How to Torrent in Germany Safely in 2025

Looking for the best VPN to download torrents in Germany safely? I’ve put together a list of the top 3 VPNs for torrenting, as well as detailed instructions on how to get started. Keep reading to learn more!

Key takeaways

1. Torrenting is legal in Germany, but downloading copyrighted material can lead to hefty fines and legal consequences.
2. German law firms may send “Abmahnung” notices demanding settlement fees to those suspected of illegal torrenting, often using Internet provider tracking and IP address visibility.
3. A premium VPN supports safe torrenting by hiding your true IP address and providing essential features like encryption, kill switches, and leak protection to maintain privacy.

Is torrenting legal in Germany? What you need to know

Yes! It is completely legal to download torrents in Germany. Torrenting is just an efficient way to share large files.

What you can’t do is torrent copyrighted material, including movies, TV shows, or pornography, all of which are considered illegal in Germany.

How Abmahnung affects torrent users and file-sharers in Germany

Abmahnung is a cease and desist letter sent out by law offices that target BitTorrent users, and it usually comes with a demand to pay significant fees of up to 1,000 Euros.

If you get one of these notices, be sure it’s legitimate. There are known cases of fraudulent notices, including law firms demanding settlements without the consent or knowledge of the copyright holder they claim to represent. Their trolling methods could also result in your getting a notice even without completing an illegal torrent.

Here are some ways to protect yourself from Abmanhnung:

• Don’t torrent copyrighted materials.
• Use alternative IP addresses.
• Secure your browser history.
• Don’t pay settlements for crimes you didn’t commit!

How authorities track torrent downloads in Germany

The German authorities track torrent downloads either through your public IP address or via monitoring by your Internet provider.

Public IP address

The BitTorrent protocol requires the IP address of every peer engaging in file sharing and it’s set up in a way that anyone can see your torrent history. 

If you want to protect your torrent history from getting into the wrong hands, use a quality VPN that can give you a new IP address and hide your true IP. If they don’t have your true IP address, it’s impossible to connect the torrents to you.

Internet Service Provider (ISP) monitoring

German Internet service providers use Deep Packet Inspection to monitor online traffic.

According to the law in Germany, your Internet provider is required to keep information on users’ Web traffic, IP addresses, and data transferred for 10 weeks. That could include data on any torrent downloads you completed.

Checking your public IP address

German law firms looking for illegal torrenting will check for any German IP address on the peer list. The IP address reveals your general location and your Internet Service Provider. From there, they can turn to your ISP to find DNS requests for torrent websites or multiple uploads using heavy bandwidth.

What legal actions follow if you’re caught torrenting in Germany?

First of all, downloading a torrent file is not inherently illegal. What will get you into legal trouble is torrenting copyrighted materials, which can cost you between 500€ (£420.15) and 1,500€ (£1,260.44) in fines. You could even be taken to court for your actions.

How to check if your VPN is leaking IP address

Once your VPN connection is set up, you’ll want to verify that your true IP isn’t leaking. Here’s how:

1. Go to IPLeak.net.
2. Look for Torrent Address Detection and click activate.
3. Click on the link for the tracking torrent in your client.
4. Once loaded, your browser will refresh and display your torrent IP address.
5. Confirm that the Torrent IP address matches your VPN browser IP address and not your ISP IP address.

3 best VPNs for torrenting while in Germany 

I’ve done a lot of research to find the best VPN for torrenting. I looked at the speed, privacy, and security features needed to torrent downloads safely and efficiently. Here’s a list of my top 3 choices and what they have to offer:

1. ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN offers faster connection speeds, first-rate privacy and security features, a large network of servers, and it’s user-friendly, putting right at the top of my list of best VPN providers for downloading torrents in Germany.

Features: This VPN comes with all of the extra features I want for torrenting including port forwarding, obfuscation, ad blocking, tracker blocking, malware protection, and split tunneling. It has a large server network of 3,000+ servers in 105 countries all of which support P2P sharing.

Speed: The speeds I got during testing were more than fast enough to torrent downloads quickly. When I used the quick connect feature my download speed went from 94 Mbsp to 90 Mbps.

Privacy and security: When I want to download torrents in Germany, privacy and security are my number one concern, and Express has everything I need to feel safe including an independently verified no-logs policy, AES 256-bit encryption, an automatic kill switch, IP & DNS leak protection, secure tunneling protocols, and RAM-only servers.

Performance: I was able to torrent large files quickly. I also use ExpressVPN for gaming and streaming to get smooth, uninterrupted performance.

Streaming: I use ExpressVPN to access geo-restricted content on my favorite streaming services, including Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hulu, and more!

Compatibility: The ExpressVPN apps are highly intuitive and compatible with all major operating systems, including macOS, iOS, Linux, Windows, and Android. I can connect up to 8 devices simultaneously.

Pricing: This level of quality does come at a higher cost. A 12-month subscription is $6.67/month plus 3-months free. The subscription comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee and 24/7 live chat support so you can try it out risk-free.

2. NordVPN

NordVPN is one of the most popular VPNs on the market for good reason. It’s a premium provider with lots of advanced features that costs less than ExpressVPN.

Features: It’s hard to find a feature I want that NordVPN doesn’t provide, including obfuscation, Double VPN, Threat Protection, Dark Web monitoring, dedicated IP addresses, split tunneling, and a network of 7.100+ servers in 118 countries, including P2P servers. Port forwarding is the only thing noticeably missing from the list but the Meshnet feature largely makes up for that.

Speed: This is one of the fastest VPN providers on the market. During testing, I started out with a baseline speed of 96 Mbps, and using the quick connect feature, my speed remained at an impressive 93 Mbps.

Privacy and security: You get all of the necessary features for safe torrenting including an independently verified no-logs policy, RAM-only servers, AES 256-bit encryption, IP & DNS leak protection, an automatic Kill Switch, and secure tunneling protocols.

Performance: Not only can I download torrents quickly using NordVPN, but I can enjoy the same seamless performance for every online activity from streaming to gaming.

Streaming: You can easily bypass geo-blocks and enjoy a huge library of streaming content on Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, HBO Max, Hulu, and much more!

Compatibility: Connect up to 10 devices at once using Nord’s intuitively designed apps for macOS, iOS, Android, Windows, and Linux.

Pricing: This premium VPN gives you great value for your money at $3.39/month plus 4 months free when you sign up for the 2-year plan. Signing up is risk-free since it comes with 24/7 customer support and a 30-day trial.

3. Surfshark

Surfshark is a budget VPN that is reliable, easy to use, and comes with all the features you need for safe torrenting. Best of all, it comes with unlimited simultaneous connections so you can cover your whole household for one low price, no matter how large it is!

Features: In addition to its network of 3,200+ servers in 100 countries, including P2P servers, Surfshark offers obfuscation, split tunneling, Double VPN, dedicated IP addresses, ad blocking, tracker blocking, and malware protection.

Speed: The speeds I got were a bit slower than the premium VPNs. From a baseline download speed of 94 Mbps, my download speed decreased to 77 Mbps when using the quick connect feature to find a VPN server.

Privacy and security: Surfshark protects all of your Internet activity with a verified zero-logs policy, RAM-only servers, secure tunneling protocols, AES 256-bit encryption, leak protection, and an automatic Kill Switch.

Performance: I did experience delays on some servers, especially during peak-use hours, but the 24/7 live chat support was able to direct me to a faster server where I could torrent, stream, and game smoothly.

Streaming: Surfshark has solid geo-spoofing capabilities, so you can watch shows on Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, and more without geographical restrictions stopping you!

Compatibility: The apps are well-designed and compatible with Android, Windows, iOS, macOS, and Linux devices.

Pricing: The best part about this VPN is the pricing which begins at just $1.99/month, and it includes 4 months free and a 30-day money-back guarantee!

How I chose the best VPNs for torrenting in Germany

Here are the key features I looked for when choosing the best torrenting VPNs for Germany.

• Security. When torrenting I want the best security features I can find, including AES 256-bit encryption, an automatic Kill switch, and IP & DNS leak protection.
• Privacy. I make sure all torrenting activities remain private by using a VPN with an independently verified zero-logs policy and RAM-only servers.
• Double VPN (multi-hop). I like the extra layer of protection you get by routing your Internet traffic through two VPN servers instead of one, though it does slow down the process.
• Port forwarding. I recommend getting a VPN with port forwarding, which directs specific traffic from an external network to a particular device or service for enhanced security while file sharing.
• Obfuscation (Stealth VPN). I prioritize VPNs that offer obfuscation, which disguises VPN traffic, helping avoid detection, throttling, or restrictions.
• Server network. I looked for VPNs with a large server network, including servers in torrenting-friendly locations like Switzerland. I also want one that offers P2P-optimized servers designed for enhanced speed and privacy for sharing P2P files.
• Speed. I looked for fast VPNs that ensure I can download torrents quickly.
• Compatibility. I gave preference to VPNs that have user-friendly apps for all common devices and operating systems.
• Customer support. My recommended VPNs all come with 24/7 live chat support and a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can try them out risk-free.
• Pricing. I only selected VPNs that offer a good value for the service provided.

Is it safe to use a free VPN to download torrents in Germany?

I wouldn’t count on a safe and secure internet connection with a free VPN.

Free VPNs need to make money somehow, and they have been known to sell their users’ browser history to third parties for profit. They also need to keep costs low, which is often at the expense of your security and privacy.

Keep in mind that most free VPNs limit data, bandwidth, or servers, which leads to slower speeds and inefficient torrenting.

What are the best torrent clients to download torrents in Germany?

Here are some of the most secure torrent clients, known for privacy-oriented features, regular updates, and community trust:

• qBittorrent. This torrent client provides encryption, IP filtering, and a proxy server to protect your privacy. It’s also open-source, so users can check for security risks.
• Transmission. This torrent client is known for its open-source format with strong community support, particularly among Linux and macOS users. It offers features to increase your security like encryption and an IP filter.
• Deluge. An open-source torrent client that offers options for added encryption, proxy support, and bandwidth control. It can be customized for anonymous torrenting with add-ons for integrating a VPN.

FAQ

How can I torrent in Germany?

Any time you torrent downloads in Germany, I recommend you secure your online activity using a high-quality VPN like ExpressVPN.

Can I torrent movies in Germany with a VPN?

Yes. You can torrent movies in Germany with a VPN as long as you are not downloading any copyrighted material, which is illegal in Germany.

Is torrenting illegal in Germany?

No. It is completely legal to torrent in Germany, however, it is illegal to torrent copyrighted materials.

Is Germany strict about prosecuting digital piracy?

Yes. You can be fined heavily and may need to appear in court if you are caught torrenting copyrighted material illegally.

Conclusion

Germany is serious when it comes to digital piracy, and if you get caught or are suspected of engaging in improper torrenting of copyrighted material, you can get into real trouble. That’s why any time you torrent in Germany, I recommend using a high-quality VPN, like ExpressVPN to ensure your privacy and safety.