You'll notice small emojis next to some of our server names. They're not decoration — they're a quick guide to help you pick the right server.
Why emojis instead of words?
Our users come from everywhere and read different languages. An emoji means the same thing whether you read English, Chinese, or anything else, and it's readable at a glance in a long list.
Just as important: we don't label servers as "fast" or "slow." Real-world speed depends on your local network, your ISP, the time of day, and the route between you and the server - all things that vary from person to person and that we can't promise. So instead of making speed claims we can't keep, our markers describe things about a server that are actually stable and true: what it costs, how much capacity it has, what it's for, and whether it has a known limitation.
The markers
- 💎 Elite - Our Elite servers - available to Elite bandwidth packages only. This describes the cost and class of the node, not necessarily its speed.
- 👍 Recommended - A solid default choice. Plenty of bandwidth, plenty of IP addresses, dependable capacity. A safe bet for most people, though your actual speed will still vary.
- (no emoji) Standard - A normal server with no special notes. Perfectly fine to use.
- 📍 Location-specific - A niche server. Choose it only if you specifically need this location. It's not better or worse, just specialized.
- 🐢 Slow - This server has a known speed limitation. For example, our Hong Kong node is throttled for mainland China traffic due to local regulations - it's geographically close, but that does not make it fast. Avoid it unless you have a reason to use it.
In short
The emojis tell you what we know about a server - its tier, its capacity, its purpose, its limits. They don't predict the speed you'll personally get, because no one honestly can. When in doubt, a 👍 server is the safe place to start.