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Is Proton VPN Good for Torrenting?
The Short Answer
Proton VPN is an excellent choice for torrenting anonymously. It uses a zero-logs policy to keep your downloads hidden, delivers fast file-sharing speeds, and supports P2P-optimized servers. Disappointingly, the free version of Proton VPN can’t be used for torrenting since its servers block P2P traffic.
When you torrent without a VPN, anyone can see the files you’ve been downloading from your IP address, including your ISP, law enforcement, and anyone else downloading the same file.
If you want to torrent safely, you need a VPN that’s designed to protect your privacy while torrenting. A VPN service secures your P2P traffic with strong encryption (AES-256 or ChaCha20) and assigns you a new IP address that can’t be traced back to you.
My P2P tests found that Proton VPN is a great choice for torrenting. I love that it has torrenting-specific features, fast speeds, and a private no-logs policy.
I also tested and reviewed Proton VPN’s free plan, but I found that it doesn’t support P2P traffic at all. If you want to torrent with Proton VPN, you’ll have to get a subscription.
Proton VPN’s Torrenting Performance: At a Glance
| Torrenting Attribute | Proton VPN | Proton VPN (Free) |
|---|---|---|
| Average Bitrate | 9.2MiB/s (8% loss) | Torrenting Banned |
| Countries with P2P Servers | 146 | 0 |
| Port Forwarding | Yes | No |
| Logging Policy | No Logs | No Logs |
| Kill Switch | Yes | Yes |
| Jurisdiction | Switzerland (Privacy Haven) | Switzerland (Privacy Haven) |
Later in the guide, I’ll also cover some sensible alternatives to Proton VPN that you may find more suitable to your needs.
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Is Proton VPN Good for Torrenting?
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| P2P-optimized servers in 146 countries | No P2P in Cyprus, Myanmar & North Macedonia |
| Port forwarding feature | Live chat customer support isn’t 24/7 |
| Privacy-friendly jurisdiction & zero-logs policy | Free plan doesn’t support torrenting |
| Effective kill switch & malware blocker | Port number requires updating each session |
| Strong encryption & secure VPN protocols | |
| Accepts cash payments | |
I rank Proton VPN the second-best VPN for torrenting out of the 59 I’ve tested. It offers P2P-optimized servers in 146 countries across the globe, has a strict zero-logs policy, and downloads torrent files extremely fast.
Proton VPN also has its own helpful torrenting guides, showing you how to bind your BitTorrent client to the VPN, enable NetShield (Proton VPN’s malware blocker), and set up port forwarding on Windows, macOS, and Linux.
However, it just misses out on being my favorite VPN for torrenting because its bitrate is marginally lower than PIA’s.
Sadly, Proton VPN’s free version doesn’t support torrenting traffic at all. If you want to torrent, you’ll need a paid plan.
Proton VPN had a negligible impact on my file-sharing speeds.
Fast P2P Speeds
To test Proton VPN’s file-sharing speed, I downloaded a 50GB torrent file while connected to a nearby server. All testing was carried out using qBittorrent with a fixed 10MiB/s broadband connection to ensure a controlled testing environment.
I timed how long the file took to download and recorded the average bitrate. This test was then repeated multiple times to calculate an average download speed.
While connected to a New York server, my speed dropped from 10MiB/s to 9.2MiB/s. That’s a very fast result, but a few VPNs were faster still.
Here’s a table comparing Proton VPN’s file-sharing speeds to other P2P-optimized VPNs:
| Average Bitrate (10MiB/s connection) | Time to Download 50GB Torrent File | |
|---|---|---|
| No VPN | 10MiB/s | 1 hour 19 minutes |
| PIA VPN | 9.6MiB/s | 1 hour 23 minutes |
| Astrill VPN | 10.0MiB/s | 1 hour 19 minutes |
| ExpressVPN | 9.8MiB/s | 1 hour 21 minutes |
| Proton VPN | 9.2MiB/s | 1 hour 26 minutes |
A Trustworthy No-logs VPN
Proton VPN is one of the most private VPNs I’ve ever reviewed. It can be trusted to hide your real IP address and online activity from your ISP while torrenting.
There’s no record of where you signed in from, how long you were logged in, or what you accessed.
Proton VPN’s logging policy clearly describes what information is and isn’t retained by the service.
Here are some reasons why Proton VPN is one of the most privacy-friendly VPNs for torrenting:
- Genuine Zero-logs Policy: Proton VPN doesn’t store any identifying information – no IP addresses, browsing activity, timestamps, or data usage.
- Proven No-logs in a Court Case: A Swiss court approved a data request for Proton VPN. Proton VPN was unable to provide the requested information, as it simply hadn’t stored any.
- Independently Audited: Proton VPN publishes regular independent no-logs audits to verify its servers don’t keep logs on its users.
- Based in Switzerland: Switzerland has a history of respecting user privacy and isn’t part of the EU. This is a safe VPN jurisdiction that doesn’t force VPNs to store or share user data.
- Anonymous Payment Methods: You have the option to pay with cash or cryptocurrency if you don’t want your Proton VPN account to be linked to your bank account.
Strong Encryption & Security Features
Proton VPN has a modern, comprehensive set of security features to protect your data and your privacy, which make it ideal for torrenting.
It supports both AES-256 and ChaCha20 encryption, depending on whether you want to use OpenVPN or WireGuard. Both VPN protocols are extremely secure and have been extensively checked by security professionals for bugs and vulnerabilities.
I tested Proton VPN’s encryption using Wireshark, a packet inspection tool. I found it successfully encrypted all my internet traffic, proving that it’s able to hide P2P activity from your ISP.
Proton VPN encrypted my BitTorrent traffic.
If your connection to the VPN drops, there is a risk that your real IP address could be exposed to your ISP or other torrenters in the swarm. Proton VPN includes an effective kill switch on Windows and macOS, which blocks all network traffic if the VPN connection fails.
Port Forwarding on All Paid Plans
Proton VPN includes port forwarding on all paid plans in its Windows, macOS, and Linux apps.
You can use this to bypass your VPN server’s NAT and create a direct connection to your torrenting client.
By doing so, you can dramatically improve your P2P download and upload speeds.
What particularly stood out to me is that Proton VPN sends you notifications every time your port number changes. This is a great quality-of-life feature that reminds you to update your torrent client.
I cover how to port forward with Proton VPN further down the page.
P2P-Optimized Servers
Proton VPN offers high-performance servers that are specially configured for torrenting and other P2P activities.
You can find them on Windows and Android by selecting the P2P tab, or on macOS and Linux by looking for the two-arrow icon in the app’s server list.
The in-app indicators made it easy to spot servers that support P2P.
There are P2P-optimized servers in 146 countries, including the US, UK, India, and more. This is exceptional and covers 98% of its server locations.
The only locations where you can’t torrent are Cyprus, Myanmar, and North Macedonia. Trying to torrent on one of these servers may lead to an error message or a redirection to a different location. This is because a number of the data centers Proton VPN rents its servers from don’t allow P2P traffic.
Importantly, Proton VPN assured me that this redirection works without logging any identifiable information or seeing any of the files you’re downloading.
Can You Torrent with Proton VPN's Free Tier?
The free version of Proton VPN doesn’t support P2P traffic at all. According to the provider, this is to limit server congestion and prevent a decline in performance for those who really need the free service.
I tested this myself and found Proton VPN disabled my VPN connection when I tried to torrent on a free server.
Proton VPN’s privacy policy and audits show it uses deep packet inspection to detect torrenting on free accounts. However, none of this information is stored by the VPN service.
Torrent traffic is blocked on all Proton VPN Free servers.
If you want a risk-free way to trial Proton VPN for free, the service provider offers a 30-day money-back guarantee on all paid plans.
How to Torrent with Proton VPN
Setting up a VPN for torrenting can be complicated for a beginner. If you don’t configure your connection correctly, you’re at risk of leaking your real IP address to other torrenters and your activity to your ISP.
Proton VPN is a great choice for torrenting — but you need to make sure that you're using it correctly.
Quick Guide: How to Use Proton VPN for Torrenting
- Install a safe torrent client. I used qBittorrent in my tests.
- Subscribe to Proton VPN and install the app onto your device.
- Configure the Proton VPN app for maximum security. Switch to WireGuard and turn on the malware-blocker (NetShield) and advanced kill switch.
- Set up port forwarding in your Proton VPN app and torrent client.
- Bind Proton VPN to your torrent client.
- Check for IP and DNS leaks.
For detailed instructions, expand each step below.
1. Choose a Safe Torrent Client
I recommend using qBittorrent as your personal torrent client. It’s open-source, safe, and doesn’t include intrusive ads. It also allows network binding for added security.
Other popular options include Vuze, Deluge, and uTorrent. Whichever client you choose, make sure to install the app from its official website.
2. Subscribe & Install Proton VPN
Subscribe to Proton VPN and install the app on the device you’ll be torrenting on. The best device for torrenting is a Windows PC, as Windows is the OS that VPN providers and torrent client developers release their flagship apps on.
For maximum anonymity, I suggest paying for it via cash or cryptocurrency. Using these payment methods, it would be much harder to link the Proton VPN account back to you.
3. Configure the Proton VPN App
Now that you have Proton VPN installed, you should enable the security features that will protect you while torrenting.
To change settings on Windows, click on the menu icon in the top left corner. On macOS, you can change settings in Proton VPN > Preferences.
I recommend adjusting the following settings:
- WireGuard: Go into the VPN’s protocol setting and change it from Smart to WireGuard. This protocol offers the best balance of file-sharing speeds and security.
- Block malware, ads & trackers: Untrustworthy torrent sites might contain malware, so I advise enabling Proton VPN’s NetShield. This prevents viruses and malware from being installed onto your device.
- Kill Switch: This setting prevents your IP address from leaking should your internet connection suddenly drop. Make sure you set it to Advanced.
4. Set Up Port Forwarding
Port forwarding allows you to route traffic through a specific port.
It expands the pool of peers you can connect with, eliminating bottlenecks to improve your overall torrenting speeds.
I find this especially useful for rare torrents that have very few connectable peers.
How to port forward with Proton VPN for torrenting:
- Enable port forwarding in the Proton VPN app: Go to Settings > Port Forwarding, then toggle it on, and click Apply.
- Connect to a P2P server and copy your port number.
- Open qBittorrent and go to Tools > Options… > Connection.
- Uncheck Use UPnP / NAT-PMP port forwarding from my router.
- In Port used for incoming connections, enter the port number from Step 2.
5. Bind Proton VPN to Your Torrenting Client
For optimum security, I recommend binding your Proton VPN connection to your torrenting client. When you do this, you ensure torrent files will only be downloaded when you’re connected to a Proton VPN server.
Binding Proton VPN to your torrent client prevents IP address leaks.
6. Test Your Connection for Leaks
Finally, you can check your VPN connection is stable and there are no leaks. To do this, simply use our IP leak test tool.
If the tool doesn’t detect any leaks, you’re ready to download torrent files while you remain connected to the VPN server.
Alternatives to Proton VPN for Torrenting
Proton VPN is a strong choice for torrenting, but rival VPNs offer distinct advantages and drawbacks worth considering.
You can quickly compare Proton VPN to other highly rated P2P VPNs in the table below:
1. PIA VPN: My #1 VPN for Torrenting
Ranked #1 out of 59 VPNs for Torrenting
For me, Private Internet Access (PIA) is indisputably the best choice for peer-to-peer file-sharing.
It champions torrenting with unrestricted access across its 18,651 servers.
Unlike Proton VPN, it uses a fully diskless server network to prevent anyone from viewing your online activity — including what you torrent.
Though not as vital, it’s also really easy to use and set up: everything is labeled clearly in the apps and can be toggled by checking boxes.
You can use PIA to torrent risk-free.
Pro-Torrenting Stance
PIA is a torrenter’s dream: all of its servers are P2P-optimized, it’s never complied with a DMCA request, and it includes a dynamic port forwarding tool.
You can easily enable port forwarding in PIA’s Windows app.
Using WireGuard and port forwarding, I recorded a file-sharing speed drop of just 4%. This loss is so minimal that I almost forgot I had a VPN running.
One slight hitch: port forwarding isn’t available on PIA’s US servers, though torrenting is still fully supported.
Zero-logs & Highly Secure
The VPN service doesn’t log any of your online activity, including your file-sharing, and it uses RAM-only servers to ensure your data is regularly erased.
All of this was proven across multiple real-world instances, including a server seizure in 2016 by the Russian government.
Similar to Proton VPN, PIA open-sources its apps so you can inspect them for any vulnerabilities and flag them to the provider.
Your device is also kept safe while torrenting with PIA, due to its built-in MACE tool that blocks any ads and malware you come across in the process.
2. ExpressVPN: User-Friendly VPN for Torrenting
If you’re new to torrenting, or VPNs generally, I recommend using ExpressVPN. Its “plug and play” apps are designed for beginners: just click the power button and you’re good to go.
While ExpressVPN includes fewer privacy and security features than PIA or Proton VPN, it doesn’t have any deal-breaking shortcomings.
It focuses purely on the essentials I expect from a top-tier VPN (like protocols and encryption), keeping the user experience streamlined.
ExpressVPN’s file-sharing speeds are among the best.
Start File-Sharing in Seconds
Unlike my other recommendations, ExpressVPN requires no setup to begin torrenting. With its kill switch enabled by default and all servers P2P-optimized, you just need to connect to a server and start downloading.
All in all, it took just 30 seconds to do this and meant I could “set-and-forget” the VPN while my file downloaded.
The trade-off is that ExpressVPN’s setup is so quick due to a lack of features: there’s no port forwarding to configure.
Ultimately, you’ll need to decide if a seamless user experience or optimal torrenting performance is more important to you.
Lacks Advanced Security Features
ExpressVPN tunnels your internet traffic using Lightway and encrypts it with AES-256 or ChaCha20 (depending on your connection). This is a safe and secure configuration that keeps your torrenting activity anonymous.
ExpressVPN encrypted my connection with AES-256.
To complement this, the VPN uses built-in leak protection and its own private DNS servers to virtually eliminate the risk of data leaks.
While clearly secure and private, ExpressVPN doesn’t have open-source apps like its rivals, which means the wider cyber-security community can’t inspect its source code and flag any vulnerabilities.
Similarly, its privacy policy logs a very small amount of non-identifying data. Though proven to be safe by real-world events, I’d love ExpressVPN to go one step further and implement a true ‘no-logs’ approach like PIA or Proton VPN.
