Last tested: March 2026 · Tested from Brisbane, QLD on 100Mbps NBN
Speed Test Results — Australian Servers
All speed tests were conducted on a 100Mbps NBN FTTP connection in Brisbane using WireGuard protocol. Tests ran between 7–9 PM AEST on weeknights during peak congestion.
| Server Location | Download (Mbps) | Upload (Mbps) | Ping (ms) | Speed Retention |
|---|
| Sydney, AU | 88.6 | 36.1 | 18 | 89% |
| Melbourne, AU | 85.2 | 34.3 | 25 | 85% |
| Brisbane, AU | 90.7 | 37.8 | 8 | 91% |
| Perth, AU | 78.4 | 30.2 | 51 | 78% |
| Singapore | 74.1 | 28.6 | 96 | 74% |
| US West (Los Angeles) | 58.3 | 21.7 | 161 | 58% |
| UK London | 51.6 | 18.9 | 276 | 52% |
Key takeaway: TorGuard's WireGuard speeds are solid — 89-91% retention on Australian servers is competitive with the bigger names. Where TorGuard particularly shines is with the SOCKS5 proxy for torrenting: because it handles routing without full encryption, we measured speeds within 2-3% of our base connection. The Stealth VPN protocol is slower (expect 15-20% additional drop) due to the extra obfuscation layer, but that's the trade-off for bypassing VPN blocking.
Streaming: What Works in Australia
We tested all major Australian and international streaming platforms over two weeks in March 2026:
- Netflix AU ✅ — Works on Sydney servers (requires dedicated IP for consistent access)
- Stan ✅ — Reliable on Australian servers
- Kayo Sports ✅ — Works on AU servers
- Binge ✅ — Works on AU servers
- Disney+ ❌ — Blocked on shared IPs; works with dedicated IP add-on
- Paramount+ ✅ — Works on AU servers
- 7plus ✅ — Works from overseas via AU servers
- 9Now ✅ — Works from overseas via AU servers
- ABC iView ✅ — Works from overseas via AU servers
Streaming is not TorGuard's primary focus, and the results reflect that. Most Australian services work fine, but the more aggressive VPN detection used by Netflix and Disney+ means you'll need a dedicated IP address (available as a paid add-on from $3.99/month) for guaranteed access. If streaming is your main use case, NordVPN or ExpressVPN are better choices out of the box.
Honest note: TorGuard's dedicated streaming IP actually provides the most consistent streaming experience once set up — because it's your own IP, it never gets flagged. But you're paying extra for it, which eats into TorGuard's value proposition.
Privacy & Security Deep Dive
Jurisdiction: United States. This is the elephant in the room. The US is a Five Eyes founding member with extensive surveillance infrastructure. However, TorGuard's no-logs policy has been tested in practice — in 2019, the FBI served a court order demanding user data from TorGuard, and the company had nothing to hand over because no logs existed. This real-world validation is arguably more meaningful than any audit.
Logging policy: Strict no-logs. TorGuard stores no connection logs, no traffic logs, no timestamps, no IP addresses, and no bandwidth records. They accept anonymous payment methods (cryptocurrency, gift cards) to minimise the data trail even further.
Audit history: TorGuard has not undergone a formal third-party audit from a Big Four firm. This is a notable gap compared to audited competitors. However, the 2019 court case effectively served as an involuntary audit of their logging practices — and they passed.
Encryption: AES-256-GCM on OpenVPN, ChaCha20 on WireGuard. TorGuard also supports Stealth VPN (OpenVPN over SSL/TLS tunnel), Stealth SOCKS5 proxy, and OpenConnect — offering more protocol options than most competitors. Advanced users can configure cipher suites, handshake methods, and port numbers manually.
Kill switch: Available on all desktop platforms. We tested it by forcing a VPN disconnect — traffic was blocked within 2 seconds. The kill switch also supports app-level rules, letting you specify which applications should be killed if the VPN drops. Note: the kill switch must be manually enabled; it's off by default.
DNS leak tests: Zero leaks detected across all tested servers. TorGuard runs its own DNS servers and supports custom DNS configuration for users who prefer alternatives like Quad9 or Cloudflare.
Additional features:
- Stealth VPN: Wraps VPN traffic in an SSL/TLS tunnel to appear as normal HTTPS traffic — bypasses DPI and VPN blocking in China, UAE, and corporate networks
- SOCKS5 proxy: Included with every subscription — fast proxy for torrenting without full encryption overhead
- Dedicated IP: Available as add-on for streaming, gaming, or avoiding CAPTCHAs
- Port forwarding: Supported on select servers — essential for torrenting efficiency
App Experience
Let's be honest: TorGuard's app is functional, not pretty. The interface looks like it was designed by engineers for engineers — which, to be fair, it probably was. The main window shows connection status, protocol selection, server list, and a connect button. It gets the job done, but it lacks the visual polish of ExpressVPN or NordVPN.
Clicks to connect: Two to three. Select a server from the dropdown, choose your protocol, click connect. There's no "quick connect" or "best server" button — you're expected to know what you want. The server list can be filtered by country but doesn't show load or latency information.
Server selection: A straightforward dropdown list of servers organised by country. No fancy maps, no categorisation by purpose (streaming, torrenting, etc.). You can sort by country and save favourites, but that's about it. Power users won't mind; beginners may feel lost.
Settings: This is where TorGuard reveals its depth. Protocol selection (WireGuard, OpenVPN UDP/TCP, Stealth VPN, OpenConnect), cipher configuration, port selection, proxy settings, kill switch rules, DNS configuration, startup behaviour, and script execution hooks. It's a power user's playground with more configuration options than any other VPN we've reviewed.
Mobile vs desktop: The mobile apps are simpler than desktop but still offer more configuration than most competitors' mobile apps. Android supports full protocol selection and split tunnelling. iOS is more limited due to Apple restrictions but still supports WireGuard and OpenVPN. Neither mobile app is as intuitive as mainstream competitors.
Pricing Breakdown
All prices in AUD, current as of March 2026:
| Plan | Monthly Cost | Total Cost | Savings |
|---|
| Monthly | $9.99/mo | $9.99 | — |
| 1-Year | $4.99/mo | $59.88 | 50% off |
| 2-Year | $3.89/mo | $93.36 | 61% off |
Add-ons: Dedicated IP from $3.99/mo, Dedicated Streaming IP from $7.99/mo, 10Gbps Premium Network from $1.99/mo. These add-ons can significantly increase your total cost, so factor them in when comparing value.
Money-back guarantee: 7 days — significantly shorter than the 30-45 day windows offered by most competitors. This is a weakness, as it doesn't give you much time to properly evaluate the service.
Payment methods: Credit/debit cards, PayPal, Bitcoin, Litecoin, and over 200 gift card brands (Starbucks, Walmart, etc.). The anonymous payment options are the most extensive we've seen.
Who Should Use This VPN
Best for:
- Torrenting enthusiasts: The SOCKS5 proxy, port forwarding, and 12 device connections make TorGuard arguably the best VPN for P2P in Australia
- Power users and tinkerers: If you want granular control over protocols, ciphers, ports, and proxy settings, TorGuard gives you more knobs to turn than any competitor
- Users in restricted countries: The Stealth VPN protocol reliably bypasses DPI in China, UAE, and similar environments
- Privacy-first users: Extensive anonymous payment options, court-tested no-logs policy, and no tracking whatsoever
Not ideal for:
- VPN beginners: The interface is not intuitive, and there's a learning curve — CyberGhost or NordVPN are much easier to get started with
- Streaming-focused users: Without a dedicated IP add-on, streaming unblocking is inconsistent — better options exist at similar price points
- Users wanting a simple, polished experience: TorGuard prioritises function over form
How It Compares
TorGuard occupies a unique niche. Against NordVPN and ExpressVPN, it loses on polish, ease of use, and out-of-the-box streaming, but wins on configurability and torrenting features. Compared to AirVPN, another power-user favourite, TorGuard offers a more polished (relatively speaking) experience with better speeds and the Stealth VPN advantage. Against budget options like PureVPN and CyberGhost, TorGuard is pricier but offers significantly more advanced features.
Think of TorGuard as the Linux of VPNs — powerful, configurable, and rewarding if you're willing to learn it, but not for everyone. For our full comparison, see our best VPN for Australia guide.
