File sharing has come a long way since LimeWire — but users of torrenting sites may still have security and privacy fears.
This is where VPNs — which encrypt data leaving your computer and make it impossible for others to see what you’re downloading — come in handy.To the uninitiated, these virtual private networks assign a virtual IP address to obscure your real location from others, which is important when sharing snippets of files with other users of a torrenting client, especially if what you’re sharing is copyrighted material.(This is of course illegal and we do not condone it!)
SEE ALSO: The best VPN for Netflix in 2019: Deals and how to watch American Netflix in the UK
Torrenting is, however, a great way to share big files (freeware apps, movies, books, etc.) that are in the public domain.This is because you download parts of them from a number of users instead of from a single place, so the demands are less on any one server and downloads are faster.But in return for accessing files from other people’s computers, you are expected to reciprocate.Without a VPN, this could leave you vulnerable to security scams, viruses, malware attacks, and even legal action if you’ve shared a copyrighted work (even a single song).
Therefore, VPNs with extra security measures are in demand.Other important criteria for choosing a VPN include a clear privacy policy, un-throttled bandwidth, fast download speeds, and value for money.
Whether you’re looking for a VPN that’s extra secure with shared IP addresses, or simply the one that’s easiest to use, we’ve rounded up the best VPNs for torrenting so the only searching you have to do will be for content to share.
These are the best VPNs for torrenting in 2021.
Best for features Image: purevpn The Good Universal unblocking of geolocked channels • 31-day money back guarantee • Offers split tunnelling • Lots of features, like the WiFi hotspot ability The Bad User complaints about speed • Had an issue with its logging policy in the past The Bottom Line PureVPN is a great choice and value for users who don’t plan to do anything illegal.
PureVPN PureVPN has been around for a while and has loads of features.Monthly: £8.63/month One-year plan: £2/month See Details PureVPN is one of the oldest and largest VPN providers on the market, and while its reputation was tainted by a problem with its logging policy, the VPN still offers heaps of features and is a great value for the average user who is not doing anything illegal.
The VPN offers all the usual features, plus lots of extras.For example, users can use split tunneling to decide which traffic is funneled through their VPN and which is not, and there’s the ability to create a WiFi VPN hotspot.This is an unusual feature that basically turns a host computer into a VPN router.
To make life easier for users, there are apps for Mac OS, Windows, Android, and iOS devices and the company claims its product is easy to set up on games consoles and smart TVs.And the convenience doesn’t stop there.Customers can even pay for PureVPN using Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies as well as gift cards.
There are a whole bunch of security options, including industry standard 256-bit encryption, support for pretty much all protocols, built-in ad and malware blocking, DNS and IPv6 leak protection, and a kill switch.
However, the company’s zero logging policy ran into trouble when in 2017 a user was arrested partially due to Pure VPN session logs.The VPN isn’t the only one to record session data (when a user connects to a server and the incoming IP address and bandwidth used is recorded) but it did hit the tech press headlines, no doubt rattling some users who may be using the service in less than legal ways.This is probably of little concern to the average user though.
BEST FOR NEWBIES Image: cyberghost The Good Customer support via chat or email • Speedy • Unblocks geoblocked channels • 30-day money back guarantee The Bad On the pricey side The Bottom Line If you’re just getting into VPNs, CyberGhost is a good pick for its customer service and easy to use interface.
CyberGhost VPN CyberGhost is a great pick if you need something to walk you through the basics.Monthly: £10.29/month One-year plan: £4.59/month Two-year plan: £3.09/month Three-year plan: £2.10/month See Details VPNs can seem overwhelmingly complicated to newbies, but CyberGhost boasts a simple interface with simple language to explain all its features, making it way less daunting.It’s fast to set up — claiming to be a “one-click solution for your digital needs” — and has intuitive apps for a variety of popular devices.There’s friendly support via chat or email and lots of troubleshooting guides if anything goes wrong.Despite this accessible approach, it still packs a punch by anyone’s standards.
Users have access to a decent number of servers across the globe and unlimited bandwidth and traffic, making CyberGhost ideal for torrenting.They have reported quick download speeds and streaming, of Hulu and BBC iPlayer, for example.
The VPN is popularly used for unblocking content, so users can access Netflix’s catalog anywhere in the world and other services that are geoblocked, as well as bypassing the great firewall of China.It supports BitTorrent in most countries.
And when it comes to security, CyberGhost uses AES-256 bit encryption and DNS and IP leak protection plus a kill switch.Its privacy policy says it does not keep data logs or record its customers’ activity and the company is registered in Romania, which does not have stringent surveillance laws.
Best for security Image: nordvpn The Good Great security features • Ad-blocking and anti-phishing features • Can link up to six devices at once • 24/7 live chat support • Unblocks geo-locked channels The Bad High security option can lower speeds • One of the pricier options The Bottom Line If you’re all about security, NordVPN is probably the pick for you.
NordVPN NordVPN offers security features and options that aren’t available from most VPNs.Monthly: £9.68/month One-year plan: £5.66/month Two-year plan: £4.04/month Three-year plan: £2.82/month See Details NordVPN is a popular VPN known for its strong security measures.The Panama-based company has a slew of security tools available, such as shared IP addresses, and because it’s based away from the EU and US (like many VPNs), it doesn’t have to collect a user’s personal data and information, so details can’t be passed to third parties.
NordVPN uses Next Generation Encryption (NGE) IKEv2/IPsec as standard and 256bit-GCM, a military-grade encryption programme.There is also the option to use “Onion over VPN” or Double VPN servers, which means data is passed through two separate VPN servers instead of one, although this takes a considerable toll on speed.
NordVPN doesn’t keep logs of online activity.
This means that your private data, online activity, and browsing history can’t be monitored, gathered, exposed, or intercepted by third parties.Users can also select DNS leak protection to protect their IP address and an automatic kill switch, which either kills all programs or chosen programs if the VPN connection drops.This protects a user’s personal data from being temporarily exposed.There’s also ad-blocking functionality and protection against phishing threats.
Users can link up to six devices simultaneously to NordVPN’s servers using apps for Mac OS, Windows, iOS, and Android.
The service also boasts unlimited bandwidth for torrenting, decent download speed, and a 24/7 live chat tool for support.
Notably, NordVPN is able to unblock geo-locked services including Netflix US, BBC iPlayer, and Amazon Prime Video making it a popular choice for one-season-a-day bingers.
Note: NordVPN has announced that it suffered a breach in March 2018 when a hacker exploited an insecure remote management system at a Finnish data centre from which the company was renting servers.Fortunately, this isolated attack affected just one NordVPN server — and thanks to its strict no-logging policy, no user activity was compromised in the incident.Click here to learn more .
Best value for money Image: PIA The Good Great monthly deal • Can be used with any torrenting client The Bad Users report unpredictable speeds • Some users report no Netflix compatibility The Bottom Line If you’re looking for a great monthly value and don’t mind a USA-based VPN, PIA might be your choice.
PIA PIA is great value for users who don’t mind a US-based VPN.Monthly: £2.45/month One-year plan: £4.72/month See Details PIA is an established name in the VPN world and is among the cheapest of the well-known offerings, claiming to be the “highest quality for the lowest price.” Designed for torrenting, PIA doesn’t monitor or restrict any connections including peer-to-peer file sharing and can be used with any torrenting client without the annoyance of being blocked or throttled.
In terms of security, PIA claims there is no logging.It offers anonymous IP, encrypted WiFi, ad and malware blockers, a kill switch, as well as various levels of encryption.
The company claims its VPN is simple to use with one click connection and intuitive software that’s compatible across devices, with apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and Google Chrome.The service can be used across five connections at the same time and download speeds are fairly impressive for a cheaper VPN too, although speeds are notoriously difficult to measure overall.
PIA boasts global coverage with 3,041 servers in 45 locations across 28 countries and claims to unblock websites, meaning the end of geographic restrictions, but some users report not being able to use it for Netflix, for example.
Most professional testers say PIA offers good download speeds but some users have complained in forums that they can be unpredictable.Another feature that may put off some users is PIA’s location, as it’s based in the USA — AKA a Five Eyes country.
This means that security agencies operating in countries that are part of this surveillance alliance could demand access to customer data, which is a big turn-off for those using VPNs for less than legal means.However, PIA says it has designed its operations “to prevent this from happening in the first place,” because there are no logs of identifying information collected about users.
This means that in theory, it can’t be handed over no matter how much force is applied.
Best for speed Image: expressVPN The Good Unlimited bandwidth • Speedy • Can unblock geo-locked channels • Offers split tunnelling for Mac and Windows The Bad Pricier than some • Offers only three connections at a time The Bottom Line If you’re a regular torrenter who loves entertainment and needs great security, unlimited bandwidth and fast speeds, this is a strong option.ExpressVPN Offers fast download speeds and great security, plus it’s easy for beginners to use.Monthly: £10.18/month Six-month plan: £7.85/month 15-month plan: £5.24/month See Details ExpressVPN tops many best of lists and for good reason.
It offers fast download speeds, great security, has great global reach, and is easy to use for beginners who don’t want the hassle of configuring every detail.This is because there’s instant set-up across a range of devices and apps for Mac OS, Windows, Android, iOS, and Linux.
This VPN is great for torrenting thanks to its unlimited bandwidth and no throttling supported on all of its servers.It’s one of the speediest offerings out there according to various speed tests.
Security-wise, ExpressVPN is impressive, with strong 256-bit AES encryption and support for lots of VPN protocols.The company offers a strict no logging policy, which means no tracking or storing of personal data and that data is encrypted and hidden from all eyes, even ExpressVPN’s.
There’s a handy kill switch and DNS/IPv6 leak protection.A split tunneling feature for Mac and Windows allows users to protect their torrent client only, leaving other activities such as gaming unaffected by the VPN and not suffering a drop in speed.There’s also TOR compatibility for serious users and the company is registered in the British Virgin Islands, which means there are no data retention laws.
ExpressVPN has over 2,000 servers in 160 locations and 94 countries and can be used for unblocking geo-locked entertainment offerings such as Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Hulu, and so on.
While ExpressVPN’s offering is impressive, a few cons are present.
It only offers three simultaneous connections — less than some of its competitors — and costs a little more than some, too.
Best VPN deals this week ExpressVPN (Partner Exclusive) — 49% off a one-year plan with an extra three months for free PureVPN (Mashable Exclusive) — 86% off a five-year plan with code Mash20 CyberGhost — 79% off a one-year plan with an extra six months for free Private Internet Access — 82% off a three-year plan with an extra three months for free NordVPN — Two-year plan with three months free for $89 (normally $286.80).
