Best VPNs for torrenting 2024: Speed, privacy, and security matter

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Torrenting, or P2P (peer-to-peer) file sharing, is a handy technique to obtain giant information rapidly. But it surely isn’t with out its dangers. Not solely is there the danger of by accident downloading a malicious file or malware, however there’s a privateness threat 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 just 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 conceal all your torrent exercise?” to study extra.)

Why you need to belief me: Right here at PCWorld we’ve been testing pc {hardware}, software program, and companies for the reason that Nineteen Eighties. As PCWorld’s major VPN reviewer, I’m regularly testing all the main VPNs available on the market and plenty of lesser-known companies to be able to curate a listing of the easiest VPNs throughout a wide range of classes. Under you’ll discover my favourite VPNs and extra details about what to search for when selecting a VPN by yourself.

If you happen to’re excited about utilizing a VPN for extra than simply torrenting you possibly can take a look at my record of greatest VPN companies for much more nice choices.

Fast retail hyperlinks to pick high picks:

NordVPN – Greatest VPN for torrenting total

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Loaded with tons of VPN configuration choices

Excellent speeds

A number of unbiased no-logs audits

Included antivirus and password supervisor

Value When Reviewed: $3.49 per 30 days

Why I like NordVPN

NordVPN is my high decide for torrenting because of its improbable 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 already know, for any of these doubtful Linux torrenting websites you may run into. NordVPN additionally proved to be the quickest VPN available on the market in my testing, so these giant P2P information ought to obtain in no-time.

It actually has all the things you may wish to make your torrenting quicker, simpler, and most significantly, safer. NordVPN additionally comes with broad gadget help and an easy-to-use Home windows app. It could be a bit costly, however for those who go for longer-term subscriptions it turns into lots cheaper.

Who can purchase NordVPN

NordVPN is the right VPN for torrenting and anybody who's in search of a VPN for this objective would do nicely to subscribe to the service. It’s additionally a terrific total VPN choice for individuals who need pace and additional options. Even energy customers will discover loads of customizable choices to get essentially the most out of their expertise.

ExpressVPN – Greatest VPN for torrenting runner-up

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Glorious speeds

Straightforward-to-use interface

Unblocks all streaming companies

Nice safety and privateness practices Cons

Costlier than many opponents

Gentle on some options for a high VPN

Value When Reviewed: $6.67 per 30 days

Why I like ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN is my favourite VPN so it’s no shock that it’s touchdown as one in every of my high picks for torrents as nicely. Regardless that it’s my greatest total decide for VPNs, I give it the runner-up spot right here as NordVPN comes with a number of extra security measures than ExpressVPN — I say, the extra safety the higher when torrenting.

Nonetheless, ExpressVPN remains to be a superb VPN alternative for torrenting because it makes all the proper privateness guarantees and its speeds are superb. It additionally has numerous different good qualities that make it price your whereas, akin to good DNS and nice unblocking capabilities. Additionally, ExpressVPN is formally primarily based within the British Virgin Islands which means it isn’t topic to any worldwide knowledge intelligence sharing alliances or knowledge retention necessities so you possibly can really feel assured your ISP or different events can’t uncover your visitors P2P exercise.

Who can purchase ExpressVPN

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

Learn our full ExpressVPN overview Proton VPN – Greatest free VPN for torrenting

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Glorious free plan

Nice privateness instruments

Dependable and clear no-logs coverage Cons

Premium plan is dear

Value When Reviewed: 1 yr: $59.88 ($4.99/mo) I 2 years: $107.76 ($4.49/mo)

Why I like ProtonVPN

My decide for greatest free VPN for torrenting is a no brainer: ProtonVPN. For gratis, you’ll get a one-device reference to no knowledge or closing dates. I repeat, no knowledge or closing dates. That’s completely remarkable from a serious VPN supplier and it means you possibly can 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 whenever you’re torrenting, the server location shouldn’t matter anyhow.

ProtonVPN additionally has a few of the quickest speeds round, each upstream and down, which is useful whenever you wish to unfold the Open Workplace love as rapidly as doable. The Swiss-based service has wonderful 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 needs 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 a substitute. It’s free and has no knowledge limits. I name {that a} win-win.

Learn our full ProtonVPN overview Mullvad – Greatest for privateness

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Good speeds

Greater degree of anonymity doable than with most VPN companies

Home windows desktop is simple to make use of Cons

Not assured to work with Netflix

Lacks the additional companies that some VPNs supply

No password safety to your account

Value When Reviewed: $5.37 per 30 days

Why I like Mullvad

Mullvad is the final word VPN with regards to privateness and anonymity. The Sweden-based firm appreciates your small business, however it’s not excited about discovering out who you might be. It goes nicely past the requirements of most different VPN firms with regards to defending your anonymity. As a substitute of utilizing an e mail and password combo, Mullvad randomly generates an account quantity that capabilities as your username and password. And you'll even resolve to mail in money as a subscription fee for those who 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 function as nicely. All servers are able to P2P transfers so you possibly can simply decide 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 person. Those that actually demand final anonymity when torrenting or simply utilizing a VPN on the whole will discover that Mullvad takes lively measure to make sure they by no means know who you might be — which means no different observer will know who you might be both. As a consequence of its inexpensive month-to-month plan it’s additionally a terrific choice for VPN customers on a finances.

Learn our full Mullvad overview Personal Web Entry – Greatest for personalization

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Independently verified no-logs coverage

Limitless simultaneous gadget connections

Unbelievable variety of servers

Nice additional options akin to multi-hop and break up tunneling Cons

App panel awkwardly situated on the lower-right nook of display screen by default

Speeds are simply okay

Value When Reviewed: $11.95 per 30 days

Why I like Personal Web Entry

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

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

Who can purchase Personal Web Entry

PIA is greatest suited for individuals who wish to tinker with their software program. It offers so many customizable options that it may possibly come throughout as a bit overwhelming to the uninitiated and people simply in search of a set-it and forget-it choice. However energy customers will discover a plethora of tweakable choices and settings to maintain them pleased by way of all of their torrenting endeavors.

Learn our full Personal Web Entry overview

Different VPN opinions and options

How I examined

If you happen to’ve learn a lot of these VPN articles, you already know the drill by now. I take a look at on three completely different days taking the common speeds I discover in six completely different nations (every nation is examined a number of instances per day). Then I take all these every day averages to get an total international common in megabytes per second. Then I evaluate that to the bottom pace and not using a VPN, after which specific the outcome as a proportion primarily based on how a lot of the bottom pace the worldwide common maintains. If there are notably standout speeds in a sure nation or area I'll usually name these out too.

The explanation I don’t quote particular speeds is that these can differ by every kind of things akin to your location, ISP, house community load and tools, and so forth. The odds, nevertheless, provide you with a usually good concept of how a lot of a dip to anticipate whenever you connect 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 each VPN I cowl. Sure, it's painful to do, so I prevent the effort. The explanation I do that could be a VPN could promise up entrance that it doesn’t observe your internet shopping, however then you definately discover that really it does log IP addresses, timestamps, and bandwidth used. So I dig into the small print so you possibly can know precisely what the VPNs I overview promise.

For extra particulars on my testing course of, see how we take a look at 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

Initially 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 akin to Tunnel Bear, which actively blocks torrents.

Then there are VPNs that partially block torrents, particularly on U.S. servers akin to 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 not permit torrents on its U.S. servers. On high of that, many different VPN companies don’t wish to find yourself in a lawsuit like their opponents and actively disallow torrenting on their American servers.

Service location

For that cause, I like to recommend utilizing VPN companies 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 companies will specify which servers permit torrents, however a well-liked and simple alternative is Sweden. The speeds are often good, and most companies 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 one needs to be uncovered downloading free and open supply software program. That signifies that the service ought to embrace a promise to not keep logs of any form.

I say “promise” since there’s no actual technique to know for positive {that a} VPN isn’t logging your exercise. You in the end must 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 court docket 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.

Pace

Lastly, after these particulars have been verified, you need a VPN with strong 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 companies and servers exterior the U.S., and wonderful speeds.

FAQ 1. What's a VPN?

A VPN (digital personal community) encrypts your web visitors and disguises your id whereas shopping the web. When used for torrenting, a VPN will anonymize your torrenting visitors and hold your ISP from doubtlessly throttling your connection sooner or later.

Moreover, VPNs let you connect with servers all internationally. So for those who’re trying to entry location-restricted content material, akin to streaming companies, you possibly can connect with the suitable nation’s server and acquire entry that manner.

2. How does a VPN work?

A VPN hides your IP deal with by redirecting it by way of a distant server hosted by the VPN firm. To anybody trying in, the VPN server then turns into the supply of your knowledge as a substitute of your precise location. These distant servers will be in your personal nation or situated in numerous nations around the globe. All your community visitors out of your pc to the VPN is distributed over a safe and encrypted connection.

When linked to a VPN whereas shopping the web, the VPN acts as a intermediary between your pc and an internet site. Your pc sends a request to the VPN, which then passes it on to an internet site. The web site then sends its response again to the VPN which forwards it by way of the safe connection to your pc. All the visitors rerouted by way of the VPN exhibits as coming by way of its server somewhat than your personal pc. This retains your ISP and different third events from snooping in your web exercise.

3. Are VPNs authorized to make use of?

Sure! In most nations, together with the US, utilizing a VPN is completely authorized. Regardless that some web sites may attempt to block VPN connections, they're nonetheless okay to make use of. Please notice, whereas utilizing a VPN is authorized, a few of the actions achieved whereas utilizing a VPN could be unlawful. Actions akin to downloading pirated copyrighted content material or accessing darkish internet markets are each unlawful with or and not using a VPN.

4. Is torrenting by way of a VPN protected?

Security whereas torrenting comes down to 2 issues: anonymity and safety from malware or different malicious information.

So far as anonymity goes, sure, you may be protected against any snooping outsiders or your personal ISP’s restrictions on file torrenting through the use of a VPN. If you already know and belief the the service you’re utilizing, torrenting with a VPN ought to be fully protected from prying eyes.

With regard to safety from malware and different malicious information, no. A VPN by itself won't defend you from by accident downloading malicious information from P2P networks or torrent websites. For this, it's extremely really helpful that you just use an antivirus program to assist hold you protected.

5. Do VPNs observe my shopping or retailer my knowledge?

This relies solely on the VPN supplier you select to make use of. There have been cases prior to now of VPN suppliers spying on their customers or accumulating knowledge. Nonetheless, these had been primarily free VPN companies with no specific no-logging insurance policies.

When trying to find a VPN, watch out to verify the corporate’s web site for a no-logging coverage, third-party belief verification, and reliable person opinions. That being mentioned, a lot of the main paid VPNs have clearly acknowledged no-logging insurance policies so it's usually greatest to stay with one in every of them.

6. What number of servers ought to my VPN have?

There isn’t a selected variety of servers that make one VPN higher than one other. It’s frequent for VPN suppliers to promote the variety of servers they've, however that is largely a advertising and marketing gimmick and doesn’t essentially equate to the standard of the VPN service itself. Different elements akin to server-location unfold and server high quality are simply as essential if no more so than the variety of obtainable servers.

That being mentioned, hottest VPN suppliers supply between 3,000 to five,000 servers. I like to recommend that you just keep away from any premium service with lower than 1,000 servers as this could possibly be a sign that the corporate is just not but nicely established, which might portend reliability points.