Shadowsocks X doesn't offer a free VPN service, it is an app that is used to connect to a VPN service. If you want your Internet activity to be private, then you will need to use their in-app purchases to buy a subscription to the VPN service.

Find a way around international censorship

Shadowsocks X finds ways to get around international censorship by bouncing you around the Internet until it finds a way in. Sadly, it doesn't have many servers, so there are times when the system unexpectedly stops working. Nevertheless, it is a very fast way to connect to websites that you would otherwise be unable to access. Plus, even though it doesn't mask your identity or encrypt your activities, it does make it very difficult for outsiders to track what you have been up to online.

A clever system from hiding your online activities

Shadowsocks X is an odd app because it helps you hide your online activities, but it is not a tool for people who wish to hide their identity online. It works by being part online shadow and part online VPN, which means it can blur your activities, but people will still be able to track down who you are, so it is unwise to use it as a tool to break the law. It is a great tool for getting around location-based censorship.