Astrill VPN Review
Astrill is the VPN people in China actually keep paying for, because it keeps working when others stop. Everywhere else, the price is impossible to justify.
Review last updated 2026-08-20 · How we rate providers
Scorecard
Pros
- The most reliable option inside China, year after year
- StealthVPN and OpenWeb protocols defeat deep packet inspection
- Excellent router firmware for whole-network setups
- Fast even on obfuscated connections
Cons
- By far the most expensive consumer VPN, at around $15/mo annually
- Privacy policy retains connection metadata such as last login and device IDs
- No refund policy, only a short trial
- No independent audit
Privacy, jurisdiction & audits
Who the company answers to legally, what it keeps, and whether anyone independent has checked.
| Legal jurisdiction | Seychelles outside 5/9/14 EyesOffshore jurisdiction with no data retention requirement. |
|---|---|
| Logging policy | Minimal metadata retained |
| Independent audits | None published |
| RAM-only servers | - |
| Warrant canary | - |
| Anonymous payment | Crypto accepted |
Astrill VPN plans & pricing
Advertised rates as of August 20, 2026. VPN promo rates normally require the prepaid term shown and renew at the higher rate; proxy pricing falls with volume. Confirm on Astrill VPN's own site before buying.
| Plan | Price | Devices | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| MonthlyConsumer VPN | $30/momonthly | 5 | |
| 6 monthsConsumer VPN | $23.33/mo6 mo prepay | 5 | |
| 1 yearConsumer VPN | $15/mo12 mo prepay$180 billed up front | 5 | |
| VIP add-onConsumer VPN | $10/momonthly add-on | 5 | Adds multi-hop routes and additional device slots |
Features
Our Astrill VPN review
Astrill has a specific reputation and it is earned: when the Great Firewall tightens and other VPNs go dark for days, Astrill users tend to stay connected. StealthVPN and OpenWeb are purpose-built to survive deep packet inspection, and the company has spent fifteen years iterating on that one problem.
The apps are good, router firmware is strong, and speeds hold up even with obfuscation enabled, which is unusual. Port forwarding, split tunneling, multi-hop through the VIP add-on and a working kill switch are all present.
The privacy policy is the weak spot. Astrill acknowledges retaining connection metadata, including the last connection record, device identifiers and IP addresses used during a session, for a limited period. That is a real difference from a strict no-logs provider, and there has never been an independent audit.
The price is the other problem. Roughly $15/mo on an annual plan, $30 month to month, and the useful VIP features are an add-on on top. That is three to six times the price of Surfshark or Proton VPN, with a smaller network and a weaker logging posture.
There is no money-back guarantee, only a short free trial on some platforms, so testing is limited before you commit real money.
Buy Astrill if you live in or travel to China, Iran or another heavily censored network and reliability there is worth any price. Otherwise almost every other provider in this directory is a better deal.
Notable facts
- StealthVPN and OpenWeb are proprietary anti-censorship protocols
- Widely considered the most reliable VPN inside mainland China
- No refund policy, only a limited free trial
At a glance
| Founded | 2009 |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Seychelles |
| Service types | Consumer VPN |
| Servers | 300 |
| Country coverage | 57 |
| Protocols | WireGuard, OpenVPN, StealthVPN, OpenWeb |
| Apps | Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Linux, Router |
| Streaming unblocked | Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Disney+ |
| Starting price | $10/mo |
| Free trial | 7 days |
| Free tier | No |
| Support | chat, email (24/7) |
Frequently asked questions
Why is Astrill so expensive?
It prices against a captive use case: reliable access inside heavily censored countries. Users who need that pay it, so the company has no reason to compete on price elsewhere.
Does Astrill keep logs?
Astrill states it retains limited connection metadata, including recent connection records and device identifiers. That is more than strict no-logs providers keep, and no audit has verified the practice.
Is Astrill the best VPN for China?
It is the most consistently recommended by long-term residents. Proton VPN Stealth, NordVPN obfuscated servers and LetsVPN are the usual alternates, and no VPN works there all the time.
Bottom line
Astrill is the VPN people in China actually keep paying for, because it keeps working when others stop. Everywhere else, the price is impossible to justify.
Check current Astrill VPN pricing →
