Download managers are the go-to software for faster and more efficient downloading. Among them, Internet Download Manager (IDM) is known for its impressive features, including download acceleration, resume and scheduled downloads, browser integration, and more. However, IDM is only available for Windows and comes with a price tag of $24.95 after a 30-day trial period. If you’re looking for free download manager software that works beyond the Windows operating system, look no further. In this article, we introduce ten of the best alternative download manager software programs.
1. JDownloader
JDownloader, a free download manager, is partially open-source software with features similar to IDM. Users can resume downloads, limit bandwidth, and apply themes. JDownloader has multilingual support and thanks to its built-in CAPTCHA solver, users can bypass CAPTCHA challenges automatically. It is not exclusive to Windows but also supports Linux, Mac, and Java-based operating systems.
2. EagleGet
EagleGet is a lightweight Windows-based download manager that allows users to accelerate download speed (up to six times faster). EagleGet offers browser integration, scheduling, bandwidth control, and theme customization, and even has its own malware checker. It has the capability to refresh expired download links and import download lists from other download managers as well.
3. Free Download Manager (FDM)
As a free download accelerator, FDM manages user downloads effectively so that big files can be downloaded quickly without interruptions. FDM is capable of resuming broken downloads and organizing torrents. Additionally, it supports media processing for various formats and is seamlessly integrated with major browsers – Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Microsoft Edge, Internet Explorer, and Safari. FDM is available for macOS, Windows, Linux, and Android platforms.
4. FlashGet
FlashGet can accelerate downloads up to 10 times the regular speed, making it faster than IDM. This software allows for unlimited download categories, while also offering automatic antivirus scanning after completing downloads. FlashGet has an offline reading feature and browser integration, similar to IDM. FlashGet is a Windows-only download manager.
5. Internet Download Accelerator
Internet Download Accelerator has features which include scheduled downloads, multilingual support, video and MP3 downloads, accelerated downloads up to 5 times, and theme customization. The software is free for personal use; however, its pro version is available for a single user with additional features such as ad-free browsing, download speed control, FTP explorer, and website manager for $9.95. It is also available for Windows only.
6. uGet Download Manager
With uGet Download Manager, users can download multiple files at once, pause, resume downloads, and select the bandwidth speed for each download. Available on Windows, Linux, and macOS, uGet Download Manager is a lightweight download manager that is open source and secure.
7. Ninja Download Manager
Ninja Download Manager is a free download manager that comes as an extension for Google Chrome. It allows users to grab downloads with a single click and has features ranging from file categorization, speed acceleration, and browser compatibility. Ninja Download Manager also supports DownThemAll! for Google Chrome users without requiring download and installation.
8. DownThemALL!
DownThemALL! is the most used Firefox download manager add-on with over two million downloads because of its convenience and functionality. It organizes downloads through their categories, has advanced download acceleration, supports pause and resume functionality, and works across multilingual downloads. It is exclusive to Firefox.
9. Xtreme Download Manager (XDM)
XDM is designed to increase download speed by up to 500% using intelligent algorithms to find the fastest sources. It organizes downloads by category, allows pause and resume, synchronization with different web browsers, and supports YouTube video downloads at various qualities and resolutions. XDM is exclusive to Windows, macOS, and Linux.
10. aria2
aria2 is a free cross-platform download manager that downloads files from multiple protocols. Its multi-source download capability lets users download files quickly from multiple sources, including HTTP/HTTPS, FTP, and BitTorrent networks. It has features such as pause and resume functions, browser integration, and command-line interface mode. It is available on Windows, macOS, and Linux.
In conclusion, these ten alternatives to IDM offer users an extensive range of features, and most of them are free. Choose the one that suits your downloading needs, and get ready for a faster and more efficient downloading experience.
