Does Telegram Work in China in 2024?

Telegram, with its end-to-end encryption, is my go-to messaging app, so when I found out the Chinese communist party blocked it, I set out to find a VPN provider I could use to access Telegram in China.

When news reports disclosed that human rights lawyers used the Telegram messaging app to organize support activities, authorities from the communist party blocked the service.

Here’s how a virtual private network can help you unblock Telegram. VPNs work by rerouting your device’s internet traffic to a server of your choice. Just set up a VPN connection to a server in a remote location where the popular messaging app is allowed and you can unblock Telegram in China.

Here’s the catch: not every VPN provider has what it takes to unblock Telegram, so I put together a list of the best VPNs for Telegram users in China.

Key takeaways

1. The Chinese government practices broad internet censorship.
2. Telegram is one of the messaging apps banned in China.
3. Telegram users can unblock Telegram in China using a premium VPN.
4. Not all VPNs can unblock Telegram in China.

Is Telegram banned in China?

When news reports came out that human rights activists used Telegram to send messages, China’s communist party banned the app.

Telegram users can bypass the Great Firewall of China, which keeps Chinese citizens from using blocked apps, like Telegram, using a virtual private network (VPN).

VPNs work by rerouting your device’s internet traffic through other countries where Telegram is permitted so you don’t get blocked.

Why is Telegram banned in China?

Once word got out that the messaging app Telegram, with its secure end-to-end encryption, was used by human rights lawyers to organize support activities in China, the Chinese authorities blocked the platform.

What makes a good VPN for China

VPNs work by diverting your device’s internet traffic to another country so you can access Telegram in China.

Here’s what I look for in a good VPN that supports communications on Telegram in China and around the world.

• Bypasses internet blocks. I look for a VPN that can bypass the Great Firewall of China. Not all VPNs can break through the strong blocks in China.
• Speed. I want a VPN with fast connection speeds, even over long distances.
• Private and secure. I don’t want the authorities spying on my Telegram messages, so I recommend services with a no-logs policy, military-grade encryption, a kill switch, leak protection, and threat protection.
• Compatibility. I want a VPN with easy-to-use apps for my home and mobile devices. I prefer VPN services that let me connect several devices simultaneously so I can share the app with my family.
• Price. I prioritize VPNs that offer a good value for the service received.

3 best VPNs to access Telegram in China

I’m extra cautious about which VPNs I recommend for China, where the Chinese authorities engage in heavy Internet surveillance and advanced blocking technology. Here are my three favorites:

1. ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN is perfect for unblocking Telegram in China. It provides secure connections, fast speeds, and impressive geo-spoofing capabilities.

Features: This category is what pushed ExpressVPN to the top of my list. It offers a password manager, split tunneling, obfuscation (a must for China), threat protection, and 3,200+ servers in 100 countries.

Speed: I was thrilled that ExpressVPN maintained 91% of its base download speed on long-distance connections.

Privacy & Security: I’m impressed with ExpressVPN’s use of military-grade encryption, a Kill Switch, leak protection, and a no-logs policy.

Performance: I didn’t notice any changes in performance in communications, streaming, browsing, or gaming while connected to a long-distance server.

Streaming: I use Express to access blocked content on Netflix, Hulu, and more anywhere in the world.

Compatibility: My favorite part about ExpressVPN is how easy it is to use. It has intuitive apps for all my devices, including Android, Windows, macOS, iOS, and Linux.

Pricing: The 1-year plan costs $6.67/month and includes 3 free months, a 30-day money-back guarantee, 8 simultaneous connections, and 24/7 live chat support.

2. NordVPN

NordVPN is a high-value, secure VPN provider that unblocks Telegram in China.

Features: The thing I like best about NordVPN is the number of high-end tools offered including a network of 6,400+ servers in 111 countries, obfuscated servers, threat protection, and a dark web monitor.

Speed: When I tested the speed on a server near China, I retained 92% of my baseline speed.

Privacy & Security: I only recommend VPNs for China that ensure your online safety with military-level encryption, kill switch, leak protection, and no-logs policy.

Performance: I found Nord performed well for sending and receiving messages on Telegram, streaming, gaming, and browsing.

Streaming: I could connect to a server in the country of my choice and enjoy geo-blocked shows on Netflix, Amazon Prime, and more!

Compatibility: Nord has an intuitive app for macOS, Windows, iOS, Android, and Linux.

Pricing: NordVPN’s lowest price is $3.39/month with 4 free months, 10 simultaneous devices, 24/7 customer support, and a 30-day trial.

3. Surfshark

If you’re looking for a budget VPN that works in China, try Surfshark. It gets past The Great Firewall of China and includes unlimited simultaneous devices for one low price.

Features: I was surprised by how much is available to users given Surfshark’s low cost such as 3,200+ servers across 100 countries, obfuscation, split tunneling, threat protection, and more.

Speed: Surfshark was slower than the premium VPNs, retaining 70% of my base speed on a long-distance server, but I could still send and receive messages on Telegram without delays.

Privacy & Security: I’m confident that users can send and receive messages privately with Surfshark’s military-grade encryption, Kill Switch, leak protection, and zero-logs policy.

Performance: I did get occasional lag while using Surfshark, but for the most part it works well for Telegram, streaming, and browsing.

Compatibility: One of Surfshark’s strenghts is how easy it is to use across operating systems, including Android, iOS, laptops, and more.

Streaming: I could connect to a server in the country of my choice enjoy streaming blocked content on Netflix, HBO Max, and more!

Pricing: The starter plan is just $2.19/month with 4 free months, unlimited simultaneous connections, a 30-day money-back guarantee, and 24/7 live chat support.

Websites, apps, and services that are blocked in China

Messaging apps aren’t the only thing you’ll need a VPN for in China. For example, Chinese government censors all of the following….

Video sharing and streaming platforms

I still wanted to watch my favorite shows from home when in China, and needed a VPN to access all these sites:

• BBC iPlayer
• Daily Motion
• Netflix
• Pandora Radio
• SoundCloud
• Spotify
• Tik Tok
• Vimeo
• YouTube

Apps

Here’s an example of the apps I needed a VPN for in China:

• Discord
• Google Play
• Line
• Messenger
• Viber
• WhatsApp

Work and productivity tools

I connected to my VPN to access these tools in China:

• Dropbox
• Gmail
• Slack
• Zoom

Search engines

I used a VPN to access outside search engines including:

• Duck Duck Go
• Google
• Yahoo

Social 

I had to link to a VPN server outside of China to connect on social media sites like:

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

Can I use a free VPN for China?

I’m very cautious about which VPNs I recommend for China, and so far I haven’t found any free VPNs that make the list. Here’s why.

Most free VPNs don’t have the advanced obfuscation or geo-spoofing technology users need to bypass China’s strict censorship.

Free VPNs rarely invest in the advanced software needed to protect users’ data in China.

To make matters worse, some free VPNs have been caught selling users’ data to third parties, which is a serious risk when you’re browsing the Internet in a heavily censored country like China.

FAQ

Is it legal to use Telegram in China?

While accessing the Telegram app isn’t necessarily illegal, the app is blocked by the Chinese government, so you can’t use it without a VPN, and many VPNs are also banned in China. While people do use VPNs to bypass the restrictions, it’s important to remember that using one comes with certain risks, so stick with trustworthy VPN services.

Can I unblock Telegram in China with a VPN?

Yes. Connect to a VPN server in a remote location where Telegram isn’t banned and you can send and receive messages on Telegram easily and out of sight of the Chinese authorities.

Conclusion

As soon as news reports came out that human rights lawyers were using Telegram to organize support activities, the authorities in China blocked access to the messaging app.

I love the end-to-end encryption I get when I send messages on Telegram and I wasn’t about to get blocked from the app on my visit to China.

I used a virtual private network to set up a VPN connection to a remote location and I could communicate all over the world without getting blocked.

I recommend using ExpressVPN for China. It’s fast, secure, and can access to blocked content in any country, including China.