Line basics
How the three line types differ
The difference between IEPL dedicated, relay and direct lines is not the protocol — it is how many hops the data takes from entry to exit, and who maintains those hops. With the same subscription and the same client, switching the line type can change peak-hour performance completely.
1
IEPL dedicated
IEPL is an end-to-end dedicated line: data travels from the entry data center to the exit data center entirely over carrier-leased capacity and never crosses the public internet's international gateways. The path is fixed and jitter is low, which makes it the most stable of the three types — and the most expensive, so it is deployed only in popular exit regions.
- Best for
- 4K streaming, long-lived AI tool sessions, video calls, peak evening hours
- Cost
- Highest; concentrated in popular exit regions such as Japan, Hong Kong, the United States and Singapore
2
Relay
A relay route first carries traffic to a nearby relay node, which then forwards it to the exit data center. The relay leg usually runs over an optimized path that avoids the most congested public gateways. Pricing sits between dedicated and direct, and this type covers the most countries.
- Best for
- Everyday browsing, mid-bitrate video, exits in less common regions
- Cost
- Medium; widest coverage, and the usual way into less common countries
3
Direct
With a direct route the client connects to the exit node with no relay in between. The path is shortest and the cost lowest, but it depends entirely on public international gateways, so jitter at peak hours is more noticeable than with the other two. It suits use cases that are not latency-sensitive, or regions where no dedicated or relay line is available.
- Best for
- Off-peak browsing and downloads, backup routes in less common regions
- Cost
- Lowest; suited to light use and backups
It is normal for one region to offer several line types. Popular exit regions (Japan, Hong Kong, the United States, Singapore, Canada) usually carry both IEPL dedicated and relay lines, while less common regions are mostly direct. The client labels the type next to each route name: check the type first, then whether the exit region matches the service you want to reach.
Line type affects the path, not the encryption. All three types use the same encryption and protocol stack, so bank-grade encryption is identical across them. The protocols available in the client (Shadowsocks, VMess, VLESS, Trojan, Hysteria2, TUIC) are independent of line type — changing protocol does not change the route.
To tell which type a route belongs to, read the label next to its name. Routes without a label follow the description inside the client. If a region offers dedicated, relay and direct options, try dedicated first, then relay, then direct — at peak hours that order saves the most time.