Protect what matters

Smart Routing

Lantern protects what needs protection and keeps everything else fast. Choose how your traffic is handled, from smart defaults to full manual control.

What is Smart Routing?

Smart Routing is Lantern's default mode. It uses region-specific rules to automatically send traffic that needs the VPN through Lantern. Blocked sites, unencrypted connections, and sensitive destinations are protected. Everything else connects directly for faster speeds.

Not all traffic needs a VPN. Here’s why.

Most VPNs market themselves as essential for every connection, but in reality, most of your daily internet use is already secure. Modern sites and apps use HTTPS encryption, so your ISP can see only the domain you're visiting (like google.com), not specific pages or actions.

Lantern is designed for how the internet works today. Instead of routing everything through a VPN, Smart Routing steps in only when needed, tunneling blocked, unencrypted, or sensitive traffic. Everything else stays direct for faster speeds and protection exactly when you need it.

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Faster direct access

Safe, routine traffic connects directly, so you get faster speeds without unnecessary detours.

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Protected sensitive traffic

Blocked sites, unencrypted traffic, and sensitive destinations are automatically routed through Lantern's secure network.

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Tailored to your region

Smart Routing uses region-specific rules, so what gets protected is based on what's actually blocked or sensitive where you are.

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Fully customizable controls

Switch to Full Tunnel mode anytime for traditional VPN coverage, or enable Split Tunneling for manual control over specific apps and sites.

Choose how your traffic is routed

Smart Routing Mode

Region-specific rules automatically route traffic that needs the VPN through Lantern. All other traffic goes direct for speed and reliability.

Full Tunnel Mode

Routes all traffic through Lantern, whether it needs it or not. Traditional VPN behavior for maximum coverage.

Split Tunneling

Manually choose specific apps or websites to bypass the VPN entirely. Works with either routing mode. Useful when you need certain apps to use your local connection.

Access anything, faster.

Smart protection. No slowdowns.

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Split tunneling FAQ

Smart Routing protects only traffic that needs it (blocked sites, unencrypted connections, and sensitive destinations) while letting trusted traffic connect directly for better speed. Full Tunnel routes everything through Lantern, like a traditional VPN. Smart Routing is the default because it gives you strong protection without slowing down your whole connection

Split Tunneling lets you manually choose specific apps or websites to bypass the VPN. It works alongside either routing mode. For example, you might want a banking app to always use your local connection, even when Lantern is on.

Yes. Split Tunneling adds manual bypass rules on top of whichever routing mode you're using. If you enable it, the apps and sites you specify will always connect directly, regardless of your routing mode.

For traffic that Smart Routing sends directly, your ISP can see the domain (like google.com) but not specific pages or activity. All direct traffic is still encrypted via HTTPS. If you prefer complete coverage, switch to Full Tunnel mode and your ISP will only see a connection to Lantern's network.