Best VPNs for torrenting: 5 top picks for speed, privacy, and security

Who should use NordVPN?

NordVPN is the perfect VPN for torrenting due to its fantastic security features, multi-hop connections, and independently verified no-logs policy. Plus, it comes with a 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. Even power users will find plenty of customizable options to get the most out of their experience.

NordVPN: Further considerations

NordVPN comes with broad device support and Windows and Android apps are easy to use. It also comes with handy features such as access to the TOR network over VPN, multi-hop connections, Meshnet file-sharing network, and Nord’s latest password manager and link-checker safety tool. Additionally, NordVPN offers an extensive server network with locations all over the world.

A monthly subscription might be a bit expensive, but if you opt for longer-term plans the price becomes a lot cheaper. Upgrading to the Plus plan gives you access to Nord’s anti-malware and browsing protection, which could come in handy for certain questionable torrenting sites as well.

Who should use ExpressVPN?

ExpressVPN is a true all-arounder and a great option for everyone. I give it the runner-up spot here as NordVPN comes with a few more security features than ExpressVPN — when it comes to torrenting, the more security the better.

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. Also, ExpressVPN is officially based in the British Virgin Islands, meaning it isn’t subject to any domestic or international data-sharing requirements. You can feel confident that your ISP or other interested parties won’t uncover your P2P activity.

ExpressVPN: Further considerations

ExpressVPN also has a lot of other great qualities that make it worth your while, such as wide device support, smart DNS, and reliable unblocking capabilities. The service has even begun branching out to adopt a more holistic approach to security, adding ad- and tracker-blocking and, most recently, a password manager to the service, as well. The service is also regularly bringing in third-party auditors to validate its privacy credentials.

It’s not the cheapest VPN out there, but you do get excellent value for your money. And just recently, ExpressVPN completely changed its plans adding multiple membership tiers. So now you can more affordably pick and choose the feature sets you want without having to pay for things you don’t need — for strictly torrenting, the base VPN is enough protection for most people.

Who should use Windscribe VPN?

Torrenting requires speed and security from your connection and Windscribe VPN provides both at no cost. In my testing, both the paid and free versions had great average speeds that is a huge bonus and all free servers support P2P.

Most free VPNs are only good for location spoofing with no real added features, and that’s why Windscribe is so good. It offers way more for users and the fact that it gives you up to 15GB of bandwidth means you can even download some larger torrent files without worrying about hitting the data cap. The free service offers 10 regional connections including the U.S., Canada, UK, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Netherlands, Switzerland, Norway, and Romania. It also has a ton of privacy features such as blockers for site notifications and “we use cookies” banners, WebRTC leak protection, user agent rotation, and more.

Windscribe VPN: Further considerations

While Windscribe’s free version does offer up to 15GB of data per month, to get that bandwidth you’ll need to confirm via email address and tweet them — if not, you’re stuck at 2GB per month. Additionally, a big potential plus for some users is that Windscribe exclusively uses physical servers which can provide better security and speeds.

I not only recommend the Windscribe free service on its own, but also as an easy way to get to know the service before committing to a paid tier with premium features.

Who should use 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 measures to ensure they never know who you are — meaning no other observer will know who you are either. All Mullvad servers are also capable of P2P transfers so you can just pick your favorite server and start torrenting.

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.

Mullvad: Further considerations

While Mullvad focuses on privacy, it’s no slouch in other departments. It ranks in the top 10 for speeds, and comes with a convenient split-tunneling feature too. Plus, the service has a very inexpensive monthly subscription fee so it can be a great budget option as well.

Who should use 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.

All servers are capable of P2P file transfers, and features like port forwarding mean your torrenting will be faster and more reliable.

Private Internet Access: Further considerations

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.

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.