ROUTE TOPOLOGY
Connection Types and Path Trade-offs
IEPL, transit, and direct connections describe how traffic reaches the exit node. They are not simply high-, medium-, and low-tier options; the entry location, target region, network conditions, and task all affect the actual experience.
IEPL
IEPL
IEPL connections use a controlled cross-border transmission path. Traffic first enters a designated access point and then reaches the target region over a relatively consistent link, reducing unpredictable detours on public networks. They suit long meetings, remote desktops, sustained uploads and downloads, and tasks that are more sensitive to evening stability.
These routes generally cost more to build and maintain, with scheduling focused on path consistency. IEPL does not mean every target service will always be faster: a busy target server or poor local network quality can still limit performance, and an exit link cannot automatically remove those constraints.
EntryIEPL linkExit
RELAY
Transit Routes
A transit route first sends the connection to a suitable access region, then uses a transit node to reach the final exit. Its value lies in improving an unfavorable public-network path: even when the exit city is farther away, a better first-leg route can reduce detours, jitter, and the effects of inter-carrier peering.
Transit adds a routing step compared with direct connections, so maintenance focuses on matching the entry and exit paths. It is commonly used for streaming, AI tools, and general work, and can balance cost and stability when covering distant regions. If a target site responds abnormally, switching to another transit entry in the same region is often more effective than repeatedly reconnecting to the same route.
EntryTransitExit
DIRECT
Direct Connections
A direct connection establishes a link from the current network to the exit node without additional service-side transit. Its simpler path structure keeps resource overhead relatively predictable, making it suitable for lightweight web access, backup connectivity, and situations where the local carrier already has a good route to the target data center.
Direct performance depends more heavily on public-network routing. A route that is smooth during the day may change during busy periods, and a shorter distance does not guarantee greater stability. Use direct connections as everyday or backup options, while keeping transit or IEPL entries in the same region for quick switching when network conditions change.
Local networkExit
How Cost Differences Affect Your Choice
Route costs mainly come from cross-region transmission, entry resources, exit resources, and routing maintenance. IEPL requires more consistent link resources and suits tasks where continuity comes first; transit combines entry and exit paths to improve public routing and balance coverage with cost; direct connections have a simpler structure and work well as everyday or backup entries. Plan traffic rules and connection type are separate factors, so traffic usage cannot be inferred from a route name alone.
Choose based on the cost of failure: when meeting interruptions or remote-session reconnections are expensive, prioritize a stable path. For quick research or web browsing, where sustained transfer matters less, start with a nearby transit or direct connection. For large-file transfers, evaluate sustained speed over time rather than a brief peak immediately after connection.