How To Download Faster Bittorrent

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Helen Drewski

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Aug 3, 2024, 4:08:20 PM8/3/24

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Most BitTorrent clients claim to have the best speeds but fail to deliver fast torrent uploads and downloads. Aside from being slow, many need to be more safe and simple. Luckily, there are BitTorrent downloaders that you can customize for smoother torrenting.

After testing 50+ clients, I shortlisted the 10 fastest ones that are secure, free, and easy to use. However, your data might be vulnerable to third parties since your IP address is exposed when using a torrent client. Or you could face legal implications if you accidentally download pirated content. Using BitTorrent clients with a VPN keeps your sharing activity private.

A VPN encrypts your data and changes your IP, helping you stay safe while torrenting. My top recommendation is ExpressVPN because of its impressive torrenting speeds, robust security features, and P2P-friendly servers. You can try ExpressVPN risk-free as it's backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee. Editors' Note: Transparency is one of our core values at vpnMentor, so you should know we are in the same ownership group as ExpressVPN. However, this does not affect our review process.

I tested each BitTorrent client to determine which delivers the shortest download times and ranked them from the fastest to slowest. All BitTorrent clients on this list are safe and free, plus many offer paid versions with even more..

BitTorrent is another popular client with great features, including the BitTorrent Speed that lets you increase torrent download speeds. This should be enabled by default, but you can find it under Preferences/BitTorrent/Protocol Enhancements. On top of that, the app supports magnet links and remote management via a mobile or web browser. It also lets you schedule downloads.

I was impressed by its beginner-friendly interface, which has a lot of useful options. The notable ones are the drag-and-drop functionality and smart search feature, which make it easy to find torrents. More advanced features and less used options are hidden out of sight but can be easily accessed when needed.

It permits private (invitation-only) trackers for higher quality and faster downloading experience. These trackers come in handy in boosting your speeds because only specific torrent users (who maintain an excellent download-to-upload ratio) use them. On top of that, the application supports web-based commenting and reviewing.

Deluge has been around for a long time and can be customized via plug-ins to enhance performance. I personalized my experience by enabling the high-performance-seed preset using the ltconfig plug-in without any problem. It also lets you adjust speed according to network conditions, move torrent files to specific directories, and add alphabetical downloading.

Like BitTorrent, BitComet is bundled with unnecessary programs. However, the client allows you to uncheck or decline their installation, which is what I did. Still, I recommend using it with a reliable VPN that can protect you against malware, like CyberGhost.

Formerly known as Azureus, Vuze stands out because of the built-in search engines that make it easy to find the content you need. While testing this application, this feature helped me find the files I needed without visiting any torrent sites.

There is even a mode that lets you adjust the complexity of this client. If you are new to Vuze, I recommend you set your user proficiency to beginner. Other features include IP filtering, remote pairing, plug-ins, and speed limits.

BitLord is an ad-free BitTorrent client that lets you use its player to stream torrents while downloading them. Plus, a Chromecast feature allowed me to watch movies from my laptop on a big screen. Even better, it auto-generates subtitles for you and organizes your content into a playlist for instant access.

Additionally, it offers cool features such as a password protector and download organizer. The client can be downloaded in both mobile and desktop versions, but you need to be careful during installation as it comes with apps that may not be of any help.

Tixati is completely free to use and does not push any ads to users, as it relies solely on donations. In my tests, I enjoyed downloading torrents without the hassle of dealing with any distractions.

On top of that, it offers a chat room that you can use to engage or share links with other users. To start a conversation with anyone in the channel, type in a message at the bottom of the chat window and hit enter. Plus, it features powerful functionalities such as magnet links support, IP filtering, and event (download) scheduling.

BitTorrent clients can sometimes expose you to cyber threats. Malware and spyware can be disguised as harmless downloads when torrenting. Unfortunately, more often than not, you won't know that until it's too late.

Even the safest torrenting apps can be embedded with malicious software. All my recommended BitTorrent clients were safe to use at the time of writing. However, be sure to check for the presence of anything suspicious before installation.

Your data is protected with top-notch security features. AES 256-bit encryption (the strongest available) with Perfect Forward Secrecy (which regularly changes your encryption keys) make your data unreadable to hackers and snoops. A kill switch is also in place to cut your internet connection if the VPN unexpectedly drops while torrenting. My actual location was never exposed and my identity remained hidden thanks to its DNS/IP leak protection.

Split tunneling provides you with more flexibility and control over your torrenting traffic. While using a VPN can help to protect your online privacy and security, it can be unnecessary if you're downloading files from a trusted source. By using split tunneling, you can choose only to route your BitTorrent traffic through the VPN when downloading from untrusted sources while allowing other traffic to use your regular internet connection.

ExpressVPN also follows a strict no-logs policy that ensures your torrenting activities are not monitored, recorded, or stored. RAM-only servers add an extra layer of security by erasing all your data whenever the server reboots. The VPN is also based in the British Virgin Islands, outside the data-sharing alliance of the 5/9/14 Eyes.

My only complaint is that the VPN lacks a built-in ad-blocker. However, its Threat Manager feature protects you from malware and phishing attacks while torrenting. It does this by blocking malicious websites and URLs.

Subscriptions start at $6.67/month, but you can save up to 49% with one of ExpressVPN's regular discounts. I even got 3 months of service for free when subscribing to its long-term plan. You can also pay with Bitcoin for extra privacy.

All plans are backed by a reliable 30-day money-back guarantee. If the service doesn't meet your expectations, getting a refund is easy. I submitted my request via live chat and got my money back in my bank account after 3 days.

Although not as fast as ExpressVPN, download speeds are impressive. I averaged 27.3 Mbps testing servers in Nigeria, South Africa, and Egypt. I could stream in 4K while torrenting in the background without interruptions. During my tests, I downloaded a copyright-free TV series in less than 45 minutes.

Your online activities, including torrenting, can't be traced back to you, thanks to CyberGhost's no-logs policy, kill switch, and IP/DNS leak protection. High-level encryption (256-bit) and Perfect Forward Secrecy protect your online information.

The VPN also helps protect your device from malware and other online threats with its malware blocker. You can turn on this feature by selecting the "Block Content" option under privacy settings. Most BitTorrent clients are ad-supported, so I recommend switching on this feature to eliminate those annoying ads.

So, you can torrent with CyberGhost free for 45 days. You can easily get your money back if it's not the VPN for you. After sending my request via email, it took just 4 days for the refund to reflect on my credit card.

PIA enhances your torrenting experience by allowing you to tweak the security settings. For example, I chose the slightly faster AES 128-bit (fewer layers of encryption) to prioritize speed when downloading files and streaming. However, I prefer 256-bit encryption when accessing my bank account and shopping online. The VPN also offers several protocols, including OpenVPN, WireGuard, and PPTP. I used WireGuard to boost my torrenting speeds during testing since it requires much less code.

Editor's Note: We value our relationship with our readers, and we strive to earn your trust through transparency and integrity. We are in the same ownership group as some of the industry-leading products reviewed on this site: Intego, Cyberghost, ExpressVPN, and Private Internet Access. However, this does not affect our review process, as we adhere to strict testing methodology.

Optimizing your BitTorrent client can improve your download and upload speeds and provide a better overall experience. A premium VPN might boost your torrenting speed if your ISP is throttling you. But the main benefit of a VPN is to protect your privacy and security when using a BitTorrent client.

Using a BitTorrent client can be risky, as it shares your data (like your IP address) with other users when torrenting. This can leave you vulnerable to online threats like malware. A VPN can help mitigate these risks with military-grade encryption and other robust security features.

uTorrent and qBittorent are two of the fastest BitTorrent clients. However, determining the fastest BitTorrent client for your device depends on various factors. For example, the number of seeds a torrent has and your base speed. UTorrent is lightweight and optimized for fast downloads and uploads. qBittorrent is an open-source BitTorrent client known for low CPU and memory usage.