Astrill VPN review (2026): a costly VPN made for censored networks

What Astrill VPN is in 2026

Astrill VPN has been sold since 2009 and is now a brand of Veloxee Corp., registered in Vaduz, Liechtenstein. It describes its customers as travelers and expats, and nearly everything it sells is aimed at one problem: getting a working connection on a network that tries to block VPNs.

The service is built on two protocols Astrill wrote itself. StealthVPN wraps an OpenVPN-style tunnel in extra obfuscation, and OpenWeb makes your traffic look like ordinary HTTPS browsing. Around them sit a set of routing controls that most VPNs leave out: Smart mode, app and website filters, VPN sharing from your computer, and a router applet.

Astrill charges more than most of the big consumer VPNs and gives no money back once you have paid. So the question for a buyer is narrow. If you need a VPN that keeps connecting where others get blocked, Astrill is built for you. If you want a cheap VPN for streaming and public Wi-Fi at home, other services fit better and are easier to try.

Setting up Astrill VPN

You sign up on the pricing page: pick a plan, add a private IP or the VIP add-on if you want them, then create an account with your name, email and password and confirm the email. Astrill takes credit cards (including UnionPay and JCB), debit cards, bank wire, PayPal, Perfect Money, WeChat Pay, Alipay and Bitcoin, which matters if you are paying from China.

The apps cover Windows 10 and 11, macOS 12 or later, Linux (DEB packages for Debian, Ubuntu and Mint), iOS 9 or later and Android 4.4 or later, with the Android app on Google Play. You log in with your email and password, choose a protocol and a server, and connect. Astrill's own guides walk through it in three steps per platform, and the Astrill Wiki has a manual for each device.

Three practical points are worth knowing before you travel. The iOS app is missing from the App Store in some countries, and Astrill explains how to switch your App Store country to install it. Astrill also warns that fake apps on the App Store copy its name and star logo to steal logins, so install from the link on its download page. And if astrill.com itself is blocked where you are, you can reach the same site at astrill-mirror.com or on Tor.

For devices that cannot run the app, Astrill offers OpenVPN and WireGuard configuration files for third-party clients, its applet for ASUS Merlin and DD-WRT routers, and VPN sharing from a desktop computer.

StealthVPN, OpenWeb and the other protocols

Astrill offers four protocols, and which one you pick decides how well it copes with blocking.

StealthVPN is the one most people in censored countries use. Astrill says it adds obfuscation on top of an OpenVPN-style tunnel so automated firewalls cannot profile it, and it encrypts with AES-256 and authenticates with RSA-2048 certificates. You can run it over TCP or UDP on any port you choose, so if a network blocks one combination you can try another, such as TCP 443 to look like web traffic or UDP 53 to look like DNS. It needs Astrill's own software and runs on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android and routers, but not iOS.

OpenWeb dates from 2009 and is lighter. It runs over TCP, encrypts with AES-256, and to an outside observer looks like normal HTTPS. It has no long handshake, so switching servers takes seconds. It works on Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS and Android, and it is the protocol behind Smart mode and multi-hop.

WireGuard is available in the Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS and Android apps. Astrill's WireGuard page still carries a warning that its implementation is experimental and that you should not rely on it where security is critical, so treat it as a fast option for unrestricted networks.

OpenVPN is there for compatibility with third-party clients and routers. Astrill says plainly that OpenVPN is easy for firewalls to detect and is often blocked in China. Astrill's FAQ adds that some protocols are only available on request from support.

Using it in China and other censored countries

China is the market Astrill talks about most. Its Smart mode page is written for users in China, its 'Unblock sites' filter is offered there, and its server list includes several servers labeled for China. The FAQ also names the UAE as a country where StealthVPN's extra encryption layer helps.

We have not tested Astrill inside China, and the Great Firewall changes often, so we cannot promise it will connect on a given day. What we can say is that Astrill gives you several ways to get through: two disguised protocols, free choice of port and transport, a mirror site and a Tor address for downloading the apps, and support around the clock when a connection stops working.

The no-refund rule matters most here. Astrill's terms say it is not responsible when your internet provider blocks the service and that no refund follows in that case, and that some features or protocols may not be available in your country. If you are moving to China, buy and set up Astrill before you leave, test each protocol, and keep the mirror address saved.

China allows only government-approved VPNs, so using Astrill there carries legal risk. Check the rules that apply to your situation before you rely on it.

Smart mode and split tunneling

Smart mode is Astrill's most useful feature for people who live abroad. With it on, international sites go through the VPN while local sites in the country you are in see your real IP. Your local bank, news sites and payment apps keep working normally, and they load faster because they skip the VPN. It works on Windows, macOS, Linux, iPhone, iPad and Android, and Astrill says it is only available in some countries, so ask support for the list.

For the other protocols, the website filter offers a similar 'Tunnel only international sites' mode and an 'Unblock sites' mode that tunnels only sites blocked in your country, with your own additions. The app filter lets you tunnel every app, only chosen apps, or everything except chosen apps, on Windows, macOS, Linux and Android. You might send only your browser and messaging app through the VPN and leave your work email on your normal connection.

OpenWeb also has a 'Tunnel only browsers' switch in the desktop app, which keeps games, chat apps and Outlook off the VPN.

Kill switch, App Guard and leak protection

The desktop apps on Windows, macOS and Linux have a kill switch that stops all traffic if the VPN drops, so your real IP does not leak. Astrill lists the kill switch for its desktop apps only, so do not count on it on a phone.

On Windows, App Guard goes further. Instead of cutting everything, it blocks only the apps you name, such as a torrent client or a forum you post on, and lets the rest reconnect over your normal line. It starts with Windows and works even when the Astrill app is closed.

Astrill says its apps fix DNS, IPv6 and WebRTC leaks, that StealthVPN routes DNS requests through Astrill's own DNS servers, and it runs free DNS, IPv6 and VPN leak test pages you can use yourself after connecting. We did not run our own leak tests for this review.

Servers, VIP add-on and private IPs

Astrill's pages disagree on the size of its network. The homepage says 142 cities in 56 countries, the servers page says 119 cities in 58 countries, and the pricing page says more than 50 countries. Either way it is smaller than the largest consumer VPNs. Astrill says its servers are physical machines on 1 Gbit or 10 Gbit lines rather than rented virtual servers.

The VIP add-on costs from $10 a month for 100 GB of traffic on VIP servers in Hong Kong, Taiwan, the US, Japan, Singapore, Korea and China. Those servers are on premium routes to Asia with lower ping, which Astrill pitches at gamers and Asian users. VIP also gives your traffic priority on every server and adds multi-hop, where you enter through one Astrill server and exit from another, with up to 3 multi-hop servers set up and OpenWeb only. Traffic resets on the 1st of each month, and when it runs out the standard servers keep working.

A private IP costs $5 a month on top of an active plan. It is a static address nobody else uses, which helps if a trading platform or work system only accepts whitelisted IPs, or if a service locks accounts when the IP keeps changing. You can buy extra sharing slots so a friend can use the same IP.

Torrenting and port forwarding

Astrill allows torrenting, with unlimited bandwidth on every plan. Servers marked with a star in the app are the ones Astrill optimizes for torrents, streaming and calls, and they are the servers where port forwarding works.

On a shared IP you can forward one pre-selected port. With a private IP you can forward all ports, or turn on the NAT firewall and open up to 3 chosen ports. Port forwarding lets seeders reach you, which tends to speed up downloads, and it also covers remote access to cameras, a Plex or Synology box at home, or a game console. Pair it with App Guard on Windows so your torrent client stops if the VPN drops.

Devices, routers and VPN sharing

A personal plan lets you install Astrill on as many devices in your household as you like, with 5 connected at once and one router at a time. Five is a tighter limit than ExpressVPN (10 to 14 depending on plan) or Surfshark (unlimited).

The router route gets around it. Astrill's applet runs on ASUS Merlin firmware or DD-WRT routers with at least 8 MB of flash, using OpenVPN or Astrill's RouterPro protocol. It can send only chosen devices, chosen sites or chosen Wi-Fi networks through the VPN, and it supports port forwarding. Astrill also sells routers with the applet installed, ships them worldwide, and covers them with a 6-month warranty.

VPN sharing is the cheaper option. On Windows, macOS or Linux you turn it on in settings, then point a console, smart TV or TV box at your computer as its gateway and DNS server. It takes some network setup, but it means an Xbox or a TV box can use the VPN without a router.

Privacy and logging

Astrill is more specific about logging than many VPNs that only say 'no logs'. Its privacy policy says that while you are connected it holds your IP address, connection time, device type and app version, to enforce the five-device limit, and that it generally removes this when you disconnect. You can see and erase active sessions in the member zone.

It also keeps your last 20 connection records (time, length, country, device type and app version, without your IP) so support can diagnose problems, deletes them after 30 days without activity, and counts the bytes you transfer to plan capacity. Your account holds your email and name, and some resellers may ask for a phone number or address depending on how you pay.

The terms are governed by Liechtenstein law. We found no independent audit of the logging claims on Astrill's site, so you are taking its word for them. Accounts with no paid plan that stay inactive for 12 months may be deleted.

Pricing and value

Astrill's personal plans all include the same features and differ only in length: $30 for one month, $180 for a year ($15 a month) and $300 for two years ($12.50 a month). Add-ons are a private IP at $5 a month each and the VIP add-on from $10 a month for 100 GB. The iOS plan, bought inside the iPhone app, costs $29.99 a month or $179.99 a year and covers one iOS device with no protocol choice; buy on the website instead if you also want the desktop apps. Business plans are priced per account and come with a control panel for managing staff accounts.

There is no free plan and no free trial. Astrill's FAQ says so directly, and its refund policy tells you to buy the shortest plan if you want to try the service, because all sales are final. In practice, trying Astrill costs $30.

Whether that is good value depends on where you are. For an expat in a country that blocks VPNs, a service that keeps connecting is worth more than a cheap one that does not, and Astrill's routing controls save daily hassle. For someone in the US or Europe who wants privacy on public Wi-Fi, it is a poor deal next to competitors that cost less and refund you within 30 days. Astrill's invite program gives you a free month for each friend who buys a plan, up to three a year.

Support

Support is one of Astrill's strengths. Live chat and email run 24/7, and you can open tickets from the member zone. The self-help side is well stocked: the Astrill Wiki has setup manuals for Windows, macOS, iPhone, iPad, Android, Linux and routers, there is a long FAQ, and video tutorials cover the main features. Astrill also hosts its own IP check, DNS, IPv6 and VPN leak tests, and a port scanner.

Given the no-refund policy, plan on using chat early. If one protocol stops working on your network, support can suggest a port, mode or server that suits your location, and it can tell you whether Smart mode is offered in your country before you rely on it.

Astrill VPN vs ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN suits more people. It now sells three tiers, Basic, Advanced and Pro, allowing 10, 12 or 14 devices at once, and new users get a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can try it with little risk. A dedicated IP is an add-on on Advanced and included on Pro.

Astrill wins on control. Smart mode, the app and website filters, App Guard, per-port protocol choice and VPN sharing give you finer routing than a typical consumer app, and its whole pitch is staying connected on censored networks. Choose ExpressVPN if you want more devices and a refund window. Choose Astrill if you live behind a national firewall and want every option for getting through it.

Astrill VPN vs Surfshark

Surfshark is the budget pick. Its plans (Starter, One and One+) allow unlimited devices and carry a 30-day money-back guarantee. For restrictive networks it has NoBorders mode, which switches on when the app detects that someone is limiting your connection and shows servers that should work.

Astrill costs more and connects fewer devices at once, but it gives you two protocols built for censorship, Smart mode for local sites, router firmware support and 24/7 human support aimed at expats. A family that wants one subscription for every phone and laptop should pick Surfshark. A professional in China who needs a connection that holds up through the working day should look at Astrill first, and test it during the first month.

Pricing and value

Prices checked November 4, 2026, in US dollars, from Astrill's pricing and iOS plan pages.

Every personal plan has the same features: 5 devices at once, unlimited bandwidth and server switches, all four protocols and 24/7 support. There is no free plan or trial, and Astrill says all sales are final. Business VPN is priced per account on a separate page, which showed no prices when we checked.

Who should buy it

• Expats and long-stay travelers in China or other countries that block standard VPN protocols
• People who want local banking and news apps on their real IP while foreign sites go through the VPN
• Anyone who needs a static IP of their own for a whitelisted login, or port forwarding for torrents or remote access
• Households that want to put a console or smart TV on the VPN through a router or a shared computer
• Buyers who need to pay with WeChat Pay, Alipay, UnionPay or Bitcoin

Who should skip it

• Anyone who wants to try before committing; Surfshark and ExpressVPN both offer 30-day money-back guarantees
• Families with more than five devices online at once; Surfshark allows unlimited devices
• People who mainly want a VPN for streaming at home, which Astrill says little about
• Anyone who wants a free VPN; Windscribe has a free tier
• Buyers who need an independent audit of no-logs claims before they sign up