A torrent is a file-sharing protocol that contains metadata for various information and is used for distributing large amounts of data over the internet. It typically has a .torrent extension name and is only a few KB in size.
It works by breaking down the data into smaller chunks called and distributing them among multiple users who are downloading or sharing the same file.
Torrent clients are software applications that use the metadata stored in torrent files and enables users to to download and upload torrent files such as media files, ebooks, games, programs, and other data types varying in size.
These clients communicate with other users over the BitTorrent protocol to facilitate the exchange of data. These clients provide users with features such as the ability to search for torrents, manage downloads, and monitor upload/download speeds
Torrenting has become an integral part of how we share and access large files over the internet. For Mac users, having a reliable and efficient torrent client is essential to streamline the downloading process.
With a plethora of options available, it can be challenging to determine which torrent client is the best fit for your needs.
In this article, we’ll explore the top torrent clients for Mac in 2024, highlighting their features, performance, and user experience.
Legal and Safety Aspects of Using Torrent Clients: Torrenting is not always against the law. It’s a way to share files for lots of reasons. But downloading stuff that’s copyrighted without permission is illegal in most places.
Copyright laws are complicated, so make sure you have the right to download any files you get from torrents.
Staying safe is really important, some torrent sites can have bad stuff like viruses or other dangers. So, be careful with what you download and only use sites you trust.
Also, consider using a VPN like ExpressVPN, NordVPN, PureVPN to keep your internet traffic secret and protect yourself more.
1. Free Download Manager
Free Download Manager is a multi-platform powerful modern download accelerator and organizer capable of handling different file types including torrents. It features a clean, modern ad-free user interface that makes it easy to manage downloads.
It boasts features like splitting files into segments for quicker retrieval and resuming interrupted downloads. FDM integrates with popular browsers and supports various protocols.
Feature Highlights of Free Download Manager:
- Quick, secure, and effective downloads
- Clean and simple ad-free user interface
- Multi-language support and Proxy support for enhanced privacy
- Downloading videos from well-known websites
- Support for downloading torrents and magnet links
- Compatibility with HTTP, HTTPS, FTP, and BitTorrent protocols
- Enhanced audio/video files support
- Resume broken downloads
- Smart file management and powerful scheduler
- Customize traffic usage
2. Folx
Folx is a freemium download manager that is designed for macOS users to conveniently manage their downloads. It features a unique system of sorting for categorizing downloaded content, a beautiful user interface consistent with the Mac UI, speed control, download scheduling, music integration, etc.
Feature Highlights of Folx:
- Beautiful user interface
- Split downloads into 2 threads for faster downloads
- Automatically resume interrupted downloads
- Multiple ways to add download tasks
- Smart tagging system
- Browser Extensions
- Folx Pro costs $19.95
3. Transmission
Transmission is a free and open-source BitTorrent client with the ability to automatically classify torrents into different groups as well as a location that is based on their categories. if you’re looking for a smart, straight-to-the-point torrent client application then Transmission is among the best there is.
Feature Highlights of Transmission:
- Easy, Powerful, Lightweight, and Lightning Fast
- Native Mac, GTK+, and Qt GUI clients
- Daemon is ideal for servers, embedded systems, and headless use
- Local peer discovery
- Full encryption, DHT, PEX, and magnet link support
4. BitLord
BitLord is a free, simple P2P client for reliably downloading and streaming torrents on Mac and Windows platforms. It features a built-in torrent search function, bandwidth controls, automatic post configuration, detailed download statistics, RSS subscriptions, etc.
Feature Highlights of BitLord:
- Polished user interface
- Search videos, audio, text, and other torrents
- Play any videos while ongoing downloads
- integrates with OpenSubtitles, ensuring you have captions in your language
- Chromecast support lets you enjoy content on your TV
- Make playlists of downloaded audio and video torrents
5. qBitTorrent
qBitTorrent is a free, reliable peer-to-peer BitTorrent client developed with the aim of providing an open-source alternative to µTorrent on Linux, macOS, and Windows.
It features a well-integrated and extensible search engine, RSS feed support, a torrent creation tool, IP filtering, support for BitTorrent extensions, and many more.
qBittorrent prioritizes security with no ads or bundled software and even lets you create your own torrents to share files
Feature Highlights of qBitTorrent:
- Free and open-source
- Simple, beautiful, ad-free user interface
- Bandwidth scheduler
- IP filtering (eMule & PeerGuardian format compatible)
- Available in 70+ languages
- Sequential downloading
6. BitTorrent
BitTorrent is the official cross-platform torrent client from BitTorrent with web-based seeding and comments. It is basically a rebranded version of uTorrent with web-based seeding, commenting, and reviewing designed to satisfy users’ torrenting needs.
Feature Highlights of BitTorrent:
- Beautiful user interface
- Search for torrents
- Play torrent files and magnet links
- Download online torrents from your browser
- Fast, bulk torrent downloading
- Advanced customization options
- Lightweight with a small setup file
- Add torrents from other devices remotely
- Set download/upload speed limits
- Use BTT token to increase download speed
- available in 15+ Languages
7. WebTorrent Desktop
WebTorrent Desktop is a BitTorrent client for streaming torrents from resources online such as videos from the Internet Archive, audiobooks from Librivox, and music from Creative Commons.
Unlike most of the other apps in this list, it doesn’t need to wait for torrents to complete downloading before they can be used
Feature Highlights of WebTorrent Desktop:
- Free and open-source
- Stream torrent files
- Beautiful ad-free user interface
- Stream videos to AirPlay, DLNA, and Chromecast
- Connect to pages like instant.io
- Talk to peers running uTorrent or Transmission
- Supports WebTorrent protocol for connecting to WebRTC peers
- Connects to both BitTorrent and WebTorrent peers
8. Vuze
Vuze is a freemium cross-platform BitTorrent client that doubles as a full-fledged video player. It boasts several features in its free app alone including support for all modern protocols such as Magnet URLS and PEX.
Feature Highlights of Vuze:
- Built-in search for torrent and magnet links
- Native support for VPNs
- Supports DHT, Magnet URLS, PEX, etc.
- Device playback
- Plugin library for customization
- Vuze torrent bundles
- Vuze Plus subscription starts at $3.99 per month
9. Deluge
Deluge is a full-featured cross-platform open-source torrent client designed to run as both a standalone desktop application and as a client-server with features common to BitTorrent clients such as protocol encryption, local peer discovery, Peer Exchange (PEX), and per-torrent speed limits.
Feature Highlights of Deluge:
- Free and open-source
- GTK UI for desktops
- Web UI for browsers
- Console UI for the command line
- Support for 3rd party and browser plugins
- Supports remote setups
10. uTorrent
uTorrent is a free lightweight client developed and maintained by BitTorrent for Windows, macOS, and Android devices. With it, users can search for and download torrents, stream them while they’re still downloading, and play them using a built-in player when completed.
Feature Highlights
- Free with ads
- Contains bundled software
- Search for torrents and download them in a few steps
- Online torrent player
- Stream torrent files and magnet links
Conclusion
The most frequently asked torrent-related question is whether it is legal. The answer is yes, unless when you’re downloading copyrighted content without the legal rights to do so.
Provided you have permission to download whatever content you choose to via a torrent network, what you should be careful about is downloading files that contain unnecessary files or are infected with malware, spyware, or viruses.
With that being said, the next issue you want to sort out is your privacy. As you probably know already, the best way to protect your identity and data online, especially when torrenting, is by using a virtual proxy network and we have several options for you to choose from here.
Utorrent is bloatware, installs potentially unwanted programs, has ads
and has also been involved in many questionable practices over the last
few years. No way it should rank above qbittorrent on this list. Support
FOSS!
I’ve heard you dro. I support FOSS full time!
@WaltDittrich:disqus solid point you got there. Thanks for adding