You need to pull a file from a URL inside a script, with no browser and no download window. cURL fits that job. The Windows download listed here is version 8.23.0.8, and the file comes from the official server curl.se; we do not host it.
A command line tool and a library in one package
cURL is a command line tool and library for transferring data with URLs. The developer is curl, and the project site is curl.se.
The Windows build is 8.3 MB and is released as freeware. It is free.
How a session with cURL usually goes
cURL has no graphical window. You work in a terminal, give cURL a URL, and it transfers the data. The package identifier is cURL.cURL.
For the specific protocols and options, see the official site.
cURL against aria2 and the download managers
The alternatives are Free Download Manager, Internet Download Manager, Xtreme Download Manager, aria2 and JDownloader 2. The catalog places cURL in download managers and programming. The choice rests on whether you want a tool for scripts and code or a manager with its own interface.
What's new in 8.23.0.8
Version 8.23.0.8 was released on October 14, 2026.
cURL pros and cons
Pros
- Free, released as freeware
- Small download at 8.3 MB
- Works as both a command line tool and a library
- Downloaded from the official host curl.se
- Updated on October 14, 2026
Cons
- No graphical interface
- Protocols and options are documented on the official site rather than here
- Less suited to people who want a point-and-click manager
Is cURL safe?
The file is fetched from the official server curl.se, which is the publisher's own host. The developer is curl, and the license is freeware. No independent security review is available, so verify the file yourself if that matters to you.
How to install cURL
- Press the download button to get the official file.
- Run the installer you saved and confirm the Windows security prompt if the publisher matches.
- Follow the setup steps, then start cURL from the Start menu.
