Libtorrent
libtorrent is an open-source C++ library that implements the BitTorrent protocol. It is used to create BitTorrent clients and comes with many features like encryption, DHT, peer exchange, UPnP and NAT-PMP port forwarding, web seeds, and more.
bittorrent
p2p
file-sharing
open-source
libtorrent: Open-Source C++ Library for BitTorrent Protocol
An open-source library implementing the BitTorrent protocol, used for creating clients with features like encryption, DHT, peer exchange, and more.
What is Libtorrent?
libtorrent is an open-source C++ library that implements the BitTorrent protocol. It provides APIs that allow developers to easily create custom BitTorrent clients. Some key features of libtorrent include:
- Full implementation of BitTorrent protocol, including encryption, DHT, peer exchange, UPnP and NAT-PMP port forwarding, web seeds, and more
- Runs on most platforms like Windows, Mac, Linux, BSD, Solaris, Android, and iOS
- Comes with Python bindings to enable Python developers to use it
- Modular design - you only have to link to the modules you need
- Very fast and memory efficient - optimized for handling thousands of torrents and connections simultaneously
- Thread safe and thread aware API
- Comprehensive documentation and many usage examples available
- Active development and maintenance
libtorrent is used by several popular BitTorrent clients like qBittorrent, Deluge, Halite, and FrostWire. It can be a good option if you need to add torrent capabilities to your application or are looking to build a custom BitTorrent client.
Libtorrent Features
Features
- BitTorrent protocol implementation
- Torrent creation
- Torrent parsing
- Peer discovery
- Piece selection
- Piece downloading
- Piece sharing
- Disk I/O
- Networking
- Statistics reporting
- Session management
- Encryption support
- DHT support
- UPnP and NAT-PMP port forwarding
- Peer exchange
- Web seed support
- IPv6 support
- UDP tracker support
- HTTP seeding
- μTP support
- Proxy support
Pricing
- Open Source
Pros
Open source
Cross-platform
Highly customizable
Efficient and lightweight
Supports latest BitTorrent protocol extensions
Active development and maintenance
Large feature set
Used by many popular BitTorrent clients
Cons
Steep learning curve
Requires programming knowledge to use
Lacks graphical user interface
Requires implementing high-level logic and features
No built-in search engine
The Best Libtorrent Alternatives
Top File Sharing and Torrent Clients and other similar apps like Libtorrent
Here are some alternatives to Libtorrent:
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Transmission
Transmission is a widely-used, open-source BitTorrent client known for its simplicity, efficiency, and cross-platform compatibility. Designed with a focus on providing a straightforward and user-friendly experience, Transmission enables users to download and share files over the BitTorrent protocol with ease. One of the notable features of Transmission is its minimalistic...
QBittorrent
qBittorrent stands as a popular and open-source BitTorrent client that offers a comprehensive set of features for users who engage in torrenting. Renowned for its user-friendly interface, robust performance, and commitment to privacy, qBittorrent provides a reliable and efficient solution for downloading and managing torrents. One of the key strengths...
Deluge
Deluge stands as a versatile and open-source BitTorrent client, providing users with a lightweight yet feature-rich solution for efficient torrenting. Recognized for its user-friendly interface, customization options, and extensibility through a plugin system, Deluge caters to both novice users and advanced torrent enthusiasts. One of the standout features of Deluge...
ΜTorrent
µTorrent, often referred to as uTorrent, stands out as a lightweight and feature-rich BitTorrent client, providing users with an efficient and streamlined experience for downloading and managing torrents. Renowned for its minimalistic interface and small footprint, µTorrent balances simplicity with powerful capabilities. The software excels in its ability to manage...
Free Download Manager
Free Download Manager (FDM) stands as a robust and open-source download accelerator designed to optimize the download experience for users. With a focus on speed, efficiency, and versatility, FDM offers a range of features to enhance file downloading across various protocols. One of FDM's key strengths is its ability to...
Vuze
Vuze, previously known as Azureus, is an open-source BitTorrent client first released in 2003. It is available for Windows, Mac, and Linux platforms and is one of the most fully-featured torrent clients available.Some key features of Vuze include:Media Playback - Allows playing of downloaded video files from within the app,...
RTorrent
rTorrent is a lightweight, open-source BitTorrent client for Linux that has a reputation for being quick and efficient. It is designed to fully utilize network bandwidth and RAM without heavy usage of CPU resources.Some key features of rTorrent include:Minimalist interface for simplicityResource friendly - uses very little memory and CPUSupports...
BiglyBT
BiglyBT is an open-source BitTorrent client that forked from the popular Vuze client. It prides itself on being lightweight, customizable, and available across platforms including Windows, Mac, Linux, and Android.Some key features of BiglyBT include:Lightning fast torrent downloads with support for encryption, web seeds, DHT, PEX, and moreIP filtering and...
PicoTorrent
PicoTorrent is a free and open source BitTorrent client originally created for Windows devices in 2015. Since its initial release, PicoTorrent has developed a reputation for being a lightweight yet full-featured torrent downloader and uploader.Some of the key features of PicoTorrent include:Small memory footprint compared to other clientsSupport for magnet...
