DownThemAll lost its best features. FlashGot was discontinued. FileGrab is the modern replacement — a server-side download tool that works in Firefox and every other browser without needing any add-on at all.
If you're mourning the loss of classic Firefox download tools, you're not alone. Here's the story.
DownThemAll (DTA) was the gold standard of Firefox download managers for over a decade. It could intercept all browser downloads, queue them, accelerate them with multi-threading, and filter by file type from any open page.
When Mozilla killed the legacy "XUL/XPCOM" extension API in Firefox 57 (Quantum), DownThemAll lost the deep browser hooks it depended on. The developer rebuilt it as a WebExtension, but the new version is fundamentally more limited — no multi-segment download acceleration, reduced ability to hook into the download pipeline, and compatibility issues across updates.
For users who relied on DTA's page-scanning and batch-download features, FileGrab is a direct replacement — and it doesn't depend on Firefox's add-on API at all.
FlashGot was a different kind of tool. Rather than managing downloads itself, it acted as a bridge between Firefox and external download managers like IDM, GetRight, Free Download Manager, and others. One click in Firefox, and FlashGot handed the download to your preferred manager.
The new WebExtensions API doesn't allow the kind of native messaging and system integration that FlashGot required. Its developer, Giorgio Maone (also creator of NoScript), officially discontinued it when Firefox Quantum launched.
FileGrab replaces the use case FlashGot served — but without needing a desktop download manager or a browser bridge. Everything happens on our servers.
FileGrab doesn't rely on Firefox's add-on API. It's a web app, so it works in every browser equally well.
No add-on to install. Just navigate to filegrab.io in Firefox — or any other browser. The tool is the website itself.
Paste the URL of any webpage. FileGrab scans it server-side and returns a list of all downloadable files — PDFs, images, video, audio, archives, and more.
Click individual files to download, or select all and export a ZIP (Pro). Works whether you're on desktop Firefox or Firefox for Android.
How does FileGrab compare to the Firefox download tools it's replacing?
| Feature | FileGrab | DownThemAll | FlashGot |
|---|---|---|---|
| Firefox add-on required | No | Yes | Yes (discontinued) |
| Works in Chrome / Safari / Edge | Yes | No | No |
| Works on mobile | Yes — iOS & Android | No | No |
| Scan any URL server-side | Yes | No (open tab only) | No |
| Filter by file type | Yes | Yes | No |
| Bulk ZIP download | Yes (Pro) | No | No |
| Domain crawling | Yes (Pro) | No | No |
| Active development | Yes | Limited | Discontinued |
| Free to use | Yes (free tier) | Free | Was free |
Also evaluating Chrome extension alternatives? See how FileGrab compares to Chrome download extensions.
It might feel counterintuitive — isn't a browser add-on more powerful? Here's why server-side beats in-browser for file downloading.
Add-ons request access to your browsing data. FileGrab sees only the URLs you explicitly submit — nothing else about your browser or history.
Add-ons break when Firefox updates its API. FileGrab is a website — it's updated independently of your browser and always works.
Browser-based downloading queues files through your internet connection one at a time. FileGrab's server fetches and zips files at data-center speeds.
Firefox for Android doesn't support desktop add-ons. FileGrab works on Firefox mobile just as well as Firefox desktop.
Switching from Firefox to Chrome? Your FileGrab account follows you — same features, same history, same URL.
DownThemAll required configuring filter rules, connection limits, and file-naming patterns. FileGrab just works — paste and download.
DownThemAll was rebuilt for WebExtensions and is technically still available for Firefox. However, the new version has significantly fewer capabilities than the classic version — it can no longer hook deeply into the browser and some users find it unreliable. FileGrab provides a server-side alternative that doesn't depend on browser add-on APIs at all.
FlashGot was a Firefox extension that integrated with external download managers like IDM and GetRight. When Firefox switched to the WebExtensions API, FlashGot's developer Giorgio Maone was unable to replicate the deep browser integration the original relied on. It was officially discontinued. FileGrab fills that gap for modern users.
No. FileGrab is a web application — you visit filegrab.io in Firefox, paste a URL, and get results. Nothing installs in Firefox. Nothing requests access to your browsing history or open tabs.
Better than that — FileGrab can scan any URL you paste, including URLs for pages you've never visited. You don't need to have the page open in a tab. Paste the URL, get the file list, download what you need.
Yes — FileGrab works in Firefox for Android exactly as it does in desktop Firefox. Mobile Firefox users can visit filegrab.io, scan URLs, and download files directly to their Android device.
No add-on. No install. Open FileGrab in Firefox right now and start downloading smarter.