TorGuard vs PrivateVPN (2026): Two Unaudited VPNs With Port Forwarding

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TorGuard vs PrivateVPN puts two long-running independent providers side by side, and they have a great deal in common. Both offer port forwarding, both sell or include dedicated IPs, and neither has ever had an independent no-logs audit.

What sets them apart is how each has handled scrutiny. Film studios sued TorGuard, and it settled in 2022 without disclosing customer records. PrivateVPN, asked about audits, reportedly told a reviewer there was nothing to audit because it keeps no logs. Beyond that, TorGuard leans towards restrictive networks, and PrivateVPN towards streaming.

TorGuard vs PrivateVPN: The Short Answer

Choose PrivateVPN over TorGuard for streaming and price. It rates 3.2 in our PrivateVPN review, costs around $2 a month on its three-year plan, and includes a free dedicated IP on one plan.

Choose TorGuard for restrictive networks. It rates 3.1 in our TorGuard review, and GreatFirewallGuide ranked it second for China in April 2026.

Both include port forwarding, which few providers still offer. Neither has an audit.

See PrivateVPN Plans →
Port forwarding and a free dedicated IP on one plan

Privacy: Neither Audited, Different Records

TorGuard’s evidence is its conduct. When roughly twenty-five film studios sued in 2021, it settled in March 2022 by agreeing to block BitTorrent on its US servers, rather than keep logs, and handed over no customer records. VPNetworks LLC runs it from Orlando, inside the Five Eyes.

PrivateVPN’s evidence is its word. Its support’s reported reply, that there is nothing to audit, restates the claim rather than proving it, and the same reviewer was told its servers run on disk rather than RAM. Nobody has linked it to an incident in seventeen years. It operates from Sweden, inside the Fourteen Eyes, and sources disagree on whether it is independent or owned by Miss Group.

⚠️ Neither gives you what an audit gives. Our audit tracker and our no-logs guide explain why that matters more than policy wording.

ProviderNo-logs auditsAuditorJurisdiction
NordVPN6PwC, DeloittePanama
Surfshark2DeloitteNetherlands (9 Eyes)
ExpressVPN3KPMG (28 security reports in total)British Virgin Islands, Kape-owned
CyberGhost3DeloitteRomania, Kape-owned
PureVPN4KPMGBVI, operated from Pakistan
IPVanish2Leviathan, SchellmanUnited States (Five Eyes), Ziff Davis-owned
Windscribe1Packetlabs, production infrastructureCanada (Five Eyes); Greek case dismissed, no data to give
Proton VPN5SecuritumSwitzerland, moving infrastructure to EU
Private Internet Access3DeloitteUnited States (Five Eyes), Kape-owned
Mullvad10+Cure53, Assured ABSweden (14 Eyes)
TunnelBearAnnual since 2017Cure53Canada (Five Eyes), US parent
Norton VPN2VerSpriteUnited States (Five Eyes)
Hotspot Shield0protocol audited, policy notUnited States (Five Eyes)
AirVPN0none — the client is open source insteadItaly (14 Eyes)
IVPN8, annual since inceptionCure53Gibraltar (status disputed)
Hide.me1 modern, in 2024Securitum, though one source names Altius ITMalaysia (outside the alliances)
PrivadoVPN0none in six years of operationIceland (moved from Switzerland, 2026)
TorGuard0none; settled a lawsuit without disclosing recordsUnited States (Five Eyes)
FastestVPN1, in 2023Altius ITCayman Islands (outside the alliances)
StrongVPN0none in over two decadesUnited States (Five Eyes), Ziff Davis-owned
VyprVPN1, in 2018Leviathan Security, before the 2023 saleUnited States (Five Eyes), Certida-owned since 2023
PrivateVPN0none; support says there is nothing to auditSweden (14 Eyes), ownership disputed
ZoogVPN0none; support describes one as plannedGreece (outside the alliances), run from Ukraine
Malwarebytes Privacy VPN1, in 2026X41 D-Sec, white-box over two monthsUnited States (Five Eyes), runs AzireVPN infrastructure
Astrill0—Disputed: Seychelles or Liechtenstein
TorGuard vs PrivateVPN on privacy: no audits, a 2022 settlement, a support answer, server type and jurisdiction

TorGuard vs PrivateVPN on Price

PrivateVPN costs around $2 a month on its three-year plan, well below TorGuard’s entry price. Check the renewal at checkout before committing to three years.

Reviewers report TorGuard’s Standard plan at $4.27 to $10.99 a month, with streaming on a higher tier and dedicated IPs sold separately. Our renewal price table shows why renewals decide the real cost.

See TorGuard Plans →
Stealth servers, port forwarding, dedicated IPs

TorGuard vs PrivateVPN on Features

Port forwarding: both include it, and PrivateVPN adds SOCKS5 support. Our port forwarding guide lists the few others.

Dedicated IPs: PrivateVPN includes one free on a single plan; TorGuard sells them as add-ons. Our dedicated IP guide explains who needs one.

Torrenting: TorGuard blocks BitTorrent on its US servers since 2022. Our torrenting guide covers the alternatives.

Streaming: reviewers report Netflix, iPlayer, Disney+ and Prime Video working reliably on PrivateVPN. TorGuard puts streaming on a separate, pricier tier. Our Netflix guide explains the landscape.

Restrictive networks: TorGuard’s Stealth VPN servers and Stealth Proxy scored 78% in GreatFirewallGuide’s China tests; PrivateVPN has a Stealth mode. Our obfuscation guide explains the approach.

TorGuard vs PrivateVPN on price, port forwarding, dedicated IPs, streaming and restrictive networks

What Each One Lacks

TorGuard lacks an audit, open apps and US torrenting, and its interface is the recurring complaint in reviews.

PrivateVPN lacks an audit, RAM-only servers and scale. Its network is around 200 servers in 63 countries, its speed reports vary widely, and its live chat is not staffed around the clock.

Which One

PrivateVPN for streaming, torrenting with a free dedicated IP, and the lowest price, if an unaudited claim is acceptable to you. Astrill vs PrivateVPN covers the same choice from another angle.

TorGuard for restrictive networks, stealth tools and dedicated IP work, with a record under legal pressure. NordVPN vs PrivateVPN and TorGuard vs FastestVPN set each against another rival.

Which to choose in TorGuard vs PrivateVPN: PrivateVPN for streaming and price, TorGuard for restrictive networks

How We Research

PrivateVPN’s support answers, price, features and ownership dispute come from our PrivateVPN review and tables, and TorGuard’s settlement, ownership, price range and features from our TorGuard review. The China score comes from GreatFirewallGuide’s April 2026 review of TorGuard. We do not run our own tests. Our full approach lives on the About Us page.

TorGuard vs PrivateVPN FAQ

Is PrivateVPN better than TorGuard?

In TorGuard vs PrivateVPN, the two rate almost level, 3.2 against 3.1. PrivateVPN is better for streaming and price; TorGuard for restrictive networks and dedicated IP work.

Has either been audited?

No. PrivateVPN’s support reportedly said there was nothing to audit. TorGuard settled a studio lawsuit in 2022 without disclosing customer records.

Do both offer port forwarding?

Yes. Both include it, and PrivateVPN adds SOCKS5 support.

Which is cheaper?

PrivateVPN, at around $2 a month on its three-year plan. Reviewers report TorGuard’s Standard plan at $4.27 to $10.99 a month.

Which works in China?

TorGuard has the published evidence: GreatFirewallGuide scored it at 78% in April 2026. We have no comparable figure for PrivateVPN.

The Verdict

TorGuard vs PrivateVPN is nearly a tie on our scores, and the choice depends on the job. PrivateVPN streams better and costs less; TorGuard handles restrictive networks better and has a tested record under legal pressure.

Neither has an audit, so for everyday privacy an audited provider remains the safer choice.

Read Our PrivateVPN Review →
The support answer, the disputes, and who it suits
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