the  best vpns for torrenting according to reddit  guide

Torrenting is gaining popularity, particularly during the quarantine. People use VPNs to torrent, as it is a sensitive issue that can be seen by others in the swarm. There are so many options available, so how can you choose the right one?

Reddit was our first port of call. Redditors are passionate about torrenting and privacy and frequently discuss the best torrenting VPNs. They have direct experience with the services they recommend and their insights are invaluable.

We have compiled a list of top VPNs for torrenting based on Reddit.

Are you short on time?

These are the top VPNs for torrenting according to Reddit:

  1. NordVPN is the best VPN for torrenting Reddit recommends
  2. Surfshark – RAM-disk servers with good speeds
  3. ExpressVPN – Privacy-focused VPN service
  4. Private Internet Access – Reddit users just like PIA
  5. AirVPN – Reddit users also stated that it is good for torrenting

What you should look for in a good torrenting VPN

This is the list of metrics that we used to rank VPNs. Reddit users requested the most popular features first.

  • Some VPNs do not allow torrenting. One must allow P2P traffic on all servers or have dedicated torrenting servers.
  • Speedy downloads –VPNs can slow down your speed, so make sure you choose a service with no noticeable slowdowns. WireGuard is a secure and fast VPN protocol. IKEv2 or L2TP/IPSec can be used as well.
  • Kill switch-VPN connections may drop and your ISP will see that you are downloading torrents. The kill switch stops data leakage by cutting off your Internet access until the VPN reconnects.
  • Port forwarding Many Reddit users love this feature as it allows them to connect with more peers in the Swarm (so that they can get faster speeds). Port forwarding is not necessary for regular users. It will only make your life easier if you regularly torrent large files and/or seed.
  • Data leak protection –Poor VPN optimizations or operating system features may cause data leaks. People in the swarm will still be able to see your IP. A torrenting VPN should have IPv6 and DNS leak protection.
  • Split tunnelling – This feature allows you to choose which traffic is encrypted and ignored by the VPN. To get faster speeds, you can have the VPN route only torrent client traffic.
  • Unlimited data. Bandwidth caps. These limits limit the amount of torrenting files you can download. Some free VPNs have a limit of 500MB per month. All of the VPNs mentioned in this guide offer unlimited bandwidth.
  • No logs-VPN providers shouldn’t log anything you do with their service, such as what files you download and what websites you visit. The zero-log policy ensures that authorities and copyright agencies cannot force VPN providers to turn over your data. There isn’t any.

Reddit’s Top 5 VPNs for Torrenting

We looked at numerous Reddit threads and asked questions on r/VPNTorrents and r/VPNTorrents in order to find the top five torrenting VPNs.

1. Reddit’s Top VPN for Torrenting – NordVPN

Reddit users had generally positive comments about NordVPN. Providers have dedicated P2P servers, which are designed to allow torrenting at lightning speeds. The provider has a lot of P2P servers, just under 5,000 according their support reps. They said that most of NordVPN’s network (total number is approximately 5,460+ right now), support torrenting.

NordVPN’s download speeds are very popular with We were able to download large files (over 10GB) within minutes using NordLynx (NordVPN protocol built around WireGuard). AV-TEST, an independent research institute that focuses primarily on IT security, also found that NordVPN is the fastest VPN available.

Redditors love NordVPN’s kill button. They say it has saved them many times from accidental leaks. NordVPN offers DNS and IPv6 leak protection, to further protect your data.

NordVPN does not keep logs (they went through two audits to confirm that), uses strong encryption (AES256) and has RAM-only servers. They don’t store any data locally. They have even begun to transition to collocated servers. This means that they manage and own their servers. Data centers provide only storage space and Internet.

What else does NordVPN offer?

  • Split-tunneling
  • Live chat support available 24/7 (reps are friendly and helpful).
  • No-questions-asked refund within 30 days
  • Unlimited bandwidth
  • Apps for all platforms (Windows OS, MacOS, Linux, Android and iOS).

NordVPN does not offer port forwarding. However, this is not an issue if you are a regular torrent user and don’t care about seed ratios. NordVPN allows seeding from their servers. Some VPNs do not allow this.

  • 5200+ Global Servers in 59+ Countries
  • CyberSec malware protection and ad blocking
  • Next-generation encryption using double VPN servers
  • VPN traffic is obscured by obfuscation technology
  • Strict no-logs policy
  • Uses Netflix for streaming
  • P2P support is lightning fast
  • 30-day money-back guarantee

2. Surfshark – The Best Way to Torrent from Multiple Devices at Once

Surfshark is the only VPN that allows unlimited parallel connections. Many providers allow you to use their service on five or seven devices. Surfshark allows you to do this on as many devices you like.

This is why Reddit users love it so much. Many Reddit users take advantage of this perk to save money and share the VPN subscription costs their friends.

Surfshark offers WireGuard, which allows for lightning fast speeds. Multiple large torrents can be downloaded simultaneously in a matter of minutes. Their 70+ dedicated P2P servers optimize for the fastest speeds. The total number of servers is approximately 3,200+.

Surfshark offers great security. The VPN offers AES256 encryption, no-log policies, DNS leak protection via private DNS, and a kill button. Surfshark does not offer IPv6 leak protection. Instead, you will need to disable IPv6 manually on your end.

Surfshark also offers

  • Live chat support available 24/7
  • Split-tunneling
  • Refund policy within 30 days
  • Apps that are easy to use on all devices
  • Unmetered bandwidth

Surfshark doesn’t allow seeding. This is something we dislike about Surfshark. Port forwarding is not supported by Surfshark. This is not a major problem, but it’s something to be aware of. Surfshark should be used only if you are only downloading torrents and don’t care about seed proportions.

If you want to learn more about Surfshark, here’s our hands-on evaluation.

  • More than 3200+ global servers located in 60+ countries
  • CleanWeb Ad-blocking feature
  • OpenVPN offers strong encryption and security
  • Whitelister, Multihop VPN, kill switch
  • No-logs policy
  • Uses Netflix for streaming
  • Amazing speeds
  • 30-day money-back guarantee

3. ExpressVPN – Best P2P Support

ExpressVPN servers all support torrent traffic, including seeding. This is a big plus for Redditors. This perk is only offered by a few providers. Their server network is impressive, with over 3,000 servers located in 94 countries. You’ll have faster download speeds because there won’t be any overcrowding.

ExpressVPN is very fast. Their protocol Lightway is the key. It was created with speed in mind. It only takes a fraction of a second to connect to a Server.

ExpressVPN provides excellent security. They use strong AES256 encryption, have RAM-only servers, a reliable kill switch (“Network Lock”) and protect against leaks using IPv6 and DNS leak protection. ExpressVPN also had to pass a security audit to confirm their claim of having no logs.

ExpressVPN also offers

  • Not logging data
  • Apps that work on all platforms
  • Chat support available 24/7
  • Split-tunneling
  • A 30-day money-back guarantee

ExpressVPN supports port forwarding but it is not possible via their app. It will need to be set up on their routers. If you are looking to buy one, expect to spend between $100 and $200.

Here’s a detailed review of ExpressVPN.

  • 160+ Locations and 3000+ servers
  • Strict No-Log policy
  • Unlimited streaming (Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer)
  • Strong, military-grade AES256 bit key encryption
  • Split tunneling, Kill Switch, and RAM-disk Servers
  • 30-day money-back guarantee
  • Support for Windows, MacOS, and Linux
  • Fast speeds and reliable connections

4. Private Internet Access (PIA – Best Server Network

PIA hosts the largest server network we have ever seen. There are currently more than 28,000 servers. They all support P2P traffic except the US servers. Redditors will love this option as they don’t have to deal with overcrowding, and can enjoy high speeds. You can also find a server near you, which will give them faster connections.

Reddit has made PIA a popular torrenting VPN. Its fast download speeds are the reason. They redesigned their servers in 2020 to allow them to switch from a 1 Gbps network to a 10 Gbps card. They also have RAM-only servers which make them safer.

PIA uses AES-256 encryption as well as AES-128 encryption to protect your data. Private DNS servers protect you from DNS and IPv6 leaks. It also blocks IPv6 traffic. PIA apps are not concerned about traffic leaks. They also have a kill switch. Court documents prove that PIA’s policy to keep no logs is true.

What other benefits do you get from the PIA?

  • Unlimited data
  • Chat support available 24/7
  • Within 30 days, you can return the item
  • Split tunneling
  • Cross-platform compatible apps

PIA allows seeding. Their support representatives said that it might only work through port forwarding, which PIA supports.

PIA allows torrenting via their SOCKS5 proxy. If you need extremely fast speeds, it should not be used. It is a proxy, and its encryption is weaker that VPNs.

We will be reviewing the PIA to provide additional information.

  • Port forwarding can be enabled on certain servers
  • Supports torrenting, P2P traffic
  • No Traffic logs or Requests
  • It can be used with up to 10 devices simultaneously
  • Unlimited Bandwidth at great speeds
  • 3200+ Servers in 29 Countries
  • 30-day money-back guarantee

5. AirVPN – Open-Source Torrenting VPN.

We saw AirVPN in every thread. This provider supports all types of P2P traffic (including seeding) on all servers (over 200). AirVPN also provides port forwarding.

AirVPN’s software is open-source. You can also audit it to ensure it is safe. AirVPN doesn’t keep logs and uses AES256 encryption. It also has a reliable kill button.

AirVPN does not specify whether they offer DNS leak protection. All their VPN servers have their own DNS servers so you can trust your DNS queries. We were unable to determine if AirVPN offers IPv6 leak protection. If you intend to use this service, you should disable IPv6.

What else do you get from AirVPN?

  • Apps for all platforms (the design is outdated, however).
  • Unlimited data
  • A 30-day money-back guarantee
  • Split-tunneling is less user-friendly than other VPNs.

Reddit users complained about AirVPN’s poor support. They take three to four days to respond and don’t offer live chat support 24/7. You can email them or use their forums to communicate with them.

AirVPN does not allow you to use OpenVPN. It’s very secure, but it can be slow. It’s not possible to get servers in all 20 countries. This adds to the inconvenience and slowdown. WireGuard support would have been great, as well as L2TP/IPSec and IKEv2.

AirVPN logo

  • OpenVPN over SSL, SSL, or Tor
  • Supports IPv6/P2P traffic
  • Allows port forwarding
  • Transparent policies and specifications
  • 3-day money-back guarantee

4 Quick Steps to Install a VPN and Download Torrents

  1. We recommend NordVPN as a VPN provider.
  2. Install the VPN provider’s application.
  3. Start the app and connect with a server.
  4. Download whatever you like using your torrent client

FAQs

These are the top questions that Reddit users asked about torrenting and VPNs. You can leave more questions in the comments.

All VPNs allow seeding?

Yes, generally. Most VPN providers don’t allow seeding on their servers. Our research shows that Surfshark is the only VPN provider that doesn’t allow seeding.

We recommend using Seedbox.io instead of a VPN if you have to seed lots of files because you are part of a private torrenting group. Seedboxes can offer high upload speeds.

Do You Need to Bind Your Torrent Client To the VPN?

Your torrent client can be bound to a VPN server to prevent it from downloading torrents unless it is connected to the server. This method is used by many Reddit users to stop traffic leaks.

If your VPN has a kill button, IP binding is not necessary. When enabled, your Internet traffic will be stopped until the VPN reconnects. Some VPNs have an application-level kill button. It can be used to ensure that only torrent clients can access the Internet when the VPN connection is down.

You can still try IP binding if you google the guide for your client. We can’t give a step-by–step tutorial because each torrent client is different.

Why don’t all VPNs offer port forwarding?

Some VPN providers do not allow port forwarding. They consider it a security threat. A hacker could use a random port to gain access to your device. While it is unlikely that this will happen every time, it is a risk VPNs do not want to take. Unknown vulnerabilities that could expose user data are also not what they want (as Port Fail did in 2015, when it exposed VPN users’ IPs).

Port forwarding is popular because it increases speeds. The torrent client will connect with more peers. Since our tests have not shown an improvement, we can’t be sure how accurate this is. Other Redditors also believe port forwarding is unnecessary.

Port forwarding is not necessary if you aren’t downloading or seeding torrents constantly. It’s safer to have a seedbox than download torrents 24/7.

Reddit’s View on Torrenting: What Do You Think?

They dislike them. They are distrustful of them due to their log data and weak security (no kill switch, leak protection). They don’t like the slow speeds, lack support, buggy applications, bandwidth caps, and slow speeds.

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