Manage updates with the Download AppCNET 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
Although the bigger names in the P2P world still maintain the lion's share of users, several smaller entities have popped up. These programs appeal to those fed up with the fluff and third-party software often found in the more popular applications.
Shareaza is focused and lean, with a gorgeous interface and connections to the Gnutella2, Gnutella, eDonkey, and BitTorrent networks. It's also handsome and easy to use; we had no trouble quickly figuring out how to search, check our network status, and customize the interface through a healthy choice of skins. Search results were extremely fast, although we wish each new search automatically spawned a new tab. Shareaza also has a decent built-in media player for common audio and video formats. Other features include a chat client and the ability to schedule transfers.
The file-management system, with a slew of folders divided and subdivided into all sorts of categories, may overwhelm novices, though seasoned file-sharers probably won't have that much trouble. Overall, though, Shareaza's design, performance, and trim size provide make it a nice choice for peer-to-peer users.
Publisher's Description
From Shareaza:
Shareaza has unique features, including ghost ratings, a completely user-configurable queue area, and multinetwork support. The program started as a Gnutella client but recently branched out and developed Gnutella2, a completely open and documented network. Shareaza's interface is easy to use, fully skinnable. Shareaza's download core was built to provide optimum performance from any number of sources. Shareaza can manage your download queue automatically, or you can take charge and modify the status of files or even individual physical transfers and sources.
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All versions:
3.6 starsout of 581 votes
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Current version:
0 stars Be the first to review this product -
My rating:
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"I have used better"
Version: Shareaza 2.5.3
Pros
Nice interface, stable with lots of results
Cons
Results appeared misleading with extremely slow download speeds
Summary
I have used better.
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"Not exactly awesome."
Version: Shareaza 2.5.3
Pros
You can find a whole lot of stuff on here.
'light' program.Cons
A lot of what you find is bogus. (Wrong name or even just add stuff.)
Download speeds suck most of the time.
Works poorly with hardware firewall on routers.
PAY ATTENTION!! Shareaza7/8 whatever higher than 2.5.4 is rubbish!!
Use this 2.5.3 version or google the newer version, but the "newest" v7/v8 will install junk and only works for finding mp3's and such. It sucks big time!Summary
After finally getting through a difficult process of figuring out what settings I should change on my router (Very many options on the hardware firewall, so wasn't too sure what to change.) the download speeds still aren't exactly shocking with the exception of 1 or 2 downloads that did reach about 3,5MB/s, most just stagger at 1 to 100kB/s, so that just sucks.
In a big list of downloads, only the ones that were put in the list first seem to try to connect, anything else just has to wait, not matter if they MIGHT just be available or not, it simply has to wait on the completion of anything in front of it even when there is no download happening.
A lot of downloads think it's amuzing to get stuck at 99,9% completion. Seriously, completely stuck, no matter how slow or fast it was downloading just before that!
I wish Frostwire would have kept it's original way, rather than focussing on torrents. I couldn;t care less about those torrents! I have uTorrent for that and reliable websites to check comments about the quality of files.
Shareaza was supposed to compensate for Frostwire's degration. It's the only alternative I can find in which you can search for individual and possibly rare stuff without torrents, but sadly, it just doesn't work as well. -
"So far, so good"
Version: Shareaza 2.5.3
Pros
Lots of music
Cons
Would like it to faster sometimes.
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"works well after easy install"
Version: Shareaza 2.5.3
Pros
problemless install, good results, stable, al lot of settings can be done according to your personal preferences.
Cons
1.the way to switch between search tabs and progress/acitivity windows is not very clear to me; it works but is quite extensive.
2.you can drag search results columns to wherever you want them; e.g. bitrate right behind filename, but for each new search the program forgets this setting.Summary
at this moment the best peer2peer as far as I know. I don't use it for torrents; I use Bittorrent.
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"This is fake"
Version: Shareaza 2.5.3
Pros
NO Pros at all
Cons
Spyware, Adware, Malware
Summary
The real Shareaza can be found here: http://shareaza.sourceforge.net/
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"its a good product"
Version: Shareaza 2.5.3
Pros
the download is fast
Cons
it doesnt always download the things your looking for..
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"P2P network"
Version: Shareaza 2.5.3
Pros
ever program i try P2P network give me virus and spyware
Cons
not right way get stuff for free then stealing
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"Slow resource hog, tons of bogus downloads.Not LimeWire"
Version: Shareaza 2.5.3
Pros
If you try long enough and screen the 2 bogus files for every legit one, there's a good chance that you will eventually find what you're looking for.
Cons
If you ever get a return for your search, rest assured that the first few matches you try to download will be not be available, will not connect, or will not really be what you want. Many "successful" downloads will be malware.
Summary
No Lime Wire replacement. This never shared my library to make it available for download to other users. Thats the entire point of p2p and it makes me doubt others' libraries are uploaded either, so the selection is not what it could be.
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"the best filesharing program"
Version: Shareaza 2.5.3
Pros
no spyware no viruis no paid version no ads. fast downloading, great sources no fake files like from frostwire has. good music selection
Cons
none its all good time for a new version tho.
Summary
its the best you can get. you get the song you download and nothing else with it. since all songs get verified. gnutella 1 and gnutella 2 networks, bit torrent, and also you can download anyfile from anywhere on the internet onto shareaza. shareaza rocks!
TIME TO UPDATE THIS BECAUSE THERE IS A NEW VERSION OUT BEEN OUT FOR AWHILE NOW 2.5.4. GO TO FILEHIPPO THEY HAVE IT. I ACUTALLY BELIEVE AS WELL THE FILES ARE MORE SAFER THAN CNETS VERSIONS.
Updated on Mar 20, 2011 -
"AWESOME BUT BEWARE OF FAKE SHAREAZA!"
Version: Shareaza 2.5.3
Pros
Great. Easy and clean install. No spyware.
-PLEASE READ-
Shareaza.com is a fake website use shareaza.sourceforge.com
People made shareaza.com which is fake and all spyware!Cons
Slow for torrents. Use bittorrent
-PLEASE READ-
Shareaza.com is a fake website use shareaza.sourceforge.com
People made shareaza.com which is fake and all spyware!Summary
great!
-PLEASE READ-
Shareaza.com is a fake website use shareaza.sourceforge.com
People made shareaza.com which is fake and all spyware!
