Best VPNs with Port Forwarding

Hardcore gamers and torrenting users get VPNs with port forwarding to ensure better performance and reliability. The feature is also useful for such things as accessing devices remotely or hosting a site on your device.

Yet, for safety reasons, not many VPNs offer port forwarding. After all, it can decrease your device’s security levels if not used properly.

So which VPN offers the best port forwarding solution? And how to use this feature safely? Continue reading to find all of the information to know beforehand and our list of the best VPNs with port forwarding.

Top 5 best VPNs with Port Forwarding feature

1. ExpressVPN – best VPN with port forwarding
2. PureVPN – inexpensive VPN with port forwarding
3. PrivateVPN – port forwarding VPN with an easy setup
4. Ivacy VPN – security-focused VPN with port forwarding
5. Proton VPN – gaming and torrenting VPN for great speeds

The best VPNs with Port Forwarding – our detailed list

We researched the features, prices, and privacy policies of various high-quality VPNs. We also tested their port forwarding features and speeds. You can find the in-depth results of our first-hand experience down below:

1. ExpressVPN – best VPN with port forwarding in 2023

Port forwarding:	Yes
P2P support:	Yes
Simultaneous connections:	5
Current deal:	🔥 Get ExpressVPN, now 49% OFF the 1-year plan! 🔥

Visit ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN is the best VPN with port forwarding because of its great functionality and remarkable speeds. The port forwarding feature is only available for setting up on v1 or v2 (and upward) routers. You’ll have to either install the firmware or invest in a router that’s compatible with this VPN.

Performance. ExpressVPN uses a proprietary Lightway protocol which is part of the reason for the VPN’s excellent speeds. During our tests, the average speed retention rate turned out to be 77%. That’s more than enough for a smooth gaming or torrenting experience if you have a speedy Internet connection.

Torrenting. Together with great speeds, ExpressVPN also allows P2P connections on all of its servers, making it a great VPN for torrenting.

Features. A very useful feature of ExpressVPN is the router applet which is a rare find in the VPN market. It makes setting up a VPN on a router easier, and it even lets you configure port forwarding settings.

Privacy. According to ExpressVPN’s privacy policy, it’s a no-log VPN. It means that your data won’t be collected or logged by this VPN in any way. The fact that the policy is audited only strengthens its credibility.

Customer support. If you’re going to have any trouble with setting up port forwarding, ExpressVPN knowledge base will be of great help. And if the issue is more complex, you can make use of the 24/7 live chat or email tickets.

The cost of ExpressVPN starts from $6.67/month. While the price is on the higher side, you get to connect up to 5 devices to the same account. Plus, there’s a 30-day money-back guarantee available.

You can find out more in our full ExpressVPN review.

2. PureVPN – low-budget VPN with port forwarding

Port forwarding:	Yes
P2P support:	Yes
Simultaneous connections:	10
Current deal:	🔥 Get PureVPN, now 81% OFF + 3 months FREE! 🔥

Visit PureVPN

Another top contender for the best VPNs with port forwarding is PureVPN. Its port forwarding add-on (that comes at $0.49/month) gives you a much easier setup option than manual router configuration. All you have to do is install the VPN, get the add-on, and enable/disable ports.

Performance. PureVPN supports one of the fastest protocols called WireGuard. Being a great combo of speed and security, it’s no wonder that it helps with the VPN’s performance. The VPN retained around 67% of your initial internet speeds on average.

Torrenting. While not all servers support P2P connections with PureVPN, plenty of them do. The only servers that don’t allow P2P connections are those in countries where torrenting is prohibited, such as the US and Canada.

Features. PureVPN offers a functional and trustworthy kill switch that turns off your internet if your VPN connection drops. You also get a traffic obfuscation feature that hides the fact you’re using a VPN.

Privacy. This VPN is the first always-on audited service, meaning their privacy policy can be audited at any time. So they don’t collect your browsing activities, IP address, or any other data. While they keep some billing information, you can simply pay anonymously with cryptocurrencies.

Customer support. You can find port forwarding setup guides in the PureVPN knowledge base. For more issues, you can contact their team through the 24/7 live chat or email.

With our PureVPN coupons, the prices start from as little as $2.08/month, and it lets you connect 10 devices. A 31-day money-back guarantee is applicable as well.

You can find out more in our PureVPN review.

3. PrivateVPN – simple-to-use port forwarding VPN

Port forwarding:	Yes
P2P support:	Yes
Simultaneous connections:	10
Current deal:	🔥 Get PrivateVPN, now 85% OFF! 🔥

Visit PrivateVPN

PrivateVPN is an excellent pick for port forwarding because of how simple it is to use the feature. For starters, it's always enabled, and you get a random port number that you can insert into the program you want, including a torrenting client.

Performance. PrivateVPN doesn’t use WireGuard but it does include the OpenVPN (TCP and UDP variant) protocol. With the UDP variant, the VPN retained around 68% of initial connection speeds.

Torrenting. While not many, you get dedicated servers for torrenting with this VPN. Considering the solid speed results, you won’t have trouble with slow torrenting either.

Features. PrivateVPN comes with a market-standard yet functional kill switch that prevents accidental data leaking. You also get the Stealth VPN feature which hides the fact that you’re using a VPN.

Privacy. The privacy policy of PrivateVPN states that they keep no logs of your browsing activities or other data. And while the policy isn’t audited, PrivateVPN doesn’t have any reputational issues regarding data handling.

Customer support. If you need any assistance with setting up or using PrivateVPN’s port forwarding feature, the provider has plenty of support channels. This includes a 24/7 live chat, email, guides, and FAQs.

You can get PrivateVPN for as low as $2.00/month when getting a 3-year subscription or go through our PrivateVPN coupons for better deals. Like with most providers, you get a 30-day money-back guarantee as well.

You can find more in-depth information in our PrivateVPN review.

4. Ivacy VPN – secure VPN with port forwarding

Port forwarding:	Yes
P2P support:	Yes
Simultaneous connections:	10
Current deal:	🔥Get Ivacy VPN, now 90% OFF + gift! 🔥

Visit Ivacy VPN

Ivacy VPN is a great VPN with port forwarding for people who want a low-cost yet very secure solution. The port forwarding feature comes for an additional $1/month and can be easily set up from the member area.

Performance. Just like PrivateVPN, Ivacy VPN includes the OpenVPN (UDP and TCP) protocol instead of WireGuard. Its average speed retention rate during our tests turned out to be around 75%. It’s more than enough for a seamless torrenting or gaming experience.

Torrenting. Ivacy VPN is a good VPN for torrenting considering it allows P2P connections on all of its servers and ensures great speeds.

Features. Ivacy VPN provides you with the Secure Download feature. It checks your downloads for malware. There’s also a kill switch that works efficiently and prevents data leaks.

Privacy. This VPN keeps no logs. It won’t track your browsing activities, IP address, or other data. Plus, the provider accepts cryptocurrency payments, so you don’t have to leave any traces of your data behind.

Customer support. Ivacy VPN has plenty of information about setting up port forwarding on their knowledge base. They also have 24/7 live chat and email support in case you have any issues.

You can take a look at our Ivacy VPN coupons – the prices are very low, starting from $1.00/month when buying it for 5 years. There’s also a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can use the time to test port forwarding without instant commitments.

To learn more, read our full Ivacy VPN review.

5. Proton VPN – fast VPN for gaming and torrenting

Port forwarding:	Yes
P2P support:	Yes
Simultaneous connections:	10
Current deal:	🔥Get up to 50% OFF Proton VPN!🔥

Visit ProtonVPN

Proton VPN is a very fast option that also offers port forwarding for Windows users. You can simply enable it in the Advanced Settings section. It’s also very convenient as you can copy the port number from the information panel at the top of the main window when you connect to a P2P server.

Performance. Proton VPN uses the WireGuard protocol, which explains its excellent speeds. Our tests revealed an average speed retention rate of 84%, making it a great VPN for gaming.

Torrenting. This VPN is also a solid pick if you’re looking for a torrenting VPN since it supports P2P connections. With the paid plan, you even get P2P-optimized servers for a better torrenting experience.

Features. The feature array of Proton VPN shows that security is of great importance to them. There’s a double VPN feature that does exactly what the name says – connects you to two servers. Also, you get the alternate routing feature which helps combat censorship by looking for alternative connections.

Privacy. Proton VPN is no different from other best VPNs – it doesn’t collect your online activities or IP address. Plus, its privacy policy is independently audited, so they’ve proven they’re reliable.

Customer support. In their knowledge base, Proton VPN provides you with extensive guides on how to use the port forwarding feature. And while there’s no 24/7 live chat, you can contact them through email or tweet them your issue.

You can find the best Proton VPN deals on our coupon page. Its prices begin at $4.99/month. There’s a 10 device connection allowance and a 30-day money-back guarantee as well.

You can learn more in our Proton VPN review.

How we selected and tested these VPNs

We tested dozens of VPNs with the port forwarding feature and their performance. Here are all the things we took into consideration when ranking the VPNs:

• Port forwarding feature. We only included VPNs that offer a port forwarding feature that is easy to set up.
• Speeds. It’s natural that VPNs will slightly slow down your speeds. Yet, the fastest VPNs shouldn’t do it too visibly. That’s why when ranking these VPNs, we tested their speeds and only included the fastest solutions.
• P2P support. When getting a VPN with port forwarding, users are often looking for a better torrenting experience. That’s why all of the VPNs on our list support P2P connections.
• Security. All VPNs of our choice protect your data with the powerful AES encryption. They also all offer advanced security measures, such as a kill switch.
• Privacy. Since the purpose of VPNs is to hide your data from prying eyes, a no-logs policy is a must. Our selected VPNs don’t keep any logs of your data.
• Customer support. Port forwarding may be more difficult to figure out how to use, so an always-available customer support team is necessary.

Comparison of the best Port Forwarding VPNs

	ExpressVPN	PureVPN	PrivateVPN	Ivacy VPN	Proton VPN
Brand
Port forwarding	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
P2P support	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Logging	No logs, independently audited by Cure53	No logs, always-on audit by KPMG	No logs, not audited	No logs, not audited	No logs, independently audited by Securitum
Streaming	Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, Disney+	Netflix, BBC iPlayer, YouTube	Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, Amazon Video, and more	Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Youtube	Netflix, BBC iPlayer, YouTube, HBO Max, Disney+
Servers	3000+ servers in 94 countries	6500+ servers in 78 countries	200+ servers in 63 countries	5700+ servers, 68 countries	1800+ servers in 66 countries
Simultaneous connections	5	10	10	10	10
Price (lowest price per month)	$6.67/month	$2.08/month	$2.00/month	$1.00/month	$4.99/month
Review	ExpressVPN review	PureVPN review	PrivateVPN review	Ivacy VPN review	Proton VPN review

What are the reasons to use VPN with Port Forwarding?

Port forwarding is something not many VPNs offer but it’s a truly useful feature. Here are some of the reasons to use a VPN that includes port forwarding:

1. Torrenting. Even if a VPN has P2P support, its NAT firewall can interrupt your torrenting experience. Additionally, port forwarding allows incoming connections to be made to a specific device, which can result in better torrenting speed and reliability.
2. Online gaming. Port forwarding allows hosting your own game server for a gaming session with your friends. Plus, this feature may even reduce lagging as well as improve performance.
3. Remote access to your desktop device. Port forwarding can help access your desktop remotely because it lets incoming connections be directed to a specific device on your network.
4. Remote access to IoT devices. Just like with remotely accessing your computer, you can also check on your IoT devices, including security cameras, when you’re not at home.
5. Hosting a publicly accessible website on your device.

Try port forwarding with ExpressVPN

How to configure Port Forwarding on a VPN?

Configuring port forwarding doesn’t require much effort after you install a VPN. Here’s a quick step-by-step guide on how to configure port forwarding on your device:

1. Get a VPN that includes the port forwarding feature. We recommend ExpressVPN, which is not 49% OFF!
2. Download and install your chosen VPN service.
3. In the Settings section, find the port forwarding feature and enable it.
4. If there are any further instructions, follow them.
5. You’ll need to insert the number of the active port to configure the software of your choice.

Try port forwarding with ExpressVPN

How to configure Port Forwarding on a Router?

If you want to set up port forwarding on your whole network, the process will be slightly longer. It will also differ depending on your router. You can find the steps to setting up port forwarding on your router below:

1. Insert your router’s IP address into the URL bar of your browser.
2. Sign into your router’s configuration interface. If you don’t know the username and password of your router, you can simply look it up on Google. All you have to know is the router model number (change the password as soon as you log in).
3. Search for the port forwarding section (it can usually be found in the Settings menu).
4. Fill in the information to create a new port forwarding rule.
5. Enable port forwarding on the service where you’ll use the port, such as a torrenting client.

Why do not many VPNs have a Port Forwarding feature?

The reason many VPNs don’t provide you with a port forwarding feature is because they may decrease your security level. This defeats the purpose of a VPN in the first place.

VPNs use NAT firewalls to block malicious connections. Meanwhile, when you enable port forwarding, it opens a door through the firewall rules. This decreases security and privacy levels. It may even open up your device or personal network to outsiders, including cyber criminals.

However, NAT firewalls are a very strong protection measure. And port forwarding is useful when the firewall blocks connections that the user doesn’t want to be blocked. For instance, it may disrupt your torrenting experience and P2P connections.

Using a VPN with Port Forwarding: things to consider

While port forwarding is a rarer feature in VPN feature arsenals due to security concerns, you can still use it safely. Here are a few things to consider before enabling port forwarding:

• Use port forwarding with a trustworthy VPN. We recommend ExpressVPN, which is now 49% OFF!
• Always update your device. Hackers are always looking for a chance to get into your device. Updating your device in a timely manner may stop malicious actors from exploiting vulnerabilities.
• Turn on your security firewall. Firewalls help prevent hackers from getting into your device. They also assist with stopping malware from spreading to your whole network.
• Use strong passwords. Update weak login credentials with unbreakable passwords.
• Don’t use port forwarding on many devices. Once you get used to port forwarding, it may be tempting to use it for many things. We strongly advise against doing so. The more surface you expose, the more likely you’re going to experience a cyberattack.

Can you use a free VPN with Port Forwarding feature?

No, we don’t recommend using a free VPN with port forwarding. It’s a premium feature, so if it comes with free services, they may be unreliable. Free VPNs need to make money somehow, so unreliable ones can end up selling your data.

Instead, you can opt for premium VPNs and make use of their money-back guarantees. This way, you’re going to get a trustworthy service that will provide you with advanced security and features.

1. ExpressVPN – set up port forwarding on your router and enjoy great speeds. You can make use of the 30-day money-back guarantee.
2. PureVPN – enjoy port forwarding and a high-quality VPN for 10 devices simultaneously. If anything, there’s a 31-day money-back guarantee available.
3. PrivateVPN – set up port forwarding without issues for $2.00/month. You can cancel at any time thanks to the 30-day money-back guarantee.

Conclusion

Port forwarding is a useful feature for gamers and torrenting folks. It can ensure better performance, improve reliability, and make the experience more smooth. The feature is also used for remote access to your own devices, including IoT.

Our best recommendation is ExpressVPN. Its port forwarding feature can be set up on a router, and the VPN package includes a router applet for an easier setup. You can even use the service on 5 devices at the same time.

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