Best VPN for Torrent
In this guide you will know everything about the best VPN for torrent and how to use it if a VPN.
Torrent is a file extension that allows its transfer in parts through a P2P network (peer to peer). It is a way that facilitates the sharing of large files. With the torrent, the file is divided into several small parts that are in different sources.
As soon as the user downloads one of these parts, it also sends it to other users who do not have it. This sharing method makes data transfer faster and more reliable, making it very popular for streaming and downloading movies, music, TV shows, etc.
For downloading and sending torrents, it is necessary to use a specific program, such as uTorrent, Deluge, Bittorrent, or Vuze.
Using a secure VPN is vital for anyone transferring Torrents, as just one packet of leaked data is sufficient to expose your identity and IP address.
The VPNs we recommend do not record your IP address or Internet activity and provide fast upload and download speeds so that you can torrent large files without any problems.
See the best VPNs for Torrent:
- ExpressVPN: The best VPN for torrent and P2P traffic. Read the summary.
- NordVPN: Fast, secure and easy to use VPN. Read the summary.
- Surfshark: It is the cheapest VPN for torrent and P2P. Read the summary.
Best VPN for Torrent
1- ExpressVPN: Best VPN for Torrent
PROS
- Fast mobile connections
- Compatible with all Apple devices, including iPad and Apple TV
- Unlocks American Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Disney+ and IPTV.
- Torrent allowed on all servers.
- APK file available (for Smart TVs)
- Servers: +3,000 | Countries: 94
- No user registration and no IP address leak
CONS
- It wouldn’t hurt if it were cheaper on shorter plans.
- No kill switch
Best price: US$6.67 / month for 15 months. See all plans.
The best VPN for torrenting is ExpressVPN.
It offers consistent and fast download speeds, low latency, and secure applications that keep your P2P traffic safe without leaks.
ExpressVPN uses an extensive network of VPN servers in more than 160 countries, which means that you will have a great choice when selecting servers around the world. Besides, P2P is available on all servers.
This VPN has breakneck speeds even on long-distance servers, which means that it is an excellent choice if you are looking for a private torrent with an international IP address.
We tested ExpressVPN with several torrent clients, including uTorrent, BitTorrent, and Vuze. It worked perfectly without any additional configuration. The torrent policy is also clearly outlined on the website.
ExpressVPN has a registration policy that does not maintain any activity or connection registration. It also stands out for the safety features it offers. It includes AES-256 encryption, the OpenVPN protocol, which comes standard in all applications. It ensures that the shared files will remain completely secure.
Leak protection and an effective wipe switch called ‘Network Lock’ also keep you anonymous, even if your Internet connection goes down. This feature is essential for torrents and does not need any manual configuration.
Advanced security features for Mac and Windows users include IPv6 leak protection and split tunnel, which allows you to choose the applications and services you want to route through the VPN tunnel.
If you encounter any problems, there is also 24/7 customer support available via live chat or email. ExpressVPN is a little more expensive than other VPNs, but it is worth getting the best speeds and security during the torrent.
There is no free plan or free trial, but you can try the service with a 30-day money-back guarantee. See our guide.
In addition to being our primary recommendation for torrenting, ExpressVPN is our highest-rated VPN in general.
See our guide on how to try ExpressVPN for free for 30 days.
Visit Expressvpn.com or read our full ExpressVPN review.
2- NordVPN
PROS
- Innovative DNS feature works on Apple TV
- Unlocks American Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Disney+ and IPTV.
- Up to 6 simultaneous connections.
- Torrent allowed on many servers
- Servers: 5700 l Countries: 59
- Kill switch
CONS
- Extra protocols require manual configuration.
Best price: US$3.71 / month for 24 months. See all plans.
NordVPN is one of the most used VPNs for torrenting, and for a good reason. It is straightforward to use, safe, and offers excellent download speeds on a vast network of servers, all at an affordable price.
However, there is no port forwarding, which means that you will not be able to sow torrents.
Most locations on the NordVPN network have P2P-optimized servers specifically designed to facilitate fast and secure torrenting. Just make sure you have selected a P2P server instead of a regular VPN server.
Although P2P servers are available worldwide, we do not recommend connecting to countries with known copyright trolls. Avoid making torrents from servers in the US, UK, or Australia and connect to a country with friendly privacy like Switzerland, Spain, or Romania.
NordVPN is completely zero-logs and uses AES-256 encryption, which means that your personal information is protected while you use the torrent.
There are custom VPN applications for all types of devices, and all of these platforms use OpenVPN and IKEv2, the most secure connection protocols available.
Unfortunately, as NordVPN does not support port forwarding, you will not be able to spread your torrents. If you want to sow, you can use NordVPN’s SOCKS5 proxy, but this is not as secure as a full VPN.
Visit NordVPN.com or read our full NordVPN review.
3- Surfshark
PROS
- Quick access to 12 libraries of Netflix.
- Servers: 1,700 | Countries: 63
- Unlimited simultaneous connections.
- Excellent VPN for torrent.
- Unlocks American Netflix and BBC iPlayer.
- MultiHop capability
- CleanWeb Ad Blocker
CONS
- Small delay on some servers.
Best price: US$2,49 / month for 24 months. See all plans.
Surfshark is the cheapest VPN for torrents.
Surfshark allows torrents on all its servers and unlimited simultaneous connections in addition to the price being super attractive.
There are more than 800 servers present in 50 countries. It ensures greater flexibility to find the server that best meets your needs.
Privacy and security are the main requirements when choosing a VPN, and Surfshark leaves nothing to be desired.
First, it is based in the British Virgin Islands and does not need to follow data retention laws required in some countries. In this way, it guarantees a non-registration policy, which means that its activities are not stored and cannot be passed on to government agencies.
To ensure that connections remain private, Surfshark offers two VPN protocols and uses 256-bit AES network encryption, one of the most used and secure ways to transfer data. The two VPN protocols include IKEv2 / IPsec and OpenVPN.
OpenVPN is generally more flexible and stable compared to IKEv2 / IPsec. With OpenVPN, you get more security, speed, and performance in most cases.
In addition, Shurfshark has a Kill Switch, which ensures that your actual IP address is not exposed if your internet goes down. You can also use this VPN on all platforms and devices.
Take advantage of the 30-day money-back guarantee to try this VPN.
Visit Surfshark.com or read our full Surfshark review.
Best VPN for Torrent: FAQ
What is torrent?
What can I download via torrent ?
How to choose the best VPN for torrent?
See below the points you need to consider when choosing a VPN for Torrent.
- Change your IP address and mask your actual location
- Supports P2P traffic
- Protect your Internet traffic with OpenVPN and AES-256 encryption
- Have a strict registration prohibition policy
- Protect yourself against IP, DNS, and WebRTC leaks
- Includes a VPN shutdown switch
- Get fast speeds and unlimited bandwidth
- Have an extensive network of servers, including privacy-friendly jurisdictions
Here are some of the main features of the best VPN for torrent in more detail :
Security
Only one leaked data package is sufficient to expose your identity, IP address, and location to your ISP. Strong AES-256 encryption and DNS leak protection are essential for any torrent VPN.
A kill switch is also an essential feature if you plan on making torrents with your VPN. It blocks your Internet connection and protects your IP address from being exposed if your VPN is interrupted.
Zero-Log Policy
Fast speeds
P2P support
Some popular VPNs completely ban P2P traffic, and others are much less transparent. We only recommend services that allow torrents openly on most of their servers.
You should look for a copyright and DMCA policy in your provider’s terms of service. It is much safer to choose a VPN service with P2P-optimized servers than to select a vague provider about its torrent policy.
Large network of servers
Some countries have aggressive copyright and data retention laws. The best torrent VPNs are based on privacy-friendly jurisdictions and have servers in countries with no legal penalties for P2P activities, such as Romania, Spain, and Switzerland.
An extensive network of P2P-compliant servers in several countries is also vital to reduce congestion and improve performance.
Unlimited bandwidth
Shared IP addresses
We recommend that you choose VPNs that use shared IP addresses for torrenting. This means that you share an IP address with dozens or even hundreds of others when you connect to a server.
Shared IPs add a significant anonymity layer that makes it more difficult to track activities back to you.
Best tools to download torrent in 2021 (Client)
qBittorrent
Operating system: Windows, macOS, Linux
Some torrent clients offer every function imaginable. Others keep things as simple as possible. qBittorrent is right in the middle, with the goal of “meeting the needs of most users using as little CPU and memory as possible.”
It boasts an integrated torrents search engine, media player, encryption, prioritization of torrents and files within those torrents, IP filtering, and torrent creation. It is the closest open source, uTorrent’s junk-free equivalent.
If you’re looking for a cross-platform torrent client that covers the essentials without becoming overly complicated, qBittorrent is excellent.
uTorrent
Operating system: Windows, macOS, Android
uTorrent, also known as µTorrent, has been around since 2005 and is the most used free torrent client outside China. UTorrent uses display ads to keep the service free, so it is essential to carefully read all installation steps and deselect any software you do not want to install.
Other than that, uTorrent is practical, effective, and does not consume many resources on your system. Although it is not the official BitTorrent application, it is maintained by BitTorrent.
BitTorrent
Operating system: Windows, macOS, Android
You may be wondering why BitTorrent has its torrent client when it also maintains uTorrent – especially when the BitTorrent app is a revamped version of uTorrent. Are you still following us?
However, although the applications are functionally identical, there are a few main differences: BitTorrent offers web-based propagation, comments, and review.
Vuze
Operating system: Windows
There are two versions: the simple Vuze Leap and the fully developed Vuze Plus.
Both versions offer media playback, torrent download, and support for magnetic file links. However, the Vuze Plus version has integrated virus protection and the ability to view media files.
Vuze is straightforward to use, and its interface makes even the most advanced features accessible to new users.
Vuze also offers IP filtering, bandwidth limitation, and all the other features you would expect from a robust torrent client. Definitely one of the first options to consider.
Deluge
Operating system: Windows, macOS, Linux
Deluge has been around forever and can be as simple or robust as you want, making it one of the most versatile free torrent clients out there. Because with Deluge, you can create your customized version through the available plugins.
Why do you need a VPN to make torrents?
You can torrent files without using a VPN, but we strongly recommend that you do not do this.
A good VPN encrypts your P2P traffic, changes your IP address, and will protect your identity during the torrent. It prevents your Internet service provider (ISP), government, and any other third party from spying on your activity and allows you to access content restricted to specific locations.
BitTorrent is a P2P or “point to point” protocol. It means that all other users who downloaded the same file are connected to a group called ‘swarm.’ Many BitTorrent clients allow you to view a list of other devices to which you are connected when extracting or propagating files on the network.
Without a VPN, your IP address and identity will be visible to everyone, including other users, content owners, and copyright trolls.
Your ISP can monitor your traffic and work with the authorities to issue legal notices of copyright infringement. If you are caught downloading copyrighted material, you could face financial penalties or even imprisonment.
To summarize, the best VPN for torrent will protect you from the following threats:
Your Internet service provider (ISP)
If you do not encrypt your traffic, your ISP will monitor and record all files you send or download by torrent.
It can use this information against you, blocking your P2P traffic or restricting the file-sharing sites you visit.
The 3rd parties
All devices that download a torrent file are known as peers, while those that upload are called seeders. Together, all of these devices form the “torrent swarm.”
In each torrent swarm, the IP addresses of all participants are visible. It means that everyone can see your personally identifiable information.
Besides, all of your P2P activities are being recorded and published online. Third parties are creating vast torrent activity databases – including IP addresses – available for anyone to see.
How to make a torrent safely with a VPN
1- Make sure your VPN is turned on.
You need to make sure that your VPN is working before opening your torrent client – if you don’t, your real IP may be exposed. It is because torrent clients continue to propagate files to other users, even after the download is complete.
For this reason, you should always have your VPN turned on when making a torrent to ensure that your IP address is not made public.
2- Is the file reliable?
What is the best VPN for torrent?
ExpressVPN is the best VPN for torrenting. It is easy to use, reliable, and very fast on local and even international P2P connections. Even without port forwarding, it has consistently proved to be the most convenient and secure VPN for torrents.
Most importantly, ExpressVPN has a proven track record of solid security, an excellent minimum registration policy, and no evidence of errors or inappropriate practices in the past. We believe that you can trust ExpressVPN 100%.
What is the best free VPN for torrent?
Using a free VPN for torrenting is not as secure as a paid service, and paid VPNs have much more to offer. By purchasing a trusted VPN, you invest in increased privacy, additional security features, and 24/7 customer support.
If you are looking to save money, we recommend that you choose an affordable premium VPN for torrenting, such as Surfshark, which is currently available for just $ 2.49 per month on a two-year subscription plan.
What is the safest location for torrent and P2P traffic?
When choosing a torrent VPN server, you recommend connecting to a country with explicit legal protections for P2P users. Alternatively, you should select a country that has a smooth approach to punishing copyright infringement.
Unfortunately, most countries – mainly the USA, the UK, and Australia – are very hostile to digital privacy and P2P activity. You should avoid using VPN providers or VPN servers based in those countries.
However, there are exceptions. The safest locations in the world for torrent are Switzerland, Spain, and Romania. Torrenting files for personal use is legal as long as the user does not profit from this activity.
Is torrent the same as Kodi?
No. Kodi is just an open-source multiplatform media hub that allows you to play all your content in one place. But it is highly modifiable and has an active community that develops add-ons that add all kinds of utility to the software – including some that add content that violates copyright restrictions.
Many Kodi add-ons operate differently from BitTorrent technology: they use live streams instead of downloading files. They do not download or upload files to your device (unless you actively accept).
Streaming is not as risky as torrent, as you are not actively sharing content or necessarily displaying your IP address publicly.
But not all Kodi add-ons work this way, and without a VPN, your IP will be exposed, and your ISP will still be able to monitor your activity.
However, to use some Kodi add-ons, it is necessary to download the content to your device simultaneously, and this will expose your identity to everyone else in the swarm.
Therefore, to be free to use any Kodi add-on you want safely, you will need a VPN. Otherwise, your privacy will be at risk.
If you are looking to use Kodi streaming software, check out our guide to the best VPNs for Kodi.
Step by step: How to use the best VPN for torrent and P2P?
1- Find a secure VPN that supports torrents. See our list of the best VPNs for torrent.
2- Sign up for the VPN service and download the app to the device you will use.
3- After downloading the VPN software, launch the application on your device.
4- Check the security settings. Ensure that the VPN deletion switch is enabled to protect your IP address if the VPN connection is dropped.
5- Select the location of your preferred VPN server. For torrent purposes, you should generally connect to a VPN server as close to your physical location as possible to maximize connection speeds.
6- After connecting to the VPN server, you can start.
your BitTorrent client
Remember to connect to the VPN server before starting your BitTorrent client. Otherwise, you risk exposing your actual IP address.
