BitTorrent Client List

[Ken]

Back when our dear friend Yoda ran supportp2p.com, I posted a list of known BitTorrent clients.

Well, I've decided to repost that list and I welcome any input or information about any BitTorrent client (on the list or not).

One piece of advice to anyone looking to make a decision on what BitTorrent client to use. The clients listed are not organized by popularity, release date, or relevance (this was done for a reason, namely to avoid conflict or any kind).

They are in rough alphabetical order.

However, certain clients have a tag on the end of their information that looks like this....

(POPULAR)

You might want to look at these clients first, and if you feel like exploring the client world a little bit later on, you can glance at the whole list. Be sure to avoid dead and/or outdated clients for now. They may come back one day, but for the time being, just pass on over them.

________________________________________________________________________

µTorrent [v1.5.1 - Available for Windows 2000/XP/2003] – (POPULAR)

http://www.utorrent.com

Arctic Torrent [v1.2.3 - Available for Windows 2000/XP/2003]

http://www.int64.org/arctic.html

Azureus [v2.4.0.2, – Available for Windows, Linux, and MacOS X] – (POPULAR)

http://azureus.sourceforge.net

BitAnarch [v1.0.5a - Available for Windows 95 and higher - CLIENT IS DEAD – No further development unless otherwise noted by the developer – Client is OUT OF DATE - This client is not recommended]

http://sourceforge.net/projects/bitanarch

BitBuddy [v0.985 – Available for Windows - Client is OUT OF DATE - This client is not recommend]

http://www.btvampire.com

(Web site may be dead)

Here is an alternate location:

http://www.softpedia.com/get/Internet/File.../BitBuddy.shtml

BitComet [v0.63 – Available for Windows 98/ME/2000/XP/2003] – (POPULAR)

http://www.bitcomet.com

BETA Releases are available at http://download.bitcomet.com/deve/

BitLord [v1.1 – Available for Windows 95/98/NT/2000/XP]

http://www.bitlord.com

BitPump [v1.0 - Available for Windows]

http://www.analogx.com/contents/download/network/bitpump.htm

Bits On Wheels [v1.0.6 - Available for MacOS 10.3(X) and up - Client is OUT OF DATE - This client is not recommend]

http://bitsonwheels.com

BitTornado [v0.3.15 – Available for Windows, Linux, BSD, MacOS X] – (POPULAR)

http://bittornado.com

BitTorrent [v4.4.1 BETA with Trackerless support and Internationalization – Available for Windows, Linux, and MacOS X] - (POPULAR)

http://www.bittorrent.com

BitTorrent Experimental [v3.2.1b-2 – Available for Windows - Client is OUT OF DATE - This client is not recommend]

http://ei.kefro.st/projects/btclient/

BT++ [v0.5.4 ALPHA – Available for Windows 95/98/NT/2000/XP, Linux, BSD, UNIX-like OSes - Client is OUT OF DATE - This client is not recommended]

http://btplusplus.sourceforge.net

BTQueue [v0.1.0 – Available for Windows, Linux running the X Window System (X11), as a daemon (non-interactive), and Web-based interfaces]

http://btqueue.sourceforge.net

Burst [v3.0.1b – Available for Windows 98/Me and Windows 2000/XP in compatibility mode set to Win 95/98 - Client is OUT OF DATE - This client is not recommended]

http://krypt.dyndns.org:81/torrent/index.phtml

(The Burst developer(s) has a private BETA system going. If you visit the Web site, you can get on a BETA mailing list. However, it is because of this that I will not list or recognize those releases. They are not available for download publicly. Until they are, I will only recognize the latest public release, and if it is out-of-date, I will list the client as "out-of-date".)

CTorrent [v1.3.2 – Available for all BSD OSes, MacOS X, Linux, and UNIX – Client is OUT OF DATE - This client is not recommended]

http://ctorrent.sourceforge.net

(The release date on the homepage is inconsistent with the release date on the files available from their Source Forge project page, which indicate January 31, 2004 which is much later than specified. This does not change anything, however. The client is out of date).

Flash! Torrent [v1.4c – Available for Windows - Client is OUT OF DATE - This client is not recommend]

http://sourceforge.net/projects/burst-plus/

G3 Torrent [v1.01 – Available for Windows - Client is OUT OF DATE - This client is not recommend]

http://g3torrent.sourceforge.net

(The main page lists the version number at 1.01; however, the change log lists the version number at 1.1. The main page version number will be used because it links to an installer that is labeled 1.01. This message will be deleted when/if something is changed and/or corrected.)

iSwipe [v1.7.6 – Available for MacOS 8.x, 9.x, and 10.x]

http://www.hillmanminx.net/iswipe/index.html

MLdonkey [v2.6.0 – Core Available for Linux, UNIX, Windows, and MacOS X – Front-end GUIs are available for various OSes and a list can be found at their homepage]

http://mldonkey.org

Nova Torrent [v0.3.4 - Available for Windows - CLIENT IS DEAD – No further development unless otherwise noted by the developer – Client is OUT OF DATE - This client is not recommended]

http://www.novatorrent.com

PTC BitTorrent Client [v1.0.0-RC.2 – Available for Windows and Linux running the X Window System (X11) - CLIENT IS DEAD – No further development unless otherwise noted by the developer – Client is OUT OF DATE - This client is not recommended]

http://www.ptc-bt.net

Shareaza [v2.2.1 – Available for Windows 95, 98, ME, NT, 2000, XP] (POPULAR)

http://www.shareaza.com

BETA releases are regularly found at:

http://forums.shareaza.com/

The Hunting of the Snark Project [v0.5 – Available for Linux - Client is OUT OF DATE - This client is not recommended]

http://klomp.org/snark/

Tomato Torrent [v1.1.2 – Available for MacOS 10.2(X) or later - Client is OUT OF DATE - This client is not recommended]

http://www.sarwat.net/bittorrent/

TorrenTopia [v1.9 – Available for Windows 98/ME/2000/XP]

http://www.torrentopia.org

TorrentFlux [v1.5(Linux), v1.3(Windows) – PHP based; runs on a web server with PHP – Available for most Linux distributions and Windows – Additional software is needed, such as a PHP module, database software, and web server software - Client is OUT OF DATE - This client is not recommended]

http://www.torrentflux.com

TrustyFiles [v3.0 – Available for Windows]

http://trustyfiles.com

Turbo Torrent [v1.0.9 – Available for Windows 98/ME/NT/2000/XP/2003 Server]

http://www.turbotorrent.com

Their Web site links to an older version of their client (v1.0.7). v1.0.9 can be found at download.com

http://www.download.com/3000-2166_4-10310221.html

Hopefully, this will be corrected, although the Yahoo! E-Mail address that they use as a contact is inactive/disabled.

TurboBT [v5.1 – Available for Windows - Client is OUT OF DATE - This client is not recommended]

http://turbobt.sourceforge.net

XBT [v0.6.9 – Available for Windows 95/98/2000/XP, Linux, BSD, UNIX-like OSes]

http://xbtt.sourceforge.net/client

http://sourceforge.net/project/showfiles.p...ckage_id=113736

Yet ABC [v.3.1 – Available for Windows and Linux]

http://pingpong-abc.sourceforge.net

________________________________________________________________________

ALL MODS and ADMINS: If you see a new release, or a change in information about a particular client, and you've noticed that I have not updated the list yet, feel free to update it yourself. The only thing I ask is that the form the listings are in, and the current order I have them in, be kept the same. Also, please keep the "Add The 'Edit by' line in this post?" box checked.

Thanks.

Edited April 5, 2006 by Malicious Intent

[Kooperman]

As someone who's really only used a couple of p2p sites (and one of them is dead and gone), let me ask naively....why are there so many different ones?

[Ken]

Well, some are for different OSes, some have different or unique features that serve a specific purpose when using the BT protocol (such as being a dedicated seeding client, etc..)

I suppose the question can be loosely compared to "why are there so many different types of cars?"

[Kooperman]

But there are a lot more car drivers than p2p users, despite the claims of ES5. Doesn't the number of different apps and approaches really dilute the pool of users and files?

It might be nice for somebody here to do a p2p for dummies thing. A lot of the people coming by here are totally unfamiliar with all this stuff.

[Ken]

But there are a lot more car drivers than p2p users, despite the claims of ES5. Doesn't the number of different apps and approaches really dilute the pool of users and files?

It might be nice for somebody here to do a p2p for dummies thing. A lot of the people coming by here are totally unfamiliar with all this stuff.

I hear what you're saying (and I’m far from being an expert on p2p myself), but in this case, these clients all operate under the Bittorrent protocol.

Now, as for the variety of P2P networks, well, I don't really believe the pool is diluted, as the amount of networks, is not really the same comparison as having a bunch of items of identical value, size and properties.

Certain networks do certain things better, or have unique content or users (such as ed2k being a network for BIG file downloads, MP2P being a music only network, and other networks like Fasttack, Ares, WinMX offering a variety).

More options doesn't mean anything is diluted, it just means you can narrow down what network you're going to use, depending upon what you're looking for.

Also, some networks are built around customized communities, where the community is the driving force behind the network or place of organization (like a private DC hub, or something like WASTE).

Let us not forget IRC and Newsgroups (my favorite), which aren't techincally lumped with P2P, but where P2P type activity takes place.

Diversity, in this case, actually brings an even bigger pool, overall.

Edited May 10, 2004 by Ken

[DudeAsInCool]

But there are a lot more car drivers than p2p users, despite the claims of ES5. Doesn't the number of different apps and approaches really dilute the pool of users and files?

It might be nice for somebody here to do a p2p for dummies thing. A lot of the people coming by here are totally unfamiliar with all this stuff.

I think information is a good thing. I think what Ken is posting is great for the uninformed. Learning P2Ps is just like anything else. you pick up a little here, and little there, and so on.. its a little bit exploratory. Each forum is going to take a lfie on its own over time, and I think Ken has a good handle on where the focus should be...Bit Torrent is the coming thing and he's in the moment.

I's like to eventually see something on the IRC and Newsgroups idea, . This forum is already better in terns of information than alot of similar forums I can think of, and it will only get better over time :Here's to you:

[Kooperman]

I'm Ken's agent...he wants a raise!

[Wolfie]

This might sound like a bit stupid but I'll ask anyway. If i want to switch BT clients is it better uninstall the old one or install the new one on top of the old one.

Note: I am going from regular BT to ABC.

[Malicious Intent]

If you are still interested Wolfie, install them both. When you download a .torrent file, save it, right click and then open it with your chosen client.

ABC is better, but the current version doesn't minimise to the system tray. This is a BIG disadvantage in the BT world. Version 2.6.6, as with the previous versions, will.

[Wolfie]

Thanks for the advice M.I. :D

I got ABC working and I'm downloading like there is no tomorrow. However, it does not show I am uploading anything. And I did open ports 6881-6889 on my router. I am note sure what's up with this.

Edit: Nm, I forgot to reboot the router after I opened ports and set those porst in ABC settings. Its uploading now. :P

[Malicious Intent]

Gald that you are sorted Wolfie. Remember that you only need to forward as amny ports as you want simultanious downloads. The rest you can give to others on your LAN.

Other useful sites Ken:

http://fileflux.com/?page=bt

and www.link2u.tk.

And ABC is now based on 5.8.11. It will be a bitch keeping that up to date, so just say that it adds a queuing systam to Shadows core.

[cube]

SUPRNOVA.ORG

:smokin:

[Ken]

I completely and utterly forgot to add BitComet.

Please don't hurt me.

[Ken]

List updated.

A couple clients have renewed their activity after a lengthly period; Torrentstorm and Burst!

[rainbowdemon]

I really like TorrenTopia!!

:strumma:

[Ken]

I'd have to agree rainbow.

It still needs more GUI improvements (such as down and upstream value display improvements, and minor cosmetic changes to the window). I still prefer the simplistic, but effective GUI of BitTornado, but I have been sticking with TorrenTopia as of late.

Besides G3 Torrent, Torrentopia has been the most active client (in terms of releases), in my opinion, as of late.

[Ken]

Azureus is back in the game with a new release. The list order has been changed a bit to reflect this and other new releases/activity.

TorrenTopia continues to update with 1.45, and ABC has also got themselves a new release.

[Malicious Intent]

Tonight I have tried:

ABC

Azureus

TorrentTopis

Shareaza

BitTornado

They all seem to have their advantages and disadvantages. It was originally suppose to be a very very basic speed test on the all. One at a time downloading the same file. They all downloaded at nearly exactly the same speed, which was maxin out my connection. Shareaza somehow managed to leech the whole file. After the file had finished downloading, in my short test I could not figure how to start it seeding.

BitTornado refused to accept the imposed upload limit. After a bit of playing around, the upload fell to 0, but the file finished all the same. I guess 2 mins isn't enough to learn all the tweeks of the various BT clients. At this point I realised my speed testing was a waste of time, since the torrent was apparently so healthy it could just be leeched.

I used to always understand people who said that they want the simplicity of BitTornado, but now I don't. You can see how each new option has been stuck on. It is looking quite messy. ABC may have a few extra buttons, but the layout is clearer and the client looks and feel smoother and better built. BitTornado is all about the core, which ABC uses. BitTornado you can limit the download speed.

TorrentTopia wins the "oh nice" award for when it loads. It could do with a NAT indicator and upload/download ratio. The search function is extremely clean and efficient - a lot better than I had hoped. I haven't used the program long enough to find out what "my files" is. I'm guessing it remembers all your downloads.

Basically I'm no better off deciding which client is better than any other client. I'm still swinging ABC, but there is a good chance is because I'm simply not used to the other clients yet.

[Ken]

I used to always understand people who said that they want the simplicity of BitTornado, but now I don't. You can see how each new option has been stuck on. It is looking quite messy. ABC may have a few extra buttons, but the layout is clearer and the client looks and feel smoother and better built. BitTornado is all about the core, which ABC uses. BitTornado you can limit the download speed.

BitTornado is just a beefed up regular BitTorrent GUI.

Also, as of now, version 0.3.2 of BitTornado has been released. We'll all be waiting for a new release of ABC.

[Ken]

Also, BTQueue has released v.0.0.8.

[Malicious Intent]

I expect the next ABC is already around the corner as lots of people have been having errors caused when peers send bad data.

The ABC developer wants to wait until version .3 is stable before he implements it, so we will have to be patient. I can live without max download speed in the mean time.

[Ken]

Let us not forget all the hard work THE SHADOW, and Cohen put into their clients. It's so good, you have other clients like ABC using the core, improving and adding features.

All in all, BitTorrent has become a juggernaut of P2P. All these clients, so many innovations.

[DudeAsInCool]

A must read thread by all :good job:

[Ken]

Azureus v2.1.0.2 was released today.

I did a little order reshuffling. BitComet just recently updated, and are now ahead of BitSpirit which hasn't updated in a while, and is having frequent website problems. Azureus has also been moved ahead of TorrenTopia due to their updates and growing popularity.

I may have mentioned this before but i'll do it anyway. Let me inform everyone that the original BitTorrent client will always remain at the top of the list for familiarity reasons. It must be introduced first, then all independent clients are ordered.

[Malicious Intent]

Torrent Storm 1.3 was released yesterday.

Changelog

---

>Includes the latest client by the Shadow. (Bittornado 0.3.2).

>Added Downloader Plug-in support (only Bittornado 0.3.2 is included with the main download, other will be available to add on shortly).

>Added Multi-Language Support.

>New features of Shadows client supported (Download rate limit).

>Fixed upload rate limit.

>Various bug fixes.

I've updated the list. It is a popular client ken, make sure that you don't under sell it.