Something as simple and as convenient to use as internet download manager
If you have ever used IDM before then you know what I mean, I’m yet to find an alternative that’s on par with its ease of use and convenience
Here are my requirements:
- I don’t have to copy-paste any links or right click on any links (just like IDM)
- it works on all sites, well except for mega.nz (just like IDM)
- it can scan the website and show me a download button on top of the media if it detects media like a YouTube video or an audio file playing, etc… (just like IDM)
- It works perfectly with Firefox (just like IDM)
- it doesn’t have to keep running in the background, starting a direct download link should initiate it and show me a pop download dialog/window (just like IDM)
I have tried:
- Persepolis: it has failed me miserably, the download fails 99% of the time (like from GitHub) so I ended up disabling the browser extension because it was getting in my way.
- Motrix: I have tried it on Windows with Firefox, but it doesn’t auto-detect the downloads and I have to copy and paste the download links and in some cases this is very difficult as many websites don’t show the direct download link to the user.
- Varia: tried it quickly yesterday, and it failed to auto capture the download link and Firefox built in download manager started instead.
- FDM: I have tried to download it off the package manager (a flatpak from Linux mint software manager) but it failed to install for some reason and now the download option doesn’t load at all! But I have used FDM on Windows before, and it is not as good as IDM.
I just downloaded KGet, and it doesn’t seem to be what I’m looking for, but we will see.
Some notes:
- youtube-dl: I never used it before but from what I know about it, I’m pretty sure it doesn’t fit my criteria
- I’m using 1DM+ on my android phone, and it is so damn good, it’s almost perfect, it is the golden standard for download managers on android, this app is another example of “it just works”.
- I think I’m losing hope, and I’m going to see if IDM can run perfectly using WINE
final update
Tested JDownloader2 with the Download with JDownloader Firefox extension vs FDM and the winner is FDM because it just worked out of the box no configuration was needed beyond just installing the browser extension, and it did a better job at meeting my requirements except for the 3rd one, but thankfully I found this great extension so it’s alright
- ah I almost forgot, yes I tested DownThemAll, and it didn’t automatically capture downloads, so this was an instant no
The only download software I used was the DownThemAll Firefox extension, which has always been real good. It works on all sites I’ve tried it with, it’s a very customisable interface, I don’t really know what you mean by not copy-pasting links but you don’t gotta do that.
You’re not likely to find an exact copy of the software for another OS, wine probably is your best bet if you just want IDM in Linux form.
Here is what I mean, in testing JDownloader and other download managers I did a simple test, I open a website like let’s say https://www.freedownloadmanager.org/download-fdm-for-linux.htm and I left click on the download button if the download manager auto captures the download request and start downloading the file or prompt me to authorize the download then the download manager passes the test but if the browser built in download manager starts downloading instead then it is an instant failure; I put this extension to the test and unfortunately it failed.
It installed successfully but unfortunately it seems that it won’t work with the linux version of Firefox so I uninstalled.