Astrill VPN in China: Price, Refunds, Alternative (2026)
Astrill costs $30 for one month, $180 for one year or $300 for two years, and its refund policy says: "All sales on our web site are final and refunds are not possible once purchase is made." It remains a mature choice if your employer pays, you want monthly billing, or you like switching protocols yourself. If you are paying out of your own pocket, 开途 Kaitu costs $49 a year and can be refunded within 7 days of a first purchase (if you've used no more than 1 GB). Neither service can promise it will always connect in China.
Astrill details come from its official pricing, features and refund policy pages, checked November 10, 2026. App Store availability was checked the same day. Prices change; check the official pages before buying.
Astrill vs 开途 Kaitu at a glance
| Astrill | 开途 Kaitu | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $30 / month; $180 / year; $300 / 2 years | $49 / year; longer plans cost less per year |
| Shortest plan | 1 month | 1 year |
| Refunds | Website sales are final; Astrill suggests buying the shortest plan to try | First purchase: within 7 days and up to 1 GB used, refunded to your account wallet |
| Devices | Install on unlimited devices in your household; "up to 5 devices in your household simultaneously" on personal plans (features page) | 5 devices online at once per account |
| Protocols | Several, chosen by you: OpenWeb, StealthVPN, WireGuard, OpenVPN and more | One protocol (k2) that switches between QUIC and TCP automatically |
| iPhone | Not in the China App Store; needs a non-China Apple ID | In the China App Store (listed as 开途) |
| Extras | Private IP $5 / month each; VIP add-on from $10 / month | No add-ons on the App Edition |
| Payment | See Astrill's site | Alipay, WeChat Pay, credit card |
Price: $30 is what it costs to try Astrill
Because Astrill doesn't refund website purchases, the safest first purchase is exactly what its policy recommends: buy one month for $30, and switch to a yearly plan if it works for you. The yearly plan works out to $15 a month. When a company reimburses it, that's rarely a concern. When you pay yourself, it's worth comparing.
开途 Kaitu has no monthly plan; the shortest is one year at $49. Instead of a trial, it offers a refund window: within 7 days of a first purchase, as long as you've used no more than 1 GB. Avoid large downloads in the first week and a wrong purchase can be refunded to your account wallet (which you can use to renew, or withdraw to a crypto wallet).
Connecting from China: two different approaches
Astrill hands you the choice of protocol. It offers its own OpenWeb and StealthVPN alongside standard protocols such as WireGuard and OpenVPN, and you switch until one works. That suits people who like to tinker and know what to try when something breaks.
开途 Kaitu has one protocol and does the switching for you. Its k2 protocol prefers QUIC and falls back to TCP automatically when QUIC is disrupted, on the same port. Its congestion control, k2cc, is built for the high packet loss common on cross-border links, so it doesn't slow down every time a packet is lost. There's nothing to choose: you tap connect.
Neither side promises it will always work. Astrill's refund policy even states: "If our product is not working on your computer because VPN service is blocked by your ISP, we are not responsible."
If Astrill stops connecting
- In the Astrill app, switch protocols: try OpenWeb, StealthVPN or WireGuard.
- Try a few servers in different regions.
- If nothing works and you decide to try another tool, quit Astrill on that computer first. Two tools running at once will fight over your network routes.
iPhone users: which App Store?
Astrill's iOS app is not available in the China App Store (a lookup returned no result on November 10, 2026), while it is listed in other regions such as the US App Store. If your iPhone uses a China Apple ID, you'll need a non-China Apple ID to install it. 开途 Kaitu is listed in the China App Store under the name 开途, so you don't need to switch Apple IDs.
Which one should you pick?
- Stay with Astrill if your employer pays, you want to pay monthly, you like choosing protocols, or you need a private IP.
- Try 开途 Kaitu if you pay yourself, you'd rather not switch Apple IDs, and you want a refund window if it doesn't suit you. See pricing, then download the app. The app interface is available in English.
FAQ
How much does Astrill VPN cost?
As of November 10, 2026: $30 for one month, $180 for one year (about $15 a month), or $300 for two years. Private IPs ($5 a month each) and the VIP add-on (from $10 a month) cost extra.
Can I get a refund from Astrill?
Not for website purchases. Astrill's refund policy says all website sales are final and recommends buying the shortest plan if you want to try it.
How many devices can I use with Astrill?
Astrill says you can install it on as many devices as you need, and its features page says every personal plan allows "up to 5 devices in your household simultaneously."
Can I download Astrill from the China App Store?
No. On November 10, 2026 it was not listed in the China App Store; you need an Apple ID from another region.
What should I do if Astrill isn't connecting?
Switch to OpenWeb, StealthVPN or WireGuard in the app and try a few servers. If none work, consider another tool, and quit Astrill before starting it.
Is there a cheaper alternative to Astrill in China?
开途 Kaitu's App Edition is $49 a year for 5 devices at once, with a 7-day refund window on a first purchase (up to 1 GB used). It has no monthly plan.
Related: Does LetsVPN still work in China? · Pricing and refunds · Contact support