Today, I will test StrongVPN on a Windows device to evaluate its current functionality in China. If you’re planning to travel to China and want to access websites or apps like YouTube, Google, WhatsApp, Facebook, ChatGPT, or Instagram, this test report can serve as a helpful reference.
Local testing devices and network
- ISP: China Telecom
- ISP Speed: 500Mbps
- Device: Windows
- Test Time: December 17, 2024 (China time)
- StrongVPN Test Version: v2.6.5.0
Random server test report
The servers will be tested in alphabetical order from A to Z as listed by StrongVPN. This is a blind test, meaning I don’t know beforehand which servers are accessible in China and which are not.
Buenos Aires – Argentina: Connection failed; (Error Code: 809)
Here is a screenshot showing the connection failure with error code 809. I will not include repeated screenshots in the subsequent tests.
Sydney – Australia: Connection failed; (Error Code: 809)
Perth – Australia: Connection failed; (Error Code: 809)
Melbourne – Australia: Connection successful; (Once, it takes about 3 seconds, Protocol IKEv2)
- SpeedTest: Download: 0.61 Mbps; Upload: 1.13 Mbps; Ping: 265 ms;
- YouTube experience: The speed is inconsistent, with noticeable lag and poor overall user experience.
- Test duration: more than 8 minutes.
Brisbane – Australia: Connection failed; (Error Code: 809)
Vienna – Austria: Connection failed; (Error Code: 809)
Brussels – Belgium: Connection failed; (Error Code: 809)
Sao Paulo – Brazil: Connection failed; (Error Code: 809)
Montreal – Canada: Connection successful; (Once, it takes about 3 seconds, Protocol IKEv2)
- SpeedTest: Download: 211.02 Mbps; Upload: 3.41 Mbps; Ping: 228 ms;
- YouTube experience: very smooth speed, no lag.
- Test duration: more than 2 minutes.
- ChatGPT: Successfully unlocked.
- Claude AI: Successfully unlocked.
- Gemini: Successfully unlocked.
Toronto – Canada: Connection successful; (Once, it takes about 3 seconds, Protocol IKEv2)
- SpeedTest: Download: 0.57 Mbps; Upload: 5.52 Mbps; Ping: 204 ms;
Note: Although this server showed slow speeds on Speedtest, the actual performance when using YouTube, Google, AI tools, and similar services was quite smooth with no noticeable lag. This discrepancy might be related to the Speedtest server used. - YouTube experience: very smooth speed, no lag.
- Test duration: more than 3 minutes.
- ChatGPT: Successfully unlocked.
- Claude AI: Successfully unlocked.
- Gemini: Successfully unlocked.
Vancouver – Canada: Connection failed; (Error Code: 809)
Santiago – Chile: Connection successful; (Once, it takes about 3 seconds, Protocol IKEv2)
- SpeedTest: Download: 13.38 Mbps; Upload: 8.86 Mbps; Ping: 293 ms;
- YouTube experience: very smooth speed, no lag.
- Test duration: more than 3 minutes.
- ChatGPT: Successfully unlocked.
- Claude AI: Successfully unlocked.
- Gemini: Successfully unlocked.
Bogota – Colombia: Connection failed; (Error Code: 809)
San Jose – Costa Rica: Connection successful; (Once, it takes about 3 seconds, Protocol IKEv2)
- SpeedTest: Download: 3.56 Mbps; Upload: 4.15 Mbps; Ping: 276 ms;
- YouTube experience: very smooth speed, no lag.
- Test duration: more than 3 minutes.
- ChatGPT: Successfully unlocked.
- Claude AI: Successfully unlocked.
- Gemini: Successfully unlocked.
Prague – Czechia: Connection failed; (Error Code: 809)
Copenhagen – Denmark: Connection failed; (Error Code: 809)
Tallinn – Estonia: Connection failed; (Error Code: 809)
Helsinki – Finland: Connection successful; (Once, it takes about 3 seconds, Protocol IKEv2)
- SpeedTest: Download: 184.49 Mbps; Upload: 6.33 Mbps; Ping: 250 ms;
- YouTube experience: very smooth speed, no lag.
- Test duration: more than 3 minutes.
- ChatGPT: Successfully unlocked.
- Claude AI: Successfully unlocked.
- Gemini: Successfully unlocked.
Bordeaux – France: Connection failed; (Error Code: 809)
Marseille – France: Connection failed; (Error Code: 809)
Paris – France: Connection successful; (Once, it takes about 3 seconds, Protocol IKEv2)
- SpeedTest: Download: 43.47 Mbps; Upload: 5.14 Mbps; Ping: 176 ms;
- YouTube experience: very smooth speed, no lag.
- Test duration: more than 3 minutes.
- ChatGPT: Successfully unlocked.
- Claude AI: Successfully unlocked.
- Gemini: Successfully unlocked.
Frankfurt – Germany: Connection failed; (Error Code: 809)
Hong Kong: Connection failed; (Error Code: 809)
Virtual – India: Connection failed; (Error Code: 809)
Dublin – Ireland: Connection failed; (Error Code: 809)
Tel Aviv – Israel: Connection failed; (Error Code: 809)
Milan – Italy: Connection failed; (Error Code: 809)
Tokyo – Japan: Connection failed; (Error Code: 809)
Seoul – Korea: Connection failed; (Error Code: 809)
The tested servers account for roughly half of the servers displayed by StrongVPN on my device. Based on this test, StrongVPN performs reasonably well in mainland China. However, since StrongVPN does not indicate which servers are suitable for use in China, users will need to manually test and identify working servers. This report can serve as a reference for choosing servers and provide a general understanding of this VPN’s usability in China.
It’s also important to note that there are no permanently reliable servers in China. This is difficult to achieve because the Great Firewall continually expands its range of blocked servers and IP addresses.