The best VPN services for torrenting in 2025: Expert tested and reviewed

Feb 28, 2025 - 19:30

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The best VPN services for torrenting in 2025: Expert tested and reviewed

Torrenting on the BitTorrent network remains a highly contentious subject, primarily because people use the technology for illegal purposes.

BitTorrent was intended to be a peer-to-peer, or P2P, protocol for easily sharing copyright-free and open-source material over the internet. However, most of the dedicated BitTorrent clients today are tools for distributing copyrighted content without permission, including popular movies and TV shows.

Also: The best free VPNs: Expert tested

That's not all. Cybercriminals also exploit unsuspecting torrent users and target them with malware links. This is why it's crucial to use a trustworthy VPN, or virtual private network, when accessing genuine torrent resources. It masks your IP address and encrypts data, stopping privacy intruders and potential hackers from obtaining your information. And if you use a VPN jointly with a strong antivirus program, you can enjoy impregnable protection from various online and offline threats.

Do not use a VPN for illegal torrenting. It should only be a tool to enhance your online privacy and security when browsing and sharing authorized content.

What is the best VPN for torrenting right now?

We've extensively tested all of the top VPNs on the market. The best VPN for torrenting is NordVPN, with ExpressVPN coming in a close second. NordVPN has servers dedicated to P2P traffic and provides users with rapid speeds, stable connectivity, and an expansive server network. For the rest of our top picks for VPNs to use when torrenting in 2025, check out our recommendations below.

The best VPNs for torrenting in 2025

NordVPN is a widely used and well-reviewed VPN service, and we consider it the best VPN overall for use with torrent clients like uTorrent, Deluge, and qBittorrent.

In our testing, NordVPN consistently had quick connection times, fast download speeds, and solid and reliable overall performance. Its user interface is attractive and works well on PCs and mobile devices. The VPN has a massive server network in 118 countries, with fast and reliable connections in many of these locations.

You can select "P2P" in the app, which automatically connects you to the fastest P2P server. While testing, we found the VPN's best performance during torrenting was reserved for these servers. Aside from simply securing your internet connection and supporting P2P sharing, NordVPN also has an Onion over VPN feature and a Double VPN option for heightened security.

Review: NordVPN

Another key highlight feature for safe torrenting is Threat Protection Pro. It's a built-in malware scanner that detects and blocks a variety of threats including malicious ads and sites, phishing links, and hidden trackers. Best of all, it can scan downloads for malware and stop you from using or installing dangerous files that can harm your system.

NordVPN isn't the cheapest VPN on the market and its limited simultaneous connections are a downside, but it provides good value for money. The cheapest option is the two-year basic plan for $81.36 ($3.39 per month), but if you want additional features like Threat Protection and password manager you will pay a little more.

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ExpressVPN is the perfect VPN if you want to prioritize speed while torrenting.

It has an exceptionally large network of servers in 105 countries, one of the largest available. It's also extremely fast. Regardless of your device, ExpressVPN likely supports the platform as it offers native applications for all the major operating systems, including Windows, MacOS, and Linux.

According to its privacy policy, ExpressVPN does not log IP addresses, DNS queries, browsing history, or traffic destinations. While it does collect some data, it doesn't maintain activity or connection logs of the contents of your traffic, session duration, or source IP address. The VPN uses RAM-only/TrustedServer technology that regularly wipes the servers clean to remove any stored information, adding privacy to your torrenting activities.

Review: ExpressVPN

During our testing, we found torrenting seamless and fast, with no problems finding or downloading from seeders. Overall, customers applaud its server availability, speed, and customer service team.

Subscriptions begin at $5 per month on a two-year plan, increasing to $6.67 per month for one year, and $13 for a single month. ExpressVPN plans come with a seven-day free trial and a free lifetime password manager.

ExpressVPN features: Simultaneous connections: 8 | Kill switch: Yes | Platforms: Windows, MacOS, iOS, Android, Linux, ChromeOS, Apple TV, and more | Logging: No browsing logs, some connection logs | Supports torrenting/P2P: Yes | Countries: 105 | Money-back guarantee: 30 days

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Proton VPN offers signature Secure Core servers that bounce your traffic via multiple countries with strong privacy, like Switzerland and Iceland. Also, the Tor via VPN servers can reroute your traffic on the Tor network with one click, adding anonymity to your torrenting activities.

Alongside its regular servers in 117 countries, there are also dedicated P2P servers in nearly all the locations. You can easily access the full server list and server load for every location, allowing you to handpick the most efficient ones for torrenting (though some servers had high ping). Proton VPN servers are optimized for high bandwidth connections of up to 10Gbps, and the built-in VPN Accelerator tool gave a little boost to my speeds when transferring some files securely.

Review: Proton VPN

You can bind torrent clients like Vuze and qBittorrent to connect to the internet only via the Proton VPN interface. This ensures you're always accessing peer-to-peer content with VPN protection. Other great features on the app include port forwarding, DNS leak protection, and split tunneling to route only specific apps on the VPN.

While Proton VPN has a free app, torrenting is only possible with a paid subscription. The prices range from $107.76 ($4.49 per month) for two years to $59.88 ($5 per month) yearly, and $110 for one month.

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Private Internet Access is one of the best VPNs out there if you want a set-and-forget VPN. It has an overwhelming set of features to tailor your security and experience. Aside from offering advanced AES 128-bit and 256-bit encryptions, features like Shadowsocks and SOCKS5 proxy protocols provide better connectivity for downloading torrents safely.

The VPN has an expansive server fleet too, supporting torrenting in all 91 countries (including all the US states) where its servers are located. The app is open-source, allowing third parties to examine its code for any potential security issues or information leaks. PIA also supports unlimited connections, allowing you to simultaneously secure as many devices as you want.

Review: Private Internet Access

During our tests, PIA provided reasonable speeds but excellent stability, streaming options, and no torrenting faults. Customers find the features useful and note the tool is beginner-friendly.

Private Internet Access has an excellent three-year plus three-month deal for only $79 ($2.03 per month). It's one of the cheapest subscriptions around at the moment, and the extended plans come with a free 500GB pCloud storage for one year. You can sign up for one year at $3.33 per month, or one month at $12.

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Surfshark is a great option if you want a torrenting VPN with antivirus.

The Starter plan costs $59.13 ($2.19 per month) for two years and three months, but the security suite with antivirus bundle is on the Surfshark One plan which costs $72.63 ($2.69 per month) for 27 months. Each plan has different tiers, giving you the flexibility to choose according to your budget.

Surfshark supports P2P traffic within its AES-256 encrypted server network. Its IP rotation and multihop features help to increase anonymity for your online activities. The additional antivirus provides real-time threat protection and can be programmed to scan at regular intervals and eliminate malware hidden on torrent files and applications.

With over 100 countries, you also have plenty of locations to choose from.

Review: Surfshark VPN

Surfshark performed well in our speed tests. While connection times could be a touch slower than some competitors, we think the speed offered is reasonable considering the VPN's price point. Customers say that Surfshark is excellent value for money and has a supportive customer service team.

The cheapest option, Surfshark Starter, costs $2.19 per month and comes with three months for free on a two-year plan. If you select the midtier plan, Surfshark One, you will pay $2.69 per month. A two-year subscription for the highest tier, Surfshark One+, costs $4.29 per month. Annual and monthly plans are also available.

Surfshark VPN features: Simultaneous connections: Unlimited | Kill switch: Yes | Platforms: Windows, MacOS, Linux, iOS, Android, Fire TV, Firefox, Chrome, Apple TV, and more | Supports torrenting/P2P: Yes | Countries: 100 | Logging: None, except billing data | Money-back guarantee: 30 days

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Windscribe's free app supports torrenting and streaming activities.

If you're not ready to commit to a subscription yet but want to secure your BitTorrent traffic, you can take advantage of this free offer. The caveat is that bandwidth is capped at 10GB per month, which can be a major drawback if you want to download many files.

The free app provides ample security and performance features, including port forwarding, an "always-on" kill switch (firewall), IPv6 protection, and ROBERT malware and tracker blocker. You can tweak the app to transmit in smaller packet sizes while torrenting and avoid performance issues over networks that restrict MTU size.

Generally, I found Windscribe to be user-friendly. The website offers straightforward setup guides for torrent clients including uTorrent, VUZE, and qBittorrent. Plus, its 24/7 customer support service is open to both free and premium subscribers. Upgrading costs $9 for a month and $69 for a full year ($5.75 a month).

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Best VPN for torrenting	Cheapest price	Torrenting protection	Countries	Dedicated P2P servers	Simultaneous connections
NordVPN	$81.36 for 2 years ($3.39/month)	High-end encryption, kill switch, Threat Protection Pro, Dark Web Monitor, audited no-logs policy	118	Yes	10
ExpressVPN	$139.72 for 2 years and 4 months ($5/month)	256-bit encryption, Lightway protocol, Threat Manager, RAM-only servers, private DNS	105	No	8
Proton VPN	$107.76 for 2 years ($4.49/month)	Robust encryption, Secure Core and Tor over VPN servers, leak protection, Netshield ad and Malware blocker	117	Yes	10
Private Internet Access	$79 for 3 years and 3 months ($2.03/month)	AES 128/256-bit encryptions, power, split tunneling, MACE ad/malware blocker	91	No	Unlimited
Surfshark	$59.13 for 2 years and 3 months ($2.19/month)	AES 256-bit encryption, IP Rotator, antivirus,	100	Yes	Unlimited
Windscribe VPN	$69 per year ($5.75/month)	Encryption, firewall, Stealth VPN, split tunneling, ROBERT	69	No	Unlimited

A VPN service for torrenting is a client that permits P2P traffic to route through its server network. Not every VPN provider permits torrenting, but of those that do, some will offer P2P-specific servers for optimized performance.

BitTorrent clients perform better when a VPN allows port forwarding, as this creates an improved incoming and outgoing connection setup for seeding and leeching files. However, many VPN providers have retired this feature.

You should use a VPN, in general, to improve your online privacy and security, and this includes when you are torrenting large files. We do not condone using a VPN to hide illegal activities performed through a BitTorrent client.

How to use a VPN for torrenting

Remember, you should enable your VPN before you conduct any online activity -- and this includes grabbing a torrent. To begin, open up your preferred VPN service. For this tutorial, I will be using ExpressVPN.

Select the server you want to connect to, or if you have no preference, most VPNs have a "smart" server option to give you a local IP address and optimal speeds. Click connect.

Find the torrent for the file you want. FOSS Torrents is an excellent resource for finding open-source software, for example, and many of these can be downloaded through BitTorrent.

Once you've selected the torrent file you want, download it and open it. It should automatically open in your preferred BitTorrent client, such as µTorrent shown above.

When it opens, you will be asked to confirm the download and select the location to save your file.

That's it! Keep in mind that the speed of your VPN-protected torrent will depend on many factors, including active seeders (the host computers storing the file), active leechers (the number of people attempting the download), your VPN's server speed, and the speed offered by your home internet service provider.

A torrenting VPN should be secure and have the performance needed to handle the demands of file sharing. As a baseline, every VPN on our best VPNs for torrenting list needs to have reasonable speeds for downloading and uploading, as well as robust security.

We can't run typical speed tests, as any torrent's speed is affected by the number of active seeders and leechers. We can, however, test for overall reliability, alongside download and upload speed consistency.

Many providers recommended in this list have been subject to in-depth testing and reviews by members of our ZDNET team. We've been talking about VPNs for years, spoken with their management and their users, and developed a generally favorable impression.

ZDNET tests VPN services from multiple locations, but we can't test them from all locations. Every home, every community, every local ISP, and every nation has a different infrastructure.

We analyzed the best VPNs for torrenting using the following criteria that were most important in helping you make an informed decision:

Performance: Our top VPNs must have a minimum level of performance. After all, there's no point in using a VPN if your connection continually drops or lags, making file downloading difficult.
P2P support: Not every VPN allows or supports P2P file sharing. If a VPN provider chooses not too -- potentially to avoid legal problems -- then it's not suitable for use with BitTorrent technology.
Security: There's no point in using a VPN unless its security protocols and encryption levels are up to scratch. We also ensured the development team behind each recommended VPN cares about making security improvements over time and patching reported bugs.
Kill switch: A kill switch prevents you from having an unprotected connection. It's an important feature for a VPN, as it protects you by preventing a return to a default Wi-Fi connection should your internet connection unexpectedly drop. This applies to when you're torrenting, too.
Geo-blocks and streaming: VPNs can be key to accessing local content and services while you're away from home. We ensured that our top recommendations performed well considering these factors and are unlikely to slow down your connection while streaming.
Platforms: What systems and devices can you run the VPN on? Our VPN recommendations have to offer easy-to-use and intuitive apps suitable for a variety of hardware.
Countries and servers: In how many different countries does the VPN have servers? This can include physical and virtual servers, and whether there are enough -- at least 50 or so -- to provide options.
Trial length and price: Each VPN we recommend has a solid money-back guarantee of at least 30 days.

For a more extensive breakdown, check out our comprehensive VPN testing methodology page.

Choose this VPN for torrenting	If you want…
NordVPN	The best VPN for torrenting overall. NordVPN's speeds are excellent, and the VPN provider has an expansive server network.
ExpressVPN	A fast VPN. ExpressVPN's torrenting connections are some of the fastest, and the VPN is user-friendly with a large server network and country selection.
Proton VPN	Privacy servers for extra anonymity. Proton VPN is based in Switzerland which adheres to strict privacy laws and puts security at the forefront.
Private Internet Access	Personalized protection. PIA is also suitable for users who want a VPN for multiple devices.
Surfshark	To save money. Surfshark also has an antivirus bundle if you want to scan your files for threats.
Windscribe	A free VPN tailored for torrenting. Windscribe's port forwarding feature enables you to torrent with reliable speeds.

When you're selecting your new VPN for torrenting, you need to consider the following factors:

Price: VPN prices vary, and although the most expensive services can cost you upwards of $10 to $20 per month, you can also find solid, reliable VPNs for as little as a few dollars. Keep an eye on renewal rates, as some VPN providers hike prices after introductory periods.
Free options: Many VPN providers give users a 30-day money-back guarantee; some even provide free plans. While free, legitimate options -- such as those offered by Proton VPN and Windscribe -- are often fine for casual use, you may run into some challenges using them with a BitTorrent client.
Simultaneous connections: Even if you're paying for a VPN suitable for your PC, you might still want to use it across multiple devices, such as smartphones or tablets. We recommend you sign up for a plan with support for at least six devices. Thankfully, many paid VPN plans now offer at least this number or unlimited connections.
P2P support: If you intend to use your VPN to torrent, it will need to support P2P file sharing. BitTorrent clients use these protocols, so if the VPN provider says P2P is incompatible, the VPN won't work correctly during torrent sessions.
Legality: We do not condone using BitTorrent or VPNs for illegal activities, including downloading copyrighted material. Remember: Using a VPN doesn't mean you're completely anonymous.
Usage length: You need to consider your preferred price given how long you think you'll need a VPN. If you're in it for the long haul, consider a two-year subscription, as you also tend to earn the best prices with the most extended terms. Some VPNs will offer longer options.
Apps and extensions: When selecting a VPN, you might want to try out its accompanying mobile apps and extensions to ensure you're getting the most out of your subscription.

Also: The best VPN services: Expert tested

What is BitTorrent, and how does it work?

When you typically download a file, you pull all the information from one server. If that server has limited bandwidth, the number of people able to download the file simultaneously and at speed can be limited.

BitTorrent is a peer-to-peer, or P2P, file-sharing network and protocol that changes the game. Files on the BitTorrent network are scattered in pieces among "seeders" (computers that host the full or parts of the file) and downloaders, so when someone downloads a file, they're pulling pieces of that file from many different machines. That's the peer-to-peer component of torrenting. You're not just pulling from one central server; you're sharing with other users, or peers, on the torrent network.

Torrenting is not important for smaller files, but it helps distribute the load among users for large file sizes.

Am I committing a crime using BitTorrent?

In most countries, using BitTorrent technology or clients is not a crime. Distributing content via the BitTorrent network can be a crime if you're trafficking in or distributing content illegally. This includes downloading and sharing copyrighted TV shows, games, and movies.

How do I know what's safe to download?

While there's no universal answer, here's a quick way to think of it: if it's something owned or copyrighted by someone else, it's probably piracy. That means downloading TV shows, movies, games, and most software is illegal if you haven't paid for it, or acquired it through official channels.

Regarding safety, anytime you download something from a sketchy source, you risk being infected with malware or a virus.

How can I get caught if VPNs don't keep records of my online activities?

First, remember that law enforcement and major movie studios are devoting much more resources to penetrating the VPN veil than you or VPN services are for protection. Don't use VPNs for anything heinous or illegal, and you'll be safe.

Is a free VPN good enough for torrenting?

It's unlikely. Most free VPNs do not allow P2P sharing as it can require a lot of bandwidth -- something free plans tend to restrict. Furthermore, aside from trustworthy VPN providers that provide limited, free plans supported by paying subscribers, free VPNs typically take something else in lieu of payment: your data.

Can I use any VPN for torrenting?

No. Not every VPN provider permits P2P sharing or the use of BitTorrent clients on its networks, although the majority of paid plans will include this feature.

Does a VPN slow down my internet connection?

Yes, it does -- but the best VPN providers will not drastically reduce your speeds. You'll tend to find that speed degradation occurs the most when you're connecting to a far-flung server: from the US to Australia, for example. It's not uncommon for a speed loss of up to 35%, but if you're connected to a local server, it could be as low as 5%.

There are a number of other reputable VPN services that support torrenting. If there isn't a provider in our best torrenting VPNs list that you prefer, these alternatives might be a better fit.