Free VPN for China: What Actually Works in 2026
Short answer: real, non-expiring free VPN tiers exist, but most of them don't include the obfuscation needed to get past mainland China's network filtering. The two free tiers that currently ship with usable obfuscation are AdGuard VPN (3GB/month, obfuscation on by default) and ProtonVPN (unlimited data, 1 device, Stealth protocol). ZoogVPN also offers a free tier (10GB/month), but its own pricing page states it does not guarantee connectivity inside mainland China — the China-specific protocol there is a paid-plan feature.
This site publishes primarily in Chinese for a China-based, Bing-referred audience — our full free VPN comparison and brand reviews go into more depth there. This page exists for readers who land here searching the English phrase directly: what "free VPN" actually gets you if you're trying to reach the open internet from inside China.
Free tiers that include obfuscation
| Brand | Free tier | China obfuscation | Paid plan from |
|---|---|---|---|
| AdGuard VPN | 3GB/month, 2 devices | Default (TrustTunnel, open-sourced Jan 2026) | $3.99/mo |
| ProtonVPN | Unlimited data, 1 device, random server | Stealth protocol included | $4.49/mo |
| ZoogVPN | 10GB/month, 1 device, 3 EU/US locations | Not guaranteed — Shadow protocol is paid-only | $2.49/mo |
Figures checked against each vendor's own pricing page, October 2026. Quotas and promotions change — verify on the vendor's site before signing up.
If you need it to work reliably, not just occasionally
A free tier is a reasonable way to confirm a client works on your device, but none of the three above are built to be a daily driver inside China at full reliability — that's what each brand's paid plan is actually optimized for. If daily, stable access matters more than saving a few dollars, ZoogVPN's entry plan runs from $2.49/month with a China-specific obfuscation protocol and a 7-day refund window (conditions apply: first purchase, bought directly on zoogvpn.com, under 10GB used) — enough to verify the connection before committing.
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Frequently asked questions
Is there a real free VPN that works in mainland China?
A few brands have genuine, non-expiring free tiers, but very few of those free tiers include the obfuscation technology needed to get past China’s network filtering. AdGuard VPN’s free tier (3GB/month) defaults to obfuscation. ProtonVPN’s free tier (unbounded data, 1 device) includes its Stealth protocol. ZoogVPN also has a free tier (10GB/month) but its own pricing page states it does not guarantee connectivity inside mainland China — the China-specific Shadow protocol is a paid-plan feature there.
What’s the catch with a free VPN?
Running servers and obfuscation infrastructure costs real money, so a free tier is always funded by something: a cap on data (AdGuard, 3GB/month), a cap on devices and server choice (ProtonVPN, Stealth included but you can’t pick a server), or a trial-style gate that pushes you to a paid plan once you’ve tested connectivity. None of that is a problem — it’s just worth knowing which limit you’re accepting before you start.
Should I just use the free tier long-term?
If you only need occasional access — checking email, browsing a few times a week — a free tier is usually enough. If you’re relying on a stable connection daily, most entry-level paid plans cost under $3/month and come with a refund window, so you can test the actual connection quality risk-free before committing.
Does a free VPN keep logs or sell my data?
It depends on who runs it. Brands with a real paid product (ZoogVPN, AdGuard, Proton) use the free tier as an acquisition funnel — their revenue comes from paid subscribers, not from your data. The real risk is free apps with no visible paid business model and no identifiable operator — those need another revenue source, and your traffic can be it. Check whether the company actually sells a paid plan before trusting a "free forever" claim.
The rest of FreeCNVPN is published in Chinese for readers already searching in that language — see the full free-VPN comparison, individual brand reviews like ZoogVPN and AdGuard VPN, or our overall ranking by performance.