Have you ever wondered how to boost your download speed on Mac? Read below to find some tips and solutions to speed up your downloads.
Even with a reasonably good connection sometimes it feels like it needs a boost to go faster. When you need to download large files, like movies, for example, you'll probably become interested in the methods to boost download speed on Mac. In that case, the Mac download manager comes in handy.
Folx is one of the most popular download managers for macOS that also works as a great speed downloader.
It helps to achieve speed downloading Mac thanks to splitting the downloads in threads and fetching them from multiple sources at a time.
Free Folx splits the downloads in up to two threads, while Folx Pro allows you to split the downloads in up to 20 threads.
Pros:
Cons:
Supported OS: Mac OS X
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.
There are numerous third-party apps that can accelerate download speed and the best example comes from download managers. We’ve analyzed and tested five of the most powerful and reliable ones available now. When it comes to how to increase download speed Mac users can use the apps listed below. Here’s our conclusions regarding these five software you can use to speed up downloads on Mac.
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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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ZenMate
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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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$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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JDownloader is an open-source download tool for Mac. With this downloader, you'll need to specify the number of connections for downloading 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: Mac OS X, 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.
When talking about ways to increase download speed, Mac users should give iNetGet a chance as well. You should know right from the start that you’ll need some previous experience to successfully download files with this app. However, don’t think you need to be an expert or computer geek.
It comes with a user interface that can be figured out after a few moments with the app and it allows you to download MP4, FLV, and music from YouTube and other websites. Even more than that, it comes with an auto-sniff function that is able to detect the file formats you pre-define and download them automatically.
Pros:
Cons:
Supported OS: Mac OS X
Conclusion: A great fast downloader for Mac users that want to take things to the next level. While it’s not a complicated app, the auto-sniffing feature requires some technical skills to work properly. Nonetheless, if you are looking for an answer to “how to download faster on Mac” this app is a great solution.
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 version that offers you the opportunity to experience its features.
However, the full list of features is unlocked when you upgrade to PRO. You will then get amazingly fast downloads, intelligent file management so that you will never have to waste time organizing files ever again. Just pre-define some categories and all the files will go to their destination, according to what you download.
Also, the app comes with enhanced browser integration so you can start your downloads immediately. Even if you get disconnected, you can always resume from where you were left without having to start over again.
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 make Mac download faster, you should explore this high speed downloader as well.
The app comes with a very interesting user interface, is very fast compared to downloading directly through your Internet browser, and it’s also elegant. Besides making downloads faster, it comes with plenty of features like Sequential File Writing a feature that allows you to start previewing the files even before they’re completely downloaded.
On its list of features, you can also see batch downloading, complete speed control, a limitation for maximum concurrent downloads, and many more.
Pros:
Cons:
Supported OS: Mac OS X, 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.
You’re wondering how to improve download speed on Mac without installing additional software? You can still do so using your browser and a special extension destined for each of the three most popular browsers out there. Not sure how to do so? Don’t worry! We’re giving you the best browser extensions to make downloading easier and faster on your Mac.
This Mozilla Firefox dedicated add-on is everything you need if you want to boost your download speed no matter what files you download from the Internet. It basically allows Mozilla to use multiple connections to the same server and get the download faster. It comes with 6 simultaneous threads that can be boosted to even more if you know a bit of config editing.
You want the full versatility of standalone download managers packed in a browser extension for Chrome? Turbo Download Manager v3 is the answer!
It allows you to pause and resume the downloads, get files remotely and, of course, use the multi-thread technology to improve speeds. It also 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 Opera extension that allows you to take full control of any download process on your computer.
DownThemAll can be used to increase download speed Mac users get as a standard and it also serves as an excellent download manager, allowing you to better organize your downloads.
If you are experiencing poor Internet speed, the first thing to do is make sure you are not running any current downloads or other programs that might hog your bandwidth. Run a speed test and check download and upload speed on your Mac. You can go to dedicated apps or do it manually to see what your speed downloading Mac is.
One of the ways you can use to check your Mac download and upload speeds is Activity Monitor, a utility that monitors your Mac’s activities like processor load, running applications, 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 the help of dedicated apps like Speedtest. It aims to help Mac users to check Internet connection speed and performance. Using this speed download app, you can launch the test right from your macOS menu bar.
Open the app and click on the "Go" button. Speedtest launches its tests. Once completed, the results will be displayed in the same window.
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.
Don't download too many files at a timeIt is easy to forget that you started the tenth download while nine others are still active. However, it affects the download speed tremendously. Try pausing less urgent downloads to dedicate more traffic to the most important files.
Check your ISPMake 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.
Limit your upload rateSharing 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 to play with your upload speeds – set the speed high initially and then gradually lower it 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 Internet Service Provider. When considering how to maximize download speed on Mac, you need to be aware that some ISPs use fiber optics while others go for copper wires to transmit the Internet. It goes without saying that with the copper networks you have a slight disadvantage because, on longer distances, some of the speed is lost.
On the other hand, fiber optics do not have any issues with distance and the information travels faster, your downloads mac as well. The number of connected users can also represent a problem for copper networks since with multiple people downloading at the same time, the speed drops.
• The data package you subscribed to. The higher the subscription, the faster your Internet will be. You can choose from 10 MB/s, 100 MB/s, or 1000 MB/s. Even though it may sound like stating the obvious, this is a thing to be taken into consideration.
• Sometimes, you can increase the download speed Mac computers offer by upgrading the Mac itself. Old computers have less memory and will run slower even if the Internet connection is very good.
• The connection between your modem and the computer is another factor that can influence the download speed. A wired connection is faster, however, it has its disadvantages.
Also, the modern wireless connections offer better speeds since you can opt for 5 GHz frequencies on the 802.11n protocol, compared to the 2.4 GHz of older modems.
• The moment when you download. It may sound like a superstition but sometimes you will get slower Internet speed in the evening when everyone is using any Internet-connected device.
• Speed limitations on the websites you visit. Even though it’s not that common, some websites can choose to apply speed limitations.
• Sharing your connection with other devices and people in the room or building. All the devices connected to the same network will put much greater stress on the download speed.
• Software that uses a lot of bandwidth, such as Torrent clients or Spyware that could take up a lot of your efforts to accelerate download speed.
As you can see, the speed of your downloads depends on many factors. Some of them are beyond your reach, but some can be tempered with. The easiest and convenient way to adjust download speed is to use software with special features on your Mac.
The best choice to speed up your downloads is Folx - a fast and user-friendly download manager and torrent client. Do you know any other tips and tricks to increase download speed? Don’t hesitate to share your thoughts in the comments below and help others out in the process.
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.
