What Is Split Tunneling?
Split tunneling is a VPN feature that routes only some of your traffic through the encrypted VPN tunnel while the rest uses your regular internet connection. You choose the split — by app, by website, or by IP range. It solves the everyday conflict of needing a VPN for some things (streaming a home-country service, privacy) while needing your real location or full speed for others (local services, banking, printers).
How it works
The VPN client inserts routing rules into your device's network stack: traffic matching your rules (a specific app, domain, or destination) is directed into the tunnel; everything else bypasses it. The split is enforced locally on your device — the two streams never mix.
Three common modes: app-based (route Netflix through the VPN, everything else outside — or vice versa), URL/domain-based (only certain sites through the tunnel, typically via browser extension), and inverse split tunneling (everything through the VPN except chosen exceptions — the safer default).
Real-world uses
Typical traveler setup: route your streaming and banking apps through a home-country VPN server while letting Google Maps, food delivery, and ride-hailing apps use the local connection so they show your actual location. Typical home setup: send torrent clients through the VPN with a kill switch while gaming traffic runs direct for lowest ping.
The trade-off is reduced protection surface: anything outside the tunnel is exposed exactly as if you had no VPN. Security-critical users (restrictive countries, sensitive work) should avoid split tunneling entirely — one misrouted app can leak what the VPN was meant to hide.
Platform support
Split tunneling support varies more than most VPN features: Android supports per-app splits natively and nearly every VPN app exposes it. Windows support is widespread. On macOS and iOS, Apple's network architecture limits app-based splitting, so providers offer it partially or not at all — check the current state per provider before relying on it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is split tunneling safe?
It's a deliberate trade-off: traffic outside the tunnel has no VPN protection. Safe for convenience uses (local apps while traveling); unsafe as a default for users whose threat model involves real adversaries or restrictive networks.
Does split tunneling improve speed?
For the traffic you exclude from the VPN, yes — it runs at full line speed with no encryption overhead or extra hop. This is the standard fix for keeping game ping low while a VPN runs.
Can I split-tunnel on iPhone?
Only in limited forms. iOS doesn't allow third-party apps to do true per-app routing; some providers offer domain-based splitting or Safari-level controls instead. Android is the platform with full per-app split tunneling.
Which VPNs have the best split tunneling?
ExpressVPN, NordVPN, and Surfshark all offer mature per-app split tunneling on Windows and Android, with inverse mode available. macOS/iOS support is partial across the whole industry due to OS restrictions.