Finding the best VPN for torrenting can be a daunting task due to the fact most VPNs have either one issue or the other.
Some of the most common problems you are likely to encounter when using VPN for torrenting include:
- Leaks. Some of the most popular VPNs have leaking issues. As such, your identity and geographical location could easily be exposed to third parties, such as government surveillance agencies, copyright trolls, law firms, etc.
- Slow torrenting. When you are experiencing slow torrenting speeds, it becomes difficult to download large torrent files.
Media companies use monitoring nodes to track torrent traffic and later join torrent swarms to collect IP addresses. Your internet service provider (ISP) may send you copyright violation notice depending on where you are located.
The notice may also come from a law firm asking you to pay for the damages on behalf of their client who is the copyright holder. Although torrent clients may have different encryption options, note that these may not be enough to protect you.
The reason for this is that monitoring nodes used by media companies usually join torrent swarms and collect data. If you are not using a secure VPN, and your torrent client connects to one of these nodes, your security could be at risk.
In the event of a leak, third-parties could access your personal details, such as IP address, location, and ISP. With all said, let’s look at the best VPN for torrenting.
Quick Overlook
Best VPN for Torrenting
NordVPN is the best VPN service based on recent speed tests.
The VPN service is not only fast, but also offers high-security apps to protect your data and ensure there are no leaks. The latest NordVPN speed test results at about 150 Mbps with all servers.
NordVPN currently offers a discount of 70%.
Other than NordVPN, four other VPN providers have made it to the list of the best VPN for torrenting. So, we’re going to cover five VPN providers that will give you the best torrenting experience on all their servers.
All five VPN providers have the following features:
- Reputable VPN service with an outstanding track record
- Use OpenVPN protocol, which is the standard industry protocol
- Based in a good jurisdiction (NOT in any of the Five Eyes countries)
- Fast torrenting speeds
Without wasting time, let’s dive right into it.
NordVPN
Pros
- P2P servers, double-hop VPN servers, and Obfuscated servers
- User-friendly apps
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- Around the clock live chat support
- Verified no-logs
- Unlocks Netflix and other streaming services
- Affordable prices at only $3.49 per month
- Kill switch feature
- CyberSec ad-blocking feature
Cons
- Discounts only offered for longer subscription plans
As mentioned above, NordVPN is the best VPN for torrenting in 2020. The VPN service has excellent speeds and offers great security. The Panama-based VPN service has a stringent no-logs policy.
It’s one of the few providers that have been audited (and passed) by third-party firms.
The audit results were as follows:
- Passed “no- log” audit performed by PricewaterhouseCoopers in Zurich, Switzerland. This confirmed that NordVPN is a true no-logs VPN service and has put all the necessary measures in place to protect user data.
- Passed independent security audit performs by Versprite. They have also entered into a partnership with Versprite to perform ongoing audits and penetration tests.
Based on recent speed tests, NordVPN offers great performance across all the servers. It has an extensive server network around the globe which gives you a wide range of servers to choose from.
Each subscription plan allows up to six simultaneous connections, no restrictions on torrenting, and unlimited bandwidth.
When it comes to privacy and security features, NordVPN is one of the standout VPN providers on the market. Some of these features include obfuscated servers, P2P servers, and double-hop VPN servers.
P2P2 servers in particular are very important when it comes to torrenting large files. In addition, the NordVPN app comes with a CyberSec feature, which blocks ads, malware domains, and tracking.
Whether you are looking for a VPN for unblocking Netflix, torrenting, or basic browsing, NordVPN is the best and most affordable option.
ExpressVPN
Pros
- Easy-to-use and secure apps
- Does not restrict torrenting in any way
- Excellent speeds throughout their servers
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- Unblocks Netflix and other streaming services
- Advance leak protection settings
- 24/7 live chat support
Cons
- Slightly expensive, though they are currently offering a 48% discount
ExpressVPN is a great VPN service for torrenting. It has one of the fastest speeds and the best security features in the industry. The VPN service is based in the British Virgin Islands and has a nice selection of apps.
ExpressVPN offers solid security with its strict no-logs policy, safe offshore jurisdiction, and secure apps. Like NordVPN, ExpressVPN has also passed third party audit by PWC and was found to be a genuine “no logs” policy VPN service.
In addition to offering excellent security, ExpressVPN offers fast and reliable speeds. ExpressVPN is one of the fastest VPN providers in the industry.
The latest comparison tests between NordVPN and ExpressVPN have revealed that they both have excellent speeds. Though NordVPN has a slight edge.
Also, ExpressVPN apps come with advanced leak protection settings. It allows you to torrent for longer periods without worrying about leaks. The kills switch automatically blocks traffic whenever there’s a connection interruption.
ExpressVPN is a fast, secure, and easy-to-use VPN service that you can use for Torrenting. The VPN service is currently offering a 49% discount.
Perfect Privacy
Pros
- Multi-hop chains
- No logs with an unlimited number of simultaneous connections
- Full obfuscation support
- Dedicated bare-metal servers
- TrackStop feature
- Customizable firewall
Cons
- A bit expensive
- Does not unblock Netflix and other streaming services
Perfect Privacy offers secure apps, excellent speeds, and advanced features. They have a network that is entirely made of dedicated, bare-metal servers that deliver excellent performance, full IPv6 support, and security.
In addition, all their servers support multi-hop VPN chains as well as port forwarding. All these are important in torrenting.
Perfect Privacy is the best option for anyone who is privacy conscious and is looking to achieve online anonymity. The no-logs VPN service is based in Switzerland.
One of its unique features is the TrackStop filter, which blocks ads, malware domains, and tracking at the VPN server level.
However, the VPN is a bit more expensive, at $8.95/month. On the upside, each subscription plan comes with unlimited connections, advanced features, solid performance, and unlimited bandwidth.
VPNArea
Pros
- Excellent speed and reliability
- Unblocks Netflix, and other streaming services
- Ad-blocking feature
- Solid security, with self-hosted DNS
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- Around the clock live chat support
- Dedicated IP addresses
Cons
- Limited number of servers work with Netflix
- Apps feel a bit clunky
VPNArea is another great option on the market. The VPN service is based in Bulgaria and offers some great VPN apps that did exceptionally well in testing.
VPNArea has a strict “no-logs” policy and offers some nice features, such as an ad-blocking DNS server, good speeds, built-in leak protection, and reasonable prices.
Most of VPNArea’s servers have been optimized for P2P downloads and torrenting with high-bandwidth data channels.
They also have dedicated streaming servers, which allow users to access Netflix and other streaming services.
To wrap it up, VPNArea is a VPN service that focuses on privacy, making it a great option for torrenting
VPN.ac
Pros
- Dedicated bare-metal servers
- Self-hosted encrypted DNS
- Great speeds with plenty of bandwidth available
- Double-VPN server configuration
- Secure proxy browser extensions
- Obfuscation features with several encryption options
Cons
- Collects connection logs, but they are erased daily
The last VPN we’ll be looking at is VPN.ac, which is a security-focused provider located in Romania. The VPN service was established by a group of network security experts
VPN.ac offers great performance on all their server networks, which are composed of dedicated bare-metal servers. You can check out the provider’s real-time bandwidth stats.
In addition, VPN.ac offers secure apps with leak protection features, several encryption options, double-hop VPN servers, and different VPN protocols to choose from.
Torrenting traffic is not limited in any way, and they provide designated servers that have been optimized for P2P torrents.
One downside of VPN.a is connection logs. These are used for the optimization of security and network.
On the upside, these logs only contain basic connection data and everything is erased automatically every day.
Now that you know the best VPNs for torrenting, we’ll look at the importance of using a VPN while torrenting.
Why You Should Not Torrent a VPN
It’s possible to torrent for months without a VPN and not experience any issues. If you are among the lucky few to have done this, then you are considered to have been “flying under the radar.” However, you must note that this is risky.
There have been growing concerns over copyright violations in the recent past. So, the last thing you want to do is to torrent without a reliable VPN. People who have previously violated copyright laws had to suffer serious consequences.
Here is an example from the US that shows how serious torrenting without a VPN is:
Jury orders students to pay $675,000 for illegally downloading music.
Many companies around the world have put in place stringent copyright violation laws, especially the United States, Australia, Canada, and Europe. Let’s look at a few examples.
United States
The Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) was signed into law in the US in 1998. The copyright law states that repeat offenders will be charged a fine of up to $1,000,000 and also serve a jail term of 10 years. Internet Service Providers in the US have also been canceling service for users who violate DMCA laws.
United Kingdom
The Digital Economy Act, which was passed in 2017 in the UK, raised the jail term for copyright violation to 10 years.
Australia
Australia has blocked most torrenting websites, but using a good VPN for torrenting should help you bypass these restrictions. Those who infringe copyrights have the target of industry lawyers, with fines up to $2,000 per infringement for those who break the law.
These are common trends throughout Europe, especially in Denmark, Germany, and Denmark. So, regardless of where you are, using a reliable VPN for torrenting and P2P downloads should just be safe digital privacy.
Your Torrent Activity Is Being Tracked and Published Online
One thing to keep in mind is that without using a VPN to hide your IP address and identity, your torrenting activity can easily be tracked and recorded online.
As if that is not enough, random groups are creating giant databases specifically for the torrenting activity. These databases are connected with IP addresses, making them available to everyone to see. An example of such a website is I Know What You Download.
On this site, you will find all torrent downloads with their respective IP addresses. This information is recorded and published online for everyone to see.
With this information, media companies and copyright attorneys can easily target users. If you use one of the best VPNs for torrenting, the far any media company can do is contact your overseas VPN service. But of course, they wouldn’t have any chances owing to an offshore jurisdiction.
Is It Safe to Use a VPN for Torrenting?
Torrenting is only safe if you are using a reliable VPN service that secures your connection effectively. Of course, we don’t advocate for torrenting copyright material, but because this is a sensitive area, you are better off using a VPN.
Here are the advantages of using a good VPN service for torrenting:
- Hides Your IP Address and LocationEncrypts your connection on your devices, adding an extra layer of security
- Prevents your ISP, government surveillance agencies, corporations, and other third-parties from accessing your personal data
- Gives you access to restricted content
- Protects you when accessing content on unofficial sources
To get blanket protection on all the devices using the network, you should consider using a VPN router. This helps you to protect all the devices connected on the network without installing a VPN app on them.
Risks of Using a Free VPN for Torrenting
The main downside of using a free VPN for torrenting is that they are usually very risky.
There are many free VPN providers out there, but they are very dangerous and are notorious for logging user’s data, which is then sold to various third parties.
Here are some of the risks of using a free VPN service form torrenting:
Leaks – Torrenting with a free VPN opens up the possibility of leaking your IP address. According to a study, 84% of free VPNs leak IP address.
Tracking – Most free VPNs have hidden tracking libraries
Malware – Free VPNs often have hidden malware that collects user’s data. Another study found that about 40% of free VPN apps have malware.
Browser hijacking – The well-known VPN, Hotspot Shield, was accused of browser hijacking; using iFrame and JavaScript tags for online advertising.
Stealing bandwidth – Some free VPNs are known to steal their user’s bandwidth. This bandwidth is then resold.
As you can see, using a free VPN for torrenting is quite dangerous. If you don’t have much to spend on a VPN service, you may want to go for a lower-priced provider, such a NordVPN, which goes for only $3.49/month.
Conclusion
Many people today are using VPN for torrenting to protect themselves from being charged with copyright infringement. Aside from copyright violation, there are other growing concerns, which further emphasize the need for using a good VPN. These include:
Most countries allow ISPs to legally track your online activity and hand over the data to government authorities, advertising companies, and other third parties.
ISPs are now canceling internet service for users who repeatedly violate copyright laws. In addition, governments are actively working with ISPs to block torrent websites. This is especially true in the UK, Australia, and certain parts of Europe.
Your torrenting activity along with your IP addresses is being published online to be viewed by everyone. This information can be used by the relevant authorities to file a lawsuit against you.
It’s so clear that torrenting without a good VPN is risky and could land you in problems, so always be smart wherever you go about your business online.