Downloading of torrents is probably one of the most common reasons why millions of Internet users are installing VPN software and applications on their electronic devices. Downloading and uploading torrents without using VPN could mean trouble on the part of the user. You will know the reason for those later, but first things first. You need to know what a torrent file is and how it works, to understand better your torrenting activity.
Torrenting has now become a widespread Internet activity and millions of Internet users are doing it every single day. For this reason, it’s not that surprising for torrents to contain viruses and malwares that put your device, and all the personal information saved in it, at risk. Since it’s a public sharing network, it has become a great avenue for fraudsters to loom over. Getting a VPN will help you prevent spies and hackers from prying over your Internet activity through malwares and viruses found in torrents. In line with that, this post will discuss about the top 5 best VPNs for avid torrent fans.
Top 5 Best VPNs for Torrenting
- me
- IPVanish
- TorGuard
- Buffered VPN
- Air VPN
Torrents are files that contain metadata, or aggregated data, about certain files that is to be distributed among members of a specific group or network. Usually, torrent files contain the name, references, folder structure, size, type of data, and cryptographic hash values of the files to be distributed. Simply put, torrent files don’t contain the file (to be downloaded) itself. Since a torrent file is only a few Kilobytes in size, you can’t expect a full-length movie to be in that certain torrent file. In other words, torrent files only contain references to the real location of the file you are trying to download.
The seed, peer and leechers make up the entire torrent system. The seed (seeder) has the complete files to be distributed. Meanwhile the peers are those users who only have bits and pieces of the complete file, which is usually open to other users for downloading purposes. On the other hand, leechers are those users who just download the torrent files without the intention of sharing it to others.
When you download torrent files without using a VPN, all these other users (seed, peers, and leechers) can easily see your IP address. You know too well how dangerous it is for some random strangers to know your IP address. When you access torrent files without VPN, the risk of getting spied on or hacked increases significantly. That is the main reason why using a VPN is highly recommended for torrenting activities.
One of the best advantages you can get from using VPN services is that it allows you to download torrent files anonymously. It means you are allowed to still enjoy torrenting, but this time, without exposing your IP address. In short, your identity and location is invisible in the eyes of other users.
Summary of the Best VPN for Downloading and Uploading Torrents
Here is a quick preview of the best VPN services specifically designed to protect torrenting users:
| RANK | VPN PROVIDER | PRICE per MONTH | LINK (Website) |
| 1 | Hide.me (Premium) | $ 9.99 per month | https://hide.me/en |
| 2 | IPVanish | $ 6.49 per month | https://www.ipvanish.com |
| 3 | TorGuard | $ 4.99 per month | https://torguard.net |
| 4 | Buffered VPN | $8.25 per month | https://buffered.com |
| 5 | Air VPN | $ 5.03 per month | https://airvpn.org |
Here is a more detailed discussion on the top 5 VPN providers listed above:
1. me (Premium)
Pros
- Excellent download speed
- Free Version with 2GB data transfer
- Up to 5 simultaneous connections for premium plans
Cons
- Premium plan is expensive
Hide.me is one of the most sought-after VPN providers for torrenting activities. The great thing about Hide.me is that you can try its services free of charge. This is a great opportunity for you to test the waters first before investing in a VPN service provider. The free version will allow you to transfer data, worth 2GB, over the Internet. The 2GB free plan will let you enjoy so many files, of different types, without incurring costs. You can take advantage of this offer and then decide later whether you are ready to spend $9.99 per month on a premium VPN service.
Another impressive thing about Hide.me is that they have amazingly fast download speeds. Having several servers in different geographical locations really does great things. If you plan to use the VPN for torrenting purposes, then Hide.me is perfect since it will let you download files faster than the average download speeds for torrent files.
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2. IPVanish
Pros
- Impressive download speeds
- Zero logging feature
- Provides maximum security for privacy-focused users
- No third-party outsourcing
Cons
- Minor mobile connectivity problems
- No free trial
IPVanish is a relatively new VPN service provider. However, it has already gained its impressive market share simply because of its overall performance. From pricing to encryption technology to connectivity, IPVanish just gives the users the best deals. Right now, IPVanish offers users three pricing schemes. If you wish to try out their services for a month first, then you need to pay $10 per month. However, if you want to avail of a longer plan (the longer the plan, the bigger monthly savings you can get), you can choose their 6-month plan costing $8.99 per month. If you want bigger savings, then you better choose their 1-year plan costing only $6.49 per month.
IPVanish actually has many features to offer its users. One of the most impressive features you can get is the Zero Logging feature. The Zero Logging feature will justify your decision to use VPN. This feature allows you to use the Internet anonymously while leaving no trace of any activities done. All the information you enter into IPVanish’s database will never be stored.
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3. TorGuard
Pros
- Expert-level configuration
- Numerous servers in various geographical locations
- Above average download speeds
Cons
- No free trial
- Not highly recommended for beginners
TorGuard is a VPN service that is designed especially for Torrenting activities. If you are a first time VPN user, then this might not be the right provider for you. TorGuard encourages expert VPN users to configure the software as they see fit. Although there are default settings and presets available, expert configuration will bring out the best results a VPN service could ever offer.
One of the reasons why TorGuard is highly praised is that it offers a wide array of servers in different countries. This means you can gain access to country-specific torrent files with ease. Aside from that, you also get the benefit of having above average download speeds, which is a top requirement for torrenting activities.
Another great thing about TorGuard is that it has a fully functional 24/7 customer support feature that allows you to ask for any VPN-related assistance. Whenever you are having troubles with slow download connection (which happens rarely, by the way), you can easily tap the customer support team and raise your concern.
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4. Buffered VPN
Pros
- Fast and reliable download speeds
- Supports P2P functions
- Great for streaming (Netflix)
- Easy to follow set-up tutorials
Cons
- Pricey
- Small number of servers available
Buffered VPN is a fast growing VPN service provider that is making buzz in the Internet. Although they have smaller number of servers supporting their features, it still functions almost at par with high-quality VPN services available this year. Buffered VPN has three pricing options that you can choose from. The first one is a one-month plan that costs $12.99 per month. The second option is a semi-annual plan (6months) costing $9.99 per month. Lastly, you can avail of their annual plan, which will give you more monetary savings in the end, costing $8.25 per month.
The greatest thing about Buffered VPN is that it has a No Logging feature. This feature is perfect for users who wish to remain anonymous while torrenting. The No Logging feature will not keep records of your Web activities and personal information. This means you are safe from prying eyes and malicious hackers.
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5. Air VPN
Pros
- Port forwarding feature supported
- No logs kept
- Supports P2P
Cons
- Not user-friendly for beginners/ first time users
- Customer support needs improvement
Air VPN is one of the best torrenting VPN service providers you can ever find. It has amazing security features that will surely justify your choice to use VPN services. The greatest thing about Air VPN is that it offers maximum privacy to users. All your Web activities will be encrypted so that no one else can touch it while you connect to the Internet. Your IP address remains safe even if you download torrent files all day long.
Another great thing about Air VPN is that it allows you to connect a maximum number of 3 devices per account. This means you can have 3 devices simultaneously downloading torrent files over the Internet. Just imagine how many movie files you can download with 3 devices simultaneously connected to the VPN.
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What You Need to Consider When Looking for the Best VPNs for Torrents?
You need to prioritize several considerations before investing in a VPN service. If your main objective in using a VPN service is for torrenting, then you have to find a VPN provider that has impressive download speeds, great security and encryption features, and of course, a torrent-supporting provider. By the way, you should know that not all VPN service providers support torrenting activities so you have to carefully choose which VPN service to invest in.
The main concern for torrenting activities is that it exposes you to risks of being hacked and spied upon, since your IP address will be made available to all the users in the same network. Having an unprotected IP address is susceptible to Internet frauds, so you will definitely need a VPN for this type of activity.
Classifications of VPN Services According to Its Use
For your information, VPN services can be classified into different groups according to its use. There are VPN services mainly designed for torrenting activities while there are VPN services designed to function as an Intranet for large organizations. Here is a brief discussion on some of these classifications:
VPN for Torrenting
When looking for the best VPN for torrenting activities, you should first check whether the provider supports torrenting activities. Next, consider the download speed and the number of servers available. Fast download speeds are needed for torrenting activities since it usually involves large-sized files.
VPN as Intranet
VPN can also be used to connect remote computers to a host or the private server. Most companies use VPN services to function as a private network for the organization and its members. The benefits of using this private network is that all the files shared to and from remote computers are highly secured and protected, thus maintaining the confidentiality of information.
VPN for Streaming
A VPN service can also help you stream movies and videos that have geo-restrictions. There are times when a particular movie series is purposely not made available to your country. Having a VPN help you bypass this geographical limitation.
Conclusion: The Best VPN for Torrent Downloading and Uploading
Practicality-wise and performance-wise, IPVanish is the best choice among all the VPN providers listed above. It’s price falls on the average prices shown and its performance is undoubtedly excellent. You no longer need to worry about any privacy-related issues since IPVanish focuses on that with much passion. You can simply continue downloading your favourite torrent files without worrying about malwares and viruses. You can even visit country-specific websites since the site develop wouldn’t know your credentials due to the anonymity provided by IPVanish. In short, IPVanish gives you the ultimate freedom to access as many resources as you want to, online. You can visit their website directly and see other features that you might want to avail of.