Motrix

Overview

Motrix is a free and open-source download manager that supports multiple protocols including HTTP, FTP, BitTorrent, and Magnet. It offers a clean user interface and powerful features, suitable for desktop devices. Developed by Chinese developer agalwood, it is hosted on GitHub and motrix.app, supports Linux, Windows, and macOS, and is licensed under the MIT license. Motrix is based on the Electron framework and the aria2 backend, emphasizing multi-threaded downloads, speed limiting, and remote access.

History and Development

• Origins:
  • 2018: The Motrix project was launched by agalwood as a graphical frontend for aria2, aiming to provide a simple and modern download manager.
  • Initial versions were based on Electron and supported Windows and Linux.
• Development Timeline:
  • 2019: Motrix 1.0 released, supporting multi-threaded downloads and BitTorrent.
  • 2020: Version 1.3.0 introduced Magnet link support and speed limiting.
  • 2021: Version 1.5.0 added dark mode and Touch Bar support (macOS).
  • 2023: Version 1.7.0 optimized remote access and UPnP/NAT-PMP port mapping.
  • September 2025: Version 1.8.19 released, fixing download history and multi-threading issues, adding system tray support and i18n internationalization.
• Community and Support:
  • Maintained by agalwood and the community, hosted on GitHub and motrix.app.
  • Supports English and multiple languages (Chinese translated by the community), documentation includes installation guides and API documentation.
  • A Reddit user stated that "Motrix is the best GUI for aria2."
• Open Source License:
  • MIT License, allowing commercial use and modification.

Key Features

Motrix, with its clean UI, multi-protocol support, and aria2 integration, is suitable for download management. Here are its key features:

1. Multi-protocol Support
   • Supports HTTP, FTP, BitTorrent, Magnet links, and Baidu Net Disk, inheriting aria2's multi-threading capabilities.
2. Clean User Interface
   • Clean Electron interface, supporting drag-and-drop link addition and real-time monitoring.
3. Multi-task Management
   • Supports up to 10 tasks simultaneously, with up to 64 threads per task, supporting pause/resume and speed limiting.
4. Remote Access and System Integration
   • Supports remote access and system tray notifications, compatible with Touch Bar (macOS).
5. Internationalization and Themes
   • Supports i18n (multi-language, including Chinese), dark mode, and custom themes.
6. Performance and Compatibility
   • Based on the aria2 backend, requires 200 MB of RAM, and supports Windows, Linux, and macOS.
7. Extensions and Plugins
   • Supports aria2 configuration and custom scripts.

Advantages and Limitations

Advantages

• Simple and Efficient:
  • Electron's intuitive interface is superior to aria2's command line.
  • An X post states that "Motrix 1.8.19's UI makes downloading more elegant."
• Multi-protocol Support:
  • BitTorrent and Magnet links, superior to uGet's single protocol.
• Open Source and Free:
  • MIT license, ad-free, superior to IDM's paid license.
• Cross-Platform:
  • Supports Linux/macOS, superior to JDownloader's Java dependency.
• Community Support:
  • Active GitHub, providing translations and extensions.

Limitations

• Electron RAM Consumption:
  • Uses 200 MB of RAM, better than JDownloader but less lightweight than aria2.
  • Solution: Use AriaNg Web Edition.
• Limited Browser Integration:
  • No official extensions, requires manual link capture.
  • Solution: Use browser bookmark scripts.
• Community Size:
  • Smaller than IDM, limited Chinese documentation.
• Comparison Tools:
  • aria2: Command line, lightweight.
  • yt-dlp: Video-specific.
  • JDownloader: Batch download, Java.
  • uGet: GTK interface.
  • Persepolis: Python GUI.

Summary

Motrix is a free and open-source download manager. The latest version, 1.8.19 (September 2025), is based on Electron and aria2 and supports HTTP, FTP, BitTorrent, and Magnet links. With a clean UI, multi-tasking management, and remote access at its core, it offers drag-and-drop functionality and speed limits. Compared to aria2 (lightweight command line), yt-dlp (video-specific), JDownloader (batch Java), uGet (GTK interface), and Persepolis (Python GUI), Motrix boasts a modern interface and cross-platform compatibility, but its Electron footprint is relatively high.