Best VPNs for torrenting in 2026
In this article, I’ve tested and rated the best VPNs for torrenting for June 2026. Torrenting is a popular way of sharing files that involves downloading and uploading files using P2P (peer-to-peer) technology.
Unfortunately, when you torrent, your IP address is exposed to others on the network, leaving you vulnerable to numerous security and privacy risks. A VPN reduces these risks by hiding your IP, encrypting your traffic, and keeping your activity private.
- P2P servers
- Great speed and reliability
- 30-day money-back guarantee
For this guide, I tested the best VPNs for torrenting in 2026 based on torrenting performance, speed retention, and privacy features. Below are the services that consistently deliver fast downloads, stable connections, and solid protection. Read on to find the one that fits your setup.
5 Best VPNs for torrenting
- NordVPN – best overall VPN for torrenting with fast, reliable servers
- Surfshark – best value VPN for torrenting with unlimited devices
- Proton VPN – most private VPN for torrenting
- ExpressVPN – fast and secure P2P VPN
- CyberGhost – VPN with dedicated servers for torrenting
VPNs for torrenting side-by-side comparison
| NordVPN | Surfshark | Proton VPN | ExpressVPN | CyberGhost | |
| Server fleet | 9,200+ in 137 countries | 4,500+ in 100 countries | 19,500+ in 145 countries | 3,000+ in 105 countries | 11,500+ in 100 countries |
| Free trial options | 7-day free trial and 30-day money-back guarantee | 7-day free trial and 30-day money-back guarantee | Free version and 30-day money-back guarantee | N/A | 24-hour free trial and 45-day money-back guarantee |
| Starting price | $3.49/month | $2.79/month | $2.99/month | $2.49/month | $1.59/month |
| Supports P2P connections | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Security features | Next-generation encryption, Strict no-logs policy,Threat protection,Dark web monitor,DoubleVPN,Automatic kill switch,DNS leak protection,Onion over VPN | No-logs policy, kill switch, DNS leak protection, Camouflage mode, 256-bit AES encryption, ChaCha20, and Poly1305 authenticator | No-logs policy, kill switch, DNS leak protection, Camouflage mode, 256-bit AES encryption, ChaCha20 with Poly1305 authenticator, Double VPN, Onion over VPN. | Network lock kill switch, Private DNS, Best-in-class encryption,No-logs policy, Threat manager, and ChaCha20 | 256-AES encryption, a kill switch, Automatic Wi-Fi protection |
| Avg download torrenting speed | 29MB/s | 22MB/s | 16MB/s | 21MB/s | 9MB/s |
| Devices supported | Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS | Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS | Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS | Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS | Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS |
| Review | NordVPN review | Surfshark VPN review | Proton VPN review | ExpressVPN review | CyberGhost review |
| Best deal | 75% OFF | 85% OFF | 70% OFF | 80% OFF | 88% OFF |
Best VPN for torrenting - full overview
The best VPNs for torrenting must support P2P connections, grant incredible speeds, and ensure top-notch security. To make things easier, we’ve chosen the best five VPNs you can safely use for torrenting.
1. NordVPN – best VPN overall for torrenting with consistently fast servers
| ⭐ Rating: | |
| 🥇 Overall rank: | #1 out of #33 |
| 📖 No logs policy: | No logs |
| 💵 Price: | From $3.49/month |
| 🖥️ Servers: | 9,200+ servers in 137 countries |
| 🍿 Streaming services: | Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, Disney+, and more |
| 🔥 Coupons: | NordVPN coupon 75% OFF |
NordVPN is the best VPN overall for torrenting. Its P2P friendly network of fast servers makes downloading and sharing files smooth and reliable. Coupled with an audited no-logs policy and advanced security features that protect privacy every step of the way, NordVPN offers a balance of speed and safety that makes it the top choice for torrenting.
Specialized servers: NordVPN has over 9,200 servers in 137 countries. You can choose from various countries and enjoy excellent connection quality on the specialty P2P servers.
Security. It comes with a no-logs policy that an independent team of researchers from Deloitte has audited in 2024. More so, it provides a kill switch feature for preventing IP address leaks, while the split tunneling feature enables you to optimize your connection on a per-app basis.
Speed. NordVPN uses the in-house NordLynx protocol that ensures lightning-fast speeds for torrenting. During our tests, it showcased unrivaled download speeds. It also comes with a SOCKS5 proxy as an additional security measure for your torrenting client.
NordVPN subscription plans start at $3.49/month with a generous 30-day money-back guarantee before committing. You can also try it free for 3 days through the Google Play Store before committing.
2. Surfshark – cheapest VPN for torrenting with unlimited devices
| ⭐ Rating: | |
| 🥇 Overall rank: | #2 out of #33 |
| 📖 No logs policy: | No logs |
| 💵 Price: | From $2.79/month |
| 🖥️ Servers: | 4,500+ servers in 100 countries |
| 🍿 Streaming services: | Netflix, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, and more |
| 🔥 Coupons: | Surfshark VPN coupon 85% OFF + 3 months FREE |
Surfshark is one of the most affordable VPNs for P2P sharing. It’s known for offering some of the lowest prices in the market without compromising on performance or features. Plus, you can save even more with a Surfshark promo code: "OFFCN".
Surfshark offers superb download and upload rates, top-notch security, and works with numerous torrenting clients like uTorrent, BitTorrent, and qBittorrent. You can snag the week-long free trial on your preferred mobile app store or use the 30-day money-back warranty instead.
Specialized servers: Surfshark has a wide server range of over 4,500 P2P-friendly servers in 100 countries. As a result, you’ll have no trouble finding optimal connection spots for torrenting.
Security. As security is one of its top priorities, it utilizes AES-256-GCM and Chacha20, as well as Poly1305 encryption features. Moreover, Surfshark uses RAM-only servers that don’t store information long-term, and DNS leak protection is used to prevent data from slipping through while the VPN is enabled. Lastly, its kill switch immediately disconnects your device from the internet in case of a disruption.
Speed. Surfshark utilizes the cutting-edge WireGuard protocol that ensures impressive torrenting rates. However, you have other options to tinker with, such as OpenVPN and IKEv2.
You can get the premium Surfshark VPN package for $2.79/month, but we recommend starting with the 7-day free trial on your preferred mobile app store. If its services don’t fulfill your expectations, you can request a refund due to its 30-day money-back guarantee.
3. Proton VPN – best VPN for torrenting and P2P for privacy
| ⭐ Rating: | |
| 🥇 Overall rank: | #8 out of #33 |
| 📖 No logs policy: | No logs |
| 💵 Price: | From $2.99/month |
| 🖥️ Servers: | 19,500+ servers in 145 countries |
| 🍿 Streaming services: | Netflix, BBC iPlayer, YouTube, HBO Max, Disney+ |
| 🔥 Coupons: | ProtonVPN with 70% OFF |
Proton VPN is one of the most security-focused VPNs for torrenting and P2P. It’s fully open-source, backed by an independently audited no-logs policy, and designed to maximize privacy and anonymity while you share files online.
Specialized servers. Proton VPN offers 19,500+ servers in 145 countries, with dedicated P2P servers available for torrenting and file sharing. Its Secure Core feature routes your traffic through hardened servers in safe jurisdictions for extra anonymity, though it does slow down speeds. Proton VPN also supports port forwarding, which can improve seeding and peer connections.
Security. Privacy is Proton VPN’s strongest suit. Alongside AES-256 encryption and DNS/IPv6 leak protection, it offers Secure Core servers for extra layers of anonymity and a kill switch to protect your IP in case of disconnections. Most importantly, you can verify their security yourself since all apps are fully open-source.
Speed. In tests, Proton VPN performed best with the WireGuard protocol, downloading a 5.7GB Ubuntu ISO in about 4 minutes and 26 seconds. Its Stealth protocol also worked well for bypassing restrictions, while the VPN Accelerator improved speeds on all protocols. However, OpenVPN was noticeably slower and less suitable for torrenting large files.
Proton VPN pricing starts at $2.99/month for the 2-year Proton VPN Plus plan, which is the most suitable for torrenting. While it also offers a free plan, it doesn’t support P2P traffic.
4. ExpressVPN – fast and secure P2P VPN with global coverage
| ⭐ Rating: | |
| 🥇 Overall rank: | #5 out of #33 |
| 📖 No logs policy: | No logs |
| 💵 Price: | From $2.49/month |
| 🖥️ Servers: | 3,000+ servers in 105 countries |
| 🍿 Streaming services: | Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, Disney+, and more |
| 🔥 Coupons: | ExpressVPN coupon 80% OFF |
ExpressVPN is a fast and secure P2P VPN with optimized servers, advanced encryption, and broad device support. It runs smoothly with popular torrenting clients such as uTorrent, BitTorrent, and Vuze, offering reliable performance and strong privacy for file sharing.
Specialized servers: ExpressVPN has a vast network of servers. More precisely, it has more than 3,000 servers in 105 countries, meaning you can enjoy a top-quality torrenting experience from almost anywhere.
Security. This VPN provider uses standard AES-256 encryption to protect your data. It also comes with ChaCha20 encryption, a kill switch feature, and IP and DNS leak protection, ensuring an additional layer of protection. Lastly, it offers Threat Manager that can detect malware activity and trackers.
Speed. ExpressVPN has some mind-blowing speeds with the proprietary Lightway protocol, where downloads nearly matched NordVPN and Surfshark. While the Turbo mode underperformed in our tests, the standard Lightway and OpenVPN protocols still delivered stable mid-range speeds suitable for large P2P transfers.
ExpressVPN starts at $2.49/month. However, keep in mind that it does not offer a money-back guarantee, so it's worth taking the time to familiarize yourself with the product before committing..
5. CyberGhost – VPN for torrenting with specialized P2P servers
| ⭐ Rating: | |
| 🥇 Overall rank: | #6 out of #33 |
| 📖 No logs policy: | Independently-audited |
| 💵 Price: | From $1.59/month |
| 🖥️ Servers: | 11,500+ servers in 100 countries |
| 🍿 Streaming services: | Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, Disney+ |
| 🔥 Coupons: | CyberGhost VPN now 88% OFF |
CyberGhost is a well-rounded VPN for torrenting with specialized P2P servers. It offers robust security features, a staggering server selection, and works well with countless clients like uTorrent. Backed by a 45-day money-back guarantee, it’s a reliable choice for safe and efficient torrenting.
Specialized servers: CyberGhost provides a massive server fleet with over 11,500+ servers in 100+ countries. Unsurprisingly, the vast network is segmented into various categories so users can easily pick the most suitable server for their needs.
Security. This VPN utilizes AES-256 encryption that offers superb data security. More so, it employs IP and DNS leak protection, a kill switch, and an ad-blocker that provides an uninterrupted and safe torrenting experience. Additionally, CyberGhost hails from privacy-respecting Romania and boasts an independently audited no-logs policy, guaranteeing confidentiality.
Speed. During our testing, CyberGhost’s WireGuard protocol delivered solid speeds for torrenting and general browsing. OpenVPN was noticeably slower, and IKEv2 struggled to maintain a stable connection.
You can try CyberGhost for $1.59/month and ask for a refund if it doesn’t fulfill your needs. You can also try it for free due to its free trial and lengthy 45-day money-back guarantee.
Our methodology for picking the best torrenting VPNs
Here’s an overview of the features we deemed critical when picking the best VPNs for torrenting.
- Torrent-friendly. We thoroughly tested each VPN on our list to ensure it consistently delivers good results while delivering files via P2P.
- Security. All VPNs on our list take care of your security and protect your data by employing robust security features, such as 256-bit AES encryption, RAM-only servers, and frequently-audited no-logs policies.
- Speeds. We selected only those VPNs with the best connection speeds, ensuring you get the best download speeds while torrenting. Each VPN for torrenting utilizes fast tunneling protocols and other methods of enhancing connectivity.
- Servers. A broad range of server locations helps avoid lag, improving torrenting performance and maintaining steady speeds across regions.
Why do you need a VPN for torrenting?
With a VPN, you will be able to hide your IP address and encrypt your data, making it difficult for malicious threats to affect your torrenting experience.
Moreover, ISPs may throttle your downloading and uploading speeds, but the free trial VPN you choose will help you bypass this obstacle and provide faster download and upload rates to improve your experience.
In addition, some countries, like Russia, shut down torrenting sites. Therefore, by using a VPN, you can avoid these geo-restrictions and change your location to a country where you can freely torrent, such as Spain. However, you shouldn’t misuse torrenting even in the countries where it is permitted, as you can face legal action from copyright holders.
How to set up a VPN for torrenting
Using a torrenting VPN is more straightforward than it seems. Check out our easy-to-follow guide to see how to set up and use a VPN for safe, reliable P2P downloads.
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Find a reliable VPN that supports torrenting. Our top choice is NordVPN
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Download it on the device you’ll use for torrenting
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Follow the installation instructions and click Finish.
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Open the NordVPN app, and choose a specialized P2P server.
- Enjoy secure and unrestricted torrenting anywhere.
Is a free VPN for torrenting a good option?
Using a free VPN for torrenting comes with a few potential risks. For starters, some free VPNs can sell your data to third parties to make money, as you are not paying for the service, and they need to ensure the money flow. Additionally, some free VPNs can be malware in disguise, infecting your device with malicious software and making it vulnerable to cyberattacks. Also, free VPNs usually have outdated software and tunneling protocols, which decreases performance effectiveness.
Therefore, using a paid VPN with a free trial and a lengthy money-back warranty is best. We recommend starting with NordVPN. And consider purchasing a premium plan if you’re satisfied with the results.
Which free VPNs should you not use for torrenting
Choosing a free VPN can be dangerous as it may leave your device vulnerable to various security threats. To help you avoid this, we’ve created a list of free VPN options you should avoid.
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Betternet VPN – this VPN provider doesn’t protect your privacy. More precisely, it logs personal data like billing details, account information, identity, usage information, and device data. Additionally, they gather the location of their users, and there are a lot of negative comments about this VPN provider.
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Hola VPN – users of this VPN claimed that the VPN used their devices as a botnet and that they weren’t aware of that. This can lead to DDoS attacks and other cyberattacks that can put your data at risk. As a result, Hola VPN has a bad reputation.
- Thunder VPN – this is an Android VPN service that gathers significant information from its users, like their OS version, internet service provider, app version, language, and device model. More so, it records the amount of data you transfer daily and collects connection timestamps.
Final thoughts
Using a VPN while torrenting keeps your online activity private, hides your IP, and stops your ISP from slowing you down. It also makes connecting to peers safer and more reliable.
For the best P2P experience, look for VPNs with dedicated torrent servers, a kill switch, no-logs policies, and fast protocols like WireGuard. These features help protect your data while keeping download speeds high.
While all of the tested VPNs on the list work perfectly well with torrenting, my top pick is NordVPN. It offers fast P2P servers, strong privacy protections, and easy-to-use security features – everything you would need for smooth and safe torrenting.
FAQs
Do VPNs actually make torrenting more secure?
Yes, VPNs make torrenting more secure by encrypting your traffic and hiding your IP address. This shields your activity from ISPs, snoopers, and third parties, while reducing risks of exposure. Choosing a trusted, no-logs VPN, such as NordVPN, ensures maximum safety while torrenting.
Will using a VPN slow down torrent downloads?
A VPN can slow down torrenting because of encryption, server distance, and device performance, but the impact depends on the service and setup. However, a high-quality VPN, such as NordVPN, may even boost speeds by avoiding ISP throttling, while still protecting privacy and security.
Which VPNs give the best speeds for torrenting?
NordVPN is the best for torrenting due to its fast P2P-optimized servers, while Surfshark offers reliable speeds at a budget price with unlimited connections. Proton VPN is another strong choice, combining dedicated P2P support, robust privacy, and port forwarding to improve torrent performance and connectivity.
Is torrenting safe when connected to a VPN?
Yes, torrenting is significantly safer with a VPN because it encrypts your traffic and hides your IP address. This prevents your ISP, peers, and third parties from tracking your activity, while also reducing exposure to cyberattacks.
Can you still face legal issues if torrenting with a VPN?
Yes, you can still face legal issues when torrenting with a VPN. A VPN hides your IP and adds privacy, but it doesn’t legalize piracy. To minimize leaks and stay safer, use a trustworthy service like NordVPN, enable a kill switch, and stick to legal torrents.
