Astrill VPN
A premium VPN renowned for reliably working inside China
$12.50/mo
from $12.50/mo /mo
- Servers
- ~300 servers
- Countries
- 57+
- Devices
- 5 devices
- No-logs
- No
- Kill switch
- Yes
- Free plan
- No
Our verdict
A premium censorship-beating VPN that reliably works in China thanks to StealthVPN, but the high price and retention of some session connection metadata are real trade-offs.
Speed test & performance
- Download retention
- 85%
- Nearby download
- 425 Mbps
- Long-distance download
- 240 Mbps
- Latency increase
- +19 ms
of unprotected baseline on nearby servers
measured on a 500 Mbps line
intercontinental server hop
added ping versus unprotected
Pros & cons
Pros
- Renowned for reliably working inside China
- Powerful StealthVPN and OpenWeb obfuscation protocols
- Strong speeds with WireGuard and OpenVPN options
- Seychelles jurisdiction outside the Eyes alliances
- Polished apps with router and add-on server support
Cons
- Expensive at around $12.50 per month with no free plan
- Keeps some connection metadata during active sessions
- Modest ~300-server network limited to 5 devices
Compatibility
Platforms
Protocols
Overview
Astrill VPN is a long-running, premium-priced service best known for one thing: it keeps working in China when most VPNs get blocked. Based in Seychelles and operating since 2009, it pairs its StealthVPN and OpenWeb protocols with a modest ~300-server network across 57 countries, targeting expats and travelers who need reliable access above all.
\nSpeed and performance
\nAstrill delivers strong performance for a security-focused VPN: on a 500 Mbps line it retained about 85% of baseline nearby, roughly 425 Mbps, with long-distance servers near 240 Mbps and latency up around +19 ms. StealthVPN adds some overhead to evade detection, while WireGuard and OpenVPN offer faster options when obfuscation is not needed.
\nPrivacy and security
\nAstrill offers AES-256 encryption, a kill switch and its signature StealthVPN obfuscation, all from a Seychelles base outside the Eyes alliances. The important caveat is that Astrill keeps some connection metadata, such as connection times and device details, during an active session, which is a weaker stance than the strict no-logs providers.
\nStreaming and torrenting
\nThe service unblocks major streaming platforms and supports P2P on select servers, but its real specialty is defeating censorship rather than maximizing streaming libraries. For users behind the Great Firewall, its reliability is the headline feature.
\nPricing and plans
\nAstrill is expensive, starting around $12.50 per month even on longer terms, with no free plan and only limited refund options. Each subscription covers 5 devices, and premium add-on servers cost extra.
\nWho it's for
\nAstrill is aimed squarely at users in China and other heavily censored regions who will pay a premium for connections that simply work. Budget-conscious users and strict-no-logs purists will find both the price and the session-metadata policy off-putting.
Features & capabilities
StealthVPN
Obfuscates traffic to bypass VPN blocking and deep packet inspection in censored regions.
OpenWeb protocol
Lightweight proprietary protocol built for fast, censorship-resistant browsing.
Works in China
Reliably maintains connections behind the Great Firewall where most VPNs fail.
Site filter and split tunneling
Choose which apps and sites route through the VPN and which bypass it.
VIP add-on servers
Optional premium servers for extra speed and capacity at additional cost.
Router support
Runs on supported routers to protect every device on your network.
Kill switch and app guard
Blocks traffic and can force specific apps to only run while connected.
Port forwarding
Opens ports for P2P and self-hosting on supported plans.
Privacy & compliance
Frequently asked questions
Yes, Astrill is one of the most reliable VPNs for use in China thanks to its StealthVPN and OpenWeb protocols, which are designed to evade the Great Firewall.
Astrill charges a premium, starting around $12.50 per month, largely because of its reliability in censored regions and its specialised obfuscation technology.
Astrill retains some connection metadata, such as connection times and device information, during an active session, which is a weaker privacy stance than strict no-logs providers.
StealthVPN is Astrill's proprietary obfuscation protocol that disguises VPN traffic to bypass deep packet inspection and censorship systems like China's Great Firewall.
Astrill is based in Seychelles, a privacy-friendly jurisdiction outside the 5, 9 and 14-Eyes intelligence-sharing alliances.
Each subscription covers up to 5 simultaneous devices, with premium add-on servers available at extra cost.
No. Astrill does not offer a free plan and provides only limited refund options, so it is a commitment upfront.
Astrill supports OpenVPN, WireGuard and its own StealthVPN and OpenWeb protocols, giving you both fast and heavily obfuscated options.
It unblocks major streaming platforms and supports P2P on select servers, though its main strength is defeating censorship rather than maximising streaming access.
On our 500 Mbps line it retained about 85% of baseline speed nearby (roughly 425 Mbps), with long-distance servers near 240 Mbps.
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