Users can use
software that connects in to a
peer-to-peer network to search for shared files on the computers of other users (i.e.
peers)
connected to the network. Files of interest can then be downloaded
directly from other users on the network. Typically, large files are
broken down into smaller chunks, which may be obtained from
multiple peers and then reassembled by the downloader. This is done while the peer is simultaneously uploading the chunks it already has to other peers.
Due to the vastness of the
p2p landscape, searching for the most efficient
file sharing app
as dictated by your needs and preferences can prove tiresome – that’s
why we thought we should make this task easier for you by listing 20 of
the best peer-to-peer programs currently in use.
Considering the vast psp softwares availabe, searching for the most
efficient file sharing apps can be tiresome, most espcially with the
increase of malware, viruses and spywares - for that reason i though it
would be good to make this task easier for you by collating the best
peep to peer file sharing softwares.
Note: Make sure you know what you are downloading, coz most software
disguises as being genuine whereas they are habouring viruses and some
hackers uses this medium to penetrate into your system.
So be careful and good luck.
20 Best p2p (Peer to Peer) File Sharing Apps and Softwares
1) µTorrent:
The program is designed to use minimal computer resources while offering functionality comparable to larger
BitTorrent clients such as
Vuze or
BitComet.
2) SoulSeek:
Soulseek is a
peer-to-peer (P2P) file-sharing network and
application. It is used mostly to exchange music, although users are
able to share a variety of files. It was created by Nir Arbel, a former
Napster programmer.
The server used is composed of two networks since 2006. Since 6 July
2008, there has been an attempt to merge them with the arrival of a new
stable release.
3) DC++:
DC++ is a free and open-source, peer-to-peer file sharing client
alternative to the original client, NeoModus Direct Connect (NMDC); it
connects to the same file-sharing network and supports the same
file-sharing protocol. One of the reasons commonly attributed to the
aforementioned popularity of DC++ is that it has no adware of any kind,
unlike NMDC.
4) Vuze:
Vuze (previously Azureus) is a BitTorrent client used to transfer files
via the BitTorrent protocol. Vuze is written in Java, and uses the
Azureus Engine. In addition to downloading data linked to by .torrent
files, Azureus allows users to view, publish and share original DVD and
HD quality video content.
Content is presented through channels and categories containing TV
shows, music videos, movies, video games and others. Additionally, if
users prefer to publish their original content, they may earn money
from it.
5) LimeWire:
LimeWire is a free
peer-to-peer file sharing (
P2P)
client program
that runs on Windows, Mac OS X, Linux, and other operating systems
supported by the Java software platform. LimeWire uses the gnutella
network as well as the BitTorrent protocol. A free software version and
a purchasable "enhanced" version are available.
6) eMule:
eMule is a
free peer-to-peer file sharing application for
Microsoft Windows. Started in May 2002 as an alternative to
eDonkey2000, eMule now connects to both the eDonkey network and the Kad
network.
The distinguishing features of eMule are the direct exchange of sources
between client nodes, fast recovery of corrupted downloads, and the use
of a credit system to reward frequent uploaders. Furthermore, eMule
transmits data in zlib-compressed form to save bandwidth.
7) Shareaza:
Shareaza is a
peer-to-peer file sharing client running under Microsoft Windows which supports the
gnutella, Gnutella2 (G2), eDonkey, BitTorrent, FTP, HTTP and HTTPS network
protocols and handles magnet links, ed2k links, and the now deprecated
gnutella and Piolet links. It is available in 30 languages.
One unique thing about Shareaza is that it
hashes its files
for all networks, and then distributes those hash values on G2 which
then allows it to download one file from several networks at once. When
another Shareaza client connected to G2 finds such a file, it is given
the hash values for all networks and can search on the other networks
with their respective hash values, which increases the number of
sources and the download speed of the file. Shareaza also uses its
G2 network to find more
sources for torrents.
8 ) BitComet:
The BitComet program is a multi-threaded multi-protocol hybrid download
manager and BitTorrent Peer-to-peer (P2P) file-sharing application. It
supports simultaneous download tasks. To complete a particular
download, it can draw parts of files from many sources across different
P2P and client–server protocols.
9) aMule:
aMule is a free
peer-to-peer file sharing application that works with the EDonkey network and the Kad Network, offering similar features to
eMule and adding others such as GeoIP (country flags). It was forked from the
xMule source code
on August 18, 2003, which itself is a fork of the lMule project, which
was the first attempt to bring the eMule client to Linux.
10) giFT:
giFT is a collection of various software components geared towards improving the overall usability of a multitude of
peer-to-peer file-sharing networks.
This goal is accomplished by unifying the components such that a user
of the software may choose any of the available interfaces to access
any of the available networks. The central application, giftd, uses a
plugin-based architecture capable of using multiple networks
simultaneously through a single user interface.
11) Ares Galaxy:
Ares Galaxy is an open source
peer-to-peer file sharing application
that uses its own decentralized supernode/leaf network. It was spun off
from the gnutella network in 2002, and is currently hosted on
SourceForge.net. Ares Galaxy has a simple, quick access interface with a built in audio/video viewer. The latest versions also support the
BitTorrent protocol and Shoutcast radio stations.
12) ANts P2P:
ANts P2P is an anonymous peer-to-peer open source file sharing software
written in Java. The software was initially conceived in 2003 to
explore the potentials offered by a number of novel routing protocols
(ARA, ants-based routing, MANET routing protocols) based on swarm
intelligence. A report (in Italian) about the initial phases of the
project can be downloaded from the software website. A short summary in
english is available on the ANts P2P website.
13) BitTornado:
BitTornado is a free BitTorrent client for transfer of computer files
over networks, including the Internet. It is developed by John Hoffman,
who also created its predecessor, Shad0w's Experimental Client. Based
on the original BitTorrent client, the interface is largely the same,
with added features such as
- upload/download speed limitation;
- prioritised downloading when downloading batches (several files);
- detailed information about connections to other peers;
- UPnP Port Forwarding (Universal Plug and Play);
- IPv6 support (OS support required);
- PE/MSE support as of version 0.3.18
14) FrostWire:
FrostWire is a
Peer-to-Peer file sharing program for the
Gnutella network and BitTorrent protocol. It is built on the LimeWire
source code, and it is written in the Java programming language.
Development of the program has been active since the program was first
released in September 2004.
Since
LimeWire was closed down on 26th October 2010,
LimeWire was put under a court injunction to stop them from
distributing the software and developing it, FrostWire has become
increasingly popular as it is almost identical to LimeWire 4.x series
and has the same features.
15) Morpheus:
Morpheus was a file sharing and searching peer-to-peer client for
Microsoft Windows, developed and distributed by the company StreamCast,
that originally used the Opennap protocol, but later supported many
different peer-to-peer protocols.
On April 22, 2008, distributor StreamCast Networks filed for Chapter 7
bankruptcy after a long legal battle with music companies; all of their
employees were laid off and the official download at
www.morpheus.com
stopped being available, though for a small period the website remained
online. As of October 29, 2008 the official Morpheus website is
offline, including all other websites owned by StreamCast Networks
including Morpheus.com, MusicCity.com, Streamcastnetworks.com and
NeoNetwork.com
16) gtk-gnutella:
Gtk-gnutella is programmed in C with an emphasis on efficiency and
portability without being minimalistic but rather head-on with most of
the modern features of the gnutella network. Therefore, it requires
less resources (such as CPU and/or RAM) than the major gnutella
clients. It can also be used as headless gnutella client not requiring
Gtk+ at all.
gtk-gnutella has a filtering engine that can reduce the amount of
spam and
other irrelevant results. gtk-gnutella supports a large range of the
features of modern gnutella clients. gtk-gnutella was the first
gnutella client to
support IPv6 and
encryption using TLS.
It can handle and export magnet links. It has strong
internationalization features, supporting English, German, Greek,
French, Hungarian, Spanish, Japanese, Norwegian, Dutch and Chinese.
gtk-gnutella also has support to
prevent spamming and other
hostile peer activity.
17) Acquisition:
Acquisition is a Gnutella-based
peer-to-peer client that is also capable of supporting
BitTorrent designed specifically for Mac OS X. It is based on LimeWire and is a shareware product,
priced from $25.
Acquisition is more noted for its focus on user interface and
integration with Mac OS X than for its originality in features, making
full use of Apple's Cocoa APIs, and has integration with iTunes.
18) Cabos:
Cabos is a free gnutella file sharing program. It is based on
LimeWire's source code, and has a similar feel in terms of interface.
However, it lacks the chat and library features found in LimeWire.
Also, while LimeWire is completely written in Java, the GUI of Cabos is
written in REALbasic
19) MLDonkey:
MLDonkey is an open source, multi-protocol, peer-to-peer file sharing
application that runs as a back-end server application on many
platforms. It can be controlled through a user interface provided by
one of many separate front-ends, including a Web interface, telnet
interface and over a dozen native client programs.
Originally a Linux client for the eDonkey protocol, it now runs on many
flavors of Unix-like, Mac OS X, Windows and MorphOS and supports
numerous peer-to-peer protocols.
20) KTorrent:
KTorrent is a bittorrent application for KDE which allows you to
download files using the BitTorrent protocol. It enables you to run
multiple torrents at the same time and comes with extended features to
make it a full-featured client for BitTorrent.