Best Free VPN for Torrenting – Top10VPN
Our top-rated free VPNs for torrenting hide your torrent IP address to ensure anonymous P2P file-sharing.
You should always use a VPN to protect your IP address when torrenting, but you don’t have to spend money on one.
We’ve put dozens of free VPNs through our torrenting benchmark tests to verify how well they actually perform at P2P file sharing.
Based on our specific P2P tests, the best 100% free VPNs for torrenting are:
Windscribe Free: The overall best free VPN for torrenting.
Read summary or Visit Windscribe
Free: A free P2P VPN with a 10GB monthly data cap.
Read summary or Visit
Avira Phantom Free: The fastest free VPN for torrenting.
Read summary or Visit Avira VPN
Hotspot Shield Free: A free VPN for torrenting with 500MB of data per day. Read summary or Visit Hotspot Shield
TunnelBear Free: A beginner-friendly free VPN that allows torrenting. Read summary or Visit TunnelBear
When you torrent, your IP address is publicly visible, and your ISP, copyright trolls and third parties can determine your identity. Every VPN we recommend on this page will stop this from happening.
None of the free VPNs we recommend ask for payment details, either, so you won’t be charged for the service. The trade-off is you won’t get fast speeds, unlimited data, and unrestricted P2P traffic for free.
The Best Free Torrenting VPNs Compared
The table below compares the top free VPNs for torrenting side by side, based on their logging policy, average speed, data cap, and more.
The Top Free VPNs for Torrenting: Performance Ratings
Here’s a quick table summarising how the best free VPNs for torrenting perform in six P2P testing categories:
EXPERT TIP: Use our torrent IP leak test tool to check for VPN leaks that could compromise your anonymity, including from your torrent client. Our tool also works with IPv6 connections.
The 5 Best Free VPNs for Torrenting & P2P in 2021Kill switch, DNS leak protection and 10GB monthly data #1 Free Torrenting VPNProsTorrenting allowed on most serversNo speed throttlingReliable P2P speedsVPN kill switch & DNS leak protectionMinimal logging policyNo payment info required on signupCons10GB monthly data capNo human live chatFree VPN for Torrenting Rating: 7. 9/10This rating is calculated using the following subcategory ratings. To learn more, read our testing methodology. P2P Speed: 6. 46. 4/10Data Cap: 88. 0/10Encryption & Security: 8. 98. 9/10Logging Policy: 9. 59. 5/10P2P Servers: 8. 18. 1/10
Windscribe is our top-rated free VPN and the best free VPN for torrenting on PC and Mac.
Its free VPN apps are fully encrypted, use OpenVPN, AES-256 encryption, and have a VPN kill switch to hide your IP if you lose connection.
Altogether, this makes Windscribe the best free VPN for uTorrent, BitTorrent, and other popular P2P clients.
Technically you can run it on as many devices as you want, but you’ll quickly run through the data allowance if you do.
Average P2P Bitrate6. 4MiB/sData Cap10GBData LeaksNoJurisdictionCanada (Five-Eyes Member)Countries10Compatible withWindowsiOSMacOSAndroidLinuxTrustworthy P2P servers and a good logging policyWindscribe allows torrenting and P2P traffic on almost all its free VPN servers.
Moreover, it recorded great torrent speeds in our latest round of testing, making it ideal for fast P2P activity.
It has a very good logging policy, too. It only keeps logs which cannot be used to identify you or your activity. It’s Canada jurisdiction isn’t ideal, though.
Port forwarding isn’t offered on the free service. Generally speaking, this means you won’t be able to seed torrents, only download them.
Good speeds and data allowanceWindscribe offers 10GB of free data a month which isn’t a huge amount, but it’s more than most free VPNs give you. Only Hotspot Shield allows more.
10GB should be enough to download a few movies, a season of a TV show, many or music files.
The VPN’s P2P speed are rather fast, too. We recorded an average bitrate of 6. 4MiB/s in our tests, compared to 10. 1MiB/s without the VPN running (a 36. 6% speed drop).
Paid VPNs generally reach much faster download speeds, but this is the second best result we’ve seen from a free VPN (second only to Avira Phantom Free).
Useful online resources but poor automated supportWindscribe Free doesn’t have human live chat support. You have to interact with an unhelpful chat bot, or send an email to customer support.
At least there are useful online resources available on Windscribe’s website.
DNS & IPv6 leak protection and 10GB data usage per osP2P allowed on three of five free serversDNS & IPv6 leak protectionMinimal loggingNo payment details required on signupCons10GB monthly data capOnly five VPN server locationsKill switch can be unreliableSlow P2P speedsFree VPN for Torrenting Rating: 7. 2/10This rating is calculated using the following subcategory ratings. P2P Speed: 4. 54. 5/10Data Cap: 88. 58. 5/10Logging Policy: 9. 89. 8/10P2P Servers: 6. 56. 5/10The free version of is a reliable VPN service for torrenting with the same amount of data as Windscribe, but which doesn’t perform as well. Average P2P Bitrate4. 5MiB/sData Cap10GBData LeaksNoJurisdictionMalaysia (Privacy Haven)Countries4Compatible withWindowsiOSMacOSAndroidLinuxSafe and private maintains a privacy-friendly logging policy and comes with security extras such as a VPN kill switch to keep you safe while torrenting.
All ’s custom VPN apps are encrypted with the ‘unbreakable’ AES-256 and use the most secure VPN connection protocol, OpenVPN.
You can use ’s free apps on all popular platforms, such as Windows, MacOS, iOS, and Android, and you can even install it on your router, which is rare for a free VPN service.
Private jurisdiction and logging has a really strong jurisdiction: Malaysia. We consider Malaysia to be a privacy haven, and one of the safest places in the world to use a VPN.
It does keep temporary logs of your email address and amount of data used, but these are deleted every few hours. Your IP address and activity are not monitored or logged.
Generous data allowence but poor ’s 10GB of data is generous for a free VPN. If you want to transfer small amounts of data and are based near it’s P2P servers in the Netherlands, Canada, or Singapore, is a good choice for torrenting.
It’s performance isn’t very strong, though. We found a speed drop of 55. 5% in our torrenting benchmark test – the slowest result we’ve seen. (We do carry our tests out from London, though, not especially near to any P2P servers).
You can’t port forward, either, so won’t be able to seed torrents.
The fastest free VPN for P2P activity with 1GB monthly data osP2P allowed on all serversVery fast for torrentingMinimal logging policyNo payment info required on signupConsLow 1GB monthly data capNo kill switchFree VPN for Torrenting Rating: 7. 1/10This rating is calculated using the following subcategory ratings. P2P Speed: 9. 69. 6/10Data Cap: 44. 0/10Encryption & Security: 6. 96. 9/10Logging Policy: 99. 0/10P2P Servers: 4. 84. 8/10
Avira Phantom Free is a very fast free VPN for torrenting, especially if you’ve used up the data allowance of the VPNs we recommend above. Its data cap is quite limiting, though.
Avira offers VPN apps for iOS, Android, Windows and macOS, all of which use industry standard OpenVPN and AES-256 encryption.
Average P2P Bitrate9. 6MiB/sData Cap1GBData LeaksNoJurisdictionGermany (14-Eyes Member)Countries38Compatible withWindowsiOSMacOSAndroidPrivacy-first logging policyAvira’s logging policy is one of the most private we’ve seen from an antivirus company. In fact, it’s far more private than McAfee, AVG or Norton’s policies.
Even better, the free VPN never leaked our IP or DNS address in our latest leak tests.
It’s German jurisdiction is less positive, though. Germany is part of the Five Eyes data sharing alliance, and one of the most privacy hostile countries in Europe.
The fastest free torrenting VPN we’ve testedOur Avira Phantom review shows that, despite general poor speed results, the VPN was by far the fastest free VPN for torrenting.
We measured an average bitrate of 9. 6MiB/s, which was only 5% slower than torrenting without the VPN running.
The above result is excellent, and not just for a free VPN. It puts Avira Free among the fastest VPNs we’ve tested, including premium VPNs.
It’s possible to get more than 1GB dataThe problem with Avira Free VPN is that you don’t get much data with it – only 1GB. The only safe free VPN which offers less is TunnelBear.
You may be able to download one or two medium-sized files a month with 1GB allowance, but it’s not enough for a regular P2P user.
However, we discovered that the app gives you 300 seconds after passing this limit before it cuts off.
On a normal connection (ours is 100Mbps), you may get away with doubling your data in this time (depending on the health of the torrent).
On a very fast connection, you can use this ‘trick’ to download some very large files.
No VPN kill switchSadly, the apps don’t have a kill switch, nor do they allow port forwarding, both important features for a torrenting VPN.
A kill switch in particular makes sure your IP address is never exposed, even if the VPN fails.
Without port forwarding, it’s almost possible to seed torrents.
The lack of these features, especially the kill switch, holds Avira Phantom Free back.
Free VPN with a large data limit (up to 15GB per month)ProsGenerous data allowenceSecure & reliable appsNo card details at sign-upWindows kill switchConsDaily data cap prevents large downloadsPoor P2P speedsUnnecessary loggingNo kill switch on iOS, MacOS, or AndroidFree VPN for Torrenting Rating: 6. P2P Speed: 5. 35. 3/10Data Cap: 66. 9/10Logging Policy: 6. 26. 2/10P2P Servers: 6. 86. 8/10
Hotspot Shield is a fast free VPN with a generous data allowance. Users should be aware of it’s dubious privacy policy, though.
It uses reliable AES-256 encryption, but has opted for its proprietary Hydra VPN protocol instead of industry standards like OpenVPN or WireGuard. This isn’t necessarily an issue, but you should know it hasn’t been as widely tested.
Average P2P Bitrate5. 3MiB/sData Cap500MB per dayData LeaksNoJurisdictionUS (Five-Eyes Member)Countries80Compatible withWindowsiOSMacOSAndroidLinuxWindows kill switch and no leaksWe also didn’t find any IP or DNS leaks in our tests, which means you can be sure you’re torrenting anonymously.
There’s a kill switch available on Windows, too, but not the other platforms – so we recommend avoiding torrenting with this VPN on iOS, Android, or MacOS. Port forwarding also isn’t enabled on any platform, which will prevent you from seeding.
Logs more than is necessaryHotspot Shield has only recently started allowing P2P traffic on its free VPN, which means it’s not had long to prove itself trustworthy for torrenting.
There are also some issues with its logging policy. It collects your IP address, your approximate location, connection timestamps, records of bandwidth, device information and an aggregated log of websites visited. Some of this information is just held for the duration of your connection, but it still goes beyond what we’re comfortable with, especially for torrenting.
We don’t like that it’s based in the US, either, given its history of spying on its own citizens.
Unusual but generous data policyMost free VPNs give you a monthly data cap, but Hotspot Shield uses a daily cap. This means you can get a maximum of around 60GB of data per month – which is huge – but you can’t download any files greater than 500MB in one go.
Many torrent files, especially film and TV, are bigger than 500MB, but if you want to download small files throughout the month, Hotspot Shield offers more than enough data. This will work especially well for users who want to download PDFs or music.
Disappointing speedsSince Hotspot Shield is the fastest VPN for normal traffic, we expected it to perform really well when downloading files. Clearly, however, it isn’t optimised for P2P.
We found a download speed drop of 47. 5% when torrenting with Hotspot Shield. This is right in the middle of the spectrum for free VPNs, and less than we would expect from a provider that sells itself on speed.
Easy to use free P2P VPN with 500MB monthly data osVPN kill switchIP & DNS leak protectionGenerous free server networkNo activity logsNo payment info necessaryCons500MB monthly data capP2P servers are hard to findFree VPN for Torrenting Rating: 5. 6/10This rating is calculated using the following subcategory ratings. 15. 1/10Data Cap: 22. 0/10Encryption & Security: 7. 47. 4/10Logging Policy: 9. 5/10P2P Servers: 6. 4/10
TunnelBear is a beginner-friendly VPN which works well for torrenting. It’s safe and secure with AES-256 encryption, but the tiny 500MB data cap of this free version holds it back.
Unlike other free VPNs, the only difference between this and the paid service is the data cap. So you’ll be getting a premium service for free, with the same speeds, server network and features.
Average P2P Bitrate5. 1MiB/sData Cap500MBData LeaksNoJurisdictionCanada (Five-Eyes Member)Countries41Compatible withWindowsiOSMacOSAndroidLinuxMinimal logs and a kill switchTunnelBear has a VPN kill switch to keep your IP location hidden at all times. While it isn’t a no-logs VPN, it only collects anonymous server usage data, so it won’t collect your web activity logs.
It’s Canada jurisdiction isn’t at all good for privacy (it’s the same as Windscribe) but is probably preferable to the US.
Tiny data allowence and slow torrentingLike Windscribe and, TunnelBear enforces a data usage cap, but it’s even lower at only 500MB per month. That’s not a lot for torrenting at all. You might be able to download a decent number of PDFs, but if you want to download music or video files it won’t last long at all.
Like most of the free VPNs here, TunnelBear will slow your torrents down quite a lot. We had a speed drop of 50% when torrenting with it. Both Windscribe Free and Avira Phantom Free performed much better than this.
Confusing server selectionTunnelBear goes out of its way to avoid mentioning torrenting. This would be fine if every server worked for P2P, but they don’t, and aren’t labeled. We had to try several different locations until we eventually found that Germany was the closest server location that allows torrenting.
There are certainly a lot of servers on offer, with 23 country locations and good coverage over Europe especially, but you’ll have to look around to find one for torrenting.
Beginner friendly apps for popular devicesTunnelBear has user-friendly OpenVPN apps for Windows, iOS, MacOS and Android (IKEv2 is also available for iOS and Windows). They’re all nicely laid out and approachable, if a bit basic.
As an entry level VPN it isn’t too surprising that TunnelBear doesn’t allow port forwarding, but this means you can’t seed with this service.
Testing MethodologyIn order to find the best free VPN for torrenting, we assess every VPN by the same criteria.
We test every VPN using qBittorrent, the safest client we’ve tested, to ensure a fair comparison.
The ideal free torrenting VPN is:
Free, and does not ask for payment information on sign-up.
Protects your internet traffic with OpenVPN and AES-256 encryption.
Hides your IP address and mask your real location.
Protects against IP, DNS, and WebRTC leaks.
Includes a VPN kill switch.
Provides fast speeds and unlimited bandwidth.
Has a choice of nearby P2P servers.
Here’s a breakdown of how we calculate our ratings for free torrenting VPNs:
1. P2P Speed: 30%
Minimum Requirement: An average bitrate over 5MiB/s
We Recommend: An average bitrate of 6. 5MiB/s or better
Free VPNs can often be slow, especially for torrenting. A fast VPN can be the difference between waiting minutes or hours for a torrent to download.
We use a bespoke P2P benchmarking test to identify the fastest free VPNs for torrenting. We use this test to determine the average bitrate of each VPN when actually torrenting.
The P2P speed test is set up as follows:
Set up a private torrent tracker for a 1GB data file
Host a torrent client on a local server with a fixed connection speed to seed to torrent
Configure the client not to use DHT or otherwise communicate with any other peers
While running a VPN, torrent the file on a 100Mbps connection
Measure the duration of the 1GB download in order to determine average bitrate
We’ve run this test on every free VPN covered here. If you want to see how every torrenting VPN performed, look at our paid VPN torrenting test results.
2. Data Cap: 25%
Minimum Requirement: 500MB per month
We Recommend: 10GB per month or more
Data has a massive effect on how feasible it is to torrent with a free VPN.
Music files are often over 250MB and video files can be over 1GB. This means many free VPNs are only good for one or two downloads a month.
Some free VPNs, which we rate well for their data caps in other contexts, do less well here. This is the case when they have a daily bandwidth cap.
Since torrent files often exceed their low daily caps, these VPNs are less useful than alternatives with monthly caps.
3. Encryption & Security: 10%
Minimum Requirement: P2P support, leak protection, and a VPN kill switch
We Recommend: AES-256 encryption, multiple available protocols, leak protection and a VPN kill switch using firewall rules
A securely encrypted VPN keeps you hidden from malicious third-parties when you torrent. It also stops your ISP from seeing that you are torrenting (and potentially throttling your connection).
A kill switch is a must-have for torrenting. Without one your true IP address could easily be exposed to other users and copyright trolls.
The gold standard for kill switches is to use firewall rules to ensure leaks cannot possibly occur.
4. Logging Policy: 20%
Minimum Requirement: A clear privacy policy with only anonymized connection logs.
We Recommend: A strict zero-logs policy with absolutely no activity or connection logs.
Some VPN providers keep activity logs of their users’ activity. This fundamentally undermines the privacy of the service. In the case of torrenting, it’s especially important the VPN providers cannot forward DMCA requests to users.
Unfortunately, free VPNs are especially guilty of bad privacy practices.
We analyse the records and policies of free VPNs to make sure they are safe before we recommend them.
5. P2P Servers: 15%
Minimum Requirement: At least one P2P server in your region
We Recommend: P2P servers in your country
Some torrenting VPNs allow P2P traffic on their whole network, while others restrict it to special P2P servers.
This means you can end up on a very slow, long distance connection even if your VPN has a large network. Free VPNs are often guilty of this. Longer distance connections will be far too slow for comfortable torrenting and too few P2P servers will result in bottlenecks.
Ideally, you want multiple P2P server choices in your country, but as a bare minimum you need to connect to a server in your region.
What’s the Fastest Free VPN for Torrenting? Using our P2P methodology, we’ve tested the most popular free torrenting VPNs to find out which is the fastest.
Here are the results:
VPN Service
Average Bitrate
No VPN
10. 1MiB/s
Avira Phantom Free
9. 6MiB/s
Free
4. 5MiB/s
Hotspot Shield Free
5. 3MiB/s
TunnelBear Free
5. 1MiB/s
Windscribe Free
6. 4MiB/s
Why You Need a VPN for TorrentingTorrenting without a VPN is really risky. You risk exposing your activity and identity to your ISP, copyright trolls, and other torrenters.
When you torrent you connect directly to other users, rather than to a central server. This means they can see your public IP address.
But if you connect using a VPN, the IP address that other users see will be one associated with the VPN server you are connecting to, not your home network.
A secure VPN therefore allows you to download and upload torrents anonymously, stopping your ISP from seeing your torrenting activity. This is also good because some ISPs throttle your P2P traffic.
Read our article on the best VPNs for torrenting for more details on why you need a VPN for torrenting.
How to Use a Free VPN for TorrentingTorrenting with a free VPN is really easy. Start your VPN before opening any torrents, and fully exit your torrent client before disconnecting from the VPN.
Here is a step-by-step guide on how to torrent with a free VPN:
Find a trustworthy free VPN which allows P2P traffic.
Download a torrent client like qBittorent, uTorrent, Deluge, etc.
Use a torrenting leak test to make sure you are anonymous.
Make sure your VPN kill switch is on.
Connect to a nearby VPN server.
Open a magnet or torrent file with your torrent client.
Once the torrent has finished – and you’re done seeding – exit your torrent client before disconnecting from your VPN.
Disconnect from the VPN.
We also recommend reading our guide to safe torrenting before you start.
Free VPNs You Shouldn’t Use for TorrentingNot all free VPN services are safe for torrenting. Below are examples of free VPNs you should not torrent with.
There are many more free VPNs, particularly on the Google Play and iOS App stores, you should stay away from.
Hola Free VPN
Hola Free VPN claims to be a ‘VPN service, ’ but it is in fact an insecure peer-to-peer proxy network that doesn’t provide any encryption whatsoever.
Hola is no good for torrenting as it monitors absolutely everything you do online, including all the websites you visit, and has even been known to sell user bandwidth without consent.
Sadly, it’s one of the most popular free VPN services out there, but we advise you to avoid Hola at all costs.
VPN Proxy Master
VPN Proxy Master is an incredibly unsafe free VPN for torrenting as the company has a sketchy history of sending confidential user information across to China.
Not only this, but your IP address is collected and stored for an indefinite amount of time, plus there’s no way of telling how VPN Proxy Master is encrypted.
The apps are full of pop-up ads, too – VPN Proxy Master is definitely a free VPN to stay away from.
Thunder VPN
Thunder VPN is another one of the worst free VPN services you could possibly use for torrenting.
Not to mention it’s only available on Android, Thunder VPN uses an insecure connection protocol, lacks any security features whatsoever. When we asked for extra information about its security and encryption, we were ignored.
ThunderVPN also claims to be no-logs but actually collects a ton of information, such as your IP address, ISP, server location, and loads more.
Free VPNs Which Don’t Allow P2P
In addition to dangerous free VPNs, many free VPNs simply don’t allow P2P traffic on their networks.
This is because P2P traffic can take up a lot of bandwidth, and be difficult to accommodate without slowing down other users.
Examples of free VPNs you can’t use for torrenting include:
ProtonVPN Free
ZoogVPN
X-VPN Free
FAQWhat’s the Best Free VPN for Torrenting? Currently, the best free VPN for torrenting is Windscribe. It provides the best all-round P2P experience without major compromises. It’s fast, secure, and hides your torrent IP address.
The main downside of Windscribe’s free service is its 10GB monthly data cap. But, it is more than what most free VPNs allow, especially those that allow torrenting.
Only Hotspot Shield can get you more data over the month (500MB per day). However, the daily cap means you can’t download or upload large files.
Are Free VPNs Safe for Torrenting? You need a VPN (free or paid) to hide your IP while you torrent – there’s no point in using a VPN that can’t do this.
Also, you need to use a safe VPN you can trust to not take advantage of the privileged access to your device.
To keep yourself as safe as possible while torrenting, make sure to choose a free VPN with:
A strong encryption cipher (preferably AES-256)
Secure VPN connection protocols (OpenVPN is our favorite)
A no-logs (or minimal) logging policy
A working VPN kill switch
No IP address or DNS leaks
You also need to make sure your free VPN allows P2P traffic, as several popular free VPNs will block this kind of traffic.
Is Torrenting Legal? Torrenting is completely legal, but torrenting certain files can breach copyright restrictions. As a general rule you can only legally torrent files if you own them, have permission from the copyright holder or if they are in the public domain.
You can torrent legally in countries like the US, UK, Australia, Canada and India, as long as you don’t break other laws while torrenting.
Are Free VPNs Legal? Using a free VPN service to torrent is 100% legal in almost every country around the world. There is a small number, however, where VPNs are banned:
Belarus
Iraq
North Korea
Turkmenistan
There’s also a slightly longer list of countries where only authorised VPNs are allowed. In these countries unauthorised VPNs are blocked, and using them could land you with a fine or even more serious repercussions:
China
Iran
Oman
Russia
Turkey
UAE (United Arab Emirates)
Our guide, ‘Are VPNs Legal? ’, explains the legal situation in each of these countries in more detail.
Can I Get a Paid Torrenting VPN for Free? A free VPN isn’t the only way to protect yourself while torrenting. By taking advantage of free trials and returns policies it is possible to get a premium torrenting VPN for free. Both NordVPN and ExpressVPN have 30-day, no-questions-asked return policies, for instance.
These tricks won’t get you access to the VPN forever, but they’re long enough to try the VPN out and download quite a few files. If this sounds appealing, we have a round-up of free VPN trials you might be interested in.
8 Best (REALLY FREE) VPNs for Torrenting and P2P in 2021
Finding a free, safe VPN that allows torrenting is a real challenge!
Which ones protect from malware? Which ones ensure your ISP can’t see your activity? Which ones keep you safe and let you torrent?
I’ve spent months testing free VPNs to answer these questions, checking their speeds, and reading their legal terms, and testing their ability to support torrenting. In that time, I’ve only found seven that I can recommend. Many of the others either allow torrenting or they track and sell your data, while others are simply dangerous.
Every VPN you’ll see here has passed numerous tests, can accommodate safe torrenting, and is free from any hidden costs or dangers.
Short on Time? Here’s Are The Best Free VPNs for Torrenting
ExpressVPN – Blazing-fast speeds to download torrents in no time. It’s backed by a risk-free 30-day money-back guarantee so you can buy it with confidence.
Cyberghost: Torrenting optimized servers for ultra-fast download speeds. Offering a 24-hour free trial, followed by a 45-day money-back guarantee for plenty of time to test it out.
Windscribe: This free VPN has servers that support torrenting. Its 10GB/month data allowance might restrict your downloads, though.
Unlimited bandwidth and unrestricted speeds are on offer from this free VPN.
TunnelBear: A strict no-logs policy, military-grade encryption, and servers in 20+ countries make up for limited free bandwidth.
Plus three more free VPNs for torrenting | How We Tested and Ranked These VPNs | The Best Premium VPNs for Torrenting | FAQs
Try ExpressVPN Risk-Free Today!
The Best Free VPNs for Torrenting – Full Analysis (Updated October 2021)
There are many dangerous free VPNs out there. That’s why I ran extensive tests and only picked 7 free VPNs for torrenting, based on speed, security, and P2P compatibility. Every VPN listed here will keep you safe, guaranteed.
While each recommendation will keep you safe and let you torrent for free, apart from ExpressVPN, they all have some limitations.
1. ExpressVPN – Try Risk-Free With a 30-Day Money-Back Guarantee
Superfast download speeds
3, 000 servers in 90 countries
30-day money-back guarantee
Military-grade encryption and a strict no-logs policy
P2P support on every server
Works with: uTorrent, BitTorrent,, Vuze, Deluge
Streaming: Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Disney+, HBO Max, Vudu, Hulu, and more
Compatible with: Windows, Android, iOS, macOS, Chrome, Linux, routers, Apple TV, and more
ExpressVPN is the safest service for torrenting, thanks to airtight security features, reliable server connections, and its strict privacy policy. It’s not completely free, but you can buy it with confidence because it’s backed by a money-back guarantee so you can get a refund if you’re not satisfied with it.
It’s super-fast, too. During my tests, both my download and upload speeds were excellent – averaging at over 43 Mbps consistently. You’ll be able to torrent quickly and easily with no interruptions or delays.
There are 3, 000 P2P-friendly ExpressVPN servers around the world – fully optimized for torrenting. I could easily unblock torrenting platforms without any problems. It also guarantees fast connections to nearby servers, even if you’re traveling across continents. You’ll never experience any issues downloading torrents from anywhere.
While you torrent, ExpressVPN protects your privacy with numerous industry-leading features: 256-bit AES encryption, an automatic kill switch, DNS/IPv6 leak protection, and much more. They all ensure your IP address and torrenting activity are never exposed.
Its TrustedServer feature wipes your data clean after every server reboot, as they run on RAM only. This keeps you safe online, without blocking harmless torrents, risking your data being sold, or worse.
Lastly, ExpressVPN has a strict no-logs policy. This means it can be trusted never to store or pass on any of your information. Only a very simple set of data is stored, such as the date you logged in, and server location. Your browsing history, IP, and DNS queries will be kept anonymous.
Want to know more? Explore our ExpressVPN review to see the full results of our research and testing.
Start Risk-Free With ExpressVPN Today!
2. Cyberghost — Optimized Servers For Superfast Downloads
Lightning-fast speeds for P2P file sharing and downloading
7, 290 servers in 90 countries, including several torrenting optimized servers
24-hour free trial, followed by a 45-day money-back guarantee
Military-grade encryption, a kill switch, and an ad/malware blocker to protect you and your device while torrenting
Streaming: Netflix, HBO Max, BBC iPlayer, Hulu, YouTube TV, and more
Compatible with: macOS, Windows, iOS, Android, Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Linux, and more
Cyberghost provides you a list of torrenting optimized servers. I tested its US specialty server (New York) while downloading a copyright-free file called “Astronomy Picture of the Day” from Legit Torrents. My speeds remained consistent, around 33 Mbps. The file was quite large (2. 62 GB) but it only took 23 minutes to download. You won’t have to search for the fastest server to download torrents.
It uses strong security features to keep you safe. This includes 256-bit encryption, IP/DNS leak protection, and a kill switch. The kill switch ensures that even if you temporarily lose connection, it won’t expose your data. I tested this by switching from London to its Miami server. During this time, I attempted to load uTorrent — however, it blocked this action until I reestablished a connection. Your personal data will always be safeguarded while torrenting.
Your privacy is protected by its NoSpy servers and a strict no-logs policy. The NoSpy servers are located in privacy-friendly Romania, where Cyberghost is based. This is outside the 5, 9, and 14 Eyes jurisdiction — meaning, agencies can’t demand user data. Only Cyberghost employees have access to these servers. No one will have a chance of intercepting your personal information.
The apps include an ad, tracker, and malware blocking feature. This keeps your device protected while preventing annoying popups from slowing you down. During my tests, I could enable or disable it with just one click within the app’s privacy settings. While it was turned on, I never encountered any ads. You can enjoy safe, uninterrupted torrenting.
One downfall is that Cyberghost doesn’t work consistently in some strictly censored countries. This includes the UAE, China, North Korea, and parts of the Middle East. This may or may not affect you, depending on your travel plans or country of residence.
You can test its full-featured service when you use Cyberghost’s 24-hour free trial. If you need more time, it also offers a risk-free 45-day money-back guarantee. When I finished testing (after 28 days), I used the live chat option to request my refund. The agent asked me a couple of quick questions regarding my experience. After just 2 minutes, she approved the return. I had the money back in my account within 3 days.
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3. Windscribe – Up to 10GB of Free Data Per Month
P2P-friendly servers in 10 countries
10GB of data per month
Good speeds
No-logs policy
Streaming: YouTube, BBC iPlayer, Kodi, and HBO GO
Compatible with: Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, Windows Mobile, Chrome, Firefox, Opera, and routers
Windscribe is a completely free service that limits data and server access. As a free user, you get 2GB of data per month. If you tweet Windscribe, you do get the option to extend this allowance by 5GB.
You can increase your data allowance to 10GB per month, but will need to provide an email address to do so. If you wish to remain completely anonymous using Windscribe, you’ll be restricted to the original 2GB limit.
You can access servers in 10 countries: the UK, Hong Kong, the US, Canada, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Romania, and Switzerland. You can’t access censored torrenting sites and geo-restricted sites that aren’t available in these countries.
Many of these servers are P2P-friendly. During my tests, I quickly connected to several Windscribe servers that were fast enough for torrenting. However, I did find that they became overloaded during busy periods. This slowed my connection, but I was still able to torrent. My speeds increased once the peak period ended.
Windscribe takes care of your privacy with some high-end security measures. 256-bit AES encryption protects your data, while a built-in ad blocker, DNS leak protection, and IP masking keep your activity and IP address secret.
Windscribe is based in Canada, which is in the Five Eyes Alliance. However, it follows a strict no-logs policy and never stores your data, so it is not able to pass any information on to the authorities.
Want to know more? Explore our Windscribe review to see the full results of our research and testing.
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4. – P2P-Friendly Servers Around the World
2GB free data per month
P2P friendly servers in all free locations except the US
Unlimited bandwidth and speeds
256-bit AES encryption
Streaming: Hulu, iPlayer, Amazon Prime Video, and HBO GO
Compatible with: Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Windows Phone, Linux, and routers
is a completely free VPN that allows torrenting. You don’t need to input any personal or financial details to sign up, which gives you the added security of complete anonymity. Not only will your online activity be protected, but also your identity.
You’re limited to five server locations on the free account: the US East, US West, Canada, the Netherlands, and Singapore. This could mean slow speeds if you’re connecting to from outside North America and Europe.
All of ’s servers allow torrenting except its US locations. If you want to download from an index that’s only available in the US, there’s an extra step involved. You’ll need to connect to a US-based server to download the torrent file, and then switch to a P2P-friendly server before you open your client.
offers just 2GB of data per month to free users, enough to share a few minutes of video with your friends and maybe a couple of hundred photos.
However, there are no restrictions on speeds or bandwidth. During my tests, I found both upload and download speeds to be decent, and I was able to torrent smoothly for a while.
Unfortunately, while testing, I discovered that reconnecting to servers can take a long time. If you’re using an unreliable internet connection, you need to search through the network for a new server when you reconnect, which is time-consuming.
Thankfully does include an automatic kill switch and IP leak protection. Your IP address and online activity won’t be exposed even if you’re disconnected from the VPN.
It also uses 256-bit AES encryption so no one can monitor or track your online activity.
is headquartered in Malaysia, so it’s not based within the Fourteen Eyes Alliance. That means you can trust its strict no-logs policy. It does not log, store, or pass on any of your sensitive information or usage data.
Want to know more? Explore our review to see the full results of our research and testing.
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5. TunnelBear – Best for Low-Volume Users
22+ worldwide servers
500MB of data per month
Military-grade security
Strict no-logs policy
Streaming: HBO GO, YouTube, Spotify, Kodi
Compatible with: Android, Windows, macOS, iOS, Chrome, Firefox, and Opera
TunnelBear is an incredibly user-friendly VPN and a great choice for beginners. You get a wide choice of P2P-friendly servers around the world.
I was able to torrent using this free service during my tests. After some digging around, I found out that it recommends using its servers in the US, UK, Canada, Germany, Sweden, Romania, or the Netherlands for torrenting.
However, if you live far away from these countries or use servers located elsewhere, you might find that speeds become too slow for P2P traffic.
TunnelBear’s data allowance might be too restrictive for you, too. You only get 500MB of data per month. That won’t be much good for sharing high definition (HD) video files, but it’s ideal if you just want to download photos and documents.
If you tweet the company, you can get an additional 1GB of free data. Unfortunately, that still won’t allow much more than browsing and streaming videos on Youtube. You’ll also need to tweet TunnelBear every time you need a top up.
These limitations aside, TunnelBear offers great security. It has been independently audited by cybersecurity experts, who verified the reliability of its military-grade encryption, strict no-logs policy, and other security features.
TunnelBear’s speeds have also impressed us in many different tests. While it can’t compete with premium providers, for a free VPN, it does very well.
Want to know more? Explore our TunnelBear review to see the full results of our research and testing.
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6. Speedify – Fast Speeds All Day Long
2GB of free data per month
Channel bonding technology for faster speeds
128 GCM encryption
Streaming: Netflix, Hulu, Spotify, Kodi
Compatible with: Android, Windows, macOS, iOS
Speedify uses innovative channel bonding technology to boost your connection speed while you’re torrenting.
Channel bonding works by bundling all possible connections on your device together and combining them to transmit data. Your online activity is then split between these connections, like fast and slow lanes on a highway.
This technology has cemented Speedify’s legacy in the VPN world, as it means faster and more reliable connections than most free VPNs can offer.
Unfortunately, it also means that using Speedify can double your data usage, which is costly if you’re on a limited cell or WiFi plan.
Faster speeds mean faster torrenting, though, and I did find Speedify fast enough outside of peak hours. However, with a data limit of 2GB per month, the most you’ll be able to share are a few munites of video or some photos.
Speedify’s security and privacy policies are straight forward and adequate. It has a strict no-logs policy, amongst other features, along with a very transparent privacy policy. While the VPN only uses 128 GCM encryption, this is still secure enough for most users and will still keep you safe.
Want to know more? Explore our Speedify review to see the full results of our research and testing.
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7. Betternet – Torrent-Friendly With No Registration Requirements
500MB of free data per day
P2P-friendly
Free service with no registration
Streaming: YouTube, Kodi, and Spotify
Compatible with: Android, Windows, macOS, iOS, and Chrome
Betternet is a completely free service that doesn’t require you to register. It doesn’t record or access any private information like your name, email address, or payment details.
But is Betternet good for torrenting? Yes, but it has limits.
Betternet gives you 500MB of free data a day, which is more than many other free services. You can use it to share a few minutes of video every day, upload your photos to the cloud, or spread large downloads out across a few days.
It also supports P2P traffic. Sadly, as a free user, you’ll only get access to Betternet’s US server. You can’t manually select a server, and you can’t unblock sites that aren’t available in the US.
If you’re torrenting through Betternet from outside the US, you might experience slow speeds and difficulty connecting to your torrent client, due to distance and connection speeds. Also, the US is notoriously unfriendly to torrent platforms and their users. This could create issues in the future if your favorite torrent site gets censored.
Want to know more? Explore our Betternet review.
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8. PrivateVPN – Try It Out With the 7-Day Trial
Premium VPN with a 7-day free trial
Unlimited speeds, bandwidth, and data
Torrent-friendly network
Military-grade security with a zero-logs policy
Streaming: Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, HBO GO, BBC iPlayer, and Hulu
Compatible with: Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Windows Mobile, Chrome, Firefox, Opera, and some routers
PrivateVPN is a top premium VPN that you can try out on a 7-day free trial.
You don’t even need to make an initial payment or give any payment details to sign up. You do need to register for an account, but PrivateVPN only asks for basic personal details that can’t be used to trace your online activity, IP address, or any private data.
PrivateVPN supports unlimited P2P file sharing across 150+ server locations in 60+ countries. During my tests, I found PrivateVPN to be extremely fast. My connection was quick enough for smooth, uninterrupted torrenting, even when I downloaded large files.
PrivateVPN’s security measures are also world-class. 256-bit AES encryption conceals your data, while a range of security protocols ensure your IP address is never exposed. In the background, IPv6 leak protection ensures your real location can’t be exposed.
The VPN is based in Sweden, which is a member of the Fourteen Eyes Alliance. However, Sweden is still a very privacy-friendly country, and PrivateVPN has a strict no-logs policy. So, even if it were asked to hand over any records, it would be unable to do so.
Want to know more? Explore our PrivateVPN review to see the full results of our research and testing.
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How We Tested and Ranked These Free VPNs
I looked for free VPNs with high-speed, P2P-friendly servers, unlimited bandwidth, generous data allowances, and excellent privacy policies. After focusing on these areas first, I then looked at everything else each VPN offers.
These criteria immediately excluded the majority of free VPNs. Most don’t support P2P filesharing.
Next, I tested the speed of each VPN. I connected to as many servers as possible, as far away from me as possible. Using ’s tools, I measured upload and download speeds on each server and compared this to my local internet connection. Only free VPNs that provide consistently fast connection speeds are included here.
Bandwidth and data are crucial for torrenting. I’ve only selected free VPNs that offer enough data and bandwidth for torrenting. I torrented with each VPN to see how much you can do within their limits.
Finally, I carefully read the terms of every VPN I tested to ensure they hadn’t included any loopholes that put you at risk. I also factored in where the VPNs are based, and whether they are part of the Fourteen Eyes Alliance.
What’s The Catch With Free VPNs?
Although the VPNs on this list are safe to use, many free VPNs are slow and unreliable. They can also be dangerous.
Most free VPNs don’t support torrenting, and many block P2P traffic. They often can’t compete with the military-grade encryption and other security features that premium VPNs offer. Because of this, there’s often no guarantee you’re truly anonymous while torrenting. This is why I’ve only listed seven VPNs out of the thousands on offer.
Finally, free VPNs nearly always limit your data and bandwidth. Some even deliberately reduce your connection speed. For unlimited data and super-fast download and upload speeds, you need a low-cost premium VPN instead.
FAQs
How do free VPNs make money?
Premium VPNs charge a small subscription fee, but free providers rely on other monetization tactics. At best, these are annoying. At worst, they can actually put you in more danger.
This could mean constant pop up ads while you’re browsing or limiting your bandwidth until you have no choice but to pay for an upgrade. Over the years, we’ve seen free VPNs sell user data, overlook malicious software and viruses in their networks, and much worse.
Any time someone offers you a free VPN service, just know there will always be a catch.
Are VPNs legal?
In most countries, yes.
However, VPNs can be a legal grey area and the situation often changes. Several governments have banned VPN use because of its association with crime, while others allow them but stop you from downloading one within their borders.
Read our complete country-by-country guide to VPN legality to find out more about laws where you live.
What are the Five Eyes, Nine Eyes, and Fourteen Eyes Alliances?
Throughout this guide, I’ve been talking about the various Eyes Alliances. This refers to a number of countries that have international information-sharing agreements.
If a VPN is based in one of these countries, it needs to have a strict no-logs policy. That’s the only way to guarantee that it won’t hand over any of your information should the government put in a legal request.
Our full guide to the Five, Nine, and Fourteen Eyes Countries tells you everything you need to know.
The Bottom Line
Finding a free VPN that allows torrenting can be difficult. Even if you do find a P2P-friendly no-cost service, many free VPNs are simply too slow or too restrictive for effective torrenting.
You also need to be sure that your free VPN won’t compromise your safety and anonymity.
To avoid any risk, I would always use a low-cost premium VPN instead.
Some of the best VPNs like ExpressVPN offer a money-back guarantee, so you can test it out risk-free and claim a refund within that period if you’re not fully happy with it.
Even if you do pay, there are plenty of VPN deals and coupon codes that can make your subscription very inexpensive.
Want to go ahead with a premium service? Check out our rundown of the 10 best premium VPNs for torrenting.
New to torrenting and want more information? Read our updated guide to torrenting safely and anonymously.
Top VPNs for torrenting that you can try risk-free with money-back guarantees…
Privacy Alert!
Your data is exposed to the websites you visit!
The information above can be used to track you, target you for ads, and monitor what you do online.
VPNs can help you hide this information from websites so that you are protected at all times. We recommend ExpressVPN — the #1 VPN out of over 350 providers we’ve tested. It has military-grade encryption and privacy features that will ensure your digital security, plus — it’s currently offering 49% off.
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Why you should NEVER use Free Proxy servers for Torrenting
All over the internet, I see forum threads recommending the use of free HTTP proxies for torrents and I cringe. At their best, free proxy servers are crowded and slow, and at worst they’re downright dangerous.
Because 99% of them don’t work to hide your IP address from Torrent Peers (which is how torrents are monitored).
Not only is it crazy to trust a total stranger (offering you free service) with your privacy, but most free proxy servers are technologically incompatible with BitTorrent protocol.
This article will teach you about the reality of ‘free’, the limitations of HTTP/HTTPS proxies, and the potential dangers of giving total strangers access to your data stream.
Instead do this: consider choosing a torrent-friendly VPN like NordVPN (which also includes torrent-compatible SOCKS5 proxy servers).
INTRODUCTION TO FREE PROXIES
There are numerous websites with lists of free proxy servers, often sorted by country or uptime. A few examples are,, and
These are public proxy servers, accessible by anyone who knows the address and port number (listed on the website).
What is a Proxy?
A proxy is a data tunnel that is routed from you computer to a 3rd party (proxy server) before reaching the internet. The proxy is the middleman, and if used properly can help hide your identity from whoever is on the other end of your connection.
A proxy is generally configured to work with a specific program, not your entire internet connection. Common programs configured with a proxy are:
A Web Browser – To get through firewalls are access geo-blocked sites like ttorrent Client Software – To prevent ip-based torrent monitoring
When used properly, a proxy allows you to do 2 things while torrenting:
Change your visible locationHide your real IP address from torrent peers and trackers
One notable thing a proxy lacks compared to a VPN, however, is encryption.
Types of Proxy Servers
There are a few different proxy ‘protocols’ that you’ll see in free proxy lists. Each one is designed to handle and transport different types of data (they are not created equal).
The most common proxy types are:
HTTP: Transports regular non-encrypted HTTP web traffic, such as web browser The encrypted version of an HTTP proxy, it wraps the proxied traffic in a layer of encryption making it difficult for a middleman (like your ISP) to read the traffic. SOCKS5: The all purpose proxy protocol. It can transport both UDP & TCP packets, and can hold any type of data, including HTTP, Video, Files, and p2p/torrent data.
IMPORTANT TO NOTE: Bittorrent traffic is not HTTP, so it’s not compatible with HTTP/S proxies. If you try to use an HTTP proxy with your torrent client, it will simply ignore the proxy rules for peer communications and expose your IP address (bad! )
Reasons your should Avoid ‘Free Proxy’ servers
There are tons of amazing free things on the internet. In our experience, proxy service is not one of them.
The reasons to avoid free proxy servers range from inconvenience to genuine risk.
Slow: Free proxy servers are overcrowded and have hundreds or thousands of users sharing the limited bandwidth. Speeds below 0. 1Mbps are Protocol: The fast majority of free servers available are HTTP or HTTPS. This doesn’t work with BitTorrent peer communications, so torrent peers (and monitoring firms) will still see your real IP address in swarms. What you need is a SOCKS5 Proxy. Unreliable: Free servers crash or go offline constantly. You’ll have frequent connection errors, and the proxy may even go down mid-torrent (which could leak your identity depending on your torrent client’s settings). Dangerous: Free proxies cost money to run, but give full access to users’ data-stream. This attracts unsavory characters some free servers may be BitTorrent honeypots, Hacker Honeypots, or data-mining operations.
Now if that list isn’t enough to convince you, I’m not sure what is.
But if you’re ready to join our community of informed (and secure) BitTorrent fans, read on…
Free Proxy Alternatives: a Zero-Log VPN or SOCKS5 Proxy
By far the best tool for anonymizing your torrent downloads is a non-logging, torrent-friendly VPN service.
A VPN has all the benefits of a proxy service, plus additional security features:
Strong Torrent Encryption: Encrypt your torrents and browsing so your Internet provider has not idea what you’re doing Leak ProtectionZero-log Privacy: No logs or record of your online activity or IP address historyEasy-to-use Software
VPNs are hugely popular within the torrent community, thanks to the peace of mind and privacy they provide. They even allow you to get around torrent-blockades if your country (or firewall) has them.
And all 3 of our recommended VPNs actually include zero-log SOCKS5 proxy service at no additional charge.
1. NordVPN (Includes SOCKS5 proxy in 10 p2p-enabled locations) | from $2. 99/month
NordVPN is now the fastest zero-log VPN in the world, thanks in large part to their insane $2. 99/month offer, which is 70% off the normal monthly price.
Based in Panama, NordVPN has less exposure to the governmental pressures of companies located in the Five Eyes countries, like the USA, Canada, UK and Australia.
And NordVPN is quite torrent-friendly. They have p2p-optimized servers in more than 10 countries, a dual-mode kill-switch for security, and included SOCKS5 Proxy service.
Oh, and NordVPN isn’t blocked by Netflix or Hulu (unlock most VPNs).
2. Other great options (that also include a FREE Proxy)
There are two other VPN services that we highly recommend, both of which include a Netherlands-based logless SOCKS5 proxy (in addition to full VPN service).
1: IPVanish – They’re the leaders in speed, and have excellent software for Windows/Mac/iOS/Android and even a Firestick app (for Kodi).
Related: Read our IPVanish review
2: Private Internet Access – PIA is the gold standard and the godfather of the zero-logging movement. They’ve beaten the FBI in court and take customer privacy incredibly seriously. Bonus: PIA is one of the only VPNs with built-in port forwarding.
Related: Read our Private Internet Access review
David started torrenting before it was cool. He enjoys hiking, strategy games and eats watermelon year round. He still rocks his Napster t-shirt once a month.