10 Best VPNs for Torrenting in 2022: Fast, Safe & Private

  • 04/Jan/2022
  • 07:26 am

VPNs for Torrenting

Looking for the best VPNs for torrenting in 2022? Look no further. In this article, you’ll find out top 10 expert recommendations here

If you are torrenting without a VPN, you are easily exposing your IP address to prying eyes. When it comes to torrenting, a VPN is a must have. Unfortunately, not all VPNs are great for torrenting. Some VPN providers have led users to believe that they offer all round protection. Instead, they steal the same information they claim to protect. Others are either too slow and some don't even support torrenting.

If you are short on time, we've got you covered, in the table below are 5 out of our best Vpns for torrenting. These VPNs have been extensively reviewed by our experts and come highly recommended

VPN Service Overall Torrenting Rating Number of Servers
Nord VPN 9.6/10 5000+
Express VPN 9.5/10 3000+
IP Vanish VPN 9/10 1900+
Windscribe VPN 8/10 400+
Surf Shark VPN 8.9/10 800+

Don't get knocked up torrenting with an unsuitable VPN! Even with their bold marketing claims, many VPN apps out there have been revealed not to protect your privacy and others are too slow for torrenting and streaming.

Our expert criteria for evaluating the best VPNs for torrenting

Before we recommend or categorically state that this VPN is a go, we subject VPNs to a variety of tests and analysis as part of our research. In order to figure out the best VPN for torrenting, we went on to test several VPNs based on certain criteria.

We are aware how important it is for Torrenters and P2P file sharers to have absolute internet privacy, and fast download speeds above all else. Based on that, the following criteria were used to evaluate each VPN.

Security – Encryption makes allowance for third parties not to be able to snoop on the activity of the VPN user. In particular, encryption helps keep internet service providers off your back. A VPN kill switch and DNS leak protection are necessities to ensure no identifying data leaves your desktop or mobile device.

Logging policy A P2P VPN service must be logless, meaning it does not record and save information about your activity. IP addresses are also not logged.

Bandwidth limit – Some VPNs have data caps or bandwidth limits that throttle or halt downloads up to a certain limit. We want to avoid these as torrents often require a lot of data.

Speed – The torrent VPNs we recommend all score above average in our regular speed tests.

Shared IPs – We prefer VPNs that use shared IP addresses for torrenting. This means you share an IP address with dozens, perhaps even hundreds of other people. Shared IPs add a significant layer of anonymity, which makes it more difficult to trace activity back to you.

P2P-optimized servers that allow seamless access to torrenting clients, as well as extra features to optimize performance.

These tests form part of a wider program of VPN testing and analysis our team performs as part of our research process.

Our critical, refined and detailed testing found that these are the 10 best VPNs for torrenting: Now let us go after each recommended VPN in detail.

Top 10 best VPN for torrenting in 2022

1 - NordVPN Teams #1 best VPN for torrenting in 2022

NordVPN tops the list as our first choice and Torrenting is explicitly permitted with NordVPN. A Panama based VPN that keeps neither connection nor traffic logs and uses 256-bit AES encryption with perfect forward secrecy by default, along with optional double-hop encryption and Tor over VPN features. DNS leak protection and an automatic kill switch can both be toggled on in the settings. Again, the traditional all-or-nothing kill switch is one option, or you can specify which programs get cut off from the internet if the VPN connection drops, such as a BitTorrent client.

Additionally, NordVPN uses shared IP addresses, and you are protected from bandwidth limitations. A proxy, encrypted chat, and self-destructing encrypted notes are extra features included in each subscription.

When it comes to speed, only a handful of VPN can come close to what NordVPN offers. When torrenting with NordVPN you’ll enjoy incredibly fast speeds. And since Nord introduced its NordLynx technology (based on the WireGuard protocol) in its latest version, the VPN speed has greatly improved. That being said, streaming or downloading large files is a walk in the park.

NordVPN also unblocks a range of geo-locked streaming services including Netflix US, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, and Amazon Prime Video.

A risk-free 30-day money-back guarantee means you can try the service and receive a full refund if not entirely happy.

At the moment, VPN apps are available for Windows, MacOS, iOS, Linux, and Android.

Our BEST VPN FOR TORRENTING:​NordVPN is our first choice for torrenting & P2P. Far faster than most other VPNs, with a strong privacy focus and a six-connection limit. Includes a 30-day money-back guarantee so you can try it risk-free.

2. ExpressVPN

This is based in the British Virgin Islands, which has no data retention laws. Airtight security and privacy is not only promised but delivered with ExpressVPN. A kill switch is built in to prevent traffic from leaking onto the unencrypted network should your connection drop. It uses a military grade 256-bit AES encryption to keep users safe and also has a perfect forward secrecy embedded.

ExpressVPN offers fast torrent download speeds with servers spread across 94 different countries. Interestingly, P2P file sharing is supported on all servers. It has a great plug-and-play option for those who don’t want to fuss with different configurations and just want something that will guarantee data security and anonymity when torrenting.

ExpressVPN doesn’t keep traffic logs of any sorts, so you are sure that your activity can never be traced back to you. Other than torrenting, ExpressVPN is also a very capable unblocker of geo-locked streaming services including Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Hulu, e.t.c.

Express VPN’s latest release includes its own proprietary VPN protocol, Lightspeed, which brings even faster speeds, comparable to competitors such as NordVPN and Surf Shark which use the speedy Wireshark protocol.

Users happy to pay a bit more for a very fast VPN with great security credentials will find Expressvpn to be a good option.

Similar to NordVPN, it has apps for all platforms including Windows, MacOS, iOS, Linux, and Android etc.

SELECTED FOR TORRENT WITHOUT LIMITS:​ ExpressVPN is ideal for torrenting & P2P. It has a vast network of servers that are fine-tuned for high-speed connections. Tough to beat on data privacy and security. Also includes a 30-day money-back guarantee

3. Surfshark

This VPN is based in the British Virgin Islands, a country with no mandatory data retention laws. Surf Shark provides very decent and throttling download speeds with its network spanning more than 40 countries. It protects your traffic using 256-bit AES encryption, a kill switch, perfect forward secrecy, and protection against DNS, IPv6, and WebRTC leaks.

There’s also split-tunneling functionality,a slice of the VPN itself, which lets you choose certain apps to bypass the VPN.

Accordingly, Surfshark doesn’t log any personally identifiable information. P2P traffic is permitted across all servers and with no bandwidth limits, you can torrent as much as you like. Best of all, Surfshark has no connection limit.

Like NordVPN, Surfshark has recently introduced the Wireshark protocol. During our testing, we saw a steady skyrocket in speeds compared to the previous version.

Surf Shark is great value for money and our top recommendation for users on a streamlined budget.

Surf Shark has apps for Linux, iOS, Android, Windows, and MacOS. It can be manually installed on supported network routers.

BEST PICK FOR BUDGET VPN: Surfshark places priority on your security and data privacy, allowing you to torrent as much as you like safely. Better still, it’s very affordable, with no connection limit and a 30-day money-back guarantee

4. IPVanish

When the decision comes down to a number of servers to choose from, it’s tough to beat IPVanish. One of the most popular VPNs worldwide, IPVanish takes privacy very seriously and has been built with torrenting in mind. It produces no logs, not even the connection logs used for troubleshooting like ExpressVPN. L2TP and OpenVPN protocols both use 256-bit encryption. IPVanish uses shared IP addresses, and even has a built-in feature that lets users switch IPs periodically, such as every 60 minutes.

Speeds are moderate and unlimited bandwidth is assured.

IPVanish specifically designates certain countries as P2P-friendly, such as the Netherlands (more on this below). A kill switch can be enabled in the settings. IPVanish is particularly popular with Kodi users thanks to its lightweight Android app and compatibility with all the Kodi addons we’ve tested.

Apps are available for Windows, MacOS, iOS, and Android

SELECTED FOR ITS EASY USABILITY: IPVanish is great for families. Generally solid for torrenting, P2P users, and folks who need the highest standard of privacy. Will struggle with popular streaming services and doesn’t work in China. 30-day money-back guarantee.

5. PrivateVPN

This is a relatively new and fresh VPN service provider with a smaller network than the others on this list, but you’ll still get blazing fast download speeds and rock solid security. It uses 256-bit encryption with perfect forward secrecy on the open VPN protocol. No web traffic or connection logs are recorded. An optional kill switch is built in.

Besides anonymous torrenting, Private VPN is also great for unblocking geo-locked content like US Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Hulu, and Amazon Prime Video. You can connect up to six devices at a time on a single account.

Apps are available for Windows, MacOS, iOS, Linux, and Android.

SELECTED FOR GREAT SPEED:​ PrivateVPN is consistently reliable. A good one for torrenting, P2P and general purpose use. It's download speeds were surprisingly good at this end of the market. It could do with having more servers and lacks 24/7 support. 30-day money-back guarantee.

6. Safer VPN

boasts unlimited bandwidth and very fast download speeds, ideal for torrenting. The simple and intuitive interface makes it a breeze to set up and get connected. A kill switch is built into both the desktop and mobile apps, which will cut off the internet in case the VPN connection drops. SaferVPN keeps no identifying logs. Officially, SaferVPN allows P2P file sharing when connected to its Netherlands, Canada, and Spain locations, but strictly speaking, nothing is stopping you from torrenting on other servers.

Kodi users will find SaferVPN limited. There’s no Amazon Firestick app or Linux app, so you’ll have to use workarounds or manual configuration to get up and running. If you’re using an Android TV box with access to Google Play, you can use the Android app. It should be compatible with any Kodi add-on once set up.

SaferVPN can unblock both US and UK Netflix, and we’ve also had success with Amazon Prime Video, Sky Go, and BBC iPlayer from abroad. Live 24/7 chat support is ready to help you fix any issues you may have. You get DNS leak protection and 256-bit AES encryption by default.Windscribe works in China and other countries with strict censorship systems, so you can torrent privately from anywhere. It unblocks US and UK Netflix from abroad, as well as Amazon Prime Video and BBC iPlayer. 256-bit AES encryption is paired with perfect forward secrecy for maximum protection.

SELECTED FOR Good Security Credentials ; These credentials are good and ideal for torrenters.

7. CyberGhost

CyberGhost is the best VPN for beginners, thanks to its user-friendly apps. Even avid torrenters will enjoy its P2P-optimized servers. These servers are all secure and located in countries with favorable torrenting legislation.

You’ll have zero problems accessing torrent sites anywhere on the globe.The service offers around 2,000 more server locations,The VPN is compatible with most devices, including smart TVs. Further, each gets its own dedicated app. CyberGhost uses AES 256-bit military-grade encryption.

CyberGhost fully supports torrenting and actively touts this on its site. Above all, the apps have a simple one-click torrent solution.

Just hit the ‘For torrenting’ tab and choose a location. Moreover, it even gives the load as a percentage. Generally, the lower the number, the faster the speed will be. The speed is also above average and you can get significant results if you use the location chooser wisely

SELECTED FOR Excellent security and Verified no-logs policy , hence, no personally identifiable data is kept, so your VPN sessions remain private.

8. VyprVPN

VyprVPN has 200 servers for P2P sharing and fast speeds, it is perfect for the privacy-conscious torrenter. It has been fully audited to prove it doesn't keep logs and it operates on fast and secure proprietary servers worldwide. VyprVPN is a very secure VPN option for torrenting,The service’s kill switch and first-party DNS servers are great pluses, and protect your real IP address during file-sharing.Another great feature is the unrestricted bandwidth and zero throttling, which means you won’t experience a drop in speed when downloading large files.

You can use VyprVPN on the most common mobile and desktop devices. The service has dedicated VPN apps for Windows, Mac, iOS and Android.VyprVPN has a good native Fire TV Stick app, which is very popular with IPTV and Kodi fans.

VyprVPN easily bypasses geoblocks and delivers consistently fast speeds. The device limit is five, which is an industry average.

SELECTED for its user friendliness. It’s apps are highly intuitive and easy-to-use. .

9. Windscribe

Windscribe works in China and other countries with strict censorship systems, so you can torrent privately from anywhere. It unblocks US and UK Netflix from abroad, as well as Amazon Prime Video and BBC iPlayer. 256-bit AES encryption is paired with perfect forward secrecy for maximum protection.

Windscribe has servers in 170 countries, it is a great all-around VPN that’s perfectly suitable for torrenting. It’s one of the faster VPNs we’ve tested, scoring above average across all locations. In lieu of a kill switch, Windscribe uses a firewall to prevent leaks outside of the encrypted tunnel. The provider doesn’t store any identifying logs.

Overall, Windscribe’s speeds are pretty good, especially on servers in Canada, the Netherlands, and the UK

The best thing about this VPN for torrenting is that an unlimited number of devices are covered by a single subscription. This means that if you do use torrents on several devices, then Windscribe will allow you to use the VPN for as many devices as you want.

SELECTED FOR being a Solid option for torrenting and P2P. Stores no logs and uses tunneling techniques for good security and has an excellent privacy policy.

Furthermore, you have access to over 600 servers in over 50 countries which offer fast and reliable connections. If you are low on budget and need super-fast, reliable and secure VPN services, you can count on windscribe.

10. ZenMate

This VPN has more than 3800 servers in 70 countries and its headquarters are in Germany. If you are a person who is interested in media and streaming blocked content, then Zenmate is right for you.

Zenmate VPN has unlimited bandwidth; which means you won’t face any throttling or lags while streaming. It also has good speeds in close and distant servers.

This VPN offers the user a free trial. In essence, this means you never have to pay for anything or ask for your money back eventually. At $1.64 per month, ZenMate is easily one of the cheapest VPNs on the market.

One area that ZenMate could improve is customer support; there’s no live chat feature yet, although the ticket system is reliable enough. It also offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can try it out for free to see if it’s right for you.

ZenMate provides its users with a very solid security setup. It uses AES-256 encryption, which is considered to be virtually unbreakable by today’s technology.

SELECTED FOR being simple and low-cost with good security.

In conclusion

It is important you understand that Torrenting without a Virtual Private Network is asking for trouble. Using a VPN for an added layer of security is wise and advisable.

Most Torrenters use Virtual Private Networks to stay secure and private online, but not all VPNs are suitable for BitTorrent. In fact, dozens of leading VPNs are best avoided by torrenters.

FAQs

What is Torrenting?

A torrent is a file type that contains information about a file such as a compressed archive, an image of an optical media file, an executable program, or any other form of data that can be downloaded over the internet. This information is then used by your peer-to-peer torrenting application to coordinate the swarm, which allows individual clients to download small sections of the same file from a multitude of different sources. This results in very fast downloads that can usually be paused and resumed with good data integrity.

Do Vpns Work for Torrenting?

We will always recommend using a VPN for torrenting. If you don't use a VPN you can get caught torrenting however, it's very unlikely to get caught using VPNs since VPNs hide IP addresses and web traffic. One way you can get caught though is if the VPN you are using doesn't have a kill switch.

Can you torrent without a VPN in the UK?

Downloading Torrents without a VPN anywhere is very risky, You should always use a VPN while torrenting, so your identity remains hidden and no one can read the contents of your internet traffic through encryption. People often share files through a process called torrenting, or P2P file-sharing.

Is torrenting legal?

Torrenting itself is legal in most places, but there is a possibility that the file you torrent is under copyright, it’s best to check with the rules and regulations for your country before you torrent. If it is allowed in your location, you can use a VPN to stay safe as you torrent.

What does a kill switch do?

This prevents accidental leaks of your IP address and other information that could compromise your privacy.

A kill switch is a crucial security feature that automatically disconnects you in case your VPN server connection is compromised in any way. All the best VPNs for torrenting include a kill switch feature, which may or may not be automatically enabled.

Can I torrent safely with a free VPN?

We recommend that you avoid free VPNs for torrenting. While it may be tempting to opt for a free VPN, you will be paying somehow – whether it’s with lower speeds, reduced bandwidth, or compromised privacy. Free VPNs often come with severe security risks and restrictions. Also, many of them also log and sell your data.