Club Benefits
When you're looking to buy any kind of tech, whether hardware or software, part of the buying process is comparing specifications and features.
The same goes for VPNs — but providers don't always make it easy to do so. Plenty of providers like to put their own stamp on features that are widely available on many of the best VPNs. Proton VPN's "Netshield" is an ad-blocker, while Private Internet Access calls its double VPN "Multi-Hop".
Similarly, Surfshark has branded its split tunneling feature "Bypasser".
But is it just a regular split tunneling feature? And what is "Reverse Bypasser"? Read on for your complete guide to Surfshark Bypasser and Reverse Bypasser.
What is split tunneling?
Before delving into Surfshark's Bypasser and Reverse Bypasser tool, it's worth first having a baseline understanding of split tunneling and what it is.
When connecting to a VPN, all your internet traffic goes through one server, concealing your IP address and encrypting your data. There are some instances, though, where you don't want all your traffic to routed through your VPN.
Whether you're trying to access a website that is sensitive to VPN use, you want to stream through your native streaming service, or you're playing a video game and don't want a VPN to potentially affect your ping time, split tunneling is the answer.
The tool essentially allows you to pick the websites and apps that run through your VPN connection and those that won't. The latter will run through your regular internet connection, unprotected. This means, should there be a task you wish to carry out without a VPN, you don't have to turn off your VPN completely and leave your online activity completely vulnerable.
While we generally advise keeping your VPN switched on at all times for a more effective defence against cyberattacks, if there is a need to have it switched off, split tunneling is a middle ground that still offers some security.
Surfshark Bypasser: is it just split tunneling by another name?
Surfshark's Bypasser tool is what the company calls its split tunneling technology — and it doesn't hide away from that very simple fact. It explains its Bypasser tool allows you to run your traffic through two IP addresses: your own and that of a VPN servers'.
Its website explains: "Instead of disabling your VPN completely when a website or app requires IP-specific access, you can exclude it from the VPN tunnel with split tunneling — accessing it directly while keeping full VPN protection for all your remaining online traffic."
Surfshark also details the perks of this alongside full protection on a portion of your traffic. The split tunneling tool allows you to benefit from 100% of your speed on your unencrypted traffic where even the fastest VPNs can sometimes see a reduction in your speed performance.
Bypasser also allows you to configure both the apps and websites you wish to bypass your VPN connection.
The Bypasser feature is available on Surfshark's main clients: Windows, macOS, Android and iOS. It's also available on Surfsharks browser extension tools on Chrome, Firefox, and Edge.
When subscribing to any of Surfshark's plans, Bypasser comes with all tiers, from its Starter tier all the way up to One+.
Surfshark Reverse Bypasser: what it is and when to use it
Where Surfshark's split tunneling tool differs from its competitors is with its Reverse Bypasser tool, which proves a more original feature.
This allows you to predetermine in settings which apps and websites exclusively route through your VPN.
This is particularly useful if you are often porting large download files, or you're an online gamer and want to avoid bandwidth throttling by your Internet Service Provider. You can choose for these apps to always route via your VPN.
Similarly, being selective in what does and doesn't route through your VPN can help preserve the battery of your device, avoiding encrypting your entire device's background traffic. It's also useful when it comes to maintaining access to local devices like home printers, where being connected to your own IP is integral.
While Reverse Bypasser is a more unusual tool, note there are some other top providers that offer similar 'route via VPN' configuration. Proton VPN has an exclude/include setting within its split tunneling feature, while Hotspot Shield's "Route via VPN" feature also allows you to select which apps and websites use your VPN connection, with the rest going through your regular network.
Surfshark's Reverse Bypasser is available on all its plans and is equipped on the same clients as its regular Bypasser tool. Although it's worth noting on Windows you can only configure Reverse Bypasser on specific apps and not websites.
Should I use split tunneling with my VPN?
While it's certainly more secure to be connected to your VPN at all times, there are scenarios, as detailed above, where there is a need for split tunneling where performance or convenience is concerned.
Having split tunneling properly configured allows you to access any websites, apps, or local devices with ease, without running into connection issues, or constantly turning your VPN off and on again.
As stated, it's better to be mostly protected against online attacks, rather than turning off your VPN completely and leaving your activity completely exposed.
We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example: 1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service). 2. Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad. We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.
