Does Spotify Work in China in 2024? 

Spotify is blocked in China, but I have an easy way to access the popular music streaming service. Here’s how.

I use a virtual private network (VPN) to bypass China’s block and can stream all my favorite music on Spotify in China..

Key takeaways

1. In mainland China, Spotify along with many other websites, is blocked.
2. You can use a VPN to access Spotify in China.
3. Only a few VPN services can bypass China’s firewall.
4. A reputable VPN service ensures privacy and security for users connecting to the Internet in China.

Is Spotify blocked in China in 2024?

The Chinese government doesn’t want its citizens to be influenced by Western culture and bans thousands of websites and apps, including the popular music streaming service Spotify.

The Great Firewall of China is a powerful blocking tool that keeps users from accessing the Spotify app. The best way to get around it is with a reliable VPN service.

When you use a VPN to connect to a server on the open internet it hides your true location so you don’t get blocked.

You can listen to Spotify in offline mode in China, but you’ll need to use a VPN to connect via the web monthly, which is how Spotify determines you are an active user.

Why is Spotify not available in China?

The Chinese government blocks access to Spotify on Chinese soil to shield its citizens from Western influence, and to promote their domestic versions of the Spotify app.

While you won’t find Spotify available in China, a quality VPN can bypass the Great Firewall of China so you can access Spotify. You can also listen to songs on their domestic music streaming site, QQ Music.

What makes a good VPN for unblocking Spotify in China

Here’s what I look for in a VPN for China:

• Bypasses The Great Firewall of China. I want advanced software, including obfuscation, that can hide my real IP address and access banned content in China.
• Speed. I prefer a fast VPN. Slow Internet speeds lead to poor streaming quality.
• Privacy & security. I only recommend plans that include a no-logs policy, military-grade encryption, a kill switch, and leak protection.
• Compatibility. I want a VPN provider with intuitive apps compatible with my home and mobile devices.
• Customer care. I’ll only sign up for a VPN service with 24/7 customer support and a money-back guarantee.
• Price. A good VPN should offer good value, balancing cost with quality.

3 best VPNs to unblock Spotify in China

Here are my favorite VPN providers for bypassing The Great Firewall of China so I can stream songs on Spotify and more!

1. ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN is my top pick, thanks to its secure connections, fast speeds, and excellent geo-spoofing features.

Features: I like using ExpressVPN’s advanced features including its 3,200+ servers across 100 countries, password manager, split tunneling, and obfuscation (needed to bypass China’s censorship).

Speed: I get great speed with ExpressVPN, maintaining 91% of my base download speed on long-distance servers

Privacy & Security: ExpressVPN’s military-grade encryption, Kill Switch, leak protection, and no-logs policy guarantees that the government and hackers can’t snoop on me.

Performance: Whether I’m listening to music on Spotify, streaming, or browsing, ExpressVPN delivers smooth performance.

Streaming: I use ExpressVPN to access worldwide content on Netflix, Hulu, and more.

Compatibility: I love how easily Express works across different operating systems, including Android, iOS, macOS, Windows, and Linux.

Pricing: The 1-year plan subscription is $6.67/month and includes 3 bonus months, a 30-day trial, 8 simultaneous connections, and 24/7 customer support.

2. NordVPN

NordVPN is a high-end service that costs less than ExpressVPN and doesn’t compromise on security, privacy, or features.

Features: I appreciate NordVPN’s advanced features, including a network of 6,400+ servers in 111 countries, obfuscation, threat protection, Meshnet, and a dark web monitor.

Speed: When I connected to a distant server, I retained 92% of my baseline speed, which is great for listening to music on Spotify.

Privacy & Security: With military-grade encryption, Kill Switch, leak protection, and a strict no-logs policy, I trust NordVPN to keep me safe online.

Performance: Whether I’m listening to songs on Spotify, streaming, gaming, or browsing, NordVPN performed well.

Streaming: I had no trouble accessing geo-blocked content on Netflix, Amazon Prime, and more.

Compatibility: NordVPN works on macOS, Windows, iOS, Android, and Linux.

Pricing: The best deal is the 24-month plan for $3.39/month, with 4 bonus months, 10 simultaneous devices, 24/7 customer support, and a 30-day trial.

3. Surfshark

If you’re looking for an affordable VPN that lets you access banned Internet content in China, I highly recommend Surfshark.

Features: I’m impressed with what Surfshark offers at its price including 3,200+ servers across 100 countries, obfuscation, split tunneling, threat protection, and more.

Speed: Although Surfshark was slower than my premium VPN service, retaining 70% of my base speed, it generally worked well for Spotify.

Privacy & Security: I firmly believe using a VPN should keep your Internet connection secure, which Surfshark does with its military-grade encryption, Kill Switch, leak protection, and no-logs policy.

Performance: While I did experience occasional slowdowns, Surfshark generally performed well for streaming music on Spotify, browsing, and gaming.

Streaming: I was pleased with Surfshark’s ability to bypass geo-restrictions on streaming platforms like Netflix, HBO Max, and more.

Compatibility: I find Surfshark easy to use with macOS, iOS, Windows, Android, and Linux.

Pricing: I love the value I get with Surfshark with the cost starting at just $2.19/month with 4 bonus months, unlimited device connections, a 30-day money-back guarantee, and 24/7 customer support.

How we picked the best VPNs for Spotify in China

I had a team of experts evaluate and select the best VPN for users in China based on these criteria.

• Speed. We conducted speed tests on servers worldwide using multiple VPN protocols and operating systems to ensure a fast VPN connection.
• Security. We looked for plans with military-level encryption, an automatic kill switch, secure tunneling protocols, and DNS leak protection.
• Privacy. Every VPN service on the list has an independently verified no-logs policy and uses RAM-only servers, so all your Internet data stays private.
• Unblocking capability. We selected VPNs with obfuscated servers and confirmed that our real IP address was hidden while connected to a VPN server.
• Compatibility. We tried out the VPN app on a variety of operating systems and devices, looking for an intuitive interface.
• Customer service. We prioritized VPNs with 24/7 live chat support and a money-back guarantee.

Websites, apps, and services that are blocked in China

Here’s a taste of what’s blocked on Chinese soil.

Video sharing and streaming platforms

I needed a VPN to access these streaming sites:

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

Apps

Certain apps are blocked, including:

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

Work and Productivity Tools

I relied on my VPN to access blocked tools like:

• Dropbox
• Gmail
• Slack
• Zoom

Search engines

These search engines are blocked:

• Google
• DuckDuckGo
• Yahoo

Social media

I needed my VPN to access social media sites such as:

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

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

I haven’t found a free VPN provider that I can recommend for China. Free VPNs are less dependable when it comes to hiding your real IP address and don’t usually offer high-end features like obfuscation, which you need to access Spotify in China.

I find that usually, the speed, data, bandwidth, and VPN server locations are limited, which slows down VPN traffic and leads to buffering and poor quality.

I’m also cautious of free VPNs because they typically don’t have the advanced security and privacy protection that is crucial in a highly regulated country like China.

FAQ

Can I use Spotify in China?

Spotify is blocked in China, but if you connect to a VPN server outside of China using a reputable VPN service, like ExpressVPN, you can listen to your favorite Spotify songs without getting blocked.

You can also use Spotify offline. Just go to the Spotify app settings and enable the offline mode to access your saved songs. You’ll still need to connect on the Internet monthly, which is how Spotify determines that you are still a user.

Why is Spotify blocked in China?

China does not have an open internet policy and heavily censures Internet content with a Western influence, including the Spotify app. China also wants to steer music fans to its local music streaming sites like QQ Music.

Is it legal to use a VPN to unblock Spotify in China?

While it’s not illegal to access Spotify, you can only unblock it using a VPN app, and since most VPN providers are banned in China it’s risky. That’s why it’s critical to use a reputable VPN provider.

Conclusion

Spotify may be blocked in China, but you can still enjoy your favorite songs while visiting the country just by using a VPN. I’ve found the best VPN for listening to Spotify in China is ExpressVPN.