Written for first-time readers: what it is, how to choose a provider, how to buy a plan, how to connect on desktop and mobile, and how to verify your exit IP and speed afterwards — every step comes with something you can check.
If you only want the short version: a VPN builds an encrypted tunnel between you and the outside network, sends your traffic to your provider's server first, and lets that server reach the destination site on your behalf. Three things usually change once you connect — the IP address the outside world sees becomes the server's location; the local network you are on (a hotel or café Wi-Fi, say) can only see encrypted data; and you can reach content that is restricted by region.
One concept to clear up first. What the market calls a VPN actually mixes two different things: traditional VPN protocols such as OpenVPN, WireGuard and IPsec, and the proxy protocols more common in subscription services, such as Shadowsocks, VMess, Trojan, VLESS, Hysteria2 and TUIC. The latter show up more often on cross-border routes because they are easier to disguise as ordinary HTTPS requests and recover faster when the network fluctuates.
For the person using it, the difference is small: either way you install a client, import a subscription link, pick a server and hit connect. You do not need to memorize protocol names — just know what the Protocol field in your client says. When a connection fails, switching to a server that uses a different protocol type usually fixes it.
Someone always pays for free public proxies. The usual outcome: unstable speeds, servers that die without warning, and no support channel when something breaks. They are fine for a one-off lookup; for steady long-term use, go with a provider that publishes clear plan terms and a refund policy.
The order matters when you compare providers: routes first, then terms, then price. Routes decide whether video streams smoothly at peak hours; terms decide whether you get throttled mid-month; price is only the tiebreaker at the end.
| Route type | How traffic flows | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Direct | Your client connects straight to an overseas server over public international gateways | Light browsing, budget-first; can get congested at peak hours |
| Relay | Connects to a relay server in mainland China first, then exits internationally | Everyday browsing and video; stability depends on relay quality |
| IEPL dedicated line | Runs over carrier-grade enterprise lines and never touches public gateways | Long video sessions and remote work; the least fluctuation at peak hours |
Direct is the cheapest, but traffic has to squeeze through public international gateways and clogs easily at peak times. Relay adds one hop through a server in mainland China and is usually a bit more stable. IEPL dedicated lines run on carrier-grade enterprise routes and skip public gateways entirely, so they fluctuate the least at peak hours — and cost the most. When picking a server, filter by route type first and then by region; it is far faster than scrolling through hundreds of entries.
Run through the list above and you will filter out most of the bad options. Let the refund policy cover the rest: VPNDM offers a 14-day no-questions-asked refund, and payment supports Alipay, WeChat Pay and USDT. On your first try, buy the smallest tier, use it for a few days, and renew only if the routes work for you.
VPNDM's monthly plans come in three tiers. Data resets every month on your activation date, and unused data does not roll over to the next month. Which tier you pick depends on how much data you use per day.
| Price | Monthly data | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| ¥9.9 / month | 60GB | Occasional lookups and email |
| ¥18 / month | 250GB | Daily browsing and 1080p video |
| ¥28 / month | 500GB | Multiple devices online at once, 4K video |
If you watch two hours of 1080p video a day, plus browsing and social media, you will land around 150GB a month — the ¥18 tier is the safe pick. Netflix's help centre gives these reference figures: about 1GB per hour for SD, about 3GB per hour for HD, and about 7GB per hour for 4K. At that rate, two hours of 4K a day comes to over 400GB a month, so the ¥28 tier is the better fit.
If you only use it now and then — looking something up on a business trip, checking email, a one-off visit to an international site — a data pack is better value. You pay by usage, it never expires, and you can buy one and leave it: it only draws down what you actually use.
| Data pack | Price | Validity |
|---|---|---|
| 300GB | ¥158 | Never expires |
| 1000GB | ¥358 | Never expires |
| 3000GB | ¥658 | Never expires |
Both billing models are available, so there is no need to agonize over which is better value: use it daily and go monthly; use it occasionally and take a data pack. Both are covered by the 14-day no-questions-asked refund, so on your first try buy the smallest option to test the routes and refund it if they do not suit you — safer than buying the top tier outright.
Each of the five platforms has its own client, and the flow is basically the same: install the client → sign in → import your subscription → pick a server → connect. Here is the desktop version:
A subscription link is a URL with a token that encodes your server list and connection parameters. The client polls it for the latest server information, so when your provider adds routes or changes entry points you do not need to reinstall anything — just hit Update Subscription.
Treat a subscription link like your account key. Anyone who has it can use your data without needing your password. So do not post it in group chats or paste it into public clipboard services; if you suspect a leak, reset the subscription link in your dashboard and the old one stops working immediately.
On mobile, the differences come down to installation and background policies; the connection logic is exactly the same as on desktop.
On iOS you can only install from the App Store, and what you can find depends on the region your Apple ID belongs to. If a search comes up empty, switch to an account from the matching region, or use another installation method the client offers. Once installed, importing a subscription link usually means pasting it into the client; some clients also support shortcuts that import and connect in one tap.
Some clients also support installing configuration at the system level via a Configuration Profile, which lets you toggle the connection straight from system settings. A profile is a system-level change, so check where it came from before you tap Allow.
iOS is strict about background processes, so after a long idle period the system may suspend your connection. When you pick the phone back up, open the client and check the status instead of assuming it is still connected.
On Android, most clients are distributed as APKs, and the system will ask you to allow installing unknown apps. Two things are worth doing afterwards: first, whitelist the client from battery optimization (usually listed as Unrestricted in settings), otherwise the system will kill it in the background; second, if the client supports per-app proxy, route only the apps that need international routes through the proxy and leave the rest on a direct connection — it saves data and battery.
| Platform | Installation | Common pitfalls |
|---|---|---|
| Windows | Installer | Firewall or security software blocks the first connection |
| macOS | Installer | First launch must be allowed in system settings |
| iOS | App Store, tied to your account region | System suspends it in the background; reopen the client to check status |
| Android | APK install | Battery optimization kills background apps; whitelist it |
| Linux | Install script or package manager | System proxy must be configured manually |
A successful connection does not mean the setup is right. Run through these three checkpoints every time you switch to a new route.
# macOS / Linux: check your current exit IP
curl ifconfig.me
# Windows PowerShell (curl is an alias; use curl.exe)
curl.exe ifconfig.meVPNDM does not limit the number of devices — desktops, phones and tablets can all be online at once. Real-world performance depends more on your local broadband and the route you choose.
Just an account — no email address required. One less field to fill in, and one less thing that could leak.
It depends on your usage pattern: daily use over a month means a monthly plan; a few times here and there means a data pack. Data packs never expire, so buying early costs you nothing.
Troubleshoot in this order: switch servers → switch route type → switch protocol type → restart the client → check your local network. In the vast majority of cases the first three steps fix it.
A 14-day no-questions-asked refund — just open a ticket in your dashboard and it gets handled.
120+ countries, 190+ routes, clients for five platforms, and no email address required to sign up. Monthly plans start at ¥9.9, with a 14-day no-questions-asked refund — on your first try, just buy the smallest tier to test the routes.