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How to use Gmail in China with a VPN

Last updated: January 19, 2023

William Sams

Gmail remains banned in China like all other services run by Google. You don't need to suffer because of the beef between Google and Chinese authorities any longer though!

Living life in China has become a nuisance for many. The government aggressively wants to maintain control over the flow of information on the internet accessible to Chinese users.

This has stifled political dissent, the formation of international entities, eliminating “freedom of speech”, and affecting areas of academia to business and policymaking.

The Great Firewall also bans anything “outsider” to the country, causing hindrances for many, especially expats reliant on Google and its many services like, Gmail.

If you want to unblock “foreign” services, including Gmail in China, then click on the link below (for an instant solution) or read the complete guide:

How to Use Gmail in China

• Download ExpressVPN from the mirror website here.
• Connect to a server located in the US or any other country.
• Access the Gmail app or visit https://www.gmail.com/.

In-Depth Analysis of the 3 Best Gmail VPNs

1. Unblock Gmail in China with ExpressVPN: Highly secure and fast VPN, also based in the highly secure BVI, starting at US$ /mo (1 Year Deal + 3-months free)

2. Unblock Gmail in China with Surfshark: A highly recommended low-cost VPN, located in the safe British Virgin Islands, starting at US$ 2.49 /mo - Save up to 77% with exclusive 2-year plan + 30-day money-back guarantee (2 Year Deal)

3. Unblock Gmail in China with Ivacy: The best VPN for China, starting at a minimal of US$ 1.19 /mo 77% Discount. Dedicated IvacyPrime app for unblocking apps/websites in China.

1. ExpressVPN

The best VPN for Gmail in China

• Price: US$ /mo on a 1-yr plan + 3-months free
• Trustpilot rating: 4.8

Based in the British Virgin Islands, ExpressVPN is a reliable and privacy-focused provider that can easily allow you to unblock Gmail in China.

ExpressVPN was among the first providers to offer a redirection link for China and this link still works incredibly well.

The VPN boasts a strong reputation for anonymity and offers a strict no-logs policy so you can be assured that your data won’t land in the hand of the Chinese authorities ever.

Once you sign up with ExpressVPN China, you gain access to 3000+ ultra-fast servers. The only issue with this VPN is that its cost is quite high at $8.32/month, much higher than Surshark and Ivacy.

However, if you can afford this cost, the value you are getting is definitely worthwhile. By using it, you can bypass Chinese geo-restrictions and not just access Gmail but also services like Netflix and Disney +.

• ExpressVPN’s China-specific working link: http://exp4links4.net/
• For a more comprehensive ExpressVPN review, click here!

2. Surfshark

Low-Cost VPN for Gmail in China

• Price: US$ 2.49 /mo - Save up to 77% with exclusive 2-year plan + 30-day money-back guarantee
• Trustpilot rating: 4.4

Surfshark ticks all the right boxes for all the requirements as a China VPN. It works perfectly in China and offers a specially dedicated site for the country as well so that users can even access its site in mainland without major problems.

You can get Surfshark VPN for just $1.99/month, which is the cheapest price among the VPNs that work in China, making it a perfect contender if you are looking for a reliable service for unblocking Gmail in China but without breaking the bank.

The servers offered by Surfshark now exceed the 800+ marks and a good distribution of them are located in close proximity to China in countries like Hong Kong, Singapore, and India.  This will ensure fast speeds for Chinese users always.

You can easily download its Windows and Mac app from its website but for the mobile apps, you will need to ask its excellent live chat support to offer you with a .apk file.

All in all, this is the best choice VPN for unblocking Gmail in China.

• Surfshark’s China-specific working link: https://shark-cn.com/
• For a more comprehensive Surfshark review, click here!

3. Ivacy

Secure and Fast VPN for Gmail

• Price: US$ 1.19 /mo 77% Discount
• Trustpilot rating: 4.8

Ivacy boasts a no logs policy and provides military-grade, 256-bit AES encryption, perfect for ensuring your privacy in China. Its redirection link for China is also working currently in 2020.

As for those located in China, Ivacy offers you the highest number of specialized servers near China that can allow you to bypass the Great Firewall without problems.

And it’s not costly either. A 2-year subscription of Ivacy will cost you a minimal of $1.99/month, which is well within the affordable range.

In our tests, Ivacy also came out to be the fastest VPN service for China and perhaps the most stable one. There were no downtimes and the IvacyPrime app worked perfectly!

• Ivacy’s China-specific working link: https://www.ivacyforcanada.com/affiliate-china/
• For a more comprehensive Ivacy review, click here!

Gmail Blocked In China

Google was already facing a tough time in the Chinese market, after the introduction of its Chinese version of Google News and the Search Engine. The president of Google China “Kai-Fu Lee”, tried his best keeping the tensions low.

In 2009, Kai-Fu Lee left unexpectedly right amid the debates on Censorship Policies, and Google’s decreasing share rivaling Soso.com and Baidu. With the increased pressure of meeting the internet laws of China, Google tried cooperating.

However, one can only stay bent for a certain time, and the incident on January 12, 2010, completely changed the severity of the situation. Google became a rebel, announcing that it was “no longer willing to continue censoring”, citing a Chinese-originated hacking attack which saw the breaching of Gmail accounts of Chinese Human rights activists.

Eventual Demise of Google and its Email Service

Thousands of activists, who were found having ties to Falun Gong and other fields such as intellectual property/democracy and encryption were affected by the attack. This urged Google to redirect all search queries from Google.cn to Google.com.hk in Hong Kong.

In November 2012, Gmail further slid into more trouble. According to GreatFire.org, China had blocked access to all Google domains, including Search, Maps, News, and Gmail, due to an attempt to control the content users get access to.

Google then introduces a new software feature, warning users about blocked/censored words in China. By early June 2014, the censorship efforts were further increased, to prevent the public from bringing up the government crushing a demonstration of students.

Unable to recover from the annual disruptions, despite being accessible via IMAP, POP3, and SMTP forwarding protocols, Google services, such as Drive, Translate, Maps, and Gmail were all censored.

This ultimately led to the demise of anything “Google” in China, which includes the email service. Currently, Gmail is blocked in mainland China, which includes all parts of the country except Macau, Taiwan, and Hong Kong.

How to Check If Gmail is Blocked in China?

It is not necessary for you to use a tool or software to check whether Gmail is blocked in China. All you have to do is enter the https://www.gmail.com into the URL.

You will receive an error immediately of the site being inaccessible in China. As mentioned earlier, Google packed its bags in China back in 2014.

They stood against the scrutiny of the Chinese Government for quite a long time. However, ever since their market share dropped, there was no reason to continue their email service.

Why Can’t You Access Gmail in China

Beginning July 2014, Gmail began experiencing severe disruptions & downtimes causing the service to go completely unusable. Great Fire a China-based privacy advocacy group blamed the Great Firewall, but it was soon discovered that the case was actually something else.

The Chinese government does not support foreign-based tech service providers to operate freely in the country, everything is monitored by the Golden Shield Project.

They even demanded that Google not only host all Chinese user data within the country but give them access to the source servers. After refusing to do so Google was requested to leave the country and all its services banned from access including Gmail.

Hosting the most powerful censorship regime in the world, the Chinese government refused to listen to the US State Department and every other authority that request them to reconsider.

Google was asked to move away to nearby Hong Kong where they host their servers to this day. The cherry on top was the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying’s comment:

“China has consistently had a welcoming and supportive attitude toward foreign investors doing legitimate business here,” she said. “We will, as always, provide an open, transparent and good environment for foreign companies in China.”

I laughed for a full 5 minutes when I read Ms.Chunying’s quote, Gmail remains blocked to this day in China.

Unblock/Access Gmail in China With VPN

The Great Firewall of China blocks off all online requests made for foreign-based communication services that its authorities detest like Gmail and blocks them instantly.

A China VPN service allows Chinese internet users to bypass the Great Firewall, using what is known as a secure and encrypted tunnel.

Once under the protection of the VPN, your IP address is secured by the VPN server. The VPN server hides your original IP address by replacing it with one of its own IP addresses. For example, if you connect to a Singapore VPN server, your IP will be replaced by one from Singapore.

How to Access Gmail in China

It is now clear that using a VPN is crucial for unblocking Gmail in China and gaining unrestricted access to other foreign services. However, how can one use a VPN, when the services are blocked in the mainland?

Step 1: International Roaming and Renting a Phone

You need to ensure you are able to access the internet upon arriving in Mainland China. For this, you can try connecting to Wi-Fi networks, but most may require text verification. A better option would be to set up international roaming with your telecom provider from home or arranging a rented phone.

Step 2: Sign Up with a VPN Provider

Connecting to the internet is only the beginning. Next, you will have to subscribe to a VPN service. One that you can use during your time in China and for bypassing the blocking in a different country. You can check out Surfshark, Ivacy, and ExpressVPN, as they all have dedicated Chinese websites available.

Step 3: Connect to a Secure Location

After installing the app from these dedicated Chinese websites, you will have to connect to a secure location for anonymizing your activities in the country. For this, choose any server closest to you. Hong Kong/Singapore can be a suitable location, as Gmail is still accessible in these areas.

Precautions to Take When You Access Gmail in China

Although you will be able to access China Gmail with a VPN, without having to worry about the Internet policy and Great Firewall, there are certain precautions; you must take after unblocking Gmail or any other Google Service to ensure maximum privacy.

Make sure you follow these handy tips:

Apps vs Notifications

Android phones use the same server for actual app information and sending in notifications. Their iPhone counterparts, on the other hand, get mail notifications from a different server.

In other words, you may still get notifications upon disconnection from the VPN, but you will not be able to open them. For this, you will have connected to a VPN service.

Subscribe to a Backup Service

The Chinese authorities are very active in making their Firewall potent so they are on a constant lookout for IP addresses coming VPNs so that they can be weeded out and blocked.

This is why it is imperative to have a backup service available. If one gives trouble working, you can always use the other one for unblocking your favorite websites/apps/service.

Download Before Landing in China

If you are planning to go to China soon, its best that you get a VPN service and download its apps on your devices before you leave.

This is because even though top VPNs like Surfshark do offer dedicated Chinese sites, no one knows when they’ll be taken down. So when that happens you wouldn’t want to be stuck without a VPN.

Other VPN-Related Tips for Accessing Gmail in China

1. Choose a VPN provider that offers Internet Kill Switch & Auto Reconnect features
2. Do not hesitate on getting aboard DoubleVPN or Tor Over VPN for maximum security
3. Keep your VPN on when accessing foreign email, communication, and social networking sites in China
4. The China Government keeps logs of all VPNs operating in the country. Avoid Chinese VPNs.
5. Log out of social media apps & accounts, email accounts and websites before disabling VPN.
6. Remember to clear your PC & smartphone browser caches before/after using Gmail or any other Google Service!

5 Gmail in China Alternatives

You might want to access Gmail in China because its the easiest and the most widely used email platform service out there but keep in mind that Gmail is no longer a secure email service in the world after the NSA, CIA, GCHQ, ACSC, and Mossad compromised the servers in their respective regions.

There are, however, a number of growing encrypted email services that you can opt for if you are concerned about your privacy.

Here is a list of the best Gmail alternatives and the best part about them is that they are not blocked in China:

Tutanota

Tutanota is a Germany based service with its own apps available, rather than using local apps like Outlook, Android mail feature and iOS default mail apps.

Powered by a fairly simple web UI and excellent mobile apps, it is something every Chinese user should consider for important emails.

Using end-to-end encryption protects all your contacts, emails, subjects, bodies, and attachments. The best part of all: the service is free of charge. Business users can get a premium account at reasonable pricing.

Mailfence

Based in Belgium, Mailfence is another popular alternative to Gmail, which uses signature encryption to offer maximum security. It is the creation of the experts behind the renowned virtual office tool ‘Contact Office’.

The email service is one of a kind, supporting Exchange ActiveSync, IMAP/POP, and other vanity domains like DMARC, DKIM, and SPF.

You even have apps available for all mobile devices. Since the service is located in Belgium, you can also feel assured your activity is safe from Chinese or US gag orders/NSLs.

Riseup

Launched by activists in Seattle back in 1999, Riseup is a volunteer-run collective service, which provides a range of different products including online chat, email listing, VPN, and email accounts.

Though it is based in the US, the service is renowned for its mission against mass surveillance and social control.

The main aim of the product is to “… aid in the creation of a free society, a world with freedom from want and freedom of expression, a world without oppression or hierarchy, where power is shared equally.”

Zoho

Zoho is another reliable Gmail alternative, which offers a smooth and ad-free UI, equipped with powerful individual and business features.

It is available in both: premium and free versions that can integrate into Zoho’s official suite of nine applications like the Office Suite, Connect, and Zoho Docs.

The overall appearance and design of the email service is also unique with the Enterprise edition being the most feature-rich. Zoho even supports POP/IMAP and other strong encryption tools for privacy!

Yandex Mail

Similar to other email services, Yandex Mail offers a free version, which gives you 10 GB of cloud storage. It provides secure encryption against spam emails, viruses, and emails from fake or reported IDs.

It supports IMAP/POP and offers native apps for all smartphones. The best part of all: it uses a secure SSL/TLS connection, which means unauthorized users cannot read your emails.

The provider even offers keyboard shortcuts for easier functioning. You even have an email scheduler available.

Guide: How to Setup VPN in China on iOS

VPNs do offer compatible iOS apps but you won’t find these apps on the iOS app store in China because the Chines government has banned them. So if you want setup VPN on your iOS device, you can follow our step by step guide to setup VPN on iOS manually:

1. Go to the Settings menu of your device then go to General>VPN> Add VPN Connection.
2. Select from PPTP or IPSec tunneling protocols and enter a name for the connection in the description.
3. Enter the server address (request provider) in the server field and your credentials in the account and password field respectively.
4. Send All Traffic switch must be turned on then click save.
5. Your VPN connection is now ready to connect, go to Settings and click VPN.
6. Click the Status switch to connect to the VPN and experience complete online freedom.
7. Pro Tip: You can also get the iOS VPN app and select your purpose and desired server in one click.

Gmail in China FAQs

When it comes to understanding how to use Gmail in China, users may come across multiple questions/concerns. We decided to list them down in a single FAQ section below:

What Email Works In China?

Excluding Gmail (that works upon using a VPN), there are plenty of other third-party email services in the marketplace, which have been gaining momentum over the past few years.

Services for an email in China you should know about include Tutanota, Mailfence, Riseup, Zoho, Yandex Mail, and Fast Mail.

Can I get Gmail in China?

The process of unblocking Gmail is simple. Just connect to any server outside China from a working VPN service and you will be able to use Gmail in China without any hindrances.

Which Google Services are Blocked in China?

All Google-related services are blocked in China including the search engine, Gmail, Docs among others.

Wrapping Things Up

Having to use a VPN simply for accessing your Gmail is quite disappointing. Sadly, there is nothing Chinese residents can do to counter these restrictions, without using such a tool.

With all factors taken into consideration, Ivacy wins the category for the best VPN for Gmail. However, if you are looking for an affordable alternative, consider signing up with Surfshark.

If you have any questions/concerns, do not hesitate on dropping a comment below. Also, feel free to share the guide with others looking for a suitable VPN for accessing Gmail in China.