Alternatives to BitTorrent

The official BitTorrent client, available as a desktop app and a streaming web version. The listings below can replace it for an important use case. Each note says what changes if you switch.

Replacements

Listings that take over the same core job as BitTorrent.

  • µTorrent

    A BitTorrent client offered as a small desktop app and as a browser-based player.

    FreemiumProprietaryWindowsmacOSLinuxAndroidWeb

    µTorrent offers the same pairing of a small desktop client and a browser-based player, adds a Linux build and scheduling, but some features need a paid plan.

  • qBittorrent

    A full-featured BitTorrent client with no ads, built as an open source replacement for µTorrent.

    FreeOpen sourceWindowsmacOSLinux

    qBittorrent is open source with no ads and adds a Linux build, integrated torrent search and RSS filters, but has no Android app or streaming web version.

  • Transmission

    A light BitTorrent client that behaves like a native app on each platform, with a headless daemon for servers.

    FreeOpen sourceWindowsmacOSLinuxCommand lineSelf-hosted

    Transmission is open source, light and quick to learn, with Linux builds and a headless daemon, but has no Android app or in-browser streaming.

  • BitComet

    A long-running BitTorrent, HTTP and FTP download client with long-term seeding and disk caching.

    FreeProprietaryWindowsmacOSLinuxAndroid

    BitComet is also closed source, adds Linux support, HTTP and FTP downloads and video preview while downloading, and covers Android as well.

  • WebTorrent Desktop

    A desktop torrent app that streams video and audio while the files are still downloading.

    FreeOpen sourceWindowsmacOSLinux

    WebTorrent Desktop is open source and plays media before downloads finish, with casting to AirPlay, Chromecast and DLNA, but is still labelled beta and has no Android version.

  • PikaTorrent

    A cross-platform open-source torrent client for desktop and mobile that can stream media.

    FreeOpen sourceWindowsmacOSLinuxAndroid

    PikaTorrent is open source with a simple interface and media streaming on desktop and Android, though it is a younger project with fewer advanced options.

  • BiglyBT

    An open-source, ad-free BitTorrent client built on the former Azureus and Vuze codebase.

    FreeOpen sourceWindowsmacOSLinux

    BiglyBT is open source and ad-free with I2P support and swarm merging, but its many options can overwhelm casual users and there is no Android build.

  • BitLord

    A free BitTorrent client for downloading torrents with built-in streaming of audio and video.

    FreeProprietaryWindowsmacOS

    BitLord is also closed source and streams audio and video from torrents with a simple interface, but it only runs on Windows and macOS.

Also worth comparing

These listings name BitTorrent as their own alternative, so the relationship runs both ways.

  • FrostWire

    A BitTorrent client, video downloader and media player with search built into the app.

    FreeOpen sourceWindowsmacOSLinuxAndroid

    BitTorrent is closed source, with a desktop app for downloads and a web app for streaming, but has no Linux build listed.

  • LibreTorrent

    A free and open-source BitTorrent client for Android with no ads.

    FreeOpen sourceAndroid

    BitTorrent offers an Android app from the official BitTorrent project, but it is closed source and pairs with desktop and web streaming versions.

Similar software

Related functionality, not a direct replacement.