When you’re downloading torrents, using a VPN is crucial to keep your online activities private and avoid any negative consequences like slow internet or receiving a notice for copyright infringement. With so many VPNs on the market, each with different costs, it can be tough to choose the right one. For those who torrent, it’s usually best to pay for a VPN service to ensure maximum safety and privacy, as free VPNs might have restrictions such as limited data usage.
However, we understand that sometimes you may not have the budget for a paid VPN. In such cases, you might be considering a free VPN. If that’s the case, Twistory.net have a list of free VPNs that have been tested by experts and are suitable for torrenting.
The Best Free VPN Services For Torrenting Available No
- Surfshark – Top Choice for a Free VPN for All Your Torrenting Needs
- TunnelBear – Great Free VPN for Android Torrent Users
- Windscribe VPN – Ideal Free VPN for Windows Torrent Downloads
- HMA VPN – The Go-To Free VPN for Torrenting on the Move
Compare The Best VPN Services For Torrenting.
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Surfshark | TunnelBear | Windscribe VPN | HMA VPN |
| Ranking | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th |
| Rating | 9.5/10 | 8.8/10 | 8.7/10 | 8.3/10 |
| Best For | Overall | Android | Windows | Traveling |
| Works On | iOS, Android, macOS, Windows, Linux, Fire TV Stick apps, Xbox | Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, Linux with browser extensions for Chrome, Firefox, and Opera | Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS with browser extensions for Chrome, Firefox, and Opera | Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, Linux, routers, and Android TV |
| Data Usage Limit (Free Plan) | None | 500 MB/month | 2 GB/month or 10 GB with email | None |
| Speed Limit | None | None | None | None |
| Netflix Access | Yes | No | U.S. & U.K. only | Yes |
| Free Trial | 30 days | Unlimited | Unlimited | 7 days |
| Premium Pricing | $12.95/month or $59.76/year | $9.99/month or $59.88/year | $9/month or $69/year | $59.88/year or $107.64/3 years |
| Five Eyes, Nine Eyes, 14 Eyes Membership | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
What You Need To Know About The Best Free VPNs For Torrenting.
Surfshark – Top Choice for a Free VPN for All Your Torrenting Needs
Editor’s Rating: 9.5/10 – Check out their plans!
Surfshark might be known as a premium service, but they also offer a 30-day free trial, with full access to their features. It’s an ideal option if you’re looking for a short-term, no-cost solution for torrenting.
Why It’s Great:
- Location Benefits: The company is based in the British Virgin Islands, which means it is not subject to the Five Eyes, Nine Eyes, and 14 Eyes agreements. Your privacy is better protected, and they’ve never had a data breach.
- Invisible to ISPs: The VPN uses special servers to hide your VPN use from your Internet Service Provider – perfect if you’re somewhere that restricts VPN or torrent use.
- After the Trial: Once the trial is up, continuing with Surfshark won’t break the bank. They have some pretty cost-effective subscription options.
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Security and Privacy:
Surfshark really values your privacy. They don’t keep tabs on your IP address or what you do online. Plus, being outside major surveillance alliances, they aren’t forced to hand over your data. Their switch to RAM-only servers is a big plus for security, as these servers can’t store data long-term.
Support for Many Torrent Clients:
It doesn’t matter which torrent program you prefer – Surfshark likely supports it. This flexibility means you won’t have to switch your torrenting software.
Split Tunneling Feature:
This is a handy tool that lets you use the VPN for some tasks (like torrenting) while still accessing the internet directly for others. Surfshark’s version, called ‘Whitelister,’ is user-friendly and allows you to pick specific apps and websites that won’t use the VPN.
TunnelBear – Great Free VPN for Android Torrent Users
Editor’s Rating: 8.8/10 – Explore their packages!
TunnelBear attracts users with its cute bear-themed design. while the free version only offers 500 MB of data per month, TunnelBear remains a wallet-friendly choice with a straightforward pricing setup. Plus, it’s compatible with all operating systems and includes premium features even in the free version. although it is based in Canada, which is a member of the Five Eyes alliance, TunnelBear only keeps minimal user data, so privacy concerns are lessened.
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Dynamic IP Addresses for Enhanced Privacy:
TunnelBear enhances your online privacy by frequently changing your IP address, making it difficult for anyone to track your torrenting activity back to your device.
Top-Notch Encryption for Safe Torrenting:
Using OpenVPN and 256-bit AES encryption, TunnelBear provides a secure shield for your torrenting, keeping it hidden from ISPs and potential snoops.
Android App That Stands Out:
When it comes to torrenting on Android, TunnelBear’s app shines with its user-friendly interface and quick connection speeds, making large file downloads hassle-free. Plus, the playful bear animations add a bit of joy to the security process.
Windscribe VPN – Ideal Free VPN for Windows Torrent Downloads
Editor’s Rating: 8.7/10 – Check out the top VPNs!
| What we like | What we don’t like |
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Why the Kill Switch Matters:
If you’re torrenting at your local café if your VPN connection drops, Windscribe’s kill switch will shut down your internet. This keeps your activities under wraps and away from any potential risks, including malware.
Double-Hop Encryption Explained:
Windscribe’s double-hop encryption sends your internet requests on a little detour, bouncing off two servers instead of one. This makes it extra tough for anyone to trace your online footsteps.
Windscribe on Windows:
For Windows users, Windscribe is a strong performer. It keeps up speeds and doesn’t slow down uploads, which is crucial when you’re sharing files peer-to-peer. Our tests showed a slight drop in upload speed and a bit more lag, but nothing that hampers your torrenting experience.
HMA VPN – The Go-To Free VPN for Torrenting on the Move
Editor’s Rating: 8.3/10 – Discover the best VPNs!
HMA VPN stands out for its strong performance, particularly for those who travel and want to keep up with their torrents and streaming. Don’t be misled by its quirky name; HMA is all about serious security.
| What we like | What we don’t like |
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Servers Everywhere:
Travelling can be dull, but with HMA’s extensive server network, streaming and torrenting overseas is a breeze. The seven-day trial could even cover your entire vacation.
Dynamic IP for Extra Anonymity:
HMA goes the extra mile with dynamic IPs, offering the option to change your IP address as often as every 10 minutes, so you can dodge trackers with ease.
Android App Perks:
HMA shines on Android devices. The app includes all of HMA’s top features, like kill switch and split tunneling, making it perfect for torrenting on the go. Plus, it’s user-approved with high ratings on the Google Play Store. We found it super easy to use and didn’t hit any snags while streaming our favorite shows.
How We Pick the Best Free VPNs for Torrenting
When on the hunt for the perfect free VPN for your torrenting adventures, we started by choosing ones that actually support torrenting—surprisingly, not all do. We then explored the features included in the free plans, like data and speed limits, server access, and Netflix compatibility.
Some VPNs that said they supported torrenting throttled back speeds when they detected heavy data use, so we ruled those out. After pinpointing the VPNs that truly embrace torrenting, we focused on speed and privacy policies to bring you the cream of the crop.
Security Checks
For us, security is paramount, especially when it’s about hiding your torrenting trail. While free VPNs may come with compromises, we made sure to select those offering top-notch security, starting with strong encryption methods like OpenVPN or AES-256—the best in the game.
We also conducted DNS and WebRTC leak tests to verify that your browsing activity and real IP address remain hidden to ensure that your browsing sites and real IP address stay under wraps. These tests help confirm that your torrenting sessions remain anonymous.
Company Policies and Jurisdiction
We thoroughly examined each VPN provider’s privacy policy, their location of operation, and any history of data breaches. Our goal? To ensure they only keep the bare minimum info needed for service and payments. If a VPN stored more than that, such as IP addresses or browsing history, we saw it as a red flag.
We also checked the VPN’s country of origin against the Five Eyes, Nine Eyes, and 14 Eyes alliances. VPNs outside these countries can’t be forced to hand over your data to those governments, which is a big win for privacy.
Free Plan Details
We know free VPNs often save the best features for paying customers. Typically, they’ll limit how much data you can use, throttle speeds, or block access to services like streaming platforms. One solution is to take advantage of free trials, which allow you to experience the premium features before committing to a subscription.
Speed Testing
VPNs slow down your internet to some extent, but the best ones keep this to a minimum. We’re talking about the difference between a smooth torrenting session and a never-ending buffering nightmare. We utilized SpeedTest.net to evaluate download and upload speeds, as well as ping latency. If a VPN slowed us down by more than 40%, it didn’t make the cut.
Overall Performance
If a VPN significantly slows down your computer’s performance, it is not a viable option. We looked for a hassle-free experience, minimal disconnections, and little impact on activities like torrenting or streaming. Bonus points were awarded for VPNs with split tunneling, letting us multitask on public and private networks simultaneously.
Mobile App Importance
Chances are, you’re connecting to public Wi-Fi on your phone while out. That’s why a stellar VPN mobile app is crucial. We tested apps on Android and iOS, checked their store ratings, and compared features to their desktop counterparts. We made sure the essentials like kill switches and split tunneling were present across platforms.
Conclusion
In conclusion, when it comes to selecting the best free VPN for torrenting, the balance between security, functionality, and cost is key. While premium VPNs typically offer the best protection and performance, the free VPNs discussed here stand out for their ability to support torrenting activities without a financial commitment. Each has its own set of advantages, from Surfshark’s robust security features and Windscribe’s generous data limit to TunnelBear’s user-friendly interface and HMA VPN’s global server presence.
Remember, however, that free versions often come with certain limitations such as data caps, speed restrictions, and a limited number of servers. If you’re an avid torrenter, these constraints might prompt you to consider a paid subscription eventually. But for occasional use or trial purposes, these free VPNs offer a solid starting point, providing a degree of internet privacy and security without immediate costs. Always make sure to consider the legal implications of torrenting in your region and use VPNs responsibly.
