Yes, Atlas VPN works in China, and you can use it to unblock geo-restricted sites, access torrenting sites, and safeguard your online anonymity.
Users have, however, complained of connectivity issues when using the VPN service. The company is aware and has posted a notice on its site highlighting that it’s working on fixing the problem.
In this guide, I’ll cover everything you need to know about using Atlas VPN in China, including three worthy alternatives you should check out. Let’s get into it!
How to Use Atlas in China?
Atlas VPN can help you access blocked sites such as Reddit, streaming sites such as Netflix, and news platforms including BBC and The Guardian.
Here’s how:
- Get an Atlas VPN subscription.
- Download the Atlas VPN app on your preferred device.
- Install the app and log in using your credentials. You’ll receive a verification email at your registered email address.

- Click on the confirmation link or use the one-time sign-in code to complete the log in.
- Connect to your preferred server and enjoy online anonymity!

- For fast 4K streaming, connect to the recommended optimized streaming servers. (Home > Streaming > Preferred Server).

- For optimal privacy, you can choose between the SafeSwap servers or MultiHop+ Servers. Both options make your online activities difficult to track by giving you multiple IP addresses that change as you browse. (Home > Privacy Pro > SafeSwap Servers/MultiHop+)

Can I Get a China IP Address on Atlas VPN?
You can’t get a China IP address on Atlas VPN as it doesn’t maintain servers in the region. However, you can get a nearby server in Hong Kong to keep accessing local Chinese content on top of the VPN’s encryption and online privacy.

I conducted a speed test to see how this would impact my connectivity.
Here are my base internet speeds:

Here are my speeds after connecting to the Hong Kong server:

As you can see, the speed drops were relatively slight.
Atlas VPN Not Working in China? Try These Fixes
While Atlas VPN works in China, many users report connectivity issues.
Here are the main potential issues you may experience with Atlas VPN in China:
- Very slow internet connection
- Failed connections
- Long loading time
- Websites and apps failing to load
Potential Troubleshooting Tips
To fix the above issues, you should:
- Try establishing connections with different servers: Ensure you give it more than a minute to load before canceling the connection.
- Try out other VPN connection protocols and compare their effectiveness.
- Switch networks. For instance, you can try different WiFi networks or switch to a mobile hotspot.
Atlas VPN Alternatives in China
Dues to Atlas VPN connectivity issues in China, I tried out a few alternatives, and three stood out above the rest for their reliability without sacrificing privacy and security:
Surfshark
Surfshark is at the top of my list because it offers the most value for money.
Surfshark also gives you access to 3200+ servers in 100+ countries, while Atlas VPN only has 1000+ servers in 49 regions. Thus, you get to unblock more content in more regions.
Furthermore, Surfshark has Camouflage Mode that disguises the VPN connection as your regular connection. This eliminates any VPN traces, making it difficult for anyone to monitor your VPN usage. It works with OpenVPN (UDP or TCP) protocols.
Finally, you can also use Surfshark One, a product that allows you to access the VPN feature, antivirus to protect your device from malware, a search tool to search the web anonymously, and an alert feature that notifies you of data leaks.
NordVPN
NordVPN boasts top-notch security features such as Dark Web Monitoring, malware protection, and a tracker blocker, making it an incredible privacy tool in restricted countries like China.
It also has obfuscated servers that hide your VPN usage.
Once you connect to these servers, you can bypass tools that block VPN traffic, making it extremely difficult for China Telecom, China Unicom, or other Chinese ISPs to realize you’re using a VPN.
You should, however, note that this only works on OpenVPN (UDP) and OpenVPN(TCP) protocols.
PrivateVPN
PrivateVPN offers dedicated IP addresses exclusive to you.
However, these free dedicated IPs are dynamic addresses that change rather than stay static. Still, they ensure you’re the only user with an IP address per time for better server performance in China.
This VPN service also has a stealth VPN feature. This feature is essential to users in China, as it allows you to bypass restrictions for VPN usage.
Therefore, nobody will discover you’re using a VPN when you use this feature.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is It Illegal to Use Atlas VPN in China?
No, it’s not illegal to use Atlas VPN in China. Despite stringent internet restrictions in the country, using VPNs is legal.
Can I Pay for Atlas VPN Using the Chinese Yuan?
Yes, you can pay for Atlas VPN using the Chinese Yuan.
However, it’ll most likely show its pricing in the USD, meaning you would need a yuan-domiciled payment method with competitive USD conversion rates.
Alternatively, explore other AtlasVPN payment methods, including Credit Card, Google Pay, Klarna, CryptoCurrencies, PayPal, iDeal, Sofort, and Qiwi.
Which Websites Can You Unblock in China With Atlas VPN?
Atlas VPN can unblock popular sites like YouTube, BBC iPlayer, Hulu, HBO Max, and Netflix libraries. This VPN has streaming-optimized servers in Asia, Europe, America, and other parts of the world, giving users the highest quality streaming experience.
Enjoy Military-Grade Security With Atlas VPN in China
Atlas VPN is one of the few services you can use to safeguard your online anonymity in China.
Its advanced security features, privacy capabilities, and user-friendly interface make it one of the best VPN services in the region. The best part is that AtlasVPN allows you unlimited simultaneous connections. You may, however, encounter connectivity issues.
Should that happen, consider reliable alternatives like PrivateVPN, which has a dedicated Stealth Mode to bypass the Great Firewall.