VPN-For-Torrenting

Torrenting is a popular way for users to share files but it remains illegal. If you have a VPN, you can hide your torrenting activities, but what is the best VPN for torrenting?

Torrenting has gained an unsavory reputation over the years and most people associate it with illegal online activity. While it's true that sharing torrent files is illegal, it remains the only way that users can share large files fast and efficiently.

It lets users download huge files from a single source without creating bottlenecks that would have them wait hours or even days for their turn to download a file.

In case you're new to torrenting, here's how it works:

Users can distribute little bits of a file among themselves. They form a community and among them, they share files so that if anyone wants to download a file, they get little bits of it from others within the community instead of getting it from a single source.

VPN-For-Torrenting - How-It-Works

Anyone who downloads a slice of the file can share it among others in the community. Downloads are faster and there are no bottlenecks.

To torrent files you need a torrenting client, like uTorrent, qBitorrent and Vuze among others.


Why Use a VPN For Torrenting?

If this is such good technology, why do you need a VPN for torrenting?

In a nutshell, so that you can download files anonymously.

Most users use torrenting to share movies and music files. However, these are copyrighted and downloading them without paying for them is illegal.

Using a VPN ensures that no one can see what you're downloading and where you are. You can download whatever you want, whenever you want and authorities will be none the wiser.

VPN-For-Torrenting - How-A-VPN-Works

There are more reasons to use a VPN for torrenting:

  • Torrenting connections are, by their nature, insecure. You can download a file by logging onto another user's computer. Anyone who looks at that connection can see your IP address which is like your home address. A VPN allocates you a random IP address, and no one can see where you are.
  • Torrent websites don't always label files correctly, and some that are copyrighted may not say so. As a result, you may download without any intention of violating copyright but end up breaking the law. You can eliminate that risk by using a VPN.
  • Downloading files without a VPN makes you a target for hackers. A P2P connection exposes your device, and anyone with malicious intent can gather and use your information.

Click here for more on how VPNs work…


How to Use a VPN For Torrenting

Torrenting with a VPN is easy. You need two things: a bit torrent client and a VPN service.

This step-by-step guide on how to torrent with a VPN assumes that you already have a torrent client.

You can download one by going to the Google Play Store and typing “Torrent” in the search bar. You'll get several torrenting software and you can choose the one you think is best for your needs.

VPN-For-Torrenting - How-To-Use-A-VPN

Step 1: Get the best VPN for torrenting. Any of the ones discussed in this post will do. Set it up according to the instructions and then log in.

Some VPNs have specific servers for torrenting. They are faster and safer. If you choose one that does, find out how to identify them. If the VPN doesn't have P2P-friendly servers, you can select any server (ideally one that's close to your location) and log into the VPN.

Step 2: Check your torrent client for VPN settings. They can be detailed and a little confusing, but torrent communities are usually helpful and willing to help members. If you get stuck, talk to others who use the same torrent client about setting up a VPN for it.

Step 3: Double-check to ensure that your torrent client is connected through the VPN and then choose a file and start torrenting.


One of the first things that users want to know is whether using a VPN for torrenting is illegal. Torrenting isn't illegal. Downloading copyrighted material is.

Most files that users want to torrent are unsanctioned, and that's why they use a VPN.

As mentioned earlier, files aren't always clearly labeled, and some users may end up unwittingly downloading copyrighted material.

Many countries around the world don't condone torrenting but they overlook it. In some countries, however, authorities arrest people from time to time and punishments can range from fines to prison time.

VPN-For-Torrenting - Is-It-Illegal

A VPN ensures that you're anonymous at all times and you don't have to worry about whether torrenting is legal or illegal.


How to Choose a Torrenting VPN – Here’s How We Selected The Best

How do you choose the best VPN for torrenting? Let's have a quick look at the criteria we looked at to bring you four of the best VPNs for torrenting in 2021:

  • Whether or not the VPN allows torrenting – some VPNs do not allow P2P sharing. They may not be explicit about it, but you'll find that they discourage it if you read the small print. For many, it's because they worry about overwhelming their servers. VPNs with wide server networks don't worry about server load and encourage users to use their services for torrenting.
  • Security – this is probably the most important feature of any VPN for torrenting. The best VPNs use top-of-the-range encryption technology to keep user details secure. They also have a kill switch to ensure user details don't leak in case of a dropped connection.
  • Speed –All VPNs will slow down your internet speed to some degree, so it makes sense to choose one that has high speeds to begin with.
  • Logging user details –you want a VPN that doesn't keep user logs, including what sites you access and what files you download. For this post we chose VPNs that have a strict no-logs policy.

We also looked at price. You want a VPN that provides good value for the long term. When comparing VPNs, look for those that offer annual, two-year or three-year deals. They are cheaper.


Best VPNs For Torrenting

Based on the above criteria, we selected the 4 best VPNs for torrenting. The virtual private networks discussed here are good for torrenting and are excellent for providing overall security and anonymity.

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Surfshark VPN

VPN-For-Torrenting - Surfshark-Home

Surfshark is one of the top VPNs for P2P. You can torrent through any of their servers, but users are encouraged to log in through the dedicated P2P servers. This is because they are faster and help shorten torrenting time.

All Surfshark servers support P2P, so you can connect through any and start torrenting.

This VPN is ideal for torrenting because it is fast. It may not be as fast as ExpressVPN or NordVPN but users are happy with the speeds, especially for streaming and torrenting.

Surfshark provides pretty good security. Users enjoy military-grade encryption, a kill switch and DNS leak protection.  The company doesn't keep user logs, so no one will ever find out whether you torrent and what files you torrent.

ProsCons
All servers are optimized for P2PSurfshark Apple apps aren't as strong as Android
3,200 servers and 65 locationsYou don't get split tunneling for iOS
Based in the British Virgin Islands
Has good speeds
It is one of the cheapest VPNs
It has excellent encryption and security
Doesn't log user details
Has pocket-friendly deals
Allows unlimited simultaneous connections

Surfshark comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

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NordVPN

NordVPN

NordVPN supports torrenting and it has P2P dedicated servers. After you install the VPN and open it, on the left you'll see a P2P tab.

If you click on it you'll find all the servers that are optimized for torrenting. You can log in through any of these servers and you'll be able to download files using a torrent client.

The company has a strict no-logs policy, a kill switch and doesn't keep user logs. It uses the strongest encryption protocols. The service has thousands of servers across the globe and is one of the fastest among VPNs.

The company doesn't keep user logs so you don't have to worry about your files falling into the wrong hands. NordVPN works with all torrenting clients including uTorrent.

ProsCons
Has specific P2P optimized serversSometimes it takes a little longer than it should to establish a connection
5,200+ servers worldwideAfrica and the Middle East have very few servers optimized for torrenting yet they have heavy traffic.
Based in Panama6 Simultaneous Connections
Strict no-logs policy with high end AES-256 bit encryption
High speeds which is maintained across all connected devices

NordVPN has a 30-day money back guarantee.

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VyprVPN

VyprVPN

VyprVPN is a trusted, popular VPN that allows users to torrent files anonymously. This service used to block P2P traffic in the past but not anymore. After it expanded its server network, users can now torrent freely without worrying about compromised security or bandwidth caps.

It uses AES-256 bit encryption, making it very secure. It also has a kill switch and DNS leak protection to ensure an anonymous connection at all times.

The VPN is fairly fast and will not slow down your connection much. It gives the option to connect to the fastest server and you can see the ping speed for each.

The company has a strict no-logs policy, and you don't have to worry about them keeping a record of the files you download.

ProsCons
The company owns and maintains all servers5 Simultaneous connections
It doesn't keep user logsThe VPN has a relatively small server network
700+ servers in 70+ locationsThe iOS app is rather limited
Based in Switzerland
It uses military-grade encryption
The service is affordable

VyprVPN comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

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ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN - Home

ExpressVPN allows torrenting, and you can download and upload P2P files through any server you choose. It is fast, very secure and uses the best encryption technology to secure user files.

The software offers adequate leak protection and a kill switch to keep you anonymous in case of a dropped connection.

The only problem with ExpressVPN for torrenting is that it doesn't allow port forwarding, which makes uploading or “seeding” files rather slow.

ProsCons
Supports P2P on all serversIt isn't cheap
It has excellent speedsThe iOS app is limited
Top-notch encryptionIt isn't very good for seeding files
Strict no-logs policy5 Simultaneous Connections
30,000+ servers in 90+ counties
Based in the British Virgin Islands

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FAQ

  • Is a free VPN Good for Torrenting?

You'll have a hard time finding a free VPN that's completely safe for torrenting. Most of them are hampered by slow speeds, and they do not guarantee anonymity because they can't afford to implement military-grade encryption. They also have daily data caps which isn't ideal because torrenting usually involves large files.

The other thing to remember is that most free VPNs for torrenting make money by collecting user details and selling them to advertisers and marketing companies. It sort of defeats the purpose of using a VPN in the first place.

  • What does a kill switch do?

Sometimes a VPN connection drops but the internet connection stays live. User details are then out in the open for anyone to see. A kill switch is a safety measure that kills your internet connection as soon as the VPN connection drops.

When setting up a VPN make sure to activate the kill switch in the settings. Each time the connection drops you'll go offline. You'll receive a notification letting you know that the kill switch has been activated and you can restart the VPN connection again.

  • Will a VPN affect torrenting speeds?

Using a VPN slows down speeds to some degree, and that's why it makes sense to choose a VPN that's fast to start with. You can download files faster by connecting through a server that close to your location.

  • How do I choose the best server for torrenting?

Some of the VPNs discussed in this post have dedicated P2P servers. Others support P2P on all their servers so you can choose any server and it will work. You can try different servers to see which ones are fastest, and you can use those whenever you want to download torrent files.


Conclusion

Finding the best VPN for torrenting doesn't have to be complicated if you know what to look for. The most important features are speed and anonymity. Also, check whether the VPN you have in mind has data caps – all the ones discussed here don't.

The VPNs in this post are good for more than torrenting; you can use them to secure and anonymize your online presence. Click here to find out what else you can do with a VPN…


Best VPNs For Torrenting in 2022

VPNDedicated ServersNo. Of Simultaneous ConnectionsLocation Of CompanyNumber Of ServersEncryptionPricing (Monthly)
SurfsharkNoBritish Virgin Islands3,200+AES-256$12.95
NordVPNYes 6Panama5,200+AES-256$11.95
VyprVPNYes5Switzerland700+AES-256$12.95
ExpressVPNNo5British Virgin Islands3,000+AES-256$12.95
Private Internet AccessYes10United States29,000+AES-128, AES-256$9.95
CyberghostYes7Romania6,000+AES-256$12.99