The Best Internet Download Manager (IDM) Alternative for Mac
Looking for Internet Download Manager (IDM) for Mac? IDM is Windows-only and has never been released for macOS. AVS Download Manager is a free macOS download manager built as a powerful alternative to IDM, with fast multi-connection downloads, video detection, YouTube playlist downloads, torrent support and built-in media conversion.
Is there Internet Download Manager (IDM) for Mac?
No. Internet Download Manager (IDM) is developed exclusively for Windows. There is no official IDM version for macOS, and running it through emulators or compatibility layers is slow, fragile and loses the browser integration that makes IDM useful in the first place.
That's why Mac users look for a native alternative — a download manager designed for macOS from the ground up, with the same core strengths: accelerated downloads, browser capture and video downloading.
What is the best Internet Download Manager (IDM) alternative for Mac?
AVS Download Manager is a free, native macOS app that covers everything Mac users expect from IDM — and adds features IDM never had. It accelerates downloads with multi-connection, multi-segment transfers, captures downloads from Chrome, Edge and Brave through a companion extension, downloads YouTube videos and entire playlists, saves HLS/DASH streams, handles torrents, and converts video and audio without any extra software.
Unlike IDM, which requires a paid license after its trial period, AVS is completely free: no ads, no subscription, no account.
Why use AVS instead of Internet Download Manager (IDM)?
- Native Mac app for macOS 14+, built for Apple Silicon and Intel
- Free forever — IDM requires a paid license
- Torrent support built in (magnet links and .torrent files)
- Built-in video and audio converter (MP4, MKV, MP3, M4A, WAV)
- Browser capture for Chrome, Edge and Brave
- Menu bar utility, notifications, scheduling and App Lock with Touch ID
AVS Download Manager vs Internet Download Manager (IDM)
| Feature | AVS Download Manager | IDM |
|---|---|---|
| macOS | ✓ Native app (macOS 14+) | — |
| Windows | — | ✓ |
| Download acceleration | ✓ Multi-connection, multi-segment | ✓ |
| Browser capture | ✓ Chrome, Edge, Brave extension | ✓ |
| Video detection | ✓ Page videos, HLS/DASH streams | ✓ |
| YouTube playlists | ✓ Full playlists with quality selection | ✓ |
| Torrent downloads | ✓ Magnet links & .torrent files | — / limited |
| Video conversion | ✓ MP4, MKV built in | — |
| Audio conversion | ✓ MP3, M4A, WAV built in | — |
| Scheduling & speed limits | ✓ | ✓ |
| Price | Free — no trial, no license | Paid license after trial |
Frequently asked questions
Does Internet Download Manager (IDM) work on Mac?
No. Internet Download Manager (IDM) is a Windows-only application. There is no official macOS version of IDM.
What is the best free Internet Download Manager (IDM) alternative for Mac?
AVS Download Manager is a free, native macOS download manager with accelerated downloads, browser capture, YouTube playlist downloads, torrent support and built-in media conversion — covering and extending what IDM offers on Windows.
Is AVS Download Manager really free?
Yes. AVS is 100% free with no ads, no trial period, no subscription and no account requirement.
Is AVS affiliated with Internet Download Manager (IDM)?
No. AVS Download Manager is an independent app and is not affiliated with Internet Download Manager or Tonec Inc. It is an alternative built natively for macOS.