Best VPN for Torrenting (2023) – Our Top Picks

If you often torrent, you know just how critical it is to get a VPN as torrenting without one is simply asking for trouble. With so many VPNs available online, picking out the best one for torrenting can get confusing. Some do not support torrenting or P2P, some leak information that they claim to protect, and others have such slow download speed that you’d rather just give up.

To help ease your burden, today we cover the top 7 recommended VPNs in detail for all your torrenting needs.

How to Choose the Best VPN for torrenting?

Why does privacy policy when torrenting?

Not every VPN is made for torrenting activity, so you will need to be careful when picking one out. Obviously, the number one concern you’ll need to factor in is your privacy. You should get a VPN with a clearly laid out privacy policy that has a ‘no logging’ guarantee.

Why does security policy matters when torrenting?

A good torrenting VPN also needs to have good security features with strong encryption. Your VPN needs to be watertight to prevent any accidental leaks that could expose your torrenting activities at any time. A kill switch feature will ensure that your entire internet connection shuts down if and when your VPN fails, thereby preventing your IP from getting exposed to prying eyes.

Why does a good torrenting VPN ensure fast download speed?

Finally, you’ll want a VPN with good download speeds that will not throttle bandwidth to keep your torrents coming in quickly. Nobody enjoys waiting hours just to download a half-hour TV series favorite.

So with that in mind, we’ve shortlisted the top best VPNs that support torrenting in order to help you pick the most suitable one.

The Best VPNs for Torrenting in 2023

1. ExpressVPN – The all-rounder VPN for Torrenting

ExpressVPN

Number of servers: 3,000+ | Server locations: 160 | IP addresses: 30,000 | Maximum simultaneous connections: 5

ExpressVPN is extremely impressive in terms of performance, it delivers exceptional speed across a wide range of server locations in various countries. Users who tend to download larger files will find this to be a major advantage as it significantly cuts down your waiting time. Additionally, ExpressVPN even supports P2P activities on all their servers with unlimited bandwidth, so you will never have to worry about throttled speed.

With a military-grade AES 256-bit encryption to protect your connection, privacy will never be your concern anymore as it keeps all your online activity across all your devices undercover and undetected. The VPN provider does not collect or log any of your activities and even accepts Bitcoin as subscription payment to ensure all your information is completely incognito.

ExpressVPN’s logging policy clearly outlines that they will never log:

  • IP addresses
  • Browsing history
  • Any website you visit/Torrent you download
  • DNS queries

The VPN service provider features a kill switch which they call “Network Lock” to help users secure their data in the unlikely event of when their VPN gets disconnected suddenly without any reason. This service will protect all your internet traffic as long as your online security is not restored.

The company manages all your DNS requests through their own private servers that do not log queries when you access any site. Their Zero-Knowledge DNS feature will make sure that none of your online activities can be linked back to you so you can have a care-free surfing experience.

ExpressVPN even offers a .onion version of its website to allow users the option to create a completely anonymous account with the VPN provider by using a throw-away email address. This way none of your internet activity will ever be traced back to you. That is how safe and reliable ExpressVPN promises to be.

Additionally, the software features unique split tunneling that works seamlessly on both Mac and Windows. This feature allows users to choose specific apps that they’d like to run through VPN and stay protected. With this, you get to protect your torrent client while your other online activities, such as general web browsing and online gaming remain unaffected by the VPN.

The price plans for this provider may not be the cheapest on the block, but all its added benefits may be worth every penny. If you’re undecided, you can even test it out yourself with their 30-day full-service free trial with a money-back guarantee if you end up deciding it isn’t for you.

Pros:

  • Superfast download speeds on international connections
  • P2P and BitTorrent supported across all servers
  • Strict no-logs policy
  • Well-encrypted, kill switch-protected connections
  • Accepts Bitcoin as payment
  • Offers .onion site

Cons:

  • Slightly more expensive

2. NordVPN – The Safest Torrenting VPN available

NordVPN

Number of servers: 5600+ | Server locations: 60+ | IP addresses: N/A | Maximum simultaneous connections: 6

NordVPN has a quality-of-life torrenting feature which is not present in many VPNs out there. You can find a separate tab in their app that lets choose from more than 5,600 servers to connect to. On top of that, NordVPN supports SOCKS5 proxies that require an extra step of authentication instead of just encryption for better security.

In terms of jurisdiction, NordVPN is safe located in Panama. This country is not a member of any of the international surveilliance alliances and therefore the VPN service provider is not obligated to submit your information to the authorities if and when requested.  

When it comes to VPN security, NordVPN is easily the first name that comes to mind. Packed with IKEv2/IPSec, OpenVPN, PPTP, and L2TOP protocol support, this VPN service provider is sure to offer ultra-secure connection to protect your online activity. NordVPN even has a ‘Double VPN’ feature to route your traffic through two hops for that extra layer of protection.

With over 5,600 different servers spread out across 60 different countries, NordVPN is one of the largest server networks to support your BitTorrent download activity. While not all their servers support torrenting, the VPN does come with an impressively large amount of P2P and torrent-supporting servers. They even feature unlimited usage bandwidth, which makes it one of the best reasons to love NordVPN as you will never have to suffer through throttled internet speed again.

On top of that, NordVPN even comes with two different kinds of Kill Switch, one for desktops and another for mobile devices. You have the option to activate either kill switch to disable your entire internet connection should anything go wrong.

NordVPN offers 4 different pricing plans, all of which are very reasonably priced. For so any amazing features, this affordable VPN is easily the top choice for many internet users. Aside from their 7-day trial, the VPN service provider even has a hassle-free full 30-day refund policy in case you decide that it’s not the right fit for you.

Pros:

  • Double-VPN servers
  • Fast connection speeds
  • No-log policy
  • Accepts Bitcoin as payment

Cons:

  • Speeds are sometimes volatile
  • Unable to specify individual servers you want to connect to

3. CyberGhost – The Torrenting VPN that ensures user experience

CyberGhost

Number of servers: 5700+ | Server locations: 110+ | IP addresses: N/A | Maximum simultaneous connections: 7

CyberGhost is headquartered in Romania with more than 5,000 servers globally spread among 90 different countries. Romania is based far away from the reach of the Fourteen Eyes and does not share its users’ information to any other country to protect your privacy at all times.

CyberGhost allows P2P filesharing on all their servers that are not located in either the US or Russia. The company actively blocks BitTorrent traffic in these two countries due to legal pressures. While not all their servers support torrenting, this company still has a large base of P2P compatible server network and a convenient “Torrent Anonymously” profile for you to connect to.

To put simply, the Romania-based CyberGhost is a fantastic VPN to use for torrenting. It automatically connects you to a P2P compatible server whenever you start any downloads and even activates settings to boost your internet speed. This VPN service provider offers users peace of mind without having to constantly adjust your settings and wonder if your privacy has been breached.

This VPN has a free version that you can use but if you do decide to pay a little extra for a full CyberGhost account, their desktop app is one of the most secure VPN services in the industry. CyberGhost supports L2TP, IKEv2, and OpenVPN protocols with military-grade encryption to protect all your critical information.

Other than that, the desktop app even has a Kill Switch feature that helps you to remain anonymous even when your VPN service drops. This feature automatically stops all internet connection when it detects an error with your VPN connection. This is a win-win situation to ensure your privacy is safely secured.

Unfortunately, CyberGhost’s premium package does not have a free trial and the monthly plan can be a little on the pricey side. On the other hand, the VPN service provider does have a 45-day money-back guarantee and their longer-term plans are much most cost-friendly.

Pros:

  • P2P allowed on all servers except in US and Russia
  • Permits up to 7 simultaneous connections
  • Great for first-time VPN users
  • Zero-logs policy
  • Special profile designed for quick and private torrenting

Cons:

  • Does not work reliably in China or UAE

4. Windscribe – Torrenting VPN that allows Unlimited Simultaneous Connection 

WindScribe

Number of servers: 400+ | Server locations: 60+ | IP addresses: N/A | Maximum devices supported: Unlimited

With over 400 servers across 60 different countries, Windscribe allows P2P file sharing on almost all of its serves. So far, only servers in India and Japan do not support P2P activities. If you’re confused about how to set it all up, no worries as the VPN service provider has a set of tutorials to show you just how to configure different torrent clients. However, they do not support torrenting on all their servers due to strict digital copyright protection laws.

If you’re concerned about your privacy Windscribe’s privacy and logging policy clearly state that they do not keep logs of your internet activity. The only information the company keeps is the total bandwidth consumption and the time your account was last used. On top of that, the service even supports anonymous payment through BitCoin and gift vouchers so your torrenting activities cannot be traced back to you. 

In terms of security, Windscribe is packed with a number of nifty features to keep your account safe. The VPN activates its integrated firewall feature with a kill switch to completely cut off your connection when your VPN drops for any reason. This means you’ll ever have to worry about DNS leaks under any circumstances.

The VPN supports IKEv2 and OpenVPN with strong AES-256 encryption to keep all your tunnel traffic safe from unwanted pryers. It also features stealth technology to obfuscate your VPN usage, possibly even allowing you to connect in countries that actively block VPN, such as China and the UAE.

Windscribe even has a proprietary feature called R.O.B.E.R.T. that lets you set specify content that you want to black, like malware, ads & trackers, gambling, fake news, cryptominers, and more. Other than that, you can even create a custom list of domains or IPS that you want to block or get whitelisted.

One of the features that stands out the most about Windscribe is the ability to use this VPN on an unlimited number of devices with just a single subscription. This way, you can torrent on multiple devices without needing to pay extra.

In addition to its amazing features, Windscribe has six options for customer support on their website, which include:

  • Setup guides
  • FAQs Knowledge bases
  • Subreddit
  • Talk to Gary
  • Inquiry tickets

The Talk to Gary option is a program that provides automated responses. Gary can answer simple questions and most of the time, it’s sufficient to solve common issues. However, if you do need a real person to talk to, you can contact them via the company’s 24/7 live chat option.

Overall, Windscribe is a reliable VPN that offers good speeds and a variety of tools. The best thing about Windscribe is its unlimited number of device connections and good unblocking features to provide users with access to geo-restricted content.

Pros:

  • Unlimited device connections
  • Clear and detailed privacy policy
  • Almost all servers support P2P and torrenting activities

Cons:

  • Speed is not as fast as other VPNs

5. Private Internet Access – The balance between pricing and performance

Private Internet Access

Number of servers: 3,300+ | Server locations: 50 | IP addresses: N/A | Maximum devices supported: 10

Private Internet Access is generally a good pick for torrenting for a whole bunch of reasons. This VPN delivers amazing performance for downloading files. You even get to pick a fast connection from a wide range of servers with more than 3,000 of them supporting P2P file sharing.

This VPN service provider has a more spartan feel to their interface. Though you can still connect to any server for secure torrenting, their P2P-optimized servers mean the VPN silently reroutes your connection if P2P traffic is detected. This may not be the best case as the resulting double-hopping will likely slow your connection down and it is still better to pick the right server from the very start.

To further complicate the mix, PIA even adds a port forwarding feature in their app for you to use. This is a feature that many other VPNs do not offer but it’s only available on a handful of PIA servers in Canada, Switzerland, France, Sweden, Germany, Romania, Israel, and the Netherlands. This feature is not too well explained on their website so you may need to take a trip to the forums to get more details.

Private Internet Access offers a choice of either 128 or 256-Bit AES encryption with strong protocols support like OpenVPN and L2TP/IPSec. If you’re looking for faster speed for your downloads, you can opt for the 128-Bt AES that works without the extra data authentication step.

Private Internet Access is headquartered in the United States and while it considered as a bad privacy jurisdiction due to the country’s mass surveillance practices, data collection, and cooperation between other surveillance states, there is no direct evidence to prove that jurisdiction will affect the privacy of your VPN users in a bad way.

The new PIA VPN app is a huge improvement over their older version. They feature a simple and straightforward design to make their app very user-friendly. Some of the new features they have included are:

  • Light and dark modes
  • Settings to launch VPN upon startup
  • Connect on launch settings
  • Languages settings
  • Customizable DNS options
  • Port forwarding

Other than that, the VPN service provider has 24/7 support that reply fairly promptly. They even have a set of articles and answers to commonly asked questions in their FAQ section for users to browse through before contacting support team.

Private Internet Access offers plenty of subscription plans for users to choose from. They also frequently have discount programs, so you may want to have a look at their website for the latest pricing plans and packages.

Pros:

  • Wide range of P2P servers
  • Affordable pricing

Cons:

  • No free trial

6. IPVanish – The Steady Speed Torrenting VPN

IPVanish

Number of servers: 1,300+ | Server locations: 75 | IP addresses: N/A | Maximum devices supported: 10

When it comes to picking out a VPN with a large number of server database, it is tough to beat IPVanish. IPVanish has a fast and reliable connection that works flawlessly. It has 1,300 servers in over 75 locations to allow this VPN to deliver an impressive global coverage. IPVanish’s performs up to five times faster for short hop connections while long-distance shows an average increase of 15% in download speeds.

IPVanish features good speed and unlimited bandwidth so you won’t need to worry about throttled speed halfway through torrenting. This VPN even specifically designates certain countries to be P2P-friendly, such as the Netherlands, so you can expect unwavering speed for downloads.

Being one of the most popular VPNs worldwide, IPVanish takes its user privacy very seriously and was designed with P2P file sharing and torrenting in mind. This VPN promises a zero logs policy, they do not even record connection logs which are usually used for troubleshooting system error.

This popular VPN service is based in the US that is part of the 5-eyes alliance. While the company is required to hand over your data to the authorities, but the data obtained will not be useful as the serice provider does not keep any usage logs.

In terms of security, IPVanish feature some pretty good security systems like OpenVPN, IKEv2 Kill Switch, Private Check, and Password Generator, so that you can still count on IPVanish to secure your privacy.

This VPN service provider takes things one step further by offering you some control over their OpenVPN setup. You have the option to choose the OpenVPN port (1194 or 443) that you want to connect to, or you can go for the “Scramble OpenVPN Traffic” option which significantly helps to reduce the chances of your VPN tunnel getting detected or blocked by your ISP.

IPVanish’s strict zero-logging policy will ensure your identity is always under wraps. The company is a strong advocate for internet user’s civil right to privacy, that’s why they do not record any connection, traffic, or activity data accessed through their server.

If you’re in need of some guidance, IPVanish has an efficient team of customer support with three different ways for contact:

  • 24/7 live chat support
  • 24/7 email support (support@ipvanish.com)
  • Help section on the website for tickets

Regardless of your method of contact, you will receive helpful responses in a timely manner. Similarly, you may get some assistance on setting up the app with tech tutorials, FAQs, troubleshooting and billing questions through their help section.

IPVanish offers a subscription plan that is a bit more expensive than its competitors. It has 3 different subscription plans that are rather pricey despite having good discount offers. Additionally, the service provider also does not offer a free trial, but their plans do come with a 7 day money back guarantee.

Pros:

  • Good security features
  • No logs
  • Reliable connection
  • Fast connection speeds

Cons:

  • No free trial
  • Does not accept Bitcoin

7. SurfShark – The Cheapest VPN for Torrenting

SurfShark

Number of servers: 1,000+ | Server locations: 60+ | IP addresses: N/A | Maximum devices supported: XX

SurfShark is headquartered and operates from British Virgin Island (BVI) that has no data retention laws and is not part of the 5, 9, or 14 eyes countries. With more than 1,000 servers across 60 different countries, SurfShark offers decent download speeds for torrenting.

The company has a strict no-logging policy that specifically states that they do not collect data from your connection. Your incoming and outgoing IP addresses, browser history, bandwidth, session information, connection timestamps, network traffic info are all safe and private. The only information SurfShark keep is your email address and billing information.

SurfShake is without a doubt, one of the most secure VPN available in the industry. This provider offers an unbreakable AES 256-bit encryption to keep you safe and secure. The service provider also features a CleanWeb function that lets you access the internet without any ads, trackers, or malware following you.

The company even has a Multihop feature takes IP masking to a whole new level by allowing you establish a chain of VPNs. With this feature, you have the option to connect to two servers in two different countries simultaneously and virtually appearing in both locations without suffering from a speed drop.

They even have a Whitelister function to let you exclude specific apps or websites from connecting via the VPN. That is great feature to let you secure certain sensitive apps and websites while excluding others that you require faster speeds such as movie streaming and general browsing.

SurfShark offers one of the most affordable VPN plans out there. In fact, the service provider offers three different package plans that come with amazing discounts. You can even make full use of their extensive 30-day money-back guarantee offer that lets you get a complete refund if you do end up unsatisfied with its service.

Pros:

  • Unlimited device connection
  • Multihop Feature
  • Whitelister Feature
  • Unbreakable military-grade encryption service
  • User-friendly app

Cons:

  • Some issue with kill switch feature

The Final Verdict – Which VPN is good for Torrenting?

ExpressVPN is one service provider that needs no introduction, it is a favorite among privacy enthusiasts. Being one of the best VPN services available in business, it is no surprise to find that they work amazingly for torrenting.

With servers in over 90 countries, ExpressVPN delivers punchy performance along with numerous features like reliable torrenting, tunneling protocols, more than 3,000 super-fast servers, 30 days refund, Bitcoin Payments, and an extremely powerful encryption system to keep all your online activities safe and secure.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Why do I need to hide my IP address when torrenting?

Torrenting is often associated with piracy and theft. However, if you were to be caught, you won’t be expecting the policy or copyright owners to come knocking on your door. Copyright holders are often large media companies that outsource piracy litigation to copyright trolls that monitor popular torrents for unique IP addresses of devices that upload or download files. They will then match those IP addresses to your ISP and send a settlement letter or copyright violation to each torrenter.

This is why it is vital to disguise your IP address when you conduct torrenting. All VPNs work to mask your real IP address to ensure your privacy.

How does a zero-logs VPN matters when torrenting?

A zero-logs VPN is crucial for internet users who are concerned for their privacy. However, this is a frequently debated question amogn many. Does a VPN that deletes all logs within a few minutes after a session end still call itself a no-log VPN? What about a VPN that logs timestamps and bandwidth that is not associated with their users’ IP addresses or account details? Does anonymized and aggregated usage statistics also count as logs?

In any case, a general understanding is that a no-logs VPN service does not retain any identifiable logs that can be tied back to the user and their internet activity in any way. Similarly, if some logs are kept, but only for a short time before the data is wiped out, we are happy to include that VPN into our list of “no logs VPN”, as long as it does not compromise a user’s privacy.

Why should I use a no-logs VPN when torrenting?

It is important to get a no-logs VPN because your internet provider (ISP) constantly keeps detailed records of all your online activity with its service which completely exposes your data and interactions online. However, when you use a VPN, your internet provider is blocked from seeing the content of your data as your VPN encrypts all your data and shields it from outsiders. This way, you get to roam about the internet without worrying about being watched and tracked.

However, your VPN service provider can still see the IP addresses of individual web pages and contents of your data on sites that are not HTTPS protected. Althought most web pages are already protected by HTTPS, the VPN service provider can still see the sites that you’ve visited through their service.

Another important thing about VPN is that these service providers are not obligated to hand over their logs to the government, unlike ISPs. Though almost every VPN service promises to protect your privacy, only a true no-logs VPN can be fully trusted to keep such a promise. Afterall, a company cannot be forced to hand over information that it simply does not possess.

Will a no-logs VPN make me anonymous?

VPNs function to provide privacy and not anonymity. VPN services can always start logging to match users with their internet activity. Some VPN service providers are not entirely honest about their logging policy and may even have recorded some historical data on their users for their own gain.

The main reason people opt for VPNs is because they provide a high level of privacy against all sorts of blanket surveillance with minimal impact to your internet experience. Some even work to keep you out of trouble when you’re torrenting, but you must not rely on them completely keep you safe if you were to commit any criminal acts online.

Those whose life or liberty rely on true anonymity, such as journalists, political dissidents, and whistleblowers should pair their VPN with Tor browser instead.

How to be sure your VPN is a no-logs provider for torrenting?

At present, the only way to know is by taking VPN service providers at their word or pay attention to the increasing number of independent audits that are set to test their policy out. We can only hope such audits become much more common throughout the industry to improve the level of transparency between companies and their customers.

Many VPN providers make bold and generalized “no logs” claim on their websites but are quick to qualify such claims in the small print section. This is why it is important to take a good look and thoroughly review each VPN provider’s Terms of Service and Privacy Policies before deciding on it.

Should you be using VPN for torrenting?

Yes, because torrenting is an activity that would be closely monitored by your internet service providers and may cause throttling of your internet connection in cases where P2P sharing is detected. Throttling of your internet connection will significantly reduce your internet connection speed by restricting your internet bandwidth that would impair your user experience.

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