How to make torrent speeds faster when using a VPN

Want to get better speeds when torrenting with a VPN? Use our tips and tricks to get faster torrent speeds. Keep scrolling to learn how to make any VPN faster for torrenting.

A Virtual Private Network (VPN) is one of the most important security tools to have if you torrent often. Their encryption ensures that local networks, ISPs, government snoops, and other unwanted third parties can’t monitor your internet activities. This allows you to torrent with complete confidentiality. A VPN also hides your IP address from torrent peers, protecting you against hackers and false copyright infringement allegations.

To provide these benefits, VPNs encrypt your data and route it through a proxy VPN server somewhere else in the world before it reaches the torrent swarm. Now, these privacy benefits come at a price. This process can introduce some latency and potentially slow down your torrent speeds. The good news is that there are optimal VPN settings you can use to make your VPN quicker for torrenting.

VPNs offer various protocols and settings, each providing different levels of protection and performance. Follow this guide to access the settings menu and configure your VPN to speed up your torrenting.

How to speed up your torrent speeds when using a VPN

The most important step needed to achieve fast torrent speeds is to choose a fast VPN in the first place.

Many VPNs are too slow for torrenting, so you should not expect decent performance if you sign up for one of these VPNs. Our experts have carefully examined dozens of leading providers and run hundreds of tests to find the best VPNs for torrenting. We’ve also included these recommendations below to get a fast torrenting VPN.

Assuming you already have a subscription with a reliable VPN for torrenting, you are ready for our optimization tips! You can try using the tips below with any VPN, but if yours has subpar performance to begin with, the benefit may not be noticeable. That is why it is important to choose your provider carefully.

Here are our tips to make a VPN for torrenting quickly:

1. Choose a fast protocol: We recommend using WireGuard or OpenVPN UDP. However, some market-leading VPNS also have proprietary protocols that are designed to give faster torrent speeds. Ask your VPN provider to find out which protocol is faster.
2. Connect to a server optimized for torrenting: The best VPNs have a selection of optimized torrenting servers. Check with your VPN provider to determine which servers to use.
3. Connect to a nearby VPN server: This reduces the distance that your traffic must travel and helps to reduce lag, improve ping, and ensure faster speeds.
4. Use split tunneling: This feature allows you to send some traffic inside of the VPN tunnel (your torrent traffic) while keeping other traffic outside of the VPN tunnel. Reducing the amount of activities being encrypted by your VPN can reduce resource consumption and help improve speeds.
5. Reduce the encryption strength: Some VPNs allow you to change the encryption configuration. Reducing the strength of the encryption can increase your speed. However, you will not be torrenting as safely, and doing so will slightly reduce your protection against hackers. That said, AES-128 should still be adequate for torrenting because it still shields your IP address from the swarm and prevents ISPs from tracking your torrents. This feature is not available with all VPNs.
6. Disable unnecessary features: We recommend checking whether you have accidentally enabled an advanced VPN feature. Some VPN features can slow down your connection. Turn off features like double VPN, obfuscation, or ad-blocking to help speed up your torrents.
7. Update your VPN software: If you’re using an older version of your VPN, you may miss out on the latest performance improvements. You can reinstall your VPN to get the latest version.
8. Use a wired connection: If you connect your device directly to your router using an Ethernet cable, you should get faster speeds. This will avoid slowness caused by older Wi-Fi or a poor Wi-Fi signal.
9. Disable background applications: If your computer isn’t very powerful, you may want to consider disabling background applications when torrenting. This will help to keep your system running smoothly. Too many browser tabs can also slow down your computer, affecting your torrent speeds.

Please remember that a good antivirus is necessary to torrent safely. We urge you to always use a well-known antivirus alongside your VPN. Rather than disabling your antivirus, do some research to find out whether your antivirus brand is resource-heavy. If your antivirus is known to be slow, you may want to switch.

Related: Is a VPN all I need to be safe while torrenting?

Why do I need a VPN for torrenting?

When you use a VPN to protect your torrenting, the VPN software performs two important tasks:

1. Encrypts your connection: A VPN encrypts your connection to prevent local networks, government agencies, and ISPs from monitoring your activities. This lets you share (seed) or download (leech) files privately.
2. Hides your IP address: A VPN hides your IP address from the swarm, preventing cybercriminals from probing your network for vulnerabilities they can exploit for hacking.

To provide these vital security benefits, a VPN must use a sophisticated encryption protocol to scramble your data. With your internet connection safely encrypted, the VPN application tunnels your data to the VPN server location. This provides you with a new IP address, which hides your home IP address from other torrent users.

Although these benefits are essential for privacy and hacking prevention, it is important to understand that these processes can slow down your internet. The good news is that you can set up your VPN to give you faster speeds. We will explain how later in this guide.

Why does a torrent VPN slow down my internet?

Encrypting your data means that it must also be decrypted when it reaches the VPN server. This process is the same, but in reverse, when the data is returned to you. Thus, your traffic is encrypted and decrypted twice.

To protect you against hackers, the VPN must also route your data to the VPN server location. Naturally, this means that your data has to travel further, which introduces a little extra lag and can slow down your internet.

Even more significant than the additional distance your traffic must cover is the quality of the VPN server itself. Many VPNs have slow servers or a small number of servers that become congested easily.

If a VPN fails to provide enough servers for its user base, those servers could become extremely slow. This makes them unsuitable for data-intensive tasks like streaming, gaming, and torrenting.

The important thing to remember is that while there are some VPN settings and features you can use to get the best speeds possible, you will have no control over a VPN’s top speed. This is controlled by the VPN provider and the quality of its services and infrastructure.

This is why it is vital to choose a fast VPN for torrenting that invests in the latest protocols and the best possible server infrastructure.

How do I choose a fast VPN for torrenting?

To choose a reliable VPN for torrenting, you must pick a provider that has the following:

1. Plenty of servers to avoid network congestion
2. Fast Tier-1 servers that are designed to route your traffic without a noticeable impact on speeds
3. The latest and greatest VPN protocols that are specifically designed to give you faster speeds

We understand that finding a VPN with these attributes is easier said than done. That is why we spend time testing and reviewing a wide cross-section of market-leading VPN brands. We test the encryption, check the reliability of the VPN tunnel, and perform tests to understand the VPN’s average and top speeds.

These tests allow us to compare VPNs apples-to-apples, which allows our reviewers to check which VPNs are better for torrenting securely and with the fastest possible speeds. To save you time and effort, we have listed the best VPNs for torrenting in this guide. You can learn more about how we test torrenting VPNs later in this guide.

How to set up a VPN for torrenting

Now that you have a better idea of how to choose a fast VPN for torrenting, you are ready to install and set up a VPN. To make your life as easy as possible, we have included a step-by-step guide.

Once you have successfully installed your VPN, simply scroll down to our helpful list of the best settings to speed up your VPN for torrenting.

Here is how to set up a VPN for torrenting:

1. Choose a VPN for torrenting. A reliable VPN for torrenting must provide robust encryption and privacy features that prevent anybody from tracking your torrents. We recommend NordVPN because it has fast servers, a proprietary protocol built for faster speed, and best-in-class security. Alternatively, you can opt for Surfshark, which is fast, secure, and cheap. Or IPVanish, which is known for decent reliability and performance.
2. Subscribe to the VPN. Click on the links on this page to get a VPN subscription at the lowest price. We’ve arranged a special coupon code for our readers, which you’ll automatically receive by using our links.
3. Download the VPN app. Our recommendations have apps for all devices, which means you can use the VPN to torrent securely on Windows, Mac, Android, or iOS.
4. Install the VPN and log in. As soon as the VPN has finished installing, you can log in using your credentials from sign-up.
5. Choose a VPN server and click Connect. If torrent sites are blocked in your country, connect to a VPN server in a country where torrents are unrestricted, such as the US or India.

That’s it! When the VPN connects, you can bypass any local torrenting restrictions. You will also be able to torrent without anybody finding out, which ensures that local networks, ISPs, and government agencies cannot monitor your downloads.

Related:

• Using NordVPN to torrent
• Using IPVanish to torrent

What are the best VPNs for torrenting?

We understand that finding a fast VPN that is also secure enough for torrenting can be confusing. That is why we did the hard work for you! Below, we have included our list of the best VPNs for torrenting:

1. NordVPN: Best VPN for torrenting. NordVPN delivers outstanding performance with top-tier security to torrent confidentially. It has a strict no-logs policy and provides lightning-fast speeds and unlimited data – perfect for file sharing.
2. Surfshark: An affordable torrenting VPN with amazing speeds. Surfshark lets users connect an unlimited number of devices simultaneously. Offers unlimited bandwidth for daily file sharing.
3. IPVanish: An excellent option for users who torrent. It has trusted security protocols and strong encryption. IPVanish is compatible with most major operating systems and popular torrent clients.
4. ExpressVPN: Known for consistently fast speeds. ExpressVPN is ideal for secure torrenting thanks to its no-logs policy,  kill switch, and support for a wide range of devices and streaming services.
5. PrivateVPN: Great for P2P file sharing, PrivateVPN supports port forwarding and operates with a no-logs policy. It isn’t the fastest VPN on this list, but it still performs better than most competing VPNs.
6. PureVPN: Offers a robust no-logs policy that has been fully audited. PureVPN provides a 31-day money-back guarantee and is one of the cheapest options for secure torrenting.
7. ProtonVPN: Known for its focus on privacy, ProtonVPN supports torrent-friendly features like port forwarding and split tunneling, making it a trustworthy choice for privacy-conscious users.
8. CyberGhost VPN: User-friendly and good for beginners. CyberGhost has a massive network of more than 9000 servers in 100+ countries. This means it can easily avoid server congestion.

How we choose VPNs for torrenting – Our methodology

Our process for finding the best VPNs for torrenting involves extensive testing. We start by finding VPNs prioritizing privacy and security and then consider features useful for torrenting, such as high-speed downloads, port-forwarding, or split tunneling.

To ensure a VPN is effective, we focus on its encryption capabilities, which are crucial for preventing ISPs and third parties from monitoring user activities and downloads.

We also check for a VPN kill switch and DNS leak protection, which protects against accidental data leaks that would reveal your downloads to your ISP. We also check that each VPN recommendation has IP and DNS leak protection to keep users’ torrent site visits hidden from their ISP.

Our testing methodology includes using tools like browserleaks.com to check that the VPN tunnel is working as advertised.  Each VPN undergoes the same rigorous evaluation to ensure it meets our high standards for security and functionality. Only then will we consider it for one of our lists.

Read our VPN testing methodology guide to find out more about how we test and recommend VPNs.

How does split tunneling improve VPN speeds for torrenting?

Split tunneling can significantly enhance your VPN speeds, especially when you’re torrenting. This feature lets you selectively route certain traffic through the VPN while keeping other activities on your regular internet connection.

By enabling split tunneling, you can dedicate your VPN to your torrenting activities. This setup offers several performance advantages:

• Better resource management: Split tunneling means you only use the VPN for traffic that needs protection. This approach reduces the load your VPN app handles, saving system resources needed to operate it effectively.
• Lower latency: Routing only essential traffic through the VPN helps reduce the latency typically associated with encryption and decryption by the VPN server. This adjustment can make your torrents run smoother and faster.
• Reduced server load: By limiting how much of your traffic goes through the VPN, you lessen the burden on the VPN servers, which can then process your data more efficiently

Make VPN torrent speeds faster – FAQs