Show Author >

Bittorrent VPN: Best VPN for Bittorrent

Bittorrent doesn’t require any introductions. It’s one of the most famous torrenting clients in the world. Every day, millions of people use it as a means to get the files they want.

Sadly, torrenting is a dangerous activity that can leave you open to hacking as well as unwanted online surveillance. On top of that, popular torrent clients such as Bittorrent are banned in many places across the globe. That’s because of the sketchy nature of torrenting and its utilization for the illegal downloading of copyrighted content.

To safely download torrents and gain access to Bittorrent, you’ll need a VPN.

 

With that said, not just any provider will suffice. It is essential that you get one that doesn’t leak and is capable of maintaining your anonymity. Moreover, you should also get a service that’s able to bypass geoblocks so that you’ll get to access Bittorrent’s site where it’s unavailable.

What Are The Best VPNs for Bittorrent In 2022?

1. NordVPN

NordVPN screenshot

Torrenting Capabilities: NordVPN can be your everyday torrenting companion. Though not all of its servers are P2P-enabled, the provider has more than enough optimized locations to meet your needs. Besides that, it’s blazingly fast and confirmed not to have any leaks.

You’ll have no problems when it comes to accessing torrent client websites like Bittorrent’s using NordVPN. And yes, this statement applies in China where draconian policies hinder everyone from using the internet freely. If anything, this is great as you will be able to use the VPN to access the web as you normally would at home while in practically any country you visit.

Privacy & Security: Security and privacy are definitely two of NordVPN’s fortes. Using it, you’ll certainly remain safe while online.

AES-256 military-grade encryption paired with a myriad of VPN protocols that your data shall remain uncompromised. Moreover, the provider has a kill switch and every other feature that you’d want to utilize when torrenting.

Pricing: NordVPN currently charges $11.95 per month, which is an incredibly fair price given that it’s a top-tier VPN provider. By choosing it, you’ll be getting excellent bang-for-your-buck, which is great for everyone that wishes to get the best deal that they possibly can.

 

2. ExpressVPN

Expressvpn-screenshot-new

Torrenting Capabilities: Torrenting is a no-brainer activity for ExpressVPN users. After all, the provider is 100% leak-free and P2P-enabled. That means every one of its 3000 servers can be utilized for your downloading purposes, which is great from a convenience standpoint.

Getting around geoblocks and downloading quickly on Bittorrent are two things that you’ll have no trouble using ExpressVPN. My speed tests prove that the VPN provider is extremely fast. In addition, it has been proven to get around nearly all of the online restrictions that it’s faced with. You may even employ it to reliably work around censorship systems like China’s Great Firewall.

Privacy & Security: ExpressVPN has been heralded as one of the safest VPNs. Its network is fully RAM-disk-enabled, meaning that it cannot keep logs. On top of that, the provider makes use of military-grade AES-256 encryption and supports a wide variety of VPN protocols.

Sad to say, ExpressVPN is somewhat lacking in features. It has no exclusive offerings nor does it have an ad & malware blocker and an automatic kill switch for iOS devices.

Pricing: Given that it’s a premium VPN, it shouldn’t surprise you that ExpressVPN has steeper rates than your average service provider. It runs you back $12.95 for a 1-month subscription, which if you ask me is a very decent price since it has so much to offer to its subscribers.

 

3. Surfshark

Surfshark screenshot

Torrenting Capabilities: Surfshark and Bittorrent go hand in hand. Like ExpressVPN, its entire server network of 3200+ locations is P2P-enabled. As such, you’ll have zero problems when it comes to finding a server to use before you engage in a quick torrent downloading session.

I say quick because Surfshark is incredibly fast. During my time with it, not once did it ever bring down my internet connection speeds to a halt. More importantly, not once did the provider ever fail at granting me access to Bittorrent’s website as well as its web-based client. Lastly, all our Chinese testers have reported that they’ve found success with Surfshark inside the country.

Privacy & Security: All of Surfshark’s servers are RAM-based. That in itself should already speak volumes about the provider’s commitment to upholding your privacy and security.

As you might’ve already expected, Surfshark uses AES-256 encryption. It also supports a broad range of VPN protocols, including WireGuard, which is your best option when torrenting. Aside from that, you should also know that the provider is equipped with nearly every VPN security feature that you’d ever want to use.

Pricing: Surfshak’s monthly subscription costs $12.95. While this may seem rather pricey, you should consider the fact that VPN allows for unlimited simultaneous connections. Therefore, it provides tremendous value for money.

 

4. CyberGhost

CyberGhost screenshot

Torrenting Capabilities: CyberGhost makes torrenting super easy and safe. It doesn’t have a fully P2P-enabled network. However, it operates a very large fleet of P2P servers. All of which are incredibly easy to access. That’s because the provider’s applications allow you to choose from a list of optimized torrenting servers.

I’ve discovered through testing that CyberGhost is a moderately fast VPN. It does not break any speed records but is definitely capable of letting you finish downloading quickly. Another thing to mention is that CyberGhost has decent unblocking capabilities. Sadly though, it cannot be used to access Bittorrent’s website or web-based client in China.

Privacy & Security: CyberGhost is beyond secure.

Your data and IP address certainly won’t be leaked while you’re connected to any of its servers. The provider uses AES encryption and has support for every leading VPN protocol. Also, its many apps are built with a kill switch, ad & malware blocker, and many other features.

Pricing: CyberGhost is the most expensive VPN that we’ll talk about in this article. As of writing, it charges a hefty $12.95 for a basic monthly subscription. Needless to say, that $12.95 will get you one of the most capable Bittorrent virtual private network providers currently available.

 

5. Private Internet Access (PIA)

pia-screenshot-new

Torrenting Capabilities: Private Internet Access or simply PIA is the ultimate budget option if you’re looking for a good Bittorrent VPN. Each of its 3300 servers is P2P-enabled. As such, you’ll be certain to not have any issues when it comes to choosing a location to utilize.

PIA fails to work around the Great Firewall of China. Nevertheless, the provider still has decent unblocking capabilities. Furthermore, it's quite fast. Seldom did I ever experience a noticeable drop in my internet connection speeds while I was connected to the provider’s many servers.

Privacy & Security: Private Internet Access takes your privacy and security very seriously. It’s got a firm zero-logging policy along with very user-friendly apps that are equipped with a kill switch and a capable ad & malware blocker known as PIA MACE.

Another thing to mention is that PIA uses AES 256-bit military-grade encryption. Moreover, the provider maintains open support for WireGuard and all other major VPN service protocols.

Pricing: Private Internet Access has long had a reputation for being affordable. At present, it charges $9.95 for a 1-month basic subscription plan. If you ask me, this price is very decent especially when you consider that PIA supports up to 10 simultaneous device connections.

 

Why Use A VPN For Bittorrent?

 

Download Torrents Anonymously: Torrenting without the protection of a VPN is a rather risky activity because it leaves you open to cybercriminals. Using your IP address, they shall be able to get your IP address and determine your real-world location. With that info, they’ll have all the means to make you a victim of all sorts of crimes.

VPNs like the ones we talked about earlier can enable you to maintain your anonymity while you download torrents. How? By masking your legitimate IP address.

Access Geoblocked Torrent Sites: In many parts of the world, torrent client websites (like uTorrent, qBittorrent, Deluge, Vuze, etc.) are not readily accessible. Because of that, you’ll be unable to download your preferred client or utilize its web-based application.

Capable virtual private networks have servers that don’t break a sweat when used for bypassing geoblocks. Using them, you’ll have no trouble accessing Bittorrent’s site in any part of the world. Consequently, it will be possible for you to download the content that you want wherever you go.

Enhance Your Privacy & Security: The main purpose of all proper VPNs is to provide you with comprehensive online privacy and security. Each of the service providers that we discussed succeed at this. Using them, it’s sure that you stay anonymous and safe from hackers.

Improve Internet Connection Speeds: Fast internet speeds are essential for frequent users of Bittorrent. A decent connection shall let them finish downloading quickly. Sad to say, many VPN providers have slow servers. Fortunately, all of our picks are blazingly fast. Besides that, they’re able to eliminate ISP-imposed bandwidth throttling.

 

How To Use Bittorrent With A VPN

Don’t know how to use a Bittorrent VPN? Just follow these simple steps:

  • Get Yourself A VPN

Start off by getting a VPN for Bittorrent. Many options are available for you to choose from. As a matter of fact, there are even free providers. We don’t recommend them though. That’s because they often don’t have enough P2P servers. Moreover, they aren’t capable of providing complete security, privacy, and anonymity.

It’s best that you stick with the five providers that we talked about earlier. Each of them are sure to not leave you disappointed. They won’t fail at maintaining your anonymity and security while you are downloading all your needed files with the help of Bittorrent or any other torrent client.

  • Install It

Install the VPN that you got. If you’re concerned about this step, don’t be. Why? VPN installation is easier today than it has ever been. On most operating systems, it’s as simple as hitting the download button and waiting. Needless to say, installing VPNs on routers is a bit trickier.

If you wish to forego VPN router installation, you can opt to get a pre-configured router. Several of our recommendations have a wide range of models for you to choose from. By opting for any of them, you’ll be able to provide yourself with an easy out-of-the-box experience.

  • Activate The Kill Switch

A kill switch is a safety feature that many VPNs have.

It safeguards you from accidental exposure while you’re paired to your provider’s network. How does it work? By automatically cutting off your device’s connection to the internet if its connection to your VPN’s servers becomes compromised for any reason.

While you can technically download torrents without activating your VPN’s kill switch, we don’t recommend that you do so. To be on the safe side, it’s best that you always activate the kill switch of your VPN provider before partaking in a downloading session using Bittorrent.

  • Pair With A P2P Server

Your next course of action should be to pair with a P2P server. Out of the hundreds of options that should be available, it is advised that you choose the nearest major location to you. That way, your internet connection speeds won’t be impacted that much.

  • Start Using Bittorrent

The final thing to do is start using Bittorrent. Open the client and then download whatever torrent file you need. Only when you’re done should you disconnect from your VPN provider’s server.

It’s essential to remain connected to your VPN while downloading for safety reasons. As soon as you remove the layer of protection that your virtual private network provides, you’ll be opening yourself up to all sorts of cybercriminals and other types of malicious pirates.

 

How We Ranked These VPNs

We ranked out VPNs by conducting research then testing our picks to see which ones had the best speed and security capabilities. Also, we also looked into their specifications to know exactly how many P2P torrenting-optimized servers they currently have in operation.

Aside from everything mentioned above, it’s also a must to mention that we also compared the prices of our top Bittorrent VPNs. That way, we could tell the best bang for your buck among them. If anything, this was necessary as the price is very important for most consumers.

By: Erwin Caniba
Eric is the co-founder of VPNOnline. He has been an avid user of VPNs since 2012. He has tested all of the major VPN providers and shares his findings on this website. Follow Eric on Facebook.