Person using a laptop with torrent sites on a computerscreen in the background
Click here for a summary of the best torrent sites!
The 27 Best Torrent Sites: A Quick Roundup

There are hundreds of torrent sites on the internet, but many of them are shady, unreliable, or get shut down now and then.

You should use a good VPN to hide your identity and online traffic if you don’t want anyone to know what you’re downloading. We recommend going with NordVPN. It offers solid cybersecurity and privacy protection, paired with great speeds, real-time malware protection, an ad-blocker and excellent customer support.

We checked and tested many acclaimed torrent sites and here are the top 10 torrent websites that are still active in 2024:

  1. The Pirate Bay: Best overall torrent site
  2. 1337x: Awesome torrent site for movies, TV series, and music
  3. Torrentz2: Best torrent search engine
  4. YTS: Our recommended torrent website to download HD movies
  5. EZTV: Torrent site that focuses on TV shows
  6. LimeTorrents: Superb torrent site for new releases
  7. FitGirl Repacks: The best for latest game torrents
  8. Torrends: A unique torrent website
  9. Torrent Downloads: Good torrent site for obscure and forgotten titles
  10. IPTorrents: Awesome private torrenting site that requires a donation to enter

Torrenting itself is not illegal, but downloading copyrighted content is. It’s considered piracy and can land you in jail, depending on your jurisdiction. We recommend exercising extreme caution and steering clear of any illegal activities.

If you want to learn more about the most popular torrent sites, keep reading our article below.

Finding a reliable and secure torrent website is no easy task. The best torrent sites tend to get shut down or are blocked by internet service providers (ISPs). Besides, many torrent sites are malware-ridden, so you can’t trust any random site offering torrent files for download.

We tested over 55 sites to create a shortlist of the best torrent sites that are secure, reliable, and relatively ad-free. While the torrent sites in this article are relatively safe, we recommend only accessing them with a VPN.

NordVPN is our top VPN for torrenting. It shields you from threats on torrent sites and encrypts your traffic so your ISP, hackers, and other parties can’t see you’re torrenting. Click the link below to get a limited-time deal on NordVPN.

Why You Need a VPN When Visiting Torrent Sites

VPN shield covering up IP Adresses

Torrenting sites are notorious for containing malware. We’ve tried our best to choose torrent sites that won’t infect your device with malware. But, given the vast amount of content uploaded to these sites daily, we can’t guarantee that each one is completely safe.

Also, while we’ve sought to only select torrent websites that don’t contain copyrighted material, we can’t be 100 percent sure this is the case. In some countries, you may be fined for visiting sites that contain copyrighted material and downloading such content.

A VPN encrypts your connection and changes your IP address. This keeps you safe and blocks any attempt to track your online activities, ensuring you can download torrent files privately and securely.

We recommend using NordVPN when visiting torrent sites. Besides protecting you, this VPN can also unblock torrent sites, even in countries with strict online censorship. It hardly impacts your connection speeds, so you can download torrents quickly.

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The Best Overall Torrent Sites

Looking for all-purpose torrent sites to download movies, software, TV shows, games, and more? The websites listed below host all kinds of content, making them a one-stop shop for all your torrenting needs.

Note

Torrenting itself is not illegal, but downloading copyrighted content can be, depending on your jurisdiction. We recommend checking your local laws and steering clear of any illegal activities to avoid possible fines and other consequences.

1. The Pirate Bay: Best overall torrent site

Type of siteLinks
WebsiteThe Pirate Bay
Mirrorspirateproxy.space, tpbpirateproxy.org/en, thepiratebay.rocks

Features:

  • One of the largest torrent libraries
  • Numerous mirrors ensure sustained accessibility
  • Clean user interface
  • Limited ad-intrusion

The Pirate Bay has been a crowd favorite for many years and is still widely regarded as one of the best torrent sites. It has managed to deflect countless blocking attempts, and it’s still going strong with over 18 million monthly users on its main site.

On accessing the Pirate Bay, we found at least one seeder for every torrent listed there — no matter how old. We also got speeds of 5 to 6MB/s on most of our downloads.

We also liked The Pirate Bay’s clean user interface, which shows the number of seeders, leechers, and file size. It has minimal ad intrusion and an active community.

However, its popularity also means that it is regularly in the crosshairs of law enforcement and is regularly blocked. NordVPN excels at circumventing such restrictions, allowing you to access The Pirate Bay from anywhere!

Note:

If none of The Pirate Bay mirrors above work, take safety precautions when trying to find another one on your own. There are a lot of Pirate Bay copycat sites out there used to conduct phishing scams.


2. 1337x: Well-designed torrent website for all kinds of torrents

Type of siteLinks
Website1337x
Mirrors1337x.st (active since Oct. 2017), x1337x.ws (active since Dec. 2017), x1337x.eu (active since Mar. 2018), x1337x.se (active since May. 2018)

Features:

  • Excellent user interface
  • Trusted source for movies, TV shows, and games
  • Virtually no ads

While 1337x has been online since 2007, it has recently become very popular with users due to a recent site revamp, which made it easier to navigate and reduced security risks.

Moreover, its wide variety of torrents, spanning movies, TV shows, games, and software, makes it a great overall torrent site. However, it has a relatively smaller library compared to The Pirate Bay.

Based on our analysis, 1337x receives about 53 million users each month. Despite the heavy traffic, it provides impressive download speeds of 3 to 4 Mb/s.

The site’s owners earn money through Bitcoin donations, eliminating the need to host advertisements. As a result, 1337x is one of the best overall torrent sites today.


3. Torrentz2: Best torrent search engine

Screenshot of Torrentz2 website
Type of siteLinks
WebsiteTorrentz2
Mirrorstorrentz2eu.org, torrentz2.cyou

Features:

  • Great platform to find torrents from leading torrent websites
  • Good for finding obscure titles and movies
  • Simple and easy-to-navigable interface

Unlike The Pirate Bay and 1337x, Torrentz2 is a torrent search engine. This means it indexes files from other P2P torrent websites and lists them for you to browse through. When you find the torrent file you’re looking for on Torrentz2, you can download it directly from the P2P website.

The original Torrentz2 website (named Torrentz) was shut down in 2016 due to legal issues, but its clone has risen to prominence and receives more than 10 million hits per month.

During our tests, Torrentz2 helped us find obscure titles on torrent sites we never knew existed. However, since it redirects you to other websites, we don’t recommend using it without a VPN, as these third-party sites could compromise your safety.


4. Torrends: Great alternative torrent search engine

Type of siteLinks
WebsiteTorrends
MirrorsN/A

Features:

  • Great for hard-to-find torrents
  • Sleek and minimal design

Like Torrentz2, Torrends tracks torrents from popular sites like The Pirate Bay and 1337x. It’s yet another torrent search engine that saves you a lot of time and effort.

The download speed and all other relevant metrics are the same as you’d find on the specific site Torrends.to pulls data from. We love the seamless design and the minimal ad intrusion of this site.

With a little under five million hits a month and a great What’s Trending section, Torrends.to could be a good choice if you’re looking for obscure titles.


Screenshot of TorrentDownloads website
Type of siteLinks
WebsiteTorrent Downloads
Mirrorstorrentdownloads.net, torrentdownloads.me

Features:

  • Extensive selection of TV shows, movies, and games
  • Ads and pop-ups can be annoying

Torrent Downloads used to be one of the most popular torrent sites. However, its popularity has declined due to the growth of The Pirate Bay and 1337x. Moreover, it’s also been targeted by law enforcement agencies and remains unavailable in many regions.

Despite this, Torrent Downloads is an excellent choice if you’re looking for old gaming titles and movies, especially ones popular in Asia. We managed to get speeds of between 2 to 3 MB/s, even on older titles.

One major downside of using Torrent Downloads is the consistent ad intrusion. It even opens up new advertisement tabs, which can be annoying. Thankfully, you can block ads and declutter your Torrent Downloads browsing experience with NordVPN’s Threat Protection.


Screenshot of TorrentFunk website
Type of siteLinks
WebsiteTorrentFunk
Mirrorstorrentfunk2.com

Features:

  • Extensive library of magnet links for direct torrent downloads
  • Helpful classification of torrents into different categories

TorrentFunk recently underwent a major revamp, reducing ads and improving its overall user experience. As a result, it’s moved up from the “Torrent Sites to Avoid” section and is now ranking among our best torrent sites.

We particularly like its great library of magnet links for direct torrent downloads. Moreover, all the files on TorrentFunk are separated into different categories, and you can access a list of the most recent and popular files from the homepage.


7. DirtyTorrents: Excellent torrent search engine for software

Homepage of the torrent website DirtyTorrents
Type of siteLinks
WebsiteDirtyTorrents
MirrorsN/A

Features:

  • Easy to navigate
  • Nice categorization of content
  • Large selection of software, games, and adult films

Like Torrentz2 and Torrends, DirtyTorrents also indexes other P2P torrent sites and lists search results in an orderly and convenient manner. We particularly like its extensive categorization of content and simple user interface.

Not looking for something specific? You can visit the “Recent” category to find all the content uploaded in the last 24 hours. This includes movies, games, apps, adult films, music, and more. DirtyTorrents has an extensive library of software tools.

However, using a VPN is important when accessing DirtyTorrents since it redirects you to other potentially unsafe websites. Moreover, some of the movies and software listed on the platform are copyrighted, and downloading them could land you in legal trouble. We strongly recommend using NordVPN when visiting this site.


8. Bitport: Best platform for downloading torrents in the cloud

Homepage of the torrent website Bitport
Type of siteLinks
WebsiteBitport
MirrorsN/A

Features:

  • Download torrents safely to the cloud
  • Allows downloads on phones and other devices
  • Stream content while it downloads

When using Bitport, you download torrent files to a cloud server and access them from there. Hence, the torrent file is never downloaded onto your device, preventing malware infections.

Moreover, Bitport allows you to torrent from your iPhone or Android since files are downloaded to the cloud, not your device. We particularly like the option to stream movies and shows while downloading the torrent file.

However, unlike other torrent sites, you will need to create an account to download torrents from Bitport.


9. idope: Simple torrent site with a vast library

Homepage of the torrent website iDope
Type of siteLinks
Websiteidope
Mirrorsidope.pw, idope.buzz

Features:

  • Simple and clean interface
  • Features the latest software and games

idope is a frequently updated torrenting site with a wide array of content, including movies, TV shows, music, anime, games, and more. There’s also a handy “Trending” filter that allows you to discover new content.

We found that idope has a decent amount of seeders for its files, allowing us to download content quickly. It also has the latest content, like newly released episodes of Secret Invasion and Adobe InDesign 2023. idope may contain copyrighted content, so accessing it can get you in trouble, depending on where you live.

Regardless of where you live, we recommend using NordVPN to hide your IP address and protect your privacy when visiting torrent sites.


10. YourBittorent: Torrent site with verified torrents

A screenshot of the homepage of YourBittorrent
Type of siteLinks
WebsiteYourBittorrent
Mirrorshttps://yourbittorrent2.com/

Features:

  • Features verified torrents that are safe to download
  • Lists torrents from multiple sources

YourBittorrent is a simple site with all the latest torrents on its homepage. From TV shows to anime, you’ll find the latest releases on this site.

The site gets its torrents from multiple sources, giving you several options to choose from. We also like that it has verified torrents that are safe for download. You’ll find the latest verified torrents in the “New & Verified” section.


The Best Torrent Sites for Movies and TV Shows

While movies and TV shows are easily accessible today on Netflix, Amazon Prime, and other streaming platforms, some people prefer torrenting them. This is especially true for the latest movies, which are yet to be released on streaming platforms.

The torrent sites listed below cater specifically to the latest movies and TV shows.

Warning:

The sites below often host copyright-infringing content. Accessing such material, with or without a VPN, is a criminal offense in most countries. VPNOverview does not condone copyright infringement.

1. YTS: Best torrent site for HD movies

Screenshot of YTS website
Type of siteLinks
WebsiteYTS
Mirrorsyts.am, yts.pm, yts.lt (but so far the site has never been taken down)

Features:

  • Extensive catalogue of HD movie torrents
  • Features classic movies and shows
  • Clean interface with minimal ad-intrusion

YTS has quickly become the go-to torrent site for anyone looking to download movies and TV shows. The site specializes in HD-quality movie torrents optimized for different devices and bandwidth requirements.

Not only can you download movie torrents at speeds between 2 to 3 MB/s, but you can also stream them on the website. The site is designed beautifully and features minimal ad intrusion.

If you’re looking for obscure movies that are difficult to find, this is one of the top torrent sites to check out. In fact, it’s the only torrent site where we could find movies like 12 Angry Men in 1080p.

YTS has been hit with numerous lawsuits in the past, resulting in the site handing over user info to various organizations. With that in mind, we wouldn’t recommend using it without a bulletproof VPN like NordVPN to protect your data.


2. EZTV: Great torrent site focused on TV shows

Screenshot of EZTV website
Type of siteLinks
WebsiteEZTV
Mirrorseztv.wf, eztv.yt, eztv.tf

Features:

  • Features an extensive collection of the latest and classic TV shows
  • Good seeder-to-leecher ratio on most torrents
  • Ad-intrusion can be a little annoying

If you want high-definition episodes of your favorite shows, EZTV is one of the best torrent sites to check out. While its library isn’t as large as some other torrent sites on this list, there are hardly any TV shows you won’t find on this site.

Thanks to its active community — clocking in at around 20 million monthly visitors — the seeder/leecher ratio is pretty decent. While ad intrusion is sometimes annoying, its library size and download speed of 2 to 3 MB/s somewhat make up for it.

We were particularly impressed by the availability of classics, like Midsomer Murders, which are otherwise only available on platforms like BBC iPlayer.


3. LimeTorrents: Best torrent site for the latest releases

A screenshot of LimeTorrent's homepage
Type of siteLinks
WebsiteLimeTorrents
Mirrorslimetorrents.asia, limetorrents.zone, limetorrents.co, limetor.com, limetor.pro

Features:

  • New movies and TV shows are available within a few days of their release
  • Good download speeds on virtually all torrents
  • Allows streaming of movies and shows on the website

LimeTorrents is one of the best torrent sites for new releases. It has been around since 2009, and its library can give even The Pirate Bay a run for its money.

The average download speed on LimeTorrents is 3 to 4 MB/s, and the site has close to 20 million users a month. With a seamless interface and a very good seeder/leecher ratio on new torrents, it’s a solid choice for torrenters everywhere.

What we like most about LimeTorrents compared to other torrent sites is that you can stream movies on the site instead of downloading them. This saves you a lot of time waiting for downloads to finish. In our tests, we found the streaming to be reliable, too.

However, LimeTorrents displays many ads, which can make browsing the website quite annoying. Moreover, the website is blocked in several countries, including the UK and France, so you’ll need a top-notch VPN provider, like NordVPN, to access it.


4. Nyaa.si: Best torrent site for anime

Type of siteLinks
WebsiteNyaa
Mirrorsnyaa.iss.one, nyaa.ink

Features:

  • Extensive repository of anime shows
  • Excellent download speeds on virtually all torrents

Nyaa is a dedicated anime torrent site. It has a variety of anime, from raw anime to English dubs, that are of excellent quality and synchronized well. It can compete with some of the best free anime streaming sites.

Roughly 46 million anime fans visit Nyaa monthly, ensuring a healthy seeder-to-leecher ratio. We downloaded the latest anime shows on Nyaa super fast, and the quality was superb.

To get the torrents with the most seeds (which results in faster downloads), click on the up arrow in the header of the table. This will arrange the anime torrents in descending order based on download speed (number of seeders).


5. AniDex: Great alternative torrenting site for anime

A screenshot of AniDex's homepage
Type of siteLinks
WebsiteAniDex
MirrorsN/A

Features:

  • Vast library featuring anime, manga, and other comics
  • Some torrents may contain malware and Trojans

AniDex is an anime torrent website that’s updated frequently. You can expect to find anime dubs, pictures, audio, games, and manga. It has a great library with subtitles but is not as vast as Nyaa.

If you don’t find a specific anime title on Nyaa, AniDex is a great place to look. It’s important to note that some users have encountered malware like Trojans on the site.

If you have to download content from AniDex, use an effective VPN with malware protection like NordVPN.


Homepage of the torrent website Public Domain Torrents
Type of siteLinks
WebsitePublic Domain Torrents
MirrorsN/A

Features:

  • Only hosts legal movie torrents, so there’s no risk of copyright violations
  • An active community of torrenters

Public Domain Torrents is a legal site where you can download movies for free. These movies are in the public domain. So, you shouldn’t be too concerned about breaking the law when downloading torrent files from this site.

Unfortunately, you won’t find the latest movies on Public Domain Torrents. However, there are old movies such as Sherlock Holmes, Charlie Chaplin, and other classics to keep you entertained.


Best Torrent Sites for Games

In addition to movies and TV shows, games are among the most popular torrent categories. While you’ll find games on some of the torrent sites listed above — like The Pirate Bay and 1337x — the sites below cater specifically to gamers.

If you’re looking for a specific gaming title, we’d recommend checking one of our best gaming torrent sites instead of a more general one.

1. FitGirl Repacks: Best torrent site for games

Type of siteLinks
Website FitGirl Repacks
MirrorsN/A

Features:

  • Hosts the latest game titles in relatively small-sized torrents
  • 100% lossless games that match the originals

FitGirl is the go-to site for serious gamers who want the latest and most authentic gaming torrents. The games are as close to the original as you can get. According to FitGirl, most games are 100% lossless and MD5 perfect.

More importantly, the games are compressed to almost 90% of their initial size. This means faster downloads.

Also, every game has a summary of requirements and features, such as the HDD space and RAM space required, installation time, and a description for each game. There’s also a “Monthly Archive” section that makes it easy to find any specific game you may be looking for.


2. GazelleGames: Private torrent site for games

Type of siteLinks
Website GazelleGames
MirrorsN/A

Features:

  • Member-only private site with fewer scammers and hackers
  • Hosts only verified game torrents

GazelleGames is a members-only torrent site that hosts more than 60,000 verified and authentic game torrents. It boasts an active community of seeders that help to speed up downloads.

However, getting a GazelleGames membership is not easy. You need a pre-existing member to invite you. You can scour Reddit forums to find an existing member willing to give you an invite. If you’re lucky, you can even get a free membership without an invite, but GamesGazelle rarely opens its membership.


3. CRO: Best torrent site for PC games

Type of siteLinks
Website CRO
MirrorsN/A

Features:

  • Large selection of PC gaming torrents
  • Clean user interface
  • Lots of pop-ups

If you’re a PC gaming enthusiast, CRO is a website you must check out. It features a great collection of game torrents that almost always work. Moreover, it has a clean and simple interface, which makes finding any game a breeze.

We only found games released in 2021 or earlier when we visited CRO. So, it’s not the best site for the latest torrents. Additionally, getting to your desired torrent files requires clicking through several pop-ups, which is rather cumbersome.

But if you’re looking for classic PC titles on a relatively malware-free website, CRO is a great pick. Of course, there’s no guarantee that all torrents on the site are safe, which is why we recommend using NordVPN when visiting CRO.


4. isoHunt: Classic torrent website for games

Type of siteLinks
WebsiteisoHunt
Mirrorsisohunt.nz

Features

  • Reputable torrent site for games and other kinds of torrents
  • Frequently updated torrent library with the latest games

isoHunt has been serving torrents to users for a long time. It has a vast library of different content that’s updated frequently. You can expect TV shows, ebooks, software, movies, games, and so much more on isoHunt.

We especially like that the game selection is well-updated and has some of the latest games, such as Alien Descent. However, be prepared to click through several pop-up tabs when navigating the website.


5. TorLock: Torrent website with no fake torrents

Type of siteLinks
WebsiteTorLock
MirrorsN/A

Features:

  • Only lists genuine and authentic torrents
  • Features hard-to-find games

TorLock is a gaming torrent site that places a premium on security. It has a no-fake torrent policy and rewards any community member who finds a fake torrent with $1.

In addition to the latest games, TorLock even features some older games that are harder to find. However, the website is blocked in some countries. Hence, you’ll need NordVPN’s unblocking capabilities to access TorLock.


The Best Private Torrent Sites

Due to incessant government crackdowns, several popular torrent sites restrict their memberships. These private torrent sites can be hard to get into, but they typically feature high-quality torrents.

We’ll explain how you can access these private torrent sites later in this article.

1. IPTorrents – The best private torrent site

Screenshot of IPTorents website, homepage
Type of siteLinks
WebsiteIPTorrents
MirrorsN/A

Features:

  • Features high-quality torrents uploaded by members
  • High download and streaming speeds on most torrents

IPTorrents is one of the biggest private torrenting sites, boasting a vast library, an active community, and virtually no ad intrusion. But you’ll need an invitation to access it.

Getting into IPTorrents also requires a Bitcoin donation, which means fewer malicious users are on the platform. Moreover, most torrents on the site are legitimate.

Private torrenting sites generally have significantly higher streaming speeds than public ones because members must comply with seeding quotas. Despite the high level of security, we recommend encrypting your connection with NordVPN before accessing IPTorrents or any other private torrent site.


2. Bibliotik: Private torrent site for ebook lovers

Bibliotik Website
Type of siteLinks
WebsiteBibliotik
MirrorsN/A

Features:

  • Extensive library of ebooks and comics
  • Currently not accepting new members

Bibliotik is the largest private torrenting site for downloading ebooks. Whether you’re an undergraduate doing research or just looking for obscure books like the Nick Stone series, Bibliotik is bound to have what you need.

With a library size and a traffic count clocking in the hundreds of thousands, it’s easily one of the top torrent sites. Unfortunately, Bibliotik is not currently accepting new members.


3. Demonoid: Highly trusted private torrent site

Homepage of the torrent website Demonoid
Type of siteLinks
WebsiteDemonoid
MirrorsN/A

Features:

  • Private torrent website that hosts movies, games, software, and other kinds of torrents
  • Only features high-quality and secure torrents

Demonoid is a long-standing torrent site. It has a simple and user-friendly interface with everything, from torrents to a forum. However, Demonoid requires users to sign up for an account to access its torrents.

This is to ensure that it maintains a trusted community of loyal users who contribute to the site. For this reason, the torrents are of high quality, with many seeders and few leechers. Sign-ups to the site are usually closed.

You must wait for the next open sign-up season to access it. To keep track of when the site opens the door for new users, we encourage you to hang out in the Demoinoid subreddit (r/Demonoid).

Unfortunately, users in certain parts of the world, such as Australia and some Asian countries, are blocked from accessing Demonoid. You can use NordVPN to bypass geo-restrictions and access Demonoid.


4. RuTracker: Private Russian torrent site with a vast library

Homepage of the torrent website RuTracker
Type of siteLinks
WebsiteRuTracker
Mirrorsrutracker.net, rutracker.nl

Features:

  • Massive library of content
  • Open to new users

RuTracker is a Russian-owned torrent site that has existed for eons. It boasts a massive library of different content ranging from TV shows to apps. It also has obscure content, such as music production plugins.

Unlike other torrent sites that close sign-ups, users can register with RuTracker at any time and join its community of 15 million users. Just be sure to read the numerous rules and adhere to them to avoid a ban.

The site is safe to use, according to our tests and the feedback from Reddit users.


5. REDacted: Private torrent website for music

Homepage of the torrent website REDacted
Type of siteLinks
WebsiteRED
MirrorsN/A

Features:

  • Huge library of music torrents
  • Torrents are well-seeded, leading to fast downloads

RED is a private torrent tracker with a massive music library (1,000,000+ torrents). Of course, being a private tracker, you’ll need to pass an interview that gauges your knowledge of music to get in.

Sometimes, you can get an invite from other members of RED’s official IIRC channel, but that’s rare. Downloads are usually fast since all torrents are well-seeded by the community.

The platform is also safe since uploads are verified to ensure they are free of malware. Regardless, you’ll want to protect your identity using NordVPN when visiting RED.


6. MyAnonaMouse: Great private torrent site for ebooks and audiobooks

Homepage of the torrent website MyAnonaMouse
Type of siteLinks
WebsiteMyAnonaMouse
MirrorsN/A

Features:

  • More than 60,000 books, comics, and magazines
  • Safe and verified torrents

MyAnonaMouse is another private tracker dedicated to providing users with free ebooks and audiobooks. It has legal books, comics, music, and magazines in its library of over 60,000 torrents.

Like most renowned private trackers, MyAnonaMouse has an interview process that prospects have to pass to be admitted to the site. You can find available interview time slots on the site’s homepage.

Fortunately, MyAnonaMouse is more lenient during interviews than other trackers like RED. However, if you score an invite, read the rules carefully and abide by them. Otherwise, it’s easy to get suspended or banned.


How We Select Secure Torrent Sites

We only picked torrent sites that meet our strict criteria for this list. Some of the things we took into consideration are:

An infographic showing the criteria used to select safe torrent sites
  1. Reputation: We assessed the overall standing of each torrent website within the online community. This involved examining user reviews, ratings on reputable forums, and endorsements from established tech websites.
  2. History of data collection: We investigated each website’s history of data collection and privacy practices. We didn’t include any websites that have been implicated in mishandling user data.
  3. Clear contact information: We looked for clear and accessible contact information on each torrent website. This includes email addresses, contact forms, or social media links that allow users to report issues or inquire about the website.
  4. Security measures: We examined the specific security measures each torrent website employs to protect its users. This includes HTTPS protocols, SSL certificates, and regular security audits.

Factors to Consider When Selecting Torrent Sites

When choosing a torrent site, there are several factors to consider if you want to enjoy fast download speeds, minimal ad intrusion, and a generally smooth experience.

Infographic showing 6 factors to consider when selecting the best torrent sites

Here are some things to look for when choosing a torrent site.

  • Download speed: This will help you gauge how long it will take for files to download to your device. Your average download depends largely on the torrent site’s seeder/leecher ratio. 
  • Monthly traffic: If many people are trooping to a particular website, it’s a sign that it’s popular and likely offering useful content. 
  • Library size and torrent type: The more extensive a torrent site’s library, the higher the chances of finding your favorite content. Look for sites with a wide range of torrent files, from movies to games. In some cases, specialized torrent sites offer better niche content than large torrent sites. 
  • Comments and ratings: Read the comments and ratings from other users who have downloaded the same torrent. This can provide valuable information about the quality and safety of the file. Pay extra attention to comments about computer worms, malware, or other issues. 
  • Ad intrusion: If you have to go through multiple ads to download one file, that torrent site might not be worthwhile. Besides the inconvenience, such ads might contain malware and viruses.

How to Use Torrent Sites

Torrenting and P2P icon

A torrent is a small file with metadata about the files you’re trying to get. To download a torrent, you need a P2P client, also known as a torrent client.

A P2P client reads the metadata in a torrent file and includes your computer in a relevant P2P network. So, you’re basically downloading the file from people who already have it and are “seeding” it at that moment. If there are no seeders, your download won’t even start.

Here’s a short step-by-step guide to using torrent sites:

  1. You’ll need a torrent client. We recommend qBittorrent, a free, open-source, and ad-free torrent client. Other popular options include uTorrent and BitTorrent, but prepare to face plenty of ads when using those.
  2. Install your torrent client.
  3. Navigate to the torrent you want to download and either download the torrent or open the magnet link.
  4. If your browser prompts you to “Choose an application” when opening the magnet link, pick your torrent client from the list of programs.

    Screenshot of torrent website, showing example of how to open magnet link
  5. Your torrent client will open a pop-up window that displays information about your chosen torrent. In this window, you can select the download location, edit categories, and more.

    Screenshot of torrent preview
  6. Confirm your torrent download by clicking “OK.” Your download should begin shortly after.

    Screenshot of qBittorrent interface, downloading

When your file has been downloaded, go to the place it was saved on your device to view it.

How to Torrent Safely

It’s important to take safety precautions when downloading torrents. Otherwise, you may unwittingly expose your identity and leave your device vulnerable to malware, viruses, and phishing attacks

An infographic showing the steps involved in safely downloading torrents

Here are the steps you should take while downloading torrents:

  • Use a VPN. A VPN will route your connection through a secure server. This keeps you anonymous and allows you to access blocked torrent sites. Choose a VPN with dedicated P2P servers, like NordVPN. This type of server guarantees fast speeds for peer-to-peer file sharing.
  • Install an ad blocker. Ads on torrenting sites sometimes take the form of a fake download button. Using an ad blocker disables ads altogether. You’ll never be confused about what to click or worry about accidentally downloading malware.
  • Set up an antivirus on your devices: If you accidentally download a torrent file with malware, an antivirus scanner will ensure you can’t run it and prevent your devices from getting infected. Norton360 is particularly effective at blocking threats in torrent files, thanks to its robust firewall.
  • Beware of fake download links: To make money from your clicks, torrent sites will display a more predominant button that won’t download the torrent file but rather a different, unrelated software. Scrutinize torrent sites and ensure what you’re clicking is the actual download link.

NordVPN is our No. 1 torrenting VPN. It uses 256-bit AES encryption to secure your private data and online traffic. It also has a built-in ad-blocker and provides real-time malware protection.

How to Access Private Torrent Sites

Our list covers several private torrent sites with high-quality torrents and have an active community. However, becoming a member of these websites can be notoriously difficult.

We took a deep dive into the world of private torrent sites, and we could obtain invitations for some of them. For example, we got into FileList, Romania’s largest private torrent site.

filelist

If you don’t know an existing member of a private torrent site to invite you, check out torrenting forums on Reddit, 8chan, and anonymous forums. You can also check the sites periodically (some have open registrations throughout the year) or visit the r/OpenSignups subreddit.

Torrent Sites to Avoid

Torrent site icon surrounded with thumbs down

A few potentially dangerous torrenting sites still get a lot of traffic, and you’ll find some articles online recommending them.

While you don’t risk anything per se when using those sites, they’re usually just ad-riddled, inferior versions of the aforementioned platforms. We outline a few of them below.

TorrentGalaxy

TorrentGalaxy is like a downgraded version of 1337x. While it has almost eight million visitors each month and boasts a decent library, the ad intrusion level is too severe to warrant praise, especially when compared to the alternatives available.

Kickass Torrents

Yes, a version of this website is still available online. Unfortunately, this is the Kickass Torrents you’re used to only in name and appearance — the service has changed a lot since the original site was taken down.

If you want to download anything using the current version of the site, you’ll have to install an obscure browser extension first. We can’t confirm that this extension is safe, and we do not recommend installing it under any circumstance as it may pose serious privacy and security risks. It’s better to use one of the many trusted Kickass Torrents alternatives.

ExtraTorrents

ExtraTorrents was a popular torrent website that operated from 2006 until it was shut down in 2017. It was one of the most visited torrent sites, only rivaled by The Pirate Bay. It offered a wide selection of content, such as movies, TV shows, music, software, and games.

Despite its popularity, ExtraTorrents faced numerous legal challenges over the years, leading to its eventual shutdown. ExtraTorrent alternatives started popping up after that, but they proved to be malicious and unofficial. Read our ExtraTorrent alternatives guide for legitimate torrent sites you can trust.

RARBG

RARBG was one of the largest torrent directories and was famous for its active community of seeders and high-quality torrents. In May 2023, the torrent giant closed its doors, much to the dismay of its estimated 40 million monthly visitors. While several proxies have popped up since, we can’t guarantee that any of them are safe.

Before its closure, the site was banned in several countries, including Turkey, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Portugal, Australia, and the United Kingdom.

RARBG cited several factors behind its decision to stop offering downloads, including health problems and the Russia/Ukraine conflict. Luckily, the sites in the list above are excellent RARBG alternatives!

Which Torrent Sites Are Safe?

The Pirate Bay and private torrent sites are reputed to be safe. In general, you shouldn’t have a problem downloading from the sites in our list as long as you employ the basic cyber safety practices we’ve mentioned.

We strongly advise against downloading torrents from any random site that pops up after a Google search, and we recommend using cybersecurity software, like a VPN, to shield your device from online threats when downloading torrents.

Torrenting is legal since it’s just data sharing between people. However, you need to beware of torrents that contain copyrighted content. Some scammers mislabel their torrents to trick you into illegally downloading copyrighted movies, shows, games, or music.

Remember that downloading and sharing copyrighted material without the approval of its creator is illegal, and in some countries, torrenting may lead to legal repercussions.

Different countries have different approaches to torrenting. Here’s an overview to give you an idea of what to expect.

Stance on TorrentingCountries
Torrenting is completely bannedRussia, China, Italy, Malaysia, the US, Australia, Portugal, South Africa, and Latvia
Downloading copyrighted content can result in a fineThe UK, Germany, France, Japan, Finland, and the UAE
Torrenting is monitored, and some sites are bannedCanada, Greece, Netherlands, Romania, Israel, Mexico, Czech Republic, Uruguay, India, Columbia, Slovenia, Slovakia, Argentina, Brazil, Philippines, Egypt, Iran, Denmark, and Singapore
Downloading copyrighted content is allowed for personal useSpain and Switzerland

We recommend checking your local laws and steering clear of illegal activities when using torrent sites. Stay safe on the web by taking the proper security measures; use a VPN to download torrents anonymously.

What Do People Download From Torrent Sites?

Are you curious about what people download from the best torrent sites? Below is a top 10 list of the most downloaded HD movies and TV shows from this month.

We used data from The Pirate Bay to create this roundup. The Pirate Bay is a well-known torrenting site, so the top movies there will likely be popular across the board. 

  1. Argylle
  2. Poor Things
  3. Dune: Part Two
  4. Damsel
  5. Ricky Stanicky
  6. The Beekeeper
  7. Oppenheimer
  8. Code 8: Part II
  9. Wonka
  10. Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom

Disclaimer:

Torrenting is legal, but downloading copyrighted material is considered illegal in many countries and may land you in legal trouble. VPNOverview does not condone piracy, and we advise you to always check your local laws and regulations before torrenting copyrighted content.

Conclusion: The Best Torrent Sites

Torrenting sites are fantastic libraries of hard-to-find music, movies, books, software, and much more. However, it’s important to remember that downloading copyrighted material without permission is illegal in many countries and can result in legal consequences. Moreover, some torrent sites may expose you to malware and viruses.

Avoiding the pitfalls of torrenting requires using a privacy-first and ultra-secure VPN and sticking to verified and trusted torrenting sites like those on our list. We recommend using NordVPN to hide your online activity, protect your device from malware, and stop annoying ads on torrent sites.

Want to know more about torrenting? Check out the following articles:

  1. The 10 Best Tips to Fix Torrents Not Downloading With a VPN
  2. Torrent Privacy Flaws: Is an IP Leak Putting You at Risk?
  3. The 10 Best Free Torrent Clients to Use in 2024
The Best Torrent Sites: Frequently Asked Questions

Do you have a question about torrenting and the best torrent websites? Read our FAQ!

What are the best torrenting websites of 2024?

The Pirate Bay is one of the best torrenting websites of 2024. YTS, on the other hand, mainly offers HD movies and a very nice interface, whereas Bibliotik is a great torrent site for books.

Is torrenting safe?

There are some shady torrent websites that might show you a lot of (questionable) intrusive ads or even spread malware on your system. But, there are also good and safe torrent sites, such as The Pirate Bay.

Whichever torrent site you use, it’s important to take a few safety measures (such as using a VPN) to keep your data safe and your identity anonymous. You can check out our full review of NordVPN, VPNOverview’s No. 1 VPN for torrenting.

Is torrenting legal?

Torrenting itself is legal. After all, it’s just data sharing between two devices. However, torrenting copyrighted material can land you in trouble. This is illegal in a lot of countries, punishable under many jurisdictions, and something we discourage.

Leave a comment

21
comments
  1. jennifer

    Dear Mr. Janssen, I learned alot from this page....as a novice torrenter....and senior citizen there is ALOT to learn....I found your article informative and a definate help to my torrenting mission.....:-) thanks again for your good work.

    • Evangelia Fragouli VPNOverview.com

      Dear Jennifer,
      We really appreciate your kind words and are happy that our article was helpful to you.

  2. Randy C

    I would like to (also) point out that NORD VPN is advertised quite a bit on this page, so I've been considering it. But after talking with NORD, and asking specifically about the very popular free "BitTorrent" for actually running P2P torrents, below is a quote from their response. (Note they just said "torrent", but I'm sure they mean BitTorrent since that's what I asked about.) So has anyone found that their installation of Nord prevented torrents from working?: .....
    Nord's reply to my question:
    "Regarding, torrent usage it may not work with NordVPN proxies, or proxies in general, simply because Trackers, not seeders themselves, will block any connection when the torrent client reports that it is using proxies. We cannot circumvent this block, as it is impossible to hide the fact that a torrent client is using proxies."

    • Priscilla Sherman

      Hi Randy,
      Thanks for your comment! As for our own experience with NordVPN (we test it monthly and many of us use it on a daily basis), we've never had this issue as far as I'm aware. From Nord's reply, it sounds like trackers blocking proxies is a possibility, but not a very common occurrence.
      Maybe some of our other readers would like to pitch in with their own experiences, too.

      • InventedTiME

        Don't mean to take the talk away from NordVPN, but I use ProtonVPN and they specifically call out you are welcome to use P2P services with it enabled. Been a paying customer for 1 1/2 years (they are free versions of the VPN also) and never had an issue and the speed is always great. You get a few other extras like drive space and calendar, but the VPN and Password Manager is what I use it for.

        • Priscilla Sherman

          Hello! We are definitely Proton VPN fans ourselves as well! For this particular purpose, we recommend NordVPN because it's slightly more budget-friendly than Proton. But Proton VPN definitely does a good job at protecting P2P traffic, too!

  3. Randy C

    the piratebay has been compromised, apparently with complaints going back to May 2023. As of Late August its still useless. You CAN search for and get a list of tottents, but clicking anywhere on the page (regardless of whether its a magnet site link or even just a blank white area) will open another browser tab with a download button, encouraging you to click it to start your download. The download will have nothing to do with your selected torrent, and if you have any kind of threat protection in your browser it will warn you not to proceed. You can google more folks reporting the problem with the phrase "thepiratebay has been hacked", and may even find some promises to rebuild it from backups and fix it. But 3 months later its still a trap waiting to make you download and install malware. The site has always been risky, but for now its completely useless

    • Priscilla Sherman

      Thank you for sharing, Randy! We're looking into it, but as of five minutes ago, the link provided in this article appears to work as it should! There may be other TPB mirrors out there with dangerous content, however, so definitely be careful with that. If anything changes, we will of course update the information in our article accordingly.

  4. Lateralus138

    IPTorrents does not require a donation, it requires an invite.

    • Priscilla Sherman

      Both actually work! You can get in through an invite from an active member, or get a VIP account through a donation. We clarified this section of the article to highlight this a bit more. Thank you for your comment!

  5. Ashley

    Hi,

    Please, how can I subscribe for an account in bibliotik.me?

    Thank you

    • Priscilla Sherman

      Hi! Bibliotik only opens its platform to new members on occasion. If you'd like to get an account, unfortunately you'll have to wait for them to open up their invites again.

  6. Sammy

    I couldn't download the torrent at 1337x it kept on opening a pop up, even with ad blocker. I went somewhere else.

    • David Janssen

      Annoying that it kept coming up with popups. Luckily there are plenty of sites on the list for you to try out instead. If you'd like, you can also try downloading a different adblocker. Ours (uBlock Origin) didn't come up with any popups.

  7. Updawg

    Why do these sites "attack" your computer when clicking their links. RARBG is notorious for it. Can't they sell regular ads like everyone else?

    • noname

      RARBG is my favorite torrent site. It has always worked perfectly and ad-free for me, because I use Epic Privacy Browser. I access all torrent sites from Epic. If you use a VPN, it won't matter whether you have Epic's proxy on or off.

  8. SlaverSlav

    In communities on Reddit, people say TBP is not safe. Nor do they recommend uTorrent and BitTorrent.

    • Chloe R.

      tbh I use TPB but only download from trusted sources (the one with the pink or green marks next to their name) and I use qBitTorrent as it's free and open source.

  9. Paul

    When I attempt to download off Torrent downloads. It shows the content to be 2.48GB. However once loaded into uTorrent it shows as ~250kb and says it a "downloader.exe". How safe is that???

    • Sameer

      That is not safe at all you are downloading a virus please don't go on that site

  10. Gastón E.

    Gracias por el artículo, me resultó muy útil

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