Bitcoin is the largest digital wealth storage and cryptocurrency in the world. With prices historically on the rise, there’s never been a better time to get your share of cryptocurrency. You can do this by buying bitcoin at market value or using bitcoin mining software.
But what is bitcoin mining software? And is it the right avenue for you?
In this article, we’ll look at the best bitcoin mining software available today to help you decide.
Bitcoin Mining Software
There are two main types of bitcoin mining software which are separated into:
We’ve compiled some of the best examples of both so that if you’re ready to get started, all that’s left is to pick one.
CGminer
How It Works
CGminer is an example of an open-source miner that will work on just about any machine you need it to.
PC, Mac, and even mobile platforms can operate CGMiner — just set it up and point it at your hardware. That’s what makes this one of the more popular bitcoin mining software.
Pros:
Cons:
Cost
This bitcoin mining software is free and open-source.
BFGMiner
BFGMiner is one of the most popular bitcoin mining softwares, along with CGMiner.
It offers details monitoring and thread management tools, as well as high levels of customizability.
Pros:
Cons:
Cost
This bitcoin mining software is free.
Cudo Miner
While geared toward beginners, Cudo is relatively feature-packed and supports multiple types of bitcoin mining.
This bitcoin mining software:
Pros
Cons
Cost
This bitcoin mining software is free.
MultiMiner
MutiMiner was built from BFGMiner and caters to the extreme novice. With this bitcoin mining software, there is:
Pros
Cons:
Cost
This bitcoin mining software is free.
Awesome Miner
Awesome Miner is a powerful bitcoin mining software that lets miners operate and manage multiple rigs or take part in multiple pools.
This bitcoin mining software offers a single dashboard interface that makes management a breeze and can be highly customized.
Pros
Cons
Cost
This bitcoin mining software is free.
ECOS
ECOS is a cloud-mining platform that has mining and investment features built-in. This includes wallet functionality, portfolio setup, and even savings and exchange capabilities.
Pros
Cons
Cost
This bitcoin mining software costs $49 and up.
Kryptex
Kryptex is a great cloud-based mining application that allows users to stick with bitcoin, or to use the most currently-profitably coin to keep earnings up. This bitcoin mining software allows you to rent miners that others make available, using them however you like.
Pros
Cons
Cost
This bitcoin mining software is free to download, with a fee charged per payout
Bitcoin Mining Software FAQ
Next, we’ll take a look at the most commonly asked bitcoin mining software questions.
Q. What is Bitcoin Mining?
There will only ever be 21 million bitcoins, and they are produced in groups called “blocks”.
Each block is found by creating a unique solution to a cryptographic formula.
These blocks are created by bitcoin miners running bitcoin mining software, and each time a block is found the miners responsible for finding it get the bitcoins in the block.
Q. How Does Bitcoin Mining Software Work?
Bitcoin mining software clients communicate with the bitcoin network to obtain the information needed, then coordinate hashing power between your various pieces of mining hardware.
Q. How Much Does Bitcoin Mining Software Cost?
Most, if not all, mining software for hardware you own will be free.
CGMiner, for example, is a bitcoin mining software that is open source.
Q. How Do You Make Money Mining Bitcoin?
When you begin mining, you will undoubtedly have some form of initial investment, and to make money mining bitcoin you’ll just need to stick with it long enough to make back those costs along with any operating costs your mining rig needs, like electricity.
Q. How long does it take to mine 1 Bitcoin?
There is no guarantee that you will ever mine enough to get an entire bitcoin at once. You will likely build up small payouts over time, the value of which will depend on the hashing power you put to work.
Q. Can I Mine Bitcoin for Free?
Miners like CGMiner & Cudo Miner will be able to harness your computer’s CPU for mining purposes, though the odds of finding a block solution or even being a significant part of a particular pool’s computing efforts are incredibly low for CPU miners.
The Bottom Line: Bitcoin Mining Software
Bitcoin mining software can be as diverse as the borderless network of people who mine bitcoin and use it.
For those that plan to build their own physical mining infrastructure, classics like CGMiner or BFGMiner will give you unrivaled levels of visibility and control over that infrastructure. For new miners that would just like to dip their toe in the water, one of the many cloud-based mining programs could be what you need to get used to how mining works, and to get your first few payouts.
No matter what technical expertise you have, or whether you’re going to obtain the GPUs and ASICs or lease someone else’s, there is a bitcoin mining software for you.