Is Amazon Blocked in China in 2025?

Amazon has become a hugely popular site and platform for users around the world. Whether you’re looking to keep up with your favorite shows and movies on Amazon Prime Video, listen to your tunes on Prime Music, or just keep up with your Amazon shopping list, there are plenty of reasons you might want to be able to access Amazon while you’re traveling.

But what about if you’re planning a trip to China? China famously has many websites blocked from being used by residents due to the Chinese government enacting very strict internet censorship. Using what’s become known as the “Great Firewall of China,” it can be difficult to access many popular sites. So, is Amazon blocked in China? Unfortunately, the answer is yes.

So, if you’re in China, what can you do? Well, the solution is to use a virtual private network, otherwise known as a VPN. A reliable VPN service will allow you to change your IP address, bypass the Great Firewall, and stream content in China with ease.

I’ve tested about 30 VPNs on the market and am here to tell you which ones are going to work best for unblocking Amazon while in China.

Key takeaways

1. Websites like Amazon are blocked in China because of strict internet restrictions.
2. To bypass internet restrictions, you can use a virtual private network, also known as a VPN.
3. The best VPNs for unblocking Amazon in China are ExpressVPN, NordVPN, and Surfshark. I recommend ExpressVPN as my top pick.

Is Amazon blocked in China?

Yes, if you try to use Amazon in China, you will find that it is among the websites blocked by the Chinese authorities. To access Amazon while in China, you will need to use a reliable VPN.

Why is Amazon not available in China?

The Chinese government has very strict internet censorship laws and is very strict about the type of content residents are allowed to consume. This, unfortunately, leads them to block many popular websites, like Amazon, and install an incredibly strong firewall that is difficult to bypass.

How to choose the best VPN for China

When it comes to choosing the best VPN for China, there are several factors that I always take into account and recommend you consider as well.

• Unblocking abilities. Not all VPNs are created equal when it comes to bypassing geographical restrictions, and that is especially true for VPNs in China. So, I always look for VPNs that have been tested and are proven to be able to bypass restrictions and unblock websites.
• Privacy and security. Keeping my online activities and information safe and secure is of utmost importance, so I look for VPNs that have top-of-line privacy and security features.
• Speed. No one likes to experience annoying buffering or lag when they stream content or use the internet, so it’s important to choose a VPN with fast speeds that won’t slow your internet down.
• Server network. I look for VPNs with large server networks that have a wide range of countries available so that I know I’ll have access to as many sites in as many countries as possible.
• Pricing. Everyone has different budgets and priorities, so I think it’s important to take pricing into account and analyze with each VPN if you’re getting the most bang for your buck.

3 best VPNs to unblock Amazon in China

Here are 3 best VPNs working in China to unblock Amazon:

1. ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN is my number one pick for China for the best all-around performance and ease of use, and it has over 3,000 servers in over 105 countries.

Features: ExpressVPN offers unlimited bandwidth and up to 8 simultaneous device connections. It also comes with split tunneling and a MediaStreamer feature.

Speed: With its Lightway tunneling protocol, ExpressVPN boasts lightning-fast speeds, so you won’t have to worry about any unwanted buffering.

Security: ExpressVPN has top-notch privacy and security features, including military-grade encryption, DNS leak protection, a kill switch, RAM-only servers, and a strict no-logs policy.

Streaming: ExpressVPN works great at unblocking streaming services, including Amazon Prime, Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, HBO Max, BBC iPlayer, and more.

Compatibility: This VPN is compatible with most popular devices, including Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, Smart TVs, gaming consoles, and routers.

Pricing: This VPN is on the more expensive side, with prices starting at $6.67 per month, but it does come with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

2. NordVPN

NordVPN is a popular choice for users in China, boasting a very large server network of 7,100 servers in 118 countries, giving you a huge range of servers to choose from.

Features: NordVPN offers unlimited bandwidth and lets you have up to 10 simultaneous device connections. It also offers split tunneling and SmartPlay for easy streaming.

Speed: NordVPN has super-fast speeds thanks to its proprietary NordLynx protocol.

Security: This VPN comes with all the top privacy and security features that include AES-256 encryption, DNS leak protection, a kill switch, a strict no-logs policy, malware protection, and a Dark Web monitor.

Streaming: NordVPN works great on numerous streaming services, including Amazon Prime Video, Netflix, Hulu, HBO Max, Disney+, and BBC iPlayer.

Compatibility: This VPN is compatible with most devices, including Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, Linux, gaming consoles, and routers.

Pricing: Prices for NordVPN start at $3.39 per month and comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

3. Surfshark

If you’re looking for a VPN at a bargain price that doesn’t sacrifice on features, then Surfshark is a great option with its 3,200 servers in 100 countries.

Features: In addition to unlimited bandwidth, Surfshark stands out by offering users unlimited simultaneous device connections.

Speed: While not as fast as ExpressVPN or NordVPN, Surfshark still has impressively fast speeds using the WireGaurd protocol.

Security: Surfshark includes all the excellent security features, such as AES-256 military-grade encryption, a kill switch, DNS leak protection, a no-logs policy, malware protection, and an ad blocker.

Streaming: Surfshark works on most of the popular streaming sites, including Prime Video, Netflix, Hulu, HBO Max, and Disney+.

Compatibility: Surfshark is compatible with numerous devices, including Mac, Windows, iOS, Android, Linux, Smart TVs, and routers.

Pricing: Prices for Surfshark start at just $1.99 per month and come with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Websites, apps, and services that are blocked in China

The Chinese authorities have numerous apps and sites blocked in China, including the following:

Video sharing and streaming platforms

Netflix, SoundCloud, Pandora Radio, Twitch, Vimeo, YouTube, BBC iPlayer. TikTok, Daily Motion, and Spotify.

Apps and websites

Google Play, WhatsApp, Messenger, Viber, Telegram, Discord, and Amazon.

Work and productivity tools

Gmail, Zoom, Dropbox, and Slack.

Search engines

Google, Yahoo, and Duck Duck Go.

Social 

Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Snapchat, Twitter, Tinder, and Quora.

Can I use a free VPN to use Amazon in China?

While it might be tempting to use a free VPN in China, this is not something that I recommend.

First of all, free VPNs tend not to work in China and are unable to bypass the Great Firewall. But beyond that, free VPNs tend to have overcrowded servers that lead to slow speeds and tons of buffering. Additionally, there are privacy and security concerns with many free VPNs, as many will sell their users’ data to a third party.

So, if you want the best VPN to use in China, I recommend looking into other services, like ExpressVPN.

FAQ

Is Amazon allowed in China?

No, Amazon, along with many other sites, is blocked in China due to strict online censorship in the country.

Can I use Amazon in China?

Amazon is blocked in China, but if you want to access the site while in the country, you can use a VPN provider to connect to a VPN server in a different country and change your IP address.

Conclusion

In China, there is very strict online censorship that might prevent you from accessing platforms and services like Amazon. In order to access Amazon and other services, the solution is to use a virtual private network, also known as a VPN. You can use a VPN to connect to a VPN server in a different country and, from there, access as much content as you would like. I recommend using a premium VPN such as ExpressVPN.