View routes by region
The table below shows exit regions, cities and route types. It is not a latency ranking, and priorities are not based on a single test. Actual performance depends on your local network, destination, connection protocol and time of day. Choose the target region first, then consider your use case and route type.
| Country or region | City | Route type | Streaming support |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asia-Pacific | |||
| Hong Kong, China | Hong Kong | IEPL | Supported |
| Japan | Tokyo | Relay | Supported |
| Japan | Osaka | Direct | Region matching required |
| Singapore | Singapore | Direct | Supported |
| Australia | Sydney | Relay | Supported |
| South Korea | Seoul | Direct | Region matching required |
| Taiwan, China | Taipei | Relay | Supported |
| Malaysia | Kuala Lumpur | Direct | Region matching required |
| North America | |||
| United States | Los Angeles | IEPL | Supported |
| United States | San Francisco | Relay | Supported |
| United States | New York | Direct | Region matching required |
| Canada | Toronto | Relay | Supported |
| Canada | Vancouver | Direct | Region matching required |
| Europe | |||
| United Kingdom | London | Direct | Supported |
| Germany | Frankfurt | Relay | Supported |
| France | Paris | Direct | Region matching required |
| Netherlands | Amsterdam | Relay | Supported |
| Italy | Milan | Direct | Region matching required |
| Spain | Madrid | Relay | Supported |
| Sweden | Stockholm | Direct | Region matching required |
| Türkiye | Istanbul | Relay | Supported |
| Other regions | |||
| United Arab Emirates | Dubai | Direct | Region matching required |
| Brazil | São Paulo | Relay | Supported |
| South Africa | Johannesburg | Direct | Region matching required |
| New Zealand | Auckland | Relay | Supported |
How to choose among three route types
IEPL, relay and direct routes are not simply better or worse tiers. They use different path structures and suit different network conditions, use cases and resource costs. Consider stability, target region and frequency of use together.
IEPL
Stability firstIEPL routes organize the path between the access segment and the international exit more deliberately, reducing unpredictable detours on ordinary public routes. Their value is not a larger number in one test, but a more consistent connection during busy evening periods, long meetings, remote desktops and sustained transfers.
These routes generally cost more resources than relay and direct routes, making them better suited to interruption-sensitive work such as cross-border office work, continuous file synchronization, online meetings or fixed-region business systems. For occasional web access, an IEPL route is not always the best choice; reserving it for tasks that truly need a stable path is usually more efficient.
Relay routes
A balanced choiceA relay route first connects to a suitable entry point, then forwards traffic to the target region through an intermediate path. Its main role is to avoid poor direct paths between the local network and a remote exit while balancing coverage, everyday stability and resource cost. For most everyday browsing, streaming and AI tool access, relay is a practical default.
More relay hops do not automatically mean a better path. An effective relay should be organized around the target region rather than sending the connection elsewhere. Choose a relay exit in the same region as the target service first. If the app maintains long-lived connections, watch for repeated reconnects during actual use before considering an IEPL route.
Direct routes
A simpler pathA direct route connects the local network straight to the target exit, with a simpler structure and fewer intermediate steps. When local routing to the target region is suitable, direct routes work well for web browsing, quick lookups, light communication and backup access. They are also useful for quickly checking whether content in a region is accessible.
Direct performance is more sensitive to local carrier networks and cross-region routing, so the same exit may perform differently on different networks. If pages load inconsistently, apps retry frequently or long-lived connections drop, try a relay in the same region before switching to a much more distant country. This preserves the target region while changing the path structure.
Choose an exit by use case
Being nearby is only a starting condition. The target service location, connection method and tolerance for brief reconnects determine whether an exit is suitable. The methods below require no complex settings and work as practical everyday selection rules.
Everyday browsing: start nearby with relay or direct
For international websites, research and ordinary web pages, start with a nearby Asia-Pacific exit. Hong Kong, Japan and Singapore are often convenient everyday entry points. If direct access feels inconsistent, switch to a relay in the same region. If the site clearly targets North America or Europe, choose that region instead of judging by distance alone.
Browsing often means moving between several websites, and keeping the same exit is usually easier than switching repeatedly. If pages load, login status and file access remain normal, there is no need to change routes repeatedly to chase a single test result.
Streaming: region matching matters more than distance
Streaming content depends on your account region, licensing territory and exit location. To watch content from a specific region, choose an exit there first and check the directory’s streaming-support indicator. After connecting, fully close the existing app or page and reopen it so the app can detect the new region; refreshing only the playback page may not update regional information immediately.
Streaming requires sustained transfer, so start by trying a relay route. If buffering repeats during long playback, switch to an IEPL route in the same region. For a catalog lookup or brief viewing session, direct can also serve as a quick entry point. Avoid switching regions repeatedly during playback, or the account session and content region may need to reload.
AI tools: keep the region fixed and the session consistent
AI tools often involve login, long conversations, file uploads and continuous generation. Start with a relay route in a region where the service is available, and keep the same exit throughout a complete work session. Switching countries repeatedly during a session may restart login status, regional checks or upload tasks.
If your work involves long-form generation, file uploads or sustained requests, consider an IEPL route in the same region. If the page opens but features do not load correctly, confirm the exit region and establish a new session. Do not start by trying exits across several continents, as it becomes difficult to tell whether the issue is regional, browser-related or route-related.
Gaming: follow the server region, not the account language
Choose a gaming route based on the actual server region. A Chinese-language account interface does not mean the server is in Asia-Pacific; the same game may place matchmaking, login and voice services in different regions. Confirm the game’s selected server region, then use an exit in or near that region. This is generally more sensible than blindly choosing a distant IEPL route.
For games that are sensitive to persistent connections, compare relay and IEPL routes in the same region first. Do not switch exits after entering a match. If you need to change routes, leave the current session, connect to the new exit and enter again. This avoids keeping the old connection in the background while login and gameplay use different paths.
Cross-border work: keep the target region fixed and prefer IEPL
Online meetings, remote desktops, business document sync and code repository access all depend on stable long-lived connections. Confirm where the business system is hosted, then choose an IEPL route in the same region; if no matching IEPL route is available, use a relay there. Avoid changing exits because you opened another website during work. Client-side split routing can keep local services on direct connections.
Before important work, complete login, open the target system and confirm sync status before starting a meeting or upload. If you use multiple devices, 5566VPN supports unlimited devices online at once, but each device should still choose an exit suited to its task. All devices do not need to stay in the same region.
A repeatable route selection method
You do not need to test every exit one by one. A fixed decision order helps identify a suitable route faster and avoids switching back and forth between regions and route types.
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Confirm the target service region first
First answer: “Which region does the service primarily target?” For streaming, check the content region; for gaming, the server region; for business systems, the deployment location; and for AI tools, the available service region. Once the target is clear, limit candidates to that region or nearby regions instead of judging by route names first.
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Then choose the route type for the task
Use direct first for ordinary web pages and quick lookups; relay for everyday use, streaming and AI tools; and IEPL for meetings, remote desktops and sustained transfers. This is not a permanent rule, but a starting point that reduces trial and error.
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Keep the region fixed and change only the path
If the current exit is unsuitable, switch from direct to relay, or from relay to IEPL, within the same region first. Changing only one variable makes the cause easier to identify. Switching directly from Tokyo to New York changes the region, routing and platform territory at once, making the result harder to interpret.
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Re-establish the app session
After switching exits, close the existing browser tab or app session and reopen the target service. Some apps cache regional, connection and login states. Changing the route while keeping the old session may preserve the previous result. After reconnecting, check whether the page, playback, upload or sync works normally.
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Save frequently used exits by purpose
Once you find a suitable combination, remember the region and route type for purposes such as “Work,” “Streaming” and “AI tools.” Starting with the same combination is more consistent than searching again each time. If your local network changes, compare another route type in the same region.
What to check when switching exits
A route being available does not mean an app will immediately use the new connection. Browser caches, background sessions, split-routing rules and local network changes can all affect the result. Following a fixed checklist is usually easier than reconnecting repeatedly.
Before switching
- Confirm where the target service is located so you do not mistake a regional issue for a route issue.
- Save anything you are editing and pause active uploads, sync jobs or remote sessions.
- Record the current region and route type so you can compare after switching.
- Check that the client is using the global or split-routing mode required for the task.
After switching
- Reopen the target webpage or app so the service can detect the current exit again.
- Verify the core function first, such as login, playback, conversation, sync or entering a server.
- Compare route types within the same region first; do not change several conditions at once.
- Once the task is working again, keep the exit stable and avoid another switch mid-task.
How to understand 120+ countries / 160+ routes
Country coverage describes the available exit regions, while the route count reflects combinations of regions and path types. These figures do not mean you need to compare the full directory every time. In most cases, build a few combinations around your usual regions: a nearby relay for everyday browsing, the matching territory for content services, an IEPL route in the target region for work, plus a backup exit in the same region.
One country may include multiple cities or route types. City names help identify the exit location but should not be treated as a quality verdict on their own. Your choice should still come back to the target service, route type and current network conditions. If a frequently used combination changes, try another route in the same region before moving to a nearby region.
Common questions about the route directory
These questions focus on regional matching, route selection and switching methods. The answers emphasize repeatable steps rather than treating short-term network changes as permanent conclusions.
Is the closest exit always the best?
Not necessarily. Distance is useful for an initial filter, but the target service region and route type matter just as much. For streaming, game servers or business systems in a specific region, match that region first. For everyday browsing, try a nearby exit first. If a nearby direct route is unsuitable, a relay in the same region may work better than a more distant exit.
Is IEPL suitable for every use case?
IEPL is better suited to online meetings, remote desktops, sustained transfers and other tasks that need a consistent connection. For ordinary web searches or brief access, start with relay or direct. Route selection should serve the current task; there is no need to use the higher-resource option for every app.
Why do I still see the old content region after opening a streaming service?
The app may retain a previous session or regional cache. First confirm that the exit matches the target content region, then fully close the existing app or page, reopen it and establish a new session. Visibility also depends on the platform account and licensing territory, so the directory’s support indicator does not mean every account will see exactly the same catalog.
Which region should I use for AI tools?
Choose a region where the target tool is available and keep the exit consistent throughout a complete work session. Start with a relay in the matching region; for long conversations, file uploads or continuous generation, compare an IEPL route in the same region. Avoid switching across regions during a session, which may cause the app to reassess login and regional status.
Can different devices use different exits?
Yes. 5566VPN supports unlimited devices online at once, and each device can choose an exit for its own purpose. For example, a desktop can use an IEPL route for work, a tablet can use the matching streaming region, and another device can keep an everyday browsing route. Devices do not have to use the same region.
Where can I get the client and subscription after signing up?
Sign-up requires only a username and password—no email address. After logging in to the user panel, open the client download area to get the client and subscription for your platform, then follow the Windows, macOS, iOS, Android or Linux import instructions.
Start with your usual region
Confirm the target region first, then choose IEPL, relay or direct. No email address is required for sign-up; after logging in, you can get the client and subscription from the user panel.