Where people use it
Banking apps, delivery apps and local streaming services often check where you are. Devices on your home network, like a printer or a TV, can also stop showing up when the VPN is on. Leaving those outside the tunnel saves trouble.
Others use it to keep heavy traffic off the VPN: a 60 GB game update or a long video call goes direct, and the browser stays on SoVPN. Some people do the reverse and route only one browser through the VPN.
Exclude or include
Exclude: apps you add skip the VPN, and the rest of the device is protected. Good if you want SoVPN on by default with a few exceptions.
Include: only the apps you add use the VPN, and the rest go direct. Choose whichever mode leaves you with a shorter list, because a short list is easier to manage.
What an excluded app gives up
An app outside the tunnel connects with your real IP, and SoVPN does not encrypt its traffic. Only exclude apps you are fine with that for.
The kill switch also does not apply to excluded apps. If the VPN drops, they stay online on your normal connection. Menu names may vary a little by device.
How to set it up
Split tunneling is on Basic, Plus and Pro. Choose a mode, then pick apps from the list of apps installed on your device.
Changes apply after you reconnect. If an app was already running, close and reopen it so its connections take the new route.
- Open Settings > Split tunneling in the SoVPN app
- Choose a mode: keep selected apps out of the VPN, or send only selected apps through it
- Add your apps, then disconnect and reconnect