If you’re into torrenting, you’re likely aware of the advantages of using a VPN. VPNs obscure your identity when you go online, which makes them popular among torrent enthusiasts since they allow users to download torrents in anonymity. But what are the best servers for torrenting?
Because torrenting involves downloading large files, high performance is important. Choosing a good server is key to downloading torrents quickly and efficiently. Here’s our guide on how to select the best VPN servers for torrenting.
Selecting a VPN Service for Torrenting
Before we get into how to select a server for torrenting, we’ll discuss how to select a VPN service that is best suited for torrenting in the first place. This is because not all VPNs are created equal, and some are better equipped for downloading torrents.
While there are many features that you’ll want to look for when it comes to a torrenting-friendly VPN, for the purposes of server selection, you’ll want a VPN that has many servers in many different countries. The more server choice you have, the easier you’ll be able to pick a good server for torrenting.
Great VPN services for torrenting include NordVPN, ExpressVPN, CyberGhost, Private Internet Access, and Surfshark. These VPN services offer thousands of servers located in many different countries across the globe, giving you a great deal of freedom when it comes to selection.
These services also offer many features and security guarantees, such as no-logging policies, kill switches, and strong encryption to protect your online activities. They also offer fast connection speeds, allowing you to download torrents quickly.
Finally, while you may be tempted to use a free VPN service for torrenting, we don’t recommend them for a number of reasons. Free VPNs typically restrict the amount of bandwidth you can use, and they also have weaker privacy protections, as well as fewer features in general than paid VPN services.
Choosing the Best Server for Torrenting
When selecting a server for torrenting, there are several considerations you should take into account.
The first is physical distance. The further you are physically located from a VPN server, the slower your connection speed will be. In general, it’s best to use a VPN server that is located on the same continent as you; any further and you will see a significant hit to download and upload rates.
Another consideration is local laws with regards to torrenting. Depending on where you live, torrenting certain types of content may be illegal, which is why ISPs and networks in some locations block torrent clients and websites.
To get around this, you can select a VPN server in a country where torrenting is legal. For example, in Switzerland, torrenting and downloading content is legal provided it is intended for personal use. Swiss law also prohibits third parties from monitoring users’ Internet traffic.
Choosing a server in a different country than you has another advantage: anyone who wants to intrude on your Internet activity will need to interface with two jurisdictions instead of one. This is extremely difficult to do, so it further insulates you from unwanted online snooping.
Another important factor when selecting a VPN server for torrenting is existing activity on the server. Servers that are being used by many users will have slower performance than those with few or no users. Try to select servers that are less popular and thus have more free bandwidth.
To test whether a VPN server is ideal for torrenting, we recommend using Speedtest or another similar website to test your connection speed without using your VPN. Then connect to your chosen VPN server, run the test again, save the result, then repeat using different servers.
When performing this test, the important information you want to pay attention to is download speed. This measures how quickly information from the Internet reaches your device. Other information, such as upload rate and ping rate, are not relevant; the server with the fastest download rate is the best one for torrenting.
Note that some VPN services allow you to test server speeds automatically. For example, Surfshark allows you to test the speed of individual servers within the app itself. This saves you time compared to running tests manually. NordVPN also has an online tool that automatically recommends the best servers for your location.
When you’ve located a good-quality VPN server, don’t forget to bookmark it! Most VPN services allow you to save a list of servers that you frequently use. This is helpful in case you forget their names and saves you time, keeping you from having to search for them every time you want to go online.
Finally, regardless of what server you use, you should ensure that kill switch functionality is enabled. A kill switch will automatically terminate all Internet traffic if your VPN connection is disrupted. This will prevent your real IP address from being exposed to the wider Internet in the event of a malfunction.
VPN Servers for Torrenting: The Bottom Line
When torrenting, speed and security are paramount. Downloading large files requires a fast Internet connection, and using a VPN is important in order to keep your identity safe. Selecting the right VPN server is a big component in both of these factors.
Using a fast VPN server will allow you to download torrents more quickly, allowing you to spend less time waiting for files to get to your device and more time enjoying content. Choosing the right server will also allow you to protect yourself during the torrenting process.
By following the advice in this article, you’ll be able to select a VPN server that is ideal for torrenting and get the most out of your VPN experience!
