Best Progressive Downloader Alternatives in 2026
The top Progressive Downloader alternatives are Free Download Manager, JDownloader and Internet Download Manager: 15 download manager software our editors would look at instead of Progressive Downloader, in our ranking order.
Progressive Downloader: A capable free Mac download manager with remote requests and broad file-source support. Where it falls short: focused primarily on macOS rather than broad desktop platform coverage.
Switching from Progressive Downloader? For most download manager software buyers the best Progressive Downloader alternative is Free Download Manager, built for most users wanting a free all-purpose manager. 4K Video Downloader+ offers the most concurrent downloads (3 downloads).
Why People Look for a Progressive Downloader Alternative
- Focused primarily on macOS rather than broad desktop platform coverage
- Video and audio downloads depend on supported hosting services
- Plus features require a support payment on the website version
Quick Picks by What You Need
- Best overallFree Download Manager9.3
Most users wanting a free all-purpose manager
Visit Free Download Manager - Best free optionFree Download Manager9.3
Has a free plan
Visit Free Download Manager - Most concurrent downloads4K Video Downloader+7.9
3 downloads
Visit 4K Video Downloader+
All 15 Progressive Downloader Alternatives, Ranked
Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.
Sponsored alternatives to Progressive Downloader Sponsored alternative
-
Best forMost users wanting a free all-purpose manager
- Better than Progressive Downloader:
- Editor score 9.3 vs 6.2
A broad free manager with acceleration, torrents, scheduling, and multi-platform support.
- Remote control
- Portable version
- Download scheduling
9.3/10★★★★★Visit site -
Best forPower users needing broad download automation
- Better than Progressive Downloader:
- Editor score 9.2 vs 6.2
A broad free download manager for queues, plugins, archives, streams, and remote control.
- Remote control
- Portable version
- Download scheduling
9.2/10★★★★★Visit JDownloader -
Best forWindows users wanting a dedicated paid manager
- Better than Progressive Downloader:
- Editor score 9.1 vs 6.2
A capable paid Windows manager for organized, resumable and scheduled downloads.
- Download scheduling
- Browser integration
- Video downloading
9.1/10★★★★★Visit IDM -
Best forTorrent users needing remote desktop control
- Better than Progressive Downloader:
- Editor score 9.0 vs 6.2
A free download manager with deep torrent controls and practical remote access.
- Remote control
9.0/10★★★★☆Visit BitComet -
Best forHigh-volume users needing queues and remote access
- Better than Progressive Downloader:
- Editor score 8.9 vs 6.2
A free, open-source manager for large queues, torrents, browser handoff, and remote access.
- Remote control
- Portable version
- Download scheduling
8.9/10★★★★☆Visit Motrix -
Best forScriptable website and file downloads
- Better than Progressive Downloader:
- Editor score 8.7 vs 6.2
A scriptable, open-source downloader for HTTP, HTTPS, FTP, and website mirroring.
- Download scheduling
8.7/10★★★★☆Visit GNU Wget -
Best forTechnical users needing protocol flexibility
- Better than Progressive Downloader:
- Editor score 8.6 vs 6.2
A scriptable downloader for technical users who need broad protocol support.
- Remote control
8.6/10★★★★☆Visit aria2 -
Best forLinux users wanting a lightweight file manager
- Better than Progressive Downloader:
- Editor score 8.4 vs 6.2
A free, open-source Linux download manager with practical transfer controls.
- Browser integration
8.4/10★★★★☆Visit KDE -
Best forFree users wanting scheduling and browser integration
- Better than Progressive Downloader:
- Editor score 8.3 vs 6.2
A free, capable download manager with scheduling, queues, and browser integration.
- Portable version
- Download scheduling
- Browser integration
8.3/10★★★★☆Visit site -
Best forFree desktop users needing powerful scheduling
- Better than Progressive Downloader:
- Editor score 8.2 vs 6.2
A capable free desktop manager for scheduled, queued, multi-segment downloads.
- Portable version
- Download scheduling
- Browser integration
8.2/10★★★★☆Visit Persepolis -
Best forUsers focused on video and playlist downloads
- Better than Progressive Downloader:
- Editor score 7.9 vs 6.2
A focused downloader for videos, playlists, channels, subtitles, and high-resolution media.
- Portable version
- Browser integration
- Video downloading
7.9/10★★★★☆Visit 4K Downloader -
Best forWindows users wanting low-cost advanced controls
- Better than Progressive Downloader:
- Editor score 7.9 vs 6.2
A low-cost Windows download manager with acceleration, resume, scheduling, and video downloads.
- Remote control
- Portable version
- Download scheduling
7.9/10★★★★☆Visit site -
Best forDesktop users wanting accelerated media downloads
- Better than Progressive Downloader:
- Editor score 7.9 vs 6.2
A capable free downloader for users who want acceleration, recovery, scheduling, and video tools.
- Portable version
- Download scheduling
- Browser integration
7.9/10★★★★☆Visit XDM -
Best forFree downloads with mirrors and scheduling
- Better than Progressive Downloader:
- Editor score 7.9 vs 6.2
FlareGet pairs segmented downloads with mirrors, scheduling, and browser integration.
- Download scheduling
- Browser integration
- Video downloading
7.9/10★★★★☆Visit FlareGet -
Best forServer and NAS users managing hosted downloads
- Better than Progressive Downloader:
- Editor score 7.8 vs 6.2
A capable headless download manager for servers, NAS devices, and hosted-download workflows.
- Remote control
- Download scheduling
- Browser integration
7.8/10★★★★☆Visit pyLoad
Progressive Downloader Alternatives: Common Questions
What is the best alternative to Progressive Downloader?
Free Download Manager: #1 in our Download Manager Software ranking, with an editor score of 9.3 out of 10. A broad free manager with acceleration, torrents, scheduling, and multi-platform support.
Is there a free alternative to Progressive Downloader?
Yes. Free Download Manager, JDownloader, BitComet, Motrix and GNU Wget have a free plan or a free tier (14 of the 15 alternatives on this page).
Why do people look for Progressive Downloader alternatives?
Focused primarily on macOS rather than broad desktop platform coverage; Video and audio downloads depend on supported hosting services; Plus features require a support payment on the website version.
Which Progressive Downloader alternative has the most concurrent downloads?
4K Video Downloader+, with 3 downloads.
How do I switch from Progressive Downloader?
Export your data from Progressive Downloader (most tools have an export in their settings). Sign up for the alternative; start on its free plan or trial if it has one. Import your export and set up the integrations your team relies on. Run both side by side for a short while, then cancel Progressive Downloader.
How to Switch from Progressive Downloader
- Export your data from Progressive Downloader (most tools have an export in their settings).
- Sign up for the alternative; start on its free plan or trial if it has one.
- Import your export and set up the integrations your team relies on.
- Run both side by side for a short while, then cancel Progressive Downloader.
Progressive Downloader vs Each Alternative
| # | Tool | Free plan | Paid from | Supported platforms | Browser integration | Video downloading | Download scheduling | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31 | Progressive Downloader | Yes | macOS, iOS, Chrome extension | Yes | Yes | Yes | 6.2 | |
| 1 | Free Download Manager | Yes | Free | Windows, macOS, Linux, Android | Yes | Yes | Yes | 9.3 |
| 2 | JDownloader | Yes | Free | Windows, Linux, macOS, Android, iOS, web browsers, API | Yes | Yes | Yes | 9.2 |
| 3 | Internet Download Manager | No | Windows | Yes | Yes | Yes | 9.1 | |
| 4 | BitComet | Yes | Free | 9.0 | ||||
| 5 | Motrix | Yes | Free | macOS, Windows, Linux | Yes | Yes | Yes | 8.9 |
| 6 | GNU Wget | Yes | Free | linux, windows, macos | Yes | 8.7 | ||
| 7 | aria2 | Free | Windows, macOS, Linux, Android | 8.6 | ||||
| 8 | KGet | Yes | Free | Linux | Yes | 8.4 | ||
| 9 | AB Download Manager | Yes | Free | Windows, macOS, Linux, Android | Yes | Yes | Yes | 8.3 |
| 10 | Persepolis Download Manager | Yes | Free | windows, macos, linux | Yes | Yes | Yes | 8.2 |
| 11 | 4K Video Downloader+ | Yes | Windows, macOS, Ubuntu Linux | Yes | Yes | 7.9 | ||
| 12 | Internet Download Accelerator | Yes | $8/user one-time | Windows | Yes | Yes | Yes | 7.9 |
| 13 | Xtreme Download Manager | Yes | Free | Windows, macOS, Linux | Yes | Yes | Yes | 7.9 |
| 14 | FlareGet | Yes | Windows, macOS, Linux | Yes | Yes | Yes | 7.9 | |
| 15 | pyLoad | Yes | Free | web, Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, API | Yes | Yes | Yes | 7.8 |
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Last updated · How we research and update