Does ExpressVPN Work in China? My Firsthand Experience & Updates

I’ve been testing several well-known VPNs here in Chongqing to find out which ones actually work well in mainland China. So far, I’ve tried Proton VPN and ExpressVPN, with Astrill VPN and Surfshark next on my list.

VPN providers often advertise long lists of technical features and specifications that are hard to make sense of. I’m more interested in how well a VPN works in everyday use. Can I connect without trouble? Do sites like YouTube and Google load smoothly? And can I rely on it over time?

ExpressVPN is the second VPN I’ve tested, after Proton VPN. I’ve been using it since September 14, 2026, and signed up for a two-year plan. I’ll keep this review updated as I continue using it in mainland China.

Does ExpressVPN work in mainland China?

Yes. At least so far, I’ve had no trouble connecting to ExpressVPN.

I’ve used it on both my Windows PC and iPhone, and neither has given me any trouble connecting.

The main issue for me is speed. I need a US IP address for much of what I do, so I usually choose servers in New York or New Jersey. They connect without a problem, but the speeds aren’t great. Sites like YouTube and X often take a long time to load.

Things improve quite a bit when I switch to Fastest Location. The catch is that I end up with an IP address in a nearby region, such as Hong Kong, Taiwan, or South Korea, rather than the US.

If all you want is access to Google, YouTube, Instagram, and other services blocked in mainland China, Fastest Location is probably your best bet, as long as you don’t care where your IP address is based.

Based on my experience so far, ExpressVPN is a good option if you just want reliable access to blocked sites and apps without needing an IP address from a particular country or region. But if you need an IP address in a more distant location, as I do, Proton VPN may be a better fit.

October 16, 2026 Update: I connected to a US server again today and noticed a significant improvement in speed. I was able to watch YouTube videos in 1440p without any buffering. I’ll keep testing to see if the speeds remain this good.

Overall Results

Item	Details
Using since	September 14, 2026
Test location	Chongqing, mainland China
Devices	Windows PC, iPhone
Subscription	2-year plan
Connection	No connection failures so far
Speed	US servers slow; Fastest Location noticeably faster

Recent usage