In contempo years, risks and regulations related to torrenting have been on a ascension. While you lot download torrents, your IP address and its P2P action can exist hands tracked, letting online criminals and other interested parties target you and your data.
If your Internet service provider spots that you do P2P downloads, they may even slow down your connection or prohibit you from using P2P sharing altogether. Therefore, using a VPN for downloading torrents is now essential. And finding the best torrenting VPN will keep your information private, and your online action safe – while maintaining fast and reliable download speeds.
We do not condone online piracy – but we support online privacy and security. To help you out with that, here we cover some of the top VPNs for torrenting. Fast, secure, and easy to use, they're all perfect companions for your P2P downloads.
All-time torrenting VPNs - our shortlist:
- NordVPN – best all-round VPN for torrenting and P2P
- Surfshark – great low-cost VPN for torrenting
- Atlas VPN – cheap VPN for torrenting
- PrivateVPN – a VPN for fast torrenting
- IPVanish – affordable VPN for torrenting
Why should I apply a VPN for torrenting?
Torrenting without a VPN is associated with many dangers. Here are a couple of examples, which might brand you reconsider whether you should employ torrent clients without a VPN.
- The connection itself. When y'all're downloading files via a torrent client, you're downloading from another user's reckoner. Everyone who checks seeders list tin can find your real IP address. Which is almost like disclosing your home accost in public.
- Copyrighted materials. Information technology may non be your intention to steal, but files in torrent websites won't always be adequately named. Most likely, copyright holders and your Internet service provider won't care well-nigh the circumstances and treat y'all equally just another pirate.
- Social technology attacks. Scammers can be impersonating copyright holders to make a profit for themselves. Since your P2P connexion reveals quite a lot of information, this could be a starting point to gather intel on you lot for an set on.
Best VPNs for torrenting - our detailed list
All VPNs claim to hide your identity, but not all will work with P2P networks. This makes finding a good VPN for torrenting a head-scratcher. Then, there'due south the balancing of speeds, safety, and server selection – only all of them combined will become you a skillful level of user experience and online privacy.
We've manus-picked the VPN providers that brand the best friction match with torrenting clients, offering all the top features and unlimited bandwidth for your files. With them, you tin be sure to download torrents quickly and safely, no thing your platform of selection.
Editor's disclosure: We are aware of and concerned nearly the Deferred Prosecution Agreement (DPA) recently released by the US Department of Justice. It names Express VPN'due south CIO Daniel Gericke amid the persons who received monetary penalties and agreed to "full cooperation with the relevant Section and FBI components" due to their past misuse of covert surveillance tools, targeting US citizens, as well as journalists and political parties.
At the moment, there are no direct connections established betwixt the misuse of such tools and ExpressVPN. However, in order to offering our readers only the about reliable and safest VPN solutions available, we are temporarily removing ExpressVPN from our lists until further privacy, data security, and ethical evaluations are completed. You can read our total story virtually the agreement here.
1. NordVPN – best VPN for prophylactic torrent downloads
| Based in: | Panama |
| SOCKS5 proxy: | Yes |
| Split tunneling: | Yes (Windows, Android) |
| Electric current bargain: | NordVPN is now 68% OFF! |
NordVPN is one of the best VPNs for torrenting. Information technology has P2P back up on their specialized servers. They are optimized for bandwidth-intensive downloads, then you'll become the all-time ratio for performance and condom.
Speaking of which, all their clients have a kill switch that volition close down your Internet connexion to prevent unwanted IP leaks. One such fault could reveal your identity and put yous on your ISP'due south blacklist.
With more than 5100 + servers in lx countries, you'll have plenty of countries to choose from. Whichever is your home land, y'all're bound to notice a fast server nearby to connect to.
If you need a VPN for torrenting-merely, at that place'southward no need to encrypt your full connection. Add your torrenting client to a split tunneling list, and just your P2P traffic volition be encrypted. There's also a SOCKS5 proxy for those who don't care well-nigh the encryption and favor ameliorate speeds.
This VPN provider likewise has a strict no-logs policy, so whatever you do with your VPN will stay with you. Although most services hope the aforementioned, most of NordVPN's servers don't accept mechanical hard drives and are running on RAM-only. Plus, their privacy policy was audited twice by PwC (one of the largest bookkeeping agencies). Hence, y'all don't have to trust the provider's word blindly. The results speak for themselves.
All of this makes NordVPN a superb choice for torrents. Not only will your identity be subconscious with strong encryption, but you lot too won't exist slashing performance, peculiarly with additions like the next-gen NordLynx tunneling protocol. In our tests, it was ane of the fastest.
Pros
- SOCKS5 proxy
- Specialized P2P servers
- No DNS leaks
- Split tunneling for apps/webpages
- Audited no-logs policy
Cons
- Discounts are simply for longer subscriptions
two. Surfshark – the cheapest VPN for torrenting
| Based in: | The Netherlands |
| SOCKS5 proxy: | No |
| Split tunneling: | Yes (Windows, Android) |
| Current deal: | Become up to 82% OFF Surfshark + two months Costless! |
Surfshark allows torrenting on any of their servers, the ports won't be closed. They as well take dedicated P2P servers, which are optimized specifically to use with a torrent client. And then, if you observe that your downloads are taking also long, this can be a solution offering excellent connection speeds.
With that said, this VPN service is 1 of the fastest we've tested, then the speeds shouldn't be an issue. Plus, they have added a WireGuard tunneling protocol, with which you'll barely fifty-fifty notice that you're using a VPN.
The provider doesn't overlook safety measures, either. Surfshark has a kill switch that turns off your connexion as soon every bit the link between your device and VPN servers is disrupted. They even permit switching between AES-256-GCM and Chacha20Poly1305 encryption ciphers, unbreakable even with the virtually powerful modernistic hardware.
They also apply the aforementioned quality standards to their server armada, and so they're not using any hard drives. All of their servers run on RAM-only memory, which ways that no logs can be saved to be retrieved later. At that place's also advanced DNS leak protection added on height. So, your identity is as condom as it can be.
Yous can cull from their fleet of 3200 + servers across 65 countries. This provides enough variety for different use cases.
If you need a VPN only for torrenting, at that place's a Whitelister characteristic. With it, you can use a VPN connection only for torrenting websites and apps. That way, the balance of your traffic gets untouched. Also, Surfshark has an audited no-logs policy, making your torrenting experience even more than secure.
Finally, it's one of the most affordable options, with steep discounts for longer plans. With unlimited simultaneous connections, its value is unparalleled.
Pros
- Low cost
- Defended P2P servers
- xxx-day money-back guarantee
- Split tunneling
- Customisable encryption methods
3. Atlas VPN - cheap VPN for torrenting
| Based in: | USA |
| SOCKS5 proxy: | No |
| Split tunneling: | No |
| Current bargain: | Go Atlas VPN, at present 82% OFF! |
Even though Atlas VPN doesn't have specialized P2P servers, this doesn't mean it'southward not suitable for torrenting. Quite the contrary.
The truth is, Atlas VPN allows torrenting on many of its servers. During our tests, the download speed was pretty good, but non extremely fast - 4-6MB/ s. Every bit a result, a ii.seven GB file took about vii minutes to download.
There's one thing that sets Atlas VPN apart from all the other all-time VPNs for torrenting. It'south the fact that you can utilise its free version for P2P connections, which is pretty rare in the globe of VPNs. Usually, only paid VPN versions support torrenting.
Atlas VPN offers 700 servers in 31 countries, which is a bit less than what you might expect from your usual VPN service. Despite this, the tool works with lots of streaming platforms, including Netflix, YouTube, and BBC iPlayer.
The VPN also has a lot of features like a malware blocker, a data breach checker, and a kill switch. On its Android and Windows apps, it even offers IP address rotation. And, if you're worried well-nigh your data, know that Atlas VPN has a strict and audited no-log policy.
Now, the best thing about Atlas VPN is its toll. With all the unlimited bandwidth and exciting features, can pay as little as $1.99 a month - simply only if you invest in a three-year subscription, that is.
Pros
- Unblocks streaming sites
- Gratis version supports torrenting
- Affordable cost
- Malicious page blocker
- Unlimited simultaneous connections
Cons
- Based in a Five-Eyes country
- Not many servers
iv. PrivateVPN - a VPN for fast torrenting
| Based in: | Sweden |
| SOCKS5 proxy: | Yeah |
| Split tunneling: | No |
| Current deal: | Get PrivateVPN, now 85% OFF! |
PrivateVPN is truly one of the best VPNs you lot can choose if you use torrenting clients often. Thanks to its expert speeds, you'll be able to download files much faster.
For example, we reached 15MB/due south download speed when testing the Windows application of PrivateVPN, which is really impressive. Keep in mind that you lot'll accept to choice a specialized P2P server if you want to apply the VPN with a torrenting client. In total, PrivateVPN has 200 servers in 63 countries.
In improver, PrivateVPN allows port forwarding (non many VPNs do!), which can likewise be useful with P2P connections. By the way, the service includes HTTP and SOCKS5 proxies.
Still, torrenting is not the only thing PrivateVPN is good at. It also unblocks lots of streaming platforms similar Netflix, BBC iPlayer, YouTube, and DAZN.
The prices beginning from $ii.00 a month.
Pros
- Unblocks many streaming websites
- Supports torrenting
- Port forwarding
- HTTP and SOCKS5 proxies
- Customizable encryption
Cons
- Limited tunneling protocol choice
- Modest server fleet
five. IPVanish - solid VPN for fast torrenting
| Based in: | Singapore |
| SOCKS5 proxy: | Yeah |
| Divide tunneling: | Yeah (for Android users only) |
| Electric current bargain: | Get up to 65% OFF IPVanish! |
Sure, IPVanish doesn't have defended servers for torrenting, however, information technology isn't a big limitation. The provider offers swell speeds because of the implemented WireGuard protocol, making it a proficient choice for torrenting.
For instance, when we tested IPVanish, the downloading speed was around 7-8MB/s, which is a solid issue. And, to improve the speed fifty-fifty more, you lot can make use of the free SOCKS5 proxy.
The provider besides supports split tunneling, which is helpful when yous want only the traffic of your selection to exist going through a VPN. IPVanish is fifty-fifty capable of hiding the fact that you're using a VPN service with their traffic obfuscation feature. As well, if the server goes downwards, y'all don't have to worry about your data leaking because of a reliable kill switch.
In terms of servers, IPVanish offers over 1600 servers in 52 countries. While the fleet isn't the broadest, most of the servers are in North America and Europe. Notwithstanding, you'll find quite a few in Asia and all other continents.
The cost of IPVanish is surely ane of the more affordable ones. The prices first from $3.75/month when purchasing the long-term programme. Mostly, the speeds and the prices of IPVanish brand the provider a practiced selection for torrenting.
Pros
- Good P2P speeds
- Customizable impale switch
- Unlimited simultaneous connections
- Free SOCKS5 proxy
- Split-tunneling on Android
Cons
- Based in the US, which isn't privacy-friendly
- No Linux app
6. Mullvad VPN – all-time for bearding torrenting
| Based in: | Sweden |
| SOCKS5 proxy: | Yes |
| Separate tunneling: | Yes (Android, Linux) |
Mullvad VPN may non be as known as the other options on this list, merely don't permit that discourage you. It'southward a truly anonymous VPN service, which is exactly what torrenters are looking for. For starters, even when you're creating an account, their approach is a fleck unconventional: you will be assigned a randomly generated 16-digit code. You don't even have to provide an email address, so there are no traces back to you lot.
The service allows P2P traffic on all of their servers, so you can option whichever is the closest to get the all-time speeds. We detected no speed throttling during our tests, so it will be fine even for larger downloads. Furthermore, SOCKS5 is included in your subscription, so you can set it upward directly on your torrent client.
Mullvad also supports split tunneling on its Android and Linux applications if you want to apply a VPN for torrenting only. That said, their server selection is a bit on the lighter side. So, depending on where you live, it may be a chip harder to find a fast server nearby.
Mullvad'south pricing doesn't offer any flexibility either. Whichever menstruum you choose, it will e'er be $6.00/month, which isn't that cheap. Seeing what privacy features you become for your coin – this is a no-brainer.
Pros
- Anonymous account
- DNS leak protection
- thirty-day money-back guarantee
- SOCKS5 proxy
- Carve up tunneling
- Open-sourced service
Cons
- Few countries to choose from
- Aforementioned prices for all subscription periods
How we selected and tested these torrenting VPNs
When choosing the best VPN for torrenting, we prioritized specific features that are the most relevant for P2P downloads. So, if a VPN service is ranked higher, it's because the service excels in these cardinal areas:
- Stance on torrenting. P2P connections consume plenty of bandwidth past design, which can be pretty hard to maintain if you have a big pool of users. If every one of them decided to download something simultaneously, this could quickly bring the infrastructure to its knees. So, many providers don't allow torrenting traffic at all. I chose only services that don't restrict P2P traffic.
- Security. When downloading torrents, you're making your IP address available for anybody to see. Which puts it out at that place for cybercriminals, tempted to exam your home network's strength, or the government. The improve security a service has, the better are your chances of remaining anonymous.
- Performance. The whole premise of torrenting is the ability to exchange files rapidly. So, the faster your VPN is, the better download speeds you can expect. Meliorate performing services get ranked higher.
- Logging. All VPN service providers claim to be anonymous, but you lot have to accept their discussion for it most times. If a service has been tested "in the wild" or went through a third-party inspect, it'south much easier to trust. It also means that your privacy will exist respected no matter what.
- Value. Nearly top-shelf VPNs offering a very comparable level of quality. If a service charges above the average price tag just isn't offering that much, information technology'due south a hard pass from me. E'er look for a healthy balance between the price and the features you get.
VPNs we do non recommend for torrenting
Many services that we didn't include in this listing can nonetheless be used for torrenting. However, that doesn't use to those VPNs with severe loopholes. They can be both costless and paid and then you should be cautious.
Hola VPN – is 1 of the worst options y'all could pick. Information technology uses P2P networks to found a connection. Encryption is added only for premium users, and there are no countermeasures against IP leaks. To make matters worse, their privacy policy states that they're collecting user logs.
Betternet – some other poor choice for torrenting. This VPN is priced quite steeply but lacks essential security features. You won't get a kill switch, meaning that your anonymity volition depend on Betternet'southward server armada e'er working without issues. Even then, their server network is as well small to consider this option for consistently dandy download speeds.
SuperVPN – recently our editorial team discovered that users of this provider had their credentials leaked and sold on the nighttime spider web. However, on Google Play, the service has more than than 1 hundred one thousand thousand installs. It seems that the service provider was logging data despite their privacy policy stating otherwise.
This shows that not all VPNs are made equal, and you lot should e'er practise your research before committing to a long-term service.
Can I apply a free VPN for torrenting?
Nigh free VPNs that would exist safe enough for regular usage don't allow you to torrent. Every bit I've said, P2P connections tin can utilize upwards a lot of bandwidth, making other user experience worse. For this reason, it'southward unremarkably treated as a premium feature and reserved for paid users.
Withal, it'southward not unheard of to discover a free VPN that works with torrenting connections. In such cases, you should tread advisedly. Torrenting is a resources-intensive job, especially in cases when it'south offered for free. So, it's possible that your data is being logged and sold. If some offer sounds too good to be true, it normally is. Ever double-cheque whether the software that you're installing is safe.
Best VPN countries for torrenting and P2P traffic
Some countries accept looser laws concerning Net downloads. Naturally, those will exist the countries that are cracking for torrenting.
Switzerland
In general, Switzerland is one of the most privacy-friendly locations. Your correct to privacy is protected, limiting what your Internet access provider can monitor about y'all. Moreover, downloading copyrighted materials for personal use is legal as long as you don't intend to sell them. Still, it is illegal to share content if you don't own copyright rights. And so, every bit long as you're downloading, you're in the articulate, merely seeding is some other thing.
Spain
Spain is a torrenter's safety sky considering their law emphasizes the intent to profit over breaching copyright laws. There, you tin share whatsoever data that yous desire as long every bit you don't intend to make a turn a profit. This ways that torrenting for your ain utilise is perfectly fine. Similar in Switzerland, it's still illegal to share copyrighted materials, so if you're uploading, you're committing a offense.
Poland
In Poland, downloading copyrighted materials is neither legal nor illegal. More often than not, without permission, you cannot use copyrighted works. Yet, at that place are some exceptions, similar individual apply cases, which autumn exterior of copyright police. You tin can write this off equally a loophole in their judicial organisation, but information technology doesn't make Poland a new Tortuga for digital pirates.
Is torrenting with a VPN legal?
Yes, torrenting with a VPN is entirely legal. The result is not the torrenting applied science itself, but the content that you're downloading. Open-source software or a picture show that's in the public domain is entirely fine. However, if you're sharing or downloading a video of the latest Ryan Gosling movie that you filmed on your phone, it'south mostly probable against the law.
Besides, some things seem legal fall in the grey area – and different regime authorities or courts are leap to treat each case differently.
What other dangers are associated with torrenting?
A VPN is an excellent style to protect yourself from dangers associated with a non-private connexion. However, you must also make sure that every component of your setup is safe. This includes the torrent tracker your using and your torrent app.
For example, version 3.4.2 of uTorrent, one of the most popular torrent clients, drastically slowed downward users' devices. It was later reported that this version installed Bitcoin mining software that was acting without consent. Fifty-fifty the electric current version of uTorrent prompts you to install quite a lot of adware.
If you want safer alternatives, there's Drench and qBittorrent. Both are open-sourced and much safer options. Coupled with a reliable VPN, this leaves no gaps from the technical standpoint. Think before clicking on links, and you should exist prophylactic.
Bottom line
Whatever you're planning to download through torrents, don't forget to do caution. Although it may seem harmless, if you're not careful, you can end upward in more trouble than yous could have ever imagined. This ranges from legal attention to the files themselves, which are often a source of malware. Not to mention that your real IP address is exposed, and so yous're making yourself an easier target.
A VPN can minimize the number of potential risks to your online activity, but information technology should exist a service you can trust. Otherwise, yous're only going out of the frying pan into the burn. So practice your inquiry and pick a service that will protect y'all even when on P2P network.
FAQ
Is torrenting safe with a VPN?
Yeah, torrenting with a VPN makes you a lot safer. Your identity is hidden and untraceable, so it'southward much less probable for yous to receive a fine, or for someone to attempt to hack into your device.
Can y'all be caught torrenting with a VPN?
If your VPN'south kill switch is faulty, your IP address tin can leak. This could be enough to build a case confronting y'all. The sanctions vary, but you could expect everything from connexion throttling to fines.
Can you become to jail for torrenting?
It depends on your land and other details. If you download a song, that won't land you in jail. All the same, if yous're supervising one of the biggest public torrent trackers, that's a punishable offense (every bit Peter Sunde and other founders of The Pirate Bay learned in 2009).
Can using a VPN increase your torrenting speed?
If you have slow Cyberspace, it's unlikely that the speeds volition somehow skyrocket with a VPN. A VPN adds an additional finish in your connection'due south bus route, plus, encryption and decryption takes time. The only way a VPN tin can increase your torrenting speed is if your ISP is using speed throttling to limit you.
What is the best VPN for torrenting in 2022
NordVPN is the best VPN for torrenting. With purpose-built servers, created specifically for torrenting, this VPN offers fast and stable downloading feel.
More VPN guides from CyberNews:
Best VPNs for Netflix: access Netflix content from anywhere
Best VPNs for Hulu: fastest streaming in 2022
Best VPNs for streaming movies: access to a large number of streaming sites
Best VPNs for Windows eleven: protect your device when using public wifi
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