Compare VPN options before you land in China.
Astrill, ExpressVPN, and NordVPN can work in some China situations, but the purchase path, refund rules, and app access matter once you are already inside mainland China.
Provider comparisons
Start with the provider you were already considering.
Astrill alternative
Price, refund policy, phone-number requirement, and inside-China signup compared.
ExpressVPN alternative
Why China availability, support timing, and blocked signup pages change the buying decision.
NordVPN alternative
Obfuscated servers, manual setup friction, and what matters on Chinese hotel and campus Wi-Fi.
Happ setup guide
Which client we recommend, what it does, and how it imports an IT CRP key.
Related China guides
If the comparison is about a specific city, device, or network, use the matching guide.