Choose a service region first, then compare route types. The country and city identify the exit location; IEPL, relay, and direct describe how the connection is routed. Assess these separately.
90+ countriesCoverage
220+ routesInternational routes
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This page is a static reference for choosing routes, not a speed ranking. The regional directory is not a complete list of routes available to your account. Check route names, availability, and selectable options in the user panel after logging in.
REGIONS / ROUTES
Browse International Routes by Region
The examples below are grouped into Asia-Pacific, North America, Europe, and other regions. The country column includes the region name; route types describe differences in routing, not speed rankings.
For services with regional requirements, check the service’s published availability first, then look for a route in the relevant region. A nearby exit can be a starting point for everyday browsing, but geographic distance alone cannot predict connection quality. The destination server, the path from your local network to the entry point, the exit network, and its connection to the service can all affect the result.
Sample directory of routes by region and city; options available to your account are shown in the user panel
Country / region
City
Route type
Streaming support
Asia-Pacific
Japan
Tokyo
IEPL
Check against the platform’s regional rules
Singapore
Singapore
Relay
Check against the platform’s regional rules
Hong Kong
Hong Kong
IEPL
Check against the platform’s regional rules
South Korea
Seoul
Relay
Check against the platform’s regional rules
Taiwan
Taipei
Relay
Check against the platform’s regional rules
Australia
Sydney
Direct
Check against the platform’s regional rules
North America
United States
Los Angeles
Relay
Check against the platform’s regional rules
United States
Seattle
Direct
Check against the platform’s regional rules
United States
New York
Relay
Check against the platform’s regional rules
Canada
Toronto
Relay
Check against the platform’s regional rules
Canada
Vancouver
Direct
Check against the platform’s regional rules
Europe
Netherlands
Amsterdam
Direct
Check against the platform’s regional rules
United Kingdom
London
Relay
Check against the platform’s regional rules
Germany
Frankfurt
Relay
Check against the platform’s regional rules
France
Paris
Direct
Check against the platform’s regional rules
Sweden
Stockholm
Direct
Check against the platform’s regional rules
Other regions
United Arab Emirates
Dubai
Relay
Check against the platform’s regional rules
Brazil
São Paulo
Relay
Check against the platform’s regional rules
South Africa
Johannesburg
Direct
Check against the platform’s regional rules
Turkey
Istanbul
Relay
Check against the platform’s regional rules
“Check against the platform’s regional rules” is not a promise of access across all platforms. Availability depends on the platform’s catalog, account region, plan permissions, and how it identifies the exit. A successful connection does not guarantee that specific content will play.
Cities in the directory generally identify the exit location, not the entire path data takes. For example, choosing a Tokyo exit does not mean the connection from your device to the destination website passes through Tokyo alone. A relay entry, international transit, and final exit may serve different purposes. To determine whether a route works for you, check the service’s actual performance.
This section explains general differences in network routing without presenting route labels as performance guarantees. Actual results depend on your local network and destination.
IEPL: Consider the international transit segment
IEPL generally refers to an international Ethernet private line, using dedicated capacity to connect specified locations. In subscription services, the label “IEPL” indicates the type of network capacity used; it does not mean the entire route is exclusively reserved for one user, nor that every segment uses the same network. The connection to the entry point, the path from the exit to the destination website, and your local connection can all affect performance.
This type of capacity generally involves dedicated resources and ongoing operating costs, and is organized differently from public internet routing. Consider it as an option for sustained work, extended access, or evening use, then check page response, session stability, and file transfers during the times you actually use it. The IEPL label alone does not guarantee a fixed speed or change a platform’s account or regional rules.
Relay: Connect through an entry point to the exit
A relay route adds a forwarding step between your device and the destination exit: traffic first reaches an entry point, which then connects to the next network. Its purpose is not simply to add another location, but to organize the route through a different network connection. If your local network connects more reliably to a particular entry point, a relay may work better than connecting directly to a distant exit. The additional step can also introduce other factors.
Costs generally reflect a combination of entry, forwarding, and exit resources; they cannot be judged by the distance between cities alone. Relay routes are worth comparing for everyday browsing, AI tools, and cross-region business systems. If a website loads slowly, consider the entry connection and exit access separately instead of switching countries repeatedly and concluding that a region is unavailable. Keeping an alternative route in the same region can make troubleshooting easier.
Direct: Fewer relay steps
A direct route generally means the client connects to the route’s exit without an additional relay entry configured by the service. It does not mean there are no carrier routes in the physical network or that the data travels a shorter distance. Public internet traffic is forwarded according to routing arrangements between networks, so even a geographically close exit may involve an indirect network path.
Direct routes generally have a simpler resource structure, but their overall cost still depends on the exit region, access resources, and maintenance. This does not mean a plan is cheaper. A direct route may suit you when the path from your local network to the exit performs well, and it can also serve as a comparison when investigating relay issues. Compare using the same destination website under similar conditions so you don’t mistake changes on the website itself for differences between route types.
Route type descriptions are not a separate price list. U8VPN plan prices and data rules are listed on the Plans page. The technical details above do not imply extra route fees or dedicated resources.
MATCH THE SERVICE
Choose Cross-Border Routes by Use Case
The goal is to get a specific task done, not to find one region that suits every situation. Check the service requirements first, then test with the actual task.
Everyday browsing
Start by loading the sites you use most
For everyday browsing, start with candidate routes in Asia-Pacific. Open the sites you use regularly and check that text, images, search, and sign-in all work. Seeing the homepage load does not confirm that the entire site is working: static assets, account systems, and business APIs may use different domains and servers.
If text loads but images keep waiting, first check whether your client rules cover those resources, then compare other routes in the same region. If you don’t need a specific region, there’s no need to keep switching to more distant exits. Once you find a route that suits your local network, keep another as a backup to make troubleshooting easier.
Streaming
Match the content region, then test playback
Before streaming, check which regions offer the content and whether your current account plan includes viewing access. Opening the platform, finding a title, and playing the full video are separate steps. After connecting, test the specific content you want to watch rather than checking only the platform homepage.
Video quality also depends on your device, browser, platform plan, and playback settings. Changing routes cannot replace account permissions or automatically change your payment region. If you see a region or proxy warning, keep the original message and check your account and exit settings against the platform’s rules. For more detailed guidance, see our guide to streaming availability.
AI Tools
Check that the service supports your region
Before accessing AI tools such as ChatGPT, check the supported regions and account requirements for that service. A network connection is only part of the access path; it cannot replace the provider’s requirements for account eligibility, payment methods, or feature availability. Choose a region according to the tool’s rules, not just the route name.
When testing, go beyond opening the homepage: check account sign-in, submitting a prompt, receiving a response, and any features you actually use, such as file uploads. Keep the same region throughout longer sessions to avoid extra account verification triggered by frequent exit changes. If you can sign in but requests fail, see our guide to accessing AI tools to help distinguish network issues from service-side restrictions.
Gaming
Start with the game server region
For gaming, connection stability matters more than how quickly a webpage opens. Check your account’s game region and the region of the actual game server, then choose an appropriate exit. Store pages, launcher downloads, and game sessions may use different networks, so one working step does not mean the entire gaming process will work.
A general international route is not a guarantee of compatibility with a specific game. Check the game’s rules on network tools before use, then test sign-in, matchmaking, and a regular session. If your client supports per-app settings, make sure the game process uses the intended route. Otherwise, the launcher and main game may take different paths, making issues harder to diagnose.
Work
Match the exit region to your work requirements
For work, first check whether your company systems restrict access by region, exit address, or device permissions, then choose a compliant route. Browser documents, desktop meeting apps, and file-sync tools may each have their own network settings; testing a single webpage cannot represent every work task.
Before an important meeting or file submission, test audio and video, sign-in status, and attachment uploads. Keep the same exit region during continuous work and note the client settings that work. U8VPN supports unlimited devices connected at the same time and is available for Windows / macOS / iOS / Android / Linux. Devices can use the service together, but you’ll need to check that the configuration is active on each one.
VERIFY / KEEP A RECORD
Verify and troubleshoot after connecting
Change one setting at a time and keep the details that help explain the issue. This makes comparisons more useful than switching routes at random.
Check the exit and app route
First, make sure the client is connected to the selected route, then check whether the target app is using that connection. System proxy settings, client rules, and an app’s own proxy options can affect the final route. To check your current exit, use IP check. The result reflects only that request and does not replace testing other apps individually.
If you switch to a different local network, check whether the route that worked before is still suitable. Paths can vary between access networks. Previous experience is a useful starting point, but it does not guarantee the same result in a new environment.
Note what happened, then compare alternatives
Record the service name, route name, platform, stage where the issue occurred, and the exact error message. Compare alternatives in the same region first to limit the effect of changing regions; if the service has no specific regional requirements, compare other regions next. Don’t include passwords or your full subscription details when reporting an issue.
If you’re unsure what to do, visit the Help Center for connection troubleshooting, or log in and describe the issue in a support ticket. Changing routes cannot replace the platform’s account appeal process.
Choose routes separately from data plans
Monthly subscription data resets each month on the activation date. If you upgrade mid-cycle, the price difference is prorated for the remaining days. Data add-ons remain available until used and never expire. Choose a region based on the service’s requirements and a plan based on your actual usage; the route name does not indicate extra data. U8VPN offers a 7-day no-questions-asked refund. See the Terms of Service for details.
No email address is needed to get started; just use a username and password. Get the client and subscription through the user panel. If you haven’t finished setup, read the Getting Started Guide, then use this page to compare routes.