They’re very popular tools in the torrenting and P2P world, but many users aren’t sure which one is right for them – or how the two stand up in the battle of seedbox vs. VPN.
The short answer is, they both have their uses, and actually work really well together. The long answer? Keep reading and we’ll break it down for you.
Seedbox
First, we’ll take a look at seedboxes, including their advantages, disadvantages, and who should use one.
Pros:
- Fast download speeds: Unless you have some of the fastest internet speeds available, a seedbox probably has you beat, with many pulling 10 to 20 Gbps.
- Easy 24/7 seeding: With a seedbox, seeding is pretty much “set it and forget it”, since it’s all handled remotely, i.e., no need to keep your computer on, keep the files stored locally, etc. It makes maintaining a seeding ratio a breeze.
- Reduces bandwidth and storage requirements: If your internet speeds, data allowance, or local storage are limited, a seedbox will help you out, since it downloads and stores files remotely. Of course, you will need to eventually spend bandwidth, either to download or stream the completed file, but you have a lot more flexibility.
Cons:
- Less versatile: Seedboxes are a great tool – but they’re a highly focused one, catered specifically to remote torrenting (downloading/seeding) and sometimes remote streaming. But they won’t protect your web traffic, generally can’t be used for things like Usenet or direct downloads, can’t be used to bypass geoblocks, etc.
Who is it best for?
There are a few main reasons someone might want to use a seedbox:
- They’re a heavy torrenter
- They use private trackers and/or want to maintain a good seeding ratio
- They want to set up their own remote streaming library (via Plex, etc.)
- They are limited on local internet speed or data storage
- They want the best setup possible (and don’t mind spending a little more to get it)
If none of these fit you – or you’re on a budget and they’re simply not that important – then a seedbox may not be for you. However, if you strongly identify with any of those use cases, then a seedbox is definitely worth trying.
VPN
Continuing our seedbox vs VPN clash, let’s jump into VPNs, laying out their pros, cons, and who they’re perfect for.
Pros:
- Protects all internet traffic (including torrenting):Yes, a VPN will absolutely secure your torrent traffic. But it’ll protect your direct downloads too. And when you use free streaming sites. And when you log into your bank account. Everything you do online, a VPN will make safer via an encrypted, “tunneled” connection.
- Allows private browsing: The world is only becoming less privacy friendly, as different parties scramble to monitor, collect, and share your data. Fortunately, a VPN avoids much of that, by encrypting your traffic, hiding your IP address, and other features that greatly improve your online security, whether you’re accessing private info or just want to shop online without getting tracked so aggressively.
- Bypass geoblocks: If you’ve ever wanted to bypass content but couldn’t, do to location-based blocks, a VPN can help. Simply select a server in the appropriate location (e.g., the UK if you’re trying to watch British programming, the US if you’re trying to access an American service, etc.) and the VPN will handle the rest.
Cons:
- Less torrenting-specific functionality: A VPN is an incredible tool for safe torrenting and is all many users will need. But it doesn’t provide the remote torrenting, seeding, and streaming that heavy torrenters (or media consumers) may want. It’s more of a “jack of all trades”.
Who is it best for?
There are a pretty wide range of reasons for using a VPN:
- You want to torrent safely and securely
- You want to protect your privacy online
- You want to access content that’s restricted in your region (bypass geoblocks)
In short, a VPN is an incredibly useful tool for the modern internet user, whether you’re downloading/seeding content or just browsing the web. That being said, it will not provide the raw remote downloading/seeding/media hosting and streaming power that a seedbox does.
Seedbox + VPN: What are the downsides?
Now, you might be asking yourself: “what if I used a seedbox and a VPN?”
In short, that’s our recommended setup, since it gives you the best of both worlds. However, there is one drawback: and that’s the cost.
It’s not prohibitively expensive – and in fact, you may save money compared to your typical commercial streaming services. But you will still need two subscriptions: one for both the seedbox and the VPN.
So, whether it’s the right move for you depends more on:
1. Your budget: If an extra $5 or $10 isn’t a big deal for you, then go for it.
2. Your needs: If you’re just an occasional torrenter, only use public trackers, etc., then you’ll probably be fine with just a VPN. A seedbox would be more of a “luxury” than a “must have”.
Seedbox vs. VPN: Wrap-Up
Now you know the basics of seedboxes vs. VPNs and how they compare. The tl;dr is that seedboxes are very powerful for torrenting, while VPN are a balanced tool that work for torrenting and a lot of other stuff. For the ultimate torrenting setup, both are worth using, if you have the budget.
Which one do you prefer? Lets us know in the comments.