ExpressVPN This VPN I’ve been testing it for about 5 years in China. Been watching its usage in China. I used to publish reports in Simplified Chinese with around 300 reports. On average, I publish a test report every 6 days. At one time it was really the best VPN for mainland China, but since it was acquired by Kepa, this is no longer the case.
Today I tested it again, using English as the reporting language. I hope more people know the real situation.
Test Date: October 12, 2024
Test Device: MacOS
Test VPN: ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN Protocol: Automatic
ExpressVPN Version: 11.59.0 (83862)
Test Network Speed: 500 Mbps
ExpressVPN Deal: New User $5.32/month
The latest guidelines for ExpressVPN’s use for mainland China were released on 22 March 2024, according to ExpressVPN.
It states that regardless of Windows, iOS, Android, or macOS, you just need to select the protocol as automatic after installing the programme. Then select the following 5 servers to connect successfully.
- Pick for Me
- USA – Los Angeles – 5
- UK – Wembley
- Singapore – Marina Bay
- France – Alsace
When prompted, ExpressVPN turns on the Threat Manager, feature by default. However, protocols such as IKEv2 cannot be used when it is turned on. So I turned Threat Manager off in my test to get more access to the protocols.
After closing Threat Manager
Screenshot of test base information
Pick for Me: Successful
SpeedTest Download: 5.11 Mbps, Upload: 61.4 Mbps, Ping: 227 ms, Jitter: 118ms, Loss: 0%.
Youtube Connection Speed: 32122 kbps.
If I just give you this screenshot or test result, maybe you will think it is available in China with this server. In reality this is not the case.
This server can connect successfully, but during the 10 minutes of testing it went offline 6-7 times. Instead, it quickly connects again automatically, but this keeps happening with no end in sight. That’s why I marked it as red Successful (I put red for connection failure and green for connection success)
With this kind of behaviour I still classify it as a failure.
USA – Los Angeles – 5: Failure
The test of this server is that the first connection is successful. But it basically shows that the connection was successful. But can’t connect to the internet. Can’t open any website like YouTube, Google, etc.
Then the app shows offline and after that there is no successful connection.
UK – Wembley: Failure
It’s exactly the same as USA – Los Angeles – 5. I’m not going to repeat myself and write it all over again.
Singapore – Marina Bay: Failure
This server connects and opens websites like YouTube. But after that it appears offline. Then it connects again automatically and after that it is not connected.
France – Alsace: Failure
This server connects, does not connect successfully, and is in a constant state of trying to connect.
Summary：ExpressVPN is a great VPN, there’s no denying that. But it’s true that it doesn’t work in China right now. And that’s a fact.
