Features of uTorrent

uTorrent includes everything you would expect from a complete, reliable torrent downloader: highly detailed stats, support for RSS feeds, automatic shutdown, download scheduler and more. There are a couple things that uTorrent is missing though: a full torrent search tool and a built-in player to preview your downloads.

uTorrent 3 lets you play media in streaming as you download, rate and comment torrent files, drag and drop files to share them, and disable the UDP tracker.

Ideal for all user levels

Since version 3 uTorrent has sported a totally redesigned interface: more usable, easier to use and a perfect match for uTorrent’s web interface.

Just like previous versions, uTorrent 3 is easy enough to use for everyone no matter what their level of computer expertise is, but it also includes dozens of configuration settings that will please the most tech-savvy users. Also, this new version includes several beginner-oriented guides to make sure everybody can make the most of it.

Light on system resources

After a quick installation process (although there are quite a few prompts to install browser add-ons etc) and a handy built-in speed test to make the initial setting much easier, uTorrent is ready. The program takes up minimal hard drive and PC resources, which enables you to have a good amount of torrents downloading and still be able to use your computer without any lag.

Conclusion

If you're searching for a reliable, fast and lightweight torrent client, look no further: uTorrent is what you need.

Download uTorrent (µTorrent) 3.3.0.29677 in Softonic

Features

Thanks to a straightforward, uncluttered interface BitTorrent appears as a user friendly torrent client that beginners will feel comfortable with. We particularly appreciated the integrated search box to look for files on the BitTorrent website. Once you’ve found the torrent you want, download it to your PC, open it up inside BitTorrent and let the client do the rest. The speed at which you download will depend on the number of seeds, that is people who have the complete file and are sharing it. The more seeds there are the quicker files will download.

You can set multiple torrent downloads and the downloading speed is fairly quick. It’s easy to configure the client and we suggest choosing the right port and setting upload and download rate limits to avoid hogging your bandwidth. It’s also good to set your downloads by priority to monitor more precisely how your torrents are doing.

Using BitTorrent

The file you want to download is cut up into small segments shared by users, creating what is called a swarm, and does not go through a central server, significantly reducing the bulk of file transfers. The BitTorrent client is actually the first P2P application to use this technology and became immensely popular when it was released. Torrents are considered by online users as a great way to download recently anything from movies to operating systems.

Competition

Compared to the exhaustive Azureus, BitTorrent is very simplistic. It doesn’t provide half as many statistics and doesn’t let you customize the interface. Integrating a search box is a great idea, but it limits searches to the BitTorrent website, not considered the most thorough source by torrent aficionados.

Conclusion

If you’re a newbie to the torrent world, BitTorrent is a good bet. It’s safe, stable and sharp. Associated with the huge database of legal torrents that is the BitTorrent website, it makes for a very rich P2P experience. Advanced users will probably frown upon its lack of options but others should give it a try.

Download BitTorrent 7.8.0.29676 in Softonic

Download Open Freely now and you won't have a single problem installing or using it. The installation process is simple, and using the app itself is very pleasant - the interface is sleek and simple, the icons clear and interaction smooth. Open Freely is a pleasure to use.

In so far as supported files, Open Freely will open a huge variety of standard formats. It doesn't stretch to anything particularly unusual, but really covers all the basics, from Office Documents to Audio files and Windows system files to coding docs.

What makes Open Freely stand out is that it has some extra tools that will come in really handy. You'll be able to view details of all the files you open, as well as opening any of them in a hex editor, which hardcore users will appreciated. What's more, you can even open and edit Word documents, something you definitely don't see every day.

As far as free file viewers go, Open Freely is one of the best we've seen.

Download Open Freely 2.126.1.0 in Softonic

BitComet allows you to exchange files with other users although it must only be used for those files which can be legally exchanged online. The interface is similar to that of eMule with features running down the left hand pane, control buttons across the top and the torrents that are downloading in the main window in the center. Once files have started downloading, the regular stop, pause, cancel, update etc options are all available on BitComet plus a handy "remove torrent & all files" option which removes all trace of an unwanted torrent from your PC.

Download speeds are OK although not as good as similar P2P apps such as uTorrent. One of the reasons for this is that BitComet doesn't have as many users as it once had as more effective and user friendly alternatives entered the market. One of the more handy features of BitComet however is a ‘preview media’ option, which forces the torrent to download sequentially instead of randomly thus allowing you to preview any multimedia downloads. It’s a great way to avoid broken links, but, on the downside, it will slow down your download considerably.

Most recently, BitComet are experimenting with a feature that enables you to download some or all of the data in torrents from non-bittorrent sources, or even from peers of other torrents with all, or some of the same content. Note that this release is also the first bittorrent client to issue a stable 64bit version

Another interesting feature on BitComet is the ‘intelligent disk cache’ which really comes into its own on high speed connections. If you are lucky enough to get download transfer rates of 500 kb/s or higher, activating it allows BitComet to cache the data to access the disk less frequently. The result of this is that it doesn’t slow down your PC as receiving large amounts of data can sometimes do.

One downside of BitComet is that you are pestered with ads from time to time within the main interface. The other downside is that the uninstall procedure is not particularly clean. The application directory remains as does the registry entry although you can remove the former manually and the latter with any good registry cleaner such as Revo.

There are simpler and more popular clients out there, such as uTorrent uTorrent and Azureus that offer better download rates with less fuss. However, if you have a particularly fast connection, can’t wait for your files to download before watching them and enjoy a torrent client with lots of whistles and bells, BitComet might be for you.

Download BitComet 1.35 in Softonic

With Orbit Downloader you can comfortably handle all your internet downloads thanks to its perfect integration with popular browsers (Firefox, Opera, Chrome, Internet Explorer), a handy "drop zone" to drag and drop links, an automatic monitoring tool that catches any download links and customized, user-defined filters.

Orbit Downloader features a simple design that makes it easy to use from the very beginning. The program works with most download sites, including those that require a username and password. There's no support for Torrent files though. You can also schedule downloads and make Orbit Downloader scan files with your antivirus right after downloading them.

As for download speed, Orbit Downloader offers a handful of features: multi-thread connections, speed limits (so that your connection is not hogged by the program) and a special P2P-based technology to increase speed.

Orbit Downloader is not just another download manager, but a complete application that includes useful tools to make your downloads faster and easier to manage.

Download Orbit Downloader 4.1.1.18 in Softonic

The interface in Transmission-Qt is clean and intuitive. You can set different priority levels for torrents and establish speed limits by simply clicking the turtle icon at the bottom of the interface – perfect to control the amount of bandwidth you use for uploads and downloads.

Tranmission-Qt enables you to filter your torrent list according to downloading, seeding, paused and more. The client can organize transfers by queue order, date added, name and process, and also allows you to label, filter and sort torrents by groups and total activity. Transmission-Qt supports data encryption as well, in case you prefer your transfer to stay private.

Thanks to its simple design, Transmission-Qt manages to display all the essential information without actually seeming crowded. On the downside, it doesn't offer as many advanced statistics as you'd find in other similar apps like uTorrent.

Despite the lack of advanced statistics, Transmission-Qt is a fast, intuitive and highly functional BitTorrent client.

Download Transmission-Qt 2.72 in Softonic

A few years ago these managers were a basic need for all download junkies. Internet connections were not as fast and reliable as they are now, so you needed a tool that could not only improve your speed but also allow you to pause, restart and resume downloads.

FlashGet does all of that, and even more. It takes care of all your downloads and automates the process from beginning to end. It lets you download multiple files simultaneously and organize them into categories - movies, music, software and even customizable categories. Plus, now it also works with BitTorrent and eMule files.

FlashGet can be set to monitor both the clipboard and your web browser in search of downloadable content. Bear in mind though that if you use Firefox you'll have to download a separate plug-in. The great thing about this monitoring feature is that you can specify the file types FlashGet should be looking for. And those who prefer not to use the download monitor can use the floating window instead – a transparent icon where you can start your downloads by dragging and dropping links onto it.

During our tests FlashGet reached excellent download speeds. Although having a broadband connection – like the one we use in Softonic – surely helps, I'm sure FlashGet will improve the download speed of any domestic broadband network connection.

FlashGet is a feature-rich manager for download addicts that automates the whole downloading process and makes it faster and easier.

Download FlashGet 3.7.0.1203 in Softonic

Deluge is a popular Linux BitTorrent client that has now been ported to Windows while keeping its ease of use and excellent transfer speed, the two main features that have contributed to its success.

First of all, bear in mind that this app was originally written for another operating system, which means that the Windows version, according to the author's own words, is not as stable as the original one. In fact I got the odd error message while testing it, but other than that, the program worked fine. Transfer speed was excellent, along with the array of tools the program puts at your disposal to handle torrent files. Also, the program was totally unobtrusive for the user and very light on resources.

Deluge features a clear, uncluttered interface where you can easily manage all your file transfers and see information about each one of them. Also, the program's configuration settings enable you to tweak its behavior in great detail: you'll be able to limit bandwidth usage, configure a proxy server and also enable special plug-ins to add extra functionality to the program.

In all, Deluge is a powerful, easy-to-use BitTorrent client that's worth a try and will hopefully improve its stability under Windows in future releases.

Download Deluge 1.3.3 in Softonic

The Sothink DVD Movie Maker interface is simple, but attractive. Add the video, modify the settings on the right and preview the video in the resizable preview window. There's even a trimming feature, so you can get rid of bits you don't need. Then just hit Burn, and your movie will be DVD-ready.

Although Sothink DVD Movie Maker's configuration options aren't very advanced, they cover the basics. You can choose PAL or NTSC encoding and the size of the target DVD disc, but you won't find much more under Options. Even so, the conversion/burning is quick and efficient, and Sothink DVD Movie Maker lets you know how long the process will take.

Sothink DVD Movie Maker is a great free DVD burner that looks just like some of its pay-for cousins, even if it is a bit light on options.

Download Sothink DVD Movie Maker 3.6 in Softonic

Wyzo is based on Firefox, so most users will have little or no problems using it. It's not as slick as the current Firefox release, but seems to have the same features. The main way in which Wyzo differentiates itself is the added support for downloading and torrents.

Wyzo does this in two ways - a number of Firefox download add-ons are built-in (including Firedownload and Video DownloadHelper), while bit torrents get special treatment - you can browse and download them right from inside the browser as if they were just another download link!

While lots of users will appreciate the simplification of downloading and bit torrents that Wyzo, it is basically just Firefox with various downloading add-ons preinstalled. It's great if you are new to the game or just don't want to get bogged down in technicalities, but more seasoned downloaders will probably consider it a fairly unsophisticated option.

Wyzo is the perfect browser for low-effort downloads and torrents.

Download Wyzo 3.6.4 in Softonic

Thoosje Vista Sidebar's applications range from clock and calendar to more advanced options, like RSS feeds, network activity monitor and torrent search. These functions are chosen from a menu and then dragged wherever you want them on the sidebar. And don't let the name confuse you - Thoosje Vista Sidebar can be used on XP too.

The Thoosje Vista Sidebar gadgets all work well, but configuration options are limited. You can't choose the size of the icons, for example. It was also difficult to decipher when exactly Thoosje Vista Sidebar does appear, as it seems to minimize and maximize whenever it feels like it. Some of the gadgets can also be further customized, although on the day we tested, many of the links to skins etc. were broken.

Thoosje Vista Sidebar is perfect for sidebar freaks, but really doesn't cut it for the rest of us. All of the functions carried out by the sidebar can be performed more efficiently (and with more configuration options) by other tools, and the overall look of this windows sidebar is clunky and unappealing.

Dedicated sidebar fans will love Thoosje Vista Sidebar, but it will probably leave the rest of us cold.

Download Thoosje Vista Sidebar 3.1.0 in Softonic

The hoo-hah surrounding the closure of Napster all those years ago now seems like a distant memory. At the time, users were literally crying that they would no longer be able to share files for nothing over the Internet. As it turned out, they needn't have worried because since then we've seen countless P2P clients come and go. Aside from being the world's first radio-enabled peer-to-peer software, FileCroc doesn't bring anything new to the table, however, it does combine a wealth of useful features with a smart GUI.

With shades of Ares about it, FileCroc works through a decentralised network with more than 50 million users, meaning that you invariably find what you're looking for and transfer times are pretty quick. It can even be used to download Torrent files, giving it extra bonus points in my book. Thanks to its drag-and-drop control method, it's dead easy to start sharing files with the program from the get-go.

Besides just giving you a platform to share files, FileCroc also includes a smart chat facility, with the ability to create your own rooms and host files within them. You also get a neat built-in player that lets you preview and play songs before they download. I've heard some grumblings before about an adware toolbar called 'Navelex,' which installs automatically with the client, but I found no sign of it in this version.

If you want a fully-featured P2P client with a fast search facility then FileCroc could be just the thing you're looking for.

Download FileCroc 1.0.1.3006 in Softonic

If you’re not impressed by P2P heavyweights such as eMule and Limewire, you might find Warez worth a try. Warez is a P2P file-sharing network based on the Ares network and offers a service similar to that of Kazaa.

In fact, up to version 1. 6, Warez was an exact clone of Ares Galaxy but since then has branched out to offer some interesting features of its own.

As a result, Warez claims to be the third largest decentralized P2P filesharing network in the world with over 1. 5 million users.

The installation itself takes less than a minute and once done, you’re taken through a small configuration wizard similar to that in eMule. The interface is also in classic P2P style – a search bar on the left, with search type below it.

If you are searching for music, one nice feature is the three windows across the top which “divide-as-you-search”. So if you search for Judas Priest, the name of the band appears in one pane, the names of all their albums in another and finally the names of all their tracks in the last one.

There’s also a torrent button which, via an easy to use wizard, allows you to post your own torrents on the Warez website. Of course, you can also download torrents using Warez.

In addition, there’s also a nice media player (although it does not allow previews of partially-downloaded files) and a convenient CD ripper button to put your favourite files on disc.

Of course, the chat facility comes as standard.

It claims particular speed advantages over Kazaa and Gnutella networks. In tests, we didn’t notice any significant difference in either download or search times between Warez and these applications although much depends on your own personal configuration and broadband network.

” Another meanwhile says, “I like that there is no spyware…an easy to use interface. ” Be careful that if you do notice spyware, it may be down to other programs you downloaded rather than Warez.

Download Warez 3.2.0 in Softonic

Flash! Torrent is a torrent client based on burst! and BitTorrent Experimental that includes interesting functionalities and a clear, neat design.

It features a tabbed interface which make all the menu options easy to access: main window, transfers, an embedded web browser, statistics and of course the configuration options for the program.

Download Flash! Torrent 1.4c in Softonic

The open source FoxTorrent Firefox extension that lets you stream torrents as they download, from your web browser, with zero configuration needed.

Have a look at what this extension features:

• Streaming fast delivery: watch video and listen to audio as it downloads
• Complete Firefox integration: manage your torrent downloads from your browser window
• Windows, Mac and Ubuntu: consistent downloading experience across all three platforms
• Background downloading: continues to work even after your browser has been closed
• Low resource footprint: Foxtorrent uses less than 8 MB of RAM, and doesn't hog bandwidth
• Configuration-Free: automatic support for NATs, uPNP, and firewalls, with no tinkering necessary

Download FoxTorrent for Firefox 1.10 in Softonic

Torrentopia is an easy-to-use bit-torrent client with some advanced features:

• Search for .torrent files in the most popular search engines
• Fully customizable user interface, with several skins included
• Embedded web browser with links to the best .torrent sites
• Create .torrent wizard to help you share your files with the rest of the community
• Details window to know everything about your downloads
• Powerful queue system: choose all you want to download and let it work by itself

Download TorrenTopia 1.90 in Softonic

A minimal BitTorrent client. It wont have all the pretty features that other Torrent apps have, but focuses on low memory and CPU usage. Because it was written in C++, you dont get the high memory requirements of Java or high CPU usage of Python.

Its minimalist interface is testamony to the programs simplicity. It shows the list of your active downloads with various details and not much else. The window is extremely basic and logically, doesn't put much of a drain on your system resources or on the processor.

Download Arctic Torrent 1.2.3 in Softonic