

Learn how to Bypass Geo-blocking and Content Limitations from anywhere including China.


Free VPN for China For American Users: Quick Overview

Here is a quick overview of the free VPN for China For American Users:

  1. ExpressVPN: The Best VPN for China | Reliable servers for secure and quick browsing with unlimited data | Use its risk-free for 30 days.
  2. Windscribe: A Well-known Free VPN for China | Enjoy 10GB of free monthly data.
  3. ProtonVPN: Free VPN for China with Unlimited connections | Limitless Facebook scrolling and downloading videos.
  4. TunnelBear: FreeVPN For China that offers a user-friendly interface | Free 500MB monthly for 6 hours of browsing.
  5. Hide.me: Free VPN with Advanced security in China | 10GB of free monthly data for 3 hours of Netflix streaming.

4 Simple Steps to Unblock Foreign Websites in China

In 4 easy steps, you can unblock foreign websites in China and access geo-blocked social and streaming services like Netflix, Facebook, Whatsapp, Hulu, and many more.

  1. First of all, subscribe to Reliable VPN. Use ExpressVPN risk-free for 30 days. Enjoy complete online security and Unlimited Netflix streaming.
  2. Install the VPN app on your device.
  3. Open the app and connect to a server of your choice. (For instance, if you want to watch US Netflix, connect to a US server).
  4. Go and access any website you want while staying anonymous.

Note: China has blocked many VPN websites. So get one on your device before leaving for China.

ExpressVPN Risk-free in USA!30 Days Money Back Guarantee

5 Free VPNs for China For American Users: Detailed Analysis

It’s simple to locate a free VPN. It’s not quite straightforward to find a free VPN for China For American Users. However, after weeks of testing and investigation, I’ve discovered 5 VPNs that performed well, several of which also offer advanced features.

Keep in mind before going further that free VPNs can not fulfill every requirement. So choose accordingly which free VPN you can comfortably use in China. Here is our detailed analysis of the  freeVPN to access China:

1. ExpressVPN– Best VPN for China For American Users

ExpressVPN-BestVPN-in-USA

  • No. of Servers3000+ servers in 94+ countries
  • Jurisdiction: British Virgin Island
  • Security Features –  No-log policy, Kill switch, Military-grade Encryption, and IP/DNS leak protection.
  • No. of Connections – 5 devices
  • Unblock Platforms – Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Disney+, HBO Max, Hulu, Facebook, Whatsapp, Google, and more
  • Device Compatibility – Android, iOS, Windows, macOS, Linux, game consoles, routers, Apple TV,  and more.
  • Special Offer: 3 months free on annual plan

Despite being a premium VPN, ExpressVPN offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, making it ideal for short-term travel. In comparison to the other free VPNs on this list, it has 30+ regional servers, allowing you to avoid congestion and sluggish speeds in China.

When I tested ExpressVPN’s speed test in USA on servers in Hong Kong, which were the closest to China, I experienced the fastest speeds.

With over 3000 servers spread across 94+ countries, you’ll always be able to find a working server to access shows on the platforms you have accounts with, like Netflix US or UK’s BBC iPlayer, Hulu, Disney+ in USA, and HBO Max.

ExpressVPN conceals the fact that you’re using a VPN by employing obfuscated servers that are active in China. Your IP address and data are encrypted with AES 256-bit encryption which appears to your ISP as regular traffic. This reduces the chance of detection or getting blocked.

It includes other important features such as No-logs, kill switch, and IP/DNS leak protection. These features make sure you are always safe and anonymous, regardless of whether your connection is active or not.

We tried using ExpressVPN on Kodi in USA and had a seamless experience. You can unblock geo-limited apps within a minute using ExpressVPN on Android in USA. Most importantly, you can use ExpressVPN on Firestick in China like a breeze, unlike other VPNs. For its MediaStreamer feature, it is recommended as the best VPN for Apple TV in USA, Smart TV, gaming consoles, etc.

As ExpressVPN supports 5 simultaneous connections and protects all of your devices using one subscription account. You can use ExpressVPN for routers or browsers as well. It is one of the premium VPNs for Android in China that allows you to process payments with Bitcoin
For users seeking a Free VPN for hayu in USA , Free VPN for Poland , Free VPN for Pakistan For American Users , free VPN for Peacock TV in USA   ExpressVPN’s reliable performance and diverse server options make it an excellent choice.

Additionally, there is a handy 24/7 live chat if you require assistance while using EpxressVPN free trial in USA. To discover the complete outcomes of our investigation and testing, go through our ExpressVPN review USA.

Pros
  • Advanced security protocols
  • Compatible with all devices and OS
  • Easily bypasses geo-restrictions
  • Excellent customer support

Cons
  • Costly as compared to other VPNs

Get ExpressVPN in USA30 Days Money Back Guarantee

2. Windscribe – Popular Free VPN for China For American Users

Windscribe-BestVPN-in-USA

  • No. of Servers – 10 servers in 10 countries
  • Security Features – AES-256-bit encryption, No-logs, kill switch, and IP/DNS leak protection.
  • No. of Connections -Unlimited devices
  • Unblock Platforms – Netflix, YouTube, BBC iPlayer, HBO
  • Device Compatibility

Windscribe is a free VPN that works in China. It offers 10 server locations and 10 GB of free data each month. Users can only access the servers for free in 10 countries: the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Norway, Germany, Switzerland, Romania, France, and Hong Kong.

Windscribe offers AES-256-bit encryption, a kill switch that activates automatically, leak prevention for DNS, IPv6, and WebRTC, as well as a Stealth Mode function. Additionally, you are protected from trackers and hackers by a rigorous no-logs policy and an integrated malware blocker.

With 10 GB of free bandwidth each month, you can enjoy 5 hours of HD streaming. However, if you tweet about Windscribe, you can receive an additional 5 GB of free data, allowing you to browse and stream for longer. Sign up for Windscribe to access China website for free.

You can use this free VPN on Linux in USA, Android, Windows, iOS, etc. To discover the complete outcomes of our investigation and testing, go through our Windscribe review.

Pros
  • Does not require the personal information of the user, such as card details
  • Obfuscation technology on all applications
  • Kill switch for additional security
  • Fast speed for streaming

Cons
  • On 10GB data limit
  • No provision for no-logs audits
  • Canada-based (five-eye nation)

3. ProtonVPN– Free VPN for China with Unlimited Data For American Users

ProtonVPN-in-USA

  • No. of Servers – 23 servers (Japan, the US, and the Netherlands)
  • Security Features – Kill switch, Military-grade Encryption, No-logging policy
  • No. of Connections – Unlimited devices
  • Unblock Platforms – Google, WhatsApp, YouTube, Twitter, Facebook
  • Device Compatibility – iOS, Android, Windows, and macOS.

ProtonVPN is known as one of the free VPNs that offer unlimited data. It means you can enjoy unlimited browsing and streaming over the internet when using this free Chinese VPN. It is based in Geneva, Switzerland, which is a privacy-friendly region for VPN providers.

However, when we try to unblock Netflix using ProtonVPN it couldn’t unblock it. The good thing is that it can access social media sites like Facebook, Google, Twitter, and others.

ProtonVPN free version offers 23 servers in 3 countries (The US, Japan, and the Netherlands). The location of the servers in China is a benefit, but the fact that there are only three servers means that you must share them with many other free users, which can result in poor speeds.

ProtonVPN purposefully limits speeds on their free plan so that you can only enjoy super-fast connections when you upgrade. Although there isn’t much lag when browsing, WhatsApp’s video calling lags.

ProtonVPN offers no logs and military-grade encryption so you don’t have to be concerned about your traffic being stored or seen by others. It even protects you when you are connected to unsafe public WiFi.

It offers multiple device connections and thanks to the integrated ad and malware blocking feature which prevents any advertising from getting in the way and guards your device against security threats. For its P2P servers, it is the best VPN for torrenting in USA.

There is a ticketing system if you require assistance. Although it’s not a live chat, I found their representative quite responsive.

Pros
  • Limitless bandwidth
  • Strong encryption
  • Advanced security protocols, including a kill switch
  • Switzerland-based (not in five-eyes)

Cons
  • Offers free servers in only 3 regions
  • The free version does not support torrenting
  • No Chrome extension

4. TunnelBear– Free VPN for China For American Users with Easy-to-use Interface

tunnelBear-in-USA

  • No. of Servers – 43 servers
  • Security Features –  military-grade encryption, kill switch, GhostBear, Vigilant Mode
  • No. of Connections – 5 devices
  • Unblock Platforms – Facebook, Whatsapp, Google, HBO Max.
  • Device Compatibility – Windows, macOS, iOS, & Android. 

TunnelBear is a better choice if you want a free VPN with a larger server count. Whether you are using its premium or free version, you can connect to its servers in 48 different countries. There are many servers in close proximity to China, including those in Hong Kong, Japan, and Singapore.

TunnelBear offers 500MB of data per month. You can browse for eight hours on this amount of bandwidth or watch YouTube videos in SD quality for just over an hour. Unfortunately, Tunnelbear cannot unblock Netflix or other streaming services.

Post a tweet to TunnelBear to get an extra 1GB of data.

The security features provided by TunnelBear’s free service, including 256-bit encryption, a zero-logging policy, and an automated kill switch, are the same as that of its premium plan.

Additionally, TunnelBear has a unique feature that is excellent for China For American Users. It makes use of GhostBear mode, which makes your VPN connection appear to be regular internet traffic. Any websites you visit or your ISP cannot block you because they cannot tell if you are using a VPN.

TunnelBear offers a kill switch and obfuscated technology for free, which is rare in the VPN industry. VigilantBear, used for the kill switch feature of TunnelBear immediately cuts off the traffic if your internet connection is stopped. Moreover, it uses automatic DNS leak protection.

The obfuscated server technology of this VPN is termed as GhostBear, however, it is not offered on iOS. Furthermore, this VPN service has an effective ad blocker. So if you don’t want to be distracted by the ads, or don’t want to slow the bandwidth due to them, TunnelBear is a good free VPN option for you.

It is the  free VPN for Windows in USA and all other devices. To discover the complete outcomes of our investigation and testing, go through our TunnelBear review USA.

Pros
  • The free version offers a kill switch and obfuscated server technology
  • Ad blocker
  • No ads
  • Reliable server

Cons
  • Limited data
  • Average speed

5. Hide.me– Secure Free VPN for China For American Users

Hide-Me-in-USA

  • No. of Servers – 4 servers (the US, Canada, Singapore, the Netherlands)
  • Security Features – Kill switch and AES encryption.
  • No. of Connections – 1 device
  • Unblock Platforms – Netflix US & Canada, YouTube, ABC, Sky Go
  • Device Compatibility – iOS, Android, Windows, and macOS. 

Whereas some free services limit your bandwidth, Hide.me unlimited data. Although the speeds aren’t quite good enough to stream without any buffering, it’s still possible to watch a couple of Canadian Netflix movies without interruptions.

You can only have one connection active at once, but thanks to strong AES 256-bit encryption and kill switch option, Hide.me for China ensures your connection is secure.

The Hide.me further adds more security to your internet activity from any unintentional breaches with the help of its rigorous no-logging policy and IP leak prevention features.

While using the app, hide.me won’t show you any ads, allowing you to quickly access your social media accounts without being interrupted.

Additionally, a live chat option is available around-the-clock for any support issues.

Pros
  • Customized servers for bypassing firewall
  • Kill switch
  • Good customer support
  • Accepts payment via cryptocurrency and Monero

Cons
  • Setup is complicated
  • Sometimes the app crashes


Testing Methods for Selecting the Free VPNs for China For American Users

It is harder to choose a VPN for China For American Users. Even worse is when you have to choose a free VPN with China server. After spending hours of testing, we have made sure that every VPN on this list is trustworthy and safe to use in China.

Here are the factors that describe what to look for in a free VPN in China:

  • Ability to get over geographic restrictions: You need a VPN that will actually work in China and allow you to access the websites and streaming services unavailable there. All of the VPNs on this list are capable of unblocking social media sites, WhatsApp, Google, and YouTube.However, free VPN services usually can not unblock Netflix and other streaming services because they offer limited data and speed, which is not enough for streaming.
  • Strong Encryption: Only VPNs with cutting-edge encryption are included in this list. The AES-256-bit encryption guarantees your anonymity at all times and reduces the possibility of your data or traffic being compromised.
  • Speed: Nobody likes to experience delays or interruptions while downloading and streaming online. Finding a free VPN with the fastest speeds is quite difficult because most free VPNs limit speeds. The VPNs on this list aren’t as quick as premium VPNs, but their connections are steady enough for uninterrupted online browsing.
  • Data Allotment: You need a VPN that won’t quickly run out of data. Therefore, I looked for free VPNs that offer as much data as possible so that you won’t have to limit your online activities, such as streaming, downloading, or playing online games.
  • Additional Security Features: For your online safety and anonymity, which is crucial in China, features like an automatic kill switch and no-log policy give additional layers of security. These capabilities can be difficult to uncover with free VPNs, but they are crucial for shielding you and your device from dangerous hazards.
  • Reliably Bypasses GFW: It is preferable to sign up for a VPN that has multiple protocols to bypass GFW. For instance, customized DNS settings help you bypass DNS level blocking. Obfuscation technology helps you conceal your VPN use.
  • Alternative Download Methods: Most of the VPNs offers APK file so that you can download the application discreetly from China. However, some VPNs like ExpressVPN also offer mirror URLs for an alternative method to download the app.
  • Reliable Customer Support: We only opt for VPNs that offer 24/7 customer support via live chat or email. In this way, you can easily troubleshoot the problems you face while using the app instead of waiting for long.
  • Cross-platform Compatibility: VPNs that offer an application for all the major devices help the user protect all their devices on a single subscription.

What Americans should know about using Free VPNs in China

Using free VPN in China involves too many risks. The risk of being penalized by the authorities in addition to being exposed to viruses and unwanted advertisements.

Free VPNs have several restrictions, like server restrictions, bandwidth restrictions, logging rules, and others. These factors make it always preferable to pay for and obtain a premium VPN.

Many free services jeopardize your online security by restricting no-logs rules to paid users. This implies that they will keep your data, such as browser history or personal data. Most of the time, they sell out this info to external parties for marketing objectives, such as targeted adverts.

Other free VPNs might remove ad blockers and automatic kill switches, among other security features. Without access to a kill switch, you run the danger of being exposed if your VPN connection stops in China.

Another drawback of free VPNs used in China is the limited amount of data which is not enough for streaming and gaming. Imagine running out of data in the middle of your favorite movie.

These are important issues that you should carefully consider while using a free VPN. Every free VPN I’ve suggested has undergone a comprehensive examination to guarantee the highest level of security. Your security won’t be compromised, and considering how inexpensive they are, they provide respectable features and speeds.


VPNs to Avoid in China

The VPNs you must avoid in China are:

1. HolaVPN:

Hola does not keep anything you have secure. It is one of those VPN services which collects users’ IP and data and exchanges it with another person’s IP address. For more details, check our HolaVPN review USA.

2. Betternet:

This VPN is famous for disclosing user information and identity to outside parties. Additionally, this VPN is charged with infecting users’ devices with spyware and ransomware. Therefore, avoid using Betternet VPN at all costs. You can check our Betternet VPN review USA for more details.

3. CrossVPN:

CrossVPN is equally as bad as the other VPNs. This VPN injects malware, trojans, and computer viruses via malvertisements which cause harm to your devices.


FAQ: Free VPN for China For American Users

Free VPNs are illegal in China. According to the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology of China, using a VPN is a crime. However, to hide your identity and reduce the risk of detection always use the best VPN services like ExpressVPN.

China has imposed banned on many popular websites and apps. The names include Gmail, Dropbox, Microsoft OneDrive, Google Apps (Docs, Drive, Maps, Calendar, etc.), Slack, Hootsuite, and Google Play Store (i.e. no downloading Android apps).

The list of blocked websites in China keeps changing according to its country’s laws. You can use this website ViewDNS.info to check if the website you want to use is banned or not. You simply need to enter the domain and it will check the Chinese servers and contact API to find out the availability in real time.

Free VPNs with Chinese servers are Proton VPN, Ivacy, and Atlas VPN. ExpressVPN, NordVPN, and Surfshark offer free trials and have Chinese servers as well.

By using ExpressVPN you can unblock any website from China and any other place. Just get the app installed on your device and connect to your preferred Chinese server.

Free VPNs do not have top-notch security protocols. They cannot offer secure and reliable connections in China. You can smoothly unblock Netflix and avoid proxy detection in China by using a reliable VPN like ExpressVPN.

If your free VPN stops working in China, try switching to another server location. Check if your VPN app is updated. Change the settings and remove all the cache on your device. However, using a premium VPN like ExpressVPN is the best solution to avoid all the hassle.

Free VPN Services for Other Countries For American Users:


Final Thoughts

If you want to use a free VPN for China For American Users  for a short period of time, you can rely on Windscribe to remove needless government restrictions from the Chinese internet if you’re only visiting for a few days.

However, in this guide, we have mentioned the free VPNs for China, but we do not recommend you use them. Instead, you may use paid VPN like ExpressVPN. It will not only let you access restricted websites in China but also provide high-level encryptions to protect your online activity.

Another benefit of using ExpressVPN in China is you can enjoy its services risk-free for 30 days.  You can request a refund if it doesn’t work out within 30 days. For further questions on free VPN in China, feel free to comment below.

2 Responses to 5 Free VPNs for China For American Users Safe to Use in 2023?

  1. Carla6 says:

    Absolute bull
    Nord VPN does not work in China now. Anyone who lives here knows that and they even admit on their support web site.

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