What impressed me most about NordVPN was just how fast it was. It offers lightning-fast speeds without compromising security thanks to its proprietary NordLynx protocol. You won’t be stuck endlessly waiting for files to download as long as there are enough seeders. Plus, NordVPN works with all of the top torrent clients on the market and doesn’t have any anti-user terms regarding torrenting in its terms of service as some other VPNs do. I suggest you try NordVPN with your torrent client risk-free. NordVPN is backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can get a full refund if you’re not satisfied. I tested the refund process and had my money back in just 5 days. Torrent safely with NordVPN
Easy Guide: How to Use NordVPN for Torrenting
To get the best torrenting experience with NordVPN, you’ll have to configure your torrent client with your VPN. Here are a couple of quick guides to set up NordVPN with the most popular torrent clients.
How to Torrent With NordVPN and uTorrent
How to Setup qBittorrent with NordVPN
NordVPN and BitTorrent Not Working? Here’s What to Do
If you’re having issues downloading torrents safely with NordVPN, here are a few ways you can fix the problem:
Try a New Torrent or Magnet Link
Sometimes, the issue isn’t with the VPN or your torrent client, but with the torrent itself. A broken or low-quality link or a small number of “seeders” can stop your torrent from downloading. To maximize your chances of successfully completing a torrent download, find a different magnet link with positive reviews and plenty of seeding users.
Add a Firewall Exception
You may find your firewall is automatically configured to block torrent clients from accessing the internet — this is due to the potentially dangerous nature of downloading unknown torrents. To fix this, you’ll need to add your torrent client to your firewall’s “Allow” list. You’ll find this in your firewall and network settings, giving you the option to allow an app to communicate through the firewall.
Get a VPN That Works With BitTorrent
If you’ve tried other options and are still having issues, it’s worth trying a different VPN service that consistently works with BitTorrent. During my tests, I found ExpressVPN quickly downloads torrents on any server connection. It’s also easy to set up with BitTorrent, taking just a couple of minutes to start P2P file-sharing: Torrent safely with NordVPN
Slow NordVPN Torrenting Speeds? Try These Steps
I tried the following steps to improve my torrenting speeds, and they could give your torrent downloads a boost too.
Choose a Different Server
At peak traffic times, some of NordVPN’s P2P servers can fill up with other users, leading to congestion and slower speeds. Try choosing a P2P server with a lower number of users — check the % figure listed next to each server to see how full each connection is and pick one with a lower number. You can also connect to a server closer to your physical location, as distance can be a factor in slow download speeds. Find your nearest NordVPN P2P servers and connect to those to provide fast downloads. With 5456 servers in its network, you’ll easily find a local connection.
Change Protocols
Check your settings and use NordVPN’s lightning-fast NordLynx protocol for the best speeds. This is NordVPN’s proprietary protocol based on WireGuard, designed to keep speeds fast without compromising your data security.
Check Your Internet Connection Speed
By running a quick speed test, you can see your average Mbps (megabits per second) download speed. If your connection speed is slow — less than 10Mbps — you can try using an ethernet cable to connect directly to your router. This generally provides a faster and more reliable internet connection than WiFi.
Disconnect Inactive Devices
NordVPN allows up to 6 device connections at the same time — if you have all connections active, you could experience a slowdown. To improve speeds, disconnect from NordVPN’s servers on devices you’re not currently using and only connect with your torrenting device.
Switch to a Faster VPN
NordVPN is reliably fast, but it’s not the fastest VPN on the market. In my tests, NordVPN slowed my connection by an average of 44%, whereas ExpressVPN had an average drop of just 18%. ExpressVPN’s fast speeds make torrenting quick — it took just 7 minutes for me to download a 5GB file — making it the top choice for torrenting in 2023. You can try ExpressVPN with your favorite torrenting client risk-free as it’s backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee. Torrent safely with NordVPN
The Best Alternative VPNs for Safe Torrenting — Tested in January 2023
1. ExpressVPN — All Servers P2P-Optimized With Blazing-Fast Download Speeds
Key Features: ExpressVPN’s entire network of 3000+ servers is optimized for torrenting, with super-fast speeds making it ideal for downloading files quickly. During tests, I didn’t have to worry about choosing a specific P2P server. ExpressVPN’s Smart Location feature connected me to the best server so I could start torrenting immediately. Every connection is secured with AES-256-bit encryption and data leak protection, keeping your torrent activity safe and anonymous. ExpressVPN also has a strong zero-logs policy, proven by an independent audit and real-world scenarios — one of ExpressVPN’s Turkish servers was seized during a criminal investigation and no data was recovered. Unique to ExpressVPN, all servers feature obfuscation that hides your VPN use. Surprisingly, this obfuscation doesn’t slow your connection — I ran multiple speed tests and found ExpressVPN is the fastest VPN on the market. Even when using servers 15,000km away, ExpressVPN was fast enough for smooth, uninterrupted torrenting. I could download a 5GB file in less than 7 minutes, plus stream Netflix in UltraHD quality, game online without lag, and more. I was pleased to find ExpressVPN is compatible with multiple torrent clients, like uTorrent, Vuze, and BitTorrent. Better still, it requires no configuration to start torrenting on your device, whether you’re using a Windows PC, Mac, Android or iOS smartphone, or tablet. ExpressVPN is most affordable when you sign up for a long-term subscription, with plans starting at $6.67 for the 1-year + 3 months option. It’s a little more expensive than other VPNs, but I think ExpressVPN’s fast, secure torrenting makes it worth the extra cost. If you’d like to try torrenting with ExpressVPN for yourself, you can do so risk-free. It’s backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee so you can make sure the service is right for you. Should you change your mind, you can easily get a full refund. I tested the process myself and it took less than 2 minutes to arrange my refund using the 24/7 live chat. I had my money back in just 5 days. Torrent safely with ExpressVPN!
2. CyberGhost — Dedicated Servers for Fast Torrenting, Streaming, Gaming, and Privacy
Key Features: CyberGhost’s range of optimized servers are a great choice for fast and secure torrenting, plus streaming, gaming, and private connections. CyberGhost staff regularly test these servers to ensure they work flawlessly, so you don’t have to struggle to pick the right option. It’s easy to choose the best server as you can sort the servers by distance — connecting to my nearest server was always the fastest choice. My testing revealed CyberGhost’s optimized servers are considerably faster than its standard servers. Torrenting speeds were 35% slower than my normal speeds on average, which meant I could download a 5GB file in around 10 minutes. CyberGhost uses the WireGuard protocol, which I’ve found is a secure and fast option. CyberGhost uses military-grade encryption, a kill switch, and data leak protection on every server. This ensures your torrenting activity remains anonymous. Unfortunately, CyberGhost has yet to undergo an independent audit to confirm its zero-logs policy. However, all of its servers run on RAM, meaning it’s physically impossible for them to store data. I found this reassuring, as it’s unlikely the company can or will log your data. The main downside to CyberGhost is that it can struggle to maintain fast speeds over long distances. If you don’t have a dedicated torrenting server nearby, you could find your connection speeds drop significantly. This means a longer wait time for your torrents to complete. You can try CyberGhost with your torrent client risk-free with its 45-day money-back guarantee. You can use it like a free trial — ideal if you only have a few files you want to torrent. The 45-day money-back guarantee is only for 6-month plans or longer, so I suggest you sign up for the 2-year + 2 months plan at just $2.19 per month. If you change your mind, you can cancel using the 24/7 live chat. It took a 5-minute chat for me, and I had my money back in under a week. Torrent safely with CyberGhost
3. Private Internet Access — Huge Global Server Network Ideal for Secure Torrenting
Key Features: Private Internet Access (PIA) has an enormous server network that supports torrenting, making it easy to P2P file-share from anywhere. With over 35000 servers worldwide, you can always find a nearby connection for top speeds and reliability. On top of thousands of servers, PIA offers top-tier security and privacy features. Every connection uses AES-256-bit encryption and leak protection, plus a kill switch secures your activity if the VPN is interrupted. I ran multiple leak tests and found PIA kept my torrenting secure and anonymous. PIA provides a SOCKS5 proxy, which hides your IP address but doesn’t offer the encryption of a VPN. If you have slower internet, using SOCKS5 can boost your speeds to help torrents download faster. However, it won’t hide your torrent activity from other users, your ISP, or anyone watching your connection. I like PIA’s Automation feature, which I configured to work with my torrent client. PIA’s Automation ensures torrents won’t download unless you’re connected to the VPN, keeping your data secure at all times. PIA is reliably fast when using local connections. During tests, my speeds dropped around 44% on average from my standard speed. This meant I could download a 5GB file in just over 10 minutes. Unfortunately, PIA struggles to maintain fast speeds over long distances — some of my connections dropped as much as 73%. Given PIA’s vast network, you’re likely to find a server close to you to avoid a significant speed drop. I think PIA’s low prices also make it worth waiting a few more minutes for torrents —it starts at just $2.19 for a 2-year + 2 months plan. You can try torrenting with PIA risk-free to see if it’s right for you, as the service is backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee. Getting a refund is easy over the 24/7 live chat, and I had my money back in under a week. Torrent safely with PIA PIA works on: Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, Linux, Chromebook, Chrome, Firefox, Kodi, routers, and more.
4. Surfshark — Best Value for Money with Unlimited Device Connections and Fast Speeds
Key Features: Surfshark offers the best value for money out of every premium VPN on the market. You can connect an unlimited number of devices with a single subscription (which means you can connect your entire family and even friends!). I tested Surfshark’s unlimited connections on 2 PCs, 2 phones, a Fire Stick 4K, and an iPad. My connection remained reliable on all 6 devices. Even while I was actively streaming on all my devices, my average speed was 112 Mbps — fast enough for UltraHD quality. When I saw the price of this service, I thought it couldn’t possibly have top-grade security features for such a low price, but I was pleasantly surprised. Surfshark has the following security and privacy features:
AES 256-bit encryption on all devices, with ChaCha encryption available for Android users Wireguard VPN protocol enabled by default Diskless, RAM-only servers to protect your privacy (no data can be physically extracted from any servers) Kill switch (although this isn’t enabled by default) IP and DNS leak protection
Surfshark offers two-factor authentication (2FA) on your account. This feature requires you to enter an extra code before you can log in to ensure that only you (and those you share your account with) can access your account. While Surfshark does have slightly fewer global servers than rivals such as CyberGhost and PIA, I didn’t experience any issues during my tests. I easily connected fast working servers every time, and I had excellent speeds for streaming Netflix in Ultra HD, downloading torrents, and browsing the internet.
You can try Surfshark for yourself with the 30-day money-back guarantee. It has plans that cost as little as $2.05. Requesting a refund is easy with Surfshark’s live chat feature. Although the support team asked why I wanted to cancel my subscription, I had no problem getting my money back (and it only took 4 days!). Get Surfshark Surfshark works on: Windows, Mac OS, Android, iOS, Linux, Fire Stick, PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Samsung Smart TVs, LG Smart TVs, Android TV, Kodi, and selected routers
How to Choose a Good VPN for Torrenting in 2023
To get the best VPN for torrenting, I tested each service and ranked them according to the following criteria:
Supports torrenting — A top-tier torrenting VPN should have dedicated torrenting servers or support P2P file-sharing on all of its server connections. High-level encryption — To keep your torrent activity secure, your VPN should use AES-256-bit encryption — the same kind used by banks and military bodies. Zero-logs privacy policy — Your VPN should never keep records of your online activity, and ideally has a third-party audit proving it doesn’t log data. Data leak protection — This protects your data if data inquiries are sent outside of the encrypted VPN tunnel. Your VPN should provide DNS, IPv6, and WebRTC protection. Automatic kill switch — If the VPN connection is interrupted, a kill switch blocks internet access. This prevents your data and IP address location from being compromised. A service like CyberGhost has a kill switch enabled by default to prevent accidental data leaks. 24/7 customer support — Make sure your VPN offers 24/7 support for any questions or issues you might have when torrenting. Money-back guarantee — With a money-back guarantee, you can rest assured that you can get a full refund if you’re not satisfied or change your mind about your subscription.
Of all the VPNs I’ve tested, ExpressVPN is the best VPN in 2023 for torrenting, streaming, gaming, and more. Torrent safely today!
A Free VPN Will Cost You in the Long Run
Free VPNs simply won’t give you the security, speeds, or data allowance necessary for torrenting. Even the top free VPNs have limitations that make them unsuitable for P2P file-sharing, including:
Bandwidth restrictions — With a limited monthly data allowance, you’re likely to hit the cap before you can complete your torrents. Slow speeds — Even if you have unlimited data, free VPNs often restrict download speeds to encourage you to upgrade. Server limits — A small number of free servers means you experience user congestion and connection issues that can make torrenting impossible.
Instead of choosing a restrictive free option, I suggest trying a premium VPN with a money-back guarantee. CyberGhost has a lengthy 45-day money-back guarantee you can use to test the service — almost like a free trial. Just be sure to request a refund within 45 days so you can get all of your money back.
If you don’t want to sign up for a long-term plan, you can take a look at some of the best monthly VPN services. This way, you get unrestricted top-tier security for torrenting without being locked into a long subscription. Torrent safely today!
Is NordVPN safe for torrenting?
Yes, NordVPN is a safe option for torrenting. It has dedicated P2P file-sharing servers that provide AES-256-bit encryption, kill switch functionality, and data leak protection. NordVPN is also compatible with popular torrent clients, so it’s easy to quickly and securely start downloading torrents.
What are the best NordVPN settings for torrenting?
To get the best torrenting experience with NordVPN, follow these tips: Getting the best torrenting settings with NordVPN takes a few minutes as you need to change some settings. If you don’t want to configure your VPN before torrenting, I recommend you try ExpressVPN risk-free. Every ExpressVPN server is optimized for torrenting, plus its kill switch and fastest tunneling protocol are already configured.
How do I set up NordVPN with uTorrent or BitTorrent?
You have 2 options for using NordVPN with your torrent client: automatic and manual setup:
Automatic — Connect to one of NordVPN’s P2P servers, click your torrent link, and instantly start your secure download. Manual — Follow the detailed step-by-step guides here, making sure you have an active NordVPN subscription to enter a proxy server address, your username, and password.
Setting up NordVPN with your torrent client is pretty quick and easy. Simply find its selection of P2P-optimized servers and choose one close to your location to start torrenting.
Which devices can I torrent on with NordVPN?
You can torrent with NordVPN on any supported device that also supports torrent clients, like uTorrent or BitTorrent. NordVPN has apps available for a range of devices, including Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, and Linux. While it takes a few minutes to configure NordVPN with your chosen torrent client, you can start P2P file-sharing quickly and easily.
Does NordVPN have obfuscated servers?
Yes, NordVPN has obfuscated servers. These servers are only available when using the OpenVPN protocol and following these steps: After this, you can go back to NordVPN’s main app interface and Quick Connect to the nearest obfuscated server. However, these servers are not ideal for torrenting — the extra layers of security can cause slow speeds and aren’t necessary for safe P2P file-sharing. Torrent safely with NordVPN
NordVPN is Safe For Torrenting
NordVPN is a solid choice for torrenting. It’s still a secyure VPN service for P2P file-sharing, streaming, online gaming, and safe browsing. It has some top-tier security features, including:
AES-256-bit military-grade encryption and data leak protection on all 5,000+ servers CyberSec ad-block and malware protection Proprietary NordLynx protocol for fast speeds and security Split-tunneling, Tor-friendly servers, and Dark Web monitoring 24/7 customer support and a money-back guarantee policy
If you’re looking for a service that has high-level security and privacy plus needs zero torrenting configuration, I recommend you give NordVPN a try. It’s one of the fastest VPNs on the market, and it gives you access to many P2P-optimized and obfuscated servers. While CyberGhost and PIA are also very good, affordable alternatives, I suggest you try NordVPN to see if it’s the best choice for you. Better still, you can test the service risk-free as it is backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee. If you change your mind about subscribing, you can get a full refund with no questions asked.
