Are you someone who often downloads large files on a Mac? It could be anything ranging from movies, apps, or any other multimedia content. Some of us even take the help of FTP (File Transfer Protocol) to download content from servers – for example – software packages, images and other content. In either case, a download manager is a utility you should install on your Mac.
Worry not, if you are new to the concept of download managers. You have stumbled on the right post. Here we will talk about what a Mac download manager is and also enlist some of the best free and paid download managers for Mac.
What Is A Mac Download Manager?
A Mac Download Manager enhances the downloading process in macOS. With it, you can efficiently manage and organize multiple downloads, regardless of the source. Most download manager utilities on Mac integrate with web browsers on Mac and intercept and handle download requests seamlessly.
Some Common Features of A Mac Download Manager
Here are some of the common features of a download manager for Mac –
- Support for multiple protocols such as HTTPS, HTTP, and FTP.
- Split files or segments of download into sections for faster download.
- Pause and resume downloads, especially the ones that are broken.
- Create downloads on a remote Mac.
- Control bandwidth to conduct downloads where internet speed is low.
- Schedule downloads at a desired time.
- Adjust the download speed.
- Renew expired downloads.
- Tag downloads using various filters.
Must Read: Best Download Managers For Windows
Best Download Managers for Mac (Free and Paid)
1. Free Download Manager for Mac
First on the list of Mac downloaders is Free Download Manager. It is one of the best apps with which you can manage downloads on Mac and even increase the downloading speed in case of multiple downloads. The interface is neat and clean and even someone with no experience with one such tool can easily manage Mac downloads.
Notable Features
- Download videos from popular websites.
- HTTPS/ HTTP/ FTP support.
- Split files into several sections and download them simultaneously.
- Resume broken downloads from where they were interrupted.
- Create downloads on a remote Mac
2. Leech
Leech surpasses a normal browser when it comes to managing or accelerating downloads. In most simple terms, you can control the aspects of any incoming download. Another reason why we recommend using Leech as your downloader for Mac is that it prevents, to an extent, the heavy RAM consumption done by your very own browser when downloading things.
Notable Features
- Download many streams of data at once.
- Inbuilt bandwidth throttling.
- Schedule downloads (start and pause them)
- Download files by using ranges.
- Run in Dock, menu bar, or the new Dock-and-menu bar hybrid mode.
3. Folx – Free Download Manager
Folx is one of the best free downloaders for Mac which is even compatible with the latest macOS Sonoma. While it even has a paid version, you can manage most of your downloading tasks on Mac with its free version. The interface lets you get a comprehensive view of the downloads that are queued and lets you even schedule downloads as well.
Notable Features
- Split downloads into multiple threads to accelerate speed.
- Auto resume broken downloads.
- Assign tags to your downloads.
- Schedule downloads.
- Adjust the speed of downloads.
4. iDownloader
iDownloader touts itself as one of the fastest file downloaders for Mac with an attractive and intuitive interface. The reason why it facilitates fast downloads is that it segregates downloads into multiple segments and when it comes to downloading them, it puts all these segments together. Consequently, it also manages bandwidth and utilizes it correctly.
Notable Features
- Filter download using file types.
- Detects copied links.
- Schedule downloads at a convenient time.
- Multipart download to maximize download speed.
- Drag and drop links that you want to download.
5. FlareGet
If you are looking for a feature-packed yet free download manager for Mac, FlareGet is an option you can consider. Being a multi-threaded download manager and accelerator, it facilitates fast downloading. It integrates well with all major browsers such as Firefox, Google Chrome, and many others. It is intelligent enough to categorize the downloaded files based on their extensions and even handles broken downloads well.
Notable Features
- Split download into segments to enhance download speed.
- Multiple protocol support (HTTP, HTTPS and FTP)
- Add or remove download segments without interrupting downloads.
- YouTube grabber.
- Limit download speed and save bandwidth speed.
6. Neat Download Manager
Neat Download Manager is a free download manager for Mac that supports various kinds of protocols. It is one of those Mac download managers that tweaks the download speed based on the total available bandwidth. Furthermore, it also lets you set the maximum connection number on your download even while the download is in progress.
Notable Features
- Dynamic segmentation algorithm.
- Support for various types of protocol.
- Organize downloads based on the download status, and file type
- Pause/ resume downloads; resume crashed downloads.
- Functionality to renew expired downloads.
7. Download Shuttle
Download Shuttle is one of the best free downloaders for Mac that supports a variety of protocols. Again, it divides a download into multiple segments and downloads small parts together because of which the downloading speed is fast. The interface lets you keep track of various aspects such as downloading speed, time remaining in download, and many others.
Notable Features
- Download management tool lets unlimited simultaneous downloads.
- Fast download speed, thanks to multi-segmented download.
- Drag and drop support for download links.
- Support for those URLs that require authentication.
- Pause and resume support provided a URL that supports it.
8. Transloader
If you are looking for a download manager on a Mac with which you can manage downloads remotely, Tranloader is an app you can trust. By managing downloads remotely, we mean that you can start downloads via other devices such as iPads, iPhones, or other Macs. For this, what you would need is an iCloud account and a Transloader companion app on the other device.
Notable Features
- Initiate downloads on a remote Mac.
- Link and File Actions. Link Actions tell which app should open specific links based on criteria. File Actions take care of tasks to happen post-download.
- Transloader lets you know if a file requires login into the website.
- Save links for download for later.
9. JDownloader Mac
JDownloader is a straightforward free download manager for Mac. It is easy to use and poses no learning curve. You can easily initiate, stop, or pause downloads. Despite having a slightly outdated interface, its myriad of features make up for the appearance. For instance, you can set bandwidth limits as well as auto-extract archives.
Notable Features
- Fast and easy download manager.
- Start, stop, and pause downloads.
- Functionality to set bandwidth limits.
- Auto extract archives.
10. Persepolis Download Manager
This is yet another free and open-source download manager for Mac that makes managing and accelerating downloads on Macs a breeze. One of the best aspects of this download manager is that the page offers an exhaustive learning resource with which you can understand how each of the features works.
Notable Features
- Schedule downloads at your desired time.
- Multi-segment downloading.
- Put downloads in a queue.
- Fetch links that you wish to download from popular sites such as YouTube, Dailymotion, etc.
What Downloader Would You Choose For Your Mac
You come across a movie on a streaming platform or an application file that you want to work on large files. And, worse! What if the download is interrupted? In such cases, it won’t be a wise choice to rely on your native browser for downloading. That’s exactly why we have enlisted some of the best download managers for your Mac. If you have made a choice, do share it with us in the comments section below. For more such content, keep reading WeTheGeek. Follow us on social media – Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.