• NymVPN v2026.8 adds split tunneling (beta) to its Linux app
• Android users get a new beta ad blocker, toggleable in Settings
• The update continues NymVPN's steady stream of releases across apps

NymVPN has rolled out its latest update, version v2026.8, bringing two features that users on specific platforms have been waiting for.

The headline additions are split tunneling on Linux and a built-in ad blocker on Android. The tools are both currently in beta, and the provider is eager to hear how they work for you.

While NymVPN is still building out its feature set and isn't quite at the level of the best VPN services on the market just yet, the team's regular cadence of updates keeps closing the gap.

The latest patch follows recent releases that brought split tunneling to Windows, macOS, and Android, meaning Linux users were the next obvious group to bring into the fold.

Split tunneling is set to land on iOS next, so that is the new ad-blocker.

What's new in NymVPN v2026.8?

The biggest addition in v2026.8 is split tunneling for Linux, now in beta.

Split tunneling lets you decide, on a per-app basis, what goes through the encrypted VPN tunnel and what connects directly to the internet. With NymVPN's Linux client, you can now include or exclude specific apps from the tunnel as you see fit.

This is useful for a few reasons. You might want sensitive traffic, like your browser or messaging apps, fully protected by NymVPN, while letting a local service or a bandwidth-heavy app skip the tunnel for better speed or compatibility. It's a quality-of-life feature that long-time Linux users have been asking for, and it brings the Linux app closer to feature parity with NymVPN's macOS and Windows clients.

The other major addition is an ad blocker for Android, also in beta.

According to Nym, blocking ads is more than a convenience feature: ads often double as trackers that follow your behavior across sessions, so cutting them off at the network level adds a real layer of privacy.

To turn it on, Android users just need to open the app and toggle the ad blocker on in Settings.

Why these features matter

Split tunneling and ad blocking might sound like minor tweaks, but they each solve real problems.

For Linux users, split tunneling means you no longer have to choose between routing everything through the VPN or nothing at all. You can keep streaming or local development tools running smoothly while still protecting the apps that handle your most sensitive data.

For Android users, the new ad blocker tackles one of the most common (and quietly invasive) sources of tracking on mobile. Mobile ads frequently come bundled with trackers that profile your behaviour across apps and websites, so blocking them at the VPN level can meaningfully reduce how much data third parties collect about you.

Both features are still in beta, so expect some rough edges as Nym continues to refine them. But the v2026.8 update is another sign that NymVPN is steadily filling in the gaps across its platforms, and Linux and Android users finally have a couple of the tools they've been waiting for.

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Monica is a tech journalist with over a decade of experience. She writes about the latest developments in computing, which means anything from computer chips made out of paper to cutting-edge desktop processors.

GPUs are her main area of interest, and nothing thrills her quite like that time every couple of years when new graphics cards hit the market.

She built her first PC nearly 20 years ago, and dozens of builds later, she’s always planning out her next build (or helping her friends with theirs). During her career, Monica has written for many tech-centric outlets, including Digital Trends, SlashGear, WePC, and Tom’s Hardware.