LetsVPN has announced that it is ending service for mainland China users. For travelers, the takeaway is bigger than one provider: even a China-focused VPN can stop being a practical travel solution when blocking pressure gets high enough.
This article is a short, factual update. It is not a repost of the announcement. You can read LetsVPN’s official notice here: LetsVPN mainland China service notice.
What happened
On April 28, 2026, LetsVPN said it would terminate its mainland China operations after roughly 20 days of continuous technical attempts to restore reliable connections.
The company also said it had closed mainland China payment channels. That does not mean refund handling stops. In the notice, LetsVPN says refund requests will be calculated from April 8, 2026, and that it is working on an automated refund system to speed up the process.
Why this matters for travelers
LetsVPN was not a random bargain VPN. It was one of the services many travelers and expats mentioned when mainstream VPNs became unreliable in China.
That is why this update matters. If a China-optimized VPN can move from “often recommended” to “not available for mainland China” in a short window, then VPN access should not be the only plan for a trip.
For a visitor landing in Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou, Chengdu, or Xi’an, the risk is not theoretical. A VPN can fail after you have already arrived, and once you are inside China, it can be difficult to download a replacement app, open a provider website, or complete a new payment flow.
If you already paid for LetsVPN
Follow LetsVPN’s official refund instructions rather than third-party screenshots or reposts. The key date in the announcement is April 8, 2026, which LetsVPN says it will use as the starting point for refund calculations.
Keep records of your account, plan, payment receipt, and any support messages. If you are already in China, avoid relying on the VPN app itself as your only way to reach support pages.
What to use instead
For phone-first travelers, a China travel eSIM is now the safer primary setup. A travel eSIM uses international roaming routes, so apps like Google, Gmail, WhatsApp, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and ChatGPT can usually work without a VPN app.
A VPN can still be useful as a backup for:
- laptop work on hotel Wi-Fi
- niche work tools that need a specific location
- devices that cannot use eSIM
- travelers who already understand server switching and fallback protocols
But the order matters. In 2026, the practical setup is: eSIM first, VPN second.
Our updated recommendation
ChinaVPNs no longer treats LetsVPN as an active mainland China option. We now list it as a discontinued mainland China service and use it as a cautionary example of why travelers should not depend on one VPN provider.
If your phone supports eSIM, set it up before departure. If you also need a VPN for laptop or Wi-Fi use, install and test it before you fly, then treat it as a backup rather than your main connection.
Make eSIM Your
Primary China Backup.
Compare traveler-friendly China eSIM options before you fly, then keep VPN only for laptop or hotel Wi-Fi backup.
Compare China eSIM Plans