Navigating the Great Firewall is increasingly difficult, leading travelers to ask: Does Proton VPN work in China reliably in 2026? Based on our latest tests at Safelyo, the answer depends entirely on your subscription tier. While the free version is largely ineffective, the paid version offers specific tools designed to bypass strict censorship.
Key Takeaways
- Free Plan Limitation: Proton VPN Free fails in China because it lacks the necessary obfuscation tools and server variety.
- The Stealth Advantage: Only the Plus plan includes the “Stealth” protocol, which masks VPN traffic as regular HTTPS to evade detection.
- Server Strategy: Connecting to nearby servers like Hong Kong or Japan offers the best speed, while “obscure” locations like Sweden offer better stability.
- Backup Required: Proton VPN is privacy-focused, not anti-censorship focused; having a backup like Astrill or ExpressVPN is highly recommended.
1. Does Proton VPN work in China?
The short answer is: It’s unreliable. Proton VPN officially states they cannot guarantee the service will work in mainland China due to aggressive government blocking. Our tests confirm the Free plan fails, but the Plus plan can sometimes connect using the Stealth protocol.
Performance Score: 6/10
Proton’s own support documents admit that connectivity is not guaranteed. The Great Firewall (GFW) uses advanced Deep Packet Inspection (DPI) to actively identify and terminate standard VPN protocols, a technique Proton acknowledges is difficult to overcome consistently.
While the Stealth protocol is designed to bypass these blocks, our 2026 testing shows frequent connection drops, especially during sensitive political periods. This makes the service a gamble compared to more specialized China VPNs, justifying its lower reliability score.
2. Proton VPN Free vs. Plus: the crucial difference for China
When attempting to cross the Great Firewall, the difference between Proton VPN Free and Paid tiers is not just speed; it is functionality. The free version lacks the specific cloaking technology required to bypass Deep Packet Inspection, making it virtually useless for users inside mainland China.
2.1. Why the free plan fails?
The free tier restricts users to servers in only three countries (the US, Japan, and the Netherlands), which are heavily monitored and frequently blacklisted by Chinese censors. Furthermore, these servers suffer from extreme congestion, resulting in slow speeds that make even basic browsing impossible.
Crucially, the free version does not support advanced obfuscation features. Without the ability to disguise VPN traffic as regular HTTPS data, the firewall instantly detects the OpenVPN or WireGuard signature and blocks the connection before it is established.
2.2. The Plus advantage: Stealth protocol and more servers
Upgrading to the Proton VPN Plus plan unlocks the proprietary Stealth protocol, which is essential for penetrating the firewall. This feature encapsulates data to look like normal web traffic, allowing it to slip past automated filters that catch standard VPNs.
Paid users also gain access to Secure Core and a vast network of over 6,500 servers in 100+ countries. This diversity allows you to quickly switch IP addresses if one gets blocked, ensuring you always have a working backup connection available.
3. How to set up Proton VPN for China (The “Stealth” method)
Using default settings will result in immediate connection failures. To successfully bypass the Great Firewall, you must manually configure the Proton VPN app to disguise your traffic and route around blocks using these three critical steps.
- Step 1: Enable “Stealth” protocol
Standard protocols like OpenVPN UDP are easily flagged by Chinese censors. Go to your app settings and manually select the Stealth protocol (available on Android, iOS, and macOS). This feature obfuscates VPN data packets to resemble regular HTTPS web traffic, preventing Deep Packet Inspection (DPI) from detecting the tunnel.
- Step 2: Turn on “Alternative Routing”
Often, the Great Firewall blocks access to Proton’s login servers, preventing the app from even starting. Navigate to the “Advanced” settings tab and toggle on “Alternative Routing”. This forces the app to seek paths through third-party services (like AWS) to authenticate your account, even if the main Proton domains are blacklisted.
- Step 3: Use “Secure Core” via Switzerland or Iceland
For users concerned about government surveillance, enable the Secure Core feature. This routes your traffic first through hardened servers in privacy-friendly jurisdictions like Switzerland or Iceland before reaching the final destination. While this adds latency, it ensures your data is protected even if the exit server is monitored.
4. Best Proton VPN servers to use in China
When connecting from mainland China, your choice of server location dictates both speed and stability. The table below outlines the top regions to prioritize based on our 2026 performance testing.
| Server Region | Best Used For | Speed / Latency | Reliability Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hong Kong | Browsing & Speed | Excellent (Fastest) | Variable |
| Japan (Osaka) | Gaming & Video | High Speed | Good |
| Singapore | General Use | High Speed | Stable |
| Switzerland | Privacy (Secure Core) | Medium Speed | High |
| USA (West) | Netflix Streaming | Medium Speed | Variable |
For the best performance, prioritize nearby Asian hubs like Hong Kong, Japan, and Singapore. These locations minimize physical distance to the Great Firewall, offering lower latency (ping) which is essential for smooth browsing and VoIP calls.
However, popular servers are often the first to be targeted. If Asian locations are blocked, switch to “obscure” servers in Sweden or Switzerland. These regions are less frequently monitored by Chinese censors, offering a more stable connection despite the slightly higher latency.
To maximize your success rate, avoid using the “Quick Connect” button. Instead, manually select specific city-level servers (e.g., choose Osaka over Tokyo) or use the “Random Connect” feature to find a fresh IP address that hasn’t been blacklisted yet.
5. Troubleshooting: what to do if Proton VPN gets blocked
Even with the best setup, the Great Firewall occasionally updates its blocking algorithms. If you find Proton VPN gets blocked, don’t panic; simple configuration tweaks often restore access immediately.
- Switch connection profiles
Instead of relying on one setting, create multiple connection profiles in the app. If your standard “Stealth – Japan” profile fails, instantly switch to a pre-configured “OpenVPN TCP – Singapore” profile to evade the specific block targeting your previous protocol.
- Use the TOR over VPN feature
Proton VPN Plus includes specialized Tor over VPN servers (marked with an onion icon). These routes your traffic through the Tor network, which is extremely resilient against censorship, though significantly slower than standard connections.
- The manual OpenVPN configuration
For advanced users, bypassing the official app entirely is often the most reliable fix. Download OpenVPN configuration files from your account dashboard (before entering China) and use a third-party client like OpenVPN Connect to establish a tunnel that mimics standard SSL traffic.
6. Best alternatives to Proton VPN for China (2026)
While Proton VPN excels at data privacy, its ability to bypass the Great Firewall can be inconsistent during high-censorship periods. Having a reliable backup service is essential to ensure you are never left without internet access if Proton’s servers are temporarily blocked.
6.1. Astrill VPN
Astrill VPN is widely considered the “gold standard” for long-term residents in China. Its proprietary StealthVPN and OpenWeb protocols are engineered specifically to defeat deep packet inspection, offering almost 100% uptime even during major political crackdowns.
The service includes a “Smart Mode” that allows local Chinese apps to bypass the VPN while international traffic stays encrypted. However, the premium price, often exceeding $30 per month, and a dated, technical interface make it a choice primarily for power users and professional expats.
6.2. ExpressVPN
For short-term travelers who want a simple “click-and-connect” solution, ExpressVPN is often superior to Proton. Its proprietary Lightway protocol automatically obfuscates traffic, providing a much smoother experience than Proton’s manual configurations while maintaining excellent speeds for 4K streaming.
The app is incredibly user-friendly across all platforms, including iOS and Android. However, you must install the app before entering China, as the official website and app stores are completely blocked within the mainland.
6.3. NordVPN
NordVPN offers specialized obfuscated servers that effectively hide VPN signatures from Chinese ISP monitors. It provides a balanced mix of high-speed performance and robust security features like “Double VPN,” which routes your traffic through two separate servers for maximum anonymity.
A unique advantage of NordVPN is its Meshnet feature, which allows you to route your traffic through a trusted device located outside of China (like your home PC). This effectively creates a private tunnel that avoids the blacklisted IP ranges commonly associated with commercial VPN providers.
7. Frequently asked questions
Is Proton VPN illegal to use in China?
Using a VPN is in a legal gray area for foreign travelers. While China has laws against the unauthorized sale of VPNs, there are no public records of tourists being penalized simply for using a personal VPN to access global websites like Google or Instagram.
Does Proton Mail work in China without a VPN?
No. The entire Proton ecosystem, including Proton Mail, Drive, and Calendar, is blocked by the Great Firewall. You must have a working VPN connection to log in and access your encrypted emails or files while inside mainland China.
Can I download Proton VPN inside China?
The official website and app stores are blocked. However, Proton maintains an official mirror on GitHub, which is often accessible. You can download the Android .APK or Windows installer directly from the Proton VPN GitHub repository if you forget to install it before arrival.
Does Proton VPN’s free plan work in China?
No, the free plan does not work. It lacks the essential Stealth protocol needed to disguise your connection from the Great Firewall. The limited free servers are also heavily congested and quickly blacklisted by Chinese censors, making them completely ineffective.
Is Proton VPN safe from Chinese government surveillance?
Yes. Proton VPN routes traffic through its Secure Core servers in privacy-friendly countries like Switzerland and has a strict no-logs policy. This ensures that even if a server is compromised, your browsing data cannot be traced back to your real IP address.
Why is my Proton VPN connected but has no internet in China?
This often happens when the Great Firewall detects your traffic after the initial connection. Your app shows “Connected,” but the firewall is actively blocking data packets. To fix this, switch to the Stealth protocol or try connecting to a different server location.
8. Conclusion
In the end, the answer to does Proton VPN work in China is a qualified yes, but only for Plus subscribers who correctly configure the Stealth protocol and Alternative Routing. While the service excels at privacy, its performance against the Great Firewall is inconsistent, and the free version is completely ineffective.
Proton VPN can be a viable option for users prioritizing security, but it should not be your sole tool for reliable internet access in China. We highly recommend having a backup service like Astrill, ExpressVPN or NordVPN. To compare these providers and find the best solution for high-censorship regions, explore our in-depth VPN Guides at Safelyo.
