Updated on: April 24, 2024
Short on time? Here’s the best cheap VPN for torrenting in 2024:
- 🥇 ExpressVPN: Excellent security, lightning-fast speeds, supports torrenting on all of its servers, and has a strict (independently audited) no-logs policy. While it’s not as cheap as the other brands on this list, ExpressVPN provides the best torrenting experience and best overall value.
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. ExpressVPN is my favorite — it’s not the cheapest on the list, but it provides excellent value, has a risk-free 30-day money-back guarantee, and offers the best torrenting support on the market.
Start Torrenting With ExpressVPN Now
Quick summary of the best cheap VPNs for torrenting:
- 1.🥇ExpressVPN — Best overall VPN for torrenting in 2024 with blazing-fast download speeds on all servers.
- 2.🥈Private Internet Access — Great security & privacy features for P2P traffic + extra features for torrenting.
- 3.🥉CyberGhost VPN — Large P2P-optimized server network + great automation settings for torrenting.
- 4. NordVPN — Highly secure VPN for all P2P activities with very fast torrenting speeds.
- 5. Surfshark — Beginner-friendly VPN for torrenting (really good choice for new VPN users).
- Plus 5 more!
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.
🥇1. ExpressVPN — Best VPN for Torrenting (+ Best VPN Overall)
ExpressVPN isn’t the cheapest option on this list (prices start at $6.67 / month), but it’s my favorite — it provides the best overall torrenting experience, and it’s a great value for money. ExpressVPN is also our top overall VPN in 2024, and for good reason. It has excellent security features, the fastest speeds on the market, a huge server network, and top-notch streaming support.
ExpressVPN allows users to torrent on all of its 3,000+ servers across 105 countries, giving you a lot of options for fast and nearby server connections. It also comes with port forwarding (which lets you connect to more peers) on its router app, and it supports split-tunneling so you can torrent safely without slowing down your other online activities.
ExpressVPN also comes with high-end security features:
- Perfect forward secrecy — Generates a unique encryption key for each VPN session for extra security.
- RAM-only servers — All data is deleted whenever the server is restarted or unpowered.
- Full leak protection — All of the provider’s apps come with protection against IPv6, DNS, and WebRTC leaks. I ran 10+ leak tests before I started torrenting with this provider, and I never experienced any leaks.
There’s Threat Manager, which blocks malicious websites (like shady P2P sites) and trackers, although there’s no ad blocker. ExpressVPN also has an air-tight no-logs policy that has undergone multiple independent audits and been proven in court to boot.
ExpressVPN is also one of the fastest VPNs around. A 5 GB file took me just over 7 minutes to download while connected to a local server, and 12 minutes to download while connected to a distant server.
ExpressVPN has a 30-day money-back guarantee and accepts payment by credit card, PayPal, Bitcoin, and Paymentwall.
Bottom Line:
ExpressVPN is the best VPN in 2024, and it’s my favorite VPN for torrenting. While it’s not the cheapest VPN on this list, it’s well worth its price. For $6.67 / month, you get top-of-the-line security and privacy features, ultra-fast speeds, access to over 3,000 torrent-friendly servers, and protection from shady torrenting websites. It also has a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can try it out totally risk-free.
Read the full ExpressVPN review
🥈2. Private Internet Access (PIA) — Excellent Security + Convenient Features for Torrenting
Private Internet Access (PIA) offers the best combination of high value and low cost of all the VPNs on this list. It’s extremely secure, maintains very fast speeds, allows torrenting on all of its servers — which are spread across 91 countries — and has excellent customization capabilities. You also get unlimited simultaneous device connections, all for just $2.03 / month.
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, as it’s open source and therefore completely transparent. Plus, it has RAM-only servers and utilizes perfect forward secrecy. PIA’s strict zero-logs policy has also been proven multiple times in court, and it has passed an independent audit (just like ExpressVPN).
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 one of the best and cheapest torrenting VPNs 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
🥉3. CyberGhost VPN — Great Automation & Large P2P Server Network
CyberGhost VPN has cheap plans starting at $2.03 / month and a huge P2P server network numbering servers in 75+ 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, which is on a par with ExpressVPN and Private Internet Access.
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.
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 $2.03 / 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
4. NordVPN — Strong Security & Fast P2P Speeds
NordVPN has budget-friendly plans starting at $3.09 / month, and it offers strong security features to protect you while torrenting, including full leak protection, RAM-only servers, and perfect forward secrecy. It also has Threat Protection, which gets rid of ads, blocks malicious sites, and protects you from malware-infected P2P downloads.
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.
NordVPN also has great download speeds on both nearby and local servers. It only took 12–13 minutes to download a 20 GB file on nearby servers, which is impressive, and around 20 minutes to download that same file on distant servers. Split-tunneling is also available, so you can use it to further increase your P2P speeds.
NordVPN has 4,500+ P2P servers in 45+ countries. I think the size of the network is enough for most people, but I still think ExpressVPN, Private Internet Access, and CyberGhost VPN have better P2P server networks because they allow torrenting on servers in more countries. On the plus side, the provider has SOCKS5 support, which is a great P2P feature.
The provider is also easy to use — the interface is really intuitive, so it doesn’t take more than 4 seconds to find and connect to a P2P server.
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 $3.09 / month, and it provides really good security, including full leak protection, RAM-only servers, and a feature that blocks ads, shady sites, and malware. It also has 4,500+ P2P servers in 45+ countries, fast download speeds, and easy-to-use apps. There’s a 30-day money-back guarantee for all purchases.
5. Surfshark — Good P2P VPN for Beginners
Surfshark starts at only $2.29 / 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 (like ExpressVPN and Private Internet Access) and SOCKS5 support.
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. However, I would like to see the VPN add WebRTC and IPv6 leak protection too — ExpressVPN and Private Internet Access both have full leak protection. On the plus side, 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 $2.29 / month. It comes with a large P2P server network, advanced security features, a good ad blocker (Clean Web), decent download speeds, and unlimited connections. All plans are covered by a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Read the full Surfshark review
6. 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. That said, ExpressVPN and Private Internet Access allow torrenting on servers in more countries. On the plus side, PrivateVPN also comes with port forwarding.
The provider has strong security features for torrenting, including perfect forward secrecy and an app-based kill switch. That said, it’s a shame it’s missing other advanced features, such as RAM-only servers and full leak protection. It’s also missing other extras, like an ad blocker and split-tunneling.
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, 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
7. Proton VPN — Strong Privacy Features
Proton VPN is a highly secure and affordable VPN that’s great for torrenting — its plans start at $4.99 / 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 only allows torrenting on 300+ P2P servers in 15+ countries, which is a much smaller P2P server network than what ExpressVPN, Private Internet Access, and CyberGhost VPN provide. That said, I’m happy to see that the VPN supports port forwarding.
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 $4.99 / month, and it provides strong privacy. It also comes with 300+ P2P servers in 15+ 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
8. IPVanish — Decent Affordable VPN for Torrenting
IPVanish’s prices start at $3.25 / month, and it has good P2P features. It allows torrenting on 2,000+ servers in 50+ 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.
IPVanish is pretty secure since it has perfect forward secrecy and comes with an audited no-logs policy, but it’s still missing other advanced features like RAM-only servers and full leak protection, which ExpressVPN and Private Internet Access have. That, and it also lacks other security features, like an ad blocker. However, its yearly plans do come with a free subscription to VIPRE antivirus software (for PCs and Macs), which is a good product and a nice added bonus.
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 $3.25 / 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.
9. 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. That being said, ExpressVPN allows torrenting on all of its servers in 105 countries.
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
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. That said, ExpressVPN is still the fastest VPN on the market.
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, which would keep you safer from hackers on torrent networks.
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
Comparison of the Best Cheap VPNs for Torrenting in 2024
How to Choose the Best Cheap VPN for Torrenting in 2024
- Ensure the VPN supports P2P connections. Some VPNs limit or entirely block peer-to-peer file sharing, causing sluggish connections. Ideally, choose a VPN like ExpressVPN that permits unrestricted torrenting or one like CyberGhost VPN with dedicated servers optimized for P2P sharing.
- Get a VPN with fast speeds. To ensure fast download and upload speeds, you need to choose a VPN that you know will be able to maintain fast speeds. All of the VPNs on this list have been thoroughly tested, and while some slowdown is always to be expected, the VPNs I’ve recommended all have a good range of servers capable of maintaining fast speeds for easy torrenting.
- Opt for a VPN with great security. Every VPN I suggest is equipped with top-notch security features that are guaranteed to safeguard your privacy and security during P2P file sharing. These features include 256-bit AES encryption, secure protocols such as WireGuard, OpenVPN, and IKEv2/IPSec, a kill switch, protection against IP leaks, and a rigorous no-logs policy.
- Select a VPN that offers excellent value. I recommend getting a VPN that’s not only budget-friendly, but has bonus features that are good for torrenting, such as SOCKS5 proxy servers and port forwarding. All of the VPNs on my list have split-tunneling as well and most offer money-back guarantees on all plans.
Top Brands That Didn’t Make the Cut
- Windscribe. Windscribe is a decent VPN with affordable prices, but its total server count is unknown, and it doesn’t support torrenting on all servers. It also only offers a 3-day money-back guarantee, and its no-logs policy hasn’t been independently verified.
- 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
Which VPN is best for torrenting?
I recommend ExpressVPN as the best torrenting VPN in 2024. It has ultra-fast speeds, allows P2P file sharing on all 3,000+ of its servers, provides a wide range of useful extra features, and comes with top-tier security features such as RAM-only servers, full leak protection, and a proven zero-logs policy.
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 torrenting VPN, you can’t go wrong with ExpressVPN, which allows torrenting on all of its 3,000+ servers and has some of the fastest speeds on the market. If you’re on a tighter budget, Private Internet Access (PIA) is a great low-cost alternative. Both offer 30-day money-back guarantees, so you can try them out risk-free.
