Choosing a VPN for Streaming and Torrenting

VPN Requirements for Streaming

Streaming services like Netflix, Disney+, and BBC iPlayer actively block VPN connections. A good streaming VPN needs:

• Large server network — More servers in more countries means more options to bypass geo-blocks.
• Fast speeds — 4K streaming requires at least 25 Mbps sustained throughput.
• Obfuscation — Disguises VPN traffic as regular HTTPS to evade deep packet inspection.
• Smart DNS — Some providers offer DNS-based unblocking that works on devices that cannot run VPN apps (smart TVs, game consoles).

VPN Requirements for Torrenting

For safe P2P file sharing, look for:

• No-logs policy — Essential for privacy when downloading via BitTorrent.
• P2P-allowed servers — Not all VPN servers permit torrent traffic. Check which locations allow it.
• Port forwarding — Improves seeding performance by allowing incoming connections.
• Kill switch — Prevents your real IP from leaking if the VPN drops mid-download.

Protocol Selection for Performance

WireGuard is the recommended choice for both streaming and torrenting due to its low overhead and fast handshake times.

Speed Testing Your VPN

# Test download speed through VPN
# Connect to VPN first, then:
curl -o /dev/null -w "Speed: %{speed_download} bytes/sec\n" \
  https://speed.cloudflare.com/__down?bytes=100000000

# Compare with VPN disconnected to measure overhead

Expect 10-30% speed reduction with a well-optimized VPN. If you see more than 50% reduction, try a closer server or switch protocols.

Common Issues

• Buffering on streams — Switch to a server geographically closer to the streaming service's CDN.
• Torrent client shows 0 peers — Enable port forwarding in VPN settings, or check that the server allows P2P.
• VPN detected by streaming service — Try a different server in the same country, or enable obfuscation mode.