EagleGet Review – Speedy Download Accelerator with a Scheduler and Extra Tools

excellent
key review info
application features
  • Download accelerator
  • (15 more, see all...)

Unfortunately, web browsers don't always meet our expectations when it comes to speedy file downloads, especially large-sized files. However, some developers come up with download accelerators that aim to get the most out of an Internet connection and optimize settings to download the files faster.

Experienced users are likely familiarized with software such as Internet Download Manager, Download Accelerator Plus or FlashGet. This time we're focusing our attention on EagleGet. Wrapped in a user-friendly interface, this straightforward utility can be integrated with web browsers, thanks to the fact that it offers support for MMS, HTTP, HTTPS, FTP and RTSP protocols. It enables you to fetch files from various websites, including YouTube, as well as to keep an eye on active and completed tasks.

Installation

The setup procedure is pretty fast. Worth mentioning is that EagleGet offers to add an entry for itself at the Windows autostart sequence, but this offer can be declined. It can also reset user preferences to default if the software product already exists on the PC.

In order for the setup to finish, the app informs you that it will close any running web browsers for integration purposes, so make sure to save your browsing session before confirming this action. Browser integration is possible by installing browser extensions.

Start downloading files or add them to a scheduler

The application creates an icon in the system tray area at startup and gets sent there on close.

As far as the interface is concerned, EagleGet adopts a large window with a clear-cut structure and comfortable appearance, where you can immediately add a new downloading job to the list. All you have to do is type or paste the link, edit the output file name, specify the saving directory, and let the software tool take care of the rest.

Set the maximum number of threads and other connection details
Set the maximum number of threads and other connection details

Batch downloads are supported. A notable aspect is represented by the fact that the program supports a Clipboard live monitoring tool that automatically fills in supported links as soon as they're copied to the Clipboard.

By default, EagleGet is set to monitor the current website. It can also be asked to immediately launch the download once it's over, start the task automatically, postpone it until you give the command, or add it to a scheduler to wait further instructions. In addition, you can modify the default maximum number of threads, write user credentials to get access to private files, as well as verify the integrity of the file by matching it against a known MD5 or SHA1 checksum.

Customize the scheduler and manage downloading jobs

The task scheduler can run at a fixed time, once or on any day of the week (of multiple days). It is also possible to set a time restriction for stopping the download automatically, while EagleGet can be asked to remove the task from the list once it's finished. This scheduler queue can be populated with as many downloading jobs as needed, and you can create multiple queues with different schedules depending on the category (e.g. software, documents, compressed files, media).

Downloading jobs can be paused and resumed easily, deleted from the list, removed from the computer, as well as sorted by various criteria, such as date, type, name and size. Once a download is over, EagleGet shows a notification on the bottom right corner of the screen, play sounds, and offers to open the file or its location in Windows Explorer.

Task cleaner, video sniffer and media grabber

EagleGet comes equipped with a simple cleaning function for completed, failed or all tasks, and it can optionally remove the files from the disk. Furthermore, it has a video sniffer that automatically identifies audio and video files playing in your web browser and lets you select a preferred one to download to the hard drive.

Likewise, the download accelerator offers support for a media grabber. The difference is that this small tool is capable of downloading media files and turning them into different formats after letting you pick one of the desired streams (if there are multiple made available by the host).

Configure program settings

Just like in the installation phase, EagleGet can be set to automatically run at every Windows startup until further notice. You can disable the automatic checkup for software updates, make the program exit when clicking the close button instead of sending it to the tray, automatically categorize downloads, modify the default download folder, and overwrite existing files.

Connection parameters may be redefined concerning the number of retires, maximum number of threads, maximum simultaneous downloads, download speed limit, automatically resuming downloads on startup, disabling pre-downloads, getting the date and time of the file creation from the server, and the user agent.

Disable Clipboard and browser monitoring
Disable Clipboard and browser monitoring

EagleGet also lets you apply a proxy configuration for connecting to the Internet, disable Clipboard and browser monitoring, add new browsers to take into account for integration, customize the list of file types to automatically start downloading for, create a website monitor blacklist, set an automatic post-task action (shutdown, sleep, hibernate, exit), or verify downloaded files for malware using an external antivirus solution.

Moreover, you can enable silent mode (i.e. gaming mode) to disable notifications which comes in handy when working with full-screen apps, disable the video sniffer, as well as create a list with multiple websites to manage where user login is required. The list with downloads can be exported in EagleGet database or plain text format, as well as imported later to resume all tasks.


The Good

The software application is multilingual and works on Windows 8/8.1, 7, Vista and XP. No error dialogs were displayed in our tests, and the tool didn't hang or crash.

It offers support for HTTP, HTTPS, FTP, MMS and RTSP.

With the help of this app you can download various files from the Internet and integrate it into Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox and Opera. It offers support for multiple threads that aid it in speeding up tasks, along with automatic, manual and batch downloads.

Additionally, EagleGet contains Clipboard and browsing live monitoring tools, MD5 and SHA1 checksum verifiers, pending queue with scheduled tasks that can be organized into different folders by type, automatic post-task actions and virus checkups, gaming mode (with all notifications disabled), together with a task cleaner, video sniffer, and media grabber and converter.

We downloaded a 1.1GB file using Chrome, Firefox and EagleGet. EagleGet got it in 6 minutes and 18 seconds, while Firefox and Chrome lagged behind with 20 minutes and 55 seconds, and 27 minutes and 23 seconds, respectively. Needless to say, EagleGet was the fastest.

It is free to use.

Those who want to skip the installer and run the app directly from a pen drive can resort to its portable counterpart with identical features (Portable EagleGet).

The Bad

We failed in our attempt to use the video sniffer in our tests.

The Truth

We were pleasantly surprised with the multi-talented EagleGet, since we expected it to be nothing more than a download accelerator. However, it is backed by a lot of customization settings and tools that should come in handy to any user.

NOTE: You can also read our previous review for EagleGet 1.1.0.7.

user interface 5
features 5
ease of use 4
pricing / value 5


final rating 5
Editor's review
excellent
 
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EagleGet (17 Images)

Download files from the Internet and configure a schedulerAdd a download jobStart the download automatically, manually, or add it to a queueSet the maximum number of threads and other connection detailsValidate the integrity of files via MD5 or SHA1 hashes
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