# Transmission VPN

Transmission VPN is a Docker container that runs the Transmission BitTorrent client inside an OpenVPN virtual private network tunnel, starting downloads only when the tunnel is active. It is open source and self-hosted, installable on Docker Hub and Unraid.

Canonical page: https://ourlocalhost.com/app/321/transmission-vpn

## Description

Transmission VPN is a Docker container that runs the Transmission BitTorrent client inside an OpenVPN virtual private network tunnel, starting downloads only when the tunnel is active. It includes protection against IP address leaks and built-in support for popular VPN providers, making it useful for self-hosters who want private torrenting behind a VPN.

## Platform availability

Available on 1 of 9 platforms: Unraid.

## Health score

65/100 (Good), based on 4 of 5 factors.
- Maintained: 70 (last commit 75 days ago)
- Popular: 73 (4,565 GitHub stars)
- Easy to install: 35 (1 install platform, install notes, Docker image)
- Security check: 77 (no serious findings, CI, tests, OpenSSF Scorecard 4.9/10)

## Links

- GitHub: https://github.com/haugene/docker-transmission-openvpn
- Official website: https://haugene.github.io/docker-transmission-openvpn
- Documentation: http://lime-technology.com/forum/index.php?topic=45812.msg437678#msg437678
- Docker Hub: https://hub.docker.com/r/haugene/transmission-openvpn
- Unraid: https://ca.unraid.net/apps/transmission-vpn-1b5j4tv0571807?q=Transmission_VPN

## Common questions

### Does Transmission stop if the OpenVPN tunnel drops?

Yes, Transmission is configured to run only while OpenVPN has an active tunnel. That means it does not keep transferring data while the tunnel is down.

### What remote-access issue did a user have after installing Transmission_VPN?

The source describes a user who needed to expose the container so a Transmission remote client could connect from outside the network. It does not provide the final port or firewall rule.

### Why might seeding fail while the VPN is active?

A user reported that Transmission was not seeding while using a VPN. The port forwarding setup still showed the port as closed, so VPN/port forwarding can block inbound seeding.

### How does Docker reduce risk if the torrent client is compromised?

Any process inside the container has limited access to the host system and other containers. This can limit potential damage if Transmission is compromised.

## Alternatives

- BiglyBT: Source for BiglyBT, a feature filled, open source, ad-free, bittorrent client.
- Deluge: Deluge is a lightweight, free-software, cross-platform BitTorrent client for downloading and managing torrent files.
- Free Download Manager: Accelerates downloads by splitting files, supports dark mode, controls traffic, enhances speed, organizes downloads, and is ad-free.
- I2P: I2P (Invisible Internet Protocol) is a universal anonymous network layer.
- LibreTorrent: LibreTorrent is a Free as in Freedom torrent client for Android 4 and later, based on libtorrent.
- PikaTorrent: A modern, simple, connected, and electric BitTorrent app.
- Tixati: Tixati is a peer-to-peer file sharing program that uses the popular BitTorrent protocol.
- Transmission: Transmission is a BitTorrent client for downloading and sharing files over the BitTorrent protocol.
- aria2: Aria2 is a lightweight, multi-protocol, multi-source, cross-platform command-line download utility that retrieves files over HTTP/HTTPS, FT…
- qBittorrent: qBittorrent is a free, open-source BitTorrent client that provides a self-hosted web-based interface for downloading, managing, and schedul…
- qui: Qui is a fast, modern web interface that lets self-hosters manage one or more qBittorrent instances from a single lightweight application.
- µTorrent: Desktop client for large-scale torrent downloads, offering simultaneous downloads, bandwidth optimization, and scheduling.

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Source: Our Local Host (https://ourlocalhost.com/app/321/transmission-vpn), the self-hosted and open-source app directory.