The world of torrenting isn’t what it used to be. There are still some great sites out there – but you’re not going to find them with a simple Google search. And you don’t want to waste your evening checking dozens of trashy sites and wading through their endless pop-up ads just to see they don’t have what you’re looking for.
That’s where I come in. I spend my evenings testing all kinds of torrent sites so I can keep this list up-to-date for you, with nothing but the best of the best. Whether you’re looking for yesterday’s episode of your favorite show or a movie that came out ten years ago, you should be able to find it on one of these sites.
I check these 10 sites regularly to make sure they’re still online, and I’ve also provided a few mirror sites you can try if one of them is down.
If you’re having trouble accessing the sites, it could be because they’re blocked by your ISP or even by your government. I’d suggest trying a VPN to get around these blocks. I use NordVPN, which comes with a convenient 30-day money-back guarantee – if it doesn’t solve your problem, you can just request a refund. (But if you torrent regularly, I’d recommend using it in any case. It masks your identity so no one can track your online activity.)
The Top 5 Torrent Sites in December 2020
- The Pirate Bay – Best torrent site overall
- RARBG – Best for 4K movies and new releases
- 1337x – Best for applications and software
- TorLock – Best for anime and ebooks
- Torrentz2 – Best for music albums
5 more awesome torrent sites | My recommended VPNs for safe torrenting | FAQ
The Best Torrent Sites That Still Work in December 2020
Good torrent sites are always disappearing. Sometimes they’re gone for good, but sometimes they just get moved to a new URL. Sometimes they get blocked by governments or taken over by hackers… ouch.
I test my recommended sites regularly to make sure they’re still available and working properly. These are some of the other things I check for:
- Download speeds: I record my best and worst speeds from each site and keep track of the averages to give you an idea of what you can expect.
- Variety: I perform sample searches to check what each site has to offer. My favorites are the ones where you can find just about anything you’re looking for, but I’ve included a few specialty torrent sites on my list as well.
- Security: I perform deep checks to make sure the sites are legit and not planting any malicious code in their search results or banner ads. That said, torrenting is never a 100% safe activity if you leave your personal data exposed. It’s not just about hackers – your ISP can see what you’re doing and report you to the authorities, even if the torrents you’re downloading are perfectly legal. I don’t like taking this kind of risk, and I strongly recommend you don’t either. You can jump down to see the VPNs I recommend for safe torrenting.
1. The Pirate Bay – Best Torrent Site Overall
- The world’s most popular torrent site
- The biggest variety of movies, TV shows, games, and more
- VIP/Trusted user tags let you know which torrents are legitimate and safe
The green and pink icons indicate VIP/trusted users
The Pirate Bay has had a long and rough history, but this crowd favorite is still going strong. It has millions of torrents available in various categories, along with support for magnet links. The site interface is nice and simple, and I like that it doesn’t cover your screen with a bunch of sleazy ads.
Average download speed: 6.2 MB/s
Sample Searches:
| Search Term | Number of Search Results | Average* | Best Seeder/Leecher Ratio | Average** |
| Lizzo, Good as Hell | 1 | 23 | 22/2 | 565/125 |
| Joker | 651 | 448 | 8,210/2,372 | 5,308/1,576 |
| The Witcher | 350 | 422 | 3,506/957 | 2,151/551 |
* Average number of search results for top 10 sites
** Average best seeder/leecher ratio for top 10 sites
Not loading? Try these mirrors: thepiratebay.vip, thepiratebay.rocks, thepirate-bay.org.
2. RARBG – Best Torrent Site for 4K Movies and New Releases
- Active community and lots of seeding
- Huge variety of new and old torrents
- Top 10 lists for movies, shows, music, and many other categories
I like how RARBG has so many different torrent categories to choose from
RARBG has been around for over a decade and has built a reputation for its high-quality torrents and ease of use, as well as constant new additions.
Unfortunately, this popularity comes at a cost. RARBG is blocked in many countries, including Bulgaria, Denmark, Portugal, and the UK. A VPN for torrenting can help you bypass these blocks.
Average download speed: 6.1 MB/s
Sample Searches:
| Search Term | Number of Search Results | Average* | Best Seeder/Leecher Ratio | Average** |
| Lizzo, Good as Hell | 0 | 23 | n/a | 565/125 |
| Joker | 25 | 448 | 1,881/447 | 5,308/1,576 |
| The Witcher | 19 | 422 | 448/147 | 2,151/551 |
* Average number of search results for top 10 sites
** Average best seeder/leecher ratio for top 10 sites
Not loading? Try these mirrors: rarbgmirror.com, rarbg.is, rarbgunlock.com
3. 1337x – Best Torrent Site for Applications
- Excellent choice of apps, movies, TV shows, games, and music
- Helpful browsing features – Oscar nominations, new episodes, libraries
- Revamped interface makes the tracker much better
1337x has loads of torrents in every category
1337x can help you find a torrent even if you don’t know what you’re looking for, thanks to its simple, organized interface. The website recently underwent a massive rework, improving the layout and eliminating some serious security risks.
Now it’s one of the most popular torrent trackers in the world – this is one of the reasons Google hides it from search results. The ads on the site are a bit sleazy, so you might not want to open this site at work.
Average download speed: 4.2 MB/s
Sample Searches:
| Search Term | Number of Search Results | Average* | Best Seeder/Leecher Ratio | Average** |
| Lizzo, Good as Hell | 2 | 23 | 21/5 | 565/125 |
| Joker | 200 | 448 | 10,903/5,161 | 5,308/1,576 |
| The Witcher | 214 | 422 | 6,092/3,083 | 2,151/551 |
* Average number of search results for top 10 sites
** Average best seeder/leecher ratio for top 10 sites
Not loading? Try these mirrors: 1337x.is, 1337x.st, x1337x.ws, x1337x.eu, x1337x.se
4. Torlock – Best Torrent Site for Anime and Ebooks
- Wide array of active anime, ebook, and music torrents
- Top 100 torrents list to help you find the best content
If you can’t get enough anime, Torlock is your friend
TorLock combines a huge list of torrents with a fantastic user experience, especially if you’re looking for high-quality anime episodes or reading material.
Some of the stuff on TorLock is difficult to find on other trackers, but you’re likely to find the most popular torrents here as well — there are over 4.8 million to choose from.
Just keep in mind that this site runs a lot of porn ads. If you’re not using an adblocker, proceed with caution.
Average download speed: 4.4 MB/s
Sample Searches:
| Search Term | Number of Search Results | Average* | Best Seeder/Leecher Ratio | Average** |
| Lizzo, Good as Hell | 4 | 23 | 5,165/1,148 | 565/125 |
| Joker | 728 | 448 | 1,136/49 | 5,308/1,576 |
| The Witcher | 480 | 422 | 438/21 | 2,151/551 |
* Average number of search results for top 10 sites
** Average best seeder/leecher ratio for top 10 sites
5. Torrentz2 – Best Torrent Site for Music Albums
- Great variety of music torrents
- Maintains a low profile
Torrentz2 has all the music you could possibly want
Torrentz2 is the new iteration of the popular Torrentz website. It has kept the original site’s minimalist interface and heavy focus on music – it’s not uncommon to see decade-old torrents with 20+ seeders.
While there have been some changes to how magnet links work, Torrentz2 remains a great choice for audiophiles, and it’s one of the more reliable trackers around.
Average download speed: 2.0 MB/s
Sample Searches:
| Search Term | Number of Search Results | Average* | Best Seeder/Leecher Ratio | Average** |
| Lizzo, Good as Hell | 216 | 23 | 207/25 | 565/125 |
| Joker | 1,116 | 448 | 421/1 | 5,308/1,576 |
| The Witcher | 1.795 | 422 | 568/9 | 2,151/551 |
* Average number of search results for top 10 sites
** Average best seeder/leecher ratio for top 10 sites
Not loading? Try these mirrors: torrentz2.eu
- Great choice of classic and hard-to-find movies
- Perfect for users with limited bandwidth
YTS has a great mix of new and old movies
YTS focuses exclusively on movies. The huge variety of titles make it the ideal torrent site for movie enthusiasts. Another thing I really like is that most of the movies come with downloadable subtitles.
The torrents are also very easy on your bandwidth, which is one of the main advantages of this site.
Overall, YTS is a favorite for movies, but since it doesn’t offer any other categories, you’ll have to pick another site from the list for games, music, or TV shows.
Average download speed: 3.2 MB/s
Sample Searches:
| Search Term | Number of Search Results | Average* | Best Seeder/Leecher Ratio | Average** |
| Lizzo, Good as Hell | 0 | 23 | n/a | 565/125 |
| Joker | 5 | 448 | 3,282/736 | 5,308/1,576 |
| The Witcher | 0 | 422 | n/a | 2,151/551 |
* Average number of search results for top 10 sites
** Average best seeder/leecher ratio for top 10 sites
7. EZTV – Best Torrent Site for TV Shows
- Amazing variety of TV shows
- Very active community, with many new episodes added daily
A slice of heaven for TV junkies
EZTV went through quite a lot of drama, but that’s all in the past. Today it’s known as one of the best torrent sites for TV shows, with lots of active users.
You can find anything TV-related here, from the latest hit series and late-night shows to reality TV and NASCAR races.
Popular TV shows have their own pages on the site where you can find organized lists of all episodes available.
Average download speed: 3.2 MB/s
Sample Searches:
| Search Term | Number of Search Results | Average* | Best Seeder/Leecher Ratio | Average** |
| Lizzo, Good as Hell | 0 | 23 | n/a | 565/125 |
| Joker | 0 | 448 | n/a | 5,308/1,576 |
| The Witcher | 27 | 422 | 141/32 | 2,151/551 |
* Average number of search results for top 10 sites
** Average best seeder/leecher ratio for top 10 sites
8. Zooqle – Best Torrent Site for Games
- Over 3.5 million verified torrents
- Good balance of entertainment and software
Zooqle has loads of game torrents sorted by platform
Zooqle has over 37,000 movies and 600 TV shows available. That’s impressive for a site that’s so new to the torrenting scene.
The interface is strong overall, but could use some minor improvements here and there. Still, this torrent site has the numbers to help you find whatever you’re after.
Many loyal users like the direction Zooqle has taken in its development, so there’s no doubt it will be even bigger and better in the future.
Average download speed: 2.6 MB/s
Sample Searches:
| Search Term | Number of Search Results | Average* | Best Seeder/Leecher Ratio | Average** |
| Lizzo, Good as Hell | 0 | 23 | n/a | 565/125 |
| Joker | 131 | 448 | 9,736/3,125 | 5,308/1,576 |
| The Witcher | 211 | 422 | 1,954/359 | 2,151/551 |
* Average number of search results for top 10 sites
** Average best seeder/leecher ratio for top 10 sites
9. TorrentDownloads – Best Torrent Site for Software
- Extensive and well-organized torrent library
- Blocked in many countries
TorrentDownloads offers an impressive collection of movies, new and old
TorrentDownloads is another very popular torrent site, mainly because it keeps everything tidy. If all other trackers fail, this one is probably your best chance to find that old, rarely-used software you’ve been looking for or a little-known ebook you’ve been dying to read again.
Just a heads-up: Since TorrentDownloads isn’t exactly a low-profile site, it might be blocked in your country.
Average download speed: 2.8 MB/s
Sample Searches:
| Search Term | Number of Search Results | Average* | Best Seeder/Leecher Ratio | Average** |
| Lizzo, Good as Hell | 4 | 23 | 214/58 | 565/125 |
| Joker | 950 | 448 | 8,656/56 | 5,308/1,576 |
| The Witcher | 1,000 | 422 | 6,186/63 | 2,151/551 |
* Average number of search results for top 10 sites
** Average best seeder/leecher ratio for top 10 sites
10. LimeTorrents – Best Torrent Site for PC Games
- Most torrents come from bigger, better trackers
- Poor torrent health and lack of seeding can occasionally be an issue
LimeTorrents is a nice alternative if you’re looking for new releases
LimeTorrents.cc is a decent alternative if your favorite torrent site is down, but it has some shortcomings.
New, popular releases have lots of seeders and fast speeds, but older torrents are often forgotten. This isn’t a problem with the site itself, but I recommend using it as a backup plan rather than a first choice due to this inconsistency.
Average download speed: 3.7 MB/s
Sample Searches:
| Search Term | Number of Search Results | Average* | Best Seeder/Leecher Ratio | Average** |
| Lizzo, Good as Hell | 1 | 23 | 28/15 | 565/125 |
| Joker | 680 | 448 | 8,849/3,813 | 5,308/1,576 |
| The Witcher | 120 | 422 | 2,178/839 | 2,151/551 |
* Average number of search results for top 10 sites
** Average best seeder/leecher ratio for top 10 sites
Why You Can’t Access Some Torrent Sites
ISPs across the world face governmental pressure to block torrenting sites in an effort to stop illegal torrenting. In some cases, legal agencies have even managed to shut down P2P sites permanently (such as TorrentProject and ExtraTorrent).
In addition, famous torrent sites are blocked in certain countries. Google has taken steps to prevent users from accessing many torrent sites by blocking them from search results. The Chrome Adblock extension has also been known to block torrent trackers.
Why Do I Need a VPN for Torrenting?
Most torrent sites explicitly warn you to use a VPN before downloading anything – and there’s a good reason for that. Even the most reputable torrent sites and clients come with inherent dangers. It’s easy for cybercriminals to steal your IP address, monitor your connection, and even upload malware-infected torrents.
Depending on where you live, torrenting may be illegal. If you don’t take precautions, the outcomes of downloading torrents can be quite severe – from copyright infringement notices in your mailbox to hefty fines, arrests, and even the threat of jail time.
If you’re lucky enough to live in a country where torrenting is allowed, you may still encounter some issues. Namely, your ISP may intentionally throttle your bandwidth when it detects heavy data usage. This can slow your connection down to a snail’s pace, making it extremely frustrating to download torrents.
Using the right VPN will help you overcome these issues, and that’s why our team put together a list of the best VPNs for safe torrenting. (If you’re short on time, I personally recommend NordVPN. I never visit a torrent site without it.)
Here’s why a VPN connection is crucial for a smooth and safe torrenting experience:
- Anonymity: When you connect to a VPN server, your original IP address is masked, making it look like you’re torrenting from a different location. It’s impossible for anyone to see what you download, or where you’re downloading it from. VPN encryption makes your traffic and data unreadable, even to hackers.
- Unblocking: A VPN lets you connect to servers in many different countries. If torrent sites are blocked in your current location, you can connect to a server in a different country to bypass geoblocks and access your favorite torrent sites.
- No throttling: If your ISP is bottlenecking your connection due to what it determines to be excessive downloading or streaming, using a VPN is an excellent solution. When you use a VPN, your ISP can’t see what you’re doing online – this means you could get even faster torrenting speeds. For more tips, check out our article on blocking ISP throttling.
Top 3 VPNs for Torrenting
These three excellent VPNs offer airtight security and total anonymity, making them ideal for torrenting safely.
1. NordVPN – Best Overall VPN
- Optimized P2P servers in 58 countries
- Strict zero-logging policy
- Blocks ads and trackers
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- Compatible with:
- Unblocks: Netflix, HBO, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, BBC iPlayer, Showtime, Sling TV, and many more
NordVPN is the ideal VPN for torrenting. Its network of 5,510 servers includes dedicated P2P-optimized servers for fast, secure torrenting. How fast? Well, it’s the fastest VPN we’ve tested. With unlimited data transfer on all plans, you can download (and upload) as much as you want.
NordVPN’s CyberSec feature blocks ads and trackers on the websites you visit, which is a huge plus on banner-heavy torrenting sites.
With its military-grade encryption and no-logs policy, you can be sure your online activity and personal data will always remain private. Even your ISP won’t be able to see what you’re doing online, so you won’t have to worry about throttling.
NordVPN isn’t just good for torrenting – it can also access 400+ streaming platforms, including Netflix US, Prime Video, BBC iPlayer, and more, no matter where you are in the world. It can even access blocked content in regions with strict censorship and VPN bans.
If you run into any problems, NordVPN’s responsive live chat support is available 24/7 to answer your questions.
The best part? You can try NordVPN out risk-free with its 30-day money-back guarantee.
2. ExpressVPN – Super-Fast VPN With Advanced Security
- 3,000+ VPN servers with P2P support
- Lightning-fast connection speeds
- Strict zero-logging policy
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- Compatible with:
- Unblocks: Netflix, HBO, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, BBC iPlayer, Showtime, Sling TV, DAZN, and more
ExpressVPN provides blazing-fast connection speeds and unlimited data transfer, perfect for downloading and uploading large files. Better yet, it offers full torrenting support across its large network of 3,000+ servers in 94 countries. It’s easy to find a server close to your location for the fastest download speeds.
ExpressVPN has plenty to offer when it comes to security. When you connect to a server, your data is secured with robust AES 256-bit encryption to prevent spying eyes from seeing your torrenting activity. You don’t have to worry about your ISP trying to throttle your connection. With a strict no-logs policy and an automatic kill switch, your online activity can never be traced back to you.
ExpressVPN can also access geoblocked TV shows and movies on Netflix and many other popular streaming sites. You can see the full list in our in-depth ExpressVPN review.
Another cool feature is ExpressVPN’s split tunneling, which allows you to choose which apps on your device should route traffic through your VPN connection, while other traffic goes through your normal internet connection. That means you can route your torrenting traffic through a secure remote server while you access local sites on your browser. This can be useful if you are in a country that blocks torrenting sites.
To try ExpressVPN out for yourself without having to make a long-term commitment, you can take advantage of its 30-day money-back guarantee.
3. CyberGhost – Best VPN for Newbies
- P2P-optimized servers for speedy downloads
- User-friendly apps and browser extensions
- Blocks ads and trackers
- Strict zero-logging policy
- Compatible with:
- Unblocks: Netflix, BBC iPlayer, HBO GO, Amazon Prime Video, Sky Go, Showtime, and more
CyberGhost is a great option if you’re looking for a hassle-free VPN to protect you while you torrent. Its desktop and mobile apps are super easy to use, even if you’ve never used a VPN before.
CyberGhost’s global network of 6,700 servers includes clearly labeled dedicated P2P servers, and I recommend using one of those for the best download speeds. You can see the full results of our speed tests in our in-depth CyberGhost review.
Like the other two VPNs on this list, CyberGhost masks your IP address to hide your identity and location from the torrent sites you visit. This protects you from hackers, data theft, and other online threats. With its airtight AES 256-bit encryption, even your ISP won’t be able to see your torrenting activity. There’s also a built-in ad and malware blocker, which increases your security on torrenting sites.
CyberGhost offers 24/7 live chat support to help you with any concerns.
To find out if CyberGhost is the VPN for you, you can use its generous 45-day money-back guarantee to take it for a test drive.
FAQ
🙂 Which torrent site is the fastest?
Here are the results from the speed tests I performed on the 10 torrent sites above with NordVPN, my top VPN choice for torrenting:
Torrent size: ~1GB
Seeder-to-leecher ratio: approx. 80%
Connection speed: 75 MB/s
Average download speed (no VPN): 6.5 MB/s
Average download speed (with NordVPN): 6.3
| Site | Average speed (MB/s) | Peak speed (MB/s) | |
| #1 The Fastest Torrent Site | ThePirateBay | 6.3 | 7.5 |
| #2 | RARBG | 6.1 | 7.9 |
| #3 | Torrentz2 | 6.4 | 7.9 |
| #4 | Torlock | 4.4 | 6.5 |
| #5 | 1337x | 4.2 | 6.8 |
| #6 | LimeTorrents | 3.7 | 5.2 |
| #7 | YTS | 3.2 | 7.7 |
| #8 | EZTV | 3.2 | 7.0 |
| #9 | TorrentDownloads | 2.8 | 4.6 |
| #10 | Zooqle | 2.6 | 4.1 |
As you can see, all sites offered more than acceptable speeds, with The Pirate Bay, RARBG, and Torrentz2 in the lead.
🙂 Do I need a VPN for torrenting?
Some governments block torrent sites, so if you cannot access them in your location, a VPN is the only way to mask your IP address and appear as if you’re in a different country. But even if you can access the sites with no issues, using a VPN while torrenting is still strongly recommended, no matter where you are in the world.
When you torrent without a VPN, your private data and online activity are exposed, and you face some serious risks. Your ISP can see what you’re doing online and could report your activity to the authorities, even if your downloads are perfectly legal. You’re also vulnerable to hackers and other online threats.
A VPN hides your identity, encrypts all your traffic, and keeps your connection private, so you don’t have to lose sleep worrying about this kind of thing. If you don’t have a VPN yet, our top recommendation is NordVPN.
🙂 What happens if I get caught torrenting?
It depends. If you’re downloading or uploading open-source software or noncopyrighted materials, there should be no problem. However, if your torrents include copyrighted or other legally protected content, you could face serious fines or other legal action.
That’s why it’s best to make sure you always use a reliable VPN while torrenting, just in case you accidentally download or upload something you shouldn’t. A VPN will keep your IP address hidden and prevent anyone from tracing downloads back to your device.
🙂 Can I get caught torrenting with a VPN?
If you’re using a reliable VPN with good security features, no one can see your online activity – not even your ISP. Just be sure to choose a VPN that’s been tested and approved by security experts (such as NordVPN).
🙂 How do I use a torrent site?
First, you’ll need to install a torrent client on your computer. The most popular ones are BitTorrent and uTorrent.
If you’ve never downloaded torrents before, it’s especially important to use a VPN because it can be very easy to click on a malicious link by accident. You can learn more about VPNs and what they do in our beginners’ guide to VPNs.
Once you’re all set, it’s time to choose a torrent site from the list above. These sites work like simple search engines – you type the name of the file you’re looking for into the search bar and browse through the results. There are a lot of fake torrents out there, so it’s always a good idea to choose files from verified uploaders or check the user comments to see if anyone had any issues.
🙂 Which torrent sites should you avoid?
Some older torrent sites still show up online, but they’ve been taken over and are not what they appear to be. These are some of the sites I don’t recommend:
- TorrentBay: While this used to be one of the stronger torrenting sites, today it’s just an index of other sites. I don’t trust these links and I would avoid clicking them.
- TorrentFunk: This site has a smaller library and it’s not updated as frequently as the sites I’ve recommended above. With the constant pop-up ads on everything you click, it’s just not worth the trouble.
- YourBittorrent: This site looks innocent at first glance, but once you click anything, it’s bad news. It’s full of hard porn ads and pop-ups that try to trick you into installing software you don’t want. Stay away from this site if you know what’s good for you.
🙂 How can I access private torrent sites?
There are several private torrent sites out there, such as Bibliotik for ebooks, Redacted for music torrents, and IPTorrents for a more generalized selection. The only way to access them is through an invite. Getting one of those can be tricky – you can’t just apply on the site. You have to know a current member and request an invite from them directly.
You can find a few Reddit threads where you can ask for invites, or try your luck on the TorrentInvites.org forum.
In most cases, you will only be granted access to the site if you commit to becoming an active member.
🙂 Is there any way to speed up torrenting?
Some VPNs have features that can increase torrenting speeds, especially if your ISP is throttling your connection. Select a premium VPN like ExpressVPN or NordVPN, that have large server networks and offer unlimited speed and bandwidth.
The Bottom Line
If you’re looking to download torrents, there are still some excellent sites you can rely on. But if you care about your privacy, using a VPN is crucial.
You can read more about how to torrent safely and anonymously, or find out if torrents are illegal where you live.
Take a look at our beginner’s guide to learn more about VPNs, or check out our list of the 10 best VPNs for torrenting to find more great VPN recommendations.
Visit our list of the current best VPN deals and discounts (updated weekly) for big savings.
Source: https://www.vpnmentor.com/blog/10-best-torrent-websites/