LimeWire used to be a popular P2P file-sharing software with over 100 million monthly users.
It was mainly used to share and download media files i.e. audio and video files. Likewise, it used the BitTorrent protocol and the Gnutella network. Unfortunately, the platform has been shut down since 2010 after a permanent injunction.
Fortunately, we can use alternative programs such as Transmission, qBittorrent, Deluge and several others. The best LimeWire alternative is uTorrent which is easy to use and helps you share files in quick time. The software is ultra light, and works on all devices.Â
Let’s discuss these tools at length.Â
25 Best LimeWire Alternatives
uTorrent
Currently, uTorrent is the most popular LimeWire alternative. With about 2MB in size, the software is lightweight which also makes it very fast. You can use it to download and share files without worrying about your computer performance.
With uTorrent, you get advanced settings like remote management, scripting, automation, etc. Likewise, uTorrent works with the BitTorrent protocol, just like LimeWire.
While you can only download torrent files with uTorrent, LimeWire was used to download music and videos.
Nevertheless, uTorrent works on Linux, Windows, and Mac PCs. You can also download its Android mobile app.
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Transmission
Like LimeWire, Transmission consumes minimal CPU resources; hence, other platforms choose it as their default BitTorrent client.
Furthermore, Transmission has a low memory footprint compared to other LimeWire alternatives. It incorporates all the essential torrenting features including magnet links, encryption, DHT, tracker editing, etc. With a web of terminal clients, you can remotely control the software.
Conversely, the Transmission software is a relatively native software that works on Linux, Windows, Ubuntu, and Mac.
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qBittorrent
Here is another LimeWire alternative that runs on all major operating systems including Mac, Linux, Windows, and BSD.
Furthermore, it’s open-source software and supports all the major BitTorrent extensions. Notably, it comes with a torrent creating tool.
qBitTorrent has a user-friendly interface which is quite similar to that of LimeWire. It features an extensible search engine that makes locating torrent files for download easy.
You can perform simultaneous searches on different torrent websites and there are different categories featured to help narrow the results. With its web user interface, you can remote control the qBitTorrent client.
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Deluge
Deluge is a LimeWire alternative that’s available for Windows, Linux, and macOS. Hence, it’s a cross-platform BitTorrent client. This software is lightweight and you can use it for free. It supports full encryption, plugin systems, etc.
Notably, Deluge features a collection of plugins that were designed by users. Hence, you can extend its functionality.
As a BitTorrent client, this software has all the primary features you’ll need. It allows peer exchange, supports proxies, and DHT amongst others. You can use this software as standalone software or as a client-server.
Also, you can run it on a headless machine. Aside from installing Deluge on your computer, you can use it on the web too.
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Soulseek
This software was developed for free file sharing. It is one of the best LimeWire alternatives because it is free of ads and spyware, which make it safe to use.
With Soulseek, you can quickly search for files thanks to its featured rooms, search correlation system, and powerful search engine. You can discover files or other users with similar interests.
Soulseek was developed mainly for musical artists – to help them share their works and connect to a larger audience. This was a useful LimeWire feature.
In the same vein, your Soulseek account could be canceled if you share copyrighted materials. That way, Soulseek can escape legal issues like LimeWire.
Nevertheless, Soulseek supports Windows, Mac, Linux, AVG, and Xfinity systems.
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Tixati
Tixati is a relatively new LimeWire alternative, but it’s already a favorite for many torrent users. The software is clean without ads and spyware and it is simple to use.
You can use it online via the website or download the native software for Windows and Linux computers. Notably, Tixati doesn’t need .NET or Java to work; hence, it is easy to install.
Thanks to its ultra-fast algorithms, you can quickly download files. Also, you can conveniently manage your bandwidth. The software supports magnet links, PEX, and DHT.
Not to mention, it incorporates advanced BitTorrenting features like the event scheduler, IP filtering, and RSS. To secure your files, you can make use of RC4 connection encryption.
eMule
eMule is an open-source P2P file-sharing application that is available as a project on GitHub. The software was developed to replace the popular eDonkey2000 software.
You can only use eMule on Windows and it’s free to use. Lots of torrent users prefer eMule as a LimeWire alternative because of its fast file search functionality. However, it has a steep learning process.
An advantage of eMule is that the software scans every file for errors before users can download it. That way, you’re safe from downloading files that’ll corrupt your PC which was one of the major issues with LimeWire. If any file is corrupted, the Intelligent Corruption Control function repairs it.
LuckyWire
Here is another best LimeWire alternative on our list.
The LuckyWire software was cloned from LimeWire. Both software programs are similar in functionality and appearance. Hence, former LimeWire users would find it easy to use LuckyWire.
However, Luckywire can only be used on Windows computers. To use Luckywire, you simply need to search using the search and featured search filters.
You can filter the search results based on different criteria as well. The software works very fast in bringing up search results and also in download. However, you have to be mindful by examining the file properties because LuckyWire can bring up fake results.
Notably, LuckyWire features a built-in player for previewing media files before downloading, but it only works for audio files.
rTorrent
rTorrent is another BitTorrent client that is ideal as a LimeWire alternative.
It uses the libtorrent library and it is relatively fast because its client and library were programmed in C++.
Despite its simplicity, you’ll find almost all features you get on GUI BitTorrent clients on rTorrent. rTorrent is open source and can be installed on Mac, BSD, and Linux PCs.
This software provides a lean BitTorrent solution and nearly all trackers support it. Like most LimeWire alternatives, this software supports DHT, PEX, and magnet links.
With its remote control API functionality, you can configure rTorrent with different web clients to create several alternative user interfaces. Hence, you have numerous web front ends to choose from.
FrostWire
FrostWire functions as a media player, cloud downloader, and BitTorrent client. You can use it to search for media files, play them directly online, or download them to your device.
It’s a modern LimeWire alternative that supports Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, and Kindle Fire.
Notably, FrostWire is a fork of LimeWire. It should be the number one alternative except that many users complained that some files were corrupted.
Nevertheless, if you’re careful, you can use FrostWire safely. The software enables you to quickly locate files using the built-in file search that connects to BitTorrent search engines. Also, the software has a built-in internet radio and it supports playlists.
Shareaza is described as a sophisticated and luxurious file-sharing software. Like LimeWire, It enables you to download almost any type of file.
In fact, it integrates the power of four different P2P networks which include EDonkey2000, Gnutella, BitTorrent, and Gnutella2 (G2).
In addition, Shareaza features an intuitive user interface, which is relatively similar to that of LimeWire. An interesting Shareaza feature is Collections.
With Collections, you can download all music files in an album, album covers, descriptions, etc. at once in a single package. You can also chat with other users. Remarkably, Shareaza is available in over 30 different languages.
KTorrent
This software was developed for Linux and BSD systems. You can’t make use of KTorrent if you need a LimeWire alternative for Windows.
A standout feature for KTorrent is simultaneous downloads. You can download multiple torrents at the same time and you can also queue them to download one after the other.
KTorrent has a built-in player that lets you preview audio and video files before downloading them. The software supports UDP trackers, private trackers, and private torrents.
To protect yourself, KTorrent allows you to connect via a proxy. Plus, you can create trackerless torrents. You’re not limited to the basic KTorrent features. Besides, you can extend its functionality by installing plugins.
WireShare is another direct fork of the LimeWire software. It’s available for Windows, Linux, and Mac.
Getting started with WireShare is a simple process as you don’t have to carry out any installation; simply download WireShare, run it, and use it. With WireShare, you’re safe as there are no spyware, adware, or ads.
You can search for media files by title, artist, genre, and even meta information. Thanks to the Ultrapeer technology that WireShare uses, it doesn’t consume much bandwidth when in use.
Also, its Swarm feature lets you download files from multiple hosts with lightning speed. WireShare has an integrated chat system, so users can communicate with each other. Hence, you can share files privately with other users, just like LimeWire.
BeeMP3
If you’re looking for a LimeWire alternative to download free music, BeeMP3 is a good option. It isn’t actually a BitTorrent client, but it is ideal for downloading new music from the Internet like any BitTorrent client.
With BeeMP3, you can locate audio MP3 files from all over the internet; simply search and download audio files.
BeeMP3 is only available as a web application; you can’t install it on any operating system. Every now and then, the BeeMP3 bot crawls the internet to discover all newly released songs.
The software’s database contains more than 800,000 audio files with thousands being added every day. You can either download the songs or play them online.
GigaTribe
GigaTribe is a free file-sharing software. It’s a popular alternative to LimeWire with over a million users. You can share large gigabytes of images, audio, videos, and documents from your computer to others.
Conversely, you can download files that have been shared by others. Unlike LimeWire that supported Windows, Mac, Solaris, and Linux, GigaTribe supports only Windows and Mac computers.
To use GigaTribe, you’ll need to have contacts – it’s like having friends and followers on social media. The higher your contact numbers the more files you can download. Likewise, more people will be available to download what you share.
GigaTribe has data loss protection such that you can always continue your download or upload from where it stopped if you were interrupted.
MuWire
This is a recommended LimeWire alternative if you’re concerned about staying anonymous online. MuWure was inspired by LimeWire and the software utilizes I2P to ensure all users stay anonymous.
It supports sharing and downloading of any file type and it can be installed on Windows, Linux, and Mac systems. Notably, you can also use MuWire on mobile devices.
All you need to start locating files with MuWire is a nickname. This nickname is used to mask your true identity and keep you anonymous. You can search for files using hash and keywords. Plus, you can chat with other users.
Conversely, MuWire supports comments, file collections, certificates, feeds, etc.
GTK-Gnutella
Just like LimeWire, it supports P2P and Gnutella networks; hence, you can upload and download any type of file.
Likewise, you can install it on Mac, Windows, and other OS that supports GTK+.
Although it’s still in active development, gtk-gnutella is a reliable P2P file-sharing software. Once launched, it automatically finds peers for you and this process takes just one to two minutes. To ensure the software consumes minimal bandwidth, it can be run as a leaf node.
Furthermore, gtk-gnutella supports ultrapeers, UDP, TCP. Notably, the same port numbers are used for TCP and UDP.
Acqlite
Acqlite is a Gnutella file-sharing software. It’s based on LimeWire, Cabos, and Acquisition. The software incorporates a user-friendly interface. It is only compatible with Mac devices.
Hence, it’s one of the best LimeWire alternatives for Mac users. Likewise, it integrates with iTunes and iPods. Also, it has multiple filtering options available.
In addition, Acqlite supports DHT, I2P to keep users anonymous, TLS encryption, UPnP, and firewall to firewall transfers.
As a user, you can share and get information from the online forums. Notably, the Acqlite software supports multiple languages.
BitTornado
BitTornado is another notable LimeWire alternative on our list. It was mainly developed for Windows PC, but there are source packages you can use to install BitTornado on other Operating Systems such as OSX, Linux, and BSD.
Additionally, BitTornado supports encryption to secure files. When using BitTornado, it’s recommended that you run it using memtest to avoid downloading corrupted torrent files.
You can’t use BitTornado behind a firewall; either the software won’t work entirely, or it will be very slow. If you’re behind a firewall, you’ll get a yellow light. To quicken the tool especially when seeding, you can turn on super-speed.
However, some users misuse and exploit this super speed which could affect its efficiency.
Transdroid
If you want to download torrents from your Android devices, then Transdriod is an ideal LimeWire alternative to consider.
Primarily, it’s a torrent manager you can use as a remote client for different BitTorrent platforms including Transmission, Deluge, µTorrent, rTorrent, Deluge, etc. Most of these BitTorrent platforms don’t have mobile apps which makes Transdroid very useful.
With Transdroid, you can view and manage torrents from any of these platforms. You can add, delete, label, and transfer torrents, edit seed, and download torrents.
For convenience, its Android app comes with a Home Screen widget. With the widget, you can always easily keep track of your torrents.
Vuze
Here’s another LimeWire alternative for Android devices. The application was developed to help people control their torrents conveniently.
Notably, Vuze features some advanced features you won’t get with other mobile torrent managers. However, you only have all features with the premium version – Vuze Plus.
Vuze is also available as a desktop application for Mac, Linux, and Windows PCs. Hence, you can remote control the desktop software by using its mobile app. The software supports magnet links and you can play media files while you download them.
Notably, you can burn media files you download directly to DVDs with the desktop software.
Miro
Miro is a LimeWire alternative to consider for downloading mostly video content. It’s a free and open-source platform with a lot of functionalities; hence, it is a favorite for many cloud services, device makers, and music stores. Unlike LimeWire, Miro can be used only on Mac OX.
You can use Miro to download files from BitTorrent platforms and other third-party platforms like iTunes, Amazon Music, YouTube, Google Store, etc.
Miro supports diverse audio and video file formats, so you don’t need a third-party media player. Furthermore, you can convert videos into different formats and resolutions.
Tribler
Tribler is one of the best LimeWire alternatives for downloading videos. The software ensures user privacy using tor-inspired onion routing. Hence, Tribler works like an onion browser.
However, users are still advised to take privacy measures and not rely on its anonymity. It can be used via web browsers. Alternatively, it is compatible with Windows, Linux, and Mac PCs.
Tribler is simple to use and you don’t need BitTorrent websites to search for files to download. All you need to do is to search, and then click on the video content you intend to download from the search results. You can play videos directly on the platform, even simultaneously as you download.
BitComet
BitComet is a unique LimeWire alternative. It’s a C++ BitTorrent download client and will also work as an HTTP and FTP download client. Not to mention, it is compatible with Android, Mac, and Windows devices.
A unique BitComet feature is the intelligent disk caching that caches data, so your hard drive doesn’t get damaged with constant read and write.
This software supports Magnet Link, HTTP Seeding, DHT network, UDP tracker Protocol v2, and a few other modern BitTorrent protocols. It utilizes long-term seeding technology that finds more seeds to ensure all torrents are successfully downloaded. Files can be previewed before downloading.
Rocket Torrents
This is a P2P BitTorrent download software used mainly for music download. Compared to other LimeWire alternatives for downloading torrents, Rocket Torrents is very lightweight and won’t consume many resources on your PC.
It can be installed on Windows and although it’s free, there’s a premium version available with extended features.
You don’t always have to search for files to download with Rocket Torrents. The software has a Top Torrents feature that sorts out all the ranking torrents around the globe for you to download. You can sort the torrent results based on different categories. Also, Rocket Torrents supports up to nine different languages.
Bottom Line
Since LimeWire broke the internet file-sharing scene, several similar platforms have been developed. Notably, LimeWire was shut down because lots of users were distributing copyrighted music files.
Therefore, if you’re going to use any of the 25 best LimeWire alternatives that I mentioned above, I will advise that you only share files that you own.
