AB Download Manager 1.10.2.0

AB Download Manager 1.10.2.0 is a free, open-source download manager by AmirHossein Abdolmotallebi. It takes over downloads from your browser, splits them into parts to load faster, lets you pause and resume, and organises files in queues. It is released under the Apache 2.0 licence, and you can download AB Download Manager for Windows from abdownloadmanager.com or GitHub.

Quick facts

• Version: 1.10.2.0
• Author: AmirHossein Abdolmotallebi
• Licence: Apache-2.0, free and open source
• Platforms: Windows, with builds for Linux and macOS
• Size: about 73.09 MB according to catalogue data
• Source code: GitHub

Why use a download manager in the browser era?

Browsers download files well enough most of the time, but they struggle with large files on unstable connections. A dropped connection can mean starting a multi-gigabyte download again, and browsers offer little control over speed or order. AB Download Manager fills that gap with a modern interface. It divides each file into several connections, which often uses available bandwidth better, and it can resume after interruptions. Queues let you line up downloads to run one after another, for example overnight, and speed limits keep the rest of the household online while a big file loads. Being open source, its code is public, so there is no hidden adware, which has been a problem with some older download managers. Browser extensions pass links from the browser to the app automatically.

Guide: set it up

1. Download the installer from the official site; the installation guide covers all systems.
2. Install and start the app.
3. Add the browser extension for Chrome, Edge or Firefox from the links on abdownloadmanager.com.
4. Download a file in the browser; the app should catch it automatically.
5. Create queues and set speed limits in the settings if you need them.

Tips

• Choose a download folder with plenty of free space.
• Use a queue for large files so they do not compete for bandwidth.
• If a download fails to resume, the server may not support it; restart it from the beginning.
• Scan downloaded executables with your antivirus.

Who it suits

It is a good fit for people who regularly download large files such as Linux images, game patches, course videos or design assets, especially on connections that drop now and then. Casual users who download a PDF once a week will not notice much benefit over the browser.

Legal use

A download manager speeds up downloads, but it does not change what you are allowed to download. Respect copyright and the terms of the sites you use.

Pros and cons

• Pro: free and open source, no bundled offers.
• Pro: faster, resumable downloads with queues.
• Pro: browser integration through extensions.
• Con: large installer for a download manager.
• Con: fewer niche features than long-established commercial tools.

Alternatives

Other download managers in our listings include Free Download Manager, Internet Download Manager, Xtreme Download Manager (XDM) and JDownloader.