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Internet & apps in China

Every "does X work in China" question in one place — Google, WhatsApp, streaming apps, payments, and more. Each entry links to a full guide with the workaround.

Overview

Most Western apps are blocked, and payment runs on a different system

Google, WhatsApp, Instagram, YouTube, and Netflix/Spotify all face access issues in mainland China for different underlying reasons — some are network-blocked, some never launched locally. A VPN or foreign eSIM with international routing generally restores the blocked apps; payments run through Alipay/WeChat Pay with a linked foreign card rather than Apple Pay or a foreign tap-to-pay card.

Quick reference

Google (Search, Gmail, Maps, Drive)BlockedRead more →WhatsAppBlockedRead more →InstagramBlockedRead more →YouTubeBlockedRead more →ChatGPTBlockedRead more →NetflixNo local serviceRead more →SpotifyNo local serviceRead more →Apple PayPartialRead more →GmailBlockedRead more →iMessage & FaceTimePartialRead more →

Frequently asked questions

Most rely on infrastructure widely reported as blocked by China's network restrictions (the Great Firewall). A VPN or foreign eSIM with international-gateway routing generally restores access.

Blocked apps (Google, WhatsApp, Instagram) are technically prevented from working by network restrictions. Apps with 'no local service' (Netflix, Spotify) simply never launched a consumer product in mainland China — a business decision, not purely a network block.

If you want access to blocked apps, yes — VPN provider websites and download links are typically blocked from inside mainland China, so install and test before departure. See our VPN comparison.

Link a foreign card to Alipay and/or WeChat Pay before you fly — see our full payments guide.

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→YouChina Wiki — all guides→Compare VPN options for China→Compare China travel eSIMs→Full payments guide