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Comparison of BitTorrent clients facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
"BitTorrent client" redirects here. For the software application by Bram Cohen, see BitTorrent (software).

The following is a general comparison of BitTorrent clients, which are computer programs designed for peer-to-peer file sharing using the BitTorrent protocol.

The BitTorrent protocol coordinates segmented file transfer among peers connected in a swarm. A BitTorrent client enables a user to exchange data as a peer in one or more swarms. Because BitTorrent is a peer-to-peer communications protocol that does not need a server, the BitTorrent definition of client differs from the conventional meaning expressed in the client–server model.

Bram Cohen, author of the BitTorrent protocol, made the first BitTorrent client, which he also called BitTorrent, and published it in July 2001.

Many BitTorrent programs are open-source software; others are freeware, adware or shareware. Some download managers, such as FlashGet and GetRight, are BitTorrent-ready. Opera 12, a web browser, can also transfer files via BitTorrent.

In 2013 Thunder Networking Technologies publicly revealed that some of their employees surreptitiously distributed a Trojan horse with certain releases of Xunlei, the company's BitTorrent-ready download manager. Xunlei is included in the comparison tables.

Applications

General

Name Developer Platform Latest release License Notes
Version Date
BitComet BitComet Development Group macOS 1.98 Edit this on Wikidata 1.98 Edit this on Wikidata Proprietary, Adware
Windows 2.4.6-348 Edit this on Wikidata 2.4.6-358 Edit this on Wikidata
BitLord House of Life macOS 7.2.4 Edit this on Wikidata 7.4.3.45549 Edit this on Wikidata Proprietary, Adware
Windows 2.1.1 Edit this on Wikidata 3.7.0.1220 Edit this on Wikidata
BitTorrent BitTorrent Android 6.19.0.5156 Edit this on Wikidata 2.6.2(708) Edit this on Wikidata Proprietary, Adware
macOS 6.9.10(315) Edit this on Wikidata 22.12.0 Edit this on Wikidata
Windows Lua error in Module:Wd at line 1575: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). 22.12.0 Edit this on Wikidata
Deluge various BSD 4.9.2 Edit this on Wikidata 5.5.16 Edit this on Wikidata GPL-3.0-or-later
GNU/Linux
macOS
Solaris
Windows
FlashGet Trend Media Windows 6.0 Edit this on Wikidata 3.1.7 Edit this on Wikidata Proprietary
Free Download Manager alervd Android 7.4.4 Edit this on Wikidata 1.8.7.45548 Edit this on Wikidata Proprietary
GNU/Linux
macOS
Windows
FrostWire The FrostWire Project Android 4.5.4 Edit this on Wikidata 0.9.8 Edit this on Wikidata GPL-3.0-or-later
GNU/Linux 0.0.40 Edit this on Wikidata 2.7.10.2 Edit this on Wikidata
macOS Lua error in Module:Wd at line 1575: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). 14.90.0.34030 Edit this on Wikidata
Windows Lua error in Module:Wd at line 1575: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). 4.0.3 Edit this on Wikidata
KGet KDE BSD 7.12.1 Edit this on Wikidata 5.7.6.0 Edit this on Wikidata GPL-2.0-or-later
GNU/Linux
KTorrent Joris Guisson, Ivan Vasić BSD 7.53.0.8245 Edit this on Wikidata 1.5.8 Edit this on Wikidata GPL-2.0-or-later
GNU/Linux
macOS
Lftp Alexander V. Lukya BSD KIDDLE_IB GPL-3.0-or-later
GNU/Linux
macOS
Windows
LimeWire Lime Wire LLC GNU/Linux KIDDLE_IB KIDDLE_IB GPL-2.0-or-later
macOS
Windows
Miro Participatory Culture Foundation GNU/Linux KIDDLE_IB KIDDLE_IB GPL-2.0-or-later
macOS
Windows
MLDonkey MLDonkey Project BSD KIDDLE_IB KIDDLE_IB GPL-2.0-or-later
GNU/Linux
macOS
MorphOS
Solaris
Windows
μTorrent BitTorrent Android KIDDLE_IB KIDDLE_IB Proprietary, Adware
macOS KIDDLE_IB KIDDLE_IB
Windows Lua error in Module:Wd at line 1575: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). KIDDLE_IB
Opera 12 Opera Software FreeBSD 12.16 Proprietary
GNU/Linux
macOS
Solaris
Windows 12.17
qBittorrent Christophe Dumez BSD KIDDLE_IB KIDDLE_IB GPL-2.0-or-later
GNU/Linux
Haiku
macOS
OS/2
Windows
rTorrent Jari Sundell BSD KIDDLE_IB KIDDLE_IB GPL-2.0-or-later
GNU/Linux
macOS
Solaris
Windows
Robert Sponge, co-developer of I2P BSD KIDDLE_IB KIDDLE_IB GPL
GNU/Linux
macOS
Windows
Shareaza Shareaza Development Team Windows KIDDLE_IB KIDDLE_IB GPL-2.0-or-later
Tixati Kevin Hearn GNU/Linux KIDDLE_IB Lua error in Module:Wd at line 1575: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). Proprietary
Windows
Tonido CodeLathe BSD KIDDLE_IB KIDDLE_IB Proprietary
GNU/Linux
macOS
Windows
Transmission various BSD KIDDLE_IB KIDDLE_IB GPL-2.0-only or GPL-3.0-only
MIT
GNU/Linux
macOS
OpenWrt
Solaris
Windows
Tribler The Tribler Team Android KIDDLE_IB KIDDLE_IB GPL-3.0-only
GNU/Linux
macOS
Windows
Vuze Vuze Android KIDDLE_IB KIDDLE_IB Proprietary (platform)
GPL-2.0-or-later (core engine)
Adware
GNU/Linux
macOS
Windows
Xunlei Thunder Networking Technologies Android KIDDLE_IB KIDDLE_IB Proprietary, Adware
iOS KIDDLE_IB KIDDLE_IB
macOS Lua error in Module:Wd at line 1575: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). KIDDLE_IB
Windows Lua error in Module:Wd at line 1575: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). KIDDLE_IB
Name Developer Platform Latest release License Notes
Version Date

Operating system support

BitTorrent client Windows macOS GNU/Linux BSD iOS Android Other
BitComet Yes Yes No No No No No
BitLord Yes Yes No No No No No
BitTorrent Yes Yes No No No Yes No
Deluge Yes Yes Yes Yes No No Solaris
FlashGet Yes No No No No No No
Free Download Manager Yes Yes Yes No No Yes No
Frostwire Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes Unix-like
z/OS
Solaris
OS/2
eComStation
ArcaOS
KGet No No Yes Yes No No No
KTorrent No Yes Yes Yes No No No
Lftp Yes Yes Yes Yes No No No
LimeWire Yes Yes Yes Yes No No Yes
Miro Yes Yes Yes Yes No No No
MLDonkey Yes Yes Yes Yes No No Solaris
MorphOS
μTorrent Yes Yes Web No No Yes No
Opera 12 Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes Solaris
qBittorrent Yes Yes Yes Yes No No OS/2
FreeBSD
Haiku
Robert Yes Yes Yes Yes No No No
rTorrent Yes Yes Yes Yes No No Solaris
Shareaza Yes No No No No No No
Tixati Yes No Yes No No No No
Tonido Yes Yes Yes Yes No No No
Transmission Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Solaris
Tribler Yes Yes Yes Yes No No No
Vuze Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes No
Xunlei Yes Yes No No Yes Yes No
Name Windows macOS GNU/Linux BSD iOS Android Other

Interface and programming

BitTorrent client GUI Remote CLI Other Programming language Based on IPv6 μTP
BitComet Yes Yes Partial No C++ - Yes No
BitLord Yes No No No Python, C++ libtorrent (Rasterbar) Yes No
BitTorrent 5, Mainline Yes No Partial No Python - No No
BitTorrent 6 Yes Yes Partial No C++ μTorrent Yes Yes
Deluge Yes Yes Yes Daemon Python, C++ libtorrent (Rasterbar) Yes Yes
FlashGet Yes No No No ? ? No No
Free Download Manager Yes Yes Partial No C++ libtorrent (Rasterbar) No No
Frostwire Yes No No No Java libtorrent (Rasterbar) No Yes
KGet Yes Yes Partial No C++ - Yes No
KTorrent Yes Yes Partial No C++ - Yes Yes
LimeWire Yes No No No Java libtorrent (Rasterbar) No No
Miro Yes No No No C++ libtorrent (Rasterbar) No No
MLDonkey No Third Party Partial Telnet OCaml - No No
μTorrent Yes Yes No RESTful Web API C++ - Yes Yes
Opera 12 Yes No No No C++ - Yes No
qBittorrent Yes Yes Partial No Python, C++ libtorrent (Rasterbar) Yes Yes
rTorrent No Third Party Yes SCGI C++ libTorrent (Rakshasa) Yes No
Shareaza Yes Yes Partial No C++ - No No
Tixati Yes Yes No Web interface C++ - Yes Yes
Tonido No Yes No No C++ libtorrent (Rasterbar) No No
Transmission Yes Yes Yes Daemon, JSON-RPC over HTTP remote control API C++ (rewritten from C), Objective-C libtransmission Yes Yes
Tribler Yes Partial Partial No Python, C++ libtorrent (Rasterbar) No Yes
Vuze Yes Yes Partial Telnet, XML over HTTP remote control API Java, SWT - Yes Yes
Xunlei Yes No No remote control over internet C++ - No No
BitTorrent client GUI Web CLI Other Programming language Based on IPv6 μTP

Features I

BitTorrent client Protocol version Magnet URI
(BEP 9)		 Preload Magnet metadata
(BEP 9)		 Super-seeding
(BEP 16)		 Embedded tracker UPnP NAT Port Mapping Protocol NAT traversal
(BEP 55)		 DHT protocol
(BEP 5)		 Peer exchange(PEX)
(BEP 11)		 Encryption UDP tracker
(BEP 15)		 LPD
(BEP 14)		 Proxy server
BitComet 1, 2 Yes No Yes Separate download Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No HTTP 1.1, SOCKS4-4a-5
BitLord 1 Yes No No No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes HTTP 1.1, SOCKS4-4a-5
BitTorrent 5, Mainline 1 No No No Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes No No Yes
BitTorrent 6 1 Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes HTTP(S), SOCKS4-5
Deluge 1 Yes Partial Yes No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes HTTP(S), SOCKS4-5
FlashGet 1 No No No No No No No Yes No Yes No No No
Free Download Manager 1 Yes No No No No No No Yes Yes No No No No
KTorrent 1 Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Partial HTTP, SOCKS4-5
LimeWire 1 Partial No Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes Yes No No
MLDonkey 1 Yes No No Yes Yes Yes No Yes No No Yes No No
μTorrent 1 Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes HTTP(S), SOCKS4-5
Opera 12 1 No No No Yes No No No No Yes No No No No
qBittorrent 1, 2 Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes HTTP(S), SOCKS4-5
rTorrent 1 Yes No Yes No No No No Yes Yes Yes Yes No No
Shareaza 1 Yes No No No Yes Yes No Yes Yes No Yes No No
Tixati 1, 2 Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Tonido 1 No No No No Yes Yes Yes Yes No No No No No
Transmission 1, 2 Yes Patch available No No Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No
Tribler 1 Yes No No Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes No No
Vuze 1 Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Plugin HTTP(S)?, SOCKS4-4a-5
Xunlei 1 Yes No No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes HTTP, SOCKS5, FTP
BitTorrent client Protocol version Magnet URI Preload Magnet metadata Super-seeding Embedded tracker UPnP NAT Port Mapping Protocol NAT traversal DHT Peer exchange Encryption UDP tracker LPD Proxy server

Features II

BitTorrent client Cache Hash Web seeding HTTP Web seeding Broad-catching (RSS)
(BEP 36)		 Prioritization Selective downloads
(BEP 53)		 Sequential downloading SOCKS Tracker exchange
(BEP 7)		 Remote control via web Search engine
(BEP 18)		 Auto updates Reviews and Comments
BitComet Yes No Yes Beta Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes Partial Yes No
BitLord Yes No Partial Yes Yes Yes No Yes No No Partial Yes No
BitTorrent 5, Mainline No Yes Partial No Yes Yes No No No No Yes Yes No
BitTorrent 6 Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes Yes
Deluge Yes Yes Partial Plugin Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes No via PMS No
FlashGet No No No No No No No No No No No No
Free Download Manager No Yes No No Yes Yes Yes No No Yes No Optional No
KTorrent Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes Partial via PMS No
LimeWire Yes Yes No No Yes Yes No Yes No No No Yes No
MLDonkey Yes No 3rd party bash script Yes No No No No Yes Partial via PMS No
μTorrent Yes Yes Partial Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes Yes
Opera 12 No No Yes No No No No No No Partial Yes No
qBittorrent Yes Yes Partial Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Partial Yes Yes via PMS No
rTorrent Partial No No 3rd party utility Yes Yes No No No Yes No via PMS No
Shareaza Yes Yes No No Yes Yes in mod client No Yes
 Yes Yes Yes No
Tixati Yes Yes Partial Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes No
Tonido No No No Yes Yes No No No Yes No Yes No
Transmission Yes No Partial No Yes No No No No Yes No Yes No
Tribler Yes No No Yes Yes Yes No No No Partial Yes (DHT) Yes No
Vuze Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes in paid version Yes No Plugin Yes Yes Yes
Xunlei Yes No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes No
BitTorrent client Cache Hash Web seeding HTTP Web seeding Broad-catching (RSS) Prioritization Selective downloads Sequential downloading SOCKS Tracker exchange Remote control via web Search engine Auto updates Reviews and Comments

Libraries

General
BitTorrent library Initial release Platform Latest release License Notes
Version Date
libtorrent (Rasterbar) 8 September 2005; 18 years ago (2005-09-08) GNU/Linux 2.0.9, 1.2.19 Edit this on Wikidata 2023-05-22; 2023-05-22 BSD-3-Clause
macOS
Windows
MonoTorrent September 2006; 17 years ago (2006-09) GNU/Linux 2.0.7 Edit this on Wikidata 0.13.8 Edit this on Wikidata MIT
macOS
Windows
rTorrent (libTorrent Rakshasa) 15 July 2004; 19 years ago (2004-07-15) GNU/Linux KIDDLE_IB GPL-2.0-or-later
macOS
BitTorrent library Initial release Platform Latest release License Notes
Version Date
Operating system support and programming language
BitTorrent library GNU/Linux Windows macOS API Programming language
libtorrent (Rasterbar) Yes Yes Yes Yes C++
MonoTorrent Yes Yes Yes Yes C#
rTorrent (libTorrent Rakshasa) Yes No Yes Yes C++
BitTorrent library GNU/Linux Windows macOS API Programming language
Supported features 1
BitTorrent library Protocol version Super-seeding Tracker UPnP NAT Port Mapping Protocol NAT traversal DHT Peer exchange Encryption UDP tracker LPD Fast extensions Magnet URI μTP
libtorrent (Rasterbar) 1, 2 Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
MonoTorrent 1, 2 Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No
rTorrent (libTorrent Rakshasa) 1 Yes Yes No ? ? Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes No
BitTorrent library Protocol version Super-seeding Tracker UPnP NAT Port Mapping Protocol NAT traversal DHT Peer exchange Encryption UDP tracker LPD Fast extensions Magnet URI μTP
Supported features 2
BitTorrent library Cache Web seeding WebTorrent Broadcatching (RSS) Prioritization Selective downloads SOCKS Remote control via web Engine
libtorrent (Rasterbar) Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes Yes ?
MonoTorrent Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes No Yes No
rTorrent (libTorrent Rakshasa) Partial No No No Yes Yes No Yes No
BitTorrent library Cache Web seeding WebTorrent Broadcatching (RSS) Prioritization Selective downloads SOCKS Remote control via web Engine

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Anexo:Comparativa de clientes BitTorrent para niños

  • Anonymous P2P
  • BitTorrent tracker
  • Comparison of BitTorrent sites
  • Comparison of BitTorrent tracker software
  • Comparison of file sharing applications
  • File sharing
  • Open Music Model
  • Timeline of file sharing
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