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How to Torrent Safely with Mullvad VPN
The Short Answer
Mullvad is a secure and trustworthy VPN you can use to hide your torrenting activity from your ISP. You can torrent on its P2P-friendly servers across all 50 countries in its network, and traffic is encrypted using the ChaCha20 cipher. The only major downsides of torrenting with Mullvad are the inconsistent torrenting speeds on several servers and the lack of port forwarding.
When you torrent without a VPN, anyone can see the files you’ve downloaded from your IP address. This includes your ISP, law enforcement, and any other third parties.
To torrent safely, you need a VPN optimized for file-sharing. Connecting to a VPN server assigns you an IP address that’s shared with hundreds of other users, making it harder to link any P2P activity to you.
Mullvad is a good VPN service that secures your traffic using trusted encryption ciphers, DNS leak protection, and a reliable VPN kill switch.
I found Mullvad particularly good for torrenting. It comes with a kill switch to protect your personal data, a private logging policy to anonymize your activity, and a malware blocker to protect you on unsafe torrent sites.
That said, Mullvad isn’t one of my preferred VPNs for torrenting. Its speeds can be slow on selected servers, and some of its advanced features are difficult to set up.
EXPERT ADVICE: Private Internet Access (PIA) is a better torrent VPN than Mullvad. It has easier-to-use apps, a no-logs policy, and more consistent speeds. Try PIA VPN risk-free for 30 days.
In this guide, I’ll show you exactly how to use Mullvad for torrenting, and how to configure the VPN for improved security and speed.
Mullvad’s Torrenting Performance: At a Glance
| Torrenting Rating | Average Torrenting Bitrate | Countries with P2P Servers | Port Forwarding | Logging Policy | Jurisdiction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9.1 | 9.8MiB/s | 50 | No | No Identifiable Data | Sweden (14 Eyes Member) |
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How to Torrent with Mullvad
Configuring a VPN for torrenting involves more than just a standard server connection. If you set up Mullvad incorrectly, you still risk leaking your IP and revealing your P2P activity.
In the steps below, we’ll tell you exactly how to configure Mullvad to maximize the VPN’s speed, security, and privacy.
Quick Guide: How To Use Mullvad for Torrenting
- Download a safe torrent client. I recommend qBittorrent.
- Sign up for Mullvad and download the app onto your device.
- Configure the Mullvad app for maximum security: Turn on its malware blocker, kill switch, and IPv6 support.
- Bind Mullvad to your torrent client.
- Check for IP and DNS leaks.
1. Choose a Safe Torrent Client
No operating system comes with a built-in P2P client. You’ll have to install third-party software.
I strongly recommend qBittorrent as the best torrent client. It’s open-source, safe, and doesn’t include ads. It also allows network binding, for added security.
Other popular options include Vuze, Deluge, uTorrent, and BitTorrent. Whichever you choose, make sure to download it from its official website.
2. Download the Mullvad VPN App
Download Mullvad on the device you’ll be torrenting on. If you don’t already have an account, you can subscribe to Mullvad for $5.50 a month. Mullvad doesn’t offer any discounts for longer-term plans.
For greater privacy, I suggest paying via cash or cryptocurrency. This way, it’s not possible to link your Mullvad account back to you.
3. Enable All Mullvad Security Settings
Before connecting to a server, make sure Mullvad is set up with maximum security.
Thankfully, Mullvad doesn’t allow the kill switch to be turned off. A kill switch is the most important security feature for torrenting, but there are still some essential features that aren’t enabled by default.
To change the VPN’s security settings, open the Mullvad app and click the settings cog icon in the top right.
I recommend you enable the following Mullvad security settings:
- Block ads, trackers, malware: Untrustworthy torrent websites often have lots of ads and sometimes contain malware. Enable this setting to prevent viruses and malware being installed on your computer.
- IPv6: If your network supports IPv6, it’s possible it can leak and expose your IP address. With this setting turned on, your IPv6 address will be replaced with one from the VPN server. This drastically reduces the risk of accidental leaks.
- Always require VPN: This setting prevents your computer from establishing an internet connection until you connect to Mullvad. This guarantees that your torrenting activity is protected, especially if you’re someone who forgets to turn the VPN on each time.
Mullvad includes many security settings well-suited for torrenting.
4. Bind Mullvad to Your Torrenting Client
For additional security, bind Mullvad to your torrenting client. By enabling this, torrent files will only download when you’re connected to a Mullvad VPN server.
In practice, this works similarly to a kill switch. If the connection to the VPN drops or you accidentally disconnect, your torrent file will stop downloading and your true IP address will remain hidden.
I’ve explained the step-by-step process for Windows in the box below. Mac users have a slightly more complicated setup, which I’ve covered further down.
Here’s how to bind Mullvad to your torrenting client on PC:
- Connect to a Mullvad server.
- Open qBittorrent. Click the settings cog icon at the top right.
- Select Advanced from the left-hand sidebar. Click the drop-down list next to Network Interface and select Mullvad.
- Press Apply, then OK.
- Your torrent client is now bound to the IP address of the Mullvad server.
This process isn’t quite as simple on Mac because the OS labels VPN interfaces as utun followed by a number (e.g., utun2).
To identify Mullvad, inspect the Network Interface drop-down before connecting to the VPN, then connect and select the new utun entry that appears.
Keep in mind that macOS assigns these numbers dynamically, meaning a device restart or VPN reconnect can change your utun number. Because of this, I suggest repeating this process every time you torrent on Mac.
You can also watch the video below to see how I set this up on macOS.
5. Test Your Connection for Leaks
The final step is to ensure your VPN and torrent client is set up correctly.
To do this, use our torrent IP leak test tool. It’ll check that you’re not accidentally leaking any IP or DNS information through the VPN tunnel.
If the tool doesn’t detect any leaks, you’re ready to download torrent files as you usually do.
Is Mullvad Good for Torrenting?
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| P2P traffic supported on all servers | Inconsistent speed performance |
| Fast torrenting speeds in most locations | Removed port forwarding feature |
| Strong kill switch and other security features | |
| Uses best-in-class protocols and encryption | |
| Doesn’t log any activity data | |
| Accepts cash payments | |
I rank Mullvad as the sixth-best for safe torrenting out of all the 59 VPNs I tested.
Mullvad uses strong ChaCha20 encryption, it doesn’t collect any user or activity logs, and it downloads torrent files extremely fast.
To compete with the very best torrenting VPNs, Mullvad needs to improve the reliability of its speeds. I also wish it still had port forwarding, to maximize torrenting speeds.
Mullvad downloads torrent files fast and safely.
Mullvad Is Fast Enough for Torrenting
Most popular torrent sites distribute content with extremely large file sizes, like movies and TV shows. A fast VPN can make the difference between waiting minutes or hours for a file to download.
Speed is the main area where Mullvad excels. When using it, I could download torrent files almost as quickly as with no VPN.
While using its New York server, my speed dropped from 10MiB/s to 9.8MiB/s. This is one of the fastest results I’ve ever recorded.
The only issue is that Mullvad’s torrent speeds change depending on the server you use. When connected to its New Jersey location, my download bitrate dropped to 2.1MiB/s. This meant my files took almost five times as long to download.
Here are my results when testing Mullvad’s torrenting bitrate when connected to nearby servers:
| Mullvad Server | Download Bitrate | Time To Download 50GB Torrent File |
|---|---|---|
| No VPN | 10MiB/s | 1 hour 19 minutes |
| New York Server | 9.8MiB/s | 1 hour 21 minutes |
| New Jersey Server | 2.1MiB/s | 6 hours 18 minutes |
Because of this variance in performance, I strongly recommend trying multiple Mullvad servers and sticking to the one that gives you the fastest speeds. Otherwise, you might be waiting longer than you need for your files to download.
That said, Mullvad’s speed performance is very impressive on the vast majority of servers. It’s even faster than most top torrenting VPNs, like PIA.
Mullvad Is One of the Most Trustworthy VPNs
Mullvad can be trusted to keep your torrenting activity hidden from your ISP and other third parties.
Here’s what makes Mullvad one of the most private VPNs for torrenting:
- Doesn’t collect any activity logs. Mullvad doesn’t retain your IP address, traffic, or anything that can be used to identify you from your web activity.
- Open-sourced apps. Anyone can view the source code for Mullvad’s apps, ensuring there are no hidden security vulnerabilities in the app.
- No email required and accepts cash and cryptocurrency payments. Mullvad is one of the only VPNs that allow you to use its service totally anonymously without providing any personal information.
- No controversies since its launch in 2009. Unlike many other VPN services, Mullvad has never been involved in any scandals. It’s never handed over user data and has always protected its users’ privacy and security.
The one downside is Mullvad’s base in Sweden. Sweden is part of the 14 Eyes intelligence sharing alliance, as well as the EU. As a result, Sweden shares surveillance data with other countries.
However, this isn’t a major concern as Mullvad doesn’t log personally-identifiable data. Mullvad doesn’t have any information to provide if it’s ever requested.
That was proven when Swedish authorities raided Mullvad’s offices in April 2023 and found no user data.
Real-world tests like this are the best way to assess a VPN’s trustworthiness. You can be sure that Mullvad will protect your sensitive P2P activity.
Strong Encryption & Security Features
Mullvad includes all the security settings you’d expect from a top torrenting VPN.
It supports ChaCha20 encryption and quantum-resistant WireGuard, which protects against sophisticated “Harvest now, decrypt later” attacks.
The app also includes a system-wide kill switch, IPv4 and IPv6 leak protection, and a malware blocker. I explain the necessity of these in the instructions section of this page.
Mullvad’s server infrastructure and apps are also regularly audited.
To check how well Mullvad encrypts traffic, I tested it myself using Wireshark. I inspected packets of data to ensure nothing was viewable in plain text.
Mullvad successfully encrypted my DNS, HTTP, TCP, and UDP requests. All information within the VPN tunnel was obfuscated.
As expected, Mullvad encrypted my internet traffic.
Unlimited Torrenting on Every Server
Mullvad allows you to torrent on all 674 of its servers. All of its servers are optimized for P2P file-sharing and have unlimited bandwidth.
You can select any Mullvad server to start torrenting.
Mullvad is also impressively transparent with its server network. For added security, you can view its server list to make sure you’re connected to a server wholly owned by Mullvad.
No Longer Supports Port Forwarding
As of July 2023, Mullvad no longer supports port forwarding on any of its apps.
The VPN service announced the removal of port forwarding on its website, explaining that some users had abused the feature to host malicious and illegal content.
This led to Mullvad receiving law enforcement inquiries as well as several of its IP addresses becoming blocked.
As a result, you can no longer use port forwarding to improve Mullvad’s torrenting speeds.
If you need a VPN for port forwarding, I recommend using one of my top-rated VPNs with port forwarding support.
How Does Mullvad Compare to Other Torrenting VPNs?
Mullvad performed well in my torrenting tests, but there are still better options available.
Other VPN services, like PIA VPN and Proton VPN, support port forwarding and allow you to torrent in more countries.
Here’s Mullvad’s torrenting performance compared to two of the best torrenting VPNs:
1. Private Internet Access: Best VPN for Torrenting
Ranked #1 out of 47 VPN services
Private Internet Access is an excellent VPN for torrenting, based on my tests. It’s private, secure, and available for cheap on long-term plans.
PIA also allows P2P traffic on all 18,651 servers across 91 countries compared to just 674 servers in 50 countries with Mullvad.
However, PIA doesn’t allow you to port forward on any US servers. It’s also more expensive than Mullvad, if you pay month-by-month.
In short, Private Internet Access is my favorite VPN for torrenting, but Mullvad is still a good choice if you want to pay monthly.
You can use PIA to torrent risk-free on all platforms.
Proven No-Logs & User-First Privacy
PIA has proven its zero-logs policy in the real world twice: first in a US court case, and again during a Russian server seizure.
This effectively nullifies concerns over PIA’s US jurisdiction, since there’s no user data to hand over.
PIA underpins all of this with an entirely diskless server network and quarterly transparency reports detailing every DMCA request.
The bottom line: your torrenting activity stays private. While Mullvad has a similar track record, PIA has the edge with its stronger body of real-world evidence.
User-Friendly Port Forwarding
Unlike Mullvad, PIA still supports port forwarding.
I found the setup surprisingly straightforward for such a technical feature: just go to Settings > Network and check Request Port Forwarding.
Then, enter your new port number into your torrent client. I cover the full step-by-step process in my dedicated guide to torrenting safely with PIA.
There are two key caveats: port forwarding isn’t allowed on PIA’s US servers, and you’ll need to re-enter your port number into your torrent client every session.
You can easily enable port forwarding in PIA’s Windows app.
Affordable on Long-Term Plans
PIA uses a more traditional subscription model with monthly, 6-month, and 2-year plans, whereas Mullvad charges a flat rate of $5.50 per month.
If you’re looking to torrent regularly, then opt for PIA’s 2-year plan as it works out much cheaper at $2.19/mo.
For short-term use or one-off torrents, Mullvad is a better deal.
2. Proton VPN: Lots of P2P Locations
Proton VPN is a great choice if you need to torrent in a specific location, since it provides P2P-enabled servers in 146 countries.
I also can’t fault its privacy credentials: Swiss jurisdiction, proven no-logs, and development by a trusted software company.
Despite its port forwarding support, the VPN’s file-sharing speeds are slower than Mullvad’s, so keep that in mind.
I didn’t have any issues with Proton VPN while torrenting.
One of the Largest P2P Server Networks
Proton VPN lets you anonymously torrent in more countries than the vast majority of VPNs, including nearly 100 more than Mullvad.
Unlike PIA, it also supports port forwarding in every single location, including the US.
Only three server locations restrict P2P activity: Cyprus, North Macedonia, and Myanmar. When I attempted to torrent in any of these countries, my traffic was automatically rerouted to a supported server.
On the Windows and Android apps, select the “P2P” tab to view supported servers. On macOS and Linux, look for servers marked with the P2P symbol (⇆).
The in-app indicators made it easy to spot servers that support P2P.
Lots of P2P-Friendly Features
Proton VPN supports port forwarding, which improves file-sharing speeds, especially with rare or inactive torrents.
It’s quick to activate in-app and available on all paid plans for Windows, macOS, and Linux.
Similar to PIA, it uses dynamic port forwarding, meaning you’ll need to update your torrent client every time you reconnect.
I recommend enabling port forwarding notifications in the desktop apps, so you’re never caught out when your port number changes.
WireGuard Support & Swiss Privacy
As a genuine ‘no-logs’ VPN, Proton VPN stores zero user data. That was proven when Proton VPN was unable to surrender any user data during a court case in 2019.
Its Swiss jurisdiction also exempts it from any mandatory data collection laws.
The VPN secures your internet traffic with ChaCha20 encryption and WireGuard to conceal it from your ISP and any snooping third parties.
Proton VPN encrypted my BitTorrent traffic.
In sum, you can trust Proton with your torrenting activity.
