Best VPN for torrenting and torrenting 2022
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Torrenting can be seen as a bit of a gray area in terms of ethics. However, whatever you think of torrents (and as you find yourself here, we think we have a pretty good idea of ​​where you stand on them), they’ve become a very popular way to share files online, albeit not quite the safest. So using a VPN for torrenting seems like a good idea.
A VPN for torrenting can offer anonymity online – among its many uses – when downloading torrents, ensuring that any data you share or receive is end-to-end encrypted. This is the basic premise that explains why you might want to use a VPN for torrenting, although you can find more information below through our FAQ.
Downloading music, movies, and video games via P2P torrenting is incredibly common, no matter how hard governments and ISPs try to prevent it from happening. It goes without saying that TechRadar does not condone any kind of copyright infringement, but we want to ensure your safety when streaming content online. That is why we recommend you the best torrent VPN providers available that will ensure that your personal information remains private.
How to choose the best VPN for torrenting
We’ve picked all the VPNs we’ve chosen to support torrenting (not all VPNs) but – just as importantly – they are all equipped with the right features and tools that you need when torrenting.
Few of them are obvious, starting with privacy and security. Torrenting is inherently very risky, and while peer-to-peer sharing of large files is undoubtedly beneficial, you can leave yourself vulnerable to malicious party threats. So you want a VPN with strong encryption protocols and a lot of security intelligence. Having a clear no-logs policy is also crucial – the biggest VPN service providers have started an independent audit of them.
Download speeds are also critical – there’s no point in choosing a VPN that throttles your speeds so much that downloads crawl at a slow pace. We also recommend choosing torrent VPNs that are watertight from DNS leaks and have a kill switch. The latter shuts down your internet connection if the VPN stops working, thus preventing your real IP from being exposed.
The 3 best VPNs for torrenting today:
Best VPNs for torrenting in 2022:
(Image credit: ExpressVPN)
1. ExpressVPN
Best all-in-one VPN for torrenting and P2P traffic
Torrenting / P2P Allowed: yes | Audited no-logs policy: yes | Quick contacts: yes | Supported kill switch: Windows, Mac, Android | Servers: 3000+ | 24/7 live chat support: Yes
Ultra-fast servers in 94 countries
VPN abroad and anonymous
Excellent 24/7 customer support
Active stop switches
A little more expensive than competitors
Best VPN for torrenting 2022 – Get 3 months free with an annual plan
Simply put, ExpressVPN boasts all the features you would want from a VPN for torrenting – in fact, the provider also tops our list of best VPNs overall.
We say “bragged,” but Express doesn’t even bother to paste its claims all over its homepage. Instead, it continues to work with creating P2P support across each of its servers, all with unlimited bandwidth.
It’s definitely fast. We tested its connection speed to multiple servers around the world and saw some of the best and most reliable connections out of the 200+ VPNs we reviewed. This is obviously a huge advantage for anyone who downloads large files. Bitcoin payments are also supported.
In terms of security, ExpressVPN ticks all the right boxes with strong encryption, its own secure DNS server, and a suite of VPN protocols, while the privacy policy clearly states that no activity logs and no connection logs are kept. We’re glad to see effective kill switches for desktop and Android phones, though iOS doesn’t have one specifically — you’ll have to settle for the auto-reconnect option if you’re doing most torrenting on your iPhone or iPad.
The program’s split tunneling feature for both Mac and Windows users is definitely worth mentioning as it allows users to choose to protect only their torrent client. This leaves all other online activities, such as web browsing or online gaming, unaffected by the VPN.
And if you encounter any issues with the VPN, 24/7 customer support is available via live chat or email. ExpressVPN’s offshore jurisdiction in the BVI is also a key feature to protect your anonymity. As well as the policy of not keeping independently audited logs.
Price-wise, ExpressVPN costs more than other providers – although it now maintains the value with a full year of Backblaze cloud backup with all annual subscriptions. In the end, it is definitely worth it for those who want the best experience when torrenting over a VPN.
(Image credit: Hotspot Shield)
2. Hotspot Shield
One of the fastest VPNs available with 100% P2P enabled servers
Torrenting / P2P Allowed: yes | No-logs audited policy: no | Quick contacts: very | Supported kill switch: Windows, Mac, Android | Servers: 1800+ | 24/7 live chat support: Yes
Very fast connections
easy to operate
simple for beginners
There are some cuttings of trees
Not the best online support
Most recently, Hotspot Shield has built its reputation on its market-leading speeds. The brilliantly named Catapult Hydra protocol means that it can boost connection speeds to megabits per second much faster than OpenVPN can manage. So you know that running Hotspot in the background will not reduce torrents to slow download speed.
But honestly, hardly any of the torrenting VPNs on this list can do that either. Fortunately, the Hotspot Shield has a lot of strings attached to its bow. It fully supports P2P on every one of its 1,500+ servers worldwide, and there are reliable kill switches on desktop as well as Android (but not on the provider’s undercooked iOS app, unfortunately).
We think if you’re a heavy torrent user, you’ll likely like the idea of ​​streaming securely – and on a larger scale – too. Hotspot Shield is the perfect streaming VPN, as it is able to bypass pretty much all geo-restricted content we throw its way.
We found the ready availability of online support guides on how to torrent safely with Hotspot Shield somewhat lacking. But at least there is an efficient 24/7 live chat support service in case you need immediate help.
To climb higher on this countdown, we’d really like the service to start vetting its no-logs policy to give us more confidence in its privacy credentials. In fact, Hotspot already acknowledges the existence of some Recording of sessions. There is nothing likely to harm you – we are talking about session duration, devices, and IP addresses. Again, nothing we really consider a red flag, but it does mean that we prefer the above VPNs on this list.
Today’s Hotspot Shield Best Deals
(Image credit: Future)
3. NordVPN
Waterproof security measures make it a natural choice for P2P
Torrenting / P2P Allowed: yes | Audited no-logs policy: yes | Quick contacts: yes | Supported kill switch: Windows, Mac, iOS | Servers: 5200+ | 24/7 live chat support: Yes
Double data encryption
great support
fast performance
Tried and tested kill switches
The user interface on mobile is worse than on the desktop
When talking about VPN security, NordVPN is one of the first names that come to mind.
This isn’t surprising when you consider the ultra-secure connections you get with the supported IKEv2/IPsec and OpenVPN protocols, along with the provider’s high-speed NordLynx version of WireGuard. In fact, there are a certain number of “Double VPN” servers that actually pass your data through two separate VPN servers for added security. Moreover, Onion over VPN is supported for more privacy.
Like most top-tier VPNs, there is also a clear no-log policy. But Nord has taken the extra step of inviting external auditors, PricewaterhouseCoopers, to verify the security of its apps. The bug bounty program gives an incentive for anyone to detect and report security issues with the service.
P2P isn’t supported on all servers, but Nord won’t leave you trying to find a needle in a haystack. It implements a very easy one-click P2P option from its main interface, to ensure that you are directed directly to a suitable server when you are preparing to torrent. It also offers wide server coverage, an automatic kill switch for Windows, Mac, and iOS (with an easy-to-activate equivalent on Android), DNS leak blocking, good client and great performance levels with above-average download speeds.
Crypto is backed (Bitcoin included), and you have the option to try and cancel with a 30-day money-back guarantee. Obviously, a multi-year plan is the better option in terms of net value for money.
Today’s NordVPN Best Deals
(Image credit: Private Internet Access)
4. Private Internet Access
PIA accesses P2P areas that others cannot access
Torrenting / P2P Allowed: yes | No-logs audited policy: no | Quick contacts: average | Supported kill switch: Windows, Mac, Android, iOS | Servers: 35.00+ (unconfirmed) | 24/7 live chat support: Yes
Port forwarding option available
full of features
Fantastic Kill Keys
No security check
Speeds can be erratic
Private Internet Access (or PIA) definitely won the award for the product name that best suits the needs of torrenters who want a virtual private network (VPN). Sure, that sounds convenient on the surface, but does PIA have what it takes to meet your needs?
Well, let’s face it… he wouldn’t be on this list if he wasn’t! For starters, there is P2P support on each of its many servers (how many are a bit unclear at the moment – until recently, their site claimed a whopping 35,000, but they recently disappeared from the site). And you’ll have learned enough from this guide by now that its clean sweep of kill switches on desktop (Windows and Mac) and mobile VPN apps (Android and iOS), is enough to get you through our good books.
But PIA engineers went the extra mile by enabling “port forwarding” as well. Now, the jury decides how useful this is – see the bottom of this article for ideas from other VPN providers for torrenting – but toggle the setting to enable forwarding of incoming connections to bypass the NAT firewall and thus help improve P2P download speeds.
Again, it’s up to you whether you use this or not. But the fact that PIA lags a bit behind the direct competition when it comes to pure download speeds may help your decision – we suppose it just depends on how long you can wait to download the latest blockbuster…
Elsewhere, PIA has recently upped its game when it comes to streaming (US Netflix good, BBC iPlayer bad) and their apps are a real joy to use, with plenty of features to explore. Moreover, the multi-year plan offered by Private Internet Access is among the most affordable.
Today’s Best Private Internet Access Deals
(Image credit: Future)
5. Surfshark
Bringing Affordability to Safe Torrenting
Torrenting / P2P Allowed: yes | No-logs audited policy: partly | Quick contacts: yes | Supported kill switch: Windows, Mac, Android, iOS | Servers: 3200+ | 24/7 live chat support: Yes
cheap prices
Covers all devices
Kill switch on all platforms
Some quirks kill the switch
If Surfshark is already on your VPN shortlist, it is most likely due to its price. They always feature prominently in our cheap VPN guide, thanks to the low cost of their multi-year plan. Absolute bargain honestly.
Especially when you consider that Surfshark really has the goods to back up this case. For torrent buddies, there is P2P support on most servers (although it would be nice to make it clearer for any of them), undefined DNS servers, Bitcoin support, split tunneling, and even URL and ad blocking. If you’re struggling to get Surfshark to work with your torrent client, there’s also helpful 24/7 support via email and live chat.
Coming back to value for money, a single subscription covers an unlimited number of devices. So you can run VPN on PC, Mac, …
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