Best VPNs with port forwarding

Enabling port forwarding lets certain internet traffic reach your device directly through a specific port, bypassing the NAT firewall. This is useful for things like accessing your home PC remotely or improving your torrenting speed. But if it’s not set up securely, it can open your network to attacks – anyone who knows your IP and port number could connect.

VPN port forwarding makes this safer. It routes the connection through an encrypted VPN tunnel, reducing the risk of unwanted access. It also hides your real IP address, showing only the VPN server’s IP, which boosts your privacy.

Since only a few VPNs offer this feature, I researched and found the best VPNs for port forwarding in 2025. Read on to find a complete breakdown of how to set up port forwarding safely and which providers you should use.

Top VPNs that support port forwarding

What is Port Forwarding VPN?

A port-forwarding VPN allows incoming internet traffic to reach your device directly, even while your connection is protected. Typically, VPNs and routers use a NAT firewall to block all unsolicited incoming connections for security. While that's great for privacy, it prevents others from connecting to your device.

Port forwarding changes that by opening a specific port on the VPN server and linking it to your device. This way, certain apps or services, like torrent clients, game servers, or remote desktop tools, can send data straight to you through a secure, encrypted tunnel. Additionally, your real IP address stays hidden, and only the VPN server's IP is shown to others, making it safer than forwarding ports directly from your router.

This setup is handy for users who need better upload speeds, lower latency, or remote access to home devices. It can speed up torrenting, help gamers host matches, and let you reach your home server while traveling.

While this feature is useful, most VPNs choose not to offer it because opening ports can expose your device and network to security risks. The few that do support it typically add strict no-logs policies, strong encryption, and clear setup instructions to keep it safe.

The best VPNs with port forwarding – detailed list

Together with the research team, I reviewed the features, prices, and privacy policies of 41 high-quality VPNs. I also tested their port forwarding features and speeds. You can find the in-depth results of our first-hand experience down below.

1. Proton VPN – the best VPN with port forwarding in 2025

Port forwarding:	Yes
P2P support:	Yes
Simultaneous connections:	10
Current deal:	Get up to 64% OFF Proton VPN

Visit Proton VPN

Proton VPN is the best VPN with port forwarding. It offers a fast service for Linux and Windows users, who can 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 – one of the fastest and most secure tunneling protocols on the market – which explains its excellent speeds. During our in-house Proton VPN tests, the provider maintained 85% of the original connection speed, making it a great VPN for gaming.

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

Features. Proton VPN comes with an array of impressive features. My favorite is the double VPN (Secure Core) feature that does exactly what the name says – connects you to two servers to ensure top-notch privacy. Also, you get the alternate routing feature which helps combat censorship by looking for alternative connections. A few other important features to mention are NetShield (ad blocker), VPN Accelerator, and Proton Pass (a password manager that’s included for free).

Privacy. Proton VPN is no different from other best VPNs on this list in terms of privacy – it doesn’t collect your online activities or IP address. Plus, its privacy policy is independently audited, so the provider has proven the VPN is reliable.

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

You can find the best Proton VPN deals on our coupon page. This VPN is not the cheapest, with prices starting at $3.59/month. However, you can connect up to 10 devices and use a 30-day money-back guarantee.

2. PureVPN – low-budget VPN with port forwarding

Port forwarding:	Yes
P2P support:	Yes
Simultaneous connections:	10
Current deal:	Now 83% OFF PureVPN + 6 FREE months

Visit PureVPN

Another top contender for the best VPNs with port forwarding is PureVPN. Its port forwarding add-on (that comes at an extra $1.49/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 ports.

Performance. PureVPN provider supports one of the fastest protocols called WireGuard. This protocol combines speed and security to greatly improve the VPN’s performance. Unfortunately, PureVPN isn’t the fastest. During in-house testing, I tracked around 67% speed retention 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 features include a functional and trustworthy kill switch that disconnects you from the internet if your VPN connection drops. You also get a traffic obfuscation feature that hides the fact you’re using a VPN. Just like Proton VPN, PureVPN also integrates a password manager called PureKeep.

Privacy. This VPN is the first always-on audited service, meaning the privacy policy can be audited at any time. The provider doesn’t collect your browsing activities, IP address, or any other data, and while some billing information is stored, you can pay anonymously with cryptocurrencies to guarantee complete privacy.

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

With our PureVPN coupons, the prices start from as little as $2.14/month, and you can connect up to 10 devices. A 31-day money-back guarantee is applicable as well.

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

Port forwarding:	Yes
P2P support:	Yes
Simultaneous connections:	10
Current deal:	Now up to 85% OFF + 24 months free

Visit PrivateVPN

PrivateVPN is an excellent VPN 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 includes the OpenVPN (TCP and UDP variant) protocol. With the UDP variant, during PrivateVPN testing, the VPN retained around 30% of initial connection speeds. This is the worst performance out of all providers on this list.

Torrenting. PrivateVPN allows and supports torrenting on all of its servers. However, considering the speed results, you might have trouble with slow torrenting.

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 the provider keeps 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.

You can get PrivateVPN for as low as $2.00/month when getting a 3-year subscription (up to 10 devices). Check out our PrivateVPN coupons for best deals. Like with most providers, you get a 30-day money-back guarantee as well.

4. ExpressVPN – fast VPN with port forwarding

Port forwarding:	Yes
P2P support:	Yes
Simultaneous connections:	8
Current deal:	Now up to 61% OFF ExpressVPN + 4 months FREE

Visit ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN is another great 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 in-house 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 Device Groups. Using this feature, you can assign different devices to different locations, which enables you to game or torrent using one VPN location while your family and friends can browse using a different one. Other useful ExpressVPN features include Threat Manager, Stealth servers, and also a password manager.

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. ExpressVPN also operates on RAM-only servers, adding extra to the privacy and security of your data.

Customer support. If you have any trouble with setting up port forwarding, ExpressVPN’s knowledge base is 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 $4.99/month. The price is on the higher side, and you get to connect only up to 8 devices to the same account. Fortunately, there’s a 30-day money-back guarantee available, so you can test this app before you decide whether or not it’s worth the investment.

5. PIA – VPN with port forwarding and generous features

Port forwarding:	Yes
P2P support:	Yes
Simultaneous connections:	Unlimited
Current deal:	Get PIA, now 83% OFF + 4 Months FREE

Visit Private Internet Access VPN

PIA is a strong option if you need a VPN that supports port forwarding. While the feature is free, you'll be assigned a random port that you can customize with a command line interface and even write your own scripts.

Performance. If you’re looking for the fastest VPN on this list, PIA isn’t it. That said, it delivered decent speeds with WireGuard, which is considered to be the fastest protocol. During PIA tests, it retained about 45% of the original speed, which is quite a departure from Proton VPN's 85% retention.

Torrenting. PIA is excellent for torrenting, as it allows P2P connections on all servers. In our tests, it worked well with uTorrent, BitTorrent, and qBittorrent.

Features. PIA offers a long list of features. To start, it has both a regular kill switch and an advanced version that prevents leaks by blocking any traffic from your device. Other notable features include split tunneling, multi-hop, dedicated IP, a private browser (InBrowser), a breach monitor (Identity Guard), DNS leak protection, and obfuscation.

Privacy. Like any good VPN, PIA also enforces a strict no-logs policy, which has been independently audited. If anonymity is your priority, you can use cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Dogecoin for payments.

Customer support. The VPN provider offers all the usual support channels such as 24/7 live chat and email. Additionally, there’s a knowledge base on its website that houses helpful guides and articles, including one on how to enable port forwarding within the PIA app.

One of the cheapest providers on this list, you can get a PIA plan from just $2.03/month. All plans allow unlimited simultaneous connections and come with a standard 30-day money-back guarantee.

How we tested VPNs with port forwarding?

Since few VPN providers offer port forwarding, finding the ones that do wasn't easy. First, with the Cybernews research team, I reviewed 41 VPN providers, and then we tested the top 5 according to our testing methodology. Then, I ranked them based on these aspects:

1. Port forwarding feature (30%). I only included VPNs with a truly user-friendly port forwarding interface. The setup had to be simple, and creating port mappings had to work smoothly on the first attempt.
2. Speeds (25%). Performance always matters. We stress-tested each VPN to see how much it slowed down my base speeds. The best ones retained around 80% or more of my speed, ensuring fast downloads and smooth connections.
3. P2P support (15%). Since most users enable port forwarding for torrenting, all listed VPNs fully support P2P traffic. Extra credit went to those with torrent-friendly servers optimized for better performance.
4. Security (15%). Opening a port shouldn't mean opening a security hole. We tested for IP and DNS leaks, confirmed each VPN uses strong AES encryption, and checked that the kill switch reliably cuts the internet if the VPN disconnects.
5. Privacy (10%). A no-logs policy is a must. I reviewed each VPN's privacy practices to ensure they don't track your activity or store connection data – even when ports are open.
6. Customer support (5%). Port forwarding can be tricky, so responsive help is essential. I looked for VPNs with reliable 24/7 live chat or fast, helpful email responses.

Comparison of the best port forwarding VPNs

Here’s how my top 5 VPNs with port forwarding compare to one another:

VPN	Price (lowest price per month)	Port forwarding	P2P support	Servers
Proton VPN	$3.59	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	13600+ servers in 122 countries
PureVPN	$2.14	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	6000+ servers in 65 countries
PrivateVPN	$2.00	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	200+ servers in 63 countries
ExpressVPN	$4.99	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	Servers in 105 countries
PIA	$2.03	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	Servers in 91 countries

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 Proton VPN

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. Sign up for a VPN that includes the port forwarding feature – I recommend Proton VPN, now 64% OFF
2. Download and install your chosen VPN service on your preferred device
3. Enable the port forwarding feature
4. Connect to a P2P server (in this case, marked with a double-arrow icon)
5. Enjoy the benefits of port forwarding

Try port forwarding with Proton VPN

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

Is port forwarding safe with VPN?

Port forwarding with a VPN can be safer than doing that on your regular router, but it still comes with risks, especially if you don’t take extra precautions.

When you open a port, you make part of your device visible to the internet. Malicious hackers can scan for these open ports and find services that are usually hidden. If the app or service behind that port isn’t adequately secured, attackers might be able to break in and take control.

This also raises the risk of malware. If the software listening on a port has a vulnerability in its code, malicious hackers can exploit it. This could also lead to DDoS attacks, where attackers flood your open port with useless traffic to crash your connection.

Additionally, if someone manages to take over your device, they could add it to a botnet – a network of infected machines that launches bigger attacks on other systems.

That’s why it’s important to use VPN port forwarding carefully. Stick with trusted VPNs, only open ports you need, and constantly update your software to fix any known security holes.

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:

• Employ a trusted VPN. Use port forwarding with a trustworthy VPN – I recommend Proton VPN, now 64% OFF.
• Always update your device. Malicious 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 antivirus. Antiviruses 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

How to test VPN port forwarding?

After setting up VPN port forwarding, it's important to test if it's working correctly to avoid connection issues or security gaps. Here are a few simple steps on how you should do that:

• Check if you can reach the port externally. This confirms that the forwarded port on your VPN connection is open and can accept incoming traffic from outside your network.
• Use your VPN provider's tools or documentation. Many VPNs that support port forwarding offer a built-in port checker or step-by-step guides. These help you find your assigned port and check if it's active.
• Try an online port scanner. Websites like CanYouSeeMe or YouGetSignal let you enter your VPN IP address and forwarded port number to see if the connection is open from the outside.
• Use Telnet or port-testing software. Advanced users can run manual tests using command-line tools like Telnet or third-party port monitoring apps to check real-time connectivity.
• Test regularly after setup. Even if it works once, your VPN's port forwarding status can change. Periodically check it through your VPN app or router to ensure everything stays functional.

Can you use a free VPN with port forwarding feature?

No, I don’t recommend using a free VPN with port forwarding. It’s a premium feature, so if it comes with free services, free service providers 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. Proton VPN – set up port forwarding and enjoy great speeds. Pricing starts at $3.59/month for up to 10 devices, and 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. Pay from $2.14/month or use a 31-day money-back guarantee available.

Conclusion

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

My top choice is Proton VPN. You can set it up on Windows and Linux, and with P2P optimized servers, you can enjoy great speeds. The provider supports up to 10 connections simultaneously, and during in-house tests it demonstrated great speed and performance results.

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