5 Best Frostwire Alternatives

Frostwire was among one of the oldest BitTorrent client options there was back in 2004. At the time, it was a fork of another and meant people didn't need to download Lemon Wire.

It quickly went on to be a top application for anyone downloading torrent files. However, nothing is ever as simple with torrents. The platform became too popular and drew too much attention.

While there is little reason to know what is Frostwire, you can learn what happened to the Frostwire Music Downloader, and most of all, what are the best alternatives to Frostwire you can find. (Find The Best Lime Torrents Proxy)

In This Article

What Happened to Frostwire?
5 Alternatives to Frostwire
Is Using a Torrenting Client Legal?
Always use a VPN When Torrenting
Best VPNs for Torrenting
- ExpressVPN
- Surfshark
Wrapping Up

What Happened to Frostwire?

On September 27, 2018, FrostWire posted on its website that the development team was closing the project. The primary reason was Google removed their app from the Google Play Store.

According to FrostWire, the DMCA request showed copyrighted material the complainant stated was uploaded into the FrostWire app.

Although FrostWire tried to counter this as a torrent, clients can't host content. Yet, Google stood firm in its refusal to reinstate FrostWire.

The original team left the app’s code available for other developers (open-source) to fork the software if they wish.

Since then, we have seen the FrostWire Plus APK emerge in the Google Play Store. Also, it is available for Windows, Mac and Linus, as well as Android.

The service appears to focus downloads of free-to-play music from popular music artists on the internet in the same vein as the Fusion music downloader. (Read 7 Best YIFY Alternatives)

5 Alternatives to Frostwire

Here you can find five of the best BitTorrent clients that allow users to download torrent files and are the best Frostwire alternatives.

1. BitTorrent

Platforms Available: Windows, Mac, Android
Android version: 6.5.7
Android Rating: 4.5
Windows classic and web version. Paid for and free versions
Last Android Update: September 9, 2020
Free and paid versions on Android: Free is ad-supported, and pay is $2.99 and ad-free.

It isn't a surprise that FrostWire alternatives are all BitTorrent clients, so it is obvious to include the BitTorrent client as an option for torrent users.

BitTorrent offers a client for Windows, Mac, and Android and is rated among users. Most Android users who use this version use it for name recognition and app simplicity.

You can opt from Web version on Windows and Mac and Classic on Windows of the peer-to-peer file-sharing program on desktops. The web version lets you stream as you download, while the classic is an easy-to-use application. You can get this as ad-supported, ad-free or premium, including a VPN for anonymity.

2. uTorrent

Platforms Available: Windows, Mac, Linux, Android
Android version: 6.5.7
Android Rating: 4.6
Last Android Update: September 13, 2020
Free and paid on Android: Free is ad-supported, and the paid version is $2.99 and ad-free.

BitTorrent owns μTorrent, and you can see this from the features as they are almost identical. You have a web version of the BitTorrent client to stream and download. However, uTorrent is a standalone app rather than being the same.

Key differences are that the μTorrent free download is regularly maintained and updated. You also get a version for Linux not available for BitTorrent.

In the past, BitTorrent inserted crypto coin miners into the μTorrent BitTorrent client software, though luckily, there is no miner in the current tool.

The app has also lost a lot of the bloat it suffered and is lightweight on system resources while still offering a great torrent search engine download solution.

3. Vuze

Platforms Available: Windows, Mac, Linux, Android
Android Version 2.1
Rating: 3.8
Last Android Update: March 4, 2016
Free and paid on Android: Free has ads and can't stream media as it downloads. The paid version is $3.99 and ad-free and allows users to burn DVDs from inside the app.

Vuze has been around for many years. It is easy to use and offers a clean interface; for the most, it covers all the basic features for torrent users and adds a few extra.

Vuze has a torrent search engine and discovery option; there is a Wi-Fi-only model, so it doesn't use mobile data.

The app also allows users to burn DVDs from the app in the Vuze Plus version. It is still one of the most widely used BitTorrent clients and Frostwire alternatives, yet it hasn't seen any updates in a few years.

4. Torrent Downloader

Platform Available: Android
Android Version: 1.2.2
Rating: 4.2
Last Android Update: May 11, 2020
Free, ad-supported version

Torrent Downloader is a no-frills and simple P2P program you can get. It has a basic program interface, and the features allow you to do the bare minimum. However, you can control all areas of your torrent download, even banning connected peers.

It is possible to view network activity as you can in other options. The downside is there is no search function in the application for downloads or torrent or magnet links.

Torrent Downloader includes a local search option, although you’ll have to find your torrent links manually.

5. Flud

Platforms Available: Android, Windows and Mac
Android Version: 1.8.3.1
Rating: 4.5
Last Android Update: February 20, 2020
Free and paid on Android: Free is ad-supported, and the paid version is $1.49

Flud has a great interface and is easy to use for any user. However, it hasn't seen updates on Android in a year.

This aside, it is feature-rich and still trendy. You can select from the premium paid for version that supports many torrents uses, including μTP, PeX, and support for magnet links.

The Peer 2 Peer app has NAT-PMP, DHT, and UPnP support. There is no official website, and you can't find mention from the software developer’s homepage in the Play Store or Chrome store.

The file-sharing BitTorrent client app still holds a great way to download files and top alternatives to Frostwire.

Is Using a Torrenting Client Legal?

Torrenting isn’t illegal, but downloading copyrighted material is. Users may not tell which torrent sites have a legal software that could be open source or movies and TV shows out of copyright. (Learn How to Watch BBC iPlayer in New Zealand)

In some instances, it is clear which movies are breaking copyright. However, it is easy to get it wrong when file sharing, and you may find yourself on the wrong side of the law.

It is also advisable to use open-source torrent clients to download torrent files. This can stop the inclusion of anyone adding coin miners or adding unscrupulous software into the Frostwire Alternatives.

Always use a VPN When Torrenting

Issues come when downloading torrents of any type using a torrent program. Internet service providers (ISP) and copyright trolls continually monitor the BitTorrent network for any activity. Should they catch you, they can send a warning letter or throttle (slowing down) your internet connection.

For heavy torrents who upload lots, they can take legal action; however, for regular users who download files from torrent files now and again, this legal action rarely happens.

If you are concerned about your privacy when downloading torrents, you can use a VPN. Using these, you can hide your IP address and stop anyone from seeing which torrent sites you visit or the files you download. (Find the Top Torrent Sites 2021)

Best VPNs for Torrenting

When you use any Frostwire alternatives or similar software to download any file, be it open source and free for download or under copyright. It is advisable to use a VPN, as this allows you to remain anonymous when you do. Here is the worlds top VPN and a great alternative.

Both are packed with features and great solutions when carrying out any Peer to Peer file sharing torrents.

ExpressVPN

Torrenting support on 3,000+ servers
Lightning-fast speeds
Kill switch and 256-bit encryption
Strict no-logging policy
Works with: uTorrent, BitTorrent, Vuze, Torrent Downloader and Flud
Unblocks Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Amazon Prime Video, ITV, Peacock, Hulu and many more
Supports Windows, Android, iOS, macOS, routers and browser extensions

ExpressVPN has a reputation for consistently fast speeds. ExpressVPN supports torrenting on all the 3,000+ server networks in 94 countries. With unlimited bandwidth and data, you are free to download what you want and as fast as you can. (Read ExpressVPN Review)

ExpressVPN has great security policies, has headquarters in the British Virgin Islands and outside any Fourteen Eyes Alliance.

It has a strict zero-logging guarantee and backs this up with 256-bit AES encryption, spoofing your real location to keep your online activity invisible. It also uses perfect forward secrecy by default.

The Network Lock or Kill Switch stops your IP address from leaking if your VPN connection drops.

You have various protocols, like OpenVPN UDP/TCP and the new Lightway, which is recommended for maximum security and speed.

The intuitive app interface is easy to navigate on mobile and desktop. If you get stuck in any area, you can use the 24/7 live chat support.

To test all this, you can use ExpressVPN on 5 devices at once on the 30-day money-back guarantee that is risk-free.

Surfshark

P2P on all 3,200+ servers
Fast downloads
AES 256-bit encryption with zero logs
Kill switch
NoBorders Mode bypasses geo-blocks and censorship.
Works with: uTorrent, BitTorrent, Vuze, Torrent Downloader and Flud
Unblocks Netflix, iPlayer, Prime Video, Hulu, Sling, Peacock, and more
Compatible with: Windows, Android, iOS, macOS, Chrome, Linux, Firefox, and routers

Surfshark offers a fast, reliable server network that continues to grow. The apps are packed with privacy features, so your torrenting activities go unnoticed.

You can torrent from all 3,200+ servers, and these are optimized for P2P sharing.

There is also AES 256-bit encryption, OpenVPN support, and they now use the new WireGuard protocol. You have a kill switch, so you'll never leak your IP address in a torrent swarm.

Surfshark’s privacy ensures zero logs, and their headquarters are not far from the above VPN in the BVI. (Read Surfshark Review)

You have a MultiHop feature to use multiple servers for added security. You can also use the Whitelist for torrenting traffic and regular traffic going through your ISP.

You also have the CleanWeb ad blocker and malware protection built-in though it doesn't block malicious torrents and files, so you still need antivirus. It is also one of the only VPNs to offer unlimited simultaneous connections and a 30-day money-back guarantee to test risk-free.