TorGuard vs BTGuard in 2024

It is not uncommon for almost all VPN services to claim they are the best. Our TorGuard vs BTGuard review, takes a look into these claims to determine how true they are.

BTGuard is a VPN service with the word BitTorrent in its name. Therefore, we expect nothing but the best when it comes to torrenting and peer-to-peer file sharing.

TorGuard also derives its name from the word torrenting just like BTGuard. This service offers great security and privacy. They also have numerous servers spread across different parts of the globe. We’ll look to see which of these VPN providers give users the best experience overall.

TorGuard vs BTGuard: specifications

Before comparing both VPNs across various categories in detail, we think providing a brief overview of the key features that TorGuard and BTGuard feature is beneficial.

We recommend familiarizing yourself with the categories mentioned, and it’s crucial not to make a quick decision purely on factors like simultaneous connections or other appealing factors. However, it should be clear from the table below that TorGuard is the better option. Let’s dig deeper why.

TorGuard vs BTGuard: pricing

While BTGuard has more pricing options, even the longest subscription options is pricier than TorGuard’s one-year plan. Furthermore, there’s no free trial or free version to speak of, and the lack of a money-back guarantee means you’re going to lose your money if you decide to cancel the subscription. You’re not getting any features, either, making it an expensive service with no useful perks. As such, TorGuard is the better option by miles.

TorGuard pricing

TorGuard offers its users a 7-day free trial, giving them enough time to test the service before purchasing a plan. If you’re willing to cancel your subscription to any competitor VPN, you get a 30-day free trial. The subscription options are pretty competitive, too:

• $9.99/month for a month
• $4.99/month for a year
• $4.17/month for two years

Additionally, TorGuard provides a 7-day money-back guarantee. As for payment options, they accept credit cards, PayPal, gift cards, and more. For those who prioritize anonymity, TorGuard accepts payments in Bitcoin, Litecoin, and other cryptocurrencies via CoinPayments.

BTGuard pricing

BTGuard, on the other hand, does not offer a free trial for potential users to evaluate its services. The subscription options include:

• $6.95/month for a month
• $6.65/month for three months
• $5.82/month for six months
• $4.99/month for a year

Apart from the lack of a free trial, no money-back guarantee is another major drawback. Regarding payment methods, BTGuard accepts credit cards, PayPal, and similar to TorGuard, they also accept Bitcoin for those seeking anonymous payment options.

Speed comparison

Since torrenting and P2P file transfer depend highly on speed, we have also performed speed tests. Another reason for performing the speed test is because it significantly impacts the internet connection speed and affects generic browsing.

TorGuard has a large number of servers spread globally. In numerical terms, the service boasts of around 3000+ servers across 48+ countries. This is a good number and it means better download and performance speeds. Furthermore, their connection speed is also remarkably fast.

BTGuard has fewer servers and slower speeds which would frustrate any serious torrent users. We found the speeds not to be all that bad but comparing this service with other top VPN services, makes its performance metrics quite low. The only BTGuard users who enjoy better performance are those who are located closer to the servers in Canada and the United States. As such, TorGuard wins again.

TorGuard vs BTGuard: which is more secure?

TorGuard handles the security and privacy of its users quite well, with a host of premium security features. These include AES-256 encryption, a kill switch feature, and IP & DNS leak protection. The only serious problem with TorGuard’s security is the US jurisdiction, unaudited no-logs policy, and lack of RAM-only servers.

BTGuard, however, is abysmal in terms of security. The service lacks a kill switch feature and uses the outdated RSA-1028 handshake feature for its encryption. While there is AES-256 encryption, there’s no leak protection measures. The jurisdiction isn’t the best, either, with an unaudited no-logs policy and no RAM servers making matters worse.

TorGuard isn’t the most secure VPN out there, but you’ll have a safer experience with it than with BTGuard.

Privacy

Firstly, both operate under the jurisdictions of countries that are part of the 5/9/14 Eyes Alliances, which is a significant concern. The providers may be forced by the government to collect user data and hand it over to the authorities.

In terms of encryption, both VPNs use AES-256, which was once the best standard but is now outdated. The reason for this is the Modern encryption standards, and while AES-256 remains secure, it’s not the best encryption.

On the brighter side, TorGuard offers a kill switch and leak protection for DNS and IPv6, ensuring your data remains private even if the VPN connection drops. BTGuard, however, does not specify its leak protection measures and lacks a kill switch feature.

Logging

TorGuard has a no-log policy, ensuring they do not store user activity or connection logs. On the other hand, BTGuard does have a privacy policy, but it is clearly stated that data might be collected and stored when necessary. Furthermore, it hasn’t been updated since 2011, which is a huge red flag.We would like both services to complete an independent no-logs policy audit.

Another factor to consider is using secure RAM servers that don’t store data long-term. Unfortunately, both VPNs lack RAM servers.

Servers location

TorGuard comes with a whopping 3000 servers spread across 48 countries. Users can select from various servers thanks to the extensive network, which greatly increases the chance of locating a quick and nearby server, resulting in a stable connection.

On the other hand, BTGuard offers a very limited network with only 1000 servers, all located in just 3 countries. The narrow network can lead to congestion, slower speeds, and limited options for bypassing geo-restrictions, which can be a significant drawback for users.

TorGuard is the obvious winner here, and we suggest looking beyond BTGuard, as its poor limited servers and network coverage can significantly reduce torrenting and streaming experience.

Features

Although TorGuard isn’t packed with tons of features like NordVPN or Surfshark, it still offers perks to make it versatile. BTGuard, on the other hand, focuses so much on torrenting it forgets people want a VPN useful beyond a single task, especially when it comes with a higher price tag.

Smart DNS

Users can unblock geographically restricted content with Smart DNS technology without experiencing the speed loss associated with VPNs. However, neither of these providers (TorGuard/BTGuard) offers SmartDNS as a feature.

Ad & malware blocker

An ad & malware Blocker is a valuable feature in VPNs, protecting you from malicious websites and intrusive ads. However, while TorGuard offers it, BTGuard misses out on this feature.
TorGuard’s Ad Blocking DNS is available on Windows, macOS, and iOS, and it lets you disable adware via DNS filtering.

Split tunneling

Split tunneling allows users to decide which apps or websites use the VPN connection and which connect directly to the internet. This feature is especially useful for those who want specific activities routed through the VPN.

TorGuard takes the lead in this category by offering split tunneling, whereas BTGuard does not provide this feature.

Specialized servers

Specialized servers are optimized for specific activities like streaming, gaming, or P2P. Unfortunately, BTGuard doesn’t offer specialized servers. TorGuard comes with specialized servers, though, which are:

• Dedicated IP. For those who have purchased dedicated IPs in certain countries.
• Stealth. These use Shadowsocks to bypass firewalls.
• ObsTCP. Obfuscates VPN traffic, letting you use the VPN in internet-restrictive countries like China, Iran, and such.
• Port 443. Provides extra security as traffic transmitted through this port is encrypted.

Other features

Other notable features of TorGuard are Scripts, OpenVPN Proxy, SOCKS5 proxy, and port forwarding.

Netflix and streaming comparison

We recommend neither TorGuard nor BTGuard for Netflix streaming. As for BTGuard, it does not deliver the speed and performance necessary for streaming purposes. It also does not have its servers spread out, and therefore it lacks the global reach necessary to stream geo-blocked content.

TorGuard blames its Netflix streaming woes to its servers being blocked. Therefore, for users looking to stream content, they have to dig deeper into their pockets and purchase a dedicated IP address. For Netflix streaming the TorGuard vs BTGuard verdict is a tie, in a bad way.

Device compatibility

TorGuard offers dedicated applications for all the major platforms, letting you use this VPN comfortably on desktop and mobile. There’s even browser extensions and router support if you want to secure the whole household without expending the available simultaneous connections.

BTGuard, on the other hand, does not make things easy for their users. First, there’s not much device support apart from the popular OS. Second, you have to manually configure the VPN client on your device since there are no dedicated apps. It’s very tedious, and, honestly, not worth the effort since the service is abysmal. Go with TorGuard.

Desktop applications

The desktop application for TorGuard has a sleek, user-friendly interface that quickly draws the eye. The app’s sections are efficiently split, making finding the functions or settings you’re looking for as you travel through the app. We think that after navigating, you’ll get used to the app’s design and features.

However, the desktop version of BTGuard feels outdated and isn’t easy to set up. Although using the app is simple, the experience can be unappealing due to the archaic interface. Nevertheless, a novice can still master it after a little while of navigating.

Mobile applications

Both services are available on mobile as well. TorGuard keeps the applications sleek, yet the Android client packs more features than the iOS one. For instance, it includes split tunneling, LAN bypass, and dedicated IPs.

As for BTGuard, again, the setup is a hassle, and most users shouldn’t have to go through that. The mobile applications are nothing to write home about and lack any useful features, just like their desktop counterparts.

Torrenting

The SOCKS5 proxy is supported by both VPNs. This useful feature lets users direct traffic to particular applications through the proxy to ensure a quicker connection while preserving some level of privacy.

Regarding split tunneling, it is a feature offered only by TorGuard that enables customers to select which applications or websites they want to access directly and over the VPN. Sadly, BTGuard does not have this capability.

Lastly, both TorGuard and BTGuard provide port forwarding. This feature is handy for users who want external devices to access services on their local network, such as gaming or torrenting.

However, TorGuard has an edge with its split tunneling capability, setting it apart from BTGuard. And it offers better speeds and a larger server selection.

China

TorGuard stands out by being able to operate in China, a country known for its stringent internet restrictions and the Great Firewall. On the contrary, BTGuard lacks this essential capability, making it unsuitable for users living in strict nations or those traveling there.

However, neither of the VPNs provides the “Tor over VPN” feature. This means users won’t be able to route their VPN traffic through the TOR network for an added layer of anonymity.

Considering the ability to function in severely restricted regions, TorGuard is the clear winner.

Customer support

BTGuard continues to perform dismally when it comes to customer support. They don’t have any direct telephone contact details or live chat feature. The existing support ticket system also does not help much because questions take longer to be answered.

On the other hand, TorGuard has a fast and reliable live chat feature, something that is not that common within the VPN industry. They also take user support queries through methods such as email support tickets and a toll-free number that is only available in the US. It’s another win for TorGuard.

TorGuard vs BTGuard – which is better?

TorGuard is the clear winner of this comparison due to simply being a better service. It’s more secure, offers better performance, is very user-friendly, and comes with reasonable pricing for what it’s capable of in terms of streaming, torrenting, censorship bypassing, etc.

It’s like BTGuard doesn’t even try to be a good VPN. The speeds are okay and there are a few perks for torrenters, but it’s not versatile at all and doesn’t even offer dedicated apps. We’re way beyond the need for users to manually configure the VPN clients themselves.

And you’re not getting much for the price you’re paying, either. The number of countries you can connect to is laughable, it doesn’t unblock any streaming platforms, and the fact that there’s no kill switch on a VPN that touts itself as a great torrenting VPN is mind-boggling. You’re essentially putting your users at risk if they live in a country where P2P file sharing is illegal. Steer clear of BTGuard.

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You may also like to read:
Torguard vs NordVPN
Torguard vs PIA
IPVanish vs NordVPN
IPVanish vs PIA

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FAQ

Is TorGuard better than BTGuard?

TorGuard is better than BTGuard in many areas. Especially in speed, security, privacy, streaming, device compatibility, torrenting, and accessibility in China.

Which is faster – TorGuard or BTGuard?

TorGuard is faster than BTGuard. It implements the speedy WireGuard tunneling protocol for better performance and comes with a larger server fleet.