Requirements: macOS 10.12+
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Version 5.27.13991 (5 Oct, 2022) Release notes
Category: Utilities
USB Network Gate
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FlexiHub
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Remote access to COM-port devices
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Reliable connection to remote USB security dongles
Serial Port Monitor
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HelpWire
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YouTube downloader
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Download manager for Mac
Top download managers
Torrent client for Mac
Overview of the best torrent clients
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Ivan Korol
Jan 23, 2023
Watching and downloading movies, playing games, using cloud storage, etc. requires a stable and fast Internet connection. Slow downloading is not only annoying but also reduces productivity.
The download speed on your Mac depends on a number of different factors. The type of Internet connection you’re using, an outdated web browser, your internet plan, and technical issues with your device can cause slowdowns and performance issues. In addition, apps running in the background also affect your connection speed. To speed up downloads on Mac, you have several options, one of which is the download manager for Mac.
There are various factors that may cause slow downloads on your Mac. The most common include:
Now that you know about the reasons for the slow download speeds, let's define what refers to fast download speed. Generally, if the data transfer is above 100 Mbps, it means that you have a good Internet connection that allows you to perform more than several online activities simultaneously without major interruptions. However, there are several speed download Mac tips and trick you can do to reach the optimal speed for downloads.
The reason for your low speed can also be in your broadband connection or your wireless network. And since you can control your wireless network yourself, besides using speed download app boosters, it is recommended to optimize and fine-tune home or office Wi-Fi for better performance.
You can increase download speed by managing the download process wisely. Below, you will find some tips that should hopefully help you boost the download speed on Mac.
New versions of OS can also provide a faster and more stable network. Check for software updates via the Apple menu in order not to miss anything. Another way to increase download speed Mac users should do is to update the router's firmware. With the new firmware version, your router may start to receive a better Wi-Fi signal (if you use it), and in general work faster.
It's easy to forget that you've started your tenth download while nine others are still active. However, this greatly affects the download speed. Try pausing less urgent downloads to allocate more traffic to your most important files.
Sharing is caring, and the peer-to-peer connection is all about that. But an unlimited setting on upload affects your downloading too. It is a good idea to set your torrent client upload rate to about 80% of your maximum upload speed.
Also, try playing with your upload speeds – set the speed high initially and then gradually slow it down towards the middle of the download. Pay attention to speed units – they can either be kilobits per second (kb/sec) or kilobytes per second (kB/sec). 1 kilobyte = 8 kilobits.
The location of your router can also significantly affect your download speed. If you normally use the Internet near your router, you're probably fine. But if your router is located behind objects or in the corner of your house, your speed issues may be due to distance or obstacles. If you want to know how to speed up downloads on Mac and to find the perfect place for the router location we recommend you NetSpot, an app for interference monitoring.
Make sure to check the max download and upload bandwidths allowed by your ISP. Of course, the torrent downloading speed won't go over what is set up by the ISP. Use bandwidth tester to see what you have and how to increase it. You can use speed.io or DSLReports included in the speed test of uTorrent.
One more tip on "how to make downloads faster on Mac" is to check the current setup of your router. When you sign in to your ISP account, you can also check various settings. The default settings installed on your router are often not the best. Go to your ISP's webpage to learn more about which settings work best for your router and download speed.
Regardless of whether you use Wi-Fi or an Ethernet connection, there is a cable that enters your apartment. It can be bent, pinched, or damaged somewhere, which automatically degrades the quality of the connection causing speed downloading Mac issues. Check the cable in areas accessible to you or ask your provider to "ring" it and repair possible damage to make sure that the Internet speed does not depend on its condition.
Using Wi-Fi affects the speed of your connection, that’s why it is recommended to connect via an Ethernet cable as it can quickly increase download speed. We understand that this tip "how to increase download speed on Mac" may sound like it's from the 90s, still, you shouldn’t underestimate it. As it's a wired connection and you don't have to rely on Wi-Fi, this option may provide the fastest connection for your download speed.
Please keep in mind that another reason for Mac download speed slow issue can also be the low-quality filters. Such kinds of filters can affect the Wi-Fi infrastructure so replacing them with more high-quality ones can help you increase the speed.
There are numerous third-party apps that can accelerate download speed and the best example comes from download managers. We’ve analyzed and tested the most powerful and reliable ones available today. When it comes to how to increase download speed Mac users can use the apps listed below.
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Folx PRO
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Folx PRO
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iNetGet
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iGetter
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FlareGet
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Ninja Download Manager
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Download Shuttle
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Maxel
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Leech
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Progressive Downloader
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Xtreme Download Manager
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JDownloader
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Persepolis Download Manager
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Neat Download Manager
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Free Download Manager
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4K Video Downloader
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Multithreading
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Multithreading
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Downloads scheduling
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Downloads scheduling
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Apple Music integration
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Apple Music integration
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Speed control
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Speed control
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Bandwidth optimization
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Bandwidth optimization
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SoundCloud only
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Proxy support
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Proxy support
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Browser integration
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Browser integration
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Password storage
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Password storage
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Torrent client
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Torrent client
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Autoresume of downloads
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Autoresume of downloads
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macOS 10.15+
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macOS 10.15+
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$19.95
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$19.95
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$29.99
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$25
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$19.99
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$19
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$9.99
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$6
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$2.99
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free
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free
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free
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free
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free
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free
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Folx is one of the most popular download managers and torrent clients for macOS. It helps to achieve high download speeds by splitting downloads into threads. Folx offers its users numerous features that make downloading more convenient and faster. This includes downloads scheduling, speed control, a built-in search tool, and more. Among other things, Folx can resume interrupted downloads from where you left off.
Folx offers both free and paid versions. Although the free version allows you to experience the full power of the app, Folx PRO unlocks advanced features. So, you can change the download speed for each individual torrent, benefit from password saving features, and even be able to split the downloads in up to 20 threads.
Pros:
Cons:
Supported OS: macOS
Conclusion: An all-in-one Internet Download Manager, Folx is the only app you need as a Mac user if you want to improve your download speed. Even without the PRO version, you will be able to easily manage the files you download and lose the fear of getting disconnected halfway.
However, when upgrading to PRO, you unlock the full power of this app and will be able to also download torrents, sync music with Apple Music, decide what happens when the download is finished, and more.
You can also accelerate the speed of torrent downloading by tweaking Folx settings:
Open Folx, navigate Preferences >Torrents > Peers and enable the following options:
JDownloader is an open-source download tool for Mac. With this downloader, you'll need to specify the number of connections to download files. As we mentioned before the number of connections is directly connected to the downloading speed.
Using JDownloader, you can choose when to initiate a download, pause it whenever you need, or stop the entire process. Besides the fact you accelerate download speed, you can also auto-extract archives, enable bandwidth limitations as well as other settings.
Pros:
Cons:
Supported OS: macOS, Windows, Linux
Conclusion: If you’re looking for free software to download files from the Internet without having to always rely on your browser, JDownloader is the solution for you.
Of course, being an open-source app, you may experience some bugs along the way, however, the code is constantly checked by the people that launched the app and you should have a great overall experience.
FlareGet is an all-in-one download manager that can be used by macOS, Linux, and Windows users alike. It comes with a free trial that offers you the opportunity to experience its features.
However, the full list of features is unlocked when you upgrade to PRO. After that, you'll get amazingly fast downloads and smart file management. Plus, the app comes with enhanced browser integration so you can start your downloads right away. Even if you get disconnected, you can always resume from where you left off without having to start over.
Pros:
Cons:
Supported OS: macOS, Windows, Linux
Conclusion: FlareGet is worth a shot if you want an alternative to downloading files via Safari or the Internet browser you are using. It’s nice that it comes with a free trial version, however, the real power is unleashed in the PRO version. Intelligent file management is the top feature this app has to offer.
We’re continuing our list of download managers for macOS with Ninja Download Manager. If you’re actively looking for an answer to how to speed up download speed on Mac, you should explore this tool as well.
The app has a very interesting user interface and also comes with plenty of features like Sequential File Writing which allows you to start previewing files even before they are fully downloaded. Among other things, you also get batch downloading, complete speed control, download scheduling, and many more.
Pros:
Cons:
Supported OS: macOS, Windows
Conclusion: A very potent download manager for Mac that can easily take the top position on our list if it also had a decent free trial version. However, without the ability to check the features and what the app can do, users prefer to choose its competitors.
In addition, there are browser extensions that will help you improve download speed on Mac. They are free to use and do not require additional software to be installed. You just need to download the extension and add it to your web browser. Below we will bring you the best browser extensions that will make it easier and faster to download on your Mac.
This dedicated add-on for Mozilla Firefox is all you need if you want to improve your download speed no matter what files you download from the Internet. Essentially, it allows Mozilla to use multiple connections to the same server and speeds up downloads. It comes with 6 simultaneous threads, which can be boosted to even more if you're a little savvy with editing the config.
If you want the full versatility of standalone download managers packed in a browser extension for Chrome, Turbo Download Manager v3 is worth your attention. This add-on allows you to pause and resume the downloads, get files remotely and, of course, use the multi-thread technology to improve speeds.
Also, Turbo Download Manager v3 comes with internal modules that easily detect images and media sources. It also has a built-in M3U8 parser and a Live Stream downloader that allows you to download live videos.
If you were wondering how to make download speeds faster on Mac using a browser extension, DownThemAll (or simply dTa) is a very easy-to-use and powerful extension when it comes to how to make download speeds faster on Mac. It allows you to take full control of any download process on your computer. DownThemAll can be used to increase download speed, and it also serves as an excellent download manager, allowing you to better organize your downloads.
If you are wondering “Why is my Mac downloading so slow”, make sure you are not running any current downloads or other programs that might hog your bandwidth. Run a speed test and check the download and upload speed on your Mac. You can go to dedicated apps or do it manually to see what your download speed is.
One of the ways to check your Mac’s download/upload speed is Activity Monitor, a utility that monitors your Mac’s activities such as CPU usage, and keeps your computer running smoothly.
In the Activity Monitor window on your Mac, select the "Network" tab. Here you will see the amount of data your Mac is sending and receiving over the network: Data Received/Sec indicates the download speed, while Data Sent/Sec points at the upload speed.
The "Network" tab also defines applications that are actively using your network.
You can find out your Mac’s download speed with dedicated apps like Speedtest. It is designed to help Mac users check speed and performance of their Internet connection. Using this speed download app, you can run the test right from your macOS menu bar.
The speed of your downloads depends on many factors. Some of them are out of your reach, but some can be solved. Luckily, there are many solutions and things you can do to troubleshoot and improve the speed on your Mac. The easiest and convenient way to adjust your download speed is to use dedicated software. The best choice for speeding up downloads is Folx, a fast and user-friendly download manager and torrent client.
First, we will recommend you check your Internet speed. This way you will understand the reasons why downloads are slow. You can check your upload speed manually or using special programs like Speedtest. If the reported speeds are much lower than the advertised speed of your Internet plan, then your connection is slow.
There are some ways to increase upload speed: you can try using a wired connection, clear cache and history, and make sure your device doesn't have any viruses. Multiple devices connected to the same network may also slow down the upload speed. Or refer to Folx, the best download manager for Mac, which helps you speed up your downloads by splitting them into threads.
