Smart tunneling

Click the settings icon. Make sure you’re not connected to a VPN server.Once you’re in settings, click on VPN from the panel under Manage devices. Select App Split Tunnel at the bottom of the screen.Select Mode at the top left-hand corner.Create your split tunneling rules. Choose to protect all apps or select Custom rules to choose the apps you want to encrypt. How to Configure Split Tunneling on WindowsThe CyberGhost Windows VPN app has an Exceptions feature that lets you exclude sites (like Netflix) from the VPN tunnel.Launch the VPN app and log in. Click on Smart Rules. In the Smart rules section, select the Exceptions tab at the top. The Make exceptions section will appear. Toggle the On button.Enter the URL of the website you’d like to exclude from the CyberGhost VPN tunnel and click Add. For example, you can type Netflix.com if you want to stream Netflix on your normal, unencrypted internet connection. That’s it! The URL will now appear on the list of URLs that bypass the VPN tunnel. You can deactivate or delete this URL at any time.How to Test If Your VPN Split Tunneling Is WorkingUnsure if split tunneling has been activated? Here are some steps you can take.Check your VPN settings. Log in to your VPN and verify split tunneling is active. Visit the unencrypted channels and check your IP address. Your real IP address should be visible. You can use this free tool to check your IP address. Visit the encrypted channels and check your IP address. Your real IP address should be masked, and you should have a new IP address in the same location as the VPN server you connected to. Access local devices (like your printer or local servers). If you can establish a connection while the VPN is on,

VPN split tunneling is an advanced feature that allows you to selectively route some internet traffic through a VPN server, while the remaining traffic accesses the internet directly. This lets you dictate which applications and services must use the encrypted VPN tunnel, and which ones must use your standard internet connection.VPN split tunneling is an advanced feature of virtual private network software, designed to help you better manage and control your VPN traffic.All our top VPN recommendations offer this feature on Windows and Android, but only some VPNs offer it on macOS, Linux, and Smart TVs. Sadly, split tunneling simply isn’t available on iOS due to Apple’s strict restrictions. This guide will explain how split tunneling works, its benefits, and how to use it safely. We’ll also reveal which VPNs offer the best split tunneling feature.Why Trust Us?We’re fully independent and have been reviewing VPNs since 2016. Our advice is based on our own testing results and is unaffected by financial incentives. Learn who we are and how we test VPNs.VPN split tunneling is an advanced feature offered by some VPN services. It allows you to use two different network connections simultaneously, so you can dictate which applications and services use the encrypted VPN tunnel, and which ones use your standard internet connection.When you connect a VPN normally, all of your internet traffic is routed through the VPN server. When you turn on split tunneling, you specify which apps and websites are included and excluded from your VPN connection. For example, you might want to watch another country’s Netflix library, but you also want Google Maps to show your real location. You can turn on VPN split tunneling, so Netflix is included in your VPN connection and Google Maps is excluded.Another way to look at it is that VPN split tunneling lets you specify which apps and services must use the public IP address assigned by your internet service provider.This prevents some of your web traffic being slowed down unnecessarily, and sometimes prevents programs from not working properly.It can also be useful if you want to conserve battery power or decrease data usage. Alternatively, you might torrent often or simply use apps that don’t work well with VPN connections, like banking apps. Different Types of VPN Split TunnelingBear in mind that VPNs name their split tunneling features differently. You might come across per-app split tunneling, whitelisting, or bypassing VPN features depending on your chosen VPN.PIA offers the most comprehensive split tunneling features – available on Windows, macOS, browser extensions, and more.There are three different ways that a VPN service can split your web traffic:Per App Split Tunneling: Choose applications you want to run through a VPN connection or bypass a

The most private VPNs on the market, with strong AES-256 and ChaCha20 encryption, a verified no-logs policy, functioning kill switch, P2P-friendly servers, ad blocker, and built-in leak protection. The VPN has servers in 91, delivering fast speeds and keeping latency low no matter where you’re based. It also works with popular streaming platforms like Netflix, Max, Prime Video, and more. For the best results, we recommend using its Streaming Optimized servers. As an added bonus, PIA is a budget-friendly option. The two-year plan costs $2.03 per month, offering superb value for money, or $11.99 per month on a rolling monthly contract.There are a couple downsides: beginners might find its flexible split tunneling feature confusing, but there’s 24/7 live chat support if you need help and comprehensive guides. There’s also no native split tunneling on iOS – though that’s the case for all VPNs due to Apple’s restrictions. Simple per-app split tunnelingAvailable on Android, Windows, Amazon Firestick & router appVery fast speeds & servers in 106 countriesWorks with US Netflix, Disney+, Hulu, Max & morePrivate logging policy & privacy-haven jurisdictionWell-informed & quick 24/7 live chat supportNo split tunneling on iOS, macOS 11 & above, Chrome or FirefoxMore expensive than PIANo port forwarding & slower P2P speeds than PIAExpressVPN is our runner-up recommendation for VPN split tunneling. The VPN’s unique selling point is its custom router app, allowing you to split tunnel traffic on all the devices in your household – including your phones, computer, and smart TVs or consoles. With ExpressVPN’s router app, you can create separate Device Groups, connecting each group of devices to a different VPN location or bypassing the VPN entirely. There’s a native split tunneling feature available on Android, Windows and Amazon Firestick, but you won’t be able to use it on iOS, browser extensions, or macOS 11 and above. Using ExpressVPN’s Firestick app, you can split tunnel apps like Netflix or Prime Video through a specific VPN server.ExpressVPN is an excellent all-round option. It unblocks 95% of streaming platforms we’ve tested it with, has extremely high security standards, with AES-256 or ChaCha20 encryption, and diskless servers, and it provides very fast download speeds. It also has the best VPN server network, covering 106 countries, so you can get an IP address from almost every location in the world. There’s super-quick and well-informed customer support via 24/7 live chat if you have any issues with its split tunneling feature.However, ExpressVPN is more expensive than some of its competitors, such as PIA (our top recommendation for split tunneling). But if you need a router split tunneling compatibility, ExpressVPN is the best solution.How to Set Up Split Tunneling PIA VPN's split tunneling setting worked smoothly in our latest tests.Here’s

Use cases as VPN features continue to evolve. Remote workers, for example, can access their company’s network securely without interfering with their local internet services, which may be necessary for personal use or for high-bandwidth activities like online gaming or video streaming that do not require VPN protection.For tech-savvy households, split tunneling can also be used to secure smart home devices, many of which connect to the internet and represent potential security vulnerabilities. By configuring these devices to bypass the VPN, users can avoid the performance degradation that might come from running all home network traffic through a single VPN gateway, while still securing critical communications and sensitive transactions.ConclusionVPN split tunneling is a valuable feature that offers users precise control over their internet traffic, ensuring that they can enjoy the best of both worlds: robust security for sensitive activities and superior speed for everyday tasks. By understanding and utilizing this feature, users can tailor their internet experience to match their specific privacy, security, and performance needs. Take Control of Your Privacy Today! Unblock websites, access streaming platforms, and bypass ISP monitoring. Get FastestVPN