Does Slack Work in China in 2024?

Slack is banned in China, but I’ve found a simple way to access it while I’m there. I use a Virtual Private Network (VPN) to bypass the block and keep using Slack in China as if I were back home.

Key takeaways

1. Slack, like a lot of other sites, is banned by the Chinese government.
2. You can bypass China’s blocks with the right VPN.
3. Only certain VPNs grant full internet access within Chinese borders.
4. Using a reliable VPN secures your data while working in China.

About Slack

Slack, which stands for Searchable Log of all Conversations and Knowledge is one of my favorite tools for work, especially when I’m traveling to other countries. I can create work teams and have a centralized, fast, and secure means of communication using Dropbox, Google Drive, Trello, and more.

Does Slack work in China in 2024?

The Chinese authorities banned Slack as part of their effort to limit Western influence on Chinese citizens and set up the Great Firewall of China to block access to all restricted online content.

Your best bet for accessing Slack is with a reputable virtual private network (VPN) which can connect you to a remote server in another country and hide your true location to bypass the block.

Why is Slack not available in China?

China blocks access to Slack, along with many other communication tools, as part of its effort to limit Western influence on Chinese citizens.

If you want to access a restricted website, your best bet is to use one of my recommended top VPNs to connect to a server in another country, which will bypass China’s firewall.

How to choose the best VPN for Slack in China

Here’s what I look for when I need to unblock restricted websites in China:

• Bypasses The Great Firewall: I want a service with a good track record for unrestricted access to the Internet in China.
• Speed. I stick with providers that are fast enough for instant communication with my business partners.
• Privacy & Security. I only use services that come with state-of-the-art privacy and security features to protect my business and personal life from any surveillance.
• Compatibility. I make sure it has apps that work my mobile, home, and business devices.
• Customer care. I stick with VPNs that offer 24/7 customer support and a money-back guarantee, just in case I run into any issues.

3 best VPNs to use in China to access Slack

Here are the top VPNs for China I trust for getting past the Great Firewall of China:

1. ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN is my first choice because I know I can count on it to access to restricted content in China. It’s also fast, secure, private, and easy to use.

Features: I love having a VPN loaded with features, and ExpressVPN offers just that including 3,200+ servers in 100 countries, split tunneling, obfuscation, unlimited bandwidth, and a password manager.

Speed: Businesses like mine are fast-paced, and ExpressVPN has more than enough for the instant communications I need, retaining 90% of its baseline speed when connected to overseas servers.

Privacy & Security: I know my data is secure with ExpressVPN’s use of military-grade encryption, a Kill Switch, leak protection, and a strict no-logs policy.

Performance. I use ExpressVPN every time I go online and find its fast speeds are great for streaming, gaming, torrenting, and browsing.

Compatibility: I have no trouble using ExpressVPN with Android, iOS, macOS, Windows, and Linux devices. It allows for 8 simultaneous connections so I can cover all my business needs with one account.

Pricing: A 1-year subscription costs $6.67/month, and comes with 3 bonus months, round-the-clock customer support, and a 30-day money-back guarantee.

2. NordVPN

A close runner-up on the list is NordVPN. It’s rich in features, secure, private, fast, and works in China.

Features: I love the extra layer of protection I get with NordVPNs Threat Protection, Dark Web Monitor, and obfuscated servers. It’s got a huge network of 6,400+ servers in 111 countries and offers dedicated IP addresses and unlimited bandwidth.

Speed: Businesses like mine depend on a fast Internet connection, and NordVPN meets my criteria, maintaining 92% of its baseline speed on a remote server.

Privacy & Security: I’m impressed with Nord’s privacy and security measures, especially the independently verified zero logs policy, as well as the military-grade encryption, Kill Switch, and leak protection.

Performance. I notice no difference in performance when using NordVPN as compared to my ISP for streaming, gaming, torrenting, browsing, or instant messaging.

Streaming. At the end of my work day, I can use NordVPN to access my favorite streaming sites including Netflix, Hulu, and HBO Max.

Compatibility. I find NordVPN very easy to use on macOS, iOS, Windows, Android, and Linux operating systems, and since it allows for 10 simultaneous devices, I can use it with every one of them.

Pricing: Nord is a great value at $3.39/month for the 24-month plan, including 4 months free, a money-back guarantee, and 24/7 support.

3. Surfshark

Surfshark is the absolute best budget provider on the market, delivering premium services for less, and it includes unlimited simultaneous devices so it can cover entire businesses on one account.

Features: I am yet to find another budget service that offers the kind of features you get with Surfshark including 3,200+ servers in 100 countries, unlimited bandwidth, obfuscation, split tunneling, data breach monitoring, and threat protection.

Speed: The area Surfshark trails behind the premium services is speed, retaining about 70% of its baseline speed, which is still fast enough for most work tools.

Privacy and security. Surfshark meets my high standards for privacy and security, providing a zero-logs policy, military-level encryption, a kill switch, and leak protection.

Performance. On occasion, I got some buffering or lag when using Surfshark, but switching to another server usually solved the problem quickly so I could enjoy smooth streaming, gaming, torrenting, browsing, and messaging.

Streaming. I could enjoy streaming geographically restricted content on Netflix, Hulu, HBO Max, and others on Surfshark servers.

Compatibility. Like all the best VPNs, Surfshark is compatible with macOS, iOS, Windows, Android, and Linux, but this one lets you connect an unlimited number of devices at once.

Pricing: Pricing begins at $2.19/month and includes 4 months free, a 30-day trial, and 24/7 customer support.

How we picked and analyzed the best VPN for China

We tested and researched dozens of VPNs in the following areas:

• Speed. We conducted speed testing on various devices, servers, operating systems, and protocols. We also prioritized plans that include a large server network and unlimited bandwidth to prevent slowdowns from overcrowding.
• Privacy and security. We only included services with military-grade encryption, an automatic kill switch, DNS leak protection, secure tunneling protocols, RAM-only servers, and an independently verified no-logs policy.
• Compatibility. We gave priority to services that have an intuitive user interface and are compatible with all major operating systems including macOS, iOS, Windows, Android, and Linux.
• Customer service. We looked for 24/7 live chat support and at least a 30-day money-back guarantee so you can sign up risk-free.
• Pricing. We compared features to price to ensure a good value.

Websites, apps, and services that are blocked in China

Here are some other online content that the Chinese government blocks:

Video streaming platforms

Citizens in China can’t access the following:

• Netflix
• SoundCloud
• Pandora Radio
• Twitch
• Vimeo
• YouTube
• BBC iPlayer
• TikTok
• Daily Motion
• Spotify

Apps

Everything on this list is restricted in China:

• Google Play
• WhatsApp
• Messenger
• Viber
• Telegram
• Discord

Work tools

Chinese businesses don’t have access to these tools:

• Gmail
• Zoom
• Dropbox
• Slack

Search engines

The following search engines aren’t available to citizens of China:

• Google Drive
• DuckDuckGo
• Yahoo

Social media

You won’t find these online in China

• Facebook
• Instagram
• Pinterest
• Snapchat
• Twitter
• Quora

Can I use a free VPN to unblock Slack in China?

In my experience, free VPNs don’t work well for unblocking websites in China.

Free VPNs usually lack the essential software, like obfuscation, for bypassing China’s Great Firewall so you can access outside websites.

The free services often come with limitations like slow speeds, limited bandwidth, and fewer servers, which can lead to slowdowns that impact Slack’s performance.

Finally, I still haven’t found a free service with the level of security and privacy protection I want in China, especially since many no-cost providers make a profit by selling users’ data to third parties.

FAQ

Is Slack available in China?

Internet censorship does not permit accessing Slack in China, but a good VPN can bypass China’s firewall so you can use it anyway.

Is it legal to use Slack in China with a VPN?

Most VPN websites are banned in China, so users need to be cautious when using one to unblock Slack.

Conclusion

Even though it’s blocked in China, with a virtual private network (VPN) you can access Slack without any issues.

Only the best VPNs can bypass China’s firewall and ExpressVPN is my number one pick for staying connected with my team while I’m on the go.