Best VPN with SOCKS5 proxy

Looking for a VPN with a SOCKS5 proxy? A SOCKS5 proxy can help bypass VPN blocks and enhance your torrenting. Find the best VPN with a SOCKS5 proxy in this guide.

A VPN with a SOCKS5 can hide your IP address without requiring you to risk your privacy and data security by connecting to an untrusted online proxy. In this guide, we've done the hard work of finding the best VPNs with a SOCKS5 proxy for you.

A SOCKS5 proxy is a type of proxy known for its versatility. It can forward all kinds of internet traffic, including common protocols like SMTP, POP3, FTP, IRC, and BitTorrent. This makes SOCKS5 useful for a diverse range of online activities.

It allows you to spoof your location and bypass local censorship or geo-blocks. On the downside, it lacks data encryption and can leak your IP address, both of which are crucial for concealing your online activities from ISPs and eavesdroppers.

A few leading VPN providers acknowledge that SOCKS5 proxies are desirable, and have integrated SOCKS5 into their VPN apps. Depending on the provider’s implementation, you can use SOCKS5 on its own or in sequence with the VPN for added protection.

Whether you want to bypass VPN blocks or get better speeds while torrenting, you can benefit from a VPN with a SOCKS5 proxy.

Below, you can take a quick look at the best VPNs with SOCKS5. Each VPN offers distinct advantages and features, but one thing they have in common is that they all provide subscribers with a SOCKS5 proxy at no additional cost. 

If you want to know more about our top recommended VPNs with SOCKS5, you can scroll down for in-depth summaries that will help you pick the best one for your needs.

The best VPNs with SOCKS5 proxy:

1. NordVPN: Best VPN with SOCKS5. Fast and reliable VPN that offers a choice of protocols, MultiHop connections, obfuscated servers, and a SOCKS5 proxy that you set up manually. Works to access Netflix US. Allows torrenting. No-logs policy and a reliable kill switch. Risk-free 30-day money-back guarantee.
2. Private Internet Access: Best low-cost VPN with a SOCKS proxy. Offers Shadowsocks and SOCKS5 as part of its MultiHop feature. You can route through a SOCKS proxy and the VPN for added protection. Allows unlimited connections. Strong no-logs policy and a kill switch. Allows torrenting.
3. PrivateVPN: Sweden-based VPN that is excellent for torrenting. Includes port forwarding and a SOCKS5 proxy that you set up manually. Solid no-logs policy and a kill switch. Has servers in 63+ countries. Reasonably priced.
4. IPVanish: A fast US-based VPN that comes packed with features. Has servers in 50+ countries and includes a free SOCKS5 proxy you set up manually. Works to access US streaming platforms. Strong encryption, obfuscation, and a kill switch.
5. Hide.me: A robust and reliable VPN that comes packed with features. Has a SOCKS5 proxy that you set up manually. Zero-logs policy. Works with Netflix and other streaming platforms.

Summary Table

At BleepingComputer, we only recommend top-tier VPN services designed to provide watertight protection for your online activities. Our meticulous evaluation process ensures we only recommend VPNs that protect against online surveillance, tracking, and the threat of hackers.

During our tests, we check the effectiveness of the kill switch, encryption strength, and the transparency of the privacy policy. Our priority is ensuring that each VPN handles user data securely and refrains from retaining logs.

For a detailed insight into our SOCKS5 VPN testing, scroll down to the methodology section. For now, we've included some of the main criteria we used to pick the top VPNs for SOCKS5:

• Comes with a SOCKS5 proxy. 
• Global network of servers.
• Access to popular streaming services like Netflix, Hulu, HBO Max, iPlayer, and others.
• Fast servers and protocols optimized for seamless streaming, gaming, and video conferencing.
• Robust VPN protocols featuring strong AES-256 or ChaCha20 encryption.
• A system-level kill switch that prevents any data leaving the VPN tunnel.
• Value-for-money. 
• Reliable customer support.
• In order to qualify for one of the top three positions, the VPN must operate a 100% diskless server network and have had its infrastructure audited by a reputable third party.

Best VPNs with SOCKS5

All of the VPNs below were chosen because they provide a reliable service with strong privacy and security features. All of our recommendations include a SOCKS5 proxy, however, some have distinct advantages and differences. You can use our summaries to pick the right VPN for your requirements.

NordVPN is a service based in Panama that is extremely popular with consumers due to its superb value for money and impressive feature set. In addition to VPN apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, and Firestick that come stacked to the rafters with useful features, the VPN also provides a free SOCKS5 proxy with every subscription.

The self-hosted SOCKS5 proxy abides by NordVPN's watertight no-logging policy and can be set manually on macOS, Windows, or via BitTorrent clients like qBittorrent, Vuze, or Deluge. After subscribing, you will find the server address and port details on NordVPN's website (the details are in the torrent setup guides for various torrent clients).

NordVPN has over 5,000 servers spanning 60+ countries, and those servers work to access a wide choice of international streaming platforms such as Netflix and BBC iPlayer. Moreover, NordVPN boasts exceptional speed, thanks to its cutting-edge NordLynx protocol.

In terms of privacy and security, NordVPN has a solid no-logs policy, and the apps come with strong encryption, DNS leak protection, a reliable kill switch, Double VPN, obfuscated servers, and ad blocking. 

You can connect up to six devices with a single subscription and ask questions 24/7 via live chat. It even has a 30-day money-back guarantee, which means you can test it with all of your devices for a month. 

BEST VPN WITH SOCKS5: NordVPN is reliable, fast, and secure. The VPN represents superb value for money. App comes with diskless servers, a no-logging policy, a kill switch, strong encryption, and the super-fast NordLynx protocol. Works with Netflix, Hulu, iPlayer, HBO Max, Disney Plus, and more. Has detailed SOCKS5 proxy guides for various torrent clients.

Read our full review of NordVPN.

PIA is a US-based VPN provider that offers access to both a Shadowsocks proxy and a SOCKS5 proxy. What sets PIA apart is that it incorporates these proxy options as part of the MultiHop feature within its apps. This means that you do not need to manually set up the SOCKS5 proxy to start using it.

The notable benefit of this setup is the enhanced security it provides. PIA's SOCKS5 proxy is used as the first hop in a MultiHop chain, adding an extra layer of obfuscation. This makes PIA’s SOCKS5 feature effective for bypassing VPN blocks in regions where VPN traffic is restricted.

However, it's important to note that PIA’s SOCKS5 proxy cannot be configured directly within Windows, Mac, or torrent clients. This makes it unsuitable for users who want to use it independently within their torrent client. Keep in mind that it is safer to torrent using the full VPN tunnel, and we recommend this approach to ensure your privacy and protect against leaks.

Overall, PIA offers an impressive VPN service starting at just $2 per month. It boasts an extensive server network spanning over 80 countries, making it an excellent choice for high-definition streaming, gaming, and torrenting. PIA also provides WireGuard connections, guaranteeing fast speeds for gaming and streaming.

During testing, PIA performed exceptionally well with services like Netflix US and BBC iPlayer, and it allows for unlimited simultaneous connections, making it a fantastic option for families or individuals with multiple devices. Plus, PIA offers 24/7 live chat support and they back their service with a 30-day money-back guarantee, allowing you to test it risk-free.

BEST SOCKS5 VPN FOR BEGINNERS: PIA provides SOCKS5 and Shadowsocks in its VPN application. PIA’s MultiHop configuration allows the SOCKS5 proxy to be used for obfuscation. Fast servers in 80 countries. Allows unlimited connections. 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full review of Private Internet Access.

PrivateVPN is an excellent option for anybody looking for a VPN that has a SOCKS5 proxy for torrenting. This Swedish VPN provides a secure SOCKS5 proxy that is self-hosted and can be set up manually in any torrent client. The proxy information can be easily accessed in the member’s area or on PrivateVPN’s website. Once you have entered the proxy address, port number, and account authentication details into your torrent client, you will be able to torrent through the proxy address. 

You can protect yourself using the VPN in addition to using the SOCKS5 proxy in your torrent client. To make things even better, PrivateVPN includes port forwarding in its VPN app, which makes seeding torrents more efficient. 

In terms of security features, PrivateVPN lives up to its name with a rock-solid no-logs policy, a system-level kill switch, obfuscation, and robust AES-256 encryption (OpenVPN protocol). PrivateVPN offers a range of servers in over 63 countries, and it is one of the few VPNs that works to access more than a dozen Netflix regions, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, and more. 

The only slight drawback is that this VPN isn’t as fast as our top recommendation, NordVPN. However, we never have any trouble using it for streaming TV shows. You can try it yourself using its 30-day money-back guarantee.

GREAT SOCKS5 VPN FOR TORRENTING: PrivateVPN supports port forwarding to improve seeding on various popular torrent clients. Servers in 63+ countries. Rock solid AES encryption and a kill switch. 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full review of PrivateVPN.

IPVanish offers a SOCKS5 proxy that you can set up manually in any torrent client. After subscribing, you can easily obtain the necessary proxy address and port configurations from the members' area of its website.

With over 2,000 servers spread across 50+ countries, IPVanish is well-equipped to avoid server congestion. The WireGuard protocol makes it lightning-fast for streaming, gaming, torrenting, and making video calls. 

Admittedly, there are better VPNs for accessing international streaming services. However, it works consistently to watch Netflix US and various other US platforms.

IPVanish allows unlimited connections, meaning you can share your account with friends and family. The feature-rich apps include 256-bit encryption, DNS leak protection, a kill switch, and split tunneling. However, you don't get port forwarding.

The provider has a strict no-logs policy, ensuring that user activities remain confidential, whether you opt for the full VPN or the SOCKS5 proxy. You can also choose to stack the VPN and the SOCKS5 proxy together for added protection.

IPVanish offers dedicated applications for Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, and Amazon Fire TV, and you can set it up manually on VPN-compatible routers.  

NO-LOGS VPN: IPVanish is a US-based VPN with a solid no-logs policy. Fast WireGuard protocol can be stacked on top of its SOCKS5 proxy for added protection. Works to watch Netflix US. Lets you connect an unlimited number of devices with a single account. XOR obfuscation, kill switch, and split tunneling. Allows torrenting. 30-day money-back guarantee to test it yourself.

Read our full review of IPVanish.

Hide.me is a highly reputable and advanced VPN based in Malaysia, a location that is solid in terms of privacy due to its distance from invasive jurisdictions such as the US and the UK. Hide.me has a solid no-logs policy, and offers an extensive range of advanced VPN privacy and online security features.

This includes access to a SOCKS5 proxy at no additional cost that you can set up manually with your torrent client. What's more, this VPN comes with both split tunneling and port forwarding, making it a superb option for torrenting securely via the VPN. 

With server locations in 60+ countries, you can use Hide.me to get an IP address just about anywhere. Those servers work to access an impressive number of streaming services, including Netflix US, BBC iPlayer, and Hulu.

In terms of security, Hide.me comes with DNS and WebRTC leak protection, a kill switch, TLS Crypt obfuscation for OpenVPN (by default), and robust encryption. 

Apps are available for Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android and you can connect up to 10 devices at once. Live chat support is available 24/7 to ask questions, and you can try the VPN using its 30-day money-back guarantee. 

SUPER ADVANCED: Hide.me is a secure, Malaysia-based VPN that has servers in 60+ countries. Comes with obfuscation, DNS leak protection, and a kill switch. Solid no-logs policy means it never retains records of your activities. Perfect for torrenting thanks to its SOCKS5 proxy, split tunneling, and port forwarding features. 30-day money-back guarantee.

VPN for SOCKS5 testing methodology

There are dozens of consumer-facing VPNs on the market and choosing between them can cause a headache. Many VPNs exaggerate their features and claim to be “the best” or “most secure” when in reality this is rarely the case.

At BleepingComputer, we take user privacy and data security extremely seriously. We only recommend VPNs that have a proven track record of providing privacy for their users. As part of our review process, we check each VPN’s encryption, read the privacy policy, and check the implementation of the security of their apps. We also test the VPN tunnel for IP, DNS, and WebRTC leaks.

Please note that although this review caters to users looking for a VPN with SOCKS5, it is vital to understand that a SOCKS5 proxy differs from a full VPN connection. SOCKS5 proxy can hide your IP address and make you appear to be in a different location, but it does not prevent your ISP from detecting your torrent activities.

For this reason, we strongly recommend using the full VPN tunnel rather than a SOCKS5 proxy for any activities that require privacy. Below, we have included a list of features we looked for when recommending VPNs for SOCKS5:

• Apps for all platforms: Our recommendations have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android. Extra points for compatibility with Firestick, Linux, routers, and other devices.
• SOCKS5 proxy: Inclusion in this list requires the VPN to provide a SOCKS5 proxy alongside its core VPN functionalities.
• Extensive global server network: Our recommendations offer servers worldwide, allowing users to get an IP address in various countries. This feature lets you bypass online censorship, network blocks, and geo-restrictions.
• Robust security: We check VPNs for important security features such as encryption, a kill switch, obfuscation, split tunneling, port forwarding, MultiHop connections, auto-connect functionality, malware scanning, and ad-blocking capabilities.
• Strict no-logs policy: Our recommendations prioritize user privacy. All the VPNs in this guide adhere to a strict zero-logs policy.
• Censorship evasion: These VPNs work to evade surveillance and access social media, VoIP apps, news websites, and other vital internet services that may be restricted around the globe.
• Global streaming access: These VPNs work to access many popular streaming services, including Netflix US.
• Reliability and fast speeds: We prioritize VPNs that offer consistent speeds suitable for streaming, gaming, torrenting, and video calling.
• P2P support: Every VPN on our list allows torrenting.
• Customer support: Our recommended VPNs offer both email and live chat support, ensuring you can seek assistance at any time of day.

How to get a SOCKS5 VPN

Getting a VPN that comes with a SOCKS5 proxy is very straightforward. To make things as easy as possible, we have included the steps below:

1. Select a recommended SOCKS5 VPN service. We suggest NordVPN due to its excellent value and advanced features. However, PIA is cheap and offers SOCKS5 natively in its apps.
2. Visit the VPN provider's website and subscribe. To get the best deal, use our provided link to activate an automatic coupon code.
3. Download the VPN application and install it on your computer or mobile device. Log in using the credentials you used during the sign-up process.
4. Access the VPN provider's website, log in to your account, and follow their instructions to configure the SOCKS5 proxy. The provider will supply all the necessary information for connecting via a torrent client, or using alternative methods such as FoxyProxy. 

For enhanced privacy and security, use the full VPN client by connecting to the VPN server. It's important to remember that a VPN offers more robust security compared to a SOCKS5 proxy. For this reason, we recommend using the SOCKS5 proxy alongside the full VPN tunnel.

How do I use a SOCKS5 VPN?

Using a SOCKS5 VPN is relatively straightforward, but it's important to note that the setup process can vary depending on your VPN provider. 

It may not always be possible to use the SOCKS5 proxy with your entire operating system. Some VPNs may only support proxy usage with specific applications like web browsers or torrent clients.

If you prefer a SOCKS5 proxy that is integrated directly into the VPN application, we recommend Private Internet Access. It is the only VPN in this guide that offers a native SOCKS5 proxy in its apps without requiring manual setup.

Setting up a SOCKS5 proxy for your operating system, torrent application, or browser may have subtle differences. For this reason, we suggest referring to the specific setup guides provided by your VPN on their official website.

Generally speaking, however, the steps are as follows:

1. Subscribe to the VPN.
2. Login to the member’s area of the VPN website.
3. Access the SOCKS5 server details and port number.
4. Enter the server address and port number into your torrent client, browser, or other application.
5. Enter the username and password associated with your VPN account to allow for authentication when connecting to the proxy.

To give you an idea of how to set up a proxy in Windows and macOS, we have included the steps below:

Manual configuration of SOCKS5 on Windows

1. Open Settings.
2. Navigate to Network & Internet.
3. Under Proxy settings, toggle the On button next to "Manual proxy setup."
4. Fill in the required proxy details in the provided forms, including the Address and Port.
5. Click the Save button to save your settings.

Manual configuration of SOCKS5 on macOS

1. Go to System Preferences.
2. Click on Network.
3. In the Network window, select the Advanced button.
4. Choose the Proxies tab.
5. From the menu, select SOCKS proxy.
6. Enter the proxy server address and port number provided by your VPN provider.
7. Click OK to save the proxy settings.

SOCKS5 VPN FAQs

Can I get a free VPN with SOCKS5 proxy?

No. Although there are a few reputable free VPNs available on the market, these are extremely limited. Reliable VPNs usually only provide a free plan to advertise their service and to give people limited use of a VPN. This usually involves blocking some of the features you get with a paid plan (fewer server locations, no port forwarding, no SOCKS5 proxy, etc). 

We don’t know of any secure free VPN plans that throw in a SOCKS5 proxy. You will have to get a premium VPN subscription to get access to a SOCKS5 proxy hosted by a reputable VPN provider. 

Remember that although you can find many free VPNs advertised on app stores we recommend staying away from most of these. Most free VPNs have invasive policies that allow them to harvest user data for profiling purposes. They sell that data to third parties such as advertisers and data brokers, which puts your privacy at risk.

Besides invasive data policies, free VPNs have also been shown to lack encryption, suffer from leaks, have server vulnerabilities, and contain spyware in their apps. For this reason, we urge you to be careful when choosing a free VPN to avoid exposing your devices and data to unnecessary risks.

Can I use a free SOCKS5 proxy to torrent?

When it comes to torrenting, some users consider using free SOCKS5 proxies as a way to enhance their online privacy. However, it's crucial to understand the risks associated with this approach.

Using a free SOCKS5 proxy found online can be risky because it's often unclear who is hosting it. This lack of transparency can potentially expose your data to interception and even hacking if the proxy host has malicious intentions.

It's also important to note that a SOCKS5 proxy doesn't offer the same level of privacy as a VPN (Virtual Private Network). Unlike a VPN, a SOCKS5 proxy doesn't encrypt your data, leaving you vulnerable to ISP monitoring while torrenting.

For enhanced security while torrenting, we recommend using a SOCKS5 proxy in conjunction with a VPN connection. This is why we recommend picking a VPN service that includes a SOCKS5 proxy as part of its subscription.

By doing this, you will gain access to a secure VPN and ensure that the SOCKS5 proxy operates under the same privacy policy as the VPN service itself. This combination guarantees both data protection and excellent proxy speeds.

Although using a SOCKS5 proxy provided by a VPN will cost a few bucks each month, it's a worthwhile investment to safeguard your online activities.

How does a VPN and SOCKS5 proxy differ?

Both VPNs and SOCKS5 proxies are useful tools that can be leveraged to hide your IP address from websites, allowing you to access geo-restricted content.

However, VPNs differ because they offer a host of additional features that you don't get with a VPN. These features include encryption, DNS leak protection, a kill switch, and obfuscation. They ensure your downloads are kept private and you get the freedom to access blocked torrent sites.

Unlike SOCKS5 proxies, VPNs establish encrypted data tunnels. This stops local area networks, ISPs, government agencies, and other eavesdroppers from being able to monitor what you are doing online. 

A VPN also protects against leaks, ensuring that you never reveal your home IP address to the torrent swarm. This is important because you could run into hackers, copyright trolls, or other malicious internet users seeking to probe your network for vulnerabilities or to add your devices to a botnet.

The comprehensive security approach offered by a VPN makes it a much safer option than SOCKS5 proxies whether you are torrenting or engaging in other activity that requires online privacy.

What is the difference between a SOCKS4 and SOCKS5 proxy?

A SOCKS5 proxy offers various improvements over its predecessor. First and foremost, SOCKS5 adds authentication features. This allows the proxy’s host to demand that users must authenticate themselves to gain access. This allows for stricter access control, thereby preventing unauthorized users from accessing the proxy server.

SOCKS5 also provides support for UDP (User Datagram Protocol) connections, which helps improve speeds and stability for data-intensive tasks such as streaming or torrenting. 

Is a SOCKS5 proxy safe for torrenting?

This depends on various factors, including where you source your SOCKS5 proxy. If you join a random SOCKS5 proxy sourced online, it may be difficult to ascertain who is running that proxy. This puts your data at risk because there is no way to know whether the host is accessing your data. 

It is this risk that causes some people to seek out a reliable SOCKS5 proxy that is hosted by a reputable VPN provider. This ensures that all of your activities, while connected to the proxy, are protected by the same no-logging promise that you get with the primary VPN client. This makes using a SOCKS5 proxy much safer.

Even if you use a trustworthy SOCKS5 proxy that is self-hosted by a reputable VPN, however, it is important to note that it will not protect your privacy in the way that a VPN tunnel does. A SOCKS5 proxy changes your IP address so that other people connected to the same torrent can’t target you. However, a SOCKS5 proxy does not encrypt data, so it will not prevent your ISP or local admins from tracking your torrents.

What is a SOCK5 proxy useful for?

A SOCKS5 proxy allows you to get an IP address in a remote location. This allows you to bypass restrictions imposed by local networks or ISPs. 

The main benefit of a SOCKS5 proxy over other types of proxies is that it works with a wider variety of traffic types. This includes common protocols like VoIP, HTTP, HTTPS, POP3, SMTP, FTP, and BitTorrent. This makes it useful for a wider variety of online tasks.

A SOCKS5 or Shadowsocks proxy is also employed by some VPNs to create a bridge to the VPN. Hopping to a SOCKS5 proxy en route to a VPN can improve connectivity on networks and in countries where VPN traffic is blocked. 

Is a SOCKS5 proxy faster than a VPN?

This depends on various factors. In theory, a SOCKS5 proxy should be faster than a VPN because it doesn't involve the encryption and decryption of data at every stage of its journey.

However, if you connect to a SOCKS5 proxy sourced online, you might end up connected to a volunteer node that's either heavily congested or lacks the necessary processing power. This could result in significantly slowed-down traffic when compared to a decent VPN.

On the other hand, if you use a SOCKS5 proxy hosted by a reputable VPN provider, the chances are higher that you'll connect to a high-capacity proxy server, capable of delivering excellent speeds. In such cases, a SOCKS5 proxy should perform on par with, if not better than, a VPN tunnel employing a lightning-fast protocol like WireGuard.

Alternatively, a reliable VPN connection using protocols like OpenVPN UDP or WireGuard (provided by a reputable, fast VPN) should offer better long-term reliability and consistently faster speeds when compared to proxies sourced on public proxy lists, proxy forums, and online proxy databases.