# Which is the best peer-to-peer file-sharing client/service?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-the-best-peer-to-peer-file-sharing-client-service/80750>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [September 10, 2001, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-the-best-peer-to-peer-file-sharing-client-service/80750 "2001-09-10T21:24:34Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![occ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8c91f0/32.png) [@occ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/occ)\
**Post date:** [September 10, 2001, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-the-best-peer-to-peer-file-sharing-client-service/80750/1 "2001-09-10T21:24:34Z")

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There are a ton of programs claiming to be the best way to do peer-to-peer file swapping (think Napster, but typically without a centralized server network). The popular Gnutella protocol, developed by the guys at Nullsoft, is the basis for many of these clients. What I’m wondering is, what’s the consensus on which of these programs offers the best file-sharing experience?

I’ve used the original, now-seemingly-defunct Gnutella, Gnotella (with an O), Limewire, and Morpheus. They all seem to have their pros and cons (Gnutella was pretty cool, but annoyingly hard to get working; Limewire has a great interface but does not give enough info on the remote peers connections and such, Morpheus seems to have a lot of web-based overhead, and Gnotella has a few interface bugs and such). I’ve also used Napigator, which I wasn’t very impressed with (the non-Napster-owned servers are _always_ full or otherwise unavailable).

How about it? What do the Dopers use for file-sharing?

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**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\
**Post date:** [September 10, 2001, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-the-best-peer-to-peer-file-sharing-client-service/80750/2 "2001-09-10T21:26:55Z")

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I usually go to [thisthreadwillbelockedupfasterthanamoonlandinghoaxgetsdebunked.com](http://thisthreadwillbelockedupfasterthanamoonlandinghoaxgetsdebunked.com)

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**Author:** ![occ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8c91f0/32.png) [@occ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/occ)\
**Post date:** [September 10, 2001, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-the-best-peer-to-peer-file-sharing-client-service/80750/3 "2001-09-10T22:01:03Z")

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Hmm? And why would that be? If you’re asserting that I’m in any way asking for ways to pirate/violate copyright, you apparently didn’t read the post thoroughly. To clear up any confusion, I AM IN NO WAY ASKING FOR INFORMATION ON PIRACY OR COPYRIGHT VIOLATION. I am merely asking for a comparison of software, which is used by many for perfectly legal ends. (And no, I don’t “winkingly” say that.) If this is too touchy a subject, my apologies, but I did not intend for it to come off as such.

File sharing need not mean piracy, folks.

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**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\
**Post date:** [September 10, 2001, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-the-best-peer-to-peer-file-sharing-client-service/80750/4 "2001-09-10T22:06:01Z")

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Hey, hey, I make no judgements here. I just happen to know from experience that the mods tend to frown on this type of thread. Take it for what it’s worth.

Personally, I was all over Napster when it was free and illegal. I haven’t gotten into anything else since. I tried Morpheus once, but it crashed on me.