Question 1

Which VPNs still offer port forwarding in 2026?

Accepted Answer

Only four mainstream providers: ProtonVPN (Plus/Unlimited tiers, native), AirVPN (per-port assignment, up to 20 ports), Private Internet Access (legacy support on select servers), and TorGuard (paid add-on with dedicated IP). Mullvad removed it in 2023 and NordVPN does not offer it.

Question 2

Is port forwarding really necessary for torrenting?

Accepted Answer

Not for downloading from healthy public swarms — but yes for seeding effectively. Without an open port your client is 'leech-only', your swarm position drops, and private trackers penalize your ratio. If you use private trackers, port forwarding is essential.

Question 3

Is VPN port forwarding safe?

Accepted Answer

Yes, when bound to the VPN interface only. The forwarded port lives on the VPN provider's IP, not your real IP, so incoming connections terminate at the VPN server and are then tunneled to you. Your real IP stays hidden.

Question 4

Why did Mullvad remove port forwarding?

Accepted Answer

Mullvad publicly removed port forwarding in 2023 because it was being abused for non-P2P purposes (reportedly hosting malicious services on Mullvad IPs). They now recommend pairing Mullvad with a seedbox or using AirVPN/ProtonVPN if port forwarding is required.

Question 5

Does NordVPN have port forwarding?

Accepted Answer

No. NordVPN dropped port forwarding for security reasons. For seeding-heavy users on private trackers, pair NordVPN with a seedbox or pick ProtonVPN Plus / AirVPN instead.

VPN With Port Forwarding 2026 — Only 4 Providers Still Offer It

Only ProtonVPN, AirVPN, PIA, and TorGuard still offer real port forwarding in 2026. Compare price, method, and seeding suitability for private trackers.