aria2
aria2 is a free, open-source command-line utility for downloading files across multiple protocols and sources.
What aria2 is
aria2 is a free, open-source command-line utility for downloading files across multiple protocols and sources. It supports HTTP and HTTPS, FTP, SFTP, BitTorrent, and Metalink, and can fetch a file from multiple sources or protocols to use available bandwidth. BitTorrent features include magnet links, DHT, peer exchange, encryption, selective downloads, web seeding, local peer discovery, and UDP trackers. Metalink support includes file verification and links to HTTP, FTP, SFTP, and BitTorrent transfers. Users can control the process remotely through JSON-RPC over HTTP or WebSocket, or through XML-RPC. The project also lists webui-aria2 and uGet as frontends. aria2 checks HTTPS server certificates by default, and Metalink verification can use MD5 and SHA-family checksums. It is available for Windows, macOS, Linux, and Android. The project states that the software has no warranty and is used at the user's own risk.
Good
- Supports HTTP/HTTPS, FTP, SFTP, BitTorrent, and Metalink.
- Can download from multiple sources or protocols.
- Offers JSON-RPC and XML-RPC remote control.
- Checks HTTPS certificates by default.
- Available for Windows, macOS, Linux, and Android.
Watch out
- It is a command-line utility.
- The project provides no warranty.
- No paid tiers are stated.
Who it suits
aria2 suits users who want a command-line downloader with multi-source transfers and support for several protocols. Its remote-control interfaces and listed frontends may suit users who want to connect it to other tools.
Verdict
aria2 combines broad protocol support with multi-source downloads and remote control. Its command-line approach and no-warranty status are important considerations for prospective users.
Plans and prices
From aria2's own pricing page, checked 4 Oct 2026.
| Plan | Price | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|
| aria2 | Free | Free software under GNU GPL v2 or later · no paid tiers stated |
The facts
Each one read from aria2's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- BitTorrent
- BitTorrent features include DHT, PEX, encryption, magnet URIs, web seeding, selective downloads, local peer discovery, and UDP trackers.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Integrity checks
- aria2 can validate download chunks using Metalink checksums and supports MD5 and SHA-family checksums for Metalink verification.checked 4 Oct 2026
- License
- The program is free software under the GNU General Public License, version 2 or, at the user's option, any later version.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Metalink
- Metalink support includes file verification and integration with HTTP, FTP, SFTP, and BitTorrent.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Multi-source downloads
- It can download a file from multiple sources or protocols to use available bandwidth.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Protocols
- It supports HTTP/HTTPS, FTP, SFTP, BitTorrent, and Metalink.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- aria2 is a lightweight command-line utility for downloading files over multiple protocols and from multiple sources.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Related integrations
- The project lists apt-metalink, powerpill, python3-aria2jsonrpc, and aria2.js as related projects, and webui-aria2 and uGet as frontends.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Remote control
- The process can be controlled through JSON-RPC over HTTP or WebSocket and through XML-RPC.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Resource use
- The official site reports typical physical memory usage of 4 MiB for normal HTTP/FTP downloads and 9 MiB for BitTorrent downloads when disk cache is off.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Security
- The project README says aria2 checks HTTPS server certificates by default and describes using a CA bundle when the system trust store is unavailable.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Security releases
- The project says it may issue patch releases between regular releases to address security issues.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Warranty
- The project README states that the program comes with no warranty and is used at the user's own risk.checked 4 Oct 2026
Where it runs
- Platforms
- The official site says source and binaries are available for OS X, Windows, and Android; the project describes itself as cross-platform.checked 4 Oct 2026
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