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
XDM?
Ok I just googled startpaged it and oh boy it is FOSS but the UI man it looks like a smartphone app from android 4.4 era but the devs are working on a full overhaul so I’ll wait and see
There is also FileCxx.
I will look into it, seems interesting
There is nothing that will work as simple as IDM
I strongly agree but from my experience FDM seems the closest to it and FDM is not as simple as IDM, I wish if there is a native linux version.
especially with that little floating button on top of videos it detects, with all available frame resolutions.
Damn right man, it is so damn good, can’t anyone else copy it please???
For video sites, I use yt-dlp. For galleries, gallery-dl.
I know of yt-dl but never heard of dlp before well until yesterday and for gallery-dl the name alone is very intriguing, I will definitely take a look at it, thanks for mentioning it!
For anime sites, I just log into Windows and use IDM.
They called me a mad man
IDM looks like Windows 98 era
Yep I agree but at least it looks like a desktop app not a phone app on a big screen, anyway it’s okay I will keep using FDM while keeping an eye on XDM hopefully the new version will live up to the expectations
