Question 1

Do I need port forwarding for torrenting?

Accepted Answer

Not to download — but yes for healthy seeding and faster swarm position. Without an open port you become a 'leecher only' node, which most private trackers penalize via ratio.

Question 2

Which VPNs offer port forwarding in 2026?

Accepted Answer

ProtonVPN (Plus/Unlimited, native), AirVPN (per-port assignment), Mullvad (removed in 2023 — no longer supported), Private Internet Access (legacy support). NordVPN does NOT offer port forwarding.

Question 3

Is VPN port forwarding safe?

Accepted Answer

Yes, when used only for the torrent client and bound to the VPN interface. The forwarded port is on the VPN's IP, not yours — your real IP is still hidden.

Question 4

Why is Mullvad no longer offering port forwarding?

Accepted Answer

Mullvad removed port forwarding in 2023 because it was being abused for non-P2P purposes. They recommend using a seedbox or AirVPN/ProtonVPN if you need it.

VPN Port Forwarding for Torrenting 2026 — Which VPNs Still Support It?

VPN port forwarding explained: why it matters for seeding, which VPNs still offer it in 2026 (ProtonVPN, AirVPN), and how to set it up in qBittorrent.