Windows download managers like IDM and JDownloader served their purpose — a decade ago. FileGrab is the modern, browser-based alternative that works on Windows, Mac, Linux, and mobile without installing a single thing.
Desktop download managers were built for a different era of the web. Today, they create more friction than they remove.
IDM only runs on Windows. JDownloader requires Java. Free Download Manager has separate apps for each platform. FileGrab runs in any browser — one tool for every device you own.
All major desktop download managers integrate via browser extensions. With Manifest V3 breaking Manifest V2 extensions, most of these integrations are now partially or fully broken.
Desktop download managers don't work on your phone or tablet. FileGrab works identically on mobile — open filegrab.io in any mobile browser and download files directly.
Download managers run persistent background processes, add system tray icons, and slow down boot times. FileGrab runs in a browser tab — no background process, no overhead.
IDM costs around $25 for a lifetime license — and aggressive nag screens if you don't pay. FileGrab has a free tier and transparent, affordable Pro pricing.
Many desktop download managers haven't had meaningful updates in years. FileGrab is actively maintained — improvements ship continuously without you doing anything.
No configuration, no integration. Just a URL and a click.
Enter any webpage URL into FileGrab. Our servers fetch the page and parse every linked file — no browser plugin, no desktop app.
See every downloadable file listed with type and size. Filter by file type to find exactly what you need, then select one or all.
Download files individually or export a bulk ZIP (Pro). Everything is packaged server-side — faster and more reliable than queueing in a desktop client.
A direct comparison across the features that matter most for bulk file downloading.
| Feature | FileGrab | IDM | JDownloader |
|---|---|---|---|
| Install required | No | Yes (Windows only) | Yes (requires Java) |
| Works on Mac / Linux | Yes | No | Yes (via Java) |
| Works on mobile | Yes | No | No |
| No browser extension | Yes | No (needs extension) | No (needs extension) |
| Bulk page scanning | Yes — server-side | Limited (via extension) | Yes (via link grabber) |
| Bulk ZIP download | Yes (Pro) | No | No |
| Domain-wide crawl | Yes (Pro) | No | No |
| File type filtering | Yes | Limited | Yes |
| Free tier | Yes — 20 scans | Trial only | Free (open source) |
| Active maintenance | Yes | Infrequent updates | Community maintained |
FileGrab is platform-agnostic. Because it's a web app running in a browser, you use the exact same tool regardless of what device or operating system you're on.
No installer, no UAC prompt, no system tray
Works natively in Safari — no Rosetta, no workarounds
Chromium, Firefox — any Linux browser works
Full functionality on every mobile browser
For most people's everyday downloading needs — grabbing files from websites, bulk-downloading from a page, or archiving content — yes. FileGrab handles scanning, filtering, and bulk ZIP packaging server-side. What FileGrab doesn't do is resume interrupted downloads of single very large files, which is the one area where a dedicated download accelerator like IDM adds value.
Yes. FileGrab is browser-based, so it works on any operating system that can run a modern browser — Windows 10, Windows 11, macOS, Linux, and mobile. There's no Windows installer, no system tray process, and no Windows-specific configuration required.
There's a generous free tier with 20 scanning credits — enough to evaluate FileGrab without a credit card. Pro plans unlock unlimited scans, domain-wide crawling, and bulk ZIP downloads. See the pricing page for current plans.
No. Traditional desktop download managers require browser integration via an extension (Manifest V2 extensions that are increasingly broken). FileGrab is a web app — you open filegrab.io, paste a URL, and get results. No browser configuration, no integration setup.
FileGrab focuses on file discovery and bulk downloading from web pages. It's not a torrent client and doesn't support magnet links or .torrent files. For very large individual file downloads requiring multi-segment acceleration, a dedicated download manager may still be useful alongside FileGrab.
Start free — 20 scans, no credit card. Upgrade to Pro for unlimited everything.