Best VPN for Torrenting in 2026
For torrenting the ranking changes. The fastest VPN matters less than three things: a no-logs policy you can trust, a kill switch that never leaks your real IP, and port forwarding if you seed. We test all three, plus download speed on a well-seeded file.
Private Internet Access tops this list because it includes port forwarding, its no-logs record has survived court subpoenas, and it lets you bind a torrent client to the VPN interface. Proton VPN is the pick if you want the same features from a Swiss company.
The 5 best VPNs for torrenting, ranked
- 1Best for torrenting#6 overall · 8.3/10
Private Internet Access
Port forwarding included, P2P on every server, interface binding for qBittorrent, and no-logs claims proven in court. Unlimited devices on a cheap long plan.
- Port forwarding
- Yes
- Speed
- 480 Mbps
- Devices
- Unlimited
- Refund
- 30 days
- 2Best privacy for P2P#4 overall · 8.9/10
Proton VPN
Port forwarding on paid plans, Swiss jurisdiction, open-source apps and Secure Core. Slightly slower than PIA on distant servers.
- Port forwarding
- Yes
- Speed
- 541 Mbps
- Devices
- 10
- Refund
- 30 days
- 3Budget with port forwarding#5 overall · 8.4/10
PureVPN
Port forwarding is a paid add-on, P2P servers are marked, and the long-term price is the lowest we rate.
- Port forwarding
- Yes
- Speed
- 466 Mbps
- Devices
- 10
- Refund
- 31 days
−82% on the 2-year planends soon - 4Fast P2P, no port forwarding#2 overall · 9.4/10
Surfshark
P2P allowed on all servers with near-baseline speeds and unlimited devices. Fine for downloading; not for seeders who need a forwarded port.
- Port forwarding
- No
- Speed
- 655 Mbps
- Devices
- Unlimited
- Refund
- 30 days
−86% + 3 months freeends soon - 5Fastest downloads#1 overall · 9.7/10
NordVPN
Dedicated P2P servers, automatic switching and the highest speeds — but no port forwarding, so it ranks below the specialists here.
- Port forwarding
- No
- Speed
- 712 Mbps
- Devices
- 10
- Refund
- 30 days
−73% + 3 months freeends soon
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Side by side
| VPN | Score | Port forwarding | Speed | Devices | 2-yr price | Refund |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PIA | 8.3 | Yes | 480 Mbps | Unlimited | $2.03 | 30 days |
| Proton VPN | 8.9 | Yes | 541 Mbps | 10 | $4.49 | 30 days |
| PureVPN | 8.4 | Yes | 466 Mbps | 10 | $2.14 | 31 days |
| Surfshark | 9.4 | No | 655 Mbps | Unlimited | $2.19 | 30 days |
| NordVPN | 9.7 | No | 712 Mbps | 10 | $3.39 | 30 days |
How we picked
P2P had to be allowed with a kill switch that passed our leak tests. We then ranked on port forwarding availability, no-logs evidence (audit or court record), jurisdiction, and measured download speed. Speed alone did not move a VPN above one with port forwarding.
All scores come from the same monthly tests on the same rig — how we test. Rank order on this page is by the category criteria, not by commission.
Questions
Which VPN is best for torrenting?
Private Internet Access, followed by Proton VPN. Both include port forwarding, allow P2P, and have no-logs policies backed by more than a promise — a court record for PIA and audits plus Swiss law for Proton.
Do I need port forwarding for torrenting?
Not for downloading. For seeding — keeping a ratio on a private tracker or contributing back — port forwarding makes you connectable to more peers and makes a real difference.
Is torrenting safe with a VPN?
A VPN hides your IP from other peers and your ISP, provided the kill switch works. It does not make downloading copyrighted material legal; we test the technology, not the content.
Which free VPN allows torrenting?
Proton VPN's free plan does not allow P2P, and no other free VPN we would recommend does either. Use a paid pick's refund window instead.