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John Stonor
Jul 29, 2022
Anyone using torrents will probably be familiar with magnet links. A magnet link download is not exactly the same as a torrent tracker, though they’re generally available from the same source. A magnet Mac link uses an identifier to allow your downloader to download content. This article is going to look how to use magnet links and the best tools for it.
A magnet link is a simpler alternative to downloading a tracker file. Links are useful because they are just that - links. They don’t take up any space on your hard drive and don’t need to be downloaded. All you need to do is use a torrent client for Mac to search for a link, and take you straight to the content you want to download. Magnet links are also a lot easier to share, as you simply need to share the link rather than sending an actual tracker file.
What is a magnet link? Magnet links, as we’ve already mentioned, are simply links that lead you to a magnet link download. The links are made up of unique identifiers that contain all the information needed for your downloader to find the content you’re looking for. They contain detailed parameters determining where they lead to.
Your downloader is able to use this data to track down any torrents currently being shared that match the link, providing you with connections to multiple peers for fast downloads when you torrent magnet link downloads. This is in contrast to torrents that depend on a central server to locate peers with available downloads.
Magnet links have mostly taken the place of conventional torrents, due to their advantages and the decentralised nature of downloading when using them.
You’re best off using a third party app to make use of a magnet link. Third party tools offer a number of advantages, both in terms of finding content and downloading it. The best torrent client for Mac would offer high download speeds, good search tools, and top usability. We’re going to look at some of the most effective tools out there.
Folx is the ideal tool for anyone looking to torrent magnet download options. It’s fully compatible with macOS, including the latest macOS update. Folx offers high speed downloading meaning that you can get your content as quickly as possible. It offers a number of download management tools, letting you pause and resume, set certain downloads as priority, and generally handle multiple different downloads at once.
It’s also got an option for automatically transferring the audio and video you download straight to iTunes, letting you increase your library whenever you get new content. Folx is available in both free and PRO versions, letting you use extra when you invest in the paid option.
Pros:
Cons:
Supported OS: macOS
Conclusion: We’re happy to recommend Folx to our readers. It’s an effective downloader with great speeds, and can handle magnet links with zero difficulty. It also offers a range of file management options that make it a really useful option for downloading.
qBittorrent is a popular option for anyone looking for a Mac downloader. It’s easy to use once you learn how to use magnet links qBittorrent. However, it does have its drawbacks. The main issue is advertising. Pop-ups regularly appear, interfering with whatever download processes you’re trying to do.
qBittorrent’s positive points include its compatibility. The program is compatible with a huge range of different operating systems, in fact you can use it on pretty much anything. Magnet downloads are pretty straightforward, with the only main issue being freezing. qBittorrent is known to regularly freeze, which is something many users have commented on.
Pros:
Cons:
Supported OS: macOS, Windows, Linux
Conclusion: qBittorrent is a straightforward downloader that’s easy to use. Searching is fine, and apart from the freezing issue, downloads are usually fast and smooth. However, it does tend to use up more memory than the other options we’ve looked at.
Tribler is an open source app, available completely free, and constantly updated by engineers around the world. It’s not really a dedicated downloader per se. It’s actually more of an effective search tool, which has been expanded to let users look for channels and content, and manage online reputation. This means that if you’re looking for a serious downloader, you may be better off looking elsewhere.
Tribler doesn’t have the best download speeds, and takes a while to start. On the plus side, it benefits from continuous updates and, as it doesn’t rely on any central components, has been touted as the future of downloading.
Pros:
Cons:
Supported OS: macOS, Windows, Linux
Conclusion: Tribler is an interesting project, and definitely something it’s worth keeping your eye on. The team behind it are constantly pushing innovation and moving the app forward. However, in terms of fast, effective downloads, it falls short of some of the other options we’ve looked at.
uTorrent has been around for a while, though it’s not exactly the same program you may remember now. The app is no longer compatible with the most recent macOS, and they’ve basically said that they have no interest in updating it, so you’ll need to look for a uTorrent alternative. Most users who know how to use magnet links with uTorrent now use the browser version, which is fine, though it doesn’t offer the advanced features and added support of the app.
uTorrent can handle download magnet link Mac tasks and torrent trackers easily, offers pretty good download speeds, and has a number of different management options. The main issue is that you can no longer benefit from the added usability that the desktop app provided.
Pros:
Cons:
Supported OS: all, when using browser version
Conclusion: It’s unfortunate that uTorrent is no longer available as a downloadable app. It’s still one of the most popular options out there, but definitely lacks the basic support and added features the desktop app offered. On the plus side, as it’s browser based, you won’t face any compatibility issues.
Vuze is probably one of the best known downloaders. It’s been around for ages, letting you connect to a P2P network directly from the app itself. Vuze has no problems downloading magnet links as well as regular trackers.
It also has its own player, letting you play audio and video directly through the app. You can use a subscription feature to keep track of your downloads, and it also provides suggestions for future downloads. While Vuze has plenty to offer, the main drawback is the fact that it’s not reliably compatible with latest version of macOS, but in this case you can use Vuze alternative for Mac.
Pros:
Cons:
Supported OS: macOS, Windows, Linux
Conclusion: Vuze has plenty to offer users. It’s a fast and reliable program, which explains why it’s so popular. However, we do need to remind Mac users that they may have difficulties if using Vuze with the latest macOS.
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Folx PRO
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Folx PRO
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qBittorrent
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Tribler
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uTorrent
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Vuze
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Prioritizing
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Prioritizing
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Speed control
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Speed control
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Deep tuning
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Deep tuning
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Magnet links
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Magnet links
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Torrent search
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Torrent search
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limited
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limited
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limited
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Torrent files creation
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Torrent files creation
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Smart tagging
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Smart tagging
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Apple Music integration
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Apple Music integration
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Regular downloads
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Regular downloads
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Native interface
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Native interface
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macOS 10.15+
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macOS 10.15+
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$19.95
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$19.95
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free
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free
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free
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$47.88/year
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As we’ve already mentioned, magnet links are becoming more and more popular. However, some browsers are not fully capable of recognising them, without some adjustment. The steps are pretty straightforward, all you need to do is tick a box to ensure that your magnet links are always opened with Folx or another browser of your choice. Here’s how to change default torrent client using browsers.
It’s possible that you’ll want to change a magnet link into a direct download, rather than simply make use of the link as is. There are a few different online services that let you do this, known as cloud torrents or torrent leechers. The following are a few of the best available options:
You can use Zbigz completely free, though with the free registration, there are a few limitations placed on what you can do - only a certain amount of downloads at any given time, and a limit of 1GB size. However, for someone looking for a straightforward, simple option, it’s a good choice. It doesn’t offer that many features, but is great for torrent leeching, and works on all operating systems.
Bitport is less a downloader, and more a reliable streaming service that can handle cloud torrenting. A free account will get you 2GB of storage, enough for most users. The great thing about Bitport is the fact that you can play your files directly from the streamer, no matter what device you’re using. You can even broadcast to a TV if it’s compatible with your device. Download speeds are pretty good, making this a great choice for anyone looking for a versatile and fast streaming device.
Seedr is pretty similar to the other options we’ve looked at. You get 2GB when you sign up with a free account, or you can pay to upgrade and get more space. It can handle downloads with reasonable speeds, including torrent leechers and magnet links. Beyond that, Seedr offers all the basic features you’d expect from a downloader. It’s not got anything that amazing on offer, but if you’re only looking for the basics, it could be a good choice.
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Folx
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Folx
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Zbigz
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Bitport
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Seedr
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Unlimited download speed
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Unlimited download speed
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Unlimited storage
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Unlimited storage
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Unlimited storage time
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Unlimited storage time
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Unlimited file size
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Unlimited file size
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Unlimited files number
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Unlimited files number
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One-time purchase
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One-time purchase
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$19.95
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$19.95
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from $99.9/year
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from $60/year
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from $83.4/year
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Magnet links are designed to give you a P2P link to any users online who have content you want to download. This means that when you start downloading, you’ll be able to get data from a wide range of different sources. Not only does this boost the speeds for your downloads.
It also means that, as you’re relying on a range of different sources, if one of them goes offline you’ll be able to continue downloading from the other ones. Similarly, if a connection is suddenly interrupted, you’ll be able to pick up right where you left off once it’s been reestablished.
That’s pretty much all you need to know about magnet links and how to open them. Magnets have pretty much become the standard way for downloading content, so it’s worth considering getting a downloader such as Folx that can handle them quickly and easily. From all the options we’ve looked at, Folx comes out on top for speed, convenience and management features. This article should have given you all the information you need for dealing with magnets, but check the FAQs below if you have any further queries.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Folx is our top choice for how to use magnet links. Since Apple updated its operating system to macOS Catalina, Folx is nearly the only magnet link downloader that is fully compatible. It offers convenient tools for downloading torrent files that let you set the priority of files to download, control upload and download speeds, and tag downloads for a quick search through them.
It also has a PRO version that offers even more useful features. The ability to tailor the app’s settings to your personal preferences is a key differentiator that, in our opinion, puts Folx over the competition.
