What is a P2P VPN and could it benefit you?

What is a P2P VPN? We often get asked whether people need one for torrenting. In this guide, we explain P2P VPNs, Decentralized VPN (dVPN) models, and regular VPNs that allow P2P connections. By the end, you’ll understand the difference between a decentralized P2P VPN and a personal VPN that permits P2P traffic.

A typical consumer VPN with port forwarding and torrent-friendly servers protects your identity on a peer-to-peer (P2P) network used for file sharing. It hides your IP address from other peers and stops your ISP (Internet Service Provider) from tracking your downloads. This keeps your online activity private with strong encryption and a strict no-logging policy, reducing exposure to hackers, malware, and copyright trolls.

Popular providers like NordVPN, Surfshark, ExpressVPN, and ProtonVPN rely on a centralized server model. This setup delivers better speed and more consistent performance for large data transfers.

By contrast, a decentralized VPN (dVPN) routes traffic through individual peers. Decentralization can help bypass censorship and mix your traffic with that of other peers, but it raises privacy concerns about who controls those VPN nodes. It can also lead to throttling and sluggish performance.

Continue reading to discover why a VPN that allows P2P connections is the smarter choice over a P2P VPN/dVPN. We’ll also recommend the best torrenting VPNs for security, privacy, and performance.

What is a peer-to-peer connection?

A peer-to-peer (P2P) connection is a direct connection between internet-connected devices. This type of connection is useful for decentralized activities. In other words, it allows you to engage in activities without sending data through a third-party server, increasing privacy and giving end users greater control over their data.

The most popular uses for P2P connections include:

• File sharing (torrenting): Allows users to share large files efficiently without a central server.
• Decentralized streaming: Live or on-demand video delivered via peers to reduce server load.
• Real-time communications: Peer-hosted VoIP and video calls that can bypass central relays. This is used both by VoIP apps and random chat apps like OmeTV.
• Online gaming: peer-to-peer multiplayer sessions and direct host connections.
• Distributed storage and backup: syncing and storing data across many participant nodes.
• Blockchain and dApps: cryptocurrency networks and decentralised applications that rely on peer networks.
• Content distribution/CDN offload: websites and apps using peers to cache and share content.
• Mesh networking: Provides direct device-to-device networking.

What is a P2P VPN?

Now that you understand what a P2P connection is, you are ready to learn the difference between a P2P VPN and a personal VPN for torrenting.

The important thing to remember is that when most people describe a P2P VPN, they are actually talking about a consumer-facing, centralized VPN network that doesn’t block P2P connections. This allows the VPN to be used for torrenting, which is why most people want a P2P VPN. Under these circumstances, the distinction between a VPN and a P2P VPN can be boiled down to one thing: does the VPN provider allow P2P connections through the VPN? If the answer is yes, that VPN will often be considered a P2P VPN, or more precisely, a P2P-friendly VPN.

It’s worth mentioning at this stage that not all consumer VPNs offer port forwarding, and some only allow P2P on specific servers or with a dedicated IP. Always check what is available before subscribing to a VPN, or use our best VPNs for torrenting list to learn more.

Although many users call a torrent-friendly consumer VPN a “P2P VPN,” the term is more accurately applied to decentralized VPNs (dVPNs). Unlike centralized consumer VPNs that run on a preconfigured network of dedicated servers, dVPNs route traffic through a mesh of user-run nodes. Both types can provide encryption and help hide your IP address, but they differ in trust model, performance, and privacy risk.

dVPN nodes are typically run by individuals or small operators you don’t control, which can introduce privacy risks and variable performance compared with established providers. Centralized providers, by contrast, operate private server networks and are more likely to have undergone independent audits and to maintain strict no-logging policies.

Do I need a decentralised P2P VPN (dVPN)?

For most home users, we recommend a reliable consumer-facing VPN rather than a decentralized P2P VPN (dVPN). dVPNs solve very specific problems, but they trade consistent performance, faster speeds, audited infrastructure you can trust, and straightforward privacy guarantees (through no-logging policies) for unverifiable third-party VPN nodes.

A dVPN makes sense for users living in countries where access to consumer VPNs is restricted. Under these circumstances, a dVPN can offer location spoofing and protection against tracking at the hands of local networks, ISPs, or government snoops. Just bear in mind that you need to be 100% sure the VPN has been set up correctly to guarantee your privacy (which can be hard to verify).

A decentralized VPN can also be useful for users who want to engage in location spoofing for activities where strict privacy isn’t essential (non-sensitive tasks).

That said, using a dVPN raises significant trust issues. Encryption still protects your traffic from local networks, ISPs, and government agencies. However, the trust shifts from a vetted provider (with a transparent privacy policy) to randomly operated exit nodes.

Volunteer nodes mean that speeds and latency can vary. It also means that your activities and data could be tracked and logged by whoever runs the node. In addition, you won’t get access to a polished VPN app with useful features like server selection (location spoofing), protocol selection, independent audits, port forwarding, ad blocking, streaming-optimized servers, dedicated IPs, etc.

These are serious trade-offs for users who need dependable privacy and consistent performance (fast speeds, no connection drops, etc). For this reason, we don’t recommend dVPNs for most readers.

For everyday tasks like torrenting, streaming, bypassing blocks at work, getting privacy on public wifi, and large data transfers, a consumer-facing centralized VPN with a strict logging policy and a choice of server locations is far safer.

When is a P2P VPN (dVPN) a bad choice?

Using a decentralized VPN can be useful, but it also creates risks and considerations. Below, we have included a list of reasons why you should stick to reliable consumer-facing VPNs with strong privacy policies and fully audited apps and networks.

1. You need a fast VPN connection with low latency. dVPN exit nodes are notoriously inconsistent with slow speeds for torrenting, streaming, gaming, or other data-intensive tasks. If you want fast, consistent speeds, stick to a trusted consumer VPN.
2. You need port forwarding, a dedicated IP, or consistent seeding for private trackers. These features are rare or unreliable on dVPNs.
3. You need independent audits or legally binding guarantees (privacy policies). dVPNs rarely offer third-party audits, SLAs, or clear compliance with privacy laws like GDPR and CCPA. Anybody seeking reliable privacy with legal compliance should stick to a reputable consumer VPN.
4. You want fully featured VPN apps and responsive support. Community dVPNs often lack user-friendly clients with important features like a kill switch, DNS leak protection, global server options, streaming optimized servers, etc. They also lack customer service agents who can help you set up and use the VPN.
5. You want robust privacy. Volunteer nodes may log or cooperate with takedown requests; centralized providers can offer clearer policies and will not disclose your activities to any third parties, even if they have a warrant (this is the advantage of a no logs policy: the VPN has nothing to hand over even if it is approached).
6. You need to secure highly sensitive activities (journalism, whistleblowing, banking). dVPN services require you to trust exit-node operators, which is not suitable for users who need privacy guarantees.
7. You need reliable streaming/unblocking on platforms like Netflix, Hulu, HBO, or BBC iPlayer. dVPN nodes are inconsistent and more likely to be blocked.
8. You can’t vet node security. If you don’t have the technical know-how to check commits, audits, or operator reputation, we recommend steering clear of volunteer VPN nodes.
9. You need jurisdictional transparency. Volunteer dVPN node operators may be in countries with hostile laws or weak privacy protections. If you need certainty over where your VPN activity is routed, we recommend sticking to reliable centralized VPNs with clear privacy policies and transparent routing.
10. You need a VPN that is easy to use. For most home users, a torrent-friendly centralized VPN with a strict no-logging policy is both easier and safer to use.

How do P2P VPN peers find each other?

If you want to use a P2P VPN that runs on volunteer nodes, you first need to find a peer.

P2P VPN peers find each other using bootstrap seeds or various discovery methods. Most dVPNs publish a list of seed or bootstrap nodes that new clients contact first. Those seeds return addresses for other peers, and the client builds a peer table from there. Many networks also use distributed hash tables (DHT) or peer exchange (PEX) so peers can discover nodes without the need for a central directory.

Some dVPNs offer a public directory or DNS seeding you can query. Others use blockchain or token registries to list available nodes and staking information. Community projects sometimes publish node lists on GitHub or official forums. However, a public list isn’t the same as a vetted, audited network.

In all cases, the VPN client requires at least one reachable node to establish a connection, a process known as the bootstrap step.

Security-wise, it is important to remember that discovery can be a significant weak point. A malicious actor can run many nodes (a Sybil attack) or operate exit nodes that log traffic.

This makes it essential to check public security signals before trusting volunteer nodes: recent commits and an active issue tracker, clear security docs, and any independent audit or code-signing notice. If those things are missing, don’t trust the node.

Remember that although VPN encryption protects the VPN tunnel, exit nodes can still see destination IPs and unencrypted traffic unless you use end-to-end TLS. So always verify the security of a dVPN node before trusting it.

If those checks sound too technical, stick to reputable, audited consumer VPNs with clear no-logs policies and dedicated P2P support rather than volunteer dVPNs. We have included our list of the best VPNs for torrenting below.

Best P2P VPNs: Top consumer VPNs that allow torrenting

Want a P2P VPN with everything you need to torrent safely. If what you need is a safe consumer VPN that gives you rock-solid privacy, the options below are our favorite picks.

1. NordVPN: Best overall for torrenting. Nord VPN is fast, reliable, and fully featured. Its huge global network and dedicated P2P servers (plus WireGuard speeds) make it the safest all-around pick for torrenting, privacy, and bypassing streaming blocks.
2. Surfshark: Best for budget users. Allows unlimited connections, perfect for families. Global server coverage, strong WireGuard performance, and unlimited devices mean you can torrent on multiple gadgets without breaking the bank.
3. TotalVPN: A low-cost option that gives you basic P2P support and a simple setup. It is ideal if you want cheap torrent-capable access in a VPN that comes bundled for free with TotalAV antivirus.
4. ProtonVPN: Built with privacy in mind. ProtonVPN has many advanced privacy and security features, and P2P-friendly servers. Includes port forwarding at no extra cost.
5. ExpressVPN: Fast speeds thanks to its proprietary Lightway protocol. Consistently unblocks content and offers rock-solid apps and router support. Torrenting is allowed throughout its network.
6. IPVanish: Delivers robust throughput and broad device compatibility, plus straightforward settings for power users who prioritise raw speed during large transfers.
7. CyberGhost: Best choice for beginners. Massive server footprint with clearly labelled P2P servers and easy-to-use apps, so newcomers can start torrenting safely without the headache.

P2P VPN FAQs