If you ask international students in China which VPN they use, three names come up again and again: ExpressVPN, NordVPN, and Astrill. Each has a genuine user base among students and expats. Each has strengths and weaknesses. None of them is perfect.
This comparison is based on real-world use in mainland China, not speed tests run from a data center in Singapore. The Great Firewall treats different VPN protocols and providers differently, and performance fluctuates over time. What matters is how reliably each provider connects when you actually need it.
Quick comparison
| Feature | ExpressVPN | NordVPN | Astrill |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly price (best plan) | ~$6.67/mo (1-year) | ~$3.09/mo (2-year) | ~$10.00/mo (1-year) |
| Works in China | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Primary China protocol | Lightway | Obfuscated (OpenVPN) | StealthVPN |
| Server locations | 105 countries | 111 countries | 50+ countries |
| Simultaneous connections | 8 | 10 | 5 |
| Split tunneling | Yes | Yes (Android/Windows) | Yes |
| Money-back guarantee | 30 days | 30 days | 30 days (limited) |
| App quality | Excellent | Excellent | Functional |
| Speed (from China to HK) | Fast | Fast | Fast |
| Streaming (Netflix, YouTube) | Excellent | Good | Good |
| Student discount | No | Yes (periodic) | No |
ExpressVPN: The polished all-rounder
Best for: Students who want a premium, no-fuss experience and do not mind paying more.
ExpressVPN built its reputation in China over years. Their Lightway protocol is fast, connects quickly, and recovers well when individual servers get blocked. The app detects network restrictions and adjusts automatically, which means less manual server-switching on your end.
What works well:
- Automatic protocol selection that handles the Great Firewall without manual configuration
- Fast connection speeds, consistently good for HD video streaming and video calls
- Clean, intuitive apps on all platforms
- MediaStreamer feature for devices that do not support VPN apps (smart TVs, game consoles)
- 24/7 live chat support that understands China-specific issues
Where it falls short:
- Most expensive of the three, especially on monthly plans
- Only 8 simultaneous connections (NordVPN gives 10)
- No 2-year plan option, so the best price requires annual commitment
- No specialized China protocol like Astrill’s StealthVPN
Connection reliability in 2025-2026: ExpressVPN maintained access through most of the recent firewall updates. During the October 2025 holiday crackdown, some servers were temporarily blocked but access was restored within 24 hours through app updates. Students report needing to manually switch servers occasionally, but complete outages lasting more than a day are rare.
NordVPN: The best value for students
Best for: Students on a budget who need reliable access and are willing to do minimal troubleshooting.
NordVPN hits a strong balance between price and performance. The 2-year plan brings the cost to roughly $3/month, which is significantly cheaper than ExpressVPN and Astrill. Their obfuscated server network is maintained specifically for users in China and other restrictive environments.
Check NordVPN’s current pricing
What works well:
- Cheapest option on 2-year plans (roughly $3/month)
- 10 simultaneous connections (share with a roommate and cut your cost in half)
- Obfuscated servers designed for China
- Split-tunneling on Android and Windows keeps Chinese apps fast while routing blocked traffic through VPN
- Threat Protection feature blocks ads and malware
- Regularly updated server list for China
Where it falls short:
- Obfuscated servers must be manually selected (not automatic like ExpressVPN)
- Connection times can be 10-15 seconds longer than ExpressVPN during peak firewall activity
- Mac app lacks split-tunneling
- During major crackdowns, sometimes a few server switches are needed before finding one that works
Connection reliability in 2025-2026: NordVPN’s obfuscated servers held up well during the October 2025 crackdowns. Students in our Telegram community reported that switching between Hong Kong, Singapore, and Japan servers usually found a working connection within a few attempts. Complete outages lasting more than a few hours were not reported during the 2025-2026 period.
Astrill: The China specialist
Best for: Students who prioritize raw reliability in China above all else and can afford the higher price.
Astrill was built with China in mind from the beginning. Their StealthVPN protocol is proprietary and designed specifically to bypass deep packet inspection. Among expats who have lived in China for years, Astrill often has the highest loyalty.
What works well:
- StealthVPN protocol designed specifically for China’s Great Firewall
- Generally the fastest connection speeds from China to nearby servers
- OpenWeb protocol option for quick light browsing (faster but less secure)
- Strong reputation among long-term China expats
- Custom server recommendations based on your location in China
Where it falls short:
- Most expensive option ($10-15/month even on annual plans)
- Only 5 simultaneous connections (worst of the three)
- App design feels dated compared to ExpressVPN and NordVPN
- Occasional payment processing issues (their website has been blocked and unblocked repeatedly)
- Customer support response times are slower than competitors
- No money-back guarantee on monthly plans (only on annual+)
Connection reliability in 2025-2026: Astrill’s StealthVPN maintained the most consistent connections during the October 2025 crackdowns, according to reports from long-term users. However, Astrill’s website itself is sometimes blocked, which can complicate renewals and app updates for users inside China. Students report needing to use a different VPN to access Astrill’s website to download updates (which is ironic but a practical reality).
Speed comparison (real-world, from mainland China)
Speed tests run from Beijing/Shanghai to Hong Kong servers during typical evening hours (when most students are online):
| Speed Test | ExpressVPN | NordVPN | Astrill |
|---|---|---|---|
| Download speed | 35-55 Mbps | 30-50 Mbps | 40-60 Mbps |
| Upload speed | 15-25 Mbps | 12-20 Mbps | 18-28 Mbps |
| Latency (ping) | 40-70 ms | 50-80 ms | 35-65 ms |
| YouTube 1080p | Smooth | Smooth | Smooth |
| Video calls | Stable | Stable | Stable |
| Google Scholar | Fast | Fast | Fast |
All three handle the key use cases for students: video calls, research, streaming, and messaging. The speed differences are marginal in practice. During heavy firewall periods, speeds on all three drop significantly, but all remain usable for basic tasks.
Platform support comparison
| Platform | ExpressVPN | NordVPN | Astrill |
|---|---|---|---|
| Windows | Full app | Full app | Full app |
| macOS | Full app | Full app | Full app |
| iOS | Full app | Full app | Full app |
| Android | Full app | Full app | Full app |
| Linux | CLI + GUI | CLI + GUI | CLI |
| Router | Yes (select models) | Yes (select models) | Yes (select models) |
| Browser extension | Chrome, Firefox, Edge | Chrome, Firefox, Edge | Chrome |
Which one should you choose?
Choose NordVPN if: You are on a CSC scholarship budget, want the lowest cost per month, need 10 device connections (great for sharing with a roommate), and do not mind occasionally switching servers during crackdowns. This is what we recommend for most students.
Choose ExpressVPN if: You want the smoothest, most hands-off experience, your budget allows $6-8/month, and you value automatic protocol switching during firewall updates. ExpressVPN requires the least technical involvement.
Choose Astrill if: You are in China for a long program (PhD), reliable access is worth paying premium for, and you have heard positive recommendations from other students at your specific university. Astrill’s reputation varies by city because the Great Firewall is not uniform across China.
Can you switch later?
Yes. All three offer monthly plans (at higher prices) and money-back guarantees on longer plans. If you start with NordVPN on a 2-year plan and find it does not work well in your specific city, you can claim the refund within 30 days and switch.
Some students keep two VPN subscriptions as backup. This sounds excessive, but during your thesis defense or final exams, having a backup VPN that works when your primary is down can be worth the extra $3/month.
Setting up before departure
Whichever VPN you pick, set it up before you fly. The setup process is similar for all three. Follow our VPN setup guide for step-by-step instructions.
For broader context on why you need a VPN and what services are blocked, see how to access WhatsApp, Google and social media in China and our best VPNs for China guide.
FAQs
Q: Which VPN do most students in the CGS World community use? A: Based on polls in our Telegram group, NordVPN is the most popular among scholarship students (roughly 45%), followed by ExpressVPN (30%) and Astrill (15%). The remaining 10% use smaller providers or proxy setups.
Q: Can I use two VPNs at the same time? A: Not simultaneously on the same device (they would conflict). But you can have both installed and switch between them. If NordVPN is having a bad day, open ExpressVPN instead.
Q: Do VPNs work on campus WiFi? A: Generally yes, but some university networks are more restrictive than the general Chinese internet. Test your VPN on campus WiFi as soon as possible after arrival. If one protocol is blocked on campus WiFi, try a different protocol within the same VPN app.
Q: Is it worth paying more for Astrill if I am in a city with heavy firewall enforcement? A: Cities like Beijing and Shanghai tend to have stricter enforcement during political events. Astrill’s StealthVPN protocol handles these periods slightly better in those cities, according to user reports. But NordVPN and ExpressVPN still work; they may just require more server switching.
Q: The prices keep changing. How do I get the best deal? A: VPN providers run promotions constantly. Check during Black Friday, Chinese New Year, and summer back-to-school periods for the deepest discounts. Longer plans always offer the best per-month rate.
For budget-focused options, see our cheapest VPNs for China guide. For setup instructions: VPN setup before flying to China.