CNET Editors' note: You will be taken to a third-party site to complete your download. Using P2P and file-sharing software to distribute copyrighted material without authorization is illegal in the United States and many other countries. CBS Interactive does not encourage or condone the illegal duplication or distribution of copyrighted content.
CNET Editors' review
FrostWire is a free, open-source Gnutella client and a fork of the LimeWire source code (and as such, it functions exactly the same). When you search for a file using FrostWire, you get results from LimeWire and vice versa.
However, the user experience differs in two ways. One is that the code is actually based on LimeWire Pro, the paid version of the popular P2P client, so users don't have to worry about simultaneous download restrictions, and they won't get bombarded by ads. Also, befitting the name, the interface has changed from green to blue and has been slightly improved. Tabs have rounded corners, and there are two additions, as well. Connections monitors your outgoing and incoming connections by host name, but also provides bandwidth information, the vendor and version being used, and more.
While some people have experienced faster download times with FrostWire compared with its parent, others have not. FrostWire and LimeWire are practically indistinguishable, although the lack of ads is a big plus.
Publisher's Description
From FrostWire:
FrostWire 5 is a BitTorrent client that is simple to use. Now with file sending capabilities, sending large files or entire folders to friends has never been easier. No limit on sizes and absolutely free.
More Popular P2P & File-Sharing Software downloads
- Vuze
3,855 downloads
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2,717 downloads
- Transmission
952 downloads
- FrostWire
928 downloads
- BitTorrent
750 downloads
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All versions:
2.9 starsout of 88 votes
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Current version:
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My rating:
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"Confusing, not user friendly."
Version: FrostWire 5.1.5
Pros
Fast downloads.
Cons
As mentioned above in the summary.
Summary
I miss LimeWire!
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"great program"
Version: FrostWire 5.1.5
Pros
Works good
Cons
None that l can think of
Summary
works great
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"Great Way to End Up in Federal Prison"
Version: FrostWire 5.1.4
Pros
Keeps FBI agents employed, weeds out pedophiles
Cons
You will be one!
Summary
http://reportermag.com/article/09-17-2010/another-year-another-student-prosecuted-for-child-porn
"The cases are part of an explosion of child porn suspects, who are increasingly introduced to child porn by the internet and then introduced to police the same way" -
"Fast, reliable, and an asset to find good, rare stuff."
Version: FrostWire 5.0.8
Pros
Unlike other software of this ilk, I get many results fast and they are usually 90% relevant to what I was looking for. Uploads are really fast.
Cons
Well, none really. I am knocking off a star for the simple fact that 10% of my search results are crud/spam. Not sure this can ever be solved by anyone, but it does force me to double check what I'm uploading before doing so.
Summary
The bottom line is that my taste in music is erratic and sometimes I simply have to hear a song or album or I won't be able to sleep. I know downloading music is sketchy, but Frostwire is a really great resource to scratch an itch that is hard to reach. I don't use it often, but when I do there is no BS. And let's face it, some movies simply won't be shown in the US (ie A Serbian Film) and Frostwire is a great resource for this.
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"No where near what CNET's review says anymore..."
Version: FrostWire 5.0.8
Pros
Nothing at all. (Honestly.)
Cons
EVERYTHING! LITERALLY EVERYTHING!
Summary
I might be over exaggerating, but, this is seriously the worst update for any software I've ever had in my computing life. Frostwire should rename the software to bittorent because thats all this is. The review on your site now says the word gnutella in it. Well it's nowhere to be seen in this new software. Fix your review.
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"5.0.8 NOT SAFE FOR DOWNLOADS"
Version: FrostWire 5.0.8
Pros
NONE.DON'T DO IT PEOPLE
Cons
WHEN YOU DL,YOU DL TRACKERS WHICH CAN BE TRACED AND IF COPYWRITE LAWS APPLY YOU WILL BE SHUT DOWN.I HAVE USED P2P FOR MANY YEARS AND NEVER HAD A PROBLEM UNTIL I INSTALLED 5.0.8.I WAS SHUT DOWN TWICE IN A WEEK BECAUSE MY DL'S WERE TRACKED.
Summary
BOTTOM LINE IS!!IF YOU ARE SMART YOU WILL NOT DL 5.0.8.NOTHING BUT TROUBLE AND THE CREATORS ARE NOT TELLING YOU EVERYTHING
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"Impressive"
Version: FrostWire 5.0.7
Pros
Often had problems searching and downloading with previous versions - this version so much better in every way.
Cons
............
Summary
Awesome
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"problem with down load - still do not have it"
Version: FrostWire 4.21.7
Pros
I like the program but can not honestly say anything about the update until I am able to down load it.
Cons
would love to be able to download this
Summary
hopefully I will be able to download this update soon
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"Great to share with Friend"
Version: FrostWire 4.21.6
Pros
Quick to use and easy
Cons
None I can see
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"Fills a much needed gap. Hallelujah!"
Version: FrostWire 4.21.6
Pros
Great that it's the Pro version of "The Old Yin".
Cons
Makes me even more paranoid than I was already.
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