After hours of research and testing different providers, I found the best VPN for qBittorrent is Private Internet Access (PIA)!
PIA supports port forwarding and is a very P2P-friendly VPN with fast speeds and a colossal server network.
But PIA isn’t the only provider that gets it right for me.
If port forwarding isn’t on your wish list, NordVPN is my runner-up: P2P specialty servers, a SOCKS5 proxy you can plug straight into qBittorrent, and Threat Protection that scans your downloads for malware.
Keep reading to discover the five top VPNs for qBittorrent!
Top 3 VPNs for qBittorrent (September, 2026)
NordVPN
Best for P2P without forwarding
- P2P specialty servers
- SOCKS5 proxy for qBittorrent
- Threat Protection scans downloads
Private Internet Access
Best for qBittorrent P2P
- Full P2P server support
- Easy port forwarding
- 30,800+ server network
ExpressVPN
Best for fast qBittorrent speeds
- Fastest downloads in my tests
- RAM-only servers
- Automatic obfuscation
To make my list the best source for the top VPNs for qBittorrent, I looked for and tested various features, including port forwarding, P2P support, excellent speeds, and a big server network.
Why?
Because all of these things work together to give you the best possible qBittorrent experience with a VPN!
But I was also on the lookout for security features like an automatic kill switch and RAM-only servers.
Ready to see what I’ve found?
Let’s get started!
Here Are My Top 5 VPNs for qBittorrent
I get it – you’re running late for movie night, you need to torrent Free Guy (2021) ASAP, and you don’t have time to read everything.
That’s fine!
So, to help you out here’s a peek at my top five VPNs for qBittorrent:
- PIA – Best VPN for qBittorrent With Port Forwarding
- NordVPN – P2P Specialty Servers, SOCKS5 Proxy & Threat Protection
- ExpressVPN – Automatic Obfuscation & Port Forwarding via Router
- TorGuard – Two Kill Switches + Port Forwarding
- Mullvad – Privacy-Friendly VPN With Anonymous Accounts
But after movie night (no spoilers!), don’t forget to read the full guide below.
I will talk about all the juicy details and explain why each VPN is excellent for qBittorrent!
5 Best VPNs for qBittorrent: A Detailed Analysis
In this guide for the most reliable VPNs for qBittorrent, I’ll discuss everything you need to know – from why each VPN is ideal for using with qBittorrent to any useful torrenting and security features they offer!
Ready to hook up one of the best VPNs and start using qBittorrent safely and securely?
Let’s get started!
1. PIA – Best VPN for qBittorrent With Port Forwarding
Private Internet Access (or PIA) kicks off my list as the best VPN for qBittorrent, thanks to its biggest advantages: a massive server network and port forwarding.
Admittedly, no one knows how big that server network is anymore.
For some reason, PIA stopped advertising how many servers it has.
But I do know, at last count, there were 30,800+ RAM-only servers in 78 countries worldwide.
That’s the most extensive server network on my list!
In fact, even if you add up all the server networks on my list, you still don’t come close.
PIA also describes them as “Next-Gen Servers,” as they’re “state-of-the-art” and optimized for 10 Gbps speeds.
So, if you make sure to connect to a nearby server, you’re sure to have optimal speeds while torrenting with qBittorrent!
You can also easily enable port forwarding in all of the provider’s user-friendly apps.
They even recently launched their Next Generation Port Forwarding manual set up for power users!
This is easily the most extensive support for port forwarding on my list – for the most part.
I say “for the most part” because, as always, there are a couple of downsides:
- Most of PIA’s servers are in the US and don’t support port forwarding, so you might need to sacrifice some speed to use the feature
- PIA randomly assigns ports, so you can’t manually choose them
However, to be fair, this isn’t really a bad thing, as it actually makes PIA’s port forwarding very beginner-friendly.
And although the provider didn’t place first during my speed tests, it only fell behind ExpressVPN and NordVPN (and the latter just barely)!
Take a look!
Speed Without PIA:
Speed With PIA:
Plus, its Canadian servers support port forwarding – so you won’t lose too much speed if you’re using qBittorrent + port forwarding with PIA in the US!
And while the provider doesn’t mention torrenting on its website, I can confirm it is P2P-friendly.
In fact, during my qBittorrent tests, PIA’s download speed reached as high as 22.1MiB/s and had an average of 14.1MiB/s!
While not the fastest on my list for qBittorrent downloads (that spot goes to ExpressVPN), PIA did beat NordVPN, Mullvad, and TorGuard, and you can use the SOCKS5 proxy to boost your speeds even more!
Furthermore, PIA lets you use split-tunneling to keep your torrenting traffic separate from your everyday browsing!
And let’s not forget about the kill switch, which is automatically enabled, so your connection stays private even if your internet cuts out while torrenting.
Finally, PIA operates a verified no-logs policy and offers very affordable subscription fees:
But if you want the BEST deal, sign up with this link to unlock a MAJOR discount!
Pros
- All “Next-Gen Servers” are P2P-friendly and support 10 gbps speeds
- Easy port-forwarding on many servers + Excellent speeds & SOCKS5 proxy
- Kill switch to stop torrent traffic if internet cuts out + verified no-logs policy
- Split tunneling to keep torrent traffic separate from everyday browsing
- 30,800+ RAM-only servers in 78 countries worldwide (last known numbers)
Cons
- You can’t manually choose port numbers
- Speed drops the further away the server is
- US torrenters might suffer more speed loss due to no port forwarding on US servers
2. NordVPN – P2P Specialty Servers, SOCKS5 Proxy & Threat Protection
Let’s get the elephant out of the room first: NordVPN doesn’t offer port forwarding, full stop – and that’s the one advantage PIA keeps over it.
I know, I know – port forwarding is one of the most sought-after features for qBittorrent VPNs.
But if you can live without it, NordVPN is the most complete torrenting package on this list, and it’s the one I reach for on days I’m not chasing a forwarded port.
Here’s why it’s my favorite VPN for qBittorrent after PIA.
For starters, you get a verified no-logs policy and blazing-fast speeds.
In fact, NordVPN placed second during my speed tests!
Speed Without NordVPN:
Speed With NordVPN:
This is likely thanks to its proprietary NordLynx protocol.
Like ExpressVPN’s Lightway, NordLynx is openly based on WireGuard, but with a double-NAT connection for better privacy – which is especially great for torrenting with qBittorrent!
In my qBittorrent tests, NordVPN placed third behind ExpressVPN and PIA, with an average download speed of 9MiB/s and a peak of 19.3MiB/s – on a regular P2P server, without the forwarded port that gave PIA its edge.
The good news is that you can plug NordVPN’s SOCKS5 proxy straight into qBittorrent’s connection settings to boost your torrenting speeds even more – something ExpressVPN doesn’t offer at all.
NordVPN also has P2P specialty servers dotted across its 8,400+ RAM-only servers in 167+ countries.
Hit “P2P” under Specialty servers and the app connects you to the best one automatically – no scrolling through country lists.
Torrents are also a classic way for malware to sneak onto a PC, which is where Threat Protection earns its keep: it blocks malicious domains and trackers on every plan, and the Pro version (Plus plan and up) scans the files you download and stops anything infected before you open it.
But, best of all, NordVPN has a double kill switch for Windows users.
On one level, the Internet Kill Switch shuts off your internet access if the VPN connection gets interrupted, preventing your real IP from leaking while torrenting.
And on the second level, the App Kill Switch also shuts qBittorrent down at the same time.
On macOS, iOS, Android, and Linux, you just get the system-wide kill switch.
But that’s plenty to keep you safe!
NordVPN also includes split tunneling (for Android and Windows), a double VPN, obfuscated servers, and an Onion Over VPN feature, making it one of the most security-orientated VPNs on my list.
And with 10 simultaneous connections and long-term plans that cost well under ExpressVPN’s, it’s the better buy for most qBittorrent users – port forwarding aside.
Plus, it offers affordable premium VPN plans:
But you can unlock a MASSIVE discount by signing up with our link!
Pros
- P2P specialty servers + a SOCKS5 proxy you can use inside qBittorrent
- Blazing-fast speeds (+NordLynx) – second in my speed tests
- Threat Protection Pro scans torrent downloads for malware
- Double kill switch on Windows + split tunneling + verified no-logs policy
- 8,400+ RAM-only servers in 167+ countries
- 10 simultaneous connections and cheaper long-term plans than ExpressVPN
Cons
- No port forwarding – PIA keeps that advantage
- Split tunneling only available for Windows and Android
- Slower qBittorrent downloads than ExpressVPN and PIA in my tests
3. ExpressVPN – Automatic Obfuscation & Port Forwarding via Router
ExpressVPN is consistently one of the fastest VPNs I use – and, as such, I wasn’t surprised to find it in first place during my speed tests!
Take a look:
Speed Without ExpressVPN:
Speed With ExpressVPN:
A big reason ExpressVPN always tops the speed charts with lightning-fast speeds is its proprietary protocol, Lightway.
Lightway is a big game-changer for qBittorrent users who favor speed and security.
Its core code is published on GitHub under an open-source license, and like WireGuard (the fastest protocol PIA offers), it’s kept deliberately lean.
That lean design is why it reconnects almost instantly when your Wi-Fi hiccups – handy when a big torrent has been running for hours.
Plus, it offers TCP support for more stable uploads with qBittorrent (UDP is better for download speeds, though).
NordVPN is the only other VPN on my list to offer a proprietary protocol.
This makes ExpressVPN (and NordVPN) an anomaly and a great choice for using with qBittorrent.
Moving on, obfuscation is another major advantage ExpressVPN has over PIA.
This excellent privacy feature makes it harder to detect VPN usage by masking your traffic as a regular HTTPS connection.
In other words, you can torrent with qBittorrent to your heart’s content without worrying that your ISP can see – or knows you’re using a VPN at all!
Better yet, all of ExpressVPN’s 3,000+ servers (in 113 countries) are automatically obfuscated, meaning there’s no feature to enable, nor are you limited to one protocol – NordVPN, by contrast, makes you switch to OpenVPN before its obfuscated servers appear.
Plus, ExpressVPN’s verified no-logs policy ensures your torrenting activities are never recorded!
And the good news doesn’t end there.
ExpressVPN’s “Smart Location” feature lets you automatically connect to the fastest server for the best possible qBittorrent speeds.
And all of those servers run on its TrustedServer RAM-only set up for maximum privacy and security!
However, while all of ExpressVPN’s servers are P2P-friendly, there are three reasons it sits behind PIA and NordVPN:
- ExpressVPN is one of the most expensive VPN providers
- You can only use port forwarding through an ExpressVPN router setup – there’s no toggle in the desktop app
- It has no SOCKS5 proxy, no specialty P2P servers, and no download scanning to match NordVPN’s torrent-specific toolkit
Kape Technologies, PIA’s parent company, bought ExpressVPN back in 2021, and years later, port forwarding is still router-only – so don’t sign up expecting that to change.
In any case, the provider still works great for torrenting!
In fact, it beat PIA in both its peak and average qBittorrent download speeds.
When downloading a Rust update, ExpressVPN reached 26.3MiB/s at its highest point and averaged 19.1MiB/s, whereas PIA only reached 22.1MiB/s at its highest and averaged 14.1MiB/s (tested using the same torrent file).
Check out my tests:
Finally, you’ll also enjoy ExpressVPN’s kill switch (Network Lock) and split tunneling feature!
And though ExpressVPN might charge premium subscription fees, there’s no denying it’s a premium service:
Luckily, you can get a MASSIVE discount today by signing up here!
Pros
- All servers are P2P-friendly
- Port-forwarding via router setup
- Fastest VPN for qBittorrent (+Lightway)
- Automatic obfuscation + verified no-logs policy
- Kill switch + split tunneling features
- 3,000+ RAM-only servers in 113 countries worldwide (TrustedServer Technology)
Cons
- More expensive than most other VPN providers
- Port forwarding only available through router setup
- No SOCKS5 proxy or specialty P2P servers like NordVPN
4. TorGuard – Two Kill Switches + Port Forwarding
TorGuard and I have a bit of a love-hate relationship.
My biggest gripe with the provider is that, despite marketing itself as an anonymous VPN service, it asks for a lot of personal information.
For example, if you pay by credit card or PayPal, TorGuard demands your full name, postcode, state, and country.
If these were your only options, I’d completely take TorGuard off my list, as privacy and anonymity are super-important when torrenting with qBittorrent.
Fortunately, you also have the option to pay with Bitcoin or Litecoin.
And, in any case, TorGuard was literally created with torrenting in mind.
That’s what the “Tor” part of its name stands for.
This means you can easily use port forwarding, though port forwarding is only available with OpenVPN, WireGuard, and OpenConnect – and only for ports above 2048.
And, unfortunately, TorGuard is by no means the fastest VPN for qBittorrent.
In fact, it placed last during my speed tests and qBittorrent tests.
For speed, it fell quite a bit behind Mullvad and was completely washed away by the others.
Take a look.
Speed Without TorGuard:
Speed With TorGuard:
Considering TorGuard has 3,000+ servers in 50 countries, I was expecting much better speeds, especially as I had no trouble connecting to a nearby server!
As for my qBittorrent tests…well, for a VPN specifically made for torrenting, I wasn’t very impressed with my download speeds.
While its peak download speed jumped at around 21MiB/s, its average stayed at 4MiB/s.
On the bright side, you can try speeding things up by using TorGuard’s SOCKS5 proxy.
But, as usual, that means no port forwarding.
Read Also: Top VPNs with SOCKS5 Proxy
Meanwhile, TorGuard doesn’t offer a split-tunneling feature, but it does offer two kill switches!
The first is an “App Kill Switch” that lets you terminate specific apps.
The second is the usual “Network Kill Switch” that cuts your connection if your internet drops or if you exit the TorGuard app – which is especially useful when torrenting, as it saves your IP from being leaked in the worst-case scenario!
Finally, TorGuard has a no-logs policy and an affordable Standard VPN plan, though its Pro plan is relatively expensive:
Use my sign-up link to try TorGuard – you’ll get an extra special discount!
Pros
- All servers are P2P-friendly
- Literally made for torrenting
- Port forwarding (OpenVPN, WireGuard, and OpenConnect)
- Decent speeds (+SOCKS5)
- Two kill switches + no-logs policy
- 3,000+ servers in 50 countries worldwide
Cons
- Slower speeds (in general & during qBittorrent downloads) than the other VPNs on my list
- Port forwarding limited to ports above 2048
- No split tunneling feature
- Asks for a lot of personal information depending on your payment method
5. Mullvad – Privacy-Friendly VPN With Anonymous Accounts
When it comes to protecting your privacy while torrenting with qBittorrent, Mullvad is a P2P-friendly VPN that arguably does it better than any others on my list.
While you can always increase your anonymity by signing up for other VPNs using a private email, Mullvad doesn’t ask for one at all.
Instead, all you need is an automatically-generated anonymous account number!
Plus, Mullvad offers anonymous payment options like cash or cryptocurrencies.
The provider will even give you a 10% discount for paying with Bitcoin or Bitcoin Cash!
Mullvad is also open-source.
This means anyone can audit its code and submit security patches.
But Mullvad also has formal security audits – and unlike my other VPNs, it publishes initial reports highlighting each issue and final reports showing how the issues were fixed!
In other words, Mullvad is an amazing VPN for qBittorrent users who are concerned with their privacy while torrenting, especially as Mullvad cares about its users and doesn’t store logs!
So why has it slipped to the bottom of my list?
Port forwarding. Mullvad used to offer it, and it was a big part of why the provider ranked so highly here – but the company removed forwarded ports for good on July 1, 2023, after too many people abused them to host malicious services.
That leaves it as the only VPN here besides NordVPN without the feature – and without NordVPN’s SOCKS5 proxy or download scanning to soften the blow.
Mullvad has also gone WireGuard-only: OpenVPN support ended on January 15, 2026, so if you were relying on an OpenVPN config on an old router or NAS, that door is closed too.
My qBittorrent tests placed Mullvad fourth, with an average speed of 8.5MiB/s and a peak of 12.6MiB/s on the Rust update file – and that was back when a forwarded port was still on the table, so don’t expect better today.
Mullvad sticks to a single monthly price no matter what, so you won’t miss out on any exclusive discounts – and you can pay as long in advance as you like.
And even though Mullvad has a much smaller server network than the other VPNs on my list (around 560 servers in 50 countries), your regular browsing speeds won’t suffer too much.
In fact, Mullvad placed shortly after PIA during my speed tests!
Speed Without Mullvad:
Speed With Mullvad:
Furthermore, you can also obfuscate your traffic while torrenting with the app’s WireGuard obfuscation options (UDP-over-TCP or Shadowsocks), which is handy if your ISP slows down anything that looks like a VPN.
Mullvad also offers a split tunneling feature on its Windows, macOS, Android, and Linux apps.
The caveat is that there is still no split tunneling feature for iOS users.
Fortunately, Mullvad’s “always-on” kill switch is another story!
It’s included in all of the provider’s apps.
Finally, Mullvad is affordable and has the cheapest monthly plan on my list:
You can also grab an extra discount here!
Pros
- All servers are P2P-friendly
- Anonymous account numbers + cash and crypto payments
- WireGuard obfuscation (UDP-over-TCP or Shadowsocks)
- Kill switch (always on) + split tunneling on Windows, macOS, Android, and Linux
- Open-source apps with published security audits + verified no-logs policy
- Cheapest monthly plan on my list
Cons
- No port forwarding since July 2023
- WireGuard only – OpenVPN support ended in January 2026
- Small server network (around 560 servers in 50 countries)
- No split tunneling on iOS
- qBittorrent download speeds are slower than most others on my list
If You Want to Shop Around First, Don’t Skip This Essential Buying Guide!
One of the great things about qBittorrent is you aren’t limited to using a single P2P source.
Instead, you can shop around for one that works best for you.
So, it makes sense that you want the same freedom with a VPN!
But don’t go in cold turkey.
Instead, use this buying guide to help you pick a safe, reputable VPN!
Make Sure You Look for These Features in a VPN for qBittorrent!
It helps to know what to look for when choosing a VPN for qBittorrent, especially as there are hundreds of VPN providers out there – and not all of them are safe to use, let alone to torrent with!
So, to help you out here’s my handy checklist of features to look for when picking a VPN for qBittorrent:
P2P-Friendly
There’s no point using a VPN for qBittorrent if the provider isn’t P2P-friendly!
Some VPN providers, like PIA, let you torrent on all of their servers.
This is great for prioritizing location on your side because any server you choose is guaranteed to be P2P-friendly already.
Others, like NordVPN, have specialized P2P servers.
These are tuned for heavy file-sharing traffic, and picking the P2P category in the app sends you to the fastest one automatically.
The important thing is to make sure there are P2P-friendly servers available.
Fast Download/Upload Speeds (and No Data Caps)
Using a P2P network for file-sharing can be rather slow, to begin with.
Good internet speeds are obviously important, but you also need to consider the number of peers seeding the torrent file.
The last thing you want is to use a VPN that makes it even slower.
Again, there are many things to consider here over and above the usual concerns with torrenting speeds.
The closer the VPN server is, the better your VPN speed will be.
Your VPN protocol will also affect speed: OpenVPN UDP is faster than OpenVPN TCP, but WireGuard, ExpressVPN’s Lightway, and NordVPN’s NordLynx are all faster than OpenVPN.
During my qBittorrent tests, I tested each VPN with the same torrent file using OpenVPN UDP and the nearest available server.
These were my results:
| VPN Provider | Average Download Speed | Peak Download Speed | Time Before Completion |
|---|---|---|---|
| PIA | 14.1 MiB/s | 22.1 MiB/s | 5 minutes |
| NordVPN | 9 MiB/s | 19.3 MiB/s | 7 minutes |
| ExpressVPN | 19.1 MiB/s | 26.3 MiB/s | 3 minutes |
| TorGuard | 4 MiB/s | 21 MiB/s | 11-12 minutes |
| Mullvad | 8.5 MiB/s | 12.6 MiB/s | 11 minutes |
Finally, coupled with the base VPN download/upload speeds, is whether your VPN imposes any data caps.
Data caps are a big no-no, and your VPN should never impose any bandwidth limits based on how much data you’re transferring in a session.
This leads me to the next item on my checklist…
No Logging Whatsoever
If your VPN has any kind of bandwidth caps, then you can bet your bottom dollar they’re keeping logs of some kind.
Keeping logs defeats the purpose of a VPN.
The whole idea is to enhance your privacy, and user logs do the exact opposite.
Always opt for a VPN provider with a proven no-logs track record.
Not only should they have a zero-logs policy, but ideally, you want independent audits that prove they aren’t logging user activities.
A Kill Switch & (Optionally) Split Tunneling
As I mentioned in the NordVPN mini-review, a kill switch will immediately shut off your device’s internet access if the VPN connection is interrupted.
This is super important for making sure your real IP address doesn’t leak while torrenting.
For this reason, it’s necessary to ensure your VPN offers one before purchasing a subscription.
A somewhat related feature to look for is split tunneling.
This one isn’t as much of a must-have as the kill switch.
However, split tunneling makes it easy to separate your qBittorrent traffic from your regular browsing, which helps protect your privacy in a big way.
Imagine you’re using qBittorrent and logging into your online bank account at the same time.
Now the VPN server’s IP address can be linked to both activities, thus helping to identify your torrenting activities.
Split tunneling prevents this kind of identification-by-correlation.
So, even though it’s not an absolute must-have, it’s very nice to have for sure!
The Bigger the Server Network, the Better
Sometimes, being spoiled for choice is bad, like making it harder to choose the best VPN for qBittorrent!
However, when it comes to how many servers there are to choose from: the more choices, the better.
Bigger server networks help spread users out and avoid network congestion, which slows your connection drastically.
It also helps you easily pick a server that’s relatively close to you, again helping you get better VPN speeds.
That said, a big server network doesn’t always mean you’ll get faster VPN speeds.
To help put this in perspective, here are the results from my speed tests:
| VPN Provider | Speed Without VPN | Speed With VPN | Speed Loss Difference | Number of Servers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PIA | 217.85 Mbps | 207.56 Mbps | -10.29 Mbps | 30,800+ |
| NordVPN | 212.63 Mbps | 205.17 Mbps | -7.46 Mbps | 8,400+ |
| ExpressVPN | 216.32 Mbps | 211.10 Mbps | -5.22 Mbps | 3,000+ |
| TorGuard | 221.31 Mbps | 202.90 Mbps | -18.41 Mbps | 3,000+ |
| Mullvad | 219.19 Mbps | 208.17 Mbps | -11.02 Mbps | 560+ |
Port Forwarding
Last but certainly not least is port forwarding.
Similar to split tunneling, port forwarding is considered a nice-to-have option.
And I mean a very nice to have option.
Port forwarding gives you more control over your qBittorrent connection and can even boost your speeds somewhat dramatically.
This is, of course, one of the reasons torrenters love having the feature available!
Even if you don’t currently use port forwarding, consider favoring a VPN that gives you the option. Who knows, you might want to try it out in the future.Or you can skip the hassle right away and use my exclusive discount for PIA – the best VPN for qBittorrent!
Should I Use a Free VPN for qBittorrent? Short Answer: No!
I very rarely ever recommend using a free VPN for anything.
And even when I do, I tend to only suggest the free version of Proton VPN.
The keyword is “version” – it’s a freemium option, and the premium subscription fees cover the costs of offering the VPN for free.
Plus, it’s one of the very few free VPNs that doesn’t impose strict data limits.
But even this freemium option has its downsides: limited servers and much slower speeds, for example.
So, while no data limits are nice for torrenting, slower speeds…not so much.
Still, other free VPNs are far worse off.
Not just bandwidth caps as low as 500mb a month, but dodgy practices like logging and selling your information.
And some are actually malware disguised as a VPN!
I can’t even recommend Proton VPN’s freemium option for qBittorrent, though.
The free tier doesn’t offer P2P support – though the premium version does.
So you need a premium VPN for qBittorrent, like PIA.
That way, you’ll get faster speeds, access to P2P-friendly servers, and much better security.
And PIA is already very affordable – even more so if you sign-up with my discount link!
How to Use qBittorrent With a VPN?
There are essentially four different ways to use qBittorrent with a VPN.
Some of them are very straightforward, while others require a little extra work to set up.
Take a look at the different options to see which you prefer!
Method One: Setting Up Your VPN With qBittorrent
This is by far the easiest way to use qBittorrent with a VPN.
All you need to do is follow these easy steps:
- Choose your favorite VPN for qBittorrent and sign up.
- Download the VPN app and install it on the device you want to use qBittorrent on.
- Launch the VPN app and sign in to your account.
- Choose a P2P-friendly server in your preferred location (the closer it is to you, the better speeds you’ll get) and click on it to connect.
- Run a quick IP, DNS, and WebRTC leak test before moving forward.
- If you don’t already have qBittorrent on your device, now’s a good time to download and install it! Remember to get it from the qBittorrent official website.
- Launch qBittorrent and enjoy torrenting safely with your VPN!
While this is certainly the easiest method, there’s a big drawback – your VPN’s kill switch might not activate in time to shut down your qBittorrent traffic.
This means there’s a risk your real IP address might leak, which leads me to Method Two…
Method Two: qBittorrent IP Binding With a VPN
This method requires a little more work on your part, but it’s worth the extra effort.
Here’s what you should do:
- Follow steps 1-6 from Method One above.
- Launch qBittorrent and click on Tools then Options (or use the Alt+O keyboard shortcut).
- Click on Advanced at the bottom-left.
- The second entry at the top is Network Interface. Click on the drop-down menu next to it.
- Find the name of your VPN adapter and click on it. If you’re unsure of the name, hover over your internet connection and look at the name. For example, my PIA connection is called Local Area Connection 3.
- Click on Apply and OK at the bottom of the window before restarting qBittorrent.
- Relaunch qBittorrent and enjoy torrenting safely!
This is worth the extra effort because it forces qBittorrent to only route traffic through your VPN.
So, if your VPN connection gets interrupted, qBittorrent will automatically kill all of its current connections.
Method Three: Using Port Forwarding With qBittorrent
Port forwarding is a great way to boost your torrent speeds while using qBittorrent with a VPN.
It’s a little more complicated than Methods One and Two, though.
Luckily, if you follow these steps, you’ll have it set up in no time!
- Choose your favorite VPN for qBittorrent that offers port forwarding and sign up.
- Download and install the VPN app.
- Open the VPN app and log in to your account.
- Enable port forwarding. Different VPNs have different methods for doing this. Here’s what to do with PIA:
- Click on the three dots in the top-right corner of the PIA desktop app and select Settings.
- Choose the Network tab at the top and click the box next to Request Port Forwarding. PIA will automatically assign a random port number.
- Choose a P2P-friendly server in your preferred location (the closer, the better for speed) and click on it to connect.
- After enabling port forwarding, you’ll notice some of PIA’s server options are grayed out and can’t be selected. This is to stop you from accidentally connecting to a server that doesn’t support port forwarding.
- Once you’re connected, PIA will display your randomly assigned port number beneath the VPN IP address.
- Run a quick IP, DNS, and WebRTC leak test to be safe!
- Visit canyouseeme.org and enter the port number PIA gave you to test the connection. This helps make sure you’re connecting properly.
- Launch qBittorrent and click on Tools and then Options (or use the Alt+O keyboard shortcut).
- Click on Connection on the left.
- Change the “Peer connection protocol” to TCP using the drop-down menu.
- Set the “Port used for incoming connections” to the port number PIA gave you.
- Make sure the box for “Use UPnP / NAT-PMP port forwarding from my router” is unchecked.
- Click on Apply and OK at the bottom of the window before restarting qBittorrent.
- Relaunch qBittorrent and enjoy torrenting safely while port forwarding through your VPN!
If your VPN lets you choose your own port numbers, you can safely ignore step 6 above.
Just remember to use the same port number you set when you get to step 8 and 12!
Make sure you don’t skip step 13, no matter what. If this option is left checked, qBittorrent might send your connection through your router instead of your VPN.Method Four: Using Split Tunneling With qBittorrent
Last but not least, if your VPN offers split tunneling, you can use the feature with qBittorrent to keep your torrenting traffic separate from your regular browsing.
Here’s how:
- Choose your favorite qBittorrent VPN that has a split tunneling feature and purchase a subscription.
- Remember that some VPN providers only offer split tunneling for some devices. For example, NordVPN limits it to Windows and Android, and Mullvad leaves it out of its iOS app.
- Download and install the VPN app.
- Open the VPN app and log in to your account.
- Enable the split tunneling feature. Different VPNs have different methods for doing this. Here’s what to do with PIA:
- Click on the three dots in the top-right corner of the PIA desktop app and select Settings.
- Choose the Network tab at the top.
- Click the box next to Split Tunnel to enable it.
- Click Add Application and add qBittorrent to your Split Tunneling rules.
- Next to “All Other Apps,” use the drop-down menu to change the setting from “Use VPN” to “Bypass VPN.”
- Choose a P2P-friendly server in your preferred location (the closer, the better for speed) and click on it to connect.
- Run a quick IP, DNS, and WebRTC leak test to be safe!
- Launch qBittorrent and enjoy torrenting safely with your VPN!
I find using the split tunneling feature is safer than Method One.
But Method Two (IP Binding) is even safer than that.
Port forwarding (Method Three) isn’t as safe but does let you boost your torrent speeds.
So, you should choose which method you prefer – or even experiment with combining methods!
If you decide to try a combination of methods, make sure you don’t skip any connection testing steps.
qBittorrent Not Working With Your VPN? Here’s How to Fix It!
You’ve picked your favorite VPN, purchased a subscription, and you’re ready to start using qBittorrent with better privacy and security.
But to your frustration, qBittorrent isn’t working with your VPN!
If none of your downloads are… well, downloading, then it means either qBittorrent or your VPN isn’t set up correctly.
Luckily, this is an easy fix:
- Start by making sure you’re connecting to a P2P-friendly VPN server. Unless your VPN provider optimizes all its servers for P2P connections, you need to use its specialized P2P servers with qBittorrent.
- If you’re connected to a P2P-friendly server, but qBittorrent still isn’t working, close qBittorrent, then reconnect to a different P2P-friendly VPN server before relaunching qBittorrent.
- Still not working? Consider using IP binding and/or port forwarding (see Methods Two and Three above).
- If you’re already using IP binding or port forwarding, make sure your qBittorrent settings match your VPN settings.
Going through these four steps in the order they’re listed will help you get qBittorrent and your VPN working together quickly.
However, if you’re still struggling, contact your VPN provider’s support team for help.
FAQ
Is It Safe to Use qBittorrent Without a VPN?
No, it is not safe to use qBittorrent without a VPN.
Connecting to a peer-to-peer (P2P) network through any torrent client exposes your real IP address in the peer lists.
You need to use a VPN to mask your IP address or risk someone grabbing it and using it against you, for example, by launching a DDoS attack.
Is IP Binding Better Than Split Tunneling With qBittorrent?
Yes, IP binding is better than split tunneling with qBittorrent.
IP binding lets you force qBittorrent to only work through your VPN.
It also helps keep your real IP address hidden better than split tunneling by working with your VPN’s kill switch, thus making it harder to identify you in any worst-case scenario.
Is IP Binding Necessary in qBittorrent?
No, IP binding is not necessary with qBittorrent.
However, it is the safest option when using qBittorrent with a VPN, as it works with your VPN’s kill switch to prevent your real IP from being exposed.
For this reason, I recommend using it anyway.
Will My VPN for qBittorrent Work on Linux?
Yes, your VPN for qBittorrent will work on Linux – if your VPN has a Linux app.
However, some VPN Linux apps offer fewer features than their Windows and macOS counterparts.
For example, you might miss features like split tunneling.
So, always check the Linux app features before purchasing when choosing a VPN for qBittorrent.
Conclusion
Using qBittorrent with a VPN has never been easier – especially with these five reliable, trustworthy VPN providers!
From a kill switch to P2P-friendly servers, they have it all.
PIA, TorGuard, and (through a router) ExpressVPN also offer port forwarding for even faster torrents, while NordVPN and Mullvad don’t – though NordVPN’s SOCKS5 proxy and download scanning go a long way toward making up for it.
Even without port forwarding, IP binding is a great way to make sure you stay as anonymous as possible while using qBittorrent with a VPN.
So if a forwarded port was never on your list, NordVPN is the runner-up I’d point you to.
But why settle for less?
Get your limited-time discount deal for PIA, my top recommendation, and enjoy qBittorrent with a VPN that offers it all!
