Updated on: November 26, 2024
Short on time? Here’s the best cheap VPN for torrenting in 2024:
- 🥇 Private Internet Access : Is super affordable, with prices starting at just $2.03 / month. It also allows torrenting on servers in 91 countries and comes with port forwarding and SOCKS5 proxy support. Plus, it has very fast download speeds, great security and privacy for torrenting, and a 30-day refund policy.
I always use a VPN while torrenting because it secures my P2P traffic, provides privacy by preventing anyone in the torrent swarm from seeing my real IP address, and prevents my internet service provider (ISP) from throttling my P2P speeds.
However, like most people, I’m on a budget — and VPNs can be pricey. So I spent a few weeks testing all the best-known and low-cost VPNs out there, looking for a fast, secure, reliable VPN for torrenting that wouldn’t cost me a fortune.
Unfortunately, many P2P VPNs that are cheap aren’t really good. They either only allow torrenting on very few server locations, or they lack essential security features and provide very slow download speeds.
Fortunately, I managed to find a few great P2P VPNs that are also affordable. Private Internet Access is my favorite — its plans start as low as $2.03 / month, it allows torrenting on servers in 91 countries, it has P2P-related features for boosting download speeds, and it includes a 30-day refund policy. Editors' Note: Private Internet Access and this site are in the same ownership group.
Torrent Safely With PRIVATE INTERNET ACCESS
Quick Summary of the Best Cheap VPNs for Torrenting
NOTE: Neither I nor anyone from SafetyDetectives endorses or supports illegal activities. It’s essential to familiarize yourself with local laws and regulations relevant to your region to ensure full compliance.
Editors' Note: Intego, Private Internet Access, CyberGhost and ExpressVPN are owned by Kape Technologies, our parent company
🥇1. Private Internet Access (PIA) — Best Cheap VPN for Torrenting in 2024
Private Internet Access (PIA) is the best cheap VPN for torrenting, with prices starting at just $2.03 / month. In addition to being so affordable, the provider often includes extra months of service for free via its longest plan. PIA also has excellent P2P support, as it allows torrenting on servers in 91 countries.
PIA is great for torrenting because it has port forwarding and provides SOCKS5 support (trades encryption for faster speeds). It also allows split-tunneling, which lets you choose which apps and websites will go through your VPN connection and which remain on your local network to avoid unnecessary slowdowns.
Plus, all PIA subscriptions come with a free ad, tracker, and malicious website blocker (PIA MACE). I tested it out by visiting some known malware-infected URLs, and it accurately blocked all the dodgy websites. PIA’s MACE also successfully blocked all ads on ad-heavy P2P sites in my tests — which is why it’s the best VPN ad blocker on the market.
I also enjoyed great download speeds with PIA. A 3 GB file took me a little more than 4 minutes to download while connected to a local server, and the same file took just 6 minutes to download on a distant server.
PIA also provides great privacy for torrenting, as it has open-source apps (anyone can inspect the code for security issues). Also, it has a strict no-logs policy that has been proven true in court documents and in an independent security audit.
The VPN is also excellent for securing P2P downloads. It has RAM-only servers that ensure every server reset wipes all data and perfect forward secrecy (changes the encryption key for each VPN session). Plus, it has full leak protection. What’s more, it has Identity Guard, which lets you check if your email address has been compromised — this is good for securing login details on private torrenting sites.
Private Internet Access has a 30-day money-back guarantee and accepts payments via credit card, PayPal, Amazon Pay — and it even supports anonymous payment options like third-party gift cards and cryptocurrencies.
Bottom Line:
Private Internet Access (PIA) is the best and cheapest torrenting VPN available, with plans starting as low as $2.03 / month. It has a large server network, supports torrenting on every server, and has very fast download speeds. It also comes with top-notch security features like RAM-only servers and open-source apps, as well as excellent extra features like port forwarding, split-tunneling, and an ad blocker. You can try it out risk free with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Read the full Private Internet Access review
🥈2. CyberGhost VPN — Great Automation & Large P2P Server Network
CyberGhost VPN has cheap plans starting at $2.19 / month and a huge P2P server network numbering servers in 85+ countries. So, it’s easy to avoid overcrowded servers and use nearby servers for torrenting to get fast downloads — in fact, in my tests, it only took 7 minutes to download a 5 GB file using a local server and 12 minutes using a distant server.
I really like that CyberGhost VPN’s apps have a very intuitive interface, which makes it extremely easy to find all features and connect to any P2P-optimized server in seconds. What’s more, the Smart Rules feature lets you automate VPN connections — for example, you can configure CyberGhost VPN to automatically connect to a P2P server and open a P2P client on launch.
The VPN provides great security while torrenting via perfect forward secrecy, RAM-only servers, protection against DNS and IPv6 leaks, and an ad blocker. Also, you get access to its extra secure NoSpy servers, which can’t be compromised by malicious actors because only the provider’s staff has access to them. It also has Identity Guard, which lets you check if a specific login has been compromised (like the one you use on private torrenting sites, for example).
In addition, CyberGhost VPN has an audited no-logs policy, and it publishes a transparency report every quarter. The report details the number of DMCA complaints it’s received, malicious activity it’s deflected, and police requests for data it’s been unable to comply with due to its zero-logs policy.
CyberGhost VPN has a generous 45-day money-back guarantee for long-term plans and a 14-day refund for the shortest plan. It also accepts credit and debit cards, PayPal, and cryptocurrency payments.
Bottom Line:
CyberGhost VPN has a huge P2P server network and is very affordable, with plans starting as low as $2.19 / month. It’s also secure, fast, and has very intuitive apps that let you automate VPN connections. It also comes with great security features such as perfect forward secrecy and RAM-only servers. CyberGhost offers a generous 45-day money-back guarantee on its annual plans.
Read the full CyberGhost review
Editors' Note: CyberGhost and this site are in the same ownership group.
🥉3. NordVPN — Secure P2P VPN With Malware Protection
NordVPN’s plans start at $2.99 / month, and the VPN has servers in 111 countries. Its huge P2P server network helps you get blazing-fast torrenting speeds — in my tests, it only took about 13 minutes to download a 17.3 GB file, which is really good. In addition, you also get access to SOCKS5 proxy support for even faster download speeds.
I love the VPN’s Threat Protection feature — in addition to blocking ads, ad trackers, and shady sites, it also protects your device from malicious downloads. And that includes malware-infected torrents. And, on Windows, it also alerts you about app vulnerabilities, so that you know to update your P2P clients to avoid any issues.
However, you need to get the provider’s Plus subscription to use the Threat Protection feature. Luckily, its prices begin at $2.99 / month, which is still affordable.
There’s also a convenient app-based kill switch, which shuts down selected apps if the VPN disconnects. I tested it with my P2P client 5+ times, and it always worked as intended. And, the provider also secures your P2P data with advanced features, like full leak protection, RAM-only servers, perfect forward secrecy, and an audited no-logs policy.
What’s more, the VPN also has a dark web monitoring tool. This feature alerts you if your NordVPN login details have been compromised. Using the same login info on a private torrenting website, you can use NordVPN’s Dark Web Monitor to keep tabs on it.
NordVPN backs each purchase with a 30-day money-back guarantee, and it also accepts several payment methods, including credit and debit cards, PayPal, and cryptocurrencies.
Bottom Line:
NordVPN’s plans start at $2.99 / month, with a huge P2P server network and SOCKS5 support. The VPN has full leak protection and a data breach monitoring tool. It also has an ad blocker with malware protection, but you need to get the Plus subscription to use it — luckily, Plus prices start at $3.89 / month, which is still affordable. All purchases come with a 30-day refund.
4. Surfshark — Good P2P VPN for Beginners
Surfshark starts at only $1.99 / month, and it’s very user-friendly. It takes just 1–2 minutes to download and install its apps, and only a few seconds to connect to a server. And I really like how all features and settings come with helpful explanations. Plus, Surfshark allows unlimited connections, so you can use it to torrent on as many devices as you want.
Surfshark allows torrenting on all of its 3,200+ servers in 100 countries, which is great. That said, it’s a shame it’s missing additional P2P features like port forwarding and SOCKS5 support (Private Internet Access has both).
I had decent speeds when torrenting with Surfshark. It took me 17 minutes to download a 20 GB file on a local server, which is good, and around 30 minutes to download the file on a more distant server.
Surfshark has strong security features, including RAM-only servers, perfect forward secrecy, and DNS leak protection. I also like its IP Rotator feature, which regularly changes your VPN IP without interrupting the VPN connection — this makes it harder for users in the torrent swarm to track your VPN IP. Surfshark also has a solid ad blocker (CleanWeb) that blocks ads, trackers, and malicious sites.
Surfshark comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee and accepts credit and debit cards, PayPal, Google Pay, Amazon Pay, and different cryptocurrencies.
Bottom Line:
Surfshark is a beginner-friendly VPN that’s super cheap, with plans starting at just $1.99 / month. It comes with a large P2P server network, advanced security features, a VPN IP-rotating feature, decent download speeds, and unlimited connections. All plans are covered by a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Read the full Surfshark review
5. PrivateVPN — Low-Cost & User-Friendly
PrivateVPN has some of the cheapest plans on the market (starts at $2.00 / month), and it offers intuitive apps and decent speeds for torrenting.
PrivateVPN is very user-friendly, with interfaces to suit both beginners and advanced users. It has a simple and intuitive default interface — called the Simple View. However, there’s also an Advanced View option which lets experienced VPN users access additional configurations.
Torrenting is supported on 200+ servers in 60+ countries, which is good news. In addition, you get access to port forwarding and SOCKS5 proxy support (each VPN server doubles as a SOCKS5 proxy server).
The provider has strong security features for torrenting, including perfect forward secrecy and an app-based kill switch. That said, it’s a shame its no-logs policy hasn’t been audited, and it’s missing additional features that would be useful while torrenting, like split-tunneling or an ad blocker — if this is a deal-breaker, just get Private Internet Access instead.
In my speed tests, PrivateVPN performed pretty well. Downloading a 3 GB file while connected to a local server took me 6 minutes, and the same file took me 9 minutes to download while connected to a distant server.
PrivateVPN backs every purchase with a 30-day money-back guarantee. It accepts payments via credit card, PayPal, or Bitcoin
Bottom Line:
PrivateVPN is a good budget VPN for torrenting, with plans starting at just $2.00 / month. It allows torrenting on every server, includes port forwarding and SOCKS5 proxy support, has fast speeds, and comes with a user-friendly interface. However, it’s missing some of the additional security features that other VPNs offer, such as split tunneling and an ad blocker. It comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee on all plans.
Read the full PrivateVPN review
6. Proton VPN — Strong Privacy Features
Proton VPN is a highly secure and affordable VPN that’s great for torrenting — its plans start at $2.99 / month, which is pretty decent.
Proton VPN has great security features for torrenting — like perfect forward secrecy, full leak protection, and an ad, tracker, and malicious website blocker (called NetShield). All of its servers are also protected by full-disk encryption, which makes all data unreadable even if its servers were compromised.
The provider allows torrenting on P2P servers in 75+ countries, which is really good. I’m also happy to see that the VPN supports port forwarding. That said, if you also wanted SOCKS5 proxy support, it’s better to get Private Internet Access instead — it has both port forwarding and SOCKS5 proxy support, and it allows torrenting on all servers (which are located in 91 countries).
In my tests, Proton VPN had pretty good speeds for torrenting. It took me 8 minutes to download a 5 GB file using a local server, and 13 minutes to download the same file while connected to a distant server. Plus, Proton VPN has a unique VPN Accelerator feature (across all apps) that can increase your speeds.
Proton VPN has a free plan, but it doesn’t allow torrenting. It backs its paid plans with a prorated 30-day money-back guarantee and accepts credit and debit cards, PayPal, cryptocurrencies, and even cash.
Bottom Line:
Proton VPN’s plans start at $2.99 / month, and it provides strong privacy. It also comes with P2P servers in 75+ countries and extras like perfect forward secrecy, VPN Accelerator, and an ad blocker. It has a prorated 30-day refund.
Read the full Proton VPN review
7. IPVanish — Decent Affordable VPN for Torrenting
IPVanish’s prices start at $2.19 / month, and it has good P2P features. It allows torrenting on 2,400+ servers in 105 countries and provides access to multiple SOCKS5 proxy servers.
During my speed tests, I had decent results. Torrenting a 5 GB file while connected to a server in my country took just over 7 minutes, and the same file took 14 minutes while connected to a server in a distant location. Plus, it’s great that the VPN has split-tunneling, so that you can boost your P2P speeds.
IPVanish is pretty secure since it has perfect forward secrecy and comes with an audited no-logs policy. Also, I like how it provides access to a good ad blocker. But it’s still missing other advanced features like RAM-only servers and full leak protection, which Private Internet Access and NordVPN have.
IPVanish has a 30-day money-back guarantee (but only for the long-term plans), and it accepts credit cards and PayPal as payment, but not cryptocurrencies.
Bottom Line:
At just $2.19 / month, IPVanish is a good, cheap VPN for torrenting. It has good speeds, allows torrenting on all of its servers, and has a number of SOCKS5 proxy servers. However, it lacks some of the more advanced features that other VPNs offer. IPVanish has a 30-day money-back guarantee, but only for its long-term plans.
8. TunnelBear — Good Torrenting Capabilities & Strong Security
TunnelBear’s entry-level pricing starts at $3.33 / month, and the VPN boasts strong security features and torrenting capabilities. Not only does TunnelBear support torrenting on all of its servers in 47 countries, but I didn’t have any trouble downloading P2P files with any of the server locations I tried.
Security-wise, TunnelBear has annual independent security audits, ensuring the credibility of its no-logs policy. It has full leak protection, too, which not all VPNs can claim. Its VigilantBear feature blocks unsecured traffic when reconnecting, and its GhostBear mode makes your encrypted data less detectable to governments and ISPs. On the downside, it lacks RAM-only servers and a built-in ad blocker — there’s a free extension for a Chrome ad blocker. Private Internet Access (PIA) has both, including the best ad blocker out there.
For payments, TunnelBear accepts credit cards and Bitcoin, adding an extra layer of anonymity for those who prefer it. Note, however, that TunnelBear doesn’t offer a money-back guarantee, and it only considers refunds on a case-by-case basis. TunnelBear also offers a free plan that supports torrenting, but you only get 2 GB of data per month, which is only enough for downloading very small files.
Bottom Line:
At a budget-friendly rate starting at $3.33 / month, TunnelBear is an affordable option for torrenting. It delivers decent speeds, permits P2P on all its servers, and provides strong security features, including annual audits of its no-logs policy. I only wish it offered RAM-only servers and a money-back guarantee.
Read the full TunnelBear review
9. VyprVPN — Affordable VPN for Torrenting in Restrictive Countries
VyprVPN’s prices start at only $3.00 / month, which is really affordable. The provider also has great P2P support, as it allows torrenting across its entire server network, which consists of 700+ servers in 70+ countries. Its large server network helps the VPN provide fast P2P speeds — for example, in my tests, it took just 15 minutes to torrent a 21 GB file.
I also think this provider is good for torrenting in restrictive regions, as it works without issues in places like China and Russia. The provider achieves that via its proprietary Chameleon protocol, which provides obfuscation. Plus, the Chameleon protocol also regularly changes your VPN IP without dropping the VPN connection — this provides extra privacy while torrenting.
But I still think it’s a shame that the provider lacks additional P2P-related features, like port forwarding and SOCKS5 proxy support. If that’s an issue, just try Private Internet Access instead — it comes with both features, and it also works in restrictive countries without issues too.
In terms of payment, VyprVPN accepts credit/debit cards and PayPal. It also backs each purchase with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Bottom Line:
VyprVPN’s prices begin at only $3.00 / month, and the VPN allows P2P traffic on all of its servers. It also has a proprietary protocol that works without issues in restrictive regions, allowing for secure torrenting there. And the provider has a 30-day refund policy too.
10. Hotspot Shield — Torrent-Friendly With Fast Speeds
Starting at just $2.99 / month, Hotspot Shield is a budget-friendly VPN with very good torrenting capabilities and fast speeds. All of its servers in 85 countries support torrenting, which means you won’t have trouble finding a torrent server close to you. I was impressed with its download speeds, too — I was able to torrent a 49 GB file in about 25 minutes.
When it comes to connection speeds, Hotspot Shield is very fast on local and long-distance servers. In my tests, all video downloads were instant on nearby servers, and on servers far away, HD videos downloaded in about 2 seconds, and 4K videos in about 3 seconds. When you’re connected to Hotspot Shield’s proprietary Hydra protocol, speeds are even faster.
In terms of security, Hotspot Shield has perfect forward secrecy and full leak protection. Unfortunately, its no-logs policy hasn’t been independently audited, and it doesn’t offer port forwarding or SOCKS5 proxy support. If this is an issue, I recommend getting Private Internet Access, as its no-logs policy has been audited, and it also has port forwarding and SOCKS5 support.
Payment options for Hotspot Shield include credit cards, PayPal, and other online platforms. Plus, the 45-day money-back guarantee is one of the more generous policies out there.
Bottom Line:
Starting at a low price of $2.99 / month, Hotspot Shield is a good choice. It had super fast speeds, especially when torrenting. While it offers advanced security features like full leak protection, an independent audit would add an extra layer of trust. The 45-day money-back guarantee is a nice perk, making it low-risk to try out.
Read the full Hotspot Shield review
Quick Comparison Table
Editors' Note: Intego, Private Internet Access, CyberGhost and ExpressVPN are owned by Kape Technologies, our parent company
Testing Methodology: Comparison & Ranking Criteria
I used our proven testing methodology to find and rank the VPNs on my list. In addition to looking at providers’ prices, I also put each vendor through a series of tests to make sure they provide a good torrenting experience. Here’s a quick look at the exact ranking criteria I used:
- I only recommended VPNs that are cheap. I checked what savings you get with each provider’s long-term plans, as those plans offer the best savings. I made sure to only include providers whose pricing starts at under $5 per month.
- I only picked VPNs with good P2P support. All the VPNs I recommend allow P2P downloads on all of their servers, or on a large number of dedicated P2P servers. What’s more, some of my top picks also come with extra torrenting features that boost your speeds, like port forwarding and SOCKS5 proxy support (Private Internet Access has both).
- I made sure to only rank VPNs that are secure. Security and privacy is important while torrenting, so I only added VPNs to my list that have all essential security and privacy features. This includes 256-bit AES encryption, a kill switch to prevent traffic leaks, and a no-logs policy. I also ran leak tests before torrenting with each VPN to make sure they’re all safe to use.
- I only picked VPNs that provide fast P2P speeds. When you use a VPN while torrenting, your original download speeds will take a hit. This is due to the added layer of encryption, and also due to the distance between you and the VPN server. But I ran speed tests while torrenting with each of the VPNs on my list, and I can personally confirm they’re all really fast.
- I only included intuitive VPNs on my list. I made sure to only add vendors that have apps for all major platforms that are simple to install. In addition, I made sure their apps are very easy to navigate, so that you don’t need to spend more than 10 seconds finding and connecting to a server to start downloading torrents.
- I prioritized VPNs that provide good value. I ensured the providers on my list also provide access to other perks (like great streaming and gaming support, and useful extra security features) in case you want to use them for other online activities. Also, most of the VPNs on my list come with a generous money-back guarantee.
Top Brands That Didn’t Make the Cut
- ExpressVPN. ExpressVPN is the best P2P VPN on the market, as it allows torrenting on all servers, it has super-fast download speeds, and it’s extremely secure. However, its prices aren’t ideal for users on a tight budget.
- hide.me. hide.me offers excellent security features like full leak protection and perfect forward secrecy. It also has very fast speeds and supports torrenting on all its servers. However, it’s more on the pricey side.
- Astrill. Astrill has great security features like port forwarding, fast speeds, and good torrenting support, but it’s way too expensive for anyone looking for a cheap plan.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the cheapest VPN for torrenting?
I recommend Private Internet Access — it’s very affordable, with prices starting as low as $2.03 / month. Plus, it has a 30-day refund policy. Also, it has excellent P2P support since it allows torrenting on servers in 91 countries, and it comes with port forwarding and SOCKS5 proxy support (both features improve torrenting speeds). What’s more, the provider is very fast, and it provides excellent security and privacy for torrenting.
Do free VPNs work for torrenting?
I don’t recommend using free VPNs for torrenting. Some free VPNs don’t allow P2P file sharing at all, but the ones that do tend to give you slow speeds, data usage limitations, and/or access to a limited number of servers, increasing the likelihood of overcrowding.
Free VPNs also often come with a number of privacy and security concerns. The provider may keep logs, leak your IP address, or fail to include essential security features like a kill switch. This will compromise your online anonymity and safety. Finally, some free VPNs may even collect and sell your data to advertisers.
I strongly suggest using a paid VPN instead. The best premium VPNs all offer affordable plans and will give you faster speeds as well as complete peace of mind regarding your online security.
Can I get caught torrenting with a VPN?
No — it’s highly unlikely that a third-party will know that you’re torrenting if you’re using a good VPN. VPNs encrypt all of your internet traffic, hiding your online activity from others. And a good VPN provider will have a no-logs policy, which means that they will keep no records of what you’re doing while connected to their servers.
All of the VPNs I’ve recommended above include important security features that will keep your activity completely private, such as a kill switch, which disconnects your devices from the internet if your VPN connection is interrupted, and IPv6, DNS, and/or WebRTC leak protection. All of this helps maintain your online privacy and safety.
Is a VPN recommended for torrenting?
Yes. What you do online should be nobody’s business but your own. And if you don’t use a VPN while torrenting, it’s easy for your ISP, or anyone else, to see what you’re downloading. This can be disconcerting even if you’re only using torrents to download legal content. Plus, if they detect that you’re torrenting, some ISPs may also respond by throttling your torrent downloads, resulting in drastically reduced speeds.
If you’re looking for a good and affordable torrenting VPN, try Private Internet Access since its plans start as low as $2.03 / month. Also, it provides a 30-day refund, and it allows torrenting on servers in 91 countries, it has SOCKS5 proxy support and port forwarding (to boost P2P speeds), it’s very fast, and it provides strong security and privacy for torrenting.
What’s the best way to save money when getting a VPN for torrenting?
The best way to do this is to get the VPN provider’s longest plan, as it usually provides the best savings. For example, with Private Internet Access’s longest plan, you only pay $2.03 / month, which is super affordable. Plus most top VPNs also have a generous money-back guarantee to ensure your purchase is risk-free — for example, Private Internet Access has a 30-day refund.
