KickassTorrent was a pioneer in file-sharing websites with significant numbers of users, but now it has been totally shut down following the arrest of its owner Artem Vaulin in July 2016 by the US Department of Justice for copyright infringements and money laundering offenses.
This end of Kickass or KAT gave away for mushrooming of a number of copycat sites as well as mirror sites and many of which unfortunately also faced the same fate. The original staff group of KAT and dedicated uploaders came together to relaunch it in 2019 by redirecting the traffic to a new site, katcr.co.
But despite these efforts, it is nowhere near the popularity of the original KAT. Although the new KAT is operable it does not have the content original and unpredictable downtimes and frequent banning in multiple countries makes it less reliable.
Fortunately, many other torrenting sites are now making headway with more reliability and content that are currently working. So even if some of them get shut down like Kickass users can still get their content from others.
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In the realm of torrenting, few names stand as prominently as KickassTorrents (often abbreviated as KAT). With its rapid rise to fame, it has drawn both ardent supporters and staunch critics. Let’s delve into the world of KickassTorrents and address some of the most common queries about this platform.
What is KickassTorrents?
KickassTorrents is a torrent website that gained immense popularity for its extensive collection of torrents, ranging from movies and music to software and e-books. Launched in 2008, KAT became the most visited torrent directory in the world by 2014, overtaking The Pirate Bay in terms of traffic.
7 Best Alternative to KickassTorrent That Work Right Now
Below is the carefully curated list of the 7 best alternatives of KickassTorrent that work right now.
1. The Pirate Bay
Pirate Bay or “TPB” remains one of the top alternatives of Kickass for torrenting. It was established in 2003 and is currently very popular with a huge library of digital content that is accessible and downloadable via torrent.
It runs on the aid of peer-to-peer sharing of files by current online users and is doing really good. After a shutdown following some lawsuits, the recent news claims that The Pirate Bay is back online and will now be accessible via its original domain – thepiratebay.org.
TPB has a decluttered user interface making it user-friendly makes it a huge success and has become a renowned torrent site amongst torrent enthusiasts because of the large variety of downloadable torrents it offers.
Although TPB faces numerous shutdowns due to its nature of the business, it continues to run via mirror sites.
2. ExtraTorrent
ExtraTorrent which was recently relaunched with a new URL is one of the largest BitTorrent websites. The new version claims to be a better and improved version with a huge collection of the latest movies, TV series, games, music, and software.
The layout is modern and advance and the best part is the lack of pop-up ads. There is an array of most popular torrents for each category with its health status and the website also has a blog section that keeps the users up-to-date on topics relating to torrenting and internet privacy.
This New torrent site is worth exploring to find the latest content for free and enjoy all the torrenting with reliable and efficient data sharing.
3. YTS
YTS is another popular platform where peer-to-peer sharing of digital content takes place through torrenting. A huge amount of torrent files are uploaded which can be accessed and downloaded by visitors free of cost.
YTS provides a great solution to watch movies, listen to songs, and download games and software without paying for it.
One of the highlights of YTS is its file size, even the movies are in High Definition (HD) quality it is re-encoded in such a way that the size it occupies remains minimal which makes the download experience convenient.
Due to the high popularity of YTS, many lawsuits have been put in place against it because of copyright issues thus many countries have now banned this site.
4. Zooqle
Zooqe is really ace when it comes to gaming, it has an awesome collection of gaming torrents. With 3.5 million+ verified torrents you could find a huge collection of entertainment and software.
Despite being new, Zooqle has around 40,000 movies and 600+ TV series collection to download. Its fanbase has increased significantly and the content is also expected to increase manifolds in the future.
The interface is easy yet advanced with amazing options to filter your torrent search through specifications such as size, category, and language.
5. 1337x
Another popular alternative to Kickass is 1337x, it has an amazing array of downloadable torrents. Here peer-to-peer community shares some of the best Kickass substitute torrent files. This is although cannot be opened via Google search as Google blocked it in 2015 on the request of Feelgood Entertainment, it is now switched to another domain.
Owing to the brilliant categorization of torrents, 1337x is able to cater to a large audience of torrent enthusiasts. A huge collection of movies, anime, TV series, games, music, applications, and more can be easily accessed via it.
Also, there is a trending section where all the popular and trending torrents can be directly viewed without going through the trouble of searching them manually. TorrentFreak claims that it is the second most popular torrent site after The Pirate Bay which is in itself a very big achievement.
6. RARBG
RARBG which was conceived as a BitTorrent tracker initially is another fantastic alternative to Kickass for downloading torrent files. It offers a large number of torrent files and magnet link sharing using BitTorrent protocol via peer-to-peer distribution.
Although users are not allowed to upload their own torrent, it still has quite a good collection of torrent files and TorrentFreak’s annual list remains on top for being a popular torrent site. It has a healthy assortment of torrents with ample seeders.
RARBG is kind of popular amongst people who want to download their favorite movies using torrent sites, as this Kickass alternative brilliantly features trailers of the most recent movies along with a dedicated section with an option to download movies using torrent.
The RARBG offers a range of online content such as movies, music, games, and even software.
7. LimeTorrents
LimeTorrents is another great choice for accessing torrent library with a huge collection of online content ranging from movies, web series, music, and even games. Although in many countries ISP does not allow access to it, it can be accessed using VPN services or mirror site alternatives.
The torrent web site has received a positive response from users, as you’ll notice virtually any torrent file on this web site. Lime Torrent’s web site is updated frequently, creating it one in every one of the well-liked destinations for torrent lovers. Torrent files hosted here have a healthy variety of seeders and leechers.
Is KickassTorrent Still Working?
The original KickassTorrents domain was seized in 2016, leading to the arrest of its alleged founder. Subsequent to this, numerous mirror and proxy sites emerged claiming to be the “new” KAT.
As of my last update in January 2022, none of these mirror sites can claim official affiliation with the original KAT. However, several versions continue to operate under the KickassTorrents name, although their authenticity varies.
Who is the Founder of KickassTorrent?
The alleged founder of KickassTorrents is Artem Vaulin, a Ukrainian national. He was arrested in Poland in 2016 and was charged by the U.S. government with copyright infringement and money laundering.
Benefits of KickassTorrents:
- Diverse Content Library: KAT boasted a vast selection of torrents spanning various categories.
- Active Community: The platform had a highly engaged community that frequently reviewed and commented on torrents, aiding in content verification.
- User-Friendly Interface: Its clean and organized layout made navigation and searching a breeze.
- Global Reach: Available in multiple languages, KAT catered to a worldwide audience.
- Regular Updates: The content library was frequently updated with new torrents, ensuring users had access to the latest files.
Is KickassTorrents Safe?
Like other torrent sites, KAT presented certain risks:
- Malicious Files: Not all torrents were safe; some contained malware or deceptive files.
- Legal Ramifications: Downloading copyrighted content without authorization can lead to legal consequences in several jurisdictions.
- Phishing and Scams: Ads and fake download buttons could redirect users to malicious sites.
To ensure safety, users were often advised to use a trusted VPN, employ antivirus software, and be cautious of suspicious torrents.
s KickassTorrents Free?
Yes, KickassTorrents operated as a free platform. However, like many free services, it was monetized through advertising. Users didn’t have to pay to download torrents, but they encountered ads while browsing the site.
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Conclusion
Many shutdowns and the banning of torrenting websites keep happening, but because of its huge demand and support, sites like KickassTorrent are still flourishing.
To get access to torrent files without worrying about shutdowns, these other alternative sites are the best shot. Enjoy favorite movies, songs, games, and software without any cost using these awesome reliable torrent sites.
KickassTorrents remains a key chapter in the history of online torrenting. While its original incarnation no longer exists, its legacy continues to influence the torrenting landscape. Users venturing into the world of torrents should prioritize safety, be aware of legal considerations, and ensure they’re accessing genuine, reputable platforms.
