Does Zoom Work in China in 2024?

Whenever I travel, I rely on Zoom to keep up with work, friends, and family, so before visiting the Great Wall of China and the Forbidden City, I wanted to know: Does Zoom work in China?

Here’s what I found out. The Chinese government blocks the Zoom video conferencing app, but there is a way users can make Zoom work in China.

A virtual private network (VPN) allows you to connect to a server in a different country where Zoom is allowed, so you can unblock Zoom. It also sends your data through a secure encrypted tunnel, which helps protect you from ISP and government surveillance.

Keep reading to learn more about how to unblock Zoom.

Does Zoom work in China?

Zoom won’t work in China without a quality VPN. The Chinese government heavily censors internet access and Zoom, along with many other websites.

If you want to join a Zoom meeting while visiting China, use a premium VPN with a strong track record for bypassing China’s firewall to unblock Zoom.

Why is Zoom not available in China?

China employs strict internet censorship, and Zoom, like many other websites, is inaccessible due to a strong firewall that is set up to enforce government restrictions. China prefers that you use their video conferencing app, WeChat, which is mandated to share data with the Chinese government.

3 best VPNs for Zoom in China

After researching the market, I put together a list of my favorite 3 VPNs for China that can access Zoom while keeping your data safe and secure:

1. ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN is my top pick for accessing Zoom in China. It’s a premium VPN that offers speed, security, and reliable access to blocked apps in China.

Features: ExpressVPN comes with high-end features, including split tunneling, obfuscated servers (perfect for China), ad blocking, and a password manager. With over 3,200 servers across 105 countries, it’s perfect for maintaining a secure and fast connection anywhere in the world.

Speed: I tested ExpressVPN’s download speed with servers near China, in Hong Kong, and it maintained an impressive 87% of my baseline speed.

Privacy and Security: When you’re accessing any blocked website in China, security is crucial. ExpressVPN uses AES 256-bit military-grade encryption, an automatic Kill Switch, DNS leak protection, and an independently verified no-logs policy.

Performance: I’m impressed with ExpressVPN’s smooth and stable performance for video conferencing, general browsing, gaming, streaming, and other online activities, even under heavy censorship.

Compatibility: ExpressVPN works across all major operating systems, including macOS, iOS, Windows, Android, and Linux. You can connect up to 8 devices simultaneously.

Pricing: While ExpressVPN is a bit pricier than the competition, you can sign up for the 12-month plan at $6.67/month and get 3 extra months for free and a 30-day money-back guarantee.

2. NordVPN

NordVPN is another premium choice for accessing Zoom in China. It offers excellent speed, top-notch security, and a vast server network.

Features: With NordVPN, you get access to over 6,400 servers in 111 countries. It comes packed with useful features like Double VPN, obfuscated servers (great for China), ad-blocking, tracker blocking, and malware protection.

Speed: When connected to one of the Hong Kong servers, NordVPN maintained an impressive 91% of its download speed.

Privacy and Security: NordVPN excels in privacy and security, offering AES 256-bit military-grade encryption, a Kill Switch, leak protection, and an independently verified no-logs policy.

Performance: Whether I’m video conferencing, streaming, gaming, torrenting, or just browsing, NordVPN delivers smooth, stable performance.

Compatibility: NordVPN works with macOS, Windows, Android, iOS, and Linux. You can connect up to 10 devices at once.

Pricing: You can get NordVPN for as low as $3.39/month with a 24-month plan, plus 4 extra months free. It also comes with a 30-day trial.

3. Surfshark

For those on a budget, Surfshark is a fantastic option for using Zoom in China. It offers solid security and privacy features and allows unlimited device connections, all for a low price.

Features: Surfshark comes loaded with features like a data breach monitor, an ad-blocker, obfuscation, and split tunneling. Plus it’s got over 3,200 servers across 100 countries.

Speed: While Surfshark is slower than NordVPN and ExpressVPN, users can still expect solid performance as I retained 71% of my download speed as compared to my baseline on Hong Kong servers.

Privacy and Security: Despite its affordable price, Surfshark doesn’t skimp on security for your VPN connection. You get military-grade encryption, a verified zero-logs policy, a Kill Switch, and leak protection.

Performance: Surfshark delivers smooth performance for video conferencing, streaming, gaming, and browsing, though you may experience slower speeds during peak use.

Compatibility: Surfshark offers user-friendly apps for just about any operating system, including Windows, Android, Linux, macOS, and iOS. Plus, it allows for unlimited device connections under one account.

Pricing: Surfshark is incredibly affordable at just $2.19/month for a 2-year plan, plus 4 free months. Like the others, it comes with a 30-day trial.

How we picked and analyzed Zoom in China

Here’s how I picked and analyzed the best VPNs for Zoom in China:

• Speed. I completed speed testing on a variety of servers and devices and prioritized VPNs that consistently delivered a fast and stable VPN connection.
• Server network. I looked for VPNs with a large number of servers in multiple countries to ensure fast and unrestricted access to Zoom as well as geographically restricted sites worldwide.
• Unblocking capability. I tested each VPN’s ability to bypass China’s Firewall. Only VPNs that could reliably unblock Zoom in China made the list.
• Privacy and security. To protect your data from ISP and government surveillance while using Zoom, I focused on VPNs with strong privacy and security measures, including an independently audited no-logs policy, a Kill Switch, leak protection, and AES-256 bit encryption.
• Compatibility. I made sure the VPN had intuitive apps that were compatible with a wide range of devices.
• Customer Service. Only VPNs with responsive 24/7 live chat support and a money-back guarantee made my list.

Websites, apps, and services that are blocked in China

Zoom isn’t the only thing you won’t be able to access in China without a VPN. You’ll need a VPN to access the following sites:

Video sharing and streaming platforms

China prohibits the following websites:

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

Apps

The following apps won’t work in China without help from a premium VPN:

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

Work and productivity tools

These online tools are blocked in China:

• Gmail
• Dropbox
• Slack

Search engines

When you get to China, you’ll find the following search engines blocked:

• Google
• Yahoo
• Duck Duck Go

Social

You won’t be able to access these social media sites:

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

Zoom alternatives

Instead of connecting with others on the Zoom website, here are some other options available to you:

• BlueJeans
• Cisco Jabber
• GoToMeeting
• Microsoft Teams

Can I use a free VPN to access Zoom in China?

I would not recommend using a free VPN for accessing Zoom in China. First of all, most don’t have the technology to get past the Great Firewall of China, meaning they just can’t get the job done. In addition, a free VPN won’t provide you with the level of security and privacy protection that is essential in China’s heavily censored environment.

FAQ

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

Using a VPN to access Zoom in a heavily censored country like China could lead to some pretty stiff fines if you get caught. In fact, the Chinese government only allows certain VPNs to be used at all, so do your research on what’s allowed and what’s not to avoid getting into any trouble before you use a VPN to unblock Zoom in China.

If you do choose to use a VPN for the Zoom app, I highly recommend you stick with one of the premium VPNs like ExpressVPN which offer the most advanced security and privacy features so your online activities stay under the radar.

Can I access Zoom from China?

Yes. You can unblock the website in China using a premium VPN like ExpressVPN. It’s important to familiarize yourself with Chinese law before using a VPN to access any blocked sites to avoid legal repercussions.

Conclusion

Whether for work or staying in touch with loved ones, a VPN is the only way to use Zoom freely in China’s heavily censored environment. Not only that, a secure VPN connection helps protect you from government surveillance.

Only a few VPNs have what it takes to get past the Great Firewall of China and provide safe access to blocked content like Zoom. I recommend ExpressVPN as the most reliable and secure VPN for China.