Comparison of file-sharing applications

File sharing is a method of distributing electronically stored information such as computer programs and digital media. Below is a list of file sharing applications, most of them make use of peer-to-peer file sharing technologies.

This comparison contains next to file sharing applications also download managers that can be used as file sharing applications (using the torrent-protocol). For pure download managers see the Comparison of download managers.

Note: BitTorrent-only clients have another comparison page (linked in section "Others comparison pages").

Table

Name Network[1] Anonymous P2P Link system compatibility Price Platform License Programming language Free Spyware-Adware Latest release version Extra information
Acquisition Gnutella, BitTorrent No magnet Nagware or US$17.99 macOS GPL Objective-C, Java Yes 2010, 2.2 (v223) (November 19, 2010 (2010-11-19)) [±] Alternative to LimeWire for Mac users; uses Cocoa GUI
aMule eDonkey, Kad No eD2k, magnet Free GNU, macOS, Windows GPL C++ Yes 2011, 2.3.2 (September 16, 2016 (2016-09-16)[2]) [±]
Ares Galaxy Ares, BitTorrent No arlnk Free Windows GPL Object Pascal (Delphi) Yes 2014, 2.4.6 (August 22, 2017 (2017-08-22)) [±][3]
BearShare
(pre v6.0)		 Gnutella No ed2k, magnet Free or US$3.29 monthly Windows Proprietary C++ No 2013, 10.0.0.131462 (January 29, 2013 (2013-01-29)) [±]
Since version 6: clone of the commercial iMesh software; does not connect to Gnutella and restricts downloads to media formats
BitComet BitTorrent, eDonkey, Kad;[4] HTTP/FTP download No ed2k,[4] magnet Free Windows Proprietary C++ Yes 2015, 1.51 (June 12, 2018 (2018-06-12)) [±][5] Exploits SuperSeeding and thus is often banned by trackers and peers. Compatible with e2DK links through an eMule plugin which gives access to eDonkey and Kad networks and cross-network sharing abilities with BitTorrent network.
Cabos Gnutella No magnet Free macOS, Windows GPL Java, REALbasic Yes 2010, 0.8.2 (February 9, 2010 (2010-02-09)) [±]
DC++ Direct Connect No magnet Free Windows GPL C++ Yes 2017, 0.866 May 20, 2017 Many modifications exist, for example: LinuxDC++, EiskaltDC++, FlylinkDC++, etc.
eDonkey2000 eDonkey, Overnet No ed2k Free or US$19.95 GNU, macOS, Windows Proprietary C++ Yes 2005 Discontinued
eMule eDonkey, Kad No ed2k Free Windows GPL C++ Yes 2010, 0.50a (April 7, 2010 (2010-04-07)[6]) [±] Supports protocol obfuscation
Filetopia Filetopia No (except when using a bouncer) No Free Windows Proprietary Java No 2015
Flashget BitTorrent, eDonkey; HTTP/FTP download No ? ? Windows Proprietary ? ? 2012
Free Download Manager BitTorrent; HTTP/FTP download No metalink Free Windows GPL C++ Yes 2015, 5.1.37 (build 7274) (September 28, 2018 (2018-09-28)) [±][7]
Freenet's FProxy Freenet Yes No Free GNU, macOS, Windows GPL Java Yes 2017, 0.7.5 (Build 1480) (January 20, 2018 (2018-01-20)) [±][8]
Frost Freenet Yes No Free GNU, macOS, Windows GPL Java Yes 2011
FrostWire BitTorrent No magnet Free GNU, macOS, Windows GPL Java Yes 2015, 6.7.1 (build 268) (July 24, 2018 (2018-07-24)) [±] Fork of LimeWire, with no copyrighted-material blocker planned.
GetRight BitTorrent; HTTP/FTP download No ? ? Windows ? ? ? 2011
giFT OpenFT and, with plugins, Ares, Gnutella, FastTrack No No Free GNU, macOS, Windows GPL C Yes 2004, 0.11.8.1 (2004-11-27) [±]
GnucDNA / Gnucleus Gnutella, Gnutella2 No No Free Windows GPL C++ Yes 2005, 2.2.0.0 (June 17, 2005 (2005-06-17)) [±]
GNUnet / gnunet-fs GNUnet Yes ECRS Free GNU, FreeBSD, macOS, Windows GNU AGPLv3 or later[9] (Free software) C Yes 2014, 0.10.1 (April 8, 2014 (2014-04-08)[10]) [±] Latest preview release: 0.11.0pre66 / June 6, 2018[11]
gtk-gnutella Gnutella No magnet Free GNU, Windows GPL C Yes 2016, 1.1.13 (October 22, 2017 (2017-10-22)) [±]
iMesh
(pre v6.0)		 FastTrack, Gnutella, Gnutella2 No No Free Windows Proprietary C++ Yes 2008
I2Phex I2P (protocol Gnutella) Yes magnet Free GNU, macOS, Windows GPL Java Yes 2011 Need I2P to run.
I2PSnark[12] I2P (protocol BitTorrent) Yes magnet Free GNU, macOS, Windows GPL Java Yes 2014 Integrated into I2P distribution.
iMule I2P (protocol Kad network) Yes ed2k, magnet Free GNU, macOS, Windows GPL C++ Yes 2013, 2.3.3.3 (June 1, 2016 (2016-06-01)) [±] needs I2P to run
Jumpshare Jumpshare No No Free or US$9.99/month Windows, macOS Proprietary Various Yes 2015 Real-time file sharing with built-in utilities for screenshots, screencasts, notes, and voice clips
Kazaa FastTrack No No Free Windows Proprietary C++ adware & spyware 2006 Illegal in Australia.
Kazaa Lite FastTrack No No Free Windows Proprietary ? Yes 2007 Adware-disabled version of Kazaa (fake versions in circulation)
KCeasy Ares, Gnutella, FastTrack, OpenFT No No Free Windows GPL C++, Object Pascal (Delphi) Yes 2008 Uses integrated giFT file sharing daemon as back-end.
KGet BitTorrent; HTTP/FTP download No ? Free part of KDE on Windows GPL C++ ? 2012 ?
LimeWire Gnutella, BitTorrent No magnet Free or US$18.88 GNU, macOS, Windows GPL Java No 2010 Shutdown permanently due to injunction from MGM v. Grokster in which Limewire was ordered to disable all functionality of the software.[13]
Manolito MP2P No MP2P Free or US$19.95 Windows Proprietary ? No 2008
MLDonkey BitTorrent, eDonkey, FastTrack, (Gnutella, Gnutella2), Kad; HTTP/FTP download No ed2k, magnet, sig2dat Free GNU, macOS, Windows GPL OCaml Yes 2014, 3.1.5 (March 22, 2014 (2014-03-22)[14]) [±] P2P application, telnet / web-interface / GUI interface, complete and complex remote usage. Sancho GUI makes automatic SSH tunnels.
Morpheus NEOnet, Gnutella, Gnutella2, BitTorrent No No Free or US$19.95 Windows Proprietary ? Yes 2007, 5.55.1 (November 15, 2007 (2007-11-15)) [±]
MUTE MUTE Yes No Donation GNU, macOS, Windows GPL C++ Yes 2009
Nachtblitz[15] I2P (protocol Kad network) Yes ed2k, magnet Free Windows, GNU with Wine GPL C# Yes 2016 needs I2P to run
Nodezilla Private Yes No Free GNU, Windows core proprietary, GUI GPL Java Yes 2010 Most is proprietary, GUI is GPL.
Opera BitTorrent; HTTP/FTP download No No Free GNU, macOS, Windows Proprietary C++ Yes 2015, 56.0.3051.43 (October 10, 2018 (2018-10-10)[16])
Perfect Dark Perfect Dark Yes No Free Windows Proprietary C++ Yes 2015 Boards. Auto update.
Piolet[17] MP2P No MP2P Free or US$19.95 Windows Proprietary ? No 2008
Retroshare Retroshare Yes Own format Free Windows, GNU, macOS GPL C++ Yes 2017 Uses PGP for friend authentication. Decentralized F2F network type.
Robert I2P (protocol BitTorrent) Yes magnet Free GNU, macOS, Windows GPL Python Yes 2012 needs I2P to run
Share Share Yes No Free Windows Proprietary Object Pascal (Delphi) Yes 2006 Anonymous developer; tries to be Winny successor
Shareaza eDonkey, BitTorrent, Gnutella, Gnutella2, Direct Connect; HTTP/FTP download No ed2k, magnet, Piolet/MP2P, gnutella Free Windows GPL C++ Yes 2017, 2.7.10.2 (September 18, 2017 (2017-09-18)[18]) [±] Uses a powerful files library; maintained by volunteer group
StealthNet RShare Yes No Free GNU, macOS, Windows GPL C# Yes 2011 Evolution of the RShare client with many functions.
Soulseek Soulseek No No Free, donations for privileges Windows, Mac, Linux Proprietary ? Yes 2015, SoulseekQt build 2017.2.20 (February 20, 2017 (2017-02-20)) [±] Folder downloads, browse users with folder trees, no multi-source downloads
Tribler BitTorrent and its own Yes magnet Free Windows, GNU, macOS GNU LGPL v2.1+[19] Python, C++ Yes 2016, 7.0.0 (January 25, 2018 (2018-01-25)) [±][20] Unlike most other torrent clients, Tribler is decentralized (as well as anonymous) and does not rely on any trackers or any other indexing service to discover content.[21] Also features a built-in video streamer.
Vuze
(formerly Azureus)		 BitTorrent and I2P No (except when using I2P) magnet Free GNU, macOS, Windows GPL Java No 2016, 5.7.6.0 (November 2, 2017 (2017-11-02)) [±][22]
Warez P2P iP2P DHT No No Free or US$19.99 Windows Proprietary ? Yes 2007 Developer claims Warez v3.0 beta is malware-free
WinMX WinMX Peer Network (independent, now user-operated), OpenNAP, chatrooms supported No No Free Windows Proprietary C++ Yes 2004 Official development has ceased due to RIAA coercion. Versions 3.53, 3.54 beta 4 and older are available from 3rd parties.
Winny Winny Yes No Free Windows Proprietary C++ Yes 2003
WireShare Gnutella, BitTorrent No magnet Free GNU, macOS, Windows GPL Java Yes 2016 Forked from Limewire pro
Wuala Wuala No No Free GNU, macOS, Windows Proprietary Java Yes 2009
Name Network Anonymous P2P Link system compatibility Price Platform License Programming language Free Spyware-Adware Last release year Extra information
  • Note that several applications had adware or spyware tied in in the past and may have it again in the future. The same goes for forks of open source apps, e.g. eMule. This list attempts to display the current status only.

See also

Others comparisons

Notes

  1. ↑
  2. ↑ "Download", aMule team, sourceforge.net, 2011-11-12, retrieved 2016-06-16
  3. ↑ "Browse /aresgalaxy at SourceForge.net". AresGalaxy. 22 October 2017 – via SourceForge.
  4. 1 2 Compatibility with eDonkey and Kad networks is done via a modded eMule plugin also developed by the Comet team
  5. ↑ "BitComet Changelog". www.bitcomet.com. 2018-06-12. Retrieved 2018-06-17.
  6. ↑ "The eMule Project at SourceForge.net". eMule.SourceForge.net. 2010-04-07. Retrieved 2010-07-11.
  7. ↑ "Free Download Manager 5.1 Forums". FreeDownloadManager.org. Retrieved 23 December 2017.
  8. ↑ https://freenetproject.org/freenet-build-1480-released.html
  9. ↑ "license notice placed at the top in one of the source files of the project's repository, probably in each of its source files". Retrieved June 8, 2018. GNUnet is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify it under the terms of the GNU Affero General Public License as published by the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or (at your option) any later version.
  10. ↑ Grothoff, Christian (2014-04-08). "GNUnet 0.10.1 released". gnunet.org. Retrieved 2017-07-12.
  11. ↑ GNUnet download website
  12. ↑ "Untraceable: How to Seed Torrents Anonymously Using I2PSnark « Torrent". Torrent.wonderhowto.com. Retrieved 2013-10-25.
  13. ↑ Judge Wood (26 October 2010). "Limewire Permanent Injunction" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 March 2012. Retrieved 17 March 2012.
  14. ↑ "MLDonkey at SourceForge.net". SourceForge. 2014-03-22. Retrieved 2014-05-09.
  15. ↑ http://echelon.i2p/nachtblitz%5Bpermanent+dead+link%5D
  16. ↑ Giorgi, Nicholas (2018-10-15). "Opera 56.0.3051.43 Stable update". Retrieved 2018-10-10.
  17. ↑ Piolet Networks. "Free music downloads, mp3 downloads". Piolet. Archived from the original on 2000-11-09. Retrieved 2013-10-25.
  18. ↑ "Shareaza download page on sourceforge Web site". SourceForge. Retrieved 2017-10-07.
  19. ↑ tribler/LICENSE.txt at devel · Tribler/tribler, GitHub, archived from the original on 2014-12-18, retrieved 2014-12-18
  20. ↑ "Releases".
  21. ↑ whatIsTribler/2 Archived 2013-07-28 at the Wayback Machine.
  22. ↑ "Changelog". Vuze Community. Retrieved 2017-12-11.
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