Torrent sites are among the most popular websites in the world, providing thousands upon thousands of free torrent files, including software, games, music, movies, TV shows, anime, and so much more. But are they safe? And if they’re not, how do you prepare your PC?
What you need to know: Torrent sites and online safety
It’s no secret that even the most popular and well-known torrent sites come with their own safety concerns. It’s simple though; Most of them let anyone register for an account and start uploading torrent files, which means some of the uploaders may upload malicious files, including malware, adware, and everything with “ware” at the end.
Over the years I’ve seen many of my friends getting “the malware of their lives” just because they thought it was a good idea to download software that otherwise they had to pay for it. In the last few years, I’ve also seen people who reported that their CPU was running at its fullest, and their temperatures were over normal, just to find out their PCs were being used for mining.
But let’s say that you found a premium application for free, downloaded it, and installed it on your PC, and it’s all good, right? Wrong. With pirated software, you won’t be getting any new updates or support anytime soon, and that’s also a big security concern. There’s nothing that makes your PC more vulnerable than having an outdated operating system and apps running in it, as many companies and developers keep pushing new versions that are safer and with fewer security holes.
With all that in mind, it’s always a wise idea to search for an alternative that is free and open source, rather than trying your luck with torrent files and cracked software, especially if you don’t know how to protect yourself. More importantly, if you’re using Windows as your default operating system, having a strong and well-trusted AntiVirus program is crucial. Microsoft’s Windows Security (also known as “Microsoft Defender”) is pretty good nowadays, but make sure all of its features are enabled.
If you’re looking for anything strong, you can always use BitDefender, which is one of the most popular and well-known AntiVirus programs in the world.
If you’re looking for an extra boost in your online security and privacy, I strongly suggest using a professional VPN service. I mean, you will only open the app, click connect, and boom, your IP is masked and no one knows your location. Cool, right? I’m currently using Surfshark VPN in combination with their AntiVirus, and I find it the best of the rest.
You can also check out great other companies, including NordVPN and PureVPN.
Note: If you’re only downloading movies and TV Shows, the best way to stay even more secure is to simply make sure that the torrent file is .MOV or .MP4. Do not download any file that has .mp4.exe or .mov.exe at the end, as it will probably be a malicious file.
How to stay updated with the best torrent sites
When it comes to mentions, I couldn’t just leave out the guys behind the Megathread on Reddit, which was made by the community of the r/Piracy subreddit. This is the place where you can find different lists of safe and unsafe torrent sites that you can use to download almost anything you may looking for, including movies, TV shows, books, games, mobile apps, music, software, sports, and tools.
This beautiful little subreddit is a gem when it comes to staying updated with the best and worst torrent sites. The “Unsafe” list it’s the most important of them all, as it includes torrent sites that may contain malware, adware, trojans, and so much more. They’ve also included some fake torrent sites, meaning they’re clones of the originals trying to lure people into downloading malicious files.
If you’re unsure if a torrent site should be trusted, you can always search for them on Google, Bing, and even Reddit. TotalVirus.com is also a great option that lets you scan any website or specific files before you download them, which makes security a whole lot easier and so much better.
Looking at even more security and safety? How about installing Linux alongside Windows? Every time you want to download something from torrent sites, you can always do that from your favourite Linux distro, which will be much safer. In combination with a VPN service and a browser that doesn’t track you and sell your information, that’s the perfect option for most people who aren’t so familiar with computers.
The 10 Best Torrent Sites for 2024
There are many torrent sites that you can use to search for your favourite content, some of them are safe, others aren’t, and some have been designed for specific purposes, such as for downloading movies or TV Shows, others for games, and so on. Below you’ll find some of the most popular and well-known torrent sites that most people currently use.
1. AppDoze
When it comes to desktop apps, there’s nothing that can easily beat AppDoze. The website consists at providing cracked software (mostly for Windows users) and has almost any popular program you may be searching for. Unfortunately, there are a few less-known programs that are missing from its library, but its lists should be more than fine for most people.
I’ve tested many of its torrents and they all seem more than safe to use, and it’s also listed on the Megathread on Reddit as a safe option, which is a big bonus. The website is fairly simple and easy to use, and it even includes some apps for Android and macOS users, which is another bonus.
Website: appdoze.com
2. TorrentGalaxy
TorrentGalaxy is one of the best torrent sites available, and it has a great design when it comes to browsing for torrents. Its homepage includes all the recent and trending torrent files, and it has everything from movies and TV series to programs, apps, books, music, and so on.
Unfortunately, it’s not the safest option when it comes to downloading torrents, and you’ll have to be careful, as I found a few cracked programs that my AntiVirus immediately detected. From trojan to malware, you name it. So make sure you did some digging before downloading anything from there – but it has a tremendous list of available torrents, so yeah.
Website: torrentgalaxy.to
3. YTS
YTS (or YIFY for the oldest of us) has somewhat of a history behind it, as the site was started by an individual with the pseudonym “YIFY”, who quickly gained recognition after he started distributing the most popular movies online, compressed and in high-quality. If you haven’t already heard anything, it’s important to note that the original YIFY was shut down in 2015, following legal action by the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA).
YTS.mx is considered the current primary website that is associated with the original YTS, but it’s not. It has the same design, it keeps updated all the time, both with new releases and old movies in high quality. From 720p to 1080p to 4K, YTS.mx has almost every movie you want, and it’s not just letting you download their torrent files. You see, using YTS.mx, you can either choose to download the movie locally, or watch it through the website, and even select your preferred quality.
In all my tests, I had no issues and nothing was harmful.
Website: yts.mx
4. ThePirateBay
I don’t think there are many people who aren’t already familiar with the world’s most popular torrent site. ThePirateBay was started back in 2003 by a Swedish anti-copyright organization, known as Piratbyrån (The Pirate Bureau), and since then, it only saw growth in its traffic, until it was globally known by almost anyone who had a computer.
Now, ThePirateBay has everything, from movies and TV Series to music, software, games, books, anime, and mobile apps. As you already know, it’s not safe and you may end up downloading torrents that contain malware, so be extra careful when downloading anything from ThePirateBay.
Website: thepiratebay.org
5. 1337x
1337x is one of the most popular torrent sites as of this moment, and for all the good reasons. For me, the website represents the good old days of ThePirateBay and KickAssTorrents, which were amongst the kings. Nowadays it’s hard to find a good website, and it’s more or less similar to TorrentGalaxy.
Like other torrent sites, 1337x has all the content you’ve been looking for, including music, movies, TV Shows, all kinds of software, e-books, online courses, website and video templates, mobile apps and games, PC games, and so much more. Of course, downloading torrents from 1337x may result in malware and other types of viruses, so as always, be extra careful.
Note: There are many fake websites and clones that trying to represent 1337x, including the domain name 1377x, which many may visit by mistake.
Website: 1337x.to
6. FitGirl Repacks
FitGirl Repacks has been known for many years as the best website for downloading games. It has everything game-related, from old nostalgic titles to the latest AAA games, there’s nothing beating that website when it comes to gaming. If you have any problems with your torrent files, you can always ask questions in the comment section (just make sure you’ve read the steps before).
Although a simple website in WordPress based on the Twenty Fourteen theme, searching and finding your favourite games is as easy as it goes, and you can search by month, going as far as on July 2016 uploads archive. The website has thousands of games that you can download using their magnet links, and for as long as I remember, I haven’t seen someone reporting any kind of malware in her torrent files.
The website keeps updated regularly, and you’ll find all the latest updates of almost any game there is, thanks to the amazing work this woman does. She’s also accepting donations with crypto in case you want to help her out.
Website: fitgirl-repacks.site
7. LimeTorrents
If you’re looking for a torrent site that is something between 1337x, ThePirateBay, and TorrentGalaxy, that’s LimeTorrents. It has thousands upon thousands of magnet links to download movies, TV Shows, anime, games, applications, and even magazine bundles or whatever is that you’re looking for.
As far as security goes, you’ll have to be careful when downloading files from unknown sources, as they may contain harmful software. Thankfully, the website has a few pretty well-known people uploading their safe content, but still, take the best precautions.
Website: limetorrents.cc (now limetorrents.lol)
8. EZTV
There shouldn’t be any introduction for EZTV, as it’s well-known for continuously providing all the newest episodes from almost any TV Show there is. And yes, it’s all about TV Shows and not movies or anything else, and most of them are provided in either 720p or 1080p in quality. The website also gets updated every day and has tons of Full Season TV Packs that you can download and watch the whole series at once.
I’ve tested the EZTV website and its content multiple times over the years and has never failed me when it comes to providing safe files that don’t contain anything out of the ordinary – just make sure to avoid any clones and copycats, as they call them, that may include malware.
Website: eztvx.to
9. Skidrow & RELOADED
Like a friend of mine keeps saying, “I’ve been using the official website of Skidrow & RELOADED to download and test every game that I am not sure if I should buy or not, and so far has saved me lots of money”. Although I’m not into games that much, I have known Skidrow & RELOADED for many years now, and I’ve tested the website by downloading various popular games to test for any viruses or malware and found nothing suspicious.
The website keeps updated on a daily basis, it has an old and nostalgic design and a simple search bar that you can use to search for your favourite games. For every game uploaded, you get various third-party websites that you can choose to download the final torrent file, as the website itself doesn’t host any files (from what I can tell).
Website: skidrowreloaded.com
10. BitSearch
BitSearch, as the name suggests, it’s a search engine for torrent files. It’s a modern, fast, and easy-to-use website that it’s perfect for searching for movies, TV Shows, music, anime, videos, software, and whatever else you may be looking for. When it comes to safety, that’s another matter, as the website includes torrent files that may not be safe to download, so make sure you’re extra careful when downloading from there.
Based on BitSearch, the torrent search engine has over 435,385,79 torrent files (of which none of them are actually hosted on the website). In my latest tests, the website kept on giving me a “Bad Gateway” error from CloudFlare, making my experience a whole lot slower and less fun than it should have, and I kept getting the same error message for the last few days.
Website: bitsearch.to
FAQ
Have more questions about torrent sites? Drop them in the comments at the end of this page.
What is the Megathread on Reddit?
The Megathread is basically a subreddit on Reddit that is updated by its moderators and contributors to include the safest torrent sites, and a list of the fake, clones, or copycats that exist and contain malicious content. It’s the best place to look for safe-to-use torrent sites and a great way to stay updated with the most harmful sites.
How do I watch movies and TV Shows safely?
Most torrent users prefer the YTS.mx website for downloading movies, while the EZTVX.to is best known for having almost any TV Show you’re looking for. Other than that, there are other mobile and desktop apps such as the Stremio, which with third-party extensions can provide you with a huge list of movies, TV Shows, documentaries, anime, and more.
Should I use a VPN when downloading torrents?
Absolutely! A VPN will encrypt and mask your IP address and it will let you browser anonymously. Many torrent sites are also getting blocked by various Governments, so if your country has blocked a website, you’ll be able to easily access it using a VPN service. A VPN combined with a good AntiVirus will get you most out of security and privacy.
What are the most popular torrent sites?
Some of the most popular torrent sites as of this moment are TorrentGalaxy, YTS, ThePirateBay, 1337x, FitGirl Repacks, EZTV, and more.
How do I search for torrents using qBitTorrent;
qBitorrent is one of the most popular and well-known torrent clients in the world and for all the good reasons. Apart from that, it comes with extensions, and one of them is a search engine for torrents. Theoretically, it’s a safe way to download torrent files, but you’ll still have to be extra careful.
Is it legal to download torrent files?
While there are many torrent files that you can download legally, most of them aren’t legal and based on your location, there may be fines. For example, you can download legally distributed content such as open-source software, public domain content, and other content that its creators provide for free. Anything else is illegal.
What is your favourite torrent site for downloading torrents and have you ever downloaded a malicious file by accident? I’d love to hear about your experience in the comments below.
Uh, oh! Legal stuff! Yikes.. Yet important! Affiliate Links Disclaimer: Many of the links on my articles are affiliate links. That means if you click on one and make a purchase, I might earn a small commission, and I'll keep doing what I'm doing, reviewing everything with absolute honesty. Sounds good? Good.
