Best VPN for torrenting 2025: Top picks tested and ranked

Torrenting, or P2P (peer-to-peer) file sharing, is a handy approach to obtain giant information rapidly. Nevertheless it isn’t with out its dangers. Not solely is there the danger of by chance downloading a malicious file or malware, however there’s a privateness danger as nicely — your ISP can see all of your on-line exercise and so they often don’t take too kindly to torrenting.

That’s why it’s crucial that you simply use a VPN whereas doing any torrenting or P2P file sharing. A VPN can hold your connection personal and encrypt your knowledge in order that undesirable prying eyes — cybercriminals, overbearing ISPs, or nosy authorities watchdogs — can’t monitor your on-line exercise. (See “Can a VPN actually disguise your entire torrent exercise?” to be taught extra.)

Why you need to belief me: Right here at PCWorld we’ve been testing laptop {hardware}, software program, and providers because the Nineteen Eighties. As PCWorld’s main VPN reviewer, I’m regularly testing all the main VPNs in the marketplace and plenty of lesser-known providers with a view to curate a listing of the perfect VPNs throughout quite a lot of classes. Under you’ll discover my favourite VPNs and extra details about what to search for when selecting a VPN by yourself.

In case you’re focused on utilizing a VPN for one thing different than simply torrenting you’ll be able to try my listing of greatest VPN providers for much more nice choices.

NordVPN – Finest VPN for torrenting total

Professionals

• Loaded with tons of VPN configuration choices
• Excellent speeds
• A number of unbiased no-logs audits
• Included antivirus and password supervisor

Why I like NordVPN

NordVPN is my high choose for torrenting because of its unbelievable security measures, multi-hop connections, and independently verified no-logs coverage. Plus, it comes with built-in ad- and tracker-blocker in addition to malware safety and a hyperlink checker — you understand, for any of these doubtful Linux torrenting websites you may run into. NordVPN additionally proved to be the quickest VPN in the marketplace in my testing, so these giant P2P information ought to obtain in no-time.

It actually has every thing you could possibly wish to make your torrenting quicker, simpler, and most significantly, safer. NordVPN additionally comes with broad system assist and an easy-to-use Home windows app. It may be a bit costly, however if you happen to go for longer-term subscriptions it turns into lots cheaper.

Who can purchase NordVPN

NordVPN is the proper VPN for torrenting and anybody who’s searching for a VPN for this function would do nicely to subscribe to the service. It’s additionally an amazing total VPN possibility for individuals who need velocity and additional options. Even energy customers will discover loads of customizable choices to get probably the most out of their expertise.

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NordVPN overview

ExpressVPN – Finest VPN for torrenting runner-up

Professionals

• Glorious speeds
• Effectively-designed interface
• Unblocks all streaming providers
• Nice safety and privateness practices

Cons

• Dearer than different VPNs
• A bit of gentle on additional security measures

Why I like ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN is our favourite VPN, so it’s no shock that it’s touchdown as considered one of our high picks for torrents as nicely. Though it’s one of the best total choose for VPNs, I give it the runner-up spot right here as NordVPN comes with a number of extra security measures than ExpressVPN — in the case of torrenting, the extra safety the higher.

Nevertheless, ExpressVPN continues to be a superb VPN selection for torrenting because it makes all the proper privateness guarantees and its speeds are excellent. It additionally has numerous different nice qualities that make it price your whereas, reminiscent of sensible DNS and dependable unblocking capabilities. Additionally, ExpressVPN is formally primarily based within the British Virgin Islands that means it isn’t topic to any home or worldwide knowledge sharing necessities, that means you’ll be able to really feel assured your ISP or different events received’t uncover your P2P exercise.

Who can purchase ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN is a real all-arounder and an amazing possibility for everybody. Because it’s my high choose total for VPNs, I’d extremely suggest it to anybody who desires a VPN for extra than simply torrenting — particularly if additionally they wish to do streaming.

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ExpressVPN overview

Proton VPN – Finest free VPN for torrenting

Professionals

• Glorious free plan
• Nice privateness instruments
• Dependable and clear no-logs coverage

Cons

• Premium plan is dear

Why I like ProtonVPN

My choose for greatest free VPN for torrenting is a no brainer: ProtonVPN. For free of charge, you’ll get a one-device reference to no knowledge or closing dates. I repeat, no knowledge or closing dates. That’s completely exceptional from a significant VPN supplier and it means you’ll be able to safely torrent to your coronary heart’s content material with out worrying about your file sizes. Positive, the free model of ProtonVPN comes with entry to solely 5 servers, however once you’re torrenting, the server location shouldn’t matter anyhow.

ProtonVPN additionally has a number of the quickest speeds round, each upstream and down, which is useful once you wish to unfold the Open Workplace love as rapidly as potential. The Swiss-based service has glorious privateness guarantees, and it has a bunch of servers in a friggin’ bunker too — taking a look at you, torrenting preppers.

Who ought to use ProtonVPN

Anybody who desires to torrent ought to use a VPN and anybody who doesn’t need, or have the means, to pay for a premium VPN ought to use ProtonVPN as an alternative. It’s free and has no knowledge limits. I name {that a} win-win.

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ProtonVPN overview

Mullvad – Finest for privateness

Professionals

• Good speeds
• Cheap pricing
• Unmatched consumer anonymity
• Versatile fee choices

Cons

• Struggles with unblocking streaming providers
• Smaller server community
• Not as feature-rich as rivals

Worth When Reviewed:

5 Euro professional Monat

Why I like Mullvad

Mullvad is the last word VPN in the case of privateness and anonymity. The Sweden-based firm appreciates your small business, nevertheless it’s not focused on discovering out who you might be. It goes nicely past the requirements of most different VPN firms in the case of defending your anonymity. As an alternative of utilizing an e-mail and password combo, Mullvad randomly generates an account quantity that capabilities as your username and password. And you may even determine to mail in money as a subscription fee if you happen to don’t need your bank card on file.

Whereas Mullvad focuses on privateness, it’s no slouch in different departments as nicely. It ranks within the high 10 for speeds, and comes with a handy split-tunneling characteristic too. All servers are able to P2P transfers so you’ll be able to simply choose your favourite server and begin torrenting. Plus, the service has a really cheap month-to-month subscription payment.

Who can purchase Mullvad

Mullvad is in the end for the privacy-conscious consumer. Those that actually demand final anonymity when torrenting or simply utilizing a VPN usually will discover that Mullvad takes energetic measures to make sure they by no means know who you might be — that means no different observer will know who you might be both. As a result of its reasonably priced month-to-month plan it’s additionally an amazing possibility for VPN customers on a price range.

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Mullvad overview

Personal Web Entry – Finest for personalization

Professionals

• Independently verified no-logs coverage
• Limitless simultaneous system connections
• Unimaginable variety of servers
• Nice additional options reminiscent of multi-hop and break up tunneling

Cons

• App panel awkwardly positioned on the lower-right nook of display screen by default
• Speeds are simply okay

Why I like Personal Web Entry

Personal Web Entry (PIA) is without doubt one of the hottest VPN suppliers and has seemingly been round ceaselessly. PIA not solely comes with an insane quantity of servers, but additionally nice options reminiscent of multi-hop, an app-based kill swap, and break up tunneling. All servers are able to P2P file transfers, and options like port forwarding imply your torrenting can be quicker and extra dependable.

PIA additionally has an amazing report of transparency, recurrently present process unbiased no-logs audits. It does lack some velocity compared to different high picks right here, however that shouldn’t translate to an excessive amount of of a success whereas torrenting.

Who can purchase Personal Web Entry

PIA is greatest suited for many who prefer to tinker with their software program. It supplies so many customizable options that it will possibly come throughout as a bit overwhelming to the uninitiated and people simply searching for a set-it and forget-it possibility. However energy customers will discover a plethora of tweakable choices and settings to maintain them comfortable via all of their torrenting endeavors.

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Personal Web Entry overview

Different VPN evaluations and options

How I examined

In case you’ve learn quite a few these VPN articles, you understand the drill by now. I check on three totally different days taking the typical speeds I discover in six totally different nations (every nation is examined a number of occasions per day). Then I take all these each day averages to get an total international common in megabytes per second. Then I evaluate that to the bottom velocity with no VPN, after which specific the end result as a proportion primarily based on how a lot of the bottom velocity the worldwide common maintains. If there are notably standout speeds in a sure nation or area I’ll typically name these out too.

The explanation I don’t quote particular speeds is that these can differ by all types of things reminiscent of your location, ISP, dwelling community load and tools, and so forth. The odds, nevertheless, provide you with a typically good concept of how a lot of a dip to count on once you hook up with a VPN — there’s all the time a dip.

One different issue torrent customers will wish to learn about is that I learn the privateness coverage for every VPN I cowl. Sure, it’s painful to do, so I prevent the trouble. The explanation I do that may be a VPN might promise up entrance that it doesn’t observe your net looking, however you then discover that truly it does log IP addresses, timestamps, and bandwidth used. So I dig into the main points so you’ll be able to know precisely what the VPNs I overview promise.

For extra particulars on my testing course of, see how we check VPNs at PCow

What to search for in a VPN for torrenting

There are a number of hard-and-fast guidelines you want from a VPN when downloading torrents. Right here’s what to search for:

Blocking

To start with you need a VPN service supplier that permits torrenting of P2P file sharing on their community. Most do, however there are a number of notable exceptions reminiscent of Tunnel Bear, which actively blocks torrents.

Then there are VPNs that partially block torrents, particularly on U.S. servers reminiscent of TorGuard. This VPN service just lately settled a lawsuit introduced towards it by a consortium of Hollywood manufacturing firms and because of this, TorGuard promised to now not permit torrents on its U.S. servers. On high of that, many different VPN providers don’t wish to find yourself in a lawsuit like their rivals and actively disallow torrenting on their American servers.

Service location

For that motive, I like to recommend utilizing VPN providers which can be primarily based exterior the U.S., and from these VPNs you need to use servers primarily based in nations which can be friendlier to torrents. This avoids the problem of coping with torrents being blocked outright when all you wish to do is load up Ubuntu on that new laptop computer. Most VPN providers will specify which servers permit torrents, however a well-liked and straightforward selection is Sweden. The speeds are often good, and most providers embrace Swedish servers of their networks together with many different nations which can be torrent-friendly.

No-logs coverage

The subsequent factor you need is a VPN that has an ironclad no-logs promise from the service supplier, as a result of no person desires to be uncovered downloading free and open supply software program. That implies that the service ought to embrace a promise to not keep logs of any type.

I say “promise” since there’s no actual approach to know for positive {that a} VPN isn’t logging your exercise. You in the end should belief that it’s not doing it. This belief can come from a number of elements, so as of reputability: The corporate’s no-logs promise has been confirmed by a courtroom problem, quite a few third-party audits have verified the service’s claims, otherwise you may simply take the corporate at its phrase proceed with warning.

Velocity

Lastly, after these particulars have been verified, you need a VPN with stable speeds. Torrents can take a very long time to obtain as it’s, relying on how many individuals are sharing the file. The very last thing you need is to see your obtain slowed down by shoddy VPN speeds.

To get the VPN you want for torrenting, simply put all these attributes collectively: permits torrents, absolute no-logs promise, torrent-friendly providers and servers exterior the U.S., and glorious speeds.