Tired of Turning Your VPN On and Off? Smart Routing Makes It Easier

—Should your VPN stay on 24/7, or only when you need it? A recent Reddit discussion shows why there’s no simple answer. VPNs can improve privacy and access, but they can also cause blocked websites, CAPTCHAs, slower speeds, and apps that behave strangely. Smart Routing offers a more convenient alternative.

The Everyday VPN Problem: On or Off?

A recent Reddit discussion asked a simple question:

Do you leave your VPN on 24/7, or only turn it on when you need it?

The answers were divided.

Some users keep their VPN running all day. Others turn it off because certain websites stop working, local apps have problems, or services detect and block VPN IPs.

One user mentioned that their VPN could interfere with Pokémon Go and checking stock at local stores. Others said split tunneling was essential for keeping their VPN on continuously.

The everyday experience often becomes:

VPN ON → Website Doesn't Work → VPN OFF → Need Another Region → VPN ON Again

But what if you didn't have to keep switching?

What Is Smart Routing?

Smart Routing allows different apps and services to use different network routes.

A traditional VPN typically works like this:

Your Device → VPN Server → Everything

Smart Routing can work differently:

US App → US Route
UK App → UK Route
Japanese App → Japan Route
Local Apps → Direct Connection

Instead of asking:

Should my VPN be ON or OFF?

The better question becomes:

Which route should this app use?

This means local apps can stay local while services that need another location use the appropriate route.

What Smart Routing Looks Like in Real Life

Imagine you're traveling abroad and regularly use services from different countries.

With a traditional VPN, you might need to:

Connect to US → Use US Service → Switch to UK → Use UK Service → Disconnect → Open Local App

With Smart Routing:

You don't need to send every app through the same location.

And you don't need to keep changing servers.

How to Use App Relocator in DPN APP

This is where DPN APP's App Relocator makes Smart Routing practical.

App Relocator lets supported apps use different selected country routes while Smart Route is active.

Step 1 — Select Smart Route

Open DPN APP and select:

Smart Route

Unlike Full Route, which sends traffic through one selected location, Smart Route allows supported traffic to follow different routing rules.

Step 2 — Select the Countries You Need

Choose the country tunnels you want to use.

For example:

🇺🇸 United States
🇬🇧 United Kingdom
🇯🇵 Japan

These routes can then be assigned to supported apps.

Step 3 — Open App Relocator

Open App Relocator located at the bottom of the DPN APP

Here you can select supported apps and decide which country route each app should use.

Instead of:

Everything → United States

You can create:

YouTube → US
BBC iPlayer → UK
TVer → Japan

Step 4 — Assign Your Apps

Select each supported app and assign the appropriate route.

App Relocator stores these app-to-tunnel assignments, so you don't need to manually switch locations every time you change apps.

Step 5 — Use Your Apps Normally

Once configured:

Open YouTube → US Route

Open BBC iPlayer → UK Route

Open TVer → Japan Route

Open Local Apps → Direct

Set the rules once. Use your apps normally.

Traditional VPN vs DPN APP + App Relocator

The difference is easiest to see in everyday use.

Traditional VPN

Need US Service
↓
Connect US VPN
↓
Need Local App
↓
Disconnect VPN
↓
Need UK Service
↓
Connect UK VPN

DPN APP + App Relocator

YouTube → US

BBC iPlayer → UK

TVer → Japan

Local Apps → Direct

No constant server switching.

Smart Routing vs Split Tunneling

Smart Routing and split tunneling are related, but there is an important difference.

Traditional split tunneling usually answers:

VPN or Direct?

For example:

Browser → VPN
Banking App → Direct

DPN APP's Smart Route with App Relocator can go further:

App A → US

App B → UK

App C → Japan

Other Traffic → Direct

Useful for Restricted Networks Too

Smart Routing can be especially useful when you regularly need both local and international services.

In the Reddit discussion, users in China described turning their VPN off for Chinese apps or even maintaining separate networks for local and overseas services.

Smart Routing can simplify that experience:

Local Apps → Direct

Local Websites → Direct

Google → DPN Route

YouTube → DPN Route

Instead of repeatedly turning a VPN on and off, routing rules determine how supported traffic is handled.

Smart Route or Full Route?

DPN APP gives you different routing options depending on what you're doing.

Smart Route — Best when different apps need different routes.

Full Route — Best when you want all traffic to use one selected country.

For everyday use across local and international services, Smart Route provides much more flexibility.

FAQ

Is Smart Routing the same as split tunneling?

They're related. Traditional split tunneling commonly separates traffic into VPN or Direct, while DPN Smart Routing can assign supported apps to different selected country routes through App Relocator.

Can different apps use different countries?

Yes. With Smart Route and App Relocator, supported apps can be assigned to different available country tunnels.

Does App Relocator work in Full Route?

No. App Relocator is designed to work with Smart Route. Full Route sends traffic through one selected exit route.

Why not just leave my VPN on 24/7?

You can, but some users experience slower speeds, CAPTCHA challenges, VPN detection, or problems with local services. Smart Routing reduces the need to send every app through the same VPN route.

Stop Thinking About Whether Your VPN Is On or Off

Traditional VPN use often gives you two choices:

Leave it on and occasionally deal with apps or websites that don't work properly.

Or:

Turn it off and reconnect whenever you need it again.

Smart Routing introduces a third option:

Let different apps use the route that makes sense for them.

With DPN APP Smart Route and App Relocator, supported apps can use different country routes while other traffic stays direct.

Less switching. Fewer conflicts. More convenient everyday use.

Stop switching your VPN. Let your apps use the right route.

Try DPN APP Free for 7 Days

You can currently try DPN APP free for 7 days — no credit card required.

Download DPN APP, create an account, and apply:

🎁 Activation Code: DOZ2UHOF