Get Started with Subscriptions and Clients

Create an Account and Open the Dashboard

Go to the VPNCoast account page and create an account with a username and password. No email address is required. Choose a username you can remember accurately, and set a unique password that you can store securely. Before submitting, check your input language and make sure you haven’t added any extra spaces. If you already have an account, sign in with it—there’s no need to create a separate account for each device.

After your account is created, follow the on-screen instructions to open the dashboard. Look for the account overview, plans, and client downloads sections. They let you check your service status, choose a billing plan, and get the software. The marketing site’s guides and plan details can help you decide, but orders, subscription settings, and account information are managed in the dashboard. Continue using the account you’re currently signed in to.

If the page says your username is already taken, choose another one and try again. If you can’t sign in to an existing account, check your username and password, including capitalization. Don’t create accounts repeatedly to try to find an existing order. For sign-in help, visit the Help Center. Once you can access your account, continue to the plan selection below.

Choose a Plan and Complete Your Order

In the Plans section of your dashboard, first choose between a monthly subscription and a data package. A monthly subscription suits regular monthly data use; its allowance resets monthly on the activation date. A data package is used as you go and never expires. Choose based on how often you use the service and whether you stream video. Unlimited devices does not mean unlimited data: you can use the service on multiple devices, but data is still subject to your plan’s terms.

Monthly subscriptions: ¥9.9/month for 60GB, ¥18/month for 250GB, or ¥28/month for 500GB. Data packages: ¥158 for 300GB, ¥358 for 1000GB, or ¥658 for 3000GB. Not sure which to choose? Check the full details on the Plans and Pricing page, then return to your dashboard. If you upgrade a monthly subscription partway through its term, the price difference is converted into remaining days. Check the result in your dashboard rather than calculating it yourself and placing another order.

Once you’ve chosen a plan, check its name, price, and billing method on the order confirmation page, then follow the payment instructions. Available payment methods are Alipay, WeChat Pay, and USDT. After paying, return to your dashboard to check the order status and confirm that the plan appears in your account overview. If the status hasn’t updated yet, check the existing order instead of placing another one.

VPNCoast offers a 14-day no-questions-asked refund. See the Terms of Service for the refund policy. After completing this step, your account overview should show your service details. The subscription you get next must belong to this account. If you’ve paid but can’t confirm your order status, submit a request through the support ticket portal in your dashboard. Describe the order status, and don’t include your account password.

Get Your Subscription from the Dashboard

Open your account overview and find the subscription details. A subscription link isn’t a regular web address—it lets your client retrieve server configurations. If the dashboard offers an import option for your client, select it. To add the subscription manually, copy the link using the provided button, keep the full link on your clipboard, and switch to your client to import it.

Use the dashboard’s copy button where possible to avoid missing the last characters when selecting the link manually. Don’t paste your subscription link into a search engine or share it in public chats or screenshots. Anyone with the link may be able to access your subscription configuration. When contacting support, you can share the error message and platform you’re using, but hide any credentials in the link.

Getting your subscription doesn’t establish a connection by itself. It gives your client the available servers and related settings; you still need to refresh the configuration, choose a server, and connect. If the server list is empty after importing, return to your account overview and check your plan status. Then make sure you’re using the subscription from your current dashboard, not text from a guide or an old configuration from another account.

To use VPNCoast on multiple devices, sign in to your dashboard on each one, get the configuration, and import it. VPNCoast supports unlimited devices, but that doesn’t mean you should share your subscription publicly. Save the configuration only on devices you manage. If you think the link has been exposed, check whether the dashboard lets you reset your subscription, then update it on each device. For an explanation of terms such as subscriptions and servers, see VPN Terminology: A Quick Guide for Beginners. This guide continues with installation and import.

Install a Client and Import Your Subscription

Open the downloads section of your dashboard and choose the VPNCoast client for your device’s operating system. You’ll need to sign in to download a client, and subscription details are also available in the dashboard. An active plan is required to download the iOS client. Don’t choose software for another platform based only on its file extension, and don’t look for installers from unknown sources. The steps below apply to clients that support subscription configurations; the relevant option may be called Subscription, Configuration, Configuration Management, or Import.

If the dashboard offers automatic import, clicking it may prompt your device to open the client. Confirm that it’s the client you intend to use, then follow the instructions to save the configuration. If automatic import doesn’t open, add it manually by pasting the full subscription link you copied into the client’s subscription URL field. Both methods do the same thing. Once the subscription is added successfully, there’s no need to add it again.

Windows: Add a Subscription in Settings

Download the Windows desktop client from your dashboard, install it, and open it. Go to the subscription or configuration management section. Choose an option such as Add Subscription or Import from Link, then paste the full URL. If a name is required, use one that’s easy to recognize. Save the subscription, refresh or update it, and check that the server list appears.

Select the configuration you just added, then choose a server. If the client offers system proxy and other connection modes, start with the browser-friendly setting recommended in the dashboard. You don’t need to enable every advanced option at once. If your system requests network access, make sure the request comes from the client you installed, then follow the prompt. Keep the client running and continue to the connection check below.

macOS: Check Network Permissions After Importing

In the dashboard’s downloads section, choose the macOS desktop client and follow the installation instructions. Then open its configuration or subscription page. Use the option to add from a link, paste your subscription, and save it before refreshing the configuration. If you use automatic import from the dashboard, your system will pass the link to the corresponding app. Check the app’s name and confirm the configuration appears in its list.

When you first connect, macOS may ask you to allow a network configuration or authorize a related network feature. Confirm the request in the relevant system settings instead of repeatedly importing the subscription. Once authorized, return to the client, select a configuration and server, and connect. If the app opens but shows no servers, check whether the configuration updated successfully. If servers are listed but you can’t connect, check network permissions and your current connection settings.

Android: Add a Subscription and Allow the Connection

Sign in to your dashboard to get the Android client, then follow the installation instructions from your device and the dashboard. Open the app and look for an option to add or import a link in the subscription or configuration section. Paste the subscription URL and save it. Copying and pasting is recommended, as typing the URL manually can add spaces or line breaks. Update the configuration, check that server names appear, and choose the server you want to use.

When you connect, Android may show a system prompt asking you to approve a VPN connection. Check the app and allow it. To make troubleshooting easier, keep only the connection tool you need enabled during your initial test; avoid letting multiple similar apps manage the connection at the same time. If the connection drops when you switch apps, check whether your system restricts the client’s background activity. For more detailed troubleshooting, see the Help Center. You don’t need to adjust every setting during the initial import.

iOS: Add a Configuration Using the Dashboard

You must be signed in and have an active plan to access the iOS download. Check your plan status in the dashboard, then open the downloads section and follow the steps to get the client. If the download option isn’t available, check your account and plan status rather than using a link from another source. This guide doesn’t provide installers, direct app store links, or ready-to-use subscription URLs.

After installation, return to the dashboard and choose the relevant import option, or add the link from the client’s subscription or configuration page. Save and update it, then select a configuration and server and connect. If iOS asks to add a VPN configuration, approve it as prompted by the system, then return to the client to check the connection status. A connection indicator is only an initial check—open the app you actually want to use and confirm that it works.

Linux users can also get the client for their platform from the dashboard and follow its configuration instructions to import the subscription. On every platform, the import is complete when the configuration updates successfully and the server list appears—not simply when you click the import button. If an option has a different name or the update fails, visit Connection and Troubleshooting Help. Resolve the import issue before continuing to connect.

Connect to a Server and Verify It Works

After importing, select the current subscription configuration, choose a destination from the server list, and connect. When streaming or using a service, choose a server in a region supported by that platform rather than relying on the server name alone. Coverage includes 120+ countries and 170+ routes, but the options and their status depend on what appears in your client.

After connecting, open a website you use regularly to confirm your device is still online, then visit the service you actually want to use. Check that your exit IP matches the selected server. A location lookup may show the server’s region; it doesn’t mean your device’s physical location has changed. For testing tips, see How to Check Your Exit IP and DNS. You don’t need to install extra testing software for this guide.

If websites work in your browser but nothing changes in a particular app, first check whether that app is affected by the current proxy mode. Apps can handle network traffic differently, so a successful browser test doesn’t mean every app uses the same connection. Try closing and reopening the app, then check its routing settings as described by your client. When you’re getting started, change one setting at a time and test again so you can tell what made a difference.

If you can’t connect, retrace the steps in order: check that your account plan is active, the subscription can update, the configuration is selected, and system permissions are granted. Only then try switching servers. Don’t change every setting at once, and don’t delete the entire configuration just because one website won’t load. When submitting a support ticket, include your platform, the error message, the step where the problem occurred, and whether other websites work. This is more helpful than simply saying “I can’t connect.” Before sharing a screenshot, hide your subscription link and sensitive account details.

Once you can access the service you need and the exit IP and app behavior match your expectations, setup is complete. For everyday use, you’ll usually just need to open the client, update configurations when needed, select a server, and connect. Streaming account regions, video quality, and regional restrictions aren’t part of the initial setup. If needed, read the Complete Guide to Streaming Access. For common connection issues, visit the Help Center—you don’t need to learn every technical term before getting started.