How to Safely Watch CCTV Online With a VPN in 2024

Due to licensing restrictions, you can’t watch CCTV outside of China (and the surrounding areas). Sites like CCTV typically analyze your IP address to see where you’re from and prevent you watching their content from anywhere else.

A VPN replaces your actual IP address with one from China, making it appear as though you’re in a permitted region. Theoretically, this may allow you to watch CCTV abroad, but it may also violate copyright laws as well as CCTV’s terms of use. Still, if you’re in China and want to stream CCTV securely (even on public WiFi), a trusted VPN should be your go-to.

Of the many VPNs I tested, ExpressVPN worked best for me. It has fast local servers (in Hong Kong and Macau), so you can watch CCTV buffer-free from in China. You can even try ExpressVPN for CCTV risk-free. If you don't like it, you can claim a full refund within the 30-day money-back guarantee.

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Best VPNs to Watch CCTV Online From China in 2024

1. ExpressVPN — Incredibly Fast Speeds to Watch CCTV Buffer-Free

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Tested April 2024

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Try ExpressVPN >

www.ExpressVPN.com

ExpressVPN has ultra-fast speeds that let you watch CCTV-1 on its Hong Kong and Macau servers from China without any buffering. With these fast connections, you can load the CCTV streams almost instantly. While in Shanghai, I tested 4 ExpressVPN servers in these locations and had an average speed of 72 Mbps. You only need 5 Mbps for HD streaming and 25 Mbps for UHD, so this was more than enough.

The servers near China never let me down and always connected. All of the Hong Kong servers I tested were reliable and worked with CCTV on a consistent basis. While traveling through China. I had stable connections to watch Moment China on CCTV without interruption. With automatic obfuscation on all servers, I also had no issues using my account on restrictive airport or hotel WiFi networks.

This VPN is compatible with all major operating systems. I tested it by installing the user-friendly ExpressVPN app on my iPhone, Macbook Air, and Windows tablet. It was easy to connect to servers in Hong Kong, and the connections were stable even when using multiple devices simultaneously. This means no matter what your preferred device is, you can watch CCTV without hassle.

One downside is its pricey subscription plans, which start at $6.67/month. However, ExpressVPN regularly offers great discounts — I managed to get 49% off and 3 extra free months. I recommend you choose the 12-month plan as it’s the most cost-effective option.

It comes with a tried-and-tested 30-day money-back guarantee. If you’re not 100% happy with it, you can easily claim a refund. All I had to do was ask the 24/7 live chat support team to cancel my subscription, and my request was processed after answering some basic questions. I got the money back on my credit card after 3 days.

2. CyberGhost — Intuitive App Design That Makes It Easy to Watch CCTV

Works With:

Netflix Disney+ APV HBO Max

Hulu BBC iPlayer Sky More

Try CyberGhost VPN >

www.cyberghostvpn.com

CyberGhost’s user-friendly apps make it easy to find the best servers for streaming CCTV within China. Getting started is straightforward because its servers are organized by location (like ExpressVPN), making it easy to find China. You can also save your favorite servers for quick access later, so you can start watching Sing My Song on CCTV-3 from China in no time.

With over 12 servers to choose from in China, you have plenty of options. During my CyberGhost tests, all of these servers let me watch CCTV-1 from China. I tried its Macau and Hong Kong locations and they worked with CCTV, too. If you frequently torrent, you’ll also appreciate its torrenting-optimized servers in China and Hong Kong for fast downloads.

Even while traveling through different areas in China,  I maintained a speed of not less than 30 Mbps, sufficient for streaming CCTV in high resolution. Throughout, my viewing was seamless without any buffering, and each show loaded in just a matter of seconds.

The only thing I don’t like about CyberGhost is the high price for the monthly subscription. However, you can get its longest plan for just $2.03/month. The 3-year option is the most affordable, and comes with the same features (like 24/7 support) as the more expensive plans.

You can easily use the 45-day money-back guarantee to test CyberGhost for free. If you change your mind, you can get a full refund. I asked to cancel my subscription via the web form to see how easy it is to get my money back. After receiving an email to confirm my request, my PayPal account was refunded after 4 days.

3. Private Internet Access — Large Network With Many Chinese Servers For Fast and Stable CCTV Streams

Works With:

Netflix Disney+ APV HBO Max

Hulu BBC iPlayer Sky More

Try Private Internet Access >

www.PrivateInternetAccess.com

Private Internet Access (PIA) is great for watching CCTV from China because of its many Chinese servers. There are also servers in the surrounding areas, if you’re watching from Hong Kong or Macau, for example.  While in Beijing, I tested PIA servers in China, Hong Kong, and Macau — they all worked with CCTV in seconds.

Though not as fast as CyberGhost, each server I tried gave me good speeds for consistent HD streaming. My average download speed never dropped below 25 Mbps, which is enough to watch Xingguang Dadao smoothly from anywhere in China. With these speeds, watching CCTV in high quality isn’t a problem.

One issue with PIA is that it operates out of the US, part of the 5 Eyes Alliance (data-sharing pact). However, this shouldn't be a cause for concern as it doesn’t keep any logs. Even if it was asked to reveal your data, PIA would have nothing to share.

I found PIA to be pretty affordable, and you can save more by selecting a long-term PIA plan at just $2.03/month. Monthly plans are available but cost more despite no additional benefits, so I recommend the 2-year subscription.

The best part is that PIA is backed by a reliable 30-day money-back guarantee. To test this policy, I asked customer support to cancel my subscription via email. The refund process was hassle-free — I had the money back in my bank account a week later.

FAQs on Watching CCTV With a VPN

How can I fix the CCTV location error?

You need a VPN with reliable servers in China (or nearby) to fix this error. CCTV blocks IPs from outside China watching its streams, which is a problem if your VPN doesn’t have Chinese servers (even if you’re in China). However, if your VPN has Chinese servers, simply launch your VPN and connect you to a server in China, so you can watch CCTV if you’re in the country.

Is the CCTV library free?

Yes, CCTV is free, but you need to be in China or surrounding areas to watch it. A VPN can help secure your connection without causing buffering when streaming CCTV from China. 

Is using a VPN for CCTV legal?

VPN use in China is restricted, and understanding the laws can be tricky. The Chinese government permits the use of certain state-sanctioned VPNs, but the legality of unsanctioned VPNs is a complicated subject. However, in most cases, it’s safe to use a VPN for personal online security and privacy. The best VPNs offer top-class security without compromising speed, so you can stream from China.

At vpnMentor, we don’t condone using VPNs for any illegal activities and urge you to check the rules of your location before using one.

Start Watching CCTV Today

You can watch CCTV for free from anywhere in China, Macau, or Hong Kong. However, not many VPNs offer servers in this region. If you want to stream CCTV in privacy from China, my listed VPNs provide the robust protections and high-speed servers you need.

My go-to VPN is ExpressVPN because its superfast Hong Kong and Macau servers let you stream CCTV-1 in top quality from anywhere in China. You can try out ExpressVPN for yourself risk-free. If you don't feel it's right for you, you can get a full refund within the 30-day money-back guarantee period.

To summarize, the best VPNs for watching CCTV are…

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Provider

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1

9.9 /10

9.9 Our Score

Save 49%!

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2

9.7 /10

9.7 Our Score

Save 84%!

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3

9.5 /10

9.5 Our Score

Save 83%!

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