What is Split Tunneling with a VPN?

Split tunneling with a VPN is when all your traffic goes through the VPN except for certain applications. This method of using a VPN allows you to have more control over what information you are sending and receiving.

It also makes it easier to bypass region restrictions that some websites may have in place. In this article, we will take a closer look at what split tunneling with a VPN actually means. How it is done and what are its main types.

So, if you are interested in discovering all this, keep on reading!

Split Tunneling with VPN: How it Works?

Split tunneling with a VPN is a process that allows you to have more control over your traffic. With split tunneling, you can choose which applications will send and receive their data through the VPN and which ones will not.

This is done by creating a list of exceptions for certain applications. When you create this list, you are basically telling the VPN to not redirect your traffic through its servers when using these applications.

Creating this list of exceptions is relatively straightforward with most VPN services. There are usually 2 different ways of doing it:

1. You can do it directly on the VPN service's client or app that you use. So the next time you connect to the VPN, you will have to select the applications that you want to use on it.

2. You can also do it on your device's settings. This is usually done on Android and iOS devices.

Once you have created this list, the VPN will not redirect any of your traffic through its servers when using the applications on the list. However, all your other traffic will still be routed through the VPN.

This gives you a lot of control over your data and how it is sent and received. You can choose which applications you want to use the VPN with and which ones you don't.

Now that we know how split tunneling with a VPN works, let's take a look at its main types.

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Main Types of Tunneling with a VPN

There are 3 main types of tunneling with a VPN:

1. Full Tunneling
2. Semi-Split Tunneling ​
3. Intranet or Private Network Split Tunneling

Full Tunneling

With full split tunneling, all your traffic goes through the VPN. This includes both your applications that are using the VPN and those that are not.

This is the most common type of split tunneling and is also the one that gives you the most protection. It is also the one that takes the most toll on your internet speeds.

Semi-Split Tunneling

With semi-split tunneling, only some of the traffic goes through the VPN and not all of it. This type of split tunneling takes a lot less toll on your internet speeds but is also a bit less secure since it still redirects part of your traffic outside its servers.

Intranet or Private Network Split Tunneling

With this type of split tunneling, the traffic that is sent and received is restricted to a certain network or intranet. This means that only devices that are connected to this network will be able to send and receive data through the VPN.

This type of split tunneling is mainly used for private networks and is less common.

Final Words

From all this information, we can conclude that split tunneling with a VPN gives you a lot of control over your data and its traffic. It allows you to choose which applications use the VPN's servers and which ones don't.

There are some cases where you will need to send only a specific type of traffic through the VPN. For example, if you are only interested in protecting your web traffic then you can use semi-split tunneling.

On the other hand, if you want to have full protection for all your traffic then you can use full split tunneling.

However, keep in mind that this type of tunneling can have a negative impact on your internet speeds.

So, choose the type of split tunneling that best suits your needs and requirements.