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uTorrent vs. BitTorrent – What’s the Difference?

uTorrent vs BitTorrent

Many people love using uTorrent and BitTorrent for downloading torrents. But, which one is better?

The choice between uTorrent and BitTorrent comes down to personal preference. We compared them in this article to help you decide.

Here’s uTorrent vs. BitTorrent at a glance:

BitTorrent is a P2P protocol and a torrent client. Rainberry, formerly BitTorrent, Inc, owns both. uTorrent is a torrent client that uses the BitTorrent protocol and is also owned by Rainberry. The BitTorrent app is also a rebranded version of uTorrent.

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Similarities Between uTorrent and BitTorrent

Both uTorrent and BitTorrent are BitTorrent clients. They use the BitTorrent protocol to share files. They are free and ad-supported. Both have similar paid plans and are about the same size – around 2 MB. They also look pretty much the same.

The apps look alike for a reason. The BitTorrent app is just a rebranded version of the uTorrent app starting with version 6.0.

What’s the Difference Between uTorrent and BitTorrent?

uTorrent is a torrent client, whereas BitTorrent is a torrent client and a torrent protocol. BitTorrent used to be the company behind the protocol and client but was rebranded to Rainberry in 2018. Rainberry also owns uTorrent, which it purchased in 2006.

Now, let’s look at some differences between the two clients:

  • Availability -BitTorrent is available on Windows, macOS, and Android. uTorrent is available on Windows, macOS, Android, and Linux.
  • Updates – both apps get regular updates. BitTorrent releases more stable versions, while uTorrent releases Alpha and Beta versions. This means you get early access to features with uTorrent, but the versions are less stable.
  • Cryptominers – both apps have additional software, often called bloatware. But uTorrent once silently installed a cryptominer on users’ devices back in 2015. This cryptominer ran in the background, draining CPU power. Many users were outraged and downgraded to previous versions. They even refused to install newer releases, even without cryptominers. The cryptominer was removed from uTorrent’s package, but many people don’t trust it.

uTorrent vs. BitTorrent – Which One Is Faster?

Many people think one torrent client is faster than the other. But there’s really no actual winner here. Torrent clients can’t do much to make downloads faster. Your speeds depend on your internet connection and the number of seeders on the torrent.

We ran 10+ tests to confirm this. Our tester is from Romania, and he downloaded large torrent files between 20 and 50 GB. On average, these are the speeds and ETAs (Estimated Time of Arrival) he saw:

  • uTorrent – 30-50 MB/s and 15-30 minutes.
  • BitTorrent – 35-50 MB/s and 20-30 minutes.

So, both apps are equally fast.

uTorrent vs. uTorrent Pro

uTorrent has a free version and several paid plans, including uTorrent Pro. Many users are unsure if they should upgrade to the Pro plan.

Here’s what you get with the Pro plan:

  • No more ads.
  • Malware protection from malicious torrents.
  • File conversion to use downloaded files on other devices.
  • Access to an integrated HD media player.
  • Priority access to premium support.

The free uTorrent version only gives you access to the client. You can only download torrents.

So Is uTorrent Pro Worth It?

Overall, you get many cool perks, and it’s very affordable.

You can get rid of ads by tweaking some settings. But the other perks are great. For example, you can instantly play HD video files after downloading. You can also stream without waiting for the download to finish. Plus, the file conversion feature lets you instantly move downloaded files to your smartphone.

But it’s up to you. If you think you’ll use these extra features a lot, then uTorrent Pro is worth it. It’s not expensive at all.

Which uTorrent Versions Should You Use?

It’s best to use the latest uTorrent version – the one on uTorrent’s site. It has bug fixes, new features, and better security. Many torrent users also like using uTorrent 2.2.1 more. They prefer it because it’s lightweight, ad-free, and doesn’t have bloatware.

If you want to use uTorrent 2.2.1, make sure to download from a trusted source. If you’re not careful, you might download a malicious file. The best way to find a good link is to ask on Reddit – on r/utorrent.

Also, when you download uTorrent 2.2.1, make sure it meets these requirements:

  • A size of 390.37 KB.
  • A digital signature from BitTorrent Inc. from May 18th at 00:17:26.
  • This build – 25302.

How to Speed Up Torrent Downloads

If your torrent downloads are slow on both uTorrent and BitTorrent, there are ways to speed them up. You can check our in-depth guide here. It’s for uTorrent but the tips work for BitTorrent too. It’s just a rebranded uTorrent, after all. If you’re in a hurry, here are the highlights:

  • Download a torrent with enough seeders. There should always be more seeders than leechers. This way, your speeds won’t be slow.
  • Allocate more bandwidth to your downloads.
  • Make sure your operating system’s firewall isn’t blocking the torrent app.
  • Enable automated port forwarding.
  • Add more trackers to a download to increase the number of seeders.
  • Try downloading the torrents one at a time. This way, your download speeds won’t be split between all torrents.
  • If you’re using WiFi, switch to a wired connection. You’ll have faster speeds because weak WiFi signals won’t be an issue anymore.

Here’s Another Tip – Use a VPN

Sometimes, your slow download speeds are due to your ISP, not the torrent client or torrent file. They might see you using a lot of bandwidth for large files. If they don’t like it, they’ll slow down your downloads.

Using a VPN is the best way to fix this. It’s an online app that encrypts your Internet traffic. This way, your ISP can’t spy on it anymore. They won’t know you’re downloading torrents, so they can’t slow down your speeds.

Plus, a VPN is essential for secure torrenting. It encrypts your traffic and hides your IP address. This makes it hard for copyright trolls and lawyers to find you.

And using a VPN to torrent is very simple – just follow these steps:

  1. Sign up for a good P2P VPN. Our top pick is NordVPN for its fast speeds, 4,500+ P2P servers, and great security.
  2. Download and install the VPN provider’s app to your device.
  3. Run the app and connect to a P2P-friendly server.
  4. Start downloading torrents using uTorrent or BitTorrent (or any other torrent client).

BitTorrent vs. uTorrent – The Bottom Line

The debate between uTorrent and BitTorrent is simple. BitTorrent is:

  • A P2P protocol that other torrent apps use.
  • A torrent app.
  • And a company, previously known as BitTorrent, Inc and now rebranded to Rainberry. It owns both the BitTorrent app and the BitTorrent protocol.

uTorrent, on the other hand, is just a P2P app that uses the BitTorrent protocol. Rainberry also owns uTorrent. Also, the BitTorrent app is just a rebranded version of the uTorrent app nowadays.

If you have any other questions about uTorrent and BitTorrent, please let us know in the comments.

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