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Potential logging issues aside, this VPN is one of the few that's fast enough to get you your Netflix fix.

Reviewers overwhelmingly recommend this one for a reason: It's got the perfect blend of speed, security, and customer service as well as a large server network.

UPDATE: October 22, 2019, 1:09 p.m. EDT This story has been updated following news that a NordVPN server was breached .

Coined more than two decades ago, the term "Great Firewall of China" refers to the Chinese government's ongoing efforts to regulate and censor the internet within the borders of the country's mainland. It's a play on the name of the Great Wall of China — as in, the sprawling, millennia-old landmark that's one of the Seven Wonders of the World.

You could make the argument that the Great Firewall is a world wonder, too — as in, it'll have you wondering how the heck you'd make it through a trip to China without a means to stay in touch with friends, pull up driving directions, or fight off jet lag with Netflix.

Much like the Great Wall, the Great Firewall was built for the purpose of keeping things out — only instead of deterring nomadic tribes' invasions, it targets foreign websites while slowing down cross-border internet traffic. And whereas the Great Wall ends where the Bohai Sea begins, the Great Firewall seemingly knows no bounds, affecting thousands of websites — everything from news outlets to social media platforms and apps and search engines. (Facebook, Instagram, Whatsapp, Reddit, YouTube, Netflix, and even Google are all no-gos.) At present, it's the largest system of censorship in the world.

Fortunately, there's a relatively easy workaround to the Great Firewall that can get you access to most sites that are blocked in China if you ever travel there: setting up a virtual private network.

A VPN, as they're more commonly known, is a service that establishes a secure network over a public one by routing your connection through its own private server(s). Through this process, the VPN masks your internet protocol (IP) address — the specific number that's assigned to your device on a local network — obscuring your exact location and allowing you to circumnavigate geoblocking and censorship. A VPN will also encrypt your data, making it impossible for hackers and authorities alike to see what you're downloading. It's basically the best way to stay safe on the internet.

Here's the thing about VPNs, though: Save for a few (very limited) services that have been formally approved by the government, they've technically been banned in China since 1997, when Chinese officials passed a law criminalizing the act of accessing the "foreign internet" without its specific permission. (That hasn't stopped unauthorized VPN providers from operating, mind you, although they're constantly playing a game of cat and mouse with Chinese authorities, who block servers, throttle bandwidth, or simply shut down services entirely if they show up on their radar; the providers that endure are the ones that can adapt.)

Oddly enough, China only just started enforcing this two-decades-old ban on the individual level within the past year, and nowadays anyone who's caught using a VPN the state hasn't personally sanctioned will be slapped with a $145 fine.

So, is it even worth it to run a VPN connection in China? At this point, at least, signs point promisingly to "yes": China was one of the top 5 biggest markets in the world for VPNs in a 2018 data analysis, with just over 30 percent of internet users there using one regularly to browse the internet freely — findings that seem to suggest authorities' VPN detection tactics aren't as adept as they'd maybe like them to be.

If you're trying to decide which VPN to use during an upcoming excursion to China, be sure to consider the quantity and location(s) of providers' servers, their connection speeds, the length of their plan(s) compared to the length of your trip, their customer service track record — 24/7 availability is ideal in case you experience any random technical difficulties — and their security offerings. Oh, and no matter which VPN you wind up using, remember to install it *before* you jet off to East Asia.

Keep scrolling to check out Mashable's official list of the best VPNs for China based on what we've read in tons of customer reviews; be sure to hit the grey arrow in the upper right corner of each card to expand each write-up.

Best overall choice (paid) Image: expressvpn The Good 30-day money-back guarantee • Tons of servers spread out throughout the world • No-logging policy • 24/7 email and live chat support 30-day money-back guarantee • Tons of servers spread out throughout the world • No-logging policy • 24/7 email and live chat support The Bad Pricey Pricey The Bottom Line All things considered, $13 a month is more than worth it. All things considered, $13 a month is more than worth it. Monthly plan: $12.95/month

$12.95/month Six-month plan: $9.99/month

$9.99/month 12-month plan: $8.32/month See Details 1. ExpressVPN Reviewers overwhelmingly recommend this one for a reason: It's got the perfect blend of speed, security, and customer service as well as a large server network.

In their reviews, expats say the service works really well when it comes to accessing geoblocked content from foreign streaming services like YouTube and Netflix, and report lightning-fast connection speeds (particularly with its Hong Kong and Los Angeles servers). There's a built-in Speed Test feature to help you choose the fastest server for your specific location.

As far as security goes, ExpressVPN boasts strong Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) 256-bit encryption and support for lots of VPN protocols. The company maintains a strict no-logging policy and offers its users a handy kill-switch, DNS/IPv6 leak protection, and a split tunneling feature for Mac and Windows (in case you want to exclusively protect a torrent client.) TOR compatibility is also available.

ExpressVPN's plans come with unlimited bandwidth and afford you access to its services on up to three devices at once on Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, and Linux operating systems as well as routers, game consoles, and smart TVs.

The biggest downside to Express VPN is that it’s a little more expensive than its competitors, with plans starting at $12.95 a month — although the last time we checked, you could save 49% and get three months of free access to its services if you signed up for a

ExpressVPN excels in every area you want a VPN to excel — i.e. security, reliability, speed, good customer service, and thousands of servers in 160 cities and 94 countries — making it a shoo-in as our favorite paid VPN service out there.In their reviews, expats say the service works really well when it comes to accessing geoblocked content from foreign streaming services like YouTube and Netflix, and report lightning-fast connection speeds (particularly with its Hong Kong and Los Angeles servers). There's a built-in Speed Test feature to help you choose the fastest server for your specific location.As far as security goes, ExpressVPN boasts strong Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) 256-bit encryption and support for lots of VPN protocols. The company maintains a strict no-logging policy and offers its users a handy kill-switch, DNS/IPv6 leak protection, and a split tunneling feature for Mac and Windows (in case you want to exclusively protect a torrent client.) TOR compatibility is also available.ExpressVPN's plans come with unlimited bandwidth and afford you access to its services on up to three devices at once on Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, and Linux operating systems as well as routers, game consoles, and smart TVs.The biggest downside to Express VPN is that it’s a little more expensive than its competitors, with plans starting at $12.95 a month — although the last time we checked, you could save 49% and get three months of free access to its services if you signed up for a one-year subscription

Best overall choice (Free) Image: tunnelbear The Good Simple interface • Stealth mode • Surprisingly secure Simple interface • Stealth mode • Surprisingly secure The Bad Can be slow • Some user data is logged • Doesn't allow P2P torrenting Can be slow • Some user data is logged • Doesn't allow P2P torrenting The Bottom Line You really should pay for a premium VPN service, but as far as free ones go, this one's quite all right. You really should pay for a premium VPN service, but as far as free ones go, this one's quite all right. Basic plan: Free

Free Monthly plan: $9.99/month

$9.99/month Annual plan: $4.99/month See Details 2. TunnelBear An uncomplicated VPN with a bear-y cute mascot that shares a lot of features with the paid services on this list.

TunnelBear offers apps for Mac, Windows, iOS, and Android as well as extensions for Chrome, Firefox, and Opera, and uses 256-bit encryption by default — the same robust level of security offered by many expensive paid services.

You'll find TunnelBear servers in 20 countries, although not all of them are available to users of TunnelBear's free service; you'll have to upgrade to one of its

Potential users may also be turned off by the fact that TunnelBear doesn't maintain a no-logging policy. In fact, it's required by Canadian law to keep some logs for a month. If that doesn't sit right with you, you're probably better off choosing one of the paid apps on this list instead.

Some experts remain skeptical about free VPNs — many log users' activity and have unreliable security methods — but for travelers on a budget, they're definitely worth considering. We recommend checking out TunnelBear , a Canada-based VPN with nifty features like "VigilantBear," a kill switch that blocks unsecured traffic if you lose your WiFi connection, and "GhostBear," a stealth mode that makes VPN traffic less detectable on your network.TunnelBear offers apps for Mac, Windows, iOS, and Android as well as extensions for Chrome, Firefox, and Opera, and uses 256-bit encryption by default — the same robust level of security offered by many expensive paid services.You'll find TunnelBear servers in 20 countries, although not all of them are available to users of TunnelBear's free service; you'll have to upgrade to one of its premium plans for improved access. (FWIW, said plans also come with unlimited data — the basic option comes with a mere 500MB/month — plus support for up to five connected devices and priority customer service.)Potential users may also be turned off by the fact that TunnelBear doesn't maintain a no-logging policy. In fact, it's required by Canadian law to keep some logs for a month. If that doesn't sit right with you, you're probably better off choosing one of the paid apps on this list instead.

Best for VPN newbies Image: pandapow vpn The Good 7-day money-back guarantee • No-logging policy • Extremely easy to use • VPN router available 7-day money-back guarantee • No-logging policy • Extremely easy to use • VPN router available The Bad Some reviewers say security is iffy if connection fails • Can be slow at times Some reviewers say security is iffy if connection fails • Can be slow at times The Bottom Line Lives up to its "hassle-free" promise, but don't expect anything particularly special. Lives up to its "hassle-free" promise, but don't expect anything particularly special. One-month plan: $9

$9 Three-month plan: $24

$24 12-month plan: $84 See Details 3. PandaPow VPN A no-frills VPN that'll walk you through every step of the setup process. Be sure to check out its VPN router, too.

Perfect for anyone who's never used a VPN before, the self-dubbed "hassle-free VPN service" offers Instant Activation with one-click setup so users can start browsing on a secure connection within minutes. Its software is available for Mac, Windows, Android, iOS, and each download comes with a straightforward setup guide. (The company also offers a

PandaPow offers three different payment plans — monthly, annual, and biannual — each of which offers unlimited speeds and bandwidth and speed test usage, plus unlimited server switches between more than 120 servers in 16 countries. Best of all, none of its services log browser activity.

The only thing about PandaPow that may trip up users is its security — namely, the fact that its strength is unclear. Some users say the VPN doesn't automatically resume after its connection fails (a common occurrence in China), which could pose a security risk.

As its name sort of implies, the Hong Kong-based PandaPow VPN aims to pack a punch, offering decent speeds and security when used in China — although its biggest selling point by far is its simplicity.Perfect for anyone who's never used a VPN before, the self-dubbed "hassle-free VPN service" offers Instant Activation with one-click setup so users can start browsing on a secure connection within minutes. Its software is available for Mac, Windows, Android, iOS, and each download comes with a straightforward setup guide. (The company also offers a PandaPow WiFi VPN router for $99 per year that makes connecting to its service even easier, but it was sold out the last time we checked.)PandaPow offers three different payment plans — monthly, annual, and biannual — each of which offers unlimited speeds and bandwidth and speed test usage, plus unlimited server switches between more than 120 servers in 16 countries. Best of all, none of its services log browser activity.The only thing about PandaPow that may trip up users is its security — namely, the fact that its strength is unclear. Some users say the VPN doesn't automatically resume after its connection fails (a common occurrence in China), which could pose a security risk.

Best for speed Image: purevpn The Good 24/7 live chat support • Offers servers in China • Offers U.S. Netflix streaming in HD • 31-day refund policy • Fast • Like, really fast 24/7 live chat support • Offers servers in China • Offers U.S. Netflix streaming in HD • 31-day refund policy • Fast • Like, really fast The Bad Claims to have a no-logging policy, but is it really? Claims to have a no-logging policy, but is it really? The Bottom Line That logging stuff could be a red flag, but overall it's a stellar option (especially for streaming entertainment). That logging stuff could be a red flag, but overall it's a stellar option (especially for streaming entertainment). Monthly plan: $10.95/month

$10.95/month One-year plan: $4.08/month

$4.08/month Two-year plan: $2.88/month See Details 4. PureVPN Potential logging issues aside, this VPN is one of the few that's fast enough to get you your Netflix fix.

PureVPN's got a whole bunch of security offerings, including 256-bit encryption, support for pretty much all protocols, built-in ad and malware blocking, DNS and IPv6 leak protection, and a kill switch. On top of those features, its network is self-managed — meaning your data is handled only by PureVPN (without the intervention or interference of third parties). Users also have the option of using additional NAT firewall technology, which provides an added layer of security by safeguarding a user’s device from hackers who exploit its loopholes.

Other PureVPN perks include split tunneling, which allows users to decide which traffic is funneled through their VPN, unlimited server switching and data transfer, and the ability to create a WiFi VPN hotspot.

If anything, PureVPN could be criticized for its lax commitment to its own no-logging policy: Despite its claims that it doesn't keep records of any of its users' activities, the U.S. Department of Justice





Offering unlimited bandwidth and up to five simultaneous connections on Mac, Windows, Android, and iOS devices in addition to gaming consoles and smart TVs, the Hong Kong-based PureVPN lays claim to more than 750 servers globally. What's more, a whopping four of those servers are in China itself — rare circumstances for a VPN that make for some seriously speedy connections there. (Yes, you can even stream U.S. Netflix in HD.)PureVPN's got a whole bunch of security offerings, including 256-bit encryption, support for pretty much all protocols, built-in ad and malware blocking, DNS and IPv6 leak protection, and a kill switch. On top of those features, its network is self-managed — meaning your data is handled only by PureVPN (without the intervention or interference of third parties). Users also have the option of using additional NAT firewall technology, which provides an added layer of security by safeguarding a user’s device from hackers who exploit its loopholes.Other PureVPN perks include split tunneling, which allows users to decide which traffic is funneled through their VPN, unlimited server switching and data transfer, and the ability to create a WiFi VPN hotspot.If anything, PureVPN could be criticized for its lax commitment to its own no-logging policy: Despite its claims that it doesn't keep records of any of its users' activities, the U.S. Department of Justice arrested one of its users on charges of cyberstalking in 2017 after the company handed over its records of his online activity. To quote Mashable reporter Mark Kaufman, who covered the case at the time: "Lin may have been duped by PureVPN advertising, which clearly states on its homepage that there are 'NO logs of your activities.'"

Best bang for your buck Image: nordvpn The Good 30-day money-back guarantee • Reviewers report successfully streaming lots of entertainment services • Based in Panama, so it's not legally required to keep logs of users' data • Server chaining feature 30-day money-back guarantee • Reviewers report successfully streaming lots of entertainment services • Based in Panama, so it's not legally required to keep logs of users' data • Server chaining feature The Bad Can be slow when streaming entertainment Can be slow when streaming entertainment The Bottom Line Feature-rich for just a few bucks. Feature-rich for just a few bucks. Monthly plan: $11.95/month

$11.95/month One-year plan: $6.99/month

$6.99/month Two-year plan: $3.99/month

$3.99/month Three-year plan: $2.99/month See Details 5. NordVPN This popular VPN provider is ridiculously cheap in the sense of money, not quality.

Perfect for users who plan on living abroad for a while,

NordVPN has 3,000 servers around the world, including several in nearby Taiwan, South Korea, and Hong Kong. Users can link up to six devices to NordVPN’s servers simultaneously using apps for Mac OS, Windows, iOS, and Android, and reap the benefits of unlimited bandwidth for torrenting.

Expats have reported successfully using NordVPN to access geoblocked streaming services like Netflix U.S., BBC iPlayer, and Amazon Prime Video, making it a popular choice among tuned-in travelers. (Just know that if you're using all of those aforementioned security features while you watch a movie, your connection might be a bit slow.)

Note: NordVPN has announced that it suffered a breach in March 2018 when a hacker exploited an insecure remote management system at a Finnish data center from which the company was renting servers. Fortunately, this isolated attack affected just one NordVPN server, and thanks to its strict no-logging policy, no user activity was compromised in the incident. We still think it's a strong contender in the VPN space, even for use in China — click here to learn more Perfect for users who plan on living abroad for a while, NordVPN 's long-term plans offer some of the industry's best security tools at an unrivaled value. For as little as $3 a month, you'll enjoy military-grade encryption and the option to enable double encryption (or "server chaining"), a feature that hides your traffic behind two servers instead of one, in addition to DNS leak protection and an automatic kill switch. What's more, NordVPN itself is based in Panama — a country with zero data retention laws — which means its no-logging policy is free of asterisks.NordVPN has 3,000 servers around the world, including several in nearby Taiwan, South Korea, and Hong Kong. Users can link up to six devices to NordVPN’s servers simultaneously using apps for Mac OS, Windows, iOS, and Android, and reap the benefits of unlimited bandwidth for torrenting.Expats have reported successfully using NordVPN to access geoblocked streaming services like Netflix U.S., BBC iPlayer, and Amazon Prime Video, making it a popular choice among tuned-in travelers. (Just know that if you're using all of those aforementioned security features while you watch a movie, your connection might be a bit slow.)

Best customer service Image: buffered vpn The Good 24/7 customer support • 30-day money-back guarantee • Helpful resources on website 24/7 customer support • 30-day money-back guarantee • Helpful resources on website The Bad Expensive • Might not work for Netflix • Logs data about your connection Expensive • Might not work for Netflix • Logs data about your connection The Bottom Line An extremely user-friendly service that might not be robust enough for more experienced or tech-savvy VPN users. An extremely user-friendly service that might not be robust enough for more experienced or tech-savvy VPN users. Monthly plan: $12.99/month

$12.99/month One-year plan: $6.59/month

$6.59/month Two-year plan: $4.12/month See Details 6. Buffered VPN A helpful chaperone for the VPN world with a bare-bones spec lineup.

Based in Hungary, Buffered has servers in 41 countries including Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, and even China itself. Supported platforms include Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, iOS, and routers, and users can enjoy unlimited bandwidth with no download restrictions — a huge perk if you're into

In the security department, Buffered offers military-grade encryption and a kill switch. It also claims to steer clear of tracking your online traffic, although its website clearly states that the company will log data about the duration of your connection and store it for a month. (Hey, at least they're up front about it.)

In their reviews, experts report that Buffered works fine when it comes to using geoblocked streaming services as well as popular foreign websites, although some people have had trouble accessing Netflix.

Lots of VPNs offer chat support, but Buffered VPN takes things a little further with round-the-clock technical support from actual human beings, a website filled with handy setup tutorials and troubleshooting guides, and a 30-day refund policy.Based in Hungary, Buffered has servers in 41 countries including Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, and even China itself. Supported platforms include Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, iOS, and routers, and users can enjoy unlimited bandwidth with no download restrictions — a huge perk if you're into torrenting In the security department, Buffered offers military-grade encryption and a kill switch. It also claims to steer clear of tracking your online traffic, although its website clearly states that the company will log data about the duration of your connection and store it for a month. (Hey, at least they're up front about it.)In their reviews, experts report that Buffered works fine when it comes to using geoblocked streaming services as well as popular foreign websites, although some people have had trouble accessing Netflix.

Editor’s Note: IPVanish is owned by J2 Global, the parent company of Ziff Davis, Mashable’s publisher. Any J2 products featured on Mashable are covered independently by our content team.