Someone reviewed v on Jul 5, 2022

Pros: 555

Cons: 555

Bottom Line: 555

rick_toronto reviewed v8.72 on Oct 31, 2011

Freshdownload, while it works as a basic downloader, doesn't do much to increase your download speeds from my experience.

Trying to uninstall? Its says uninstalled but when you look at your registry, FD is all over the place - be prepared to take 30 minutes with a good registry search/edit tool. About 15 search terms later....

Enlightenment reviewed v8.64 on Dec 22, 2010

Downloaded to a NTFS drive this 6.2GB Wikipedia file
http://download.wikimedi...-pages-articles.xml.bz2

FAILED:
- GetGo Download Manager 4.5.2.692
- Fresh Download 8.64

WORKS:
- FlashGet 3.7.0.1156

rfithen reviewed v8.54 on Jul 20, 2010

-1* Does not download utube vids. (Even with the help of flashgot.)

johnd164 reviewed v8.46 on Apr 16, 2010

I have always like this download manager for it's simplicity and it does what it is designed to do. But this latest build is not that good.

When telling the program where to put the categories in a different place than the default set by the program seem to confuse the program. The categories are not created in the anything other than the default setting which is the desk top.

Downloading into these folders/Categories is hopeless, if you want to place a download into the other folder for example the download goes to the software folder and there is no way of moving the download into the correct folder/category, clicking on the downloded file in fresh Download and choosing properties brings up an option to change or add to the information of the download, however, the part ware one can change the folder the buttons are grayed out.

I also found it to crash IE 8 when the Fresh Download addon is active.

It's a shame that this once good software is now poor and tech support is none existent apart from a standard FAQ email one gets when sending a problem report to Fresh Download.

Time to look for a better download manager.

alphanews reviewed v7.94 on Jan 21, 2008

Been using it for more than 5 years. Very satisfied - works well, easy to use, no probs at all. Does what I expect from a d/l manager.

johngalt reviewed v7.92 on Dec 29, 2007

Decent program, it works, and always has.

I prefer DTA for Fx as I use Fx for all my browsing and web related stuff. But that preference does not factor into this review.

@Rustik_one - no, you aren't *required* to use IE for WU anymore - M$ released 2 Fx plugins, the WGA plugin and the OGA plugin so you can use WU straight out of Fx. Been doing it for almost a year myself.

Ulmo reviewed v7.90 on Nov 21, 2007

rustik_one,
- I've said to uninstall IE ? No. (is's not very easy in fact)
- FreshDownload don't hurt IE engine because i use it every time I develop a web site, no problem.
- Firefox parse 98% of web sites perfectly. Those who don't work properly do not merit a watch.
- There is probably better DL Manager, but FreshDownload works perfectly for my needs.
It's a very good software, fast, stable, many options, frequent updates, free, and I don't recieve any spam.
I give it 5, it's an opinion, but i tested it more than 5 minutes to say this.

rustik_one reviewed v7.88 on Oct 22, 2007

Ulmo:

I know IE is ate up, which is why I "uninstalled" it from Windows and use Firefox as my default browser. Same for Outlook Express; Thunderbird is the bomb.

However, "uninstalling" IE/OE from Windows via Windows Setup merely removes their shortcuts. One still needs IE to use Windows/Microsoft Update. And there is still the occasional site that refuses to work right with Firefox (though their numbers are fewer all the time). Not to mention the many applications that use IE to run their own interfaces... Most users are kinda stuck with it, even if indirectly.

I use the IETab extension in Firefox, which loads those few problem sites using the un-removeable IE engine, (which breaks when FreshDownload's crapware is installed). I keep IE locked down for the most part, anyway, with strict custom settings that only allow a select set of custom sites to run with anything near "dangerous" privileges. That way, the few time I have to use it, or it is used by another software, I'll have a measure of protection.

As for download managers... FDM Lite version all the way.

Ulmo reviewed v7.86 on Sep 24, 2007

I'm not affiliated with this company.
If FreshDownload damage internet explorer ? I don't know, Browser integration is desactivated for me.
Flashgot for Firefox, Context menu for IE.
PS : Don't use IE and it won't bug (and you will host less spywares/keylogers/trojan/viruses)

Alex Stevens reviewed v7.82 on Jul 23, 2007

Junk, screws up internet explorer. There are much better free download managers out there, one of them is called free download manager or FDM for short.

Latz ! reviewed v7.82 on Jul 23, 2007

Ulmo sounds like a shill for this company. Keep spreading your pathetic lies, all people have to do is try this program and they'll see that you're full of it when it breaks their OS.

Fresh Download DOES damage settings and makes Internet Explorer non-usable. This app has been a piece of crap for years now and they obviously have no intention of fixing it.

Ulmo reviewed v7.80 on Jun 23, 2007

Sorry rustik_one,
Tweaking a system for security means banning IE from your firewall.

rustik_one reviewed v7.72 on Feb 20, 2007

They STILL haven't fixed the IE bug?? I LOVED this app when I used to use it, but as I became more and more comfortable tweaking my system settings for security and performance, (particularly my custom HOSTS file that blocks ads and badware), that the dreaded IE Blank Page problem arose. No other apps affected. What am I left to believe about FreshDevices?

hveich reviewed v7.64 on Oct 20, 2006

I too have been unable to integrate it into IE6
and it will see the same problems listed above. I have had some versions function properly though.

Ulmo reviewed v7.60 on Aug 23, 2006

- Desactivate Browser Integration.
- Activate IE Context Menu (Or don't use it)
- Install FlashGot in FireFox
- Activate "Close when DL Finished"

And you will enjoy this powerfull app.

Skyfrog reviewed v7.60 on Aug 22, 2006

This software may render Internet Explorer unusable. This bug has persisted through many versions now and the developers ignore it. This is inexusable and if I could I would give it a 0 rating.

themiddaysun reviewed v7.58 on Aug 15, 2006

I tried that fix also and it did not work for me either. It took me re-installnig my system to figure out why my IE didnt work. I dont normally reboot my machine, so I didnt realize it was fresh download that killed it. Only afer a reboot did I notice.

2 stars as I never even got it to work.

JEdwardP reviewed v7.58 on Jul 20, 2006

cmelin, I can't speak for Banquo, but I tried what you suggest before I ever posted my previous review. It simply did not work.

Whether the bug relates to the application or the installer is hardly relevant at this point; it's still the responsibility of the FreshDevices devs to fix it, even if that means switching to a better installer.

My e-mail to FreshDevices tech support has yielded no response, so I lower my previous rating, and move on with FDM, which so far has worked almost perfectly.

cmelin reviewed v7.58 on Jul 20, 2006

to banquo and JEdwardP,

FreshDownload is always a good software. It's just the install that not always do what is expected.

I had the same problem and after a moment, found this solution :
- start manually FreshDownload
- desactivate FreshDownload integration with IE
- restart IE (verify if http web site are now available)
- restart manually FreshDownload and activate integration with IE.

Now, my IE is working fine and FreshDownload too...

Banquo reviewed v7.58 on Jul 19, 2006

JEdwardP, thank you! Finally the mystery is solved, I knew something I was using was killing IE on my system. I'd do a clean install and all would be well again until it mysteriously died. I had the exact same problem, IE would only connect to secure sites. Now that I know what caused it I will be avoiding this software like the Great Plague from now on.

JEdwardP reviewed v7.56 on Jun 30, 2006

I used this from 2001-2006, but this version is the last for me. The last several versions have caused serious problems with IE and IE-based browsers, such as Maxthon.

Ultimately, IE could only connect to secure sites. A web search revealed that another user with this problem discovered that it was somehow being caused by Fresh Download, and uninstalled it to find all well again.

That's what I did tonight---uninstalled, and now all is well again. I'll try Fresh Download again if I ever hear of the problem being fixed, but for now, I'm looking for another download manager.

patmc7 reviewed v7.56 on Jun 21, 2006

I've had some trouble getting it to start up. When I click on a link it starts the program but doesn't always start the download. I've also had problems with integration causing IE to fail.

This program also lacks a "download all" feature which I've seen in other download programs like the one I used before. Unfortunately, that one is no longer being produced.

horsecharles reviewed v7.54 on May 22, 2006

Don't know what all the 1/2/3 reviews are for--must be folks with systems hosed by spyware picked up while getting content illegally. I've switched from this to other DL manager... but have no complaints. I could see some real picky, heavy user giving this a 4 or even 3...but not to totally trash it.

Skyfrog reviewed v7.50 on Mar 23, 2006

Definately the best download manager I've used. I tried FDM, it was ok when it first came out but they kept messing around with it trying to make it pretty and adding banners, etc. Now it's garbage, I wouldn't have it on my system if they paid me.

osric reviewed v7.48 on Feb 24, 2006

It doesn't download email attachments. Instead of downloading the attachment it downloads a file "index.html". FDM can download email attachments.

Zankur reviewed v7.48 on Feb 24, 2006

Its excellent and i fail to understand why people call fdm the best free download manager,i believe this is the best free download manager and has features equival;ent to the best in the business..

tedbieri reviewed v7.48 on Feb 23, 2006

Been using this for years now and it just gets better with each release! Free is good!

Ulmo reviewed v7.40 on Oct 27, 2005

It generally accelerate my DL by 8 (the max number of treads)

tp reviewed v7.38 on Oct 4, 2005

thanks for the tip about Free Download Manager..

christoofar reviewed v7.36 on Aug 25, 2005

Integrates fairly easily w/ Firefox via FlashGot.
However still have not gotten any correspondence back from author in regards to the free registration, which I'd emailed off (& followed up on)twice for two different computers.
Not a peep. So one point more off for that.
Did not seem to improve/enhance d/l thruput via dialup.

Ulmo reviewed v7.32 on Jun 23, 2005

I use it since 3 years now.
I agree for the browser integration but the FlashGot extension for Firefox detect it very well, problem solved.
It's free, and has a THE option i need : auto close when all downloads completed.
Files are never corrupted (how did you get that ?) and many options make it very FAST and POWERFULL.

Conwor reviewed v7.28 on May 15, 2005

Excellent FREEWARE download manager. I have been using it for ages and never had a corrupted file.

yangh1 reviewed v7.18 on Nov 28, 2004

Last Version used: 7.05

I've used this since the dial up days, it was good for resuming files under 30MB, but since getting ADSL, I haven't had the need to actually use any download manager as files less than 50MB tends to download fairly quickly just using Firefox to download. However, dispite getting DSL, I had still attempted to use it for downloading large files, approx 100-300MB, but found 1 out of 3 large files I attempted to download, corrupted. For me, this bascially made it's purpose as a download manager/resumer useless, and have since uninstalled it from my system, and just use Firefox for all downloading now.

Noogle reviewed v7.16 on Nov 24, 2004

Integration is bad, but the straw broke with the small touches - or lack of them. The program is too easy to close completely, it does a poor job monitoring your clip board and I generally didn't find any reasons to use it when there are better free managers on offer.

Zankur reviewed v7.12 on Aug 14, 2004

Time for a change guys!Getright gettin old,DAP&Flashget adware and reget&IDM trial,the only one which has all the features and still free& stable is FDM.

Jean-Luc Picard reviewed v7.10 on Aug 4, 2004

Quite good. But I prefer GetRight.

ghammer reviewed v7.0 on May 29, 2004

Excellent tool! Good as any paid app I have tried.

Zankur reviewed v6.90 on May 4, 2004

good manager!very feature rich,good stability and reliability of downloads.

Conwor reviewed v6.80 on Apr 18, 2004

The best download manager i've ever used. And it's free. I've been using for more than a year and never had a problem. Never had broken downloads as when i was using FlashGet. Never had corrupted files. It's amazing.

wolseleydude reviewed v6.50 on Dec 29, 2003

Unreliable, broken downloads, never had this problem with similar apps. Going back to my default downloader.

The Finn reviewed v6.15 on Sep 12, 2003

This program produces corrupt files, I downloaded some big files (>200 mb's) like 5-6 times each and every time all I got was a corrupt file. I tried downloading the same files with FlashGet and it got both of them right the first time.
I haven't experienced corrupt files with small files though...

gammapooka reviewed v5.40 on Feb 21, 2003

This program is even better then the one at speedbit.
You even can choose in how many parts you want to download a file

JEdwardP reviewed v5.00 on Nov 22, 2002

It has improved rapidly and markedly in the last year, while remaining free of spyware and ads. The company's website is annoying, but I won't allow that to taint my rating of the program itself.

masoud reviewed v2.5 on Dec 7, 2001

This app.must go along way to reach a DOWNLOADMANAGER.

NYC60 reviewed v2.5 on Dec 5, 2001

Good quality freeware. If I didn't love DAP, I'd be using this. The author(s) seem to want to bug fix and keep this program rolling along, always a good sign.

mattlancey reviewed v2.10 on Nov 21, 2001

gozilla 3.5 was this good, before it became bizarre adware with a wierd GUI. Getright is just too complicated for its own good. This is what a download manager should be - simple, no messing around, drag'n'drop the link and leave it to sort itself out. Integrates fine with IE6 on Win98SE.

bfuzz reviewed v2.10 on Nov 20, 2001

How does it turbo charge the downloads?
Multi Sourced? Fast Servers that Cache common files?

ck42 reviewed v2.10 on Nov 20, 2001

I've done everything I can think of but cannot get this thing to integrate and become a 'download' manager.
Using Win2K SP2 IE6...blah blah blah.

1 turd because I can't even get the app to work!