What should you compare when choosing a VPN in 2026? Start by checking whether it works with the apps you need, then look at reliability during your usual usage hours, and finally compare data costs and support. Peak speed tests don't guarantee a good real-world experience, and the lowest monthly price may not fit your usage.
This guide provides a consistent framework for comparing VPNs. We don't have current speed tests, pricing, or refund terms for other brands, so we won't rank them or claim VPNBonus is the unverified top pick. Instead, we compare connection types to explain technical differences, outline confirmed VPNBonus plan details, and suggest a screening process for different needs. When comparing other services, use the same criteria and verify each claim.
How to Rank VPNs: Beyond Speed
A useful ranking should disclose the test environment, timing, and tasks. Results vary with location, carrier, Wi-Fi network, and exit region. Someone else's screenshot can offer a clue, but it doesn't tell you how the service will perform on your device. For remote work, avoiding dropped connections is often more important than a brief download-speed peak; for streaming, sustained throughput and buffering during playback matter more.
| Criteria | What to verify | Claims that aren't evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Speed | Sustained download and upload performance on the same device, network, and exit region | A speed-test screenshot showing only the fastest server |
| Reliability | Whether connections drop, reconnect, or become noticeably unstable during your usual usage hours | Judging peak-hour performance by server names alone |
| Platform access | Whether you can log in, stream, make requests, or upload on the target platform | Assuming a platform will work just because a server is labeled with a particular region |
| Price | Amount paid, data allowance, reset rules, and validity period | Comparing only the advertised starting monthly price |
| Support | Refund terms, how to submit an issue, and what information is needed to troubleshoot it | Vague service slogans in place of clear terms |
Treat privacy and compatibility as prerequisites. Check where the client comes from, how configurations are stored, and what the privacy policy says before comparing performance. VPNBonus states that it follows an “anonymous, no-logs” policy; this does not make your browser accounts, website sessions, or device environment anonymous. If you handle work data, follow your organization's network and data policies.
Direct, Relayed, and Dedicated Routes: Different Setups, Not a Fixed Ranking
Terms such as “direct,” “relayed,” and “IEPL” describe different routing arrangements, not universal performance tiers. A direct route generally connects the client to an overseas gateway. A relayed route adds a forwarding point between the user and the overseas exit. IEPL refers to an Ethernet private-line connection that may cover one part of a service's route. Real-world performance still depends on gateway quality, shared load, routing, and the exit location.
| Connection type | What to consider | How to test it |
|---|---|---|
| Direct | Routing and congestion between your local carrier and the overseas gateway | Visit the target app repeatedly on your usual network and at your usual times |
| Relayed | How well the gateway, relay link, and overseas exit work together | Check sustained transfers and watch for drops during peak hours |
| Dedicated segment | Which part of the route uses a dedicated line and whether other segments still use the public internet | Verify the route details and test the complete connection path |
Protocol names don't determine rankings either. Shadowsocks, VMess, Trojan, and VLESS are common proxy protocols. Whether a client can import a configuration or supports a particular transport depends on its implementation and settings. Protocol and route structure are separate factors: using a given protocol doesn't mean the route is dedicated, and a proxy subscription doesn't automatically route all device traffic through the proxy.
VPN Price Comparison: Monthly Plans, Data, and Validity
The same low monthly price can come with different data allowances and reset rules. Before comparing costs, consider whether your usage is steady and whether unused data might reset before you need it. A monthly plan is usually easier to assess if you use a VPN consistently; if you travel or access international websites occasionally, include the data package's validity period in your comparison. The table below lists only confirmed VPNBonus prices; unverified competitor pricing is omitted.
| Billing type | Price | Data allowance | Data rules |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly plan | ¥9.9 / month | 60GB | Resets monthly on the activation date |
| Monthly plan | ¥18 / month | 250GB | Resets monthly on the activation date |
| Monthly plan | ¥28 / month | 500GB | Resets monthly on the activation date |
| Data package | ¥158 | 300GB | Use it until it runs out; never expires |
| Data package | ¥358 | 1000GB | Use it until it runs out; never expires |
| Data package | ¥658 | 3000GB | Use it until it runs out; never expires |
If you upgrade a monthly plan mid-cycle, the price difference is prorated for the remaining days. This doesn't mean an upgrade starts a full new billing cycle, and monthly reset rules don't apply to data packages. Before choosing, check the billing details on the plans page, especially how they match your usage frequency and data needs.
Device limits also affect the total cost. VPNBonus has no device limit and supports Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, and Linux. Payment methods include Alipay, WeChat Pay, and USDT. No device limit doesn't mean unlimited data, so check the allowance for your selected plan. VPNBonus also offers a 30-day no-questions-asked refund policy. For access or connection issues, consult the help pages and account panel instructions.
Pricing takeaway: If your usage is steady, compare monthly plan allowances first. If you use a VPN infrequently, look at data packages that don't expire. If you don't know your usage yet, there's no need to choose the largest allowance—or assume the plan with the most data is automatically the best value.
How to Choose for Study, Work, Streaming, and AI Tools
Students: Start with your study needs, then choose an allowance
Research, reading webpages, and downloading large files use very different amounts of data. First check that your course platforms, research databases, and usual websites are accessible, then track your actual usage. VPNBonus's ¥9.9 / month plan with 60GB can serve as a budget reference, but it may not cover every study need. If you regularly stream lectures or sync files, review your allowance using your usage records.
Work: Prioritize reliability, uploads, and split tunneling
Remote meetings, cloud documents, and code repositories need more than fast downloads. Stalled uploads and reconnects that interrupt a session can disrupt work just as much. Test with real tasks such as joining a meeting, uploading a file, or syncing code. If you use a corporate VPN and a proxy client at the same time, check your organization's rules and routing setup first. Multiple tools managing the network can conflict with intranet access and DNS resolution.
Streaming: Check platform access, then test playback
Streaming region checks may depend on the exit IP, account region, content licensing, and platform safeguards. Seeing an IP address in the target region doesn't guarantee access to the content library you want. Use your own legitimate account to test the specific content, and check buffering when seeking, changing video quality, and streaming continuously. Higher-quality video usually uses more data, so account for your viewing habits when choosing a plan.
AI Tools: Test Sign-In, Requests, and File Uploads
Being able to open an AI platform's homepage doesn't mean you can sign in, chat, call its API, or upload files. Check the platform's supported regions, account eligibility, and usage policies too. Switching exit regions frequently may trigger additional security checks. Choose an exit region that complies with the platform's requirements and works reliably for everyday use, rather than chasing the lowest latency on a speed-test list.
- ✅ Students: Check access to course materials and platforms, then choose an allowance based on your usage records.
- ✅ For work: Test long sessions, uploads, and corporate intranet routing first.
- ✅ For streaming: Confirm the content plays, then compare buffering and data use.
- ✅ For AI tools: Sign in, complete a real task, and check the platform's regional policies.
Compare VPNs Yourself: Setup, Testing, and Troubleshooting
When comparing multiple services, keep your device, local network, exit region, and target app as consistent as possible, and repeat tests during your usual usage hours. Don't compare one service's off-peak results with another's peak-hour performance. Testing also uses data, so avoid running continuous large downloads just to get a more impressive screenshot.
- Get a trusted client. Download a client that matches your operating system from the provider's dashboard or a verified distribution channel. VPNBonus users can visit the client download page. For first-time setup, see the getting started guide.
- Import the right configuration. A subscription link is usually used to retrieve and update server configurations; it isn't a regular webpage address or a protocol converter. Make sure your client supports the subscription format. Never share subscription links containing access credentials in public forums, screenshots, or online conversion tools.
- Use a consistent proxy mode. System proxy settings usually affect only apps that follow them. TUN mode can route more traffic when supported and configured, but routing and exclusion rules still apply. Permissions, background behavior, and client capabilities vary by operating system. A connection icon alone doesn't prove that every app is using the proxy.
- Check your exit and DNS resolution. Use the IP checker to confirm the exit address visible to your browser, then test the apps you actually use. A DNS leak occurs when DNS requests take a resolution path you didn't expect. An exit IP alone can't confirm that DNS is routed correctly; check the client's DNS settings alongside the test results.
- Track real-world tasks. Record the time, network conditions, server, proxy mode, and whether pages load, uploads complete, playback continues, or connections reconnect. If a connection fails, first distinguish between local network issues, client settings, and target-platform restrictions before comparing services.
On mobile, check the connection after the device goes to sleep. Android battery management can affect background operation; iOS clients depend on the system's network extension framework and the app's implementation. Desktop devices may have browser proxy, system proxy, and virtual network adapter settings active at the same time. Change one setting at a time and keep a record of the results before and after each change to make the cause easier to identify.
Verdict: Choose by evidence, not by an overall ranking
Use this order when comparing VPNs: confirm the service can handle your task, check reliability during your usual hours, make sure data and billing fit your usage, then consider extra conveniences. People with the same budget may get different results because their networks and needs differ. Treat claims about dedicated routes, platform access, or speed as unverified until tested—don't award points automatically.
Confirmed VPNBonus terms include monthly plans from ¥9.9, no device limit, data packages that never expire, and a 30-day no-questions-asked refund policy. No email address is required; you can create an account with a username and password. These terms help you assess cost and signup requirements, but they don't prove how well a service will work for you. Test the routes with your own apps using the steps in this guide. For support, find contact options on the help page.
Final recommendation: Define your needs first, then compare services under the same conditions. Keep a record of real usage and assess access, connection reliability, and billing rules together. If the evidence is incomplete, hold off on ranking—an unsupported top pick is less useful than an honest comparison.