Unlimited devices is a big advantage of Surfshark over other VPNs in the ranking. You can use it on Windows, MacOS, Linux, iOS, and Android. There are even Chrome and Firefox browser extensions, as well as gaming consoles such as PS and Xbox.

Surfshark does not record user logs, your personal browsing history and even VPN connection logs will not be saved, and because it is located in a jurisdiction with good privacy protection, it has better protection for user privacy security. Surfshark allows payment using Visa credit cards, PayPal, Google Pay, AmazonPay and Bitcoin.

Surfshark has a very good speed in mainland China and is still stable and applicable, without any advanced configuration. The computer supports the use of global mode, and the browser plug-in is also very convenient.

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Chinese VPNs to Avoid

A few years ago, many VPNs had good experiences, but due to the continuous upgrade of the Great Firewall and the increasingly fierce competition in the VPN market, many VPNs have gradually withdrawn from the historical stage and are no longer on the list of good VPNs. I will briefly introduce some invalid VPNs and remind everyone to avoid these applications, because there are a lot of fake or expired review articles on the Internet that still recommend these VPN software.

1. Lightyear VPN – No Longer Available

Lightyear VPN was once one of the most widely used Chinese VPNs, with many users and many advertisements. However, in June 2021, Lightyear VPN suddenly ran away for unknown reasons. Although Lightyear VPN was founded in 2019, it was also one of the most recommended Chinese VPNs at the time.

Lightyear VPN has deployed a large number of server nodes in more than 50 countries and regions around the world, including Hong Kong, China, Taiwan, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Germany, France, Australia, Turkey, Russia, etc. It also deploys dozens of dedicated server nodes for unblocking Netflix, allowing mainland users to use Lightyear VPN to unblock most of the world's geographically restricted websites, streaming media, audio and APPs.

Lightyear VPN also provides easy-to-use APP clients for all mainstream devices and platforms, and the operation is also suitable for computer novices or VPN novices. Lightyear VPN is priced at US$3.18 per month, with three built-in modes: "Global Mode", "Bypass Mainland China Mode", and "GFW Mode", and also provides 24/7 Chinese online customer service.

2. QuickConnect VPN – Background cannot be trusted

You should have seen the advertisements of KuaiLian VPN frequently. It supports Windows, MacOS, iOS, Android, and provides iOS version push. The official website supports Chinese. There should be a Chinese team behind it. It provides 24-hour free trial and has a special QQ and WeChat communication group. This VPN software specifically for Chinese users claims to be "always connected".

Because of this, the background of this VPN cannot help but make people suspicious. Because no VPN dares to say this, and no VPN can do it. If this is true, it can only mean that it is on the GFW whitelist, which can explain a lot of things.

We do not recommend readers to download and use KuaiLian VPN, as this will very likely put their network security in the hands of a VPN team with unknown backgrounds that may be located in mainland China, even if the experience is good.

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3. LaoWangVPN and AntVPN – May be phishing VPNs

In May 2020, Yang used Lao Wang VPN on his mobile phone to surf the Internet scientifically. He was subsequently summoned by the relevant department and fined 500 yuan. Although the fine was not much, the incident would be recorded and would accompany him throughout his life.

Although there is no direct evidence that LaowangVPN and AntVPN are phishing VPNs, there is no need for ordinary users to take this risk. It is said that these VPNs provide free services and make profits through advertising, but I personally believe that advertising can never maintain the balance of income and expenditure of VPN services, so is there other financial support?

4. NordVPN – Almost unusable in mainland China

NordVPN is an internationally renowned VPN service provider based in Panama, with 5,600 servers in 60 countries. The company pays more attention to the Chinese market. Its website has a Chinese version, and its computer VPN software has an obfuscation function that can be used to avoid GFW monitoring and interference. It is compatible with all major platforms and provides exclusive applications for different operating systems (Android VPN, iPhone, Windows, etc.).

NordVPN's client APP supports almost all network devices, including Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android. It allows up to 6 devices to be used online at the same time. NordVPN also has a strict no-log policy, automatic Kill Switch, DNS leak protection, Onion Over VPN and other functions, making it a top VPN application in all aspects.

However, since 2021, NordVPN's experience in China has begun to plummet. Today, NordVPN requires very complicated settings (changing the computer's Host file) before it can be used normally, and it cannot be maintained for too long, so we classify it as unusable, but its experience of using it overseas is still good.

5. Astrill – High Prices, Poor Experience

Astrill VPN was founded in 2009 and is located in Seychelles. It is relatively old, but it is not very popular outside of China. Astrill is too expensive as a VPN, which is the main reason why Astrill VPN ranks low. The price of a one-month package is $20, and even a one-year package costs $10 per month, but its user experience has been very poor in the past year. In comparison, PrivateVPN is better than Astrill VPN in terms of stability, speed and price.

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6. VyprVPN – Doesn’t work in China

VyprVPN is a VPN service provider headquartered in Switzerland. It is also well-known around the world. It can provide users with strong encryption and security protection, and can also unblock most geo-restricted streaming media. Unfortunately, VyprVPN cannot be used in China either.

7. HideMyAss – Doesn’t work in China

HideMyAss is a VPN service provider headquartered in the UK. The company was acquired by the famous Avast Software in 2015. HideMyAss has more than 1,000 servers in more than 190 countries and regions around the world, which can unblock most of the world's geo-restricted streaming media and websites. HideMyAss is very popular overseas, but it cannot be used in China.

8. IPVanish – Doesn’t work in China

IPVanish is one of the oldest VPN service providers. The company was founded in the United States in 1999. IPVanish is committed to providing users with fast and secure services. Even though it is the oldest VPN, it still cannot bypass the blockade of the Great Firewall.

What are the uses of VPN in China?

Although the main purpose of using VPN in mainland China is to bypass the Great Firewall, VPN has many other functions. VPN can hide your real IP address and encrypt your personal data, making you safer and more private when connected to VPN. However, at any time when using VPN, you should abide by local laws and regulations and not engage in illegal and criminal activities, such as posting political, religious and other sensitive content on platforms such as Zhihu, Jianshu, and Douban.

VPN, or Virtual Private Network, is a secure way to surf the Internet. It creates a virtual tunnel between the user's device and the Internet, thereby protecting the user's online privacy and Internet data. In this information age, more and more people are using VPN. What is the use of VPN? What can you do with VPN? This article will reveal the role of VPN, please continue reading.

1. Unlock Google services 

Although Google has withdrawn from some Asian markets for many years, it is still the most user-friendly search engine. Whether in terms of security, stability, or fluency, Google does better than other competitors.

Although Baidu is the most used browser, its cluttered homepage has long deviated from the original intention of search services. The search page is also full of advertisements, or Baidu's own products, Baidu Knows, Baijiahao, etc. Although Google's search page also has advertisements, it is much more conscientious than Baidu. With a VPN, accessing Google is easy.

2. Unlock social media 

Apart from Google services, we also cannot access the world’s popular social media such as Facebook (Login to Facebook), Twitter, WhatsApp (Download WhatsApp), Line, Instagram (How to Download IG), Quora, etc. VPN can easily unblock popular social media around the world.

FB is the world's largest social software, where you can get in touch with people from all over the world. European, American, Japanese and Korean celebrities like to share their daily lives on INS, and those who chase stars will definitely not want to miss it. On Twitter (Recommended: How to download Twitter videos?), you can participate in discussions on international current affairs and news, but without Trump's Twitter, it is indeed less fun. Quora is equivalent to Zhihu, and WhatsApp and Line are essential chat tools for friends who do foreign trade to contact customers. For friends who want to move TikTok videos, with a VPN, it is easy to browse TikTok and download TikTok videos.

3. Remove restrictions on watching movies 

With Renren Video being removed from the shelves for rectification, the source of happiness for over 100 million netizens no longer exists. Recently popular American TV series such as "Desperate Housewives", "East Side Nightmares", "The Handmaid's Tale", "The Best of Innocence", "Rocky", "Herring Boy", etc. are temporarily unavailable. Even if Renren Video returns, everyone will see a censored version. But if you have a VPN, it doesn't matter if you don't have Renren Video, because you can go over the firewall to watch more Netflix dramas, unblock Hulu, IMDb, HBO, etc.

In addition to Netflix, VPN can also unblock other movie-watching tools. YouTube is the world's largest video website. Every day, content creators from all over the world upload high-quality videos here. It is a good place to expand your horizons and learn.

4. Hide IP address 

An IP address is like your ID card on the Internet. If your ID card is lost, your privacy may be leaked, and criminals may use your identity to do bad things. Similarly, if your IP address is leaked, there will be endless troubles. Therefore, you must protect your IP address when you go online. VPN is an effective way to hide your IP address. Others cannot know your real address, and your privacy is more secure. It can be said that this is one of the most important uses of VPN.

5. Virtual positioning 

What is virtual positioning? Simply put, it is to change the location of your phone. Whether you use an Android or an Apple phone, VPN can help you easily change the location of your phone. By switching VPN servers, you can be in your own country one second and roaming to Paris the next. In addition, games from other countries require the phone to be in other countries to log in. With virtual VPN positioning, you can log in to games anywhere.

6. Avoid online tracking 

By hiding your IP address, your ISP (Internet provider), the websites you visit, the apps you use, and advertisements can no longer track your location, your identity, or any of your online traces.

7. Encrypt your online browsing history 

When connected to a VPN, your online data transmission is encrypted. No matter what website you visit or what information you enter (this may include your bank account number, email password, etc.), others cannot see it. Even if the VPN is hacked, due to the powerful VPN encryption technology, all they will see is a string of garbled characters.

Some friends may worry, can VPN see browsing history? If it can, wouldn't it be considered as robbing Peter to pay Paul, and the promised privacy protection is a joke. Here we want to tell you that, indeed, not all VPNs are safe. When choosing a VPN, remember to choose a zero-log VPN. (If you want to encrypt your browsing of E site, click here)

PrivateVPN fully respects user privacy. No username or email address is required for registration. Instead, a digital account is randomly generated. During use, none of your online browsing history or download history will be recorded, so you can rest assured.

8. Protect public Wi-Fi security 

Free public Wi-Fi in airports, coffee shops, tea shops, etc. is convenient, but it is risky. Hackers may be lurking in the dark, waiting to see your credit card information, account login information, and sensitive confidential transactions. If there is value, they will find it and sell it.

Besides hackers, advertisers are also very interested in learning your online and offline habits. In this information age, data is valuable, but your privacy is not.

Your privacy can only be protected by yourself, so in a public free Wi-Fi environment, be sure not to easily expose your personal information, and do not enter credit card or account login information when connected to Wi-Fi. But if you have a reliable VPN, things become much simpler, and you don't need to switch networks back and forth.

9. Block malicious ads and phishing sites 

Advertisements are not only annoying, but also dangerous. You may accidentally enter a phishing website through an advertisement. Criminals imitate the real website address and page content, or use the loopholes of the real website to insert dangerous codes into some web pages to steal private information such as bank or credit card account passwords.

Reliable VPNs usually have built-in ad blockers and antivirus plug-ins. With a VPN, you will no longer have to endure endless pop-up ads, and there will be no potential virus threats. Your online environment will be safe.

10. Save money on air tickets and hotel reservations 

If you like to travel around the world and see the customs and practices of different places, you must prepare a VPN. By switching your IP address through VPN, you can get preferential air ticket prices. Of course, global travel also requires booking hotels. With VPN, you only need to simply switch your IP address to find the most favorable hotel prices.

In addition to global travel, friends who often travel to other countries on business will inevitably have to book hotels and buy air tickets. With a VPN, you only need to switch IP with a few clicks before each trip to get good prices.

11. Save money on overseas shopping 

VPN can also be used to save money when shopping. Overseas shopping and purchasing agents should not miss it. According to our observation, the price of the same product in different countries or regions on the same shopping website is different. With a VPN, you only need to switch servers to convert to IP addresses in different countries and get the best prices.

12. Game acceleration 

Are you still suffering from unstable Internet speeds that ruin your gaming experience? Are you killed because of latency spikes during intense multiplayer matches? These problems can be easily overcome by using a VPN to play games. VPN can help you stabilize the ping value, reduce latency, prevent you from being attacked, and greatly improve your gaming experience. At the same time, by switching IP addresses, you can also connect to different servers, unlock any game you want to play, and even try out the latest games first! By the Way, PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds 2 Future Fight is ready to play! PrivateVPN provides a dedicated game acceleration line for you to play popular games around the world.

13. Torrenting 

To prevent illegal content from being downloaded, ISPs block torrent download sites. But the situation is similar outside the Great Firewall, where Google also blocks a large number of torrent sites from appearing in users’ search results.

Most torrent sites will clearly warn you to use a VPN before downloading, because even reputable torrent sites and clients can come with risks that make it easy for cybercriminals to steal your IP address, monitor your network connection, and even upload malware-infected torrents. PrivateVPN is a good VPN for torrenting, which uses ECC encryption technology and OpenVPN security protocol to protect your network traces.

14. Remote work 

Generally speaking, the internal network of a large company is not connected to the external network, so hackers outside the company cannot access this network, so the company's confidential data is safe. When employees are on business trips, it is impossible to use the company's dedicated line. In order to ensure the security of data transmission, VPN is needed.

In recent years, due to the raging COVID-19 pandemic, the working methods of many companies have also quietly changed. More and more companies support working from home, and VPN is the most basic security guarantee for employees to work remotely.

15. International business development 

Companies with international business need VPN even more. By switching IP addresses through VPN, companies can place advertisements in different countries. Business dealings with customers in other countries usually require the use of their accustomed social software. VPN is an indispensable tool to remove APP restrictions between different countries or regions.

Now you know the role of VPN and what VPN can do. In addition to protecting your personal privacy and online activities, VPN can help you achieve virtual positioning, surf the Internet anonymously, and unblock popular websites and services around the world such as Google, FB, YouTube, Netflix, etc. It is simple and safe to watch movies over the wall. In addition to entertainment, VPN can also be used by companies involved in international business. Advertising and contacting customers in other countries around the world cannot be separated from VPN.

What should I do if I can’t connect to VPN?

In China, due to the complex network environment and the upgrade of the Great Firewall, it is common to encounter problems such as disconnection, slow speed, and instability when using VPN to bypass the firewall. Although there is no absolutely stable VPN service provider, there are some useful VPN rankings that can improve the connectivity rate.

Whether you use VPN on a computer, mobile phone, tablet, game console or router, you will encounter some problems when connecting to VPN. Among them, iOS Apple mobile phone VPN is more likely to have problems. This may be due to restrictions by VPN service providers, local networks, client software and other factors.

When you encounter problems such as VPN failure, slow speed, instability, etc., we recommend the following solutions:

1. Restart the VPN software on your computer and mobile phone

First, clear the cookies and DNS cache, and reset the airplane mode on your phone. If the problem persists, restarting the VPN service is recommended, which is a universal solution for most problems.

2. Switch to a different VPN server

Although IP nodes such as Hong Kong, Taiwan, Macau, Japan, South Korea, and Singapore are close to mainland China, have fast speeds, low latency, and can play games without packet loss, the load on these VPN servers will increase during peak hours, resulting in VPN connectivity failure or slow speed.

Of course, there are also cases where the IP node is blocked. At this time, you can try to switch to alternative VPN servers in the United States, Canada, Australia, India, Thailand, etc. Sometimes, long-distance VPN servers such as Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden, Switzerland, Norway and Ukraine are also reliable choices.

3. Try different VPN protocols and VPN modes

Traditional VPN protocols are not very effective in bypassing the Great Firewall, so the VPN service providers we recommend provide upgraded disguised VPN protocols and easy-to-use VPN software, which can more easily bypass the Great Firewall.

If a VPN protocol fails, you can try to switch to another VPN protocol in the settings. In addition, VPN service providers have also developed a VPN-specific VPN mode for China, which is recommended to be enabled before using VPN to bypass the firewall. These modes have different names, such as Lightway protocol, invisible VPN, OpenWeb function, Chameleon protocol, obfuscated server, free Internet access, Camouflage/NoBorders mode, etc.

4. Check if there is any upgrade maintenance announcement

VPN software usually does not automatically update like apps in the app store, because they cannot be installed through the app store. Therefore, if your VPN cannot connect, it is best to check if there is an upgrade prompt in the app. At the same time, some VPN service providers will also post maintenance announcements in the account message center or official website. If you encounter this situation, don't panic, it can usually be resolved within 24 hours.

In short, it is the wisest choice to always have two or more VPN service providers. Double insurance can ensure that you can access foreign websites at any time without worrying about not being able to work, entertain, watch movies or listen to music within the Chinese firewall. The VPN service providers we recommend have a good reputation and provide a 30-day unconditional money-back guarantee. You can try it for free for a period of time to see if you are satisfied.

Is a free VPN useful for circumventing the firewall?

Usually some paid VPN software will attract users by offering free services. This is actually a marketing method. A foreign VPN ranking and evaluation agency has reported that nearly 60% of free VPN manufacturers on the market are from mainland China.

Free VPNs are useful. They allow you to temporarily bypass the firewall and access the Internet, but they usually have restrictions on traffic, number of connections, device support, advertising, etc., and you can only simply check emails, web pages, and download paid VPN clients of tens of megabytes.

Free VPNs are a security risk. Because businesses need to pay for a series of costs such as renting servers and hiring developers, there is no such thing as a completely free VPN. Better free VPNs will have countless ads, and some will have a series of security risks. If you install it on a personal device such as a mobile phone, it is likely to leak personal data without you knowing it.

Many so-called free VPNs on the market have almost no development. They are just installed with an open source script and sold. Such products are vulnerable to the GFW. Some VPNs will collect your personal data, or implant malware, and pop up ads for no reason. This is a common way to make money. Of course, this kind of profit cannot support the cost of VPN at all, so don't expect free VPNs to have any stability. Paid VPN services have enough budget to invest in development, and only these VPN providers have the financial resources to maintain a large number of servers to ensure the quality of service to users who bypass the firewall.

In short, don't be greedy for small profits.

Users should be familiar with the words "XXX cracked version". When we download software (especially when downloading with a browser), we often encounter computer cracked versions, Android cracked versions, iOS cracked versions, Windows cracked versions... The biggest reason why users choose cracked versions instead of commercial versions is that cracked software is free. The same is true for VPN, but users already know the truth about free VPNs. Is the cracked version of VPN safer and more useful? **_Don't worry, this VPN cracked version guide will tell you the traps of cracked versions and provide other ways to use VPN for free, so that you can get paid VPN for free! _**

1. The meaning of VPN cracked version
Software has different versions for different purposes. Software developed and released by the official are all genuine software, such as commercial version, beta version, free version, green version, in-app purchase version, etc. The opposite of these genuine software is pirated software, and cracked version is pirated software. Cracked version is a version formed by secondary development of software with certain usage restrictions, which allows users to use the relevant functions of the genuine version for free. The cracked version of VPN is also the same idea: for paid VPN, crackers develop cracked VPNs for users to use for free by rewriting the original software, intercepting registration information, etc. (cracked versions infringe the rights of merchants and regular users, and users are advised to use genuine VPN software).

2. Reasons for the emergence of cracked versions of VPN
In order to prevent the software from being cracked and protect their own legal rights, software developers will add various usage restrictions to the software. "Where there is demand, there is supply." Perhaps the temptation of "free" is too great, and there are countless cracked versions of VPN on the market. But the reasons for the emergence of cracked versions of VPN are not limited to this, but also include:

• VPN products have low cost-performance ratio. VPN is a product with a long service life for users, so it is difficult to afford the overpriced VPN. However, some VPNs charge high fees but do not provide services that match the price. Users' consumer rights are damaged, so they naturally turn their attention to cracking VPNs.

• Poor compatibility. Some VPNs support very few systems, platforms, and devices. In order to use the product on all platforms, mobile VPN cracked versions, computer VPN cracked versions, Android VPN cracked versions, iOS cracked VPN cracked versions, VPN accelerator cracked versions, etc. appear... users have more choices.

• Developer changes. This is not a common reason, but it is not impossible. For example, if you are a paid user of XX VPN, XX VPN will no longer provide services to old users after it is acquired, and you need to pay to register again. Users are used to the product but do not want to be cheated, so they will go online to look for "XX VPN cracked version".

• Geographical restrictions. Some VPN software is not operated by local developers or is subject to geographical restrictions. Users cannot find a way to become paying users, which has led to the emergence of cracked versions of VPNs for local users.

※Please note that not only cracked VPNs, but any cracked software is unauthorized pirated software and is illegal. In principle, we do not support any cracked software. If you are an Android user, you can refer to the article on Google Play app downloads; if you are an Apple user, you can directly apply for a US ID to download genuine applications.

3. What is the difference between the cracked version and the Chinese version (Chinese version)
This article divides the Chinese version of the software into two types. The first type is the official version that supports Chinese. The second type is the official version that does not support Chinese. The cracker uses some tools to translate the software language into Chinese and generates a Chinese version package to achieve replacement. The second type is also a cracked version. Because some VPN products do not support Chinese, the client's lines and settings are displayed in English, which is very inconvenient to use, so the Chinese cracked version of VPN was born.

What about VPN crack?

Through investigation, it is found that almost all well-known VPNs have cracked versions, such as PrivateVPN cracked version, ExpressVPN cracked version, LanternVPN cracked version, Buddha Jumps Over the Wall VPN cracked version, etc. So are these cracked versions easy to use and what are the dangers?

☞Why VPN cracked version is not easy to use

Cracked VPNs only develop VPN clients that can be logged in without activation codes or fees, but users still need to connect to an external server to surf the Internet freely. Therefore, legitimate merchants use technical testing to disconnect your server line once they find that non-member users are using it . And there are few teams that focus on the development of cracked versions of the same VPN product, because it is easy to be sued by legitimate merchants if the number of users increases. No professional team means no technical upgrades and maintenance , which means that cracked versions are all old versions that cannot cope with firewalls , and cracked VPN software is naturally not easy to use.

In addition, we should pay more attention to the security hazards of cracked VPN❗

☞What are the dangers of cracked VPNs?

In addition to poor performance in terms of functions, the cracked version is also criticized for its security loopholes . I believe that users have never downloaded any cracked VPN from formal channels (official websites, app stores), and basically go to informal websites, comment areas, forum messages to download installation packages shared by strangers. When you download and install, a ** "Unknown source/suspected virus" ** reminder will generally pop up. This whole process reflects the potential harm of cracking VPN:

❗ Trojan virus threat. Since the source of the cracked version is unknown, we cannot confirm the true identity of "XX VPN cracked version" before the user installs it on the phone. It may be a rogue software that will forcibly package and install other programs, pop up advertising windows, and is difficult to uninstall; it may be a virus disguise, and once downloaded, the user's device may be paralyzed.
❗ Hacker tracking. Hackers are omnipresent, and cracked VPNs can be their carriers. When developing cracked VPNs, hackers can insert tracking programs and use them to collect and sell user information, steal user identities, and steal user funds.
❗ VPN phishing. Users have realized the harm of free VPNs. If they don't want to use free VPNs, they will look for other free ways, and cracked VPNs are one of them. But what you can think of, your "superiors" can also think of, so the cracked version may also be the carrier of phishing software. When you are active on the Internet, you may be invited to "drink tea" one day.
❗ Missing functions. Just as the cracked version of VPN mentioned above is not easy to use, most cracked versions of VPN are unusable or have obvious functional defects, and it is impossible to continuously upgrade and maintain them.

☞ How is PrivateVPN cracked version? 

After checking, some YouTube videos and some download sites have download videos/links of the cracked version of PrivateVPN, but the release time is one or two years ago and is now invalid. So can the cracked version of PrivateVPN still be used? Users may be able to download the cracked version of PrivateVPN by chance, but there is no real cracked version of PrivateVPN that can be used . Based on the experience of using other cracked versions of VPN, users generally have the following problems when using the cracked version:

• Few lines. Although the cracked client shows many lines, only a few are actually usable. Many servers cannot be connected, and users need to try one by one.

• Unstable. The developer's technical detection will cause the cracked version line to disconnect at any time, and the server connection is very unstable.

• Poor network. Since there are many people using the cracked version and few available lines, the lines are crowded and the server is heavily loaded, so the network environment naturally deteriorates.

• Unable to upgrade. Cracked version resources are fragmented, which users can also find when searching. Basically no cracker will continue to crack and upgrade a VPN product, and cracked old versions of VPN are generally unusable.

• No after-sales service. Since it is not an official version, there is naturally no official after-sales service, and it is even more impossible for crackers to solve the problems encountered by users when using VPN one-on-one.

• Third-party spying. Users do not know who the developer behind the cracked VPN is. It could be an illegal third party or the government. No matter who it is, it will do more harm than good to users.

• Virus damage. Cracked versions will be bundled with the download of many unknown software, which will invade the device and steal information without the user's knowledge.

Considering the vulnerabilities of VPN cracked versions in terms of functions and security, it is not recommended for users to use cracked versions. If you are worried about the price of VPN, you can try some safe and easy-to-use cheap VPNs.

Best VPN for Security Recommended 

The two most important points to measure the quality of a VPN are product stability and security. On this basis, this article recommends PrivateVPN, which ranks first in cost-effectiveness .

»Stability«
Since it is difficult for conventional VPN protocols to evade DPI (Deep Packet Inspection), PrivateVPN mainly uses self-developed protocols to break through restrictions, ensuring that users can have a stable and available VPN connection and successfully remove geo-blocking. Users using PrivateVPN can access all kinds of streaming websites, social websites, game websites, news websites, overseas shopping websites, torrent download websites... Surfing the Internet is no longer restricted!

»Security«
PrivateVPN uses 256-ECC advanced encryption technology to encrypt all user access data by changing IP location, implementing a no-logging policy, filtering ads, blocking malicious websites, preventing DND leaks, preventing DDoS attacks, supporting application-based proxies, using random accounts, protecting public WiFi security, and not requiring users to provide email addresses, ensuring network connection security.

In addition, PrivateVPN has the following advantages:
‣Provide free lines, support free trial
‣More than 3,000 servers around the world
‣Unlimited traffic, unlimited broadband
‣Optimize server network speed
‣Support Chinese (including Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Chinese customer service)
‣Provide 7/24 online customer service
‣Support 7 days unconditional refund
‣……

How to Get a Paid VPN for Free 

Most cracked versions are free versions, which is the biggest reason why cracked versions are so popular. But if we can use genuine paid VPN for free, why should we take the risk of choosing a cracked version of VPN?

Free method 1: Use the free version of the official paid VPN
This type of free version is safer and more reliable than free VPN (although the two are comparable in terms of functionality). Currently, Windscribe, Hide.me, Atlas VPN, Hotspot Shield, TunnelBear, PrivateVPN (which does not have a dedicated free client but provides free lines), etc. 🙋It should be noted that these free versions support fewer devices, have fewer available nodes, are difficult to break through geographic blocking, have traffic restrictions, and have ads. For a better Internet experience, paid VPN may be a better choice.

Free method 2: Get free VPN service during the trial period
In order to let users better understand VPN products, providers will give users a 1-7 day free trial period. After the trial period, you can decide whether to become a paid user. Since the trial period is relatively short, the VPN functions during the free trial are basically the same as those enjoyed by paid members.

Free method three: Get free VPN service during the refund period
Basically all paid VPNs provide users with a 7-45 day no-questions-asked refund guarantee period. If users choose a refund before the end of the period, it is equivalent to getting free VPN service.

Free method 4: Recommend friends to become members.
In order to better promote their products and conduct word-of-mouth marketing, VPN service providers offer "free VPN use" rewards to users who invite friends to become members, and this reward is two-way, that is, both users and friends can get a certain number of free VPN days. Different VPN merchants have different reward durations. Taking PrivateVPN as an example, users can get up to 90 days of rewards for inviting friends.

Issues with cracked VPNs 

1. Can all software be cracked?
Theoretically, yes, because every software has vulnerabilities, which is why software developers provide beta versions/beta versions and continuously update versions. More vulnerabilities are found through user testing, and vulnerabilities are continuously fixed through upgraded versions, which not only improves the service quality but also delays the time for the software to be cracked.

2. Why can't we eliminate cracked VPNs?
From the perspective of consumers, there is a market where there is demand. As long as consumers keep looking for free cracked VPNs, it will be impossible to truly eliminate them. From the perspective of businesses, the cost of protecting rights is high. There are too many ways for users to share and use pirated VPNs, and businesses cannot crack down on them one by one. VPN businesses can only improve encryption technology on the one hand to delay the appearance of cracked versions, and on the other hand to use legal weapons to protect their own rights and interests and prevent the circulation and use of cracked VPNs.

3. Is cracked software legal?
It is not legal. Both the development and use of cracked software are illegal.
- Illegal use: According to Article 17 of the "Computer Software Protection Regulations": For the purpose of learning and studying the design ideas and principles contained in the software, the software can be used by installing, displaying, transmitting or storing the software, without the permission of the software copyright owner and without paying any remuneration to the software copyright owner. But I believe that most users exceed the scope of this license.
- Illegal development: Except as otherwise provided in the "Copyright Law of the People's Republic of China" or regulations, "modification, translation, distribution of software (or other infringements) without the permission of the software copyright owner" shall bear civil liabilities such as stopping infringement, eliminating influence, apologizing, and compensating for losses according to the circumstances.
(Users can go to the official website to inquire about more legal regulations on software cracking)

4. What is the difference between cracked VPN and free VPN?
Free VPN has become notorious . The common points between the two are that they are free to use, have poor user experience and low security , but in general, cracked VPN is far inferior to free VPN.

Illegal use of other merchants’ servers

Legal use of the server built by our company

The same product has different values ​​for different people, so users should not only look at the price of the product, but also think about the product value. Genuine VPN software is not only powerful and highly secure, but also continuously maintained, timely optimized, and provides after-sales service. However, cracked VPNs have fatal flaws such as being unusable, carrying viruses, and stealing information. After reading this article, I hope you will have a rational consideration of cracked VPNs. For the long term, it is recommended that you choose the secure and anonymous VPN recommended in this article.

Is it easy to build a ladder to climb over the wall by yourself?

In China, due to Internet censorship, many Internet contents are restricted or blocked. Therefore, some people start to use VPN to access blocked websites or services. Although there are many easy-to-use paid VPNs on the market, some people choose to build their own VPNs.

Building a VPN by yourself is not a simple matter and requires a certain technical foundation. Currently, popular VPN protocols in the Chinese programmer circle include V2Ray, ShadowSocksR (SSR), WireGuard, Trojan, Vmess, etc. However, the installation, configuration and maintenance of these protocols require a certain amount of time and technical knowledge.

For example, the installation steps of V2Ray are very complicated, more difficult than ShadowSocksR, and very difficult for novices. Even after the installation is successful, the subsequent maintenance and updates are also very cumbersome. Sometimes the IP address is blocked or the connection speed is slow, and the VPS server needs to be reconfigured. This is why it is not recommended to build a ladder VPN yourself.

Although this method can save some money, it also requires the purchase of a CN2 line VPS server, which is expensive. If you use the Hong Kong VPN server recommended by VPN, it will cost at least RMB 100 per month. What's worse is that many airports now abuse servers such as Vultr, BandwagonHost, Linode, and AWS. Many VPSs have just been purchased and their IP addresses have been banned.

After purchasing these expensive servers, most of the CPU, bandwidth and storage are idle, which means you are not fully utilizing these resources and earning back your investment cost. In contrast, using a cheap VPN service may be more cost-effective, because VPN can allocate server resources to different users, thereby reducing costs and making VPN services cheaper.

How about a cracked VPN?

“Cracked” VPNs are not recommended.

If free VPN is just a marketing trick, then the "cracked" version of VPN can be said to be a lie. As mentioned earlier, VPN is not like other pure client software. VPN needs to be connected to the Internet and a server to forward user data, and renting a server must cost money!

Free VPNs can at least make profits through advertising or by guiding users to purchase paid versions, while cracked VPNs are mostly developed by individuals. The cracking method usually involves taking advantage of the VPN's free traffic. VPN merchants can easily discover this method, and it is also very simple to block it. Therefore, there is very little information about cracked VPN software on the Internet. Even if such a VPN exists, it is almost impossible to run in China, and it is common for malware to be implanted.

Why are VPNs not recommended in China?

Our censorship environment is not friendly. For example, when using WeChat and QQ, all your communications will be monitored by Internet companies such as Tencent and Alibaba.

In recent years, as the supervision of VPN has become more and more stringent, the Great Firewall has restricted VPN more frequently, which has led to the closure or disintegration of many manufacturers such as Lantern and Lightyear VPN. The remaining VPN merchants can only sell VPN software secretly. Using their VPN faces many unknown risks. The biggest hidden danger is that they are easy to run away, resulting in the purchased service not being guaranteed. Therefore, the VPNs I recommend are all companies registered abroad, which are relatively safer.

Another reason why Chinese VPN service providers are not recommended is that many businesses have poor credit. A common tactic is that businesses will provide users with free accounts for trial. The connection speed of this account may be very fast at the beginning, but the account assigned to you after purchase will have a very high delay, and even Google cannot be opened.

Many VPN vendors also do not pay attention to user privacy. This is basically a problem that all mainland technology companies have. They are likely to collect user sensitive information in circumvention software. Since mainland users generally have a weak sense of payment, many software obtain user privacy in a rogue way to achieve the purpose of profit, such as Laowang VPN and Ant VPN.

Is it safe to use a VPN to bypass the firewall?

VPN was originally used to solve the security issues of communications between enterprises. Due to its traffic encryption feature, it was later used as a software to circumvent the Internet Security.

In simple terms, VPN creates a very secure tunnel between your device (computer or mobile phone) and the server being accessed (the server of the website you are visiting). All your network traffic is transmitted through this secure tunnel, so that your ISP, WIFI owner, hackers, etc. cannot see the content you transmit. They only know that you are surfing the Internet, but they don’t know which website you are visiting, what you are chatting with your friends, and even less the account and password you use to log in to a website.

If you don't use a VPN, when you connect to the Internet (mobile network, wired network, unlimited WIFI network), your network operator, WIFI owner, and hackers can easily know which website you are visiting, what topics you chat with your friends, the account and password you use to log in to a certain website, etc. If they want to restrict you or want to steal your private information, it becomes very easy. This is why VPN is very important.

Before VPNs were widely used, people had little awareness of privacy and security, so social account passwords, game account passwords, and bank account passwords were often stolen. After using a VPN, the theft of private information will be effectively reduced. Anyone who cares about their online privacy and security must use a virtual private network (VPN). A good VPN is generally more secure. When you connect to WiFi in some unsafe public places, such as airports, bookstores, etc., it can prevent data from being stolen or phished.

Recommended Criteria for a Good VPN

If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the nitty-gritty of choosing a VPN, here are some top-notch VPNs that meet all of the above criteria.

Whether your purpose of using VPN is to hide your IP and surf the Internet anonymously, encrypt data and upgrade it completely, or break through regional network restrictions and unlock banned websites, or to perform simple daily web browsing and chatting, or to accelerate games, watch global high-definition streaming resources, and perform P2P seed downloads, we recommend using PrivateVPN.

PrivateVPN, also known as PrivateVPN, is a cross-platform VPN service with more than 30 million users worldwide. It currently has more than 3,000 servers in 80 countries and 170 locations. Patented acceleration lines , multi-protocol support (including OpenVPN), ECC's most advanced data encryption technology , and a zero-logging policy all upgrade your online digital security.

Applicable platforms : Windows 7+, macOS 10.10+, Ubuntu LTS 16.04+, iOS 11+, Android (TV) 5.0+
Refund policy : 7-day money back guaranteePayment
methods : PayPal, UnionPay, VISA, Master Card, Alipay/Alipay, etc.Free
trial : Free trial available for iOS & Android

Different VPN vendors offer different server locations, node numbers, protocol support, feature combinations, purchase packages, customer service, etc. So how do you choose a VPN that best suits you? Is there a best VPN recommendation?

As more and more netizens pay more attention to Internet security and privacy and pursue free Internet access, VPN has gradually become one of the must-have software for smart devices such as computers and mobile phones. VPN, the Chinese name for virtual private network, is simply a tool that transmits data traffic by establishing an encrypted tunnel. During the data transmission process, the user's initial IP will be hidden and the network will be accessed with a new IP address assigned by the VPN server. As the data is encrypted and the IP address is changed, anonymous security and unlocking of regionally prohibited content become easy to obtain.

So, with hundreds of VPN products, how do you choose the best VPN for yourself? It is recommended to refer to the following ten selection criteria . I believe that as long as you choose a VPN application according to these criteria, you will definitely find a satisfactory VPN assistant, and you can easily and anonymously surf the Internet privately and enjoy global resources.

1: The server location must include the target country/region

In order to attract more accurate users, VPN manufacturers generally clearly mark the supported countries, cities, regions and number of VPN servers on their official websites. Some will also list detailed location lists on their official websites. Generally speaking, users prefer VPNs with multiple geographical locations and a large number of servers , because this will give them more IP options in different regions when they use them later. Of course, the so-called number of servers is not necessarily proportional to the national geographical location support. As long as you compare carefully, you will find that some manufacturers provide a large number of servers, but the supported countries and cities are relatively few. However, some VPNs cover a rich geographical location even if the number of servers is not enough.

The best selection criteria for this one is to ensure that the location you frequently use on a daily basis must be included in the VPN support range, and then choose a VPN with a balanced number of servers and locations based on actual usage . Note that when your target location is not a popular area and is relatively "non-mainstream", you must confirm the support 100%, and the more servers in the area, the more recommended.

2: Fast and stable connection

Connection speed and stability are absolutely the most important features of a high-quality VPN, bar none. It is recommended to test the product for a short period of time, at different times of the day or different days of the week, focusing on testing commonly used location lines, such as the United States, Hong Kong, Japan, etc. (this is just an example, subject to specific circumstances). It is normal for VPN speeds to fluctuate, because the connection speed of any VPN is affected by many factors, such as server location, server load, VPN protocol, data encryption level, network speed restrictions of network service providers, network antivirus software and firewall environment. At present, in areas with stricter censorship, many VPNs have been blocked and cannot be used due to the continuous upgrade of firewalls or other mechanisms, so actual testing is particularly important. (I recommend a speed test tool called "Speedtest" if you need it.)

3: Support the smart devices you often use

Confirm that the VPN software supports your target smart device . Generally, a high-quality VPN will have a wide range of device and system support, including mainstream computers, laptops, tablets, mobile phones, gaming devices, routers, smart TVs, etc., and systems including Windows, macOS, Linux, ChromOS, Android, iOS, Windows Phone, etc. In addition, some VPNs will also have plug-in versions that allow you to install them directly in browsers such as Chrome and Firefox for direct use. Of course, if certain devices are not necessary, you don’t have to consider the VPN device support range too much, as long as your device and system are compatible and friendly to the VPN.

4: Meet the number of devices online at the same time

For users who need to use VPN on multiple devices at the same time, you need to check the maximum number of devices that can be online at the same time to determine whether it meets your daily needs. Similarly, some VPNs not only add multi-device support to ordinary personal packages, but also launch enterprise-level customized services for the number of devices that can be online at the same time. No matter how many devices you need to use VPN tools at the same time, you can log in with the same account.

5: The connection is encrypted and not logged by the VPN vendor

In theory, almost all genuine VPN services on the market will encrypt traffic for transmission, but the encryption level will vary depending on the VPN protocol. For example, the PPTP encryption level is the lowest level among the protocols, and the open source OpenVPN is recommended by many VPNs because of its high security factor. There are also very few VPNs that use self-developed protocols and claim to have the highest security, but the actual performance cannot be verified because the code is not open source.

If tunnel encryption protects against third parties such as network regulators, advertisers, and hackers, then the " zero log " policy protects user data from being collected and reused by VPN manufacturers. If you need to process important information for work or other reasons, you must choose a "no log" VPN and remember to stay away from all kinds of free VPNs. After all, there is always a purpose behind a free lunch, such as advertising push, data collection, or profit from selling data. You cannot know the purpose behind this.

6: Ease of use, no-brainer operation

As a medium for human-computer interaction and communication, the role of the user interface is self-evident. An excellent software product must have a simple and clear interface design with harmonious color matching and excellent user experience . Otherwise, no matter how powerful its functions are, if users cannot quickly get started, the complicated tutorial reading will make them discouraged. For VPN software, since network connection mode and location selection are the two main operations, the user-friendliness of these two is extremely important. It is recommended that users who have time can try several products. By comparison, it is clear at a glance whether they are easy to use or not.

7: Practical toolbox to make VPN more useful

In order to improve the user experience, many VPNs have added some functional gadgets in addition to basic functions , such as kill switch, split tunneling, ad blocking tools, speed test tools, etc. As a non-essential consideration, it is recommended to decide whether these pre-installed gadgets are needed based on your own situation. After all, the more functions a gadget has, the greater the development and maintenance costs, so the price will be more "beautiful"!

8: Professional customer service with prompt response

Only VPN vendors that provide 24/7 customer service can allow you to seek help for any virtual private network at the first time. Compared with emails with a certain time delay, instant chat service is more convenient. Customer service is also very important for users, because firewalls and network environments change rapidly, and VPN services are often disconnected or slow. If you cannot get in touch with customer service staff in time to provide feedback and solve problems, it will be a very bad user experience, especially for new users who are just starting out.

9: Suitable package prices, payment methods and money-back guarantees

As we mentioned above, the price of VPN will vary depending on the actual functionality. In addition, the manufacturer's background, brand awareness , real-time promotion strategy and external network environment will also affect the product pricing.

Common purchase packages currently include: one month, six months, one year, two years or three years. Obviously, the longer the package is purchased, the more attractive the monthly price. In addition, the payment methods for purchasing VPNs are becoming more global and comprehensive. Users who require privacy can choose manufacturers that support Bitcoin virtual currency payments. Regarding after-sales, in order to allow users to purchase with confidence, many VPNs have a 7-day or longer refund guarantee. A few well-known VPNs can enjoy a short-term truly free trial as long as you register an account and log in, which brings me, an ordinary user, one step closer to excellent products.

10: Good VPN manufacturer background & reputation

The main reason most people use VPNs is to avoid online tracking and censorship, so the manufacturer's place of registration is particularly important. The registered address of a VPN company determines the legal standards it needs to comply with. If the laws of the country of registration require VPN manufacturers to collect user information, your private data will still be monitored and shared if the registration location is in the Five Eyes, Nine Eyes or Fourteen Eyes Alliance countries. This is why many well-known VPNs avoid big countries such as Europe and the United States and choose some niche countries as their registered locations.

Five Eyes countries : United States, United Kingdom, Canada, New Zealand, Australia
Nine Eyes countries : Five Eyes countries + Denmark, France, Netherlands, Norway
Fourteen Eyes countries : Nine Eyes countries + Germany, Belgium, Italy, Sweden, Spain

User word of mouth, or evaluation, can reflect the quality and user experience of VPN from another perspective. For users who purchase long-term VPN packages, they can take some time to look at the product reviews and real feedback from various evaluation sites, forums, and communities. Unlike VPNs in many other regions, a VPN that is easy to use in Asia must have long-term friendly stability in the region, because in a special network environment, it is not easy to maintain such stability and requires long-term investment of manpower and material resources.

Websites/Apps Blocked in China

Most overseas media, cloud storage, video websites, and forum blogs are blocked, and the blocking methods include IP blocking, DNS pollution, and connection reset for HTTP connections and SNI connection reset for HTTPS connections. The duration of these blocked overseas sites varies, and most of the website blocking lasts for a particularly long time or even permanently.

Blocked Websites

• Major social media: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc.

• Western media: The New York Times, BBC, CNN, etc.

• Google products: Gmail, YouTube, Google Apps, etc.

Blocked Apps

• Productivity: Slack, Dropbox, One Drive, etc.

• Communication: WhatsApp, Telegram, Line, etc.

• Streaming sites: Netflix, Spotify, Pandora, etc.

The list of blocked sites is quite large and is constantly growing as the Great Firewall is upgraded. If you plan to stay in China for a long time, try using one of the best VPNs I mentioned above, like PrivateVPN. Unblock sites and protect your privacy in China.

China VPN FAQ

1. Why is it not recommended to use free VPN in China?

There are countless free VPNs, but 90% of them are not worth recommending. These free VPNs are either fake (virus software or collect and sell user information), or have a very poor customer experience due to various pop-ups and ads, or have various restrictions and a large number of users resulting in very slow connection speeds.

If you are in mainland China, please listen to our advice and stop trying to find a free VPN. Because of the existence of GFW, most VPN service providers are blocked by GFW. Only VPN service providers with strong technical teams and strong financial resources are able to cope with the blockade and interference of GFW. Nowadays, there are only a handful of paid VPNs that can be used in China, let alone free VPNs. Those free VPNs on the market that claim to be usable in China are most likely traps.

2. What other uses does VPN have besides circumventing the firewall?

For most people, VPN is a tool for climbing over the Great Firewall. This is because the Great Firewall prevents netizens from freely accessing the overseas Internet. If you want to visit foreign websites such as Google and Youtube, you must climb over the Great Firewall. Therefore, in the eyes of most netizens, VPN is equivalent to climbing over the Great Firewall.

But in foreign countries, the most important and core function of VPN is to protect users' personal privacy and Internet data security. Secondly, users can also use VPN's servers all over the world to unlock geographical restrictions, access streaming media such as Netflix, and download torrents. So, when you have a VPN, you can not only use it to "climb over the wall", but also use it to protect personal privacy and unlock restrictions on streaming media such as Netflix.

3.Can VPN help me bypass the firewall and return to China?

Whether VPN can bypass the firewall and return to China depends on whether servers are deployed in the mainland. As far as we know, few larger VPN manufacturers will set up servers in China. This is done to prevent the official from obtaining the data of VPN suppliers.

Of course, there is a need for overseas Chinese and international students to access China's entertainment and music platforms, so VPN, a type of wall-breaking software, was born to obtain a mainland IP.

These manufacturers are generally smaller, and the "Return to China VPN" that was previously advertised everywhere has also run away. We have no reliable options to recommend.

4. Can I build a VPN myself?

If you are tech-savvy, you can buy a VPS server and build a VPN yourself, but it is not necessary. You need to spend a lot of energy and money to build a VPN yourself. However, the Great Firewall is constantly being upgraded, and you don’t know when the VPN you built yourself will be completely unusable.

Secondly, building a VPN yourself requires spending money to buy a VPS server, which is also a considerable expense. The VPNs we recommend above only cost two or three dollars a month at most, and they also provide easy-to-use APP clients and have dozens or hundreds of server nodes to choose from. So, in comprehensive comparison, it is really unnecessary

In addition, setting up a VPN privately will result in the risk of being fined or imprisoned. If you are using it for normal work, life and study, you can buy and use a VPN, which is completely fine.

5. Can I try a VPN for free?

Most of the VPNs we recommend support a 7-30 day money-back guarantee. If you can't connect or are not satisfied, you can get a refund within the time limit. During the trial period, you can try out their various functions to see if there are Hong Kong and US servers, whether the latency is high, whether the stability is good, whether the VPN software supports splitting, etc. This is also equivalent to a free trial, but it is still recommended to pay before trying it, it doesn't cost much.

There are countless VPNs on the market that claim to be free, but in fact, there are very few truly free VPNs. You can see the tricks of free VPNs here!

If you need to frequently visit places outside the Great Firewall, free VPNs are unstable, have limited data traffic, and are completely unsafe, so use them with caution.

To know whether VPN is really useful, you need to test it yourself and understand its functions from various dimensions. If it cannot achieve your ideal effect, apply for a refund in time to avoid waste.

6. Choose a VPN with high security and no logging

This includes the fact that the VPN manufacturer cannot be Chinese-funded or from a non-5 Eyes/9 Eyes/14 Eyes Alliance country; it must have the latest and highest level of encryption technology to ensure to the greatest extent possible that the records of our circumvention of the firewall are not kept by any organization.

7. Use VPN in a low-key manner and do not make inappropriate remarks that are detrimental to the country and the nation after circumventing the firewall

If you only use circumvention to broaden your horizons, see what's new in other parts of the world, experience some different games or film and television resources, learning resources, etc., there is no risk. Therefore, obey the law, love your country and your family.

8.What do people do after climbing over the Great Firewall?

Many experienced people who have climbed over the Great Firewall will definitely go straight to their goals after climbing over the Great Firewall, but newbies may only have a superficial understanding of the world after climbing over the Great Firewall and have no idea what they can do after climbing over the Great Firewall. The world outside is more than just checking Twitter and watching Youtube. If you want to know the complete guide to climbing over the Great Firewall, you can read this article → Recommendations for the most popular foreign websites!

9.Which VPNs or circumvention tools cannot be used in China?

As mentioned earlier, many VPNs, including free and paid VPNs, cannot be used normally in China, and even have great security risks. So which VPNs can no longer be used? Here is a list of VPN tools or VPN software blacklists for you.

10.What other VPNs can be used in China?

In addition to the 3 best VPNs for China recommended above, after our testing, there are several other VPNs that are also good.