To save you time and effort, I shortlisted the best VPNs for torrenting in 2023. ExpressVPN easily came first with its 3000+ torrenting-friendly servers, excellent speeds, and audited no-logs policy. Your file-sharing traffic is fully secured by military-grade encryption, a kill switch, RAM-based servers, and more. ExpressVPN is backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can get a full refund if you’re not satisfied. When I tested this myself, it took just minutes over 24/7 live chat to get my refund approved and the money returned to my account in 5 days. Torrent anonymously with ExpressVPN Important: The protection of a VPN doesn’t give you the right to download copyrighted material, which is illegal in many countries. To avoid possible criminal and civil penalties, only torrent titles that are in the public domain.
Quick Guide: Best VPNs for Torrenting in 2023
Torrent anonymously with ExpressVPN
The Best Torrenting VPNs for Speed and Safety (Full Test Results as of January 2023)
1. ExpressVPN — Top-Tier Security and Excellent Speeds for Anonymous Torrenting
ExpressVPN’s entire network of 3000+ servers support torrenting, and it’s compatible with popular torrent clients like Vuze, BitTorrent, and uTorrent. I was impressed by the fast download speeds, which let me torrent a 5GB file in just 7 minutes. My speeds only dropped by a tiny 18% on average, which is significantly faster than other premium VPNs on the market and barely noticeable when torrenting. These fast speeds are due to ExpressVPN’s proprietary Lightway protocol. Lightway was designed for speed and security, and is ExpressVPN’s default protocol. I found I could download torrents faster when connected to Lightway. ExpressVPN also supports OpenVPN, which you can select manually in the “Protocol” tab in Options. These speeds also mean that ExpressVPN is a top choice for streaming Netflix, gaming, and other data-intensive activities. The Network Lock kill switch automatically blocks the internet if the VPN connection is ever interrupted. Network Lock is available on ExpressVPN’s apps for Windows, macOS, Android, Linux, and router apps, but unfortunately not on iOS devices. However, torrenting on an iPhone or iPad is more complicated and less common anyway, as there are no BitTorrent clients on the iOS App Store. Every server is secured by military-grade encryption and leak protection to ensure your real IP address and torrenting traffic is hidden. I ran tests on multiple servers worldwide and had zero IP or DNS leaks — my data was fully secured while connected to the VPN. You can torrent without fearing that ExpressVPN will log or disclose your activities to third parties. First of all, ExpressVPN is based in the British Virgin Islands — a jurisdiction that doesn’t require it to log or share user data with authorities. What’s more, ExpressVPN uses RAM-based TrustedServer technology, which makes it physically impossible to hold data on a server in the first place. The company has also undergone an independent audit to confirm its privacy policy and there’s even real-world evidence that ExpressVPN truly keeps no logs. You can connect up to 5 device on a single account. Alternatively, you can configure ExpressVPN with your router (it works with Asus RT-AC68U, Netgear R6400v2, and Linksys WRT3200ACM models). This way, you can secure all of your devices with the router VPN connection and even enable port forwarding. The best way to see if it’s right for you is to try torrenting with ExpressVPN for yourself. If you’re not satisfied, you have up to 30 days to request a refund. I tested the process myself and it was easy — I just contacted the 24/7 live chat and the agent arranged my refund with no questions asked. I had the money back in my account in less than 5 days. Torrent anonymously with ExpressVPN
2. CyberGhost — Optimized Servers Provide Fast, Secure Connections for Torrenting
CyberGhost provides a range of servers optimized for secure and smooth torrenting. You can access these servers in the “For torrenting” tab on the VPN app. A list of server countries is displayed in alphabetical order with the distance from your physical location on the side. Simply double-click on the country’s name and you’ll be automatically connected to the best available server in that location. On average, my speed dropped around 35% during my tests. In other words, I could download a 5GB file in roughly 10 minutes. As CyberGhost uses the WireGuard protocol, speeds are quick on the optimized servers. However, I found that my speeds did start to slow down on servers far away from my physical location. CyberGhost has military-grade security and built-in leak protection (against DNS, IP, and WebRTC leaks) to keep all data secure within the VPN connection. Every desktop and mobile app even has an automatic kill switch, which blocks all traffic if the VPN connection drops or you’re in between servers. Like ExpressVPN, every server operates on RAM so no data can be logged or stored to the hard disk. CyberGhost also has a no-logs policy and releases a yearly Transparency Report detailing any DMCA and police requests received. Unfortunately, the privacy policy hasn’t been audited by a third party. You can try CyberGhost’s optimized torrenting servers risk-free. It has a 45-day money-back guarantee, which is the longest money-back guarantee out there for a premium VPN. It’s easy to get your money back if you want a refund. I tested this by sending a request over 24/7 live chat and I was pleased when the representative processed my refund immediately. I had my money back in a week. Torrent anonymously with CyberGhost
3. Private Internet Access — Low-Cost VPN With Huge Server Network
Private Internet Access (PIA) has an enormous network of over 35000+ servers, and each of them supports torrenting. This makes it easy to pick a nearby location for the best speeds and a reliable connection. The only downside is that most servers are based in the US, which isn’t the most torrenting-friendly country. On average, my speed dropped around 44%, from 115Mbps to 64Mbps. This meant I could download a 5GB file in about 10 minutes. I did notice that my speeds were slower over long distances, which is normal as greater distance causes higher latency. However, I could somewhat combat this by using the WireGuard protocol while torrenting (it was 10Mbps faster than OpenVPN). PIA uses military-grade encryption and leak protection to keep your torrenting traffic anonymous. The VPN apps for Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, and Linux all have a kill switch, so your traffic is protected even when you’re switching servers or if the VPN connection drops out. There’s an Automation feature that ensures you only torrent when the VPN is connected (it can be configured to work with torrent clients like Vuze, BitTorrent, and Deluge). As a bonus, PIA even comes with a built-in blocker against ads and malware called MACE. It successfully blocked all pop-ups, banners, and suspicious links when I was browsing torrents sites. While PIA is headquartered in the US, I was pleased to find that an independent audit confirmed that PIA doesn’t log user data. This confirmation assured me that my torrent activity is always safe and anonymous. The 30-day money-back guarantee makes it risk-free to try torrenting with Private Internet Access. You’re entitled to a full refund within the first 30 days if you change your mind. Torrent anonymously with Private Internet Access
4. NordVPN — Premium VPN With Cheap Prices on Long-Term Plans
NordVPN is one of the best VPNs on the market — and you can get super cheap prices when you sign up for a long-term subscription. One thing to note, however, is that when it’s time to renew your subscription, prices do increase quite significantly. I did, however, have issues with using NordVPN’s native Fire TV app. Although it worked and unblocked some streaming services, it sometimes had issues unblocking Netflix US and kept crashing. I also found that NordVPN’s user interface for desktop devices was less user-friendly than ExpressVPN and CyberGhost. NordVPN has the following security and privacy features:
AES 256-bit encryptionA kill switch that cuts your internet access if your connection to a VPN server drops suddenlyBuilt-in ad and malware blocker, so you don’t need a third-party ad blockerFully audited no-logs policy (audited by PwC) – NordVPN doesn’t store any personal or identifying data while you’re connected to the VPN
In addition, NordVPN includes Threat Protection that protects you from viruses, infected websites, and trackers – and it works whenever you have the NordVPN app open, even if you’re not connected to a VPN server. You can stream, torrent, and browse for free for up to 30 days with NordVPN’s money-back guarantee. It has plans that cost as little as $3.69 per month. To ensure that you’ll really get your money back, I tested NordVPN’s money-back guarantee. At first, the support team tried to give me an extended trial period — but they initiated my refund right away after I told them I wasn’t interested in the extension. I got my money back in 6 business days. NordVPN works on: Windows, Mac OS, Android, iOS, Windows Phone, Chromebook, Linux, Chrome, Firefox, Fire Stick, and Android TV
5. Surfshark — Best Value for Money with Unlimited Device Connections and Fast Speeds
Surfshark offers the best value for money out of every premium VPN on the market. You can connect an unlimited number of devices with a single subscription (which means you can connect your entire family and even friends!). I tested Surfshark’s unlimited connections on 2 PCs, 2 phones, a Fire Stick 4K, and an iPad. My connection remained reliable on all 6 devices. Even while I was actively streaming on all my devices, my average speed was 112 Mbps — fast enough for UltraHD quality. When I saw the price of this service, I thought it couldn’t possibly have top-grade security features for such a low price, but I was pleasantly surprised. Surfshark has the following security and privacy features:
AES 256-bit encryption on all devices, with ChaCha encryption available for Android usersWireguard VPN protocol enabled by defaultDiskless, RAM-only servers to protect your privacy (no data can be physically extracted from any servers)Kill switch (although this isn’t enabled by default)IP and DNS leak protection
Surfshark offers two-factor authentication (2FA) on your account. This feature requires you to enter an extra code before you can log in to ensure that only you (and those you share your account with) can access your account. While Surfshark does have slightly fewer global servers than rivals such as CyberGhost and PIA, I didn’t experience any issues during my tests. I easily connected fast working servers every time, and I had excellent speeds for streaming Netflix in Ultra HD, downloading torrents, and browsing the internet. You can try Surfshark for yourself with the 30-day money-back guarantee. It has plans that cost as little as $2.05. Requesting a refund is easy with Surfshark’s live chat feature. Although the support team asked why I wanted to cancel my subscription, I had no problem getting my money back (and it only took 4 days!). Surfshark works on: Windows, Mac OS, Android, iOS, Linux, Fire Stick, PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Samsung Smart TVs, LG Smart TVs, Android TV, Kodi, and selected routers
6. PrivateVPN — Cheapest VPN for Fast and Secure Torrenting
If you’re looking for a budget VPN, PrivateVPN offers excellent value for money. With its 3-year plan, PrivateVPN costs as little as $2.00. This low cost doesn’t mean a lack of torrenting-specific features though. You have access to public dedicated IP addresses for torrenting and even open ports for port forwarding. These can be configured with torrent clients like BitTorrent, Vuze, and uTorrent to improve your download speeds by allowing more peers to connect. During tests, I was impressed to find that PrivateVPN’s servers are fast despite the small server network. I expected slow speeds as more users would be connecting to the same servers, which can cause some lag. However, my speed only dropped around 35% from 115Mbps to 70Mbps when using the OpenVPN protocol. All your torrenting activities are kept anonymous by the strict no-logs policy, so none of your data can be tracked, stored, or shared. While the website does state that PrivateVPN will comply with authorities if there is a copyright infringement report, the no-logs policy ensures that there’s no data to hand over. As of January 2023, I haven’t heard of any reports of users getting copyright infringement notices. The company also owns its DNS servers, so your DNS requests don’t go through any third parties. Each server is further secured by military-grade encryption (AES-256 bit) and built-in protection against IP and DNS leaks. The only downsides are that there’s no kill switch on the Mac, Linux and iOS apps (only Windows and Android). The no-logs policy hasn’t been independently audited either, unlike ExpressVPN. If you’d like to try PrivateVPN for torrenting, you can do so risk-free as it offers a 30-day money-back guarantee. Torrent anonymously with PrivateVPN
7. IPVanish — Free SOCKS5 Proxy For Faster Torrent Downloads
IPVanish has a free SOCKS5 proxy for faster torrenting speeds and it’s compatible with many torrent clients, like Vuze, Deluge, and BitTorrent. Just keep in mind that the the proxy doesn’t encrypt data, so you may want to use it in conjunction with the VPN. A soon as you connect to the VPN server, you’re protected by military-grade encryption, leak protection, and a kill switch. Despite this heavy-duty security, IPVanish took only a couple of seconds to connect to a server. When choosing the best available server, I suggest you forgo the green “Connect” button and manually choose a server (unfortunately, the “Connect” button doesn’t always choose the fastest server). It’s easy to select a fast server yourself — the detailed app interface shows the distance, ping, and user load of every server. Just choose a select with low ping and user load. In my tests, my speed only dropped around 34% on average (barely noticeable) and a 5GB download only took 9 minutes. IPVanish has a zero-logs policy, but it hasn’t been independently audited. This would give me more confidence as IPVanish has previously handed over user data during a US federal investigation. However, the company has since been taken over by new management, who tightened the privacy practices and promised to uphold IPVanish’s no-logging claims going forward. You can try IPVanish with its 30-day money-back guarantee and see if you like it. It has the easiest refund policy of all the VPNs. You don’t even have to speak to a customer support representative. Just fill out a form on the website (it takes a minute or less) and the refund is automatically processed for you. Torrent anonymously with IPVanish
Comparison Table: 2023’s 3 Best Torrenting VPNs Ranked
Torrent anonymously with ExpressVPN
Warning! Avoid These VPNs for Torrenting
3 Easy Steps: How to Torrent Safely With a VPN
Torrenting with a high-quality VPN is easy, and you can use these steps with Vuze, uTorrent, BitTorrent, or any other torrent client.
VPN Unlimited
While this VPN allows torrenting, the number of P2P-friendly servers is very small — you’ll likely experience user congestion and horrendous download speeds. Torrent anonymously with ExpressVPN
How to Choose the Best VPN for Torrenting
When I tested and ranked all the VPNs out there to find the best for torrenting, I ensured that each VPN complied with the following criteria:
Openly allows torrenting — Not every VPN has servers that support torrenting, so I checked each VPN’s website to determine its stance on torrenting. Strict no-logs policy — You don’t want your VPN to track, store, or share any of your downloading and uploading activity with third parties. Kill switch — This is an essential safeguard that automatically blocks all traffic when you’re switching servers (or if the VPN connection is interrupted). This ensures your traffic is always hidden from anyone who might be watching. High-speed server network — It’s important for a VPN to have unlimited bandwidth and fast servers globally, so you can torrent multiple large files at once without any lag or interruptions. Works on all devices — All the top torrenting VPNs have a high-performing native app for Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, Linux, and more. Money-back guarantee — I personally tested this for every VPN in order to make sure you can get a full refund if you’re not satisfied.
Many VPNs market themselves as being the best for torrenting, but that isn’t the case. That’s why it’s best to choose a tried-and-tested VPN that is guaranteed to keep your data secure and your download speeds reliably fast. Of all the VPNs I tested, ExpressVPN is the best service for torrenting, with fast speeds, P2P-friendly servers, and strong security and privacy measures. Torrent anonymously with ExpressVPN
Do I really need a VPN when torrenting?
Absolutely. If you care about your online privacy, it’s crucial to use a VPN to protect your torrenting traffic from fellow peers, seeders, and uploaders. When you torrent without a VPN, your personal information is completely exposed. This includes your IP address, general location, and download history, at a minimum. Online groups like I Know What You Download can publish your torrent activity for the world to see. A VPN encrypts your internet traffic against anyone who might be watching and protects you from cyberthreats. No one can see what you’re torrenting, which sites you visit, or any of your personal data. Private Internet Access even come with a built-in blocker against malware and trackers. This is especially useful when browsing files on torrent sites, since an accidental click on the wrong file could infect your entire device and leave you exposed to hackers.
What’s the cheapest VPN for torrenting?
Based on my tests and research, PrivateVPN is the best cheap VPN for torrenting as of January 2023. You can sign up for the low price of $2.00 on a long-term plan.
Can I torrent with a free VPN?
Yes, it’s safe to torrent with some free VPNs. However, the experience will still be frustrating. In exchange for advanced security features, you’ll have to suffer through:
Targeted ads — Free VPNs often rely on selling your data to earn revenue. Even if it’s identifying data, advertisers have their own trackers that log your internet activity (not ideal for anonymous torrenting). Restricted bandwidth — Bandwidth is expensive so free VPNs either your monthly data usage or deliberately slow down your speeds. Limited servers — Operating a server is also expensive, so free VPNs can only provide a few free servers to use. These servers quickly become sluggish as free users around the world overcrowded it.
If you only need to torrent a few files, I recommend using a premium VPN with a long money-back guarantee like CyberGhost. You can enjoy unlimited access to CyberGhost for free for 45 days with the money-back guarantee. It was easy and hassle-free to get my refund when I tested it myself. It only took a couple of minutes to process my refund over 24/7 live chat and I had the money back within a week.
Which country is the best for torrenting?
As long as you use a quality VPN for torrenting, you should be able to torrent while connected to any country. VPNs with military-grade encryption and zero-logging policies will keep your data private and let you share files anonymously. However, countries like Canada, Mexico, the Netherlands, Romania, Spain, and Switzerland have a more relaxed approach to legal torrenting. These countries also allow access to torrent sites like The Pirate Bay, RARBG, 1337x, and LimeTorrents. Some VPNs will even recommend servers in particular countries on its app. For instance, CyberGhost provides over 60 servers dedicated purely to torrenting.
What’s the best VPN protocol for torrenting?
The most secure VPN protocols for torrenting are OpenVPN and WireGuard. OpenVPN is an open-source protocol and it’s a reliable option for fast speeds and security. WireGuard is a newer and more lightweight protocol, and it’s been primed to take over OpenVPN as the new gold standard. The best VPNs for torrenting even have their own proprietary protocols, which surpass WireGuard and OpenVPN. For example, ExpressVPN developed its own Lightway protocol. It shares the same high-level security as WireGuard and OpenVPN, but it’s even faster.
Is torrenting legal?
Yes, downloading torrents is legal as long as the file is a public domain title — this means it doesn’t fall under any copyright regulations. However, sharing copyright or pirated content is banned or illegal in most locations. Many countries have shut down torrent sites or outlawed torrenting altogether due to the difficulty in monitoring millions of torrent files for illegal activity. Different countries have different laws involving torrenting. Here are a few countries with strict torrenting laws, and some of the punishments at risk if you accidentally break the law: Sharing protected files is a punishable offense, even if you did it accidentally. That’s why it’s so important to use a highly-secure VPN for torrenting as they provide data security and anonymity while file-sharing. I always recommend that you check your local laws on torrenting before downloading any files. My team and I don’t condone any illegal activity, so make sure you only download files in the public domain.
Do VPNs hide my torrenting from my ISP?
Yes, a quality VPN hides your torrenting traffic from all third parties. When connected to the VPN server, all your ISP can see is that you’re using an encrypted connection. Your ISP cannot see what you’re doing while online, like websites you visit or your downloading history. Just make sure to choose a VPN with a strict no-logs policy, military-grade encryption standards, leak protection, and a kill switch. This will keep your your online activities safely hidden.
How do VPNs protect your privacy while torrenting?
A quality VPN will use a combination of security and privacy measures to ensure that no one can see what files you’re torrenting and who you are. When I tested and ranked the best VPNs for torrenting in 2023, I evaluated each VPN against a strict selection of criteria. This includes whether the VPN has high levels of encryption, leak protection, a kill switch, a strict no-logs policy, and more.
Is it safe to torrent with a SOCKS5 proxy?
It depends. I suggest you use a SOCKS5 proxy in combination with a VPN — IPVanish even provides a free SOCKS5 proxy when you download its VPN. On its own, the SOCKS5 proxy is unsecured and none of your torrenting traffic is encrypted. This makes your download speeds faster, but it leaves you exposed to spying third parties. This could include trackers, advertisers, fellow torrenters, and even hackers.
Does a VPN affect torrenting speed?
Yes, although the best VPNs for torrenting are designed to mitigate speed loss. The slowdown is barely noticeable when you have a VPN with fast protocols (like WireGuard or OpenVPN). You can also connect to a server that’s close to your physical location. This reduces latency (the time it takes for data to reach the server and respond) and maintains a fast connection, ensuring your torrents finish downloading quickly. Torrent anonymously with ExpressVPN
Encrypt Your Torrenting Traffic With a VPN
Using a VPN is the safest and easiest way to protect yourself when torrenting. To keep my data secure, I always launch ExpressVPN before I start torrenting. Its strict zero-logs policy, military-grade encryption, and high-speed servers have always helped me torrent quickly while making sure I stay anonymous. Don’t have to take my word for it though. You can try ExpressVPN with your torrents risk-free! I think you’ll find it’s a great choice for P2P file-sharing, but if you’re not satisfied you have 30 days to get a full refund, no questions asked.
