The Best VPNs With Port Forwarding 2026

Port forwarding is a way to route incoming internet traffic to a specific port (or device) on your network. If you want to host a game server, join an online gaming community, share files, remotely connect to your desktop, and more, you may be looking for a VPN that supports port forwarding. However, top VPN providers such as NordVPN, ExpressVPN, and CyberGhost don't support port forwarding due to security concerns. 

Based on our testing, we think Proton VPN is the best overall thanks to its strong security, fast performance, and built-in port forwarding, all while offering great value for a premium VPN service. Private Internet Access (PIA) offers unlimited simultaneous connections and port forwarding at a budget price. Meanwhile, PureVPN is a good starter VPN for beginners, but it only offers port forwarding as a premium add-on. 

Let's take a look at these top VPN providers and their pros and cons for port forwarding.

The best VPNs with port forwarding

Best for	Premium port forwarding	Cheap port forwarding	Beginners
Star rating	4.9 AllAboutCookies writers and editors score products based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.	4.7 AllAboutCookies writers and editors score products based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.	4.5 AllAboutCookies writers and editors score products based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.
Starting price	$3.59/mo	$2.03/mo	$2.15/mo
Free version
Max # devices	10	Unlimited	10
Servers	17,200+ servers servers in 120+ countries	Unlisted servers in 91 countries	6,000+ servers servers in 65+ countries
Compatibility	Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS	Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS	Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS
Learn more	Get Proton VPN Read Our Proton VPN Review	Get PIA Read Our PIA Review	Get PureVPN Read Our PureVPN Review

A virtual private network (VPN) masks your real IP address, 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 use the same IP address. Enter port forwarding.  When choosing the best VPN services for port forwarding, we evaluated a few extra factors to determine which ones were top-tier:

• Port forwarding support: Beyond a setup guide, we checked if VPNs offered forums, community, or 24/7 customer service to help support port forwarding.
• Pricing: Affordability is usually a primary factor when choosing a VPN. That's why we prioritized VPNs that included port forwarding as part of their plans, not as an add-on.
• Privacy and security: We also verified that VPNs use secure, private protocols and successfully mask your IP address.
• Device compatibility and ease of use: We checked if port forwarding was available on select operating systems and if it was easy to use.

Proton VPN: Best overall VPN for port forwarding

Who it’s best for

Proton VPN is a great option if you want to port forward while still accessing premium privacy features like Secure Core servers and Stealth Mode. We think it's the best based on its advanced security protocols, large P2P server network, consistent speeds and performance, and ease of use. It's as easy as enabling port forwarding within the app and then connecting to one of the P2P servers.

What we liked

Premium privacy: Proton VPN routes your internet traffic through two Secure Core servers, which operate in privacy-first countries only. In addition to using military-grade encryption to protect your data, Proton VPN also offers Stealth Mode. This proprietary protocol hides your VPN usage, enabling you to bypass censorship. 

Enhanced security: Proton VPN is also ideal if you prioritize premium privacy, with features like:

• Independently verified no-logs policy
• Open-source apps for transparency
• Built-in Tor support
• Proton Mail to sign up for an account

Torrenting support: Proton VPN offers port forwarding and torrenting on its paid plans, making it a good choice if you don't want your internet connection to slow down significantly. Like PIA, Proton VPN offers port forwarding and torrenting support.

Performance: Based on our repeated in-house testing, we know that Proton VPN is fast and reliable. Proton VPN's "fastest country" feature allowed us to connect to an optimized server, resulting in increased download speeds and decreased latency, a rare perk. Plus, Proton VPN offers an extensive server network, which is ideal for port forwarding.

Up to 5 ports: Proton VPN enables port forwarding on paid plans for Windows, Linux, and macOS. You can connect to an optimized P2P server in a lot of different countries. Unlike other VPN providers, Proton lets you manually configure up to 5 ports. 

What we didn’t like

Not great for Mac: Most 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 support port forwarding in the client app.

Proton VPN specs

Price range	$3.59–$9.99/mo
Money-back guarantee	Yes — 30 days
Number of servers	17,200+ servers in 120+ countries
Number of connected devices	10
VPN protocol	OpenVPN, WireGuard, IKEv2
No-logs policy	No logs
Unblocks Netflix?	Yes
Torrenting support	Yes
Learn more	Get Proton VPN Read Our Proton VPN Review

Private Internet Access: Best for cheap port forwarding

Who it’s best for

PIA is an affordable option for dynamic port forwarding. It's compatible with multiple operating systems and offers unlimited simultaneous connections. 

What we liked

Devices: Port forwarding with PIA is compatible with all devices, and it's one of the few VPN providers that offers unlimited simultaneous connections. You can use the app to change settings and connect to a server that offers port forwarding. Once connected, you'll get assigned a dynamic port number.

Robust security features: PIA also has other features that make it a valuable VPN choice, including:

• Unlimited bandwidth
• Advanced kill switch
• DNS leak protection
• Multi-hop
• Blocks ads, trackers, and malware
• P2P support for torrenting

Large international network for port forwarding: Unlike Proton, which limits port forwarding to P2P servers, PIA allows port forwarding on most of its servers, except for U.S. servers.

What we didn’t like

Undisclosed servers: PIA doesn't disclose how many servers are available, which makes it a bit harder to compare with other VPNs. Port forwarding isn't available for U.S. locations, so you will need to connect to an international server if you're in the U.S.

Can't set up multiple ports: PIA only allows one port, which is randomly assigned. That means you can't manually configure your port or set up multiple ports. Although this limitation is to ensure your security, we like the option to expand our ports if needed. 

Performance: During our repeated in-house testing, PIA dropped our internet speeds by more than the industry standard of 18%. In terms of speed, it doesn't perform as well as Proton VPN. Unfortunately, we experienced the greatest speed decrease when connected to a Canadian server. Because PIA doesn't allow port forwarding with its U.S. servers, you're likely to look toward Canada to connect if you're based in the U.S. 

PIA specs

Price range	$2.03–$11.99/mo
Money-back guarantee	Yes — 30 days
Number of servers	Unlisted 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 Read Our PIA Review

PureVPN: Best port forwarding VPN for beginners

Who it’s best for

PureVPN is best for beginners who want to use a VPN but aren't comfortable with all the bells and whistles premium VPN providers boast. If you're a gamer, port forwarding with PureVPN lets you easily set up dedicated servers, run various services, and more without restrictions.

What we liked

User-friendly help guides: PureVPN is great for beginners because it offers a robust catalog of tutorials and online guides in its Learning Center.

Compatibility: PureVPN really stands out for its broad compatibility. It supports port forwarding on Windows, macOS, and Android. As a VPN provider, PureVPN is compatible with multiple devices, including a range of smart devices such as gaming consoles, Amazon Fire TV Stick, Chromecast, and a variety of smart TVs.

Multiple ports: PureVPN blows the competition out of the water by offering up to 15 ports. While most users may not need multiple ports, those interested in hosting game servers, like for Minecraft, or accessing several devices remotely. Like Proton VPN, PureVPN port forwarding is accessible through specialized servers. 

What we didn’t like

Pay for port forwarding: Port forwarding is an add-on feature, so it's a more expensive option. You can save money by choosing a VPN with port forwarding, like PIA or Proton VPN.

Performance: Like with PIA, our repeated in-house testing revealed that PureVPN significantly drops internet speeds. Although we didn't notice any system issues or increased latency during recent testing, we expect a more seamless experience while torrenting or gaming with Proton VPN.

PureVPN specs

Price range	$1.49-$19.95/mo
Money-back guarantee	Yes — 30 days
Number of servers	6,000+ servers in 65+ countries
Number of connected devices	10
VPN protocol	WireGuard, OpenVPN, IPsec/IKEv2
No-logs policy	No logs
Unblocks Netflix?	Yes
Torrenting support	No
Learn more	Get PureVPN Read Our PureVPN Review

Bottom line: The best VPNs with port forwarding

We think Proton VPN is the best VPN for port forwarding thanks to its strong security, reliable speeds, and built-in port-forwarding support on paid plans. Its open-source apps and audited no-logs policy also make it one of the most trustworthy options.

Private Internet Access is still a great budget pick with easy setup and unlimited device connections, though its security features aren’t as advanced as Proton VPN’s. PureVPN is beginner-friendly, but port forwarding costs extra as an add-on.

3 best VPNs with port forwarding 2026

	Starting price	Best for	Learn more
	$3.59/mo	Best overall	Get Proton VPN Read Our ProtonVPN Review
	$2.03/mo	Best for cheap port forwarding	Get PIA Read Our PIA Review
	$2.15/mo	Best for beginners	Get PureVPN Read Our PureVPN Review

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