Is Proton VPN good for torrenting? What you need to know

Torrenting, or P2P file-sharing, is useful but carries a major privacy risk: your real IP address is visible to everyone else sharing the same file. This is why a secure vpn is essential.

When it comes to the question, is Proton VPN good for torrenting, the answer is a clear yes. It is a top-tier choice because it combines strong Swiss privacy, essential security tools, and key performance features. However, these benefits are only available on its paid plans.

1. Is Proton VPN good for torrenting?

Yes, Proton VPN is one of the safest and most effective choices available for torrenting. It does not just “allow” P2P traffic; it actively builds features to protect and optimize that experience.

There are three main reasons it stands out:

1. Security and privacy: Proton VPN is based in Switzerland, a country with strong privacy laws. More importantly, its no-logs policy has been independently audited, proving they do not track or store your activity.
2. Dedicated P2P servers: It provides specific servers optimized for high-bandwidth torrent traffic.
3. Performance features: It supports port forwarding, a key feature that can significantly boost torrent speeds, along with a reliable kill switch and strong encryption.

2. Why you need a VPN for torrenting

Before diving into features, it is important to understand why you need a VPN for P2P. When you use a torrent app (like a BitTorrent client), you are participating in a public activity.

2.1. Hiding your IP address from P2P swarms

When you download a file, you connect to dozens or even hundreds of other users in a “swarm”. Everyone in that swarm can see the IP address of everyone else. Your IP address is like your home address on the internet.

Exposing it publicly to strangers is a security risk, opening you up to monitoring or other cyber threats. It is like posting your home address on a public bulletin board. A VPN hides your real address and shows the VPN server’s address instead.

2.2. Bypassing ISP throttling

Many internet service providers (ISPs) dislike P2P traffic because it uses a lot of bandwidth. When they detect you are torrenting, they may intentionally slow down your connection. This is called ISP throttling.

When you use a VPN, all your traffic is encrypted. Your ISP can see you are using data, but they cannot see what you are doing (like browsing, streaming, or torrenting). This prevents them from singling out and throttling your P2P activity.

2.3. Protecting against legal and copyright issues

Sharing and downloading copyrighted material without permission is illegal in most countries. Copyright monitoring groups often track torrent swarms to collect the IP addresses of users.

A VPN provides a critical layer of privacy by hiding your real IP address from this monitoring. While a VPN does not make an illegal act legal, it protects your privacy.

3. Proton VPN’s security features for safe torrenting

To keep P2P activity safe, Proton VPN offers several key layers of protection. Here is what you need to know.

3.1. Audited no-logs policy

A no-logs policy means the VPN provider does not record any information about what you do online. Proton VPN has hired independent, third-party security firms to audit its policy. These audits confirmed that Proton sticks to its no-logs claim, making it a very trustworthy choice.

The most recent audit by Securitum (August 2025) specifically investigated their production environment, including the P2P servers. The report affirmed that the auditors found no technical evidence of user activity logging. They verified that Proton’s infrastructure does not store connection metadata or inspect network traffic in any way that would violate the no-logs policy.

3.2. Kill switch (network lock)

This is one of the most critical safety features for torrenting. A kill switch is like an emergency stop-button. If your VPN connection drops unexpectedly, the kill switch instantly blocks all internet traffic from your device. This prevents your torrent client from accidentally reconnecting using your real IP address.

From my experience, a VPN connection can drop for just a few seconds without me noticing. Without a kill switch, my torrent client immediately tried to reconnect using my real IP, exposing it. The kill switch has prevented this accidental leak, making it essential for Proton VPN torrenting safety.

3.3. IP and DNS leak protection

DNS is the internet’s phonebook. A DNS leak happens when your computer “asks for directions” (a DNS lookup) outside the secure VPN tunnel, accidentally revealing your activity to your ISP. Proton VPN has built-in protection to prevent both IP and DNS leaks, ensuring the secure tunnel is watertight.

3.4. Secure Core servers

This is a high-security feature unique to Proton VPN. It routes your traffic through two separate VPN servers, with the first one in a high-privacy country like Switzerland or Iceland.

These Secure Core server locations are controlled directly by Proton for maximum security. This adds significant privacy but will slow down your speeds, so it is not ideal for large torrents but is a great option if security is your absolute priority.

3.5. Strong AES-256 encryption

Proton VPN uses AES-256 encryption. This is considered the “gold standard” of security. It is the same encryption used by banks and militaries. It makes your data completely unreadable to your ISP or anyone else who might be monitoring your connection.

4. Proton VPN’s performance features for P2P

Security is vital, but for torrenting, so is speed. Proton VPN has features built to maintain fast download speeds for P2P.

4.1. Dedicated P2P-optimized servers

Proton VPN does not allow P2P on all servers. Instead, it has P2P servers that are clearly marked in the app with a two-arrow icon. These servers are optimized to handle the high-bandwidth traffic from file-sharing, ensuring better and more stable performance for Proton VPN for P2P.

4.2. Port forwarding for faster speeds

This is a key performance feature that many other top VPNs lack. Port forwarding basically opens a specific ‘door’ on the VPN’s firewall. This helps your torrent client connect to more people (seeders) in the swarm. More connections often mean significantly faster download speeds, especially for less common files.

4.3. VPN Accelerator and connection speeds

Proton VPN includes a set of proprietary technologies called VPN Accelerator. It is designed to make the VPN connection itself faster, especially over long distances. Faster connection speeds mean your torrents can start and complete more quickly.

4.4. Unlimited bandwidth

On all paid plans, Proton VPN offers unlimited bandwidth. This is crucial for torrenting. You will not hit any data caps or have your speed limited just because you are downloading large files.

5. Can you use Proton VPN’s free plan for torrenting?

The direct answer is no. Proton VPN’s free plan is excellent, but it has firm restrictions.

The free servers do not support P2P and will actively block torrent traffic. Trying to use Proton VPN free for torrenting will not work. The free plan also lacks the critical features needed for safe torrenting, such as the kill switch and port forwarding, and only offers a basic malware blocker. You must upgrade to a Plus or Unlimited plan.

6. Are there any downsides for torrenting?

While Proton VPN is a top choice, there are a few limitations to be aware of.

6.1. P2P is limited to paid plans

As mentioned, the biggest “downside” is that you cannot use the free plan. While this may be disappointing, it actually helps paid users. It ensures the P2P servers are not overcrowded by free users, which helps maintain high performance.

6.2. Port forwarding setup requires extra steps

Unlike some VPNs that integrate port forwarding into the app, Proton’s setup requires a few extra steps.

Personally, I found this a bit cumbersome. I had to log into my account dashboard on the website, not in the app, to get the port number. Then I had to copy that number into my BitTorrent client. It is an extra step I wish was integrated directly into the app to be more user-friendly. However, you only need to do this setup once.

7. How to set up Proton VPN for torrenting (step-by-step)

To get the best security and performance, follow these steps. Do not start torrenting until the kill switch is active.

Here is the detailed guide:

7.1. Step 1: Get a Proton VPN Plus or Unlimited plan

You must have a paid plan. The Plus plan is all you need for torrenting. Proton offers private payment methods, including Bitcoin, which lets you sign up without linking your name to the account.

7.2. Step 2: Install the app and enable the kill switch

Download and install the Proton VPN app. Before you connect, find the “Kill Switch” option and turn it on. This is the most important safety step.

7.3. Step 3: Connect to a P2P-optimized server

In the server list, find the servers with the two-arrow icon. These are the P2P servers. For the best speeds, choose a server that is geographically close to you and has a low load (usually shown in green). Proton offers many P2P server locations to choose from.

7.4. Step 4: Enable port forwarding in your account dashboard

This step is optional but highly recommended for faster speeds:

1. Disconnect from the VPN.
2. Log in to your account on the Proton VPN website.
3. Go to the ‘Account’ tab, then ‘NAT Port Forwarding’.
4. Enable it and note the port number it gives you.
5. Open your torrent client (like qBittorrent), go to Settings > Connection, and enter that port number in the “Port used for incoming connections” field.

7.5. Step 5: (Optional) Bind Proton VPN to your torrent client

This is an advanced tip for extra torrenting safety. Many torrent clients (like qBittorrent) let you “bind” them to the VPN’s network interface. You can find this in qBittorrent’s Advanced Settings under “Network Interface”. Select the Proton VPN interface. This acts as a secondary kill switch.

7.6. Step 6: Test for IP or DNS leaks before starting

Once connected, open your browser and go to a site like ipleak.net. Make sure it shows the VPN server’s IP address and location, not your real ones.

8. How to troubleshoot common P2P issues

Even with a good setup, you might run into issues. Here are a few common fixes.

8.1. What to do if your speeds are slow

If your download speeds are slow, try these fixes:

• Change servers: Disconnect and try a different P2P server that is also nearby.
• Check port forwarding: Double-check that your port is set up correctly in both your Proton dashboard and your torrent client.
• Turn off Secure Core: If you have Secure Core enabled, turn it off. The extra encryption layer adds security but reduces performance.
• Change protocols: In the VPN app’s settings, try switching your protocol (e.g., from OpenVPN to WireGuard), as WireGuard is often faster.

8.2. Fixing port forwarding errors

The port number Proton assigns you can sometimes change when you reconnect. If your speeds suddenly drop, go back to your web dashboard. Check if the port forwarding number is new. If it is, copy the new number into your torrent client’s settings.

8.3. What to do if the kill switch disconnects you

If the kill switch keeps cutting your internet, it means your VPN connection is unstable. This is the kill switch working as designed to protect you. Do not turn it off. Instead, try connecting to a different, more stable server or changing your protocol in the settings.

9. Best alternatives to Proton VPN for torrenting

Proton VPN is a top choice, but not the only one. If you are comparing, these three alternatives are also highly rated for P2P.

9.1. NordVPN

Here is a quick look at NordVPN:

• Strengths: very fast speeds with its NordLynx protocol, dedicated P2P servers, and an audited no-logs policy.
• Downside: does not offer port forwarding.

9.2. ExpressVPN

Here is a quick look at ExpressVPN:

• Strengths: extremely user-friendly, fast and stable speeds, and a strictly audited no-logs policy.
• Downsides: more expensive than Proton and does not offer port forwarding.

9.3. Private Internet Access (PIA)

Here is a quick look at PIA:

• Strengths: excellent for P2P, offers full port forwarding (with an easier setup than Proton), and has a proven no-logs policy.
• Downside: based in the US (though its no-logs policy has been proven in court).

10. FAQs about Is Proton VPN good for torrenting

Here are quick answers to other common questions about P2P with Proton VPN.

11. Conclusion

So, is Proton VPN good for torrenting? Yes, it is an excellent choice and one of the best options on the market.

It provides a near-perfect balance of the security and performance that P2P users need.

• It is built for privacy (Swiss-based, audited no-logs policy).
• It provides essential security tools (kill switch, strong encryption).
• It delivers great performance (dedicated P2P servers, port forwarding).
• You must use a paid plan; the free version does not work.

For me, the combination of a verified no-logs policy and the inclusion of port forwarding makes it a top-tier option. It balances high-end security with the performance features that P2P users actually need.

To learn more about online safety, explore our other guides in the Privacy & Security Basics category at Safelyo.