Torrenting can be a useful way to share files via a direct peer-to-peer (P2P) connection – but connecting directly to another computer or server can expose a lot of personal information to people and groups you might not know much about.
As such, it’s a good idea to protect yourself with a VPN when torrenting to keep your IP address and online activity hidden from would-be bad actors.
However, not every VPN has what it takes to serve as a viable torrenting VPN. There are only a few on the market that offer the right combination of features and advanced privacy tech to make them genuinely worth recommending.
TechRadar’s VPN team has more than 15 years of experience in total, and we’ve tested all of the best VPNs to find the most suitable candidates for torrenting and P2P file sharing – keep scrolling for a detailed guide to our top picks, from big names like ExpressVPN and Surfshark to lesser known specialist options.
The best torrenting VPNs at a glance
Best VPN for torrenting: mini-reviews
Why you can trust TechRadar We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you're buying the best. Find out more about how we test.
The best torrenting VPN overall
ExpressVPN is currently the best VPN for torrenting. It comes with a massive network of more than 4,000 servers across 108 countries, all of which support P2P activity. That means you won't have to scroll through the server list to find a torrenting-friendly option.
Another reason ExpressVPN tops our torrenting charts is its excellent privacy. It's jam-packed with tools that will keep your online activity and downloads away from prying eyes and nosy third parties. It's worth noting, though, that in its quest to offer the best torrenting experience, ExpressVPN doesn't compromise simplicity. It's actually our pick for easiest-to-use VPN, offering intuitive apps and 24/7 customer support on all devices.
Read more about ExpressVPN ▼
Privacy & security
As one of the most secure VPNs going around, ExpressVPN swept us off our feet with its commitment to proving its privacy claims. The provider has put its no-logs policy through independent third-party audits 25 times now – more than any other VPN provider – passing with flying colors each time.
ExpressVPN is based in the British Virgin Islands, which is outside the jurisdiction of major surveillance alliances, meaning the VPN company cannot be forced to hand over user information. This is hugely important for torrenting and a boost for your online anonymity.
All of ExpressVPN's servers are P2P friendly and use a RAM-only architecture, meaning all data is erased with every reboot. This means that even if authorities ask ExpressVPN for user data, they'll have almost nothing to hand over.
ExpressVPN has even developed its very own open-source VPN protocol, Lightway, designed with obfuscation-by-default. This hides the fact you're using a VPN, making it even harder for snoopers to trace your activity.
That's not all, though, as our torrenting champ also comes with military-grade AES-256 encryption, excellent kill switches, and leak protection, which will further bolster the security of your downloads.
Speed & performance
With peak speeds of over 1100 Mbps in our latest testing (and up to 1810Mbps using the Windows-only Lightway Turbo protocol), ExpressVPN is sufficiently quick for downloading large files or streaming 4K content all day long. Still, it's worth noting that it's not the fastest on the market. If you're looking for the highest possible speeds, go for NordVPN or Surfshark instead.
That said, the difference between ExpressVPN and its two rivals is minimal, and you're unlikely to notice any difference in real-world usage. With that, and ExpressVPN's obfuscation tech, in mind, ExpressVPN should be your preferred option when torrenting or streaming from a region with tight internet restrictions.
ExpressVPN is on par with NordVPN when it comes to sidestepping geo-restrictions on overseas content. In our most recent tests, it comfortably unblocked all big- and small-name streaming platforms, including big hitters like Netflix, Prime Video, and Disney+, and local services like BBC iPlayer, 9Now, and 10Play.
The best torrenting VPN with antivirus
NordVPN is second only to ExpressVPN for torrenting, and is a better VPN for pretty much anything else. That's thanks to a triple whammy of speed, security, and streaming ability.
NordVPN has a P2P-optimized infrastructure, but not every server is covered. Still, you'll never be short of server options thanks to a class-leading server network and NordVPN's ability to automatically connect you to the best P2P server depending on your location.
Read more about NordVPN ▼
Privacy & security
NordVPN is one of the first names that springs to mind when talking about VPN security. In fact, it offers the best all-around security suite of any VPN we've tested.
For starters, you get a strict no-logs policy, and Nord invests in regular third-party audits to prove its privacy claims. Its sixth no-logs audit in February 2026 saw independent auditors from Deloitte confirm that NordVPN doesn't store any user data.
NordVPN also comes with a robust kill switch and strong AES-256 encryption that will protect your data from snoopers. NordVPN's crown jewel, however, is its extras. These include the Threat Protection Pro, which will protect you from phishing and malware attacks so that you can torrent without worrying about harming your device.
Then there's Double VPN, which sends your traffic through two servers instead of one and encrypts your data twice, and Onion over VPN, which allows you to access the super-secure Tor network without having to download the Tor browser.
NordVPN's DNS leak blocking is particularly noteworthy for torrenters. It'll prevent your device from accidentally bypassing the VPN connection and sending DNS requests directly to your ISP's DNS servers. In addition to encrypting all DNS requests, NordVPN also ensures each request is sent to its own server, keeping your original IP address hidden the entire time.
Speed & performance
In our most recent tests, NordVPN clocked a swift 1427Mbps when set to use its proprietary NordLynx protocol. It can chew through any high-bandwidth task without breaking a sweat, whether that's torrenting, gaming, or streaming.
With record VPN speeds and a huge number of servers everywhere in the world (over 9,000 in 211 locations), NordVPN is also the best streaming VPN. It easily unblocked every streaming service we tested, including Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+, BBC iPlayer, 9Now, 10Play, and more.
It's also worth mentioning that during our time testing NordVPN's streaming performance, we also never experienced any unwanted buffering or slow loading times.
The best cheap VPN for torrenting
Right off the bat, Private Internet Access (PIA) impresses with its massive fleet of 35,000 servers. Even better, each of these servers is P2P-friendly, meaning you'll have a wealth of options when it comes to choosing a server location for torrenting. PIA has made notable steps forward in terms of connection speed and app usability, increasing its WireGuard speeds massively with recent updates.
PIA is also one of the most privacy-focused VPNs we've used, which, combined with its staggering value for money (it's only second to Surfshark as the cheapest VPN and comes with unlimited simultaneous connections, too), makes it the best pick for users looking for a secure torrenting VPN solution.
Read more about PIA ▼
Privacy & security
True to its name, PIA is our pick for the most private VPN on the market. It's the only VPN to have proven its no-logs policy in court (on two separate occasions!). When presented with a warrant for information, PIA couldn't hand over anything because it hadn't logged any user data in the first place.
That's exactly the kind of confidence you'd want when using a VPN for torrenting. Plus, PIA also puts out a transparency report every quarter, which is further proof of its commitment to user privacy.
In addition to protecting you from prying eyes, PIA will also protect your torrenting sessions from pesky ads, trackers, and malware thanks to the MACE ad-blocker. In our most recent testing, MACE blocked 96% of trackers and 81% of ads. We also tested PIA's encrypted DNS servers, which proved water-tight against leaks.
Other nifty security features PIA offers include an email breach scanner and a Boxcryptor license that encrypts all of your cloud storage. Plus, all PIA apps are completely open source, allowing curious developers to check the underlying code and confirm it's as secure as advertised.
A unique benefit of choosing PIA as your VPN of choice for torrenting is that it allows you to configure port forwarding. This will help you significantly enhance your P2P download speeds and ensure a smoother, more secure torrenting experience. It's worth noting that port forwarding works by establishing a direct connection between your device and a P2P seeder, streaming service, or gaming server.
Speed & performance
PIA lags behind the competition when it comes to pure download speeds, with peak speeds of just 419 Mbps when using the WireGuard protocol in our latest tests. That's substantially slower than NordVPN, ExpressVPN, or Surfshark, all of which clock in between twice and three times as fast.
Still, PIA is sufficiently speedy for 4K streaming, and it also recorded a clean sweep of streaming services in our testing. That includes Netflix, Disney+, Prime Video, and iPlayer, as well as several other local streaming platforms like 9Now and 10Play.
The fastest torrenting VPN
It's not immediately obvious which of Surfshark's support P2P activity, pushing it towards to lower end of this list. Still, as the top choice in our cheap VPN guide, it remains a great choice for privacy-conscious web users who want to save a bit of cash.
Surfshark is also one of the few VPNs to come with unlimited simultaneous connections, meaning you can use the VPN for torrenting on your PC, Mac, smartphone, and every other compatible device without having to disable or reallocate devices.
Read more about Surfshark ▼
Privacy & security
Despite being super cheap, Surfshark offers a comprehensive security suite. Right off the bat, torrenters can rest easy knowing their online activities will remain anonymous with Surfshark's AES-256 encryption, zero-knowledge DNS servers, and Multi-Hop. The latter is similar to NordVPN's Double VPN in that it, too, encrypts your data twice by routing it through two servers.
Notably, Surfshark became the first major VPN to add post-quantum encryption to WireGuard in 2026, meaning your P2P connections will be uncrackable by conventionally available computers.
Surfshark also comes with CleanWeb, which will prevent your device from connecting to ad networks, malware platforms, and phishing sites. It's worth noting that our testing revealed that Surfshark's CleanWeb isn't as effective as NordVPN's Threat Protection system when it comes to blocking new phishing and malware sites.
If you can spend a tiny bit extra and go for Surfshark One, you'd be greeted with a handful of new-age security features. Our favorite of the lot is Alternative ID, which generates an entirely new online persona for you, including a legitimate-looking full name, gender, age, and an email address. This will protect you from handing out your real details on either suspicious or spammy online platforms, including torrenting sites.
The only gripe we have with Surfshark when it comes to user privacy is that its headquarters is in the Netherlands, which is a member of the 14 Eyes intelligence-sharing community. That said, Surfshark comes with a clear-cut no-logs policy, which was independently audited by Deloitte in 2023, with an infrastructure audit from SecuRing following in 2026 Still, if you'd like to be absolutely certain that your VPN won't be pressured to share private user data by authorities, choose one of the other options on this list.
Speed & performance
Surfshark's speeds make it stand out from the competition. It performed well in our fastest VPN list in our latest tests, where we recorded blistering peak speeds of over 2000 Mbps when using the WireGuard protocol. It's known to have a bit of jitter, but Surfshark really is hard to beat when it comes to speed.
In addition to being ideal for avid torrenters, Surfshark's blazing connection speeds – combined with over 4,500 servers in 140+ locations worldwide – also make it great for accessing geo-restricted content. It effortlessly unblocked every streaming platform we threw at it in our testing, including Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+, BBC iPlayer, 9Now, and 10Play.
The best unlimited router VPN
Hotspot Shield's server network isn't the biggest, but all its 1,800+ servers support P2P activity. And with no bandwidth limits or restrictions, there's nothing to stop you torrenting or sharing truly huge files over P2P connections.
Add to this a proprietary protocol for extra security and above-average download speeds, and it's easy to see how Hotspot Shield earns its place on our list. It comes at a very high price, however, at $7.99 per month even with a one-year plan.
Read more about Hotspot Shield ▼
Privacy & security
When compiling our detailed Hotspot Shield review, we found that its apps come with an option that automatically turns on the VPN when you connect to public Wi-Fi. Combined with reliable kill switches on its Windows, iOS, and Android apps, Hotspot Shield allows you to torrent your heart out without worrying about IP leaks due to VPN drops, regardless of the network you connect to.
We tried out Hotspot Shield's torrenting abilities for ourselves, and we were able to successfully download torrents while connected to the US, UK, and Japan. Even though the VPN's support site doesn't explicitly mention the keywords "P2P' or "torrent," there are a handful of guides for beginners in the Resources and Blog sections.
However, the most recent independent no-logs audit we could find comes from Aon, issued in 2023. With most major VPNs commissioning audits at least once per year (if not more), we'd like to see Hotspot Shield renew its commitment to security and transparency with a new audit.
Speed & performance
Hotspot Shield uses its proprietary Catapult Hydra protocol to achieve significantly faster connection speeds than OpenVPN. In our most recent testing, this protocol performed well, achieving download speeds of 1084Mbps. That's comparable to NordVPN in terms of speed, making it a solid pick for streaming, too. However, Hotspot VPN struggles to unblock some of the big names, and failed to unblock Netflix and Disney Plus in both the US and UK in our recent testing. Cinephiles should look elsewhere.
Torrenting VPN FAQs
Can you be tracked when using a VPN?
Yes and no. If you're using one of the best VPNs, snoopers (like your ISP, government agencies, and cybercriminals) won't be able to get their hands on what sites you're visiting on the internet or what data you're sharing. Any good VPN will spoof your original IP address and encrypt your data by sending it through an end-to-end encrypted tunnel.
However, prying eyes may still be able to identify that you're using a VPN, which could get you in trouble if you're in a country where VPNs are banned by law. To hide your VPN use, you can VPN obfuscation technology, which makes your VPN traffic look like regular internet traffic to protect you from VPN bans.
Is torrenting legal with a VPN?
First, let's talk about the legality of torrenting. P2P sharing, as it's called, is not illegal as long as you're using it for its intended purpose, i.e., to transfer large files quickly and efficiently from one device to another. However, torrenting becomes illegal when you use it to share copyrighted content, which is content that you yourself do not own.
Using a VPN, too, is legal so long as you’re in a country that hasn't explicitly illegalized the use of VPNs. However, similar to torrenting, VPN usage may still attract fines and other punishments (even in a country where it's legal) if you use it for illegal purposes.
The legality of torrenting with a VPN, therefore, depends on the content you're downloading and whether or not you're in a region where VPNs are permitted.
Make sure to be vigilant for malware when torrenting. As TechRadar reported in 2026, abandoned torrenting apps can offer access to your machine for malware and trackers if left unattended.
Can you use a free VPN to torrent?
Generally, no. Although there are a few awesome free VPNs out there, they can only shore up your security in a pinch. For example, you can use a free VPN app to check your email or browse securely on unsecured public Wi-Fi networks.
Some free providers might also allow you to access a handful of geo-restricted streaming titles, but then they'll almost always come with data limitations, meaning you can't really use them for full-blown streaming, let alone torrenting that involves downloading large files.
In addition to data limits, free VPNs also come with throttled speeds and fewer servers in fewer locations, which make them really unideal for torrenting. Some free providers even forbid P2P activity altogether.
So, when it comes to torrenting, it's worth shelling out for a premium VPN like ExpressVPN or NordVPN. Note that both of these providers are VPNs with free trials, meaning you can try them out risk-free before committing.
We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example: 1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service). 2. Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad. We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.