View source for Software:Comparison of file-sharing applications

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<!-- Please keep the list alphabetized -->
[[File sharing]] is a method of distributing electronically stored information such as [[Computer program|computer program]]s and [[Digital media|digital media]]. Below is a list of file sharing applications, most of them make use of [[Peer-to-peer file sharing|peer-to-peer file sharing]] technologies.

This comparison contains also [[Download manager|download manager]]s that can be used as file sharing applications. For pure download managers see the [[Software:Comparison of download managers|comparison of download managers]], and for BitTorrent-only clients the [[Software:Comparison of BitTorrent clients|comparison of BitTorrent clients]].


== Table ==
<!-- In each table, link one instance of terms, in body and notes, remove other WP:REPEATLINK(s). -->
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:smaller; text-align: center; width: auto"
|-
!Name
!Network<ref name="number">
*According to the article {{wipe|Forbes}}, [https://www.forbes.com/2005/06/24/cx_de_fileshareslide.html?this Top File-Sharing Networks], on 22 June 2005
** [[EDonkey network|eDonkey]] had 4,856,554 users
** [[FastTrack]] had 2,548,774 users
** [[Gnutella]] had 1,530,299 users
* BitTorrent 10 million in March, 2006 according to the Business Week article  [http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/may2006/tc20060508_693082.htm BitTorrent Goes Hollywood] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090407032920/http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/may2006/tc20060508_693082.htm |date=2009-04-07 }}</ref>
! [[Anonymous P2P]]
! Link system compatibility
! Price
! [[Computing platform|Platform]]
! [[Software license|License]]
! [[Programming language]]
! Free [[Spyware]]-[[Adware]]
! Latest release year
! Extra information 
|-
! {{rh}} | [[Software:AMule|aMule]]
| [[EDonkey network|eDonkey]], [[Kad network|Kad]]
| {{no}}
| {{yes|[[Ed2k URI scheme|eD2k]], magnet}}
| Free
| [[Software:GNU|GNU]], macOS, [[Software:Microsoft Windows|Windows]], [[Software:Linux|Linux]]
| {{free|GPL}}
| [[C++]]
| {{yes}}
| 2016, {{Latest stable software release/aMule}}
| 
|-
! {{rh}} | [[Software:BitComet|BitComet]]
| BitTorrent, eDonkey, Kad;<ref name="plugin">Compatibility with eDonkey and Kad networks is done via a modded eMule plugin also developed by the Comet team</ref> HTTP/FTP download
| {{no}}
| {{yes|ed2k,<ref name="plugin" /> magnet}}
| Free
| Windows
| {{Proprietary}}
| C++
| {{yes}}
| 2015, {{Latest stable software release/BitComet}}
| 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.
|-
! {{rh}} class="table-rh" | [[Software:DC++|DC++]]
| Direct Connect
| {{no}}
| {{yes|magnet}}
| Free
| Windows
| {{free|GPL}}
| C++
| {{yes}}
| 2017, 0.866 {{Start date and age|2017|05|20}}
| Many modifications exist, for example: LinuxDC++, EiskaltDC++, [[Software:FlylinkDC++|FlylinkDC++]], etc.
|-
! {{rh}} | [[Software:EMule|eMule]]
| eDonkey, Kad
| {{no}}
| {{yes|ed2k}}
| Free
| Windows
| {{free|GPL}}
| C++
| {{yes}}
| 2010, {{Latest stable software release/eMule}}
| Supports protocol [[Obfuscation|obfuscation]]
|-
! {{rh}} | {{anchor|F}} [[Software:Filetopia|Filetopia]]
| Filetopia
| {{no }} (except when using a bouncer)
| {{no}}
| Free
| Windows
| {{Proprietary}}
| Java
| {{no}}
| 2018
|
|-
! {{rh}} | Flashget
| BitTorrent, eDonkey; HTTP/FTP download
| {{no}}
| {{dunno}}
| {{dunno}}
| Windows
| {{Proprietary}}
| {{dunno}}
| {{dunno}}
| 2012
|
|-
! {{rh}} | [[Software:Free Download Manager|Free Download Manager]]
| BitTorrent; HTTP/FTP download
| {{no}}
| {{yes|[[Metalink|metalink]]}}
| Free
| Windows
| {{free|GPL}}
| C++ 
| {{yes}}
| 2015, {{Latest stable software release/Free Download Manager}}
|
|-
! {{rh}} | [[Software:Freenet|Freenet]]’s FProxy
| [[Software:Freenet|Freenet]]
| {{yes}}
| {{no}} 
| Free
| [[Software:GNU|GNU]], macOS, Windows
| {{free|GPL}}
| Java
| {{yes}}
| 2020, {{Latest stable software release/Freenet}}
| 
|-
! {{rh}} | [[Software:Freenet#Tools and applications|Frost]]
| Freenet
| {{yes}}
| {{no}} 
| Free
| [[Software:GNU|GNU]], macOS, Windows
| {{free|GPL}}
| Java
| {{yes}}
| 2011
| 
|-
! {{rh}} | [[Software:FrostWire|FrostWire]]
| BitTorrent
| {{no}}
| {{yes|magnet}}
| Free
| [[Software:GNU|GNU]], macOS, Windows 
| {{free|GPL}}
| Java
| {{yes}}
| 2015, {{Latest stable software release/FrostWire}}
| [[Software:Fork (software development)|Fork]] of LimeWire, with no copyrighted-material blocker planned.
|-
! {{rh}} | [[Software:Tixati|Fopnu]]
| Fopnu
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| Free
| [[Software:GNU|GNU]] Linux, Windows 
| Proprietary
| C++
| {{no}}
| 2023
| Fully decentralized network<ref>https://fopnu.com/</ref>
|-
! {{rh2}} | {{anchor|G}} [[Software:GetRight|GetRight]]
| BitTorrent; HTTP/FTP download
| {{no}}
| {{dunno}}
| {{dunno}}
| Windows
| {{dunno}}
| {{dunno}}
| {{dunno}}
| 2011
|
|-
! {{rh2}} | [[Software:GiFT|giFT]]
| OpenFT and, with plugins, Ares, [[Gnutella]], [[FastTrack]]
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| Free
| [[Software:GNU|GNU]], macOS, Windows
| {{free|GPL}}
| [[C (programming language)|C]]
| {{yes}}
| 2004, {{Latest stable software release/giFT}}
|
|- 
! {{rh2}} | [[Software:GnucDNA|GnucDNA]] / Gnucleus
| [[Gnutella]], [[Gnutella2]]
| {{No}}
| {{no}}
| Free
| Windows
| {{free|GPL}}
| C++
| {{yes}}
| 2005, {{Latest stable software release/Gnucleus}}
|
|-
! {{rh}} | [[Software:GNUnet|GNUnet]] / gnunet-fs
| [[Software:GNUnet|GNUnet]]
| {{yes}}
| {{yes|[[Software:GNUnet#File sharing URIs|ECRS]]}}
| Free
| [[Software:GNU|GNU]], [[Software:FreeBSD|FreeBSD]], macOS, Windows
| {{free|[[Software:GNU Affero General Public License|GNU AGPLv3 or later]]<ref>{{cite web |accessdate=June 8, 2018 |url=https://gnunet.org/git/gnunet.git/tree/src/core/core.h?id=4e2504a967ba09643c6dd7e3b9ce400e30adcb3d |title=license notice placed at the top in one of the source files of the project's repository, probably in each of its source files |quote=GNUnet is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify it under the terms of the GNU Affero General Public License as published by the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or (at your option) any later version.}}</ref> ([[Free software]])}}
| C
| {{yes}}
| 2019, {{Latest stable software release/GNUnet}}
| Latest preview release: 0.11.0pre66 / {{Start date and age|2018|06|06}}<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://gnunet.org/downloads |title=GNUnet download website |access-date=2018-06-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612141442/https://gnunet.org/downloads |archive-date=2018-06-12 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
|-
! {{rh}} | [[Software:Gtk-gnutella|gtk-gnutella]]
| [[Gnutella]]
| {{no}}
| {{yes|magnet}}
| Free
| GNU, Windows, Linux
| {{free|GPL}}
| C
| {{yes}}
| 2018, {{Latest stable software release/gtk-gnutella}}
|
|-
! {{rh}} | I2Phex
| [[Software:I2P|I2P]] (protocol [[Gnutella]])
| {{yes}}
| {{yes|magnet}}
| Free
| GNU, macOS, Windows
| {{free|GPL}}
| Java
| {{yes}}
| 2011
| Need [[Software:I2P|I2P]] to run.
|-
! {{rh}} | iMule
| [[Software:I2P|I2P]] (protocol [[Kad network]])
| {{yes}}
| {{yes|ed2k, magnet}}
| Free
| GNU, macOS, Windows
| {{free|GPL}}
| C++
| {{yes}}
| 2013, {{Latest stable software release/iMule}}
| needs I2P to run
|-
! {{rh}} | [[Software:Jumpshare|Jumpshare]]
| Jumpshare
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| Free or US$9.99/month
| [[Software:Windows|Windows]], [[Software:MacOS|macOS]]
| [[Proprietary software|Proprietary]]
| Various
| {{yes}}
| 2015
| Real-time file sharing with built-in utilities for screenshots, screencasts, notes, and voice clips
|-
! {{rh}} | [[Software:KCeasy|KCeasy]]
| Ares, [[Gnutella]], [[FastTrack]], OpenFT
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| Free
| Windows
| {{free|GPL}}
| C++, Object Pascal (Delphi)
| {{yes}}
| 2008
| Uses integrated [[Software:GiFT|giFT]] file sharing daemon as back-end.
|-
! {{rh}} | [[Software:KGet|KGet]]
| BitTorrent; HTTP/FTP download
| {{no}}
| {{dunno}}
| Free
| part of KDE on Windows
| {{free|GPL}}
| C++
| {{yes}}
| 2012
| {{dunno}}
|-
! {{rh}} | {{anchor|M}} [[Software:MLDonkey|MLDonkey]]
| BitTorrent, eDonkey, [[FastTrack]], ([[Gnutella]], Gnutella2), Kad; HTTP/FTP download
| {{no}}
| {{yes|ed2k, magnet, [[UUHash#Sig2Dat|sig2dat]]}}
| Free
| [[Software:GNU|GNU]], macOS, Windows, [[Software:Linux|Linux]]
| {{free|GPL}}
| [[OCaml]]
| {{yes}}
| 2014, {{Latest stable software release/MLDonkey}}
| P2P application, telnet / web-interface / GUI interface, complete and complex remote usage. Sancho GUI makes automatic SSH tunnels.
|-
! {{rh}} | [[Software:Nodezilla|Nodezilla]]
| [[Private network|Private]]
| {{yes}}
| {{no}}
| Free
| [[Software:GNU|GNU]], Windows
| {{partial|core proprietary, GUI GPL}}
| Java
| {{yes}}
| 2010
| Most is proprietary, GUI is GPL.
|-
! {{rh}} | [[Software:Perfect Dark (P2P)|Perfect Dark]]
| Perfect Dark
| {{yes}}
| {{no}}
| Free
| Windows
| {{Proprietary}}
| C++
| {{Yes}}
| 2015
| Boards. Auto update.
|-
! {{rh}} | {{anchor|R}} [[Software:Retroshare|Retroshare]]
| Retroshare
| {{yes}}
| {{yes|Own format}}
| Free
| Windows, [[Software:GNU|GNU]], [[Software:MacOS|macOS]]
| {{free|GPL}}
| C++
| {{yes}}
| 2023
| Uses PGP for friend authentication. Decentralized F2F network type.
|-
! {{rh2}} | Robert
| I2P (protocol BitTorrent)
| {{yes}}
| {{yes|magnet}}
| Free
| [[Software:GNU|GNU]], macOS, Windows
| {{free|GPL}}
| Python
| {{yes}}
| 2012
| needs I2P to run
|-
! {{rh2}} | {{anchor|S}} [[Software:Share (P2P)|Share]]
| [[Software:Share (P2P)|Share]]
| {{yes}}
| {{no}}
| Free
| Windows
| {{Proprietary}}
| Object Pascal (Delphi)
| {{yes}}
| 2006
| Anonymous developer; tries to be Winny successor
|-
! {{rh}} | [[Software:Shareaza|Shareaza]]
| [[EDonkey network|eDonkey]], [[Software:BitTorrent|BitTorrent]], [[Gnutella]], [[Gnutella2]], Direct Connect; HTTP/FTP download
| {{no}}
| {{yes|ed2k, magnet, Piolet/MP2P, gnutella}}
| Free
| Windows
| {{free|GPL}}
| C++
| {{yes}}
| 2017, {{Latest stable software release/Shareaza}}
| Uses a powerful files library; maintained by volunteer group
|-
! {{rh}} | [[Software:StealthNet|StealthNet]]
| RShare
| {{yes}}
| {{no}}
| Free
| [[Software:GNU|GNU]], macOS, Windows
| {{free|GPL}}
| C#
| {{yes}}
| 2011
| Evolution of the RShare client with many functions. 
|-
! {{rh}} | [[Software:Soulseek|Soulseek]]
| [[Software:Soulseek|Soulseek]]
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| Free, donations for privileges
| Windows, Mac, Linux
| {{Proprietary}}
| C++, QT
| {{yes}}
| 2015, {{Latest stable software release/Soulseek}}
| Folder downloads, browse users with folder trees, no multi-source downloads
|-
! {{rh}} | [[Software:Tribler|Tribler]]
| BitTorrent and its own
| {{yes}}
| {{yes|magnet}}
| Free
| Windows, [[Software:GNU|GNU]], macOS
| {{free|[[Software:GNU Lesser General Public License|GNU LGPL v2.1+]]<ref name="license-info">{{Citation | url = https://github.com/Tribler/tribler/blob/devel/Tribler/LICENSE.txt | title = tribler/LICENSE.txt at devel · Tribler/tribler | publisher = [[GitHub]] | accessdate = 2014-12-18 | url-status = dead | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20141218130945/https://github.com/Tribler/tribler/blob/devel/Tribler/LICENSE.txt | archivedate = 2014-12-18 }}</ref>}}
| Python, C++
| {{yes}}
| 2019, {{Latest stable software release/Tribler}}
| Unlike most other torrent clients, Tribler is decentralized (as well as anonymous) and does not rely on any [[BitTorrent tracker|trackers]] or any other indexing service to discover content.<ref>[http://www.tribler.org/trac/wiki/whatIsTribler/2 whatIsTribler/2] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130728193255/http://www.tribler.org/trac/wiki/whatIsTribler/2 |date=2013-07-28 }}</ref> Also features a built-in video streamer.
|-
! {{rh}} | {{anchor|V}} [[Software:Vuze|Vuze]] <br/> (formerly Azureus)
| BitTorrent and I2P
| {{no}} (except when using [[Software:I2P|I2P]])
| {{yes|magnet}}
| Free
| [[Software:GNU|GNU]], macOS, Windows
| {{free|GPL}}
| Java
| {{no}}
| 2016, {{Latest stable software release/Vuze}}
|
|-
! {{rh}} | [[Software:WinMX|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.
|-
! {{rh}} | [[Software:Winny|Winny]]
| Winny
| {{yes}}
| {{no}}
| Free
| Windows
| {{Proprietary}}
| C++
| {{yes}}
| 2003
| 
|-
! {{rh}} | {{anchor|L}} [[Software:WireShare|WireShare]]
| [[Gnutella]], BitTorrent
| {{no}}
| {{yes|magnet}}
| Free
| GNU, macOS, Windows
| {{free|GPL}}
| Java
| {{yes}}
| 2016
| Forked from Limewire pro
|- class="sortbottom"
! Name
! Network
! [[Anonymous P2P]]
! Link system compatibility
! Price
! [[Computing platform|Platform]]
! [[Software license|License]]
! [[Programming language]]
! Free [[Spyware]]-[[Adware]]
! Last release year
! Extra information
|}

* Note that several applications had [[Adware|adware]] or [[Spyware|spyware]] tied in during the past and may have it again in the future. The same goes for [[Software:Fork (software development)|forks]] of open source apps, e.g. [[Software:EMule|eMule]]. This list attempts to display the current status only.
* No longer available from their websites: Acquisition, [[Audiogalaxy]], Bearshare, [[Software:Bitblinder|Bitblinder]], [[Software:CuteMX|CuteMX]], edonkey2000, [[Software:Grokster|Grokster]], [[Software:IMesh|iMesh]], [[Software:Kazaa|Kazaa]], [[Software:Kazaa Lite|Kazaa Lite]], [[Software:LimeWire|LimeWire]], Manolito, [[Software:Morpheus|Morpheus]], [[Software:Napster|Napster]], [[Software:Pando (application)|Pando]] and [[Company:Scour Inc.|Scour Exchange]]
* [[Software:Opera (web browser)|Opera web browser]] no longer includes P2P functionality.

== See also ==
{{columns-list|colwidth=20em|
* File sharing in Canada
* List of file-sharing programs for Linux and BSD
* [[List of P2P protocols]]
* [[Open music model]]
* [[Timeline of file sharing]]
}}

=== Other comparisons ===

{{columns-list|colwidth=20em|
* [[Software:Comparison of ADC software|Comparison of Advanced Direct Connect software]]
* [[Software:Comparison of BitTorrent clients|Comparison of BitTorrent clients]]
* [[Software:Comparison of eDonkey software|Comparison of eDonkey software]]
* Comparison of G2 software
* Comparison of gnutella software
* [[Software:Comparison of download managers|Comparison of download managers]]
* [[Software:Comparison of file transfer protocols|Comparison of file transfer protocols]]
}}

== Notes ==
{{Reflist}}

{{File sharing protocols}}

[[Category:File sharing software]]

{{Sourceattribution|Comparison of file-sharing applications}}