aria2

What is aria2?

aria2 is a mature, open‑source downloader that has been around since the early 2010s. It runs on most Linux distributions and is packaged for Arch, Debian, Fedora, openSUSE and Ubuntu. The tool is designed for users who prefer scriptable, fast downloads without a graphical interface.

It handles single‑file HTTP/FTP downloads, multi‑source Metalink files, and peer‑to‑peer BitTorrent torrents. By splitting files into multiple segments and using parallel connections, it can reach speeds comparable to commercial managers. The command‑line approach gives you full control over options, but it also means you need to be comfortable with terminal commands.

Compared with Windows‑only Internet Download Manager, aria2 lacks a built‑in GUI and some of the click‑drag convenience, but it makes up for that with flexibility, low resource usage, and easy integration into scripts or download managers like uGet or XDM front‑ends.

Best for: Power users who need fast, scriptable downloads and are comfortable with the terminal.

Key features of aria2

• Supports HTTP, HTTPS, FTP, SFTP, BitTorrent and Metalink
• Multi‑source downloading with segment splitting
• Parallel connections per download
• Resume support for interrupted transfers
• Configurable download speed limits
• RPC interface for remote control
• Works well in scripts and automation
• Lightweight binary (~1 MB)

Tips for Windows users

If you used IDM’s .idm files, simply export the URLs to a plain text list and feed them to aria2 with aria2c -i list.txt. Keyboard shortcuts don’t apply, but you can bind common options (e.g., max connections, output directory) in a ~/.aria2/aria2.conf file. For a GUI feel, pair aria2 with a lightweight front‑end like uGet or use the built‑in RPC with a web UI.