10 Best ExtraTorrent Alternatives — Safe & Working In 2023

ExtraTorrent has been shut down for some time, but finding a safe and reliable alternative remains challenging. Plenty of mirror sites like extratorrents.cc and extratorrents.it were reborn from the ashes. However, they turned out to be breeding grounds for malware and phishing attacks. Additionally, Google continues to block plenty of ExtraTorrent alternatives, which makes the search harder.

After testing several dozen torrenting sites, I discovered the 10 best alternatives to ExtraTorrent. These sites go to great lengths to verify their torrents and users and have a well-established history. But even the safest torrenting sites can still pose a danger, so I recommend using a VPN with an ExtraTorrent alternative.

A VPN protects you from malicious threats with its robust security and privacy features while letting you enjoy fast speeds. My favorite VPN for ExtraTorrent alternatives is ExpressVPN because all its 3,000 servers are P2P optimized. Plus, it comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can try all ExpressVPN features without risk. This makes it possible to claim a refund if you don’t like it.

Torrent Safely With ExpressVPN

Important. Torrenting isn’t illegal in most places, but certain torrenting files may be unlawful if they’re protected by copyright. Additionally, some countries block torrenting sites for legal reasons. My team and I are against illegal torrenting and strongly recommend you only torrent for legal purposes. To not break any laws accidentally, always ensure you familiarize yourself with the rules and regulations in your country.

The Best ExtraTorrent Alternatives That Work Right Now

1. The Pirate Bay — Household Torrenting Site With a Huge User Base

The Pirate Bay is amongst the most popular torrenting sites with many torrents

The Pirate Bay is home to over a million torrents and hosts many content types, including movies, software, music, games, and more. You can filter torrents by format, quality, and console through its intuitive interface to easily find your favorite torrents. Plus, its “Top 100” filter is useful for uncovering some of the best torrents worldwide.

You also have two options for how you want to download a file — a torrent link and a magnetic link. Just remember to first install a BitTorrent client. A significant benefit for me is that if your upload or download gets interrupted, the process will simply resume and not start again.

The site has been around since 2003 and has survived several legal issues while remaining a top torrent site. I like how it indicates a torrent's safety by placing a green or purple skull next to it. A green skull means the torrent is trustworthy, while a purple skull indicates a verified torrent safe to download. And since it verifies uploaders and has plenty of seeders, you can feel safe using The Pirate Bay website.

Like most ExtraTorrent alternatives, expect to encounter a few pop-up ads when using The Pirate Bay. But if you use a powerful VPN with an ad and malware blocker like CyberGhost, you can remove ads and prevent malicious attacks.

Visit The Pirate Bay

2. 1337x — Extensive Torrent Library That’s Run by an Active Community

1337x makes it easy to find torrents by category

1337x has over 10 million users and survived its fair share of setbacks, making it well-established. You can find all sorts of torrents, from movies to games and software, so it’s suitable for most people. Thanks to many users, most torrents have plenty of seeders, enabling faster downloads. Plus, 1337x uses the BitTorrent protocol and indexes magnet links to increase its torrent library.

The site has an attractive interface that’s old-school, so you can easily search for torrents by category. It used to be full of malware and viruses, which have now been removed to provide a safer experience. Even though the site lacks a direct way to identify safe torrents, its community actively verifies new torrents to ensure safety. You can also find technical details of each torrent and check user profiles to see if the files are genuine.

It also favors highly from a privacy point of view. The site contains a small number of ads and runs entirely off Bitcoin donations, meaning it barely collects data and encourages private contributions. But it still won’t protect you from malicious snoops, so it’s best to use a no-logs VPN with 1337x.

Visit 1337x

3. RARBG — Verifies Torrents And Updates Library To Ensure Safety

RARBG is a transparent torrent site with an active community

RARBG is renowned for its personalized user interface, which makes it easy to find and download torrents of different media types. You can filter torrents by date, file size, the number of seeders and leechers, and view specific features like screenshots and artwork by putting your mouse over a file. It also stands out from a safety perspective because it verifies all its torrents and updates its library.

The site has an active community that includes moderators and verified users, which provide a pleasant user experience. Both registered and unregistered members can contribute to the site by adding reviews to ensure transparency. Since this can give you a better idea of what you’re downloading, it reduces the likelihood of downloading something malicious.

Top 10 rankings for each category also help you stay up to date with what’s popular. But most new torrents are protected by copyright, so I suggest you don’t download them to avoid legal repercussions. I was slightly disappointed by the number of pop-up ads on the site, although I could use a powerful VPN with an ad and malware blocker to remove annoying pop-ups. This also stops RARBG from collecting data.

Visit RARBG

4. YTS — Plenty of High-Resolution Movies To Choose From

YTS is hard to beat when it comes to movies

YTS (also known as YIFY) is a solid ExtraTorrent alternative specializing in movies. However, most films are protected by copyright, so always familiarize yourself with the laws of your country first. The file sizes are usually small, and most movies range from 720p to 4k, meaning you can enjoy high-quality films and fast download speeds. Additionally, using a VPN with YTS can further increase speeds as it prevents your ISP from throttling bandwidth.

The YTS homepage reminds me of Netflix because it’s clean and simplistic. You can search for films based on popularity, genre, and rating categories and view each film's trailers, synopsis, and language options. Movie subtitles are also available to download if you prefer to use them. And if you need assistance, you can interact with its community of 75+ million users or ask a question through its contact page.

Unfortunately, YTS lacks other media types because it’s fully dedicated to movies. I also encountered some slightly irritating pop-up ads, so I recommend using an ad-blocker with YTS.

Visit YTS

5. Limetorrents — Great ExtraTorrent Alternate With a Massive Library

Limetorrents is a no-frills torrenting site with lots of content

Limetorrents lets you search from over 10 million torrents, which includes a wide range of software, apps, music, games, and more. The site doesn’t host its torrents but instead provides other sites’ download links. This may result in slower speeds when downloading older content because of the lack of seeders. However, Limetorrents verifies all new uploaders.

There’s even a top 100 list for each media type so you can easily find the latest and most popular torrents. However, most of the files on these lists are likely under copyright, making them illegal to download. For this reason, you should only download content in the public domain. And since it’s a family-friendly site, you won’t find any adult content.

The site’s interface is beginner-friendly and clean. You can quickly find torrents by searching or clicking each category listed at the bottom. If you search for torrents, you can use the torrent health tracker to see if a torrent is healthy. However, I came across a few pop-ups that my ad blocker said were malicious, so be careful.

Visit Limetorrents

6. EZTV — The Best ExtraTorrent Alternative for TV Shows

EZTV provides the latest, and greatest TV shows

EZTV is your go-to site for TV shows, as it’s known to upload new episodes within a few hours of being released. You can choose from a wide range of TV shows, including the latest releases and classics. I liked filtering shows by quality, release date, genre, and many seeders, which helped me find what I was looking for much faster. This made up for its unappealing interface, which isn’t the best to use.

You can easily find help if needed, as EZTV provides an active community, forum, and FAQ page. I could easily find the torrent I was after by asking a question on the FAQ page. Additionally, your actual location and identity are protected with the site’s built-in privacy checker. But a robust VPN like ExpressVPN does a much better job protecting your privacy, so I recommend using one with EZTV.

Visit EZTV

7. Torlock — A Solid Alternative for Safe Torrenting

Torlock compensates you for helping improve the user experience

Torlock pays users $1 every time they report a fake torrent or malware on the site. This shows it goes to great lengths to keep users safe from malware and fake torrents. However, some links on the site can still lead you astray, so be careful. The Torlock library contains a wide range of e-books, music, games, software, and more. Plus, many torrents have large numbers of seeders and leechers that enable fast downloads.

Since the site is new and has an interactive interface, you can effortlessly search through the 9 million torrents to find what you’re looking for. You can also see all the specifications for each torrent file containing all your search terms. Even though new torrents appear on the homepage, I recommend avoiding them as you could break the law by downloading them due to copyright.

Visit Torlock

8. Torrentz2 — A Torrent Search Engine That Indexes Many Torrents

Torrentz2 is a great way to find verified music sources

Torrentz2 (previously Torrentz) differs from the alternatives because it’s a torrent search engine that only contains a search bar. When you enter a search, it indexes it across 31,102,111+ sources to present findings displayed as links. As soon as you click on one of those links, it takes you directly to that site.

While you can use the site to search for different media types, it particularly stands out for music. You can filter your searches only to display verified torrents. But you can’t apply any filters apart from that, which can be inconvenient. Even with the verified torrent filter, you won’t be 100% safe, so I suggest you get a quality VPN to use with Torrentz2, which protects your privacy.

Visit Torrentz2

9. Torrent Galaxy — Stream Your Favorite Movies While Torrenting Them

Find the best IMDB-rated movies with Torrent Galaxy

Torrent Galaxy has a visually appealing website that’s easy to navigate. You can see a list of file specifications when you search for a torrent, such as the seeder/leecher ratio, the file size, and artwork. An added benefit is that the site verifies all of its torrents.

Since the site focuses on new releases, it provides a list of popular torrents and lets you search for movies by their IMDB ID. It’s even possible to stream movies while you’re downloading them, too. But always be wary of the potential legal consequences of downloading new files.

While the site has a few ads, they aren’t as overwhelming as other torrenting sites. But since ads are an annoying privacy risk, I recommend using a VPN with an ad-blocker like CyberGhost to stay safe on Torrent Galaxy.

Visit Torrentz Galaxy

10. Zooqle — Extensive Torrent Library With a Gallery-Like Interface

Zooqle is a new kid on the block, indexing verified torrents

Zooqle is an up-and-coming torrent site that’s growing fast. Since it’s new, it has an active community and a decent selection of torrents. For example, you can choose from over 40,000 movies and TV shows. However, you need to create a Zooqle account to see file specifications, receive torrent alerts, and track torrents.

Its interface is unique as it resembles a gallery, making it ideal for selecting files with different resolutions. However, it isn’t regularly updated. Also, like many torrenting sites, Zooqle contains many files protected by copyright, especially new releases. Since they’re usually illegal to download, I strongly advise you to avoid them.

Visit Zooqle

How to Stay Safe While Using ExtraTorrent Alternatives

The best way to stay protected while using an ExtraTorrent alternative is to use a premium VPN with robust security features. It protects you from hackers and snoops, plus a VPN’s no-logs policy, DNS/IP leak protection, and military-grade encryption hide your real IP address when you download and upload torrents, preventing your connection from being intercepted.

But if you’re highly concerned about online safety, here are some extra safety measures you can take in addition to using a VPN:

• Only download verified torrents — An unverified torrent is likely to be full of malware. Apart from your torrent’s verification status, you should also check its upload history, reviews, and seeder to leecher ratio.
• Use a private search engine — Popular search engines will usually show you dangerous mirror sites, thanks to the DMCA (Digital Millennium Copyright Act). But a private search engine like DuckDuckGo will only show genuine torrent sites without hiding URLs.
• Inspect files for malware — Common file types filled with malware are RAR, TAR, and ZIP, so always check them. WMA, WMV, EXE, and password-protected files are best avoided because they’re outdated.
• Use a trustworthy torrent client — A user-friendly torrent client like uTorrent or qBittorrent provides further protection against malware, spyware, and viruses. They also enable you to customize features to optimize speed and security.
• Stay away from fake sites — Avoid sites that demand registration, use a weird URL, or annoy you without countless pop-up ads. These features are hallmarks of dangerous copycat sites that jeopardize your security.

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Beware of These ExtraTorrent Proxy Sites

Since Extratorrent was shut down in 2017, many dangerous proxy sites have appeared. These sites usually appear and reappear again after being taken down, so it’s best to keep an eye out and avoid them to stay safe:

• Extratorrents.it
• Extratorrent.cyou
• Extratorrents.cc
• extratorrent.ch
• extratorrent.si
• extratorrent-cc.com
• extratorrent.ag
• extratorrent.cd

3 Best VPNs to Use With ExtraTorrent Alternatives

The VPNs below are the best ones to use with ExtraTorrent alternatives because they come with robust security features, a no-logs policy, and fast speeds. This lets you download torrents quickly without any compromise to online security or privacy.

Additionally, all of them have plenty of P2P optimized servers, giving you many options to torrent from anywhere. Plus, they’re easy to install and use.

1. ExpressVPN — Lightning-Fast Speeds Let You Download Torrents Quickly

ExpressVPN is an excellent choice if you want to download torrents quickly. It also conceals your IP address from your ISP, which means they can’t throttle your bandwidth. My speed tests came in at 47.6 Mbps when I downloaded Sita Sings the Blues from 1337x, which was very close to my non-VPN speeds of 50.4 Mbps. This means you won’t spend a lot of time downloading torrents.

Its powerful security features keep you well-protected from cyber threats while using ExtraTorrent alternatives. Your connection will become virtually impenetrable with its AES-256 bit encryption, while its kill switch called “Network Lock” disconnects you from the internet if your VPN drops (however, this has never happened to me). Meanwhile, the DNS/IP leak protection stops your sensitive data from being exposed accidentally.

ExpressVPN’s kill switch acts as your last line of defense while torrenting

Your privacy will also be protected, as ExpressVPN follows a strict no-logs policy. This means it won’t track your torrenting activity. Its headquarters are also based in the British Virgin Islands, free of data retention laws. Plus, all its servers are RAM-based, meaning your data gets cleared with every reboot.

A minor disadvantage of ExpressVPN is its lack of a built-in ad blocker, requiring users to seek out and set up one independently. Fortunately, the company does recommend several trustworthy ad-blockers on its website, which makes the selection process less challenging.

I recommend the long-term subscription, which starts from $6.67/month. It has the same features as a monthly plan but is considerably more affordable in the long run. You can even save 49% on your ExpressVPN subscription right now by going to its website

Every purchase also comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee. I asked a 24/7 live chat agent to cancel my subscription to see if it was legitimate. After giving my reason for canceling, she proceeded with my request, and all my money was back on my credit card after 2 business days — no hassle at all.

Try ExpressVPN When Torrenting Now

2. CyberGhost — Reliable Ad and Malware Blocker for ExtraTorrent Alternatives

CyberGhost makes it safer and more pleasant to use an ExtraTorrent alternative. It's ad-blocker for Windows and Android prevents unwanted parties from targeting you with ads and collecting your data. When I switched the ad-blocker on to test it, it made all the ads on Limetorrents and YTS disappear. This included both pop-up and banner ads.

CyberGhost stops annoying ads while using ExtraTorrent alternatives

Its server network of 9,487 servers in 91 countries includes specialized torrenting servers designed explicitly for torrenting. They do better than regular servers at increasing your speeds and keeping you safe. I definitely noticed faster speeds when I used them to download torrents from 1337x.

Additionally, robust security features like AES 256-bit encryption, a kill switch, and DNS/IP leak protection keep your data safe from unwanted third parties. Plus, its no-logs policy and Romanian home base ensure high levels of privacy when torrenting. Another handy feature is its SmartRules feature, which automatically connects you to a specific server when you open a designated app.

I did find CyberGhost’s short-term plans expensive. However, if you opt for a long-term subscription you only pay $2.19/month. A long-term plan has all the same features and an extended money-back guarantee (45 days vs. 14).

You can use its money-back guarantee to test CyberGhost for free while torrenting. It's straightforward to get a refund. I asked customer service (via 24/7 live chat) to cancel my subscription. They asked me 1 question about my user experience before going ahead with my request. After 3 business days, all the money was back in my PayPal wallet.

Try CyberGhost When Torrenting Now

3. Private Internet Access — Customizable Security Features for Safe Torrenting

Private Internet Access (PIA) has plenty of customizable security features that work well with torrenting. For example, you can change between AES-128 and 256-bit encryption and different security protocols to optimize speed or security. There are also standard security features like a kill switch and DNS/IP leak protection to ensure proper safety.

With PIA, you can optimize your security settings for torrenting

It also has reliable speeds. During my speed tests, I recorded an average download speed of 45.3 Mbps on its US servers, which only dropped 18% from my non-VPN speeds. You can further boost speeds with your torrenting client by using its SOCKS5 proxy or port forwarding feature.

Like CyberGhost, PIA has its own ad and malware blocker called MACE. This blocks annoying ads and alerts you to websites that contain malware. MACE successfully blocked a few pop-up ads when I used RARBG and stopped a few malware sites from loading on some Torrentz2 searches.

I was concerned about its US home base, which places it at the core of the intelligence-sharing 5 Eyes Alliance. But since it has a proven no-logs policy, PIA won’t collect or share your data.

Its long-term plan is the cheapest option and starts from $2.03/month. And thanks to its 30-day money-back guarantee, you can test all of PIA’s features for free. When I asked for a refund through its 24/7 live chat, the agent asked me some easy questions before proceeding. My money was fully refunded to my bank account after 5 business days.

Try PIA When Torrenting Now

Tips on Choosing the Best VPNs to use With ExtraTorrent Alternatives

I used the criteria below to shortlist the best VPNs for ExtraTorrent alternatives. All of my recommendations have these features which make them ideal for fast and safe torrenting. Feel free to use this list to aid your decision-making:

• P2P Compatibility — Select a VPN that supports P2P sharing on its servers or has P2P-optimized servers. Not every VPN supports P2P sharing, and you can’t torrent without it.
• Robust security features — Torrenting can expose you to unwanted dangers like data hacks, so it’s best to use a VPN with military-grade encryption, a kill switch, DNS/IP leak protection, and advanced security protocols.
• Fast speeds — A reliable VPN lets you download and upload torrents quickly. Even though a VPN will slow down your speeds (due to the encryption), a fast one will make the drop barely noticeable.
• Privacy protections — Concealing your identity while torrenting is highly recommended, so ensure your VPN has a strict no-logs policy. Additional privacy protections include an ad and malware blocker and a home base in a privacy-friendly jurisdiction.
• Device compatibility — The best VPNs have native apps for all major devices and operating systems. The apps should also be easy enough for anyone to use.
• Reliable customer support — Help should never be hard to access if you need it. This means your VPN provides several different support channels, such as live chat, email, and a FAQ page.
• Trustworthy money-back guarantee — Your VPN might not be what you expected, so it’s always good to have a backup. A trustworthy money-back guarantee lets you get a refund within a certain amount of time, usually 30 days.

Start Torrenting Safely Today

FAQs on the Best ExtraTorrent Alternatives

Is ExtraTorrent still running?

No, ExtraTorrent was shut down for good in 2017. Several copycat sites like extratorrents.cc, extratorrents.it, and extratorrent.cyou have since appeared riddled with malware and very dangerous. For this reason, it’s much safer and better to use a reliable ExtraTorrent alternative instead.

Why should I use a VPN with ExtraTorrent alternatives?

A VPN keeps you safe from online threats and protects your privacy while using ExtraTorrent alternatives. Without a VPN, malicious parties like hackers can intercept your connection and obtain sensitive information. Plus, your ISP can see your torrenting activity, which isn’t good from a privacy standpoint. The best VPNs for ExtraTorrent alternatives have robust security features and hide your identity to protect you from these risks. Plus, they won’t significantly reduce your speeds so that you can torrent efficiently.

Can I use a free VPN with ExtraTorrent alternatives?

Possibly, but I strongly advise against it. This is because free VPNs are usually not P2P-friendly and leave you vulnerable to hackers and snoops. If you’re concerned about money, a much better solution is to use a VPN backed by a trusted money-back guarantee. Free VPNs are dangerous because they lack robust encryption and security protocol. Some even collect your data and sell it to advertisers for a profit, which is especially concerning when torrenting.

Additionally, most of them have small server networks that result in slow and overcrowded servers, making them unsuitable for torrenting.

Are Extratorrent proxies/mirror sites safe?

No, I strongly recommend you stay away from ExtraTorrent mirror sites. Most of them like extratorrents.cc, extratorrents.it, and extratorrent.cyou are created by scammers who fill them with malware and trojans. It’s safer to use a trusted ExtraTorrent alternative site that verifies its torrents and updates its service. Also, ExtraTorrent proxy sites are renowned for phishing attacks.

Will using ExtraTorrent alternatives give me a virus?

Yes, unfortunately, it’s always a possibility. But the good news is that you can take some measures to avoid viruses. For example, it’s recommended to only download verified torrents from trusted sources. But the best protection is to use a VPN with a malware blocker like CyberGhost, so you can detect malicious files before downloading them.

Is downloading torrents legal?

It depends on the torrent you download and the country you’re in. Torrenting is legal in most countries, so you should be safe there. But even if you only download torrents in the public domain, there’s still a chance you can download an illegal torrent accidentally. Hence, it’s always best to use a trusted VPN to stay safe. Torrenting becomes illegal if you download files that are protected by copyright. This is often the case for new torrents like movies, music, and games, so we don’t condone this activity.

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Start Using ExtraTorrent Alternatives Now

You might be tempted to use an ExtraTorrent proxy site now that ExtraTorrent doesn’t exist. Or, you might be lost in finding a viable solution. Either way, the best alternative to ExtraTorrent is to use a trusted torrenting site that verifies its torrents. Also, ensure you only download torrents in the public domain, so you don’t get entangled in legal issues.

There are risks even when using a trusted alternative, so I recommend you use a top-tier VPN with ExtraTorrent alternatives to stay fully protected. It encrypts your connection and hides your IP addresses to keep you safe. The VPN I recommend for an ExtraTorrent alternative is ExpressVPN, as its fast speeds and no-logs policy ensure a smooth and safe experience. It’s also backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can try all ExpressVPN features risk-free.

To summarize, the best VPNs for ExtraTorrent Alternatives are…