Split Tunneling is a VPN feature that allows you to customize which activities are protected and choose which activities stay out of the tunnel for maximum speeds. But it may come at the expense of speed, which is why Quantrimang.com has compiled the best VPNs that support Split Tunneling for you to consider.
- Platforms that support Split Tunneling: Windows, Android, Linux, Chrome, Opera, Firefox and macOS (beta).
- Split Tunneling features: Application inclusion/exclusion, IP inclusion/exclusion (and subnet range)
If you've figured out why you should use Split Tunneling, the next question might be: which VPN service has the best Split Tunneling feature? The best option will give you more granular control and support on most platforms.
PIA (Private Internet Access) is a current favorite service because it meets both of these criteria. PIA not only allows you to choose between conventional Split Tunneling or reverse Split Tunneling, but also allows you to apply this method by application or IP address. That means you can whitelist games with Steam, specific websites, or even entire ranges of IP addresses.
- Platforms that support Split Tunneling: Windows, Android, Amazon Fire TV, Mac, iOS, Apple Vision Pro
- Split Tunneling features: Include/exclude applications, include/exclude domains
If ranking Split Tunneling VPN providers based solely on platform support, IPVanish would be the winning option. In addition to standard support on Windows and Android, IPVanish also offers Split Tunneling on Mac and iOS – but recently doesn't work on most services due to Apple's security design.
Looks like the method used for Mac and iOS is not complete for including/excluding apps, but at least it works by domain. If Split Tunneling on Apple products (along with other platforms) is important to you, then IPVanish may be your best choice.
- Platforms that support Split Tunneling: Windows, Android, Android TV
- Split Tunneling features: Include/exclude applications, include/exclude IP addresses (and subnet ranges)
Coming from the developers of privacy-focused Proton Mail and Proton Drive, one of the best VPNs for Split Tunneling is ProtonVPN.
Split Tunneling on ProtonVPN is more advanced than most other providers, allowing you to run in standard or reverse mode. The mode you choose is effective for either including or excluding specific apps, websites, or IP addresses. Its IP address range option is quite useful, for example, if you want to exclude your local subnet (192.168.1.0/24) from the VPN tunnel for maximum speed between trusted devices.
- Platforms that support Split Tunneling: Windows, Android, Android TV, VPN router
- Split Tunneling features: application inclusion/exclusion, device inclusion/exclusion (router only)
ExpressVPN is a solid choice for Split Tunneling if you want something simple and don't need to split tunnels by IP address. ExpressVPN has standard and reverse Split Tunneling so you can include or exclude applications from VPN tunneling. While at first glance it looks like it supports Split Tunneling on Mac, the feature only works on MacOS 11 and earlier.
ExpressVPN has a special option that the other VPNs on this list don't offer: The VPN app has Split Tunneling for supported routers. This application allows you to protect all devices on your network at the router level but set up Split Tunneling by device. For example, this app is quite handy if you want your PC to be protected by ExpressVPN but don't want your smartphone to slow down.
- Split Tunneling Platform: Windows, Android, Android TV
- Split Tunneling features: Include/exclude apps
NordVPN is a popular all-rounder with over 6,000 servers, fast speeds, and an easy-to-use app interface. It also comes with additional features for every use case you could want, such as dual VPN, dedicated IP, meshnet, and Split Tunneling.
While not perfect when it comes to Split Tunneling, NordVPN's ease of use and reliability are highly rated. The provider's application response and connection speed are always of high quality. For these reasons, NordVPN often tops lists of the best VPN services.
