libtorrent
Python bindings for libtorrent-rasterbar
Decision gist · record as of 2026-08-14
Yes, if you need torrent protocol support in Python. Active maintenance, no vulnerabilities, permissive license, and medium install friction via prebuilt wheels make it practical. Verify Python version compatibility before installing, as the metadata does not specify a minimum version. Not needed for simple torrent downloads—consider a standalone client instead.AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page — verify before relying
Before you install
- Requires a compatible Python version and platform architecture matching available wheels; no official Python version constraint documented.
- Medium install friction due to compiled wheels; prebuilt binaries available for common platforms (macOS, Linux, Windows, multiple architectures).
- Active maintenance with recent release (4 days old).
License · maintenance · safety
BSD (permissive) — BSD permissive license allows use in most projects with minimal restrictions; review license text for specific attribution or liability terms if bundling.
last release 2026-08-10 (4 days)
0 known vulnerabilities (OSV.dev, 2026-08-14) · 91,457 downloads/mo, #13,516 on PyPI
Alternatives
Verify before relying
pip install libtorrent
import libtorrent
# Create a session and add torrents via the libtorrent API- Exact Python version support range (requires_python is unspecified in metadata)
- Whether documentation exists beyond the homepage link
- API stability guarantees or breaking-change policy across versions
What it is and what it does
Libtorrent is a Python binding to the libtorrent-rasterbar C++ library, providing low-level access to torrent protocol operations. It lets you build torrent clients, seeders, or peer-to-peer applications in Python by wrapping the underlying native library's session management, torrent handling, and peer communication.
The package ships as precompiled wheels for multiple platforms and Python versions, eliminating the need to compile libtorrent yourself. With no runtime dependencies and active maintenance, it's ready to use immediately after installation, though you'll need to understand the libtorrent API surface to build applications with it.
Use it for
- Build a custom torrent client or downloader application with fine-grained protocol control.
- Seed files or manage peer-to-peer distribution of large datasets without a separate torrent application.
- Integrate torrent functionality into an existing Python application for content delivery.
- Research or test BitTorrent protocol behavior and peer interactions programmatically.
- Implement decentralized file-sharing features in a Python service or tool.
Worth the install?
AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page. Verify before relying on it.
Yes, if you need torrent protocol support in Python.
Active maintenance, no vulnerabilities, permissive license, and medium install friction via prebuilt wheels make it practical. Verify Python version compatibility before installing, as the metadata does not specify a minimum version. Not needed for simple torrent downloads—consider a standalone client instead.
Install
libtorrent on PyPI
Before you install
Medium install friction due to compiled wheels; prebuilt binaries available for common platforms (macOS, Linux, Windows, multiple architectures). Active maintenance with recent release (4 days old). No runtime dependencies simplifies deployment.
Requires a compatible Python version and platform architecture matching available wheels; no official Python version constraint documented.
License in practice
BSD permissive license allows use in most projects with minimal restrictions; review license text for specific attribution or liability terms if bundling.
Quickstart
pip install libtorrent
import libtorrent
# Create a session and add torrents via the libtorrent APIVerify before relying
- Exact Python version support range (requires_python is unspecified in metadata)
- Whether documentation exists beyond the homepage link
- API stability guarantees or breaking-change policy across versions
Package facts
| License | BSD permissive |
| Python support | Not specified |
| Install friction | Medium. Platform-specific wheel |
| Runtime dependencies | None |
| Maintenance | Actively maintained 4 days since the last release |
| First released | |
| Downloads | 91,457 / month, #13,516 on PyPI 30-day window, as of 2026-08-14 |
| Known vulnerabilities | None known OSV.dev, checked 2026-08-14 |
Evidence: libtorrent-2.1.1-cp310-cp310-macosx_14_0_arm64.whl; libtorrent-2.1.1-cp310-cp310-macosx_15_0_arm64.whl; libtorrent-2.1.1-cp310-cp310-macosx_15_0_x86_64.whl; libtorrent-2.1.1-cp310-cp310-manylinux_2_17_aarch64.manylinux2014_aarch64.whl; libtorrent-2.1.1-cp310-cp310-manylinux_2_17_x86_64.manylinux2014_x86_64.whl; libtorrent-2.1.1-cp310-cp310-musllinux_1_2_aarch64.whl; libtorrent-2.1.1-cp310-cp310-musllinux_1_2_x86_64.whl; libtorrent-2.1.1-cp310-cp310-win32.whl; libtorrent-2.1.1-cp310-cp310-win_amd64.whl; libtorrent-2.1.1-cp311-cp311-macosx_14_0_arm64.whl; libtorrent-2.1.1-cp311-cp311-macosx_15_0_arm64.whl; libtorrent-2.1.1-cp311-cp311-macosx_15_0_x86_64.whl; libtorrent-2.1.1-cp311-cp311-manylinux_2_17_aarch64.manylinux2014_aarch64.whl; libtorrent-2.1.1-cp311-cp311-manylinux_2_17_x86_64.manylinux2014_x86_64.whl; libtorrent-2.1.1-cp311-cp311-musllinux_1_2_aarch64.whl; libtorrent-2.1.1-cp311-cp311-musllinux_1_2_x86_64.whl; libtorrent-2.1.1-cp311-cp311-win32.whl; libtorrent-2.1.1-cp311-cp311-win_amd64.whl; libtorrent-2.1.1-cp312-cp312-macosx_14_0_arm64.whl; libtorrent-2.1.1-cp312-cp312-macosx_15_0_arm64.whl
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See also qbittorrent-api · py3createtorrent · bencode.py · deluge-client · transmission-rpc · pyobjc-framework-MultipeerConnectivity · multiaddr · pysmb · rpds-py · pybit