5 Best Free VPNs for Torrenting: Fast & Safe to Use in 2024

Using a free VPN for torrenting might sound like a good idea, but I’ve been testing these services for years and can assure you it’s not that simple. Many free VPNs will leak your data and expose your IP address. Others block P2P traffic altogether, and even those that don’t often have such slow speeds that make file-sharing virtually impossible.

The few free VPNs that pass our stringent tests are below, but these also have limitations, including tight data caps and few servers. If you’d like to avoid these restrictions while torrenting, your best option is to use a low-cost premium VPN.

My top recommendation is ExpressVPN, thanks to its fast speeds, excellent security features, and automatic obfuscation. And even though it's not 100% free, you can try ExpressVPN risk-free since it comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee. I tested this guarantee myself and got my money back in 3 days. Editor's Note: Transparency is one of our core values at vpnMentor, so you should know we are in the same ownership group as ExpressVPN. However, this does not affect our review process.

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Short on Time? Here Are the Best Free VPNs for Torrenting in 2024

Best Free VPNs for Torrenting — Full Analysis (Updated 2024)

1. ExpressVPN — A Full Network of High-Speed P2P Servers for Quick Downloads

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Tested November 2024

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www.expressvpn.com

ExpressVPN is the fastest torrenting VPN on this list. It supports P2P traffic on all of its 3,000 servers, meaning you can easily find a speedy, uncongested connection for downloading. Pair that with unlimited data, and you will have a seamless downloading experience. When I downloaded the copyright-free Night of the Living Dead, it was just as quick as without a VPN.

ExpressVPN is the fastest service we've ever tested, so it's ideal for speedy torrent downloads

Its proprietary protocol is largely responsible for its performance. Lightway was built to be fast, secure, and ideal for torrenting. In my tests, ExpressVPN’s Lightway was even faster than WireGuard, the industry-standard speed protocol. Unlike WireGuard, Lightway also supports obfuscation, meaning you can file share even over restrictive networks at work, college, or on public WiFi.

It also comes with its Threat Manager to guard against malware, trackers, ads, and other malicious content that can lurk on torrent sites. It stopped an impressive 58% of threats when I tested it with an online blocker test tool.

True, it’s not 100% free. But you do get 3 months of extra service completely free when you sign up for a long-term plan, starting at $4.99/month. It also covers up to 8 simultaneous device connections. Plus, you can try ExpressVPN risk-free since it comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee. If you don’t like it, you can easily get a full refund.

Useful Features

• Top security features. In addition to IP/DNS leak protection and a kill switch, ExpressVPN offers AES 256-bit encryption enhanced with perfect forward secrecy. This means your encryption keys are regularly changed so that your torrenting traffic is virtually indecipherable.
• RAM-only servers. ExpressVPN uses RAM-only servers that automatically wipe user data from previous sessions with every reboot. In addition, the company is based in the British Virgin Islands, which has no data retention laws.
• Strict no-logs policy. ExpressVPN’s policy has been independently verified on multiple occasions as well as in practice. Previously, Turkish authorities seized one of its servers to aid an investigation. They found no data since nothing was stored on them.
• Split tunneling. This feature lets you encrypt only the traffic of your choosing. With this feature, I ensured uTorrent was protected by the VPN tunnel while I accessed local streaming sites with my normal unencrypted internet. Note that this feature isn’t available for macOS.

2. hide.me — Customizable Security to Optimize Your Connection for Torrenting

Available on:

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Try hide.me VPN >

www.hide.me

In addition to standard features like AES 256-bit encryption and leak protection, hide.me lets you customize your VPN settings for safe torrenting. For example, you can choose between WireGuard, IKEv2, and OpenVPN protocols. I got the fastest speeds using WireGuard in my tests with hide.me, but OpenVPN offers tighter security if that’s your priority.

You have to upgrade to Premium to get the SmartGuard ad blocker, so I was impressed that hide.me blocked 51% of threats on its free version. Some premium VPNs don’t even have an ad and tracker blocker, so this isn’t bad for a completely free app, although it’s a little less effective than ExpressVPN’s Threat Manager.

hide.me stopped more online threats than many premium VPN ad blockers

The downside is that there are a couple of steps you have to take to torrent with hide.me. Support recommended that I set up its SOCKS5 connection with a torrent client with StealthGuard enabled. Luckily, there are easy-to-follow steps on its site and helpful support. Once I did this, I had no issue using it for P2P traffic.

Useful Features

• Privacy-first VPN. hide.me is based in a privacy-friendly country (Malaysia) and has a strict no-logs policy. It doesn’t store your IP address, connection timestamps, or anything else that might put your privacy at risk.
• Split Tunnel. Select your favorite torrent clients to bind to the VPN so you never accidentally file-share without a secure connection.
• Auto-connect. hide.me allows you to configure how you want it to react when it detects a network. For example, you can choose to automatically enable the VPN when you connect to the internet. This way, you can ensure your torrenting activity stays private without having to enable the VPN manually.
• No signup and 8 free locations. There are servers in Finland, France, Germany, Netherlands, Switzerland, the UK, and 2 in the US. Plus, even though you only get 1 simultaneous device connection, this is easy to overcome since you don’t have to sign up to use it.

3. Hotspot Shield — Speed-Optimized Hydra Protocol Provides Fast Downloads

Available on:

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www.hotspotshield.com

Despite being free, Hotspot Shield delivers fast speeds thanks to its Hydra protocol. This ensures decent download times even if you’re far from its free server locations. During my tests, Hotspot Shield’s US server gave me a minimal speed loss of only 27%, even though I’m over 3,300 miles away from this location.

Hotspot Shield also offers WireGuard and IKEv2 protocols, which may give you even faster downloads

The free app protects your P2P data with the same level of encryption as the paid one (AES 256-bit). Plus, it also offers an automatic kill switch, leak protection, and split tunneling. Its split tunneling works via individual URLs, unlike hide.me, which lets you select specific apps, so it’s useful for torrent sites and clients like uTorrent Web.

The free plan is supported by ads, which can be a bit annoying. However, the good news is that Hotspot Shield doesn’t require any signup info to protect your file sharing, so you can effectively use it on unlimited devices.

Useful Features

• Free servers in 5 locations. You get connections in Singapore, the US, and the UK. Since these are pretty evenly spread out, you’ll find a reasonably close location no matter where you are in the world.
• Built-in speed monitor. This lets you keep track of your download speeds and daily data on the app’s home screen, as you can also see in the image above.

4. TunnelBear — A Fun, User-Friendly App Makes Secure Torrenting Enjoyable

Available on:

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Try TunnelBear VPN >

www.tunnelbear.com

TunnelBear’s apps are notable for their quirky design, making it fun and easy to secure your P2P traffic — even for VPN newbies. Each time I test it, I find that TunnelBear’s intuitive layout simplifies the process of finding the right server with the animated world map feature. When you click on a tunnel location, a cute bear digs its way there and lets out a “roar!”.

Customize your torrenting VPN experience with TunnelBear's fun graphics

TunnelBear gives you access to all of the 47 countries that it covers on the paid plan, a rare feature among free VPN services that support P2P file sharing. Do keep in mind that the servers per location are greatly reduced in the free plan. Still, the broad coverage means you’ll likely find at least one connection in your own country or region to get the best torrenting speeds.

It’s a bummer that TunnelBear only grants 2GB of data per month, but it’s adequate if you're not a heavy file sharer. As with most freemium plans, it’s a good way to test the VPN to see if you’d prefer to subscribe.

Useful Features

• Adjustable security. You can enable VigtilantBear, which is a kill switch with TunnelBear’s quirky branding and SplitBear (split tunneling).
• Unlimited devices. TunnelBear allows you to connect as many devices as you like with the free plan so you can secure your entire household.

5. Avira Phantom VPN — No Signup and Quick Setup to Start Torrenting Without Hassle

Available on:

Windows Mac Android iOS

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Try Avira Phantom VPN >

www.avira.com

Avira Phantom VPN is really easy to use and set up. You don’t even need to create an account to get started, which means it’s easier to keep your information private. Downloading and installing Avira on my Windows laptop took less than 2 minutes. Connecting to a server is also pretty straightforward: Just click Turn on VPN.

Avira Phantom is the most basic VPN app I've seen that supports P2P traffic

That said, its limited options might not make Avira Phantom the best option for those who want to customize their torrenting experience. For instance, it doesn’t even provide a kill switch. Plus, you only get access to 1 location on desktop — which is automatically selected for you based on your region. However, it’s perfect for those who value simplicity.

Useful Features

• Unlimited connections. You get unlimited simultaneous device connections, even on the free plan, since no signup is required.
• Automatic protection. It provides you with basic security, like automatic WiFi protection and the option to have the VPN automatically connect upon starting your system.

Quick Comparison Table: Free Torrenting VPN Features

The table below compares the features of all my recommended free VPNs for torrenting. Here you can see each VPN’s average speed, number of servers, monthly data limit, and whether it has an automatic kill switch.

Furthermore, I've highlighted if each VPN is headquartered outside the 5/9/14 Eyes jurisdiction. This is a vital factor to consider if you aim to protect yourself from possible governmental monitoring.

Editor's Note: Transparency is one of our core values at vpnMentor, so you should know we are in the same ownership group as ExpressVPN. However, this does not affect our review process.

Tips on Choosing the Best Free VPN for Torrenting

I looked at the following metrics to rank the VPNs on this list. You can use the same criteria if you’re unsure about what to look for in a free VPN for torrenting.

• Really free. A free torrenting VPN means that you shouldn’t have to commit to a subscription to use the service. I tested each and every VPN on this list to make sure that it’s either 100% free or backed by a trustworthy money-back guarantee.
• Allows torrenting. Your free VPN should allow P2P file sharing on at least some of its servers. Some VPNs don’t allow torrenting at all. All the free VPNs on this list support torrenting, and some even have specialized P2P servers.
• Plenty of servers. This ensures that you can find a server that is close to you geographically, which will improve your torrenting speeds. While some free VPNs only offer 1 server, I made sure to shortlist those that offer multiple to choose from across several locations.
• Strong security features. I made sure that each VPN on this list has essential security features, like AES 256-bit military-grade encryption and IP/DNS leak protection. Most of them also have an automatic kill switch to keep your torrenting activity private even if your VPN suddenly disconnects.
• A strict no-logs policy. Your free VPN should have a strict no-logs policy to keep your torrenting safe. None of the VPNs on this list store any identifiable data.
• Fast speeds. Look for a free VPN that offers consistently fast speeds. While all VPNs will slow your speed down, the best free VPNs for torrenting keep this performance loss to a minimum. Ideally, you should be able to download torrents at a speed close to your baseline internet.
• Enough data. Most free VPNs severely limit data usage. These data limits can be quickly exceeded while torrenting. That’s why I made sure that each VPN on this list has a monthly data limit of at least 500MB, which is enough to download at least a couple of small torrent files.
• Device compatibility. You'll want to make sure your chosen VPN offers apps that are easy to install and use on your favorite torrenting devices. My listed VPNs all work natively with popular devices, including Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, and more.
• Responsive customer support. Your free VPN should offer reliable customer support in case you ever run into problems. Live chat will usually get you the quickest response — however, email, a contact form, or a knowledge base can also work. All the free VPNs on this list offer support via at least one of these avenues.

Expert Tip: Most Free VPNs for Torrenting Aren’t Safe

Most free VPNs are unsafe for torrenting. That’s why I thoroughly tested each VPN on this list to make sure they’re safe. Although all free VPNs have limitations, the ones on this list won’t compromise your privacy.

Some of the risks associated with free VPNs are:

• Free VPNs can sell your data. Many free VPNs make money by selling your data to third parties. Be sure to choose a provider that has a strict no-logs policy so that your personal info is never at risk.
• Free VPNs can have weak security. Some free VPNs lack important security features, like military-grade encryption and leak protection. This means that your torrenting activity isn’t protected at all and can be traced back to you.
• Free VPNs can infect your devices with malware. Many free VPNs bombard you with malicious ads. Some even have malware embedded in their apps — they can do more harm than good.

Free VPNs to Avoid

During my assessments, I found that certain free VPNs are deficient in the security features needed for secure torrenting. These VPNs could expose you to viruses and may even monetize your data by distributing it to third parties.

• Hola VPN. This is not a VPN but a P2P network — it doesn’t have its own servers. You share your IP address and bandwidth with other free users. This means that any random stranger can use your IP address, and if they do something illegal, you could get into trouble for that.
• TurboVPN. This VPN was found to have malware embedded in the app and is riddled with intrusive ads.
• Betternet. It’s hard to trust this VPN since previously, its Android app was found riddled with trackers and malware.
• Psiphon. It records sensitive data such as some ISP and geographical info. Plus, it has weak security and can leak your data.

FAQs on Free VPNs for Torrenting

Are free VPNs safe for torrenting?

Yes and no — it totally depends on the VPN provider you choose. All the free VPNs on this list are safe for torrenting. They will keep your torrenting activity private from everyone, including ISPs and other peers on the P2P network. Plus, they all have a strict no-logs policy, so your data is kept private.

That said, many other free VPNs collect and sell your data to third parties in order to make a profit. Some also have weak security and may leak identifying information since they don’t have the resources to properly protect your connection. Therefore, it’s important to choose a VPN that can truly keep you safe.

It's worth noting that freemium VPNs may be a safer choice than strictly free VPNs. That’s because they have the resources and revenue of the premium version to ensure their free app is safe and secure. VPNs that only offer free service often have to make money from other sources, such as by selling your data or bombarding you with ads — both of which put your privacy and security at risk.

Is using a VPN for torrenting legal?

Yes, it’s legal — but it can be a bit complicated. In most cases, you can use a VPN for torrenting without any problems. However, using a VPN for downloading copyrighted content is illegal and could get you in trouble.

In addition, some countries (like China and Iran) have banned or heavily regulated VPN use, and using one at all in such countries can be illegal. The team and I don’t condone illegal activities, so it’s best to check your local laws to avoid facing any legal consequences.

Are free VPNs fast enough for torrenting?

Some of them are, but most free VPNs have speed caps and data limits. The VPNs shortlisted here all had speeds fast enough for torrenting. However, the strictly free options all offer limited monthly data, which you’ll quickly exceed while torrenting.

The best way to stay safe while torrenting is to opt for a low-cost premium VPN. Most of them come with money-back guarantees, which allow you to get all your money back within a certain time frame (usually 30 days). This will give you plenty of time to download a ton of files, and you may find you want to keep your subscription.

What’s the best free VPN for torrenting on Windows and Android?

All the VPNs listed above are compatible with Windows and Android. That allows you to file share on your PC and Android devices without any problems.

That said, it’s important to choose a free VPN that will keep your torrenting activity safe on Android. Many free Android VPNs leak your data and do not protect your privacy at all. Some have been known to sell user data for profits. Always check with a trustworthy resource like vpnMentor before downloading a free VPN app to your device.

Can I torrent with Tor or other alternatives instead of a free VPN?

It may be possible, but it brings complications. It’s far safer to use a premium VPN for file-sharing. Tor is a free browser created for anonymous web browsing. It works by bouncing your data through a volunteer-run network. Your ISP won’t see your file-sharing, but it will see your use of Tor. This can cause suspicion since Tor can access the dark web. It’s also incredibly slow even for regular web browsing, so it’s only suitable for downloading the smallest of files.

Proxies such as SOCKS5 are a little faster than VPNs, but only because they don’t encrypt your data. ISPs, hackers, and government agencies all have the potential to monitor your file sharing, so it’s only advisable if security and privacy aren’t a concern.

Can I improve torrenting performance with a free VPN?

In some cases, yes. Some ISPs throttle high-bandwidth activities, such as torrenting, leading to restrictive speeds. However, as all the free VPNs on this list hide your online activity, your ISP won’t be able to detect your torrenting, meaning they won’t know to throttle you.

For the best torrenting performance, choose a fast and secure protocol — I recommend either ExpressVPN’s Lightway or the industry standard WireGuard. Both these protocols help ensure fast download speeds for torrenting without compromising your security. If your free VPN doesn’t offer either protocol, OpenVPN is your next best bet.

Is port forwarding necessary for torrenting with a VPN?

No, port forwarding isn’t necessary for torrenting with a VPN. But it can increase your torrenting speeds by allowing incoming connections to bypass certain network restrictions (such as the NAT firewall on your router), letting you connect with more peers for both downloading and seeding.

However, it's important to note that enabling port forwarding can also pose a security risk. When you enable port forwarding, you open up a direct channel to your device. This can make it easier for online snoopers to see your real IP address or even hack and gain control of your device. This is particularly true if the port forwarding configuration is not set up correctly.

That’s the reason why many VPNs (including the ones on this list) don’t offer port forwarding — it simply poses too many risks for a minor benefit. Besides, you can still connect to many peers even without port forwarding. Also, port-forwarding may actually slow down your file-sharing speeds, depending on your technical setup.

Get the Best FREE VPN for Torrenting

Having tested several free VPNs, I’m happy to report that I found a few free VPNs that give good torrenting speeds without risking your privacy. But still, you have to be aware that you'll always be laden with strict limitations when using a free torrenting VPN — and any service that claims otherwise is likely a scam.

That’s why my top recommendation is ExpressVPN. It has the fastest speeds I’ve ever tested, thanks to its exclusive Lightway protocol, and every server supports obfuscation. It’s not 100% free, but you can try ExpressVPN risk-free as it’s backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee. If you don’t like it, it’s easy to get all your money back.

Can’t find a suitable free VPN? Here are the best premium alternatives…

Editor's Note: We value our relationship with our readers, and we strive to earn your trust through transparency and integrity. We are in the same ownership group as some of the industry-leading products reviewed on this site: Intego, Cyberghost, ExpressVPN, and Private Internet Access. However, this does not affect our review process, as we adhere to a strict testing methodology.

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