Astrill VPN is an expensive VPN service with strong security and an array of advanced features. Its stealth protocol is excellent for use in China and it also works to unblock US Netflix, but we recorded slow connection speeds. We recommend Astrill VPN for use in censored countries, but there are better options available for casual VPN users. Beware of Astrill. As of October 15, 2016 all links on the Tips for China website that were pointing to Astrill will now land on this page instead. It appears that Astrill has banned my affiliate account without telling me. I don't know when this happened or what the reason is, but when I log into my Astrill account the affiliate account is gone.
We would like to thank all applicants for submitting your work. We got over 50 designs ranging from minimalist to advanced UI. Because we were overwhelmed by the amount of work every single one of you put into the competition, we decided to award ALL participants with 1 month VPN membership and double the rewards […]
Read the articleDo you feel like Astrill app UI is a bit dated? Would you like to give it a facelift? Are there things bothering you in the current layout? Do you have ideas for an amazing new UI that every Astrill user will fall in love with? Good news. We feel that our app needs some […]
Read the articleIn February 2019, Astrill became one of the very few virtual private network (VPN) providers to offer WireGuard as part of its services. It is aimed at providing fast connection, tighter security, and enhanced encryption with a much simpler architecture compared to IPSec and OpenVPN. Because the protocol makes use of cryptography and is easier […]
Read the articleThe answer to that question essentially depends on your specific requirements. Even though both VPN and Tor are frequently compared with each other, it is wise to know that they are just two different products with their own idiosyncratic characteristics. In theory, both are used to attain an encrypted channel of communication over the Internet. […]
Read the articleAt Astrill, we understand that our users’ browsing needs are diverse and often not limited to search indexes. Therefore, as part of our continuous efforts to push boundaries in online privacy and security technologies, we have extended the features of our core VPN product to enable secure access to deep web domains. Now you can […]
Read the articleAre you currently on a personal quest to get the best VPN for your needs? Have you been browsing Reddit and similar forums to understand how other Internet users are choosing their private network? Well, you need not look further. We at Astrill have devised this easy guide to help you choose a service that […]
Read the articleThank you and congratulations for choosing Astrill! Here’s a concise guide on how to setup Astrill VPN on your desktop machine in 4 simple steps. Setting up a virtual private network on your Windows computer is as easy as surfing the web. This easy-to-understand guide will help you register for the service (if not done […]
Read the articleIt is ironic that some of the most popular websites on the planet that assure they do not collect data are seen to be violating privacy rules. The recent Facebook scandal is just one of the many news stories that have cropped up in the past few months that deal with the invasion of user […]
Read the articleLast week we covered the relevance and the historical significance of EUGDPR after it came into effect on 25 May 2018. It exists as a regulatory feature for citizens of all European Union members and safeguards their data that is handled by third-party websites and organizations. While organizations around the world are still studying the […]
Read the articleAt a time when a whole continent updates its Internet privacy laws to regulate digital data collection it is important at an individual level to go further than the usual. Today, having a VPN just for your desktop and phone is not enough. Securing “other devices”, like your PS4 or Apple TV, is important too. […]
Read the articleStrongVPN
StrongVPN was rated #3 on this page once upon a time. Although their apps and user interface was the worst I have ever seen, they did have 1 selling point. That was the Hong Kong servers, which had good peering to China Telecom (PCCW network).
Astrill China Site
However, those Hong Kong servers disappeared one day, later they were replaced with inferior servers with poor routing to China Telecom. Now there is no reason to use StrongVPN in China.
PureVPN
This is probably the worst VPN that I have ever tested in the history of this website. Terrible apps, even worse support, and extremely unstable performance. They also handed over log files to the FBI to assist in an investigation.
Even if you are not using it in China, stay away from PureVPN.
Private Internet Access (PIA)
I tested PIA after seeing this YouTube video from Linus Tech Tips. At the end of the video, he recommended using PIA in China, and claimed to be using it himself in Shenzhen, where he shot the video.
When I tested PIA (extensively) around the time that this video was released, I was unable to get even a single working connection. I tried every protocol available and sent a support ticket for further troubleshooting steps.
Determined to get a connection, I took things 1 step further. I got all of their server IPs by entering the hostnames into the OpenDNS CacheCheck website, and then batch pinged every single IP using a special software I have. Every one of their server IPs was blocked in China.
My only conclusion from this is that Linus Tech Tips is a liar. He was likely roaming with a foreign SIM card when he connected to PIA for his video.
Don't get me wrong, PIA seems like a great VPN service. It's just not one that works in China.
Chinese based VPNs
It's illegal to operate a VPN service in China and these are the ones that will be targeted by the government the most.
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When choosing a VPN, always choose one that is incorporated outside of China.