Ghost Downloader Docs
User guides and developer documentation.
Support the Project
Donate
If Ghost Downloader has been helpful to you, you can support ongoing development and maintenance through a donation.
Quick Start
Browser Extension Pairing
How to get the pairing token, connect the extension, and troubleshoot connection failures.
Platforms and Downloads
Supported systems, minimum versions, and where Windows 7 users should download from.
Using on Linux
How to install from AUR and how to use the Linux packages.
Configuration File Location
Where configuration files and logs are stored on each platform.
Contribute
Submit an Issue
Prepare repro steps, environment details, logs, and a clear problem scope.
Contribute Translations
See the translation flow and join the Ghost Downloader Crowdin project.
Open a Pull Request
Set up the environment, run the project locally, and locate the module you need to change.
Develop a Feature Pack
Understand pack loading, dependencies, task boundaries, and configuration boundaries.
Build Verification
Validate changes with python deploy.py and GitHub Actions.
Feature Pack API Status
Feature Packs are already used for built-in capabilities, but the external plugin API is still not stable. Treat the current implementation and PR discussion as the source of truth.
Why not...?
How to read this
This section is based on public product information available as of 2026-04 plus one local 32-thread download test.
✅ = clearly supported / officially positioned
⚠️ = related capability exists, but the product shape is weaker or less central
❌ = not officially positioned or not supported
Compared with mainstream download managers, Ghost Downloader is not just trying to be another file downloader. Its edge is turning resource discovery -> task takeover -> protocol-specific handling -> desktop execution into one continuous workflow.
| Capability | Ghost Downloader | Internet Download Manager | Neat Download Manager | Gopeed | Motrix | Free Download Manager |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HTTP / HTTPS | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| BitTorrent / Magnet | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Free to use | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Open source / transparent | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ |
| Browser download takeover | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ |
| Deep browser-to-desktop handoff | ✅ | ⚠️ | ⚠️ | ⚠️ | ❌ | ⚠️ |
| Resource sniffing / media discovery | ⚠️ | ✅ | ⚠️ | ❌ | ❌ | ⚠️ |
| HLS / m3u8 / DASH workflow | ✅ | ❌ | ⚠️ | ❌ | ❌ | ⚠️ |
| Platform-specific capabilities (Bilibili / GitHub Releases, etc.) | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Built-in extensibility model | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ | ⚠️ |
The takeaway is straightforward:
If all you need is a traditional download manager, most tools in this list can do the job.
If you want to discover resources in the browser and hand them off cleanly to a desktop workflow, Ghost Downloader is operating as a more complete system rather than a single-point downloader.
If your workflow regularly involves streaming media, site-specific handling, Bilibili assets, GitHub Releases, or browser-side resource collection, Ghost Downloader's practical advantage is stronger than the table alone suggests.
Sources: Ghost Downloader README, Internet Download Manager official features page, Neat Download Manager official site, Gopeed documentation, Motrix features page, Free Download Manager official site.
Of course, Ghost Downloader still has areas that can be improved, and we will keep improving it.
Ghost Downloader is also open source. You can share ideas, report issues, or contribute code directly to help make it better.
Thread count used for the test: 32
Test files: QQ_9.9.29_260401_x64_01.exe, Win10_22H2_Chinese_Simplified_x64v1.iso
| Tool | Small file time | Large file time | Reading this result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ghost Downloader | 00:00:05.530 | 00:02:48.384 | Fastest in both samples |
| Internet Download Manager | 00:00:08.030 | 00:03:03.419 | Second on the large file |
| Neat Download Manager | 00:00:05.560 | 00:03:24.991 | Very close to Ghost on the small file, but clearly behind on the large file |
| Gopeed | 00:00:05.890 | 00:03:07.646 | Solid second-tier overall |
| Motrix | 00:00:06.050 | 00:03:40.540 | Fine on the small file, more conservative on the large one |
| Free Download Manager | 00:00:05.820 | 00:04:17.277 | Not slow on the small file, but the slowest on the large sample here |
This test supports a more grounded takeaway: Ghost Downloader's multithreaded performance already holds up on its own, and its bigger differentiation comes from browser coordination, streaming workflows, and the Feature Pack system.