IPVanish doesn’t work in China. I tried the VPN several times, using all three protocols without success.
Fortunately, you can find alternative VPNs that work flawlessly in China, allowing you to access Google, Facebook, and Netflix in Beijing or anywhere else.
I tested over 30 top VPN providers over several days, and my top choice is Surfshark. It delivered the most stable VPN connection and unblocked every restricted site I tried.
Keep reading to learn about my IPVanish alternatives for China and how to unblock your favorite sites and apps within the country!
IPVanish Alternatives That Work in China
After hitting a wall with IPVanish, I tested several other VPN services, and the following came out on top regarding reliability and speed.
Surfshark

Surshark works well in China, enabling you to bypass the Great Firewall and access censored sites.
While the VPN doesn’t have servers in mainland China, you can find servers in Hong Kong and Macau SAR. I particularly like that Surfshark offers MultiHop VPN servers in Hong Kong via Singapore for added privacy.
Plus, its server infrastructure is 100% diskless, which ensures all data is automatically wiped clean in the event of a server seizure by the authorities.
You also get access to 3200+ servers in 100 countries – one of the most extensive VPN server networks. This makes it easier to unblock restricted foreign sites.
The VPN accessed Netflix, Hulu, YouTube, Twitter, and Facebook in my tests.
You can test Surfshark premium service risk-free for 30 days courtesy of their money-back guarantee.
Ready to try it out? Get our limited-time offer and save big on your first subscription.
ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN is another solid virtual private network for China.
It worked about 80 percent of the time during my tests, which is no mean feat.
Although it’s less reliable than Surfshark, the provider quickly updates its servers whenever there are issues.
As you can see in the image above, the VPN enabled me to access YouTube in China via the Hong Kong server.
It also unblocked all top streaming services, including Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Hulu.
On top of that, Expressed delivered the fastest speeds of all the VPN services I tested in Shanghai, allowing me to stream HD videos without interruptions.
Like Surfshark, the provider doesn’t have servers in mainland China, but you can get Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan IP addresses.
Finally, ExpressVPN offers obfuscation, ensuring you don’t get in trouble with the authorities for using a VPN. Its obfuscation is better than most VPNs’ in that you don’t lose significant speeds once it’s automatically enabled on connection to any server.
Overall, ExpressVPN is a top option for China but is costly. Still, with our sign-up discount, you can lower the cost significantly and enjoy a 30-day money-back guarantee.
VyprVPN

VyprVPN works intermittently in China, providing you with a layer of anonymity online. Its proprietary Chameleon VPN protocol beats the country’s VPN blocking.
During my tests, it quickly unblocked Gmail, YouTube, and social media sites.
I also had luck with several streaming sites, but unfortunately, VyprVPN struggled to unblock Netflix.
Still, I highly rate the VPN for China. Its speeds were exceptional and fast enough for 4K streaming and online gaming.
VyprVPN uses military-grade encryption and an internet kill switch to prevent IP and DNS leaks and safeguard internet traffic.
And like Surfshark and ExpressVPN, the provider offers a 30-day money-back guarantee to test the VPN.
How to Set Up and Use a VPN in China?
Setting up a VPN in China isn’t complicated and can be done in minutes.
Here are the steps to follow:
- Subscribe to your preferred IPVanish alternative for China – I recommend Surfshark.
- Download and install the VPN app on your device.

- Launch the application and log in.

- Connect to a VPN server. If you’re trying to use Surfshark in China, the app immediately detects this and automatically switches to NoBorders mode.

- Open the foreign site you want to access and enjoy!
Likewise, Surfshark has the NoBorders feature enabled by default, but if you switched it off at any point, you should switch it on to use the VPN in China.
Bypass the Great Firewall With Ease
China’s Great Firewall is as tough as they come, and it’s little surprise that most VPNs – including IPvanish – can’t get around it.
Thankfully, some alternatives allow you to browse safely and unblock restricted sites in China. Of these, Surfshark is my top pick for China thanks to its reliable performance and ultra-fast speeds.
So, what are you waiting for? Get my exclusive Surfshark sign-up deal to unblock your favorite sites in China at a discount!