Protocol and Route Technical Reference

Protocols organize data transport

A protocol is an agreed way for the client and server to organize data. It defines how a connection starts, how identities are verified, how data is packaged and how the session recovers after an interruption. Different protocols use different underlying transports and make different trade-offs in handshake complexity, overhead, concurrency and error recovery. A protocol name is not a speed rating. A streamlined protocol may connect quickly but recover less efficiently on a high-loss path; another may maintain more state yet deliver smoother sending on a volatile network.

When evaluating a protocol, first identify the stage where the problem occurs. If clicking Connect produces no result for a long time, examine DNS resolution, the handshake and authentication. If the page opens but images gradually slow down, focus on sustained throughput and congestion control. If video plays but repeatedly drops quality, look at bandwidth variation. If a remote terminal pauses occasionally, investigate transient packet loss and retransmission delays. Protocol comparisons only become useful when symptoms are tied to a specific stage. Cycling through names in a list may occasionally help by chance, but it does not create a reusable decision process.

Routes determine the networks data actually traverses

A route describes the actual path from the local network to the entry point, through any relay, and finally to the exit. Direct, relay and dedicated routes are network topologies, not protocols. The same protocol can have very different latency, jitter and evening stability on different routes; the same route can also behave differently with different protocols because congestion control and session multiplexing differ. Choose by assessing path quality first, then protocol fit. If the underlying route is already heavily congested, changing protocols can only change how congestion appears—it cannot create capacity that is not there.

Geographic distance is only one part of route analysis. An apparently nearby exit may take a long detour, while a farther route may feel more consistent if its entry and relay organization is steadier. A city name identifies the exit location but not the full path. When viewing the route list, consider the region, route type and intended use together rather than sorting by map distance alone. For long-term use, keep one primary route and one backup that follows a different path, so both candidates do not share the same congested segment.

Application behavior is an easy layer to overlook

Browsers, video apps, instant messaging, cloud development environments and file-sync tools have different network requirements. Browsers load many small resources in parallel, making connection setup and DNS resolution noticeable; video apps depend more on sustained throughput and buffering; remote development needs low interaction latency and few short pauses; file syncing cares about whether a long-lived connection can keep sending. A route that suits web pages is not automatically suitable for long transfers. A protocol that is steady on desktop may not use the same amount of battery after a mobile device changes networks.

Also rule out misleading symptoms caused by the local environment. Crowded Wi-Fi, long router queues, system power-saving policies, background sync and browser extensions can all resemble route failures. The most useful comparison is not to change many options at once, but to keep the app, target and local network fixed while changing only the protocol or route. After one observation cycle, change the other variable. Only then can you tell what caused the improvement.

Shadowsocks: straightforward structure for lightweight connections

Shadowsocks is built around a relatively direct structure. The client sends application traffic to a local proxy, then encrypts and forwards it according to the agreed method. With fewer protocol states to maintain, it is generally easy to deploy and suitable for devices with limited resources. For web browsing, messaging and everyday file access, this simplicity can reduce processing overhead. Actual performance still depends on the encryption method, client implementation, underlying transport and route quality, so the name alone cannot determine speed.

That simplicity also defines its limits. With frequent network changes, noticeable packet loss or complex multiplexing needs, client and server implementation quality directly affects recovery. If a route works on a stable network but repeatedly reconnects after a mobile device switches networks, first check whether the client handles network changes correctly, then consider another protocol. Not every reconnect means the server is unavailable; background restrictions and power-saving policies can suspend connections themselves.

VMess: more state, with flexible compatibility options

VMess maintains more information during connection setup and session handling. It is often paired with different transport carriers, so clients may expose many related options. This provides room to adapt environments that need explicit control over transport presentation, session organization or multiplexing. The trade-off is that configuration fields can depend on one another, and any mismatch may prevent connection. “Same protocol” does not mean both ends match; check the transport layer, encryption method, server name, path and related fields.

When VMess connects but initial resources load slowly, examine DNS resolution, the handshake path and multiplexing separately. Multiplexing is not always better when used more aggressively. Sharing one connection among many short requests can reduce repeated setup, but a lost packet on that shared connection may make several requests wait together. For interactive apps, excessive concentration can magnify one blockage; for sustained transfers, sensible multiplexing can reduce the work of repeatedly creating sessions.

Trojan: session protection through a mature transport layer

Trojan commonly relies on a mature encrypted transport layer to establish a connection. The client must verify the server identity correctly, while the server name, certificate and destination endpoint must agree. Its advantage is that a mature transport stack can handle handshakes, encryption and integrity checks, and many systems implement this type of connection well. The trade-off is additional negotiation during setup. Slow local resolution, an incorrect system clock or a wrong server name can cause failure before any data is transferred.

When troubleshooting Trojan, do not stop at the message “connection failed.” First confirm that the domain resolves, check the system clock, and then verify the server name against the client configuration. If only one network environment fails while others work, the issue is more likely somewhere along the path or handshake; if every network fails, check configuration consistency first. On devices that frequently sleep and wake, also check whether the client is reusing an expired connection.

VLESS: less protocol overhead, greater reliance on composition

VLESS separates responsibilities such as identity verification and data encryption, keeping the protocol itself focused on lightweight forwarding. It is often combined with an outer transport and security mechanism, so it cannot be evaluated apart from the complete stack. Comparing only the labels “VLESS” and “VMess” misses the underlying transport, handshake method, congestion control and route that actually affect the experience. With a clear configuration, less in-protocol processing can reduce overhead; with a complex stack, the troubleshooting scope grows as well.

The key to using VLESS is not maximizing the number of options, but avoiding unnecessary layers. Every added encapsulation can increase packet overhead, handshake steps and failure points. If the client receives a complete subscription from the service, keep the supplied combination rather than replacing transport fields based on the protocol name alone. When testing is necessary, use the same route, target and a similar time window so route changes are not mistaken for protocol differences.

Protocol availability ultimately depends on the combination actually provided by the client, server and subscription. Kaka VPN supports Windows / macOS / iOS / Android / Linux. The connection methods shown in a specific client should be determined by the subscription delivered through the user panel. Protocol names should not be ranked separately from the route and client implementation.

Why use modern UDP-based transport

Traditional reliable transports acknowledge data in sequence. When an intermediate packet is lost, later data may have arrived already but still has to wait for the missing part to recover. For web resources, real-time interaction and concurrent requests, this can create noticeable pauses. Modern reliable transports built on UDP can manage acknowledgements, retransmissions and multiple data streams in user space, helping streams avoid blocking one another. They do not abandon reliability; they handle reliability and congestion control in a more flexible implementation.

That flexibility has a resource cost. The client maintains more session state, continuously calculates sending pace and handles acknowledgements more actively. On a stable route, the benefit may be less noticeable; in the background, more frequent network activity can also affect battery life. Some local networks do not handle UDP scheduling well, producing connections that establish successfully but fluctuate in sustained throughput. In that case, compare another route or switch to a TCP-based combination instead of continually increasing sending parameters.

Hysteria2: sustained sending through loss and jitter

Hysteria2 focuses on keeping data moving actively when latency, packet loss or bandwidth changes. It adjusts its sending pace based on acknowledgements and allows the server to constrain rate and sessions. For cross-region large-file transfers, video buffering and visibly changing network quality, it may recover faster than a conservative reliable transport. But “more aggressive” does not mean the path has unlimited capacity. Sending beyond what the path can carry grows queues and can increase latency and packet loss.

With Hysteria2, watch stability before peak speed. If loading is fast briefly but every interaction becomes delayed afterward, the local uplink or entry queue may be filling continuously. If problems appear only during uploads, check uplink contention; if downloads also slow web responses, use gentler bandwidth management. When configuration is delivered automatically through a subscription, do not enter unverified bandwidth values manually. A wrong estimate can distort congestion-control decisions, producing high apparent speed but poor interaction.

TUIC: focus on multiplexing and session recovery

TUIC also runs over UDP and emphasizes multiple data streams, connection migration and less application-layer waiting. When a mobile device switches networks, a connection may recover more smoothly than a full rebuild if the client, system and server all support the relevant state migration. Whether a session can be retained also depends on address changes, background permissions and client implementation. Once the system suspends the app, any protocol may need to establish a new connection.

On devices running a browser, messaging tool and cloud app at the same time, multiplexing can reduce waiting between requests. It also means one connection carries more tasks. If the underlying path becomes persistently unstable, several apps may feel the change at once. Evaluate TUIC by checking recovery after a network switch, reconnection after background wake-up and interaction responsiveness during long transfers—not just the instantaneous result of one download.

Do not judge by the UDP or TCP label alone

The underlying transport is only part of the result. Carrier paths, home routers, public-network access equipment and server entry points may place different traffic types in different queues. A network that handles UDP well does not guarantee the same result elsewhere. Hysteria2 may work normally on an office network but fluctuate on a crowded Wi-Fi connection; likewise, a TCP combination may be stable enough on a low-loss route and easier to control in the background.

Use the same application task and keep the exit route unchanged during comparisons. Check setup stability first, then sustained transfer, then background and recovery. If a UDP-based protocol works well in the foreground but recovers poorly in the background, inspect power-saving settings and the client’s resident behavior. If it is unstable from setup onward, the local network or path may not support UDP well. Protocol choice is not permanent; keep different candidates for different network environments.

Connection setup consists of multiple prerequisites

After you tap Connect, the client typically reads the subscription, resolves the server address, selects a local network interface, establishes the underlying session, verifies identity, and then passes system traffic to a virtual network interface or local proxy. A pause at any stage may appear only as “Connecting.” If setup is slow, do not immediately blame server performance. Check whether it happens only on the first connection, only on one network, or improves after switching to a route that has already been resolved.

A slow first connection followed by faster subsequent connections often points to DNS resolution, certificate-chain processing or client initialization. If every connection is slow, inspect the path handshake, system clock, local security software and network interface state. If connection setup completes quickly but apps still have no network access, the system route may not have taken over, DNS requests may be using the wrong path, or an old connection may still hold the app session. Closing and reopening the app can sometimes verify an old connection cache more effectively than repeatedly changing routes.

Processing overhead comes from encryption, encapsulation and data copies

Protocols consume CPU time and memory for encryption and decryption, packet encapsulation, buffering, retransmission and session management. A simple structure does not always use fewer resources because client implementation, hardware acceleration and concurrency also affect the result. With several outer transports layered together, data may move between buffers multiple times; many small requests increase scheduling frequency. Desktop devices generally handle this overhead more easily, while mobile devices reflect sustained wake-ups and network activity in battery use and temperature.

When resource use seems abnormal, first check whether it tracks traffic volume. Higher CPU activity during downloads or sync is normal; continued activity after transfers stop may indicate a reconnect loop, failed subscription refresh, repeated DNS requests or repeated attempts to reach an unavailable target. Switching protocols only changes the symptom temporarily; repeated errors in the client log are more useful. If several devices show the same behavior, then consider the route entry or subscription state.

Mobile battery life depends on wake-ups and background policy

Mobile operating systems try to let the processor and network hardware sleep. A protocol that sends keepalives frequently, retries quickly or maintains many concurrent connections increases wake-ups. UDP is not automatically less efficient, and TCP is not automatically more efficient; implementation details around idle sessions, network changes and retries matter more. An unstable route makes any protocol reconnect frequently, so moving to a stable path is often more effective than adjusting keepalives alone.

When evaluating battery use, separate foreground load from background standby. Long video sessions, file transfers and cloud sync inherently require ongoing network activity, so not all battery drain belongs to the connection service. A better comparison keeps app usage the same and checks background recovery, device temperature and repeated connections across protocols. The system battery page can show activity trends, but a short snapshot alone is not enough for a conclusion.

Platform differences change how the same protocol behaves

Windows and macOS differ in network-interface management, sleep recovery and system-proxy behavior; iOS and Android manage background activity and virtual-network permissions differently; Linux depends more on the distribution, routing rules and daemon configuration. Different results from the same subscription on different platforms do not necessarily mean the route is restricted for one platform. More often, the client core, system network stack and permission policy differ.

When troubleshooting across devices, confirm that the same route and protocol combination are being used before comparing system behavior. If desktop works but mobile does not, check power saving, background permissions and network switching first; if mobile works but desktop does not, inspect the local firewall, virtual adapter and leftover system proxy. Kaka VPN supports Windows / macOS / iOS / Android / Linux. Clients and subscriptions are obtained through the user panel, which avoids field differences caused by copying configurations from unknown sources.

If your main need is using multiple devices, the plans support unlimited devices, but each device still needs separate observation of system resources and the local network. Unlimited devices does not mean every endpoint must use the same protocol; desktop and mobile devices can keep different choices based on their network conditions.

Direct: shorter paths, greater reliance on public routing

A direct route typically carries traffic from the local network straight to the remote server entry without an additional relay managed by the service. Its advantage is a simple structure with fewer forwarding points, and an ideal path can provide low baseline latency. The drawback is greater reliance on public routing and interconnection quality. Across networks or regions, or during evening traffic peaks, public paths may detour or congest at exchange points, leaving less within the service’s control.

Direct routes suit latency-sensitive use when the target region is nearby and local routing to it is stable. If performance is good during the day but fluctuates in the evening, or varies greatly between local networks, compare a relay or dedicated route rather than switching only among nearby cities. Different cities may share the same upstream path and feel nearly identical. To test a useful backup, choose a different route type or entry point instead of changing only the exit label.

Relay: improve the first segment with a controlled entry

A relay route first connects to a suitable entry, then forwards traffic from the relay node to the target exit. This adds a forwarding segment, so the theoretical path may not be shortest, but it can avoid poor public interconnections and make entry-side scheduling easier. Relay quality depends on both segments: the local-to-entry path must be stable, and the entry-to-exit path must have enough capacity. Congestion on either segment reduces the final experience.

The practical benefit of a relay often appears in jitter control rather than the lowest single latency. Remote work, long sessions and video playback are more sensitive to constantly changing delay because buffering and retransmission behavior keep adjusting. A relay with slightly higher but steadier baseline latency is often easier to use than a direct path that is sometimes fast and sometimes stalls. When choosing a relay, consider the entry region and exit purpose together; the exit country alone does not describe the full path.

Dedicated: controlled paths and stable interconnection

A dedicated route generally means the service uses more controllable network resources to organize traffic between entry and exit. Its purpose is to reduce unpredictable detours and congestion points on the public internet, making cross-region paths more consistent. It does not mean the final local segment to the entry is unaffected. Home Wi-Fi, the access carrier and local uplink remain part of the full path, so a dedicated route cannot replace basic local access quality.

For ongoing work, cross-region collaboration, long video sessions or large-file sync, a dedicated route is mainly valuable for fewer fluctuations and more predictable path changes. Suitability still depends on the exit location and where the application is hosted. An exit far from the target service adds distance to the latter part of the path. Choose by matching the entry to local access and the exit to the target service, then compare route types rather than assuming the “dedicated” label settles everything.

Latency, jitter and throughput are different metrics

Latency is the waiting time for a round trip, jitter is how consistently that latency changes, and throughput is how much data can be transferred over time. Web clicks and remote terminals feel latency more readily; voice, meetings and real-time interaction are more sensitive to jitter; video and file transfers depend more on sustained throughput. A route can have low latency but insufficient throughput, or ample throughput but noticeable short-term jitter. Combining all of this into one idea of “speed” makes troubleshooting directionless.

Start with the application’s tolerance when choosing. For many short requests, reduce handshake and round-trip waiting; for sustained transfers, prioritize stable throughput; for real-time interaction, prioritize jitter and loss recovery. If one device must support several types of use, choose a balanced relay or dedicated route and keep another candidate for special tasks. Kaka VPN covers 90+ countries / 200+ routes; see the route list for available regions and route types.

Packet loss can occur anywhere along the path

After leaving the device, data passes through Wi-Fi access, the home router, the local carrier network, entry, relay, exit and the target service network. Queue overflow, wireless interference or interface faults at any point can cause packet loss. The pause seen by an app is only the final result and does not identify a particular server. If several apps on the same local network lag, check local access first; if only one route is affected while others work, narrow the search to its entry or intermediate path.

Short-lived and persistent packet loss require different responses. Brief loss may come from wireless interference, route changes or a queue filling momentarily; fast retransmission and multiplexing can reduce its impact. Persistent loss indicates an overloaded path or poor interface quality, causing the protocol to keep reducing its sending rate. Forcing high traffic only creates more retransmissions. A different entry or route type is usually more effective than repeatedly reconnecting along the same path.

Jitter comes from constantly changing queue length

When data arrives at a network device faster than it can send, packets enter a queue. A short-term increase adds waiting; when the queue drains, latency falls again, creating jitter. Large uploads can easily fill the local uplink and make web pages, meetings and remote operations wait. Even with ample download capacity, blocked uplink acknowledgements can reduce download efficiency, so do not inspect only download activity.

To test for a local queue problem, pause sync, backup and upload tasks and see whether interaction recovers. If it improves immediately, adjust task concurrency or manage queues on the router instead of changing protocols first. If jitter continues while the local connection is idle, compare different entries. A relay or dedicated route can avoid some public-path congestion, but cannot fix wireless interference between the device and router.

Evening congestion usually means shared-path traffic concentration

During evening peaks, access networks, interconnections, entries or relays may compete for capacity. A typical pattern is a stable daytime connection followed by lower sustained throughput and higher latency in the evening. If several direct routes in the same region slow at once while a relay with a different entry remains normal, the shared public path is the more likely cause. If every route is affected, inspect the local carrier network and Wi-Fi environment.

When handling evening congestion, do not cycle only through routes of the same type. Change the path structure instead: compare a relay when direct routes fail, choose another entry when the relay entry is congested, or use an exit region nearer the target when the exit-to-service segment is the problem. For protocols, compare Hysteria2 or TUIC for more flexible congestion recovery, but only when the local network handles UDP reliably. Protocols can improve recovery behavior, not replace route capacity.

The target service may also adjust connections

The target’s own load, content-delivery strategy, account region and cache state can affect results. If one website is slow while others work, do not immediately declare the entire route faulty. Try another target in the same region to see whether the issue is limited to one service. Streaming apps may also choose content quality based on exit region, cache node and sustained bandwidth, so the same exit can behave differently across services.

DNS resolution can also send users to different service entry points. If the resolution result does not match the exit region, traffic may detour again from the exit. If the homepage works but media resources or downloads fail, check whether different resource domains resolve to different regions. After switching routes, an app may keep using old DNS results and connections, so close it completely before retesting.

Read latency and bandwidth status correctly

Latency shown in a route status is useful for initial filtering, not a complete guarantee of application quality. Low latency only means the current probe round trip is fast; it does not cover sustained throughput, target-service routing or local wireless variation. Bandwidth status likewise describes the route’s current transfer conditions, not what every app will necessarily receive. Choose with the target region, route type and time of use in mind.

Repeated observations are more meaningful than a single result. One occasional latency spike followed by recovery may be momentary queuing; if the same stage slows every time, change the path. Recording the network environment, route, protocol, target app and failure stage helps support locate an issue faster. Do not submit only “it’s slow,” because that cannot distinguish setup, throughput, jitter or target-service problems.

Web browsing and everyday messaging

Web browsing involves many short requests, so DNS resolution, connection setup and the arrival of initial resources directly shape the experience. Prioritize a combination with a stable path to the entry and a simple handshake. Shadowsocks, Trojan, VLESS or VMess may all work; the key is whether the subscription combination matches the route. If the page shell opens quickly but images load slowly, inspect sustained throughput and resource domains rather than optimizing only the initial handshake.

Everyday messaging often keeps an idle connection open for long periods and wakes quickly when a message arrives. Mobile devices must balance background persistence with battery use. Frequent route interruptions make the client reconnect repeatedly and are often a larger source of battery drain than the protocol itself. Choose a stable entry first, then evaluate background recovery. If delays appear only when power saving is enabled, adjust the app’s background permissions instead of repeatedly switching regions.

Video and streaming access

Video quality depends on sustained throughput, jitter and exit region. Baseline latency is not the only concern; as long as buffering continues to fill, slightly higher but stable latency usually does not cause stalls by itself. Relay or dedicated routes suit long, steady transfers; Hysteria2 and TUIC offer different recovery behavior on unstable paths, but confirm that the local network handles UDP well.

Choose an exit region that matches the content service. A route that opens the service page does not mean every media resource uses the same cache entry. After switching routes, close the app completely, clear the old session and enter again. If only specific content fails, compare other content in the same service first so authorization, cache or account-region issues are not mistaken for a route failure. For more scenarios, read the Streaming access reference.

AI tools and cloud apps

AI Tools often combine web requests, streamed text, file uploads and long sessions. Initial access depends on connection setup, continuous output depends on a stable long-lived connection, and attachments use the uplink. Choose a route with low jitter and a clear exit region. If ChatGPT will not open or a Claude session repeatedly drops, first distinguish connection setup, account status, exit region and local interruption during the long-lived session.

Streaming output is sensitive to brief pauses but does not necessarily need the highest throughput. Compared with peak speed, a stable relay or dedicated route is often more valuable. If other interactions slow while uploading material, inspect the local uplink queue. For tool-specific troubleshooting, review the global-proxy and split-routing sections of the Windows client selection guide to confirm that app traffic enters the intended route.

Remote work and long-lived connections

Remote terminals, code repositories, cloud desktops and meeting apps prioritize jitter, packet-loss recovery and session continuity. Choose stability first and minimum latency second. Direct routes respond quickly when the path is ideal, but relays or dedicated routes are easier to use when evening fluctuations are pronounced. For protocols, TCP-based combinations are often easier to use with enterprise networks; when networks change frequently, compare TUIC session migration or Hysteria2 recovery.

Work environments also require split routing. Sending only apps that need cross-border access through the route reduces unrelated traffic competition and keeps local services from taking a detour. Overly complex rules can send resources down the wrong path as domains and addresses change. Temporarily use one consistent route to confirm connectivity, then restore rules step by step. The Quick Start Guide covers client import; this page emphasizes that split routing is an application-routing issue, separate from protocol encryption and route topology.

Large-file transfers and long-term sync

Large files depend on sustained throughput, uplink acknowledgements and long-term stability. Choose an exit near the actual storage service, with a relay or dedicated route as the first options. Hysteria2 is worth comparing for sustained sending on unstable paths; TUIC is worth observing when several tasks run at once; a stable TCP-based combination may also be sufficient on a good path. Do not sacrifice interactive performance for a short-lived peak.

Sync tasks can fill the uplink and make other apps queue. Limit concurrency, avoid periods reserved for meetings or remote work, and keep client logs available. If transfers always stop after the device sleeps, adjust system sleep and the client’s background settings; if they fail around the same data stage, check target-service limits and local storage rather than changing routes alone.

Start with a baseline environment

Before testing, stop large uploads, cloud sync, system updates and other tasks that continuously use the network. Move closer to the Wi-Fi access point or use a stable wired connection when possible. Close old clients and remove leftover system proxy settings, keeping only the current Kaka VPN client. This is not about creating an ideal score; it creates an interpretable baseline. Once the baseline is stable, restore everyday tasks step by step to identify what changes the result.

No email address is required for setup; a username and password are enough. Obtain the client and subscription through the user panel. Do not manually construct a real subscription URL or pass subscription contents to other tools or public pages. After importing, choose a route suited to the distance and purpose instead of adding many custom rules at once. If these steps are not complete, return to the Quick Start Guide and follow the main path.

Record symptoms by stage

Connection issues can be divided into setup, resolution, first request, sustained transfer, background recovery and network switching. If setup fails, check subscription status, system time, DNS resolution and the handshake; if the connection succeeds but pages do not open, check system routing, proxy takeover and DNS requests; if pages slow gradually, check throughput, queues and evening congestion; if failure follows sleep, check background permissions and old sessions; if failure follows a network switch, check whether the client rebuilt its interface.

Record the local network type, device platform, route name, protocol name, target app and failure stage. If the issue appears only at certain times, note the timing pattern without submitting unverifiable subjective scores. If logs contain account identifiers or subscription data, hide sensitive fields before submitting them. Use your username and password only in the user panel; do not include them in public discussions or screenshots.

Create a route comparison group

Use your most frequently used route as the baseline, then choose a candidate with a different entry or route type. Do not select several nearby direct exits only, since they may share a path. If the baseline fails while the candidate works, the original route is more likely at fault; if both fail, return to the local network and target service. Retest the baseline after the route recovers to distinguish an ongoing failure from brief congestion.

Kaka VPN provides 90+ countries / 200+ routes, allowing you to keep primary and backup choices by region and route type. A larger route list does not mean you need to switch constantly. A steadier approach is to keep a small set of tested candidates for browsing, video and work, then compare again when the network environment changes substantially. See the route list for detailed regions and route types.

Compare protocols afterward

Once the route is confirmed to be basically healthy, compare protocols on the same exit. If the subscription does not provide a protocol, do not guess the server parameters. Keep the target app and local network unchanged, then observe setup, sustained transfer, background recovery and network switching in order. If one protocol performs actively during downloads but makes web interaction sluggish, reassess its sending queue or multiplexing strategy rather than declaring the protocol simply good or bad.

For UDP combinations, check whether the local network supports them reliably. For combinations that rely on a mature encrypted transport layer, verify the domain, system time and identity checks. For VMess or VLESS combinations with more configuration layers, keep all subscription-delivered fields intact. Shadowsocks is straightforward, but the client, encryption method and server must still agree. The goal of protocol comparison is to find a combination suited to the current device and network, not to create a fixed ranking detached from context.

Plans and traffic allocation also shape usage

Monthly plans include ¥9.9/month with 60GB, ¥18/month with 250GB, and ¥28/month with 500GB; traffic resets monthly on the activation date, and mid-cycle upgrades are prorated by the remaining days. Traffic packages include ¥158/300GB, ¥358/1000GB and ¥658/3000GB; they remain valid until used and never expire. For long video sessions, syncing or multi-device use, understand how traffic is consumed first, then choose a suitable option on the pricing page.

All plans support unlimited devices and include 60-day no-questions-asked refunds. Payment methods are Alipay / WeChat Pay / USDT. Unlimited devices does not change how traffic is calculated; transfers from multiple devices draw from the available traffic in the selected plan together. To compare monthly plans with traffic packages, read Traffic package or monthly plan? and estimate usage based on browsing, streaming and work.

When to submit a support ticket

After ruling out the local network, confirming that the subscription is valid and finding that multiple different paths fail at the same stage, submit a ticket through the user panel. Include the device platform, client source, route, protocol, target type, failure stage and comparison steps already completed. If there is an error message, copy the text in full but remove account credentials and subscription contents. A clear reproduction path is easier to diagnose than a general description.

If only one website or app is affected, first confirm that other targets work and check the account region, app cache and old connections. If only one device fails while other devices on the same network work, inspect that device’s system proxy, virtual-network permissions and background restrictions. If every device fails on one network but works on another, inspect local access first. This branching approach narrows the issue instead of blaming every anomaly on the service side.