Best VPNs for torrenting in 2024

Torrenting without a VPN is a recipe for disaster. If you’re caught downloading copyright-protected files, you could get into trouble with the law and even have your connection throttled by your ISP.

There are many VPNs that hide your actual IP address and encrypt your data to protect your activities from being compromised. Some are inherently better than others because they have security features that are dedicated to helping you download torrents.

In pursuit of the best VPN for torrenting, we tested many different services to see which one works best. Let’s take a look at some of the best VPNs that you can use to torrent safely.

Top 5 VPNs for torrenting

You can use a VPN to change your IP address and hide your activities from your ISP and other third parties. Here are the top 5 best VPNs for torrenting:

1. ExpressVPN – Best VPN with P2P-optimized servers
2. Private Internet Access – Fast VPN for P2P file sharing
3. NordVPN – Best VPN for torrenting in 2024
4. IPVanish – Best VPN for torrenting on multiple devices
5. Surfshark – Affordable VPN for torrenting

Trying to find the best VPN for torrenting when there are so many providers available can be a laborious task for many people, which is why we took it upon ourselves to test as many as we could.

Here are some of the things we considered while testing these VPNs:

• Privacy – How private and secure the VPNs are.
• Fast speeds – Whether you get fast downloading speeds with the VPNs.
• Dedicated P2P servers – Whether the VPNs have servers that are optimized for P2P file sharing.
• Security features – What security features the VPNs have.
• Price – How much the VPNs cost and if they provide good value for money.

The best VPNs for torrenting in 2024

The best VPNs for torrenting should have security features that maximize your privacy by altering your IP address and encrypting your data. Here are the top 7 VPNs for torrenting:

1. ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN

1

9.7

/10

Visit ExpressVPN

Pros & cons

• 3,000+ dedicated torrenting servers
• Located outside of the 4/9/14-Eyes territory
• Consistent app design across different platforms
• Advanced security features
• Fast downloading speeds thanks to Lightway

• No desktop trial version
• Expensive

ExpressVPN is a bit more expensive than other VPNs on this list, but it’s one of the fastest and well-optimized VPNs for torrenting. Unlike NordVPN, which doesn’t have all its servers optimized for torrenting, ExpressVPN supports P2P file sharing on every server it has. DNS leak protection and other features will make sure your ISP always remains oblivious to your torrenting activities.

Whether you connect to nearby or distant servers, you’ll always get great speeds with ExpressVPN thanks to its proprietary protocol Lightway. If you run into problems, you can easily get in touch with ExpressVPN’s customer support through the 24/7 live chat.

ExpressVPN has a no-log policy and it’s been verified through external audits. You can get it starting from $4.99/month with a 30-day money-back guarantee or try a free 7-day trial version on Android and iOS.

2. Private Internet Access

Private Internet Access

1

9.4

/10

Visit Private Internet Access

Pros & cons

• Large server network for torrenting
• No-log policy
• Free 7-day trial version

• Based in the USA

Private Internet Access has a huge server network and it supports torrenting on almost all of them. As with every other VPN on this list, Private Internet Access comes with a kill switch and split tunneling to make sure you remain protected when torrenting. It’s based in the USA, a 4 Eyes alliance member, but it has a verified no-log policy.

The VPN service has all the necessary features you need to torrent safely. Because the server network is so large, it’s very unlikely you won’t be able to find a server that’s not close to you.

You can get Private Internet Access’ from $2.03 per month. You’ll get a 30-day money-back guarantee with it and you can also try the free 7-day trial version.

3. NordVPN

NordVPN

1

9.6

/10

Visit NordVPN

Pros & cons

• Double VPN for increased security while torrenting
• P2P-optimized servers
• Based in a non-4/9/14 Eyes member country
• 7,000+ RAM-based servers

• No trial version for iOS and desktop users
• Not all servers are optimized for torrenting

NordVPN is known for having advanced security features that make torrenting safer than any other VPN. Its 7,000+ RAM-based servers don’t retain any information and you can use the “Double VPN” feature to have your IP address altered twice, significantly reducing the chances of your torrenting activities being compromised.

You also get “P2P servers” with NordVPN, which are servers that are optimized for torrenting. Using features like kill switch, Multi-Hop routing, split tunneling, and DNS leak protection, you can rest assured that you’ll always be protected while downloading torrents. It has a no-log policy that’s been externally audited multiple times.

NordVPN’s P2P servers.

You can get NordVPN’s yearly package with a 30-day money-back guarantee from $3.46/month. Android users can avail a free 7-day trial version.

4. IPVanish

IPVanish

1

9.1

/10

Visit IPVanish

Pros & cons

• WireGuard protocol for fast torrenting speeds
• Server obfuscation to hide torrenting activities
• Audited no-log policy
• Unlimited simultaneous connections

• Based in the USA
• No P2P-optimized servers

IPVanish doesn’t have P2P-optimized servers, but it’s a great VPN that offers fast speeds and adequate security features. You can choose between multiple protocols to see which one gives the best speeds while torrenting and with additional features like kill switch and server obfuscation, no third party will ever learn about your torrenting activities.

The server network may not be that large, but the servers we tested worked fine with torrenting sites and clients. Majority of their servers are based in the USA and Europe. Just like Surfshark, IPVanish also has unlimited connections so you can use it on as many devices as you want.

You can buy IPVanish’s yearly package from $2.19/month with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

5. Surfshark

Surfshark

1

9.5

/10

Visit Surfshark

Pros & cons

• P2P-optimized servers
• Whitelisting feature for exclusive torrenting use
• Unlimited simultaneous connections

• Based in a 14-Eyes member country

Surfshark has dedicated P2P servers and it’s one of the fastest VPN services we’ve tested. Using the WireGuard tunneling protocol, Surfshark provides consistent download speeds and top-notch security. It has a feature called “Whitelisting,” which essentially helps you block whatever you add to the list, giving you even better speeds when torrenting.

With over 3200 RAM-based servers, you’ll have no problem sharing P2P files on any of them. It’s a zero log VPN (proven through independent audits), and you can use it on as many devices as you want. You can get the entire Surfshark package by subscribing to Surfshark One, which also includes an antivirus that will protect you from malicious files.

Use Surfshark One to get full protection when torrenting. (Source: surfshark.com)

The 2-year package is available from $1.99/month and you get a 30-day money-back guarantee with it.

6. Proton VPN

Proton VPN

1

9.0

/10

Visit Proton VPN

Pros & cons

• Optimized P2P servers
• Fast downloading speeds
• Based in Switzerland

• Server network is small

Proton VPN is almost just as expensive as ExpressVPN, and it’s also just as great for torrenting. It’s not as beginner-friendly, but if you consider yourself a tech-savvy person, then you’ll have no problem using it for torrenting. The server network isn’t too large, but most of the servers are optimized for torrenting.

The WireGuard tunneling protocol makes sure you get the best speeds and the advanced security features like kill switch, split tunneling, and DNS leak protection help keep your online traffic safe and secure.

The VPN is based in Switzerland which is considered a privacy haven as it’s not a part of the 14 Eyes alliance and its no-log policy has been verified in court and through external audits.

You can get Proton VPN with a 30-day money-back guarantee from $2.99/month.

7. CyberGhost

CyberGhost VPN

1

9.3

/10

Visit CyberGhost VPN

Pros & cons

• Over 9000 servers optimized for torrenting
• Audited by one of the Big Four firms
• Located in Romania
• Security Suite for increased privacy while torrenting

• No yearly package

CyberGhost comes with servers optimized for P2P file sharing. Similar to Surfshark One, it has a package called “Security Suite” which has an antivirus you can use to make sure you don’t download a virus with your torrents. The encryption and other security features it offers prevents third parties from snooping on your torrenting activities.

Based in Romania, which is not part of any data-sharing alliance, CyberGhost has a stringent no-log policy that’s been audited by one of the Big Firms companies Deloitte. You can torrent anonymously after you connect to one of its P2P-optimized servers and your IP address is changed. DNS leak protection will keep your ISP from knowing what sites you visit and you get unlimited bandwidth so there’s no cap on your download speeds.

P2P-optimized servers on CyberGhost.

CyberGhost doesn’t have a yearly package, but its 2-year subscription only costs from $2.03/month and you get a 45-day money-back guarantee with it.

Comparison of best VPNs for Torrenting

To make it easier for you to quickly understand how the top 7 VPNs for torrenting compare with each other, we’ve made a table. Here are some of the key differences between them:

Methodology: how we tested Torrenting VPNs

Here are some of the things we considered when testing the above torrenting VPNs:

1. Privacy – We checked the privacy policy of the VPNs we tested to see how transparent they are. All the VPNs on our list have a no-log policy that’s been externally audited. Without a strict zero log policy in place, VPN companies can share your torrenting activities with third parties and you could get into trouble.
2. Fast speeds – You need fast downloading speeds for torrenting and we made sure the VPNs we added to our list provide them. This is partly because they give you the option to choose between multiple protocols like WireGuard and OpenVPN which give the best speeds.
3. Dedicated P2P servers – A dedicated P2P server isn’t a necessary feature to make torrenting work, but it’s good to know that the VPN you’re using has something that specializes in helping you torrent safely.
4. Security features – Advanced security features will encrypt your data, change your IP address constantly, give you better speeds, and more. All VPNs on our list are equipped with some of the best features you can get in a VPN.
5. Price – A good torrenting VPN has to be affordable and the VPNs that made it to our list all cost between $2-$6 per month.

How to use a VPN while Torrenting

Using a VPN while torrenting is quite simple. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how you can do it:

1. Pick a VPN from our list.
2. We recommend ExpressVPN because it has thousands of servers optimized for torrenting.
3. Download and install your preferred VPN on your device.
4. Browse the list of servers and connect to one that’s nearest to you.
5. Start downloading torrents without worrying about your connection getting throttled.

Tips on how to make torrenting with a VPN safer

If you’re new to the world of torrenting and VPNs, then here are some things that will help you get started:

• Torrenting is blocked and illegal in many countries and you can even get fined if you get caught. Some countries where it’s illegal include Japan, USA, UK, New Zealand, and almost every country in the European Union. If you live in one of those countries, make sure you always torrent with a VPN on.
• Some of the best torrent clients include uTorrent, BitTorrent, and Vuze. If you’re a macOS user, we recommend Folx. All of these are incredibly user-friendly and you’ll have no problem setting them up.
• Use split tunneling if you get unstable speeds while torrenting. Exclude everything else from the VPN so only your torrenting activities pass through the server. This will ensure no unnecessary activities clog up the network.
• Always have the kill switch enabled. It blocks your device from accessing the Internet if the VPN connection goes down. When you’re downloading a torrent, anyone can see your IP address if it’s not hidden, and if a VPN connection is disrupted while the file is downloading, your real IP address could be compromised.

Bottom line

To sum it up, using a VPN while torrenting is necessary because it’s illegal to share P2P files in many countries and you can get fined for it. If your ISP finds out, which they will if your online traffic isn’t encrypted, they can throttle your speed. A VPN will change your IP address and encrypt your data, so your data and online information will never be compromised.

ExpressVPN and Private Internet Access are are the two best torrenting VPNs because they give excellent speeds and they have servers that are optimized for P2P file sharing. If you’re just starting out, then make sure you’re aware of your local laws regarding torrenting and take advantage of the advanced security features VPNs provide.

Using features like kill switch, split tunneling, and DNS leak protection will give you full protection against any threat. We also recommend using an antivirus (some VPNs have one built into them) so you don’t end up downloading viruses along with your torrents.

Finally, we don’t condone downloading copyright-protected files illegally, but torrenting is used for many other purposes as well which is why it’s important to always protect your online traffic with a VPN no matter what you’re downloading.