9 Best VPNs for Shanghai in 2025 for Security & Streaming

Finding the best VPN for Shanghai that is safe and fast is not an easy task. You need a VPN that can bypass restrictions and keep you protected from cybercrime. The VPNs on my list have global networks, including servers in China or nearby, so you can enjoy fast speeds and uninterrupted internet connections.

After testing 83 VPNs, we found 9 that work the best in Shanghai. The VPNs on our list can help you safely access 100+ streaming services, including Netflix US and Hulu. They also allow you to use social media sites like Facebook and Twitter without restrictions from Shanghai, all while keeping your data safe and your identity hidden.

I recommend ExpressVPN as the best VPN for Shanghai because of its lightning-fast speeds and military-grade encryption. It also helps you safely access geo-restricted content while traveling. You can test ExpressVPN without risk as it’s backed by a trustworthy money-back guarantee. If you’re not happy, you can claim a full refund within 30 days. Editor's Note: Transparency is one of our core values at vpnMentor, so you should know we are in the same ownership group as ExpressVPN. However, this does not affect our review process.

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Short on Time? Here Are the Best VPNs for Shanghai in (2025)

Editor's Note: We value our relationship with our readers, and we strive to earn your trust through transparency and integrity. We are in the same ownership group as some of the industry-leading products reviewed on this site: Intego, Cyberghost, ExpressVPN, and Private Internet Access. However, this does not affect our review process, as we adhere to a strict testing methodology.

What to Look For in a VPN for Shanghai

When choosing a VPN to use in Shanghai, you should look for a provider that offers the highest-level of encryption and a strict no-logs policy to ensure that your identity and browsing activities stay completely secret.

You’re probably aware of the fact that China has one of the most restrictive internet policies in the world. Known as the Great Firewall of China, the legislation and technologies enforced by the country block the most popular websites from the West, such as Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Gmail, and WhatsApp.

Using a VPN with a global server network allows you to access international sites from anywhere. So, you can use your favorite social media platforms from Shanghai.

Features to look for in a VPN for Shanghai:

• Strong security features: Look for a VPN with industry-standard 256-bit encryption to protect your data, a no-logs policy to prevent snooping, and DNS and Ipv6 leak protection to guard your true IP address and location. It’s important to make sure to choose a VPN that makes protecting your privacy a top priority.
• Large server coverage all over the world: Get past restrictions and access your most-used accounts, such as Netflix, Facebook, Twitter, Gmail, YouTube, and WhatsApp. The more countries the provider covers, the more sites and content will be available.
• Fast speeds for streaming and downloading: Look for a VPN that lets you browse, stream, and download without slowing down your connection. It’s important that the provider has servers close to you, so you don’t lose much speed.
• Money-back guarantee: If you’re not sure which VPN is right for you, choose one that offers a money-back guarantee, so you can try it out and still change your mind.
• Local servers in Shanghai (or nearby): The closer your physical location to the server you connect to, the less speed reduction you’ll experience. Also, if you want an IP address in Shanghai, choose a VPN provider that has servers in the city.

9 Best VPNs for Shanghai – Full Analysis (Updated 2025)

We found 9 VPNs that enable you to access geo-restricted content, including Netflix, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube, while also providing strong security to protect your privacy.

Here’s a list of the 9 best VPNs that work in Shanghai, with servers in the city or close by.

1. ExpressVPN — Super-Fast Speeds for Streaming and Torrenting

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Tested March 2025

Available on:

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www.expressvpn.com

ExpressVPN offers automatic obfuscation that lets you access your social media accounts securely and privately in Shanghai. Plus, with its vast server network, you can reliably watch Netflix US, YouTube, and more from anywhere.

It also offers you up to 8 simultaneous connections, along with unlimited data and bandwidth.

The VPN is lightning-fast, so you can stream your favorite TV shows in Ultra HD without buffering. By connecting to the nearest servers in Hong Kong, you’ll get the fastest speeds for streaming.

With ExpressVPN you don’t need to worry about safety. It uses multiple security protocols and automatically selects the best protocol. There’s also an integrated kill switch. ExpressVPN protects against DNS leaks and blocks IPv6.

ExpressVPN’s TrustedServer technology increases security by wiping your data after each server reboot, so the government and ISPs can’t access your private information. Additionally, the VPN offers the highest-grade encryption to ensure your traffic is concealed and safe from spies or cybercriminals.

With a 30-day money-back guarantee, you can request a full refund if the VPN doesn’t meet your needs. Its responsive 24/7 customer support team will help you if you’re having any issues.

2. IPVanish — Connect an Unlimited Number of Devices Simultaneously

Available on:

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Try IPVanish VPN >

www.ipvanish.com

Thanks to its 2,400 servers across 109 countries, it’s possible to use IPVanish to securely access streaming platforms and get a buffer-free experience while in Shanghai.

Apart from connecting an Unlimited number of devices to a single account, it also offers unlimited data and no caps on bandwidth.

IPVanish is a high-speed VPN that works excellently in Shanghai, especially when connecting to nearby servers in Taiwan, Japan, and South Korea. This lets you securely access your favorite social media platforms like Twitter or Instagram.

The VPN comes with multiple security features like 256-bit encryption and no-logs, and it passed all our IP and DNS leak tests. These features ensure that your identity, browsing information and data stay completely private.

IPVanish has a 30-day money-back guarantee so you can test it out risk-free before committing to a long-term subscription.

3. CyberGhost — Trustworthy VPN for Beginners

Available on:

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Try CyberGhost VPN >

www.cyberghostvpn.com

CyberGhost is one of the rare VPNs that have servers in Shanghai, meaning it's possible to use it to access Shanghai TV channels in HD from anywhere. With thousands of servers worldwide, it’s also possible to securely access international streaming services, such as Netflix, HBO Max, and Hulu, from Shanghai.

It’s a great choice for VPN beginners because it’s very easy to use. It also has all the security measures to ensure you stay anonymous and safe, such as 256-bit encryption, no-logs, a kill switch, and advanced features like ad and malware-blockers. The VPN is based in Romania, outside of the 5/9/14-Eyes Alliance, meaning that your privacy is safely guarded, and no one has access to your data.

CyberGhost offers super-helpful 24/7 live support from agents and a live chat and even a 45-day money-back guarantee making sure you have enough time to figure out whether this is the right VPN for you. Refunding is also quick and easy, with users saying it took them only 5 business days to get their money back.

4. Private Internet Access — Easy to Use and Reliable

Available on:

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Try Private Internet Access >

www.privateinternetaccess.com

Private Internet Access (PIA) has 29,650 servers worldwide, including servers in Shanghai. So, it’s possible to securely access anything from Amazon Prime Video to Tencent Video from anywhere.

All PIA’s servers are P2P friendly and have unlimited bandwidth, so you can download and upload without limits.With thousands of high-performing servers you can enjoy ultra-fast speeds for various online activities.

PIA offers strong encryption and multiple security protocols, including WireGuard and OpenVPN, to keep your online activity and traffic untraceable. Additionally, the VPN’s kill switch and DNS leak protection ensures your data won’t get exposed, even when connected to public WiFi.

You can try PIA risk-free using its 30-day money-back guarantee. It’s enough time to evaluate the VPN and see if it meets your criteria.

5. PrivateVPN — User-friendly and Safe

Available on:

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Try PrivateVPN >

www.privatevpn.com

With servers in 63 countries, PrivateVPN makes it possible to securely stream popular international streaming services from anywhere.

For the fastest speeds, you can connect to servers closeby in Taiwan, Japan, or Singapore. My speed never decreased by more than 10%. I could watch movies in HD without buffering.

Private VPN is known to be a high-performing, yet easy-to-use VPN service. Its apps are user-friendly and lets you customize your account, without giving you an overwhelming number of options. The VPN is also compatible with many devices and allows you the freedom to connect to 10 devices simultaneously.

PrivateVPN uses L2TP VPN security protocol and AES encryption to protect your data from prying eyes. The VPN also supports safe and unlimited P2P sharing and keeps you anonymous with its no-logs policy.

PrivateVPN offers a 30-day money-back guarantee. You can fully experience all its features risk-free.

6. VyprVPN — Easily Bypass Restrictions

Available on:

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Try VyprVPN >

www.vyprvpn.com

VyprVPN is easily able to bypass restrictions, thanks to its thousands of servers across 70 countries. You can even access your social media accounts like Facebook and Instagram while traveling in Shanghai.

VyprVPN’s Chameleon technology helps you bypass VPN blocking while keeping your connection secure. The VPN is a safe choice, with a no-log policy, an automatic kill switch, malware protection, and the ability to keep your information protected when connecting to public WiFi networks.

VyprVPN is also easy to install and use. On top of that, it’s fast enough to game and torrent without delays.

You can try out VyprVPN risk-free using its 30-day money-back guarantee, to see if it’s the right choice for you.

7.TunnelBear — Get Past Restrictions in Shanghai

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Try TunnelBear VPN >

www.tunnelbear.com

TunnelBear is great to use in Shanghai because of the GhostBear feature that allows you to safely access your social media accounts without restrictions. Plus, it’s easy to use, well-priced, and offers great customer service.

TunnelBear offers reliable speeds, allowing you to seamlessly connect to the fastest server using its Fastest Tunnel feature and enjoy uninterrupted browsing. Furthermore, the VPN supports P2P connections, ensuring secure content downloads.

The VPN includes a kill switch and does not maintain logs, ensuring that your DNS queries, browsing history, IP address, and activities stay hidden.

Although TunnelBear doesn’t offer a money-back guarantee, you’re still able to try out some of its features using its free version, which includes up to 500MB a month.

8. Proton VPN — Great for Torrenting

Available on:

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Try Proton VPN >

protonvpn.com

With servers in multiple countries, Proton VPN makes it possible to securely access streaming sites like Netflix US and BBC iPlayer from anywhere.

It’s excellent for fast and private torrenting as the VPN supports P2P applications, such as BitTorrent and uTorrent. Plus, with unlimited bandwidth, you can safely download as much as you want in Shanghai.

Proton VPN uses robust encryption to make sure your data is protected, and it will disconnect you from the internet with an automatic kill switch if your VPN drops. The VPN’s headquarters are based in Switzerland, which means it’s not bound by any data retention laws, so your information is kept private. If you’re serious about remaining anonymous online, you can also pay for your subscription with Bitcoin.

You can try Proton VPN risk-free with a 30-day money-back guarantee. It also offers a 7-day free trial.

9. Hide.me — Robust Security and Privacy

Available on:

Windows Mac Android iOS

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Try hide.me VPN >

www.hide.me

Hide.me is a highly secure and private VPN, using 256-bit encryption and multiple security protocols. The VPN also includes a kill switch and IP leak protection to prevent your data from leaking, so no one is able to trace your actual location or find out what you’re doing online.

To avoid any spying or restrictions, hide.me offers a Multihop Double VPN feature that sends your traffic through two servers instead of one, essentially encrypting it twice.

The VPN’s customer service is very friendly and helpful, I was especially impressed with their live chat support. Alternatively, you can log a ticket or use their extensive knowledge base to find a solution to your problem.

Hide.me offers you 30 days in which you can test out the VPN and request a refund if you’re not satisfied.

FAQs on VPNs for Shanghai

What’s the best VPN for Shanghai?

I recommend ExpressVPN because it lets you securely bypass restrictions and access your favorite content from anywhere. Not only that, but ExpressVPN provides super-fast speeds for a buffer-free streaming experience in Shanghai. Additionally, it comes with military-grade encryption, a no-logs policy, multiple security protocols, and DNS leak protection to keep you secure online.

Can I use a free VPN in Shanghai?

You can, but I don’t recommend using a free VPN because they generally lack adequate security features and limit servers. Some ‘“free” VPNs sell your data to third-party advertisers or limit features forcing you to upgrade. More times than not, you’d save money if you went with a paid VPN from the start. ExpressVPN comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can buy in confidence.

Is a VPN legal in Shanghai?

Technically, only government-approved VPNs are legal in China. However, these VPNs are not trustworthy since they track your data and keep certain sites blocked.

It's worth noting that while non-government approved VPNs are illegal in the country, there have been no public reports about a tourist being penalized for using one. That being said, it's prudent to stay up to date with Chinese laws regarding VPNs if you plan on using one in the country.

Which VPN is the fastest in Shanghai?

After testing over 80 VPNS, I found ExpressVPN to consistently deliver fast speeds when browsing, streaming, torrenting, and gaming.

How can I get a Shanghai IP address?

If you want to get a Shanghai IP address, we recommend CyberGhost, as it has servers in Shanghai. The VPN also has thousands of servers worldwide so that you can access international content.

The Bottom Line

With the best VPN for Shanghai, you’ll be able to keep your identity and online activity hidden from the government and snoops. Plus, you’ll want a VPN with a global network so you can bypass restrictions while traveling. If you’re looking for a VPN to use for streaming, you should also consider its connection speed.

I recommend ExpressVPN because of its powerful unblocking capabilities, ultra-fast speeds, advanced security, and 30-day money-back guarantee.

To summarize, the best VPNs for Shanghai are....

Editor's Note: We value our relationship with our readers, and we strive to earn your trust through transparency and integrity. We are in the same ownership group as some of the industry-leading products reviewed on this site: Intego, Cyberghost, ExpressVPN, and Private Internet Access. However, this does not affect our review process, as we adhere to a strict testing methodology.

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