Folx provides an easy-to-use download manager for Mac users. There is a free version but many of the best features are part of the Pro version. There are multiple places to get the full version of Folx and the built-in torrent search is quite helpful.
- DESIGN
- EASE OF USE
- PRICE
Folx is an intuitive app that makes downloading more efficient.
Many years ago – before streaming services were common – I took advantage of peer-to-peer file sharing systems to be able to watch certain TV shows that I wasn’t able to watch live. At the time, I was catching programs using an antenna because I didn’t want to pay the outrageous rates that cable systems were charging. So, I found myself using applications like LimeWire or Azureus (now Vuze) to manage those downloads.
While I don’t do many torrents downloading these days, I do still find myself needing a more advanced file download manager than what my browser provides. There are times that I’m pulling several files from the internet for work purposes and it just gets cumbersome trying to have Safari or Chrome handle that task.
Some of the reasons someone might need a download manager include:
- having a slow internet connection and need to queue up multiple files for download so that they all finish downloading at once
- downloading a large file and don’t want it to cut out in the middle of the download due to a lost connection
- the need to keep track of your downloads
A download manager can also provide a certain level of security. If you happen to come across a corrupt file or even worse, a malware-infected file, a download manager can help you identify these issues. If you search for ‘download manager’ in the Mac App Store, there are multiple apps that cover this function, however, not all of them are maintained regularly. This is why Folx from Electronic Team (formerly Eltima) is a great option to go with.
About Folx
Released in 2016, Folx is a download manager for macOS that was developed by Eltima Software (now Electronic Team). It is a popular app due to its modern UI design and sophisticated features. It is a lightweight utility app that was built with Objective-C, C++, and C. It comes with a built-in torrent search, browser support, and smart tagging features.
Main Features
Folx GO+
- User-friendly downloader with lots of cool options and a modern Mac interface
- Folx GO+ is powered by a great feature to split downloads up to 10 threads. In this way, the downloading speed will be increased dramatically.
- Downloads Scheduler
- Tagging system
- Smart Speed Control
- Integration to iTunes
- Save login and password
Folx PRO
- Splitting of downloads in multiple threads in
- Downloads scheduling
- Integration with Music (former iTunes)
- Smart speed adjustment
- In-built torrent search tool
- Password saver for fast access to your favorite websites
- Fast download speed
- Splitting of downloads into two threads
- Automatically resume the downloads
- Multiple downloads simultaneously
- Smart tagging system
- Downloading through Proxy servers
- Support torrents and magnet links
- Spotlight integration
- Plugin for catching downloads in popular Mac OS browsers
- Quick Look integration
- Add-ons that integrate into the browser context menu
- Support for Apple’s Retina displays
- Different ways to add downloads to Folx
Privacy Policy
According to the MAS, the developer does not collect any data from this app. The full privacy policy can be found here. It was last updated on February 7, 2020.
Pricing & Availability
Folx is available from Electronic Team’s web store, Setapp, or the Mac App Store (MAS). The MAS version has some restrictions on it based on Apple’s sandbox regulations. According to electronic.us –
Due to Apple sandbox restrictions, GO+ version of Folx does not download torrents and doesn’t have torrents search feature. Also, Folx GO+ can’t control your Mac after finishing the scheduled downloads (shut down your Mac, put it into sleep mode, or quit the program).
The full list of differences can be found here. The version from Setapp is the same as the web store version.
The MAS version costs $14.99 and the web store version is $19.99 for the Pro version. Folx can be downloaded for free, but it has limited features. Setapp allows the full version to be downloaded for free with the monthly subscription to Setapp which costs $9.99.
User Experience
For my purposes, I used Folx in two ways – to download multiple elements from the internet and to search for torrents. Given that I have some experience (but not a lot) with download managers and peer-to-peer sharing clients, I found that Folx was very intuitive in its uses. If you are completely unfamiliar with the download management system, it can be overwhelming because of all the different settings a user can select. But, if you stick to the basics – search for a torrent, select a trustworthy download, select a download location, and timing for the download – using Folx is pretty easy.
I mentioned that I used Folx for multiple-element downloading, too. Working in content creation as I do, I end up doing a lot of media sourcing. One of the elements I look for frequently is stock photos. While the end products end up coming directly from the stock photo library provider, watermarked photos that can be used as placeholders until the final is selected can be downloaded individually.
Folx has been a big help in this area for me. I can copy the URL of an image and paste it into Folx’s download queue. Then once I’m done selecting options, I go back to Folx and choose start task for the queue to download. This has actually saved me a lot of time because I don’t have to download each file individually every single time I find something worthwhile. While this may not have been the intended use of Folx, it is one way to utilize the application to be more productive with sourcing media elements.
The only big issue I have with Folx is that the main features of Folx are only available if you purchase the Pro package. Now don’t get me wrong – I completely support this app being a pay-for-premium product. I just think if a free version is offered, maybe a full free trial is more appropriate for this type of app rather than a limited version. The Free version of Folx (available through the web store) does not include the following features:
- Splitting of downloaded in multiple threads
- Downloads scheduling
- Integration with Music (former iTunes)
- Smart speed adjustment
- Built-in torrent search tool
- Password saver for fast access to your favorite websites
Some of these features are differentiators in my opinion. The scheduler, download splitting, and smart speed adjustment features are really what make Folx separate from other download managers. So, if you don’t have access to those features, aside from the app being free, what sets it apart from other download managers?
Conclusion
All in all, Folx is an intuitive download manager that makes it easy for users to organize their downloads so that the process is more efficient. It is moderately priced in comparison to other apps in its category and the app is still maintained regularly (last updated 4 months ago). I can recommend Folx, but I would suggest passing up the free version and going for the Pro package.
Pros:
- Clean, modern user interface
- Built-in torrent client
- Inexpensive upgrade
Cons:
- Best features require Pro version upgrade
- No one-click option for clearing completed downloads
For more information, visit mac.eltima.com, Twitter, and Facebook.
1 Comment
The reason I bought the Folx license was to be able to download videos from a YouTube link. But they removed this feature to a separate app in the latest versions. Uncomfortable. And you have to buy again. I feel cheated.