How to Access The Pirate Bay Safely From Anywhere in 2023

Many countries and ISPs block The Pirate Bay (TPB), making it difficult to access. When looking for alternatives, Google gave me nothing but fake, unsafe sites. Despite all the blocks, it isn’t actually illegal to visit The Pirate Bay — and most countries permit torrenting as long as you don’t download copyrighted content. But since The Pirate Bay isn’t monitored, you’re also prone to sketchy links that could contain malware.

Wherever you are, the best way to access The Pirate Bay safely is with a VPN. It’s a simple app that lets you connect to global servers, including countries that permit The Pirate Bay. VPNs also hide your data, allowing you to download torrents privately. Some VPNs even come with built-in malware protection for added security on unsafe sites.

After testing 50+ VPNs, I found ExpressVPN is the best for TPB. It has servers in dozens of countries that allow access to the site, lightning speeds for fast downloads, and top-grade security to keep you safe. You can even test ExpressVPN with The Pirate Bay risk-free since it offers a 30-day money-back guarantee. If you’re not completely satisfied, you can easily claim a refund.

Access The Pirate Bay Safely

Important! Although torrenting itself is not illegal in most countries, downloading copyrighted content is. In many cases, TPB is blocked because it hosts content that's protected under copyright. But it also hosts tons of copyright-free files that are in the public domain. The team at vpnMentor does not condone illegal activity, with or without a VPN, so please be responsible.

Why You Need a VPN to Access The Pirate Bay

Since The Pirate Bay is blocked in many countries and by some ISPs (like Virgin Media), you can only access it in certain locations. A VPN is a simple tool that gives you access to remote global servers and masks your real location. So, when you connect to a VPN server in Mexico, for example, it’ll look like you’re browsing the web in Mexico (even though you’re not there physically). Since TPB isn’t blocked there, you’ll be able to access it.

The Pirate Bay even recommends you use a VPN because it helps overcome many dangers associated with the site. Since some files aren’t verified as safe, you could accidentally download one that’s infected with malware. Plus, when torrenting, you engage in P2P (peer-to-peer) file sharing. This results in your personal data being visible to other users, leaving you vulnerable to hackers.

VPNs mask your real IP address, hiding your location and personal info on the P2P network. Plus, some VPNs come with built-in malware protection and can warn you if a link or file is dangerous. VPNs also encrypt all your online data, which means you can overcome ISP blocks on TPB because all your internet activity is unreadable.

Lastly, if your ISP throttles your speeds, a VPN can give you faster downloads in some cases. Many ISPs cap your bandwidth if they detect you downloading P2P files. Encryption overcomes this — since your ISP can’t see that you’re engaging in P2P sharing, it can’t cap your speed.

Access TPB Safely Today

Best VPNs to Access The Pirate Bay Safely From Anywhere in 2023

1. ExpressVPN — Best Torrenting VPN With an Extensive Network for Global Access to TPB

ExpressVPN’s server network spans 94 countries, so you can connect to dozens of locations that allow access to TPB. On top of this, it has more than 3,000 servers that all support torrenting while offering impressive speeds. During my tests, I downloaded the same 850MB torrent from The Pirate Bay using the Madrid, Toronto, Hong Kong, and then South Africa servers — not once did it take more than 5 minutes to complete my download.

I got the fastest speeds using the Lightway protocol, which you can select in the Options menu under “Protocol”

ExpressVPN is a top choice for staying safe on The Pirate Bay (and while torrenting, too). Its Threat Manager feature blocks trackers and malicious sites on TPB. It also offers the strongest encryption available, so all your online activities are unreadable. The Network Lock kill switch ensures none of your personal information is accidentally leaked — it cuts your internet completely if your encrypted VPN connection drops at any time.

In terms of privacy, it adheres to a proven no-logs policy and it uses a special technology called TrustedServer. These features ensure even ExpressVPN won’t store or see your real IP, browsing history, or anything that could be used to identify you. Plus, its headquarters are in the British Virgin Islands — which has no data retention laws and isn’t part of any data-sharing alliances. ExpressVPN is under no legal obligation to store or share your data, either.

ExpressVPN works in countries that heavily censor the internet, and not many VPNs can do that. For example, China uses technology to block the use of VPNs from within the country completely; but ExpressVPN is one of few VPNs that works there. So you can access The Pirate Bay even in countries with heavy online censorship in place.

The only slight issue I had with ExpressVPN is that it’s not the cheapest on my list. Its longest term plans are the cheapest, starting at $6.67/month. On the plus side, it usually has promotions going on throughout the year — when I subscribed, I got 3 months of free service thrown in.

You can try ExpressVPN risk-free since it offers a money-back guarantee. If it’s not exactly what you want, you’ve got a full 30 days to get your money back. I made sure the guarantee was upheld — I contacted 24/7 live chat to request a refund. The agent replied immediately and didn’t even ask questions or push me to stay. My refund was approved, and my money was back in my account 5 days later.

Browse TPB with ExpressVPN

2. CyberGhost — Specialty Servers Optimized for Fast Downloads, Ideal for TPB Torrents

CyberGhost has 9,487 servers in 91 countries and offers 70 server locations that are optimized for fast torrenting. The torrenting and regular servers unblock TPB easily — but the optimized servers gave me faster downloads. I compared the regular and optimized Switzerland servers as a test and had much more consistent download speeds with the optimized one — it gave me a steady 21 Mbps, whereas the regular server ranged from 16 to 21 Mbps, which made for slower downloading.

CyberGhost’s regular servers support torrenting, but its download optimized servers give you more consistent speeds

CyberGhost also has NoSpy servers to give you extra privacy on TPB. It independently owns and maintains these servers end-to-end to eliminate third-party tampering. They’re in CyberGhost’s headquarters in Romania, outside the 5/9/14 Eyes Alliance. NoSpy servers are a little slower than the regular ones, but I could still download a TPB torrent when connected to NoSpy, and it only took an extra 2 to 3 minutes.

You can block malware and malicious sites with Block content to keep you safe on TPB, and I activated it with a single click. Many other security features are enabled by default, like the kill switch, DNS leak protection, and 256-bit encryption — so you won’t even have to adjust your settings to stay safe on TPB. You can also set up "Smart Rules" to connect the VPN automatically whenever you open your torrent client. That makes CyberGhost a great choice if you’re new to VPNs.

A minor concern I had was that short-term plans are pricey and only offer a 14-day money-back guarantee. There's a range of longer-term plans and prices start from just $2.19/month, which actually makes CyberGhost super affordable. For added privacy, you can pay with Bitcoin, too.

With a long-term plan, you can try CyberGhost risk-free for a generous 45 days because there’s an extended money-back guarantee. If it doesn’t suit your needs, you can easily get your money back. I put this to the test and used 24/7 live chat to request a refund. It wasn’t quite as quick as ExpressVPN's but within 2 minutes, my refund was approved. My money was back 5 days later.

Browse TPB with CyberGhost

3. Private Internet Access — Block Ads and Malicious Content on The Pirate Bay

MACE, an effective ad and malware blocker, offers safer browsing on TPB. I didn’t see a single ad on TPB with MACE enabled. That reduces loading times because ads eat into your bandwidth. During my tests, I connected to a location in Poland. I got easy access to TPB, and my ad-free search results pages loaded in seconds. It only took 7 minutes to get a 1.3GB file.

The app lets you adjust your settings for added privacy on TPB. Your online privacy is protected with a verified no-logs policy and customizable encryption. You can choose 256-bit encryption, which slows your speeds slightly but gives you better security. If that’s not a concern, you can go for 128-bit encryption. It’s a little less secure but will boost your speeds so you can download big TPB torrents a little faster.

I especially liked its Multi-Hop feature because I got better download speeds. Just go to Multi-Hop in settings and enable Shadowsocks. This sends your traffic through the VPN server and a proxy for an extra layer of security. I was surprised that sometimes it was even faster than the regular VPN server.

All the customizable features and settings may be a little overwhelming if you’re new to VPNs. It’s definitely more complex than CyberGhost, but PIA comes pre-configured so you don’t have to change anything if you don’t want to.

PIA has a range of affordable plans starting at just $2.03/month. All are backed by a money-back guarantee and you can pay with cryptocurrency. When I subscribed I saved 83% and got a year of free encrypted cloud storage to save my downloads securely.

You can try PIA risk-free for 30 days with its money-back guarantee. If you’re not 100% happy with it, it’s easy to claim a refund. I tried this for myself via 24/7 live chat. After a brief troubleshooting question, my refund was approved, and my money was back after 5 days.

Browse TPB with PIA

4. NordVPN — Proprietary NordLynx Protocol for Faster TPB Downloads

NordVPN has its proprietary NordLynx protocol that gives you fast speeds and keeps you safe while torrenting. In addition, It offers specialty P2P servers designed for speedy downloads in more than 50 locations. During testing, I only experienced an average of 8% drop (around 25 Mbps), which let me download a 1GB file from The Pirate Bay in 6–7 minutes.

I used the Switzerland P2P-optimized servers for my tests, and the connection was stable throughout

The NordLynx protocol uses AES 256-bit encryption, which is the strongest available, so you also don’t have to worry about your data privacy. To make sure that your traffic stays encrypted at all times while torrenting, even if the VPN connection unexpectedly drops, NordVPN offers a kill switch. I tested it by connecting and disconnecting from different servers consecutively. After each server change, my internet was off for a couple of seconds to ensure my IP didn’t leak.

It also comes with a Threat Protection feature that blocks ads, malware, and trackers. This is a great addition since it ensures your downloads will be safe. Plus, it lets you get rid of the annoying popups when using BitTorrent and other clients.

The VPN is based in Panama, which is a privacy-friendly location since it isn’t a member of any intelligence-sharing alliance. To further assure your data protection while torrenting, it has a no-logs policy that has been audited by PwC. This means that it’s been confirmed by cybersecurity professionals that NordVPN doesn’t collect, store, or share user information.

I only had a small issue with its Windows app because it took more than 30 seconds every time I launched it. However, it wasn’t that big of a deal because it worked smoothly after that without any long loading times.

You can get a long-term NordVPN subscription for $3.49/month. It also offers short-term plans if you plan on using the VPN only for a limited time.

All plans are covered by a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can test it out for TPB at no risk. I contacted customer support via live chat after two weeks just to see if it was legitimate. The representative quickly approved my request, and I got a full refund in just a few days.

Browse TPB with NordVPN

5. Surfshark — Intuitive App for Quick and Easy Access to The Pirate Bay

Surfshark has an intuitive app, which makes it very easy to connect and access TPB even if you’re a first-time VPN user. It has a Quick-connect feature that you can customize from the settings menu in terms of which server to connect you to automatically. I set it to connect me to Belgium. This saved me a lot of time during testing since I didn't have to go through the list to choose a specific server each day.

I contacted customer support to ask whether Surfshark support torrenting on all 3,200 servers. They confirmed that it does and additionally gave me a list of specific locations that they recommend for the best speeds possible. After testing a couple of servers, I averaged around 24,5 Mbps, which was similar to what I got with NordVPN. So no matter what server you choose, you should be able to download bigger files in minutes.

I tested some of the recommended and regular locations and had good speed results with both

Surfshark protects your data with the industry-standard AES 256-bit encryption complemented with a kill switch, as the other VPNs on this list. The kill switch worked properly during testing, and I never experienced an IP leak when torrenting. There’s also a CleanWeb feature that you can use to block ads, trackers, and malware for a cleaner and safer TPB experience. To enable it, you just need to toggle the switch on from the VPN settings menu.

The only drawback is that Surfshark is based in the Netherlands, which is a member of the 9 Eyes Alliance that can share data between them. However, there’s no need to worry about your privacy because it has a strict no-logs policy, so it doesn’t collect and store any of your identifiable information. Thus it has nothing to share with third parties anyway.

Furthermore, the service makes use of RAM-based servers, guaranteeing that your data doesn't linger on them for a prolonged duration. After every regular reset, all user data is swiftly wiped out.

It offers short- and long-term plans with prices starting from $2.30/month. I recommend getting the longest plan since, as is the case with most VPN services, it offers the best value for money.

Surfshark comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee, which gives you enough time to try it out with TPB risk-free and see if you like it. If not, it’s easy to get a refund. All you need to do is contact customer support. When I did that, I got all my money back in a week.

Browse TPB with Surshark

6. IPVanish — Access TPB and Improve P2P Performance With Extra Torrenting Features

In addition to its regular VPN, IPVanish offers its own proxy servers. The SOCKS5 proxy changes your IP, allowing you to access TPB — plus it gives you faster download speeds than a regular VPN because there’s no encryption. It’s easy enough to set up, you just need to get your login details from your IPVanish account. When I tested it out, I configured SOCKS5 to Firefox and uTorrent in minutes. Just be aware it isn’t as secure as the regular VPN.

Of the 14 different countries available, I recommend Canada, Spain, or Japan for easy access to TPB

IPVanish’s secure VPN also works to access TPB and download torrents. It has a kill switch, top encryption, Scramble (for bypassing network restrictions), and leak protection to keep you safe on TPB.

Its regular servers aren’t as fast as the SOCKS5 setup, but IPVanish is still really fast. While testing, I connected to nearby Spain and selected Best Available City. It automatically connected me to the fastest server (Madrid). I could easily access TPB and download a 1.7GB file in around 9 minutes using Deluge.

While IPVanish's speeds were impressive in nearby locations, its performance over distance was less than satisfactory. When connecting through the Vancouver location, I noticed significant speed reductions, causing TPB pages to load slowly. Therefore, if you require access to distant locations, IPVanish may not be the best option.

IPVanish offers good value, with prices starting at $2.49/month and unlimited device connections. I recommend a long-term plan because it offers the biggest discount. It also comes with ransomware and malware protection at no extra cost, great for torrent sites and downloads.

Every plan comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee. So, you can try IPVanish without risk knowing you can easily get a refund if you’re unhappy with it. I didn’t even have to speak to an agent when I put it to the test — I just logged into my account on the website and clicked “I wish to cancel my subscription”. The process is automatic, and I got my money back 5 days later.

Browse TPB with IPVanish

Tips for Choosing the Best VPN to Access The Pirate Bay

The process of selecting the appropriate VPN to bypass restrictions on accessing TPB in countries where it is blocked relies on the availability of servers in locations that permit access to the site. Additionally, it is crucial to find a VPN that ensures safety during torrenting, making it challenging to find one that excels in both aspects. These are the criteria I took into account when identifying the top VPNs for The Pirate Bay:

• Can easily access TPB. The VPNs on my list all have servers in multiple locations where TPB is available, giving you reliable access from anywhere in the world. Each VPN offers dozens of server locations which can help find nearby servers for fast download speeds, too.
• Torrent support. Not all VPNs support P2P file sharing, and some are sluggish and inconsistent when downloading P2P files. I made sure the VPNs on my list support torrenting on specialized or all servers.
• Consistent fast speeds. Downloading P2P torrent files is a data-heavy activity. I made sure the VPNs on my list are all super-fast, so it doesn’t slow your TPB browsing down when you’re downloading big files in the background.
• Top security and privacy features. Military-grade encryption, a kill switch, leak protection, and a no-logs policy are all important in keeping you safe when browsing TPB and downloading P2P files. I also included some VPNs that come with built-in malware protection and ad blockers, which help prevent your device from becoming infected. Look for VPNs that allow payment with cryptocurrency for added privacy.
• Cross-platform support. I made sure the VPNs shortlisted here support Windows, Android, macOS, iOS, and Linux, so you can browse TPB on the system you prefer. Each VPN also allows you to connect multiple devices at once, so you’re not limited to just 1 device.

Browse TPB with ExpressVPN

FAQs on How to Access The Pirate Bay Safely

Why is The Pirate Bay not working?

There are many reasons why your bookmarked URL might stop working, including:

• It’s blocked by the government. Many countries block TPB via ISPs to prevent users sharing copyrighted material. Countries that block TPB include Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, Singapore, Turkey, and the UK. In those countries, a VPN can change your location to give you access to TPB.
• The site is down. TPB is frequently down for hours or even days at a time. In the meantime, you could use a mirror site or an alternate torrent site.
• It has changed domains. TPB has been shut down by authorities numerous times since it first went online in 2003. Check forums and Twitter to ensure you have the most up-to-date URL.
• It’s blocked by your school or workplace. Many colleges, workplaces, and public places use a firewall to block TPB for various reasons.

What are the best alternatives to The Pirate Bay?

You can try other torrent sites like RARBG, 1337x, YTS, and Torrentz2. These are good alternative sites since they verify torrents, ensure fast download speeds, and have a large library of files. However, be sure to always use a reliable VPN with military-grade security features to stay safe while torrenting. There are just as many risks involved on TPB alternative sites as there are on TPB itself.

Is it safe to use The Pirate Bay without a VPN?

No. The site itself even advises that you use a VPN when on it. Torrent sites (including TPB) often have tons of pop-ups and ads that could contain malware, adware, and viruses. Since The Pirate Bay isn’t well regulated, it’s also a haven for hackers. Even files that seem legit can contain spyware that quietly monitors you in the background.

While there are some measures on the site, like a green skull symbol that indicates a verified uploader, this still doesn’t guarantee a file is safe to download. I recommend a VPN with a malicious content blocker for ultimate protection while on The Pirate Bay.

Is The Pirate Bay illegal?

The Pirate Bay and torrenting are not illegal for the most part. But some of the content TPB hosts is illegal to download and share because it’s protected under copyright. All that being said, The Pirate Bay also hosts a lot of copyright-free content that is totally legal to download since it’s in the public domain.

Another thing to consider is that some countries with strict internet censorship in place (like China and Russia) could consider bypassing TPB blocks to be a criminal act.

While using a VPN allows access to The Pirate Bay, using one to perform illegal activities doesn’t make those actions legal. The team at vpnMentor doesn’t condone illegal activities, so please inform yourself of any relevant laws in your specific location to ensure you don’t break them.

Is it safe to access Pirate Bay proxy mirror sites?

It can be, but you should proceed with caution. While mirror sites are very useful when you live somewhere where the official TPB site isn’t available, you never know who’s behind the mirror. Official torrent sites are risky to begin with, and those risks only increase when using unofficial copies. I recommend you use a VPN to access the official Pirate Bay URL, since, while it has its own risks, it’s more trustworthy.

Can I use a free VPN to access The Pirate Bay?

I strongly advise against using free VPNs because they’re generally not trustworthy and can be dangerous. Instead, I’d recommend using a premium VPN with a money-back guarantee instead to ensure safety while using The Pirate Bay. This allows you to test the service out and claim a full refund if you’re not satisfied.

To elaborate, free VPNs often don’t have the budget to keep their security protocols up-to-date, which leads to data leaks. This means you can’t count on them to protect you when accessing The Pirate Bay. In addition, some of them are known for selling user data to third parties to make money, which is a serious breach of privacy.

Most free VPNs also come with limited features like data and speed caps, so they’re not ideal for high-bandwidth activities like torrenting. They can also bombard you with ads and even infect your device with malware and viruses. In short, most of them put your privacy at serious risk, so it’s best to avoid them.

Browse TPB with ExpressVPN

Access The Pirate Bay With a VPN Today

The Pirate Bay is blocked in most of Europe, and many other countries. But torrenting is legal almost everywhere, and with a reliable VPN and a bit of know-how, you can access the site easily.

The best VPN for The Pirate Bay is ExpressVPN. It effortlessly unblocks TPB wherever you are; it has best-in-class security to keep you safe and lightning-fast speeds for fast torrent downloads. Plus, you can try ExpressVPN risk-free since it offers a 30-day money-back guarantee. If it’s not the ideal VPN for you, it’s easy to claim a refund.

To summarize, the best VPNs for accessing The Pirate Bay are…