VPN Protocols and Network Routes: A Technical Guide

How Connections Work: The Network Path Beyond Protocol Names

Separate the app, client and exit route

When you open a webpage, the app requests a destination, then the operating system or the app's own resolver looks up its address. The client applies its rules to send the request over your local network or a subscription route, then connects to a remote server. That server reaches the destination and sends the response back to your device. Any step can introduce a delay, so a slow-loading page cannot automatically be blamed on a particular protocol.

Protocols define authentication, data encapsulation and how connections are carried. The transport layer delivers data to the other end, while route topology determines which networks it travels through. Client implementation also affects DNS resolution, rule matching and connection reuse. The same protocol can perform very differently over different routes; using different clients on the same route can also change startup times and resource use.

Connection setup and sustained transfer are different measures

A first visit usually involves DNS resolution, establishing a transport connection to the remote server, authentication and then connecting to the destination. If a secure transport layer is used, its handshake adds another step. Some steps can run in parallel or be skipped when an existing connection is reused, but a client showing “connected” does not mean the app's request has reached its destination. Troubleshoot by checking the actual page response, not just the client status.

Fast connection setup mainly helps with short requests and frequent page changes. Sustained throughput matters more for long videos and file downloads. One route may take a little longer to open initially but remain stable during playback; another may show a page title quickly, then stall while loading images. Treating both as simply “speed” can lead you to choose a route that does not suit the task.

Understand security boundaries by layer

HTTPS used by an app and encryption between a client and a route entry point operate at different layers. Encrypted client transport can protect the relevant connection, but it does not change a website's account permissions or replace device updates, password management or an app's own security measures. If you see a certificate warning, check the device time, destination domain and client settings. Do not disable verification just to make a page load.

VPNIB describes its privacy policy as “anonymous, no logs.” This is a service policy; it does not mean that a destination website cannot recognize an account used to access it, or that your device will not store browsing history. Account activity after login, persistent browser identifiers and app permissions remain important privacy boundaries. A protocol name alone does not tell you what a service's logging policy is.

Describe problems in ways you can verify

When reporting a problem, note the device platform, network, selected route and exact steps. For example, distinguish “the client won't start,” “the route won't connect” and “the webpage opens but login fails.” These point to different layers and are more useful than simply saying “it doesn't work.” Include relevant error text if needed, but redact account details, subscription URLs and authentication data.

The rest of this guide follows the same troubleshooting order: first confirm that the app request enters the expected route, then check whether the connection is established, and finally investigate sustained transfers and destination behavior. This avoids unnecessary setting changes and helps distinguish network issues from region-specific service rules. To redo the basic setup, return to the Getting Started Guide; there is no need to start over with protocol details.

Shadowsocks and VMess: Design Trade-offs

Shadowsocks: Encrypted proxy forwarding

Shadowsocks centers on encrypted proxy forwarding. The client and server process data using an agreed encryption method and credentials, then the server connects to the destination. Common implementations support both stream connections and datagram forwarding, but the exact capabilities depend on the client, server and subscription configuration. Do not assume a node can forward the datagram traffic an app needs just because it is labeled Shadowsocks.

Its structure is relatively straightforward, but that does not mean it uses fewer resources on every device. Actual overhead depends on the encryption implementation, processor, number of connections and data volume. Hardware acceleration can reduce the cost of some algorithms; without it, or when many short-lived connections are created, resource use may differ. General protocol descriptions cannot replace testing on your own device.

If the configuration adds other transport encapsulation, include those extra layers in your assessment. Encapsulation can change handshakes, data boundaries and compatibility with networks in between, and may add processing overhead. Seeing Shadowsocks in a subscription does not reveal the full network stack. When using an existing subscription, keeping the server-provided parameters is generally safer than changing the algorithm or adding fields yourself.

VMess: Consider authentication and transport together

VMess is another proxy protocol. Its configuration typically includes a user identifier and related authentication and transport parameters. It can be combined with different underlying transports, so the connection cost you experience does not come from the protocol alone. Direct transport and connections with an additional security layer or other encapsulation can differ in handshake path, reuse and points of failure.

VMess authentication involves time, so a device clock that is significantly off may cause connection issues. When troubleshooting, first check that the system time and time zone are correct, especially after a long shutdown, system restore or manual time change. The goal is to rule out basic environment issues, not to keep changing the user ID or guessing at server-side authentication parameters.

If a connection cannot be established, check whether the client recognizes the subscription fields, whether the configuration is complete and whether the underlying transport matches. If the client reports an unsupported field, the issue may be the configuration format or implementation support, not the credentials. Subscription conversion can also drop required information. First obtain a subscription compatible with your client rather than trying unknown parameters one by one.

Compare protocols without ranking them outright

To compare Shadowsocks and VMess, keep the region, route and app task as consistent as possible. Nodes with different names that use different carriers or exits are not a clean protocol comparison. Test several things separately: opening a page for the first time, browsing continuously and transferring data for an extended period. Note delays, interruptions and whether the device keeps getting warm; do not draw conclusions from a single download.

The number of connections also affects results. A browser may request many resources in parallel, and apps may sync content in the background. Client scheduling, buffering and rule processing all contribute to resource use. If the issue disappears after you stop background tasks, investigate concurrency and local load rather than blaming all the overhead on protocol encryption. Keep the app workload consistent when comparing.

Protocol names are not performance ratings. Check configuration compatibility, route and task first, then consider handshake cost or resource use. This guide does not present general principles as VPNIB test results.

If a connection is already working reliably, there is no need to replace it just because another protocol has a newer name. A better reason to switch is a reproducible problem with your current task and evidence that another supported configuration improves it under the same conditions. If the new setup also uses a different node region, treat the improvement as a change to the overall connection setup, not proof of a general protocol advantage.

Maintenance matters, too. A setup that updates through the subscription, provides clear error messages and works well on your platform is usually better for everyday use than one that needs ongoing manual fixes. General technical comparisons can help explain what you observe, but check the account panel for the configurations actually available. For regions and route options, see the global server locations.

Trojan and VLESS: Authentication and Secure Transport

Trojan: Secure transport is part of the connection

Trojan typically carries proxy requests inside a secure TLS connection and uses agreed credentials to identify the user. A successful connection therefore depends on both valid credentials and a completed secure handshake. The server name, certificate chain, device time and server configuration can all factor into verification. Checking only the address and password may miss the actual cause of a failure.

A TLS handshake adds connection setup overhead, but the actual cost depends on network round trips, whether an existing session can be resumed and whether the client reuses connections. It is not accurate to assume that TLS always makes a connection slow. On a stable route, the handshake may go unnoticed; with high latency or packet loss, it is more likely to cause a perceptible delay, especially when tasks repeatedly create short-lived connections.

The server name and connection address may serve different purposes. The address locates the remote server, while the name may be used for the secure handshake and certificate checks. Changing them arbitrarily to a similar-looking domain can cause verification to fail. When using a subscription, keep the supplied fields. If your client cannot recognize them, check the subscription format instead of disabling certificate verification to hide the problem.

VLESS: A lightweight protocol is not a complete security solution

VLESS focuses on identifying users and forwarding proxy requests; the protocol itself does not provide complete data encryption. A connection's security depends on the security layer, underlying transport and server deployment used with it. “Lightweight” describes a trade-off in the protocol's responsibilities, not a reason to omit security configuration. Discussing its speed or security without the transport combination leaves out essential context.

Subscription entries labeled VLESS may use different transport and security combinations. These affect handshakes, connection reuse, compatibility with intermediate networks and client support. Leaving out a field when copying a configuration can make the address reachable while preventing the session from being established. Troubleshoot the complete configuration, not just whether the protocol name and user ID match.

Some clients hide transport fields in advanced settings; others combine them into a node type. A simpler interface does not mean the parameters are absent. When moving a configuration manually, use an import method supported by the client to preserve required information instead of assembling it based on the name. For everyday use, subscription updates and compatibility are often more valuable than manually stripping down configuration fields.

Did the error occur before the handshake or after the app request?

If the client reports a connection timeout, it may not have reached the authentication stage. A clear certificate error, on the other hand, points to conditions related to the secure handshake. If the connection is established but a particular webpage reports an error, the cause may be remote DNS resolution, access from the exit route or the app itself. Narrowing the issue down by stage is more effective than repeatedly changing credentials, and helps avoid breaking valid settings.

Connection reuse can reduce repeated handshakes, but not every task benefits. Requests that share transport resources may also affect one another; after a network change, existing connections may need to be re-established. Enable these features only as supported by your subscription and client. Unless you have evidence of a problem, do not change connection reuse, the security layer and DNS settings all at once, or you will not know which change mattered.

Privacy depends on transport protection, the device environment and the service's policies. VPNIB describes its service privacy policy as “anonymous, no logs,” but a Trojan or VLESS label does not support stronger absolute claims. Websites may still identify sessions through logged-in accounts and app state. Protocols handle their respective connection layers; they do not erase existing account relationships at destination services.

If a combination keeps causing compatibility issues on your platform, prefer another option in the subscription that your client explicitly supports, and keep the original configuration so you can roll back. Check whether the connection can be established consistently, whether the task completes and whether it recovers properly after a network change. There is no need to take on extra manual maintenance just to use a particular protocol.

Hysteria2 and TUIC: Connection Behavior over UDP

What QUIC changes — and what it doesn't

Hysteria2 and TUIC are both QUIC-based proxy solutions that rely on a UDP path. QUIC implements secure connections, stream management and congestion control in user space, and can carry multiple streams over one connection. It changes how data recovery and connection management work, but it does not shorten the physical route or create extra capacity on a congested access network.

Traditional TCP connections deliver bytes in order. If earlier data is missing, later bytes may not be passed to the application even if they have already arrived. QUIC's separate streams can reduce delivery blocking between streams when packets are lost, but data within each stream must still be handled in order, and all streams still share the route's capacity. The improvement has clear limits: packet loss can still affect speed.

A key requirement for these solutions is that UDP works reliably on the local network. Some guest networks, shared access networks and network devices handle UDP differently from TCP, which can make connections difficult to establish or cause them to fail after sitting idle. A working TCP node does not by itself prove the configuration is wrong. Check compatibility with the underlying route as a separate factor.

Hysteria2: Higher bandwidth settings aren't always better

Hysteria2's congestion-control behavior depends on configuration, implementation and negotiation. Some modes take user-supplied bandwidth settings into account, so incorrect values may affect the sending rate. Treating a theoretical access speed as permanently available capacity can build up queues on the device or upstream, increasing interactive delays instead of helping tasks finish sooner.

For everyday use with a subscription, keep the provided configuration and client defaults unless there is a good reason to change them. Adjust settings only when you understand what they mean, know your current access conditions and can roll back. If downloads seem more aggressive after a change but voice calls, page interactions and other devices get slower, suspect queue buildup or capacity contention rather than increasing the expected sending rate further.

TUIC: Multiplexing depends on the full implementation

TUIC uses QUIC for authentication and proxy forwarding. Its performance also depends on the client implementation, transport parameters and network route. Connection reuse can reduce some setup overhead, but it does not guarantee that the destination app will always reuse the same session. Datagram forwarding and reliable stream transport have different semantics; whether an app benefits depends on how it uses them, not just the connection label.

Client support for configuration fields and protocol features can vary. A successful import only means the client accepted the configuration; it does not prove that every feature works as expected. If webpages load but voice or other datagram-based tasks fail, check forwarding support and rules rather than assuming the entire route is down. If needed, compare with another supported option in your subscription.

QUIC does not make application data unreliable by default. Reliable streams still use acknowledgments and recovery, while datagrams forwarded directly may have different semantics. Distinguish the underlying UDP transport from the delivery method available to the application.

Consider weak-network performance and resource use together

In environments with packet loss or changing network conditions, these solutions may recover differently from TCP-based options, but results depend on congestion control and the actual route. Protocol processing in user space, encryption, acknowledgments and timers also use resources. Newer transport designs do not automatically save battery on mobile devices, especially with active background connections or repeated retransmissions.

To check compatibility, keep the device and app the same, switch the access network and compare with a TCP-based option in your subscription. If it fails only on one network, first consider how that network handles UDP. If it fails on every network, check client support and subscription settings. This decision tree is easier to follow than repeatedly adjusting unfamiliar low-level parameters.

QUIC supports connection migration mechanisms, but whether a proxy session resumes smoothly after a network switch depends on the client, server, operating system and route changes. A seamless switch cannot be guaranteed. For apps that use long sessions, check how they recover and whether they require authentication again. Choose based on the complete experience for your task, not merely on whether a transport feature exists in principle.

Route Topology: Direct, Relay and Private Lines

Direct describes the route, not the geographic distance

Direct usually means the device connects to the relevant overseas entry point without an additional domestic relay entry. Internet routing still involves access providers, backbone networks and interconnection points; it is not a dedicated physical cable between your device and the data center. Even nearby cities can have indirect routes due to network interconnections, so map distance alone cannot predict latency or stability.

Direct routes are easier to understand and usually have fewer forwarding steps, but they are sensitive to the quality of interconnection between your local provider and the remote network. Results can vary across access networks, and switching networks on the same device can change performance. If a route works during the day but fluctuates in the evening, look into shared exits and interconnection points before assuming the client is at fault.

Relays add route segments, but can improve routing

A relay route usually connects to an entry point first, which then forwards traffic over another link to the exit. The extra forwarding step adds processing and transmission overhead in theory, but can also avoid a poor interconnection path. Whether it is faster depends on the balance between this added cost and the improved route. Neither “one more hop is always slower” nor “relays are always more stable” is a sound rule for choosing routes.

Think of the relay entry and exit as separate points. An entry close to you does not mean the exit seen by a destination service is nearby; an exit in the destination region does not mean your device connects there directly. When troubleshooting, understand how the current route is organized, not just the region label. Websites typically determine location based on the exit they see, not the entry point shown by your client.

A private line improves one segment, not necessarily the entire route

An IEPL private line is typically used for a particular cross-region transport segment and provides a different form of connectivity from public internet interconnection. The access network between your device and the entry point, and the connection between the exit and the destination service, can still affect performance. A “private line” label does not mean the entire app route has dedicated capacity, nor does it guarantee a fixed speed or permanent availability.

Whether a private line suits a task depends on the combined performance of its transport segment, entry access and exit interconnection. Poor local wireless reception can cause an app to keep stalling even if the remote link is stable. If the destination platform itself is slow to respond, changing the cross-region transport may not help. Evaluate the end-to-end task instead of assigning a fixed performance rating to a route type.

Choose the right region, then compare routes

If a destination service has regional requirements, first choose an exit that falls within its service area, then compare available routes. Choosing only the geographically nearest option may make the service unavailable; choosing the right exit region alone may overlook whether the entry point suits your local access network. AI tools and streaming services may also consider account region, authorization and their own policies. A route cannot replace these requirements.

VPNIB covers 100+ countries and offers 150+ routes. This gives you options for regions and routing, but does not guarantee that every route performs the same on every network. On the global server locations page, consider region, city and route type together. Check your current subscription for the actual list and available configurations; do not rely on an old screenshot to make a fixed choice.

If your issue occurs mainly at peak times, choose an alternative with different routing characteristics rather than just a similar-looking name. Multiple nodes may share an entry point or upstream network, so different names do not necessarily mean independent failure domains. You may not have access to all the transport details, but comparing performance at the same time with the same app can provide limited clues. Avoid presenting those observations as definite conclusions about network topology.

Packet Loss and Peak-Hour Congestion: Narrowing Down the Cause

Separate capacity, latency and variability

Throughput measures how much data can be transferred continuously; latency measures round-trip delay; jitter measures how much that delay varies. Web interactions are more sensitive to latency, while long videos also depend on a steady data supply and buffering. Packet loss can trigger retransmissions and changes in sending rate, reducing throughput or causing pauses during interaction. These factors are related, but no single result captures connection quality on its own.

Peak-hour congestion often occurs when demand on a shared link exceeds the capacity available at that time. Data waits in queues, and packets may be dropped when queues fill; transport protocols then adjust their sending rates. The bottleneck could be a home uplink, access network, interconnection point, route capacity or destination. A slowdown at a particular time does not by itself show that the bottleneck is within the subscription service.

Wireless interference and queue buildup can happen together

Crowded local wireless conditions, a weak signal or device power-saving behavior can all cause retries and delays. At the same time, background backups, uploads or downloads can fill queues, making even lightweight requests wait. Everything may seem slow, but the cause could be close to the device. Before troubleshooting the remote route, pause unnecessary tasks to reduce variables; this can be more useful than immediately switching protocols.

First check whether other devices on the same network are also affected, then compare a wired connection or different access conditions if available. If only one device has the issue, check its background tasks, proxy conflicts and system resources. If multiple devices on the same access network are affected, look first at shared parts of the route. This cannot pinpoint a specific network node, but it can help distinguish a device issue from a shared one.

A single test does not prove app performance

A client's latency test may measure only the route from your device to an entry point, or use a specific handshake or test destination. It may not cover the full path from the exit to the app's service. Different tools may also define their measurements differently. A route with a low test result can still perform poorly for video or login, so understand what is being measured before treating the result as supporting evidence.

Intermediate routers in network diagnostic tools may give test packets lower priority or not respond to them at all. A non-response at an intermediate point does not mean real application traffic is being lost there. The result is meaningful only when considered alongside the rest of the route and the destination's behavior. Do not use a single anomalous test point to assert that a particular provider or route is definitely at fault.

Change one major condition at a time: access network, route, protocol combination or client setting. Keep a record of the original setup and what you observe so you can identify what helped and roll back if the new option is unsuitable.

Use a troubleshooting flow instead of constant switching

If every route has problems on the current network, switch access networks first to see whether the issue is upstream of the shared entry point. If only one route is affected while the same app works on others, focus on that path. If most apps work on the route but one website does not, consider the destination, DNS resolution and rules. Each branch should be supported by a reproducible difference, not a guess based on the route name.

If text appears but images or video are slow to load, different resources may come from different destinations, or sustained transfers may be limited. Check whether the app uses different domains and whether the rules cover those requests, then test other long-running tasks on the same route. A page loading partially does not prove that the network is fully healthy, and one failed resource does not mean the whole route is unusable.

When contacting support, include the approximate local time of the issue, device platform, access type, route name, app steps and error message. Explaining which comparison conditions worked is more useful than sending many unexplained screenshots. Include only necessary log excerpts and redact subscription and authentication details. Submit your report through the account panel support ticket system; do not post your full configuration publicly.

Once you have narrowed down the cause, make the smallest change needed: address background traffic for local congestion, switch to a supported alternative route for a path issue, or check the account and service status for a destination-app issue. Keep a brief note once everything works again, so you can follow the right troubleshooting path faster next time. For live sports, see the guide to choosing routes for sports streaming to understand the difference between interaction and buffering.

Platforms and Battery Life: Client Implementation Matters

System proxies and virtual network interfaces handle different traffic

System proxies are used by apps that honor the setting; they do not automatically cover every program. Virtual network interface mode handles traffic closer to the operating system's network path, but still depends on routing, permissions and exclusion rules. If a browser works but another app does not, first confirm that its requests enter the client instead of assuming the selected protocol does not support that app.

Virtual network interfaces generally require system authorization and may interact with other network software, enterprise network settings or security tools. Failed authorization, route conflicts and DNS changes can all affect access. Grant the required permissions through the normal setup process and keep a record of your original network settings. Repeatedly enabling multiple proxy tools to clear a warning can make the issue harder to locate.

Mobile battery use comes from the whole connection chain

Encryption is only one part of battery use. Keeping the wireless link active, background keep-alives, repeated DNS lookups, retransmissions and app syncing also affect power consumption. A protocol that uses less power on one device may behave differently on another platform. Processor acceleration, operating-system scheduling and client implementation all change the resource cost of the same task, so there is no universal battery-life ranking independent of conditions.

With a weak signal, a device may spend more time maintaining its network connection or retransmitting data. You may see the connection app use more power, even though the underlying cause is poor access conditions. For a fair comparison, keep signal strength, screen state, app activity and background sync as consistent as possible. Comparing video playback on one setup with an idle connection on another tells you little about protocol efficiency.

Keeping a connection open can avoid the cost of reconnecting, but frequent keep-alives may prevent the wireless link from entering a low-power state. Too few keep-alives, on the other hand, can cause idle network mappings to expire on some networks. The right balance depends on the operating system and network equipment. For everyday use, start with the client and subscription defaults; adjust only if you have a clear idle-disconnection issue and the client documentation supports it.

Check background restrictions and network switching separately

Mobile operating systems may limit background activity, and device manufacturers' power-saving policies can also affect how connections are maintained. If the app works in the foreground but fails after the screen has been locked for a while, check the client's system status and relevant restrictions before switching protocols. Recovering automatically when you reopen the app and needing to reconnect are different symptoms; note which occurs to help determine whether the client lifecycle is involved.

When you switch from Wi-Fi to a mobile network, your address, route and network mappings may change. Even if the underlying protocol supports migration, the app may still need to establish its own connection again. Check whether the destination app recovers and whether the session needs to be reauthenticated instead of looking only at the client's connection status. For important tasks, allow time for the app to retry.

Share a subscription across devices, not system settings

VPNIB supports Windows / macOS / iOS / Android / Linux, with no device limit for simultaneous connections. Each device still needs the subscription imported separately, with its permissions and rules configured. The same account does not mean different operating systems use the same proxy mode, nor can a compatible setup on one platform necessarily be copied to another. Check the capabilities of the relevant client.

When using the same account across devices, consider the data allowance of your plan. The number of devices in a household is not the only factor when choosing a plan; background sync, video and downloads matter too. Monthly subscription data resets each month on the activation date. Data add-ons do not expire and remain available until used. See the plans page for pricing; there is no need to mistake the number of devices for a difference in plan limits.

Get clients and subscriptions from the account panel; you need to sign in to access your subscription. If macOS setup gets stuck at system authorization, see the Mac setup guide. Complete the basic permissions and import steps before comparing resource use, so you do not include a configuration that was not working properly in your performance assessment.

Choosing for Your Needs: A Reversible Testing Process

Define the task before choosing a protocol or region

Start with the task, not a protocol ranking. Identify the service you need, whether it has regional requirements, whether the task involves short requests or sustained transfers, and how often you switch networks. Then filter for configurations supported by your client in the subscription. This rules out unsuitable options early and helps you avoid sacrificing everyday stability for a feature you rarely use.

For regular web browsing, check how quickly pages respond initially, how resources load and whether repeated clicks remain responsive. Use the same browser and page to compare candidate routes. If only the first visit is slow, investigate DNS resolution and the handshake. If browsing continues to stall, consider the route, congestion and local load. Seeing the homepage text does not mean every request on the page has finished.

AI tools: Check session stability and platform requirements

Logins and long sessions with AI tools may depend on the exit region, account status and the platform's own risk controls. Frequently switching regions makes troubleshooting more complicated, so, as long as you comply with the destination service's rules, start with a route that supports login and continued interaction, then check how long sessions perform. Being able to open the login page does not mean your account is eligible for every feature.

For long-running generation or upload tasks, check whether the connection drops and whether the app can resume. If streaming output stops, first determine whether the network is waiting or the server-side task has ended, then compare with another request. A protocol can improve its part of the connection, but cannot guarantee that the destination platform will keep accepting a task. For more context, see the guide to choosing a network for ChatGPT.

Use different criteria for streaming and real-time tasks

For streaming, first check the region where the content is available and your account's authorization, then see whether playback remains smooth. Buffering can absorb brief fluctuations, so a momentary test does not predict the viewing experience. Live and interactive tasks are more sensitive to latency and jitter; simply aiming for higher download throughput may not help. See the streaming guide for scenario-specific information, but the platform determines what content is actually available.

For voice and other real-time datagram tasks, check that the client supports the relevant forwarding and rules. A successful browser request does not prove that real-time traffic takes the same route. If the task fails, first confirm that its traffic enters the expected connection, then compare supported protocol combinations. UDP-based options may suit some environments but not others, depending on access-network compatibility.

Record the conditions and keep a working setup

Keep a brief record for each option: device, access network, client mode, route name, task and what you observed. Write “browsing was stable; reconnecting was needed after switching networks,” rather than an overall score that cannot be checked. Save a known-working configuration before changing one condition at a time. If a new option does not fix the issue, roll back instead of making more changes just to stick with the new protocol.

Compare options during the times you actually care about. Occasional daytime browsing does not represent extended evening playback, and a wired desktop connection does not represent a mobile device with a weak signal. You do not need a large test matrix: clear conditions, consistent tasks and repeatable results are enough to make an everyday choice. This method is for personal evaluation, not a published performance benchmark.

The option you settle on should be supported by your client, use a suitable region, complete your tasks reliably, keep resource use acceptable and let you return to a known-working setup if something goes wrong. There is no need to seek a universally best protocol independent of your needs.

Choose plan capacity separately from connection technology

VPNIB monthly plans: ¥9.9/month for 60GB, ¥18/month for 250GB and ¥28/month for 500GB. Data resets monthly on the activation date; if you upgrade mid-cycle, the price difference is prorated for the remaining days. Data add-ons cost ¥158/300GB, ¥358/1000GB and ¥658/3000GB. They remain available until used and never expire. Choose capacity based on your actual usage; a protocol name cannot predict data consumption, and a higher-tier plan will not necessarily fix every route issue.

This service offers a 7-day no-questions-asked refund and supports Alipay / WeChat Pay / USDT. No email address is required; create an account with a username and password. Find pricing and plan details on the plans page, or return to the Getting Started Guide for initial setup. If the basic configuration is correct but a reproducible issue persists, submit a support ticket with the observations described in this guide so troubleshooting can start at the right layer instead of guessing about the whole connection.