ExpressVPN for torrenting: Can I torrent safely with ExpressVPN?

Planning on torrenting with ExpressVPN? We answer whether ExpressVPN supports P2P filesharing, explain how you can torrent safely, and recommend the best VPNs for torrenting.

Not only does torrenting require a fast and consistent connection, but the repercussions of accidentally downloading copyrighted material can be significant. It’s essential to find a VPN that is not only fast but also offers comprehensive privacy protection and a strict no-logs policy.

ExpressVPN is one of the most popular VPNs on the market today. It’s known for providing a generous server network, good speeds, and a user-friendly experience through beginner-friendly apps and excellent 24/7 support. 

The question is, can you torrent safely with ExpressVPN? That’s exactly what we’ll look into in this guide, alongside providing step-by-step instructions for torrenting with ExpressVPN, exploring the legality of torrenting, and more. 

Does ExpressVPN support torrenting?

The good news is that ExpressVPN not only supports torrenting but also allows torrenting on all of its servers with no restrictions. 

It emphasizes that it will never limit your data or your bandwidth, has a generous server network that covers more than 105 countries, and offers a strict no-logs policy. This puts it among the best VPNs for torrenting.

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Why use a VPN for torrenting?

A VPN is essential when torrenting. First and foremost, using a VPN provides security and privacy-related benefits.

When you torrent, your IP address is visible to everyone in the P2P network, identifying your device in the process. A VPN hides your real IP address, which makes it much harder to connect you with your torrenting activity. All of your internet traffic, including P2P connections, is encrypted.

Snoopers won’t be able to see what you’re up to either. These include your internet service provider, which may log and share your online activities with third parties, including your government. This is particularly dangerous if you happen to download copyrighted material, as it could result in fines and legal action.

If your ISP throttles your connection while you’re torrenting, a VPN hides your torrenting activity, allowing you to continue torrenting as normal. Thanks to their location spoofing ability, VPNs are also used to bypass geographic restrictions. 

Some torrent sites are blocked in certain countries, and a VPN allows you to change your location to get around this.

Can I torrent safely with ExpressVPN?

Yes, many people use ExpressVPN to torrent safely. The popular VPN service offers multiple protocols, including OpenVPN and Lightway, and ExpressVPN’s proprietary protocol. 

ExpressVPN secures user data with 256-bit AES encryption, which is uncrackable. There’s also perfect forward secrecy so that even if an encryption key were somehow compromised, past sessions can’t be decrypted.

ExpressVPN is headquartered in the British Virgin Islands. This is particularly important because it’s not subject to any mandatory data retention laws. Even if user data were to be requested by authorities, ExpressVPN has no identifying information to provide. Indeed, it operates a strict no-logs policy that has been independently audited on multiple occasions.

How to torrent with ExpressVPN

Torrenting with ExpressVPN is easy, even if this is your first time using a VPN. Below, we provide some simple step-by-step instructions to help you get started.

Here’s how to torrent using ExpressVPN:

1. Sign up with ExpressVPN if you don’t already have a subscription. It offers one-month, one-year, and two-year plans and includes a risk-free 30-day money-back guarantee.
2. Download the device or devices on which you want to torrent safely. ExpressVPN allows you to connect up to eight devices simultaneously.
3. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation. Upon completion, you’ll need to paste your subscription activation code
4. Once inside the ExpressVPN app, go to Settings (preferences) to enable the kill switch which is referred to as Network Lock.
5. Go to Preferences > Advanced to make sure leak protection is activated. It should already be enabled by default.
6. Connect to an ExpressVPN server in your preferred country. Ideally, this will be a torrent friendly, privacy-respecting country close to your physical location.
7. Open your torrent client or download a client if you don’t yet have one. qBittorrent is one of the best torrent sites because it’s open-source and with no ads.
8. Before you start torrenting, it doesn’t hurt to check for leaks. You can do this via our own DNS leak test or an alternative such as ipleak.net.

VPN testing methodology: How we tested ExpressVPN’s torrenting ability

The best VPNs for torrenting combine performance with strong security and privacy protection while offering useful, torrent-friendly features. ExpressVPN is no exception. Here’s what we found when testing ExpressVPN:

Speed

Not every VPN is fast enough for torrenting which can make for a frustrating experience, not only when downloading and uploading, but when streaming and playing online games. That’s why we run regular speed tests on VPN servers, ExpressVPN included. The good news is that ExpressVPN is one of the fastest VPNs available.

Across nine speed tests of three different server locations (North America, Europe, and Asia), ExpressVPN averaged 261 Mbps. It’s very impressive but it doesn’t come close to the speeds of the fastest VPN, Surfshark, which averaged 665 Mbps.

For the fastest possible speeds, you’ll want to connect to its proprietary Lightway protocol. Still, your base connection plays a significant part in the speeds you can expect when connected to a VPN. The faster it is, the better the VPN speeds will be. The distance between your physical location and the VPN server can also make a big difference.

Security and privacy

Some people can accept not having the fastest possible speeds or a particular VPN feature but there can be far less compromise when it comes to security or privacy. The risks of using a VPN for torrenting that falls short in these areas are just too great. Fortunately, ExpressVPN excels here with 256-bit AES encryption.

We’ve regularly tested ExpressVPN connections and never observed any DNS, IPv6, or WebRTC leaks. When you connect to a server, you receive a shared IP address, which means that all your online activities are mixed with those of other users, allowing for anonymous browsing and torrenting. In the event that the VPN connection drops, ExpressVPN’s kill switch steps in to cut all internet traffic to prevent any unencrypted data from being exposed.

VPN jurisdiction dictates whether a provider can be legally forced to store or hand over user data. ExpressVPN is headquartered in the British Virgin Islands, which doesn’t require data retention. In contrast, VPNs in Five Eyes countries can be compelled to log and share data with authorities.

ExpressVPN operates a strict no-logs policy. This has been independently audited on multiple occasions, as has ExpressVPN’s privacy policy, Lightway protocol, and even its browser extensions. As such, there’s a very high level of transparency, and this fosters a high level of trust between ExpressVPN and its users.

Torrenting features

First and foremost, a quality torrenting VPN must have at least some servers that allow for P2P file-sharing. ExpressVPN certainly ticks this box because you can torrent on any of its servers with no restrictions. In fact, you’ll have more than 3,000 servers in 105+ countries to choose from.

However, ExpressVPN does lack port forwarding, which can allow for better seeding and faster uploads. 

It does have split tunneling available on Windows, Mac, Android, Linux, and routers. This feature lets you choose which apps can use the VPN and which can bypass its connection. For example, you can set your torrent client to use ExpressVPN for anonymity while having your streaming apps use the normal internet connection for the fastest possible speeds.

Between supporting torrenting on all servers, split tunneling, and security features such as a kill switch and DNS leak protection, ExpressVPN is more than capable.

Want to know more about how we go about analyzing VPNs? Our VPN testing methodology provides all the information you need to know.

Alternative VPNs for torrenting

ExpressVPN is not just one of the best VPNs for torrenting but one of the best VPNs overall. That’s not to say it’s perfect, however. Some people consider it to be too expensive, while others feel it lacks some of the extras offered by the likes of NordVPN and Surfshark. 

Here are some of the top alternative VPNs for torrenting:

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Like ExpressVPN, all of the above VPNs come with generous money-back guarantees, allowing you to try them out risk-free.

Can I use a free VPN for torrenting?

Technically, you can use a free VPN for torrenting, but this isn’t recommended due to the far inferior performance and major security and privacy risks. 

For starters, many free VPNs don’t allow torrenting, actively blocking P2P traffic or significantly slowing it. Slow speeds and data caps mean torrenting on free VPNs is far from practical anyway. Torrenting requires unlimited bandwidth, which is something free VPNs rarely offer.

Notably, many free VPNs lack adequate encryption or security features, such as a kill switch, resulting in your data being vulnerable. It should also be known that some free VPNs make money by tracking and selling your browsing data to third parties for profit. 

Needless to say, all of this is very concerning, particularly if you’re torrenting and could face fines and legal consequences for doing so. Free VPNs just aren’t worth the risk.

How to bind ExpressVPN with qBittorrent

We prefer qBittorrent over other torrent clients because it’s lightweight, ad-free, and open-source. You can also bind your VPN to qBittorrent so that it only works when the VPN is active, functioning much like a kill switch as a result. 

Your real IP address won’t be exposed if the VPN connection drops or if you forget to connect to a VPN before torrenting.

Here’s how to bind ExpressVPN with qBittorrent:

Is torrenting illegal?

Torrenting isn’t illegal and is just a method of sharing files. Having said that, downloading or distributing copyrighted content without permission is illegal in most countries.

Here’s when torrenting is legal:

• Linux distributions such as Ubuntu and Fedora
• Public domain movies, books, and music
• Open-source software
• Legally shared indie content

Here’s when torrenting isn’t legal:

• Movies and TV shows (Netflix, Disney+, HBO Max)
• Music (Spotify, Apple Music tracks)
• Video games (PlayStation, Xbox, PC games)
• Software and applications (Adobe Photoshop, Microsoft Office)
• eBooks (paid Kindle books, textbooks)

Consequences, and the likelihood of facing them, vary by country but may include bandwidth throttling from your ISP or fines or legal action from copyright holders. 

Some countries have stricter enforcement than others. The US, UK, and Germany are among the worst countries for torrenting whereas personal torrenting in Switzerland, Spain, and the Netherlands is rarely prosecuted.

How do I check my VPN is working before torrenting?

Before you start torrenting, you need to make sure your VPN is properly hiding your IP address and not leaking any data outside the VPN tunnel.

Here’s how to check your VPN is working before torrenting:

Remember that binding ExpressVPN to qBittorrent ensures you’ll only be able to torrent if your VPN is activated, so that’s another way to be sure everything is working as it should.

Using ExpressVPN for torrenting: FAQs

[[post-object type=”accordion” question=”Does ExpressVPN have P2P servers?” answer=”

Unlike some VPNs, which limit torrenting to specific P2P-optimized servers, ExpressVPN allows P2P on all of its 3,000+ servers in 105 countries. This provides you with a great deal of flexibility as to the location you choose for torrenting. 

For the fastest possible speeds, choose a server located near your actual location. Yet some countries are much more torrent-friendly than others. 

So if you live in the US, you may consider connecting to a US server for the fastest possible speeds when torrenting. However, the US is very tough on torrenting, so connecting to a nearby country such as Mexico, which also happens to be a lot more lenient, makes a lot more sense.

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[[post-object type=”accordion” question=”Is NordVPN better than ExpressVPN for torrenting?” answer=”

Although ExpressVPN is one of the best VPNs for torrenting, NordVPN is another excellent choice. 

It has a larger server network (8,200+ servers in 126+ countries), offers a SOCKS5 proxy service for even faster torrenting, and is packed with numerous extras, including Double VPN and Onion Over VPN servers. 

When it comes to connection speed, NordVPN and ExpressVPN are on a similar level based on our most recent speed tests.

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[[post-object type=”accordion” question=”Can my ISP tell I’m torrenting with ExpressVPN?” answer=”

If you’re using ExpressVPN properly, your ISP won’t be able to tell you’re torrenting. They’ll be able to detect that you’re using a VPN, but not exactly what you’re doing with it. 

Thanks to the encryption provided by a VPN like ExpressVPN, your ISP can’t see the websites you’re visiting, the files you’re downloading, your torrent activity, or the specific apps you’re using. What they can see is that your traffic is encrypted, as well as the amount of data you’re using.

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