Best Torrent Clients: Looking for the best alternative to uTorrent? BitTorrent– may be the miracle of our generation. Surely the best way to transfer files over the internet! And an integral part of this whole system is a Torrent client, the middle man between the seeders and the peers.

So here we come with the top 10 Torrent clients available over the internet for free. We have listed down with their specific features which made them privileged enough to make it to our updated list of the best free torrenting programs and web services available online. We will get started with the countdown….but before that

Disclaimer: Though these tools/Softwares are available for free of cost and legal, but that doesn’t mean downloading content via torrents is legal. Make yourself familiar with your country’s copyright laws before going for a movie, music, software, or game download using these programs.

1. Vuze is one of the suggested bittorrent clients at Best Free Bittorrent Client. See also How To Use Torrents for links to the other guides, and other helful software reviews, here at Gizmo's Freeware. I assume that you already have the installer from the download link in the Vuze Software Review. If you do not have Vuze, you can get it from the.
2. QBittorrent is one of the best torrent clients available that runs on the Raspberry Pi's ARM hardware. It sports both a desktop client and an easy to use web interface. One of the best parts of qBittorrent is its powerful web interface that allows you to control almost every aspect of the client with relative ease.
3. You can check out ruTorrent to launch this client from within the web interface, if that is what you prefer. RTorrent is incredibly lightweight, and probably the best choice for systems that haven’t been built for general usage. Conclusion on The Best BitTorrent Clients for Linux. Great deal of variety, with a few similar options here and there.
4. Vuze: A Great BitTorrent Client for Beginners. Vuze is a simple and feature-packed BitTorrent client. Its main advantage is its interface. Unlike other BitTorrent clients that cram all their settings together, the Vuze interface is surprisingly simple to understand, even the text in the application seems written for beginners.

There are some torrent clients that you can run on a headless server. I dunno if you can control them via console, but the following clients are controllable via web interface: torrentflux; deluge; Torrentflux is available in the Ubuntu repositories, but I think in a quite outdated version now. Deluge can be obtained from the getdeb.

Top 10 Best Torrent Clients 2018

Contents

• 1 Top 10 Best Torrent Clients 2018

11. Web Torrent – Best torrent software for casual users

It seems to be the easiest torrent client for casual users who want to keep themselves away from confusing features. You just need to paste the torrent file or magnet URL to start downloading without any further ado. It’s quite young compared to veterans like BitTorrent.

It came into existence in 2017 and quickly gained popularity as it can run inside a web browser without installing anything. Now, it’s available in form of an app for Windows and other OS. It offers a minimalistic interface for torrent download.

Also, you can watch movies and all other video files without downloading with the help of built-in player. You can add external subtitles and stream video content to their Chromecast devices without any hassle. We got somewhat faster downloading using WebTorrent. It has landed at the top of our best torrent client list.

10. Miro

To be specific, it is basically a media player available across different platforms (Windows, Ubuntu, MacOS). But, still what makes it unique is the fact that it can also be used for torrenting with entertainment on the go. So, it makes it a free torrent as well.

The best part is that it comes pre-packed with a browser, so you won’t actually have to change windows to search out for torrents. Also, users can share the Miro files over the network and to Miro iPad app to stream the already downloaded media.

Fix: Windows Cannot Be Installed To This Disk.

9. qBittorent

With a built-in RSS reader and a web browser, it is a very solid tool for the purpose of downloading files over the internet. For the advanced security, this client comes with the option of password protection and a simple and attractive interface makes it even more viable. It works well with Windows, Linux, and macOS.

And added to all these is the extra advantage of going anonymous and remote control!! Thus, it makes itself eligible for one of the best torrenting clients 2018.

Related: Best Torrent Sites.

8. BitComet

This free client available over different platform boasts of an inbuilt virus protection and remote access. The free torrent program has got the useful features like scheduled bandwidth limits, long-term seeding, and CometID VIP Acceleration.

One can decide the bandwidth limits and whole advanced schedule option wherein user has got the freedom to tell in advance when to start and when to stop, does come in handy.

7. Deluge

This mammoth is known in the town for its very easy user interface with minimal confusion and optimum performance. One has got the freedom to adjust the max upload slots and speeds, as well as download speeds and encryption.

Another good thing is that this free torrent client has got a huge horde of plugins customized to make the torrenting experience worth going the step. It is available for Linux, Windows, and MacOS.

6. FrostWire

The software which is also available for android users has the specialty of hosting internet radio stations and ability to add custom streams. You can use it on Windows, macOS, or Ubuntu OS. The FrostWire torrent client torrent files on several websites at once, and then you can sort the results by the file size and seed count.

And feature worth a mention is that while you are online you can chat with other FrostWire users through their community chat room.

5. Vuze

This free torrent program, formerly known as Azureus comes pre-packed with features like such as media playback support and a built-in browser via which you can search for torrents. It comes with a folder directly connected to iTunes, you just need to drag the downloaded media into it and it will get updated in the iTunes library.

The biggest advantage is that it lets you control the whole process from your android device itself. So from now on, you can check your downloads occurring on your PC at home, from your classroom itself. It’s one of the best torrenting clients available.

Note: This torrent client is available as an ad-free and lightweight version known as Leap.

4. BitLord

The name nowhere deceives its way of functionality. It is indeed the lord of the BitTorrent. It is available for Windows and MacOS.

With its advanced features like the ability to stream video/audio before the download is complete, and search for torrents inside the program without leaving the client, it is worth a try. You can password protect it and add RSS feeds to keep a track on new torrent releases.

3. ZbigZ

This one implies an innovative idea in a sense that it downloads and seeds torrents for you and then lets you download the files as regular HTTP data. It works similar to Filestream. It makes into the list of best torrenting clients of 2018.

Because of this only it is used by users if one’s ISP is restricting a particular torrent to enter your hardware.
The only downside the whole process is that it allows your torrents to be no larger than 1 GB. Otherwise, it’s the best bet to try.

2. FileStream.me

It has got a similar way of operation to that of ZbigZ. This one also downloads the required torrent file and uploads it to its own server. This way you can later download it later through a normal browser.

Download Torrent Client

The other side of the coin is that its free version is ad-supported and limits torrents to 300 MB while giving you three days to download your torrents. You can fetch two torrents at once. However, it might restrict you from downloading too many files at once.

The advantage is that it goes anonymous hiding your IP address and gives flexibility of resuming downloads, streaming video and audio files, but doesn’t have any monthly limits. It comes with an Android client.

1. uTorrent – Best Torrent Clients

Was there any doubt that this one would top our list of BitTorrent clients?

This torrenting client has an installer with tiny size and the free torrent client uses only a fraction of system resources while running. It gives the ability of RSS feeds subscription and downloads new torrents items of that feed. Supposedly the best, fastest and most used client on the planet.

It comes with a feature called uTorrent Remote which allows you to monitor and administer it remotely. In short, you can control the whole torrenting bonanza from your torrents device itself.

According to the latest news (April 21, 2017), the upcoming version of uTorrent will have a web browser version.

This is the list of best torrent clients. Stay tuned to The ReporterTimes for more.

The world might be gravitating to online streaming, but peer-to-peer file sharing through torrents remains ever-popular. It's important to stay safe while torrenting by using a virtual private network (VPN), even when sharing something entirely legal, but which clients are the best for the job?

ProPrivacy has compared several BitTorrent clients out there to find the cream of the crop, so you don't have to! Keep reading to discover which one is best for you.

What are the best BitTorrent clients?

There are many BitTorrent clients out there to choose from and not all of them were built equal. Take a look at what ProPrivacy considers the best of the best to torrent with:

qBitTorrent

qBitTorrent is the best torrenting client out there, being both open source and full of features

PROS

• Open source
• Lightweight
• Efficient
• Can bind to VPN
• Fully featured

CONS

• Can't think of any

As a long-term Vuze fan, it took quite something for this lightweight open source BitTorrent client to replace Vuze on my desktop. One reason I stuck with Vuze for so long is the ability to bind the torrent client to my VPN interface.

Although not strictly necessary if your VPN software features a kill switch, I have always appreciated this extra layer of security. It prevents the client downloading torrents when the VPN is not active.

qBitTorrent not only supports this feature, it makes it much easier to implement. This was a big factor in me making the change, as was qBitTorrent’s lean-and-mean 100 MB or less install size (exact size depending on platform). There is no bloat with qBitTorrent!

Despite this, qBitTorrent features just about everything most torrenters will need. This includes BitTorrent protocol encryption, torrent prioritization, torrent querying, selective content download, torrent creation, remote access, and RSS subscription. You can search for torrents from within the client, and the built-in media player is handy.

qBitTorrent is 100% free and ad-free. It is available for Windows, macOS, and Linux. For a more detailed look at this excellent software, including instructions on how to bind qBittorrent to your VPN interface, please check out 5 Best VPNs for qBittorrent.

Transmission

Transmission has overcome older problems to build a reputation for itself as a great torrent client

PROS

• Open source
• Lightweight
• Tons of features
• Pretty
• Available natively on many obscure OSs

CONS

• Not much (vulnerability should be fixed by the time most of you read this)

Transmission started life as a Mac and Linux-only BitTorrent client, where it built up a formidable reputation. Windows users can now also get in on the act. Although a very capable BitTorrent client, the main draw of Transmission is its beautiful user interface, complete with Growl notifications for Mac users.

But it’s not all about looking pretty. Transmission features webseed support, BitTorrent protocol encryption, watch directories, tracker editing, global and per-torrent speed limits, and more. It also supports optional add-ons that can expand its feature-set. These include RSS subscription tools and a Kodi plugin.

Transmission has recently hit the headlines thanks to a vulnerability that can be exploited by hackers. I discuss this a little later in the article, but a patch is available, and the issue is very easy to fix yourself, anyway. I have therefore decided to not let this problem affect Transmission’s ranking in this 5 Best guide.

Transmission is 100% free and open source. It is available for Windows, Mac OSX/macOS, Linux (many distros), FreeBSD, Gentoo, and more.

The Transmission Vulnerability

A security researcher discovered a flaw in Transmission that could allow hackers to execute malicious code on targets’ computers. In theory, this could allow them to completely take over the infected system.

The flaw took advantage of lax security in Transmission’s remote web access feature. Note that this is a proof of concept attack, and there has been no evidence of it being exploited in the wild. The current version of Transmission has already implemented a fix.

Alternatively, if you wanted to be sure, the flaw is easy enough to fix for yourself. If you don’t use the remote web access feature, simply turn it off! Go to Preferences -> Remote and uncheck 'Enable remote access.” If you do use the remote web access feature, then change the default password to something secure. Easy!

Note that the security researcher who discovered the flaw has hinted that other BitTorrents clients may also be vulnerable. It is probably a good idea to check similar settings in whatever client you are using.

Vuze

Vuze might not be as lightweight as others in this list, but its feature-packed approach will appeal to some

PROS

• Ridiculously fully featured
• Can bind downloads to VPN
• Lots of plugins available to increase functionality
• Built-in video player
• Great Android apps

CONS

• Somewhat bulky and resource-heavy
• Ads
• Tries to install crapware
• Only partially open source
• Interface could be prettier and more intuitive

Vuze is a granddaddy of BitTorrent clients. It is no longer open source, and it creaks somewhat under the weight of its myriad features. It is, in other words, the polar opposite of lightweight clients such as qBitTorrent.

But who said a shed load of features is necessarily a bad thing? Most torrenters will never use all the tools available, but there is really almost nothing Torrent-related that Vuze can’t do. This includes being able to bind Vuze to your VPN adapter, but also loads more funky stuff such as content discovery through automated subscriptions, having an integrated media player, remote management, and much more.

You can convert files to multiple formats using Vuze’s drag-and-drop interface and analyse your downloads using a wealth of statistics and visualizations. Vuze is a power user’s dream.

On the downside, Vuze is resource-heavy and rather ugly (especially when compared to Transmission!) Its clunky interface is also showing its age. This situation is not helped by the inclusion of ads in the free version, or by the fact that you need to be careful during installation if you do not want to also install a load of crapware.

Although Vuze is primarily free, a premium version is also available for $29.90 USD per year. A Vuze Plus subscription removes the ads and provides built-in anti-virus scanning, a DVD burner, and 'play now' support. It is, admittedly, pretty funky!

This also brings me to the point that, despite its open source roots, Vuze is now closed source proprietary software. It is worth noting that reports of Vuze’s demise appear to be very premature. Vuze 5.7.6.0 was released in October 2017 and is fully functional.

Unlike the desktop client, the excellent Android app is lightweight and ad-free. A pro version is now available via in-app purchase (about $4), but I have been unable to determine what features this adds (and am too skinflint to shell out the money necessary to find out!).

Best Torrent Client Web Interface Download

Vuze Remote is a handy app for Android that allows you remote control your desktop torrent downloads.

Vuze is available for Windows, Mac OSX/macOS, Linux, and Android.

Popcorn Time

Popcorn Time has taken a leaf from Netflix's streaming book to present a video-only torrenting service

PROS

• Instant streaming of high quality BitTorrent content!
• Open source
• Very smart interface
• Chromecast, Airplay and DLNA support
• Available on just about every platform

CONS

• Only for video content

All the other programs on this list are BitTorrent clients. You download a .torrent file or click on a magnet link, and the content downloads to your computer where it is stored locally.

Popcorn Time is different; It is an open source app that uses BitTorrent technology to stream high quality video content to all major platforms. This means that unlike with traditional BitTorrent clients, you can watch a film or show without waiting for the download to complete. You might be thinking 'is Popcorn time safe?' While it can be dangerous for your computer, using a VPN can keep your machine secure.

It is notable for having a very slick and intuitive interface, and for providing access to a huge library of up-to-date content.

Although primarily a streaming platform, content can also be downloaded locally (and some content is always cached). Various versions (forks) of Popcorn Time are available, but I strongly advise only using one of the forks recommended in Best VPN for Popcorn Time guide.

Specific features vary a little depending on which fork you use, but steaming to your big-screen TV via Chromecast, Airplay and DLNA is pretty standard.

Popcorn Time is free, and respectable versions are free from ads and other crapware. It available for Windows, Mac OSX/macOS, Linux, and Android. PopcornTime.to even has an iOS VPN App that can be installed without jailbreaking your device.

Deluge

Deluge has no ads, compared to some of the more popular torrent clients out there

PROS

• Open source
• Lightweight
• Lots of features
• Expandable via plugins (incl. RSS)

CONS

• Less fully featured than some other clients

Like qBitTorrent, Deluge is a fairly conventional but lightweight and open source BitTorrent client. Its feature list is not huge, but should be more than enough to satisfy most users. Features include remote web management and support for magnet links.

Functionality can be further extended with a range of both in-house and third-party plugins. Highlights include plugins for RSS support, Growl notifications, streaming while downloading, and more.

Deluge is completely FOSS, with no ads or crapware. It is available for Windows, OSX, Linux (various distros), and FreeBSD.

Check out our 5 best Deluge VPNs page for a list of the best services to use with this BitTorrent client.

Why not uTorrent or BitTorrent?

uTorrent and its almost-identical sibling, the official BitTorrent client, remain the most popular BitTorrent clients in the world. It is, therefore, reasonable to ask why I have not included it in this best 5 BitTorrent list. Please note the different between BitTorrent as a protocol and the BitTorrent client to avoid confusion.

Both uTorrent and BitTorrent are closed source and supported by ads. These ads can be turned off if you delve deep enough into the software’s settings, but this is still very irritating. It is my personal view that this means uTorrent has all the disadvantages of Vuze, but not as many useful features.

So if you want a slightly clunky closed-source ad-supported BitTorrent client, but one that compensates for this by offering a wealth of features, then use Vuze. Other opinions are available.

What is BitTorrent?

BitTorrent is a popular peer-to-peer (P2P) file-sharing protocol. Instead of being stored on a centralized server from which you download, torrented files are shared among many other BitTorrent users. Popular files can easily be shared among hundreds of users in this way.

When you 'download” (which is something of a misnomer when it comes to torrenting) a file using the BitTorrent protocol, what you are actually doing is sharing small pieces of it with everyone else who is downloading that same file.

A file is 'downloaded” once you have all the pieces needed to reassemble that file. It is considered good form to 'seed” (continue sharing) the file for a while after it has been downloaded, in order to help others reach 100% completion.

Why use a Client?

Although still very popular, BitTorrent use has declined somewhat in recent years. This is in part thanks to the wealth of legal streaming options available from providers such as Netflix, Amazon Prime, hulu, and many more. The popularity of illegal options, such as Kodi and streaming websites, is also a factor. For top tips and the best VPN for Streaming, take a look at the guides below:

The more traditional method of downloading using a BitTorrent client, however, continues to offer some major advantages:

• BitTorrent content is downloaded locally, so it is available forever and can be easily physically transferred between devices.
• Literally, any kind of digital content can be download – not just video content. This includes software, images, eBook, games, and… you name it!
• But when it does come to video content, the quality is often considerably higher than streamed content. This is because there is no need to keep file sizes down to avoid buffering issues, since content is played locally.
• BitTorrent is a very efficient and resource-light way to share and promote your own content with others.

Many Linux distros find torrent links are the best way to distribute their software without having to host it on costly servers.

Use a VPN when torrenting

BitTorrent content is shared among multiple home computers. This is not good for privacy because sharing files with a bunch of other random 'downloaders” on the internet is hardly private.

Using the right software (which includes many popular BitTorrent clients), it is very easy to see the unique Internet Protocol (IP) addresses of every other person also sharing ('downloading”) the same file.

As demonstrated in Vuze above, I can see the IP addresses of every other person who is downloading the same files as me.

Is torrenting legal?

Yes, torrenting is entirely legal, while the content you share might not be. Torrenting is just a protocol that allows you to share things peer-to-peer. Since laws differ around the world, it's difficult to say what is legal and what isn't, although sharing copyrighted material without the express permission of the owner almost always errs on the side of illegal.

It's pretty easy to catch those that torrent illegally shared content, because the nature of torrenting means your IP address is on show to anyone else sharing the file. All the copyright holder, or a third party representing them, would need to do is notify your internet service provider (ISP) to take legal action against you.

This is why it is important to use a VPN to protect yourself online.

Why should I use a VPN when torrenting?

A VPN will protect you while downloading because:

• A VPN will hide your IP address from other downloaders. As mentioned in the previous section, torrenting puts your IP address on display for others that are sharing the file. Connecting to a VPN server masks your IP address to protect your privacy.
• A VPN encrypts all internet traffic between your computer and the VPN server. This means that your ISP cannot see what you've been getting up to online. Of course, deep packet inspection will reveal that you have been downloading, but they will be none the wiser as to what.

VPNs with robust logging policies will have nothing to hand over to the authorities, no matter what pressure they may come under. A VPN will also unblock websites if they are censored for any reason.

So as long as P2P is permitted, a VPN is very effective at protecting your privacy while downloading.

For a more in-depth look at how VPNs work, please check out VPNs for Beginners – What You Need to Know. For a more in-depth guide to using a VPN while torrenting, check out Best VPN for Torrenting guide.

BitTorrent protocol encryption

Some BitTorrent clients support BitTorrent protocol encryption. These include Transmission, qBitTorrent, and Vuze. It is a feature designed to hide the fact that you are torrenting from your Internet Service Provider (ISP).

VPNs also do this, as well as hiding your real IP address from other torrent users and anyone else watching on the internet. Furthermore:

Analysis of the BitTorrent protocol encryption has shown that statistical measurements of packet sizes and packet directions of the first 100 packets in a TCP session can be used to identify the obfuscated protocol with over 96% accuracy.

This means that even the most basic Deep Packet Inspection (DPI) techniques can determine that you are using BitTorrent. Now, it is true that DPI can also easily detect VPN use (unless obfuscated), but while there are many legitimate reasons to use a VPN, there is only one reason to use BitTorrent protocol encryption…

Using BitTorrent protocol encryption is therefore probably better than using nothing at all, but using a VPN provides much better protection while downloading.

How do I use a BitTorrent client?

One reason for the popularity of online streaming services (including via the use of Kodi boxes) is the perception that torrenting is a geeky pastime that requires technical know-how. In reality, however, torrenting is very easy:

1. Download and install a BitTorrent client from the list above.
2. (Optional but strongly recommended) Ensure you have a VPN running. This will bypass censorship of torrent sites, hide your IP from others you fileshare with, and hide your downloads from your ISP. Check out our VPN for Torrents guide for a list of recommended services.
3. Visit a BitTorrent website. These websites host links to torrent files. You can browse for content that interests you, or search for something specific. Many websites include user-reviews of torrents, which can help you pick good torrents.
4. When you have found the content you want, simply click on the torrent link or magnet link. The torrent will open in your BitTorrent client and begin downloading.
5. When the download is 100% completed, enjoy! Some BitTorrent clients have media-players built-in, but VLC will play pretty much any media file you can throw at it.

Seeding

BitTorrent is a decentralized file-sharing platform. In order for it to work, users share files with other users. This happens while you download a file, but it is considered good form to leave your BitTorrent client open after you have finished downloading a file in order to benefit other users.

This is called seeding, and it is considered good netiquette to seed to a ratio of at least 1:1 (i.e. upload the same amount of data you downloaded). Most BitTorrent clients will display the seed ratio of downloaded files.

Other Stuff

You don’t need to know much more about torrenting than the information provided above. If you ever wish to explore the subject further, however, this glossary is a good introduction to the jargon used.

Movie torrents, in particular, have a great deal of jargon associated with them. To make informed decisions about the content you plan to download, it is useful to familiarize yourself with it.

One thing to watch out for on public torrent sites is sponsored links. These are often prominently displayed and are deliberately designed to confuse. They typically point to either commercial direct download sites or Usenet services. Look for a link that specifically says 'Torrent” or 'Magnet Link.”

Find the best torrent sites

Findinf the best torrent sites can be quite difficult these days due to the blocks ISPs imposes on these websites. However, check out our best torrent sites article for a list of our favorite in 2021.

Conclusion

If anything, the torrenting crowd is over-served by great BitTorrent clients! Indeed, this top five list hardly even scrapes the surface of the many that are available. The fact that most of them are free and open source software (FOSS) warms the cockles of my heart!

With such a wealth of options available, I’m sure many of you will have a favorite that is not listed here. If so, do please write in to tell me and other readers why you think it is so great!

• Fastest VPN we test
• Servers in 94 countries
• Unblocks Netflix, iPlayer and more

Bittorrent Web Client

The fastest VPN we test, unblocks everything, with amazing service all round

Longtime top ranked VPN, with great price and speeds

One of the largest VPNs, voted best VPN by Reddit

Best Torrent Client Web Interface Hosting

Strong presence, no-logs policy