qBittorrent

Pros

• Lightweight
• Big feature list including magnet pre-loaded data, but not overwhelming.
• Not associated with the MPAA.

Cons

• Performance issues after around 300 concurrent torrents. If you have over 300 torrents in your qBittorrent window, you may run into some problems.
• Slow WebUI version

What is qBittorrent?

qBittorrent is a lightweight torrent app. It's used without ads, isn't linked to major media industries, and has robust features that place it above other free alternatives.

Here are a few of qBittorrent's features:

• Preload magnet data. File lists and other details are available before you choose a download location.
• Super-seeding. A balancing algorithm that helps downloaders become uploaders more efficiently.
• Robust share ratio management. Sharing is the key when it comes to torrents, but not everyone can share the same. Throttle when you want to, or allow full upload power if you feel like helping. Many options in-between.
• Torrent creation made easy. If you want to be the author of a torrent, qBittorrent helps you get the details right. Most major torrent trackers and hosts will have the information needed for use with qBittorrent.

How is it different?

qBittorent's main benefits come from its many features, but why did it become popular specifically?

Short answer: it's not uTorrent.

In 2014, uTorrent began a deal with Xunlei, a Google-backed company that uses a content recognition.

Xunlei's content recognition systems allows the company and its clients to see a lot of details about users, and specifically allows its clients to protect their content. In this case, the MPAA uses Xunlei to monitor uTorrent traffic.

The original BitTorrent client and creator had already joined with the MPAA to protect content rights, and uTorrent followed suit. While there are legal arguments to be made, there is also the potential for abuse.

As with anything in the digital world, it's safe until you know it's not. uTorrent was one of the most robust clients on the market as the broadband era roared into far beyond dial-up speeds. qBittorrent is the choice for today.

Pros and Cons

Pros

• Lightweight
• Big feature list including magnet pre-loaded data, but not overwhelming.
• Not associated with the MPAA.

Cons

• Performance issues after around 300 concurrent torrents. If you have over 300 torrents in your qBittorrent window, you may run into some problems.
• Slow WebUI version