Is Torrenting in the USA Safe in 2024?

Torrenting isn’t just potentially unsafe in the USA — it can be risky from anywhere without the right online security. Every time you torrent, you risk exposing yourself to hackers, trackers, and malware.

Luckily, there’s an easy solution to this. A reliable VPN can help you torrent safely in the US by encrypting your internet traffic and data. This helps to protect your data from getting into the hands of malicious third parties. My team and I tested over 150 VPNs, and I’d personally recommend ExpressVPN for its military-grade security features and consistently fast torrenting speeds.

To minimize your risk of infecting your device with malware from infected torrents, you should only download torrents from trusted sources and/or get an antivirus software (I’ll provide more tips below). 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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Important! Torrenting itself is not illegal in the US, but it becomes illegal if you torrent copyrighted content. My team and I don’t condone illegal torrenting; be sure to check the rules and regulations before downloading files that are protected under copyright.

What Are the Risks of Torrenting in the US

Torrenting in the US can present some serious challenges. On top of legal risks, there are various cyber threats you are vulnerable to whenever you torrent in the US. Find out more about the 3 major risks of torrenting below.

Copyright trolls

Copyright trolls are companies that locate and penalize users who download copyrighted content. They're usually third parties, hired to act on behalf of big movie studios and music labels. Copyright trolls use deep packet inspection (DPI) to track your downloads and visited sites. Once they find someone downloading illegal files, they hand out a settlement letter that can sometimes come with fines of up to $100K. The team at vpnMentor doesn't condone illegal torrenting, but even if you didn’t download copyrighted content intentionally and only did it by accident, you’d be exposing yourself to copyright trolls.

Suspicious torrenting sites

It's riskier than you would think to search for a torrent site on Google. The search will usually hide torrent websites and display fake ones. These can contain annoying pop-up ads and suspicious torrents from unverified uploaders. This can easily expose you to hackers, trackers, and malware.

It takes just one wrong click before you “invite” a hacker into your machine. From there, your personal data may be accessed and sold, or your system could get hijacked completely.

Connection throttling

Without using a VPN, your internet service provider (ISP) can track all your online activities. This means that your ISP can also see whether you’re torrenting or not.

Torrenting is heavy on your bandwidth. Meaning, downloading big files at high speeds often takes more data than your ISP is willing to give. Many ISPs in the US will intentionally slow down your speeds if they see you’ve been using “too much” data. This shady practice is called throttling. A VPN hides your online activities and can protect you against connection throttling.

Why You Need a VPN for Torrenting in the US

When you torrent, your data (such as your IP address) is shared with other users. Torrenting uses P2P (peer-to-peer) file-sharing — a 2-way connection that lets both parties see where the torrent is coming from. This can expose you to a number of cyber threats associated with torrenting sites, including hackers, viruses, and DDoS (Distributed Denial-of-Service) attacks. The safest way to torrent in the US is by using a VPN.

A VPN protects your connection by hiding your actual IP address and encrypting your data so it remains private. It reroutes your traffic through its server network, which is also known as VPN tunneling. This means that your data will be protected from hackers and other malicious third parties. As a bonus, since your online activity is hidden, your ISP won’t throttle your speed or get the chance to spy on you, either.

The Best VPNs for Torrenting in the US — Full Analysis (Updated 2024)

1. ExpressVPN — Highly Secure With Fast Speeds for Torrenting in the US

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www.expressvpn.com

ExpressVPN offers top-notch security features to protect your data. It uses AES 256-bit encryption, which is the strongest level available. Moreover, its kill switch (Network Lock) keeps your data from leaking if your VPN disconnects. During my break from work, my laptop went into sleep mode and disconnected my VPN. When I turned it on again, the VPN warned me with a popup that it had cut off my internet until it established a safe connection again.

The Network Lock kill switch comes already enabled, but you can access it in the Options menu under "General Settings"

In addition, ExpressVPN is one of the most trusted VPN services in the industry when it comes to your online privacy. It runs under an audited and verified no-logs policy and is headquartered in the privacy-friendly British Virgin Islands. It's even developed its own security protocol called Lightway, which is a great balance of speed and security for downloading large torrents safely. However, if security is your main concern, it also offers the industry-standard OpenVPN, which is super safe (but slower than Lightway).

Overall, it provides you with ultra-fast speeds. Plus, it gives you unlimited bandwidth so that your ISP won't throttle your connection. I tested 10 of its US servers, and my speeds averaged 45.2 Mbps. This allowed me to download Little Giant from YTS in under 3 minutes. Unlimited bandwidth and fast servers ensure you'll be able to torrent in the US with zero buffering. In addition, ExpressVPN offers its unique Lightway protocol, which gives you faster speeds than OpenVPN.

ExpressVPN has a vast network of 3,000 servers in 105 countries, with more than 20 locations in the US. In addition, all its servers are P2P optimized, which I found especially helpful during my tests. Since I didn’t have to spend time searching for a server that supports P2P traffic, I could get straight to downloading. With this many P2P servers available, you’ll always find one nearby to maximize your speeds while torrenting.

ExpressVPN protects your privacy with a strict no-logs policy. While reading through it, I found out that independent auditors verify it. In addition, the VPN’s headquarters are in the British Virgin Islands, which is outside the 5/9/14 Eyes Alliance. This means that ExpressVPN is not obligated to hand over your data to third parties. Moreover, it uses TrustedServer technology, which means that all your data automatically gets deleted when you disconnect. With this level of anonymity, ExpressVPN even works in suppressive countries, like China. You can torrent without being exposed to hackers, trackers, or prying eyes.

It also offers a split tunneling feature (for macOS, Windows, and routers). This allows you to choose which online traffic will pass through the VPN and which stays on your local network. During my tests, I used split-tunneling to encrypt my torrenting activity while using my regular connection to access my banking app. Since you only encrypt a part of your traffic, you can save your bandwidth and boost your speeds.

A minor downside is that ExpressVPN doesn’t come with a built-in ad blocker. This means that you have to download one separately to prevent annoying pop-ups on torrenting sites. Luckily, it is compatible with various ad blockers and even recommends a few on its site. While visiting the ExpressVPN website, you can also use its latest discount to get 82% off your subscription.

You can even try ExpressVPN risk-free since it’s backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee. If you don’t like it, you'll have no problem getting a refund. I tested this policy myself and asked for my money back after 28 days by using its 24/7 live chat. The chat agent asked me a few user satisfaction questions and then quickly issued my refund. I had my money back in 2 business days.

2. IPVanish — Strong Security Features to Safely Torrent in the US

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www.ipvanish.com

IPVanish uses military-grade security features, including 256-bit encryption, an automatic kill switch, and DNS/IPv6 leak protection. I tested over 10 US servers on ipleak.net, and the results showed no IP or DNS leaks. I also found that it has a verified and independently audited no-logging policy. This means that you'll be able to torrent in the US safely.

IPVanish kept my online data safe while torrenting in the US

It gives you superfast speeds and unlimited data. I ran speed tests on 5 of its US servers and found an average of 34.6 Mbps. This allowed me to easily download a 1GB file in under 5 minutes. I found the entire experience to be smooth — there was no buffering. With speeds this fast, you can enjoy uninterrupted torrenting in the US.

IPVanish has 2,400 servers in 130 countries, and it allows torrenting on all of them. This includes 20+ server locations within the US. During my tests, it didn’t matter which servers I connected to — I could download files reliably with all of them. You won't waste time searching for a server that supports P2P file sharing.

IPVanish offers 8 simultaneous device connections. I put this to the test by watching Netflix on my iPad while downloading a file from 1337x on my Macbook. I didn't encounter any slowdown with the torrent — it was finished downloading within a few minutes. As a result, you can even browse, stream, or play games without impacting your downloads.

Unfortunately, it doesn’t have a built-in ad blocker. However, this isn't a major downfall since you can easily get one separately. If you sign up now, you can even get up to 83% off your subscription.

You can try all its features for free using its 30-day money-back guarantee. If you aren't impressed, you can always ask for a refund. During my tests, I found that you don't need to contact customer service or offer a reason for canceling. To get your money back, simply go into your account and cancel your membership from there. This took me just 2 minutes — I had my money back in 4 business days.

3. CyberGhost — Built-in Ad Blocker to Protect You While Torrenting in the US

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Try CyberGhost VPN >

www.cyberghostvpn.com

CyberGhost comes with a built-in ad and malware blocker to protect you while torrenting. When I turned it on, my browsing experience was smooth. I never encountered any annoying pop-ups when I visited torrenting sites like YTS and 1337x. This is great for privacy, too, because third parties won’t be able to target you with ads based on your browsing activity.

It has some fast speeds as well. I tested CyberGhost's P2P-optimized servers and had an average speed of 28.6 Mbps. This allowed me to download a 500 MB file in less than 5 minutes. I found the specialty servers to be significantly faster than its regular servers. However, these can get overcrowded. My speeds dropped to 13.9 Mbps during peak time (7 - 9 p.m). Luckily, you have access to tons of alternative US servers to switch to in case one is slow.

The VPN keeps you safe with AES 256-bit encryption, DNS and IPv6 leak protection, and an automatic kill switch. Besides, it has a strict no-logs policy that has been verified by independent auditors. While reading through it, I found that its headquarters are located in Romania. This means they’re outside the 14-eye alliance and thus not obligated by law to keep user logs. Your data is protected from third parties while torrenting in the US.

It has a user-friendly interface that optimizes your torrenting experience. Because all of its P2P servers are in a list labeled "for downloading," they were easy to find in the app. When I tested CyberGhost on my Macbook, it even showed the load percentage of each server. You can easily identify the fastest server.

A minor con of CyberGhost is that its short-term plans are a bit expensive. Luckily, it does offer a 84% discount, so you can save some money on your subscription.

CyberGhost offers a 45-day money-back guarantee, so you can test the service completely free. If you’re not happy with it, you can always ask for your money back. After 28 days of using it, I contacted its 24/7 live chat to ask for a refund. The agent only asked me why I wanted to cancel and then approved my refund. I had my money back after 5 business days.

4. PIA — P2P-Supporting Servers for Fast Torrenting in the US

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Try Private Internet Access >

www.privateinternetaccess.com

Private Internet Access (PIA) has 29,650 servers in 91 countries to keep you safe while torrenting. Most of these support P2P traffic, however during my tests I found out that I could not torrent on its US servers. Luckily, I was able to use its Canadian servers instead. They decreased my speeds just a little bit, but it still worked just fine — I was able to download a 1GB torrent file within 4 minutes. You can always find a reliable torrenting server.

It has decent speeds as well. When I tested its Canada servers, my speeds averaged 19.5 Mbps. This allowed me to download Indestructible Man from The Pirate Bay in under 6 minutes. In addition, it also comes with unlimited bandwidth, so you can torrent in the US without lag or any annoying data caps.

PIA lets you torrent in the US safely with its robust security features, like AES 256-bit data encryption, an automatic kill switch, and IPv6 and DNS leak protection. I did a leak test on 10 of PIA’s servers and didn’t find any. You'll be protected from hackers, trackers, and prying eyes.

MACE allows you to block ads, trackers, and malware. To enable this, I just had to navigate to PIA's privacy features; it was on with just one click. Once it was on, I could access torrenting sites safely without having any ads popping up. It also improved the loading time of the website. This means that your device will be protected while torrenting in the US.

PIA’s built-in ad and malware blocker protected me against malicious third parties

One slight downside is that PIA's customer service may exhibit slow response times. For instance, when I sought to inquire about torrenting in the US, it took over 15 minutes to connect with a live chat representative. However, the service provides a comprehensive knowledge base, where you can effortlessly locate answers to nearly all your queries.

If you sign up now, you can get up to 83% off your subscription. Moreover, you can test PIA for free using its 30-day money-back guarantee. I decided to try its refund policy after 23 days of using it. Since you cannot ask for a refund through its live chat, I emailed customer service to cancel my subscription. I got a response after 1 day and had my money back in my account after 5 business days.

5. PrivateVPN — Ultra-Secure to Protect You While Torrenting in the US

Available on:

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Try PrivateVPN >

www.privatevpn.com

PrivateVPN keeps your data safe with a combination of security features. This includes 256-bit encryption, a no-logs policy, and IPv6 and DNS leak protection. I ran 4 servers through a leak test — it found none, whatsoever. Another feature that protects you from leaks is ‘Connection Guard’, available for Windows and Mac. This feature shuts off the torrent client if the VPN suddenly disconnects. You won't have to worry about exposing your information while torrenting in the US.

PrivateVPN’s Connection Guard feature kept me safe while torrenting in the US

The service offers satisfactory speeds and unrestricted data usage. Throughout my testing phase, I attained an average speed of 16.3 Mbps when connected to the servers in the US that I utilized. While this might not be the most remarkable velocity, I successfully managed to procure a 500 MB file in just 5 minutes through its Los Angeles server. Furthermore, the boundless bandwidth allocation proved invaluable in preventing any connection slowdowns. It's worth noting that torrenting within the US is possible without encountering any limitations.

It has a server network of 200 servers in 63 countries and allows torrenting on every server. Although it’s not the most extensive network, I never had any issues finding a reliable US connection for torrenting since it offers servers in 12 different states. You can always find a server nearby to optimize your download speeds.

A small downside is that the VPN doesn’t come with a built-in ad blocker. This means that if you don’t want annoying pop-ups while accessing torrent sites, you’ll have to download an ad blocker separately. However, its powerful security and privacy features still make this VPN an excellent solution for torrenting safely. If you sign up now, you can even get 85% off your subscription.

You can use PrivateVPNs 30-day money-back guarantee to test all its features for free. After 21 days of using the service, I contacted its live chat to ask for a refund. The agent told me that refunds could only be processed through email, so I emailed asking for a refund. I had my money back in my account after 6 days.

Tips for Choosing the Best VPN for Torrenting in the US

In the quest for the perfect VPN for secure torrenting in the US, strong security and privacy features should be your top considerations. Furthermore, swift connection speeds and dependability significantly improve your overall torrenting experience. To aid you in your selection process, let's delve into the vital aspects to contemplate when searching for the ideal VPN:

• Military-grade encryption. Look for a VPN with AES 256-bit encryption. This is the highest level of encryption available and is impossible to penetrate. I ensured that each VPN on the list comes with the best encryption available to keep you safe while torrenting in the US.
• Automatic kill switch and leak protection. An automatic kill switch will cut off your internet connection if your VPN suddenly disconnects. DNS/IP leak protection ensures your real IP address isn't accidentally exposed. All the VPNs on my list come with these security features so your online activity won’t be exposed while torrenting in the US.
• Strict no-logs policy. It’s best to use a VPN that has an independent audited zero-logging policy. This way, you’re sure that your data won’t be recorded or sold to third parties. I read through all the logging policies of the VPNs on this list to be sure that they’re reliable and verified.
• P2P optimized servers. The VPN should have either specialized servers for torrenting in the US or enable P2P sharing on all its US servers. This ensures that you can download torrents without any limitations. I made sure that all VPNs on this list come with P2P-optimized servers.
• Lightning-fast speeds and unlimited bandwidth. This is important since torrenting takes a lot of bandwidth. A VPN with superfast speeds and unlimited bandwidth prevents interruptions and long download times. I used a speed testing tool on all of the VPNs on my list to be sure that they’re fast enough for torrenting.
• Reliable money-back guarantee. It’s important that you can test all the VPN features for free, especially if you’re not ready to commit yet. I made sure that all VPNs on my list come with a tried and tested money-back guarantee. This way, you can get a refund without any hassle.

Additional Tips for Downloading Torrents Safely in the US

Using a VPN gives you a great deal of security. However, there are additional precautions you can take to maximize your safety while torrenting in the US. I recommend practicing the following:

• Only use legal torrents. Downloading copyrighted materials is illegal in the US and can get you in some serious trouble. Be sure only to use legal torrents and always check the rules and regulations before downloading any material that may be copyright protected.
• Find a reliable torrent website. Make sure to only download from reliable torrenting websites since many fake ones are full of malicious links and annoying ads. Reliable torrenting sites will show you which torrents have been verified for safety, so make sure to only download those. Some trustworthy torrenting websites are The Pirate Bay, RARBG, 1337x, and YTS.
• Install a trustworthy torrent client. A torrent client is software that accesses, downloads, and manages torrent files on your device. It connects to a torrent server and sends a request for a certain file to everyone sharing it. You should always use a trustworthy torrent client such as BitTorrent and uTorrent. Moreover, make sure that your client is always up to date to avoid bugs or leaks.
• Enable the IP Binding feature. Some torrent clients, like BitTorrent and uTorrent, allow you to specify one IP address to torrent from. This means that the client will block your connection if you try to torrent from another IP address. You can connect your device to your VPN server. This way, your online data will be protected while torrenting.
• Use a dependable seed. A seed is a person who has fully downloaded and opened a torrent file in their client. This file is now being shared with other users. It's critical to check the number of seeders in each file; the greater the number of people who have the file in their torrent client, the safer it is. Always verify the number of seeds next to each file before downloading it, and only download those with the most seeders.
• Read the comments. When browsing for files on torrent websites, always check the comments. If your chosen file has many positive comments, they’re often safe to download.
• Double-check the torrent's content. Be careful with file extensions that you don't recognize, and always look them up before opening. Do not open an ".exe" file if you expect a video file. Malware and viruses can be easily transmitted through these types of files as they have the authority to make changes on your device.
• Download files to a sandboxed environment. This is software that creates a virtual area on your device which you can use to test the torrent file. It isolates your downloads from the rest of your files to protect your device in case the download turns out to be malicious.
• Join a community. Torrenting communities (also known as private trackers) only share files between members of the group. The files are regularly checked so that the community can torrent files free from malware and viruses. Unfortunately, it’s challenging to get into one of these groups since they’re invite-only.
• Install antivirus software on your device. Make sure to have regular virus scans when you download files from the internet. It's best to use several antivirus programs as each of their virus libraries can differ.
• Update your device's security features to their latest versions. To keep yourself protected from infected files, you should make sure that your device's antivirus, antispyware, and operating systems are always up to date.
• Use a secure protocol. Always use a secure protocol like WireGuard, IKEv2, and OpenVPN. Using weak protocols like PPTP can leave you vulnerable to data leaks.

FAQs on Using a VPN for Torrenting in the US

Is torrenting in the US safe without a VPN?

Torrenting anywhere without a VPN isn't safe, including in the US. Your personal information (like your IP address) is not hidden when you torrent without one. This allows your ISP and malicious third parties to track your torrenting activity. In addition, your online data is not encrypted without a VPN and is thus exposed to hackers, trackers, and malware.

VPN alternatives such as proxies, Tor, or Peerblock are also not safe options. Proxies will change your IP address, but they don't encrypt your traffic. Tor is slow and draws even more attention from your ISP since it’s a known tool for hackers. Plus, when you use Tor, you're vulnerable to hackers and other cyber threats associated with the dark web.

Peerblock is a desktop firewall that blocks IP addresses known to track your online activity. Unfortunately, you must pay for Peerblock to access the regular updates to the blacklist. And even if you’re willing to pay, it’s impossible that the blacklist contains every single IP address of third parties that track your activities.

Is torrenting illegal in the USA?

Torrenting itself is not illegal in the US, but it becomes illegal if you torrent copyrighted content. If you download something protected by copyright law, it could result in heavy fines. I recommend researching your local laws, torrenting sites, and files to avoid accidentally downloading something illegally.

In addition, accessing torrent sites can look suspicious to your ISP. You should always use a top-tier VPN with robust security features. This way, you won't be flagged for simply visiting torrenting sites.

Are uTorrent and BitTorrent safe with a VPN?

Yes, when accessing a torrent site using uTorrent or BitTorrent, a VPN keeps you safe. All of the VPNs we’ve recommended offer strong security features to protect your data and keep you anonymous. They use military-grade encryption plus a strict no-logs policy to ensure you can torrent in the US safely. I wouldn't recommend accessing a torrent site without proper protection; it is super risky since your IP address and online data are exposed to other users. This makes you vulnerable to many threats (like third parties stealing data and DDoS attacks).

Is it safe to download a Torrent from a public tracker?

Only if you use a VPN. Using a reliable VPN will encrypt your data and thus protect you against hackers and malware. In addition, it keeps your online identity hidden since it re-routes your traffic through one of its servers.

A public tracker is a search engine that indexes torrent files. Examples are The Pirate Bay, 1337x, Kickass Torrents, and YTS. Anyone can search and upload files without logging in on these websites, so the uploaded files are not moderated at all. For this reason, it’s hard to know if a file is safe — I don't recommend downloading from public trackers without protecting yourself.

Does torrenting with a VPN affect my internet speed?

Just a bit. However, VPNs like ExpressVPN have such fast speeds that the slowdown is almost unnoticeable. Most VPNs even offer a generous money-back guarantee, so you can test the speeds yourself before committing to a subscription.

Because you're sharing a connection with other VPN users, a VPN might slow down your speeds. In addition, if you’re using a server far from your actual location, you’ll have slower speeds since your connection must travel significantly further. Lastly, because encrypting and decrypting your data takes time, speeds may be slower due to the strong encryption.

Can I use a free VPN for torrenting in the US?

I strongly advise against using free VPNs. Instead, I recommend using a premium VPN that comes with a money-back guarantee to ensure you stay safe while torrenting in the US.

Free VPNs often have slow speeds and small server networks. Moreover, most free VPNs do not allow torrenting and therefore block all torrenting activity. Free VPNs also don’t have the funds to keep their security protocols up-to-date. This means you cannot rely on them to keep you anonymous while torrenting. In addition, they’re known to collect and sell their users’ data to make profit.

They will often come with daily data caps and bombard you with annoying ads. On top of that, free VPNs are known to infect your device with malware and viruses. To protect your safety and anonymity while torrenting in the US, you should absolutely avoid free VPNs.

Torrent Safely in the US With a VPN

Torrenting in the US (or anywhere) can be a risky activity. You risk exposing yourself to hackers, trackers, and malware every time you download a torrent with P2P software. In addition, many torrenting sites aren't regulated, so it's possible you could download a malicious file by accident.

The easiest way to protect yourself while torrenting in the US is with a highly secure VPN. A VPN keeps you safe because it encrypts your traffic, making it unreadable to any third party who might want to snoop on your online activities. It also changes your IP address, so no one file sharing with you can see your real location or personal info.

Our top recommendation is ExpressVPN. It has military-grade security and privacy features that keep your online data protected and anonymous while torrenting in the US. In addition, it comes with lightning-fast speeds, so you can download large files within minutes. ExpressVPN is backed by a money-back guarantee too, which allows you to try ExpressVPN out risk-free. If you're not impressed, you have 30 days to claim a full refund.

To summarize, the best VPNs for safe torrenting in the US in 2024 are…

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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