Smart Routing Explained: How Vinea Automatically Routes Traffic by Domain

Smart routing is Vinea's mechanism for automatically deciding whether browser traffic goes through the proxy or connects directly, based on the destination domain — local sites stay on a direct connection with no speed impact, while overseas sites are automatically routed through the proxy, with no manual switching required.

A common frustration with system-wide proxies is that local websites slow down once the proxy is turned on. Smart routing solves this by letting you access local and overseas sites simultaneously, each taking the optimal path.

Two modes: smart mode and global mode

Vinea offers two proxy modes:

| | Smart Mode | Global Mode | |---|---|---| | How it works | Splits traffic by domain list: listed local domains connect directly, everything else goes through the proxy | All browser traffic goes through the proxy | | Impact on local sites | None — they stay on a direct connection | They slow down (traffic routes through overseas servers) | | Best for | Daily use — accessing local and overseas sites side by side | When you need a consistent overseas IP, or for regional testing | | How to switch | One click in the extension popup | One click in the extension popup |

Smart mode is recommended for daily use. In most scenarios, you only need the proxy for certain overseas sites, not for all your browser traffic.

How does smart mode know which domains to bypass?

At the core of smart mode is a built-in bypass list containing 350+ commonly used local domains and domain patterns. Before the browser sends a request, it checks whether the target domain is on this list:

• On the list → direct connection (bypasses the proxy)
• Not on the list → goes through the proxy

The built-in list covers:

• Internet services: major local tech platforms — e-commerce, messaging, cloud services, workplace tools, video streaming, Q&A sites, and more
• Infrastructure: local CDN providers, DNS services, Apple local services
• Academic and government: education network domains, government sites
• Local networks: private IP ranges (192.168.x.x, 10.x.x.x, etc.), localhost

This means most sites you use daily — shopping, messaging, workplace tools, video streaming — connect directly in smart mode, with the same speed as having no proxy at all.

When the built-in list isn't enough: custom domain rules

The built-in list covers the vast majority of common scenarios, but there are always exceptions. Vinea supports adding rules manually via the right-click menu:

How to add a rule: Right-click on any page → find "Vinea Domain Rules" → select "Add to Proxy List" or "Add to Direct List."

Typical use cases:

• An overseas academic site is incorrectly treated as a local site → add to Proxy List
• A local site is not in the built-in list and slows down through the proxy → add to Direct List
• An overseas site is directly accessible on your network → add to Direct List for better speed

Rule behavior:

• Adding example.com automatically covers all subdomains (*.example.com)
• Rules take effect immediately — no need to disconnect and reconnect
• Rules are stored locally in the browser and are not uploaded to any server

Rule priority: direct > proxy > system default

When multiple rules apply, Vinea resolves them in this order:

1. User direct list (highest priority): domains you manually added to the direct list always connect directly
2. User proxy list: domains you manually added to the proxy list always go through the proxy
3. Built-in bypass list (lowest priority): domains not covered by user rules follow the built-in list

This design means: your manual configuration always overrides the system default. If the built-in list routes a domain in the wrong direction, one right-click is all it takes to fix it.

When to switch to global mode

While smart mode is recommended for daily use, these scenarios are better suited for global mode:

• Consistent IP needed: testing overseas sites where all requests need to come from the same overseas IP
• Browsing unfamiliar overseas sites: visiting a batch of overseas sites with unknown domains, without wanting to add rules one by one
• Troubleshooting connections: suspecting that smart mode misrouted a domain — switch to global mode to confirm whether the site is accessible

To switch: open the Vinea extension popup and toggle the mode. The change takes effect immediately.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between smart mode and global mode?

Smart mode uses a built-in domain list to split traffic automatically — local domains connect directly while others go through the proxy. Global mode routes all browser traffic through the proxy. Smart mode is recommended for daily use; switch to global mode when you need a consistent overseas IP or are testing.

What domains are included in the smart mode bypass list?

The built-in list covers 350+ commonly used domains, including major local internet services, CDN providers, academic and government sites, and private network ranges. Most sites users access daily in their local region are already covered.

What if smart mode routes a site incorrectly?

Right-click the page and select "Add to Proxy List" or "Add to Direct List" from the Vinea menu. Custom rules take priority over the built-in list, take effect immediately, and do not require reconnecting.

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For step-by-step instructions on managing domain rules, read the Domain Rules Guide.

To learn about Vinea's security and privacy design, read Vinea's Security and Privacy.

New users get a 3-day free trial after install — setup takes about a minute.

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