Is it illegal to use a VPN to torrent?

It will mainly depend on where you are. Every country has its take on VPNs, and not all permit them. Currently, some governments either regulate or ban VPN usage. They include China, Russia, North Korea, Iraq, Belarus, Oman, and the UAE. The fines imposed for using unapproved VPN may vary with countries, and in the US, they can vary from state to state. In some countries, companies and banks are authorized to use VPNs. Usually, governments take these actions to prevent criminal activity or terrorism.

Is it safe to torrent without a VPN?

No, torrenting without a VPN is not safe, even if you are careful. You can easily land into trouble with government authorities and your ISP if you are caught accidentally torrenting copyrighted material. So, it is crucial to use a VPN when torrenting.

What devices can I use to torrent with a VPN?

You can use any internet-enabled device that is compatible with P2P clients and VPN apps. Fortunately, premium VPNs work well with all operating systems. This means that you can torrent on macOS, Windows, Linux, and Chromebook. You can torrent through your mobile devices too. Apple bans BitTorrent apps, so it will be difficult to torrent through your iOS devices. However, you can try other torrenting clients such as Vuze, Deluge, Transmission, and FrostWire.

Will a VPN slow my speed?

Generally, any VPN will slow your speed as it has to route your traffic through remote servers. A reliable VPN should not affect your speed if you have a stable baseline internet speed. Premium VPNs like NordVPN and ExpressVPN provide fast servers such that you will not notice any drop in speed.

Which is the best torrent client?

Almost all P2P clients work the same. However, it is the list of features offered that differentiates the clients. We recommend you select open-source clients because they do not inject annoying ads.

How will a VPN protect my privacy?

A VPN maintains your privacy when torrenting in two main ways. First, it prevents your internet service provider from seeing that you are torrenting. Because the files you download or share through BitTorrent are encrypted, their content cannot be exposed. Secondly, a VPN will prevent other peers from seeing your real IP address. Since BitTorrent is a peer-to-peer protocol, anyone using the same torrent file is connected to a swarm. Every connected device can see the IP addresses of other devices. Some P2P clients even allow users to check the list of devices seeding the same torrent file. If you are using a VPN, your approximate location and ISP can be traced using your IP address. In fact, that is how copyright trolls find torrenters and send them settlement letters. A VPN will hide your real IP address, and other peers will see the server's IP address.

Can I get caught torrenting copyrighted content with a VPN?

Yes. You can get caught if you are torrenting copyrighted material, even when using a VPN. However, it isn't very likely if you are using a reputable VPN like NordVPN. You can get caught if your VPN does not have a kill switch. It is an essential feature that will keep your torrenting activities anonymous if the VPN stops working.

What features should I look out for when choosing a VPN for torrenting?

You’ll want to ensure that you choose the best service to ensure complete anonymity and personal security. For instance, the VPN should have a strict zero-logs policy and does not keep personal information. This way, there will be no data to surrender if it is compelled to give evidence. Another crucial consideration is speed. A good VPN for torrent downloads should offer sufficient speeds to download and share files seamlessly.

10 Best VPNs for Torrenting in 2024 – Stay Anonymous and Safe

Ruheni Mathenge - Streaming Expert

Last updated: January 8, 2024

Read time: 28 minutes

This is an estimated reading time to let you know how long it will take you to read all the content on this particular PrivacySavvy.com page. However, it has a sneak peek, easy guide steps, and/or a quick list providing quick in-page navigations and easily-found answers if desired.

Not every service works as it promises, which makes finding the best VPN for torrenting tough. We tested dozens. Here are the best ones.

THE TAKEAWAYS

Torrenting has garnered a grey reputation for allowing easy access to copyrighted materials. But torrenting also has its pros, especially when it serves people with the desired content at no cost. Nonetheless, the governments and ISPs often do not appreciate torrenting, thus banning it. That’s where VPNs come into play, ensuring that your torrenting activities stay under the radar. Also, using VPNs while torrenting saves you from bandwidth throttling and lets you secure your overall internet connectivity.

Torrenting has amassed a lot of popularity in the recent past. It is a peer-to-peer (P2P) network where users connect and share files instead of relying on a centralized server. Each device on the network acts as a mini-server, which helps to reduce the network load considerably.

While torrenting allows you to download and share files at incredible speeds, it also presents certain risks. The only way to download torrents safely is to use a VPN.

However, finding the best VPN for torrenting is a bit tricky as many services are not up to the task. Some don’t support torrenting, while others don’t put up necessary measures to prevent data leakage. That is why we researched and tested thoroughly to compile a list of the ten best VPNs for torrenting for you.

A quick summary of the best torrenting VPNs

NordVPN – Our top pick for torrenting. It comes with fast-speed servers, a zero-log policy, P2P optimized servers.
ExpressVPN – High speeds, Network Lock, keeps no logs. Easy to use apps, TrustedServer technology
Private Internet Access (PIA) – Expansive server network, DNS leak protection, supports P2P sharing.
Surfshark – Low-cost VPN for torrenting, unlimited simultaneous connections, solid security, CleanWeb feature.

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