qBittorrent vs Transmission: Which Torrent Client to Use

Pick qBittorrent if you are on Windows or Linux and want the most built-in tools: a torrent search engine, RSS download rules, sequential downloading and a bandwidth scheduler. Pick Transmission if you are on a Mac, run torrents on a NAS or home server, or simply want a light client that works with sensible defaults.

Both are free, open source and ad-free, and both can be controlled from a web browser. The choice comes down to platform and how many features you want in front of you.

qBittorrent vs Transmission at a glance

Which is better on a Mac, qBittorrent or Transmission?

Transmission is the better choice on a Mac, and qBittorrent's own download page says as much.

On 6 November 2026 we checked both download pages. qBittorrent offered version 5.3.0 for Windows and Linux, but only 5.2.3 for macOS. Under the Mac download it says: "The macOS version is barely supported, because we don't have active macOS developers/contributors." The same day, Transmission offered the same version, 4.1.4, for macOS, Windows and Linux.

Transmission also leans into the Mac. Its home page describes the macOS app as native and says it has been Apple Silicon native since version 4.0. The current Mac build needs macOS 12 or later, while qBittorrent's needs macOS 13 or later.

Which has more features?

qBittorrent has more features built in. Its feature list includes:

• A search engine that queries many torrent sites at once, with category filters such as Books, Music and Software
• RSS feed support with download filters, including regular expressions
• Sequential downloading (download in order)
• Torrent queueing, prioritizing and content selection
• A bandwidth scheduler and a torrent creation tool
• IP filtering in eMule and PeerGuardian formats
• Magnet links, DHT, PEX, local peer discovery, private torrents and encrypted connections

Transmission covers the essentials and keeps the rest out of sight. Its site lists watch directories, bad peer blocklists, a web interface, tracker editing, speed limits and privacy protection, and says it "only takes a few clicks to configure advanced features". It does not list a built-in search engine, so you find torrents in a browser and open them in Transmission.

Which is lighter and easier to use?

Transmission is the lighter, simpler option. Its site says it has "one of the lowest memory & resource footprints of any major BitTorrent client" and that this is one reason it suits home NAS and media servers. It also says that when Ubuntu chose Transmission as its default BitTorrent client, one of the most-cited reasons was its easy learning curve.

qBittorrent aims for a "polished µTorrent-like user interface", which means more columns, tabs and options on screen. That is useful once you know what you want, but busier for a first-time user.

Can I run either one on a NAS or a headless server?

Yes, both can be controlled remotely from a browser, but Transmission has more ready-made NAS support.

• Transmission: the download page links install guides for Synology, QNAP, TrueNAS, WD My Cloud, Open Media Vault and OpenWrt, plus a Docker image and packages for Ubuntu, Debian, Fedora, Arch, Raspberry Pi and others.
• qBittorrent: offers remote control through a web interface that its site describes as "nearly identical to the regular GUI".

Are qBittorrent and Transmission safe?

Both are open source and carry no ads. qBittorrent lists "No Ads" as a feature and says it is developed by volunteers in their spare time and asks for donations. Its source code is under the GPLv2 or later, and its binaries under the GPLv3 or later. Transmission says it bundles no toolbars or pop-up ads, does not hold features back for a paid version, and does not track its users. Its code is under the GPLv2 or GPLv3.

qBittorrent also signs its downloads with a PGP key and publishes SHA-256 checksums. Transmission publishes SHA-256 hashes, and its Windows installers are code-signed through SignPath.

If neither fits, our list of qBittorrent alternatives covers other free clients such as Deluge, BiglyBT and Tixati.

Which should you choose?

• You use a Mac: Transmission, which is native on macOS and current on every platform.
• You want to search for torrents inside the app: qBittorrent.
• You automate downloads from RSS feeds: qBittorrent, with its regex download filters.
• You run a NAS or a small home server: Transmission.
• You are new to torrents and want few settings: Transmission.
• You are on Windows or Linux and want full control: qBittorrent.

FAQ

Is qBittorrent or Transmission completely free?

Yes, both are free with no paid tier. qBittorrent asks for donations, and Transmission says it does not hold features back for a paid version.

Does Transmission work on Windows?

Yes. Transmission 4.1.4 has Windows installers that need Windows 10 or later, plus separate Qt5 builds for Windows 7 or later.

Why is qBittorrent's Mac version behind?

qBittorrent's download page says the macOS version is barely supported because the project has no active macOS developers. On 6 November 2026 the Mac build was 5.2.3, while Windows and Linux had 5.3.0.

Can I control either client from my phone or another computer?

Yes. Both include a web interface that you can open in a browser on another device.