Hey friend! Have you heard about VPN split tunneling?
It‘s an incredibly useful feature offered by many top virtual private networks today.
Split tunneling gives you the ability to encrypt some of your internet traffic through the VPN tunnel while allowing other data to flow freely on your local network.
This allows you to enjoy the privacy and security benefits of a VPN without sacrificing speed for non-sensitive online activities.
In this comprehensive guide, I‘ll explain everything you need to know about split tunneling:
- How VPN split tunneling works
- Different types of split tunneling configurations
- Real-world examples of using split tunnels
- Security considerations and best practices
- How to enable split tunneling on all your devices
- When you should use a split tunnel vs full VPN tunnel
Let‘s dig in!
Contents
- What is VPN Split Tunneling and How Does It Work?
- When Should You Use VPN Split Tunneling?
- Types of VPN Split Tunneling
- Real-World Examples of Split Tunneling
- Security Considerations for Split Tunneling
- How To Set Up Split Tunneling on Your Devices
- Should You Use Split Tunnel or Full Tunnel VPN?
- Closing Thoughts on Split Tunneling
What is VPN Split Tunneling and How Does It Work?
First, a quick refresher – a VPN encrypts all your internet traffic and routes it through a remote server run by the VPN provider. This hides your IP address and online activities from prying eyes.
With split tunneling, your traffic gets divided into two tunnels:
- One secured tunnel through the VPN server
- One unsecured tunnel on your local network
Diagram showing full tunnel vs split tunnel VPN connections
So when you turn on split tunneling, you decide which apps send data through the encrypted VPN tunnel for privacy…and which apps send data directly for better speed.
According to GlobalWebIndex, 78% of VPN users enable split tunneling to bypass slowdowns – so it‘s very popular!
Split tunneling gives you flexibility and control over your VPN experience.
When Should You Use VPN Split Tunneling?
There are a few instances where leveraging split tunneling makes sense:
1. Access region-locked streaming sites
Many streaming platforms like Netflix block VPNs to enforce country-specific libraries. With split tunneling, you can access international Netflix catalogs securely while still appearing in your true location.
According to Comparitech, at least 5 major VPNs still work reliably with US Netflix. But split tunneling adds an extra layer of assurance.
2. Connect to local network resources
Full-tunnel VPNs can block you from accessing printers, file shares, and other devices on your home or office network.
Split tunnels allow you to connect securely to your VPN and local area network (LAN) simultaneously.
3. Maintain speed for gaming and streaming
Latency-sensitive apps like Twitch, YouTube, and online games require silky-smooth direct connections.
Split tunneling improves streaming quality and reduces lag by preventing VPN bottlenecks.
4. Exclude data-heavy apps
Tunneling large downloads like OS updates through your VPN can choke bandwidth and increase data usage.
Split tunneling lets you bypass the VPN for torrenting, video conferencing, and other data hogs.
5. Appear in two places at once
With split tunneling, you can have some apps using your real IP address while others show the VPN IP address – very handy!
Types of VPN Split Tunneling
There are a few common ways VPN providers offer split tunneling:
| Split Tunneling Method | How It Works |
|---|---|
| App-based | Choose individual apps to tunnel or bypass the VPN |
| URL-based | Tunnel traffic from specific websites through the VPN |
| IP address-based | Tunnel connections to designated IP address ranges |
| Inverse method | VPN on by default, exclude specific apps/sites |
| Dynamic method | VPN client monitors traffic and tunnels dynamically |
App-based split tunneling is one of the most popular and user-friendly options. For example:
The CyberGhost VPN client allows granular app-based split tunneling
With app-based tunnels, you simply designate which programs route through the VPN or bypass it. This puts you in complete control.
URL-based split tunneling is also very handy. The VPN client only secures traffic when you visit specific websites that deal with sensitive info like banking and healthcare.
Real-World Examples of Split Tunneling
To give you a better idea, here are some specific ways you could leverage split tunneling:
- Tunnel web browsers and email through the VPN for privacy while excluding Netflix, Spotify, Steam, and torrents to bypass throttling and region blocks
- Tunnel corporate apps like Salesforce and Office when working remotely while allowing Skype, Zoom, Slack, etc. to connect directly for optimal performance
- Tunnel connections to office file shares and databases via VPN while allowing printer and Wi-Fi access via local network
- Tunnel mobile banking and shopping apps through the VPN while excluding YouTube, TikTok, Twitter, and other bandwidth hogs
As you can see, the possibilities are endless! Properly configuring split tunneling rules takes a bit of trial and error to find the ideal balance.
Security Considerations for Split Tunneling
Split tunneling offers clear benefits, but it does reduce your VPN security somewhat.
With all traffic routed through one VPN tunnel, there‘s no chance of data leakage or malware infection. But split tunnels can potentially expose open connections.
According to cloud security researchers SonicWall, improper split tunneling contributed to 56% of corporate data breaches in 2022.
Here are a few best practices to keep your split VPN configuration secure:
- Only split tunnel on trusted home and office networks with endpoint antivirus enabled. Avoid public networks.
- Tunnel all traffic by default, then narrowly exclude specific apps and sites that don‘t need encryption. Take an "encrypt first" approach.
- Use VPN clients that make it easy to define split tunneling rules and groups based on app traffic types, URL categories, IP ranges, etc.
- Leverage firewalls and local network gateways to prevent communication between tunneled and direct traffic on the same device.
- Enable VPN kill switches that cut off all traffic if the encrypted tunnel drops.
- Use strong credentials and multifactor authentication when connecting to VPN servers.
Following these tips will help close potential security gaps. For most personal use cases, the privacy/speed trade-off with split tunnels is well worthwhile.
How To Set Up Split Tunneling on Your Devices
If you‘re ready to enable split tunneling, the process will vary depending on your VPN provider and OS:
Windows and Mac
Most premium VPN services like ExpressVPN, NordVPN, Surfshark, etc. allow split tunnel configuration via their desktop apps. Just find the "Split Tunneling" or "Route Traffic" section in Settings.
Split tunneling in the Windows NordVPN app
You‘ll then be able to designate apps and sites to tunnel or bypass. Super simple!
iOS and Android
On iPhone and iPad, navigate to Settings > General > VPN and toggle on "Split Tunnel" for the VPN connection. Then choose which apps route outside the tunnel.
The process is similar on Android – just enable split tunneling in your VPN app and configure the app rules.
Routers
Some routers like Asus, TP-Link and Synology also allow split tunneling configurations in their firmware. Enable it at the router level to protect all connected devices on your home network.
Chromebooks and Linux
Split tunneling on Chrome OS and Linux is hit or miss depending on your VPN provider. Check their setup guides for details. TunnelBear is one good option for Chromebook split tunneling.
Should You Use Split Tunnel or Full Tunnel VPN?
When deciding between full tunnel encryption or split tunneling, think about your use case:
Full tunnel VPN
✅ Secures all traffic with no exceptions
❌ Reduces speeds somewhat across the board
Split tunnel VPN
✅ Maintains speed for non-sensitive tasks
❌ Opens potential gaps in privacy/security
For complete anonymity, go with a full tunnel VPN encrypted connection. This guarantees all your network data stays private.
But if you need to bypass VPN throttling or geo-blocks, split VPN tunnels offer the flexibility to tune your encryption on a granular app-by-app basis.
My advice? Experiment with split tunneling to find the right balance for your browsing habits and speed needs. Both options have their place!
Closing Thoughts on Split Tunneling
Hopefully this guide gave you a good overview of how VPN split tunneling works and why it‘s useful!
The ability to selectively route traffic through an encrypted VPN tunnel or outside it gives you the best of both worlds – privacy and speed.
Split tunnels do reduce security somewhat compared to blanketing all your traffic in encryption. But with good personal practices, the advantages often outweigh the risks.
Take the time to properly configure your split tunneling rules and groups for each device. And consider enabling split tunnels on your home router to simplify security for all connected clients.
Split VPN tunneling opens up so many possibilities. Have fun exploring!
And as always, stay safe out there on the web. Your data is valuable – keep it protected.
