Avoid China’s Great Firewall to Use Dropbox with this Tool
- Written by John Bennet Online Privacy Advocate
For all the innovations dedicated to entertainment that the digital world and the age of the Internet have brought us, something that’s overlooked from time to time is how much smaller technology has made our world through the art of collaboration, particularly in the business sense.
Modern technology defies oceans, time, space, and every other form of restriction. We can send video and books from one continent to another in mere seconds, talk to people halfway around the world as if they were right next door, and view marketing reports and sales charts as they happen in real time.
Spoiled, much?
Unfortunately, living in China means having a lot of those collaborative tools disrupted or disable because of the country’s strict Internet censorship policy .
Anything associated with Google , Facebook , or Twitter is blocked in China , and even seemingly harmless collaborative tools like Dropbox have been shut down.
Why Dropbox? Because it allows people outside of China to contact those inside the country’s borders and perhaps send them illicit files, photos, or plans to disrupt society.
While it might sound far-fetched to some, terrorists have taken advantage of collaboration tools to mastermind attacks in the past. Editor’s Note: We value our relationship with our readers, and we strive to earn your trust through transparency and integrity. We are in the same ownership group as some of the industry-leading products reviewed on this site: ExpressVPN, CyberGhost, Private Internet Access, and Intego. That said, our detailed reviews follow a strict methodology that examines all relevant performance factors to help you arrive at your own informed conclusion.
Alternatives to Dropbox in China
With Dropbox completely blocked in China , users who need it for work or personal use can seek out alternatives. The difficult part is finding those that are not also banned by being partners or products of things like Google that have an overarching view.
If you cannot get Dropbox in your office in China, here are some alternatives to consider:
- Tresorit This company is so confident in its ability to keep your data safe that it offers a $5,000 prize for anyone who can breach its security. It has end-to-end encryption, zero-knowledge authentication, and a cryptographic key to open documents.
- Sync.com Includes apps for macOS, Windows, iOS, and Android. It has great tools for sharing collaboration , especially to keep limits on who can access what information. It is free to try and just $5 for a ProBusines deal. It also has really great speeds .
- OneDrive It comes standard on most Microsoft computers and gives you 15B of storage as a starter. You also get the Office suite at no additional charge. You also get access to OneNote for all your note-taking needs.
- Box Called the Dropbox simply for business, it runs the same risk of being shut down as Dropbox, but for now it is open. It has website or apps for every platform including Linux. As an added bonus, when you edit documents online it syncs them in real time even if they are downloaded on another computer.
- pCloud A Swiss company, it has better security than Dropbox and can encrypt all your data with only you having the key.
Best VPNs to Access Dropbox in China
If Dropbox is the only game in town for you and your company, than a VPN must be employed to get access .
Here are three of the better choices :
1. ExpressVPN — Automatic Obfuscation on All Servers for Seamless Dropbox Access in China
Key Features:
- 3,000+ servers in 105 countries with built-in obfuscation
- Lightway protocol supports stable Dropbox transfers
- Supports up to 14 simultaneous connections
- 24/7 support with live chat, email, and guides
- 30*-day money-back guarantee for first-time users
ExpressVPN automatically disguises VPN traffic , making Dropbox sync and file access look like standard HTTPS. This keeps uploads and downloads working even when China’s firewall is most restrictive. Lightway adds fast reconnections and stable performance, so large transfers are less likely to fail.
With servers in nearby hubs like Hong Kong, Japan, and Singapore, you can maintain low-latency connections for quicker sync times. ExpressVPN also provides China-specific setup help through 24/7 live chat and lets you try the service risk-free with its 30*-day money-back guarantee.
Editor’s Note: Transparency is one of our core values at WizCase, so you should know we are in the same ownership group as ExpressVPN. That said, our detailed reviews follow a strict methodology that examines all relevant performance factors to help you arrive at your own informed conclusion.
2. PrivateVPN — SSL-VPN on Port 443 Keeps Files Moving
Key Features:
- 200+ servers in 63 countries with SSL-VPN and Stealth support
- HTTPS tunneling keeps Dropbox accessible behind the firewall
- Works on up to 10 devices simultaneously
- Support through live chat, email, and setup guides
- 30-day money-back guarantee
PrivateVPN recommends SSL-VPN, which routes traffic through port 443 to mimic regular HTTPS. This makes Dropbox look like everyday browsing, bypassing China’s deep packet inspection. It also offers a Hong Kong–China Route, which helps reduce lag for large or frequent file syncs.
Its smaller server network can sometimes limit your choice of fast routes. The upside is that enabling SSL-VPN or Stealth Mode usually restores stability , even when the firewall tightens controls. A 30-day money-back guarantee means you can test these modes without risk.
Share files on Dropbox with PrivateVPN
3. VyprVPN — Chameleon Protocol Gets Past VPN Detectors for Easy Dropbox Access
Key Features:
- 700+ servers in 70 countries with Chameleon obfuscation
- DPI evasion keeps Dropbox running smoothly in China
- Can work on up to 5 devices at once
- Support via live chat, email, and troubleshooting guides
- 30-day money-back guarantee
VyprVPN’s Chameleon protocol scrambles packet metadata, making VPN use harder to detect. This helps Dropbox maintain long sync sessions without being blocked mid-transfer. Switching to Chameleon in the app is simple and works well on restrictive networks.
The drawback is that VyprVPN’s privacy record has been questioned in the past . The good news is that it underwent a third-party no-logs audit by Leviathan Security, confirming it doesn’t store user activity. With its 30-day money-back guarantee, you can confirm Dropbox access yourself.
Access Dropbox with VyprVPN
*Please note that ExpressVPN’s generous money-back guarantee applies to first-time customers only.
