Spotify, a leading music streaming platform, enjoys a substantial user base worldwide. However, many are left wondering whether their Spotify access travels with them when they move to another country, specifically Mainland China. If you’re preparing for a transition to China, it’s essential to note that Spotify’s availability in this region is currently restricted. However, a Virtual Private Network (VPN) can serve as a viable workaround.
To elaborate, yes, Spotify is inaccessible in Mainland China, where the service hasn’t yet expanded. Numerous users with premium accounts have reported a loss of Spotify access shortly after initiating use in China.
Essentially, overcoming both China’s Great Firewall and Spotify’s geographical restrictions necessitates the use of a VPN. Therefore, for those relocating to China or planning a visit, a VPN is your key to uninterrupted Spotify streaming.
How to use Spotify in China?
Access to Spotify can be restricted in China due to a variety of reasons. However, you can use a VPN to bypass the restriction in China and access Spotify. VPN is a tool for protecting people’s internet traffic and keeping their identities private online. Your internet traffic will go through an encrypted tunnel that nobody can see when you connect to a secure VPN server.
This is my way to access Spotify and I guess it’s probably the easiest way. Here are 3 steps.
Step 1: Choose the right VPN
The very first step for you is to find a VPN that can work in China. For this first step, a few things you need to be careful of.
- If you’re planning a trip to China and want to use a VPN to bypass the Great Firewall, not all VPNs are created equal. The Chinese government has gotten pretty good at blocking VPNs, so it’s important to do your research and find one that will actually work.
- Make sure to download and set up your VPN app and account before you go to China, because you won’t be able to download it once you’re there. And forget about downloading it directly from the provider’s website, because that’s blocked too.
- Before you head off on your trip, take some time to figure out what kind of VPN plan you need. I suggest going for a yearly or multi-year plan so you don’t get caught without access due to a forgotten renewal. But of course, it all depends on how long you’ll be staying in China.
Step 2: Turn on your VPN
After you’ve signed up for a VPN account and purchased a plan, you’re free to use your VPN! There are 2 crucial settings you need to know.
Choose the right server
Normally, a VPN will provide users with 100+ servers from different countries. Because the network speed could be different by region, you need to test a bit to see which countries’ servers could give you the best network speed.
Choose the right protocol
VPN protocols are sets of programs and processes that determine how that tunnel is actually formed. There will be a few protocol options for you to choose in a VPN app. For example, in ExpressVPN, there are 7 protocols.
- Lightway: It’s a next-generation VPN protocol that provides the best in speed, security, and reliability.
- OpenVPN: It is a very popular and highly secure protocol used by many VPN providers.
- IPSec/IKEv2: It sets the foundation for a secure VPN connection by establishing an authenticated and encrypted connection.
- Wireguard: It is the newest and fastest tunneling protocol the entire VPN industry is talking about.
- SSTP: Secure Socket Tunneling Protocol (SSTP) is a fairly secure and capable VPN protocol created by Microsoft.
- L2TP/IPSec: It’s simply a VPN tunneling protocol that creates a connection between you and a VPN server.
- PPTP: Point-to-Point Tunneling Protocol (PPTP) was created in 1999 and was the first widely available VPN protocol. It was first designed to tunnel dialup traffic!
I remember once I was suffering a terrible, terrible network environment in China and only this Lightway protocol of ExpressVPN was able to help me access the internet, so I was really impressed!
Step 3: Enjoy Spotify
Once you have access to the internet on your phone or PC, you’re connected to a VPN, which should enable you to download the Spotify apps without any problems. Well, It’s surely common to experience some interruptions with your connection, so I suggest you test out the best VPN servers for yourself.
If you’re still having trouble accessing Spotify or other blocked apps, you should contact your VPN’s customer support team for further assistance.
What is the best VPN for Spotify?
| Number of US server cities | 16 |
| Number of servers | 3,000+ |
| Server locations | 160 |
| Maximum devices supported | 5 |
In my opinion, ExpressVPN is the best all-around VPN for unblocking Spotify in China because it offers the best of everything from speed and security to ease of use, compatibility, and customer service.
It’s particularly well suited for use in China as it has a whopping 3,000+ servers spread across 160 locations and 94 countries.
As well as getting reliable, above-average speeds (especially when you switch on its proprietary Lightway protocol), with smart selection wizards and 24/7 live chat assistance, that goes for anybody outside the country, too.
ExpressVPN will let you be able to download the app and register a Spotify account when you’re in China (I know because I’ve tried). You’re secure too with Bitcoin payment, P2P support, industrial-level encryption, a kill switch, DNS protection, and a clear no-logging policy.
The only limitation of ExpressVPN is that its clients are limited to five simultaneous connections, which is fewer compared to other VPN services. However, if you don’t need to connect more than five devices, then ExpressVPN is a nearly perfect choice.
Why Spotify is blocked in China?
When it comes to music streaming services, Spotify has certainly made its mark globally. Yet, in China – a country with over a billion potential users – Spotify is conspicuously absent. So why is Spotify blocked in China? In this blog post, we’ll explore the unique tech landscape in China, the reasons behind Spotify’s inaccessibility, and what it means for international businesses looking to expand into the Chinese market.
The Great Firewall of China
Central to understanding why Spotify isn’t available in China is knowing about the country’s internet censorship system, often referred to as the “Great Firewall of China”. This state-run internet filter restricts access to many foreign websites and platforms, including social media networks like Facebook, search engines like Google, and yes, music streaming platforms like Spotify.
China’s Thriving Tech Ecosystem
Another crucial factor is China’s thriving domestic tech ecosystem. In the case of music streaming, local services like Tencent Music Entertainment (TME) dominate the market. These homegrown companies align closely with the Chinese government’s regulations and censorship rules, giving them a significant advantage over foreign competitors.
Regulatory Hurdles and Censorship
For a foreign company like Spotify to operate in China, it needs to comply with strict regulations and censorship rules, which can be a complex, resource-intensive process. The Chinese government controls the distribution and broadcast of overseas music and has strict rules against content it deems inappropriate or offensive. Given Spotify’s vast international music library, compliance would be a significant challenge.
The Spotify-Tencent Equity Swap
Interestingly, while Spotify isn’t accessible in China, it isn’t entirely disconnected from the Chinese market. In December 2017, Spotify and Tencent’s music subsidiary carried out an equity swap. As a result, Tencent has a stake in Spotify, and Spotify owns part of Tencent’s music operations. This strategic partnership has allowed Spotify to gain some exposure to the Chinese market indirectly.
How can I listen to music in China?
China has a thriving digital music market with several domestic streaming services where you can listen to music. While foreign platforms like Spotify and Pandora might not be available due to the country’s Internet regulations, there are still several excellent options:
- QQ Music: Part of Tencent’s music streaming trio (which also includes Kugou and Kuwo), QQ Music is one of China’s largest music streaming services. It offers an extensive library of international and Chinese music. Its interface is in Chinese, but with a bit of effort or a translation app, it’s not too difficult for non-Chinese speakers to use.
- NetEase Cloud Music: This is another popular music streaming service with a vast library of songs. NetEase Cloud Music is well-loved for its social features, which include song comments and the ability to share playlists. It also has a fairly user-friendly interface.
- Kugou Music: Another member of Tencent’s music streaming family, Kugou is particularly popular among China’s younger demographic. It has a wide range of music from different genres, and it also supports a karaoke function.
- Xiami Music: Owned by Alibaba, Xiami Music offers a unique, artist-centric approach and is known for its independent music and high-quality audio files.
- Baidu Music: Provided by China’s leading search engine Baidu, this music streaming service has a massive library of songs, and its search function is quite robust.
- YouTube Music (via VPN): If you have access to a Virtual Private Network (VPN), you can use it to bypass China’s Internet restrictions and access international streaming platforms like YouTube Music. Remember, however, that using a VPN in China is a grey area in terms of legality, so use this method with caution.
What is the Chinese version of Spotify?
In terms of functionality and user experience, the closest Chinese version of Spotify would be QQ Music. Part of Tencent’s portfolio of music streaming services, QQ Music offers a similar blend of music streaming, recommendations, playlists, and social sharing features that Spotify users would find familiar.
Just like Spotify, QQ Music allows users to search for songs, artists, or albums, create playlists, and discover new music through its recommendation system. Users can stream music for free with ads, or they can subscribe to the VIP package for higher audio quality, ad-free listening, and more perks.
It’s worth noting, however, that while QQ Music does have a substantial international library, its focus is more heavily weighted towards Chinese music, and the interface is primarily in Chinese. Still, for Spotify users in China or Chinese music fans outside of the country, QQ Music is likely the closest equivalent to Spotify in terms of overall user experience.
Do I need to pay for QQ Music?
QQ Music offers a freemium model much like Spotify. This means you can use QQ Music for free, but the free version is supported by ads and has some limitations.
For an ad-free experience, access to exclusive content, and other benefits, QQ Music offers a VIP subscription.
Another thing to note is that some specific songs or albums could be restricted to VIP users only, a tactic often used to encourage free users to upgrade to the paid version. So while you can listen to a lot of music for free on QQ Music, to unlock its full library and features, a VIP subscription is necessary.
