Folx: the ultimate download manager and torrent client with integrated search for Mac

English translation of an italian post that was originally published on Levysoft.it

Folx is a download manager and BitTorrent client designed for macOS, featuring an intuitive and modern user interface with exceptional versatility in managing downloads. It effortlessly facilitates the downloading of direct files and torrents, fully supporting magnet links as well.

BitTorrent: Exploring Constructive Uses

It’s crucial to highlight that the use of the BitTorrent protocol is not inherently linked to piracy, contrary to popular belief. BitTorrent is simply an efficient file-sharing technology based on a peer-to-peer (P2P) network, serving as a neutral file transfer protocol, which, when used responsibly and legally, offers an efficient and decentralized method for distributing data on a large scale.
There are numerous legitimate and legal uses of torrenting, particularly for sharing large files. For instance, many open-source projects distribute software via BitTorrent, such as Linux distributions making their ISOs available through torrents; a vast repository of Free and Open-Source Software (FOSS) resources can be downloaded via torrents from sites like Fosstorrents. Additionally, artists and creators often release music, movies, or books under licenses that permit free sharing, showcasing the quality of their open-source animation software. A notable example is the Blender Foundation, which has made short films and animations, like ‘Big Buck Bunny’, available via torrents.
Furthermore, in fields like genomics and physics, where datasets can be enormous, BitTorrent is used for efficient data sharing. There are also examples in the dissemination of free courses like those on Tutsnode or videos from certain TED conferences, providing broader access to their educational content.

Description

Folx, now in version 5, is a free and lightweight download manager for Mac that enables downloading files from the Internet to your computer, promising not only fast and efficient downloads but also the capability of integrated torrent file search.

The interface features a simple and intuitive window:

At the top, in the search bar, you can enter the link to download or directly search for torrent files across all available trackers.

The search window is clearly immediate and user-friendly, sorting results by the number of seeds for a specific reason. In the torrenting context, a “seed” or “seeder” is a user who has a complete copy of the file shared via a torrent and continues to upload it (i.e., “seed”) to the BitTorrent network for other users (leechers) downloading the file. Consequently, a higher number of seeders for a given file ensures faster and more reliable downloads for other users. Therefore, sorting results by the number of seeds assists users in downloading files more swiftly.

It’s worth noting that the search may take a few minutes to complete, but the reason is quite simple: Folx doesn’t limit itself to a single search engine but uses over a dozen by default, ensuring that you almost always find what you’re looking for. Of course, from the application’s Preferences, you can select which search engines to enable.

Once you’ve chosen the torrent file to download, you can click on the Download link (an option available only with the Pro version for a fee), and a window will open where you can review what you’re about to download (if a folder is present, clicking on it will show its full contents) and choose the folder to save it in.

As mentioned, it’s also possible to download files via magnet links, a type of hyperlink (starting with “magnet:?” followed by a series of parameters uniquely identifying the file with a content hash) that allows file downloading via peer-to-peer (P2P) networks using the BitTorrent protocol without needing a separate .torrent file download. For example, if you want to download the latest Arch Linux distribution from the official site

you can directly click on the link, and this authorization screen to open Folx will appear

or paste the link directly into the search bar and press enter

and the program will immediately start downloading at the highest possible speed

upon completion, a notification will appear on the screen:

Interesting is the possibility to apply quick filters from the main screen:

By default, Torrent files are saved in the “Download” folder, while small .torrent files are saved in the folder: “/Users/[username]/Library/Application Support/Folx/TorrentFiles/”. Sometimes, even after completing the download and removing the resource from the application, I found some .torrent files still in that folder. They are only a few kilobytes, but it’s always good to know.

Folx stands out from other BitTorrent programs for Mac like Transmission (an elegant and lightweight client) or qBittorrent (with similar search capabilities) for its ability to integrate download manager and torrent client functions into a single user interface, offering a smoother download management experience. While the integrated torrent search is undoubtedly a convenient feature (eliminating the need to navigate through various websites, which may be full of ads and potentially dangerous), the download scheduling function, which allows users to set specific times to start or end downloads, can be a feature not to overlook.

This can be particularly useful for managing bandwidth during peak hours or for scheduling large or multiple downloads during times of lesser computer use, such as overnight. With this function, users have greater control over their downloads, optimizing network and computer use without having to manually start or stop each download.

Clicking on the speed indicator icon at the bottom left allows manual adjustment of download and upload speeds (or letting Folx automatically allocate available bandwidth) to better manage bandwidth availability, preventing internet connection saturation, especially on shared networks or with data limits or, more rarely now, preventing ISP throttling, i.e., situations where some Internet Service Providers (ISPs) may reduce connection speed if they detect high P2P traffic usage.

If you want the application to handle everything automatically, in the Settings, you’ll find some settings in the “Smart Speed” tab that, besides limiting speed based on the application open at the moment in the browser, also allows setting a time limit per day or time slot.

Moreover, Folx, in addition to offering basic functions like resuming interrupted downloads, provides the ability to organize downloads through smart tagging, easily managing downloaded content. Downloads are saved in folders based on assigned tags, so finding them won’t be a problem. When downloading a file, it will automatically be tagged (for example, as “application”, “music”, “movie”), allowing you to easily sort the download list to find the file.

You can also customize tags and set filter criteria according to your needs, such as adding the “linux iso” tag if the file name ends with .iso or .dmg:

With integration with Apple Music, for Pro version users, all downloaded music files and videos can be automatically added directly to your music library.

The download manager is fully compatible with all browsers like Safari, Firefox, Opera, and Chrome, integrating with any of these browsers through its plugin.

Finally, to avoid cluttering the Mac’s desktop space, the program can be minimized into a mini controller of a compact window that can be placed in an area of the screen that doesn’t obstruct work.

In this latest release, Folx has also added, for Pro version users, the ability to store passwords or authentication cookies as it comes with an integrated password manager, thus avoiding the need to enter login and password every time you download through Folx from websites or FTP servers requiring authentication.

Very handy is the ability to decide what to do when the download is completed: turn off the computer, put it to sleep, or simply exit the application.

Folx supports, obviously only for direct file downloads, multi-threading, i.e., dividing the file into multiple threads to speed up the download process (for the Pro version, up to 20 simultaneous threads). Therefore, by drastically increasing the download speed, the entire process will take much less time than usual.

From the Preferences window in the Torrents section, you can configure whether to enable NAT-PMP or customize the maximum number of connections, the incoming port number, and the seed ratio.

Unfortunately, compared to previous versions of Folx, I noticed that direct YouTube video downloads (neither video nor audio only) are no longer supported, nor is the management of RSS feeds, which is particularly useful if you are subscribed to a torrent feed or a podcast. I hope these features will be re-added in future releases.

Where to Find It

Folx is compatible with macOS 10.12 or higher and can be downloaded for free, albeit with some limited features, directly from the developer’s website. The full Pro version can be purchased on this page and is offered at a price (indicated without VAT) of $19.95 for a single license. A Family Pack with 3 licenses offered at the price of two is also available for $39.95. At the time of purchase, it’s possible to subscribe to an upgrade to include lifetime updates for all future releases (thus bringing the single license to $29.90 and the family pack to $51.94).
For those who already have a subscription to Setapp (a subscription service for Mac that, for a fixed monthly fee, offers access to a curated selection of high-quality applications), Folx can also be found on this platform.
Overall, Folx is certainly a valid option for macOS users looking for a versatile download manager and advanced torrent client. The combination of an intuitive interface, advanced download management features, and torrent support makes it a truly useful tool.