10 Best VPNs for Torrenting: Tested for Safe, Anonymous P2P in 2019

There’s a lot of fake information about what you need in a VPN for torrenting, so finding a great service isn’t easy.

Some VPNs keep – and even leak – logs, and others are too slow for P2P file sharing. Many VPNs (like Hola) ban all P2P traffic.

We tested more than 300 providers to find the best VPNs for torrenting. Our recommendations provide full P2P support, as well as the speeds and security you need for smooth, safe torrenting – even with government or ISP interference.

While we don’t condone illegal activity, we want you to be safe while you torrent. We checked for strong no-logs and pro-P2P policies, tested for high speeds, and ranked VPNs that are based outside of 14-Eyes jurisdiction more highly.

Our top recommendation is ExpressVPN.

A word of advice – only torrent using one of our recommended VPNs. It’s the only way to make sure you’re protected from ISP spying, bandwidth throttling, and hackers, and that other torrenters can’t see your real IP address.

For more info on how we tested and ranked these VPNs, click here.

The Best VPNs for Torrenting in 2019 – Reviewed & Compared

1. ExpressVPN

The best VPN for torrenting – secure, feature-packed, and blazing-fast

ExpressVPN has a reputation for consistently high speeds. It offers unlimited bandwidth and full P2P support across its 3,000+ servers.

You can pick a server manually in any of 160 server locations, or use Smart Location to connect to the nearest server with the highest speeds.

ExpressVPN offers spotless security. It’s based in the British Virgin Islands far away from Fourteen Eyes spying. This, plus ExpressVPN’s zero-logging guarantee, make it an obvious choice if privacy is your top priority when torrenting (hint: it should be).

ExpressVPN protects you with bulletproof AES-256 encryption with Perfect Forward Secrecy, guaranteeing that your shared files remain completely secure. You also get a Network Lock setting, which is ExpressVPN’s connection kill switch. This prevents your real IP address from leaking if your connection drops. The OpenVPN protocol comes standard on all apps.

ExpressVPN also offers split tunneling. This feature lets you customize the app to encrypt just your P2P traffic and whitelist other traffic like gaming or browsing.

We tested ExpressVPN with various torrent programs, including uTorrent, BitTorrent, and Deluge. It worked flawlessly without any additional setup. The torrenting policy is also clearly outlined on the website.

ExpressVPN also supports Bitcoin payments, so you’re covered if you want higher anonymity while you torrent.

The intuitive apps aren’t likely to give you any trouble, but assistance is readily available via 24/7 live chat support if you need it.

Even though ExpressVPN doesn’t have a free trial, you can try it out for yourself on up to three devices with a 30-day money-back guarantee. Don’t forget to check for active ExpressVPN coupons – we’re happy to show you the best offers, updated daily.

Try ExpressVPN Now!

Take a look at what our readers and real users are saying about ExpressVPN.

2. NordVPN

Spotless privacy and a special P2P tab with thousands of servers

Expert security for torrenting doesn’t have to come at a price. If you’re looking for the best combination between cost and quality, look no further than NordVPN.

Ultra-secure NordVPN offers strong 256-bit encryption and OpenVPN for desktop apps. It includes CyberSec for full leak protection and adblocking.

NordVPN is based in privacy-friendly Panama and operates under a tight no-logging policy, so your data is securely hidden from everyone – including the VPN service itself.

It provides more than 4,700 specialized P2P servers designed for secure file sharing at maximum speed. They are easily accessed from the dedicated menu within the VPN app, where you’ll also find servers with double encryption and Onion over VPN settings.

NordVPN openly supports P2P traffic.

As well as unlimited data and bandwidth, NordVPN includes two different kill switches – one for your entire connection, and another for specific programs. This lets you configure NordVPN with your torrent client so only P2P traffic is blocked if your connection drops.

Advanced BitTorrent users also benefit from the SOCKS5 proxies included in every NordVPN subscription. While these proxies don’t have full encryption, they provide extra security and may even increase your speeds for a secure, anonymous torrenting experience.

Using NordVPN together with your torrent client is as simple as launching the VPN app, but you can always get help in real time, 24 hours a day. Live chat is available.

Whether it’s surfing, binging Netflix, or torrenting, NordVPN has the speeds, security, and support to make it happen. Don’t just believe the hype – see what it’s about on up to six devices with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

NordVPN also runs great deals on its plans regularly. Take a look at the latest NordVPN coupon codes and save some money on your subscription.

Try NordVPN Now!

All of this is why NordVPN is so popular on Reddit. Read our full review of NordVPN to find out more.

3. CyberGhost

User-friendly VPN with an intuitive torrenting profile

CyberGhost is all about ease of use and top-shelf protection while torrenting. It’s based in privacy-friendly Romania and has a zero-logging guarantee in the privacy policy.

The apps feature straightforward menus with easy access to a dedicated P2P profile. It lists countries with P2P-enabled servers and details the distance from the location of your IP address, the number of active users, and the current server load.

CyberGhost protects you with uncrackable AES-256 encryption. Protocol support ranges from industry favorite OpenVPN to IKEv2 and L2TP, with easy switching straight from the app.

CyberGhost’s security includes a kill switch to secure your P2P traffic if your connection drops. It also includes DNS and IPv6 leak protection. Native adblocking and malware protection defend your device against malicious ads on torrent clients.

While CyberGhost isn’t as fast as NordVPN or ExpressVPN, it still offers high speeds and unlimited bandwidth for fast, buffer-free torrenting.

CyberGhost openly stands behind (legal) torrenting. From blog articles and informative tutorials to listing P2P support as one of its main features, you know this VPN is firm about its stance on torrents.

You can also count on CyberGhost’s live chat support to resolve any questions or issues. This VPN accepts Bitcoin payments.

With 7 simultaneous connections, a 24-hour trial, and 45-day money-back guarantee, CyberGhost gives you plenty of options for risk-free tests.

Try CyberGhost Now!

See what real users are saying in their reviews.

4. Surfshark

Unlimited simultaneous connections are ideal for multi-device users

Surfshark operates a fast and reliable server network with 800+ servers in 50+ countries. P2P traffic is allowed on all of them, so you can expect hassle-free torrenting.

Surfshark’s privacy policy ensures a zero-logs guarantee. Like ExpressVPN, Surfshark is registered in the British Virgin Islands, with a perfect record for privacy so far.

While you can torrent on any server, the software will sometimes redirect you to the Netherlands or Canada. It’s done automatically, and your secure torrenting/browsing won’t be interrupted.

AES-256 encryption, OpenVPN support, and a kill switch complete Surfshark’s excellent security. Extra features include split tunneling, malware protection, and an adblocker.

Surfshark also offers a great (and rare) perk: unlimited simultaneous connections. This is perfect if you have multiple devices or need a VPN for family and friends.

You can rely on Surfshark’s 24/7 live chat support for fast and helpful replies to your questions.

Overall, Surfshark is a reasonably-priced VPN with plenty of power. See just how fast and secure it is on as many devices as you like – you’re covered by a 30-day refund period.

Try Surfshark Now!

Read our full Surfshark review for more information.

5. PrivateVPN

The best budget-friendly VPN with P2P support

PrivateVPN offers 150 P2P-friendly servers in 60 countries, guaranteeing secure connections for torrenting. PrivateVPN uses OpenVPN and  strong 256-bit encryption.

PrivateVPN is based in Sweden, a 14-Eyes Alliance country – a potential concern for some torrenters. However, Sweden is known for its strong privacy laws, so PrivateVPN guarantees a tight zero-logging service.

For extra anonymity, you can pay for PrivateVPN directly with Bitcoin.

Your torrenting sessions are secured with a connection kill switch, DNS leak protection, and IPv6 leak protection.

PrivateVPN is open about its P2P support – great news for BitTorrent fans. Servers in Sweden – the country that The Pirate Bay hails from – are generally recommended for torrenting.

You can rely on PrivateVPN’s smooth and well-designed apps for hassle-free torrenting. If you have any questions or issues, there’s 24/7 live chat support for all the help you need.

PrivateVPN is an affordable choice for safe, fast torrenting. Don’t just take our word for it – test PrivateVPN yourself on up to 6 devices with a 30-day refund guarantee!

Try PrivateVPN Now!

See why users are so happy with PrivateVPN.

6. IPVanish

Stylish, fast, and secure

IPVanish looks good, works well, and is popular with Kodi users. Our tests showed that it’s good for safe, private torrenting as it keeps zero user logs and delivers great speeds on its 1,300+ available servers.

P2P traffic is allowed on all servers.

Keep in mind that IPVanish is based in the US. There are two sides to this – you don’t have to worry about mandatory data retention laws, but copyright trolls can (in theory) reach you more easily and hit you with a fake DMCA claim if you’re a US resident. Still, this shouldn’t be a problem, as IPVanish has been completely log-free since 2014, guaranteeing the highest privacy standards.

IPVanish offers 256-bit encryption and OpenVPN support. Additionally, you get 24/7 support, SOCKS5 proxies, and leak-proof performance thanks to a connection kill switch.

With up to 10 device connections, IPVanish is great for families. Test it out with the 7-day money-back guarantee.

Try IPVanish Now!

Read up on IPVanish user reviews here.

7. Private Internet Access (PIA)

Great torrenting features for pocket change

Private Internet Access is an affordable option for BitTorrent fans on a budget.

It offers AES-256 encryption and OpenVPN support, and a proven no-logging policy.

PIA’s 3,000+ bare-metal servers are spread across 32 countries. Speeds can be shaky, especially on crowded servers.

PIA prefers to stay under the radar, avoiding too many mentions of P2P on the website. This is understandable – PIA is a US-based VPN. However, our torrenting experience with PIA was satisfying.

PIA comes well-equipped with a kill switch, DNS leak protection, and MACE which provides adblocking and malware protection. SOCKS5 proxies provide even faster torrenting speeds. PIA also offers port forwarding for optimized torrenting.

All in all, PIA offers a great service for its cost. You can pay with Bitcoin for added anonymity. Try it out on up to 10 devices, risk-free thanks to the 7-day refund guarantee.

Try PIA Now!

For more info on this budget service with premium features, see what experts and users are saying in their reviews!

8. BTGuard

Designed with torrents in mind

BTGuard is a scaled-back service with three server countries: Canada, Singapore, and the Netherlands. However, the network is spread decently, providing great torrenting speeds.

BTGuard provides solid encryption with the OpenVPN protocol. It supports PPTP. It doesn’t log your connection and bandwidth data.

Privacy lovers should know BTGuard is registered in Canada, within Fourteen-Eyes jurisdiction.

BTGuard worked flawlessly with multiple torrent clients in our tests.

Thanks to its overall hassle-free performance, BTGuard deserves a spot in our torrenting VPN rankings. But with just one allowed connection per account and no free trial or money-back guarantee, it’s far from flexible.

Is BTGuard worth it? Ultimately, it’s down to your needs. Give this VPN a shot if you’re mainly interested in secure torrenting.

Try BTGuard Now!

Check out our expert and user reviews.

9. VyprVPN

Versatile pricing and fast torrenting speeds

VyprVPN offers intuitive apps, 256-bit encryption, multiple protocols (including OpenVPN), and zero-knowledge DNS.

It operates 700+ self-owned servers in over 70 locations, all of which allow torrent traffic.

This VPN is excellent for privacy. It has a true no-logs policy.

Although VyprVPN operates out of Switzerland, its parent company (Golden Frog) is based in the US. They’re serious about DMCA requests, and your VyprVPN account can be suspended if you’re caught downloading copyrighted content.

This is not a privacy breach, as VyprVPN won’t hand over any user-specific information.

As long as you stick to legal torrenting (you should), you’ll find a swift and secure service in VyprVPN. Try it out on three (Standard) or five (Premium) devices with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Try VyprVPN Now!

For more info, check out what users are saying about VyprVPN in their reviews.

10. ZenMate

A good balance of speed and security with P2P support

ZenMate allows P2P connections on its 290+ servers in 30 countries.

ZenMate is easy to use. The combination of AES-256 encryption and the OpenVPN protocol provides industry-standard security.

As for privacy – ZenMate doesn’t log any identifiable data from its service.

You also get essential features for extra protection – namely, DNS leak protection and a kill switch (for Windows only).

ZenMate could be better at customer support. We’d like to see live chat in the future, but even with its ticket system you won’t have to wait long for a response.

ZenMate has plenty of value for BitTorrent users. Try it yourself risk-free with a one-week trial, one-month money-back guarantee, and up to five device connections.

Try ZenMate Now!

Find valuable info from expert and user reviews here.

VPN Features Comparison

VPN	Money-Back Guarantee	Simultaneous Connections	P2P Support	Based In	Port Forwarding
ExpressVPN	30 days	5	All servers	British Virgin Islands	Yes
NordVPN	30 days	6	Dedicated servers	Panama	No
CyberGhost	45 days	7	Dedicated servers	Romania	No
Surfshark	30 days	Unlimited	All servers	British Virgin Islands	No
PrivateVPN	30 days	6	All servers	Sweden	Yes
IPVanish	7 days	10	All servers	United States	No
Private Internet Access	7 days	10	All servers	United States	Yes
BTGuard	–	1	All servers	Canada	–
VyprVPN	7 days	5	All servers	Switzerland	Yes
ZenMate	30 days	5	All servers	Germany	No

How We Ranked & Compared These VPNs

In our search for the best torrenting VPNs, we focused on:

• No logging policies
• Jurisdiction
• Speed
• P2P support
• Useful torrenting features

The best VPNs for torrents match all our criteria. Torrenting requires a VPN provider that delivers excellent performance with robust security and full privacy.

We also considered server variety, ease of use, customer support, overall compatibility, protocol support, and more.

Below, you’ll find an in-depth explanation of the most important categories.

Strict No Logging Policy

A verified no-logs policy should be one of your top priorities, no matter what you need out of your VPN. Torrenting is one area where this is a must.

Even if a VPN provider offers strong encryption to protect you from hackers, your data can still be compromised if the details of your connection and/or browsing habits are stored. VPNs with proven no-logs policies never collect these sensitive details. Even if they received a legal request to hand over information, they wouldn’t have anything to share.

In short, you need a VPN service that guarantees zero-logging in its privacy policy.

Jurisdiction

Ideally, you want a torrenting VPN that operates from a country without widespread surveillance or invasive privacy laws. This generally means avoiding providers in a Five/Nine/Fourteen Eyes country, although there are some exceptions.

In very simple terms, the Five Eyes surveillance alliance is a spy network between Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the UK, and the US. Denmark, France, Norway, and the Netherlands join them to form the Nine Eyes. The Fourteen Eyes also includes Belgium, Germany, Italy, Spain, and Sweden.

If a VPN is within the Fourteen Eyes, stored data could be shared with surveillance groups. This is why most privacy-oriented services are registered in faraway locations like Panama or the British Virgin Islands.

High Speeds

Torrenting is a bandwidth-heavy activity where a faster connection always pays off. When you use a VPN, your traffic is routed through an extra server, which can impact your speed.

Normally, VPNs slow you down; the key is making that difference as small as possible. With fast VPN services like ExpressVPN, you’ll barely notice a change in the quality of your connection.

A VPN could improve your overall speed. For example, if your ISP throttles your bandwidth, hiding and encrypting your traffic could give you a faster connection.

P2P Support

Perfect privacy and optimized servers aren’t enough for smooth torrenting. You also need full support for P2P traffic.

The best solution is a VPN like ExpressVPN that openly allows P2P connections.

It’s also helpful if P2P traffic is addressed in FAQ sections or terms of use.

Some VPNs prefer to keep a low profile when it comes to torrents. There’s another way to spot these services.

Useful Torrenting Features

Look out for features like split tunneling, SOCKS5 proxies, port forwarding, or a kill switch.

A VPN with extra functions is probably a suitable option for torrenting. Of course, it’s ideal to choose a service that’s both transparent and feature-rich.

FAQ

Is Torrenting Legal?

Torrenting is legal in most places, but its many benefits are often abused.

BitTorrent has a bad reputation because it’s used to distribute copyrighted content without the owner’s agreement. Whether it’s movie releases, new games, or ripped music, you can probably find it in a torrent somewhere (not that we’re encouraging you to).

However, there’s a long list of legal uses for BitTorrent. Here are a few examples:

• Distributing non-copyrighted content. Torrents are a fast and efficient way to share content you create with the world.
• Downloading huge files. From scientific materials to game updates and public data sets, any large file can be quickly distributed via BitTorrent.
• Getting Linux distros. While Linux distributions are free to download and use, they’re heavy – even the lightest Ubuntu version is around 1 GB. Getting Linux from a torrent is fast and easy on bandwidth.
• Downloading from the Internet Archive. This non-profit organization created the Wayback Machine. It recommends torrenting the huge variety of content you can find there since it’s fast and saves bandwidth.

In short: torrenting is legal. Just like a VPN, the BitTorrent protocol is a very useful tool online. And just like a VPN, we advise using it for its intended legal purposes.

What’s the Best VPN Location for Torrenting and P2P Traffic?

Even if torrenting is legal, some countries have taken steps against it to try and stop the illegal distribution of copyrighted content.

You should avoid connecting to VPN servers located in places known to shut down torrenting sites. Examples include: Portugal, Italy, Malaysia, China, the US, Australia, Russia, South Africa, and Latvia.

Ideally, choose a VPN server in a country where legislation is favorable towards torrenting. Some P2P-friendly countries include: Switzerland, Spain, Poland, the Netherlands, and Canada.

That said, remember there’s no such thing as a perfect VPN location for torrenting.

As long as you’ve chosen a VPN provider with a strict no-logs policy and a variety of P2P servers, you’ll be fine with any of the locations recommended by your VPN app. A word of advice – look for servers close to your real location in order to get the fastest possible speeds.

Free vs Paid VPN: Can I Torrent Safely with a Free VPN?

Sadly, we can’t recommend the best free VPN for torrenting. We strongly recommend avoiding free VPNs for torrents. Here’s why:

While free VPNs may not cost money, you’re still paying somehow. Sometimes, its your speeds or bandwidth. Usually, it’s your privacy.

Free VPNs often come with severe security risks and other restrictions. Even worse, many free VPN services log your data and sell it to the highest bidder – in other words, you’re the product.

Still, not all free VPNs are bad for torrenting. If you really want to give it a try, here are some decent picks.

In the end, paid VPNs have plenty more to offer. By purchasing the right VPN service and supporting the provider, you can guarantee your privacy and safety. You’ll also benefit from valuable features, hundreds (even thousands) of reliable servers, and 24/7 support.

Keep in mind that some clever VPN shopping can go a long way! The cost of a premium VPN can turn into pocket change with the right code – take a look at the best deals and coupons around.

Are There Any VPNs to Avoid for Torrenting and P2P?

Yes. At vpnMentor, we deem a VPN unsuitable for torrenting if it covers all three of the following:

• The privacy policy isn’t consistent with what’s advertised
• Torrenting/P2P support isn’t explicitly mentioned
• There aren’t any useful torrenting features

Hola is the biggest offender. Although it calls itself a VPN, the software is based on high-risk P2P connections and offers no encryption. Plus, Hola is notorious for harvesting and selling user data. In short, this “VPN” is one to avoid for torrents and in general, if you truly care about your privacy.

For more reasons to move away from Hola, see our in-depth review.

Hotspot Shield is another popular VPN that falls short for torrenting. It keeps connection logs, has no real torrent-specific features, and is not transparent on P2P support. While Hotspot Shield is a good overall pick for streaming and everyday protection, it shouldn’t be your first pick for torrenting.

Check out our full Hotspot Shield review to find this VPN’s strong sides.

Are Popcorn Time and Kodi Related to Torrents?

While Kodi and Popcorn Time are media players, they stand out from traditional software because they use torrents to stream content.

Sure, you aren’t downloading straight from a tracker. However, you’re still technically downloading and uploading. You could get into trouble if you’re watching copyrighted content.

Since Kodi, Popcorn Time, Acestreams, and others are P2P-based, they come with P2P security threats, like exposing and sharing your IP address with potential hackers. It’s a good idea to get a solid VPN for Kodi or Popcorn Time.

Is Port Forwarding Important for Torrenting?

Port forwarding is a hot topic in torrenting circles. Most VPN providers don’t offer this feature, but it makes a difference for some users.

In short, port forwarding (in context of torrenting) allows you to use a specific port for P2P traffic. This port is normally assigned by your VPN provider. The main benefit of port forwarding is bypassing firewalls and improving the number of peers on a P2P network – in other words, faster and more efficient torrenting.

Those opposed to port forwarding have privacy concerns. With a limited number of ports, it can be easier to trace torrenting activity back to users.

It’s a complex subject with valid arguments on both sides. For average users, port forwarding really doesn’t make a difference.