VPN Feature
VPN Split Tunneling: What It Is, Why You Need It, and How to Set It Up in 2026
⚡ Split Tunneling Explained
Split tunneling lets you choose which apps or websites use the VPN and which connect directly. Use case: route your banking app and sensitive work apps through VPN for security, while your Netflix and gaming traffic connects directly for maximum speed.
Split tunneling is one of the most useful VPN features that most users never configure. Without it, every app on your device — from banking to streaming to gaming — routes through the VPN. This maximizes privacy but can slow streaming speeds and cause issues with local network devices. Split tunneling gives you granular control.
Three Types of Split Tunneling
- App-based split tunneling: Specific apps route through VPN (banking app, email client), others connect directly (Netflix, gaming). Available on NordVPN, ExpressVPN, Surfshark, Mullvad.
- URL/domain-based split tunneling: Specific websites use VPN, others connect directly. More granular but less common. Available on ExpressVPN, ProtonVPN.
- Inverse split tunneling: All traffic routes through VPN except specifically excluded apps. More secure default — use this when you want VPN for almost everything but need a few exceptions.
Recommended Split Tunneling Setup
| App/Service | Recommended Setting | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Banking apps | Through VPN | Protect financial data |
| Email apps | Through VPN | Protect communications |
| Work apps (Slack, Zoom) | Through VPN | Company security |
| Netflix/streaming | Direct (unless geo-bypassing) | Better speeds |
| Gaming | Direct (unless anti-throttle needed) | Lower latency |
| Local printer/NAS | Direct | VPN blocks local network access |
How to Set Up Split Tunneling on NordVPN
- Open NordVPN → Settings → Split Tunneling → Enable
- Choose "Route selected apps through VPN" or "Disable VPN for selected apps"
- Add apps using the + button — browse your installed applications
- Close settings — changes take effect immediately
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Split Tunneling — FAQ
Technical questions answered
Split tunneling is safe when configured correctly. The security consideration: apps not routed through VPN are exposed to your network and ISP as normal. This is intentional — the whole point of split tunneling is to choose which traffic needs protection. Potential risks: accidentally excluding a sensitive app from VPN protection, or poorly designed apps that leak DNS from VPN-excluded connections. Inverse split tunneling (VPN for everything except explicitly excluded apps) is the more secure configuration.
Split tunneling can improve overall device performance by reducing VPN overhead for high-bandwidth apps. Video streaming at 4K without VPN uses your full connection speed; with VPN, it's limited by VPN throughput. By excluding streaming apps from VPN, you get full speed for entertainment while sensitive apps remain protected. Gaming in particular benefits from split tunneling — direct connection removes the 5-15ms latency added by even the fastest VPNs.