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uTorrent vs BitTorrent - Which One is Faster, Safer & Reliable?

Updated Jan 07, 2020

uTorrent or BitTorrent

Two of the most popular software used for downloading torrents are - BitTorrent and Utorrent. Both of them have similar utilities and user interfaces. However, to make the torrent downloading experience better and faster, let’s examine both to determine which is better.

Torrenting is one of the most popular internet activities. It comprises of more than 3.35 % of the total internet traffic. People use it for downloading movies, games, music, e-books, and much more.

In this method, you need not downloading the entire file from a single point but multiple sources simultaneously. The references will have bits and pieces of the data you need. This way, the network load is shared among the sources, which will faster the downloading.

What is BitTorrent?

Bram Cohen and Ashwin Navin developed BitTorrent in 2001. It is a software that lets you download the software using a peer-to-peer file sharing method. It uses a protocol called BitTorrent clients. This distributes the sharing of files across the users who have downloaded the file. It also connects you with the users who are currently downloading the file.

  • The software breaks down and distributes the file in many small chunks. So, if a downloading source is slow, there are other sources from which you will get the fragments of your file.
  • This file distribution process allows the original server to handle multiple file requests.
  • Furthermore, the process does not need massive bandwidth. As a result, you can download files faster.
  • The software runs on all major software platforms like Windows and Mac.

What is uTorrent?

Utorrent is a Bittorrent client that is freely available for users. The software released in 2005 and developed by Ludvig Strigeus and owned by Bittorrent Inc. Utorrent has a user base of more than 100 million users. It is the most popular BitTorrent client outside Asia.

  • It implements the Utorrent protocol. Using the protocol, the Utorrent client can share, download, and distribute files over a network.
  • Like BitTorrent, this also runs on all major platforms like Mac OX, Windows, and Linux. It is written in the powerful C++ language. Utorrent is available in 67 languages.

So far, you might have got a basic understanding of the two software. Now let us compare the two to understand more about them.

uTorrent vs BitTorrent

There are some similarities between the two. As the same company owns both of them, they are virtually the same product. However, there are some technical differences that you must know:

Pricing:

BitTorrent has four pricing plans. The initial free plan only lets you download a torrent quickly. It offers you with no additional features. The AD-Free plan costs $4.95 per year and does not display ads during downloading.

The Pro plan offers fast downloading, no ads, virus protection, and file conversion. Additionally, you can watch your downloaded movies on the go. It costs $19.95 per year.

The Pro+VPN has all the features of the Pro plan along with a Cyber Ghost VPN. This helps you protect your identity online while downloading torrents. This comes at $69.95 per year.

In the case of Utorrent, the Free version has no additional features. It only offers torrent downloading. It's Pro version has offers many exciting features. They are:

  • Virus protection
  • No ads
  • Torrent streaming
  • Playing files in HD
  • File conversion

The costlier plans of both software offer similar features. But the VPN feature in Bittorrent’s plan makes it far better an option than Utorrent in terms of protection.

Size:

Utorrent is lightweight and is smaller in size than Bittorrent. It has a size capacity of just 1 MB. On the other hand, BitTorrent takes up a little more space and has a size of 3 MB. Due to the size, Utorrent is preferred over Bittorrent.

Downloading Speed:

Download speed is an essential factor while downloading your favorite movies or games. Although both software has a bandwidth management system, BitTorrent is still faster. This is because BitTorrent is better at managing ads. So when the ads pop up, it does not affect the downloading speed of the torrents. As a result, you get an average speed of 76 kb/s while downloading.

On the other hand, Utorrent is not so good at handling ads. So, you might face a significant drop in the downloading speeds when certain ads pop up.

Simultaneous Downloading:

Another important facility that you might yearn for is downloading multiple files together. For example, you might want to download two files at a time using Utorrent. In that case, you have to put the file you are downloading on hold. After pausing it, you can start downloading the other file.

But BitTorrent lets you download multiple files easily. You can open up various torrent links and download them together without pausing any of them.

Updates:

Utorrent is continuously under development. Its alpha and beta versions are released frequently with newer additions. So, you can access new cutting edge features to make your downloading experience better and smoother.

In the case of BitTorrent, it releases only stable versions with mild additions to its features. So, Utorrent has the upper hand in this case.

Cryptocurrency Miners:

This is a problem faced by many users of Utorrent. Users have complained that the newer versions come with bloatware called crypto miners. These additional tools may get installed without the user noticing it. It drains the user’s CPU resources and that too without their permission. Therefore, many users have chosen to download the earlier versions of Utorrent to avoid this.

BitTorrent users have not faced any such problem in the recent past.

Portability:

Another feature that requires mentioning is the portability of the two software. The Utorrent portable version lets you store the torrent client in your USB. You can then run it directly without installing it on a system.

BitTorrent does not support this functionality yet. So, Utorrent is a clear winner here.

Conclusion

BitTorrent is faster than Utorrent as it is better at blocking ads during a file download. Moreover, you can download multiple files at once without affecting their downloading speeds. However, in terms of size, Bittorrent is not as lightweight as Utorrent. Additionally, Utorrent can be executed directly from an external drive, which is not possible in Bittorrent.

In terms of popularity, Utorrent is the primary choice for beginners in the world of torrent downloading. The developers frequently update the product. So, you can access the latest features. But the primary reason Bittorrent surpasses Utorrent is security. Bittorrent’s Pro+VPN plan comes with the Cyber Ghost that makes your downloading activities secure. Utorrent does not offer this feature.


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