Split tunneling lets you pick which apps use the VPN and which connect directly. If you searched for how to do this with ExpressVPN on a Mac, here is the honest answer: the macOS picture is different from Windows and Android — and there is a clean way to get real per-app routing regardless.
Does ExpressVPN support split tunneling on macOS?
ExpressVPN historically supported split tunneling on the Mac — but only on macOS 10.15 Catalina and earlier. On macOS 11 Big Sur and later, Apple's networking changes led ExpressVPN to drop the feature, so on any modern Mac the ExpressVPN app routes all traffic through the tunnel with no per-app choice.
If you moved from an old Mac and wonder where the "split tunneling" toggle went: it isn't hidden — it's unavailable on current macOS versions.
Features change between releases, so double-check the current version of the ExpressVPN app — but if per-app control is missing or limited on your Mac, you don't have to switch providers to get it.
Why most VPN apps skip split tunneling on the Mac
This isn't laziness on the provider's part. On Windows, a VPN can filter traffic per process with comparatively little friction. On macOS, deciding routes per app means shipping and maintaining a separate Network Extension that macOS treats as a transparent proxy — a substantial piece of engineering that most VPN vendors reserve for their Windows clients. The result: on the Mac, most VPN apps are all-or-nothing. Read the full explanation in How per-app VPN routing works on macOS.
How to get per-app routing with ExpressVPN on your Mac
AppLanes adds the missing layer. It is not a VPN and never replaces ExpressVPN — it sits alongside it and decides, per app, whether traffic goes through the tunnel ExpressVPN creates, around it (direct), or is blocked entirely.
- Install AppLanes from the Mac App Store (3-day free trial, every feature unlocked, no account) and approve its network extension when macOS asks — see the setup FAQ if the prompt doesn't appear.
- Connect ExpressVPN as you normally would.
- In AppLanes, set your default route — for example, everything through the VPN.
- Add per-app exceptions: switch any app to Direct to route it around ExpressVPN, or to Block to cut its network access entirely.
- Changes apply to new connections instantly; apps holding old connections reconnect within seconds (or restart the app).
Tips for running AppLanes with ExpressVPN
- ExpressVPN's Lightway protocol presents a normal tunnel interface on macOS, which AppLanes detects and routes around or through per app.
- If ExpressVPN's own kill switch is set to block all traffic when the VPN drops, your Direct apps may lose connectivity during a drop too. AppLanes has its own per-app leak protection that only holds back VPN-routed apps — many users prefer that granularity.
- Keep just one VPN connected at a time; with two tunnels up, "route through VPN" becomes ambiguous.
Frequently asked questions
Does AppLanes work with ExpressVPN?
Yes. AppLanes works with any VPN that creates a standard tunnel on macOS, including ExpressVPN. It routes traffic around or through whatever tunnel is active — no changes to your ExpressVPN account or configuration are needed.
Do I need to stop using ExpressVPN to use AppLanes?
No. AppLanes is not a VPN and carries no traffic to any server. You keep using ExpressVPN exactly as before; AppLanes only decides which apps' connections enter the tunnel.
Did ExpressVPN remove split tunneling from macOS?
Yes — ExpressVPN's split tunneling on Mac only works on macOS 10.15 and earlier. On macOS 11 and later the feature is not available in the app, which is why per-app control needs a separate tool like AppLanes.
Get per-app VPN routing on your Mac
Every feature unlocked for 3 days, free — no account, works with any VPN, macOS 13+.