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aria2 VS PicoTorrent

Compare aria2 VS PicoTorrent and see what are their differences

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aria2 logo aria2

aria2 is a lightweight multi-protocol & multi-source command-line download utility. It supports HTTP/HTTPS, FTP, SFTP, BitTorrent and Metalink.

PicoTorrent logo PicoTorrent

PicoTorrent is designed to be a tiny, easy-to-use BitTorrent client with low memory usage.
  • aria2 Landing page
    Landing page //
    2018-09-29
  • PicoTorrent Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-07-29

aria2 features and specs

  • Lightweight
    aria2 is a lightweight multi-protocol and multi-source command-line download utility that consumes minimal system resources.
  • Versatile Protocol Support
    aria2 supports multiple protocols including HTTP, HTTPS, FTP, SFTP, BitTorrent, and Metalink, making it extremely versatile.
  • Parallel Downloading
    Can download a file from multiple sources/protocols and split it into multiple streams, significantly increasing download speeds.
  • Command-line Interface
    Offers robust command-line interface, enabling advanced scripting and automation capabilities.
  • Low Dependency Requirement
    Requires minimal dependencies, making it easier to install and integrate into different environments.
  • Pause and Resume
    Supports pausing and resuming downloads, which is useful for handling large downloads and intermittent connectivity issues.
  • Open Source
    Being open-source, aria2 allows developers to contribute to its development and adapt it for custom use cases.

Possible disadvantages of aria2

  • Lack of GUI
    Primarily command-line based, which may be a barrier for users who prefer graphical user interfaces.
  • Complex Configuration
    Can be complex to configure optimally, requiring a good understanding of command-line options and network protocols.
  • Limited Community Support
    The user and developer community is smaller compared to more popular download managers, potentially leading to fewer resources and slower issue resolution.
  • Steep Learning Curve
    Users unfamiliar with command-line tools may find it challenging to use and master.
  • No Integrated Search
    Does not support integrated search functionalities for torrents and other media, necessitating separate tools for finding content.

PicoTorrent features and specs

  • Lightweight
    PicoTorrent is a very lightweight torrent client with minimal system resource usage, making it an ideal choice for users who prioritize performance.
  • User-Friendly Interface
    The software boasts an intuitive and straightforward user interface that is easy to navigate, even for beginners.
  • Fast Performance
    Thanks to its simplicity and lack of bloat, PicoTorrent offers rapid performance and quick torrent downloads.
  • Ad-Free Experience
    Unlike many other torrent clients, PicoTorrent doesn't display any ads, providing a cleaner user experience.
  • Open Source
    PicoTorrent is an open-source project, allowing transparency and the ability for the community to contribute and improve the software.
  • No Bundled Software
    The application doesn't come with any bundled software or unnecessary add-ons, ensuring that users get exactly what they need and nothing more.

Possible disadvantages of PicoTorrent

  • Limited Features
    PicoTorrent lacks some advanced features that power users might require, such as integrated media playback or extensive configuration options.
  • Windows-Only
    The client is only available for the Windows operating system, leaving out users on macOS and Linux unless they use compatibility layers or virtual machines.
  • No Native Search
    PicoTorrent does not have an integrated torrent search function, so users have to find torrent files through external sources.
  • Lack of Community Support
    While being open-source is generally a positive, PicoTorrent does not have a large community or extensive support network compared to more popular torrent clients.
  • Manual Port Forwarding
    Users may need to manually configure port forwarding to optimize download speeds, which can be a barrier for those not technologically inclined.

Analysis of aria2

Overall verdict

  • Overall, aria2 is an excellent tool for users who need a powerful and flexible command-line download manager. Its ability to handle multiple protocols and sources makes it stand out as a robust solution for advanced downloading needs.

Why this product is good

  • aria2 is considered a highly efficient and versatile download tool due to its support for multiple download protocols including HTTP, HTTPS, FTP, BitTorrent, and Metalink. It's particularly appreciated for its lightweight nature, command-line interface, and ability to download files from multiple sources to maximize download speeds. Additionally, it's open-source and actively maintained, which allows for community contributions and enhancements.

Recommended for

    aria2 is ideal for power users, software developers, and system administrators who need a reliable and scriptable command-line tool for batch downloading large files, handling mirror downloads, or managing download tasks that span multiple protocols.

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PicoTorrent videos

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Cliente bittorrent MAS BÁSICO Y LIGERO DE TODOS, (PICOTORRENT)

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to aria2 and PicoTorrent)

aria2

PicoTorrent

Torrents
52 52%
Torrents
48% 48
Download Manager
100 100%
Download Manager
0% 0
BitTorrent
44 44%
BitTorrent
56% 56
Music Downloader
100 100%
Music Downloader
0% 0

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare aria2 and PicoTorrent

aria2 Reviews

10 Best Free IDM Alternatives to Try in 2022
aria2 is a command-line download advantage for those who love and appreciate the CLI. Supports FTP, SFTP, HTTP/HTTPS, Metalink and BitTorrent. You can download a file, with aria2 from multiple sources to maximize its maximum download bandwidth.
Source: thetechtian.com
Best Alternatives to qBittorrent 2022
Aria2 runs on the command-line interface making it also one of the most advanced tools out there, although very easy to learn even if you don’t consider yourself technically-inclined. With no GUI and just a clean, lightweight CLI, Aria2 uses up the least amount of system resources for people who prefer to keep their downloads running smoothly and comfortably in the background.
Source: nextbestalternative.com
Top 10 Free IDM Alternatives You Can Use
aria2 also doubles as a full-fledged BitTorrent client with features like DHT, PEX, encryption, magnet URI, web-seeding, selective downloads, local peer discovery, and UDP tracker. At just 4MB, aria2 is a lightweight download manager that you should not miss out on.
Source: beebom.com

PicoTorrent Reviews

Best Alternatives to qBittorrent 2022
PicoTorrent is a barebones client that barely takes any system resources, but it gets the job done. With a simple, minimalist interface with all of the tools and features a budding novice would need to get a taste of the potential in the BitTorrent protocol, PicoTorrent is a great, lightweight choice for anyone, especially the less tech-savvy.
Source: nextbestalternative.com

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, aria2 should be more popular than PicoTorrent. It has been mentiond 44 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

aria2 mentions (44)

  • Faster and More Reliable Hugging Face Downloads Using aria2 and GNU Parallel
    Aria2: A lightweight multi-protocol & multi-source command-line download utility. - Source: dev.to / 3 months ago
  • Bypass download limits?
    For sites with limited download speeds I usually use aria2 (via terminal) since it supports segmented/multi connection downloading. But I guess this wouldn't work with 1fichier, since with these sites you usually don't get direct link to the file and/or sites like these limit the number of parallel connections. I also used it for torrents for a while, but I wouldn't recommend doing this anymore. Source: over 1 year ago
  • What actually gets you in trouble with torrenting? Downloading or seeding?
    You could try a tool like https://aria2.github.io. Source: about 2 years ago
  • What is the best and fast way to move 30 TB of data from one site to another side a few block down the street?
    A simple example of parallel transfers of a single file are Byte-range: HTTP requests. An example of one off-the-shelf tool that does this is aria2, but there are many libraries, and it's not difficult to write code from scratch. Source: about 2 years ago
  • How to download and store 900 3 hour videos in a month?
    Like others here, I also recommend using https://github.com/yt-dlp/yt-dlp to download the videos. Pair it with https://aria2.github.io/ as an external downloader to get the max speed download. Source: over 2 years ago
View more

PicoTorrent mentions (10)

  • YoutubePoopMusicVideo on another software
    Search for the program you want to download (best with Google Chrome's translate feature), make sure there's a green checkmark next to the program before you download it, and then use a torrenting program to download from the torrent link. I recommend https://picotorrent.org/. I've personally been using their software for 5+ years without issue. Source: almost 2 years ago
  • most lightweight torrent client?
    Not sure about 3) and 4) but take a look at https://picotorrent.org/. Source: over 2 years ago
  • Free software alternatives
    Let me just hint at thepiratebay.org and picotorrent.org. Source: almost 3 years ago
  • Looking for a Bittorrent client that uses modern Windows design
    Https://picotorrent.org/ (well, this is not as good looking... But it's native, though!). Source: over 3 years ago
  • The consequence of corporate greed
    I am always surprised at how few people suggest picotorrent (github) when it comes to clients. Source: almost 4 years ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

When comparing aria2 and PicoTorrent, you can also consider the following products

qBittorrent - Lightweight and open source torrent client that runs on all major platforms.

JDownloader - JDownloader is a free downloading tool that enables you to download files from over a hundred hosting sites. The tool is compatible with Linux, Mac and Windows operating systems. Read more about JDownloader.

µTorrent - Looking for a torrent site to download movies, music and more? Choose from top torrent sites like The Pirate Bay, RARBG, 1337X, and dozens more. (October 2019)

Free Download Manager - It is a powerful modern download accelerator and organizer for Windows and Mac.

Deluge - Deluge is a full-featured BitTorrent client for Linux, Unix and Windows.

Transmission - Transmission has the features you expect in a BitTorrent client: encryption, a web-based interface...

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