Top-rated free alternatives to IDM — all completely free to download and use.
Compare the top free download managers at a glance.
| Software | Price | Platform | Speed Boost | BitTorrent | Open Source | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free Download Manager | Free | Win, Mac, Linux | Up to 6x | ✅ Yes | ❌ No | ★★★★☆ 4.5 |
| JDownloader 2 | Free | Win, Mac, Linux | Up to 5x | ❌ No | ✅ Yes | ★★★★☆ 4.3 |
| Xtreme Download Manager | Free | Win, Mac, Linux | Up to 5x | ❌ No | ✅ Yes | ★★★★☆ 4.2 |
| Persepolis Download Manager | Free | Win, Mac, Linux | Up to 4x | ❌ No | ✅ Yes | ★★★★☆ 4.0 |
| uGet | Free | Win, Linux | Up to 4x | ❌ No | ✅ Yes | ★★★☆☆ 3.8 |
| Internet Download Manager | $24.95 | Windows | Up to 10x | ❌ No | ❌ No | ★★★★★ 4.8 |
In-depth look at each free download manager with pros, cons, and download links.
Free Download Manager is one of the best free alternatives to IDM. It offers download acceleration by splitting files into multiple sections, supports BitTorrent, has a clean modern interface, and works across Windows, macOS, and Linux. It also includes a built-in video downloader for popular streaming sites.
JDownloader 2 is a powerful open-source download manager perfect for power users. Its killer feature is automatic link grabbing — just copy a link and JDownloader captures it instantly. It supports hundreds of file hosting sites, automatic extraction of archives, and batch downloading of entire playlists or galleries.
Xtreme Download Manager (XDM) is the closest free alternative to IDM in terms of features. It offers up to 5x download speed boost, video downloading from streaming sites, browser integration, and resume support — all open source and completely free on all platforms.
Persepolis is a lightweight, GUI-based front-end for the powerful aria2 download engine. It offers multi-segment downloading, scheduling, queue management, and a clean interface that's easy to navigate for beginners.
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