The best torrenting VPN in 2025

Using a torrenting VPN is essential if you're planning on downloading anything through a peer-to-peer sharing network. When downloading from a torrent, your IP address is visible, and without a VPN, this leaves you vulnerable to surveillance.

If you use one of the best VPNs while torrenting, the visible IP address is that of the VPN you're using – not your own. This makes it much more difficult to link your identity to your activity.

I've been hands-on with dozens of top providers, and here I've recommended the five best VPNs for torrenting. They're fast, secure, and affordable. Take your pick of the top three just below, or keep scrolling for my in-depth analysis of all the featured VPNs.

The top 3 best torrenting VPNs at a glance

How I chose the best VPNs for torrenting

Ensuring a VPN's privacy is the most important thing if you're planning on using it for torrenting. A verified no-logs policy is non-negotiable – and every VPN I've recommended on this page has one.

My expert list of 2025's best torrenting VPNs:

Private Internet Access: the best torrenting VPN

What I like

I consider Private Internet Access (PIA) to be the best specialized torrenting VPN that I've tested. Besides a verified no-logs policy, it offers unlimited simultaneous connections, more servers than any of its rivals on this list, and interesting features like port forwarding, which can really enhance your torrenting experience. All that, and it costs less than $2.50 per month.

First up, PIA's no-logs policy has not only been verified by an independent auditing firm – most recently Deloitte, in April 2024 – but it has also been proven in court. Twice now, PIA has been compelled by a court to hand over the details of a user's activity. And twice, PIA has had nothing to give. This kind of track record goes a long way.

Moving onto the apps themselves, PIA offers all the basics, and then some. There's a kill switch on Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android, all of which proved to be very reliable in my testing. There's support for the OpenVPN, IKEv2, and WireGuard protocols which is good variety – but really, you'll be using WireGuard 99% of the time.

When digging into the settings, though, I found a wealth of tweaks I could make to improve my torrenting experience. Most important is port forwarding – and PIA, along with Proton VPN, are the only mainstream VPNs to offer this.

Essentially, port forwarding allows connections to divert around your firewall, and advanced torrenters often use it to speed up downloads. A word of warning, though: only use port forwarding if you're aware of the risks and know how to mitigate them.

Finally, PIA has an excellent range of servers, with at least one location in 91 countries. It's also a great choice if you're looking for a VPN for the US – there's a server location in every US state.

What could improve

PIA isn't difficult to use – but it's clearly aimed at the more advanced user. I've been working with VPNs day-in, day-out, for over five years, and when reviewing PIA I still had some issues finding simple settings like the kill switch and split tunneling. If you're looking for a fuss-free experience, go with ExpressVPN.

Connection speeds also can't compete with the very fastest VPNs. Maxing out at XXX Mbps in my testing, PIA certainly isn't slow, but when you consider Proton VPN and ExpressVPN topped out at well over 1 Gbps, there's considerable room for improvement.

Finally, PIA struggled with a few streaming sites. EXPLAIN MORE

Buy Private Internet Access if:

✅ Torrenting is a top priority: Every one of PIA's servers can be used to torrent, and there are niche features like port forwarding that experts will appreciate.

✅ You're on a strict budget: considering all of its security and streaming-oriented features, PIA is great value and one of the best bargain picks.

✅ You want a VPN with a proven track record: PIA has proven its no-logs policy twice in court, meaning it's reliable and delivers exactly what it promises.

Don't buy Private Internet Access if:

❌ You want the fastest provider: while PIA offers good OpenVPN speeds, its WireGuard speeds aren't a match for the likes of NordVPN.

❌ You want the simplest VPN: PIA certainly isn't difficult to use, but beginners may prefer a simpler interface like ExpressVPN or Surfshark

NordVPN: the best all-purpose torrenting VPN

What I like

Despite being my top-rated VPN overall – check out my guide to the best VPNs to find out why that is – it loses out to Private Internet Access here because it's not quite as specialized. However, if you just want general protection for casual torrenting alongside seamless streaming unblocking and great speeds, it's the one to go for.

NordVPN's privacy is excellent. Many people online hark back to 2018's single server breach, and it's absolutely true that this is a black mark on Nord's record. However, since then, it has undergone numerous independent audits confirming its no-logs policy, the security of its applications, and the reliability of its kill switch. This obsession with privacy was prompted by the breach – and as such, it could be a blessing in disguise.

I found setting NordVPN up was a very simple process, and a recent update to the interface has made it much easier to navigate. The apps are also at their best on larger screens, so unless you're torrenting on your Android phone, you'll be enjoying NordVPN as it should be – on Windows, Mac, or Linux.

On that note, in May 2025, NordVPN launched its full Linux GUI, bringing it up to speed with the likes of ExpressVPN and Surfshark.

There are a few specialist privacy features that I really like. For example, both Double VPN and Onion over VPN offer great extra protection if you need it, and in September 2025, a crypto wallet checker was launched.

However, the paid add-on Threat Protection Pro is what really stands out. In my testing, it was the most effective malware protection that's bundled with a VPN – and it's the only tool of its kind that has been verified and approved by AV-TEST.

In my hands-on speed testing, NordVPN competed with the best. Although it was the very fastest I tested, top speeds of 901 Mbps meant that I felt no impact on my super-fast base connection. On slower connections, it also maintained good performance.

If the number of server locations a VPN has is important, NordVPN leads the pack with a massive 126 countries covered. This means you'll have the widest range possible to choose from – but do be aware that it only has 16 US locations, compared to PIA's 50.

What could improve

For hardened torrenters, NordVPN may not offer all the tools you need. The biggest omission is port forwarding, and without it, users with strict NAT firewall setups may struggle to get decent speeds when sharing P2P.

What's more, not every NordVPN server is optimized for P2P. In practice, I've never found this to have a negative impact, and on all platforms, if torrenting is detected the application automatically switches to a supported server. However, competitors like ExpressVPN and Private Internet Access support torrenting on every single server.

The only other real complaint I have is to do with NordVPN's pricing. The introductory pricing is very appealing, but if you let your subscription auto-renew, you'll be stung with a big price hike. My advice is to never let that happen.

An easy fix is to wait for a good deal to come around – Black Friday is always a good time – and purchase it while you still have an active NordVPN plan. Use the same email address, and the extra time will be added to your current subscription.

Buy NordVPN if:

✅ You want an all-in-one solution at a reasonable price: NordVPN excels on all fronts at a good price, making it a comprehensive solution for just about everybody.

✅ You want a VPN for Netflix: NordVPN is the best Netflix VPN and will get you access to even niche locations like Japan.

✅ You want a VPN with added cybersecurity features: NordVPN's Threat Protection Pro is the most effective anti-malware tool that comes bundled with a VPN that I've tried.

Don't buy NordVPN if:

❌ You want advanced torrenting features: NordVPN has everything most people need to torrent, but if you're an advanced user and wants features like port forwarding, Private Internet Access or Proton VPN will appeal more.

❌ You want a simpler interface: NordVPN's UI on mobile is a little busy, and it looks much better on desktop.

ExpressVPN: the easiest torrenting VPN to use

What I like

ExpressVPN is one of the easiest VPNs to use, but this doesn't mean it's not also a powerful torrenting VPN. This comes as no surprise to me, as in my ExpressVPN review I found the VPN to be a great all-rounder.

Focusing on torrenting first, just like Private Internet Access, every one of ExpressVPN's servers are optimized for torrenting. This means there's no fuss when getting protected – just set and forget.

You'll get both a kill switch and split tunneling, and combined with a strict, independently audited policy of no activity or connection logs, it offers a very complete torrenting package.

With the introduction of its proprietary Lightway Turbo encryption protocol, ExpressVPN's speeds have soared to over 1,600 Mbps when on a 10 Gbps line during testing.

You should note, however, that this encryption protocol (and therefore these speeds) is currently only available on Windows. While ExpressVPN's OpenVPN speeds are impressive at 898 Mbps, its speeds on its Lightway encryption protocol (available across all platforms) are disappointing at 359 Mbps.

So, if you want one of the best Windows VPNs for torrenting, ExpressVPN is a great pick. However, if you want a super-fast VPN for other platforms, go for Proton VPN.

As one of the best services when it comes to streaming, ExpressVPN unblocks just about everything, from popular streaming platforms like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video to niche libraries and services like 10Play. This is made possible by its wide network of servers around the globe, with 26 server locations in the Asia-Pacific region alone, for example.

Different levels of subscription offer 10, 12, or 14 simultaneous connections, which is a big improvement on the previous 8. However, those looking to cover a large number of devices on a single subscription might be better off considering Surfshark or PIA.

What could improve

There's one main area where ExpressVPN falls down, and that's price. It's considerably more expensive than most of the other providers on this list, while not necessarily outdoing them in every area.

In September 2025, ExpressVPN went through a big shake up of its pricing, and the base VPN is now more affordable for those who don't need any extras. However, it's still not cheap at $3.49 per month.

To get the VPN, alongside a password manager, Threat Manager, and Identity Defender, which includes ID theft insurance and data broker removal, it'll cost you $4.49 per month, which is pretty pricey – although admittedly better value than it used to be.

Finally, while ExpressVPN is great for beginners, this comes at the expense of some advanced features and customization. For example, there's no port forwarding here – if you need in-depth tools, pick PIA.

Buy ExpressVPN if

✅ You want top-tier security: ExpressVPN offers a comprehensive security suite with an audited no-logs policy, excellent encryption, a built-in password manager, and other handy features.

✅ Torrenting is your #1 priority. Every one of ExpressVPN's servers is optimized for P2P, so it's as easy as picking the nearest server and connecting.

✅ You want super simple apps. ExpressVPN is designed with ease of use in mind, with very simple apps on all platforms.

Don't buy ExpressVPN if

❌ You're on a budget: while ExpressVPN provides good value, it's an expensive pick. Services like PIA and NordVPN are better for those on a strict budget.

❌ You want advanced torrenting features: ExpressVPN doesn't offer much configuration like port forwarding.

Best of the rest

What I like

Proton is a Swiss company that provides consumer privacy and security tools – with Proton VPN, Proton Mail, and Proton Pass being the best-known. It has earned a strong reputation for putting its users first, and is a an excellent choice for P2P privacy.

First up, Proton VPN is very well-optimized for torrenting. Unlike NordVPN or Surfshark, every single server supports P2P traffic, which means that you'll never need to rely on the apps to switch server for you.

The basic privacy essentials are all here, too. There's a kill switch – which proved unbreakable in my testing – and split tunneling is also available. What's more, since August 2025, split tunneling has been available on Mac, which is a huge update for torrenters. The no-logs policy has also been fully audited, and Proton has been proven not to collect user data.

Proton is targeted at a more VPN-savvy crowd – ExpressVPN will appeal to newbies more than Proton VPN will – but I found it easier to get to grips with than Private Internet Access. This middle ground means it's a great choice if you're new to VPNs, but you're generally comfortable using other software.

More advanced torrenters will appreciate Proton VPN support port forwarding. PIA and Proton VPN are the only VPNs on this list to support this – however, port forwarding is currently an early-access feature on Mac Mac. If you're a Mac user, PIA is a better choice right now.

One of my favorite features from Proton VPN is its Secure Core network. Secure Core servers act as a middleman for your traffic, and if you activate them, they sit between your device and your selected server. If there's a breach, there's no way for your real IP address to be linked with your activity.

Finally, in my last round of testing, Proton VPN came out as the fastest VPN overall. On a 10 Gbps line, Proton topped out at an impressive 1,198 Mbps when using WireGuard. It's worth noting that ExpressVPN did register faster peak speeds, but this was with the Windows-only Lightway Turbo. Proton VPN proved to be rapid no matter what device you're using.

What could improve

Proton VPN has made some big upgrades recently that addressed my concerns for its suitability for torrenting – most notably the introduction of split tunneling and port forwarding on Mac. However, other VPNs still have the edge.

If you're an expert, Private Internet Access offers yet more customization. If you're a beginner, ExpressVPN and Surfshark are simpler to use. Proton VPN sits in a slightly awkward position in the middle, where it's not quite the perfect choice for anyone.

What's more, Proton VPN is fairly expensive. Compared to the likes of Surfshark and PIA which can be had for around $2 per month, Proton certainly isn't an "affordable" VPN.

However, beyond this, it's a very solid privacy-focused VPN that gets my seal of approval.

Buy Proton VPN if:

✅ You want an open-source VPN. Proton VPN is a fully open-source platform, meaning you can inspect it any time and verify its claims.

✅ You want a VPN for Linux. Proton VPN is one of the few providers to come with a graphical user interface for Linux devices.

✅ You want a dedicated torrenting features. With port forwarding and Moderate NAT, Proton is well set up for experienced torrenters.

Don't buy Proton VPN if:

❌ You want a free torrenting VPN: Proton VPN offers one of the best free VPNs, but it doesn't support torrenting.

❌ You want a budget VPN: Proton VPN is up there with the more expensive VPNs – for a bargain, choose Surfshark or PIA.

What I like

Surfshark tops my list of the best cheap VPNs thanks to its powerful apps on all platforms, excellent privacy, and overall value for money. If you're a casual torrenter and want a simple and effective VPN at a good price, Surfshark is well worth considering.

For starters, Surfshark's no-logs policy has been fully audited and verified, meaning it doesn't collect or store any personal information that could link you with your online activity. This is a must if you're planning on using a VPN for torrenting.

While Surfshark no longer tops my speed charts – Proton VPN has recently taken that crown – it's still very, very fast. It topped out at 848 Mbps in my last round of testing, undertaken on a 10 Gbps line. This is more than fast enough for any torrenting need, and certainly won't slow you down unless you have the fastest of the fastest internet connections.

I found that Surfshark's apps really stood out in terms of ease of use and intuitiveness. If you've never used a VPN before, Surfshark rivals ExpressVPN in terms of how simple it is to get up and running.

Finally, the price. At around $2 per month on the longest plan (prices can vary slightly throughout the year), it's better value than any other top-tier VPN. Of course, PIA is also around this price, but Surfshark comes with the invaluable Alternative ID, which allows you to create spoof email addresses so you can keep your identity private when signing up to services or for newsletter discounts.

What could improve

There are few better general-purpose VPNs out there than Surfshark, but as a dedicated torrenting VPN, it's not quite as specialized as the likes of Proton VPN or Private Internet Access. For starters, there's no port forwarding on any platform, and overall it's much less configurable than these two rivals. Experts are best off heading to Proton or PIA.

While all of Surfshark's servers support P2P, only a select few are truly optimized – and finding them can be tricky unless you know how. To do so, you need to type "P2P" into the server search bar, which isn't explained anywhere in-app or during setup. When I did this, I found the selection to be slightly limited, with only 47 countries out of Surfshark's total of 100 having dedicated P2P servers.

What's more, when searching Surfshark's usually well-stocked knowledgebase of support articles, I came up empty-handed when it came to torrenting. We all know that it's a contentious subject, and many VPNs try to stay away from the subject – but most VPNs have some basic guides.

specialized as the likes of Proton VPN or Private Internet Access. For starters, there's no port forwarding on any platform, and overall it's much less configurable than these two rivals. Experts are best off heading to Proton or PIA.

While all of Surfshark's servers support P2P, only a select few are truly optimized – and finding them can be tricky unless you know how. To do os, you need to type "P2P" into the server search bar, which isn't explained anywhere in-app or during setup. When I did this, I found the selection to be slightly limited, with only 47 countries out of Surfshark's total of 100 having dedicated P2P servers.

What's more, when searching Surfshark's usually well-stocked knowledgebase of support articles, I came up empty-handed when it came to torrenting. We all know that it's a contentious subject, and many VPNs try to stay away from the subject – but most VPNs have some basic guides.

Buy Surfshark if

✅ You want an easy-to-use torrenting VPN: Surfshark is super simple to set up and get started with.

✅ You want a cheap VPN for torrenting: At around $2 per month, Surfshark is excellent value considering what you get.

✅ You're looking for email spoofing: Surfshark's Alternative ID feature allows you to create a false identity so you can sign up for services and newsletters without revealing your real details.

Don't buy Surfshark if

❌ You need in-depth torrenting features: Surfshark is great for casual torrenting, but lacks a few expert features like port forwarding.

❌ You'll need assistance when torrenting: Surfshark's support center has little to no information on P2P issues.

Tested by

These experts have tested and reviewed all the best torrenting VPNs on this page:

How to choose a VPN for torrenting

Ultimately, your specific use case will determine which VPN is your perfect match. In addition to torrenting, do you plan on streaming? Or are you looking for a speedy service that can keep up with online gaming? Either way, there are a few factors to keep in mind when shopping around.

First of all, make sure that your chosen provider allows P2P activity on most, if not all, of its servers. This refers to the support for the decentralized peer-to-peer network that allows sharing bigger files (torrents) between two or more computers — more on this in the FAQs below. Thankfully all the providers on this page permit torrenting through their servers.

Excellent privacy and security features should come next – after all, what's the point of using a torrenting VPN if it leaks your data or drops connections mid-download?

Speed is also crucial. If you're downloading a torrent with few seeders, you don't want to be slowed down even more by a sluggish VPN.

Finally, if you think you'll use them, extra features like port forwarding may be useful. However, we recommend only activating these features if you know what you're doing, as improper usage can result in inferior protection.

How we test the best torrenting VPNs

Every VPN that I recommend – and many that I don't – have been tested and reviewed in-house by the VPN team. We have a detailed outline of how we test VPNs, but here's the short version.

We don't just copy and paste the info given on a VPN's website and declare the provider with the most impressive claims the best. Rather, we hand-test each one, making sure they fulfil what they say they can do.

We start off by checking over the website, and installing the VPN on our test devices. The Windows application is the first to be inspected – as this is where the most features are likely to be. We'll try to break the kill switch, ensure any leak protection is working correctly, and measure connection speeds. The other apps see comprehensive testing, too, as we check every available setting across the board to ensure it's functioning as promised by the provider.

Due to the popularity of using VPNs for torrenting, we also test each VPN's performance when downloading files that are shared via P2P. Of course, we don't download copyrighted content – and nor should you – but our process gives us a hands-on experience of what each provider is like for torrenting.

As we use the apps, if anything appears to be behaving strangely we'll investigate that. We look at the code, check what's being stored in RAM, and generally leave no stone unturned. This overall usage stage also informs how we rate each app in terms of usability and aesthetics.

From speed results and streaming unlocking capabilities, to customer support and app usability, we regularly make sure to test every aspect of the software that could affect the experience of our readers. In the case of torrenting VPNs, I especially focused my testing on downloading speeds.

Best torrenting VPN FAQ

What is peer-to-peer (P2P) torrenting?

A peer-to-peer (P2P) network is a decentralized infrastructure that allows two or more devices (peers or nodes) to connect and share resources without requiring a separate server or server software to distribute the content. Torrents are the name of the files shared via P2P. P2P sharing is the ideal to allow users to send and receive bigger media files such as books, music, movies, and games at ease.

Is using a VPN for torrenting legal?

Torrenting itself isn't illegal – it's simply sharing information in small packets across different machines. This allows for fast and efficient transfers between computers, which is also known as P2P sharing.

The practice only becomes illegal when you use it to share content which is owned by someone else – for example, a movie that's owned by a media company which you're not paying for.

Torrenting VPNs are also totally legal, and should be used whenever you're sharing P2P, regardless of what you're downloading. So, as long as the files you're downloading are legal, the rest of the process is as well.

What features make a great VPN for torrenting?

To maximize your digital privacy, and boost your anonymity, you'll want to choose a VPN that sticks to a clear no-logs policy. This means that the provider won't store details that could identify you and, if the service is ever pressured to hand over evidence, there simply won't be anything to surrender.

Performance is another integral factor, seeing as you're probably going to be sharing big files while connected to a torrenting VPN.

Finally, leaks are another massive no-no. There are plenty of media companies that run networks of monitoring nodes that can infiltrate torrent swarms and collect IP addresses. Fortunately, if you're using a VPN with solid leak protection, you won't have to worry about turning up on the list.

Can a VPN make torrenting faster?

In short, yes. Torrenting is a data-intensive task that your ISP will monitor, and they might just throttle your connection if they find out that you're doing a little P2P file sharing.

Throttling, in a nutshell, occurs when your ISP slams the breaks on your internet speeds. It sounds petty, but they do it to discourage certain activities or conserve bandwidth – and it doesn't just affect torrenters. Folks using a lot of bandwidth for HD streaming and online can be impacted by a sudden loss of speed, or connection drop-outs, for no apparent reason.

Luckily, a VPN keeps your browsing activity private. Nobody, including your ISP, can see what you're doing, and that means that they can't make the decision to throttle your internet speeds. So, if you think you're being impacted by throttling when you're torrenting, a VPN could help.