DownloadMonitor

DownloadMonitor tracks upload and download activity by application, displays live bandwidth graphs, configurable alerts, and scheduled email reports. It logs per-process network usage, sets download limits, and exports data to CSV or SQLite.

★★★★★

5.0(1 ratings)

• Real-time process monitor. Hovering over the main window reveals a list of processes consuming the most bandwidth at that moment. This feature requires installing the optional Process Monitor Service during program setup.
• Pull-down speed graph. Dragging the cursor or finger downward on the interface displays a mini graph with current upload and download speeds. Traffic spikes become visible without opening extra windows.
• Quick monitor switcher. Right-clicking provides a list of all monitors connected to the computer. Selecting any monitor instantly moves the interface to that screen, with automatic scaling adjustment.
• Configurable consumption alerts. Users set data thresholds (e.g., 500 MB downloaded within one hour). When exceeded, DownloadMonitor sends a desktop or email notification.
• Scheduled email reports. The program generates CSV or HTML reports of network usage by process over a defined period (daily, weekly). These reports are automatically sent to a specified email address.
• Full export to SQLite and CSV. All historical traffic records are stored in an SQLite database. The user exports complete tables to CSV for external analysis or opens the database with any SQLite viewer.
• Visual themes and color customization. The interface includes preinstalled themes (dark, light, high contrast). Colors, fonts, and border styles are manually modified to match personal preferences.
• Per-monitor DPI awareness (V2). Interface scaling adapts to different resolutions and pixel densities on each connected monitor. Elements maintain readable proportions without distortion.
• Per-application traffic logging. DownloadMonitor breaks down network usage by each executable (.exe) in real time. It displays bytes sent and received per process, accumulated since session start or by interval.
• Active connections monitor. The tool lists all open TCP/UDP connections with remote IP address, port, and owning process. Background communication programs become identifiable.
• Programmable download limit. A maximum download quota per day or per session is defined. Upon reaching the limit, the program blocks network connection for the specified process or shows an alert.
• Hourly and daily usage history. Data is grouped into hour, day, and month views. Consumption trends are visualized with built-in bar charts without external tools.
• System event logging. DownloadMonitor records network changes (WiFi/Ethernet connect/disconnect), system sleep, and resume events. Traffic peaks correlate with system activities.

Development of DownloadMonitor started in 2018 by an independent team of software engineers specializing in system monitoring. The application is written entirely in C++ using the Qt framework for the graphical interface and WinPcap/Npcap for low‑level network packet capture. The initial version already included the basic process monitor and real‑time graphs. Between 2019 and 2020, the optional Process Monitor Service was added to obtain per‑process data without requiring the program to run with elevated privileges. Support for multiple monitors with independent DPI arrived in version 2.0 (2021).

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