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

Power users who prefer qBittorrent over other torrent clients have their reasons. They are ad-free torrenting, port forwarding, and IP binding. However, one function that still eludes them is a built-in virtual private network. There’s no denying that VPNs make torrenting a lot safer, letting you sleep peacefully at night as you continue seeding your favorite torrents.

As we collectively wait for a torrent client with built-in encryption and IP hiding features, we have to take some extra efforts to cover our tracks while lurking in “the scene”. If you are a qBittorrent user, this quick guide on the best VPNs and the process of setting it up is all you will ever need.

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. AtlasVPN – A great budget choice.
4. PrivateVPN – With port-forwarding and free dedicated IPs.
5. ExpressVPN – Great security and fast speeds.

What Features to Look for in a VPN for Torrenting?

Simply setting up a VPN with qBittorrent, however, is not enough. You need to press the right buttons and set it up according to your needs to utilize the best of both worlds. The ease and convenience of qBittorrent and the security of VPN without affecting your download speed and peer discovery.

In that regard, here are the most critical features or factors to look for when choosing the right VPN for qBittorrent:

• Download/Upload Speed – Minimum throttling of your Internet speed (> 40% is bad)
• Kill Switch – To automatically shut off the Internet if and when your VPN fails
• Server Choice – The more servers the better so that you can choose for best performance
• No-Logs Policy – To prevent your VPN provider from logging your torrenting escapades
• Port Forwarding – Better speed by optimizing/increasing your active peer connections

In addition to these, check if the VPN ensures no DNS or IP leaks, both of which can compromise your Internet identity. 

Best VPNs for qBittorrent – our detailed list:

Some VPNs are better equipped to handle P2P traffic, owing to the quality of their servers. All the five VPNs that we have listed here are capable of taking care of your torrent traffic. Just switch them on and forget about torrenting concerns forever.

1. NordVPN

NordVPN is the best overall VPN for qBittorrent. its robust security, privacy and dedicated P2P servers make torrenting foolproof.

Security: The AES-256 encryption, CyberSec ad-blocking feature, and ioXt certification ensure maximum protection. There is a kill switch; it can halt the internet and the torrenting app should the VPN server get unstable.

Privacy: NordVPN upholds a strict no-logging policy, verified by 3 independent audits. Besides, it is based in Panama, which is outside Fourteen Eyes jurisdiction. This ensures your data is secure from surveillance networks. Noteworthy features that strengthen privacy include:

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

Performance: This VPN boasts an impressive download speed of 248.7 Mbps and an upload speed of 126.7 Mbps. The use of NordLynx, based on WireGuard, significantly improves performance.

P2P and Torrenting: NordVPN has specially designed P2P servers and quick download speeds. You can safely and efficiently torrent on Android, Windows, MacOS, or any other platform.

Other features: NordVPN has split tunneling and reliable Dark Web monitoring to detect threats. It includes a cross-platform password manager in its longer plans.

Pricing: NordVPN offers budget-friendly plans starting at $4.99/month (1-year plan). Varied payment options, including cryptocurrencies for extra privacy, are also available. They also provide a risk-free 30-day money-back guarantee, should you change your mind.

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 one of the best VPNs for qBittorrent due to its robust security and strong privacy. It also hs great speeds that are excellent for P2P/torrenting.

Security: Surfshark employs AES-256-GCM encryption and secure protocols like OpenVPN, IKEv2/IPsec, and WireGuard. Features like a kill switch, and CleanWeb to block ads and malware, further solidify its security.

Privacy: Surfshark commits to privacy with a no-logs policy and private DNS on each server. IP Masking and ‘NoBorders’ mode ensures privacy in more restricted regions. Equally notable is its GPS spoofing feature available in their Android app.

Performance: Surfshark offers reliable performance. High-speed servers reach a download speed of 235 Mbps. Its ultra-fast upload speeds can help active seeders and file sharers while torrenting.

P2P and Torrenting: Surfshark is P2P-friendly with optimized servers for torrenting. It is a great choice for qBittorrent. The VPN’s exceptional upload speeds make it a cheaper alternative to a seedbox.

Other features: Some perks include unlimited devices, split tunneling, 24/7 customer support, and smart DNS service. It is also compatible with many devices.

Pricing: Surfshark offers affordable pricing packages. It starts from $2.30/month for a 2-year subscription and extends up to $22.95/month for the Surfshark One+ package. All packages come with a 30-day money-back guarantee adding more value for the users.

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. AtlasVPN

qBittorrent paired with Atlas VPN offers a great torrenting experience. Atlas VPN provides high speeds, specialized P2P servers, and robust security. This makes it a top choice for qBittorrent users.

Security: Atlas VPN ensures secure connections with modern WireGuard protocol and AES-256 encryption. Its system-wide kill switch and built-in 2FA for Windows add an extra layer of protection.

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

Performance: Strong performance is key for seamless torrenting. Atlas’s lightning-fast download speed reaches 183 Mbps, and its upload speed is at 309 Mbps. Additionally, their support for OpenVPN, WireGuard, and IKEv2 ensures reliable connections.

P2P and Torrenting: Atlas offers excellent torrenting thanks to its dedicated P2P servers. 10 Gbps servers enable high-speed downloads and uploads for P2P connections.

Other features: Atlas is compatible with many platforms and supports Android TV and Amazon Fire Stick. Their Email Breach Check feature and dark web monitoring provide extra security.

Pricing: Attractively priced, Atlas VPN offers a freemium service alongside premium plans. It starts at $1.82/month for a 2-year plan. Their 30-day money-back guarantee allows users to try out risk-free.

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

4. PrivateVPN

PrivateVPN is among the Best qBittorrent VPNs. It is because of its excellent P2P support, no-logs policy, and robust security. It also supports port-forwarding unlike any of its competitors.

Security: PrivateVPN offers AES 256-bit encryption to ensure data security during torrenting. Protection against IP and IPv6 leaks and an effective kill switch keep data secure even if the connection drops.

Privacy: PrivateVPN prioritizes user privacy. It has a strict no-logs policy and Stealth VPN mode that disguises VPN traffic as regular web traffic. But, it is located in Sweden and has raised concerns regarding privacy.

Performance: PrivateVPN was tested for its performance. The download speeds of 148 Mbps and the upload speeds of 190 Mbps in the US making it ideal for fast torrenting. The VPN supports OpenVPN, L2TP/IPSec, and WireGuard protocols. High latency in some locations needs addressing, though.

P2P and Torrenting: PrivateVPN supports P2P traffic and has dedicated IP/Torrenting servers. It also supports port forwarding which can 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 come with a 30-day money-back guarantee, making it an attractive proposition for users.

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

5. ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN is among the top VPNs for qBittorrent due to its excellent speed, security, and privacy. It optimizes P2P connections and keeps your online activity hidden. However, 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 crucial 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. Also, it 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 guarantees fast connection times and supports OpenVPN and IKEv2 protocols. With its Lightway protocol, tests resulted in 137 Mbps download and 162 Mbps upload speeds in the US.

P2P and Torrenting: ExpressVPN allows P2P and torrenting on all servers. Its automatic Smart Location feature optimizes your P2P connection to ensure faster torrenting.

Other features: Apart from P2P and torrenting, ExpressVPN can unblock major streaming platforms. It offers up to 8 simultaneous connections and has browser extensions.

Pricing: ExpressVPN offers a 1-month plan at $12.95/month, a 6-month plan at $9.99/month, and a 1-year plan at $6.67/month. All with a 30-day money-back guarantee. You can choose to pay via 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

Do You Need a VPN with qBittorrent?

The answer is yes.

Having a VPN in place allows you to block your IP address from showing up in public trackers and peer lists. Every time you try to download or upload a file over a peer-to-peer (P2P) network, your IP address becomes public via the tracker (unless it’s private). This can mean trouble if the file in question is of interest to its copyright owner. (Think Hollywood clamping down on users who download the latest Oscar-winning limited release.)

This applies to all top torrent clients including qBittorrent that do not have a strong built-in protection mechanism. Sure, outdated RC4 encryption exists in qBittorrent but does nothing much other than limiting peer connections. Then there is port forwarding that helps increase the number of peer connections. And IP filtering is as good as placebo in 2022. But none of them help you stay anonymous. 

A VPN, in essence, can hide your IP address by routing your connections via a server. Anyone – read copyright enforcers – who see you on a peer list sees the arbitrary IP of that server. It protects you from undesired copyright strikes from your ISP, or worse, from court subpoenas being slid under your main door. 

qBittorrent is similar to uTorrent that way; it needs a VPN to hide your IP address. We have discussed this in detail before and the bottom line is that you should use some sort of protection to cover your tracks when torrenting.

Note – qBittorrent has an ‘anonymous mode’ that simply hides metadata and is not as effective as using a VPN.

How to Set Up qBittorrent with VPN?

Setting up qBittorrent with your choice of VPN is easy. There are essentially three ways to do so, with each one of them providing varying levels of protection. 

Using qBittorrent with VPN

Follow the steps outlined below to use qBittorrent with your VPN client:

1. Switch ON the VPN client on your computer
2. Turn on the kill switch feature
3. Use qBittorrent as you would normally

This will route all your torrent traffic through the VPN server. The drawback of this method is that sometimes the kill switch may take time to activate. And in the meantime, your original IP address will be broadcast to your peers. Putting your computer on sleep or hibernation mode can cause this.

Using qBittorrent Only on VPN (IP Binding Guide)

To get another layer of foolproofing, you can use the IP binding feature of qBittorrent.

1. Switch ON your VPN client
2. Look for the updated network interface (triggered by the VPN) in your network settings
3. Go to the advanced options of qBittorrent (Menu > Tools > Options > Advanced)
4. Change the ‘Network Interface’ option to the interface you found in step 2
5. Click on ‘Apply’ and then restart qBittorrent

What this essentially does is route your torrent traffic only via the VPN interface’s server. If the VPN fails, qBittorrent will instantly stop its connections. This method functions just like a kill switch that is entirely foolproof. Better to stop your torrent downloads than to expose your IP address, right?

Pro Tip – You may set up a firewall rule to force all torrent traffic via a VPN adapter along with IP binding for a better setup. 

Using qBittorrent with VPN’s Split Tunneling Feature

This is the third method – similar to the IP binding one – that depends largely on the VPN client. Only ExpressVPN and NordVPN have this feature, which is 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 such as 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. Although qBittorrent is generally a safe torrent client and has basic protection functions in place, they are not enough to hide your IP address in peer lists. 

Why is qBittorrent not downloading with VPN?

Either qBittorrent or VPN may not be properly set up. Consider switching ON port forwarding and IP binding, or try changing the VPN server.

What is the best VPN to use with qBittorrent?

We recommend NordVPN, ExpressVPN, Surfshark, PIA, and PureVPN as the best clients that work with qBittorrent.

Is IP binding better than split tunneling in qBittorrent?

IP binding is configured on qBittorrent and also utilizes the kill switch feature of VPN. Therefore, it is a better way to anonymize yourself while torrenting than split tunneling. 

Is it necessary to bind in qBittorrent?

No. IP binding is optional, but we highly recommend it as the best way to protect yourself.