12 Best Torrent Sites That Are Safe and Work in 2024

Finding a working torrent site is not only tricky but can be dangerous. Even the most reputable ones sometimes get taken down for copyright infringement. Searching for a P2P site on Google can be risky and usually gets you nowhere. Results are often packed with fake sites containing dodgy links and disturbing ads instead of actual torrent sites. In addition, your ISP may block real torrent sites from your searches, depending on your location.

My team and I tested 50+ torrent sites and shortlisted the 12 best ones with long-standing reputations and huge amounts of content. Plus, each one verifies torrents for added safety.

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The Best Torrent Sites That Still Work in 2024

1. The Pirate Bay — The Most Popular and Well-Established Torrent Site

Note: You should not use The Pirate Bay to download pirated or illegal content.

The Pirate Bay is one of the best-known torrent sites used by millions of people every month. Although it has gone offline sporadically and is blocked by dozens of ISPs across the world, it’s still thriving and has managed to avoid several takedown attempts over the years. There are literally millions of torrents available on the site (although be wary that many are copyright-protected).

The Pirate Bay's results pages work just like Google's

The Pirate Bay is generally safe, but to minimize risk, look for the green skull and crossbones beside each torrent listing. It’s not a 100% guarantee of safety against viruses or malware, but it does mean that a verified user has uploaded the torrent, so it’s more trustworthy than other downloads.

With its vast community of seeders, you get faster P2P downloads. Even old or obscure torrents usually have at least a few seeders. The only minor downside is that The Pirate Bay displays a few ads; sometimes, they can look pretty shady. But you can easily use a trusted ad blocker or VPN malicious content blocker to avoid them.

Check out The Pirate Bay

2. 1337x — Huge Torrent Library With Great Variety

Note: You should not use 1337x to download pirated or illegal content.

1337x is another popular torrent website with movies, TV shows, and music, but it has a good collection of games as well. What's great is that 1337x has been around for a while, and its community is active, which means its torrents are updated every few hours.

Each torrent lists helpful information, including how many people are seeding/leeching the torrent, when it was last updated, and even when a moderator last checked it.

1337x takes donations via Bitcoin, so it doesn't have annoying banner ads like The Pirate Bay

1337x has a built-in media player, so you can stream torrents rather than downloading the whole file first. It took a few attempts to get it to work since it opened some ads in other tabs on the first few clicks. After that, I could steam the copyright-free House on Haunted Hill (1959) in smooth HD quality.

Check out 1337x

3. YTS — Best Torrent Site for High-Quality Movies

Note: You should not use YTS to download pirated or illegal content.

YTS (formerly YIFY) is one of the best torrent websites for high-quality movies. It offers thousands of movie titles, many of which come with subtitles and are available in 1080p. The best part is that its P2P files are small, but the quality isn't compromised, so it's great for anyone, regardless of internet speed.

YTS's content doesn't load into a separate tab or a downloadable app

Since YTS specializes in movies, you won't find other types of content like music, games, or software clogging up your searches. You also get IMDb and RottenTomatoes user data, so you can see if you’re likely to enjoy a movie before you download it.

However, it has some annoying pop-up ads that can jeopardize your privacy. If you want to avoid ads altogether, I recommend using a reliable ad blocker.

Check out YTS

4. EZTV — Best Torrent Site for TV Shows

Note: You should not use EZTV to download pirated or illegal content.

EZTV specializes in TV shows, attracting around 20 million visitors per month. Although it might not have as extensive a library as some of the bigger P2P sites like The Pirate Bay or 1337x, it's a great choice if you're specifically looking for TV shows. Plus, it has an extensive collection of old shows.

You can arrange EZTV's torrents by size, release date, or number of seeders

I liked that you can download full seasons as well as individual episodes. It includes all the latest titles alongside public domain content, so be careful you don’t download anything that’s under copyright. The user interface is a little clunky, though, and looks like a forum from circa 2005. But it’s home to plenty of cool public domain shows with many seeders.

Check out EZTV

5. Limetorrents — Huge Torrent Library With Tons of Varied Downloads

Note: You should not use Limetorrents to download pirated or illegal content.

Limetorrents boasts a massive library with over 10 million torrents across all media types. Searches on the P2P site always yield plenty of results, so you won’t be disappointed. Its library is even larger than The Pirate Bay’s, which is very impressive.

I recommend displaying torrents by health since it shows the most reliable files

The P2P site shows the top 100 torrents as well as new torrents. These focus on newer releases, meaning most of them are under copyright and illegal to download. So, be careful when using this list. Otherwise, Limetorrents has tons of other public domain files that you can download safely and legally.

Check out Limetorrents

6. Torlock — Best Torrent Site for Verified Downloads

Note: You should not use Torlock to download pirated or illegal content.

If you’re concerned about downloading unsafe torrents, then consider using Torlock. The P2P site bills itself as “The No Fakes Torrent Site” and is one of the few that still uses its “.com” domain name, meaning it’s well-established. In particular, it has a lot of music, ebooks, and anime series in its library.

I found lots of public domain content with subtitles in various languages

Its homepage displays the most recent and popular torrents for each category. However, new releases are usually under copyright, which means downloading them is illegal — so beware. It also carries multiple dating pop-ups on almost every page, but you can stop them with a reliable ad blocker.

Check out Torlock

7. TorrentGalaxy — Tons of High-Quality TV Shows and Movies

Note: You should not use TorrentGalaxy to download pirated or illegal content.

TorrentGalaxy is a newer but popular torrent site that hosts a wide variety of content, including but not limited to movies, TV shows, music, software, and games. The torrents offered are known for their high quality, and the interface is refreshingly modern for a torrent site.

Many torrent sites offer user accounts but with IPTorrent, it's essential to gain entry

TorrentGalaxy is committed to providing a safe platform for its users. To mitigate risks associated with malicious software, the site actively moderates its content and takes down any torrents reported to contain malware. It has a lot of pop-up ads, so it's a good idea to use an ad blocker such as ExpressVPN’s Threat Manager (Advanced Protection).

Check out TorrentGalaxy

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8. IPTorrents — Completely Private Torrent Site That's Safe

Note: You should not use IPTorrents to download pirated or illegal content.

Unlike the other sites on this list, IPTorrents is a fully private torrent download site. This means you can only use it if you get invited by another member or make a donation. But once you’re in, you’ll get access to an extensive library and an active community without any pop-up ads. It’s also safer because it’s much harder for people to spread spyware or malware since not just anyone can use it.

Many torrent sites offer user accounts but with IPTorrent, it's essential to gain entry

Another benefit of IPTorrents is that its download speeds tend to be faster because members need to comply with seeding quotas. However, this also means you’ll need to be an active community member to maintain access to its high-quality torrents.

Check out IPTorrents

9. NYAA — Specialized Site for Anime

Note: You should not use NYAA to download pirated or illegal content.

NYAA is a specialist site that focuses on content from Asia, especially from Japan, China, and South Korea. It's perfect if you're into anime series, but I also found some music and software on there too.

I found a good torrent for the public domain Seven Samurai on NYAA

The autocorrect function in the search box was pretty annoying, especially as so many Asian names appear to be misspelled when written in English. That said, once you navigate the searches, NYAA is a treasure trove of public domain content.

Check out NYAA

10. Demonoid — Well-Established Torrent Site With Lots of Media Types

Note: You should not use Demonoid to download pirated or illegal content.

Demonoid is one of the original torrent sites that’s still active. It once struggled under pressure to get it taken down, but now has over 10 million users and thousands of public-domain torrents. You can find various media types on Demonoid, including movies, TV shows, music, games, and more.

Like many torrent sites, Demonoid strongly recommends using a VPN

I especially liked the advanced-search-style filter options on the homepage, which help refine your searches. And, while you can still open an account when new registrations are open, it’s no longer essential. I was able to search for Carnival of Souls without logging in. That said, Demonoid and its mirror sites have a lot of downtime.

Check out Demonoid

11. iDope — Best Torrent Site for Mobile Downloads

Note: You should not use iDope to download pirated or illegal content.

iDope’s free mobile app lets you download torrents on the go. You can find the download link for the app on iDope's site as an APK file, which means you get ultimate privacy for torrenting on Android. The app is sleek and straightforward, and iDope guarantees that it will never contain ads or viruses. Plus, the database of millions of torrents is updated virtually every hour.

iDope was free of ads, graphics, and other clutter on my iPhone

The desktop interface is just as user-friendly and doesn't carry banner ads or pop-ups. It's got a Google-like appearance that's easy to navigate, even if this is your first time using the site. There’s no app for iOS, but I found the regular site worked well on my iPhone.

Check out iDope

12. FitGirl Repacks — Best Torrent Site for High-Quality Games

Note: You should not use FitGirl Repacks to download pirated or illegal content.

FitGirl Repacks is popular for providing video games with minimal bandwidth usage, making it a top choice among millions of torrent users. The site has a user-friendly design characterized by a simple layout. A search bar at the top makes it easy for users to navigate and find the games they want.

I recommend reading through the Troubleshooting guide before downloading any torrents on Fitgirl Repacks

While most users online (via Reddit, Trustpilot, etc.) regard Fitgirl Repacks as one of the safer torrent sites, you should still exercise caution. Its rapidly growing popularity has resulted in tons of copycat sites, so make sure you only download copyright-free content from its official website.

Check out FitGirl Repacks

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How to Stay Safe and Avoid Fake Torrent Sites

Staying safe while torrenting is more than just choosing a reputable site. When you visit torrent sites, your IP address is exposed, which can reveal your location and personal data to anyone who's seeding or leeching the same file. That's why it's important to take steps to protect your privacy. Here are some of the best ways to stay safe when file sharing:

• Use a VPN. A VPN encrypts your torrenting traffic and hides your IP address from other users in the torrent swarm. Plus, you can avoid bandwidth throttling, which ISPs often use if they detect file sharing (especially during peak hours). Some VPNs also come with ad, tracker, and malware blockers, which can protect you from ads and hidden viruses.
• Inspect every torrent. Unverified torrents can contain malware, hidden copyrighted content, and other threats. Ensure any torrent you download has been verified. I also recommend checking its seeder-to-leecher ratio, user comments, and the uploader’s history.
• Scan every file you download for viruses. Hackers can hide malware in torrent files. Use antivirus software to scan anything you download. It will alert you to quarantine any suspicious files. Pay particular attention to EXE, RAR, TAR, and ZIP files, and avoid WMA, WMV, and password-protected files because they’re outdated and can be dangerous.
• Use a private search engine. Mainstream search engines like Google hide the URLs of many torrent sites due to the DMCA (Digital Millennium Copyright Act) and display dangerous fork sites instead. A private search engine like DuckDuckGo won’t hide URLs and will keep your searches private.
• Use a safe torrent client. A good torrent website on its own isn’t enough to stay safe and protected. Using a reliable torrent client like uTorrent or qBittorrent will add further protection against viruses, malware, and spyware.
• Look out for copycat sites. Strange-looking URLs, numerous pop-up windows, and registration demands are all signs of dangerous copycat sites that can expose you to malware and hackers.
• Be aware of copyright. Downloading and sharing copyrighted material is illegal in most countries. This could land you in some serious legal trouble, and you could be facing hefty fines or even worse repercussions. So it's always best to be careful and avoid any copyrighted material when torrenting.

Types of Torrent Sites

Torrent sites can be categorized into two main types — public and private, based on the level of accessibility and the content available on the sites.

Public Torrent Sites

Public torrent sites are open to anyone and allow users to download and share a wide range of files. These sites are easily accessible and do not require registration or an invitation to join.

Since public torrent sites generally have a large number of active users, they often have faster download speeds due to the availability of more seeders. However, the content on public sites may not always be reliable or verified, and there is a greater risk of encountering malicious files or copyrighted material.

Private Torrent Sites

Private torrent sites are invite-only communities that require users to register and maintain a good sharing ratio to gain access. These sites often have stricter rules and guidelines to maintain quality and ensure community security. Private torrent sites offer several advantages, including:

• Higher quality control. Private torrent sites typically have dedicated uploaders who ensure the quality and authenticity of the torrents available, which helps maintain a higher standard of content.
• Enhanced security. Due to the invitation-based system, private sites tend to have a lower risk of malicious files or viruses. Additionally, they often have active moderation to prevent the sharing of illegal or harmful content.
• Specialized content. Private sites often cater to specific niches or interests, such as movies, TV shows, music, ebooks, or software. They may also focus on content from specific regions or languages.

Accessing private torrent sites can be challenging for newcomers, as they typically require an invitation from an existing member or an application process. They also emphasize maintaining a strong sharing ratio, which means users must upload as much as they download to maintain their membership.

Pros and Cons of Torrent Websites

Torrent websites have advantages and disadvantages that are important to consider if you want to ensure a safe and legal torrenting experience. Here are some key pros and cons:

Pros of Torrent Websites

• Vast content library. Torrent websites offer an extensive collection of files, including movies, TV shows, music, software, ebooks, and more. You can easily find a wide variety of content across different genres and categories. Just ensure that the files you download are in the public domain and copyright-free.
• Faster download speeds. Torrent technology utilizes a peer-to-peer (P2P) network, allowing users to simultaneously download files from multiple sources. This decentralized approach results in faster download speeds compared to traditional downloading methods.
• Resilience and availability. Torrents distribute the file-sharing load across multiple users, making the content more resilient to server failures or heavy traffic. As long as there are seeders (users who have completed the download and continue to share the file), the files remain available for download.
• Flexibility and pause/resume capability. Torrent clients allow you to prioritize and select specific files within a torrent to download. Additionally, you can pause and resume downloads anytime without losing the progress made. During my tests, I could do this with files from MagnetDL and ExtraTorrent, among others.
• Access to rare or out-of-print content. Torrent websites sometimes offer access to hard-to-find or out-of-print content that may not be available through conventional channels. This can benefit enthusiasts, researchers, or individuals seeking niche or discontinued public domain media on sites like WatchSoMuch.

Cons of Torrent Websites

• Copyright infringement concerns. One of the most significant drawbacks of torrent websites is the potential for copyright infringement. Many torrent sites host copyrighted material without proper authorization, making the act of downloading or sharing such files illegal in many jurisdictions.
• Poor content quality and security risks. Public torrent sites may have unreliable or low-quality files, leading to frustration and wasted time. Plus, since anyone can upload files, there is a risk of encountering malicious or infected content, such as viruses or malware.
• Legal consequences. Engaging in unauthorized downloading or sharing of copyrighted material can result in legal consequences, including fines or legal action from copyright holders. You need to understand and respect copyright laws to avoid potential legal issues. This is why I only recommend using torrenting sites to download content in the public domain.

Tips on How to Choose the Best Torrenting Site for You

Even some of the most well-known torrenting sites can be dangerous, so it’s good to know what to look for when choosing one. Since most P2P sites are unregulated (or difficult to regulate), they may contain fake links with viruses, malware, or tracking software. So it can still be risky to download links from them.

That’s why my team and I put each torrenting site through extensive testing and only listed those with long-standing, trustworthy reputations. When selecting a torrent website, take into account the following crucial elements:

• Safety indicators. There are plenty of clues as to whether a torrent site is reputable and, therefore, trustworthy. For instance, it’s best if a site has been up for 5 years minimum, and has a high volume of monthly traffic (look for engaged users and recent comments). A high ratio of seeders to leechers is a good indication of a high level of sharing, resulting in faster downloads.
• Library size. A torrenting site with a large library will make it much easier for you to find the content you want without having to bounce to another site. That’s why The Pirate Bay ranks so well in our list — it has one of the largest libraries around.
• Media types. Make sure your site’s library has a wide mix of different content types. If you’re after a particular type of content, such as movies, then consider specialist sites too.
• As few ads as possible. Intrusive pop-up ads are an inevitable feature of many torrent sites. Some less reputable torrent sites may also have malicious ads that, if you click them, direct you to a phishing scam or infect your device with malware. Avoid sites that bombard you with ads, and use a reputable ad blocker, like those offered by premium VPNs.
• Availability in your region. Some regions block torrent sites more than others, so make sure you can access the site in your area. Most reputable torrent sites also provide mirror links in case the main site gets blocked.

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Beware of These Torrent Sites — Some Are Fake

Certain torrenting sites may be well-liked, but they risk exposing your data and infecting your device with malware. Unfortunately, the more popular a site becomes, the more likely it is that fake, unsafe copycats will appear. These torrenting sites are potentially unsafe fakes:

• KickAssTorrents. KickAssTorrents (KAT) was once the most popular torrent site globally, only to be taken down for good. Its founder, Artem Vaulin, has been on the run from US authorities due to numerous charges of copyright infringement. Several copycat sites look similar but require you to install browser extensions to use them, which is a huge red flag.
• Torrentz2. Since the original Torrentz was shut down in 2016, various attempts have been made at a sequel or reboot site. Like the original, they have all been stopped. All that remains now are fake placeholder sites and aggregator sites that return zero results.
• RuTracker. A Russian site that isn’t very easy to navigate, requires a sign-up to download any torrents and is strongly rumored to share user data with the Russian authorities.

What Torrent Sites Does Reddit Recommend?

A lot of Reddit posts champion The Pirate Bay as well as many other of the listed sites above. Be wary of old posts, though, since I found many mentions of RARBG, Torrentz, Torrentz2, and other sites that are now fake, dangerous, or shut down.

If you’re looking for a specialized site for anime, many Redditors recommend AnimeK. I found this to be a reliable torrent site, but I preferred NYAA because it had more seeders, which let me download my favorite shows faster.

Editors' Note: Intego, Private Internet Access, CyberGhost and Expressvpn are owned by Kape Technologies, our parent company.

FAQs on The Best Torrent Sites

Which torrenting site is the fastest in 2024?

Reputable sites with many seeders, like The Pirate Bay, are usually the fastest. That’s because the more sources there are, the faster the files will download. Private torrent sites are also known to offer faster download speeds as they require anyone who downloads a file to seed it back.

Protecting yourself while torrenting is important, so a high-speed VPN is vital to maintain fast torrent downloads. A VPN with the WireGuard or Lightway protocol won’t noticeably slow your download speeds, so they are the best option for torrenting quickly and safely.

Are torrent download sites legal?

This depends on the torrent site and your location. Torrenting itself is legal in most countries, but many regions block access to torrent sites since they facilitate the sharing of copyright-protected files. Downloading copyrighted material has legal repercussions in most countries — you can get arrested and receive hefty fines.

Some countries allow torrent sites to stand, but others are serious about blocking them. Some regions that block torrent sites at the ISP level include India, Australia, the UK, China, Russia, and others. The team and I don’t condone illegal torrenting. Make sure you only download public domain files, and be sure to check the rules and regulations in your country before you torrent.

Is torrenting safe?

It depends — there are ways to torrent safely, but it can be dangerous. Before using a torrent site or downloading torrents, there are several factors to consider, such as the site's reputation and whether the torrent has been verified. It’s also best to layer up protection by using a VPN, ideally one with a malware blocker.

Also, remember that torrenting copyrighted material is illegal in most countries. So be sure to check that the file you’re downloading doesn’t infringe on copyright law to avoid any possible repercussions.

Why are some torrenting sites blocked?

Global governments typically enforce torrent site blocks due to copyright concerns, preventing unlawful sharing and downloading. As well as blocking, they can also order torrent sites to be taken down altogether, like when the US shut down KickAssTorrents.

Searching for torrent sites is difficult because search engines like Google omit them due to copyright issues. Extensions like Chrome's AdBlock further obstruct access. To safely explore torrent sites, consider using a reliable VPN. However, you should research your local regulations to determine if torrenting sites are blocked in your location.

Which is the best torrent site for movie downloads?

YTS is currently the best torrent site for downloading movies. It specializes in this area, with thousands of titles. The files are also small without compromising picture quality, so you can download them quickly. While it’s a reliable site, torrents aren’t 100% safe, so I recommend you use a reliable VPN when using YTS and download copyright-free movies only.

What can I download from torrent sites?

You can download movies, TV shows, music, software, games, and ebooks. There are some torrent sites specialized for one kind of content, but most torrent sites host a wide range of downloaded files.

However, while torrents themselves are a legitimate technology, the content shared on torrent sites may host copyrighted material. Downloading or sharing copyrighted material without proper authorization is illegal in many countries. Therefore, it is crucial to use torrent sites responsibly and respect copyright laws. The vpnMentor team does not condone copyright infringement.

How can I access the best private torrent sites?

You can typically access private torrent sites by making a donation or receiving an invite (depending on the site). To receive invitations, visit sites like Reddit and 8kun, which have anonymous messaging boards for torrenting. Here, invitations are either given out randomly or by request, so it pays to be persuasive. If you’re looking for a good private torrent site, I recommend IPTorrents.

Do you need a VPN for torrent sites?

Using a VPN for torrent sites is advisable due to the privacy and security benefits it offers. Reputable VPNs hide your IP address from other users on torrenting sites to prevent cyber threats like hacking. They also help you avoid connection throttling by keeping your online activities private from your ISP (as well as other third parties).

Is Torrentz2 or RARBG still active?

The original Torrentz shut down in 2016, and various versions of Torrentz2 have come and gone since. The only versions now available are fake sites that return zero results and template sites that act as placeholders for various dormant torrent sites.

RARBG shut down in May of 2023 for numerous reasons ranging from health concerns to expenses. While RARBG was still running, it was one of our top recommended torrent sites, with a huge number of engaged users and a sound reputation. However, events such as COVID took their toll on the torrenting giant, causing it to be too costly to continue running.

Conclusion

Finding good torrenting sites with popular search engines is tricky but not impossible. The search results are usually packed with annoying ads and dangerous links. So, to save you the trouble, I’ve shortlisted the best torrent sites that still work (after much testing and research).

Despite my best efforts, you’ll still find numerous ads and a few dangerous links on the sites listed above. But you can easily mitigate against them by using an ad blocker or a reliable VPN. The latter will also keep your file sharing safe and private should you download any public domain torrents.