BiglyBT vs FrostWire
BiglyBT
biglybt.comFrostWire
frostwire.comSide by side
| Figure | BiglyBT | FrostWire |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | Yes | — |
| Web | Yes | — |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| Android | Yes | Yes |
| API | Yes | — |
| Plans published | 1 | 1 |
| Spec score · Peer-to-Peer File Sharing Software | 9.0 (#3) | 7.9 (#11) |
| Founded | 2003 | 2004 |
| Product | BiglyBT is an open source, ad-free BitTorrent client, and its installer contains no third-party offers. | FrostWire is a BitTorrent client, video downloader, and media player. |
| System requirements | Windows installers require Windows 7 or newer; macOS installers target 10.12 or newer, with separate Intel and Apple Silicon builds. | The listed minimums include Windows 10 64-bit, macOS 11.5.2 or later, Linux 64-bit, or Android 8.0 or later, 256 MB RAM, and an active internet connection. |
Plans
In their own words
BiglyBT
BiglyBT is a free, open-source BitTorrent client with no ads or third-party installer offers. It runs on Windows, macOS, Linux, and Android. Migration tools can transfer settings, downloads, and plugins from several popular BitTorrent clients. Swarm Merging can help finish torrents missing available pieces, and bandwidth limits can be applied globally or to downloads, tags, peer sets, networks, or peers, with schedules. Discovery features include meta-search with custom site templates, Swarm Discoveries, tag discovery, and RSS subscriptions. Network and privacy options include I2P support, VPN detection, and routing search results, subscriptions, and internal browser connections through Tor. The client also provides media playback and conversion, UPnP Media Server, and DLNA support. Android apps compatible with Transmission RPC can remotely control it. The desktop privacy policy says download and sharing details stay on the computer, while server calls check IP and update status without logging the IP. Android startup telemetry includes app and device details and client type, but not torrent, subscription, or search activity.
FrostWire
FrostWire is a free BitTorrent client, video downloader, and media player for Windows, macOS, Linux, and Android. Its in-app search reaches torrent engines and cloud sources such as YouTube, SoundCloud, and Archive.org. You can preview cloud files and play BitTorrent media while downloads are still running. Torrent downloads can be narrowed to one file or taken as a complete package. A media library organizes downloaded audio and video, playlists, and internet radio stations. FrostWire uses the BitTorrent peer-to-peer network for distributing content without centralized hosting bandwidth. The project describes itself as open source and publishes source code for forking or modification. It also provides Telluride, a command-line video downloader, and jlibtorrent Java bindings with Maven setup instructions. Magnet links, selective downloads, and DHT are supported. The listed plan is free, with no subscriptions required.