Torrenting: Best VPN for Privacy, Security & Speed [Top Options Compared]

Torrenting is a file-sharing protocol that is based on peer-to-peer (P2P) technology. The process enables a pool of users to connect, share, and download content without relying on any particular source.

Torrent is estimated to have over 250 million monthly users. It can pose a security threat to users while they share and download data from the same community. Thus, surfing torrent sites often require the use of VPNs for protective purposes.

VPN Protection for Torrenting

VPN protects your privacy in one particular way. It prevents your Internet Service Provider or anyone else on your local and ISP network from seeing your torrenting activity. This happens because all the files you upload or download via torrenting software are encrypted as they pass through your ISP’s servers. Thus, the torrent IP address and its contents cannot be identified or understood.

Reasons Why You Need A VPN for Torrenting

• For Privacy and Security Purposes

Issues of privacy and security are the main reasons why you need VPNs. There is a high sense of security in being anonymous on the Internet. VPN’s Encryption helps to block third parties from snooping in on your online activities.

VPN is a legal backed system meant to protect you and your essential data from hackers, online snoopers, or any other person(s) who may want to use your log-in details against you.

But, with zero logs policy in place, your VPN won’t hold any of your browsing data. So anyone looking to pick certain details about you won’t be able to do so.

• Logging Policy

A peer-to-peer VPN service must have a ‘no log’ policy to be worth your investment. A reliable VPN won’t record nor save information about your browsing history, not even your IP address. Since the provider does not collect customers’ details, it will not be possible for anyone to track users of the VPN.

• Bandwidth Limit

The best VPN for torrenting must have unlimited data caps or bandwidth limits. For torrenters who are very much in the business of heavy downloading and uploading, a capped bandwidth is a huge red flag and a no-no. Nobody wants to be stuck at 99% when downloading a file because of capped data limits.

• Faster Download Speed

A good VPN has no negative impact on your internet speed and performance. The distance of a VPN server to your location may impact the performance, but providers we will consider below are largely consistent with their speeds across the board. It is therefore vital to consider VPNs with multiple locations and servers.

Factors for Determining the Best Torrenting VPNs

Here are tips on the features to consider when searching for the best VPN for your torrent needs in 2019:

• Start by looking at the best VPN first and then consider their download speeds
• Use VPN which are excluded from 14 Eyes Jurisdiction
• Choose a VPN with a strict no-logging policy
• Choose one with fast downloading speed
• Check the cost of the subscription and available discounts for longer subscriptions.

If you put all the listed factors into consideration, you stand a better chance of picking one which is best suitable for you.

5 Best VPNs for Torrenting in 2020

1. ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN is located in the British Virgin Islands and has been around since 2009. This one is the best torrenting VPN for Internet users looking for a company that offers great policies on privacy with a track record that highlights its devotion to online security.

ExpressVPN doesn’t store user’s logs. Hence, activities on a specific IP address cannot be tracked back to it. Users of ExpressVPN have testified to its great performance, fast download speeds, and 99.9% uptime connectivity to the service. The beauty of it all is that Express VPN has a server in over 90 countries, making it the most suitable option for international travelers.

At the cost of $12.95/month, or $8.50/month purchased annually, ExpressVPN may be pricy for most users, but it’s sure a great deal when it comes to privacy, security, and speeds. BVI, as an independent nation outside of the “14 Eyes” intelligence does not have any data retention laws.

Pros

+ Based on Privacy Haven
+ No log policy
+ Top of the line security and 256-Bit AES encryption
+ Live customer support available 24/7
+ 8th fastest VPN speeds
+ Kill switch
+ Easy to use on a wide range of devices

Cons

– It may be too pricy depending on a subscription plan
– Allows for only 3 devices simultaneous connection

 

2. Hide.me

Hide.me is another fantastic VPN provider with a successful history of protecting data. This VPN does well in terms of service’s price, privacy, and technology. So, Hide.me is your best choice if you’re looking for the most affordable VPN for torrenting. Unlike the two VPNs discussed above, Hide.me offers a full-fledged free tier for extremely low-budget users. There is also the Hide.me Plus, which costs $4.99/month. And then, there is the Hide.me Premium, which costs $9.99/month. The Premium tier contains all features found in the Plus plan. You can have access to three Hide.me VPN server locations on one device at a time with Hide.me.

Pros

+ 150 servers in 45 different locations across 34 countries
+ Zero-log policy that guarantees maximum privacy
+ Many configurations and customization options
+ Affordable

Cons

– A very small pool of servers.
– Poor customer support

 

3. Perfect-Privacy

Perfect-Privacy is a Switzerland-based VPN for torrenting. However, it is a product of independent individuals from different parts of the world. This VPN makes strong efforts to protect your privacy and anonymity online while torrenting. Also, Perfect-Privacy does not monitor, review, log or store your  IP address. It allows you to use your account on unlimited different devices.

Pros

+ Offers great value for your money on any subscription plan
+ Allows you to access a few configurations and features
+ Consistent connectivity due to the high amount of servers

Cons

– One of the most expensive VPNs

 

4. NordVPN

NordVPN is another reliable option for those looking for great security and anonymity online while torrenting. The good thing about this VPN is that it comes in at a reasonable cost, which may become more appealing if you sign up for a longer duration.

NordVPN is Panama-based, and it is widely accepted as one of the most secure VPN available out there. It has a no-log policy and also features automatic double-encryption. NordVPN has abundant international server locations, with great performance, reliability, and consistency.

For torrenting, it may not be as speedy as the above option when downloading large files; its performance is definitely far above the industry average. NordVPN gives you a choice of different security protocols and allows you to connect 6 multiple devices simultaneously.

Pros

+ Great security features including 256-Bit AES encryption
+ NordVPN allows up to 6 simultaneous connections per account
+ It has a 2-year subscription option, which makes it one of the most economical options at $3.33/month
+ NordVPN offers no logs policy
+ Offers specific servers for torrenting
+ Budget VPN

Cons

– Slightly slower speed

 

5. ProtonVPN

Based in the country famed for its privacy laws—Switzerland—ProtonVPN’s creators have put a lot of work into creating a privacy workhorse. ProtonVPN boasts over 200 servers in 20 different countries across the globe, as well as the ability to unblock the most popular streaming and entertainment platforms like Netflix and Hulu.

On the privacy front, ProtonVPN has a strict no-logging policy and also provides its proprietary Secure Core feature. Secure Core provides, on top of conventional Virtual Private Network anonymity, an extra layer of protection: scrambling your IP address through several iron-clad servers before leaving your provider’s network.

Pros

+ Over 200 servers in 20 different countries
+ Supports OpenVPN
+ Built-in Tor support
+ No-logging
+ End-to-end encryption
+ P2P and file sharing support
+ Allows up to 10 simultaneous connections per account
+ Allows payment using bitcoin

Cons

– slower speeds compared to competitors
– A little expensive at $8.00/month
– Poor customer support

 

Final Notes