Is Discord Banned in China in 2025?

After North Korea, China is known for making some of the toughest internet censorship efforts in the world, blocking a record number of social media apps and other sites commonly used in the West. These security measures are so tight that people have begun calling them the Great Firewall of China.

Discord, the hugely popular communication app, is one of the many things blocked in China. If you’re traveling through China but still need or want to access Discord, don’t worry; it isn’t impossible. I am here to reassure you that unblocking Discord is no problem as long as you have a reliable VPN at your disposal.

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 Discord banned in China in 2025?

Unfortunately, you cannot access Discord in China thanks to the strict rules of the Chinese government and the impositions of China’s Great Firewall. Accessing Discord in China requires a reliable and secure VPN connection- don’t worry, I’ll tell you how to get one of those soon!

Why does China block Discord?

It doesn’t surprise me that the Chinese government has forbidden its citizens from using Discord. Chinese law is very tight when it comes to internet freedom, prohibiting the use of the Discord app and many other apps.

Because of this, you’ll need a VPN to access foreign websites and otherwise geo-blocked content when you travel to China.

What makes a great VPN for accessing Discord in China

In my experience, a VPN that can access Discord in China has:

• Security features. I want a VPN with strong security measures that keep the Chinese government out of my internet traffic.
• Speed. I prefer VPNs with quick connectivity that maintain fast speeds.
• Unblocking. The best VPNs offer high-quality streaming from a large VPN server network and should have no problem unblocking Discord and other apps.
• Pricing. I want to get my money’s worth, so I exclusively recommend VPNs that are high-quality and affordable.

3 best VPNs to unblock Discord in China 

Many providers will claim to have the best VPN, so choose carefully. Here are my top three best VPNs:

1. ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN is my top pick for speed, quality, and security.

Features: ExpressVPN offers military-grade encryption, leak protection, a no-logs policy, split tunneling, and an automatic kill switch.

Speed: ExpressVPN uses Lightway Protocol to stream content cleanly and steadily.

Unblocking: Express has a network of 3,000+ VPN servers in 105 countries, which increases its unblocking capabilities by allowing you to change IP addresses and effortlessly access sites like Amazon Prime Video, as well as apps like Discord in China.

Compatibility: ExpressVPN runs smoothly and is compatible with Windows, Linux, macOS, Android, and iOS while letting you connect to 8 devices simultaneously.

Pricing: Though pricier, ExpressVPN is worth the money in my opinion. Its one-year plan costs $6.67/month and gives you 3 additional months for free! You also have 30 days to try the service and make sure you’re satisfied or get your money back.

2. NordVPN

I’ve found NordVPN to be fast, secure, and high-quality.

Features: Nord keeps you safe with military-grade encryption, leak protection, a no-logs policy, split tunneling, and an automatic kill switch.

Speed: Nord achieves rapid connection speeds thanks to its NordLynx protocol.

Unblocking: Nord has 7,100+ servers in 118 countries, including many obfuscated servers that are good for unblocking Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Discord servers, and more with ease in China.

Compatibility: NordVPN easily operates on Windows, Linux, macOS, Android, and iOS. It provides up to 10 simultaneous device connections per account.

Pricing: Those who subscribe for two years pay $3.39/month and receive 4 extra months for free. This comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

3. Surfshark

I strongly recommend Surfshark to anyone who wants a solid Discord VPN at an affordable price.

Features: Surfshark protects you with strong encryption, a kill switch, leak protection, a no-logs policy, malware protection, and an ad blocker.

Speed: Surfshark reaches decent speeds on 3,200+ servers in 100+ countries. If you encounter lag with Surfshark, you can always switch servers until you reach a speedier one.

Unblocking: Surfshark has solid unblocking capabilities and can easily overcome China’s Discord ban.

Compatibility: Surfshark offers unlimited simultaneous connections and is highly compatible with Windows client, Linux, macOS, Android, and iOS.

Pricing: Surfshark offers a 2-year plan for only $1.99/month with an extra 4 months for free along with a risk-free 30-day subscription period that can be fully refunded.

Websites, apps, and services that are blocked in China

Video sharing and streaming platforms

The Chinese government has chosen to block access to many platforms widely available in other countries. Like the Discord app, Netflix, SoundCloud, Pandora Radio, Twitch, Vimeo, YouTube, and BBC iPlayer are inaccessible in China. Regular users of TikTok, Daily Motion, and Spotify will also notice that they cannot reach these platforms without a VPN.

Apps

Google Play, WhatsApp, Messenger, Viber, Telegram, and Discord are all banned in China.

Work and productivity tools

You cannot access Gmail, Zoom, Dropbox, or Slack in China. That said, if you need to work while you’re in China, keep this in mind and plan ahead accordingly.

Search engines

Google, Yahoo, and Duck Duck Go are inaccessible in China.

Social

Websites blocked by the Chinese government also include most social media platform sites such as Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Snapchat, Twitter, and Quora.

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

Free VPNs are both risky and unreliable, particularly in China. Many simply will not work because the Chinese authorities actively block VPNs. Additionally, whether you’re in China or not, free VPNs are risky as the companies are willing to sell your data to suspicious third parties for profit, which exposes you to security threats.

For me, the combined risks of using a free VPN and upsetting the Chinese government are reasons enough to shell out some cash to ensure my online safety. I strongly recommend keeping yourself protected by subscribing to a premium VPN service. The ones I’ve reviewed in this article all include a one-month refund policy, which you can effectively use for free as long as you cancel before the trial period is up.

FAQ

Is it legal to unblock Discord in China with a VPN?

It is not illegal to use a VPN in China as long as it has been approved by the Chinese government.

Just be aware that if you violate government regulations, the consequences range from as minor as you being fined, to as major as you being imprisoned- It all depends on what you were doing on the internet and what your legal status in the country is.

I’m not qualified to provide legal advice, so I urge you to research local laws ahead of time and be discreet and smart when surfing the web in China.

Does a VPN slow down Discord?

Accessing Discord with a VPN could cause Discord to run slower; however, this is not specifically due to the VPN. Often, rerouting your internet traffic through an alternative IP address can induce slow connections, depending on how heavy traffic is on your chosen IP address.

Conclusion

Thanks to China’s Great Firewall, many social media sites, streaming platforms, search engines, and other tools are blocked. In particular, if you enjoy using Discord, be aware that, unfortunately, there is no Discord in China. However, a truly determined user of Discord refuses to give up so easily. If you follow my advice and subscribe to one of my above-recommended VPN providers and get your VPN set up before you head over to China, you should be able to access Discord in China with no problem.