Safely Access Viber Anywhere, even in China!

  • Written by John Bennet Online Privacy Advocate

Rakuten Viber is the kind of digital technology that lends credence to the Internet being a place where everyone is trying to make the world just a little bit better.

This instant messenger (IM) and voice-over-IP (VoIP) app are completely free to users who are registered and have their cell phone numbers verified.

As of late 2018, Rakuten Viber had more than 1 billion registered users and also allows users to exchange media files such as images and videos . It also has a paid component for international landline and mobile calling services.

Use Viber in China vpn solution - 1

Rakuten Viber has spread across the world with corporate offices in San Francisco, Minsk, Sofia, Moscow, Paris, Singapore, and Manila.

Unfortunately for Chinese fans of Viber, that much-unmonitored freedom is too much for that country’s government. In late 2014, Viber was blocked in China , joining Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat, Taptalk, and Google on the country’s list of censored mega-sites.

Note! Non-government-approved VPNs are illegal in China, but there have been no public cases of tourists being penalized by the Chinese government . The protection of a VPN doesn’t give you license to commit illegal acts, so please exercise a basic level of caution when using a VPN while visiting China.

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.

Why Does China Block Communication Sites?

Control is the obvious answer to this question. Sites that allow Chinese citizens to freely connect to other parts of the world also give those citizens the ability to access news sites that have different viewpoints of Chinese policy and politics than those officially mandated by the Chinese government.

A second big reason is money. If an app accessible to all of China’s 1.4 billion citizens offers the equivalent of free international calls via VoIP , those people could stop paying money to China’s traditional telephone companies for the same service from China’s telecommunication companies.

That loss of income would be enormous, and thus not acceptable by the powers that be.

VPN requirements for Use in China

China is not like most countries when it comes to virtual private network (VPN) usage. The Great Firewall of China – the infamous name for its complete control over its Internet infrastructure – is too much for many VPNs to handle. They simply have not invested enough money into security and encryption protocol to evade China’s security that notes unusual activity.

Beyond that requirement, you want to look for VPNs that have a lot of available servers in countries close to China to cut down on your latency time . Latency refers to how much time it takes the electronic signal to physically travel from your computer to the remote server to the website you want to visit.

With Viber being an interpersonal communication hub, greater latency times will slow down your connection when using VoIP or IM on Rakuten Viber.

Third, an automatic kill switch should be standard practice for the VPN you use while traveling to China. Should your VPN connection drop, you definitely don’t want your true IP address exposed while visiting a website that has been banned for more than four years in China. People get fined, arrested, and deported for issues like that.

Best VPNs to Use Viber in China

1. ExpressVPN — Automatic Obfuscation Across the Network

Key Features:

  • 3,000+ servers in 105 countries with automatic obfuscation
  • Lightway protocol delivers quick access and fast speeds for Viber calls
  • Works on up to 14 simultaneous connections
  • Quick support with 24/7 live chat, email, and online guides
  • 30*-day money-back guarantee for first-time users

ExpressVPN’s obfuscation triggers automatically when it detects a restricted network. This way, Viber calls slip past China’s deep packet inspection without extra steps. Its Lightway protocol makes connections quick and stable, which is essential for smooth voice and video calls. Plus, you get servers in Hong Kong, Japan, and Singapore that offer low-latency routes.

If your connection drops while moving between WiFi and mobile data, Lightway instantly re-establishes the tunnel to keep conversations going. You also get 24/7 live chat with staff trained to handle China-specific issues. A 30-day money-back guarantee makes it easy to test ExpressVPN risk-free.

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. Astrill VPN — StealthVPN and OpenWeb Can Get Past Robust Deep Packet Inspection

Key Features:

  • Global servers in 60+ countries, including Hong Kong and Taiwan
  • StealthVPN/OpenWeb protocols give reliable access to Viber
  • Works on up to 5 devices simultaneously
  • Support via live chat, tickets, and setup guides
  • No refund policy, but you can try it risk-free with a 7-day free trial

Astrill gives you StealthVPN, which disguises OpenVPN traffic , and OpenWeb, a fast TCP protocol that reconnects in seconds. Both are built for censored networks, so you can keep Viber calls steady when standard protocols fail. With VIP routing, you can get even more stable connections to Asia.

The catch is that Astrill doesn’t offer refunds, but it does provide a 7-day free trial so you can try it risk-free. If that’s not enough, start with the shortest plan and test StealthVPN and OpenWeb on your ISP before committing long-term. Astrill also allows up to five devices on a personal plan, so you can cover your whole household.

Access Viber in China with Astrill VPN

3. PrivateVPN — SSL-VPN on Port 443 and Stealth Mode for China

Key Features:

  • 200+ servers in 63 countries with Stealth + SSL-VPN support
  • Obfuscation/HTTPS tunneling keep Viber usable behind the firewall
  • Works on up to 10 simultaneous devices
  • Support via live chat, email, and setup walkthroughs
  • 30-day pro-rated money-back guarantee

PrivateVPN recommends SSL-VPN in China, which runs OpenVPN inside TLS on port 443 so it looks like normal HTTPS traffic. Stealth Mode is also available if censors get more aggressive. A Hong Kong–China route server reduces latency, making Viber calls clearer and more responsive.

The downside is that obfuscation can slow things down compared to regular servers . You can avoid this by using SSL-VPN for speed and only switching to Stealth when blocks appear. With a 30-day money-back guarantee, you can test both options and see which works best on your connection.

Access Viber in China with PrivateVPN

*Please note that ExpressVPN’s generous money-back guarantee applies to first-time customers only.