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Best for Compatible Port Forwarding
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Antivirus and dedicated IP address cost extra
Best for Premium Privacy
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More expensive than NordVPN, Surfshark, and CyberGhost
Best for Port Forwarding and Torrenting
A virtual private network (VPN) masks your real IP address, which helps keep your network secure. But concealing your IP address under a fake one can make it difficult for incoming traffic to find your specific device when so many other devices are using the same IP address. Enter port forwarding. Port forwarding lets incoming traffic find you while still using a VPN IP address. Your privacy is secure, and you can continue to enjoy the internet.
So is port forwarding safe? Yes and no. Not all VPNs offer port forwarding, and a lot of premium VPNs don’t support it due to security risks. Insecure port forwarding can lead to issues like IP addresses getting blacklisted, hosting providers canceling, and law enforcement involvement. Fewer VPNs offer port forwarding due to these potential security problems.
Even still, there are quite a few trustworthy VPNs with port forwarding, like Private Internet Access (PIA), Proton VPN, and AirVPN. Private Internet Access is our top pick due to its ease of use and device compatibility.
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| Starting price | $2.19/mo | $4.49/mo | €2.75/mo ($2.98/mo) |
| Free version | |||
| Money-back guarantee | Yes — 30 days | Yes — 30 days | Yes — 30 days |
| Streaming support | Yes — Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime, HBO Max, Disney+, and more | Yes — Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime, HBO Max, Disney+, and more | |
| Learn more | Get PIA |
VPN offering fast internet speeds and strict no-logs policy
Unblocks Netflix and other streaming services
PIA is an affordable option for dynamic port forwarding that is compatible with multiple operating systems. Yet it doesn't offer port forwarding for all server locations.
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Port forwarding with PIA is compatible with all devices. You can use the app to change settings and connect to a server that offers port forwarding. Not all locations offer port forwarding, so you may have limited choices. Once connected, you'll get assigned a dynamic port number.
PIA also has other features that make it a valuable VPN choice, including:
PIA doesn't reveal how many servers are available, which makes it a bit more difficult to compare to other VPNs. Port forwarding isn't an option for U.S. locations, so you will need to connect to an international server if you are located in the U.S.
| Price range | $2.03–$11.99/mo |
| Money-back guarantee | Yes — 30 days |
| Number of servers | Servers in 91 countries |
| Number of connected devices | Unlimited |
| VPN protocol | OpenVPN, WireGuard, IPsec |
| No-logs policy | No logs |
| Unblocks Netflix? | Yes |
| Torrenting support | Yes |
| Learn more | Get PIA |
Easy to use
A strict no-logs policy that’s been tested in court
Proton VPN is a great option if you want to port forward while still having access to premium security features. However, it's a more technical option to set up if you are using macOS. Windows and Linux users will have an easier time enabling port forwarding.
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Proton VPN offers port forwarding via its paid plans. It's as easy as enabling port forwarding within the app and then connecting to one of the P2P servers. Since Proton VPN passed our speed tests, it's a good choice if you don't want your internet connection to significantly slow down.
Proton VPN is also ideal if you prioritize premium privacy. It has features such as:
macOS users will need advanced technical knowledge to set up port forwarding on Proton VPN. It may change in the future, but for now, Windows and Linux are the only operating systems that can set up port forwarding within the client app.
| Price range | $4.99–$9.99/mo |
| Money-back guarantee | Yes — 30 days |
| Number of servers | 4,400+ servers in 91 countries |
| Number of connected devices | Up to 10 devices |
| VPN protocol | OpenVPN, WireGuard, IKEv2 |
| No-logs policy | No logs |
| Unblocks Netflix? | Yes |
| Torrenting support | Yes |
| Learn more |
AES-256-GCM encryption
Tor integration
AirVPN is ideal if it’s important that your VPN has port forwarding. It delivers on keeping your identity protected with no other frills attached. You may want to use AirVPN with other VPN providers if you are looking for additional security features or to unlock regional streaming content.
AirVPN’s main attractions are its port forwarding and torrenting capabilities. You can choose your own protocol and select your own static port number. Compared to other VPNs, it offers much more flexibility and customization for port forwarding and torrenting.
While it can get technical, there is a lot of support to guide you. AirVPN’s active community and forums are noteworthy. You can always find answers to your questions from a helpful group of people.
AirVPN provides the essential privacy features you expect from a VPN — all at a price that won't break your budget. You can even pay in cryptocurrency to ensure your identity remains private.
AirVPN is not a great option if you are looking to unblock regional streaming content. During our testing, AirVPN couldn't access any of Netflix's international content. In addition, it wouldn't connect while using a U.S. server. Our testing showed significant speed issues while using AirVPN.
There is also an issue with the lack of server availability. For example, there is no option to connect to an Australian server. This lack of servers could develop into an issue if you are from a country where AirVPN has no servers.
Finally, while AirVPN has a no-logs policy, it has never completed an independent third-party audit to confirm its validity. AirVPN notes that audits don't guarantee future avoidance of traffic logging or transmission to third parties. However, we still think an audit is an important part of verifying a VPN's authenticity.
| Price range | €2.75–€7.00/mo ($2.98–$7.60/mo) |
| Money-back guarantee | Yes — 30 days |
| Number of servers | 200+ servers in 20+ countries |
| Number of connected devices | Up to 5 devices |
| VPN protocol | OpenVPN, WireGuard |
| No-logs policy | No logs (but not independently verified) |
| Unblocks Netflix? | No |
| Torrenting support | Yes |
| Learn more |
There are a few additional VPNs that didn't quite make our top three. They are still worthy of your consideration, especially if you still haven't found the right fit for your port forwarding needs.
When choosing the best VPN services for port forwarding, we evaluated a few factors to determine which ones were top-tier:
When you use a VPN, you share an IP address with other people. However, this can make it difficult for incoming traffic to send something to your specific device. Port forwarding gives incoming traffic a way to reach you without exposing your real IP address.
Some VPNs that allow port forwarding include PIA, Proton VPN, and AirVPN. You may also want to consider PureVPN, hide.me, or Ivacy since they also allow port forwarding.
Yes. Port forwarding can open a path for hackers to access your network. To protect yourself, you should use a virtual private network to mask your IP address while port forwarding.
No, NordVPN doesn't offer port forwarding. Some suitable alternatives include Private Internet Access, Proton VPN, and AirVPN.
Yes, OpenVPN does support port forwarding. You can also use the WireGuard protocol for port forwarding. Learn more in our WireGuard vs. OpenVPN review.
Private Internet Access is an ideal solution if you are prioritizing affordability and ease of use. It's also great for all types of devices.
While Proton VPN has premium security features, macOS users may need advanced support to manually set up port forwarding.
Last but not least, AirVPN provides the most support and flexibility for port forwarding. Keep in mind that it's not a great choice for watching Netflix with a VPN or server availability.
| Starting price | Best for | Learn more | |
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$2.19/mo | Best for compatible port forwarding | Get PIA |
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$4.49/mo | Best for premium privacy | |
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€2.75/mo ($2.98/mo) | Best for port forwarding and torrenting |
VPN offering fast internet speeds and strict no-logs policy
Unblocks Netflix and other streaming services
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