18 Best Torrent Sites in February 2023 (Safe & Working)

This article will provide you with a list of the Best Torrent Sites available today.

Torrent Sites are some of the most popular websites on the internet today with millions of daily users and visitors.

This list stays updated with all of the best torrenting options as well as important details for downloading these files.

We provide a step-by-step guide for downloading content safely and securely on your preferred torrent device.

Some of the Best Torrent Sites include The Pirate Bay, 1337X, YTS, RARBG, LimeTorrents, EZTV, and many others found on this list.

If you are new to torrenting, using this list is a great way to start downloading all your favorite content.

The lists below provide users with public Torrent Websites that are simple to access for all of their download needs.

By using these torrent sites, you can download movies, TV shows, games, music, apps, e-books, and more to your favorite device.

Best Torrent Sites & How to Download – Bonus Video

The following video provides step-by-step instructions for downloading torrents FAST and most importantly anonymously!

Links Mentioned in Video

 IPVanish VPN TROYPOINT Discount

qBittorrent

TROYPOINT Speed Test

You can find the Best Torrent Sites in the article below.

How to Choose The Best Torrent Site

Prior to visiting or torrenting from the sites listed below, it’s important to review metrics like website traffic, ad annoyance, content, seeder/leecher ratios, and more.

You will notice in our list below that TROYPOINT has analyzed every popular torrent site and includes these important metrics.

Some of these websites can also be referred to as Torrent Search Engines because they allow users to populate several BitTorrent files from a single source.

Keep in mind choosing the best torrent site is primarily based on user preference and what features you’re looking for.

For example, Pirate Bay and YTS are better options for movies, while Zooqle and 1337X are better known for software and games.

Ad Annoyance: If you have been torrenting for a while you know that advertisements can make or break a torrent website. The worst part is, that some of these “pop-up ads” contain viruses/malware that can damage your device.

That’s why reliable Antivirus Software is strongly recommended when using these sites. Refer to our free Antivirus Guide below for more information.

TROYPOINT Antivirus Guide

Monthly Visitors: This is an important metric to consider when comparing torrent sites. Higher monthly website traffic usually means a website is trusted and offers better content options.

Content Library: This is another important feature to consider when choosing a torrent site. Whether it’s movies, tv shows, games, books, anime, or software, some websites provide more content overall or specialize in certain areas.

Download Speed: Since torrenting requires a VPN, it’s very important to also use websites that offer quality download speeds.

Mirrors: When certain websites go offline it’s important to have mirrors (proxies) in place. Typically the more popular a torrent website is the more available mirrors.

Seeder/Leecher Ratios: Prior to torrenting from any website, it’s a good idea to review the seeder/leecher ratios for each file. A higher seeder/leecher ratio means a file has been shared more often.

Founding Year: Torrent websites that have remained online for several years show credibility and trust, especially with the increase in site takedowns.

Are Torrent Sites Safe?

Since TROYPOINT has no affiliation with torrent sites, we have no idea who is behind the scenes operating these websites.

We have seen many instances in the past with bad actors stealing user data behind different torrent operations.

TROYPOINT TIP: The best way to ensure your safety when using torrent websites is with a VPN.

Using a VPN will protect you online from hackers, unverified website operators, ISPs, and other bad actors.

This will provide you with an anonymous connection to the Internet while torrenting.

Best VPN for Torrent Sites

We have step-by-step instructions following our list below that will show you how to make sure you are safe when downloading torrents.

I recommend bookmarking this page to keep you up to date on the Best Torrent Sites available. This page is updated daily for your reference.

The following list was last updated on Mon, Feb, 13, 2023

Best Torrent Sites – Quick List

As of the writing of this article, all websites listed below are currently working and available for use.

Similar to Free Movie Websites and Putlocker Alternative Sites, these torrent websites are continually shut down and removed.

Continue reading below this quick list for more information on each torrent site including the official links.

This list also includes mirrors or known alternative URLs of each website. These allow users to access the torrent site even if it has been blocked by their ISP.

Here is the list of torrent sites to download files online for free:

1. The Pirate Bay – This site has stood the test of time and is one of the most popular websites on the planet.
2. KickassTorrents – Another well-known torrent site with tons of options for streaming.
3. 1337X – This torrent site offers a simple interface with a huge library of torrents.
4. RARBG – You can download torrents extremely fast with RARBG.
5. YTS (YIFY Torrents) – Tons of movies are available with YTS which was once YIFY Torrents.
6. EZTV – A popular site with a simple user interface for easy torrenting.
7. LimeTorrents – Great option for finding music and other options.
8. Torrends.to – Quickly download torrents with this website.
9. Torrentz2 – Helpful site that can walk you through the entire torrenting process.
10. iDope – Simple torrent site that uses the search option to find torrents.
11. TorrentDownloads – User sign up available for added features.
12. GloTorrents – Live TV option available with various other categories.
13. TorrentGalaxy – Fast torrent site with tons of content including games and anime.
14. Zooqle – High Definition options for TV Series as well as Movies and more.
15. SolidTorrents – Newer torrent site that is gaining popularity among the masses.
16. EliteTorrent – Minimal ads with this torrent site that has tons of categories.
17. TorrentFunk – Best torrent site for software options.
18. DirtyTorrents – Torrent search engine that provides various options when searching.

NOTE: If you are new to torrenting, a Torrent Client will be needed to access torrent files. This software allows users to download content to their favorite devices.

TROYPOINT has created a list of the Best Torrent Clients to help get you started with this technology.

Best Torrent Sites Complete List

These options are ranked based on the following criteria:

• Ad annoyance (scale of 1-10, 10 being the worst)
• Monthly Visitors
• User Interface
• Content Available
• Download Speeds
• Seeder/Leecher Ratio
• VPN Friendly
• Overall TROYPOINT Rating

1. The Pirate Bay – Top Torrent Site

Highlights:

• Ad Annoyance: 2
• Visitors Per Month: 24.3 Million
• VPN Friendly: Yes. Works perfectly with a VPN.
• Official Website:
• Founding Year: 2003
• Mirrors: pirateproxy.id, proxybay.xyz, thepiratebay10.org, tpbpirateproxy.org
• Best Seeder/Leecher Ratio for a Popular Movie: 3,091/424
• Banned Countries: UK, Brazil, Iceland, Italy, India, Iran, Ireland, Denmark, China, Germany, Greece, and more
• Overall Rating: 10/10

The Pirate Bay Torrent site is one of the oldest and most used BitTorrent sites of all time – making it the most popular in the world.

Pirate Bay has some of the most torrent content available on the web. With simple user accessibility and numerous options such as tags that identify if it’s a safe download or not, it is easy to see why The Pirate Bay tops this list.

Users will find various proxies that always have working options and can even register or sign in for more feature options.

There are various categories to choose from and even an “I’m Feeling Lucky” button that will generate random torrents for download.

These torrents typically download extremely fast due to the large number of active users and seeders.

You can sort torrents based on upload date, size, quality and more.

If you are a fan of The Pirate Bay torrent site, you can even submit a donation via Bitcoin for an anonymous contribution.

Pirate Bay is also one of the best sites for downloading Anime Torrents.

NOTE:  The Pirate Bay has been on and off over the past couple of months. We suggest viewing our list of Pirate Bay Alternatives if the site is down.

2. KickassTorrents – Best Torrent Site for Movies

Highlights:

• Ad Annoyance: 1
• Visitors Per Month: 6.5 Million
• VPN Friendly: Yes. Works perfectly with VPN.
• Official Website:
• Mirrors: katcr.co, kat.sx/, kat.am, kickasstorrent.cr
• Best Seeder/Leecher Ratio for a Popular Movie: 13,101/9,035
• Banned Countries: Saudi Arabia, India, Canda, Denmark, and more
• Founding Year: 2008
• Overall Rating: 9.4/10

Kickass has been around for ages. While this is not the original website, it is a new version that is working fabulously.

You will find various popular choices on the KickAss home page including HD link searches.

Currently, the site features Movies, TV Shows, Music, Games, Apps, Books, Anime, and more.

There is a sign-in option that allows users to register an account with KickAss for unlimited access to content.

Kickass has millions of users providing tons of seeders which makes downloading content extremely fast.

Pop-ups are kept to a minimum which means you won’t have to deal with annoying ads that litter other popular torrent sites.

NOTE: If you are experiencing issues with Kickass Torrents, I suggest viewing our list of Kickass Torrents Alternatives if the site is down.

3. 1337X – Most Popular Torrent Site

Highlights:

• Ad Annoyance: 7
• Visitors Per Month: 71.2 Million
• VPN Friendly: Yes. Works perfectly with a VPN.
• Official Website:
• Mirrors: 1337x.to, 1337x.st, x1337x.ws, x1337x.eu, x1337x.se, 1337x.is
• Best Seeder/Leecher Ratio for a Popular Movie: 10,903/5,161
• Banned Countries: Ireland, UK, Australia, Austria
• Founding Year: 2007
• Overall Rating: 9/10

1337X is jam-packed full of content for everyone. Categories offered on the website include Movies, Television, Games, Music, Applications, Anime, Documentaries, Other, and XXX.

With a simple main menu, 1337X is easy to use for those who are just getting into torrenting and experienced users alike.

1337X also features a registration option that will grant members even more access to this popular torrent site.

If you are not having much luck finding torrents with the main 1337X website, there are also various mirrors that work fabulously.

Similar to other options in this list, 1337X provides a Bitcoin donation link for those who wish to contribute anonymously.

4. RARBG – Best Torrent Site for TV Shows

Highlights:

• Ad Annoyance: 5
• Visitors Per Month: 57.1 Million
• VPN Friendly: Yes. Works perfectly with a VPN.
• Official Website:
• Mirrors: rarbgprx.org/index70.php, rarbgunblock.com/index70.php, rarbgmirror.com/index70.php, rarbgaccess.org/index70.php, rarbgmirror.org/index70.php, rarbgmirror.xyz/index70.php
• Best Seeder/Leecher Ratio for a Popular Movie: 298/22
• Banned Countries: Ireland, Australia, Indonesia, Italy, Denmark, UK, Brazil, and more
• Founding Year: 2008
• Overall Rating: 8.9/10

A continually popular torrent site, RARBG is full of content in numerous categories. It is extremely easy to use and even has a top 10 list that features the most downloaded content at the time.

While there are some ads to be noted, you can usually click these away with ease for continued torrent uses.

With the option to log in with a username and password or access the site as a guest, RARBG is a hybrid between Best Public and Private Torrent Site.

With recommended options and torrents sorted by size, upload date, and more, RARBG is a fabulous torrent option for everyone.

5. YTS – Quick Torrent Downloads

Highlights:

• Ad Annoyance: 4
• Visitors Per Month: 33.5 Million
• VPN Friendly: Yes. Works perfectly with a VPN.
• Official Website:
• Mirrors: yts.pm, yts.unblockit.app, ww.yts.vc
• Best Seeder/Leecher Ratio for a Popular Movie: 2,139/207
• Banned Countries: Ireland
• Founding Year: 2011
• Overall Rating: 8.5/10

YTS is arguably the second most popular torrent name in the space behind Pirate Bay in terms of site traffic and overall appeal.

YTS is the only new official domain option for YIFY Movies which was popular among torrent users for years.

This site has always been known for its impressive library of movies and more.YTS does an excellent job of populating movies with HD quality and small file sizes.

The home page also features a warning to make sure you are using a VPN when downloading to protect yourself and your data.

Most torrent options are listed by quality including 720P, 1080P, and more.

Just like other torrent options in this list, there is a registration option that will provide users with various features and content unavailable to non-members.

Note: The original YTS domain was recently suspended. I suggest viewing our list of YTS Alternatives for updated options.

6. EZTV – Most Simple Torrent Site

Highlights:

• Ad Annoyance: 2
• Visitors Per Month: 28.2 Million
• VPN Friendly: Yes. Works perfectly with a VPN.
• Official Website:
• Mirrors: eztv.unblocked.krd, eztv.unblockall.org, eztv.unblocked.krd, eztv.tf, eztv.yt
• Best Seeder/Leecher Ratio for a Popular Movie: 30/4
• Banned Countries: Australia, UK, Ireland
• Founding Year: 2005
• Overall Rating: 8.4/10

EZTV is a torrent site that has been through numerous changes in the past. It is currently stable and working well.

With EZTV, you are able to filter Movies and TV Shows by video quality and more.

There is plenty of torrents available in both 1080p and 4K Ultra High definition.

Users can download full seasons of TV Shows and can sort content by various categories including seeds and more.

With a fast seeder/leecher ratio, most downloads happen quickly and efficiently.

EZTV even features a News category to keep you up to date on all the latest updates for everything torrent-related.

7. LimeTorrents – Great for Browsing

Highlights:

• Ad Annoyance: 1
• Visitors Per Month: 17.1 Million
• VPN Friendly: Yes. Works perfectly with a VPN.
• Official Website:
• Mirrors: limetorrents.asia, limetorrents.zone, limetorrents.co, limetor.com
• Best Seeder/Leecher Ratio for a Popular Movie: 11,917/8,057
• Banned Countries: UK, Australia, France
• Founding Year: 2009
• Overall Rating: 8.1/10

LimeTorrents makes it easy to find exactly what you are looking for with its convenient search filters.

This includes a simple user interface with various categories to select from such as: Movies, TV Shows, Music, Games, Anime, and more.

Listing the top 50 monthly torrents for each category, LimeTorrents has everything needed for an awesome downloading experience.

The Browse option lets users find bookmarks, upload torrents, and interact with others using the site.

There are a few ads noticeable on the site but these are typically not intrusive and can easily be closed out.

LimeTorrents can also be found within our list of Best Torrent9 Alternatives.

8. Torrends.to – Updated Website

Highlights:

• Ad Annoyance: 1
• Visitors Per Month: 3.4 Million
• VPN Friendly: Yes. Works perfectly with a VPN.
• Official Website:
• Mirror: torrends.to
• Best Seeder/Leecher Ratio for a Popular Movie: 2,563/291
• Founding Year: 2011
• Overall Rating: 7.8/10

Torrends.to is a mirror of the once-popular torrents.io website that saw millions of visitors every month.

This well-known torrent site is simple to use with various category options and more.

Torrends.to is a great all-in-one site that uses other websites to scrape for files.

On the home screen is a tracker that shows popular download trends and categories to select content for download.

There are options for torrent trackers list and various torrent proxy options.

Using the search bar is a simple way to find your torrent option, however, you can also browse through tons of different categories with ease.

9. Torrentz2 – Tons of Torrent Options

Highlights:

• Ad Annoyance: 1
• Visitors Per Month: 20.7 Million
• VPN Friendly: Yes. Works perfectly with a VPN.
• Official Website:
• Mirrors: torrentzeu.org, torrentzeu.org
• Best Seeder/Leecher Ratio for a Popular Movie: 162/64
• Founding Year: 2003
• Overall Rating: 7.3/10

As explained on their website, Torrentz2 is considered a torrent search engine as it combines results from numerous torrent websites.

This means it has more content available for download than nearly all other torrent websites on this list. Many users trust this site for music downloads.

There is a FAQ Section that will help answer any site questions you may have.

Unlike other torrent sites, Torrentz2 only offers a search option on the main screen but returns results fast. There are tons of torrents for anime, music, and software.

You will also find Movies & TV Shows in high definition including 1080p & 4K.

Note: The original torrentz2.eu domain has recently been suspended. I suggest viewing our list of Torrentz2 Alternatives for updated options.

10. iDope – Easy to Use Interface

Highlights:

• Ad Annoyance: 4
• Visitors Per Month: 1.5 Million
• VPN Friendly: Yes. Works perfectly with a VPN.
• Official Website:
• Mirror: iDope.buzz
• Best Seeder/Leecher Ratio for a Popular Movie: 510/31
• Founding Year: 2016
• Overall Rating: 7/10

iDope is known for carrying the most in-demand torrents today. It’s a solid torrenting option for those who want quality content in smaller file sizes (such as 720p).

iDope also has an excellent download feature that is seamless compared to other torrent sites.

While there are various category options to choose from, idope works best with its simple search feature.

There are various ways to search for torrents via idope such as Exact Search, Full Search, and Multi Search.

This will help narrow down your torrent options and ensure you find the right one you are looking for.

Most downloads occur quickly and easily with the help of your preferred torrent client.

11. TorrentDownloads – Great for Anime

Highlights:

• Ad Annoyance: 4
• Visitors Per Month: 5,822
• VPN Friendly: Yes. Works perfectly with a VPN.
• Official Website:
• Mirror: torrentdownloads.mrunlock.pro
• Best Seeder/Leecher Ratio for a Popular Movie: 1,429/88
• Founding Year: 2007
• Overall Rating: 6.8/10

If you’re searching for hard-to-find ebooks, movies, TV shows, anime, and software then this torrent site is perfect for you. You will also appreciate the organized interface that it offers.

Another torrent site with registration options, TorrentDownloads is easy to use and has tons of fabulous torrent options.

With a helpful how to guide, this site can walk you through the process if you are new to torrenting.

Categorized by seeds and leechers and with a helpful “Health” rating, choosing your preferred option is simple.

TorrentDownloads is a staple in the torrenting community and looks to continue providing tons of torrents well into the future.

12. GloTorrents – Best Torrent Site for Games

Highlights:

• Ad Annoyance: 3
• Visitors Per Month: 1.3 Million
• VPN Friendly: Yes. Works perfectly with a VPN.
• Official Website:
• Mirror: glotorrents.siteunblocked.info
• Best Seeder/Leecher Ratio for a Popular Movie: 1,166/396
• Founding Year: 2008
• Overall Rating: 6.5/10

GloTorrents holds a massive library of content that makes it a solid torrent site on this list. It also offers streaming services and live radio to complete one’s entertainment needs.

GloTorrents provides thousands of movies, TV shows, games, apps, books, anime shows, video, pictures, and more.

There is even an IPTV Category coming soon that is likely to provide live streaming options.

This is something that most torrent sites don’t provide and sets GloTorrents apart from the rest.

The Forums category within this site has tons of information that will help you during your torrenting process.

This includes News & Announcements, FAQ’s, Admin’s Room, and more.

Torrent options from GloTorrents are also sorted by seeders, leechers, and more, to help you find your preferred content with ease.

13. TorrentGalaxy – Massive Library of Free Torrents

Highlights:

• Ad Annoyance: 5
• Visitors Per Month: 7.7 Million
• VPN Friendly: Yes. Works perfectly with a VPN.
• Official Website:
• Mirrors: torrentgalaxy.mrunlock.pro, torrentgalaxy.nocensor.icu, torrentgalaxy.unlockproject.live
• Best Seeder/Leecher Ratio for a Popular Movie: 384/14
• Founding Year: 2009
• Overall Rating: 6.2/10

There are plenty of options for all users on this site from music to ebooks to games and to documentaries.

There’s also a special section where you can live stream movies and TV shows.

One thing to note is that TorrentGalaxy does feature more advertisements than most torrent sites on this list.

While you can click to exit out of these, they do seem to pop up quite often.

However, if you’re willing to bypass all of the ads, there is tons of content available for download including a featured torrents section.

Other categories available within TorrentGalaxy include VPN, Lobby, Live Streaming, Arcade Hall, and more.

14. Zooqle – Simple Torrent Site

Highlights:

• Ad Annoyance: 1
• Visitors Per Month: 7.7 Million
• VPN Friendly: Yes. Works perfectly with a VPN.
• Official Website:
• Mirrors: zooqle.unblocked.krd, zooqle.unblocked.krd
• Best Seeder/Leecher Ratio for a Popular Movie: 3,000/361
• Founding Year: 2013
• Overall Rating: 9.3/10

NOTE: Zooqle appears to currently be offline. We suggest checking back for updates on this popular torrent site.

Zooqle used to be an up-and-coming torrent site but has now gained a strong following. It is used to download everything from books to TV shows to movies and of course, games.

Zooqle has an excellent search bar that can find any content you are looking for. It also features a great-looking interface that is sure to delight everyone.

Users will find tons of high definition content including 1080p & 4k options.

This site is also highlighted within our list of Cpasbien Alternatives.

15. SolidTorrents – Trending Torrent Site

Highlights:

• Ad Annoyance: 2
• Visitors Per Month: 510,000
• VPN Friendly: Yes. Works perfectly with a VPN.
• Official Website:
• Mirrors: solidtorrents.nocensor.sbs, solidtorrents.proxybit.click/
• Best Seeder/Leecher Ratio for a Popular Movie: 185/55
• Founding Year: 2020
• Overall Rating: 6/10

SolidTorrents is a newer torrent site that is gaining tons of popularity.

With over 33 million torrents (and counting) there is no shortage of options to choose from.

These torrent options include Movies, TV Shows, Anime, Music, and Software.

Using the search feature makes SolidTorrents even easier where you can filter options and more.

Ads are minimal which is another reason we have decide to include this option in our list of Best Torrent Sites.

Keep your eye on SolidTorrents as it may climb up into the top 10 in the future!

16. EliteTorrent – Best for Spanish Torrents

Highlights:

• Ad Annoyance: 2
• Visitors Per Month: 1.6 million
• VPN Friendly: Yes. Works perfectly with a VPN.
• Official Website:
• Mirrors: elitetorrent.nz, elitetorrent.wtf, elitetorrent.la
• Best Seeder/Leecher Ratio for a Popular Movie: 222/88
• Founding Year: 2015
• Overall Rating: 6.3/10

Spanish users will love EliteTorrents which has tons of content in Latin, Spanish, and more.

Most options are sorted by size which makes choosing your preferred torrent extremely easy.

There is even a tab that notes the quality of the torrent including Hight Definition options.

There are numerous categories to choose from such as Drama, Comedy, Mystery, Crime, Animation, and more.

Ads are kept to a minimum which makes navigation extremely easy and safe. This makes it one of the best torrent sites available.

Each torrent provides details about the link so you can find exactly what you are looking for with EliteTorrent.

17. TorrentFunk – New Torrent Site

Highlights:

• Ad Annoyance: 8
• Visitors Per Month: 2.5 Million
• VPN Friendly: Yes. Works perfectly with a VPN.
• Official Website:
• Mirrors: torrentfunk1.unblocked.lol, torrentfunk1.unblocked.is
• Best Seeder/Leecher Ratio for a Popular Movie: 5,179/2,177
• Founding Year: 2012
• Overall Rating: 5.5/10

It’s almost impossible not to find what you’re looking for in this torrent site. It has many titles available in various categories such as movies, games, music, software, and ebooks.

One of the best features TorrentFunk provides is the checkmark visible that shows verified torrent options.

We suggest selecting verified torrents to ensure your safety when making a selection.

These will also download faster than other options and are proven to work.

There are thousands of torrents uploaded daily to this site which means you will always be able to find exactly what you are looking for.

Give TorrentFunk a try for a fabulous, new torrent site with tons of options to choose from!

18. DirtyTorrents – Best Torrent Search Engine

Highlights:

• Ad Annoyance:
• Visitors Per Month: 300,000
• VPN Friendly: Yes. Works perfectly with a VPN.
• Official Website:
• Mirrors: None
• Best Seeder/Leecher Ratio for a Popular Movie: 9,364/6,030
• Founding Year: 2017
• Overall Rating: 5.4/10

Since 2017, DirtyTorrents has been a popular torrenting site that features tons of content in an easy-to-use format.

This site works more as a search engine to point you in the right direction for your preferred torrent download.

Instead of hosting files, users can browse and search torrents and DirtyTorrents will locate the best option for your selection.

There are over 7 million options available within DirtyTorrents.

While this is a smaller number than other options on this list, these are typically high-quality options which mean downloading requires little trial and error.

You can choose from various categories that provide some of the most popular options and the most recent options.

Best Torrent Sites – December 2022 Poll

Do You Need a VPN for Torrent Sites?

When visiting popular torrent sites you will notice several callouts/warnings for using a VPN prior to downloading any files, and there’s a valid reason for this.

Whether it’s hackers, watchdog groups, cybercriminals, your ISP, or even operators of these torrent websites, you are putting yourself at risk without using a VPN on these sites.

Sometimes these website operators provide IP Address logs to copyright lawyers who will come after torrent downloaders.

If you don’t take precautions prior to downloading torrents you are putting your online privacy in danger.

Always use a secure VPN when accessing torrent sites and downloading files.

Best VPN for Torrenting

Types of Torrent Sites

Torrent sites can be categorized into Public and Private Sites.

Public torrent sites or otherwise known as open trackers allow any user to access the tracker address. Downloading files from these sites is a very simple process.

Private torrent sites or private trackers, on the other hand, limit access to its members only. In most cases, new members can register by invitation only.

An existing member must grant permission to a new member through email or invite code. All members are required to meet the upload-to-download ratio as well to prevent leeching.

So which one is better?

When it comes to ease of access, public trackers, of course, are the better option. However, with a growing number of members, the possibility of downloading malware is highly likely because of loose security.

Private trackers, on the other hand, provide more secure downloads because membership is controlled and violators are easily blacklisted.

In addition, private trackers provide faster speeds thanks to their seeding regulations that require each user who has downloaded a file to seed it back.

However, it is very difficult to gain access to one of these sites unless you know an existing member.

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 a torrent 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 a torrent’s number of seeders, the size, total downloads, peers, and more. In addition, it has a complete record of which parts of the file you need and which parts you possess that other users need.

Once you complete downloading a file from the P2P network, it is highly encouraged to seed the file to other clients as well. This is to keep BitTorrent working through many seeders.

If you decide to be offline and others follow suit (a process known as “leeching”), new clients requesting the torrent will have fewer seeders and thus never receive complete copies of the file anymore.

Downloading Torrents 

There are many benefits that downloading torrents can offer. Besides being able to stream your favorite movies and tv shows, torrent sharing is a useful tool that millions use daily.

One of the greatest features torrent sites provide is the ability to prevent network congestion that occurs when a client downloads from a server.

Since the file being downloaded in a P2P network is not dependent on a main central server, many sources are available for sharing.

If a peer breaks down while downloading a torrent, other portions of the file can still be located from other computers. This is because of the file-sharing nature P2P technology provides.

Second, when you encounter downloading errors provided by a centralized server, your download will be abandoned right away. This means that you have to start downloading the file from scratch.

However, when if you are downloading a torrent and suddenly encounter an error, you can resume downloading only the remaining bits of files needed and will not have to start from scratch.

Another advantage of downloading torrents is the shortened download time needed for a file. As stated above, the more peers that share a file, the faster the download will be.

there is also less risk for file corruption when using torrents since the BitTorrent protocol regularly checks each piece of the file in the swarm. This leaves only working files available for download.

Lastly, there is less chance that the file will be unavailable compared to a centralized server that may likely fail. As long as there are peers sharing the file, a client will always have a source for download.

Disadvantages of Downloading Torrents?

While there are benefits to downloading from torrent sites, there are also some limitations.

For example, access rights to secured files can be managed more efficiently by servers, not in torrents.

In addition, a server’s backup files assure that in case the central resource breaks down, files can be easily restored.

Downloading torrents can also consume a lot of your available bandwidth. This is a big issue for users that have a slow internet connection.

Internet Speed is a big part of downloading torrents and TROYPOINT has created an article that will help you determine What is Good Internet Speed?

Even with good internet speed, not all file downloads are easy to find.

When using torrents, there’s no guarantee that the file that you’re looking for is available or genuine. When there are no seeds available, you cannot download anything.

And with no feedback available to verify that the file is legit, it becomes much more difficult to identify if the torrent is what you are looking for.

Worse, there are plenty of fake torrent files available that are used by scammers to spread malware to unsuspecting users.

There are also risks that come with downloading torrents. For instance, the tracker in the torrent file keeps track of all computers connected in the network.

This means that your IP address is shared in the entire swarm. Therefore, those who are seeding and leeching can see your IP address which can be very dangerous.

People often ask, “Does it matter if peers are able to see my IP address?” While this may seem like an unimportant detail, IP addresses can identify someone’s location, web history, and more.

While the sharing of files isn’t illegal (as long as they are not copyrighted) the legality of downloading torrents from torrent sites, however, can be an issue.

Your online activity can be easily tracked through your IP address, which can lead to serious consequences.

In Singapore, for example, a film distributor won a case against users who used BitTorrent to download movies.

Each had to pay $2,000 to settle with the company after the court-ordered internet service providers (ISPs) reveal the violators’ IP addresses.

NOTE: If you choose to download torrents, installing and using a VPN is a must. IPVanish will encrypt your IP address and ensure your privacy.

CLICK HERE for a special IPVanish discount.

How to Hide Your IP Address when Downloading Torrents

When downloading torrents from torrent sites, TROYPOINT recommends always using a VPN or Virtual Private Network.

A VPN will protect your privacy from ISPs, site operators, hackers, app developers, MPAA, and other watchdog groups.

The Best VPN for Torrenting is IPVanish as it is available for use on unlimited devices simultaneously and does not store traffic logs.

IPVanish masks your IP Address and protects your identity when downloading torrents.

It prevents you from publicly broadcasting your IP address so you will remain anonymous to your ISP, government, and other organizations.

IPVanish Discount

How to Download a Torrent

Downloading a torrent is easy. Below are the steps to guide you in accessing the files in a P2P network.

Step 1
Download a Torrent Client.  TROYPOINT recommends using qBittorrent which is available for Windows, Mac, and Linux.

Step 2
Search one of the torrent sites listed below for the media, software, etc. that you are looking for. In this instance, we used zooqle.com and chose to download Night of the Living Dead which is considered one of the Best Public Domain Movies by TROYPOINT.

Step 3
Download the torrent file. You will then be prompted to open qBittorrent or your torrent client for download

Step 4
Your torrent client will open. Choose the path where you want the file to download to and click Ok.

Step 5
Your torrent will begin to download.

Step 6
When finished, you will receive a torrent complete notification.

Your torrent file is now available in your designated folder. Next, you will want to see our guide on opening torrent files to access your media. Enjoy!

How to Open Torrent Files

IPVanish VPN Settings

You want to ensure that your VPN is always connected when downloading and uploading through torrent applications.

The IPVanish VPN application allows us to enable a kill switch and other settings to ensure that we are always protected.

These are the settings that I personally use and recommend inside the IPVanish VPN app on Windows and Mac.

1. Click Settings / General.  Make sure that you enable “Start IPVanish when Windows or Mac starts.”  Enable “Connect to fastest server”.  This is important to ensure fastest possible torrent download speeds.  Under Closing I set this to “Hide to Tray” because we don’t want the application closing, we simply want to minimize it.

2. Click Connection.  Enable “Auto Reconnect.”  This will force the IPVanish app to reconnect to the VPN if it is ever disconnected for some reason.  Enable “Kill Switch.”  This is the most important settings.  If the VPN is not currently active, it will kill the Internet connection on your Windows or Mac machine.  We don’t want to be transmitting data over the Internet if our VPN isn’t active as this would expose our real IP Address.

Torrent Extras

For those looking to expand their torrent options, I suggest purchasing a streaming device such as the Amazon Firestick.

By doing so, users can easily install and use 3rd party applications for viewing Movies, TV Shows, and more. The best way to do this is by “jailbreaking” your Firestick/Fire TV.

TROYPOINT has created a popular jailbreak tutorial that will show you how to get the most out of your device with easy to follow instructions:

How To Jailbreak Firestick

Best Torrent Sites FAQ

What are the Best Torrent Sites?

The best torrent sites include The Pirate Bay, Zooqle, LimeTorrents, EZTV, RARBG, Kickass Torrents, TorrentFunk, and many others we include in this list.

Are Torrent Sites Legal?

Yes, torrent sites are legal if downloading files or content within the public domain. Torrenting is not legal if you are using it to download copyrighted or licensed content.

Do You Need a VPN for Torrent Sites?

Yes. Having a VPN is a must if using torrent sites. This will hide your download activities and protect yourself from hackers, website operators, your ISP, and others.

If a torrent site is blocked in your location, you can use a VPN to change network servers. This will unblock any torrent sites.

Related