5 Best Free VPNs for uTorrent: Safe & Working in 2024
You always risk being exposed to privacy and security threats with uTorrent. A VPN protects your personal information and keeps your online activity private. As a regular uTorrent user, I wanted to know if I could save some money by using a free VPN.
After testing 30+ free VPNs, I found only a handful that work well with uTorrent, but they still have drawbacks. Many exposed my IP address, while others were just too slow. For optimal safety and speed, I recommend going with a premium VPN.
My favorite VPN for uTorrent is ExpressVPN. It offers unlimited bandwidth, fast speeds, excellent security, and unrestricted P2P file sharing. Technically, it's not 100% free, but it has a reliable money-back guarantee, so you can try ExpressVPN risk-free. You can claim a full refund within 30 days if you don't like it. 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.
Short on Time? Here Are the Best Free VPNs for uTorrent in 2024
- Editor's ChoiceExpressVPN
Ideal for uTorrent: fast downloads, robust security; paid VPN with a 30-day guarantee.70% of our readers choose ExpressVPN - CyberGhost
User-friendly, P2P-optimized for seamless torrenting; paid service, but budget-friendly. - Proton VPN
Unlimited data, compatible with major OS including Linux; free plan limited to 3 countries. - Avira Phantom VPN
5 device connections for simultaneous downloads; 500 MB monthly cap. - hide.me
Advanced security features on the free plan, but only allows 1 device connection.
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.
5 Best Free VPNs for uTorrent — Full Analysis (Updated 2024)
1. ExpressVPN — Fast Server Network for High Download Speeds on uTorrent
Tested November 2024 Try Risk-Free for 30 Days
- The fastest VPN I tested with uTorrent, coupled with unlimited bandwidth
- IP/DNS leak protection to prevent accidental IP exposure while torrenting
- Based outside the intelligence sharing agreement of the 5/9/14 Eyes Alliances
- 3,000 servers in 105 countries — all of which support fast P2P file sharing
- Works with: uTorrent, BitTorrent, Vuze, qBittorrent, Transmission, and more
ExpressVPN’s impressive speeds come in handy when using uTorrent. Of course, torrent speeds are determined mainly by the number of seeders and leechers. Still, using its proprietary Lightway protocol, my connections were consistently fast. It also provides unlimited bandwidth to torrent without restrictions.
Its Smart Location feature automatically connects you to the fastest server based on your real location. I could download a copyright-free 3GB PC game on uTorrent in just over 3 minutes. During testing, my speed consistently exceeded 135 Mbps against my 136.17 Mbps baseline (less than a 1% speed drop)
You can rest easy knowing your personal information is protected from accidental exposure while torrenting with ExpressVPN's kill switch (called Network Lock). If the VPN stops working (like your computer going into sleep mode), the kill switch cuts your internet connection, so file sharing is stopped and your data remains private. This key security feature is enabled by default, so it will engage automatically. On top of that, the VPN uses military-grade encryption that's virtually impossible to crack.
ExpressVPN follows a strict no-logs policy, so your data is never stored or shared with anyone. I also tested ExpressVPN for any IP/DNS leaks and found none, meaning your online identity is secure.
There’s also split tunneling, which divides your internet traffic between a VPN and a non-VPN tunnel. This is useful if you want to use uTorrent with a VPN while accessing local sites with your normal internet connection. Additionally, ExpressVPN uses RAM-only servers (TrustedServer technology) that will wipe all your data whenever the server is rebooted.
The only drawback is that the VPN isn’t free, and a long-term plan costs $4.99/month. However, you can save up to 82% when using one of ExpresVPN's frequent discounts.
It's also supported by a 30-day money-back guarantee. So, you can try ExpressVPN and get a full refund if you're not 100% happy. I wanted to know whether its refund policy holds up, so I contacted the support team via 24/7 live chat to cancel. They quickly processed my claim without questions, and I had my money back in my bank account after 2 days.
2. CyberGhost — Intuitive Apps With Optimized Servers Make It Easy To Use With uTorrent
- Easy-to-use apps for effortless downloads and uploads on platforms like uTorrent
- Huge network of 11,690 servers in 100 countries to avoid server overloading
- RAM-only servers that wipe data on every reboot for increased privacy
- Airtight IP/DNS leak protection to help keep your online activity private
- Works with: uTorrent, BitTorrent, Vuze, qBittorrent, Transmission, and more
CyberGhost is one of the most user-friendly torrenting VPNs I've tested. Servers are neatly alphabetized, but the best feature is its one-click torrenting-optimized ones. There are over 70 specialized P2P servers. Expand the app and choose 'For torrenting' to see a list of servers dedicated to P2P downloads. Each server shows how far away it is from your actual location (in km), so you can choose the one closest to you for the fastest download speeds.
When I tested the Ukraine P2P-optimized servers, I noticed no speed reduction. My average download speed clocked at 130 Mbps (compared to 136.17 Mbps without a VPN). Aside from good speeds, you also get unlimited bandwidth and can access various torrent domains without problems. Its fully-featured mobile apps are also great for torrenting.
An independently audited no-logs policy ensures the safety of your identity and online activity while using uTorrent. It also has a kill switch and is based in Romania, which has no surveillance agreements. This means CyberGhost won't hand over your personal data to anyone if requested, not even governments.
The only downside is that I experienced some delays when connected to a server in New York. However, slower speeds are expected when connecting to servers far away (New York is over 7,000 miles from me). Just switch to a server closer to you — its extensive server network provides plenty of nearby servers that won’t compromise your speed.
Like ExpressVPN, this VPN isn’t 100% free. However, CyberGhost's long-term subscriptions are affordable at only $2.03/month and come with a 45-day money-back guarantee. I requested a refund via live chat, and it worked as promised. I got the refund paid to my credit card within 3 days.
3. Proton VPN — Unlimited Bandwidth and Data for Unrestricted Downloads on uTorrent
- No data caps on the free version, so you can download as much as you want
- 100 free servers in 6 countries, all of which support P2P file sharing
- Built-in Tor support for increased anonymity when downloading files on uTorrent
- DNS and IPv6 leak protection to keep your actual location confidential
- Works with: uTorrent, BitTorrent, Vuze, qBittorrent, Transmission, and more
Proton VPN offers unlimited data on its free plan, which is very rare. This means you can torrent as much as you want without hitting caps. During testing, I downloaded a 5GB file on uTorrent without issues, and it only took about 5 minutes. The server load display feature helped me determine the best download time. This feature shows you how many users are connected to your chosen server and how much bandwidth they consume. The lower the server load, the faster your speeds.
The free version is also compatible with all major operating systems, including Linux. The mobile and desktop apps look pretty much the same, so you don't need to figure out settings when switching devices. It's simple to install and only took about 3 minutes to set it up on my Macbook Pro.
Proton VPN's no-logs policy hides your torrenting activity while using uTorrent. Its security features are top-notch, too, which includes AES 256-bit encryption, and DNS/IPv6 leak protection, preventing third parties from getting their hands on your data.
The biggest drawback is that the free version only has servers in 3 countries: Japan, the Netherlands, and the US. However, all the servers I tested provided fast connections for quick downloads on uTorrent.
Upgrade to a paid plan to unblock more countries and access premium features such as P2P-optimized servers and Secure Core. Long-term subscriptions start at $2.99/month.
4. Avira Phantom VPN — Connect Any Number of Devices While Using uTorrent
- Unlimited device connections for simultaneous downloads on all your devices
- 500 MB of free data per month and fast speeds
- 1 free server in 1 country, which is suitable for torrenting
- No-logs policy and leak protection to keep your torrenting activity private
- Works with: uTorrent, BitTorrent, Vuze, qBittorrent, Transmission, and more
Avira Phantom VPN supports unlimited simultaneous device connections, which is impressive considering many premium VPNs limit you to 5. To test this, I connected the VPN to 7 devices, including my MacBook Pro, various smartphones, and an Android tablet. My connections remained stable, and I didn't notice any difference in speed compared to when I only connected one device.
While slower than ExpressVPN and CyberGhost, I downloaded a 500MB file in just 34 seconds on uTorrent. Avira Phantom VPN only dropped my speed by 9.7% during my tests, even while downloading with 3 devices at once.
Avira is also capable of preventing access to malicious websites, offering protection against trackers and suspicious domains while torrenting. While it does not impede the occurrence of irritating ads, it can serve as a helpful tool in safeguarding your online activity.
While its free plan doesn’t offer a kill switch, AES 256-bit encryption keeps your data safe from hackers while using uTorrent. Avira also adheres to a no-logs policy, so your personal information (including your IP address and browsing data) won't be logged or shared.
A big con is that Avira Phantom VPN’s free plan is capped at 500 MB of monthly data, so it's only suitable for downloading small files. I exhausted my monthly data volume after downloading just one file. To unlock unlimited data volume, you must upgrade to a paid plan that costs $5/month.
5. hide.me — Advanced Security Features to Keep You Safe on uTorrent
- High-level security features to protect your online privacy, including a kill switch
- Split-tunneling so uTorrent can use the VPN while you surf local websites
- 50+ free servers in 8 countries for P2P file-sharing
- Supports 1 simultaneous device connection on the free plan
- Works with: uTorrent, BitTorrent, Vuze, qBittorrent, Transmission, and more
Hide.me's free plan offers impressive data protection features. Unlike most free services, it includes a kill switch on top of AES 256-bit encryption. Both these features are crucial for secure torrenting. I tested hide.me's kill switch, and it immediately cut my internet connection when I moved my laptop to where I knew there was a weak WiFi connection, making the VPN drop.
It also provides split tunneling so you can choose which traffic to send through the VPN and which apps should use your regular internet connection. So, you can still use your real IP for local online banking and the VPN for uTorrent. Leak protection and a strict no-logs policy further ensure your torrenting activity remains anonymous.
hide.me has a generous 10GB monthly data limit which allows you to download files for free each month. If you want to torrent more than 10GBs a month, you'll need to buy a premium plan at $2.29/month for a long-term subscription. The free plan also limits you to only one device connection and a handful of server locations.
Quick Comparison Table: Free uTorrent VPN Features
Although every suggested free VPN is suitable for uTorrent, each of them possesses unique attributes that set them apart. Here, you'll find an exhaustive comparison of their pricing, speed, monthly data limits, torrenting support, logging of activities, and safeguarding against IP leaks.
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.
Tips on How to Choose the Best Free VPN For uTorrent
While some free VPNs are incompatible with uTorrent and others may not be reliable in terms of data security, I have considered several key factors to compile a list of the most suitable free VPNs for uTorrent. You are welcome to use these criteria as a reference to help you make a well-informed choice.
- Fast speeds. Most free VPNs aren't fast enough for torrenting, so you're forced to pay for their premium version. All the VPNs on my list have great average download speeds, never dropping by more than 20%.
- Strong security and privacy features. Torrenting could compromise your privacy, so I made sure that all the VPNs on this list are safe for uTorrent. They use AES 256-bit encryption and won't log your data.
- P2P file sharing support. Not all free VPNs work with torrenting sites — some will automatically disconnect if you try accessing uTorrent. I tested each VPN on my list with uTorrent and had no problem downloading files.
- Easy to set up and use. I timed the download and installation process for each VPN, and the ones I’ve shortlisted only took me a few minutes. Once I was using it, I tested its features and interface to ensure everything was user-friendly.
- Responsive customer support. Many free VPNs make it difficult to get help, so I made sure it was easy to contact customer support or find answers on the VPN’s website.
Warning: There Are Risks Using Free VPNs With Utorrent
Most free VPNs for uTorrent aren't safe — many will put your online identity and activity at risk. You shouldn't use just any free VPN. I tested various free services, so you don't have to, and I only found a few I trust with my data. The others didn't make the cut because of the following:
- Poor security. Many free VPNs don't have the resources to invest in strong security features. Many leak your actual IP address and personal information.
- Collecting and selling your data. Some free VPNs make money by collecting your data and selling it to third parties, which risks your privacy.
- Malware and viruses. Many free VPNs have been found to contain some kind of malware in their apps, while others use your browsing data to target you with annoying ads.
Another drawback of free services is that most have data caps, a smaller server network, and limited bandwidth. A small server network and restricted bandwidth can significantly slow your speeds. At the same time, the data cap can dictate your torrenting activity.
Instead of using a free VPN, it’s much better to use a top-tier VPN backed by a money-back guarantee. It has world-class security features, a strict no-logs policy, and a massive server network with P2P-optimized servers. You can torrent as much as you want with fast speeds and stay fully protected from online threats.
FAQs on the Best Free VPNs for uTorrent
Is it safe to use a free VPN for uTorrent?
Most free VPNs offer only limited security features, so I don't recommend using them with uTorrent. A premium VPN with a trustworthy money-back guarantee is a better alternative. It provides all the best torrenting features, and you can try it out with uTorrent risk-free.
You might be safe online with a free VPN, provided you use one with military-grade encryption and a no-logs policy. However, all free VPNs have drawbacks, such as data caps and a small server network.
Why do I need to use a VPN for uTorrent?
Using uTorrent without a VPN opens you up to several privacy risks. It leaves your IP address and downloads visible to other users, which could cause problems if you accidentally download something illegally. Additionally, cybercriminals can use your IP address to target you with viruses and malware. To protect your privacy, use a VPN to hide your IP address and encrypt your traffic.
Does uTorrent work with free VPNs?
Yes, uTorrent works with some free VPNs. However, many free VPNs have weak security and poor privacy policies that could leave you vulnerable to hackers and snoops. Others have data caps and annoyingly slow speeds, making them unsuitable for torrenting. To ensure your VPN works with uTorrent, go for a P2P-optimized VPN with robust security features that won't compromise speed is preferable for uTorrent.
What devices can I use uTorrent on?
You can use uTorrent on any device that supports Windows, macOS, Android, or Linux. Unfortunately, uTorrent isn’t available on iOS. But ensure you get a secure VPN that’s P2P enabled before downloading your favorite torrents. Remember that you’ll need to use the uTorrent web client on Mac devices since you can no longer install BitTorrent clients on them.
Is it legal to use uTorrent?
Using uTorrent itself isn't illegal, but what you download on it might be. This is because specific torrent files are protected by copyright. It's only legal to download torrents that you have the right to, which usually consist of content in the public domain. It's safest to connect to a reliable VPN before downloading anything in case you accidentally download something you shouldn't.
Please note that the vpnMentor team does not condone any illegal activity, so familiarize yourself with your location's legal aspect before torrenting.
Should I use OpenVPN with uTorrent?
Yes, it’s highly advisable to use the OpenVPN protocol with uTorrent. This is because OpenVPN is designed to deliver rock-solid protection without noticeably reducing speeds. With premium VPNs OpenVPN doesn’t require manual configuration, making it suitable even if you’re new to VPNs.
Which VPNs have a mobile app for torrenting?
The best VPNs with a mobile app for torrenting are ExpressVPN and CyberGhost. Both have large server networks, robust security features, and unlimited bandwidth, making them an excellent choice for uTorrent. Their mobile apps are straightforward to use and download on a mobile phone, making them highly suitable for mobile torrenting.
What's the best free VPN for uTorrent on Windows?
ExpressVPN is the best Windows VPN for uTorrent. It's incredibly fast, keeps you safe while torrenting, and works with uTorrent. While it’s not 100% free, it has a 30-day money-back guarantee that lets you test out all its features risk-free.
Get the Best VPN for uTorrent
A VPN can protect your privacy using uTorrent, but some free services sell your data and bombard you with ads. After extensive testing, I shortlisted the safest ones for uTorrent, but even some of these options have limitations.
Because of this, my top recommendation for uTorrent is ExpressVPN. It comes with no restrictions on speeds, security, and server network. Plus, a trustworthy 30-day money-back guarantee allows you to try ExpressVPN without risk. If it doesn’t work as you expected, you get a 100% refund.
To summarize, these are the best VPNs for uTorrent...
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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