Aug 12, 2019 Folx Pro – the best torrent client for Mac? Folx Pro is a paid torrent client, which means there are no ads and it comes with some great security measures right out of the box. Folx covers all of the basic features you would want in a torrent client, including scheduling. Without a doubt, qBittorrent is our favorite torrent client on Windows 10. As a free and open-source client, we’ve found it to be reliable, fast, and complete without any sort of advertisements, malware, or any other unwanted software included during installation.
Downloading torrents might not be as popular as it once was, but you’ll still find a ton of content available online. While many of the torrents available online fall clearly under the umbrella of obvious pirating or copyright infringement, BitTorrent itself is a totally legal file-sharing protocol used for (some) legitimate purposes. If you are a Mac user, here are the best torrent clients for macOS.
1. Transmission
Transmission is definitely the most popular of all the BitTorrent clients for macOS and it’s more powerful than it first appears. Despite a reliably simple interface, it hosts a deceptively large feature set which has made it a popular choice. It runs well on resource-starved machines by occupying minimal RAM and using only system resources it absolutely needs. But it’s more than just a progress bar for torrents. Power users can get their hands on the add-on library or mess with the built-in remote control tools. Casual torrent downloaders can ignore that side of the software completely, simply using the attractive, Mac-style interface and core functionality.
Transmission does just about everything you’d want a torrent client to do, but it doesn’t get in your face about it. It even manages to host some unique features. One of our favorite unique features of Transmission is automatically sorting torrents into different groups based on the content in their titles. It also supports Distributed Hash Tables (DHT) and Peer Exchange (PEX). Transmission is perfect for anyone using torrents for the first time or who is disappointed with their current BitTorrent client for macOS.
2. qBittorrent
qBittorrent is a free and open-source BitTorrent client that runs on everything. It’s not as polished as Transmission or even uTorrent/BitTorrent. However, frequent users of FOSS will be used to that. The interface adopts uTorrent’s approach of throwing everything at you in tabs. This provides the information you want without digging through menus. qBittorrent includes support for major BitTorrent features like DHT, PEX, and magnet links.
It also includes support for UPnP/NAT-PMP port forwarding. In fact, it provides the broadest set of options in any of the BitTorrent clients for macOS that we examined. Knowledgeable power users will find dozens of settings to fiddle with. The downside of this options parade is that basic configuration of the app can sometimes require an unfriendly dive into a monster mash of menus. But if you’re technical enough that you don’t mind that, qBittorrent is awesome.
3. WebTorrent Desktop
WebTorrent Desktop is an interesting supplement to a regular BitTorrent client. It can function as a traditional, if limited, torrent client, but that’s not its core role. If you used WebTorrent that way, you’ll be disappointed. Its true function is as a streaming media application. WebTorrent uses the BitTorrent protocol to stream any media available in torrent form. It works by tweaking the BitTorrent protocol to fetch data in playback order, rather than in whatever order the network makes the data available.
Seeking even works well, if slowly. When you drag the playhead, WebTorrent reorganizes the packet download priority based on the new playhead position. The player is simple and minimal and seems to support a wide range of file types.
Of course, you’ll need a decent Internet connection and a torrent with sufficient seeders for a functional streaming experience. WebTorrent works with any torrent file or magnet link. Just drag and drop a file or link to start buffering. It’s an excellent choice for quickly streaming a movie or TV show with friends. It’s in beta and open-source, so it’s bound to be a little quirky. But users of older torrent apps like Vuze will recognize and appreciate the streaming feature.
4. Deluge
If you’re looking for a heavyweight torrent client for Mac, Deluge might be able to do it for you. Usability-wise, it may not be the best due to its complexity. However, Deluge offers tons of great features such as support for a wide range of plug-ins, cross platforms, and browser integration. Because of its expandability, it’s a great option for advanced users. Deluge also features three primary user interfaces suited for a browser, a desktop, and a command line.
This torrent client can also be likened to uTorrent minus the unwanted software. Deluge also allows customization such as downloading alphabetically, adjusting speed based on the condition of the network, and scheduling each download. You can also integrate it with either Firefox or Chrome if you wish. Deluge has a lot more features that you can check out, which makes it one of the best torrent clients for Mac.
5. Vuze
Touted as one of the most powerful torrent clients available online, Vuze is definitely among the best of its kind today. Previously known as Azureus, Vuze is packed with several features such as its expandability with plug-ins as well as its user-friendly interface. If you can look past the ads, Vuze is certainly a great option for a torrent client for Mac.
There are two types of Vuze that you can choose from: Vuze Leap and Vuze Plus. Both kinds have the same features like torrent downloads as well as media playback. They both support magnet file links as well. However, Vuze Plus also provides integrated virus protection and allows a preview of media files.
One of the primary features that Vuze is famous for is its interface. Instead of loading up on the jargon, it simplifies everything which allows new users to access and understand even its more advanced features. Aside from this, Vuze also features IP filtering as well as bandwidth limiting. It’s definitely an awesome torrent client to boot.
6. Folx
The latest software update on Mac is macOS Catalina. If you’re looking for a torrent client that is already compatible with this update, you can check out Folx. Some of its features include priority setting, download tagging, and upload and download speed regulation. Folx also allows you to download torrent files through magnet links and from trackers as well. This makes for an easier sharing of BitTorrent content.
Folx also has a PRO version that is currently compatible with Mac OS X. It allows torrent content searching from the app itself, which supersedes browsing through several torrent trackers. Whether you are using Mac OS X or Catalina, you can use Folx and enjoy its great features.
7. Xtorrent P2P App
Another great torrent client for Mac users is Xtorrent P2P. Aside from its stability, the interface of this torrent client is also user-friendly and customizable. You can download Xtorrent P2P on your Mac for free but the paid version will enable you to download torrents much faster. Since Xtorrent P2P is a 64-bit application, you should be able to open it on Mac OS Catalina.
8. BitLord
Last but certainly not the least on this list is BitLord. One of the advantages of using this torrent client for Mac is its integrated media player. It allows users to play a wide range of file types without any issues. Its user interface is also quite simple, which enables even beginners to navigate BitLord with convenience and ease.
Another advantage of using BitLord is that it doesn’t have to come with any bundled software that is often unworkable. Hence, users do not need to work through unnecessary programs that prove to be useless anyway. BitLord might seem too simple for users who have been using several torrent clients for a long time, but it’s a great start for people getting introduced to the world of torrents for the first time.
Conclusion
There are so many options to choose from when looking for the best torrent client for your Mac. Some factors to consider include safety against adware and malware, support for magnet file links, web-browser integration, speed regulation, and of course, a user-friendly interface. Download scheduling and torrent searching should also be considered if you don’t want to waste your time while using a torrent client.
In addition, if your Mac is already on macOS Catalina, you should also consider its compatibility with your chosen torrent client. Although some people now prefer streaming online, there are still advantages to using BitTorrent to download stuff. Whichever torrent client you choose, the most important thing is that you enjoy using it with ease and satisfaction. The torrent clients for Mac mentioned above are among the best and guarantee just that.
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