Technology
Torrenting, or P2P (peer-to-peer) file sharing, is a convenient way to download large files quickly. But it isn’t without its risks. Not only is there the risk of accidentally downloading a malicious file or malware, but there’s a privacy risk as well — your ISP can see all your online activity and they usually don’t take too kindly to torrenting.
That’s why it’s imperative that you use a VPN while doing any torrenting or P2P file sharing. A VPN can keep your connection private and encrypt your data so that unwanted prying eyes — cybercriminals, overbearing ISPs, or nosy government watchdogs — can’t monitor your online activity. (See “Can a VPN really hide all of your torrent activity?” to learn more.)
Why you should trust me: Here at PCWorld we’ve been testing computer hardware, software, and services since the 1980s. As PCWorld’s primary VPN reviewer, I’m continually testing all of the major VPNs on the market and many lesser-known services in order to curate a list of the very best VPNs across a variety of categories. For a more in-depth guide on my testing process, see this article on how we test VPN services at PCWorld. Below you’ll find my favorite VPNs and additional information about what to look for when choosing a VPN on your own.
If you’re interested in using a VPN for more than just torrenting you can check out my list of best VPN services for even more great options.
Updated September 11, 2024: Check out my latest review of CyberGhost VPN. Boasting one of the largest server networks of any VPN and dedicated torrenting servers, this is a decent option for most users. But irregular speed issues and lack of a robust feature set keep it just off of this list.
NordVPN – Best VPN for torrenting overall
Pros
- Loaded with tons of VPN configuration options
- Outstanding speeds
- Multiple independent no-logs audits
- Included antivirus and password manager
Price When Reviewed:
$3.49 per month
Why I like NordVPN
NordVPN is my top pick for torrenting due to its fantastic security features, multi-hop connections, and independently verified no-logs policy. Plus, it comes with built-in ad- and tracker-blocker as well as malware protection and a link checker — you know, for any of those dubious Linux torrenting sites you might run into. NordVPN also proved to be the fastest VPN on the market in my testing, so those large P2P files should download in no-time.
It truly has everything you could want to make your torrenting faster, easier, and most importantly, safer. NordVPN also comes with broad device support and an easy-to-use Windows app. It might be a bit expensive, but if you opt for longer-term subscriptions it becomes a lot cheaper.
Who should buy NordVPN
NordVPN is the perfect VPN for torrenting and anyone who is looking for a VPN for this purpose would do well to subscribe to the service. It’s also a great overall VPN option for people who want speed and extra features. Even power users will find plenty of customizable options to get the most out of their experience.
Read our full
NordVPN review
ExpressVPN – Best VPN for torrenting runner-up
Pros
- Excellent speeds
- Easy-to-use interface
- Unblocks all streaming services
- Great security and privacy practices
Cons
- More expensive than many competitors
- Light on some features for a top VPN
Price When Reviewed:
$6.67 per month
Why I like ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN is my favorite VPN so it’s no surprise that it’s landing as one of my top picks for torrents as well. Even though it’s my best overall pick for VPNs, I give it the runner-up spot here as NordVPN comes with a few more security features than ExpressVPN — I say, the more security the better when torrenting.
However, ExpressVPN is still an excellent VPN choice for torrenting as it makes all of the right privacy promises and its speeds are very good. It also has a lot of other good qualities that make it worth your while, such as smart DNS and great unblocking capabilities. Also, ExpressVPN is officially based in the British Virgin Islands meaning it isn’t subject to any international data intelligence sharing alliances or data retention requirements so you can feel confident your ISP or other interested parties can’t uncover your traffic P2P activity.
Who should buy ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN is a true all-arounder and a great option for everyone. Since it’s my top pick overall for VPNs, I would highly recommend it to anyone who wants a VPN for more than just torrenting — especially if they also want to do streaming.
Read our full
ExpressVPN review
ProtonVPN – Best free option
Pros
- Excellent free plan
- Great privacy tools
- Reliable and transparent no-logs policy
Cons
- Premium plan is expensive
Price When Reviewed:
$9.99
Why I like ProtonVPN
My pick for best free VPN for torrenting is a no-brainer: ProtonVPN. At no cost, you’ll get a one-device connection with no data or time limits. I repeat, no data or time limits. That’s absolutely unheard of from a major VPN provider and it means you can safely torrent to your heart’s content without worrying about your file sizes. Sure, the free version of ProtonVPN comes with access to only five servers, but when you’re torrenting, the server location shouldn’t matter anyways.
ProtonVPN also has some of the fastest speeds around, both upstream and down, which is helpful when you want to spread the Open Office love as quickly as possible. The Swiss-based service has excellent privacy promises, and it has a bunch of servers in a friggin’ bunker too — looking at you, torrenting preppers.
Who should use ProtonVPN
Anyone who wants to torrent should use a VPN and anyone who doesn’t want, or have the means, to pay for a premium VPN should use ProtonVPN instead. It’s free and has no data limits. I call that a win-win.
Read our full
ProtonVPN review
Mullvad – Best for privacy
Pros
- Good speeds
- Higher level of anonymity possible than with most VPN services
- Windows desktop is easy to use
Cons
- Not guaranteed to work with Netflix
- Lacks the extra services that some VPNs offer
- No password protection for your account
Price When Reviewed:
$5.37 per month
Why I like Mullvad
Mullvad is the ultimate VPN when it comes to privacy and anonymity. The Sweden-based company appreciates your business, but it’s not interested in finding out who you are. It goes well beyond the standards of most other VPN companies when it comes to protecting your anonymity. Instead of using an email and password combo, Mullvad randomly generates an account number that functions as your username and password. And you can even decide to mail in cash as a subscription payment if you don’t want your credit card on file.
While Mullvad focuses on privacy, it’s no slouch in other departments as well. It ranks in the top 10 for speeds, and comes with a convenient split-tunneling feature as well. All servers are capable of P2P transfers so you can just pick your favorite server and start torrenting. Plus, the service has a very inexpensive monthly subscription fee.
Who should buy Mullvad
Mullvad is ultimately for the privacy-conscious user. Those who really demand ultimate anonymity when torrenting or just using a VPN in general will find that Mullvad takes active measure to ensure they never know who you are — meaning no other observer will know who you are either. Due to its affordable monthly plan it’s also a great option for VPN users on a budget.
Read our full
Mullvad review
Private Internet Access – Best for customization
Pros
- Independently verified no-logs policy
- Unlimited simultaneous device connections
- Incredible number of servers
- Great extra features such as multi-hop and split tunneling
Cons
- App panel awkwardly located on the lower-right corner of screen by default
- Speeds are just okay
Price When Reviewed:
$11.95 per month
Why I like Private Internet Access
Private Internet Access (PIA) is one of the most popular VPN providers and has seemingly been around forever. PIA not only comes with an insane amount of servers, but also great features such as multi-hop, an app-based kill switch, and split tunneling. All servers are capable of P2P file transfers, and features like port forwarding mean your torrenting will be faster and more reliable.
PIA also has a great record of transparency, regularly undergoing independent no-logs audits. It does lack some speed in comparison to other top picks here, but that shouldn’t translate to too much of a hit while torrenting.
Who should buy Private Internet Access
PIA is best suited for those who like to tinker with their software. It provides so many customizable features that it can come across as a bit overwhelming to the uninitiated and those just looking for a set-it and forget-it option. But power users will find a plethora of tweakable options and settings to keep them happy through all of their torrenting endeavors.
Read our full
Private Internet Access review
How I tested
If you’ve read a number of these VPN articles, you know the drill by now. I test on three different days taking the average speeds I find in six different countries (each country is tested multiple times per day). Then I take all those daily averages to get an overall global average in megabytes per second. Then I compare that to the base speed without a VPN, and then express the result as a percentage based on how much of the base speed the global average maintains. If there are particularly standout speeds in a certain country or region I will generally call those out too.
The reason I don’t quote specific speeds is that these can vary by all kinds of factors such as your location, ISP, home network load and equipment, and so on. The percentages, however, give you a generally good idea of how much of a dip to expect when you connect to a VPN — there’s always a dip.
One other factor torrent users will want to know about is that I read the privacy policy for each and every VPN I cover. Yes, it is painful to do, so I save you the hassle. The reason I do that is a VPN may promise up front that it doesn’t track your web browsing, but then you find that actually it does log IP addresses, timestamps, and bandwidth used. So I dig into the details so you can know exactly what the VPNs I review promise.
For more details on my testing process, see how we test VPNs at PCow
What to look for in a VPN for torrenting
There are a few hard-and-fast rules you need from a VPN when downloading torrents. Here’s what to look for:
Blocking
First of all you want a VPN service provider that allows torrenting of P2P file sharing on their network.
