TorGuard Review

TorGuard, established in 2012 by VPNetworks LLC, has remained independent and has not undergone any acquisitions or mergers.

The company’s founder and CEO, Benjamin Van Pelt, is the sole employee listed on LinkedIn. The Florida company registration website only mentions “Losey PLLC” and “Title Authorized Member” in relation to VPNetworks LLC.

The organizational structure of TorGuard is somewhat opaque, with limited information available about its employees, a situation not uncommon among VPN service providers.

Based in a Privacy-Unfriendly Jurisdiction

TorGuard operates out of Florida, a state within the United States, which is known for its lack of privacy protection. The U.S. is a member of the Five Eyes intelligence alliance, allowing government agencies to request and share surveillance data with allied nations without user consent.

Despite this, TorGuard’s customer support has stated that it would only comply with an “official court-ordered ruling” and could only provide “blank hard drives” in response. This is due to TorGuard’s strict zero-logs policy, which ensures that no user web logs are maintained, thereby protecting users’ identities and activities from being disclosed to U.S. authorities.

Logging Policy

TorGuard asserts that it “does not collect or log any data from its Virtual Private Network (VPN) or Proxy services.” Our analysis of the service’s logging policy supports this claim, showing no evidence of user activity data collection.

The company only gathers anonymous statistical network data to assess server loads and does not record any information that could identify users’ web activities.

Evidence of No Logging

Although TorGuard’s logging policy has not been independently audited, it has demonstrated its commitment to privacy in a legal context. In March 2022, TorGuard settled a copyright infringement lawsuit filed by several major Hollywood studios, which accused the service of aiding users in circumventing torrent site blocks.

While the settlement required TorGuard to block all torrenting traffic on its U.S. servers, the trial’s outcome provided crucial evidence: no identifiable user logs were presented by TorGuard. This outcome reinforces the trustworthiness of TorGuard’s zero-logs policy, affirming that the service adheres to its commitment to user privacy.

Speed

Remarkable Speed on Local Connections

Speed Rating: 9.3/10

TorGuard delivers impressive speeds for connections over short distances. However, its performance on international connections is less notable, ranking it below the fastest VPNs we have evaluated.

Ranked #16 out of 62 VPNs for Speed

To assess its performance, we connected to TorGuard servers across six continents and measured our internet speeds before and after connection. We used a 100 Mbps internet connection, representative of a typical home internet speed.

Below is a table displaying TorGuard’s performance in our speed tests:

No VPN (New York)	US (New York)	Canada (Toronto)	US (Los Angeles)	UK (London)	Germany (Berlin)	Brazil (São Paulo)	Japan (Tokyo)	South Africa (Johannesburg)	Australia (Sydney)
Server Location
Download Speed	100Mbps	94Mbps	97Mbps	91Mbps	92Mbps	89Mbps	96Mbps	86Mbps	87Mbps	75Mbps
Upload Speed	100Mbps	94Mbps	96Mbps	96Mbps	35Mbps	95Mbps	65Mbps	96Mbps	86Mbps	96Mbps
Ping	1ms	7ms	19ms	68ms	73ms	86ms	135ms	142ms	238ms	212ms
Distance	0mi	5mi	300mi	2,500mi	3,500mi	4,000mi	4,800mi	6,700mi	8,000mi	9,900mi

TorGuard secures a position in the top 20 VPNs for speed, delivering robust performance suitable for a wide range of online activities. Its standout feature is its consistent speed across nearly all global locations tested.

For users who frequently connect to servers across different continents, TorGuard is an excellent choice. Below is a comparison of its international connection performance with that of several well-known VPN competitors:

Among all the locations we tested, Australia—located at the maximum distance from our testing site in New York, US—experiences the most notable reduction in download speeds.

Server Locations

Extensive Network of Over 3,000 Servers in 50 Countries

Server Locations Rating: 8.5/10

TorGuard offers strong server coverage across Europe, Asia, and North America, including numerous city-level servers throughout the US. However, its options in South America and Africa are somewhat limited.

Ranked #17 out of 62 VPNs for Server Locations

• 50 Countries
• 68 Cities
• 3,000+ IP Addresses

TorGuard maintains servers on the following continents:

TorGuard boasts a robust server network, with over 3,000 servers across 50 countries and 60 cities, covering many popular locations.

In contrast, CyberGhost features an extensive network, with servers in 100 countries and 110 cities.

While TorGuard has not specified the exact number of IP addresses it offers, it is expected to exceed 3,000, providing at least one IP address per server.

The US network includes 11 city-level servers, distributed evenly across various states:

• California (2 cities)
• Florida
• Georgia
• Illinois
• Nevada
• New Jersey
• New York
• Texas
• Utah
• Washington

Recently, TorGuard has downsized its server network. It now provides SOCKS proxy support in only four countries: Canada, Switzerland, the Netherlands, and Sweden.

In Africa, TorGuard has reduced its presence to a single server in South Africa, and it maintains two servers in the Middle East, located in Dubai and Israel.

For users in South America or Africa, or those needing connections to these regions, consider alternatives like Private Internet Access (PIA), which has servers in four African countries and five South American countries.

Streaming

Premium Upgrade Required for US Streaming

Streaming Rating: 1.5/10

TorGuard’s standard subscription provides poor performance for streaming purposes. It is unable to access popular platforms such as Netflix, Disney+, HBO Max, or Hulu. However, it does support BBC iPlayer and ITV Player. To access streaming services, an additional premium upgrade is required. Many other VPNs include streaming capabilities in their standard plans.

Ranked #44 out of 62 VPNs for Streaming

TorGuard’s streaming capabilities are limited. Currently, it only unblocks the following platforms:

TorGuard’s standard subscription is inadequate for streaming purposes. It does not provide access to any Netflix libraries or other US-based streaming platforms. However, it does support all major UK streaming services, including BBC iPlayer and All 4.

TorGuard doesn’t stream Disney+, HBO Max or Hulu

TorGuard is ineffective for streaming Disney+, HBO Max, or Hulu, as it is quickly detected and blocked by these services. For streaming US platforms, it is advisable to consider alternative VPN options.

When connected to TorGuard, we were unable to log in to Hulu and instead encountered the following message:

“Error: Hulu is available in the U.S. only, and cannot be used with an anonymous proxy service.”

TorGuard Excels at Unblocking UK Platforms

Despite its limitations with US streaming services, TorGuard performed exceptionally well in unblocking UK platforms such as BBC iPlayer, ITV Hub, and All 4. We experienced smooth streaming without any buffering.

However, the reliability of TorGuard’s standard servers for streaming is uncertain, and their effectiveness may be short-lived.

Expert Advice:

For streaming, it’s advisable to use TorGuard’s Manchester server, as the London server tends to be less reliable.

Dedicated Streaming IP Address

For an additional $7.99 per month, TorGuard offers a dedicated streaming IP address, which can enhance your ability to bypass geo-restrictions on streaming platforms. Available locations for streaming IPs include:

• Canada
• France
• Germany
• Italy

While this option is available, it may not provide the best value compared to other VPNs like CyberGhost, which include multiple streaming servers in their standard pricing. Additionally, TorGuard’s Pro plan includes a dedicated IP address at no extra cost.

Streaming Residential IP Address

For more consistent access to geo-blocked content, you can opt for a residential IP address in the US for an additional $13.99 per month. Residential IPs, available in Los Angeles, California; Tampa, Florida; and Dallas, Texas, are rented from ISPs and provide a more authentic connection, making it harder for streaming platforms to detect and block them. They can also improve your browsing experience by reducing captcha prompts.

However, this option is not the most cost-effective for annual subscribers. For instance, Windscribe offers residential IP addresses to premium subscribers for a one-time annual fee of $96.00, or $8.00 per month, with more location options including Canada, Germany, Spain, and the UK.

TorGuard’s Streaming Bundle

TorGuard also offers a streaming bundle that includes a standard subscription along with two dedicated IP addresses specifically for streaming.

Despite TorGuard’s promise to let you “Stream What You Want, Whenever You Want,” the streaming bundle restricts you to just two IP addresses in either the US, UK, or Japan.

We do not recommend purchasing this bundle, as it limits your access to streaming platforms in only two countries. Other VPNs offer access to multiple countries’ streaming services without the need for additional purchases.

Moreover, the bundle provides only dedicated IP addresses, not residential IP addresses, meaning you may still face geo-blocks.

Below is a comparison between TorGuard’s streaming bundle and ExpressVPN’s standard subscription:

Torrenting with TorGuard

A Professional Overview

Torrenting Rating: 8.6/10

TorGuard stands out as one of the top VPNs we’ve reviewed for torrenting, offering exceptionally fast P2P speeds, a reliable kill switch, port-forwarding capabilities, and a robust zero-logs policy. However, it’s important to note that P2P traffic via BitTorrent is blocked on its US servers.

Ranked #11 out of 62 VPNs for Torrenting

Performance in Torrenting Tests:

TorGuard may not excel in streaming, but it is highly effective for torrenting. The VPN service supports P2P traffic across all its servers, except those located in the US, and it maintains a strict no-logs policy, ensuring user privacy.

During our P2P benchmark tests, TorGuard achieved an average download speed of 7.0 MiB/s, compared to 10 MiB/s without a VPN.

Key Features and Legal Context: TorGuard as a Torrenting VPN

TorGuard includes essential features for torrenting, such as a VPN kill switch and a transparent no-logs policy—critical components for any torrenting VPN.

For seeders, TorGuard offers port forwarding, though it is limited to ports above 2048 and is supported through OpenVPN, WireGuard, and OpenConnect protocols.

US Servers Restricted from BitTorrent Usage

On March 13, 2022, TorGuard settled a legal case with 27 film studios that accused the company of promoting torrenting copyrighted material and failing to maintain user logs.

As part of the settlement, TorGuard agreed to “use commercially reasonable efforts to block BitTorrent traffic on its servers in the United States using firewall technology.”

Key Takeaways from the Legal Outcome

Despite the settlement, there are three critical points that reinforce TorGuard’s standing as a leading VPN for torrenting:

1. No Customer Data Exposure: Throughout the legal proceedings, TorGuard did not disclose any customer data, upholding its no-logs policy and safeguarding user privacy. A VPN with intrusive logging practices is inherently unsafe for torrenting.
2. No Requirement to Log Network Data: TorGuard has not been compelled to log network usage data. The technical design of TorGuard’s network, including shared IPs and related hardware, makes it impossible to track individual user activity.
3. Limited Scope of Traffic Blocking: The BitTorrent traffic block applies only to TorGuard’s US servers. Users can still engage in P2P activities on servers in other countries, such as Canada or Mexico, which are conveniently located for users in the US.

It’s worth noting that TorGuard is not alone in facing legal challenges from major film studios. In January 2022, VPN Unlimited also agreed to block BitTorrent traffic and access to several torrenting websites, including PirateBay and Popcorn Time, on its US servers.

Comparing TorGuard with Other Top VPNs for Torrenting

The following table compares TorGuard with other leading VPNs, evaluating crucial torrenting features like P2P speed, server count, and additional functionalities.

Security & Technical Features

Comprehensive Protection

Security & Technical Features Rating: 9.2/10

TorGuard excels as a highly secure VPN service, ensuring robust online protection. It employs top-tier encryption standards, utilizing AES-256, the most advanced encryption available. Additionally, the TorGuard Windows app is configured to automatically use OpenVPN upon startup, which is widely regarded as the most secure VPN protocol currently available.

Ranked #10 out of 62 VPNs for Security & Technical Features

Protocols