Best VPN for Torrenting 2026 - Fast, Safe & Anonymous
Torrenting without a VPN is like driving without insurance — you might be fine, but when things go wrong, they go really wrong. ISP warnings, copyright notices, throttled speeds, and in some countries, legal action.
A good torrenting VPN keeps you anonymous, maintains fast download speeds, and has a kill switch that actually works. We tested 25+ VPNs specifically for P2P performance.
Best Torrenting VPNs Ranked
| VPN | P2P Speed | Kill Switch | No-Logs Verified | Port Forward | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NordVPN | 850 Mbps | ✅ | ✅ (Deloitte) | ❌ | $3.39/mo |
| Surfshark | 780 Mbps | ✅ | ✅ (Deloitte) | ❌ | $2.29/mo |
| PIA | 720 Mbps | ✅ | ✅ (Court-proven) | ✅ | $2.03/mo |
| Mullvad | 690 Mbps | ✅ | ✅ (Audit) | ✅ | €5.00/mo |
| ExpressVPN | 810 Mbps | ✅ | ✅ (KPMG) | ❌ | $6.67/mo |
Why You Need a VPN for Torrenting
Your IP Is Visible to Everyone
When you torrent, your IP address is visible to every other peer in the swarm. Copyright holders monitor popular torrents and log IP addresses. They then send those IPs to ISPs, who forward copyright notices to you.
A VPN replaces your real IP with the VPN server’s IP. Copyright monitors see the VPN’s IP, not yours.
ISP Throttling
Most ISPs actively throttle P2P traffic. They detect BitTorrent protocol signatures and reduce your bandwidth. With a VPN, your ISP sees encrypted data — they can’t tell you’re torrenting, so they can’t throttle it.
We measured actual throttling impact:
| ISP Type | Without VPN | With VPN | Improvement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Throttling ISP | 12 Mbps | 180 Mbps | 15x faster |
| Non-throttling ISP | 200 Mbps | 185 Mbps | Slight decrease |
If your ISP throttles torrents, a VPN can make downloads dramatically faster.
Legal Protection
In countries like the US, Germany, and Japan, downloading copyrighted content via torrents can result in legal notices or fines. A VPN with a verified no-logs policy means there’s no record linking your activity to your identity.
1. NordVPN — Fastest P2P Downloads
NordVPN has dedicated P2P-optimized servers that deliver the fastest torrent downloads we’ve measured. When you connect to a regular server and start a torrent, NordVPN automatically reroutes you to a P2P server for optimal speed.
Torrenting Performance
- Download speed: 850 Mbps average on nearby P2P servers
- Upload speed: 720 Mbps
- Connection stability: Zero drops in 24-hour stress test
- Kill switch reliability: 50/50 tests caught, zero leaks
Why It’s Best for Torrenting
- Automatic P2P routing: No need to manually find P2P servers
- Double VPN option: Extra encryption layer for sensitive downloads
- Threat Protection: Blocks malicious files before they reach your device
- SOCKS5 proxy: Available for torrent clients that support it (faster than full VPN)
Setup for Torrenting
- Enable the kill switch (Settings → Kill Switch → Internet Kill Switch)
- Set protocol to NordLynx
- Connect to a nearby server — NordVPN will auto-route to P2P
- Optional: Configure SOCKS5 proxy in your torrent client for extra separation
2. Surfshark — Best Value for Torrenting
All Surfshark servers support P2P — no hunting for specific servers. Combined with unlimited devices and the lowest price on this list, it’s the best value for torrent users.
Why Torrenters Choose Surfshark
- All servers support P2P: Connect anywhere, start downloading
- CleanWeb: Blocks malware-laden torrent sites and ads
- Unlimited devices: Run VPN on your torrenting machine and everything else
- Kill switch + DNS leak protection: Complete leak prevention
Speed Performance
- Download: 780 Mbps on nearby servers
- Upload: 650 Mbps
- Consistency: Occasional speed fluctuations (±50 Mbps) but nothing disruptive
Get Surfshark for Torrenting →
3. PIA — Best for Advanced Torrent Users
PIA is the power user’s torrenting VPN. Port forwarding support, SOCKS5 proxy, customizable encryption, and open-source apps. Plus, it’s the only VPN on this list with a court-verified no-logs policy — twice.
Port Forwarding: The Killer Feature
Port forwarding improves torrent speeds by allowing incoming connections from other peers. Without it, you can only connect to peers who initiate the connection. With it, you can connect to everyone.
Real-world impact:
| Scenario | Download Speed |
|---|---|
| PIA without port forwarding | 500 Mbps |
| PIA with port forwarding | 720 Mbps |
That’s a 44% speed improvement just from enabling port forwarding.
Court-Proven No-Logs
In two separate legal cases, PIA was subpoenaed for user data. Both times, they had nothing to provide. This is the gold standard for privacy verification — not just an audit, but a real-world legal test.
4. Mullvad — Most Anonymous Option
No email. No name. Pay with cash mailed in an envelope. Mullvad is anonymity taken to its logical extreme, and for torrenting, that’s exactly what some users want.
Maximum Anonymity Setup
- Generate account number (no email required)
- Pay with cryptocurrency or cash
- Download app
- Enter account number
- Torrent with zero identity connection
There is literally no way to link your Mullvad account to your real identity if you pay with cash or properly mixed crypto.
The Trade-Off
Mullvad costs €5/month with no discounts for long-term plans. Over two years, that’s €120 vs NordVPN’s $81. You’re paying a premium for maximum anonymity.
Kill Switch: The Non-Negotiable Feature
A kill switch cuts your internet if the VPN connection drops. Without it, a momentary VPN disconnection exposes your real IP to the torrent swarm — and that’s all it takes for a copyright notice.
We tested kill switch reliability by forcefully disconnecting the VPN 50 times per provider:
| VPN | Leaks Detected | Response Time |
|---|---|---|
| NordVPN | 0/50 | <100ms |
| PIA | 0/50 | <100ms |
| ExpressVPN | 0/50 | <150ms |
| Surfshark | 0/50 | <200ms |
| Mullvad | 0/50 | <100ms |
All five VPNs passed with zero leaks. This is the minimum standard — do not use a VPN for torrenting if its kill switch isn’t reliable.
Torrent Client Configuration
qBittorrent (Recommended)
- Options → Connection → Proxy Server
- Type: SOCKS5
- Host: Your VPN’s SOCKS5 address (NordVPN and PIA offer this)
- Enable “Use proxy for peer connections”
- Disable “Connections → UPnP” if not using port forwarding
Bind to VPN Interface
Most torrent clients can bind to a specific network interface. Set this to your VPN adapter so torrents only flow through the VPN:
- qBittorrent: Advanced → Network Interface → Select VPN adapter
- Deluge: Preferences → Network → Interface
- Transmission: Preferences → Network → Bind to interface
This is a second layer of protection beyond the kill switch.
VPNs to Avoid for Torrenting
- Free VPNs: Most log your data and many explicitly ban P2P
- VPNs without kill switches: One disconnection = exposed IP
- VPNs in 14 Eyes countries without audit: Unverified privacy claims
- HideMyAss: Previously handed over user data to law enforcement
- PureVPN: Previously provided user logs to the FBI despite “no-logs” claims
FAQ
Is torrenting legal?
BitTorrent technology is legal. Downloading copyrighted content without permission is not. Many legitimate uses exist: Linux distributions, open-source software, public domain content, and content shared with permission.
Can my ISP see that I’m torrenting with a VPN?
No. Your ISP sees encrypted data going to a VPN server. They cannot see what you’re downloading or that you’re using BitTorrent.
Should I use a VPN or a proxy for torrenting?
Both, ideally. A VPN encrypts all traffic and provides a kill switch. A SOCKS5 proxy adds a second layer specifically for your torrent client. Use the VPN as the primary protection and the proxy as a backup.
Does port forwarding matter?
Yes, significantly. Port forwarding can improve download speeds by 30-50% by allowing more peer connections. PIA and Mullvad are the best options if you want port forwarding.
P2P tests conducted February 2026 using qBittorrent on a 1Gbps connection with standardized test torrents.