aria2 for Windows

Aria2 — compact, no-cost command-line downloader

Aria2 is an open-source command-line tool designed to simplify file transfers between machines and servers. It accepts connections from multiple sources and supports a range of transfer protocols and locales, making it a flexible alternative to more generic downloaders. The project is actively maintained and all features are available without charge.

Common scenarios and intended users

Metalink and multi-source downloads where combining segments speeds transfers
Users who frequently grab large files via BitTorrent trackers
Those moving files over HTTP(S) or FTP and needing a scriptable interface
Situations where parallel connections to several hosts save time

This utility is a good fit for people comfortable with shell commands — intermediate familiarity is usually sufficient to run typical tasks.

Size and system impact

Aria2 has a small binary footprint: HTTP-only builds can be as little as a few megabytes, while BitTorrent-enabled builds are somewhat larger. Typical CPU load during transfers tends to be low (developers report average usage in the single-digit percentages). Because it can fetch from many hosts at once, it’s especially useful when speed is a priority.

Extensibility and extra capabilities

Built-in control interfaces using both JSON-RPC and XML-RPC for remote management
File-handling utilities and hooks that let you adapt behavior to specific workflows
Distributed under the GNU Public License, so you can inspect and modify the source
Localisation support for multiple languages to accommodate diverse users

These extension points make it straightforward to integrate Aria2 into automation scripts, front-ends, or custom server workflows.

Version information and alternatives

The project maintains several release branches; version 1.31.0 is one of the available releases, with older builds still accessible for specific needs. If you prefer a graphical client instead of a command-line tool, consider Mipony — a free alternative that provides a GUI-oriented approach to downloading.