In Windows there is a tool named Internet Download Manager or more popular by its abbreviation name, IDM. As you can guess from its name, this tool allows Windows users to manage the downloading processes they are running. Do Linux has a similar tool?

In Linux you can also use the similar tool like IDM to manage the running downloading processes. If you want to look more geeky you can use command line-based download managers like axel and aria2c. Additionally, there are also GUI-based download managers if you really need a IMD-like tool.

Generally, all download managers have one thing in common. They allow you to pause the running downloading processes and resume them later. This kind of feature is really useful if you need to download a large file in which takes more times to finish.

So, here are the top 4 GUI-based download managers for Linux.

1. kGet

kGet is a download manager that becomes a part of KDE project. This is the only download manager on this list that has been added to the repository package of most Linux distributions so that you can install it directly using the package manager of the distro you use. The use of kGet will be more optimal if you also use the Konqueror web browser since you can integrate both of them. To download a file with kGet you need to know the full URL of the file you are going to download.

kGet allows you to both pause and resume the running downloading processes. Additionally, this tool also let you know several information regarding the downloading process like percentage of the downloading process, time estimation and download speed. This download manager supports HTTP and FTP protocols. In Debian-based distros you can install kGet by typing the following command.

$ sudo apt install kget

2. uGet

uGet is a feature-rich download manager for Linux that was started by C.H. Huang. Currently, the development of this project is led by Michael Tunnell. Same as kGet, uGet also allows you to pause the running downloading processes as well as resume them. You will also get informed regarding each downloading process like download speed, percentage downloading process and so son. uGet allows you to disable the information columns that you think not supposed to be there.

uGet makes it possible if you want to download certain file anonymously by utilizing proxy. Unlike kGet, most Linux distributions hasn’t added uGet to their repository package. You can get the executable package of uGet from its site. There are many packages available there from Debian, Slackware, Ubuntu Fedore and lots more. You will also see uGet package for other platforms like Windows and macOS since uGet is indeed a cross-platform app.

3. XDM

XDM stands for Xtreme Download Manager. You can use this download manager to replace the default download manager of major web browsers like Firefox, Chrome, Opera to Microsoft Edge which are very lack of feature. Wait, Microsoft Edge?. Yes, XDM isn’t only available for Linux but also Windows and macOS. XDM claims that it is capable of increasing download speed up-to 500%. If you are someone who love downloading videos from services like YouTube, Vimeo or Metacafe then XMD would your best friend.

Same as uGet, XDM hasn’t also been added to the repository package of most Linux distributions. If you use Debian-based distro you can run the following commands to install this download manager.

$ sudo add-apt-repository ppa:noobslab/apps
$ sudo apt-get update
$ sudo apt-get install xdman

Or, if you use other distro you can get the executable file of XDM on Sourceforge. There is a readme file that will guide you to install the tool.

4. FlareGet

FlareGet is the best download manager if you are truly looking for an IDM alternative. This download manager has similar features and capabilities as IDM. The difference, this tool is also available for Linux instead of Windows only. FlareGet itself is a freemium app. In order to use all of its features you will be asked to buy the license. In FlareGet you can set the download schedules. You can also run the download process anonymously using its proxy feature. The rest, there is no significant difference between this tool and other tools above. You will also get informed about the downloading process through the informative columns containing download speed information, percentage, status and so on.

FlareGet offers each of DEB and RPM packages which you can install on your Linux machine (you can dowload the packages here). If you use Debian-based distro you can run the following command to install FlareGet.

$ sudo dpkg -i flareget_4.5-102_amd64.deb

While RedHat-based distro users can run the following command.

# rpm -i flareget-4.5-102.x86_64.rpm