Jun 17, 2020 Web Torrent is, by far, the easiest torrent client I have used. It is a great torrent client alternative for users who want to keep themselves away from confusing features. All you need to do is. Download large files as quickly as possible with the best free torrent clients. Torrenting is ideal for downloading exceptionally large files – like a video or a large piece of software. May 14, 2020 But picking the best torrent client can be difficult with all the options available. MacOS, Linux, OS/2, iOS, Android, and FreeBSD, among others, and it has support for more than 70 different.
The Best BitTorrent Clients for 2019Best All-Around BitTorrent Client: qBittorrent
BitTorrent is a powerful protocol for downloading everything from perfectly legit content to the shadiest stuff on the web. However you're using it, you need the right software to make it work. We pick the best BitTorrent clients for every type of user.
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Unlike downloading files in your browser, BitTorrent downloads usually require a separate program, called a torrent client, to grab that sweet, sweet data. But with so many clients out there, picking one to use can feel a little overwhelming.
We've got you covered. These days, most torrent clients are pretty similar in terms of features. The biggest differences come from the interface—that is, the look and organization of the main window—and little quirks that affect specific setups. As such, it’s hard to recommend one client for everybody, as one person may have great experiences with a certain client while another has a small quibble that they just can’t work around. So if you’re just starting out, don’t fret too much—just pick one and try it out. As you get deeper and deeper into BitTorrent tech, you may have to do a bit of experimenting for yourself to figure out which one plays nicest with your setup.
In addition, keep in mind that no matter what torrent client you use, you’ll want a trustworthy VPN to keep your activity hidden from prying eyes, especially if it's not quite legit. Note that PCMag does not condone piracy, which for which BitTorrent is often used. If you use BitTorrent for nefarious purposes, you do so at your own risk. In addition to a VPN, you should also a good malware scanner to ensure you aren’t downloading something nefarious. For more BitTorrent tips, check out our primer on how to use BitTorrent.
Best All-Around BitTorrent Client: qBittorrent
For most people, I recommend starting with qBittorrent. It’s free and open-source, so it doesn’t come with any ads or crapware, and its interface is easy enough to use for beginners—while offering loads of stats and settings for more advanced users. It’s also available for Windows, macOS, and Linux, so no matter what platform you’re running, you can probably use qBittorrent. Plus, it’s pretty lightweight, so you don’t have to worry about it eating up too much CPU or RAM while you’re trying to do other stuff.
qBittorrent includes all the basic torrenting features we’d expect a good client to have, including support for magnet links, automatic port forwarding, scheduled speed limits, RSS feeds for automatic downloads, and a web UI for viewing your downloads from other machines. It even has the option to download a torrent “sequentially,” allowing you to start watching a video while the download is still in progress. From the Advanced settings, you can bind the program to a certain network interface, which is great if you’re using a VPN—that way, if the VPN connection drops, your torrents stop and you don’t leak your real IP address.
Not everything about qBittorrent is perfect: Its built-in search engine, for example, is decent but not perfect, since it relies on plug-ins that aren’t always up to date—but for most people, qBittorrent should fit the bill well, and it’s the client I personally use at home.
A Simpler Alternative for Mac and Linux: Transmission
If qBittorrent’s interface feels a bit busy for you, you might prefer Transmission, an open-source alternative for Mac and Linux. There’s a Windows version available in “early preview,” for those who like to live on the edge, but I had trouble getting it to work, so keep that in mind. I’ve used it for years on Mac and Linux systems, though, with nary an issue. Transmission’s window is incredibly simple. It’s just a small list of open torrents, with the ability to pause, restart, and delete individual torrents along the top, and a small button for limiting your speed at the bottom. This is especially nice for beginners, since you don’t have to worry about a lot of stats and organizational features cluttering up the interface.
That’s not to say that Transmission doesn’t have advanced options. Dig into the settings and you’ll find lots of useful stuff, like scheduled speed limits, folder organization, and a web interface to see your downloads from another computer, phone, or tablet. It also has a number of command-line tools for Terminal nerds, and the Mac version is a native Mac app that actually looks like it was designed for macOS—rather than a port of a less attractive Linux app, as is the case with many torrent clients. If you're a Mac or Linux user who likes things on the minimalist side, Transmission is probably the torrent client for you.
A Lightweight Client You Can Build Up With Plug-ins: Deluge
On the surface, Deluge looks very similar to qBittorrent—their interfaces are laid out nearly identically. However, while Deluge is technically available for Windows, macOS, and Linux, the latest version is not available as a simple installer for Windows or macOS. You can still install older versions on those platforms, though, and they still work well.
Dig into Deluge’s settings and you’ll see what separates it from the competition: There aren’t quite as many options for configuring your torrents. That’s because Deluge uses a plug-in system for many of its features, allowing you to sort of build your own torrent client from the ground up. Deluge offers a number of included plug-ins you can enable, like auto-adding torrents from a folder, auto-extracting completed files, or assigning labels to torrents for custom actions, as well as a host of third-party plug-ins that beef up Deluge’s feature set. It’s a bit more work, and it can be frustrating when an old plug-in doesn’t work with the latest version of the program, but this also allows Deluge to be incredibly lightweight out of the box—in fact, it uses less CPU and RAM than any other BitTorrent program I tested on Windows. Plus, it’s got the ability to run as a daemon from the command line, so provided you can get the plug-ins you need, Deluge might be a winner for lower-powered and headless machines.
Features Galore, If You Want Them: BiglyBT
While the previous three programs are pretty widely regarded as the best BitTorrent clients around, there are others that do things a little differently. BiglyBT is an open source fork of Vuze/Azureus, a feature-filled client that got a bit too bloated with ads, crapware, and unnecessary features. BiglyBT may still be a bit hefty for some users, since it uses Java, and in our tests it took up more CPU and RAM than the other clients on this list. But it also has a number of interesting features that make it stand out from the pack. For example, its Swarm Discovery window can recommend other torrents to you based on the ones you’re currently downloading, and the Device Support plug-in allows you to convert videos you download to a format compatible with your phone or tablet. It can even stream content to your game consoles and streaming set-top boxes. And with more advanced options than you can shake a stick at, it’s a decent alternative to the old mainstays—as long as you don’t need something lightweight.
What About uTorrent?
µTorrent, also commonly spelled uTorrent, is a popular BitTorrent client owned and operated by BitTorrent Inc. itself. For many years, it was one of the best, if not the best, torrent client you could use. However, in recent years, it’s gone through a number of changes that keep me from recommending it to most people. Not only is it full of ads and bundled crapware, but it also came under fire for installing a cryptocurrency miner on its users computers back in 2015, taking up resources without its users’ permission. The company backtracked on that last idea, but it lost a lot of trust among users. Even without the miner, uTorrent remains one of the more resource-intensive clients I tested, despite lightweight being one of its banner features once upon a time. Finally, uTorrent’s paid versions offer additional features that you can already find in other clients for free. Some people still swear by uTorrent 2.2.1, an old version from before things started going wrong, but with so many other great options these days, I’d recommend looking at the above clients first—chances are, one of them will suit your needs just as well.
Best Torrent (software) Solution For Macos Catalina 10.15
Torrent With a VPN!
It's an excellent idea to use a VPN service while BitTorrenting, so that your activity is not visible to your ISP. Which service should you use? Read our roundup of the Best VPNs for BitTorrent to find out.
Torrent, named after BitTorrent, is a file sharing protocol which allows files to be fragmented and downloaded from multiple sources called peers. Although the word “torrent” has been long associated with illegal piracy and forbidden files, the torrent file itself is simply an instruction set of where to find those file fragments, so they can come together to form a whole. All the fragments are hosted by other computer users connected to the torrent network, such as yourself.
Best torrent clients for Mac
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It might sound complicated, but peer-to-peer is actually a very smart and efficient way to share files that don’t rely on single servers or private storage. Mac Torrents are no different to their PC or Linux counterparts. The only thing that isn’t the same is the choice of torrent clients themselves.
What is a Mac torrent Client?
As torrents became popular, the stigma around their use was diminished. Users worldwide were surprised at how quickly they could download files without experiencing the paywall or slowdown of traditional file-sharing systems.
To start downloading files through torrent, you just need to download and install a torrent client (software). The torrent client will then follow the instructions given in the torrent file to complete your download. Think of it like a download manager, specifically built for torrent files.
Torrent Mac clients come in different shapes and sizes, but all ultimately do the same thing — download files (called leeching) or upload files (called seeding). The right torrent client for you depends on your needs. You can opt for small and simple, or look for something more complex boasting advanced features. Downloading and installing a torrent client isn’t illegal per se, but all users should be wary of some nuances.
Is a torrent downloader for Mac legal?
Although torrents have historically been seen as illegal file-sharing systems, they are not inherently illegal at all. Torrent clients have many legitimate uses, including the sharing of open-source software or publically available files. The advantage of using a torrent client in these situations is potentially faster download speeds, especially if you use the best torrent downloader available.
Assuming the files you’re downloading aren’t subject to copyright or distribution laws, there should be no cause for concern. Conversely, if you’re using the torrent client to download files that you’d normally have to pay for, you may be breaching legislation, depending on the jurisdiction you reside in.
What to look for in a torrent Mac client
When it comes to reviewing a torrent downloader for Mac, there are a few considerations to take into account. At a high level, a basic user who runs the torrent client to download files infrequently will be happy with the most basic, lightweight app, and they don’t necessarily need the best torrent software. Those who wish to contribute and share their own files, or spend a lot of time downloading and uploading, might want to enjoy some of the advanced features available. For example:
Bandwidth limiters allow you to throttle your download or upload speed to ensure your internet connection remains available for other tasks, or to ensure you don’t use all of your internet data.
Magnet URI functionality lets you begin your Mac torrent download from a link rather than physically downloading a torrent file first.
Encryption helps to mask the torrent activity to throw off your ISP monitoring and enjoy full-speed downloads in the case of ISP throttling.
Superseeding enables you to become an uploader much faster after a download, but carries a risk of failing the upload if there’s only one downloader on the other end.
Pricing can either turn on some advanced features, extra security, and ensure no advertising, or offer you a basic torrent client for free.
As you can see, most of the features separating various torrent clients are generally of a more pro-level nature. For the majority of basic users, they are less important than the look and feel of the torrent app. So what’s the best torrent client for Mac? Let’s dive into the pros and cons of the most popular Mac torrent clients so you know where to pull the trigger.
BitTorrent and uTorrent
BitTorrent for Mac is one of the original torrent clients designed to implement the BitTorrent protocol. It comes with the advantage of many years of experience and updates under the hood.
Strangely, BitTorrent also owns and operates uTorrent, another leading client. At face value, they are essentially the exact same software, right down to the user interface.
The key difference between the two apps is that BitTorrent for Mac only releases stable, tested versions, whereas uTorrent releases alpha and beta versions for those who wish to test out the latest features before everyone else. The early releases can beg the question: Is uTorrent safe? When it comes to subscribing to alpha and beta builds, it’s a matter of buyer beware — best for advanced users.
Another key difference is that uTorrent is slightly smaller than BitTorrent, and therefore easier to launch and less taxing when running a Mac torrent download.
Generally speaking, uTorrent still might be the better option for basic users who download torrents infrequently, simply because of its simplicity and lightweight build. Just hope those betas are stable enough!
Pros:
Small and lightweight
Ability to schedule downloads
Long history of reliable updates
Cons:
Contains ads (!)
Both clients are susceptible to some security issues
Vuze and Vuze Plus torrent for Mac
If BitTorrent and uTorrent are the small, lightweight clients that get the job done — Vuze is created for the more advanced user who wishes to enjoy extended functionality.
The key difference here is the ability to add plugins for new features. Vuze comes in two versions. The first is Vuze Leap and the second Vuze Plus, which is essentially the same except for professional virus protection and the ability to preview files as they are downloading. Vuze Plus is also a paid client with all ads removed.
Vuze in general is likely a more suitable candidate for tech-savvy users who wish to take full advantage of the expandable plugin functionality. When set up correctly, it can be a top candidate for the best torrent downloader for Mac.
Pros:
Expandable functionality through plugins
Simple interface that borrows from the best
Vuze Plus features added security
Cons
Contains banner ads unless in paid version
Two versions can lead to confusion
Folx Pro – the best torrent client for Mac?
Folx Pro is a paid torrent client, which means there are no ads and it comes with some great security measures right out of the box. Folx covers all of the basic features you would want in a torrent client, including scheduling. You can even search for new torrent files to download from within the client, instead of having to browse the web.
Additionally, Mac users will appreciate the look, which takes after macOS and feels right at home. The interface is beautifully simple — refreshing after the added visual noise of competing Mac torrent clients.
Ssr Macos Client
Downloading with Folx Pro is thus even simpler than with other apps:
Use the top search bar to type in your keyword and hit Return
Wait for all results to show up
Choose the appropriate file and click Download on the right-hand side
One of the most important considerations to keep in mind when downloading torrent files is the risk of viruses or malware. Because there’s no single owner or distributor of the file at hand, it’s very easy to upload malicious files and escape the liability or consequences of doing so. Often, hackers will hide malicious software or scripts in popular torrent files. In these cases, it’s best to try to download torrent files that are distributed from a trustworthy source. Additionally, the best torrent software should come bundled with some security measures.
In any case, it’s a good idea to always scan your Mac for viruses. Thankfully, there’s an easy to use app called CleanMyMac X which will not only scan your system and quarantine malicious files but also optimize your Mac and help you properly configure your privacy settin
Open the app and navigate to Malware Removal tab under Protection in the sidebar
Click Scan and wait for the process to finish
Remove any malware found
Best Torrent Client For Macos Mac
Now that you know what Mac torrent clients are and some of the features to look for, you’re ready to get started with your unlimited file sharing. It’s recommended that you lean on the side of caution though, so a paid torrent client is your best bet.
Best Torrent Client For Macos Windows 7
Thankfully, you can try both Folx Pro torrent app and CleanMyMac X virus scanner for free during a seven-day trial with Setapp — a subscription service for Mac that grants you access to more than 150 indispensable apps to enrich your digital life. What are you planning to download now?