Windows users have lots of options when it comes to free download managers, such as the Internet Download Manager, Download Accelerator Plus, RealDownloader, etc. But sadly, these free tools are not available on Linux.
Fortunately, Linux also has some outstanding free download managers. However, because the Linux user base is considerably smaller than that of Windows, developers spend less money on publicity of these tools. As a result, these tools become a bit challenging to find.
But not anymore. Here, I have prepared a list of the best free download managers for Linux –
Xtreme Download Manager (XDM)
Xtreme Download Manager (XDM) stands out as a versatile and free tool available on Sourceforge and GitHub, catering to Windows, Unix, Mac OS, and Linux users. Known for its impressive speed enhancements, it can accelerate downloads up to five times faster, making it a noteworthy alternative to Download Accelerator Plus on Linux.
Boasting stability and maintenance, XDM supports all major browsers and excels in identifying downloadable files that other downloaders might miss.
Ideal for video downloads, XDM’s segmentation and simultaneous download capabilities significantly expedite file transfers. Noteworthy features include the ability to retry broken links, resume interrupted downloads, and recover lost connections. This makes XDM particularly recommended for downloading large video files from various sources, including YouTube, Google Video, Vimeo, and Dailymotion.
Integrated with popular web browsers like Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Vivaldi, and Opera, XDM effortlessly detects playing videos and offers download options. While primarily designed for personal use, XDM is especially valuable for individuals seeking efficient video and audio file downloads.
XDM’s standout features, such as integrated antivirus checks and the ability to queue downloads, make the downloading process more convenient. Users can confidently leave downloads running overnight, knowing that the downloader can shut down the system upon completion of all tasks.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Completely free | UI needs to be improved |
| Cross-platform support | |
| Supports uncommon sources like Dailymotion and Vimeo | |
| Integrated virus scanning feature |
Download it from – GitHub
uGet
uGet, a free and versatile download manager, extends its functionality across Windows, Unix, Android, and Linux. uGet stands out as an open-source project that encourages user engagement with its source code. The most prominent features of the uGet download manager for Linux include simultaneous downloads, clipboard detection, and the ability to resume functions.
The uGet system proves valuable as a background utility, particularly adept at automatically detecting downloadable files within web pages. This eliminates the need for manually finding file location and copying, offering convenience in managing downloads. The queueing capability resembles that of torrent downloaders, allowing users to schedule a series of downloads seamlessly while focusing on other tasks.
The user-friendly interface permits the addition of new download requests while others are in progress, creating a schedule queue for uninterrupted video series downloads. The downloader’s ability to resume broken downloads, pause individual downloads, and handle FTP server authentication further enhances its utility.
For bulk video downloads or businesses requiring scheduled file transfers, uGet is a recommended tool. Operating efficiently in legacy environments, including Windows XP, makes it lightweight on modern systems. Its open-source nature allows users to contribute to feature development and bug fixes.
Utilizing a multi-threaded architecture, uGet accelerates downloads by dividing files into 16 segments, providing robust features comparable to paid tools like Download Accelerator Plus. For a free tool, uGet delivers a comprehensive set of capabilities.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Lightweight and compatible with legacy environments, including Windows XP | Interface improvement is needed |
| Supports automatic download resumption of broken links | The plugin is currently available only for Firefox |
| Open-source |
SteadyFlow
SteadyFlow is a straightforward download manager tailored for Linux GNOME environments. It further offers a Google Chrome extension for added versatility. Its open-source nature allows users to inspect and modify the code, ensuring transparency and security.
Designed specifically for Linux GNOME distros, SteadyFlow distinguishes itself in a landscape often dominated by downloaders geared toward Windows. The tool prioritizes efficiency by maintaining a minimalistic GUI, focusing on fast and resource-efficient downloads through multi-threading.
Similar to Download Accelerator Plus (DAP), SteadyFlow enables users to pause and resume individual downloads, includes a queue, and allows prioritization by setting bandwidth limits for files.
Recommended for users with GUI versions of Linux (GNOME), SteadyFlow serves those who seek a fuss-free front end with a robust back end. While not as feature-rich as some competitors, its low resource footprint allows for seamless multitasking during downloads.
SteadyFlow excels in resource efficiency, making it a suitable choice for users who prioritize seamless multitasking alongside ongoing downloads.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Open-source project | Basic user interface |
| Utilizes multi-threading for efficient downloads | Lacks advanced search and management features |
| Minimal resource footprint |
FlareGet
FlareGet, available in both paid and free versions, stands out as a versatile download manager with compatibility across Linux, macOS, and Windows. Operating as a GUI system, it caters to GNOME distros of Linux and features excellent capabilities for fast and efficient file transfers.
The download manager adopts a torrent-like approach, utilizing a multi-threaded architecture for simultaneous segment downloads, akin to the functionality of Download Accelerator Plus. Noteworthy features include broken link recovery, pause and resume options, and the ability to spot and download YouTube videos seamlessly.
With a background process monitoring browser activity, FlareGet offers automatic downloads for YouTube videos and URLs copied to the clipboard. FlareGet distinguishes itself with a user-friendly interface, queuing, and scheduling options that facilitate uninterrupted downloads without user intervention.
The system incorporates a bandwidth limiter to ensure optimal internet service availability during background downloads. While similar to uGet and Persepolis, FlareGet’s free edition proves effective, making the choice between them subjective.
Its active monitoring features, combined with its intuitive interface, make it a compelling option for users seeking efficient and convenient file downloads on Linux, macOS, and Windows platforms.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| User-friendly interface and functionalities | Some features are restricted to the paid version |
| Supports wide range of browsers | Lack of open-source status |
| Vutomatic YouTube video detection and URL loading |
Persepolis
Persepolis is a free and open-source download manager, compatible with Linux, Unix, Windows, and macOS. With an interface that opens multiple windows for downloads, it features a scheduler allowing users to queue up multiple files for efficient downloading.
Persepolis stands out for its ability to automate downloads by progressing through queued tasks, resembling the interface style of a torrent client. Once a download completes, the next in the queue automatically begins, and the progress of each download is displayed in an overlay window.
Recommended for users choosing between Persepolis, uGet, and FlareGet, Persepolis offers a unique feature – an automatic video detector running in the background. This detector prompts users to download videos whenever a webpage with downloadable files is opened, akin to the functionality of XDM.
That said, the constant popups from the video detector may be perceived as a minor inconvenience by some users.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Open-source project | Interface could be improved |
| Cross-platform availability | Slight learning curve |
| Automatic video detection |
MultiGet
MultiGet is a free and open-source download manager, compatible with Linux, Windows, Unix, and macOS. It features a GUI interface with a prominent progress meter in the lower section and a queue of scheduled downloads in the upper section.
Distinguishing itself as a tool closer to a torrent downloader, MultiGet employs a mechanism called P2SP (Peer to Server and Peer). This system allows the download of a file from one location while simultaneously seeking other sources with the exact file.
Although not torrent-based, MultiGet’s P2SP feature splits the current download file into segments for concurrent downloading in a multi-threaded architecture.
I recommend MultiGet for users seeking a middle ground between torrent downloading and straightforward multi-threaded copying. That said, MultiGet’s P2SP system may be less useful for those primarily transferring their own files between devices.
In its latest version, MultiGet operates similarly to a torrent client by seeking segments of the same file from different sources and downloading them simultaneously for assembly into a single file. The tool supports the pausing and resuming of individual downloads and can load URLs directly from the Clipboard.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Open-source project | Advanced features could be too overwhelming for beginners |
| Capable of pulling file segments from alternative sources | The automatic media detection feature is unreliable |
| Ability to use URLs for automatic media downloads | Lack of customization options |
DownThemAll
DownloadThemAll is a versatile download manager designed as a Firefox add-on, making it compatible with any system in which you can install a Firefox web browser. Its browser-based interface showcases a list of downloads with detailed information available in a popup window upon selecting a file.
Recommended for its ability to scan web pages and identify downloadable files, DownloadThemAll offers a user experience similar to XDM. Available as an add-on for various browsers, including Chrome, Edge, and Opera, this tool facilitates multi-threaded transfers for simultaneous downloads.
Users can pause, resume, and attempt to resume broken links, with settings allowing customization of the number of simultaneous file downloads. With a browser-based nature, DownloadThemAll caters to home users, aligning with personal rather than business-oriented needs.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Excellent interface design | Limited browser plugin options |
| Open-source project | Occasional issues with the URL clipboard feature |
| Massive community support | |
| Efficient handling of multiple downloads |
kGet
Developed by the KDE group as part of their Linux software lineup, the kGet Download Manager is designed exclusively for Linux systems, enhancing file retrieval from HTTP and FTP sources.
Recommended for its alignment with KDE tools, kGet employs a multi-threaded approach for rapid file downloads. The interface allows simultaneous downloading of multiple files, with customizable settings for the maximum number of concurrent downloads.
Despite not being focused on torrents, kGet can source file segments from different servers, downloading and assembling them simultaneously into a unified file.
The multi-thread architecture automatically divides files into segments for simultaneous downloading, even from the same server. Users can schedule a series of files into a download queue visible in the kGet interface.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Utilizes multiple protocols for media detection and download | It could be overwhelming and confusing for beginners |
| Implements multi-threaded architecture for enhanced download speeds | Finds features requires exploration |
| Completely free to use | Interface, while better than most, could be improved |
Varia
Varia is a new open-source download manager for Linux, utilizing the robust Aria2 command-line download utility. Its sleek interface, crafted with GTK 4 and libadwaita, seamlessly integrates with the modern aesthetics of GTK apps on Ubuntu.
In a test scenario involving the download of Ubuntu 23.10 for the Raspberry Pi 5, Varia demonstrated its utility by allowing the seamless resumption of a disrupted download after a mid-transfer laptop shutdown.
While web browsers offer built-in download management features, dedicated tools like Varia provide more reliability, especially in scenarios of unreliable internet connections or interrupted transfers.
As a newcomer to the scene, Varia’s initial feature set covers essential functionalities such as adding URLs, simultaneous downloading of up to 5 files, pausing or canceling downloads individually or collectively, automatic resumption of incomplete downloads on launch, and displaying total download speed in the header bar.
While lacking some advanced features found in established download managers like uGet, Varia’s foundational capabilities make it a viable option for users seeking a modern-looking and dedicated download manager on Ubuntu.
Closing Comments
These download managers are designed for Linux desktop environments, offering a user-friendly graphical interface for enhanced usability.
While command-line downloading is possible, using these GUI-based tools provides convenient features such as progress monitors and download queues, akin to their Windows counterparts. The full range of features these Linux-based download managers offer ensures a seamless downloading experience.
However, you need to exercise caution regarding the sources of downloaded files to maintain the security of your system.
If you have a preferred Linux download manager or use one not mentioned in our guide, share your insights in the comments section. Our team will review it, and if it does great in our test, we will consider adding it here.
