Knowing how to download files with curl and wget can save you time, especially when working on servers, automation scripts, or Linux-based systems where there’s no graphical browser. Both tools are lightweight, pre-installed on most Linux and macOS systems, and can be installed on Windows through Git Bash, PowerShell, Chocolatey, or Winget.
curl vs wget – What’s the Difference?
Both tools are command-line utilities, but they’re built for slightly different purposes:
| Feature | curl | wget |
|---|---|---|
| Main Purpose | Data transfer (supports APIs) | Downloading files/websites |
| Supported Protocols | HTTP, HTTPS, FTP, SFTP, SCP, SMTP | HTTP, HTTPS, FTP |
| Resume Downloads | Yes (-C -) | Yes (-c) |
| Recursive Downloads | No | Yes (mirrors entire sites) |
| API & JSON Support | Excellent | Limited |
| Pre-installed on Linux/macOS | Yes | Yes |
If your goal is to learn how to download files with curl and wget, think of curl as a flexible data-transfer tool and wget as a download specialist.
Downloading Files With curl
Basic Download Command
curl -O https://example.com/file.zip
-O saves the file with the original name.
Save With a Custom Name
curl -o myfile.zip https://example.com/file.zip
Resume Interrupted Downloads
curl -C - -O https://example.com/large.iso
Download With Login Credentials
curl -u username:password -O https://example.com/privatefile.zip
Fetch Files From APIs (JSON Example)
curl -o data.json https://api.example.com/data
curl is ideal for downloading data from API endpoints while automating tasks.
Downloading Files With wget
Simple File Download
wget https://example.com/file.zip
Resume Download if Connection Breaks
wget -c https://example.com/file.zip
Download Multiple Files from a List
Create a file called links.txt and add URLs line by line:
wget -i links.txt
Add Username and Password for Secure Downloads
wget --user=username --password=password https://example.com/file.zip
Download Entire Website (Website Mirroring)
wget --mirror --convert-links --no-parent https://example.com
This creates an offline version of the site on your local system.
Handling SSL Issues While Downloading
If SSL certificate errors appear during testing or development:
curl -k -O https://example.com/file.zip
wget --no-check-certificate https://example.com/file.zip
Use this only for testing—not for production or sensitive downloads.
Using curl and wget in Scripts and Automation
Automating downloads saves time in server setups, CI/CD pipelines, and cloud deployments.
Sample script using wget:
#!/bin/bash
url="https://example.com/app.tar.gz"
wget $url -P /opt/downloads/
tar -xvzf /opt/downloads/app.tar.gz -C /opt/
curl script to download and extract:
#!/bin/bash
curl -o package.zip https://example.com/package.zip
unzip package.zip -d /usr/local/app
These scripts are used in Dockerfiles, cloud-init automation, and deployment pipelines.
When to Use curl vs wget
| Task | Best Tool |
|---|---|
| Downloading API data | curl |
| Simple file download | wget or curl |
| Resuming broken downloads | Both |
| Downloading multiple files using a list | wget |
| Mirroring an entire site | wget |
| Download from FTP servers | Both |
| Sending POST/GET requests | curl |
FAQs
1. What does curl stand for?
It stands for “Client URL,” designed for data transfers using URLs.
2. Is wget better than curl for regular downloads?
Yes, wget is easier for downloading files and supports recursive downloads.
3. How do I install wget or curl on Windows?
Use Git Bash, Winget (winget install GnuWin32.Wget), or Chocolatey (choco install wget).
4. Can curl download an entire website like wget?
No, curl doesn’t support recursive downloading.
5. How do I download files with curl and wget if the internet breaks?
Use curl -C - or wget -c to resume incomplete downloads.
6. Can I bypass SSL verification?
Yes, but only during testing using curl -k or wget --no-check-certificate.
7. What’s the best way to download files from an API?
Use curl along with headers and authentication.
8. Can both tools download from FTP servers?
Yes, both support FTP URLs like ftp://example.com/file.txt.
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