Alternatives to µTorrent
The once-king, now ad-heavy
µTorrent ranks #4 of 7 in Torrent clients, with an Alt Score of 75. It is proprietary, freemium from $4.95/yr and available on Windows, macOS, Linux and Android. 8 of 9 checklist rows are verified against a public source.
Anyone who wants a free, no-frills client for downloading files via the BitTorrent protocol, from casual users to power users who want granular control over transfer settings.
A lightweight desktop app (with Mac and Android versions too) for adding torrent files or magnet links and managing multiple simultaneous downloads/uploads. It includes bandwidth scheduling and auto-throttling, remote management via browser, and, in the paid tiers, ad removal plus optional security extras like a built-in VPN. The free version is supported by ads and bundled offers during install.
Install the client, then add a .torrent file or magnet link to start downloading pieces of the file from other peers/seeders in the swarm while simultaneously uploading pieces to others; the client manages queueing, speed limits, and seeding after the download completes.
Why people leave µTorrent
Dashed reasons are sourced facts; the rest are opinions. Vendors can dispute.
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Ranked alternatives
Ordered by Alt Score. Click any score to see the breakdown.
Feature comparison
How µTorrent compares with its alternatives, feature by feature.
| Torrent clients checklist | µTorrent | BiglyBT | Transmission | Deluge | qBittorrent | Tixati |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | ||||||
| Starts at | ||||||
| License | ||||||
| Platforms | ||||||
| No ads | ||||||
| Sequential download | ||||||
| RSS automation | ||||||
| Web UI / remote control | ||||||
| Encryption & proxy support | ||||||
| Open source | ||||||
| Resource footprint | ||||||
| Streaming while downloading | ||||||
| Cross-platform |
Every fact and feature listed for µTorrent is verified against its own pages. Each alternative is sourced on its own page.
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License Proprietary verified 2026-07-09
BitTorrent Limited's EULA explicitly covers uTorrent: "By accepting this agreement or by installing BitTorrent or uTorrent or other software offered by or on behalf of BitTorrent Limited".
The source code, design, and structure of the Software (excluding the Other Software) are trade secrets.
https://www.bittorrent.com/legal/eula -
Pricing model Freemium verified 2026-07-09
Free is ad-supported. Ad-Free from $4.95/year.
https://www.utorrent.com/desktop/compare/ -
Starts at $4.95/yr verified 2026-07-09
Upgrading to Ads Free ($4.95/year) removes ads from your desktop torrent client.
https://help.utorrent.com/en/support/solutions/articles/29000022714-how-do-i-remove-the-advertising- -
Platforms Windows, macOS, Linux, Android verified 2026-07-09
Windows, macOS and Android builds confirmed on the sibling /downloads/win/, /downloads/mac/ and /downloads/android/ pages.
Download torrents on Linux. Supporting 64-bit or 32-bit for Debian or Ubuntu
https://www.utorrent.com/downloads/linux/ -
Status active verified 2026-07-09
Current-year copyright plus live pricing and download pages.
© 2026 BitTorrent Limited All Rights Reserved.
https://www.bittorrent.com/legal/eula -
No ads Partial verified 2026-07-09
The free tier is ad-supported; ads are removed only on the paid Ad-Free tier and above.
Upgrading to Ads Free ($4.95/year) removes ads from your desktop torrent client.
https://help.utorrent.com/en/support/solutions/articles/29000022714-how-do-i-remove-the-advertising- -
RSS automation Yes verified 2026-07-09
Setup µTorrent to automatically download from RSS, either all titles in the feed or specific ones.
https://www.utorrent.com/desktop/ -
Web UI / remote control Yes verified 2026-07-09
you can now access µTorrent Classic from a browser at https://remote.utorrent.com by using the same computer name and password.
https://www.utorrent.com/remote/ -
Encryption & proxy support Yes verified 2026-07-09
Protocol encryption is documented in the connection-guide help article.
Under Proxy Server Type, you can select SOCKS4, SOCKS5, HTTP Connect, and HTTP proxies.
https://help.utorrent.com/en/support/solutions/articles/29000022716-does-your-software-support-proxies- -
Open source No verified 2026-07-09
The source code, design, and structure of the Software (excluding the Other Software) are trade secrets.
https://www.bittorrent.com/legal/eula -
Resource footprint Yes verified 2026-07-09
became popular due to its tiny file size and the small memory footprint required to run on Windows
https://www.utorrent.com/desktop/ -
Streaming while downloading Yes verified 2026-07-09
Play torrents while you download.
https://www.utorrent.com/web/ -
Cross-platform Yes verified 2026-07-09
Windows and macOS builds confirmed on the sibling download pages.
Download torrents on Linux. Supporting 64-bit or 32-bit for Debian or Ubuntu
https://www.utorrent.com/downloads/linux/
FAQ
Yes. Deluge and rTorrent have a free tier or are fully free. Free-tier limits in the comparison table are verified and dated.
BiglyBT, Transmission and Deluge — every license claim links its source.