Comparison of BitTorrent clients

The following is a general comparison of BitTorrent clients, which are computer programs designed for peer-to-peer file sharing using the BitTorrent protocol.^[1]

The BitTorrent protocol coordinates segmented file transfer among peers connected in a swarm. A BitTorrent client enables a user to exchange data as a peer in one or more swarms. Because BitTorrent is a peer-to-peer communications protocol that does not need a server, the BitTorrent definition of client differs from the conventional meaning expressed in the client–server model.^[1]

Bram Cohen, author of the BitTorrent protocol, made the first BitTorrent client, which he also called BitTorrent, and published it in July 2001.^[2]

Many BitTorrent programs are open-source software; others are freeware, adware or shareware. Some download managers, such as FlashGet and GetRight, are BitTorrent-ready. Opera 12, a web browser, can also transfer files via BitTorrent.

In 2013 Thunder Networking Technologies publicly revealed that some of their employees surreptitiously distributed a Trojan horse with certain releases of Xunlei, the company's BitTorrent-ready download manager.^[3]^[4] Xunlei is included in the comparison tables.

^ ^a ^b "Glossary". BitTorrent User Manual. San Francisco: BitTorrent, Inc. Archived from the original on 28 June 2013. Retrieved 2 July 2013.
^ Cohen, Bram (2 July 2001). "BitTorrent – a new P2P app". Decentralization · Implications of the end-to-end principle. Yahoo! Groups. Archived from the original on 29 January 2008. Retrieved 2 July 2013.
^ Van Der Sar, Ernesto (14 October 2013). "Google-backed BitTorrent client spread malware to Windows PCs and Android devices". TorrentFreak. Archived from the original on 18 December 2013. Retrieved 19 November 2013.
^ Gibbs, Samuel (15 October 2013). "Google-Backed File-Sharing Service Spreads Malware". The Guardian. Guardian News and Media. Archived from the original on 18 November 2013. Retrieved 19 November 2013.

[btclient-1] "Glossary". BitTorrent User Manual. San Francisco: BitTorrent, Inc. Archived from the original on 28 June 2013. Retrieved 2 July 2013.

[2] Cohen, Bram (2 July 2001). "BitTorrent – a new P2P app". Decentralization · Implications of the end-to-end principle. Yahoo! Groups. Archived from the original on 29 January 2008. Retrieved 2 July 2013.

[3] Van Der Sar, Ernesto (14 October 2013). "Google-backed BitTorrent client spread malware to Windows PCs and Android devices". TorrentFreak. Archived from the original on 18 December 2013. Retrieved 19 November 2013.

[4] Gibbs, Samuel (15 October 2013). "Google-Backed File-Sharing Service Spreads Malware". The Guardian. Guardian News and Media. Archived from the original on 18 November 2013. Retrieved 19 November 2013.

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