What is Split Tunneling and why should you use it in 2025?

A VPN hides your IP address to access geo-restricted content and websites. Split tunneling is a VPN feature that allows you to restrict the VPN encryption to limited websites and applications.

It means you can connect to your food delivery application with your local IP address and access the web with the VPN provided IP address. In the case of streaming, you can change your Netflix region with the VPN but at the same time stay on your local gaming server using the split tunneling feature.

This article will highlight the key aspects of using the split tunneling feature: what is Split Tunneling, and do you need it? How does split tunneling work? What are the benefits of using split tunneling? And many other related questions.

How does split tunneling work?

Split tunneling is a futuristic VPN feature that allows users to divide their traffic into two categories. They can decide which traffic will go through the VPN encrypted tunnel and which will use the regular internet.

In order to understand how the split tunneling feature works, you must have a basic understanding of a VPN server and how it functions.

Your device is connected to the internet, and data is sent and received through your ISP. However, when you employ a VPN on that device, it changes your IP address, and now your traffic is encrypted and going through a VPN server.

The VPN server acts like a bridge between your device and the web, which means every bit of data is encrypted and processed through a VPN server.

Split tunneling gives you the opportunity to allow which data you want to encrypt through a VPN server and which data should travel in an open connection. This helps secure sensitive data without slowing your other activities.

Why do you need the Split tunneling feature?

You won’t need the split tunneling feature on a regular basis. But this VPN feature becomes useful in a few cases. Here are a few examples of split tunneling and when it’s needed.

• Bandwidth: The split tunneling feature will only allow certain applications and websites through a VPN server. This helps a lot in increasing your internet speed, especially in streaming and gaming.
• Accessing LAN: You won’t be able to connect to devices on your local network if you are using a VPN. To counter this, you have to enable the split tunneling feature, which allows you to select applications that will be passed through a VPN server. This helped a lot in accessing locally connected devices like office printers and casting your screen on your TV.
• Access to local and foreign content: With the split tunneling feature enabled in your VPN application, you can access both local and foreign connections. For example, you can access your local OTT platform, like Hulu in the USA, on one screen and access the Japanese Netflix library on the other. This lets you enjoy both words on the same device.

Most commercial VPNs offer the basic feature of split tunneling and kill switch with a subscription. Get a premium VPN like NordVPN or ExpressVPN and enjoy access to geo-restricted content with complete control.

What are the different types of Split tunneling?

Almost all premium VPNs provide the split tunneling feature to their users, which is similar in functionality. You either allow websites and applications to go through the VPN network or select them to bypass it.

We have mentioned different types of split tunneling and their usage.

Advantages and disadvantages of using split tunneling

Split tunneling can be a valuable feature for some users, while others may find it unnecessary. In a recent survey, we asked VPN users about their knowledge and use of split tunneling. Surprisingly, 70% of respondents were unaware of the feature’s existence, and 50% stated they had no need for it. Instead, they reported simply turning off their VPN whenever they needed to access their local network.

However, there were users who praised this feature and considered it a lifesaver. Here are a few pros and cons of split tunneling.

Is VPN split tunneling secure?

Split tunneling is not 100% secure compared to VPN-encrypted traffic. However, by allowing specific apps and URLs to use split tunneling, you are making an educated choice to get the most out of your VPN.

All your traffic is encrypted as it goes through the VPN servers. Other tasks like downloading a file or accessing the printer can be done on the local network and require whitelisting in the VPN app.

Using VPN split tunneling is a practical way to secure your online activities while simultaneously performing tasks on your local network. It remains more secure than not using a VPN at all. However, there’s an ongoing online debate claiming that using the split tunneling feature weakens VPN security and encryption.

This claim is entirely false. Split tunneling does not compromise encryption; it simply allows users to decide which traffic is routed through the VPN and which goes through the local network, offering both flexibility and security.

Therefore, I will advise you to use the split tunneling feature without worrying about online safety and security. Make sure to only whitelist applications and URLs that are essential to LAN, and the remaining traffic should pass through a VPN encryption network.

What are the risks of using split tunneling?

Here are the risks associated with using the split tunneling feature.

1. Circumventing security protocols:

While split tunneling can bypass routing all traffic through a secure VPN tunnel, it doesn’t inherently circumvent security protocols like proxy servers. However, it can expose traffic not routed through the VPN to the local network or ISP, potentially creating vulnerabilities if that traffic is sensitive or unencrypted. I advise everyone to use OpenVPN or WireGuard as their default VPN protocol.

2. Potentially compromising corporate security:

Split tunneling allows traffic to bypass the corporate VPN, which could lead to security risks if an employee connects to insecure or malicious networks, exposing corporate data to threats.

3. Employees overriding corporate restrictions:

Split tunneling can indeed allow employees to bypass corporate content restrictions by routing certain traffic outside the corporate VPN. This could lead to access to unauthorized or risky sites, creating compliance and security risks.

4. Corporate IT losing oversight:

This is another legitimate concern. Split tunneling makes it difficult for IT to monitor and control all employee traffic, which could lead to data breaches or exposure to threats from untrusted networks.

How to use split tunneling?

You can easily use the split tunneling feature on your VPN application. I use ExpressVPN to stay secure online. Here are the steps I follow to use split tunneling with the ExpressVPN app.

1. Open the application on your desktop.
2. Click on the options button in the top right corner
3. The split tunneling option is present in the last of the General menu screen
   
4. Check the box “Manage connection on a per-app basis” and click settings below it
5. It will give you three options, “All apps use VPN, Selected apps don’t use VPN, or will use VPN.”
6. I used the third option, which is the selected apps don’t use VPN and add the printers there.
7. Done you have successfully enabled split tunneling on your device.

Note: Different VPNs have different settings for split tunneling, but all work in the same way.

How to stop split tunneling?

Open the VPN application and head over to options. In ExpressVPN, we simply go to the general settings menu and uncheck the split tunneling box to permanently stop it.

How to test split tunneling?

You can simply test it by checking your IP address. We turned off split tunneling for Microsoft Edge and tested its effectiveness by checking our IP address via the Edge browser.

What is the difference between split tunneling and full tunneling?

The basic difference between the two is full tunneling is when your traffic is fully encrypted and routed via VPN servers. Split tunneling is when you decide to bypass the VPN encryption for certain apps and URLs.

Final thoughts on using Split Tunneling

In this guide, I’ve explained what split tunneling is and how you can use it effectively. I’ve also discussed the pros and cons of enabling the split tunneling feature in a VPN. While it does come with certain risks—such as the possibility of hackers exploiting improperly configured settings—it is still a more secure option than not using a VPN at all to encrypt your traffic.

To mitigate risks, you can use the split tunneling whitelisting feature to limit its use to specific apps that don’t handle sensitive data, such as banking credentials or passwords.

I hope you found this guide informative and encourage you to share it with others who might benefit from learning about split tunneling.