The best download manager for Mac makes downloading faster and easier, as well as offers useful management options like speed control, downloads scheduling, and more. Let's take a closer look at the top 10 download managers.
If you often download torrents, movies, etc, from the Internet, the download manager for Mac will make your life much easier and save you time and space on your hard drive. There are many download managers available, and the purpose of this article is to give you an idea of what application might work best for your needs.
Folx is at the top of our list for best download managers for Mac because we believe it is the easiest-to-use application, with the most features.
It’s extremely user-friendly and is fully compatible with Apple’s latest operating system - Monterey.
Folx has two versions: the free version and a PRO version. The free version is loaded with tons of features and is perfect for those who don’t download content from the Internet on a regular basis. Upgrading to Folx PRO, however, will offer you a ton of awesome features, including in-built torrent search, password saver, smart speed control and much more.
Besides that, Folx works with all popular browsers: Safari, Firefox, Chrome, Opera. You can easily integrate Folx via its plugin in the Safari browser’s context menu and use it as a Safari download manager.
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Folx is also fully compatible with Mac’s latest operating system - Monterey. And for this reason, and the many reasons listed above, we think it’s the best downloader for Mac available.
Supported OS: macOS
Conclusion: In our opinion, this has to be the best download manager Mac users can find. Folx offers a huge range of features that can be easily used by users with even a limited understanding of how a download manager works.
Thanks to its full torrent compatibility, it’s a really useful Mac download manager for anyone who uses this download method. It’s also got good speeds and plenty of options that let you customize the way that you download files.
While you do have to invest some money for the PRO versions, it’s a low price and one that’s affordable by just about anyone. Whatever you’re looking for, this is a great option with tons of features and top speeds.
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Folx PRO
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Folx PRO
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FlareGet
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Download Shuttle
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Leech
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Progressive Downloader
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Xtreme Download Manager
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Neat Download Manager
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Free Download Manager
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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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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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$19.99
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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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Another top download manager for Mac to check out is called Free Download Manager. FDM does everything the best download manager Mac should do: resumes broken downloads, increases download speed, adjusts available bandwidth, schedules activity, and even supports BitTorrent protocol. All these features for zero price make FDM a solid choice. It also seems to be supported on Mac’s latest OS - Monterey.
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Supported OS: macOS, Windows, Linux
Conclusion: As the name suggests, one of the great benefits of this program is the fact that it’s completely free. It also pairs torrenting with conventional downloading, which is a welcome change.
Beyond that, it has many of the organization and pause/resume features that we’ve seen in other programs. Obviously, the main issue is the fact that, as a very new program, it’s particularly vulnerable to malware. That’s definitely something you’ll want to bear in mind if you’re concerned about your computer’s security.
Progressive Downloader is among the best download managers for Mac because it offers a wide variety of features. It can resume interrupted downloads, offers multi-threaded downloading, browser integration, etc. Progressive Downloader also has a built-in mirror search option to help find mirrors (copies of the same file you’re downloading but in different locations) for large files.
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Supported OS: macOS
Conclusion: This downloader Mac is pretty good, though it does fall down quite badly where it matters most. There are plenty of useful functions such as pausing downloads, and thankfully the program might work fine with Mac Monterey. It also has a built-in feature that lets you use mirror sites, which is handy.
However, the big issue is the low download speed. Downloads can only be split into three threads, which isn’t much when you consider that similar products offer a lot more. If it wasn’t for the low speeds, this would be a really great choice.
FlareGet is primarily known as a download manager for Linux. Linux is by far the most popular open-source operating system but it’s not a commonly used download manager Mac. Again, "open-source" means that the actual code that runs FlareGet is available for anyone to use and customize. But, FlareGet seems to operate on macOS Monterey just fine, too. It’s interface is simple, if a bit dated.
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Supported OS: macOS, Windows, Linux
Conclusion: This download manager for Mac and Linux is more of an option for people who understand the ins and outs of software. If you really know your stuff, you can use this open-source program to download files, and the download speeds really are impressive - something to take into consideration.
However, for the vast majority of Internet users out there, this is probably not the ideal solution. While it has its merits, you need a lot of background understanding to really make it work for you.
iDownloader continues our list of Mac download tools. The tool provides multipart download, allows scheduling, and can detect copied URLs from browsers. Besides downloading, it can also speed up download tasks. iDownloader integrates with web browsers via its extensions, supports download scheduling, and can resume the download from where it left if the connection is lost.
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Supported OS: macOS
Conclusion: In general, iDownloader is quite a good download software for Mac for downloading media content from various websites. It comes with a neat interface, so you are unlikely to have any difficulty using it. However, it lacks a few features: for example, it doesn’t download torrents. This product is free, but there are in-app purchases.
Leech is another contender among the best download managers for Mac. The main focus of Leech is to smoothly integrate with your Internet browser. Its interface is simple - drag and drop a URL into the app and you’re good to go.
You also have the option to set a username and password for corresponding servers. E.g. if you have a premium account on uploaded.net for high downloading speed, you can set up automatic login to your account whenever Leech catches the link from uploaded.net. No need to have any extensions for web browsers in order to use automatic download link catching.
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Supported OS: macOS
Conclusion: If you’re looking for a pared down download manager for Macintosh, this could be a good choice for you. First off, it takes up very little space on your hard drive. It’s also been designed with simplicity in mind, meaning that you will probably not struggle to make use of it.
However, obviously, this simplicity isn’t ideal for everyone. Leech is not a great choice if you want to be able to customize how you download and organize your files. While it’s a good, easy option, there are better choices that give you a lot more control.
We consider Xtreme Download Manager to be among the best download managers for Mac because of its pleasing user interface and its lightweight size.
This Mac app downloader also boasts that it can increase your download speed by up to 500%, but we’re not so sure about that. It does, however, offer a ton of features - including download scheduling - so you can set up your Internet downloads to begin at times when you’re away from your computer.
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Supported OS: macOS, Windows, Linux
Conclusion: As a download manager that has been designed to be accessible to anyone, this program largely succeeds. They’ve come up with a clear interface that’s easy to use. There are also plenty of useful features, such as reconnecting when a connection is dropped.
However, there are a few issues regarding compatibility. Xtreme doesn’t work with Monterey. It also is not supported by Firefox, which is surprising given how popular that browser is. If you’re looking for a straightforward choice, depending on what software you use, this could be a good option.
Neat Download Manager is a lightweight, simple-to-use and free download manager for Mac. Neat is a newcomer to the download manager scene and it is quickly making a name for itself, but its developers are still working through some kinks. We’re looking forward to seeing Neat’s developers improve upon its features, though, as it is a promising app, and it might be available on Mac’s newest OS - Monterey.
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Supported OS: macOS, Windows
Conclusion: While it hasn’t yet quite fulfilled its potential, Neat still promises great things in the future. One of the most striking things about it is the fact that it only takes up a single megabyte on your hard drive - pretty remarkable. It’s got plenty of compatibility with browsers and boasts impressive download speeds, which is obviously an important factor.
As we’ve said, the main issue is that, as a very new program, there’s not a huge amount of features on offer. Also, as with all new programs, it’s more vulnerable to viruses and malware. However, with any luck, we’ll see improvements in the future.
Download Shuttle is one more best free download manager for Mac. It is a simple solution for managing multiple downloads and accelerating transfer speeds. Download Shuttle can also split your downloads in multiple segments and download them all at once, handle links with authentication, and includes basic, but effective, link management options.
In the main window of the app you can see the list of your downloads, and the top toolbar has the buttons for basic functions, including the option to add or remove links. Download Shuttle also offers an inspector window with the detailed info about the status of each segment and supports QuickLook (access data about the downloaded file). It also seems to be compatible with macOS Monterey.
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Supported OS: macOS
Conclusion: This is probably one of the best choices in our list. The major plus point about Download Shuttle is the fact that it offers very high speeds for downloading. This is mainly thanks to the fact that it divides files into multiple threads, making for much quicker downloads.
It’s also really easy to use, with a well-thought-out interface that is easy to navigate. It only falls down in a couple of places. The other problem is it doesn’t let you access your download queue, which is a pretty glaring fault.
Fat Pipe Downloader, the accelerator and download manager for Mac, finished our list. This application splits the download task into many smaller chunks, thereby bypassing the speed limits set by the Internet providers. Fat Pipe Downloader has Chrome, Firefox, and Safari extensions, so you can integrate it into your browser and download videos right from your browser's right-click menu.
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Supported OS: macOS
Conclusion: If you are looking for a basic download manager, you can try Fat Pipe Downloader. What’s more, it is stated that the app can bypass the speed limits set by Internet service providers and servers by splitting download tasks. So, you can use it as a download accelerator.
The first thing you need to consider when choosing a downloader for Mac is what kind of program you want to use. For instance, you can use a program like Folx, that’s actually downloadable software. The other option is to use torrent clients like Vuze, that are specifically aimed at torrenting. The third option is to check out cloud-based clients. For all of these things, there are lots of different factors to take into account.
Obviously, the basics such as download speed are important, as are the ways in which you can organize your downloads. Some of these things can be simplified with browser integration and Apple Music integration. Since you’re looking for a Mac downloader, it’s also essential that the option you pick has maximum compatibility with Monterey - the latest macOS.
Finally, one of the most obvious questions is price. While some options are 100%, you’ll often find that you need to invest to get the maximum out of a program. In this case, you may want to prioritize a solution with a one-off payment over options that expect you to pay a monthly or annual subscription fee.
So what factors determine the best download manager for Mac?
There are a few things you need to take into account when deciding on the best download manager for Mac. A few factors are fairly obvious, like ensuring that it runs safely. But there are other ones that need to be considered, that you might not have thought of. The following are some of the main things to bear in mind?
Usability - an obvious factor is how easy the program is to use. A good downloader will offer a straightforward interface that lets you get straight to the files and folders you need. In addition, the best managers let you search directly for files online, rather than searching through a browser then opening the file via the manager.
Websites - ideally, a downloader will let you get audio and video files from a wide range of websites. YouTube and Facebook are obvious ones, but other file sharing and social media platforms should be included as well.
Features - the best downloaders offer a number of other features beyond simply downloading files. Some offer tools to convert to or edit video, rip to DVD, and a number of other useful features.
Speed - there’s no point using a downloader that takes forever. You’ll want to be able to get videos of reasonable quality at the kinds of speeds you can work with. Compatibility - it’s essential that your downloader is compatible with the latest MacOS, as well as older versions. Check that it works with Monterrey, Sierra, High Sierra, Catalina, Mojave and Big Sur.
Every browser comes with its own straightforward download tool, such as the Safari download manager. It’s what lets you get files from online sources. However, browser downloaders and the OS X download manager are generally not the best. They’re fine for handling the basics, but if you want anything additional, it’s worthwhile downloading a dedicated download manager for Mac.
These download manager Mac programs let you easily manage what you’re downloading, pausing and resuming when necessary, and prioritising certain downloads over others. They also let you boost your speeds for the quickest downloads possible. Here’s how you can use one:
There are tons of download managers on the market these days, and sorting through them, reading the features they offer, their user reviews, and avoiding download managers that may come with malware attached, can be extremely time-consuming.
This article’s goal was to do that job for you. Different downloader managers suit different Mac users' needs, and the best download manager for Mac for one person might not be the best for the next person. We just hope we’ve provided you with a good place to start your search!
