The Bitcoin exchange rate faced a significant drop not a long time ago, so a lot of miners think that mining this coin is not as profitable as before. However, Bitcoin is stabilizing, so now is the time to start mining it again. And, definitely, it is better to do this with reliable and efficient software.
There are a lot of operating systems for managing Bitcoin mining, so making a final choice can be a rather complicated task. This guide is here to help you — it describes features, advantages and disadvantages of the most popular software.
Hive OS: an all-in-one solution
Hive OS is a highly secure and stable mining platform based on the Linux distribution of Ubuntu. Besides, you will have no difficulties with its installation, setup and use. However, if you have any questions, you can always get in touch with the support team. The support is provided 24/7, so you will get help very quickly. There is also an extensive knowledge base that you can use.
Hive OS significantly simplifies even large farms’ management. A lot of things can be automated. For instance, automatic control of the fans, execution of commands according to the schedule, etc. Apart from this, switching between pools, wallets or coins takes only a second. The list of miners is updated regularly, just like the list of features — the Hive OS team is constantly working on the system considering the needs of the community. With Hive OS it is also possible to control the workers remotely.
Hive OS allows mining Bitcoin on ASICs and GPU rigs, offers its own pool and custom firmware for ASICs. It is an all-in-one solution that you can use in order to make the management process simpler and increase your profits.
СGMiner: suitable for experienced owners of AMD cards
CGMiner is an open-source miner focused specifically on mining Bitcoin (although some other coins can also be mined here). It supports GPU, ASIC and CPU mining, and is available for the following platforms: Windows, Linux and OS X. While using all the traditional features (for instance, overclocking) you won’t have to pay a dev fee.
However, this miner is not that suitable for inexperienced users — you at least need to have some knowledge of GitHub. Another thing to keep in mind is that CGMiner doesn’t work well with Nvidia cards.
Cudo Miner: a nice option for beginners
Cudo Miner is a simple to use crypto mining platform. Remote management, monitoring and overclocking — these and other standard features are available. Cudo Miner also offers automated mining and auto coin switching. Besides, if necessary, you can create custom templates in order to increase performance of your devices.
On the other side, Cudo Miner doesn’t support ASICs. One more unpleasant thing is that the fees are based on the amount of cryptocurrency mined in the last 30 days, and they are pretty high. For example, for less than 0.005 BTC, the fee is 6.5%.
SimpleMining: the choice of GPU owners
SimpleMining is a mining OS platform supporting all modern Nvidia and AMD GPUs. Using it, you can take bulk actions on multiple devices. Standard features like overclocking and undervolting are available as well. Besides, there are a lot of miner programmes to choose from, but you can still add a custom miner if necessary. But please keep in mind that it is impossible to mix AMD and Nvidia in one rig.
Hashr8: for users who know everything about mining
Hashr8 is an operating system suitable both for ASICs and GPU rigs. The system also supports many pools and miners. You can monitor devices not only in the web interface, but also via the mobile application. Support is provided around the clock. Besides, Hashr8 can be used for free — this option is available to miners using up to 3 devices inclusive. At the same time, there are no other restrictions — free users can use all the functions of the system.
However, despite the above-mentioned benefits, Hashr8 also has some disadvantages. Firstly, you can contact the support team only using the form on the website or by email, so there is no chance for getting help instantly. The website also has no FAQ, so if you run into a problem, you are likely to have to solve it yourself. Secondly, Hashr8 is a rather unstable system, which can affect your income.
Awesome Miner: suitable for centralized mining management
Awesome Miner allows managing and monitoring the mining operations, and supports ASICs and GPU rigs (CPU mining is possible too). Using it, you can perform operations both on individual miners and the groups, and build templates for easier configuration. Note that Awesome Miner can be used for free, but on certain conditions: you can have up to 2 miners, while the list of available features is rather limited.
Awesome Miner runs only on Windows, but you can still connect it to mining software running on Linux. Apart from this, it can be difficult for a new user to understand how this solution works, as its interface is not that convenient and intuitive.
What Software to Choose?
Obviously, the final decision completely depends on your needs, but we recommend choosing a universal system that supports GPU rigs and ASICs. By doing this, you will have freedom of action. A similar recommendation can be applied to GPU rigs — if you prefer them, choose a system that works both with Nvidia and AMD cards.
Make your choice wisely, and have profitable Bitcoin mining!
