Does LetsVPN Still Work in China? What Happened (2026)

11/10/2026

No, not reliably. LetsVPN (快连) announced on April 28, 2026 that it was ending its business in mainland China. It resumed operations globally on May 8, but stated: "At present, we cannot guarantee the service status in mainland China." In a May 15 letter, its CEO confirmed that LetsVPN "can no longer provide VPN service to mainland China." If you still have paid time on a LetsVPN account and you live in China, request a refund through the official in-app channel first, then pick a replacement using the checklist below.

Last updated November 10, 2026. All LetsVPN facts come from its official blog (in Chinese); quotes are our translations, with links to the originals.

What happened: the official timeline

LetsVPN's official blog (letsvpn.world) published these notices:

Date	Notice	What it said
2026-04-28	To LetsVPN users	Because of ongoing network blocking, the team had tried "almost every hour" for 20 days without solving the connection problem, and had to end its business in mainland China. Mainland payment channels were closed. (original)
2026-05-01	Account freeze and refund status	Refunds and compensation are calculated from April 8, 00:00 (Beijing time). (original)
2026-05-08	Normal operations resume	Standard billing resumed for users worldwide, but "we cannot guarantee the service status in mainland China." The freeze compensation window was extended to May 12, 00:00 Beijing time. (original)
2026-05-15	A letter from the CEO	"LetsVPN can no longer provide VPN service to mainland China." Mainland users were advised to process refunds as soon as possible. (original)

In short: LetsVPN still exists and still sells subscriptions outside China, which is why "letsvpn download" still returns its website. What it no longer promises is that the app will connect from inside mainland China.

If you still have LetsVPN time: getting a refund

According to the May 8 notice, refund requests continue to be processed, and refunds should go through the official entry inside the app:

Open the LetsVPN app and use the refund entry inside it. If something is unclear, contact the in-app support.
Track it with the refund status page. Statuses are: received, processing, completed, or failed.

Two things to know:

Only use the official in-app channel. LetsVPN warned that people were impersonating its staff in group chats and private messages, offering to "speed up" refunds. Anyone asking you to transfer money, share a verification code, or take remote control of your phone is running a scam.
The refund may not match your remaining days. The CEO's letter explains that bonus time is not refunded, and long-term plans are recalculated at the price of the plan matching the time you actually used.

How to choose a replacement: five checks

LetsVPN was a widely used app and still lost its mainland service after one round of blocking. So instead of asking "which one will never go down", ask how a provider behaves when something goes wrong:

Check	Why it matters	How to verify
1. A public, dated announcements page	When connections drop, you need to know what's going on	Look for dated release notes or announcements, with old posts still visible
2. A written refund policy	If a service stops working, getting money back is what matters most	Find the refund conditions on the pricing page or in the terms
3. Short plans you can test	Only your own network (home broadband, mobile data, office) can tell you if it works	Check for short plans or a refund window on the first purchase
4. Published technical details	A team that documents its protocol has less room to hide problems	Look for protocol docs or technical write-ups
5. A way to reach a person	When you can't connect, you need tickets or live chat that answer	Check for in-app tickets or website support

Don't buy several years up front because it's cheap. Start with the shortest plan, use it for a week on every network you rely on, then decide.

How 开途 Kaitu measures up

Here is where 开途 Kaitu stands on those five points. Like any tool, it can't promise it will never be disrupted.

Announcements: every release is listed with its date and fixes on the public release notes page (currently in Chinese).
Refunds: for a first purchase, you can request a refund within 7 days if you've used no more than 1 GB of data. The refund goes to your account wallet balance, which you can use to renew or withdraw to a crypto wallet. See pricing.
Plans: the App Edition starts at $49 per year, with 5 devices online at once. There is no free trial and no plan shorter than one year.
Technical details: the underlying k2 protocol is documented publicly (in Chinese), including its congestion control, k2cc, designed to keep throughput up on the high-loss cross-border links common in China instead of slowing down at every lost packet.
Support: tickets inside the app (you can still submit them after your membership expires) and live chat on the website.

A few practical points for people living in China:

Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux, Android and iPhone/iPad. The iOS app is available in the China App Store, so you don't need a foreign Apple ID.
Payment: Alipay, WeChat Pay and credit cards.
Smart routing is on by default: Chinese sites and apps such as WeChat, Alipay and Taobao connect directly, and only overseas sites go through 开途 Kaitu.
The app interface is available in English.

To try it, download 开途 Kaitu. Questions before buying? Ask support.

FAQ

Does LetsVPN still work in China?

LetsVPN itself says it can't guarantee service in mainland China. It ended its mainland business on April 28, 2026, and its CEO confirmed on May 15 that it can no longer provide VPN service to mainland China.

Is LetsVPN shut down?

Not globally. LetsVPN resumed standard operations for users worldwide on May 8, 2026, and its website and downloads are still online. Only mainland China service is no longer guaranteed.

How do I get a LetsVPN refund?

Use the refund entry inside the LetsVPN app and track it on the refund status page. Never pay anyone who offers to speed up your refund.

From what date are LetsVPN refunds calculated?

From April 8, 2026, 00:00 Beijing time, according to LetsVPN's May 1 notice.

Is there a VPN that is guaranteed to work in China?

No. Any tool can be affected by blocking. Choose one with a public announcements page, a written refund policy and a way to test it first, and keep a backup.