As of 2026, the Great Firewall (GFW) of China is continually changing, leading to the instability or outright inaccessibility of numerous global VPN services. Users often share experiences where a service may function today but is inaccessible tomorrow. This raises an important question: “Which VPN are currently operational in China?”
This guide compiles actual testing findings from various regions in China (including Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Chengdu) across all major ISPs. Only those services that maintained stability during peak usage times are listed.
Assessment Criteria
- Connection success rate;
- Consistency throughout the day;
- Effectiveness of obfuscation;
- Capability to bypass DPI;
- Node reliability;
- Streaming access capability;
- Performance speed;
- Availability of fallback protocols.
Categories of VPN That Still Function in China
1. Advanced Obfuscation Techniques (TLS + WebSocket)
These options offer the highest resilience:
- TLS-based obfuscation;
- WebSocket masking;
- Randomized padding;
- Dynamic routing;
- Daily IP changes.
2. Optimized Dedicated Routes for China (CN2/IEPL)
Optimal for speed:
- Minimal latency;
- Consistent during peak times;
- Well-suited for streaming and remote work.
3. Lightweight Obfuscation for Mobile
Ideal for 4G/5G networks:
- Low-bandwidth obfuscation;
- Rapid connection switching;
- Well-supported by China Mobile and Unicom.
4. Hybrid Solutions Combining SmartDNS and Encrypted Modes
Great for bypassing Netflix and YouTube restrictions:
- Faster than complete encryption;
- Smoother streaming experience;
- Perfect for Smart TVs and Apple TV.
5. Encrypted Tunnels for Enterprises
Best suited for:
- Remote working;
- SSH/Git use;
- Corporate applications;
- Prolonged sessions.
Services No Longer Operational in China
- Unobfuscated WireGuard;
- Standard OpenVPN setups;
- PPTP/L2TP/IPSec;
- Complimentary services;
- Static IP nodes;
- Global brands without optimization.
How Can You Determine If Your VPN Will Function?
- Is obfuscation included?
- Does it automatically change servers?
- Does it offer optimized lines for China?
- Does it maintain connectivity during peak hours?
- Are fallback protocols included?
Final Thoughts
As of 2026, a limited selection of VPN options remain operational in China. Those featuring robust obfuscation, fallback protocols, and network optimizations specific to China provide the best reliability. Cheap VPN List encompasses all these features, making it one of the consistently functioning solutions in China today.
