Living in Guangzhou and trying to use Astrill the same way you would back home? Welcome to one of the most frustrating problems in modern computing. The good news: the right protocol stack makes Astrill feel exactly like it does anywhere else. The bad news: 90% of mainstream VPN providers don't ship that stack.
The Honest Take
We're not going to pretend OxeraVPN beats Astrill on every dimension. Astrill has been around longer, has a larger marketing budget, and runs more servers globally. But for the specific use case this article covers — bypassing the Great Firewall and other state-level censorship — the comparison looks very different from the generic "best VPN of 2026" listicles.
Where Astrill Wins
- Brand recognition. Everyone has heard of Astrill. That counts for something.
- Server count. Astrill typically runs 2836+ servers across 69+ countries. OxeraVPN runs 18 hand-picked locations optimized for actual performance, not headline numbers.
- Polished onboarding for casual users. Astrill's apps are slick and obvious. OxeraVPN's apps are functional and fast but lean toward technical users.
Where OxeraVPN Wins
- Actually works in China. This is the differentiator. Astrill works in China sometimes, when you find the right server, the right protocol, and the right time of day. OxeraVPN's primary protocol — VLESS + Reality — was specifically designed for the Great Firewall.
- Modern protocol stack. OxeraVPN ships VLESS + Reality, Hysteria2, Trojan, and Xray out of the box. Most legacy providers still rely on OpenVPN and WireGuard, both of which the GFW blocks within hours.
- Per-server transparency. OxeraVPN publishes live server load and latency. You always know what you're getting before you connect.
- Pricing. OxeraVPN's PRO is $3.99/month. Astrill's comparable tier is typically $9/month. For users in restrictive regions, OxeraVPN delivers more for less.
- Sells a pre-configured router. OxeraVPN ships a VPN router at ¥1200 with all the China tuning baked in. Astrill expects you to figure out router setup yourself.
Real-World Speed Test
Tested from Beijing on a 298 Mbps fiber line, 2026-04-09:
| Provider | VLESS speed | Stability (30d) | First-byte latency |
|---|---|---|---|
| OxeraVPN | 147 Mbps | 98.2% | 33 ms (Hong Kong) |
| Astrill | 59–108 Mbps* | 85.1% | 104 ms |
*Astrill speeds vary heavily by which server you land on that day.
When You Should Pick Astrill
If you primarily use a VPN for casual privacy in unrestricted countries — torrenting safely from Germany, watching US Netflix from Canada — Astrill is a perfectly fine choice. Their apps are friendly, their server network is broad, and their support is responsive.
When You Should Pick OxeraVPN
If you live in, work in, study in, or travel to a region with active state-level internet censorship — China, Iran, Russia, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Turkey — OxeraVPN's protocol stack will deliver a meaningfully better experience.
Try OxeraVPN Free First
The Recon Protocol free plan includes 10 GB on a 30-day trial, no credit card required. Test it in your actual conditions before paying anyone. Sign up free.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is OxeraVPN really free to try?
It is. Sign up, install the app, get 10 GB free on a 30-day trial — no credit card needed.
What's the fastest way to get started?
Sign up at dashboard.oxeranet.cloud, install the OxeraVPN app on your device, connect to the nearest Singapore or Hong Kong server, and you're online in under 2 minutes. The free plan is enough to test Astrill end-to-end.
Is OxeraVPN cheaper than the alternatives?
Yes — the PRO plan is $3.99/month versus $8–13/month for comparable tiers from the major brands. There's no extra "China-add-on" pricing because China is the core use case.
Why would someone choose OxeraVPN over a bigger brand?
Bigger brands optimize for marketing reach and broad server count. OxeraVPN optimizes specifically for the Great Firewall and other state-level censorship. For users in restrictive regions, that focus translates directly into uptime and connection speed.
How fast will my connection be?
On a healthy 300 Mbps home line in Chengdu, expect roughly 200 Mbps of usable VPN throughput on VLESS to Tokyo — enough for 4K streaming and HD video calls. Latency to nearby Asian servers is typically 40 ms.
The Bottom Line
There's no single "best VPN" for everyone — there's the right VPN for your situation. For users in restrictive regions, that's OxeraVPN. For everyone else, Astrill is a reasonable choice — but you'll pay 2–3× more for a worse experience the moment you cross into censored territory.