5 Best VPNs for qBittorrent (+ How to Use It With VPN)

Power users often choose qBittorrent over other torrent clients for good reasons. They like the ad-free experience, port forwarding, and IP binding. But, they miss a built-in virtual private network (VPN).

VPNs are key to safe torrenting, allowing you to seed without worry. They keep your online activities hidden. So, while we wait for a torrent client with these features, we must take extra steps to stay anonymous.

If you use qBittorrent, this guide will help you find the best VPN. It also shows how to set it up. It’s all you need to keep your online activities private.Best VPNs For Qbittorrent in 2024

1. NordVPN – Fastest and the best VPN for qBittorrent.
2. Surfshark – Full of features and easy to use.
3. PrivateVPN – With port-forwarding and free dedicated IPs.
4. ExpressVPN – Great security and fast speeds.
5. AtlasVPN – A great budget choice.

What Features to Look for in a VPN for Torrenting?

Setting up a VPN with qBittorrent is just the start. You must configure it to meet your needs. This way, you get the best of both worlds: qBittorrent’s ease and a VPN’s security, without slowing down your downloads.

Here are the key features to look for in a VPN for qBittorrent:

• Download/Upload Speed – Your Internet speed should not be throttled too much (> 40% is bad)
• Kill Switch – This feature shuts off your Internet if your VPN drops
• Server Choice – More servers mean better performance
• No-Logs Policy – Your VPN should not log your torrent activities
• Port Forwarding – This boosts your speed by increasing peer connections

Also, make sure the VPN doesn’t leak your DNS or IP. This keeps your online identity safe.

Best VPNs for qBittorrent – our detailed list:

Some VPNs handle P2P traffic better than others, thanks to their server quality. The five VPNs we’ve listed can manage your torrent traffic well. Just turn them on and forget about torrenting worries.

1. NordVPN

NordVPN is the top choice for qBittorrent. It offers strong security, privacy, and dedicated P2P servers for safe torrenting.

Security: NordVPN uses AES-256 encryption and CyberSec to block ads. It also has ioXt certification for extra security. The kill switch stops your internet and torrent app if the VPN server fails.

Privacy: NordVPN keeps no logs and has been audited three times. It’s based in Panama, outside of Fourteen Eyes surveillance. It also has features like WebRTC blocking and Dark Web monitoring for extra privacy.

• WebRTC blocking and IP leak prevention
• Dark Web monitoring for threats
• Threat Protection to scan malicious files

Performance: NordVPN has fast speeds of 248.7 Mbps download and 126.7 Mbps upload. Its NordLynx technology, based on WireGuard, boosts performance.

P2P and Torrenting: NordVPN has P2P servers for quick downloads. You can safely torrent on Android, Windows, MacOS, or other platforms.

Other features: It has split tunneling and Dark Web monitoring. It also includes a cross-platform password manager in longer plans.

Pricing: NordVPN starts at $4.99/month for a 1-year plan. It offers various payment options, including cryptocurrencies. There’s also a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Plan	1-year plan	1-month plan	2-year plan
Standard Plan	$4.99/month	$12.99/month	–
Plus Plan	$5.99/month	$13.99/month	–
Complete Plan	$6.99/month	$14.99/month	$5.49/month

2. Surfshark

Surfshark VPN is great for qBittorrent. It has strong security, privacy, and fast speeds for P2P/torrenting.

Security: Surfshark uses AES-256-GCM encryption and secure protocols. It has a kill switch and CleanWeb to block ads and malware.

Privacy: Surfshark keeps no logs and has private DNS on each server. It offers IP Masking and ‘NoBorders’ mode for privacy. It also has GPS spoofing in its Android app.

Performance: Surfshark has reliable performance. Its high-speed servers have a download speed of 235 Mbps. It also has fast upload speeds for torrenting.

P2P and Torrenting: Surfshark is P2P-friendly with optimized servers. It’s a good choice for qBittorrent. Its upload speeds are also great for seeders and file sharers.

Other features: Surfshark offers unlimited devices, split tunneling, and 24/7 customer support. It’s compatible with many devices.

Pricing: Surfshark has affordable plans. It starts at $2.30/month for a 2-year subscription. All plans come with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Surfshark Plans	2-year price	1-year price	1-month price
Starter	$2.30/month	$3.99/month	$12.95/month
Surfshark One	$3.22/month	$4.49/month	$17.95/month
Surfshark One+	$5.99/month	$8.29/month	$22.95/month

3. PrivateVPN

PrivateVPN is one of the best VPNs for qBittorrent. It has excellent P2P support, a no-logs policy, and strong security. It also supports port-forwarding, unlike its competitors.

Security: PrivateVPN uses AES 256-bit encryption for data security during torrenting. It also protects against IP and IPv6 leaks and has an effective kill switch.

Privacy: PrivateVPN prioritizes user privacy with a strict no-logs policy. It has Stealth VPN mode to disguise VPN traffic. But, it’s located in Sweden, which raises privacy concerns.

Performance: PrivateVPN was tested for its performance. It has download speeds of 148 Mbps and upload speeds of 190 Mbps in the US. It supports OpenVPN, L2TP/IPSec, and WireGuard protocols. But, it has high latency in some locations.

P2P and Torrenting: PrivateVPN supports P2P traffic and has dedicated IP/Torrenting servers. It also supports port forwarding to speed up torrenting connections.

Other features: PrivateVPN can unblock many streaming services like Netflix and BBC iPlayer. Customer support is available through email and 24/7 live chat, though it needs improvement.

Pricing: PrivateVPN is affordably priced. It offers a 1-month plan for $9.90, a 3-month plan for $6.00/month, and a 36-month plan for $2.00/month. All plans come with a 30-day money-back guarantee, making it attractive for users.

PrivateVPN Plans	Price per Month
1-Month Plan	$9.90
3-Month Plan	$6.00
36-Month Plan	$2.00

4. ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN is a top VPN for qBittorrent due to its excellent speed, security, and privacy. It optimizes P2P connections and keeps your online activity hidden. But, the price might be too steep for some.

Security: ExpressVPN uses military-grade AES 256-GCM encryption. It combines it with the SHA-512 hash function for authentication, ensuring maximal security. Its Network Lock prevents data leaks in case the VPN connection drops – a key feature for torrenting. All ExpressVPN servers operate on RAM that removes all data every time a server is rebooted.

Privacy: ExpressVPN has done independent audits by PwC and Cure53. This confirmed its stance on privacy and claims on a strict no-logs policy. It also employs private DNS on all servers as well as some other features:

• Stealth servers, ensuring your VPN connection is undetectable in restrictive regions
• Split tunneling, lets you select which apps use VPN and which don’t

Performance: ExpressVPN promises quick connection times. It supports OpenVPN and IKEv2 protocols. Its Lightway protocol delivers 137 Mbps download and 162 Mbps upload speeds in the US.

P2P and Torrenting: ExpressVPN lets you use P2P and torrenting on all servers. Its Smart Location feature makes your P2P connection faster.

Other features: ExpressVPN also unblocks major streaming platforms. It offers up to 8 simultaneous connections and has browser extensions.

Pricing: ExpressVPN has a 1-month plan for $12.95/month, a 6-month plan for $9.99/month, and a 1-year plan for $6.67/month. All plans come with a 30-day money-back guarantee. You can pay with a credit card, PayPal, Bitcoin, or UnionPay.

ExpressVPN Plans	Price per Month	Simultaneous Connections
1-Month Plan	$12.95	5
6-Month Plan	$9.99	Up to 8
1-Year Plan	$6.67	Up to 8

5. AtlasVPN

Using qBittorrent with Atlas VPN gives a great torrenting experience. Atlas VPN offers high speeds and specialized P2P servers. It also has strong security, making it a top choice for qBittorrent users.

Security: Atlas VPN keeps connections secure with modern WireGuard protocol and AES-256 encryption. It also has a system-wide kill switch and 2FA for Windows for extra protection.

Privacy: Atlas VPN values user privacy and has a no-logs policy. It has IP Rotator (SafeSwap) and Data Breach Monitoring to keep users’ identities and data safe.

Performance: Atlas VPN is known for its strong performance. It has download speeds of 183 Mbps and upload speeds of 309 Mbps. It also supports OpenVPN, WireGuard, and IKEv2 for reliable connections.

P2P and Torrenting: Atlas VPN is great for torrenting thanks to its dedicated P2P servers. Its 10 Gbps servers enable fast downloads and uploads for P2P connections.

Other features: Atlas VPN works on many platforms and supports Android TV and Amazon Fire Stick. It also has Email Breach Check and dark web monitoring for extra security.

Pricing: Atlas VPN is priced well, with a freemium service and premium plans. It starts at $1.82/month for a 2-year plan. There’s a 30-day money-back guarantee for a risk-free try.

AtlasVPN Plans	Pricing	Additional Benefits
Free Version	0.00$/month	5 GB data limit Access to 3 locations
1-Month Plan	11.99$/month	30-day money-back guarantee
1-Year Plan	3.29$/month Billed $39.48 annually	30-day money-back guarantee
2-Year Plan	1.82$/month Billed $43.68 biennially	30-day money-back guarantee

Do You Need a VPN with qBittorrent?

Yes, you do.

A VPN hides your IP address from trackers and peer lists. This is important when using peer-to-peer networks. If you download something copyrighted, your IP could get you in trouble.

Using top torrent clients like qBittorrent without a VPN is risky. They don’t protect your identity well. Old encryption and port forwarding don’t help much today.

A VPN hides your IP by using a server. This makes it hard for copyright enforcers to find you. It also keeps you safe from legal trouble.

qBittorrent is like uTorrent in needing a VPN. We’ve talked about this before. It’s important to protect yourself when torrenting.

qBittorrent has an ‘anonymous mode’ but it’s not as good as a VPN.

How to Set Up qBittorrent with VPN?

Setting up qBittorrent with a VPN is simple. There are three main ways to do it, each with its own level of protection.

Using qBittorrent with VPN

Here’s how to use qBittorrent with your VPN:

1. Turn on your VPN client
2. Enable the kill switch feature
3. Start using qBittorrent as usual

This method sends all torrent traffic through the VPN. But, the kill switch might not work right away. This could expose your IP address.

Using qBittorrent Only on VPN (IP Binding Guide)

For extra security, use qBittorrent’s IP binding feature.

1. Turn on your VPN client
2. Find the updated network interface in your settings
3. Go to qBittorrent’s advanced options (Menu > Tools > Options > Advanced)
4. Change the ‘Network Interface’ to the interface from step 2
5. Click ‘Apply’ and restart qBittorrent

This method sends torrent traffic only through the VPN. If the VPN drops, qBittorrent stops immediately. It’s a foolproof way to keep your IP safe.

Pro Tip – Adding a firewall rule to force torrent traffic through the VPN makes your setup even better.

Using qBittorrent with VPN’s Split Tunneling Feature

This method is similar to IP binding and relies on the VPN client. Only ExpressVPN and NordVPN offer this feature, called split tunneling. Here’s how to set it up:

1. Switch ON your VPN
2. Enable split tunneling in the VPN client and select qBittorrent as the application

With this, The VPN routes all torrent traffic from qBittorrent through its selected server. And all other communication, like browser and software updates, will happen directly via your original Internet connection.

If we had to compare the three methods, we would put it this way:

qBittorrent with VPN	qBittorrent with Split Tunneling	qBittorrent with IP Binding
Safe	Safer	Safest

Tips to Improve qBittorrent Performance

• Enable ‘anonymous mode’ in qBittorrent
• In Encryption mode option in qBittorrent, choose ‘allow encryption’ instead of ‘require encryption’
• Enable UPnP/NAT-PMP port forwarding in qBittorrent

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Answers to some of the most commonly asked questions about using qBittorrent with VPN:

Is qBittorrent safe without a VPN?

No. qBittorrent is generally safe, but it’s not enough to hide your IP address.

Why is qBittorrent not downloading with VPN?

Either qBittorrent or VPN may not be set up right. Try switching ON port forwarding and IP binding, or change the VPN server.

What is the best VPN to use with qBittorrent?

NordVPN, ExpressVPN, Surfshark, PIA, and PureVPN are top choices for qBittorrent.

Is IP binding better than split tunneling in qBittorrent?

IP binding is better because it uses the VPN’s kill switch. It’s more secure than split tunneling.

Is it necessary to bind in qBittorrent?

No. IP binding is optional, but it’s highly recommended for safety.