Software Alternatives & Startups

rTorrent VS ShellNewHandler

Compare rTorrent VS ShellNewHandler and see what are their differences

rTorrent

rtorrent is a BitTorrent client for ncurses, using the libtorrent library.

Rating
0 reviews
ShellNewHandler

SourceForge.net: ShellNewHandler details page

Rating
0 reviews
Note: These products don't have any matching categories. If you think this is a mistake, please edit the details of one of the products and suggest appropriate categories.

Which is more popular?

ShellNewHandler might be a bit more popular than rTorrent. We know about 2 links to it since March 2021 and only 2 links to rTorrent.

social mentions
2 vs 2
Torrents popularity
100% vs 0%

Base details

Website, pricing, platforms and company facts side by side.

rTorrent
ShellNewHandler
Website rakshasa.github.io sourceforge.net
Listed in

Features and specs

What each product offers, as listed by its team.

rTorrent 5 features
ShellNewHandler 0 features
  • Lightweight
    rTorrent is designed to be very lightweight and efficient, consuming minimal system resources which is ideal for use on less powerful machines or servers.
  • Performance
    It is known for its high performance and stability, making it suitable for handling a large number of torrents simultaneously without significant slowdowns.
  • Customizability
    Users can configure rTorrent extensively to suit their specific needs, often using scripts and configuration files.
  • Text-Based Interface
    Operating in the terminal using a text-based interface, rTorrent is both fast and highly suitable for remote access via SSH without the need for a GUI.
  • Integration with ruTorrent
    rTorrent can be paired with ruTorrent, a powerful web-based front-end, providing an intuitive interface for users who prefer a browser-based GUI.

Possible disadvantages

  • Steeper Learning Curve
    The text-based interface and extensive configuration options can be intimidating for beginners and require a steeper learning curve compared to more user-friendly torrent clients.
  • Limited Built-In Features
    Out of the box, rTorrent lacks some of the advanced built-in features found in other torrent clients, often requiring users to manually integrate scripts or add-ons.
  • No Native GUI
    rTorrent doesn’t have a native graphical user interface (GUI), which may be a drawback for users who prefer or require graphical interaction.
  • Configuration Complexity
    The flexibility and customizability come at the cost of complexity, with configuration sometimes needing detailed knowledge of the software and command line.
  • Limited Support
    User support is mainly community-based through forums and documentation, which could be problematic when quick or professional support is needed.

No features have been listed yet.

Analysis

An editorial look at what each product does well and who it suits.

rTorrent
ShellNewHandler

Overall verdict

  • rTorrent is considered a good choice for users who value performance, stability, and a high degree of control over their torrenting activities. Its text-based approach may not appeal to everyone, particularly those who prefer a graphical user interface, but for users comfortable with command-line tools, rTorrent provides a powerful and reliable option.

Why this product is good

  • rTorrent is favored for its lightweight design and efficient performance, particularly on resource-constrained systems. It runs in a terminal interface, which allows for low resource consumption compared to more complex graphical torrent clients. Users appreciate its flexibility and robust feature set, including support for multiple torrent protocols, scripting capabilities, and ease of integration with other applications like ruTorrent for a web-based interface.

Recommended for

    rTorrent is recommended for experienced users who are comfortable working with command-line applications and who require a lightweight but feature-rich torrent client. It's particularly suitable for those running servers, remote shell environments, or anyone needing a low-overhead solution in terms of system resources. It’s especially favored by those who value customization and automation through scripts.

Overall verdict

  • ShellNewHandler is a niche, lightweight utility hosted on SourceForge designed to give users more control over the Windows 'New' context menu (the ShellNew menu). It can be considered good for its specific narrow use case, but it is an older, minimally maintained tool that may not suit all users, especially those on modern Windows versions.

Why this product is good

  • Provides direct control over customizing the Windows right-click 'New' menu, allowing users to add or remove file type entries
  • Lightweight and free, without bundled bloatware typical of some other free utilities
  • Simple and focused in scope, making it easy to understand for its specific purpose
  • Open distribution via SourceForge allows transparency and no-cost access

Recommended for

  • Power users who want to declutter or customize the Windows New context menu
  • IT administrators managing standardized desktop environments across multiple machines
  • Users comfortable with older utility-style tools and Windows registry-related tweaks
  • Not recommended for casual users seeking modern, actively supported software with regular updates

Videos

Walkthroughs and reviews on video.

rTorrent 3 videos + Add
ShellNewHandler 0 videos + Add

rtorrent review & usage - Archlinux

More videos

  • - rTorrent Is A Great Terminal Based BitTorrent Client
  • - RTorrent - A Terminal Based Torrent Application

No ShellNewHandler videos yet. You could help us improve this page by suggesting one.

Category popularity

How often each product is chosen within a category, 0–100% relative to the other.

Score bands 0–20 21–40 41–50 51–60 61–100
rTorrent
ShellNewHandler
100% 100%
0% 0%
0% 0%
100% 100%
100% 100%
P2P
0% 0%
91% 91%
9% 9%

User comments

Share your experience with using rTorrent and ShellNewHandler. For example, how are they different and which one is better?

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Social recommendations and mentions

Recommendations tracked on public social media and blogs since March 2021.

rTorrent 2 mentions
ShellNewHandler 2 mentions
  • Transmission 4.0.0 beta 1 is out
    You could also check out rtorrent: http://rakshasa.github.io/rtorrent/, but I remember reading that development has stalled on that project. - Source: Hacker News / about 4 years ago
  • Useful tip for Linux/BSD users (Torrent specific use case)
    Where it really starts to shine is when you combine it with other CLI & TUI applications. I use openSSH, rtorrent and Tmux (or GNU screen) in combination with PIA's manual script to achieve a remote "seedbox". I don't need to access my... Source: over 4 years ago
  • I recently got libreoffice, but now the new option in right click looks like a mess. Can someone help me get rid of them please?
    Use Shell New Handler. Run the portable app and simply untick the items you don't want to appear in your new context menu. Source: about 4 years ago
  • This menu should be easy to add/remove programs to... Who is really creating Access Databases from this menu often enough to keep it here? (Not me!) Is there an easy way to edit this?
    I've always used ShellNewHandler for this. It's a really simple portable utility that allows you to remove most of the items from that menu. Tested it out on Windows 11 and it's still compatible. Source: over 5 years ago

Alternatives to rTorrent and ShellNewHandler

When comparing rTorrent and ShellNewHandler, you can also consider the following products.