What is a seedbox and what is it for?
2 min read
The word seedbox comes up often when people talk about downloading. Behind it is a simple idea: hand your downloads over to a remote server instead of your computer. Here is how it works and when it is useful.
What is a seedbox?
A seedbox is a server hosted in a datacenter and dedicated to downloading and sharing files. You control it from your browser: you add a .torrent file or a magnet link, and the server takes care of the rest.
The name comes from the verb to seed, which means sharing a file with other users once you have it. A seedbox downloads, but it also shares, continuously.
How does a seedbox work?
Your seedbox stays on and connected at all times. It uses a torrent client such as rTorrent, installed on the server, to fetch your files. Once the download is done, the files are stored on your plan’s disk space.
You then get them whenever you like from the web interface, or play them directly by streaming with an app like Plex or Jellyfin, depending on your plan.
Why use a seedbox instead of your computer?
Downloading from home ties up your computer and your connection. A seedbox moves that work to a server built for it.
- Your computer can stay off: downloads keep running on the server.
- Your internet connection stays free for the rest of the household.
- The server has a fast connection: 1 Gbit/s on every Ma Seedbox plan.
- Your personal IP address does not appear in the exchanges: the server’s address is the one that shows.
- Your files are available from any connected device.
Is a seedbox legal?
Yes, using a seedbox is legal. It is a server, just like the ones that host websites. What matters is how you use it: in France, downloading or sharing copyrighted works without the rights holders’ permission is still prohibited.
A seedbox is a great fit for royalty-free content, Linux distributions, open source software or your own files.
How to choose a seedbox
Three criteria matter most: storage space, connection speed and hosting location. A server located in France responds quickly from home and comes with a clear legal framework.
At Ma Seedbox, every plan is hosted in France, with 1 Gbit/s bandwidth and unlimited traffic. Only the storage changes, from 350 GB to 2 TB, to match how you use it.
