Alternatives to Free Download Manager
A download accelerator and organizer that splits files into segments and includes a BitTorrent client. The listings below can replace it for an important use case. Each note says what changes if you switch.
The original
Free Download Manager
A download accelerator and organizer that splits files into segments and includes a BitTorrent client.
Replacements
Listings that take over the same core job as Free Download Manager.
Internet Download Manager
A Windows download manager that splits files into segments to speed up, resume and schedule downloads.
Internet Download Manager is paid, closed source and Windows only, with dynamic segmentation, a scheduler and a site grabber, but no BitTorrent client.
AB Download Manager
Open source desktop download manager with multi-connection downloads, queues, a scheduler and browser extensions.
AB Download Manager is open source with multi-connection downloads, queues and browser extensions on Windows, macOS and Linux, but it lacks a torrent client.
Motrix
A clean desktop download manager that speaks HTTP, FTP, BitTorrent and magnet links from one queue.
Motrix is MIT-licensed and handles HTTP, FTP, BitTorrent and magnet links in one queue, but has no Android version and needs a separate browser extension.
Gopeed
A cross-platform download manager for HTTP, BitTorrent, magnet and ed2k links.
Gopeed is open source with HTTP, BitTorrent, magnet and ed2k in one Flutter app and a Docker image, but has no Android version.
Xtreme Download Manager
An open-source download accelerator that splits files into parts and saves videos from streaming sites.
Xtreme Download Manager is open source with browser takeover and streaming video saving on Windows and Linux, but it has no BitTorrent client and its new version is a beta.
BitComet
A long-running BitTorrent, HTTP and FTP download client with long-term seeding and disk caching.
BitComet is also free, closed source and cross-platform with BitTorrent, HTTP and FTP, adding BitTorrent v2, memory caching and video preview while downloading.
JDownloader
A Java download manager that fetches files and videos from many hosting sites through plugins.
JDownloader is open source and adds plugins for many hosting and video sites plus remote access, but requires Java and does not list torrent support.
Persepolis
A download manager built on aria2 that splits a file across up to sixty-four connections and schedules queues.
Persepolis is GPL-3.0, built on aria2, with up to sixty-four connections, scheduled queues and YouTube grabbing, but browser integration needs a separate extension.
Also worth comparing
These listings name Free Download Manager as their own alternative, so the relationship runs both ways.
Brisk
Open-source desktop download manager for Windows, macOS and Linux with multi-connection acceleration.
Free Download Manager is free but not clearly open source, and it adds a built-in BitTorrent client, browser integration and an Android version.
Download Master
A free Windows download manager that splits files into parallel streams and resumes broken downloads.
Free Download Manager stays free and adds a BitTorrent client plus Windows, macOS, Linux and Android versions, though its source licence is not clearly stated.
File Centipede
All-in-one download and upload manager with BitTorrent, WebDAV, FTP and SSH clients for Windows and Linux.
Free Download Manager is free with segmented downloads and BitTorrent on Windows, macOS, Linux and Android, but lacks the WebDAV, FTP and SSH clients.
Folx
A macOS download manager that splits downloads into threads, organizes them and handles torrents.
Free Download Manager is free with segmented downloads and a BitTorrent client, and it also runs on Windows, Linux and Android, not just macOS.
HTTP Downloader
An open-source Windows download manager for HTTP and HTTPS built on I/O completion ports.
Free Download Manager is free but has no clearly stated source licence, runs on Windows, macOS, Linux and Android, and adds a BitTorrent client.
iGetter
A download manager that speeds up downloads with segmented transfers and resumes broken ones.
Free Download Manager is free, adds a BitTorrent client and runs natively on Windows, macOS, Linux and Android, though its source licence is not clearly stated.
Internet Download Accelerator
Windows download manager that splits files into parts to speed up transfers and resumes broken downloads.
Free Download Manager is free with segmented downloads, a BitTorrent client and browser integration, and also runs on macOS, Linux and Android.
KGet
KDE's download manager for HTTP and FTP with pause, resume and Metalink support.
Free Download Manager offers segmented downloads, a built-in BitTorrent client and browser integration on four platforms, but it is not clearly open source.
Leech
A lightweight macOS download manager with accelerated downloads, bandwidth limits, scheduling and sorting rules.
Free Download Manager is free, runs on macOS, Windows, Linux and Android, and adds a BitTorrent client and browser integration.
LibreTorrent
A free and open-source BitTorrent client for Android with no ads.
Free Download Manager on Android combines segmented direct downloads with a built-in BitTorrent client, but its source licence is not clearly stated.
Mipony
A download manager for Windows and Mac that automates direct downloads from file hosts and BitTorrent.
Free Download Manager combines segmented direct downloads and a BitTorrent client on Windows, macOS, Linux and Android, but is less focused on file hosts.
Neat Download Manager
Free download manager for Windows and macOS with dynamic segmentation, resume and browser integration.
Free Download Manager adds a built-in BitTorrent client and Linux and Android versions, with browser integration for Chrome, Firefox and Edge.
Progressive Downloader
Free macOS download manager with multi-threaded downloads, mirror search, scheduling and browser integration.
Free Download Manager runs on Windows, macOS, Linux and Android and adds a BitTorrent client, but lacks AppleScript and Shortcuts scripting.
Varia
A simple download manager for regular downloads, torrents and videos, built on aria2.
Free Download Manager combines segmented downloads and a BitTorrent client on four platforms including Android, but its source licence is not clearly stated.
Similar software
Related functionality, not a direct replacement.
aria2
A command line downloader that pulls one file from several sources at once, including a torrent and a mirror together.
DownThemAll!
Mass downloader that grabs every link or image on a page.
Video DownloadHelper
Detects and downloads videos from a very large number of sites.
