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10 Best Free Torrent Clients Available in 2024
Last updated November 12, 2024
No matter which operating system you use, a torrent client is needed for your computer to recognize and use P2P files. There are many options out there, but not all torrent programs are safe. Buggy software can limit your download/upload speeds, as well as bombard you with ads. So, it pays off to take your time and find the right one.
The best torrent client should take full advantage of your Web connection and P2P swarms, allowing you to reach the fastest possible speed. Plus, you'll want advanced features like tagging, categorization, scheduling, and more. Let's not forget that it shouldn't force ads. However, even with all those boxes checked, you'll still have to think about your privacy and anonymity.
More precisely, you must use a VPN alongside your P2P client. Doing so allows you to anonymize your P2P traffic, unblock torrent sites, ensure your ISP doesn't track you, and even bypass any throttling that your Internet provider might impose.
Keep reading to learn about the 10 best torrent clients, how to use one safely, and how to pick one based on your needs. We'll also explain the basics of P2P clients, whether they're safe to use, dive into the necessity of using a VPN when torrenting, and answer some FAQs.
How to Use a Torrent Client Safely with a VPN
First, sign up for a VPN and download its app. Then, install the VPN app and connect to a P2P server, which is when you can launch your torrent client. These are the steps you need to take:
- Subscribe to a VPN suitable for torrenting (we recommend NordVPN).Â
- Download and install the VPN software on your device.
- Launch the VPN app and log in using your credentials.Â
- Choose a server in a country lenient towards torrenting (Switzerland, Spain, Romania).
- Once the VPN connection is established, visit your favorite torrent website.
- Download any P2P file and open it in your P2P client. That's it!
We recommend Switzerland, Spain, or Romania as the most suitable VPN locations for torrenting. These countries allow you to unblock practically any website and come with strong privacy-protecting laws. You'll be happy to know that NordVPN has dedicated P2P servers in all those countries.
The Best Torrent Clients in 2024
To find the best option aligned with all your needs, your search needs to be based on specific criteria. That said, you'll want to pay attention to platform compatibility, as not all clients are cross-platform. Then, decide whether you want a simple (fully automated) or complex (highly customizable) P2P client, as that's their main point of differentiation.
If you're after a more complex option, think about the features you'll want. For example, a built-in P2P search functionality, support for magnet links, the ability to stream media (to watch a video file as you download it, also called sequential downloading), scheduled downloads, and more. Some clients can even turn off your computer once it finishes its job.
Of course, there's also the question of price. We're talking about free torrent apps in this guide, but some might still reserve certain features behind a paywall. So, ensure the basics are met and that you won't see overly aggressive ads.
Based on the criteria explained above, these are the 10 best torrenting clients in 2024:
- uTorrent Classic/Web - The Best Torrent Client Overall in 2024
- BitTorrent - Best Windows and Mac P2P Client for Beginners
- Transmission - Simple and Lightweight Torrent Downloader for macOS
- qBittorrent - Powerful and Easy-to-Use Free Torrent Downloader
- Deluge - Hugely Flexible and Feature-Rich Torrent Client
- Vuze - Advanced Torrenting with a Built-In Media Player
- Halite BitTorrent Client - Minimalistic P2P Application for Windows
- BitComet - Best Torrent App with Advanced P2P Features
- WebTorrent - Top P2P Client for Streaming Video Torrent Files
- BitLord - Best Torrent Software with Built-In Search Engine
Jump to: Mac Torrent Clients
1. uTorrent Classic/Web - The Best Torrent Client Overall in 2024
uTorrent is one of the top torrent clients of its kind, and the company behind it is well aware of this. That's why they also offer a premium version, which is ad-free, has an anti-virus tool, and lets you convert files. However, the free-of-charge version should get the job done for most users.
This is an incredibly small and lightweight application. You can download it in seconds and proceed to install the software. During the installation, carefully go through each step and opt out of bundled software. Once you are done, you will be greeted by a fairly simple interface suitable even for beginners.
When you’re ready to dive deeper, you will see why uTorrent is so popular. It comes with file prioritization, scheduled downloads, streaming, third-party plugins, and plenty more. In other words, you'll get to download movies using uTorrent, as well as TV shows, music, software, and other types of files, with a high degree of flexibility and customization.
We'll also add that uTorrent supports both traditional P2P files and magnet links. It's also very fast to download data as it auto-adjusts bandwidth usage based on your network and Internet connection.
2. BitTorrent - Best Windows and Mac P2P Client for Beginners
BitTorrent is being advertised as the "original torrenting app." That's true because this is one of the oldest clients still under active development. It covers pretty much every standard and advanced feature you can think of, making it suitable for beginners and advanced users.
Aside from somewhat annoying ads and bundled software, this application has no real drawbacks. No matter how experienced you are, you are free to customize its UI according to your needs (it can be as simple or as complex as you need it to be).
In essence, this is a drag-and-drop P2P client that supports the standard set of features. You can prioritize torrent files, download specific files within torrents, play media, and stream torrents. There are also some advanced features, like IP filtering.
Also, BitTorrent is the first torrent program to tokenize the P2P protocol with BTT (BitTorrent Token). It offers a special client called BitTorrent Speed, which allows you to get the fastest speeds as well as earn and spend BTT token rewards.
3. Transmission - Simple and Lightweight Torrent Downloader for macOS
Over the last couple of years, Apple has done a great job of improving its desktop operating system and making it more polished than ever before. Regular security-related updates are great for users but bad for P2P clients. This is what makes it somewhat hard to find reliable macOS torrent software. However, we have the perfect solution - Transmission.
This incredibly lightweight application takes full advantage of macOS and Apple's M-branded chips. You can download it in under a few seconds and then drag and drop its icon to install it. From there on, it’s all drag-and-drop-based.
Find a torrent file, add it to Transmission, and the application will do the rest. It will optimize the settings based on your Web connection and download the needed torrent files. The application runs quietly in the background and takes very little resources, meaning that even entry-level MacBook Air models can run Transmission without a single problem.
We'll also note that Transmission is now available for Windows as well, with its Qt-based UI fully ready for Windows 11. It's not as feature-rich as on macOS, but it still remains a great option.
4. qBittorrent - Powerful and Easy-to-Use Free Torrent Downloader
qBitTorrent is one of the oldest applications of its kind. It doesn’t come with a highly polished or modern interface, but it easily gets the job done. So, we’d like to recommend qBittorrent to first-time torrent users and those who have computers with low-end specs.
We don’t want you to think that qBittorrent is a barebones app. That's because it comes with surprisingly powerful built-in tools that make downloading torrents a bit easier. There’s an integrated search engine, support for RSS feeds, a media player, and encryption for your P2P connection.
You can also prioritize torrents as you download them and pick specific files to download within torrent files. The only thing missing here is that you won’t find any plugins as you do with similar applications. But again, plugins are mostly for experienced users.
Also, qBitTorrent is open-source, and its code is available publicly on GitHub. So, if you need a client with an emphasis on privacy, pay attention to this one. And regarding privacy, you'll get to count on IP filtering, port forwarding, and using private torrents.
5. Deluge - Hugely Flexible and Feature-Rich Torrent Client
You will often hear people talking about Deluge as one of the best options for beginners. However, we disagree with this statement. Even though newbies will be able to use it out of the box, it takes some time to discover what Deluge is all about.
On the plus side, this application is very light in size and performance. You can use it on a decade-old computer, and it will run just fine. Simply drag and drop a file onto its UI, and it will begin to download.
Once you get to know this app, you will see that it integrates with Chrome and Firefox and comes with helpful add-ons. These can shut down your computer once the file is downloaded, unzip files, move them to a specific location, and more. In addition, there are no ads or bundled software.
Deluge also has a rich selection of add-ons. Using these, you can expand its functionality to auto-remove downloads, auto-rename files, stream video without downloading, assign custom labels to torrents, display various graphs and statistics, and more.
6. Vuze - Advanced Torrenting with a Built-In Media Player
Long-term torrenting fans have probably heard about Azureus in the past. This popular torrent client was known for its nicely designed and very modern UI. Vuze is a direct descendant of Azureus that comes with greatly enhanced and improved features.
We recommend not rushing with the installation since you’ll end up with bundled software. In addition, you will be asked to set up the software according to your needs, which will affect the application's settings. This might sound a bit intimidating, but every feature is thoroughly explained.
In terms of what you'll get from this downloader - well, you'll get a lot. There's a built-in meta search for content discovery, remote control via Web or mobile app, the ability to stream files, support for magnet links, and access to plug-ins.
Everything listed above is available in the free version of Vuze. If you decide to get 'Vuze Plus,' you'll get rid of ads and stream media without downloading. Additionally, you'll be able to burn DVDs directly from within the application, which is a unique feature of Vuze.
7. Halite BitTorrent Client - Minimalistic P2P Application for Windows
Just because it has 'BitTorrent' in its name, don’t confuse it with other suggestions in this article. This is an incredibly lightweight application that supports Windows. If you want a powerful downloader that's also really simple to use, you’re in for a treat.
Upon downloading Halite from GitHub, you can unzip and open it (it's an EXE application). This kind of installation can be confusing because GitHub is involved. However, we are sure you won’t have a hard time making this application run on your system.
Upon opening it, you will see a simple interface. Add a torrent file, and Halite will start downloading it. You can perform basic operations like stopping and resuming the download process and reviewing important download information. Halite also supports file prioritization, magnet links, and torrents without trackers.
Among other features, it supports protocol encryption, IP filtering, super-seeding, port randomization, and port forwarding. So, Halite appears to be simple software on the outside but offers plenty of depth if you're willing to explore its settings.
8. BitComet - Best Torrent App with Advanced P2P Features
BitComet is an older client that still receives occasional updates. Even though this is a simple application at its core, it brings support for all modern standards of creating and downloading torrents. And, most importantly, it comes free of charge.
It is worth noting that BitComet has a unique feature called Intelligent Disk Caching. A few years ago, even the best torrent clients were quite demanding due to large amounts of read-and-write data. BitComet was the first application to solve this issue, which is why it is now one of the most lightweight P2P clients.
It's also worth noting that BitComet now supports both Windows and macOS - as it was previously available only on Microsoft's operating system. This may also signal that we can expect new features more often.
Let's not forget to mention that BitComet supports magnet URIs, file prioritization, scheduling, automatic shutdown, and support for UPnP, and it also allows you to preview files as you download them (AVI, RMVB, WMV, and other video files).
9. WebTorrent - Top P2P Client for Streaming Video Torrent Files
We're sure many of you download plenty of movies via P2P. As you know, you normally need to wait to download the entire video file before you play it on your device. However, WebTorrent is here to provide a solution to this problem.
Once you add a magnet or torrent file to this application, it will start to download it automatically. However, you'll be able to stream the file instead of waiting for it to be fully downloaded. That's because this client is built upon WebRTC, which is how it builds decentralized connections between its users.
There's also a set of playback controls where you can increase or decrease the playback speed, control the volume, add subtitles, and more. There are no ads, and everything is available free of charge, making WebTorrent one of the best options for watching videos.
Finally, we must mention that WebTorrent brings a beautifully designed interface on Windows, macOS, and Linux. Sadly, no mobile versions are available right now.
10. BitLord - Best Torrent Software with Built-In Search Engine
BitLord is an older software that still manages to bring competitive features. Both beginners and experienced torrent users can use it since BitLord is a highly adaptive option.
We recommend you pay attention while installing this application. Based on your input, BitLord will first download the required files and then proceed with the installation. If you’re not careful, you might end up with unwanted software.
When it comes to its capabilities, you can count on the standard set of features found in most other torrent clients (file prioritization, scheduled downloads, etc.). However, what’s interesting about this application is its advanced tools.
First, there’s a built-in search tool for audio, video, and other kinds of torrents. Then, you can stream videos to your computer or play them via Chromecast. Finally, you can even download subtitles. As you can see, BitLord is an all-in-one torrent app but comes with a group of features aimed at media streaming.
How We Test the Best Torrent Clients
Our process of finding the best torrent clients included testing dozens of different options. We tried each of them hands-on across Windows and macOS, checking their ease of installation and whether they have any bundled software. Then, we checked each client's user interface, which allowed us to recommend both simple and more complex options for various types of users.
Next, our team focused on checking various P2P-centric features. That said, we looked for features such as P2P search functionality, support for magnet links, scheduling, the ability to stream media files, and support for plug-ins. That's why you'll find both fully automated torrent clients above, as well as those that support a wide range of fine-tuning.
We also wanted to know whether advertisements are present, as well as what kinds of features are locked behind a paywall. Most torrent clients are free, but we also wanted to include a few premium options that we believe are worth their price.
How Does a VPN Make Torrent Clients Safe to Use?
When using a VPN, your Web traffic becomes encrypted, meaning you'll download files privately. Also, VPNs unleash the full speed of your connection, and they also unblock websites. Let's take a closer look at how VPNs enhance and upgrade the way you use P2P clients:
- Stay Ahead of Potential Copyright Infringement Issues: Even if you're careful, you could easily end up with a copyrighted file on your device. So, double-check what you download and use a VPN as a highly effective precautionary measure.
- Gain Full Access to Any Torrent Site: It's no secret that torrent sites are blocked in most countries. A VPN is a great tool for changing your virtual location, allowing you to reach blocked sites without any complex workarounds.
- Use Torrent Clients in Complete Privacy: As soon as you add a file to your client, it connects to a P2P swarm and exposes your IP address, revealing your location and your download history. That said, a VPN can hide your original IP, giving you more privacy on the Web.
- Anonymize Your Torrenting Traffic: Your Internet provider sees everything you download and every page you visit on the Web. That said, if you wish to browse the Web without anyone knowing what you do, all you need is a VPN with an encrypted connection.
- Take Proper Care of Your Digital Security: Today's VPNs can help you detect malicious websites, and they also have antimalware tools. In other words, they ensure your digital security during any online activity, which is also handy when it comes to torrenting.
- Evade ISP-Induced Bandwidth Throttling: It's not uncommon for Internet providers to use selective throttling to preserve bandwidth. So, if you download and upload a lot of data, a VPN can help you regain the full speed of your connection by bypassing any type of throttling.
- Use P2P Clients Safely on Public Wi-Fi: In most cases, public Wi-Fi networks are designed to log your sensitive information. A VPN can obfuscate your data, making sure no data logging can happen, meaning you could even torrent over public Wi-Fi.
- Reach Your Home Sites While Traveling: As you go outside your country's borders, you can find most of your favorite sites blocked, especially torrenting sites. A VPN allows you to connect to a server back home, which gives you full access to your often-visited sites.
Finding a VPN that delivers everything mentioned above can prove to be a difficult task. That said, you'll want to opt for NordVPN, as it's the best VPN for P2P right now, bringing a whole slate of P2P servers, ultra-fast speeds, and plenty more.
What to Look for In a Torrent Client?
You need to focus on platform compatibility, ease of use, and specific P2P features - such as support for magnet links, scheduling, and P2P search. These are the requirements to keep in mind that'll help you pinpoint the best option available:
- Support for Your Device: In case you are using Windows, macOS, or Linux, you shouldn’t have a hard time finding a P2P client. Also, it's good to know that P2P clients are inter-compatible, which means that you can download torrent files regardless of the client you use. There are also Android P2P clients - but sadly, there aren't any for iOS.
- User-Friendly Interface: The good news is that you don’t have to be an IT expert to download torrents. However, some clients tend to have an overly complex UI. This is good if you want to explore various settings. Otherwise, a simple application will do the job.
- Support for P2P Magnet Links: Practically all of today's torrent apps support traditional P2P files and magnet links. In general, always go with magnet links as they typically have the most up-to-date information on where their source files are found, leading to faster downloads. Traditional P2P files are also good if they have a lot of seeders.
- Advanced P2P-Focused Features: If you're a more advanced user, pick a torrent downloader that allows you to search for P2P files without leaving the app. You'll also want seamless integration with a VPN, which allows you to pair any of the best VPNs for torrenting with your client and achieve a much lighter level of privacy.
- Go for Streaming or Downloading: If you download a lot of movies and TV shows, know that some torrent clients allow you to stream data while downloading it at the same time. That way, you don't have to wait until the entire file is on your computer.
- Research Client's Reputation: In general, always stick to relatively known clients, like those found above. More importantly, download them from their official websites. Since they're so popular, malicious actors often use malware-infected installation files of torrent programs to implement data-stealing code on your device.
- Pay Attention to Price/Adware: Last but not least, there’s the price. The majority of P2P clients are free of charge. However, some can serve ads, which is their way of generating revenue. Also, some offer bundled software, so you can end up with more than a single application. Don’t worry - we've only listed the software that doesn’t serve as typical adware.
What Are Torrent Clients?
Torrent clients are applications using which you download torrents. This type of software is capable of downloading and uploading files at the same time, which is how they let you become part of a P2P swarm.
In our ultimate guide to torrenting, you can learn about the BitTorrent protocol, which is where you'll discover that we're talking about decentralized systems in this case.
When downloading torrents, you never download data from a single place, like a server. You download data from dozens, if not hundreds, of other computers by taking small bits at a time. Your P2P client is the application that can handle that many connections, downloading and uploading data simultaneously.
As you can imagine, clients aren't a novelty. They've been here for quite some time, and many of them have developed advanced features. So, even if you're looking for a completely free-of-charge client, you can do more than download P2P files.
For example, you can search for torrent files across the Web, stream movies and music without leaving the torrent client, create and distribute torrents, and more.
Is It Safe to Use a Torrent Client?
Yes, torrent clients are safe to use - but there's something important to keep in mind. Make sure to download P2P clients ONLY from their official sites. If you fail to do so, you can easily end up with an infected installation file.
Talking about torrenting and clients usually involves talking about malware as well. That's because one of the fastest ways to spread malware is by distributing it via a P2P network. This is why antivirus vendors often flag torrent clients as dangerous.
Also, let's not forget about your privacy. By participating in a P2P network, your IP address becomes exposed, and this means practically anyone can track your online whereabouts. More skilled individuals can also keep track of what you download and where you come from.
Final Thoughts
In this guide, we focused on the most reputable options only. Our recommendations are considered the best torrent clients overall, as they're all packed with useful features, run without a single issue even on older devices, and many come with advanced tools for experienced users. So, take your pick based on your personal preferences and the desired level of software complexity.
No matter which option you pick, remember that it's essential to pair your torrent client with a VPN - our preferred pick being NordVPN. That is the only way to encrypt and hide your torrenting data, obscure your IP address, and protect your sensitive information and physical location.
Plus, a capable VPN will help you unblock more torrent sites and prevent you from visiting malicious domains, and many can even scan P2P files for malware. Lastly, if your ISP employs selective throttling, a VPN will help you increase your download and upload speeds.
More on Torrenting:
- Best Torrent Sites Overall in 2024
- Best Torrent Search Engines in 2024
- How to Use uTorrent with a VPN
- How to Make uTorrent Faster
We hope that you have found this guide to be informative and helpful. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to reach out to us in the comments section. Thanks for reading!
