BitTorrent vs. uTorrent is an ongoing battle. Both services have highly evolved since their inception. Although uTorrent is developed by BitTorrent’s developers, which is the reason behind the similar user interface, that does not directly translate to BitTorrent being better than uTorrent or vice versa.
Many users actually prefer and recommend uTorrent over BitTorrent. But the real question is: what makes one service better than the other? Is it the range of features? User interface? Variety of settings? Or maybe it is the speed?
Although both the differences and similarities of uTorrent vs. BitTorrent have been discussed numerous times on many platforms, our goal is to discover the key factors that make one service more user’s favorite than the other, and figure out the winner of this never-ending battle!
Similarities between BitTorrent and uTorrent
BitTorrent and uTorrent have a ton of similarities! The main reason behind the abundance of similarities is the fact that both torrent services are owned and managed by BitTorrent Inc.
BitTorrent started its service in 2001, whereas uTorrent was first released in 2005 and later bought by BitTorrent, Inc. in 2006.
Due to the fact that neither uTorrent nor BitTorrent provides its source code, thus checking the privacy and security features of both these programs is next to impossible. Therefore, finding the malware that might be hidden in these codes is also impossible, so users can never be too sure about their online protection and security while using BitTorrent and uTorrent.
The biggest advantage of BitTorrent and uTorrent is the nearly identical user interfaces. For this reason, the users experience the same stats of torrent downloads like files, speed, info, peers, and trackers.
The only major difference between the two torrent programs is the name and color of the two programs. Otherwise, both BitTorrent and uTorrent seem identical in appearance. Let’s find out the performance differences between the two torrent programs.
Note: Downloading a torrent might be risky due to copyright violations. So we recommend using Torrent VPN to download torrent anonymously.
Download Speed
Download Speed is hand-down the most significant deciding factor when it comes to users’ favorite torrent service. Let’s get one thing on the side that both BitTorrent and uTorrent offer built-in bandwidth management that helps to maximize the overall torrent download speed.
However, we have experienced that due to better ad management, BitTorrent comes mightier than uTorrent. BitTorrent can be +/-3 times faster than uTorrent. Nonetheless, uTorrent doesn’t lose the race that easily because users have experienced better download speed with larger files on uTorrent as compared to BitTorrent.
Many people have claimed that one particular torrent client is better than another. However, there is no clear winner here. A torrent client can’t do much to give quicker download rates than other P2P programs. Your download speeds are determined mainly by the speed of your internet connection plus the number of seeders on the torrent you’re downloading.
We did over ten tests to validate this. Our Romanian tester downloaded big torrent files ranging in size from 20 to 50 GB. On average, she noticed the following speeds as well as ETAs (Estimated Time of Arrival):
- uTorrent – 30-50 MB/s and 17-30 minutes.
- BitTorrent – 35-50 MB/s and 22-30 minutes.
As a result, both apps are similarly speedy.
Winner of the ‘Download Speed’ battle: Tie!
Advertisements
Similar to you, we also hate watching unnecessary amounts of ads, especially when they disrupt the flow of the downloads and slow down the download speed. However, if you do a side by side comparison, you are highly likely to experience somewhat the same amount of ads on both the services.
Although a while back, BitTorrent offered ad-free service, now users have to experience a ton of ads that drastically disrupt the download performance. Both the services offer packages for removing ads; however, not every user is willing to pay an extra amount to avoid ads. So, it all comes down to ad management.
So, which service is better than the other when it comes to ad management? BitTorrent! Yes! Although both the services manage the ads in a similar pattern, if we were given a choice, then BitTorrent takes the lead with better, user-friendly ad management.
Winner of the ‘Advertisements’ battle: BitTorrent!
Size
The size of the program/app/software is always a major issue. No matter how much space your device has got, you still end up filling it all. Everyone tends to prefer apps with exceptional performance without consuming a lot of device space. Neither does anyone want to clean their device’s cache consistently!
So, in BitTorrent vs. uTorrent size battle, who is the winner? uTorrent takes the lead as it is a smaller (3MB) app as compared to the bulkier BitTorrent app. So, if you suffer from device storage issues, uTorrent is the way to go.
Winner of the ‘Size’ battle: uTorrent!
Simultaneous Downloads
Who doesn’t love multitasking? We certainly do! So, we want apps to perform multiple functions at a time. Similarly, we tested both BitTorrent and uTorrent to see which one of them offers simultaneous downloads, and which one is better at it.
BitTorrent has already outshined uTorrent in the speed department, and BitTorrent outshines uTorrent again by offering simultaneous downloads feature. So, with BitTorrent, you can efficiently download multiple files at a time.
Winner of the ‘Simultaneous Downloads’ battle: BitTorrent!
Compatibility
It all comes down to whether or not both the programs are compatible with various platforms, including Android, Mac OS, and Windows. The answer is: Yes! Both the programs are compatible with all the platforms, and you can securely download files on both the programs on all devices.
Some users find one program more efficient on one device or the other; however, we experienced similar performance on all platforms.
Winner of the ‘Compatibility’ battle: It’s a tie!
How are uTorrent and BitTorrent Different?
BitTorrent is both a torrent client plus a torrent protocol, whereas uTorrent is both. BitTorrent was also the name of the firm that controls the BitTorrent protocol as well as clients, but in 2018 it was renamed Rainberry. Rainberry also owns the uTorrent, which it acquired in 2006.
Now that that’s out of the way let’s look at some of the key distinctions between the BitTorrent and uTorrent clients:
- Availability – BitTorrent is accessible on Windows, Mac OS X, and Android. uTorrent, on the other hand, is available for macOS, Windows, Android, and Linux.
- Updates – Both apps are updated on a regular basis. However, BitTorrent provides more stable versions, whereas uTorrent provides Alpha as well as Beta versions. This implies that you have early access to the latest improvements with uTorrent, although the versions aren’t always reliable.
- Cryptominers – The BitTorrent and uTorrent downloads include extra software known as bloatware. However, in 2015, uTorrent surreptitiously deployed a crypto miner on consumers’ devices. The crypto miner operated in the background, consuming CPU power from users. Many users were so furious that they reverted to prior uTorrent versions. They reportedly refused to install subsequent releases that did not include crypto miners. Although the crypto miner has been removed from the uTorrent package, many users still do not trust it.
uTorrent Compared To uTorrent Pro
uTorrent offers a free version as well as several commercial options, one of which is uTorrent Pro. Many people are unsure if they should subscribe to the Pro version.
So, here’s what happens if you decide to do that:
- No more advertisements.
- Malware defense against malicious torrents.
- File conversion is required in order to use the files downloaded on other devices.
- Access to a built-in HD media player.
- Exclusive access to premium customer service.
The no-cost uTorrent version just gives you accessibility to the uTorrent client. So you can essentially just download torrents.
Is uTorrent Pro Actually Worth The Investment?
Overall, you receive a lot of excellent bonuses – and the cost is very low.
True, you may disable the adverts by changing some of the ad-related settings. However, the other benefits are also appealing. We also enjoy how you can start playing HD video files right away after downloading them. You can stream without having to wait for the download process to finish. The file conversion tool is very useful because it allows you to transfer files you’ve downloaded to your smartphone rapidly.
However, the choice is entirely yours. If you think you’ll utilize those extra capabilities regularly, it’s worth it to acquire uTorrent Pro because it’s not pricey at all.
Which uTorrent Version Is Right For You?
Utilizing the most recent uTorrent version, which may be found on the uTorrent website, is recommended. It includes bug fixes and new features, as well as improved security against security attacks. Nevertheless, many torrent users choose to utilize uTorrent 2.2.1. They favor it because it is light, ad-free, and free of bloatware.
If you must use uTorrent 2.2.1, be sure to utilize a valid download URL. If you’re not cautious, you may obtain a malicious file that masquerades as an uTorrent client. Asking on Reddit, notably r/utorrent, is the most straightforward approach to finding a good link.
Also, when downloading uTorrent 2.2.1, ensure that it matches the following requirements:
- 390.37 KB in size.
- BitTorrent Inc.’s digital signature dated May 18th, timed 00:17:26.
- This model is 25302.
How to Increase The Speeds Of Torrent Downloads
If you find that your torrent transfers are excessively slow for both uTorrent and BitTorrent, you can speed them up. You can find our comprehensive guide here. It’s only for uTorrent, but the advice should apply to BitTorrent as well. After all, it’s simply a rebranded uTorrent. But if you’re in a rush, here are a few highlights:
- Download a torrent having a sufficient number of seeders. Seeders should always outnumber leechers. The speeds are going to be slow otherwise.
- Increase the amount of bandwidth available for downloads.
- Check that your operating system’s firewall doesn’t interfere with the torrent app.
- Turn on automated port forwarding.
- Increase the number of seeders by adding extra trackers to a download.
- Attempt to download the torrents single at a time. This prevents your download speeds from being divided among all torrents.
- Convert to a wired connection if you’re utilizing WiFi. You will have quicker speeds because poor WiFi signals will no longer be an issue.
VPN Protection For Torrenting: Reliable Way Of Protecting Your Online Privacy
There is no doubt that most of us choose Torrenting because it is free and very convenient. Furthermore, it is a quick and easy way of downloading and uploading content such as movies, songs, music, shows, ebooks, games, software, and others. There is no denying that Torrents have multiple positive aspects.
However, the benefits of free torrent downloading overshadow the negative aspects, such as the copyright infringement practices and unlawful distribution of content, also known as piracy. Users are at an inconvenient disadvantage when uploading and downloading torrents because copyright holders, government surveillance agencies, and copyright holders work with ISPs to tap into user data logs and activity.
The only way to protect yourself from these privacy breaches is to use a VPN (Virtual Private Network). A VPN will conceal your IP address, making it harder for prying eyes to steal your data logs and content, which means you can torrent in peace with the knowledge that a VPN is protecting your privacy.
Thankfully, there are several reliable VPN options currently available in the market. We believe that everyone deserves the best VPN for their needs. Therefore, we recommend that you do thorough research before choosing one. Look for one that offers shared and dedicated IPs, allowing you to torrent with anonymity and privacy.
Whether you use BitTorrent or uTorrent, a reliable VPN service is necessary to avoid unsavory situations with the law. Find a VPN with a strong success record of providing comprehensive online privacy solutions.
Who Wins The Torrent Battle
Deciding between BitTorrent and uTorrent is a bit of a challenge because if BitTorrent outshines uTorrent in terms of performance, speed, and ad management, then uTorrent comes back with a bang with its small size.
So, it wholly solely relies on the user’s preference because both the programs come with their pros and cons. All in all, both BitTorrent and uTorrent offer a fast, secure, and affordable platform for torrent users, so you cannot rule out one or the other. For more tech product comparisons and tech reviews, Stay connected with TechProReviewers. Dont forget to share your favorite (B/w uTorrent and BitTorrent) in the comment section below.
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