Top 7 download managers for Windows and Mac

The internet has alot of data that may interest you. This ranges from, text to videos, to images, to audios among others. To save this data on your personal computer, you will need to download it. This is where a download manager comes in handy.

A download manager is a computer program dedicated to the task of downloading possibly unrelated stand-alone files from the Internet for storage. There are so many download managers available. Here is a look at the top seven.

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Internet Download Manager

Internet Download Manager commonly known as IDM is a popular and impressive download manager software, which brings more speed and stability during downloads. Apart from integration with popular web browsers out there, IDM gives you drag-and-drop system and command line support when it comes to managing your downloads. There is a timer, which allows you to schedule your downloads. Of course, It has basic download management features such as the ability to keep different files in different categories and queue support.
With IDM, you have the ability to get video from web players, MMS protocol support along with a wide range of performance improvements. You can simply drag and drop links to IDM, and drag and drop downloaded files out of Internet Download Manager.
IDM supports many types of proxy servers and has a user friendly user interface. IDM supports multiple languages.

Free Download Manager

Free Download Manager — often referred to as FDM — is a combination of easy-to-use interface and a powerful set of features. There is a noticeable increase in download speed when you use Free Download Manager and the feature to pause & resume downloads anytime is a blessing for those who are from Chrome scenario. Apart from HTTP and FTP, FDM is offering support for torrent downloading as well, which too is quick when compared with other tools out there. Free Download Manager also has the ability to store different files in different folders, making the total file-management experience easier. Plus, FDM has an integrated media player that helps you view downloaded files without opening another tool. There is a Lite version of Free Download Manager available, and this version compromises features, so as to work smooth on low-configuration PCs. Free Download Manager’s user interface doesn’t have annoying adverts. You can also adjust traffic usage for browsing the Internet and downloading files at the same time using FDM.


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JDownloader

This is a free, open-source software for download management.It brings standard features in a really convenient form. The software is written in Java and it helps you pause and resume downloads along with some impressive features such as multiple file download option, support for popular content sites like YouTube and Vimeo. JDownloader is suitable for those who download a lot. Also, the availability of around 300 plugins will help you deal with various services like UCMS and WordPress. It also has a 24-hour support that helps you clear doubts & queries of yours. In terms of looks and UI, it has features like support for various themes and multiple languages.

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Download Accelerator Plus

DAP, as it’s commonly called is a free download manager, whose primary intention is to accelerate speed of the downloads. DAP can give you the best download speed, as it also finds multiple sources to download a single file. There are also some stunning features in DAP and all these features have been brought using an ultra-simple User Interface. Other noticeable features of Download Accelerator Plus include support for downloading videos from YouTube and a few popular video streaming sites, ability to convert YouTube files to MP3 and download them right away, its option to play video even before it’s finished, FTP Browser and in-built video converter. In the premium version of DAP, you get more features like File Shredder, ZIP Preview and Trace Cleaner. Download Accelerator Plus is a blend of easy-to-use User Interface & powerful download engine. Obviously, the free version is enough, but you’ve the freedom to go further by paying $24.95. (About 100,000 UGX)

DownThemAll

DownThemAll is not actually a standalone download manager, but an extension for Mozilla Firefox browser, which is capable of bringing you advanced download management features inside the free browser. It’s definitely an impressive solution when you need enhanced downloading speed and customization of downloads as per priority of yours. Yet there are some impressive features. Going to another aspect, you have auto-renaming features as well. Altogether, DownThemAll is one of the best built-in download manager you are going to have just within Mozilla. It’s as simple as that.


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FlashGet

FlashGet has a lot of download based features but this doesn’t prevent it from having an extremely easy to use User interface. Even as it makes use of least amount of resources, it can optimize downloads, giving you a speed that is impressive enough. FlashGet offers support for various downloading protocols such as HTTP, FTP, BT and eMule. All these features are combined with a set of features that let you manage files you have downloaded, such as the one to search, rename, drag-and-drop transfer. FlashGet has superb features to offer, such as the support for skins that you can get and install. Also, there are some interesting add-ons available for FlashGet. For instance, It lets you get files downloaded in a remote PC through an email given that FlashGet is installed in that PC. Needless to say, it’s free to use.

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Orbit Downloader

This is a fully-fledged download manager, giving you the options to download everything, at an enhanced level of speed and performance. Orbit Downloader calls itself the Download Manager Revolution, as it has integrated options for downloading from content providing sites like Pandora, YouTube etc. All these required features are accompanied by a simpler User Interface, which consumes relatively smaller amount of resources only. Orbit Downloader offers support for a variety of protocols such as HTTP, FTP, MMS, RTSP etc. Also, you have a feature to set up proxy server along with general options for general management. In addition, it offers rapid share support, which lets you download files quickly from file-hosting sites. It’s free, by the way.

The best managers can speed up downloads by breaking files into manageable blocks, let you pause and resume whenever you want, and even compensate for slow internet connections by picking up where they left off after it breaks unexpectedly. Some download managers will even convert media file formats automatically, saving you the hassle of re-encoding them yourself, and others will let you begin playing an audio or video file before it’s finished downloading. Above is our pick of the very best download managers for Windows and Mac. Once you’ve tried one, you’ll wonder how you ever managed without it!

Xtreme Download Manager (XDM)

This open-source download manager grew as the Linux equivalent of the very popular Internet Download Manager for Windows. It bares uncanny resemblence to IDM and is also available for Windows, you know, just in case you’re not into paying for software.

XDM can increase download speed up-to 500%, save streaming videos from YouTube, DailyMotion, Facebook, Vimeo, Google Video and 1000+ other websites, resume broken/dead downloads, schedule and convert downloads. It also flawlessly integrates with all the popular web browser, Firefox, Chrome, Opera, through a little browser extension.

XDM remains one of the most potent download managers available for Linux as an ecosystem.

image:pixabay

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