7 best VPNs for uTorrent and how to bind your IP

µTorrent, more commonly spelled uTorrent, is the world’s most popular BitTorrent client made outside of China. It’s the official client created by the people who invented the BitTorrent P2P protocol. Because it is a network built for both uploading and downloading files, the protocol requires an IP address from each user. This can leave your privacy at risk, and this is why we recommend protecting yourself by using a VPN for uTorrent.

A Virtual Private Network (VPN) encrypts internet traffic traveling to and from your computer, which prevents your ISP and other entities from snooping on your online activity. Secondly, it routes all that traffic through a server in a location of your choosing. This both prevents your ISP from knowing the final destination of your internet traffic and gives you a new IP address from which you can connect to the BitTorrent network.

But not all VPNs are great for torrenting, some are too slow or not secure enough. This guide highlights which VPNs are the best for torrenting and specifically using uTorrent. Each of the VPNs is covered in detail further on, but if you are short of time, here is a short summary.

The best VPNs for uTorrent:

1. NordVPN: Our #1 choice VPN for uTorrent. Best in speed tests and has a vast network of servers worldwide. Strong privacy, 256-bit AES encryption, and no logs policy. A 30-day money-back guarantee lets you try it risk-free.
   TIP In our testing we found that the cheapest NordVPN plan (Standard) works perfectly for uTorrent.
2. Surfshark: A low-cost, security-focused provider, fast enough for lag-free torrents and streaming, and offers no connection limit.
3. IPVanish: Torrent-friendly VPN service. Speedy, keeps no logs, and strong default encryption. Allows unlimited connections.
4. ExpressVPN: Strong encryption and privacy standards, along with fast servers in plenty of locations. Ideal for uTorrent
5. CyberGhost: A good all-rounder. Won’t let you down on speed and security. Works well for torrenting. Has a vast server network.
6. PrivateVPN: Great up-and-coming VPN with no logs and extremely fast connections. Allows up to 10 connections.
7. ProtonVPN: A highly advanced VPN that offers split tunneling and port forwarding. Servers in 91+ countries. Fast speeds for torrenting and streaming.

The best VPNs for uTorrent: at a glance

We’ve compared the most important features of the top VPNs here. Prefer to read the in-depth reviews? Start with NordVPN – our #1 choice for uTorrent.

The best VPNs for uTorrent

So which VPN is best for uTorrent users? We’ve narrowed down the following list based on a handful of important criteria:

• Strong encryption on the OpenVPN protocol
• No activity logs stored
• Servers in the Netherlands, where torrenting is largely still legal
• Good download speed and unlimited bandwidth
• Windows, Mac, and Android apps
• Built-in VPN kill switch to prevent IP leaks

You can read more about how we test and rank the VPNs we recommend in our methodology section below. For now, let’s take a look at the ones that made the cut. 

Here’s a list of the best VPNs for uTorrent:

1. NordVPN

Dec 2024

NordVPN is our first choice for a uTorrent VPN. It outperforms almost every competitor in our speed tests and is one of the most powerful VPNs available when it comes to security. It has a large network of over 6,000 servers in over 100 countries. These include two “double-hop” servers, which tunnel one VPN through another VPN. This will slow down downloads slightly but make you next to impossible to track down. Servers are very fast, and you’ve plenty to choose from.

A kill switch can be enabled in the settings. Apps are available for Windows, MacOS, Linux, Android, and iOS.

BEST VPN FOR UTORRENT:NordVPN is our #1 pick. It pegs superfast speeds and works tirelessly with torrenting & P2P. Connects up to 10 devices simultaneously. Also works well with most popular streaming services. A 30-day money-back guarantee makes it risk-free.

Read our full NordVPN review here.

2. Surfshark

Surfshark is a low-cost provider but doesn’t hold back when it comes to security and privacy. It’s based in the British Virgin Islands, a location with no mandatory data-retention laws. It secures your traffic using 256-bit encryption, protection against WebRTC, DNS, and IPv6 leaks, and a kill switch, but more importantly, Surfshark doesn’t log any information that could identify you. You can pay in one of three different cryptocurrencies for an additional layer of anonymity. 24/7 support is available over live chat.

Surfshark offers apps for MacOS, iOS, Windows, Android, and Linux. Manual configuration is required for use with wireless routers.

BEST BUDGET VPN:Surfshark offers unlimited connections and doesn’t restrict bandwidth so you can torrent on as many devices as you like. Best of all, this VPN includes a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full review of Surfshark here.

3. IPVanish

IPVanish is known for its sizable network and lack of a connection limit. It’s a popular choice with torrenters and specifically designates certain countries as P2P-friendly, such as the Netherlands, where it has several servers to choose from. Traffic is encrypted with 256-bit AES, and no activity logs are stored. While not all the servers are as reliable as NordVPN, you’re sure to find a quick one with a bit of trial and error.

Apps are available for Windows, Mac, and Android, among others. The OSX and Windows clients have kill switches but not the Android version.

NO DEVICE LIMIT:IPVanish has a large network of servers. Generally solid for torrenters, Kodi users, and folks who need the highest standard of privacy. 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full IPVanish review here.

4. ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN supports the OpenVPN protocol but also has its own superfast Lightway protocol. Both of these use 256-bit encryption, which is extremely strong. No user activity is recorded, although the company does keep some metadata logs. It has several server locations in the Netherlands. Bandwidth is unlimited, and speeds are among the most consistent we’ve ever recorded.

Windows, Mac, and Android apps are all available, along with iOS and Linux. The company’s software also boasts a network lock, which prevents any traffic from leaking over your default IP address if the connection drops.

GOOD ALL-ROUNDER:ExpressVPN is suitable for beginners and advanced users alike. It has a vast server network that is optimized for fast connections. Subscriptions include a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Check out our full ExpressVPN review here.

5. CyberGhost

CyberGhost offers over 10,000 servers in 100+ countries, including over 300 in the Netherlands. Apps are available for both Android, Linux, and iOS, as well as desktop support for Windows and MacOS. Encryption standards are stringent. CyberGhost Pro uses 256-bit AES encryption on the OpenVPN or WireGuard protocols, along with 2,048-bit RSA keys and MD5 HMAC authentication. This means it’s in the top tier of VPNs when based on sturdy encryption.

There’s also an internet kill switch included, which means web traffic will be halted if the connection drops unexpectedly.

BEGINNER'S CHOICE:CyberGhost is a great beginners' choice Good on privacy. Streams HD video reliably with most streaming services. 45-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full CyberGhost review here.

6. PrivateVPN

PrivateVPN is a relatively young VPN service provider with a smaller network than the others on this list, but it’s also one of the fastest VPNs on our list and offers rock-solid security. It uses 256-bit encryption with perfect forward secrecy on the OpenVPN protocol. No web traffic or connection logs are recorded, and an optional kill switch is built in.

Apps are available for Windows, MacOS, iOS, and Android. You can connect up to 10 devices at a time on a single account.

GREAT FOR SPEED:PrivateVPN is consistently reliable. Solid performer for torrenting, P2P and general purpose use. It could do with having more servers and lacks 24/7 support. 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full PrivateVPN review.

7. ProtonVPN

ProtonVPN stands out as one of the top VPNs for torrenting, particularly renowned for its compatibility with uTorrent, thanks to its port forwarding feature. Based in the privacy-friendly jurisdiction of Switzerland, it was developed by the same team behind ProtonMail, enhancing its reputation for security and reliability. The service boasts a thoroughly audited no-logging policy and offers feature-rich applications across all major platforms.

Key to its appeal for torrent users is ProtonVPN’s inclusion of both split tunneling and port forwarding at no extra cost, which is especially beneficial for optimizing uTorrent performance. The VPN applications also come packed with robust security features, including AES encryption, multiple protocol options, stealth VPN capabilities, a system-level kill switch, obfuscation, multi-hop connections, and the aforementioned split tunneling and port forwarding.

SECURE AND PRIVATE:ProtonVPN is an advanced VPN dedicated to user privacy. Split tunneling and port forwarding make it a superb option for uTorrent or other torrent clients. Reliable no-logs policy, AES encryption, a kill switch, and obfuscation. Works to get an IP address in more than 85 countries. Has a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Find out more in our ProtonVPN review

Methodology: Choosing the best VPNs for uTorrent

You can’t be too careful when it comes to torrenting, which is why it’s so important to choose the right VPN for the job. Your provider will have to strike a balance between speed and security, and plenty of VPNs lean too heavily one way or another. Here are the key things we looked out for while researching the best VPNs for uTorrent:

• Performance: Because you’ll be downloading large files, high speeds are crucial. We run regular speed tests, allowing us to say with confidence which are the fastest VPNs at the moment. We also look at reliability since your fastest VPN has to maintain these speeds over multi-hour stretches.
• Server locations: The more supported countries your VPN has, the more likely it is that there’ll be a server near your actual location. This helps keep your latency low, thereby improving your speeds. Additionally, a larger network can help offset some of the additional load that arrives during peak times like evenings and weekends. We also looked for providers with servers in the Netherlands because torrenting is largely still legal there.
• Security tools: One of the biggest benefits of using a VPN is that they enhance your security. We require at least 256-bit encryption, a kill switch, and protection against IPv6 and DNS leaks, although additional security tools are always very welcome.
• Privacy features: To help obscure your identity, we look for VPNs with a no-logs policy and the ability to pay anonymously. Those with stealth modes, specific P2P servers, and support for newer protocols (such as WireGuard) are strongly preferred.

We have a fairly intensive testing process here at Comparitech, and this was just the first stage. To find out more, read our full VPN testing methodology post.

How to bind your VPN IP to uTorrent

The uTorrent Windows client includes a built-in function to limit downloads to a specific IP address. This useful tool means you can set uTorrent to only download torrents while connected to a certain VPN server. If the connection to the VPN drops or you disconnect, the downloads stop. This prevents any torrent traffic from traveling over your default IP address, linking your device to your downloads.

Here’s how to IP bind uTorrent to a VPN server:

1. Connect to your preferred VPN server for torrenting
2. Go to Google and type the question, “What’s my IP?” Copy the numbers and decimals that appear in the info graph to your clipboard.
3. In uTorrent, go to Options > Preferences > Advanced
4. In the Filter field, type “ip”
5. Click net.bind_ip in the results. In the Value field, paste your IP address and click Set.
6. Do the same for net.outgoing_ip
7. Press OK and restart the uTorrent client

Unfortunately, the IP bind feature is not yet built into the Mac and Android versions of uTorrent. Some users have reported success on Macs using a workaround with either Tunnelblick or Viscosity, which replace the VPN provider’s app. Azureus Vuze, an alternative to uTorrent, supports this function for Mac.

If you don’t want to use a different app or BitTorrent client, make sure to turn on the VPN kill switch (sometimes called a “network lock”) included in your provider’s app.

Port forwarding

Port forwarding is a contentious topic among uTorrent users. Some say it improves their download speeds by allowing their torrent client to connect to more peers outside the normal range of the VPN. Others argue it is unnecessary and, when using a VPN, only serves to make torrenting more difficult and can even degrade user privacy.

This is because all users sharing the same VPN IP address will all be limited to the same ports except for the one who chooses to port forward. That can make P2P activity easier to trace back to a single user.

Most commercial VPN clients don’t support port forwarding and work fine without it. For those that do, enter the forwarded port into the uTorrent settings by doing the following:

1. In uTorrent, go to Options > Preferences > Connections
2. Enter the port number set in your VPN client
3. Uncheck Randomize port each time uTorrent[Bittorrent] starts
4. Disable Enable UPnP port mapping
5. Uncheck Enable NAT-PMP port mapping

Port forwarding in a VPN does not require forwarding ports in your router. You may need to disable NAT-PMP and/or uPNP mapping in the torrent client.

VPNs uTorrent users should avoid

When using uTorrent, choosing the right VPN is crucial for a safe and efficient experience. However, some VPNs should be avoided:

1. Hola VPN: Initially popular for its unique approach to bandwidth sharing, Hola was found selling users’ bandwidth for botnets, leading to malicious activities like DDoS attacks and content piracy. Given its unethical practices, it’s a no-go for uTorrent users.
2. Betternet: This VPN was caught installing adware, malware, and trackers on devices. Using Betternet could compromise, rather than protect, your privacy. With its questionable logging policies and potential data selling, it’s another one to steer clear of​.
3. Thunder VPN: Designed for Android, this free VPN comes with significant security risks. It uses an insecure connection protocol, leaving your activities vulnerable to exposure. Furthermore, it’s been found to collect substantial amounts of personal data despite claiming to be a no-logs VPN, putting your information at risk​.

When choosing a VPN for uTorrent, prioritize those with solid security features, robust encryption, and strict no-log policies. Avoiding the wrong VPN is as important as selecting the right one for your torrenting needs.

Torrenting with a VPN: FAQs

Comparitech does not condone or encourage any violation of copyright restrictions. Please consider the law, victims, and risks of piracy before downloading copyrighted material without permission.

Read more: How to Torrent safely, 5 simple steps