The best torrenting VPN in 2024

It's no secret that you should one of the best torrenting VPNs when sharing P2P – so much so that many torrent sites themselves advertise VPNs on their homepages. However, picking the best VPN for the job isn't always easy.

We've undertaken hands-on testing of dozens of VPNs, focusing on their privacy credentials, ease of use, and any extra features that add to the experience. While most VPNs support P2P, there are a few that really excelled in our testing – and here I'll be rounding up the very best VPNs for torrenting.

If you want to explore what makes these providers the bst VPN s for torrenting, keep scrolling for my in-depth analysis of the top five providers. If you just want a quick answer, though, pick from the three best torrenting VPNs just below.

The top 3 best torrenting VPNs at a glance

1. Private Internet Access – the best torrenting VPN
PIA is full of expert-level features that make it perfect for torrenting, but still maintains a fairly intuitive layout that everyone except total beginners will be able to understand. It offers excellent privacy, and every plan can be used on an unlimited number of devices. Prices are very appealing, starting from around $2 per month, and there's also a 30-day money-back guarantee so you can try before you commit.

2. NordVPN – the best VPN overall
NordVPN is our top-rated VPN overall, and while it doesn't have the dedicated torrenting features that PIA does, it's more than capable of keeping you private when you share P2P. It's incredibly fast, has tons of servers worldwide, and also comes with extra features like malware blocking and cyber insurance. Prices start from $3.19 per month, and there's a 30-day money-back guarantee.

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3. ExpressVPN – the best torrenting VPN for beginners
ExpressVPN is the perfect choice if you're new to VPNs or torrenting. The interface is super simple, but there are no sacrifices made in terms of functionality or privacy features, and with servers in 105 countries, there's bound to be a fast server near you. Prices start at $6.67 per month, which includes three free months for Tom's Guide readers, and you'll have a month to claim a refund if you want.

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My expert list of 2024's best torrenting VPNs:

Private Internet Access: the best torrenting VPN overall

Private Internet Access has risen through the ranks in the last year or so, and proves that old dogs really can learn new tricks. With improvements in its streaming power combined with stellar P2P support and nifty extra features, it's easily the best choice if torrenting is your #1 priority.

On paper, it offers over 10,000 servers, all of which support P2P torrenting, and like any good torrenting VPN there are no bandwidth restrictions whatsoever. If you're in the US, having a server in every mainland state will also be a bonus.

Port forwarding allows the VPN to redirect connections around your NAT firewall, and this ensures your torrenting speeds stay as fast as possible – although I only recommend this for those who know what they're doing, as it could open you up to further threats. 

Alongside that, you'll also get the requisite kill switch and split tunneling to further optimize your P2P experience.

In my Private Internet Access review, I found PIA to be one of the most configurable VPNs in my testing, with fairly easy-to-navigate settings where you can shuffle around options, including your server location, encryption level, and more. That said, the same customization plays against its appeal for beginners, but the good thing is there's 24/7 professional support with tons of helpful guides in case you need any help.

PIA's key attraction, though, is its excellent value for money and unlimited simultaneous connections. 

At just a little more than two dollars a month, you can use PIA to cover any number of devices and device types – from Windows and Mac to routers and Linux, where it comes with a graphical user interface. Even providers like ExpressVPN only offer a command-line interface.

There's no cost-cutting on the security front at all. It's one of the few services to have proven its no-logs policy in court, and that too, twice. Not only this, PIA releases transparency reports every quarter with a record of every time they've been asked to provide logs, and every time they've not provided these logs as they do not exist. 

PIA is also fully open-source – just like Proton VPN – meaning you can inspect its code anytime to reassure yourself of its privacy.  

Somewhere that PIA falls a little flat is its connection speeds. Delivering around 330 Mbps when using WireGuard and 270 Mbps when using OpenVPN, it certainly isn't slow, but big rivals NordVPN, Surfshark and ExpressVPN all outstrip it. However, if you're not using a gigabit connection, you're unlikely to see any difference.

As I mentioned earlier, PIA's one of the best streaming VPNs, unblocking everything I tested it with in my review.

Alongside a zero-log policy and its interesting MACE blocking tech, PIA offers an industry-standard 30-day money-back guarantee. While it's not a slick as some others, PIA is a good-value torrenting VPN that has a lot of features that will appeal to dedicated torrenters.

NordVPN: the fastest torrenting VPN

In my NordVPN review, I found the big-name provider was a very close match for Private Internet Access when it comes to torrenting. Thanks to powerful encryption, a choice of protocols, two kill switches, DNS leak blocking, and zero-logging, there's plenty here to keep you safe.

NordVPN ensures your data remains private at all times by encrypting it twice through its Double VPN feature, which routes your online traffic through two servers instead of one. 

If you want even more anonymity, you can pay via cryptocurrency, and the Onion over VPN feature rounds up this set of privacy tools by giving you access to the Tor network without ever having to download the browser.

While not all servers are P2P supported, there are hundreds in the US, UK, and plenty more across the globe that do support torrents. Plus, since the VPN will connect you to the best P2P server in your location when it detects torrenting traffic, the process is painless too.

With more servers than rivals ExpressVPN and Surfshark, combined with a streaming-focused SmartPlay feature and peak speeds of over 950 Mbps as per my recent testing, NordVPN is an excellent choice for streaming – as well as one of the fastest VPNs for torrenting I've tested.

The DNS-based SmartPlay feature evades VPN blocks put in place by various streaming sites, granting you access to all streaming platforms, including Netflix, iPlayer, Prime Video, Hulu, and YouTube.

NordVPN’s WireGuard-based proprietary tunneling protocol, NordLynx, further adds to the overall speed and lagless experience. What's more, the recent introduction of Threat Protection Pro means that those if you're using Windows or Mac, you can stay protected from malware and malicious websites all the time – even when you're not connected to the VPN.

An externally audited no-logs policy by the reputable PricewaterhouseCoopers and a special program encouraging just about anyone to report any security troubles with NordVPN make its already comprehensive security suite even better.

Nothing is perfect, though, and that goes for NordVPN too. Compared to PIA, Nord's choice to limit you to 10 simultaneous connections seems a bit tightfisted, although this has recently been increased from 6. However, at a time when services like Surfshark and PIA are offering unlimited simultaneous connections at lower prices, it's a little disappointing to see the world's biggest VPN be a little stingy.

Overall, NordVPN is a delight for privacy purists. The service prides itself on foolproof security, with top-of-the-line encryption and security measures, including a built-in antivirus and blockers to keep irritating ads, pop-ups, and malware at bay. 

ExpressVPN: the easiest torrenting VPN to use

In our ExpressVPN review, we found the premium provider is a great all-purpose VPN, and it’s no surprise that it's excellent for torrenting too.

Not only does it have full torrenting support on every server, but it provides WebRTC leak protection, private DNS servers, and Perfect Forward Secrecy, which uses a unique key every time you connect and every 60 minutes afterward.

Your real IP addresses won’t be vulnerable to leaking, even if your browser holds onto your data from previously opened tabs. The ExpressVPN browser extension comes with an option to disable WebRTC from the settings.

Express boasts 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.

Split tunnelling allows you to protect your connection to a torrent client via the VPN, leaving other online activities, such as browsing or gaming, as regular internet traffic.

ExpressVPN is fast, but the likes of Surfshark and NordVPN are a little faster. Still, with average download speeds of around 750 Mbps, I had no trouble downloading large files in my recent round of testing. 

These sort of connection speeds are also more than enough for streaming in 4K Ultra HD, given that you only really need around 20 Mbps for the most quality streaming experience.

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 – 26 server locations in the Asia-Pacific region alone, for example.

ExpressVPN is also one of the easiest VPNs to use, thanks to its auto-connect feature, straightforward app interfaces, and 24/7 friendly support. That's ideal for new users who might still be figuring out how to use a VPN, but it's also great for more experienced users, too.

The overall package is ideal for small families or individuals with multiple devices – no matter the device type – but those looking to cover a large number of devices on a single subscription might be better off considering Surfshark or PIA.

However, one of Express's biggest downfalls is its price. At two to three times the price of the other providers on this list, it certainly looks expensive, even if you do get a very polished and professional product for that. But, if it turns out it's not for you, then there's a 30-day money-back guarantee too – so it's definitely worth considering.

Best of the rest

From the creators of Proton Mail, Proton VPN is a high-quality torrenting VPN – and in my Proton VPN review, I found that it just keeps getting better and better, now rivaling the behemoths that dominate the industry.

Proton is clearly targeted at a more VPN-savvy crowd – ExpressVPN will appeal to newbies more than Proton VPN will – but it's still more than simple enough to use for most.

If you're comfortable with more robust, detailed apps and prioritize Swiss privacy above all else, though, Proton may well be your best choice. Switzerland is known for its strict privacy laws, plus it’s outside the US and EU jurisdiction and not a member of the ‘14 Eyes’ surveillance network, giving Proton VPN an upper hand on the privacy front. 

With 190 P2P-optimized servers and over 3,000 regular servers, Proton VPN doesn't offer the widest range, but in my testing I had no problems downloading torrents and experienced absolutely no slow-down. 

This means these servers aren't too crowded, and you can expect a pretty seamless experience.

While other VPNs provide a standard multi-hop feature, Proton VPN takes it up a notch. Its Secure Core servers route your internet traffic through secure locations like Switzerland, Sweden, and Iceland before finally connecting you to your chosen destination. 

By doing this, Proton VPN ensures that prying eyes, like hackers ISPs and governments, cannot get a glimpse of your activity logs or personal information. However, for most users this is an unnecessary step, and it's worth noting that you'll make a trade-off in terms of speed when activating Secure Core.

On that note, Proton VPN's WireGuard speeds are pretty good. Topping out at over 460 Mbps in my speed tests, it's not the fastest, but it's more than speedy enough for almost any domestic internet, and connections are very reliable too. That's not it, though – Proton VPN employs a proprietary VPN Accelerator technology that claims to boost server speeds by up to 400%.

With a kill switch, an advanced split tunneling system, and fully audited and open-source apps, all of these factors come together to make Proton VPN a very compelling VPN for torrenting – and it also offers one of the best free VPNs (although this doesn't support torrenting).

From the get-go, you'll be able to tell that torrenting is a priority for CyberGhost, as the VPN will automatically configure itself to deliver the best torrenting experience. In fact, in my CyberGhost review, I found these specializations one of the Romanian provider's best features.

That means you don't have to fuss around with protocols or testing servers randomly to try and find the best P2P performance – CyberGhost knows what you want to do, and it'll make it happen. It even has a great big 'Torrent Anonymously' button to make the whole process entirely idiot-proof.

A feature I'd like to see in every torrenting VPN is CyberGhost's App Protection. This feature means you can configure the VPN to automatically connect to a server of your choice when you launch a particular app. 

In practice, the app in question will be your torrent client, and once you've set that up, you won't even need to open CyberGhost to get protected.

Although not at the top of my list, CyberGhost impresses with over 9,000 servers – much more than the likes of ExpressVPN and NordVPN. Also, the servers are all nicely spread out in 91 countries, which again trumps most of its rivals' reach. 

One of CyberGhost’s core attractions is its ease of use, thanks to its very navigable interface and intuitive design that's easy to customize even for beginners. Add to this prompt and capable customer support and a help center rich in resources, and you get one of the best beginner-friendly VPNs.

With industry-standard AES-256 encryption and a range of VPN protocols, an intuitive kill switch, blockers for ads and trackers, and a no-logs policy audited by Deloitte, CyberGhost does very well as far as user security and privacy are concerned.

When it comes to streaming, however, CyberGhost fails to perform – the service failed to unlock UK Netflix and Disney Plus in my last round of testing. 

That said, CyberGhost delivered decent speeds, with the WireGuard and OpenVPN connections peaking at 630 Mbps and 360 Mbps respectively. Most other VPNs topped out at around 150 Mbps when I set them to use their OpenVPN protocol. 

Overall, CyberGhost is a good VPN, but being priced similarly to PIA but delivering slightly less means it's hard to recommend it instead. However, CyberGhost does offer a lengthy 45-day money-back guarantee, so there's plenty of time to test it out if you fancy giving it a go.

Tested by

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

Mo Harber-Lamond

Mo is VPN Editor at Tom's Guide. He's covered VPNs since 2020, and in that time he has helped test, rank and review over 100 providers. Mo handles the day-to-day testing of VPNs, making sure that they work for real people in real situations – including torrenting testing. He also undertakes ongoing streaming testing to make sure these services can unblock everything they claim, and produces video content to discuss and demonstrate the software.

Anthony Spadafora

Anthony Spadafora is the Senior Security and Networking Editor at Tom’s Guide where he covers everything from data breaches and malware to password managers. He also undertakes VPN testing for Tom's Guide and TechRadar, which includes running all of our US-based speed tests.

VPN speed testing – my results

Speed is crucial when it comes to torrenting larger files if you don't want to risk this activity to become a painful slow nightmare. As an independent reviewer, I regularly test all the top VPN services across different servers and protocols to check for myself the speed they are capable of delivering. 

In my review process I test every VPN software on a 1Gbps line. I measure the speeds with a number of tools, including the Ookla SpeedTest website and CLI, nPerf, Netflix's Fast and others. I then take the average (median) of each tool's results to generate an accurate range of speeds. I repeat these tests morning and evening to ensure accuracy. Below are the speed results during my last round of testing:

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 been 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 the popularity of using VPNs for torrenting, we also test each VPN's performance when downloading files that are shared 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 is 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