5 Best VPNs with Port Forwarding in 2024 (Tested)

VPNs are great for keeping your torrenting safe, but many don’t offer port forwarding. This is because they’re afraid it might risk their users’ privacy.

Our testing shows: PrivateVPN is the top choice for port forwarding.

Port forwarding can be risky because it might let in bad connections. But, if you only use it for torrent clients and keep your firewall on, it’s mostly safe. Also, using an antivirus helps a lot.

We tested the best port forwarding VPNs to find out which ones are the most effective.

Best VPNs with port forwarding – our shortlist:

1. PrivateVPN – the best VPN with port forwarding
2. Private Internet Access – secure port forwarding VPN
3. ExpressVPN – best VPN with port forwarding on routers
4. PureVPN – has an extra port forward add-on available
5. TorGuard – supports PF and has SSL-based protocols

Testing Methodology: How We Picked Best VPN with Port Forwarding?

Here are the features we looked at when ranking the VPNs on our list:

• Ease of use – the fewer menus you need to navigate to activate port forwarding, the better
• Privacy features – secure protocols, strict no-logs policy, full leak protection, a working kill switch, and so on
• Torrenting support – most people forward ports for torrenting clients, so the provider needs to support P2P traffic
• Fast speeds – great for lag-free gaming sessions and speedy torrenting
• Affordability – we looked at providers that provide good overall value for the money

5 Best VPNs with Port Forwarding – our detailed list:

As mentioned, not many VPNs support port forwarding nowadays. These are the top providers with port forwarding support on the market.

1. PrivateVPN

PrivateVPN is a top pick for those needing a VPN with port forwarding. It’s all about security and privacy. It’s easy to use and works great for both casual users and those serious about online privacy.

PrivateVPN makes port forwarding easy. When you connect, you get a random port number. You can change it to your favorite. This makes setting up simple and fast.

PrivateVPN doesn’t keep logs, supports torrenting, and has strong security. It also boosts Netflix streaming speeds. With over 200 servers in 63 countries, it offers lots of options.

PrivateVPN has fast speeds and a unique feature. It cuts off apps if the VPN drops, keeping you safe. It also protects against port fail attacks and DNS leaks.

PrivateVPN stands out with its “stealth VPN” feature. It hides your VPN use, helping you access blocked networks. Its server plans are affordable, and it offers a 30-day money-back guarantee.

2. Private Internet Access

Private Internet Access (PIA) is a solid VPN with port forwarding. To use it, go to the settings in the PIA app. Then, it connects to your chosen port automatically.

PIA has a huge server network, covering 84 countries. But, not all servers support port forwarding, like none in the US.

PIA lets you connect up to 10 devices at once. It supports WireGuard and OpenVPN and has strong encryption. It’s also great for torrenting, supporting P2P activities on all servers.

PIA works on many platforms, including Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, and Linux. It has a kill-switch feature to keep your ports safe. Its plans are cheap, and it offers a 30-day money-back guarantee.

3. ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN is fast, secure, and has a huge server network. You can connect to over 3000+ servers in 94 countries. It supports port forwarding on your router.

Setting up ExpressVPN on your router is easy. Just pick a device, a protocol, and the ports you want to open. Their website has guides to help with port forwarding.

ExpressVPN doesn’t log your data and has automatic obfuscation on all servers. It also has full leak protection and great streaming support. It allows P2P traffic on its entire network.

ExpressVPN has apps for all platforms, including Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more. But, its port forwarding is only available through the router app. This limits its ranking.

4. PureVPN

PureVPN is based in Hong Kong. It has a large server network and strong security. In 2018, it became a no-log certified VPN, meaning they don’t keep records of your activities.

You can open and forward any UDP/TCP port from any device. This is great for torrenting or online gaming.

PureVPN works on Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android. It also supports Linux and smart devices like Amazon Fire TV. They have over 6500+ servers in 70+ countries.

They have a special torrenting profile that connects to special servers. P2P connections are fast and secure, hiding your real IP address.

PureVPN is easy to use and offers port forwarding. Their plans are affordable, and they have a 31-day money-back guarantee.

5. TorGuard

TorGuard is great for torrent leechers and seeders. It offers fast upload and download speeds. It prioritizes P2P sharing traffic, which is rare among VPN providers.

This VPN supports port forwarding for ports above 2048 through OpenVPN. You can’t use it with L2TP and SSTP protocols.

Setting up port forwarding can be tricky, but it’s worth it. First, request access from the client dashboard. After your request is processed, you’ll get an email with instructions. Once set up, static ports work well for seeding and leeching.

The basic TorGuard plan lets you connect up to 8 devices. The “Pro” plan allows up to 12.

TorGuard also offers add-ons like dedicated IP addresses and DDoS protection. It supports several VPN protocols, including Stealth protocols that hide your VPN use.

Why Do You Need a VPN with Port Forwarding?

If you don’t want to share your upload speed for torrents, you might not need port forwarding. But, if a VPN doesn’t support P2P traffic, torrenting on it won’t work.

Some torrent sites require you to share your upload speed to download files. In these cases, a VPN with port forwarding is needed.

Using port forwarding can also boost your torrent speeds. By opening specific ports, you can connect with more peers. This means you can download from more sources at once.

Without open ports, your torrent client has to start each connection. But with ports open, other clients can find you. This lets you get more connections.

Here’s how else a VPN with port forwarding helps:

• Allows seeding — A NAT firewall can block your seeding. Port forwarding lets you bypass this and seed torrents.
• Hosting online games — you can use port forwarding for gaming with a dedicated IP address. This makes your games accessible outside your network. It also stops bandwidth throttling from ruining your games.
• Remote access — it lets you access your home network remotely if a VPN is running on it.

How VPN Port Forwarding Works

So, how do VPNs with port forwarding work behind the scenes? Let’s look at how port forwarding works first.

What is Port Forwarding?

When you visit a website, your computer sends data packets. These packets have info about your request, including a port number.

A router normally sends these packets to the right place based on the port number. But with port forwarding, the router intercepts the packet. It then changes the port number and sends the data to the new destination.

Port forwarding helps block unwanted access, hide sensitive info, and increase download speeds.

How VPNs Enable Port Forwarding?

Connecting to a VPN is like using a router. Instead of your router’s NAT, the VPN server routes your traffic.

VPNs usually don’t let you choose ports for security reasons. They might use dynamic port forwarding. When you enable port forwarding, a random port is opened.

Some VPNs, like TorGuard, let you request port forwarding in their client area. You can skip approval by buying a dedicated static IP address.

For ExpressVPN, you set up port forwarding through their router’s interface. You can open a specific port for incoming connections. Note that these ports won’t have VPN protection.

In any case, you can use this port number in torrent clients or when setting up a gaming server.

Static vs Dynamic Port Forwarding

Port forwarding can use static or dynamic ports. Static ports always have the same number. Dynamic ports change every time they are used.

Static ports are easy because you don’t have to change settings often. They’re great for torrenting. You don’t need to make new connections or change settings.

Dynamic ports are good for using and recycling unused ports. But, they’re not good for remote access.

How to Use a VPN with Port Forwarding

Most VPNs with port forwarding have instructions on how to use it. We can’t give a specific guide because it varies by VPN.

Here’s how to set up port forwarding with a VPN:

1. Enable port forwarding in the VPN app or dashboard.
2. Pick the ports you want to open.
3. Change the app’s listening port to the ones you chose.
4. Disable UPnP and NAT-PMP in the app.

To check if it works, use the CanYouSeeMeNow.org tool. Enter the forwarded port and click Check Port. If it says Success, you did it right.

For example, here’s how to do it in Private Internet Access. Just go to Settings > Network > check the box that says “Request Port Forwarding”.

Keep in mind that not all servers support port forwarding, so connect to a server that does.

You’ll see a port number in the VPN client – use the specified port to configure your torrenting client or game

How to Configure Port Forwarding on Your Router?

To forward ports on your router, we can only give a basic guide. This is because the steps change with each router model.

Here’s a general guide for setting up port configuration on a router:

1. Log into your router’s dashboard — just type your router’s IP address in a browser’s URL bar.
2. Access the router’s port forwarding settings panel.
3. Look for a list of empty port configurations.
4. Pick an empty configuration and enter internal and external port numbers. Ports over 1,000 and under 65,000 are usually safe. External and internal ports don’t have to match.
5. Next, enter the local IP address of the device you want the port to connect to on your network. The device’s local IP is different from the router’s public IP.

And you’re done. Your router will now send any request to the ports you set to your device. It does this without showing the device’s private IP address.

It might seem smart to open many ports for different apps. But, we advise against it. It makes your device more vulnerable to attacks.

Also, you can’t forward the same port to more than one IP on the same network. This is because your router can’t figure out where to send incoming data.

Best Practices for Using a VPN with Port Forwarding

Even with a top VPN for port forwarding, take extra steps:

• Keep your VPN and operating system up to date.
• Make sure your VPN has full IP and DNS leak protection.
• Use a well-configured firewall and anti-malware.
• If you forward ports to access your device remotely, use a strong password.

Is VPN Port Forwarding Safe?

Port forwarding on a VPN is safe if the VPN service protects against port fail attacks. These attacks can reveal your real IP address. VPNs prevent this by using different IP addresses for incoming and outgoing data.

But, port forwarding on a VPN also has risks. It can let hackers access your devices.

This is a big threat if you forward ports to access important devices, like your PC. But, if you use it for something like a torrent client, the damage is limited. Just remember to enable your system’s firewall and require a password to log in.

FAQs – Best VPN with Port Forwarding

Here are some quick answers about port forwarding and related features.

What is Port Forwarding?

Port forwarding lets you configure your router to send data to a device on your network. You can use it to access smart devices at home, like video cameras. It also bypasses your router’s NAT firewall, which blocks internet connections to your devices.

Is Port Forwarding Legal?

Yes, port forwarding is legal – as long as you use it for legal activities. Most ISPs allow it, and it doesn’t harm your router.

Does Port Forwarding Work with VPN?

Yes, you can port forward while using a VPN. But, you need a VPN provider that supports port forwarding, like PrivateVPN.

Why Don’t All VPNs Offer Port Forwarding?

Most VPN services don’t offer port forwarding because of security worries. They use NAT firewalls to block unwanted connections. Port forwarding lets you bypass these rules, which can open your network to danger.

Can You Get Hacked through Port Forwarding?

Yes, you can get hacked through port forwarding if you set up a remote connection on your device. To stay safe, use a well-configured firewall or a VPN with port forwarding.

Is It Dangerous to Port Forward?

Port forwarding can be risky if you don’t take safety steps. Use strong passwords, a firewall, and keep your software and devices updated to avoid exploits.

Is Port Forwarding for Gaming Safe?

Port forwarding for gaming is safe if set up right. Use a firewall, anti-malware, and disable port forward rules after use. Also, don’t share gaming info in public chats.

Is Port Forwarding Safer than UPnP?

Manual port forwarding is safer than UPnP, which is automatic port forwarding. UPnP assumes all devices are secure. If a device gets malware, UPnP can let it harm your network.

It’s wise to turn off UPnP. If you use a VPN with port forwarding, you’ll need to disable UPnP to avoid conflicts.

Does Port Forwarding Improve Speed When Torrenting?

Yes, port forwarding can make torrenting faster by letting more peers connect to your device.

Do I Need to Use Port Forwarding while Torrenting?

You don’t need port forwarding for torrenting, but it can help. It’s useful for faster speeds and if seeding doesn’t work.

Can You Use a Free VPN with Port Forwarding Feature?

To our knowledge, no reliable free VPNs support port forwarding. ProtonVPN is a trustworthy free VPN, but they only offer port forwarding on their free plan.

Does NordVPN Allow Port Forwarding?

No, NordVPN doesn’t support port forwarding. It blocks most port communication, except for popular apps. NordVPN made this choice for security reasons.

If you need a VPN for port forwarding, try PrivateVPN. It’s easy to use, fast, and secure.

Does ExpressVPN Allow Port Forwarding?

Yes, ExpressVPN allows port forwarding, but only on their router app – for security.

Conclusion

Not many VPNs support port forwarding due to security concerns. Yet, it’s essential for sharing information online. This is why some VPNs offer it.

One top VPN for port forwarding is PrivateVPN. It supports P2P traffic and is fast and reliable. Its port forwarding is easy to set up, and it has extra security features like IP leak protection and an internet kill switch.