App-based split tunneling is the most common type you’ll come across, as it’s the most straightforward and easiest to understand. Some of your apps use the VPN, and some don’t. So maybe you want your banking app connected to a VPN for maximum protection, but you’re less concerned about a weather app, and you don’t want to see forecasts from whatever location the VPN is spoofing.
Depending on the VPN, you might also see URL-based split tunneling. This lets you set the rules based on domain names. It’s the same idea as with apps: For websites that need fast internet access and where privacy is less important, there’s no VPN. So you can keep the VPN turned on for a search engine page where you’re typing information you want protected, but off for a local news site.
There are other types of VPN tunneling too, including route-based tunneling (based on specific IP addresses on the internet) and policy-based tunneling (essentially a set of overarching rules), but these are less common in consumer VPN software, and you’re unlikely to come across them unless you’re somehow managing other users.
It’s not a complicated technology to understand, and it can be genuinely useful—but it’s also a feature that users tend not to notice or think about when they’re enabling and disabling VPNs on their devices.
How to Enable Split Tunneling
Split tunneling on Windows.Courtesy of David Nield
The exact steps needed to enable split tunneling will vary depending on the VPN software you’re using, but they shouldn’t be too difficult to find. Most, but not all, VPN programs now offer some kind of split tunneling feature. If you’re using a popular app, then you should find the option somewhere, especially if you’re on a paid tier.