Start with VPNs, subscriptions, and clients
This beginner’s VPN guide walks you through the process: identify the tools and devices you need, choose a suitable plan, get the client and subscription from your account dashboard, import the configuration and grant system permissions, then check which route your target app actually uses. Don’t assume that a client showing “Connected” means everything is working.
People often use “VPN” as a general term for tools that access international websites. Strictly speaking, a system VPN tunnel and an app proxy are different: the former can take over traffic routed through a virtual network interface, while the latter usually relies on apps following proxy settings or split-tunneling rules. A client using system VPN permissions does not mean every app will use the proxy.
A subscription service provides route configurations and a data allowance; the client reads the configuration, connects, and applies rules; and a node is a selectable connection entry or exit. These are not the same thing. Installing a client does not automatically give you working routes, and buying a plan does not configure your device for you.
Shadowsocks, VMess, Trojan, VLESS, Hysteria2, and TUIC are different proxy protocols, and client compatibility varies. A protocol name is not a service brand, and it alone says nothing about speed or security. Check the configuration formats and compatibility notes provided in your account dashboard. Never relabel one protocol as another by hand.
Choose a route and plan based on how you’ll use them
List the devices and apps you use most. Browsing, using AI tools, and streaming video for extended periods have different data and connection needs. Check the target platform’s regional, account, and usage policies too; changing your network exit location does not grant eligibility to use a platform.
An IEPL dedicated line describes a dedicated transmission link used by a provider. With a relay route, traffic passes through an intermediate server before being forwarded; a direct route usually means the device connects straight to an overseas server. These terms describe different paths, not proxy protocols. A dedicated segment also does not mean the entire route from your device to the destination website uses that line.
Focus on how a route performs during the hours you actually use it, rather than relying on its name or distance. Low latency doesn’t necessarily mean fast downloads, and high bandwidth doesn’t guarantee a stable long-lived connection. Without verifiable test results, don’t treat “supports this platform” as a promise of permanent availability.
Swipe horizontally on smaller screens to view the full table.
| Type | Data | Price | Data rules |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly plan | 60GB | ¥9.9/month | Resets monthly on the activation date |
| Monthly plan | 250GB | ¥18/month | Resets monthly on the activation date |
| Monthly plan | 500GB | ¥28/month | Resets monthly on the activation date |
| Data package | 300GB | ¥158 | Valid until used; never expires |
| Data package | 1000GB | ¥358 | Valid until used; never expires |
| Data package | 3000GB | ¥658 | Valid until used; never expires |
If you use the service regularly, compare monthly plans. If you go long periods between sessions, compare the non-expiring data package with your budget. VPNYZ has no device limit, but data is not unlimited, so keep an eye on your allowance when using multiple devices. If you upgrade a monthly plan mid-cycle, the price difference is converted into remaining days. See the Plans page for details.
First make sure the plan is compatible with your devices and meets your target service’s location and data needs; then compare route performance. Don’t add configuration complexity for protocols or data allowances you don’t need yet.
Check your account status after purchase
VPNYZ doesn’t require an email address. Create an account with a username and password, keep your login details secure, and access your dashboard through this site. Check the selected plan, amount, and order status. Payment methods are whatever the checkout page currently shows; don’t rely on old screenshots or forwarded messages.
After payment, confirm that the plan is active and your remaining data looks right before opening the download or subscription page. Order completion and client connectivity are separate steps; repeatedly importing a configuration usually won’t help if the plan hasn’t taken effect. VPNYZ offers a 14-day no-questions-asked refund. Check the site for instructions and full terms.
Get a client, import your subscription, and connect
Check the supported platforms and download options in the dashboard’s client download section; sign-in is required. Windows, macOS, and mobile operating systems handle permissions differently, so don’t assume buttons are in the same place across platforms. Names and locations may also vary by version.
- Check compatibility. Make sure the client supports the subscription format and protocol provided in your dashboard. A subscription URL is a configuration source, not an installer, and it usually isn’t a webpage to read in a browser.
- Import the subscription. In the client, look for an option such as Subscription, Configuration, or Import from URL. Paste the full address copied from your dashboard and refresh. If the list is empty, check that the URL was copied in full, the subscription is active, and your current network can retrieve the configuration.
- Choose a route. Select a node that matches the target platform’s regional requirements. For your first test, stick to one location and avoid switching exits while signing in; frequent changes can make problems harder to diagnose.
- Grant permissions. If your system asks to add a VPN configuration or allow a network extension, check the app name and source before approving it. macOS may require you to approve a network extension. Approving a VPN configuration on iOS does not mean your plan is active.
- Connect. Follow the guide to choose system proxy or tunnel mode, then reopen the target app and test it. If another proxy or VPN is running on the device, pause the conflicting configuration before connecting again.
On Windows, the system proxy usually affects only apps that follow that setting; some software has its own network configuration. Tunnel mode can take over more traffic, but routing, exclusion rules, and system permissions still apply. A VPN indicator on a mobile device only means the relevant configuration is running; it doesn’t prove that a target website is accessible.
Split tunneling uses domains, addresses, or other rules to decide what connects directly and what goes through a proxy. Global proxy mode typically sends traffic within the client’s scope through the selected exit. For your first setup, use the rules provided by the service. Global mode can help with temporary troubleshooting, but it doesn’t guarantee that every app or protocol will be handled by the proxy.
Verify your connection: check apps, exit location, and DNS
Test the connection against what you actually want to do. Open an international website or AI tool you use, check that pages load and features work, then review the exit location and DNS behavior. A site loading, a changed exit location, and expected DNS routing are separate pieces of evidence; checking just one isn’t enough.
- ✅ Check that the feature you need works: Don’t just see whether the homepage loads. Test signed-in content, image loading, and real requests too.
- ✅ Check that the exit matches your rules: Use a trusted IP lookup site to see your browser’s exit address. With split tunneling, the lookup site may connect directly, so first check which rule it matched.
- ✅ Make sure DNS routing makes sense: Review the client’s DNS settings and test results. Encrypted DNS in the browser, system DNS, and DNS resolution through the proxy may use different paths.
- ✅ Compare with the connection off: If it won’t disrupt ongoing work, disconnect and refresh the page to compare. Cached content can hide differences; restart the target app if needed.
A DNS leak generally means domain lookups that should follow an expected protection path are still being sent another way. A test showing a local ISP resolver is worth investigating, but the resolver’s location alone does not prove there’s a leak. DNS resolution through a proxy may use recursive resolvers in a different region; check the client’s rules, logs, and browser settings together.
Can’t connect? Troubleshoot one symptom at a time
Subscription update failed: First check that you can sign in to your dashboard and that your plan and data are in order. Then check the subscription URL and whether the client supports its format. If the dashboard opens but the subscription won’t download, note the client’s error message. Don’t keep resetting credentials, as that could invalidate configurations on your other devices.
The node shows connected, but websites won’t load: Check that system proxy or tunnel mode is on, that the target app follows the proxy settings, and that the right split-tunneling rule is being applied. If domain names fail while the client is connected, check DNS next. If only one app has trouble, start with its proxy settings and regional requirements.
Some parts of a page load, but images or requests fail: A page may pull resources from several domains. Check the client’s connection log to make sure resource domains aren’t being sent direct or blocked by mistake. Don’t clear all your rules right away; keep the original configuration and compare changes one at a time.
Problems occur only at certain times or on certain networks: Keep the same device and target app while comparing other routes, then compare other local networks. Change only one thing at a time. When contacting support, include your operating system, client version, error message, and the circumstances, but conceal subscription URLs and credentials. For more help, see Troubleshooting and Guides.
The setup is complete when your plan is active, the configuration imports correctly, system permissions are granted, your target app works, and the exit and split-tunneling behavior match your expectations. Keeping a stable configuration makes ongoing maintenance easier than constantly switching tools.