We’ve all been tempted to download a torrent file at some point in our lives. Unfortunately, even though torrenting seems like a pretty straightforward task, it can have serious repercussions. For this, you’d require the best VPN for torrenting to keep your torrenting activities private.
It’s no secret that torrenting is risky without a reliable VPN; hacking attempts, unscrupulous advertisements, network jacking, and mining malware is always there to invade your computer.
However, using the best VPN for torrenting can reduce these risks significantly by encrypting your traffic, providing P2P security, and ensuring your IP address is hidden. All these things combine to provide you with a safe, stable, and fast torrenting experience.
But how to decide which VPN is best for torrenting? There are many out there; yes, not all of them can do the job correctly. With hours of research, we can confidently say this is the most detailed list of the best VPNs for torrenting in 2022, which can obscure your identity from law enforcement agencies, internet service providers, and copyright owners.
Quick Overview: Best VPN for Torrenting
Here’s our list of the best VPN for Torrenting tested in 2022:
- ExpressVPN – Best VPN for Torrenting.
- Surfshark – Budget-friendly VPN that Allows Torrenting.
- NordVPN – Secure Torrent-friendly VPN Service.
- CyberGhost – User-Friendly VPN with P2P Support.
- Private Internet Access – Solid Torrenting VPN with Massive Server Network.
- Mullvad VPN – Best VPN for Anonymous Torrenting.
- PrivateVPN – Decent Torrenting VPN.
Why You Need a VPN for Torrenting [5 Solid Reasons]
You need to use a VPN for torrenting because a VPN encrypts your online traffic before leaving your PC. This means that your ISP cannot monitor your online activities. Moreover, getting caught downloading P2P materials/torrents red-handed can have repercussions far worse than simply receiving legal notices. Thus, it’s hazardous to torrent without a VPN.
Here are five reasons why you need a VPN for torrenting:
1. DNS, IPv6 & WebRTC leak protection
Even though VPNs are supposed to mask your IP address, some of them are known to suffer from leaks. If your DNS, IP address, or WebRTC gets leaked, your identity will be exposed to your ISP. This is why premium VPNs offer built-in leak protection that prevents such eventualities.
2. Port forwarding
Port forwarding is a powerful feature that is used for bypassing firewalls. This feature is also helpful in improving the count of peers on a P2P network. With more peers, it means that your downloads will be faster and more efficient.
3. Avoiding legal issues:
The biggest risk of downloading/uploading torrents is that most of the content under consideration is copyrighted material. Hence, you may get entangled in legal issues if you don’t properly hide your identity.
Any trace of downloading illegal torrent files or copyrighted material can lead to legal consequences. The resultant legal actions may include issuing DMCA-like notices, canceling ISP’s license, and imposing huge fines.
Note: We strictly discourage any activity involving copyright infringement and urge readers to ONLY legally download torrents.
4. Vulnerability to hacking attempts:
It is a fact that if you download one torrent, you expose yourself to the risk of hacking attempts. Although P2P file sharing may not necessarily expose you to any direct threats, there is always a possibility of granting unauthorized access to your data, exposing yourself to online hacks.
Therefore, hiding your tracks behind VPN protection is the best possible way to protect your data from being exposed to people with malicious intent.
5. Avoiding the torrent activity from being recorded:
If you are not hiding your online identity and activity with a VPN, you can easily be tracked, monitored, and recorded online. Multiple databases for torrenting activity often appear over the internet. Such databases publish all torrents under the user’s IP address. This information is logged, published online, and available for everyone to see.
Best VPN for Torrenting in 2022 [In-Depth Analysis]
We tested 160+ torrenting VPNs based on torrent-friendly servers, speeds, availability of advanced torrenting features such as kill switch, simultaneous connections, security features, and more. Only 7 made it to the top. Read our detailed analysis to find yourself the best VPN for Torrenting:
1. ExpressVPN – Best VPN for Torrenting
- 3000+ servers in 94 countries
- Port forwarding support
- Kill switch for secure torrenting
- No-logs policy
- 5 simultaneous connections
ExpressVPN is the best VPN for torrenting. It considers the best P2P VPN in the industry, as it covers all the bases you should expect from a top-rated VPN, supporting torrenting on its entire network of 3000+ servers.
ExpressVPN is completely P2P compatible and works best with uTorrent, BitTorrent, qBittorrent, and other clients. Unlike most VPNs in the industry, it even offers a port forwarding feature to make the most of your torrenting experience. That’s why it is the best VPN for Port Forwarding.
P2P Performance & Speed
The excellent combination of a privacy-friendly jurisdiction, great logging policy, IP leak protection, advanced security, and fast speeds establishes this VPN as the best VPN for torrenting.
ExpressVPN is equipped with powerful features to deliver blazing fast speeds and security every time raw performance is concerned. For example, we tested its DNS leak feature by connecting to the US – New York server, which didn’t leak the IP at all:
ExpressVPN successfully concealed our IP and DNS requests while using the internet.
When tested ExpressVPN for speed, its robust server park delivered a consistent downloading speed of 89.42 Mbps and an uploading speed of 84.64 Mbps on our 100 Mbps connection. These speeds are on a US server of ExpressVPN, far away from our location. It is no doubt the fastest VPN for torrenting.
ExpressVPN servers delivered speeds worthy of smooth streaming.
As for compatibility, the VPN can be used on Android, iOS, macOS, and Linux for torrenting purposes. It’s also the best Windows VPN if you’re looking forward to torrenting on your Windows OS device.
Is ExpressVPN Safe for Torrenting?
Yes, ExpressVPN is a great VPN for torrenting. It offers fast P2P speeds across the entire server network and robust encryption that is ideal for downloading torrents safely.
This VPN company is based in the British Virgin Islands (BVI), a state favored by privacy advocates for its lack of data retention laws for ISPs and other companies.
ExpressVPN has a transparent and trustworthy logging policy as it keeps no user logs. This VPN mentions that it does not store logs, including browsing history, traffic, data, DNS, timestamps, and more, in its privacy policy:
Not only that, ExpressVPN’s zero-knowledge DNS feature, strong encryption such as AES 256-bit encryption, and split tunneling are unlike any other torrenting VPN provider in the industry and perfectly hide your torrenting activities from snoopers.
Moreover, powerful features like ExpressVPN’s kill switch are perfect for dealing with privacy risks associated with P2P file sharing.
ExpressVPN is available for $6.67/mo (Get 49% Off + 3 Months FREE this Black Friday/Cyber Monday) with a 30-day money-back guarantee. In addition, ExpressVPN offers 24/7 live chat support to its customers and unlimited bandwidth.
For a complete feature list, check out our all-inclusive ExpressVPN review.
- Kill switch
- Unlimited bandwidth
- No-logs policy
- Port forwarding support
- DNS/IP leak protection
- Offers 5 multi-logins only
2. Surfshark – Budget-friendly VPN that Allows Torrenting
- 3200+ servers in 100 countries
- MultiHop feature
- Kill switch for secure torrenting
- No-logs policy
- Unlimited simultaneous connections
Surfshark is one budget-friendly and cheapest VPN for torrenting and an excellent choice for users who are looking for a VPN for private and secure torrenting. So if you are looking for an ultra-affordable costing only $2.05/mo (Get 84% + 2 Months FREE this Black Friday/Cyber Monday), Surfshark has you covered.
Let’s not forget to mention that it supports all popular torrent clients, including BitTorrent and uTorrent. With its entire network of 3200+ servers in 100 countries supporting P2P sharing/torrenting, you will have ample servers to torrent with Surfshark from anywhere.
P2P Performance & Speed
Surfshark’s leak protection is the best and can easily prevent your IP from leaking accidentally. We tested this second-best torrenting VPN using an Australian VPN server, and check out in the image below that it did not leak our IP:
We tested by connecting to the Australia – Sydney server, and it kept our anonymity protected
Surfshark’s leak protection is the best and can easily prevent your IP from leaking accidentally. We tested Surfshark for torrenting and this has proven to be second-best torrenting VPN using an AU VPN server, and check out in the image below that it did not leak our IP.
In terms of speeds on our server, this VPN delivered excellent download speeds. Getting large torrenting files was not an issue, with a download speed of 81.31 Mbps and an upload speed of 76.12 Mbps on a 100 Mbps connection in our Surfshark speed test.
These speeds were fast enough to torrent without lags.
The best thing about this VPN is its unlimited simultaneous connections. We tested the VPN by downloading torrents on Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android and faced no problems at all. Thanks to its compatibility with various Linux distros, you can call Surfshark one of the best Linux VPNs as well.
Is Surfshark Safe for Torrenting?
Yes, as per our tests, Surfshark is a safe and secure option for torrenting. It offers P2P support across all servers and works great with many torrent clients, including qBittorrent, uTorrent, and BitTorrent.
Furthermore, since Surfshark is based in the Netherlands, which prevents keeping user data logs, it mentions that IP addresses, bandwidth, timestamps, traffic, browsing history, and other data are not collected by the service.
All Surfshark’s apps have a kill switch feature that can prevent your data from falling through the digital cracks. This is a vital security feature that helps to keep your data safe by cutting off the internet connection if the VPN server is suddenly disconnected. This way, your data remains protected even if the VPN connection is lost.
Its other features include an Ad-blocker (CleanWeb), split tunneling (WhiteLister), VPN chaining (MultiHop), and powerful AES 256-bit encryption, all available in Surfshark by default.
You can find more details regarding its features and pricing plans in our Surfshark review.
- Affordable VPN service
- No-logs policy
- All servers offer P2P support
- AES 256-bit encryption
- No port forwarding support
- Doesn’t allow seeding
3. NordVPN – Secure Torrent-friendly VPN Service
- 5500+ servers in 59 countries
- Special P2P servers
- Kill switch for secure torrenting
- No-logs policy
- 6 simultaneous connections
NordVPN is the most secure VPN for torrenting. Its induction as the best VPN for the torrenting list is due to its fast, secure, and amazing features, such as a kill switch for an anonymous and safe torrenting experience.
The provider has many dedicated VPN server reserved for P2P networking in its network of 5500+ servers in 59 countries. Like ExpressVPN, it also works with torrent clients, including uTorrent, Bittorrent, and qBittorrent.
P2P Performance & Speed
NordVPN offers many valuable security features, an extensive server network, and great speeds. When you sum all these benefits together, it is hard to find a better deal for users seeking a strong privacy solution for their torrenting needs.
NordVPN is free from any IP/DNS leaks and has excellent controls in place to ensure that user identity remains completely hidden. We confirmed it by connecting to its German server. As you can see in the screenshot below, the VPN did not leak our actual IP address while torrenting:
It offers the largest server network with utmost privacy and security
If we talk about the NordVPN speed test we conducted on its server, then it delivered a downloading speed of 83.82 Mbps and an uploading speed of 44.64 Mbps on a 100 Mbps connection, which is not bad at all.
These speeds were fast enough to enjoy torrenting on them.
As for devices, NordVPN is compatible with Android, iOS, Windows, macOS, and Linux. We tried torrenting on all the listed devices, and among all, it turned out to be the best iOS VPN.
Is NordVPN safe for Torrenting?
Yes, NordVPN is perfectly safe for torrenting. It offers dedicated P2P servers that equip AES 256-bit encryption, DNS/IP leak protection, and a kill switch.
This torrenting VPN headquarter is based in Panama, which does not impose any mandatory data retention requirements on the internet service provider and VPN. In addition, the laws in Panama protect user privacy from surveillance and other intrusive activities.
Moreover, NordVPN has an audited zero-log policy as it stores no personally identifiable information, including bandwidth, traffic logs, timestamps, and more of its users:
Other than that, it has multiple privacy features, including a built-in ad blocker (CyberSec), advanced VPN protocols, DoubleVPN, and Onion Over VPN to layer your traffic through a maze of nodes and networks for greatly enhanced web anonymity and privacy.
It also has some servers primed for obfuscation, enabling access to heavily restricted websites or services. Moreover, you get an overall kill switch and an app kill switch for double protection on the internet.
To summarize, NordVPN is one of the best torrenting VPNs. You can try it yourself with its 30-day money-back guarantee, and it is available for $3.69/mo (Get 55% Off + 2 Months FREE this Black Friday/Cyber Monday).
If you want to know more about this torrenting VPN, you can check out our NordVPN review.
- AES 256-bit encryption
- Dedicated P2P servers
- No-logs policy
- 6 multi-logins
- Kill switch
- Customer service can be improved
4. CyberGhost – User-Friendly VPN with P2P Support
- 8900+ servers in 91 countries
- SOCKS5 proxy
- Kill switch for secure torrenting
- No-logs policy
- 7 simultaneous connections
CyberGhost is considered one of the best user-friendly VPNs for torrenting because of its ease of use and simple operation. Not only is CyberGhost fully BitTorrent compatible, but it also offers dedicated P2P servers. Even more impressively, CyberGhost has an entire mode selection feature to help you torrent anonymously, ensuring maximum security.
Overall, it offers 8900+ servers in 91 countries. CyberGhost works with all popular torrent clients and supports seven simultaneous connections. As a result, it is a worthy inclusion in our list of the best torrenting VPN services.
P2P Performance & Speed
CyberGhost boasts its strong IPv4, IPv6, DNS, and WebRTC leak protection built into its apps, which is always nice to have. For example, you can check out below that our actual IP stayed hidden during testing when we connected this VPN to a French server:
The interface is user-friendly, and it connects instantly without leaking IP Address
The speeds usually delivered by CyberGhost are noticeably slower than its competitors, but it’s still not too bad. The speeds are sufficient for performing torrenting activities. In our CyberGhost speed test on a 100 Mbps connection, the VPN delivered a robust downloading speed of 75.47 Mbps and an uploading speed of 69.34 Mbps.
Using these speeds, we could enjoy torrenting without any delays.
Along with that, the VPN is compatible with all major operating systems and devices. For torrenting, we could use it on Windows, macOS, Linux, and even our iOS and Android phones and tablets.
Is CyberGhost Safe For Torrenting?
Yes, you can torrent safely with CyberGhost, and also easily scan for viruses and malware through its VPN app. Calling it one of the top VPNs for torrents wouldn’t be an overstatement. So if you torrent a lot, grab a subscription plan of CyberGhost today!
Moving on to jurisdiction, CyberGhost is located in Romania, a country free from data retention clutches. If you still have any doubts about CyberGhost, or wondering if CyberGhost is safe for torrenting, you can breathe a sigh of relief thanks to their zero logs policy.
CyberGhost mentions that it doesn’t log users’ browsing history, search logs, traffic, IP address, etc., in its privacy policy.
CyberGhost offers a kill switch feature, which adds to the already advanced security features it holds. With its torrent anonymously feature, it can bypass blockages in most countries. It also offers multiple features, including AES 256-bit encryption, NoSpy servers, split tunneling, and dedicated IP servers.
In short, CyberGhost is a capable torrenting VPN that has earned a slot in the top 7 VPNs for torrenting courtesy of its ideal jurisdiction, no logs policy, protective features, and robust 45-day money-back guarantee. You can get this VPN for just $2.03/mo .
Read our in-depth CyberGhost review for more details.
- User-friendly apps for all devices/OSes
- Dedicated tab for P2P servers
- Multiple security features
- NoSpy servers
- 45-day money-back guarantee
- Speed is slower than other VPNs
5. Private Internet Access – Solid Torrenting VPN with Massive Server Network
- 35000+ servers in 80 countries
- SOCKS5 proxy and port forwarding support
- Kill switch for secure torrenting
- No-logs policy
- 7 simultaneous connections
Private Internet Access is considered the most reliable VPN as it offers a SOCKS5 proxy for secure torrenting and a massive server network to keep you anonymous online.
This VPN offers a highly optimized 35000+ servers in 80 countries that uses 256-bit strong encryption with fast upload and download speeds. For avid torrenters, it also offers a port forwarding feature, so they can enjoy torrenting on the servers directly.
P2P Performance and Speed
Private Internet Access offers the most number of servers in the entire industry, and with all its servers optimized for torrenting, this VPN does a great job while downloading P2P files. It goes on to show how incredible PIA is for torrenting.
When you connect to its server, the VPN automatically prevents your IP from leaking in case it stops working. We did not notice any IP or DNS leaking when we performed the leak test by connecting to its Switzerland server, which is always reassuring. Just check out the image below for our Private Internet Access DNS leak test result:
It is indeed a powerful VPN for torrenting that successfully cleared the IP leak test
Its speeds are exceptional when it comes to torrenting. When we conducted a PIA speed test on our 100 Mbps internet connection, the VPN delivered a downloading speed of 65.78 Mbps and an uploading speed of 57.16 Mbps.
There were no delays on our connection while downloading torrents with this VPN.
Moreover, the VPN offers 10 multi-logins, using which you can torrent on up to 10 devices simultaneously. Thanks to its user-friendly apps, we can connect the VPN to iOS, Android, Windows, macOS, and Linux.
Is Private Internet Access VPN Safe for Torrenting?
PIA is a safe and reliable VPN that offers unrestricted P2P file-sharing and torrenting access on its entire server network. Although it’s based in the US, which is a main member of the Five Eyes, the VPN has a trustworthy privacy policy.
This means that it does not store user logs, which means no usage logs or connection logs. Private Internet Access’s privacy policy states that “We administer strict policies safeguarding your privacy and security.” This way, you’ll have no privacy issues when downloading P2P materials/ torrents from anywhere in the world.
This VPN boasts various security features to keep user activities secure during torrenting. These include an effective kill switch in case of torrenting VPN connection drops, split tunneling, AES 256-bit encryption, OpenVPN protocol, and more.
Private Internet Access is the cheapest VPN for torrenting on this list available for $2.03/mo . In addition to that, it offers a 30-day money-back guarantee for testing the VPN.
For more information, go through our Private Internet Access review.
- Reliable VPN with 35000+ servers
- SOCKS5 proxy and port forwarding offered
- 10 multi-logins
- DNS leak protection and kill switch
- A few servers are difficult to connect to
6. Mullvad VPN – Best VPN for Anonymous Torrenting
- 900+ servers in 39 countries
- DNS leak protection
- Kill switch for secure torrenting
- No-logs policy
- 5 simultaneous connections
Mullvad is labeled as the finest for anonymous torrenting due to its no-log policy, reliability, and SOCKS5 proxy support. Furthermore, it is one of the most efficient VPNs if you need fast speeds while downloading large files.
While it offers 900+ servers in 39 countries, which is less than the VPNs listed above, its speeds and P2P servers compensate for that factor.
P2P Performance & Speed
Mullvad ensures to not leak your IP address through its DNS leak protection feature. You can check out the image below for confirmation:
Another secure VPN provider for faster and safe unblocking of geo-restricted platforms
It has an efficient performance and fantastic speed. This VPN offered a blazing-fast downloading speed of 63.31 Mbps and an uploading speed of 83 Mbps on our 100 Mbps connection, which is too good to be true. However, these speeds are simply great for torrenting on any device you like.
The upload speeds of this VPN were faster than the download ones.
With all its speeds mentioned above, it’s safe to say that Mullvad is the fast VPN for torrenting worldwide. It offers easy connectivity and allows torrenting without any lags or delays.
Is Mullvad Safe for Torrenting?
Amongst all the VPNs we tested, we rank Mullvad as the sixth-best VPN for torrenting. This VPN offers robust AES 256-bit and ChaCha encryption. Moreover, it doesn’t collect any activity or user logs and downloads torrents at fast speeds.
Even though it is based in Sweden – a member of the 14 Eyes, this VPN offers a strict no-logging policy. This means that you don’t have to worry about getting your activities logged at all. Furthermore, it’s an open-source VPN to check any details you want online.
Its privacy policy also states that it doesn’t collect, store, or log your browsing activity. Neither does it sell or rent your personal information to third parties.
Another thing that we loved about Mullvad is that you can create an account with 100% anonymity as you don’t even have to provide an email address. All your need is a 16-digit random code to log in to your account, making it the best VPN for torrents with anonymity.
This VPN further offers a kill switch, split tunneling, DoubleVPN, and many more great features for secure and hassle-free torrenting. It also offers local network sharing and Bridge mode.
You can get this best VPN to use for torrenting for €5/month. It further offers a 30-day money-back guarantee to users who want to check out its torrenting capabilities at first.
Find out what makes this VPN service for torrenting so good in our detailed Mullvad VPN review.
- Reliable VPN with a SOCKS5 proxy
- Offers complete anonymity with its security features
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- Allows you to download torrents without lags
- Small server network
- Download speeds can be improved
7. PrivateVPN – Decent Torrenting VPN
- 200+ servers across 63 countries
- SOCKS5 proxy and port forwarding support
- Kill switch for secure torrenting
- No-logs policy
- 5 simultaneous connections
PrivateVPN is a decent provider for torrenting with plenty of P2P servers. The VPN offers plenty of features for torrenters such as HTTP and a SOCKS5 proxy, as well as plenty of servers that support P2P traffic.
Speaking of servers, PrivateVPN offers 200+ servers in 63 countries. With such as small server, you might experience server overload during peak hours. Other than that, the VPN offers great performance and speed.
P2P Performance & Speed
Using PrivateVPN, you can choose between various tunneling protocols for maximum performance. It allows you to choose from OpenVPN, PPTP, and L2TP/IPSec.
PrivateVPN successfully cleared the IP leak test.
Even though PrivateVPN offers a small network of servers, you can expect great download speeds. For example, we used it on a base connection speed of 100 Mbps, reaching a downloading speed of 72.38 Mbps and an uploading speed of 67.36 Mbps while testing PrivateVPN for speed.
These speeds were faster than what we got with Mullvad for torrenting.
It allows 6 simultaneous connections per account, and each connected device gets a unique IP address. There are apps for various devices such as Windows, Android, iOS, macOS, and other devices. For Linux users, there’s no dedicated app, as you will have to set up OpenVPN manually.
Is PrivateVPN Safe for Torrenting?
PrivateVPN is a robust option for secure torrenting. Its HTTP and SOCKS5 proxy provide a seamless torrenting experience to users. While this VPN is headquartered in Sweden, a member of the 14 Eyes Alliance, the VPN offers a robust no-logs policy that makes sure your online activity is not recorded.
PrivateVPN does not collect connection logs, IP addresses, browsing history, etc. In short, you are safe with PrivateVPN and can stay anonymous while downloading torrents.
PrivateVPN is a trustworthy VPN provider that is safe for torrenting. It offers plenty of features like perfect forward secrecy, a kill switch, and a Stealth VPN mode that is designed to bypass censorship as tough as the Great Firewall.
Moreover, it also offers military-grade 2048-bit encryption to secure your online data while torrenting. Its split tunneling feature allows you to use the VPN-enabled IP and your regular traffic together. This way, you can torrent files using the VPN IP and continue accessing your local sites with your actual IP address.
This VPN is available for $2.00 monthly, and a 30-day money-back guarantee backs each plan. Feel free to read our PrivateVPN review for details.
- HTTP and a SOCKS5 proxy
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- Fast speeds for torrenting
- Small network of servers
Methodology: How We Tested these VPN Services for Torrenting
To test the potential VPNs for torrenting, a criterion was set up. Below is a list of our 6-step testing criteria for choosing a VPN for torrenting:
- Torrenting: We tested many VPNs based on P2P-optimized servers and other advanced security features, including port forwarding, kill switch, and SOCKS5 support. All the VPNs we listed offer effective P2P support to users at all times.
- Security: We ensured that the VPNs we jot down offer the best-in-class security features, including an efficient kill switch, RAM-only servers, split tunneling, and AES 256-bit encryption.
- Logging policy: Logging is yet another aspect we took into consideration. One needs to make sure that the VPN is not collecting user data at all. The 7 VPNs we listed in this guide offer a strict no-logs policy to users, ensuring no data collection.
- Bandwidth limit: We disconnected the VPN and ran a speed test to check the bandwidth limit. We then again connected the VPN and checked the speed, further comparing it with speed claimed to be offered, which resulted in a bandwidth limit for the best servers.
- IP leaks: Many VPNs claim an IP/DNS leak protection feature but leak user IP to ISPs and the government. We made sure that no VPN we mentioned as the best VPN for torrenting does that. Therefore, the VPNs listed in this guide protect user IPs from all leaks.
- Speed: Torrenting is nothing without great speeds. Slow speeds can annoy and barely let you torrent anything. All the VPNs we mentioned above offer great speeds, with ExpressVPN offering the speediest connection among all.
Note: The VPNs mentioned in this guide for torrenting are tested much more rigorously on a wider range of parameters in our dedicated guide on the best VPN for 2022.
Comparison Table of What VPN to Use for Torrenting
Want to know which VPN you should use for torrenting? Quickly compare all options and choose the one you need!
| VPNs |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jurisdiction | British Virgin Islands | The Netherlands | Panama | Romania | USA | Sweden | Sweden |
| Security | AES 256 Bit | AES 256 Bit | AES 256 Bit | AES 256-bit | AES 256-bit | AES 256 Bit | 2048-bit AES 256 |
| Servers | 3000+ in 94 Countries | 3200+ in 100+ Countries | 5500+ in 59 Countries | 8900+ in 91 Countries | 35000+ in 80 countries | 900 servers in 39 Countries | 200+ servers in 63+ locations |
| Torrenting Support | All Servers | All Servers | All servers (With P2P Specialty servers) | All Servers (Dedicated torrenting servers offered too) | All Servers | All Servers | Some Servers |
| Kill Switch | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Split Tunneling | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes (only on desktop apps) | Yes (Android, Windows, Linux) | No |
| Compatibility | Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, routers | Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, routers | Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, routers | Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, routers | Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, routers | Windows, Mac, Android, iOS | Windows, Mac, Android, iOS |
| Pricing | $6.67/mo | $2.05/mo | $3.69/mo | $2.03/mo | $2.03/mo | €5/month | $2.00/month |
| Read More | ExpressVPN Review | Surfshark Review | NordVPN Review | CyberGhost Review | PIA Review | Mullvad VPN Review | PrivateVPN Review |
| More Info | Visit Site | Visit Site | Visit Site | Visit Site | Visit Site | Visit Site | Visit Site |
Quick Guide: How to Torrent Safely with a VPN
Follow the steps below to learn how to torrent safely with a VPN:
- Choose a VPN that’s perfect for torrenting. We recommend ExpressVPN – now offering 49% Off!
- Download and install the VPN.
- Connect to any desired server.
- Optimize the security settings in your VPN.
- Visit any secure torrent site and start downloading your preferred file.
Tips to Enhance Your Torrenting Experience with a VPN – Quick Guide
Here’s how you can improve your torrenting experience with a VPN service:
- Configure the port forwarding feature: This feature lets you connect to more peers in a swarm, enhancing your download speeds. Mostly, you just need to enable it from the settings of your VPN, and the provider instantly generates a port number. Copy and paste the number in the settings of your torrent client and enjoy.
- Enable kill switch: With this feature, if your VPN disconnects by chance while you’re downloading torrents, it will disable your internet connection, so your IP address and torrent activity don’t leak to anyone.
- Enable IP address binding: If you bind your IP to your torrent client, it will enhance safety. This is beneficial if you use a dedicated IP address that doesn’t change. You can configure your torrent client to only download files when it’s connected to a certain IP, meaning that your downloads and actual IP will never be revealed.
- Ad-blocker: Few VPNs offer ad/malware blockers that improve your torrent experience. This feature prevents ads from loading and stops you from downloading malicious files.
- Disable firewall: Disabling the firewall will help you experience a finer VPN run because a firewall prevents you from connecting to peers when a P2P network is established.
Best VPN Countries for Torrenting and P2P Traffic
We have observed that some countries are just better for VPN torrenting and P2P traffic because of lousy laws on the internet. Following are the best countries for torrenting:
- Switzerland: This country is considered the most privacy-friendly location as the internet service provider’s right to your privacy is limited. You can also download copyright material, which is legal in Switzerland, until you don’t plan on selling it.
- Spain: In Spain, torrenting is absolutely legal until you’re not selling copyrighted content.
- Poland: This country allows users to download torrents for personal use. However, selling those files is illegal.
- The Netherlands: This country is considered one of the safest torrenting even after the altered laws of 2017. Only selling items is prohibited, but you can download them easily for personal use.
- Mexico: Since 2019, there have been no specific laws that restrict sharing any file. File sharing is not even monitored, making it the safest country for VPN use.
Best Free VPNs for Torrenting
Looking for the best free VPN for torrenting? Well, we conducted several P2P tests and accumulated that the best VPNs which are free for torrenting purposes are:
- Windscribe: It is considered the best free option overall for torrenting purposes. The VPN offers 10 GB of data per month and 10 server locations, so you can torrent in a limit with Windscribe.
- Privado VPN: This VPN allows torrents with around 10 GB of data monthly and is also considered safest. However, you can only torrent a file or two with this VPN due to its data limit.
- Hide.Me: This is one of the best free VPNs for torrenting with a free P2P and a 10 GB data cap. However, you only get 5 server locations to choose from.
Instead of opting for any of the free options above, we suggest you go for ExpressVPN’s 30-day money-back guarantee. This way, you can enjoy torrenting free for an entire month using its unlimited bandwidth and robust security features.
VPNs to Avoid for Torrenting
While there are plenty of VPNs online, not all of them are safe for torrenting. For example, some VPNs don’t support P2P file-sharing or keep intrusive logs, making them unsuitable for torrenting. Here are some VPNs that are nowhere near the best torrenting VPNs and should be avoided at all costs if you value your privacy:
1. Hola VPN:
Doesn’t support torrenting and blocks BitTorrent traffic. In addition to that, Hola VPN doesn’t offer encryption to anonymize your P2P traffic, and it doesn’t even come with a kill switch.
Another major reason to avoid Hola VPN is its track record. Back in 2015, Hola turned its subscribers into a botnet without their knowledge. In addition, the company was found to be selling the unlimited idle bandwidth of its subscribers to anyone who had an ill intent to run a denial-of-service attack on any website they please. Check out our Hola VPN review for more details.
2. TunnelBear:
Although a hugely popular zero-cost VPN that has been in the industry forever now, it is a VPN that is not ideal for torrenting.
This is because the service is headquartered in Canada, which is part of the Five Eyes Alliance. This means that those surveillance agencies in Canada can ask TunnelBear to disclose the browsing activities of any users they find suspicious. From a privacy standpoint, that’s a major red flag.
TunnelBear is also not the fastest VPN out there. It can drop your original speeds by more than 50%. Check out our TunnelBear review for more details.
3. Turbo VPN:
Another VPN to avoid is Turbo VPN. On its website, in the FAQ section, Turbo VPN clearly states that they don’t support torrenting, and any user suspected of accessing BitTorrent can have their account blocked.
Another reason to avoid this VPN is that it lacks basic privacy features, and its privacy policy is quite invasive. Check out our Turbo VPN review for more details.
4. Hoxx VPN:
The last VPN you should avoid at all costs for torrenting is Hoxx VPN. It logs information about your browser, pages viewed, IP address, and more. Much like Turbo VPN, Hoxx VPN also doesn’t support torrenting. It also mentions that it doesn’t support torrenting in the FAQ section of its website. Check out our Hoxx VPN review for more details.
What Other Dangers are Associated with Torrenting?
The biggest prevailing risk with torrenting is that it contains several copyrighted materials. The users could face many legal implications by downloading through torrents.
Some people may use torrents without a VPN or not a good VPN and have no problems. However, keep in mind that “flying under the radar” is a risky business as you never know when your Internet provider catches you torrenting. If that happens, you can expect some serious consequences.
Given the recent increase in copyright violations, torrenting without a VPN is not a choice anymore and is not worth the risk. It is not about whether you will get caught it’s about when. These are some of the other dangers associated with torrenting:
- Fines and lawsuits if caught torrenting: There have been various cases worldwide where torrenters have been sued for downloading copyrighted material. For example, in 2011, we saw the biggest case in US history in which 23,000 file sharers were notified by the authorities for illegal BitTorrent downloading. That is why people seek the best VPNs for USA to reclaim their digital privacy.
- Attacks from scammers: Some malicious actors portray themselves as copyright holders to make a profit in many ways. As a P2P connection requires data, an attack could easily be launched.
- ISP monitoring: When the ISP detects any torrent activity, there could be harmful results ranging from ISP throttling to legal actions.
Disclaimer: VPNRanks does not condone piracy. We are writing for an international audience, so make sure to check the laws and regulations in your respective jurisdictions for details.
FAQs – Best VPN for Torrenting
Is torrenting safe with a VPN?
Yes, it’s perfectly safe to torrent with a VPN. Using a VPN is a wise choice for bypassing torrenting barriers and protecting your privacy. With a VPN, your entire online traffic is encrypted to ensure that no one can view your activities, even while torrenting.
Can you use a free VPN for torrenting?
Yes, you can use a free VPN for torrenting, but we suggest you don’t do that. Most free VPNs don’t support torrenting and block P2P traffic. Moreover, they cannot compete with the military-grade encryption and security offered by premium VPNs. Because of this, there is no guarantee that you are truly anonymous while torrenting with a free VPN.
Also, many free VPNs are caught selling their user’s data and internet activities to different third-party organizations. This includes the popular Hola VPN. If you value your online privacy, then you’d stay away from them.
Instead, you can opt for ExpressVPN’s 30-day money-back guarantee and enjoy its service free for an entire month. The VPN will allow you to enjoy downloading torrents while staying absolutely secure.
Can I get caught torrenting with a VPN?
Yes, you can get caught torrenting even while using a VPN. However, it’s highly unlikely since VPNs conceal your online traffic and IP address. One way you can get caught, though, is by using a VPN that doesn’t offer a kill switch.
Which VPN provider is the best for torrenting for mobile devices?
ExpressVPN is the all-around best VPN for torrenting. It offers P2P support on its entire server network and the best connection speeds among all providers on the list. It even offers a robust no-logging policy so you can torrent while being anonymous and without any risks.
Does VPN affect torrenting?
No, most VPNs do not affect your torrenting activities. Most VPNs are absolutely fine with you using P2P services like BitTorrent while using their product. Moreover, none of the best VPNs for torrenting we listed prohibit file-sharing.
Wrapping Up!
The penalties and enforcement against online piracy have gradually gotten stricter over the past two decades. Although every copyright owner has the right to sue an individual who accesses their material for free without their permission, the aggressiveness of certain countries towards anyone who downloads torrents can often spill over to those cases where the downloaded file may NOT be illegal.
For the best performance, we suggest using ExpressVPN – our top recommendation as the best VPN for torrenting. This VPN offers P2P support on all servers, along with unrestricted speeds, robust security features, and AES 256-bit encryption.
That’s all for our guide. Enjoy torrenting now!
While IvacyVPN is good, NordVPN is also pretty good. I’m using them both, one at my office and one for personal use. For work Ivacy, for home Nord. Just because it works really well with Netflix servers, well it should work well, knowing how many servers they have. As with Ivacy, I’m not using it for torrenting or streaming, so the speeds are not that important for me, but I didn’t get any problems with it.
Hi Aldini,
I’m glad the VPNs you mentioned are doing the job for you. Thank you for sharing your experience!
Have you seen that Surfshark released two new products? I think Hacklock is a brilliant idea. Has you had the chance to test it yet?
Internet security should be especially important for those who download torrents. I am one of those people, so I need to be sure that my connection is anonymous and secure. I tried a few providers, but I came back to Surfshark, because of the speed, multi-hop, and price.
Hello D.Foster,
Thank you for the comment. I’m glad you found Surfshark suited to your needs!
What you say about mullvad? Can I go with this VPN?
Hello Alesha.
Mullvad is a very good VPN from the privacy standpoint. The one problem that various users have reported, however, is slow speeds while torrenting. That can be a dealbreaker as far as torrenting speeds are concerned.
Not many vpns allow torrenting or Netflix blocking but they claim sad part. Be mindful when choosing the service, read reviews before buying. Btw, I am using Surfshark, quite a decent for torrenting.
Hey Bill!
Thanks for sending your feedback.
Reviews can be helpful as second opinions in case you’re having any doubts. I am happy that you found Surfshark useful for your torrenting needs.
Thanks for reaching out!
Cheers!
I often see NordVPN and Express rated very well in different reviews. Are they really that great? I’m thinking between these two but can’t decide 100%, though I’m leaning towards Nord. What do you think?
Hello Tyler,
The reason why NordVPN and ExpressVPN are rated so highly is that they have been consistently performing well over the years and have a great history in terms of keeping our privacy intact.
If you are confused between the two, I’d ask you to look at your budget first and then decide. Personally, my choice would be ExpressVPN if I can afford it. But I would be just as happy with NordVPN, especially if my budget is a little tight.
Hope this helps. 🙂
I really like how Surfshark manages to provide a top notch service for as cheap as 2 quid. Hw come nobody else does that? Why pay 7-8 quid when you get the same or more for 6 times less?
Hello Maria,
I agree. Surfshark has a great pricing model which easily attracts users. The good thing is that it doesn’t compromise on quality in spite of the cheap price tag.
Is Surfshark new in the VPN industry? How did you find its performance in your testing?
Hello Karl,
Yes, Surfshark is new in the industry and performs exceptionally well when it comes to torrenting. They have dedicated P2P servers and during our testing we found the downloading speeds to be at par with all other major VPN providers.
can we use free vpn for torrenting ? Its only that their servers are limited but they do provide the same encryption levels such as the paid ones. One such example is ProtonVPN
Hello Alex,
Free VPNs should be avoided because their logging policies are usually very shady. Some even sell your data to third parties.
However, there are some reliable providers like ProtonVPN which are you can trust. But I’d strongly recommend against using some no-name free VPN with poor brand reputation. That can be dangerous.
Is Nordvpn really that good? Looking for a provider for torrenting, many reviews suggest nordvpn! Any opinions?
Dear Emelie,
Yes, you can use NordVPN to fulfill your torrenting needs. Moreover, it offers a huge servers’ network feature that allows you to gain online freedom from anywhere.
Likewise, you can consider other VPN services described in the above list to perform your torrenting activity in a secure manner.
Cheers!!!
I have gone through many Vpn But when it comes to Free Vpn Hotspot Shield Vpn is the best for Torrenting. Really Thanks for the great post.
Dear Jiiva,
Thanks for reaching out to us, we are glad that you found Hotspot Shield VPN helpful to accomplish your torrenting cravings.
keep using Hotspot Sheild and enjoy online freedom hassle-free.
Cheers!!!
How does AirVPN compare to PureVPN…..? please reply. And, Thankyou for reading.
Hi Troy,
Thanks for your comment. As far as comparing AirVPN with PureVPN goes, there’s a lot of difference between the two. PureVPN has servers in over 140 countries whereas AirVPN has only a handful of servers. If we compare the prices, then PureVPN also has an edge over AirVPN. On the contrary, AirVPN and PureVPN offer similar security measures: OpenVPN protocol and AES 256 bit encryption.
However, both VPN providers support P2P file sharing. We tested PureVPN and found its performance to be much better than AirVPN. So, if you’re looking for a VPN to use with torrents, then give PureVPN a try.
Canada is widely acclaimed for a massive number of internet users than any other country. Being a mainstream region for tech geeks, Canadians love to stream videos online. However, popular Canadian channels are geo-restricted outside Canada, meaning that users can’t access Bravo, CBC, Sportsnet and Canal De from outside Canada. To get away with restrictions, Canada VPN provides instant access to all Canadian channels from anywhere in the world. However, I haven’t tried BTGuard yet but I would suggest users to get a decent Canada VPN like Express VPN and Ivacy for top-notch privacy, anonymity and accessibility.
Hello Andressa,
Thank you for the comment.
I am located in New Jersey and torrenting is among my favorite activities. I usually search for torrents of latest movies and Netflix TV shows. And for secure torrenting I selected NordVPN.
But last week when I received copyright infringement notice from my ISP. I was surprised and annoyed at the same time, as VPN didn’t work for me and DNS leak occured. Right now I want to know that does NordVPN provide Internet Kill Switch? and what’re some decent VPN services that offer responsive Internet Kill Switch?
Dear Mathew thanks for commenting,
Usually ISPs send copyright infringement notices when a user is found downloading or accessing licensed material from internet.
When it comes to safe and anonymous torrenting, PureVPN, NordVPN and BufferedVPN comes at top. These VPN services offer strong tunelling protocols to ensure 101% protection against copyright trolls, ISP surveillance and infringement notices. You can freely use any of the specified torrent VPN for safe and secure torrenting.
Torrenting is one of the lovable activities I prefer during weekends. But due to strict copyright laws in Connecticut, I was unable to visit torrent sites. Not to forget, ISPs over here send notices even when a flagged site is visited. Considering the situation, this article helped me a lot into bypassing the imposed geo-restrictions and downloading torrents anonymously from within Connecticut.
Hello Aditya,
Thanks for sharing your story with us. I’m glad you found this article informative.
I like to torrent my favorite TV shows most of the times. However, I do not choose torrents for downloading softwares, due to the risk of getting infected by malwares. So I was searching for a decent torrent VPN and came up with Hide.me. But to be honest, Hide.me didn’t come up to my expectations and eventually I had to request for a refund.
After reading reviews and conducting in-depth research, I came up with PIA. The service satisfied me well with a robust protection and anonymity for secure torrenting. Cheers to PIA !
Hello Christopher,
PIA is indeed a very good VPN. I’m glad it’s serving you well for your torrenting needs! 😉
I use nordvpn and the 28mbps in the article is not accurate…
Downloading a torrent currently with 40mbps.
Hi Jake,
Thanks for your feedback. The download speeds can vary from user to user, and also depends on the server and protocol selected. We tried NordVPN while being connected to a server based in USA and using OpenVPN protocol. Can you please let us the know server location and protocol you used while downloading torrents with NordVPN? Thanks again!
Never go for Ivacy VPN ! They provide a pathetic service.
I subscribed to their services on June 2016 for one year @ $1.83 PM. For six months everything worked well, so I extended their service for 2 more years. Then the problems started, the nearest servers would fail and I had to always rely on distant servers with a very high ping and low speeds. Their P2P services have become terrible ! Their customer service is pathetic ! They tell you to do this and that and probably never understand what our problem is.
And another irritating thing is they do not give refunds, even for the period starting from December 2016 !
I do not know how to get the refund !
Hello
You are requested to kindly email your issue to support@ivacy.com. Rest assured your issue will be looked into with greater care. We are so very sorry for the inconvenience caused to you.
I’m currently using a different VPN, but PIA has been catching my attention for a while. I want to know that if I can use the VPN service without downloading their app, i.e. through manual configuration on mobile or PC.
Hello Olivia Wilde,
You can indeed setup PIA through OpenVPN manual configuration. Check their tutorial section for help.
I prefer torrent for watching TV shows, movies and popular videos. However, I suggest users stay away from torrent software as it can spread malware on your system. So, I was in search of a decent VPN for a reliable protection while torrenting, and eventually I came up with PureVPN. With a range of strong encryption protocols (L2TP\IPSec) and wallet-friendly plans, it is the safest and economical solution for P2P downloads.
Hello Atiqah Hasiholan,
I’m glad you found PureVPN suited to your torrenting needs! Thanks for the comment.
In some cases torrenting is very risky because I personally have received a notice from DMC. However, I won’t go into the details but I would highly recommend that you don’t download torrents with a free VPN. In fact, you should read the detailed policy of torrenting before choosing any VPN because some providers may provide your credentials when asked by authorities. While others burn the records for providing 100% security and privacy to their users. That’s why I am currently using ExpressVPN and I am very much satisfied with its service.
Yes, @Alice i also have to face the similar issue, in fact, i was very annoyed when I received a infringement notice first time in my life, although I usually take proper steps to make my torrenting private and for this purpose I normally use peer block and cyber ghost free vpn whenever I did torrent, well it was very frustrating moment when I received another notice and then my friend tell me that paid vpns provide 9 times much better protection than free ones. However according to above mentioned table I taking account from ivacy and I hope It will work better.
Yeah, I am totally agree with your statement that paid VPNs provide 9 times better protection then free VPNs.
Hello Alice Paul,
The risk associated with torrent is very real, especially if you’re in the US. Free VPNs have a bad history for being shady, and they should be avoided at all costs for tasks such as torrenting.
You are totally correct! Thank you for chiming in!
One of the major reasons why people recommend VPN over proxies is that torrent clients reveal your true location and leak information while using proxy. Although, the latest version of torrent clients are designed to do a better job at this but I personally don’t trust proxy services. They can be unreliable and fail to protect you while using torrents. I would rather stick with a VPN just because of this. Currently, I am using PIA (Private Internet Access) but I have also heard good reviews about PureVPN.
Hello Martin,
That’s music to my ears! Most people don’t realize how unsafe proxies can be for your privacy.
Thank you for contributing your comment!
Several VPN providers permit the best torrenting services and many people use VPN services for downloading torrent with complete anonymity and security. The best part of torrenting with VPN that you can’t tracked or caught anyone because its keep your credential secure / hide so no DMCA notice you will have to receive, however from the above mentioned comparison table I choose PureVPN.
Hello Kailee,
Yep you’re perfectly correct. The jurisdiction and logging policy of VPNs are important factors to consider for safe torrenting.
Before selecting any VPN, it is very important to read the logs and privacy policy of the provider. This is because some providers do not support torrents or P2P file sharing. That’s why it is important to have some knowledge about how a provider might affect your privacy before you use it for torrenting.
Hello Michael Martin,
You’ve hit the nail right on the head! Every VPN user should read the logging policy of the provider before deciding to go with one. This is better for your own privacy.
Thank you for the insightful comment!
It is a perfect list of best torrent VPN. I am living in North America and just a couple of days before I bought a VPN from your website, especially for torrenting, I am very happy to say that it is working like a charm. No drop in speed as you have mentioned in you purevpn review. In fact I am also watching BBC iPlayer with this account.
Hello Robert Brown,
Thanks for the comment. I’m glad this article was helpful for you! 🙂
From the last couple of months I am using Purevpn for torrenting and I am very satisfied with its services. In fact the good things are that it support responds within few minutes after my initial query. But you didn’t mention PIA over here because it is also a good torrent vpn but its prices are high than purevpn.
Hello Richard White,
The problem with PIA is that it is based in the US, so it’s always a risk to use VPNs based in the USA. They are within the jurisdiction of DMCA after all.
VPN is surely most-suitable option to use torrent, it cloaks my original IP address when downloading files from torrent. In this way no one identifies me. Thumbs up to the author ! keep up the good work.
Hello Deborah Jones,
Thank you for the kind words! I’m glad this article could be of help! 🙂
Torrent is like a bucket full of gold. I remember the time when I downloaded Transformers, Wolf of Wall Street and Ironman from the torrent, until I received this copyright infringement notice. I searched the internet to continue using the torrents as I can’t afford spending hundreds of dollar on movies. So, I came up with VPN, VPN has enabled me to download unlimited movies on monthly basis. Thanks for sharing such a good post!
Hello Elijah,
Thanks for sharing your input. I’m glad this article helped you out!
PirateBay is blocked in the place where I live, and it sucks! It’s been months, and unfortunately, I have been trying to find a solution but always leave with little to no success. But today, thanks to this blog I was finally able to access PirateBay with the help of a Torrent VPN. Great work on the blog, gentlemen. I hope you guys keep doing your work straight.
Hello Margaret Allen,
I’m glad you found this article helpful! Thanks for the comment. 🙂
I don’t know if there is any alternate available to this, but this is the best solution for me and my torrennting needs. It is kind of complicated for an average user like me, though you’ll get along with a torrent VPN in no time. Thanks to you guys, I’m now torrenting files like I used to back in the day. Cheers!
Thank you for your Valuable feedback.
Best Regards,
VPNRanks.com
Hi, Thanks for all your help. I chatted with one of the above, inquiring about P2P in the USA.
“P2P/File-sharing is not allowed on servers of countries where it’s illegal by law to do so such as United Kingdom (UK), United States (US), Canada, Australia etc…….
File-sharing is allowed, but only on specific selected servers……..”
Confused now. I will be able to access those specific servers?
Thank you also for the in depth guide for Mac.
Paula
Hi Paula, thanks for the question. File sharing is indeed under fire in countries like the US, UK, Canada and Australia. But you can engage in P2P/File-sharing activity from these countries by connecting to the VPN servers of the countries where File Shharing is legal. As long as you don’t engage in any copyright infringements, you have nothing to worry about. However, anti-file-sharing measures are usually very limited and are usually always preceeded by rather harmless warning notices by the ISP so you have a bit of a margin in case you ever get flagged during a P2P session in the event of a worst case scenario.
I hope I managed to help you out. Do feel free to get back to me if you’ve got any more questions. Cheers!