Many years ago, BitTorrent came to be and has grown in to one of the largest decentralized peer to peer networks on the internet today. Though it was once used almost exclusively for sharing multimedia, like movies and software, torrenting has come into a million practical applications for safe, speedy, peer to peer downloads. If you aren’t yet using a torrent client (or you’re unhappy with the one you currently have), these are among the best free torrent clients available.
What is Torrenting?
Torrenting is a way to download a large file as quickly as possible. You’ll select a torrent, and that torrent is populated with users that all have the same file. You’ll download little bits from different people (called peers), allowing the download to come through much faster than it would if multiple people were competing for the same large file from a single source. Once you have the file, you share it (as a seeder) with other people looking to download the same thing.
The act of torrenting in and of itself is not illegal. Torrenting is just a way to download something from a large group of peers instead of a central server. Some people place free torrents up for the public to download. Books and movies in the public domain are always free to download however the user sees fit.
The 5 Best BitTorrent Clients
There are literally hundreds of BitTorrent clients available today. These are the tried and true favorites that rise above the rest in terms of features and capabilities.
1. Vuze
Vuze is a free, ad supported torrent client with an interface that’s perfect for beginners. It’s easy to understand, but it isn’t lacking in features. You can set bandwidth limits and filter specific IPs, two features that well seasoned torrenters will put to good use. The paid version of Vuze removes the adds, incorporates virus scanning, and allows for torrent playback and real time viewing of files as they download.
2. Deluge
Dulge is one of the most customizable free torrent clients available. It works with a myriad of plugins, allowing users to endlessly configure the client and add whatever they’d like. People who regularly torrent and like to stay organized will appreciate the complex options integrated with Deluge. Although Deluge may not feel welcoming to beginners, experts will endlessly appreciate the wealth of actions they can complete from right within their bittorrent client.
3. qBittorrent
At its core, qBittorrent is just the basics. It’s an open source free bittorrent client without any ads or bundled in bloatware. It’s very simple, but it still comes with tools to make the torrenting experience as simple and effective as possible.
Though qBittorrent is small, it’s undoubtedly mighty. This client allows users to prioritize torrents, adding another layer by allowing a priority list of the files within the torrent. It comes equipped with a torrent search engine, a torrent creation feature, and even an integrated media player that will allow you to check files as soon as the download has completed.
4. BitTorrent
BitTorrent is the origin of everything. It’s the original torrent client. It’s still updated and maintained by the people who started the whole thing – and they also do the same for uTorrent. BitTorrent and uTorrent are essentially the exact same thing with some subtle but noteworthy differences. Many people would call BitTorrent the superior version of uTorrent, as it allows more private trackers, reviewing, and commenting.
5. uTorrent
uTorrent is free and ad supported, and it’s been that way since 2005. It’s heavily maintained and constantly updated. Unfortunately, the ads can be a bit much and the download attempts to bundle in bloatware – that’s the price of opting for something free, and it’s how the uTorrent team makes a living. Make sure you don’t inadvertently download more than you bargain for.
This torrenting app is easy on your system. The entire app takes up less space than a picture, and it offers all the functions users need to monitor, manage, and organize their torrents. Although uTorrent has had some security vulnerabilities in the past, the team has released a functioning patch to up the level of security surrounding user privacy.
Keeping Yourself Safe While Torrenting
Many people are afraid to torrent things because the repercussions, especially those from their internet service provider, can be severe. Using a torrent VPN like TorGuard for file sharing eliminates those worries. TorGuard shields all of your activities, including torrenting, from absolutely everyone. If no one can see what you’re doing, you’re free to do whatever you want. Stay safe and secure while torrenting by using TorGuard.