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]) [±]
ANts P2P ANts Yes ed2k Free GNU, macOS, Windows GPL Java Yes 2010 File sharing and HTTP publishing.
Ares Galaxy Ares, BitTorrent No arlnk Free Windows GPL Object Pascal (Delphi) Yes 2014, 2.4.2 (August 24, 2016 (2016-08-24)

[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, 1.44 (November 11, 2016 (2016-11-11)) [±][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.
broolz[6] Direct Connect No No Free or US$59.95 Windows, macOS, GNU Proprietary Java Yes 2011 Internal p2p protocols that allow only secondary users authorised by primary user to share.
Cabos Gnutella No magnet Free macOS, Windows GPL Java, REALbasic Yes 2010, 0.8.2 (February 9, 2010 (2010-02-09)) [±]
Calypso MUTE Yes No Donation GNU, Windows GPL C++, Qt Yes 2010 Prior name: Kommute
Datawire P2P Private Networking (chat supported) Yes No Free Windows, GNU, macOS Proprietary Java Yes 2011
DC++ Direct Connect No magnet Free Windows GPL C++ Yes 2015, 0.851 April 6, 2015 Many modifications exist, for example LinuxDC++
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)[7]) [±] Supports protocol obfuscation
ExoSee ? No No Free Windows Proprietary ? Yes 2007 ExoSee appears to have no business model.
Filetopia Filetopia No (except when using a bouncer) No Free Windows Proprietary Delphi No 2002
Flashget BitTorrent, eDonkey; HTTP/FTP download ? ? ? Windows Proprietary ? ? 2012
Free Download Manager BitTorrent; HTTP/FTP download No metalink Free Windows GPL C++ Yes 2015, 5.1.17 (build 4597) (August 23, 2016 (2016-08-23)) [±][8]
Freenet's FProxy Freenet Yes No Free GNU, macOS, Windows GPL Java Yes 2014, 0.7.5 (Build 1465) (August 9, 2014 (2014-08-09)) [±][9]
Frost Freenet Yes No Free GNU, macOS, Windows GPL Java Yes 2011
FrostWire BitTorrent No magnet Free GNU, macOS, Windows GPL Java Yes 2015, 6.3.6 (September 8, 2016 (2016-09-08)) [±] Fork of LimeWire, with no copyrighted-material blocker planned.
GetRight BitTorrent; HTTP/FTP download ? ? ? 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) [±]
Gnucleus Gnutella, Gnutella2 No No Free Windows GPL C++ Yes 2005, 2.2.0.0 (June 17, 2005 (2005-06-17)) [±]
GNUnet GNUnet Yes ECRS Free GNU, macOS, Windows GPL C Yes 2014, 0.10.1 (April 8, 2014 (2014-04-08)[10]) [±]
gtk-gnutella Gnutella No magnet Free GNU, Windows GPL C Yes 2015, 1.1.11 (November 11, 2016 (2016-11-11)) [±]
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[11] 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, 2.3.3.2 (May 1, 2016 (2016-05-01)) [±] needs I2P to run
Infinit Infinit No No Free macOS, Windows Proprietary C++ Yes 2014 Unlimited and encrypted peer to peer file sharing application with pause and resume.
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 ? ? Free part of KDE on Windows GPL ? ? 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.[12]
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)[13]) [±] 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 2007
Nachtblitz[14] I2P (protocol Kad network) Yes ed2k, magnet Free Windows, GNU with Wine GPL .NET Framework Yes 2015 needs I2P to run
Net Transport[15] BitTorrent, eMule; HTTP/FTP download ? ? US$29,95 Windows, macOS Proprietary ? ? 2015 ?
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, 41.0.2353.69 (November 23, 2016 (2016-11-23)[16]) [±]
Perfect Dark Perfect Dark Yes No Free Windows Proprietary ? Yes 2014 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 2015, 0.6.0 beta Uses PGP for friend authentication. Decentralized F2F network type.
RShare RShare Yes No Free Windows GPL C# Yes 2007 eMule-like usability
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 2015, 2.7.9.0 (October 6, 2015 (2015-10-06)[18]) [±] Uses a powerful files library; maintained by volunteer group
Sharing Max Sharing Max No Yes Free Windows Proprietary Visual Basic No 2012[19]
SoMud[20] BitTorrent No magnet uri, meta link Free Windows, macOS Proprietary C++ Yes 2013 Search and download P2P and web video networks such as YouTube and Yahoovideo etc.
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 Proprietary ? Yes 2015, SoulseekQt build 2016.4.24 (April 24, 2016 (2016-04-24)) [±] Folder downloads, browse users with folder trees, no multi-source downloads
Thaw Freenet Yes No Free GNU, macOS, Windows GPL Java Yes 2008
Tribler BitTorrent and its own Yes magnet Free Windows, GNU, macOS GNU LGPL v2.1+[21] Python, C++ Yes 2015, 6.5.2 (May 13, 2016 (2016-05-13)) [±][22] 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.[23] Also features a built-in video streamer.
TrustyFiles[24] eDonkey, Overnet, Gnutella, Gnutella2, FastTrack, BitTorrent No ed2k Free or US$29 Windows Proprietary ? adware & spyware 2007[25] Has code stolen from Gnucleus, giFT, and avlib;[26] GNU version announced, but never released; takeover similar to the Shareaza.com and Lphant issues is likely to have happened
uGet BitTorrent; HTTP/FTP download ? magnet, metalink Free GNU, Windows, Android LGPL C, GTK+ Yes 2014 uGet 2.0 is currently in Beta Development (as of 9 September 2014) and available for testing via uGetdm.com
Vuze
(formerly Azureus)		 BitTorrent and I2P No (except when using I2P) magnet Free GNU, macOS, Windows GPL Java No 2015, 5.7.3.0 (August 9, 2016 (2016-08-09)) [±][27]
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
Wuala Wuala No No Free GNU, macOS, Windows Proprietary Java Yes 2009
YobiDrive FLOWS YobiDrive No No Free GNU, macOS, Windows Proprietary Java Yes 2013
Name Network Anonymous P2P Link system compatibility Price Platform License Programming language Free Spyware-Adware Last release year Extra information

Others comparison pages

File sharing web applications

A web application, unlike a software, does not need to be installed on the computer.

Name License Programming language Latest release version Extra Information
FileZ GPL PHP 2012 https://github.com/FileZ/FileZ
QuickBase Proprietary Java 2000 https://quickbase.intuit.com
ZendTo free PHP 2015 http://zend.to/

See also

Notes

  1. ↑
  2. ↑ "Download", aMule team, sourceforge.net, 2011-11-12, retrieved 2016-06-16
  3. ↑ "Ares Galaxy at SourceForge.net". AresGalaxy].SourceForge.net.
  4. 1 2 Compatibility with eDonkey and Kad networks is done via a modded eMule plugin also developed by the Comet team
  5. ↑ "BitComet Client Release Notes - A free C++ BitTorrent/HTTP/FTP Download Client". www.bitcomet.com. 2010-08-31. Retrieved 2016-11-14.
  6. ↑ "broolz - your cloud your way; File Sharing, File Synchronization, File Backup, File Recovery & Enterprise Collaboration Tools". Web.archive.org. 2012-02-25. Archived from the original on February 25, 2012. Retrieved 2013-10-25.
  7. ↑ "The eMule Project at SourceForge.net". eMule.SourceForge.net. 2010-04-07. Retrieved 2010-07-11.
  8. ↑ "Free Download Manager". Files. Free Download Manager.org. Retrieved 25 August 2016.
  9. ↑ https://freenetproject.org/news.html#build01465
  10. ↑ Grothoff, Christian (2013-12-24). "GNUnet 0.10.0 released" (Mailing list). info-gnunet. Retrieved 2013-12-25.
  11. ↑ "Untraceable: How to Seed Torrents Anonymously Using I2PSnark « Torrent". Torrent.wonderhowto.com. Retrieved 2013-10-25.
  12. ↑ Judge Wood (26 October 2010). "Limewire Permanent Injunction" (PDF). Retrieved 17 March 2012.
  13. ↑ "MLDonkey at SourceForge.net". SourceForge. 2014-03-22. Retrieved 2014-05-09.
  14. ↑ http://echelon.i2p/nachtblitz
  15. ↑ http://www.xi-soft.com/default.htm
  16. ↑ "Opera Stable 40.0.2308.81 update". 2016-10-04. Retrieved 2016-10-15.
  17. ↑ Piolet Networks. "Free music downloads, mp3 downloads". Piolet. Retrieved 2013-10-25.
  18. ↑ "Shareaza download page on sourceforge Web site". SourceForge. Retrieved 2015-10-09.
  19. ↑ "Download Free Sharing Max, Sharing Max 1.0.0.2 Download". Brothersoft.com. 2012-05-31. Retrieved 2013-10-25.
  20. ↑ "Features". Somud.com. Retrieved 2013-10-25.
  21. ↑ tribler/LICENSE.txt at devel · Tribler/tribler, GitHub, retrieved 2014-12-18
  22. ↑ "Releases".
  23. ↑ whatIsTribler/2
  24. ↑ "TrustyFiles Ultimate P2P - Personal File Sharing for MP3 Music, Movies, Games, Photos, and Software". Trustyfiles.com. Retrieved 2013-10-25.
  25. ↑ From RazorPop:. "TrustyFiles Free - Free download and software reviews - CNET Download.com". Download.cnet.com. Retrieved 2013-10-25.
  26. ↑ "Gnucleus won't connect - Page 2". Gnutellaforums.com. Retrieved 2013-10-25.
  27. ↑ "Changelog". Vuze Community. Retrieved 2013-08-24.
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