Top 13 Open-source Torrent Clients for Windows, Linux, and macOS in 2024
Torrent clients play a crucial role in efficiently downloading and managing torrent files. With open-source options, you not only get access to powerful features but also enjoy the freedom to customize and contribute to the development of these applications.
In this comprehensive list, we will cover a wide range of open-source torrent clients that cater to different user preferences and requirements. Whether you prioritize security, privacy, user-friendly interfaces, or advanced functionalities, there is a perfect torrent client waiting for you.
1- Tribler
Tribler is a highly secure BitTorrent client for macOS that confidently provides anonymous access to content through the use of onion routing.
It proudly supports robust encryption, anonymous downloads, discreet seeding, and even allows for video streaming before the download is fully completed.
Features
- Cross-platform: macOS, Windows, and macOS
- Provides anonymous access to content through onion routing
- Robust encryption for enhanced privacy and security
- Allows for anonymous downloads
- Supports discreet seeding
- Ability to stream videos before download completion
- Supports hidden seeding to protect against censorship and legal repercussions
- Cautionary note: Not immune to government surveillance
2- qBittorrent
qBittorrent is a free and open-source BitTorrent client for Windows, macOS, and Linux.
key features
- A clean and user-friendly interface
- Peer exchange and DHT (Distributed Hash Table) support
- Torrent queueing and prioritization
- Torrent creation and seeding
- UPnP / NAT-PMP port forwarding support
- IP filtering and IPv6 support
- Integrated torrent search engine
- Remote control through a web user interface
- Sequential downloading and advanced download scheduling
- Encryption and proxy support for enhanced privacy
- RSS feed support for automated downloading
3- WebTorrent Desktop
WebTorrent Desktop is a free and open-source streaming torrent application available for Mac, Windows, and Linux operating systems.
Features
- Lightweight, fast torrent app
- Beautiful user experience
- Free, non-commercial, ad-free, and open source
- Instantly stream video and audio
- WebTorrent fetches file pieces from the network on demand for instant playback.
- Even when the file isn't fully downloaded, seeking still works.(Seeking just reprioritizes which pieces are fetched from the network.)
- Stream videos to AirPlay, Chromecast, and DLNA
- Based on the most popular and comprehensive torrent package in Node.js,
[webtorrent]
- Full-featured, but bloat free
- Opens magnet links and .torrent files
- Drag-and-drop makes adding or creating torrents easy
- Discovers peers via tracker servers, DHT (Distributed Hash Table), and peer exchange
- Supports the WebTorrent protocol for connecting to WebRTC peers (i.e. web browsers)
- Available for macOS, Windows and Linux
4- PicoTorrent
PicoTorrent is a small and customizable BitTorrent client for macOS, written in modern C++ and designed for high performance and low memory usage. It supports BitTorrent 2.0, DHT, PeX, LSD, UPnP, and has a native look-and-feel across Windows versions.
5- FileCentipede
FileCentipede is a versatile torrent app for macOS that functions as an internet file manager, BitTorrent client, WebDAV client, FTP client, and SSH client. It supports multiple protocols, offers useful auxiliary tools, and integrates with web browsers for downloading audio and videos, including encrypted ones.
The app is also available for Windows and Linux.
6- Deluge
Deluge is a BitTorrent client for macOS, Linux and Windows that uses a daemon/client model and offers multiple user interfaces, including GTK-UI, Web-UI, and Console-UI. It is powered by libtorrent for handling the BitTorrent protocol.
7- Electorrent
Electrorrent is an easy-to-use torrent client for macOS that can be hosted in the cloud. It allows for streaming of files directly in a browser or media player. It is lightweight, feature-rich, and can be run locally or on a remote server.
The client is written in Go and comes with a responsive web client. It supports single user and multi-user modes, and torrented files can be downloaded and streamed via HTTP, browser, or media players.
Features
- Single Executable File with No Dependencies
- Small in Size
- Cross Platform
- Download (or Build ) Single Executable Binary and run. That's it
- Open and Stream Torrents in your Browser
- Add Torrents by Magnet or by Infohash or Torrent File
- Individual File Control (Start, Stop or Delete )
- Stop, Remove or Delete Torrent
- Persistent between Sessions
- Stop Torrent once SeedRatio is reached (Optional)
- Perform Actions on Torrent Completion (Optional)
- Powered by anacrolix/torrent
- Download/Upload Rate limiter (Optional)
- Apply Blocklist (Optional)
- Configurable via Config File but works fine with Zero Configuration
- Share Files by Unlocking Torrent or Lock Torrent (protect by Auth) to prevent External Access
- Retrieve or Stream Files via HTTP
- Multi-Users with Authentication
- Auto Add Trackers to Torrent from TrackerList URL
- Auto Fetch Torrent Metainfo from Online/Local Metainfo Cache
- Download Directory as Zip or as Tarball
- Stream directly on Browser or VLC or mpv or other Media Players
- Documented API
- Uses Sqlite3 (embedded database with no setup and no configuration) by Default for Database but PostgreSQL can be used instead too.
8- Vuze
Vuze (formerly Azureus) is an extremely powerful and configurable BitTorrent client. Search and download torrent files. Play, convert and transcode videos and music for playing on many devices such as PSP, TiVo, XBox, PS3, iTunes (iPhone, iPod, Apple TV).
Features
- Torrent Downloader
- Magnet Downloader
- Bittorrent Downloader
- Remote Torrent Download
- Cross-platform, works on Windows, Linux and macOS
9- Transmission
Transmission is a fast, easy, and free BitTorrent client available for macOS, Linux, BSD, Windows, servers, and routers. It offers a native macOS GUI application, GTK+ and Qt GUI applications for Linux and BSD, a Qt-based Windows-compatible GUI application, and a web UI for remote control.
10- Folx
Folx is a comprehensive download manager and torrent client that offers advanced features such as scheduling, download splitting, and speed adjustment, making it the perfect solution for managing downloads and torrents on your Mac.
11- rTorrent
The rTorrent bittorrent client is a powerful tool that can be used with tmux, screen, or dtach. It has a built-in daemon mode for controlling it via XMLRPC and supports session saving, torrent management, and more.
12- BiglyBT
BiglyBT is a feature-filled, open-source, ad-free BitTorrent client. It is a fork of the original project and is maintained by two of the original developers as well as members of the community. With over 15 years of development, BiglyBT offers a wide range of features and improvements. It aims to provide the features users are looking for while addressing long-standing bugs from the past.
13- LIII
LIII is a free and open-source multi-platform bittorrent client.