WebTorrent Desktop
A desktop app that plays torrent video while it downloads, for Mac, Windows, and Linux.
- Stars
- 10.1k
- Forks
- 1k
- Licence
- MIT
- Language
- JavaScript
- Last update
- 7 days ago
- Type
- App
What it is
WebTorrent Desktop is a free, open-source app for Mac, Windows, and Linux that lets you open a torrent and start watching or listening while it is still downloading. It is built with Electron and JavaScript. People use it as a simple way to stream torrent content without waiting for the full file.
- Open a torrent and begin playing a video before the download finishes
- Use the player's play button and built-in playback while files download in the background
- Install the app from the official website or GitHub releases instead of building it yourself
Great for
- People who want to stream torrent video without waiting for a full download
- Users on Mac, Windows, or Linux who want a desktop app rather than a command-line tool
- People who want a free, MIT-licensed app they can inspect or modify
Not ideal for
- Anyone who needs a fully documented, supported product: the README says the development version is unstable and gives no support terms
- Users who want a command-line or server-based workflow, since this is a desktop GUI app
- Developers who want a library to embed; the README presents this as an end-user app
How to get it
- 1
Download the app
Install via Homebrew Cask (macOS)
brew install --cask webtorrent - 2
Run it
- Download the installer from the official site or the GitHub releases page
- Install and open WebTorrent Desktop
- Add a torrent and wait for playback to start
- 3
Get the most out of it
- Use the official website download link for the most straightforward install
- Check the GitHub releases page for specific installer files, including .dmg, .exe, and .deb
- If you want the latest unstable code, clone the repository and follow the README's contribution steps
Downloads
Strengths
- Free and open source under the MIT license
- Available for Mac, Windows, and Linux, with prebuilt installers listed for the latest release
- Lets you start playback before the full download completes
Trade-offs
- The README notes that Windows code signing only works when packaging from Windows, and the Mac build can only be packaged on macOS
- The README describes the git version as unstable, so it may not suit everyday use
- Torrent use carries legal and privacy considerations that depend on what you download; the README does not address them
How it compares
| Project | Stars | Type | Level | Updated | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| webtorrent-desktop (this) | 10.1k | App | beginner | 7 days ago | People who want to stream torrent video without waiting for a full download |
| webtorrent | 31.5k | Library | intermediate | 5 days ago | Developers who want to add torrent downloading or streaming to a JavaScript web or Node.js app |
| popcorntime | 10.7k | App | intermediate | 2 months ago | People who want one app to browse movies and TV shows across platforms |
| atom | 60.7k | App | beginner | 3.8 years ago | Developers who want a desktop code editor they can customize with packages |
| nylas-mail | 24.7k | App | advanced | 4 months ago | Developers curious about how an extensible Electron and React desktop app is structured |
| marktext | 63.5k | App | beginner | 4 days ago | People who write notes or articles in Markdown and want a clean, minimal editor |
Stats synced from GitHub. The assessment above was drafted with AI from the project's README on 2026-10-29 and may miss recent changes — check the README before relying on a command. MIT licence: free to use, modify and distribute, including commercially, as long as you keep the copyright notice.