The feeling of getting something for free is great. Even when the quality is not as good as we’d get if we paid, we might still opt for a free service over a paid one. So let’s consider whether it’s possible to get a decent torrenting speed with a free VPN (hint: yes, it’s possible).
Now, let’s clarify something: there is no such a thing as free because somebody had to pay for it either with their time, money or other resources. Running a high-speed VPN service with little to no interruptions that’s optimized for great performance is really expensive, mainly because torrenting large files (like movies) takes a lot of bandwidth that is not cheap at all.
A great number of hosting providers actually have bandwidth caps and charge extra when the limit is exceeded so the number may add up to tens of thousands of dollars on a single server. Add to that a cost of dealing with abuse notices from illegal torrenting and the price skyrockets. For this reason large companies like Google are working extremely hard to optimise their bandwidth cost since even little changes end up saving millions of dollars on a larger scale.
Hiring educated staff that can setup servers and encryption tunnels, optimise the network, support infrastructure, troubleshoot client issues and related miscellaneous expenses is costly too. VPN companies are not charities operated by volunteers, they are not backed-up by investors who find that torrenting movies for free is for the greater good of the humanity.
They are for-profit and have to monetize the service to pay their bills. This essentially means that free and great are two contradictory notions unless the cost of maintaining the service can be outweighed by some other means – generally through targeted ads and premium packages that offer certain benefits like unlimited speed, bandwidth and server choices. To be honest, it’s unfair to expect any company to provide top notch services and expect them to be both free of charge and ad-free.
Hence, free VPN services are always limited in speed, timeframe or bandwidth, and are likely ad-based. I guess most folks looking for a free VPN don’t mind it.
The majority of free VPNs, besides offering terrible speeds and selling your data, either block torrenting altogether or encrypt only your browsing activities with browser extensions (that do nothing for torrenting).
Free VPNs that allow torrenting are extremely slow, to the point that downloading a single movie may take a week or more!
Now that we’ve covered the whole logic behind the cost of VPN and why we can’t recommend completely free providers, let’s consider a few of the best premium VPN providers that also offer some free bandwidth:
ProtonVPN – 3 server locations
Trust.Zone – 1GB of data, high speed
Hide.Me – unlimited data on restricted speed
Windscribe – 10GB/mo, restricted speed
ANNUAL PRICE: 2.59 USD/mo
MONTHLY PRICE: 9.95 USD
Based in Malaysia, Hide.me is one the most secure and fastest VPN providers offering ultra fast gigabit VPN servers that deliver the fastest VPN speeds for users on gigabit Internet connection.
Hide.Me is a no logs VPN service with custom VPN apps that include a number of advanced features for maximum security. Hide.Me VPN has a built-in protection against IP and DNS leaks. Kill switch is an excellent tool to shut down Internet access when the connection to a VPN server is dropped.
Stealth Guard takes this even further by blocking access to predetermined apps even when the VPN is OFF. Essentially, you can configure Hide.Me in a way that makes it impossible to use Chrome browser, for instance, when the VPN is not running. This feature is an excellent addition to protect yourself from accidental mistakes.
Hide.Me supports perfect forward secrecy, an advanced security feature that tells OpenVPN to regularly renegotiate private keys. In case the private key of the server is compromised, past session keys will not be compromised. Forward secrecy protects past sessions against future compromises of secret keys, and future sessions against current attacks.
The provider also offers advanced VPN masking tools to bypass strict firewalls, censorship and hide VPN use. Hide.Me masks (obfuscates) OpenVPN traffic with TLS-Crypt so, if your WiFi network blocks VPN by analyzing traffic patterns, this methods can bypass the most advanced firewalls. This setup also encrypts every OpenVPN packet twice, sort of like double VPN encryption.
Additionally, the provider offers a dynamic TCP/UDP port-forwarding (UPnP) with up to 10 TCP/UDP ports, a useful feature on WiFi networks that block VPN ports, or for torrenting. Port forwarding feature is a great addition as it can speed up torrenting or streaming when your ISP throttles select traffic.
More so, you can selectively tunnel only specific traffic via secure servers. Split tunneling feature allows this or, alternatively, SOCKS5 proxy can be setup on your browser/torrenting client and re-route only that traffic.
Hide.Me VPN is extremely reliable and very fast which makes it a perfect choice for security oriented users who would like to enjoy uninterrupted streaming and browsing experience.
To read a full Hide.me review click HERE.
ANNUAL PRICE: 1.99 USD/mo
MONTHLY PRICE: 8.88 USD
No logs Trust.Zone is a Seychelles based VPN provider with user privacy as their foremost priority. Since Trust.Zone is a VPN service launched by one of the largest torrenting websites ExtraTorrent, it’s no wonder they are one of the best providers for p2p file sharing. Their apps have DNS, WebRTC leaks protection, Kill Switch and port-forwarding features. To read a full Trust.Zone review click HERE.
But What About Tor?
One of the most popular secure networks with no ads or data limit is the Tor project, a non-profit organization run by volunteers around the world. It doesn’t function like a typical VPN service, but it definitely offers very secure channels at slower speeds.
Tor is an excellent privacy tool mainly used by journalists, political activists, law enforcement professionals, whistleblowers to protect their identity and to access the dark net.
But since Tor is the network run by volunteers that fight for everyone to have private access to an uncensored internet, it should not be abused for torrenting activities. Even the Tor project highlights the importance of “not running Bittorrent over Tor” because the Tor network can’t handle the load. By torrenting over Tor, you slow down the network for other users, all the while your own torrenting speed is quite slow as well.
Additionally, Tor is not designed for Bittorrent so popular Bittorrent clients end up leaking your real IP anyway. Doileak is an excellent tool that can check your torrent IP address and determine whether you have general IP leaks.
In conclusion, if you are not satisfied with the free VPN options that we listed above, consider some of cheapest VPN providers that may cost as low as $2/month and enjoy all the benefits of online freedom and security without limitations.
Alternatively, wait for your favorite VPN to run a promotion and buy it at a discount. We have a dedicated VPN deals page that we update on a regular basis.
But the best VPN for torrenting should have a very important feature, a kill switch that ensures that your real IP address is never leaked. Some of the VPN providers that support the kill switch also offer reasonable pricing.
ANNUAL PRICE: 3.49 USD/mo
MONTHLY PRICE: 11.95 USD
Panama based NordVPN is one of the best security oriented VPN companies with amazingly fast infrastructure. NordVPN is a no logs VPN service that was independently audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers AG based in Zurich, Switzerland (one of the Big 4 auditing firms) to back the claims that they don’t log identifiable user information under any circumstances.
NordVPN custom apps have DNS and IP leaks protection and a kill switch that actively monitors your network and shuts down Internet access when your VPN in not running.
NordVPN offers a Double VPN – a privacy feature that sends your Internet traffic through two VPN servers, encrypting it twice.
Onion Over VPN servers is a powerful NordVPN feature that takes your privacy and security to the next level. Using this tech, you first connect to a VPN server and then to the Tor network. Your ISP does not know you are connected to Tor because your entry point in a secure VPN server, while your destination sees an anonymous Tor exit point.
NordVPN obfuscated VPN servers are a perfect choice to use on restrictive networks and to hide the fact that you are using a VPN. These VPN servers are generally recommended for countries that block VPN altogether because the technology can bypass even the most advanced network filtering. Obfsproxy hides OpenVPN and makes your VPN use completely undetectable. Neither your ISP nor the government will know that you are on VPN.
A strict no logs privacy policy, double data encryption, obfuscation tools and a number of advanced security features, makes NordVPN one of the best VPN providers for security and privacy for users with high expectations.
Besides, NordVPN has a Smart Play technology offering an encrypted connection to access geo-restricted content on Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, Spotify and similar services. If you are a torrenting user, NordVPN has torrenting VPN servers as well.
NordVPN offers over 5,000 high-speed servers in 62 countries, dedicated & shared IP types, 6 simultaneous logins; the infrastructure is built to provide maximum online security, bypass Internet restrictions, online censorship and network firewalls.
To read a full NordVPN review click HERE.
ANNUAL PRICE: 4.49 USD/mo [promocode]
MONTHLY PRICE: 8.99 USD
Offering over 3,000 servers in 55 countries, all mainstream protocols and top-notch security, TorGuard rightfully earned its place as a top VPN provider.
No logging TorGuard VPN is a reliable, fast and secure service for privacy oriented users. TorGuard desktop apps have a kill switch feature that actively monitors your Internet connection to protect you from accidental IP leaks when your WiFi is unstable.
Stealth VPN is a technology that TorGuard uses to bypass Deep Packet Inspection firewalls, such as those typically used at the hotels, airports, restaurants and other public WiFi hotspots to restrict online access. Consequently, TorGuard is a highly recommended VPN service for users who live in the regions with particularly restrictive governments, and would like to unblock censored websites or services.
Besides a great number of security features and ability to unblock VPN on restrictive WiFi, TorGuard is also an ultra fast VPN service with gigabit servers (actually, 10 Gbps). This infrastructure allows the fastest VPN speeds with a reliable streaming and browsing experience.
Unlike most VPN providers, TorGuard VPN can bypass Netflix proxy error with their Netflix streaming IPs. TorGuard can unblock a number of Netflix regions (USA, UK, Canada, Italy, Germany, Finland, France, Italy, Spain, Japan and Singapore), Hulu, BBC iPlayer, Spotify and virtually any streaming or social media service.
TorGuard is not only one of the best VPN services, it also offers OpenPGP encrypted email service with 2 factor authentication and up to 10Mb free storage.
To read a full TorGuard review click HERE.
ANNUAL PRICE: 2.19 USD/mo
MONTHLY PRICE: 11.95 USD
PIA is one of the largest no logs VPN services with over 3,000 VPN servers that deliver great speeds and a reliable performance. PIA offers easy to install VPN apps for all devices with security and privacy features that protect VPN users. In 2018 PIA was subpoenaed by the FBI and the only information they could provide was that the cluster of IP addresses being used was from the east coast of the United States. The FBI case confirms that PIA indeed does not log any user activity.
Desktop apps have a built-in kill switch, DNS and IPv4/IPv6 leak protection that guards the connection from IP leaks. Their NAT firewall does a great job at protecting from cyber attacks.
For faster streaming and torrenting experience, PIA software offers switching between different connection types and ports. You can choose between UDP and TCP connections types that, depending on network, can speed up traffic. UDP is also greatly preferred for torrenting and streaming. You can also send VPN traffic over various ports: 443, 80, 110, 53, 8080, 9201.
Since some ISPs block torrenting or throttle download speeds by restricting certain VPN ports, port forwarding is an especially useful feature for torrenting VPN users.
If you need to bypass VPN ban, port 443 is the best option because it is used by encrypted HTTPS traffic. PIA in not only one of the best VPN services to give unrestricted and secure access to various torrenting websites and services. PIA can also unblock Netflix USA and Netflix UK libraries, BBC iPlayer, Hulu, Amazon Prime.
SOCKS5 proxy is another excellent feature that can re-route only certain traffic through VPN tunnel eliminating the need for split tunneling. SOCKS5 is widely used with torrenting software due to its convenience. Once installed on uTorrent, for instance, it works for p2p traffic only.
To read a full PIA review click HERE.
ANNUAL PRICE: 3.33 USD/mo
MONTHLY PRICE: 10.95 USD
PureVPN, based in the British Virgin Islands offshore zone, is a no logs certified VPN service that was independently audited by KPMG – a big 4 auditor. Always-On Audit feature allows KPMG to conduct a thorough surprise audit of PureVPN’s processes and servers at any time without prior notice.
Secure high-speed PureVPN infrastructure offers advanced security features for anonymous Internet use. PureVPN custom apps have a built-in WebRTC, IP and DNS leak protection. Kill switch is feature that guards the users from unencrypted data leaks when the internet connection drops. PureVPN even has a DDoS protection add-on.
In case you want to limit your VPN use to specific websites/services only, Split Tunneling feature lets you decide which applications to send through unencrypted channel and which one to secure with an encrypted VPN service.
Split tunneling is commonly used in case you need a VPN for torrenting only. More so, PureVPN offers 2,000 high-speed VPN servers in 140 countries with over 60 dedicated torrenting servers and a port forwarding feature to maximize your upload and download speeds.
Additionally, the provider considered the importance of uninterrupted streaming by introducing Dedicated Streaming add-on that will boost streaming speed and enhance performance. PureVPN optimized streaming servers are best to get a buffer-free streaming experience.
PureVPN is also one of the few VPN providers that can effectively unblock Netflix. For this purpose PureVPN setup dedicated Netflix servers. At the moment the provider can unblock Netflix USA, UK, Australia, Canada, Germany, France, Japan.
Overall, PureVPN is a great no logs VPN service for privacy and security, to access geo-restricted streaming content, unblock websites and bypass censorship.
To read a full PureVPN review click HERE.
Risks of using completely free VPN
Free VPN services may seem like a convenient and cheap way to access the internet without restrictions, but they come with many drawbacks and risks. Here are some of the reasons why you should be wary of free VPNs:
- They may collect and sell your data. Free VPNs have to make money somehow, and often they do so by selling your browsing history, personal information, and online activity to third parties. This defeats the purpose of using a VPN to protect your privacy and security.
- They may expose you to malware and viruses. Free VPNs may not have adequate security measures or encryption standards, which means they can be easily hacked or infected by malicious software. This can compromise your device and data, and expose you to identity theft, fraud, and cyberattacks.
- They may slow down your connection and limit your bandwidth. Free VPNs usually have fewer servers and more users, which means they can get overcrowded and congested. This can result in slow speeds, buffering, and frequent disconnects. Moreover, free VPNs may impose data caps or throttle your bandwidth to save costs or force you to upgrade to a paid plan.
- They may not work with some websites and services. Free VPNs may not be able to bypass geo-restrictions or censorship on some platforms, such as Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, etc. This is because these websites and services can detect and block VPN traffic, especially from low-quality or blacklisted IP addresses. Furthermore, free VPNs may not support some protocols or features that are required for certain online activities, such as torrenting, gaming, or streaming.
In conclusion, free VPNs are not worth the risk and hassle. They may compromise your privacy, security, performance, and access to the internet. If you want a reliable and trustworthy VPN service, you should opt for a reputable paid VPN that offers strong encryption, fast speeds, unlimited bandwidth, diverse server locations, and customer support.