Downloading files on your Mac directly from a server can lead to extended wait times, which can be a major inconvenience. This is often caused by a lack of bandwidth and competition with other users. That said, Mac torrent clients provide a much more efficient download experience. That’s because they can retrieve parts of the file from multiple sources and download them simultaneously.
Even though we know the solution, finding a robust and reliable torrent client for Mac can still be daunting. In your search for the best torrent downloader for Mac, you’ll find torrent clients of all shapes and sizes (the same can be said for the best torrent sites). They come with different interfaces, different sets of features, and their performance varies.
On top of that, many popular torrent clients are blocked in certain countries or by certain Internet providers - making uninterrupted access only that more difficult. This is where using a VPN comes in handy. The best VPN for torrenting lets you bypass any restrictions and helps you access blocked content while ensuring your online privacy and security.
To make things easier for you, we've compiled this guide featuring the top options after thoroughly testing and reviewing multiple choices. By the end of this article, you will be able to make an informed decision on which among the best torrent clients to use - for your Mac, specifically.
That said, let’s jump right in!
How to Safely Use a Mac Torrent Downloader
To download torrents on your Mac safely, it is important to use a VPN to protect your privacy and security. Here’s how to use a Mac torrent downloader with a VPN:
- Subscribe to a VPN suitable for torrenting (we recommend ExpressVPN).
- Download and install the VPN software on your Mac.
- Launch the VPN software and log in using your credentials.
- Choose a server in a safe location where torrenting is allowed.
- Launch your Mac torrent client and start downloading torrents. That’s all!
Make sure to download from the best Mac torrent sites only, as downloading from untrusted sources can put your device at risk. Doing so will ensure that you are getting high-quality, legitimate files that are less likely to contain malware or viruses.
Best Torrent Clients for Mac
When assessing a torrent client for Mac, consider the following criteria: ease of use, speed, security, and additional features. While ease of use ensures your Mac torrent client is simple to navigate, a stable speed ensures that you can get any torrent for Mac easily. Then, security features such as built-in anti-virus protection are also crucial to protect against malware and viruses. Additional features such as built-in search, support for magnet links, and remote control could also be useful.
Based on the criteria explained above, these are the 9 best Mac torrent clients:
1. Transmission - Best Mac Torrent Client Overall in 2023
Transmission takes the top spot on our list of the best torrent clients for Mac. As you can imagine, there are many reasons for that. First, this is an incredibly simple application that does its job without much input. Add a torrent file and Transmission will take it from there. Incredibly simple, right?
However, Transmission’s simplicity is also its weakness. We know there are a lot of power users out there who like to have complete and in-depth control. Even though Transmission offers some advanced features, they are well hidden.
Therefore, we’d like to recommend this torrent downloaders for Mac to those looking for something simple and well-integrated with macOS. You can count on interactive notifications and smart usage of system resources.
2. uTorrent Web - Best Web-Based Mac Torrent Client
We're sure that seasoned P2P users know all about uTorrent. This is, without any doubt, one of the best Mac torrent clients. As its name says (you read it as - micro torrent), this is a very lightweight application that takes little of your system resources. In turn, it provides plenty of interesting features, including some highly advanced ones.
In case you're running macOS Catalina or newer, know that you can't use uTorrent Classic anymore. However, you'll get to use uTorrent Web - which, upon its installation, will be a part of your Web browser. However, you can use it to download any torrent for Mac and stream media files - which is something that wasn't available in the past.
3. qBittorrent- Best Mac Torrenting Software for Advanced Users
After recommending something simple, let’s take a look at the other end of the spectrum. A torrent client named qBittorrent provides plenty of additional features made for power users searching for that specific, best torrent for macOS. The perfect user of this software is someone who handles a large number of torrents and wants complete control.
The current UI of qBittorrent isn’t the most intuitively designed. However, this torrent downloader for Mac has come a long way since its early, hectic days. There’s a large toolbar at the top, which brings the standard set of controls. Then, there’s a detailed sidebar that helps you organize torrents. Finally, the bottom-placed toolbar can be used to perform advanced operations. All in all, we are more than sure that power users are going to love qBittorrent.
4. BitTorrent Web - Best Streaming-Friendly Torrent Client
We mustn’t forget to mention the original BitTorrent client, which is still one of the best Mac torrent clients. It brings everything from a straightforward interface, up to the ability to search for torrents online. And as many of you already know, macOS users now get to use a next-generation BitTorrent client - its 'Web' edition.
In case you decide to try BitTorrent Web, you will see this is a Web-based application. You install it just like any torrent client, but it runs in your Web browser. You'll get to download any torrent for Mac, search files, stream media, and plenty more. All in all, this is definitely one of the most capable P2P clients for macOS - despite its recent transition to the Web.
5. Folx - Best Beginner-Friendly Torrent Downloader for Mac
Next on our list of the best Mac torrent clients, we have Folx. This is a highly interesting download manager that also handles torrents with ease. As such, it acts as the central place for all your downloads.
First, you need to know that Folx brings a highly polished interface. You can start by using the built-in search tool. The application will display an extensive list of results, so you can begin to download files in an instant. Also, you can also add torrents manually.
However, it’s also worth knowing that Folx PRO brings a few unique features. It can split downloads into 2 threads for faster downloading. In addition, it can automatically resume interrupted downloads, which can be a real lifesaver at times. Finally, Folx can be used to download videos from the Web, from websites such as YouTube and Vimeo.
6. WebTorrent Desktop - Best One-Click Torrent Client
WebTorrent is a different kind of Mac torrenting software. Instead of downloading torrents, it streams them. What this means is that you can use it to stream movies, music, and audiobooks. In addition, you don’t have to wait for a torrent to fully download – it will start to play as soon as it becomes active.
First of all, we need to praise WebTorrent’s UI. It is very simple and minimalistic – and therefore fits perfectly with the MacOS’ aesthetics. Once you find a streamable torrent, you can simply drag and drop it onto the application’s UI. WebTorrent will do the rest. It will find seeders, connect to them, and start downloading the file. After a few seconds, you will get to see a large media player with all of the needed controls.
7. Deluge - Best Old-School Mac Torrent Downloader
Deluge is one of the oldest applications of its kind. However, this doesn’t mean that it’s outdated. In fact, it has recently received an update that brought numerous changes. Today, this is an easy-to-use torrent client that brings just about everything you’ll ever need (if you can handle its old-school UI, that is).
Aside from the standard set of options, Deluge brings options like selective downloading, prioritization, and supports magnet URLs. In addition, it also supports UPnP and NAT-PMP port mapping which helps you download torrents as fast as you can. It even brings support for IPv6 and proxy servers. In case you can’t find a tool that you need, you can rely on a world of plugins for Deluge.
8. Vuze - Best Torrent Client with Built-In Search
The competition between Mac torrent clients is quite tough. That’s why Vuze is not a typical client but instead tries to offer everything you need to find healthy torrents and download them. It might be overly complex for inexperienced users, but experienced torrent users will feel right at home with this software.
Out of the box, Vuze comes with a search option to find torrents. You can enter a name, hash, or even a tag and you’ll see a long list of options. Once you decide to download a torrent, it will be automatically opened in the app, and it will start to download. And when it comes to downloading, you can count on support for all modern protocols. This includes DHT, PEX, Magnet URLs, and pretty much everything else.
9. BitLord - Best Torrent Client with RSS Support
BitLord started out as a fairly simple Mac torrent client but has grown in a big way. Today, we have an all-new version that comes as a highly optimized application. You get a built-in torrent search with type suggestions, bandwidth controls, RSS subscriptions, automatic port configuration, and plenty more.
What needs to be said is that BitLord isn't the most polished torrent downloader for Mac, at least when it comes to its UI. However, it gets the job done and comes with many useful features that advanced users are going to love. And this is why we still believe that BitLord is one of the best Mac torrent clients.
Final Thoughts
In conclusion, the best torrent client for a Mac will depend on the specific needs and preferences of the user. No matter which free torrent client you choose, they will all offer some level of optimization for faster downloads. Making an informed decision requires taking the time to research and evaluate various options before committing.
Our recommended clients for Mac offer a wide range of features that cater to various needs and preferences of users. Ensuring your protection and privacy while torrenting is also crucial, and the most effective way to achieve this is by using a reputable VPN. We highly recommend obtaining one.
This is where we end our overview of the best torrent clients for macOS. Do not forget to post a comment if you have any recommendations or questions for us. Thanks!