Best VPNs for Downloading Torrents in 2024

Torrenting is frequently in the “grey area” because of its poor reputation. Many people seek the best VPN for torrenting to download copyrighted files, which gives this activity a bad name. However, peer-to-peer file sharing is all but and is indeed a great way to share files.

In 2024, enjoying total privacy during this activity is impossible without a great P2P-friendly VPN. Besides, P2P isn’t very private because you expose your IP address to other “peers”. Let’s not forget about torrent sites and their intrusive logging.

Finally, there’s your Internet Provider (ISP) spying on your online activities. All of these issues can reign down on you and potentially harm you if you accidentally download a copyrighted file. This is where a reputable VPN service for torrents comes into play.

Such a service encrypts your connection and alters your IP address. This shields you from snoopers and hackers and allows you to download files in P2P anonymously. Best of all, some providers can even improve your speeds! Let’s dive deeper and see what’s up.

Best VPNs to use for Torrenting in 2024

We’ll get on with the list right away. For this list, we went with five providers we think perform the best according to our testing. The list contains premium providers only because we’ve had a poor experience with free options. Most of them don’t even support P2P.

So, if you want a reliable VPN provider for downloading torrents, your go-to options include:

1. NordVPN – the best option overall, with dedicated P2P servers
2. ExpressVPN – fast, stable, and reliable VPN for torrents
3. Private Internet Access – torrenting on unlimited devices
4. Surfshark – great for fast download speeds and stability
5. CyberGhost – special torrenting VPN servers in 70+ countries

Let’s discuss each provider separately and examine their features.

1. NordVPN

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Our preferred VPN for torrenting is almost always NordVPN. We love its inclusion of P2P servers on all devices. This is paramount for safe and secure torrent activities that involve heavy file sharing. With these servers on all devices, you can use NordVPN on your phone!

We, in fact, tested its P2P capabilities on Android phones and tablets with excellent results. Speaking of these results, NordVPN is subsequently the fastest provider here. It uses a powerful NordLynx protocol in combination with RAM-only 10 Gbps servers.

This ensures smooth performance and stable download speeds no matter your location. Another perk is NordVPN’s SOCKS5 support. You can use this proxy directly from the torrent client to speed up your downloads and cut waiting times by a few percent.

NordVPN’s performance is amplified by its impeccable privacy. You’ll enjoy its AES-256 encryption working in the background but also its state-of-the-art kill switch. This two-level kill switch can affect only specific apps, for example, so it can apply to the P2P client.

NordVPN comes with Double VPN servers to enhance your encryption. Additionally, you’ll find its Threat Protection handy for file protection. This feature will prevent malicious files from getting on your device, so this amazing VPN for torrenting will take care of everything.

Covering all aspects of security, speed, and privacy, NordVPN takes the #1 spot on this list. It’s also a no-logging service with 10 simultaneous connections, excellent support, and even remarkable streaming abilities. More about it is in our exclusive NordVPN test.

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2. ExpressVPN

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You can’t make a list of leading VPNs for torrents without ExpressVPN. This provider is so simple to use, you’ll be astonished. A single click connects you to one of its 3,000 servers, after which, you can download or even upload torrents in P2P in complete privacy.

ExpressVPN doesn’t have special servers for this purpose, instead, all are P2P-ready. We appreciate its extreme performance, which is further improved by its Lightway protocol. After testing it, Lightway achieved great download speeds with minimal reduction, which is impressive.

ExpressVPN is less impressive than NordVPN but that’s by a tiny margin. You see, the provider offers Advanced Protection that blocks trackers and ads. Its apps offer AES-256-bit encryption with a Network Lock kill switch to deter annoying IP and DNS leaks.

One thing people like is Perfect Forward Secrecy. This means assigning unique encryption keys to each connection, preventing data theft and hackers from harming you. ExpressVPN’s privacy policy is favorable because the VPN doesn’t keep any logs of your online activities.

This is essential for the best VPN for torrenting because it accentuates privacy. ExpressVPN is a premium pick, so expect unlimited bandwidth and other things like streaming, gaming without latency, and amazing device support. The only downside is the price.

ExpressVPN is indeed costly compared to other reliable P2P VPNs in this ranking. However, users can opt for its 49% discount thanks to 3 free months for the annual plan. With a 30-day refund policy, you can test ExpressVPN and lose nothing if it’s not your bag of beans.

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3. Private Internet Access

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Private Internet Access makes it clear it doesn’t mess around. Yes, the VPN is fully compatible with torrenting, more so security-wise than performance-wise. While PIA is fast enough and doesn’t significantly reduce your internet speeds, its main appeal lies in security and privacy—two vital aspects.

PIA offers SOCKS5 support in addition to port forwarding. The latter is often used for peer-to-peer file sharing to make the process a tad faster. Private Internet Access offers a phenomenal WireGuard protocol, making connections stable and hasty.

We love this VPN for its MultiHop servers that add another layer of encryption. While they’re slower for torrenting with this VPN, they’re impressively private. With obfuscation, you can even use PIA in censored regions to engage in P2P. Sadly, it won’t work in China.

On the brighter side, Private Internet Access doesn’t store logs. Its no-log policy has been proven in court and verified by Deloitte. Many people online praise its RAM-only servers and the use of Private DNS to completely hide your DNS request from the ISP.

Its device compatibility is nearly perfect. It lacks a Firestick app but that’s not too important for the best torrenting VPN. Every other device is supported, and best of all, you’re covered by unlimited simultaneous connections in every subscription. Sounds ridiculously good.

This provider’s price is kept at bay thanks to a meaty discount on its 2-year plan with a couple of free months. In short, you’ll pay a speck over $2/mo and enjoy one of the most terrific VPN services for P2P in 2024.

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4. Surfshark

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Surfshark devours privacy problems like a hungry shark. If you’re struggling to download torrents in privacy, this VPN provider will come in handy. Its security features are ubiquitous. From MultiHop and a kill switch to RAM servers and 256-bit encryption – everything is here!

Surfshark’s MultiHop servers are well-done and surprisingly fast. Not to mention its WireGuard and OpenVPN support on all devices, ensuring you can pick the right protocol for your needs. Surfshark is another provider that stores absolutely no logs.

While its Dutch jurisdiction is far from the best, its privacy remained intact, as implied by a few audits from Deloitte and Cure53. Surfshark’s performance is astounding too, so using this VPN for torrents will produce impressive speeds for downloading and seeding.

Surfshark offers unlimited traffic aided by impeccable P2P optimization on all servers. You’ll get around 3,200 of them in 100 countries, which should be enough. One thing to note is Surfshark’s One plan, which offers all the features you’ll want in this VPN.

Antivirus is one of them, which helps remove unwanted trackers that could hitch a ride on some torrent files. There’s also this Search feature, which is an anonymous browser that you can use without tracking. Surfshark offers all the essential features, so don’t worry.

Like PIA, it doesn’t put limits on simultaneous connections and supports all devices. While its monthly plans are very expensive, its 2-year and 1-year plans are heavily discounted. Surfshark is one of the cheapest premium VPNs for torrenting now, so check it out.

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5. CyberGhost

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CyberGhost isn’t the top-rated VPN for torrents but it’s pretty close. This Romanian service includes bespoke torrenting servers crafted for this activity. Connect to one close to you and start downloading in seconds! CyberGhost is no slouch performance-wise.

Our tests showed its impressive speed with WireGuard, albeit, less so with OpenVPN. CyberGhost’s downside is that its P2P servers aren’t on all devices, so for example, iPhone VPN users won’t get them. Even on Android, the provider for some reason excludes them.

Desktop users will receive a better treatment, with some great features on top. CyberGhost’s split tunneling, kill switch, and IPv6 leak protections will surely have a place in your arsenal. Users also praise this VPN for its privacy aspects, one of which is a no-log policy.

Having been audited by Deloitte and very transparent, this policy clearly states CyberGhost’s lack of logging intentions. The VPN’s use of RAM-based servers is surely welcome but there are also NoSpy servers that the provider owns instead of renting them.

CyberGhost includes plenty more to be excited about. We use its streaming servers, Smart DNS, and even dedicated IP addresses for certain things. Furthermore, you can buy its antivirus for just $1 a month to keep your computer free of unwanted software.

CyberGhost is yet another well-known VPN for torrenting with a low price tag. Its 2-year plan at over two bucks a month sounds like a steal deal. Sprinkled with a 45-day refund policy and a 24-hour free trial, this juicy deal sounds even better, so why not check it out?

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How We Selected the Best VPNs for Torrenting

We mention that we’ve tested hundreds of torrenting VPNs. However, only a few made the cut because they displayed the highest level of performance. When crafting this ranking, our main concern was support for P2P. Something you’ll find in premium providers.

We wanted providers that support torrenting on all of their servers, and if possible, include special P2P servers for added convenience. Another important aspect was speed – we discuss it in the next section. Speed is vital whether you’re uploading or downloading files.

As you see below, all the providers achieve solid speeds. During our testing procedure, we also looked for security and privacy. For example, all providers have modern protocols such as:

• NordLynx
• Lightway
• WireGuard

These aren’t only built for speed but also for impenetrable security. In addition, we aimed for torrenting VPNs whose logging is minimal. NordVPN, ExpressVPN, and others have no-logs policies that imply they would never keep logs of your online activities.

That couldn’t be said about free services whose goal is to earn more money, even if it means selling your sensitive information. Since we mentioned them, this, in addition to the lack of P2P allowance, is one of the main reasons free VPNs did not make it to this list.

What Is the Fastest VPN for Torrenting?

Let’s talk performance because we think this will interest people the most. Some VPNs can and will decrease performance, which comes as a result of many things. Among them are the server’s distance to your location, encryption, and even obfuscation.

When using a VPN for downloading torrents, it’s vital to pick the server close to you. With this in mind, we tested VPN services for P2P using servers close to us. To be precise, we used a server in the United Kingdom because we’re in Europe.

All tests were performed on a Windows 11 computer with the Realtek PCIe 2.5GBE network adapter. Our native internet speeds when not using a VPN are:

Below is the table where we display the speed test results of our favorite VPN using a server in the United Kingdom. We could use servers farther away, but again, there’s no need because we’re aiming for speed, not unblocking websites and getting over geo-blocks.

Provider	NordVPN	ExpressVPN	PIA	Surfshark	CyberGhost
Download	324.25 Mbps	298.82 Mbps	298.69 Mbps	306.48 Mbps	243.07 Mbps
Upload	18.68 Mbps	18.50 Mbps	17.42 Mbps	16.97 Mbps	18.55 Mbps

We can see that all providers are great at preserving your download and upload speeds. However, NordVPN takes the lead with its 320+ Mbps downloads and just under 19 Mbps uploads. With the speeds so high, all P2P file-sharing activities will be buttery-smooth.

Get the best speeds with NordVPN

Is Torrenting Legal in My Country?

Torrenting is quite a sensitive topic in many countries. P2P file sharing isn’t illegal. It’s a convenient way to share files quickly. However, when P2P becomes sharing, downloading, and distributing copyrighted files, that’s when things take a turn for the worse.

You see, if you’re downloading non-copyrighted files, you don’t have to be afraid. In most countries, this is perfectly fine. The trick is that you must be very meticulous and download STRICTLY non-copyrighted stuff. A mistake can cost you a lot.

Some countries, monitor torrenting activities. Downloading a non-royalty-free movie or game can result in a fine that can cost as much as your monthly salary or more. We’re against doing this, even when you have the best VPN for torrenting to shield your privacy.

We recommend informing yourself about your country’s laws regarding this topic. However, we can immediately tell you that the distribution of copyrighted stuff is illegal in 99.99% of the countries. Countries that are the most against torrenting include:

• USA
• UK
• UAE
• Finland
• Germany
• France
• Japan

If you happen to download something you shouldn’t, expect to be fined or prosecuted. A VPN can prevent this by concealing your IP address and encrypting your traffic. Some countries completely ban torrent sites, making them inaccessible. They include:

• USA
• Malaysia
• Italy
• Australia
• Portugal
• China
• South Africa
• Latvia
• Russia
• Australia

You can use some of the best VPNs for torrents to unblock ThePirateBay, 1337x, RARBG, and others in these countries. However, be aware that this might not be according to these countries’ laws and legislations.

The Most Torrent-Friendly Countries

Believe it or not, there are a few countries that won’t smite you for P2P file sharing and torrenting. Switzerland and Mexico are excellent, for example. Both countries let you download copyrighted material, as long as it’s for personal use.

It’s forbidden to distribute it and make a profit, however. In addition, both countries have impeccable internet infrastructures, ensuring some of the fastest speeds for downloading. We then have more European countries like the Netherlands, Spain, and Poland.

All three let you download copyrighted material for personal use, which is super nice. As expected, you’ll face charges for selling copyrighted files but we don’t think that’s fair to the copyright holder either way. Finally, we have Canada – an unexpected candidate.

Canada doesn’t deem torrenting illegal. You can freely download files and use them personally without distribution. Quite strange, as Canada is a staple member of the 5 Eyes Alliance along with the United Kingdom and the United States.

We also want to mention the Balkans and countries like Serbia, Bulgaria, Croatia, and many others. These countries don’t have stringent torrenting laws and you can download even copyrighted files for personal use without a hint of legal repercussions.

Using a VPN for Torrents: Our Expert Tips

Using the best VPNs for torrenting is overly simple. You need to connect to a server and start downloading. Still, there are a few tricks you can implement to make the experience faster and safer. Here are our tips to make the most out of your P2P attempts.

• Use a nearby server. This is a must if you want to maximize your speed. By eliminating the “distance” factor, you allow for higher bandwidth and better performance. This, in turn, improves downloads and uploads.
• Enable a kill switch. We think this is another extremely important thing to do. If you’re in a more torrent-unfriendly country, you don’t want your IP to slide out and become publicly visible. A kill switch will prevent that even if the VPN connection breaks, as it’ll disable all internet until you connect again.
• Use the fastest protocol. This one is easy. WireGuard is the fastest option but if you use NordVPN or ExpressVPN, go with NordLynx or Lightway respectively. Our tests showed they’re blazing fast!
• Avoid Double VPN/MultiHop. These servers are very secure, as explained in this guide. However, they slow down your speed because of added encryption and aren’t made for bandwidth-hungry activities.

Final Words

We’ve clarified that in most countries, using one of our recommended VPNs for torrenting is a must. This activity is far from private, and even if your country doesn’t frown upon it, the fact that you expose your IP address to other peers during the process is alarming.

It’s crucial to protect your privacy and hide your IP address so that torrenting becomes anonymous. Our five amazing picks will do that for you, with a nice bonus of added performance and speed to make even larger downloads finish in an instant.

NordVPN and ExpressVPN lead the pack as the #1-rated options (technically, ExpressVPN is second but, well…). We’ve left for you a few budget picks like Private Internet Access, Surfshark, and CyberGhost, as we think they’re also worth a shot.

Don’t start your next P2P session yet. Equip yourself with one of these first and enjoy your peace of mind.

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