Tixati

Introduction

 In the world of torrenting, there is perhaps no bigger name than BitTorrent. Even people who have never torrented a single file their entire lives are likely to have heard of this iconic torrent client at one point or another. For many, BitTorrent is something of the be all, end all when it comes to torrent clients. This is understandable, especially when you take into account the fact that BitTorrent dominated the torrent client space for many years. And to many, it still does.

There are only a few torrent sites or programs that make into mainstream consciousness. And BitTorrent is one of them. It played a huge role in steering the direction of torrenting through the aughts and 2010s. But as we enter a new decade, does BitTorrent still have the staying power? Does it have the speed, efficiency, and features-rich experience necessary to compete with the newer, often sleeker torrent clients?

Nowadays, there are just so many torrent clients out there to choose from. Many of which, according to some, dwarf BitTorrent to the point of irrelevance. But that is the nature of tech, is it not? It is always being expanded and improved upon, and newer better software is constantly being developed. The whole point is to make older software obsolete, right? To provide a quicker, easier, and more convenient experience for the user?

That certainly seems to be what is happening in the world of torrent clients. BitTorrent’s fall from grace, of course, did not happen all at once. It happened gradually, over time. First, a little torrent company by the name of uTorrent came along and completely changed the game – offering a slimmer, more lightweight alternative to BitTorrent that is equally capable of executing torrent downloads as breakneck speeds but without taking nearly as much CPU space or memory.

These newer torrent clients also tend to be much richer in user features. Many, for instance, now offer streaming of free indie movies and TV shows while the files are in the process of downloading. Others allow for great levels of customization and plenty of advanced features for the most effective torrenting imaginable. Others still do not even require you to download software anymore – they exist as web based in-browser programs. And it doesn’t get much more lightweight than that.

So, with so many formidable options out there, which torrent client is going to be best for your purposes? Well, that depends on a number of factors. Firstly, you need to identify what your experience level with torrenting is. If you are a beginner, for instance, or a more casual P2P file sharer, then there is a good chance that the most basic torrent clients should get the job done. Maybe you would benefit from the classic BitTorrent, or something similar like uTorrent or Vuze.

However, if you have a great deal of torrenting experience under your belt, you might want something that allows for more control over how your torrents are downloaded and uploaded. Perhaps something like Deluge would be more up your alley. Or maybe you would benefit greatly from the torrent client that we will be taking a look at today: Tixati. There is a torrent client out there for every level of experience.

The next thing to figure out before deciding on a torrent client is what kinds of features you hope to get out of it. Speaking of Vuze, this may be a great torrent client for anyone who wants their software to double as a media center. Vuze is one of the few torrent clients that, in addition to executing and organizing unlimited torrent downloads, also comes with a built-in media player. And premium members are even able to stream content before the download finishes. If you find that you torrent primarily free indie movies and TV shows, one of these clients is going to be your best bet.

Maybe you download free indie movies and shows, but you also download large quantities of free indie eBooks, open-source software, and music. If so, perhaps having a torrent client that plays videos is not going to be first on your list. Maybe you require something that packs a bigger punch on a technical level. If this is the case, Tixati is certainly a torrent client that deserves to be on your radar.

Tixati has quickly grown to become one of the most popular and promising torrent clients on the market. In 2012, for instance, Torrent Freak listed it as one of its top 10 uTorrent alternatives. G Hacks, too, gave Tixati a glowing review, also in 2012. And VPN Mentor even praised it for its lightweight design. As of May 5^th, 2015, Tixati was listed as the 5^th most popular torrent client, according to Life Hacker. More recently, in 2017 and 2018 respectively, Tixati has also been featured in Tech Radar and Life Wire.

The general consensus seems to be that, over the last 5 years, Tixati has been a consistently high-performing, features rich, and lightweight torrent client – a perfect alternative to uTorrent. But does this consensus still ring true in 2020? Is Tixati still one of the top-performing torrent clients on the market? Well, that is what we will figure out today. So, without further ado, let’s dive in and take a deeper look at Tixati and decide for ourselves, shall we?

 Design, Content, Features

 Tixati has opted for a very basic and utilitarian software design. It gets the job done, and does so without being unnecessary flashy. It may look a little sterile to some, especially those who are more accustomed to torrent clients like Vuze or Deluge that have a sleek and stylish look to them. Tixati is all about data. But when it comes to a torrent client, which is meant to transfer, download, and upload data, is that such a bad thing?

Personally, I rather enjoy the sparse layout of Tixati. There are just a few easily recognizable icons at the top of the program, allowing for easy and quick navigation. Just click on Home, Transfers, Bandwidth, DHT, Settings, or Help. I think this was a smart decision. You can easily monitor all aspects of your torrenting experience, all are just a click away.

Tixati is clearly geared more towards torrenting experts. If you are new to torrenting, this is not necessarily a problem. Just ignore the more advanced features and manage and access your downloads, if you so desire. However, for those who like to see the in-depth statistics to their torrent files and performance, this is great news.

Tixati, verbatim from their website, boasts the following features as well:

-Simple, easy to use interface

-Ultra fast downloading algorithms

-DHT, PEX, and magnet link support

-Super efficient peer selection and choking

-Easy and quick install – no Java, no .net

-RC4 connection encryption for added security

-Detailed bandwidth management and charting

-UDP peer connections and NAT router hole punching

-Advanced features, such as RSS, IP filtering, and event scheduler

-No spyware, no ads, no nonsense

 Mobile and Desktop Experience

 This is where Tixati begins to falter, in my opinion. Unfortunately, it is not available on a large array of operating systems. That means, consequently, there is no app version of Tixati as of yet. Currently, this torrent client is only available on Windows and Linux operating systems. Sorry Mac users, this is not the client for you.

That being said, Tixati does offer a special portable version of the software. This version is built specifically to run on USB flash drives. Take Tixati with you and plug it right into a friend’s computer – so long as that friend also uses either Windows or Linux. The fact that Tixati is so limited is perhaps its biggest flaw.

 Pricing and Plans

 Let’s juxtapose Tixati’s limitations with what might be its greatest strength. The torrent client is 100% free, without any ads whatsoever. Tixati is supported entirely by donations. So, if you find that you love Tixati and you can afford it, do consider donating! This is how we can ensure that Tixati continues to grow and evolve.

 Suggestions that I have for Tixati

 My biggest complaint with Tixati is the fact that it is only available on Windows and Linux operating systems. I would love to see Tixati become more cross-platform friendly in the future. Plus, of course, an app would be great.