curl vs wget: Which Download Tool Should You Use?

curl vs wget comparison: features, use cases, scripting, and when to use each command-line HTTP tool.

Quick Comparison

• curl: More protocols (HTTP, FTP, SMTP, etc.), better for API testing, follows redirects with -L, outputs to stdout
• wget: Better for downloading files, recursive downloads, mirror websites, auto-retry, continues interrupted downloads

Rule of thumb: Use curl for API testing. Use wget for downloading files.

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