5 Fastest BitTorrent Clients for Torrenting Reliably in 2021
Sometimes, a seamless and efficient torrenting experience can be as simple as choosing the right BitTorrent client. But with so many clients available, selecting one can feel a bit overwhelming.
Whether you like a feature-heavy BitTorrent client or one that’s light and clean, there are a few key features to look out for.
Your BitTorrent client should be fast, free, reliable, and easy-to-use, with good device compatibility. Depending on your priorities you might also want a built-in search function and freedom from ads.
Remember though, no matter how good your BitTorrent client, torrenting can still come with various dangers. From unknowingly downloading malware to accidentally accessing copyrighted material, you could land yourself in serious trouble.
That’s why we recommend always torrenting with a VPN. The right VPN can keep your device safe from malware and also make sure you’re protected against any legal action should torrenting go wrong.
Read on to find out which BitTorrent clients we’ve found to be the fastest. We’ll also look into why you should always use a VPN when torrenting and talk about the best VPN for torrenting according to our tests.
1. uTorrent
Very light app
Fast downloads
Low CPU usage
Scheduled downloads
uTorrent, currently managed by the BitTorrent project, is considered the most useful client in existence outside China. This is mainly because of its low CPU usage and overall efficiency. The entire application is less than 2MB in size meaning it’ll use up hardly any unnecessary computer resources.
One of its most useful features is that it allows users to schedule large numbers of torrent downloads. Apart from being compatible with Mac OS, Windows, and Linux computers, it’s also available on Android. This means that you can download large movies, songs or games directly to your mobile device.
Although it’s free, it’s full of ads. Users have also complained in the past that it’s usually bundled with other software meaning that if you’re not careful, you could end up unwittingly installing something you weren’t expecting during the initial setup.
2. qBittorrent
Free
No ads
Simple Graphical User Interface (GUI)
Available in 70 languages
Considered by many to be the most reliable alternative to uTorrent, qBittorrent provides users with a simple and neat outlook combined with efficient CPU usage. This means that you can use it simultaneously with other software on your computer.
It’s also completely free to use without any distracting ads. It is currently developed by volunteers and survives solely on donations. Currently available on Linux, Mac OS, and Windows computers, qBittorrent offers regular services you can expect to find from most clients such as torrent queuing, IP filtering and torrent prioritization.
The major downside is that it is not currently compatible with mobile devices running iOS and Android.
3. BitTorrent
Lightweight app
Fast and Scheduled downloads
Available for mobile devices running Android
Too many ads
Many users sometimes wonder why BitTorrent runs its own program alongside uTorrent. Initially, there were slight differences, but recent releases have seen them become more similar.
BitTorrent is available for Mac OS, Windows, and Android. Users with mobile devices running Android can install it and download their favorite movies and playlists.
Like uTorrent, the BitTorrent application is filled with ads. This is its main source of revenue for sustaining the project.
4. Tixati
100% free without ads
No Spyware
Easy and quick install
Detailed bandwidth management and reporting
Tixati is widely popular for its powerful functionalities such as support for magnet links, IP filtering and event (download) scheduling hidden behind its extremely simple and easy to use user interface (UI).
For Windows and Linux users, Tixati is quick and easy to install mainly because it is small. Users usually consider it to be considerably faster than other BitTorrent clients. It’s completely free to use and does not push any ads to users as it relies solely on donations.
The only downside is that it is just available for Windows and Linux native users so Mac OS, iPhone or Android users will be out of luck.
5. Transmission
Very low memory usage
No usage tracking
No third party ads
High-level encryption
The Transmission BitTorrent client is popular among Mac and Windows users as it is predominantly considered to be the best for the Mac OS. The biggest benefit is that it uses very little system memory – it’s generally considered to consume the least of all major BitTorrent clients.
Transmission is not currently available on Android, iOS or Windows Mobile so you can’t run it on mobile devices.
Why You Should Always Use a VPN for Torrenting
Although the BitTorrent protocol is a fantastic solution to large file downloads, you are relying on other users to provide legitimate and safe files.
The truth is, it’s incredibly easy to hide malicious software in torrented data. Malware can be disguised as a harmless download or hidden in software bundles.
More often than not, you won’t know that you’ve downloaded malware until it’s too late. In a lot of cases, spyware is so efficient at hiding itself you might never know you’re being spied on at all.
Another potential torrenting issue is the risk of legal trouble if you accidentally download copyrighted material.
Torrenting itself is not illegal. It only becomes illegal when it is used to distribute content that is subject to copyright. Since it’s not always easy to tell exactly what you’re torrenting, downloading such content by accident is a real possibility.
The question of legality has led some countries to blanket ban torrenting sites in an attempt to stop the circulation of protected content.
If you live in one of these countries you might need to use a VPN to even be able to access torrenting sites in the first place.
VPNs are capable of bypassing governmental geoblocks.
They can hide your IP address and reroute your traffic through a private server in a different country where torrenting isn’t banned. This makes it looks as though you are accessing the site from that country, allowing you to bypass the geo-restriction.
A VPN can also protect you from the various dangers associated with torrenting. As well as masking your IP address, a VPN will encrypt all of your traffic. This means your torrenting activities will be completely private and hidden.
Not only can this guard you against any legal action, it makes sure that sensitive data — such as your IP address and location — is hidden from other users in your swarm. This can protect you from any potential cyber threats like a DDoS attack.
The best VPNs also come with malware and adware blockers. Anti-malware software can alert you to suspicious sites and files or block them entirely, to prevent you from downloading anything dangerous.
The Best VPN for Torrenting
When choosing a VPN for BitTorrent, make sure your chosen service has the following features:
P2P-friendly servers
Lightning-fast speeds
No logs policy
Malware-blocking software
Unlimited bandwidth
ExpressVPN is our top recommendation when it comes to torrenting. It supports torrenting on all its servers and offers super-fast speeds for seamless downloads.
It also protects you with military-grade encryption and the latest security features available. You can read more about ExpressVPN in our real user reviews.
Start Torrenting with ExpressVPN Now!
Summary and Further Reading
The best BitTorrent clients are fast, reliable, and efficient. However, the only way to stay safe when seeding is to torrent with a VPN.
If you’d like more VPN options to choose from, here’s our list of the best VPNs for BitTorrent.
On a budget? There are also some free VPNs for torrenting.
Once you’ve got your VPN sorted, don’t forget to check out our guide to torrenting safely and anonymously.
Privacy Alert!
Your data is exposed to the websites you visit!
The information above can be used to track you, target you for ads, and monitor what you do online.
VPNs can help you hide this information from websites so that you are protected at all times. We recommend ExpressVPN — the #1 VPN out of over 350 providers we’ve tested. It has military-grade encryption and privacy features that will ensure your digital security, plus — it’s currently offering 49% off.
Visit ExpressVPN
5 Fastest BitTorrent Clients for Torrenting Reliably in 2021
Sometimes, a seamless and efficient torrenting experience can be as simple as choosing the right BitTorrent client. But with so many clients available, selecting one can feel a bit overwhelming.
Whether you like a feature-heavy BitTorrent client or one that’s light and clean, there are a few key features to look out for.
Your BitTorrent client should be fast, free, reliable, and easy-to-use, with good device compatibility. Depending on your priorities you might also want a built-in search function and freedom from ads.
Remember though, no matter how good your BitTorrent client, torrenting can still come with various dangers. From unknowingly downloading malware to accidentally accessing copyrighted material, you could land yourself in serious trouble.
That’s why we recommend always torrenting with a VPN. The right VPN can keep your device safe from malware and also make sure you’re protected against any legal action should torrenting go wrong.
Read on to find out which BitTorrent clients we’ve found to be the fastest. We’ll also look into why you should always use a VPN when torrenting and talk about the best VPN for torrenting according to our tests.
1. uTorrent
Very light app
Fast downloads
Low CPU usage
Scheduled downloads
uTorrent, currently managed by the BitTorrent project, is considered the most useful client in existence outside China. This is mainly because of its low CPU usage and overall efficiency. The entire application is less than 2MB in size meaning it’ll use up hardly any unnecessary computer resources.
One of its most useful features is that it allows users to schedule large numbers of torrent downloads. Apart from being compatible with Mac OS, Windows, and Linux computers, it’s also available on Android. This means that you can download large movies, songs or games directly to your mobile device.
Although it’s free, it’s full of ads. Users have also complained in the past that it’s usually bundled with other software meaning that if you’re not careful, you could end up unwittingly installing something you weren’t expecting during the initial setup.
2. qBittorrent
Free
No ads
Simple Graphical User Interface (GUI)
Available in 70 languages
Considered by many to be the most reliable alternative to uTorrent, qBittorrent provides users with a simple and neat outlook combined with efficient CPU usage. This means that you can use it simultaneously with other software on your computer.
It’s also completely free to use without any distracting ads. It is currently developed by volunteers and survives solely on donations. Currently available on Linux, Mac OS, and Windows computers, qBittorrent offers regular services you can expect to find from most clients such as torrent queuing, IP filtering and torrent prioritization.
The major downside is that it is not currently compatible with mobile devices running iOS and Android.
3. BitTorrent
Lightweight app
Fast and Scheduled downloads
Available for mobile devices running Android
Too many ads
Many users sometimes wonder why BitTorrent runs its own program alongside uTorrent. Initially, there were slight differences, but recent releases have seen them become more similar.
BitTorrent is available for Mac OS, Windows, and Android. Users with mobile devices running Android can install it and download their favorite movies and playlists.
Like uTorrent, the BitTorrent application is filled with ads. This is its main source of revenue for sustaining the project.
4. Tixati
100% free without ads
No Spyware
Easy and quick install
Detailed bandwidth management and reporting
Tixati is widely popular for its powerful functionalities such as support for magnet links, IP filtering and event (download) scheduling hidden behind its extremely simple and easy to use user interface (UI).
For Windows and Linux users, Tixati is quick and easy to install mainly because it is small. Users usually consider it to be considerably faster than other BitTorrent clients. It’s completely free to use and does not push any ads to users as it relies solely on donations.
The only downside is that it is just available for Windows and Linux native users so Mac OS, iPhone or Android users will be out of luck.
5. Transmission
Very low memory usage
No usage tracking
No third party ads
High-level encryption
The Transmission BitTorrent client is popular among Mac and Windows users as it is predominantly considered to be the best for the Mac OS. The biggest benefit is that it uses very little system memory – it’s generally considered to consume the least of all major BitTorrent clients.
Transmission is not currently available on Android, iOS or Windows Mobile so you can’t run it on mobile devices.
Why You Should Always Use a VPN for Torrenting
Although the BitTorrent protocol is a fantastic solution to large file downloads, you are relying on other users to provide legitimate and safe files.
The truth is, it’s incredibly easy to hide malicious software in torrented data. Malware can be disguised as a harmless download or hidden in software bundles.
More often than not, you won’t know that you’ve downloaded malware until it’s too late. In a lot of cases, spyware is so efficient at hiding itself you might never know you’re being spied on at all.
Another potential torrenting issue is the risk of legal trouble if you accidentally download copyrighted material.
Torrenting itself is not illegal. It only becomes illegal when it is used to distribute content that is subject to copyright. Since it’s not always easy to tell exactly what you’re torrenting, downloading such content by accident is a real possibility.
The question of legality has led some countries to blanket ban torrenting sites in an attempt to stop the circulation of protected content.
If you live in one of these countries you might need to use a VPN to even be able to access torrenting sites in the first place.
VPNs are capable of bypassing governmental geoblocks.
They can hide your IP address and reroute your traffic through a private server in a different country where torrenting isn’t banned. This makes it looks as though you are accessing the site from that country, allowing you to bypass the geo-restriction.
A VPN can also protect you from the various dangers associated with torrenting. As well as masking your IP address, a VPN will encrypt all of your traffic. This means your torrenting activities will be completely private and hidden.
Not only can this guard you against any legal action, it makes sure that sensitive data — such as your IP address and location — is hidden from other users in your swarm. This can protect you from any potential cyber threats like a DDoS attack.
The best VPNs also come with malware and adware blockers. Anti-malware software can alert you to suspicious sites and files or block them entirely, to prevent you from downloading anything dangerous.
The Best VPN for Torrenting
When choosing a VPN for BitTorrent, make sure your chosen service has the following features:
P2P-friendly servers
Lightning-fast speeds
No logs policy
Malware-blocking software
Unlimited bandwidth
ExpressVPN is our top recommendation when it comes to torrenting. It supports torrenting on all its servers and offers super-fast speeds for seamless downloads.
It also protects you with military-grade encryption and the latest security features available. You can read more about ExpressVPN in our real user reviews.
Start Torrenting with ExpressVPN Now!
Summary and Further Reading
The best BitTorrent clients are fast, reliable, and efficient. However, the only way to stay safe when seeding is to torrent with a VPN.
If you’d like more VPN options to choose from, here’s our list of the best VPNs for BitTorrent.
On a budget? There are also some free VPNs for torrenting.
Once you’ve got your VPN sorted, don’t forget to check out our guide to torrenting safely and anonymously.
Privacy Alert!
Your data is exposed to the websites you visit!
The information above can be used to track you, target you for ads, and monitor what you do online.
VPNs can help you hide this information from websites so that you are protected at all times. We recommend ExpressVPN — the #1 VPN out of over 350 providers we’ve tested. It has military-grade encryption and privacy features that will ensure your digital security, plus — it’s currently offering 49% off.
Visit ExpressVPN
uTorrent vs. BitTorrent – Which is Faster for Mobile/Desktop in 2021?
When it comes to torrent clients, uTorrent and BitTorrent are two veterans with huge, loyal followings.
But what makes one better than the other? Is it a greater variety of settings, or a richer package of features? Maybe speed or practicality is the deciding factor?
While uTorrent and BitTorrent are in fact very much alike, there are some key distinctions between the two. This article will help you understand the similarities and differences.
It will also teach you how using a VPN (virtual private network) can increase your download speeds, and protect you from the dangers of downloading torrents.
Specifically, it’s important to know that torrenting isn’t legal everywhere, and even where it is, some have been issued fines – and even arrested – for downloading copyrighted media.
However, with a VPN, your internet activity can’t be traced back to you. Therefore, no one will know what content you download, or even the fact that you’re downloading torrents at all.
That said, not all VPNs are the same.
Fortunately, we evaluated a ton of VPNs and figured out which are the best for downloading torrents. With their powerful security protocols and servers dedicated to torrenting, CyberGhost is a particularly good choice.
And if you’re really new to torrenting and want to learn how to do it safely and anonymously, check out this tutorial.
uTorrent and BitTorrent Have Nearly Identical Interfaces
If you’ve used both uTorrent and BitTorrent, you’ve probably wondered why their interfaces are almost identical. Indeed, if it wasn’t for the name and colors, you could easily mistake one for the other.
uTorrent Interface:
Both interfaces follow the same format
BitTorrent Interface:
You can see that they use the same software
That’s because they’re virtually the same software. Both clients are owned by BitTorrent, Inc.
BitTorrent (the client) was developed in 2001 to implement the BitTorrent protocol. At that time, uTorrent hadn’t yet been designed — in fact, initially it wasn’t even BitTorrent’s product. It started out as a one-man project in late 2004, and it was first released in September 2005. BitTorrent, Inc. acquired uTorrent in December 2006.
So, while BitTorrent was the first to implement the protocol, today both clients are run by the same company and use the same code. This doesn’t mean there aren’t any differences, but you won’t spot them at first glance.
So How Are They Different?
BitTorrent and uTorrent are sibling products, and as such, they share a lot of common features — interface, settings, unlimited downloading, free and paid versions, etc.
However, they are not exactly the same. Here are the differences:
1. Size: uTorrent is much lighter than BitTorrent. At less than 1 MB, uTorrent is much less taxing on your operating system than many other torrenting clients. By comparison, BitTorrent is almost 3 MB.
2. Frequency of Updates: uTorrent is constantly being developed, with alpha and beta versions being released, while BitTorrent only releases stable versions. That means that while you’ll get more cutting edge features with uTorrent, it might be at the expense of reliability.
3. Platform Compatibility: BitTorrent is compatible with Windows, Mac, and Android, but uTorrent is also available on Linux.
4. Cryptocurrency Mining: Both uTorrent and BitTorrent have partnered software offers during installation (often called “bloatware” by the less charitable). However, uTorrent has been known to have had a few slip ups in the past, including silently dropping crypto miners on computers, which drain users’ CPU without their permission. This was obviously off-putting to many, so to avoid something like that happening to them, many users have gone as far as installing older versions of the client, despite the security risks of using outdated software.
But Which One is Faster? Does it Matter Whether I’m Using Windows or a Mac?
That said, you’re probably still looking for an answer to a very important question: which client is faster?
To that we’ll say that there’s no one torrent client that will make your downloads blazing fast, regardless of which operating system you use.
Speed depends on your internet connection and the number of seeders a torrent file has. BitTorrent isn’t faster than uTorrent, or vice versa.
However, combining a VPN with uTorrent or BitTorrent can dramatically increase your download speeds.
Which is Faster for Android, and Which for iOS?
As we’ve already said, when it comes to speed, there isn’t a real difference between uTorrent and BitTorrent, and the same is true for your Android device. The two clients even have the exact same rating in Google Play (4. 5 stars).
Nevertheless, with over five times the number of reviews as BitTorrent, uTorrent is worlds more popular than BitTorrent. So if you believe in the wisdom of crowds, uTorrent will be your best bet.
uTorrent Reviews:
You can see uTorrent’s popularity based on the volume of reviews
BitTorrent Reviews:
BitTorrent has less reviews, but similar positive scores on average
As for your iPhone, the question of which is faster isn’t so relevant, since iOS doesn’t support torrent clients.
If you’re really committed to finding a workaround to this issue, you’re going to have to jailbreak your device, which will allow you to download apps unavailable in the Apple App Store.
How to Speed Up Your Torrent Downloads
Regardless of which device or operating system you use, there’s still a way to improve your torrenting speeds.
That’s because – due to the fact that torrenting can use up a lot of bandwidth – your internet service provider may be throttling your connection during downloads.
The best way around this is to install a VPN. A VPN will encrypt and reroute all your internet traffic through a remote server, so your ISP won’t be able to monitor any of your online activity – including torrenting.
And if they don’t know you’re torrenting, they won’t be able to slow you down.
Plus, VPNs have uses beyond torrenting as well. Because of their encryption capabilities, they can protect you from hackers, and because they use remote IP addresses, they can give you access to geo-restricted web content like American Netflix.
For high speeds, airtight security, and unmatched access to geo-restricted content, here are some of the best VPNs:
And if you’re interested in checking out different BitTorrent clients or finding out which torrent websites are the most reliable, we’ve got you covered there too.
You might also like:
5 Best (REALLY FREE) VPNs for Torrenting with No P2P Limits
10 Most Popular (NON BLOCKED) Torrent Sites in 2021 [Updated]
Top 10 Best VPNs for Torrenting
Privacy Alert!
Your data is exposed to the websites you visit!
The information above can be used to track you, target you for ads, and monitor what you do online.
VPNs can help you hide this information from websites so that you are protected at all times. We recommend ExpressVPN — the #1 VPN out of over 350 providers we’ve tested. It has military-grade encryption and privacy features that will ensure your digital security, plus — it’s currently offering 49% off.
Visit ExpressVPN
Frequently Asked Questions about fastest bittorrent client
Which is the fastest BitTorrent client?
5 Fastest BitTorrent Clients for Torrenting Reliably in 2021uTorrent.qBittorrent.BitTorrent.Tixati.Transmission.Why You Should Always Use a VPN for Torrenting.The Best VPN for Torrenting.Summary and Further Reading.Sep 21, 2021
Is BitTorrent the fastest?
Speed depends on your internet connection and the number of seeders a torrent file has. BitTorrent isn’t faster than uTorrent, or vice versa. However, combining a VPN with uTorrent or BitTorrent can dramatically increase your download speeds.
Is BitTorrent faster than qBittorrent?
The installation of BitTorrent isn’t nearly as fast as qBittorrent but the user can navigate to the download easily and efficiently.Dec 23, 2020