The following guide ranks the Best Torrent Sites in 2024 for downloading thousands of files on any device.
Whether you are looking to load movies, TV shows, music, games, or software, this guide includes the best options for all of your downloading needs. This includes The Pirate Bay, 1337x, YTS, EZTV, LimeTorrents, and several other torrenting websites we list below.
Some of these are the most widely accessed websites on the internet with millions of daily and weekly visitors.
They have been around since the beginning of the internet and continue to provide users with fabulous content choices.
As you will find, nearly all of the options below contain malicious/suspicious files associated with them. The best way to protect yourself when torrenting is to use a quality VPN.
Our recommend VPN for torrenting is Surfshark VPN. Surfshark is secure, fast, offers a working kill switch, has a built-in ad blocker, offers a strict no-log policy, and other features outlined in our Surfshark Review.
Our reviews team has ranked the best torrent sites below based on safety, content library, categories, user-interface, ad frequency, VPN compatibility, speed, popularity, and user feedback from platforms like Reddit.
We suggest bookmarking this page and check back frequently for new website submissions provided by members of the TROYPOINT Insider.
How to Download Torrents Video
Before we dive into the best websites for torrenting, we suggest watching our video below which will show you how to download torrents safely, anonymously, and quickly.
Mentioned Links:
Best Torrent Sites in 2024
Below you will find a quick list of the best torrenting sites for all your needs.
- The Pirate Bay – Referred to as the “king of torrent sites” and is filled with movies, TV series, games, music, software, and much more
- 1337x – This website is jam-packed full of content for everyone along with a user-friendly interface
- YTS – Very popular torrenting website with an impressive library of movies and TV shows; has had legal issues in the past
- EZTV – Known for being one of the better options for downloading TV series; this site has a fast seeder/leecher ratio making downloads a breeze
- LimeTorrents – This website has an excellent user-interface and filtering options; provides movies, games, anime, software, and more
- iDope – The rebranded version of “Kickass Torrents” and is known for carrying the most in-demand content available today
- TorrentGalaxy – Well known website for torrenting movies, TV shows, software, music, and games; this is a greater security risk than other options on this list
- Torrends – Mirror of the once-popular “torrents io” website that experienced millions of monthly visitors; easy to use and several categories
- FitGirl Repacks – The best option for torrenting games; thousands of gaming files for any device
- GloTorrents – Quality torrent website that also offers streaming services, live radio, and a forum to improve a user’s experience
- Torlock – A torrent search engine that focuses on providing verified torrents to users; filled with movies and TV shows
- NYAA – A notable torrent website focused on anime, manga, music, and other Eastern Asian media; there is a huge community supporting NYAA
- IPTorrents (private) – One of the most visited private torrent websites with thousands of active users; provides movies, TV shows, games, music, and software
- Demonoid (private) – Another private torrent site that requires a subscription for use; quality option for downloading music, software, and VOD content
Torrent Websites to Avoid
The Internet is flooded with thousands of torrent websites, and many of them carry security risks. These risks can include viruses, malware, malicious ads, and threats of user privacy. We suggest you avoid the following:
- KickassTorrents (KAT) – Original website was shut down years ago due to legal issues and we do not trust any of the clones trying to capitalize off the “KickassTorrents” name
- RARBG – One of the most visited choices in peer-to-peer (P2P) file-sharing, however this site has faced several legal issues and its domain has been seized multiple times
- ExtraTorrents – The original site is shut down and we suggest not visiting any of the mirrors that are filled with malicious files
- SUMOtorrent – This site is known to have an increased risk of malware attacks or experience data breaches
Getting Started with Torrenting
If you are brand new to torrenting and downloading files from the Internet, you will want to pay attention to this next section carefully.
What is a Torrent?
A torrent is a file that contains metadata (a set of data that provides information about other data). It does not contain the file but rather it helps the software search for computers that are sharing the file.
Once it is located, the software connects to the computers to copy documents, photos, movies, music, ebooks, applications, podcast episodes, and games. Think of it as your campus library’s electronic catalog that contains a comprehensive index of all books in its collection.
When you enter a search term, the system provides you with a list of recommendations where each entry contains information about the book and where to locate it. A torrent file does just the same.
It helps users search for needed information and the address of computers that have uploaded the content. Remember that the index contains the information but not the file itself.
The file-sharing happens on a peer-to-peer (P2P) network with computers called “peers”. This activity is known as “seeding”. The more seeders there are, the faster the download will be.
When numerous sources contain the same file, a client can download small portions of it at the same time.
How Do Torrent Sites Work?
When browsing online, the web browser in use sends multiple requests to a server so that it can download the information. Sometimes, however, this server can have too much traffic from users who are trying to access the same information.
When this network congestion occurs, the servers are likely to break down. With P2P communication, however, large files can be shared efficiently without the need for a single server.
Through a swarm or a group of computers in the P2P network that shares a file, a client can receive the requested files through downloading. P2P file sharing is made possible by the BitTorrent communication protocol, which is used to transfer files around the internet.
Through software called BitTorrent client, a request to download a torrent from seeds can be sent. The seed possesses the complete file while the peer only has one portion of the file. When downloading from peers, small pieces of the file are moved from each computer to the client.
A tracker is then used to make it easier for clients to locate the portions of the file that it will request from peers. It records the number of seeders, the size, total downloads, peers, and more. In addition, it has a complete record of which parts of the file you needand which parts you have that others need.
Once you finish downloading a file from the P2P network, it is highly recommended to seed the file to other clients as well. By doing this, you help maintain BitTorrent functionality through multiple seeders.
If you choose to go offline and others do the same (a process known as “leeching”), new clients looking for the file will encounter fewer seeders, resulting in incomplete copies of the file being shared.
Choosing the Best Websites
When selecting a torrent site, it’s crucial to consider factors such as speed, safety, content library, mirrors, seeder/leecher ratios, ad annoyance, and more.
In the list below, you’ll see that TROYPOINT has evaluated each popular option, taking into account these essential metrics.
Safety: User should prioritize a torrent site’s safety. Most public sites pose security risks like viruses, malware, data privacy concerns, and potential hackers. Exercise caution when visiting such sites.
Ad Annoyance: Long-time technology users are aware of how ads can impact user experience. Disruptive “pop-up ads” may contain harmful viruses/malware, necessitating the use of reliable Antivirus Software.
Download Speed: Considering that torrent sites need a VPN, it’s vital to choose options offering good download speeds. You definitely don’t want to spend hours downloading a single file.
Content Library: Another critical aspect is the variety and quantity of content available. Whether it’s movies, TV shows, games, books, anime, or software, some sites offer a wider range of content or focus on specific categories.
Seeder/Leecher Ratios: Prior to using these platforms, reviewing the seeder/leecher ratios for each file is advisable. A higher ratio indicates that the file has been shared more frequently.
Mirrors (Proxies): Having mirrors (proxies) in place is important when certain sites go offline. Generally, more popular websites have multiple available mirrors.
Monthly Visitors: Considering a site’s monthly traffic is crucial in assessing its trustworthiness and content quality.
Founding Year: Sites that have been online for several years tend to establish credibility and trust, especially amidst increased takedown activities.
Types of Torrent Platforms
These platforms can be categorized as public and private based on accessibility levels and content offerings.
Public
Public sites, also known as open trackers, allow any user to access the tracker address. Downloading from these sites is straightforward.
Public sites are easily accessible to all users, who can join without needing to register or wait for an invitation.
Public torrent sites often have a large user base, resulting in faster speeds due to more seeders. However, these sites may contain unverified or risky content.
Private
Private sites or “private trackers” restrict access to members only. New members typically need an invite to register.
Existing members must approve new members via email or an invite code. Additionally, all members must maintain a specific upload-to-download ratio to prevent leeching.
When it comes to accessibility, public trackers are easier to use. However, the risk of downloading malware increases as the user base grows, leading to potential security vulnerabilities.
Private trackers offer more secure downloads with controlled membership and efficient blacklisting of violators.
Private trackers also provide faster speeds due to mandatory seeding rules. Accessing these sites, though, can be challenging without an existing member’s recommendation.
Drawbacks
While torrent sites offer advantages, there are some limitations to consider.
Downloading content can consume a significant amount of bandwidth, particularly problematic for users with slow internet connections. Internet speed is crucial for downloading torrents, and TROYPOINT has a guide to help determine What is Good Internet Speed?
Even with good internet speed, finding specific file downloads may not be straightforward. There’s no guarantee of the file’s availability or authenticity. When there are no seeds, downloading becomes impossible.
Without feedback to verify content legitimacy, it becomes challenging to ensure that the downloaded files match expectations. Moreover, fake files used by scammers to distribute malware further complicate matters.
Downloading torrents comes with its share of risks. For example, the tracker in a file can reveal all connected computers in the network. Your IP address is exposed to everyone seeding and leeching, posing potential dangers. While file sharing itself isn’t illegal, the legality of downloading from these sites can be questionable.
Your online activities are traceable through your IP address, potentially leading to severe consequences.
Why You Need a VPN for Torrenting
Downloading from torrent sites typically involves:semicolonRequires the use of a VPN or Virtual Private Network. You want to ensure that your VPN is always connected and a kill switch is enabled when using these torrent applications. When downloading torrents, your IP address is broadcasted to the public which is extremely risky and unsafe.
Not using a VPN can lead to threatening notices like this if you accidentally access copyrighted works through the Internet.