The Best Torrenting VPN In Australia [Ultimate Review – 2022]
Searching for the best VPN for torrenting in Australia?
We back you. After evaluating more than 70 VPN services and conducting 300+ tests, we found ExpressVPN as the best VPN for torrenting in Australia.
In recent years, Australian rules and regulations related to torrents have increased. Although torrents are not considered utterly illegal, they can have serious consequences depending on the type of file you download.
P2P torrents are widely used for downloading music, movies, and video games. However, IP addresses and P2P activity can be easily tracked while downloading torrents. It allows online criminals and other stakeholders to target you and your data.
Therefore, using a VPN for downloading torrents now becomes essential. And by finding the best VPN for torrenting in Australia, you can keep your data private, secure online activity, and enjoy fast and reliable download speeds. Even the below-listed VPNs work best for HBO Max, which entirely changes your streaming experience.
To help you with that, this article features the 6 best VPNs for torrenting in Australia. These VPNs are fast, easy to use, and perfect companions for P2P downloads.
6 Best VPNs for torrenting [Quick Summary]
Running out of time, here is a quick summary of the best VPNs for torrenting in Australia:
- ExpressVPN – Best VPN for torrenting in Australia. Average download speed of 52.7 Mbps on a 60 Mbps connection|Covers 94 countries|Compatible with various devices
- Surfshark – Best budget torrent-friendly VPN. Costs as low as AU$ 3.81/mo (US$ 2.49/mo) |3200+ P2P servers|Unlimited simultaneous connections.
- NordVPN – VPN with a large P2P Server Fleet. Huge live P2P server park|Incredible speed|Packed with high-end security features.
- PureVPN – Verified no logs policy. KPMG trusted|6500+ servers|Ten multi-logins.
- Cyberghost – Smart VPN for BitTorrent. Dedicated torrenting section| Unlimited bandwidth| Best for beginners.
- PIA VPN – Offers port forwarding for torrenting.WireGuard protected|Decent speed|poor customer support.
What are the Best VPNs for torrenting in Australia? Detailed Description
Despite what VPN services may tell you about their amazing P2P support, the truth is only a handful of them really protect your privacy and offer fast, stable download speeds for torrenting. Most just make false promises. We evaluated over 70 seventy VPN services, running them through 300+ tests.
Our 300+ test results concluded that these are the six best VPNs for torrenting in Australia, satisfying our criteria to the maximum. In the process, we downloaded 468 files from our test base in Perth. These findings come after a 3-month long study. We’ve added any new updates along the way.
1. ExpressVPN – SuperFast Speed for torrenting overall
ExpressVPN has all the features you would expect from a VPN for torrenting in Australia. It ticks all the right boxes unlimited bandwidth, robust security, device compatibility, a reliable server network, and efficient customer support service.
Servers
It operates from the British Virgin Islands and has 3000+ servers in 94+ countries. All servers are RAM-operated and optimized for torrenting.
Expanding on the P2P server coverage, you get five server locations in Australia. These include Melbourne, Sydney, Perth, Brisbane, and Sydney – 2. They all give incredible download and upload speeds.
Outside Australia, the US, Canada, New Zealand, Singapore, Switzerland, Poland, India, and the Netherlands servers work best.
Speed
We found ExpressVPN excellent in terms of stability. During the testing phase, the connections rarely ever dropped, and we were able to surf BitTorrent for 6 continuous hours without any interruptions. We used a Windows 10-operated machine for the testing, powered by an Intel i5-5200 CPU and 8 GB RAM.
We ran ExpressVPN on the Ookla speed tool and recorded the following results against the tested locations. The download and upload speeds were the fastest in our test logs.
Connection type | Download Speed | Upload Speed |
Perth – Australia | 59.6 Mbps | 28.8 Mbps |
Sydney – Australia | 55.6 Mbps | 25.5 Mbps |
New York – US | 53.2 Mbps | 22.4 Mbps |
New Zealand | 54.1 Mbps | 23.5 Mbps |
Amsterdam | 47.5 Mbps | 18.5 Mbps |
Switzerland – 2 | 50.4 Mbps | 19.2 Mbps |
Security & Privacy Protocols
ExpressVPN uses military-grade AES-backed encryption to secure the contents of your web traffic, keeping your torrenting history private and hidden.
The encryption algorithms are further reinforced by the use of perfect forward secrecy (PFS), a cryptography feature that keeps changing the encryption/decryption keys every 60 minutes.
These are combined with the advanced Lightway tunneling protocol to deliver you the highest levels of anonymity and security.
Unfortunately, ExpressVPN doesn’t offer ad blocking. It does, however, maintain a strict no-activity log policy. Other privacy and security features offered by ExpressVPN include:
- Network Lock: ExpressVPN’s own version of the internet kill switch
- TrustedServer framework to ensure diskless operation of servers. This helps counter data theft risks
Torrent Client Support
ExpressVPN supports many torrenting clients, such as uTorrent, BitTorrent, qBittorent, and others. It allows up to five multi-logins.
Pricing
You can get ExpressVPN for AU$10.2/mo (US$ 6.67/mo) on a 1-year 3 free months plan. 24/7 customer support is available via live chat or email to assist you with any issues.
ExpressVPN Pros and Cons
- P2P Supported Server Network
- 24/7 Active Customer Support
- Excellent Speed
- Robust security features
- Expensive
- Just 5 multi-logins
For more detail: Read ExpressVPN Review
2. Surfshark – Cheapest VPN for torrenting
Surfshark is an excellent torrent VPN for those who want to stay protected but don’t want to go bust. It is based in the British Virgin Islands, a private haven for VPN companies.
Servers
It operates more than 3200+ servers in 65+ countries around the world. All servers support torrent traffic. In Australia, you get five server locations to choose from, including Perth, Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, and Sydney.
The Adelaide servers offer the best P2P speeds and stability. However, they offer access to limited torrenting sites only. This holds for other local servers as well.
To enjoy full torrenting freedom on Surfshark, we recommend going international with your choice of servers. Based on our experience, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Philippines, and the US servers work best. The Canadian servers are good too.
Speed
Following are the speed scores for our tested locations. We noticed an average speed drop of 18.3%, which is pretty good.
Connection type | Download Speed | Upload Speed |
Perth – Australia | 59.3 Mbps | 28.7 Mbps |
Adelaide – Australia | 50.6 Mbps | 23.4 Mbps |
Netherlands | 46.5 Mbps | 18.4 Mbps |
New Zealand | 47.8 Mbps | 20.9 Mbps |
Philippines | 45.7 Mbps | 18.9 Mbps |
Denver – US | 48.4 Mbps | 19.2 Mbps |
Security & Privacy Protocols
On the privacy front, you get strong anonymity thanks to WireGuard tunneling protocol, diskless servers, and AES-256-enabled encryption. No activity logs are stored. Its Whitelister feature allows using the VPN connection for torrent sites and apps. So, the rest of your internet traffic stays intact.
Furthermore, Surfshark is equipped with a Built-in Ad and Malware blocker, protecting you from malicious hacking attempts while downloading torrent files. The service also offers a robust internet kill switch to keep your IP from leaking if your VPN connection drops. Lastly, you have the multi-hop feature for added privacy.
Torrent Client Support
Regarding client support, Surfshark works with all major torrenting clients. This includes BitTorrent, uTorrent, qBittorent, Deluge, Vuze, and others. The best part is you get the option to secure an unlimited number of devices on a single Surfshark account, which allows you to share your VPN subscription with your family and friends.
Pricing
Surfshark is the best cheap VPN in Australia. It allows you P2P torrenting at an amazingly low price of just AU$3.81/mo (US$ 2.49/mo) .
Surfshrak Pros and Cons
- No limit on Simlatenous connection
- Pocket-friendly pricing
- Torrent Supported Servers
- Glitches in Kill Switch feature
- SOCkS5 Proxy is missing
For further details: Read our Surfshark Review
3. NordVPN – Security-focused VPN with a large P2P Fleet
NordVPN is a Panama-based VPN service with the largest P2P server fleet on the market. It has a simple one-click ‘P2P”option so that you can go directly to the appropriate server when preparing for the torrent.
Servers
It operates 5310+ servers across 59+ countries. These include more than 4000 P2P-optimized servers spread over Poland, Netherlands, Canada, New Zealand, Germany, the Czech Republic, and more.
You also get torrent-friendly servers in Australia, which provide convenient and fast access to various torrenting trackers. We found Australia #705, #709, #710, and #714 as most stable.
Unfortunately, none of the Australian servers unblock The Pirate Bay. If you’re looking to access TPB or other similar torrenting sites blocked in Australia, we’d recommend connecting to your nearest New Zealand, Canada, or Czech Republic server.
You can do that by clicking on the P2P server option inside the NordVPN app and selecting the ‘Fastest’ server for your desired country.
Speed
We recorded the following speed scores for our tested locations and servers. As you can see, NordVPN holds pretty well on the speed front, clocking the lowest speed of 44.0 Mbps on a 60 Mbps internet connection.
Connection | Download Speed | Upload Speed |
Base speed (Perth) | 59.3 Mbps | 28.7 Mbps |
Quick connect Australia | 53.6 Mbps | 25.4 Mbps |
Australia | 53.5 Mbps | 25.4 Mbps |
New Zealand | 49.8 Mbps | 24.9 Mbps |
Canada | 49.7 Mbps | 24.9 Mbps |
The Czech Republic | 44.0 Mbps | 19.2 Mbps |
Security & Privacy Protocols
For privacy and security, NordVPN utilizes the latest NordLynx tunneling protocol and robust AES-256 encryption keys. Together, they protect your communications from man-in-the-middle attacks and prevent your torrent traffic from getting exposed.
In addition, the company practices a strict zero-log policy to ensure your browsing history remains private. Other privacy and security features offered by NordVPN include:
- An automatic VPN kill switch
- CyberSec for blocking ads and malware
- Double VPN to add an extra layer of anonymity to your web traffic
- Tor-over-VPN connectivity to encrypt your torrent traffic over the Tor network
Recently, NordVPN has also introduced a dark web monitor, which alerts you to potential torrenting sites that may host dark web operators as possible seeders. This feature, however, is currently available for iOS devices only, with a wider roll-out expected early next year.
Torrent Client Support
NordVPN works with all popular torrenting clients, such as uTorrent, qBittorent, BitTorrent, and Tixati. It supports up to six multi-logins.
Pricing
The VPN is available for just AU$5.34/mo (US$ 3.49/mo) on a 2-year plan.
NordVPN Pros and Cons
- Largest P2P-optimized Servers Collection
- Excellent Security Feature
- The mobile app interface is not user-friendly
- No app for routers
For more details: Read NordVPN Review
4. PureVPN – Decent torrenting VPN
PureVPN is a good choice for occasional torrenting. The best thing about using PureVPN for torrenting is its great anonymity. Recently, KPMG concluded in its in-depth review of PureVPN that the service did not monitor or store any information that could jeopardize user privacy.
Server Network
It is a Hong-Kong based VPN service and operates 6500+ servers in 75+ countries and 180 locations worldwide. All servers are owned and managed by the company, which is excellent from a privacy standpoint.
Unlike other VPNs, PureVPN limits your torrenting activity to specific regions. These include Denmark, Netherlands, Russia, Germany, Serbia, Portugal, the British Virgin Islands, Romania, Papua New Guinea, and more.
Meanwhile, the US, UK, Canadian, and Australian servers do not support P2P traffic at all. In fact, PureVPN strictly warns against using these servers for file-sharing.
PureVPN servers that allow torrenting
Papua New Guinea and Netherlands servers work smoothly for torrenting from Australia. However, you get the best performance on the following dedicated servers, which are specially optimized for torrenting activities:
- global-p2p-ikev2.ptoserver.com
- global-p2p-l2tp.ptoserver.com
- global-p2p-sstp.ptoserver.com
- global-p2p-tcp.ptoserver.com
- global-p2p-udp.ptoserver.com
To connect to these servers, you must activate the Dedicated IP mode from inside the PureVPN app, though. This is a special mode for accessing dedicated servers, which are otherwise unavailable in the general server list.
Speed
PureVPN is by far the safest VPN for downloading torrents in Australia. Below are the speed test scores for PureVPN P2P-optimized servers:
Connection type | Download Speed | Upload Speed |
Base speed (Perth) | 58.3 Mbps | 27.5 Mbps |
Manual connect to global-p2p-ikev2.ptoserver.com | 48.9 Mbps | 18.4 Mbps |
Manual connect to global-p2p-l2tp.ptoserver.com | 46.8 Mbps | 15.4 Mbps |
Manual connect to global-p2p-sstp.ptoserver.com | 45.8 Mbps | 17.2 Mbps |
Manual connect to global-p2p-tcp.ptoserver.com | 42.7 Mbps | 16.1 Mbps |
Manual connect to global-p2p-udp.ptoserver.com | 50.3 Mbps | 15.2 Mbps |
Security & Privacy Protocols
The best thing about using PureVPN for torrenting is its excellent anonymity. The company practices a genuine no-activity log policy, which is validated by some of the most reputable auditing firms.
On the backend, PureVPN uses a combination of OpenVPN tunneling protocol and AES 256-bit cipher keys to mask your location and hide your torrenting activity. It comes fully protected against IP, DNS, and WebRTC leaks. An automatic kill switch further prevents any accidental IP spills.
Torrent Client Support
PureVPN works with almost all popular torrenting clients, including uTorrent, qBittorrent, Vuze, etc. Furthermore, it allows you to secure up to 10 devices at once.
Pricing
You can get PureVPN for AU$5.09/mo (US$ 3.33/mo) 2-year plan only.
PureVPN Pros and Cons
- Safest VPN for torrenting
- 10 multi-logins per subscription
- No P2P server in Australia
- Kill Switch annoyances on Window
For more details: Read our PureVPN Review
5. CyberGhost – An easy-to-use P2P VPN for torrenting
CyberGhost is a Romania-based beginner-friendly VPN service. Several intuitive features make navigation super-easy when using the app.
It supports P2P traffic on all its shared servers, except for those located in Australia, New Zealand, Argentina, Chile, Colombia, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Thailand, UAE, Ukraine, and Vietnam.
Still, you get quite a healthy P2P server pool, which provides unlimited bandwidth for your torrenting activities.
Servers Network
It operates servers in countries worldwide with 80 optimized P2P servers worldwide.
Perhaps, the most impressive thing about CyberGhost is its smart interface. For example, the server list is helpfully divided into specific categories, namely Favorites, Dedicated IP, NoSpy-Server, For Streaming, and For torrenting.
We love the latter as it gives you a list of 80 P2P-optimized, spread across different countries. These servers provide the best torrenting experience and allow you to download torrent files with complete anonymity.
Speed
Based on our tests, the US, Germany, Mexico, Sweden, and Switzerland servers offer fast, stable download speeds for torrenting from Australia. Here are the speed scores for each of these locations:
Connection type | Download Speed | Upload Speed |
Perth – Australia | 58.7 Mbps | 28.5 Mbps |
Chicago – USA | 47.8 Mbps | 18.2 Mbps |
Frankfurt – Germany | 45.4 Mbps | 15.1 Mbps |
Mexico City – Mexico | 44.8 Mbps | 15.3 Mbps |
Zurich – Sweden | 42.7 Mbps | 14.2 Mbps |
Stockholm – Switzerland | 51.3 Mbps | 12.2 Mbps |
As you can see, CyberGhost does a decent job at keeping file-sharing speeds to an optimum level, clocking an average of XX Mbps. It’s definitely not as fast as NordVPN or ExpressVPN, but it isn’t slow, either.
Security & Privacy Protocols
Talking about security and privacy, CyberGhost uses the latest WireGuard tunneling protocol to protect your web traffic and hide your online activities.
AES 256-bit encryption algorithms further reinforce this security. As you’d expect, there’s also a reliable kill switch, IPv6, and DNS leak protection. The company keeps no activity logs. A free ad-blocker is included with the app.
Torrent Client Support
You can use CyberGhost with almost all BitTorrent clients and connect up to seven devices at once.
Pricing
CyberGhost is available for AU$3.5/mo (US$ 2.29/mo) on a 2-year + 2 months plan. There is also 24/7 support if you have any issues.
CyberGhost Pros and Cons
- Easy-to-use VPN
- 80 Torrenting specific servers
- 45 Days Money Back Guarantee
- Dedicated IP feature
- No Independent Security Audit
- Alleged past connections with malware distribution
For further details: read Cyberghost VPN Review
6. PIA VPN – Effective VPN for torrenting
Private Internet Access (PIA) is a US-based VPN service. It is unique from other torrent-friendly VPNs because it allows free port forwarding on its servers. Port forwarding is a highly desirable torrenting feature that enables you to seed more effectively and efficiently in a torrent swarm. This improves your file-sharing experience.
Servers Network
It operates a massive server fleet of 19,037 servers spread across 76 countries and 97 locations. The company claims you can perform P2P activities on all servers, excluding those located in the United States. That accounts for 9,755 P2P servers.
We aren’t sure how exactly those numbers are since we couldn’t test all the eligible servers. But based on our limited analysis, you get at least 3,000 servers for torrenting. That’s quite good.
Speed
Unfortunately, the stability of most servers isn’t great, and the VPN connection keeps dropping off now and then. If we were to pick the top-performing PIA VPN server locations for torrenting from Australia, we’d go for the UK, Canada, New Zealand, Germany, and the Netherlands.
These provided the most reliable connections, clocking an average speed of 45.8 Mbps.
Connection type | Download Speed | Upload Speed |
Base speed (Perth) | 59.2 Mbps | 28.5 Mbps |
UK | 46.9 Mbps | 18.4 Mbps |
New Zealand | 44.8 Mbps | 15.4 Mbps |
Canada | 45.3 Mbps | 17.2 Mbps |
Germany | 42.5 Mbps | 16.1 Mbps |
Netherlands | 49.5 Mbps | 15.2 Mbps |
Security & Privacy Protocols
You get OpenVPN and WireGuard (beta version) protection for your P2P traffic. Data encryption is implemented using AES-256 cipher keys.
It has integrated SOCKS5 proxy and the Shadowsocks option to reroute your internet traffic for even more protection. Although PIA VPN is based in the US, it keeps no record of your browsing history.
Torrent Client Support
The service works with uTorrent, BitTorrent, qBittorrent, Deluge, Vuze, and others.
Pricing
You can get PIA VPN for AU$3.35/mo (US$ 2.19/mo) and secure up to 10 devices with a single subscription.
One thing that PIA VPN really needs to improve upon is its customer service. We found the support agents lacking in knowledge, while the company’s support portal had no guides for torrenting.
PIA VPN Pros and Cons
- Support Torrenting
- Allows free port forwarding
- Ten Simaltenous connections per subscription
- Inefficient Customer support
- No Independent Security Audit
- Vague Privacy Policy
For further details: read Private Internet Access (PIA) Review
Best VPN for torrenting – Comparison table
VPN Service | Server Count | Price | Limited Time Offer | Average Download Speed | Multi-Logins |
3000+ servers | AU$ 10.2/mo (US$ 6.67/mo) with 30 Days Money Back Guarantee | Get 49% off coupon | 52.17 Mbps | Five Devices | |
3200+ servers | AU$ 3.81/mo (US$ 2.49/mo) with 30 Days Money Back Guarantee | Get 83% off coupon | 47.8 Mbps | Unlimited | |
5500+ servers | AU$ 5.34/mo (US$ 3.49/mo) with 30 Days Money Back Guarantee | Get 70% off coupon | 50.12 Mbps | Six Devices | |
6500+ servers | AU$ 5.09/mo (US$ 3.33/mo) 2-year plan with 31 Days Money Back Guarantee | Get 70% off coupon | 46.9 Mbps | Ten Devices | |
6800+ servers | AU$ 3.5/mo (US$ 2.29/mo) with 45 Days Money Back Guarantee | Get 83% off coupon | 46.4 Mbps | Seven Devices | |
9,755 P2P servers | AU$ 3.35/mo (US$ 2.19/mo) with 30 Days Money Back Guarantee | Get 83% off coupon | 45.8 Mbps | Ten Devices |
Why should I use a VPN for torrenting?
Torrenting without a VPN involves many dangers about which you might be unaware. Thatswhy, we have listed some significant reasons that might make you use VPNs for torrent clients.
1. Online safety and security:
Online Privacy and security are the main reason for using a VPN. It hides your location, providing instant anonymity to your online activity.
When you use a VPN, it redirects your signal to a server in another location. This way, you can hide your true identity and will be able to browse the internet through this new server.
2. Access Copyright Materials
While torrenting is one way to get around these barriers, some torrents have geographic restrictions. With a VPN, you can securely download content from worldwide servers without location restrictions.
3. Avoid Hacking attacks.
Your P2P connection exposes a lot of your data. This is the most significant risk when accessing torrent sites as they can be a hiding place for criminals. If they find your IP address, they can easily break into your computer and infect your network.
The best torrent VPN will protect you from hackers by encrypting your data.
4. Avoid ISP Monitoring.
Your ISP (Internet Service Providers) monitor your online activities. As a result, you may not even be able to access popular torrent sites. The best way to deal with it is to use a VPN. VPN hides your browsing activities from your ISP.
Is a paid VPN better than a free VPN for torrenting?
Absolutely Yes! Most free VPNs that will be safe for regular use won’t let you torrent. On the other hand, premium VPN services like ExpressVPN offers dedicated P2P servers and robust security features.
Best VPN for Torrenting – FAQs
Is torrenting safe in 2022?
How does my ISP know I’m torrenting?
What happens if you get caught torrenting?
Do VPNs really work for Torrenting?
Conclusion
Downloading torrents may seem harmless, but if you’re not careful, you can get into more trouble than you imagine. Since it’s not always possible to be aware of the black-and-white areas of every torrenting activity, a VPN is recommended to reduce those potential risks to your online activity.
For your help, this guide outlines the 6 best VPNs for torrenting in Australia. So hand down to ExpressVPN, which is overall the best torrenting VPN to protect your P2P network and download your favourite movie, TV show, or software in Australia.