Best VPN for Torrenting in 2026: 8 VPNs Ranked by P2P Rules, Port Forwarding and Audits

Last verified 4 October 2026. The best VPN for torrenting is Private Internet Access: it allows P2P on every server, offers port forwarding on desktop and Android, has published three Deloitte no-logs audits and charges the same $47.88 a year on renewal as in year one. Proton VPN is the runner-up if you want a published annual audit and can live with desktop-only port forwarding. Free plans mostly block P2P, so plan to pay, and a VPN does not make copyright infringement legal.

Below are 8 VPNs ranked on what each vendor publishes this week: which servers allow P2P, whether you can get a forwarded port, whether the no-logs claim has been audited, how the kill switch works and what the free plan allows.

Toolradar data: of the 35 VPN tools in our catalog, 5 are completely free and another 16 are freemium.

Quick Comparison

Our picks: the best VPNs for torrenting, ranked

1. Private Internet Access

Private Internet Access (PIA) covers the most torrenting basics in one plan. Its features page promises "full support for torrenting on every PIA VPN server," port forwarding on selected servers to optimize torrent performance, and an advanced kill switch that blocks traffic when the VPN is off. PIA's port forwarding guide says it works on Windows, macOS, Linux and Android, which is wider than Proton's desktop-only support.

PIA also publishes its audits. Deloitte Audit Romania completed its third independent review of PIA's VPN infrastructure under the ISAE 3000 (Revised) standard, after earlier audits in 2022 and 2024, and the full report is available to download.

The buy page is in US dollars: $3.99 a month on the 1-year plan, billed $47.88 for the first year and then renewing annually at $47.88, or $11.95 a month on a monthly plan. All plans cover unlimited devices, and new subscribers get a 30-day money-back guarantee. There is no free plan.

Pick it if you seed a lot, want a forwarded port on desktop or Android, and want unlimited devices at $47.88 a year.

2. Proton VPN

Proton VPN allows P2P on its dedicated P2P servers, which it says number more than 20,000 in 140+ countries, but only on paid plans. Its own FAQ says the free plan will not do: "you'll need a paid plan to use our dedicated P2P servers." The page also lists a kill switch, split tunneling (to send only torrent traffic through the VPN), up to 10 devices and a tip to bind your client to the VPN interface.

Port forwarding is included on all paid plans on Windows, macOS and Linux, with macOS described as early access. You must be connected to a P2P server, the port usually changes when you reconnect, you need to disable UPnP and NAT-PMP in your client, and it does not work with NAT type 2 (moderate NAT). Proton's no-logs audit post, updated June 16, 2026, says it has now passed a fifth consecutive annual audit and publishes the full report.

Proton's pricing page does not show a price in its text, but paid plans carry a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Pick it if you want P2P servers, port forwarding and a published annual audit, and are willing to pay.

3. NordVPN

NordVPN makes P2P simple. Its support page says every standard server now supports P2P, so you no longer need to find a dedicated server, and its BitTorrent guide says BitTorrent works when you connect to its servers. It also lists SOCKS5 proxy servers if you want to configure just your client. Nord's Internet Kill Switch blocks all traffic whenever you are not connected to the VPN, and its BitTorrent guide says the service should never be used to bypass copyright regulations.

The gap is port forwarding. Nord does not offer it on standard servers because many customers share them, though its newer Dedicated Server product includes a port forwarding capability along with a static IP. Nord's blog announces repeated no-logs assurance assessments. Up to 10 devices can connect at once, new subscriptions have a 30-day money-back guarantee, and the support pages do not publish prices.

Pick it if you want P2P on every server with no hunting, and can do without port forwarding or will pay for the Dedicated Server product.

4. Windscribe

Windscribe is the most restrictive on P2P. Its P2P article, dated October 23, 2025, says P2P is disabled on free servers. It works on the Full Pro plan, and on Build-A-Plan only for the servers you pay for. Even on Pro, Cyprus, Lithuania, Albania, Bosnia, India, Russia, South Africa, Indonesia, the Philippines, South Korea and Thailand block P2P, as do US and Canadian residential static IPs and a few named North American locations.

Port forwarding is a paid feature: Pro includes ephemeral ports that last 7 days at a time, and a permanent port needs a static IP bought separately. Windscribe's torrent client guide explains how to set the firewall to Always On so traffic can only go to Windscribe's server. Windscribe says its apps have been audited and its no-identifying-logs policy was tested in court. Pro costs $9 a month or $69 a year, and Build-A-Plan charges $1 per location per month with a $3 minimum.

Pick it if you want a forwarded port, a firewall that doubles as a kill switch and one account on unlimited devices.

5. hide.me

hide.me is a good fit if port forwarding at a low fixed price matters more than a published P2P server list. Dynamic port forwarding (UPnP and NAT-PMP) is a Premium feature, and its port forwarding page names P2P among its uses and lets you limit access to specific applications. The same page warns that port forwarding exposes applications to the internet and carries risk if programs are outdated. hide.me's no-logs page says Securitum has audited its policy, and its apps include a kill switch.

On its pricing page, Premium is €2.69 a month on the 26-month plan, billed €69.99 every 26 months, with 92 locations, 10 simultaneous connections and a 30-day money-back guarantee. hide.me says a plan always renews at the same price and duration. The free plan has unlimited data, 8 locations, one connection and restricted speeds. hide.me does not state which servers allow P2P, so confirm with support before you rely on the free plan.

Pick it if you want a forwarded port and a fixed renewal price, and will confirm P2P rules with support first.

6. Mullvad

Mullvad is for torrenters who do not need inbound connections. It ended port forwarding in 2023, saying people used it to host undesirable content, which led to law enforcement contacts, blocklisted IPs and canceled hosting. Its terms of service list the ports it blocks (TCP 25, plus 137, 138, 139 and 445) and do not mention torrenting. Its FAQ says the kill switch is on by default and cannot be disabled, and a SOCKS5 proxy is available on WireGuard servers.

For proof, Mullvad points to external audits. Assured AB's 2022 infrastructure audit found no information leakage or logging of customer data, and all servers run from RAM. Pricing is a flat €5 a month at any term, with a 14-day money-back guarantee except for cash payments and up to 5 devices. There is no free plan.

Pick it if you torrent without needing an open port and want flat €5 pricing, a non-optional kill switch and RAM-only servers.

7. CyberGhost

CyberGhost says it has servers optimized for torrenting and names Switzerland, Spain, Poland, the Netherlands and Canada as locations with torrenting-favorable laws. It describes a strict no-logs policy, its own DNS servers and a quarterly transparency report, and its apps list an automatic kill switch. It allows 7 devices at once and does not list port forwarding.

CyberGhost is also careful about the legal side. It says torrenting is not illegal in itself but that it never condones using torrents to access copyrighted material, with or without a VPN. On its pricing page the 2-years-plus-2-months plan is €2.19 a month, billed €56.94 for the first 26 months and then €56.94 a year, with a 45-day money-back guarantee. The monthly plan is €11.99 with a 14-day guarantee.

Pick it if you want P2P-optimized servers, a cheap multi-year plan and a long refund window.

8. PrivadoVPN

PrivadoVPN, based in Switzerland, says in a support article that it offers a safe and anonymous way to use torrents and keeps zero logs. The article does not say whether the free plan is included, so check before relying on it. The free plan gives 10 GB a month and a kill switch, and the software page lists BitTorrent, qBittorrent, uTorrent, Deluge and others under its SOCKS5 proxy, which is a paid feature.

Paid accounts cover up to 10 devices, with a 30-day money-back guarantee. PrivadoVPN cites no named no-logs audit and lists no port forwarding.

Pick it if you want an inexpensive Swiss provider with a SOCKS5 proxy for your client and are happy to confirm the free plan's rules first.

How to choose a VPN for torrenting

Check which servers allow P2P. PIA and NordVPN allow it on every standard server. Proton limits it to P2P servers on paid plans. Windscribe allows it only on Pro and excludes a list of locations. Proton marks its P2P servers with an icon in the app.

Decide whether you need a forwarded port. Proton says port forwarding allows direct connections, reducing wait times and increasing peers, and PIA says it optimizes torrent performance. Nord does not offer it on standard servers yet says BitTorrent works there, and Mullvad dropped it entirely. Forwarded ports also expose the client, so keep it updated.

Turn on the kill switch and bind your client. Proton advises binding the client to the VPN interface. Windscribe's Always-On Firewall, Mullvad's non-optional kill switch and Nord's Internet Kill Switch all block traffic when the tunnel is down. A SOCKS5 proxy only protects the client you configure.

Weigh the audit. PIA lists three Deloitte audits, Proton five annual audits, hide.me Securitum, and Mullvad an Assured AB audit from 2022. An audit tests a vendor's setup at a point in time, so check the date.

Be skeptical of free plans. Proton Free has no P2P and Windscribe disables P2P on free servers. ZoogVPN's P2P page advertises a free P2P VPN with 10 GB a month, while its pricing page lists "Full P2P & torrenting" under Premium, so test before trusting it. For free options generally, see our guide to the best free VPNs.

Keep it legal. A VPN hides your IP address from peers and your traffic from your ISP. It does not change what is legal to download.

FAQ

Which VPN allows torrenting on every server?

Private Internet Access and NordVPN both say P2P works on every standard server. CyberGhost lists P2P-optimized servers, Proton limits P2P to its P2P servers on paid plans, and Windscribe allows it only on Pro in some locations.

Do I need port forwarding to torrent?

No. Proton says it gives direct connections and more peers, and PIA says it optimizes torrent performance, but NordVPN says BitTorrent works on its servers without it. If you only download, you can skip it.

Is a free VPN fine for torrenting?

Rarely. Proton Free has no P2P, Windscribe disables P2P on free servers, and others cap data. hide.me's free plan has unlimited data but restricted speeds, and it does not say which servers allow P2P.

Does a VPN make torrenting legal?

No. NordVPN's BitTorrent guide says its service should never be used to bypass copyright regulations, and CyberGhost says it never condones using torrents to access copyrighted material. A VPN changes who can see your IP address, not the law.

What happens if the VPN drops mid-download?

Without a kill switch your real IP address becomes visible to peers. Nord's Internet Kill Switch blocks all traffic when you are not connected, Mullvad's cannot be disabled, and Windscribe's firewall can be set to Always On. Test yours by disconnecting while a download runs.

Should I use a SOCKS5 proxy instead of the full VPN?

Only if you want to protect one client. Nord, Mullvad and PrivadoVPN document a proxy, but the rest of your traffic would not be covered. The full VPN app is simpler and safer for most people.

Bottom line

Choose Private Internet Access if you seed a lot and want a forwarded port on desktop or Android at $47.88 a year. Choose Proton VPN if you want a published annual audit and will use a desktop client, and NordVPN if you want P2P on every server and can skip port forwarding. Skip free plans for torrenting, turn on the kill switch before you start, and download only what you are legally allowed to.