46 22 Jan - 4 Feb 2020
hat we liked:
JDownloader is a long-
time favourite of Web
User and it remains our
top download manager
for good reason. It
elivers the goods in all the
areas where a download
manager should, offering lots of control,
whether you’re scheduling downloads
or downloading several large files.
JDownloader has been available in
one form or another since 2011, and its
developers have used that time to
evolve a program that responds to just
about every requirement you might
need. It’s quick and hassle-free to use –
just copy a download link to the
program and JDownloader
automatically picks up the URL from the
clipboard without you needing to paste
it in. There’s also strong support for
multiple, prioritised file downloads, all
of which can be managed using the
‘playback’ buttons in the ribbon toolbar.
To get to your files faster, the
software helpfully fills in CAPTCHA
codes and extracts files, so they’re
ready and waiting for you. There’s also a
handy browser extension that intercepts
downloads and diverts them directly to
the software.
One of JDownloader’s best features is
its support for
video-
streaming
sites. Grab a
link from
YouTube or
Vimeo and
add it to your
download
queue. The
first time you
do this, you’re
prompted
to add
FFmpeg
software- which JDownloader will do for you –
but this also lets you re-download
videos you’ve uploaded at their original
quality. This puts it a cut above rivals
who struggled with this basic task and
frequently redirected us to the original
web page or failed to download
anything at all.
How it can be improved:
While its features are outstanding,
JDownloader’s interface could do with
an update – its use of rounded edges
gives off Windows XP vibes that belie
its impressive power.
It’s also not the easiest download
manager to use. If you’re new to usingthis type of software, you may find
JDownloader mystifying. Thankfully,
there’s an official tutorial online at bit.ly/
jdownloadertutorial493, and YouTube is
rife with video guides for beginners.OUR VERDICT
Packed with just about every
feature you need to control multiple
downloads, JDownloader remains
the strongest download manager
out there. It may look like an
antiquity but the program’s
performance is sublime, once you
have a handle on its intricacies.Whether you need
to download a large
individual file or multiple
items, or you want to
schedule a download
for later, a dedicated
download manager
can make things easier.
Steve Clark compares
six of the best free tools
Best download
managers
JDownloader |beta.jdownloader.org| ★★★★★★★★★★
FE ATU RES★★★★★★★★★★ PERFORMANCE★★★★★★★★★★ EASE OF USE★★★★★★★★