Best Bulk Downloaders in 2026 (Free & Paid Compared)
Not all bulk downloaders are created equal. We compare the top tools in 2026 so you can pick the right one for your needs.
Need to download a lot of files from the web but not sure which tool to use? You're not short on options — but they vary wildly in ease of use, platform support, and pricing. Some require installation. Some only work on Windows. Some haven't been updated in years.
This guide compares the best bulk file downloaders available in 2026, so you can pick the right one without wasting time.
What Makes a Good Bulk Downloader?
Before diving into specific tools, here's what actually matters:
- Ease of use: Can a non-technical person use it without reading documentation?
- Platform support: Does it work on Mac, Linux, and mobile — or only Windows?
- Download format: Can it package files into a ZIP, or do you get a messy folder of individual files?
- Domain crawling: Can it find files across an entire website, not just one page?
- Active maintenance: Is it still being updated, or was the last release in 2019?
1. FileGrab — Best for Most Users
Platform: Any browser (desktop and mobile) | Price: Free tier + from $4.99 | Install required: No
FileGrab is a browser-based bulk file downloader. You paste a URL, it scans the page server-side and shows every downloadable file. Select what you want and download everything as a single ZIP. No extension, no app, no command line.
What makes it stand out:
- Works on any device including iPhone and Android — no app needed
- Domain-wide crawling scans entire websites across thousands of pages
- ZIP download means one file, not a folder of hundreds
- File type filters let you grab only PDFs, only images, only audio, etc.
- Free tier gives 20 credits on signup; Pro plan is unlimited
Best for: Anyone who wants a fast, no-install solution for occasional or regular bulk downloading.
2. Internet Download Manager (IDM)
Platform: Windows only | Price: $25 one-time (after 30-day trial) | Install required: Yes + Chrome/Firefox extension
Internet Download Manager has been around since 2004 and is the most well-known desktop download manager. It integrates with browsers via an extension and can queue and accelerate downloads.
Strengths:
- Fast multi-threaded downloading
- Browser integration catches downloads automatically
- Supports HTTP, HTTPS, FTP
Weaknesses:
- Windows only — no Mac, Linux, or mobile support
- Requires both desktop app and browser extension installation
- No ZIP packaging — files save individually to a folder
- Dated UI and no active feature development
Best for: Windows power users who need speed and don't mind the installation overhead. A poor choice if you need cross-platform support.
See our full comparison of FileGrab vs IDM and other desktop download managers.
3. JDownloader 2
Platform: Windows, Mac, Linux | Price: Free (open source) | Install required: Yes (Java required)
JDownloader is an open-source download manager with a long history and an active community. It's particularly good at extracting download links from file-hosting sites like Mega and MediaFire.
Strengths:
- Cross-platform (requires Java runtime)
- Supports file-hosting sites and one-click hosts
- Highly configurable with plugins and add-ons
- Free and open source
Weaknesses:
- Requires Java — adds setup complexity
- Complex UI that's overwhelming for casual users
- Not designed for scanning pages and finding files — you need to provide direct links
- No ZIP packaging
Best for: Technical users downloading from file-hosting sites. Not ideal for scraping downloadable files from regular websites.
4. DownThemAll (Firefox Add-on)
Platform: Firefox only | Price: Free | Install required: Yes (Firefox extension)
DownThemAll was once the gold standard for bulk downloading in Firefox. It scanned pages for links and let you download them in batches.
The problem: DownThemAll was broken by Firefox's switch to the WebExtensions API with Firefox Quantum in 2017. While a new version was eventually released, it has significantly reduced functionality compared to the original.
Strengths:
- Free
- Familiar to long-time Firefox users
Weaknesses:
- Firefox only — does not work in Chrome, Safari, or Edge
- Reduced functionality post-Quantum
- No ZIP packaging
- No domain crawling
If you're looking for a DownThemAll alternative, FileGrab works in Firefox without any extension.
5. wget / curl (Command Line)
Platform: Mac, Linux (built-in), Windows (via WSL or install) | Price: Free | Install required: Sometimes
wget and curl are command-line tools built into most Unix-based systems. wget -r can recursively download an entire website. Powerful, but not user-friendly.
# Download all PDFs from a site
wget -r -A.pdf --no-parent https://example.com/docs/
Strengths:
- Extremely powerful and flexible
- Free
- Can handle authentication, cookies, rate limiting
Weaknesses:
- Steep learning curve
- No GUI — command line only
- Requires technical knowledge to use correctly
- No ZIP output — files mirror the site's directory structure
Best for: Developers and technical users who are comfortable with the command line.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | FileGrab | IDM | JDownloader | DownThemAll | wget |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No install | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Works on Mac | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ |
| Works on mobile | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
| ZIP download | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Domain crawling | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ |
| File type filter | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Free tier | ✅ | Trial only | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
Our Recommendation
For the vast majority of users, FileGrab is the best choice in 2026. It's the only tool on this list that:
- Requires zero installation
- Works on mobile browsers
- Packages downloads into a single ZIP
- Crawls entire domains to find files across multiple pages
If you're a Windows power user who downloads constantly and wants browser integration, IDM is still a solid paid option. If you're comfortable with the command line, wget is unbeatable for scripted or automated workflows.
Everyone else: start with FileGrab for free.
Looking for a specific use case? Read our guides on downloading videos from websites, downloading files from a URL, or replacing your Chrome download extension.