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Best VPN for Torrenting
Many torrenting and file sharing websites are blocked by ISPs (and they see everything you do online). If you want to torrent in 2019, you really need to use a VPN.
There are many factors to consider when choosing the right VPN for torrenting and P2P, and that’s where we come in.
We tested 99 VPNs and the five below unblock all torrenting websites, clock fast download/upload speeds, and hide your IP effectively at all times.
There are three free VPNs for torrenting that you could also consider, but they all have monthly data caps that you’re sure to max out very quickly.
The Most Important Factors When We Review a VPN for Torrenting
- Torrenting/P2P allowed on all (most) servers
- Fast download and upload speeds
- Kill Switch and other privacy features
- No download data caps
- Transparent, fair and privacy-focused logging policies
- Jurisdiction (where is it based)
Wondering why you should trust our reviews? Take a look at How We Test VPNs
Read More Information on Our Top 5 Best VPN Services for Torrenting
Works with
Netflix, Hulu, Sky, Now TV, HBO, SlingTV, Torrenting, Kodi
Available on
The Bottom Line
ExpressVPN is both our top pick for torrenting and our highest-scoring VPN overall, thanks to its rock solid reliability for both speed and privacy.
No other VPN offers such consistently fast speeds across its network – up to 172Mbps down and 129Mbps up with low latency is ideal for P2P activity.
The kill switch is a must-have for torrenters while its logging policy is one of the best we’ve seen, collecting only anonymous usage stats.
Works with
Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, Sky, HBO, Torrenting, Kodi
Available on
The Bottom Line
NordVPN is a smart choice for torrenting if your budget doesn’t stretch to all-rounder ExpressVPN or P2P specialist IPVanish.
Local downloads peak at 451Mbps while uploads average at an unrivalled 136Mbps globally. It’s also a zero-logs VPN based in a friendly jurisdiction.
Don’t let slow customer support put you off the unbeatable value of this fast and highly effective VPN.
Works with
Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, HBO, Torrenting, Kodi
Available on
The Bottom Line
If privacy is your top priority as a torrenter then IPVanish is hard to beat, thanks to superb speeds, zero logging, and extensive privacy tools.
Ultra-fast local speeds up to 194Mbps are ideal for P2P activity. Similarly, the volume of servers favors high bandwidth activities like torrenting.
Desktop apps aren’t the most user-friendly but make up for it with powerful privacy features, including IPv6 leak protection and kill switch.
Works with
Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, Sky, HBO, Torrenting
Available on
The Bottom Line
CyberGhost is a solid torrenting VPN due to strong privacy features and very good speeds, peaking at 253Mbps on local connections.
P2P traffic is only permitted on specific optimized servers, though, and therefore limited to use on the Windows and MacOS apps.
A strict zero logs policy and first-party DNS servers mean no data exists to identify you, while privacy features like the kill switch are ideal for torrenting.
Works with
Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, Sky, HBO, Torrenting, Kodi
Available on
The Bottom Line
PrivateVPN is smart pick for heavy torrenters on a budget who can live without instant access to support.
It’s strong on privacy and offers some of the fastest speeds in the market, including reliably fast uploads for effective P2P activity, including Kodi.
A strict zero logs policy and first-party DNS servers means no data exists to identify you, even with its base in privacy-unfriendly Sweden.
How We Picked the Best VPN for Torrenting
Not every VPN provider supports torrenting, and even when it does it may be restricted. We check multiple servers on every VPN we test to see if it’s universally available.
If you torrent while connected to a server thousands of miles from your real location it’s unlikely that you’ll get the best speeds, so this is an important step – we even get in touch with live support to see what they know about it.
When measuring speeds we monitor how quick the torrent download and upload rates are compared to the figures seen during the initial speed test, plus how fast our connection is without the VPN on at all.
Only the VPN services with the best approach to torrenting and the highest speeds will feature on this page.
How to Use a VPN for Torrenting
When you use a torrenting client (such as BitTorrent) your IP address, along with that of every other user taking part in that file transfer, is exposed. Some ISPs also reduce, or ‘throttle’, your bandwidth when it detects torrenting, ruining your download speeds.
If you want to hide your IP address and block your ISP from monitoring your activity then all you need to do is switch on your VPN before opening your torrenting software.
Choose the nearest server that permits P2P activity for optimal performance, as the further you are physically from the VPN server the higher the latency, slowing your downloads.
We’d also highly recommend that your VPN of choice for torrenting has a kill switch. If your connection to the VPN server drops for any reason then the kill switch will immediately sever your internet connection.
How to Choose a VPN for Torrenting: 7 Tips
It may sound obvious, but it’s the most important place to start. While most major VPN providers permit P2P traffic, some ban it on certain servers.
Check the Streaming & Torrenting section of our reviews and make sure that you can live with any server exclusions. Our top picks will have little-to-no restrictions at all.
You may have found a VPN that allows you to torrent, but if it doesn’t have a server near you then speeds could seriously suffer.
Some providers that allow torrenting throttle P2P traffic anyway, severely hampering speeds. Make sure your choice does every thing it can to give you the best torrenting experience.
If you’re a heavy torrenter then you’ll want to be absolutely sure that your VPN isn’t keeping tabs on your downloading habits. Look for a VPN that truly is ‘zero-logs’.
Certain jurisdictions are more privacy-friendly than others when the authorities come knocking asking for user data.
If you are concerned about your privacy, you might want to consider avoiding VPNs incorporated in the US, UK or Europe.
Instead look for more out of the way locations, such as British Virgin Islands, Panama, the Seychelles and Hong Kong, for example.
While the big names may have extensive coverage, not every VPN works with every device.
Whatever it is that you get the bulk of your torrenting done on, be sure that the VPN you’re looking to download supports it.
Rock solid privacy is a must when torrenting so make sure that the VPN has an effective kill switch to protect you should the VPN fail.
Also look for protection from DNS and other leaks, such as IPv6 and WebRTC. Port forwarding is another handy feature if you plan to torrent while using a NAT firewall.
Even the most expensive VPN plans can be made affordable by taking out a longer subscription.
Don’t bother with a one-month plan – 12-month plans typically offer the best value and you can reduce the risk of buyer’s remorse by choosing one with a long refund period.
We’d advise a 30-day no-questions-asked guarantee – they essentially act as a free trial period.
Make the right choice, though, and you hopefully won’t be thinking about a refund at all.
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