Asia-Pacific routes
Asia-Pacific is where cross-border access demand is most concentrated. Tokyo and Hong Kong run on IEPL dedicated lines with independent links, suited to long sessions at high bandwidth; Singapore and Seoul use relay routes covering Southeast and Northeast Asia; Bangkok is a direct route that can serve as a backup entry point for Southeast Asia.
| Country / Region | City | Route type | Streaming support |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japan | Tokyo | IEPL dedicated line | Netflix / Disney+ / Prime Video |
| Japan | Osaka | Relay | Netflix / YouTube Premium |
| Hong Kong | Hong Kong | IEPL dedicated line | Netflix / Disney+ / HBO Max |
| Singapore | Singapore | Relay | Netflix / Disney+ / Prime Video |
| South Korea | Seoul | Relay | Netflix / YouTube Premium |
| Thailand | Bangkok | Direct | Netflix / Prime Video |
North America routes
North American routes cover major cities on the US West Coast, the East Coast and in Canada. Los Angeles and Vancouver use relay routes, well suited to US and Canadian streaming; San Jose, New York and Toronto are direct, with fewer hops, suited to scenarios that need a fixed regional exit.
| Country / Region | City | Route type | Streaming support |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | Los Angeles | Relay | Netflix / Hulu / HBO Max |
| United States | San Jose | Direct | Netflix / Disney+ / Prime Video |
| United States | New York | Direct | Netflix / HBO Max |
| Canada | Toronto | Direct | Netflix / Prime Video |
| Canada | Vancouver | Relay | Netflix / Disney+ |
Europe routes
European routes are concentrated in network hubs such as Frankfurt, London and Amsterdam. London and Frankfurt are direct, well suited to local UK and German content; Paris and Amsterdam are relay routes; Zurich, Madrid and Warsaw are direct additions that extend coverage across more of Europe.
| Country / Region | City | Route type | Streaming support |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | London | Direct | Netflix / BBC iPlayer |
| Germany | Frankfurt | Direct | Netflix / Disney+ |
| France | Paris | Relay | Netflix / Prime Video |
| Netherlands | Amsterdam | Relay | Netflix / Disney+ |
| Switzerland | Zurich | Direct | Netflix |
| Spain | Madrid | Direct | Netflix / Prime Video |
| Poland | Warsaw | Direct | Netflix |
Other regions routes
Routes in other regions cover the Middle East, Africa and South America. Istanbul is a relay route; Cairo, Buenos Aires and Santiago are direct routes that fill in local exit needs for these regions.
| Country / Region | City | Route type | Streaming support |
|---|---|---|---|
| Turkey | Istanbul | Relay | Netflix / Prime Video |
| Egypt | Cairo | Direct | Netflix |
| Argentina | Buenos Aires | Direct | Netflix / Prime Video |
| Chile | Santiago | Direct | Netflix |
The four regions above list only a selection of popular routes. See the full route list inside the client.
Three route types: how they differ
They all connect, but the link structure behind each route type differs a lot: some run over carrier dedicated lines, some pass through a single forwarding hop, and some connect straight to the exit node. Below we break down how each one works, where it fits and how the costs compare.
IEPL dedicated line
- How it works
- IEPL is an international Ethernet private line provided by carriers: traffic travels on an independent channel between the entry and exit points and does not pass through congested nodes on the public internet.
- Best for
- 4K streaming, long video meetings, cross-border work, and downloads that need to stay connected for hours.
- Cost
- The most resource-intensive of the three route types, so it is deployed only in core hubs such as Tokyo and Hong Kong and used as the main route.
Relay
- How it works
- The entry server receives traffic first and forwards it to the exit server. The entry point sits closer to the user on a better link, the exit sits in the target region, and the two legs travel over an optimized path.
- Best for
- Everyday browsing, streaming, AI tools and other bandwidth-heavy uses — also the main way coverage reaches long-tail regions.
- Cost
- Cheaper than dedicated lines, so relay routes are the most numerous and cover the widest range of regions.
Direct
- How it works
- There is only one exit server: user traffic connects straight to the exit node with no forwarding hop in between, making this the simplest link structure.
- Best for
- Scenarios that need a fixed regional exit, plus light browsing, research and signing in to accounts.
- Cost
- The lowest cost, but quality depends on the international bandwidth of the exit data center, and the gap between regions is more noticeable than with dedicated lines.
| Item | IEPL dedicated line | Relay | Direct |
|---|---|---|---|
| Link structure | Independent dedicated-line channel between entry and exit | Entry receives traffic first, then forwards it to the exit | Users connect straight to the exit node |
| Best for | 4K streaming, cross-border work, long video meetings | Everyday browsing, streaming, AI tools | Fixed regional exit, light use |
| Deployment | Concentrated in core hubs such as Tokyo and Hong Kong | Entry and exit points chosen separately | Deployed data center by data center at the exit |
| Relative cost | Highest | Medium | Lowest |
Route type is not the same as what you can access
Route type only determines the link structure, not whether a given platform will open. The same platform can behave differently on different routes in different regions — if one will not load, switch to another route in the same region first, then consider changing regions.
Choosing a route by use case
There is no single right answer, but you can narrow it down by what you do. Below are route-type and exit-region suggestions for five scenarios: everyday browsing, streaming, AI tools, gaming and work.
Everyday browsing
Start with the relay route closest to you: Tokyo, Hong Kong or Singapore in Asia-Pacific; Los Angeles or Vancouver in North America; Frankfurt or Amsterdam in Europe. Browsing does not need much bandwidth, and you can switch routes at any time, so there is no need to stay on one.
Streaming
4K streaming holds bandwidth for long stretches, so pick an IEPL dedicated line or a high-quality relay route and stay on it. For US content choose Los Angeles, San Jose or New York; for Japan, Tokyo; for Hong Kong, Hong Kong; for Europe, London or Frankfurt. The same platform can perform differently on different routes — if one will not load, try another route in the same region first.
AI tools
AI tools care more about stability than peak bandwidth: if a long conversation or file upload drops mid-way, you start over. Pick an IEPL dedicated line or a relay route and stay on the same one — when the exit region changes often, some services ask you to verify your login again.
Gaming
Gaming is about latency and packet loss, not bandwidth. Pick an IEPL dedicated line, or a direct route in the same region as the game server, and avoid long paths with multiple forwarding hops. For cross-region play, the closer the exit is to the game server, the better.
Work
Cross-border work usually means video meetings, enterprise cloud storage and internal systems. Pick one IEPL dedicated line or a stable relay route and turn on per-app routing in the client so only the apps that need cross-border access use the route, while everything else stays direct. Simultaneous devices are unlimited, so a computer and mobile devices can share one subscription.
Coverage
Routes cover 120+ countries, and the four regional tables above list only some of the popular ones. The client groups all routes by region and lets you search by city name. Below is an index of the exit locations listed on this page.
- Tokyo
- Osaka
- Hong Kong
- Singapore
- Seoul
- Bangkok
- Los Angeles
- San Jose
- New York
- Toronto
- Vancouver
- London
- Frankfurt
- Paris
- Amsterdam
- Zurich
- Madrid
- Warsaw
- Istanbul
- Cairo
- Buenos Aires
- Santiago
The full route list is the one shown in the client.
FAQ
Are routes and nodes the same thing?
No. A node is a specific exit location, and one country or city can have several routes; a route is a single connectable channel. VPNDQ currently covers 120+ countries and 240+ routes, and the same city may have both an IEPL dedicated line and a relay route.
Is an IEPL dedicated line always faster than a relay route?
Not necessarily. A dedicated line's advantage is an independent link with little fluctuation at peak hours; if a relay route's entry point is closer to you, it may feel smoother day to day. Try both once, then settle on one.
Why does switching routes make a platform load?
Each platform has its own rules for judging regional exits, and the same route can give different results at different times and on different platforms. When something will not load, switch to another route in the same region first, then consider changing regions.
Is there a limit on simultaneous devices?
No limit. One account works on computers, phones, tablets and routers at the same time, with no separate subscription for each device.
When does monthly plan data reset?
Monthly plan data resets on your activation day each month; if you upgrade mid-cycle, the price difference is prorated by the remaining days. Data packs last until they run out and never expire, which suits people who do not use the service every month.
For account, payment and client installation questions, see the Help Center.