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5 Best VPNs for qBittorent in 2024

Last updated: April 7, 2022

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qBittorrent is a popular torrent client used for P2P sharing and torrenting. Users who are familiar know that this client has a host of features, like port forwarding, IP binding, and adfree torrenting, but the one thing that’s missing is a built-in VPN feature. Until a built-in VPN feature is added, we’ll have to make do with using a third-party Virtual Private Network to protect us as we dive into the world of torrents.

Below we will review the best VPNs for qBittorrent so torrent users can P2P share safely and securely.

In a Hurry? Here Are 5 Best VPNs for qBittorrent

5 Best VPNs for qBittorrent

Here are the best VPNs to use when you want to torrent safely and efficiently.

Devices compatible with ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN is the best qBittorrent VPN, with rocket fast speeds, and 3,000 VPN servers spread across 94 countries worldwide. ExpressVPN is a great option for using the qBittorrent client because it allows seeding when using peer-to-peer connections.

When it comes to security, ExpressVPN takes the lead with top-notch features such as militarygrade encryption mode, a Kill Switch, RAMonly servers, and IP and DNS leak protection. ExpressVPN also offers unlimited bandwidth and easy accessibility to popular streaming sites, like Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, and more.

This VPN service provider is compatible with Windows, Mac, iPhone, Android, and Linux, and you can connect up to 5 devices on a single user account.

Pros:

  • Unlimited bandwidth
  • Kill Switch
  • DNS and IP leak protection
  • Located in a privacy-friendly country
  • No-logs policy
  • 30-day money-back guarantee
  • 24/7 live-chat support

Cons:

  • No port forwarding

2. NordVPN

Devices compatible with NordVPN

You will have a smooth torrenting experience when using NordVPN, with its server network of over 5,200 fast servers spread across over 60 countries. NordVPN is a top-tier VPN service that offers torrent users fast download speed, reliable connection, and an easy-to-use VPN client app.

When it comes to security, this VPN provider offers high-level security features to protect your device from malicious attacks, with militarygrade encryption, a nologs policy, double VPN, split tunnelingport forwarding, and specialized servers for peertopeer connections. NordVPN also has a Kill Switch feature that shuts down your internet to prevent leaks if the VPN fails.

This provider is compatible with all major devices and can be used to unblock popular streaming sites like Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, and more. Plus, you can connect up to 6 devices on a single account, and you are allotted unlimited bandwidth so you don’t have to worry about your torrent traffic disrupting a family member’s streaming experience.

Pros:

  • 6 simultaneous connections
  • 30-day money-back guarantee
  • Great connection speed
  • Kill Switch
  • TrustedServer RAM-only technology

Cons:

  • The desktop app can be unreliable

Devices compatible with Surfshark

If you’re on a budget, Surfshark is a great VPN to protect your torrent traffic. This provider has 3,200 server options in more than 65 countries around the globe, allowing you plenty of location options from which to choose.

Surfshark offers robust security features, like AES 256bit encryptiona strict nologging policy, and a Kill Switch to prevent leaks if the connection fails. Surfshark also allows seeding, which can increase your upload and download speeds by as much as 50 percent.

With Surfshark, you can have unlimited connections on a single user account, and use it to unblock streaming sites Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime Video. You can also try it risk-free with its 30day money-back guarantee.

Pros:

  • 30-day money-back guarantee
  • Multi-hop servers
  • Affordable price
  • Great privacy and security features
  • Unlimited simultaneous connections

Cons:

  • Speeds slower than ExpressVPN and NordVPN
  • Some server trial and error needed

Devices compatible with CyberGhost

CyberGhost is another top VPN for torrenting, with over 7,500 fast servers located in 91 countries around the globe.

Cyberghost will protect your privacy with its robust security features, like encryption, leak protection, and Kill Switch, and it offers a nologging policy to keep your torrent traffic completely anonymous.

CyberGhost is compatible with macOS, Windows, Android, iOS, Amazon Fire TV, and more, so you can use it to stream TV shows as well, allowing up to 7 connections on one account, which is higher than what some of the others allow.

This provider is unique in that it offers a 45day money-back guarantee, which is longer than most other providers.

Pros:

  • 45-day money-back guarantee
  • 24/7 live-chat support
  • 7 simultaneous connections
  • Kill Switch
  • No-logs policy

Cons:

  • Won’t work in China
  • Inconsistent speeds

Devices compatible with PIA

Private Internet Access (PIA) is another fantastic Virtual Private Network for torrenting, offering a sizable 30,000 servers in over 77 countries around the world, so you will have no trouble finding a server to suit your torrenting needs.

PIA offers fast speeds and unlimited bandwidth, so you’ll be able to torrent with no limits, and it provides such reliable security features as OpenVPN encryption, DNS leak protection, split tunneling, and a zero logs policy.

This provider is compatible with all major operating systems like Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, and iOS, and can be used to unblock Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime, and more.

Pros:

  • Large network of servers
  • 24/7 live-chat support
  • 10 device connections
  • 30-day refund period

Cons:

  • Located in the US (part of 5 eyes alliance)

Why You Need a VPN for qBittorrent Torrent Client

qBittorrent uses the BitTorrent protocol to allow users to share and download large files. Since this system doesn’t use centralized servers, it provides the perfect breeding grounds for pirating copyrighted materials. It should come as no shock that the owners of these copyrighted materials are always on the lookout to catch the pirates who are sharing illegally. This is where a Virtual Private Network can help.

Using a VPN allows you to connect to an arbitrary IP address in a remote location, preventing your actual IP address from being seen by other people on a shared P2P network. Usually, any time you upload or download content from the shared network, your IP address shows up on public trackers and peer lists, making your identity vulnerable to people tracing it back to you. This can be especially dangerous if you are working with copyrighted content, or if you are worried about being a cybercriminal’s next victim.

By using a VPN to connect to a remote server and change your IP address, you are protected since anyone looking for your IP address will be seeing a random server location instead of your real one.

Aside from a VPN, there are other possible solutions, like relying on your torrent clients’ built-in protection or using port forwarding to limit your number of connections; but those options are not nearly as effective as using a VPN.

The security aspect of using a VPN is important for torrenting as well. When you are uploading and downloading torrents, you are vulnerable to cyberattacks and malware. The added layer of security that VPNs provide will protect you from online threats, and keep your device secure.

How to Choose the Best VPN for qBittorrent

There are many VPNs out there, but not all of them are the best fit for torrenting. Follow these criteria when looking for the perfect VPN for torrenting.

☑️ Download speed — When torrenting, download speeds are very important. The best VPN provider for qBittorrent will need to have the fastest VPN speeds and reliable connectivity to keep your torrent downloads efficient.

☑️ A reliable Kill Switch — Kill Switches will automatically cut your internet connection if the VPN fails, preventing IP leaks. An IP leak can lead to your ISP or the government seeing your location and identity, which can be potentially dangerous. So, be sure your VPN has a Kill Switch feature.

☑️ Server locations — The more server locations available, the better your chances of finding one with the best performance for qBittorrent or other torrent clients.

☑️ Port forwarding — Port forwarding will allow you to have faster speeds by increasing your P2P sharing options.

Can I Use a Free VPN for qBittorent?

While the idea of saving some money and using a free VPN may be tempting, we don’t recommend it for a few reasons.

The first is that they tend to be unreliable. They have smaller server networks and fewer IP addresses, so it’s hard to find an available server to which to connect. If you manage to be lucky enough to get a connection, the overcrowding tends to cause slow speeds and unstable connectivity. Free services also cap bandwidth pretty low, which isn’t great for P2P sharing since torrenting uses a lot of bandwidth.

Another risk with free VPN services is security. While premium VPN companies offer higher levels of security, such as encryption, a Kill Switch, and leak protection, free services do the opposite, often selling users’ information to third parties and marketing agencies.

Free services also don’t have the additional features of port forwarding, double VPN, and split tunneling, which is ideal for P2P sharing and torrenting. Since with free VPN services, there is less control over who is connected to the VPN, you are also more vulnerable to cyber-attacks and malware infecting your device.

Free VPN services don’t have a reliable customer support team you can contact if something comes up, so you are on your own. As opposed to the premium services that often have a 24/7 live chat to help walk you through any issues that may arise.

If you are budget conscious, we would recommend using a budget-friendly VPN like Surfshark which offers all the security features you need for a low price of $2 a month.

How to Set Up and Use qBittorrent with a VPN 

Here are step-by-step instructions on how to get started with a qBittorrent VPN.

  1. Choose a VPN from the list of best VPN options (we recommend ExpressVPN).
  2. Subscribe to the service and download the VPN client to your device.
  3. Run the application, and select/connect to one of the server locations.
  4. Run your torrenting client, and enjoy!

How to Bind Bittorrent to a VPN 

If you’re looking for an extra layer of protection while torrenting, you can use qBittorrent’s IP Binding feature.

IP binding routes you torrent traffic through the VPN interface server alone. If you’re exclusively routing your torrent traffic through the VPN interface, qBittorrent will stop automatically if the VPN fails, similar to how Kill Switches work. While the thought of having your torrent downloads stopped in the middle may be frustrating, IP binding is worth it because it is much better than having your real IP address leaked!

To get started with IP binding, follow these simple steps:

  1. Open your VPN.
  2. Search for the updated network interface under network settings, and select your VPN adapter.
  3. Head over to advanced options of the qBittorrent menu. (You can find this by going to menu > tools > options > advanced.)
  4. Change the network interface option to the VPN adapter that was presented to you when you searched in step 2.
  5. Hit apply and then restart qBittorrent, and your IP binding should be all set!

How to Use qBittorrent with Split Tunneling 

Some VPN providers, like ExpressVPN and NordVPN, allow split tunneling. This means that you can choose which of your traffic is sent through the VPN tunnel and which through your ISP. This can be beneficial for torrenting if you want to speed up your downloads and uploads by routing your other traffic separately.

If your chosen VPN has this feature, follow these steps to activate it:

  1. Open your VPN client and connect to a VPN server in your location of choice.
  2. Enable split tunneling, and select qBittorent as the application.

Now all your qBittorent traffic will be routed through your encrypted VPN tunnel while other browsing and web activity will be routed through your ISP.

How to Make the Most Out of qBittorrent (Improve Performance) 

If you want to improve performance on qBittorent, here are a few ideas.

☑️ Enable anonymous mode in the qBittorent app to further protect your identity while using the app.

☑️ In the encryption mode options in the qBittorent app, select “allow encryption” instead of “require encryption.” This allows both encrypted and unencrypted data to come through.

☑️ Enable UPnP/NAT-PMP port forwarding in qBittorent to improve your torrent speed. This will reroute incoming connections to help streamline your network by making it more direct. It’s important to note that these features are helpful when bypassing local firewalls, but are not as effective in bypassing the NAT firewall.

FAQs

Should I enable anonymous mode qBittorrent?

When it comes down to it, it is a personal preference. If you are using both a VPN and a proxy, you can activate anonymous mode, which prevents other users from seeing information, like what torrenting client you are using and your listening port.

Enabling this feature is totally optional, and up to you!

Is it safe to use qBittorrent without a VPN?

Unfortunately, no. Despite the fact that qBittorrent has security measures in place, it’s not enough to hide your IP address from peer lists and make you anonymous. Even IP filtering has its drawbacks.

By using a premium VPN service, you can safely and anonymously P2P share with no trouble.

How do I hide my IP on qBittorrent?

You can hide your IP address by using a VPN and proxy at the same time, and by having separate IP addresses for your torrenting and for your web browsing. These should both be different than your real IP address. This way, your web browsing will also be encrypted and your Internet Service Provider won’t know if you visit torrent sites or download torrents.

How do I use qBittorrent with NordVPN?

Using a NordVPN for qBittorrent is simple. All you have to do is

  1. Sign up for NordVPN on its website
  2. Download the VPN app onto your device
  3. Run the app and choose a server from its list
  4. Open your qBittorrent client and enjoy!

How do I use qBittorrent with ExpressVPN?

You can use qBittorrent with ExpressVPN in 3 easy steps:

  1. Sign up for ExpressVPN and choose a plan that works for you.
  2. Download the VPN client onto your device
  3. Run the program and select a server location
  4. Open your torrent client of choice, and enjoy!

What is the best VPN for qBittorrent?

We recommend ExpressVPN. With military-grade security, a Kill Switch, split tunneling, top speeds, and a large server network spread across the globe, it is the best VPN for torrenting.

Should I use a VPN with qBittorrent?

Yes, it is definitely recommended to use a VPN. qBittorrent does have security features built in, but none are as secure and reliable as those of a premium VPN service. By using a VPN, you are able to increase speeds, torrent anonymously, and protect your device from potential malware.

Conclusion

Using a Virtual Private Network for torrenting is crucial when it comes to online safety and anonymity. If you are looking for the best Virtual Private Network service provider, we recommend ExpressVPN with its robust security features and over 3,000 servers spread across 94 countries worldwide. You can try it free with its 30-day money-back guarantee.

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