net-merge Enables Combined Internet Connections Across Platforms

net-merge is a free, open-source utility designed to combine multiple internet connections—such as Wi-Fi, Ethernet, mobile data, and phone tethers—simultaneously on Windows, macOS, Linux, and Android. According to project documentation, the tool aims to distribute network traffic across active adapters to enhance speeds for multi-connection tasks like game downloads, torrents, and parallel browser downloads.

Core Functionality and Requirements

• Compatibility: Operates on Windows, macOS, Linux, and Android without requiring user accounts, external servers, or a VPN.
• Mechanism: Spreads concurrent application connections across all available links. Faster links receive a higher proportion of connections.
• Prerequisites: Requires at least two distinct internet paths reaching the network independently (e.g., home Wi-Fi combined with a phone hotspot). Using Wi-Fi and Ethernet plugged into the same router does not increase speed because they share a single internet line.

Limitations and Practical Considerations

• Single Connections: A single file download using only one connection will not see a speed increase, as individual connections utilize only one link.
• VPN Conflicts: Standard computer-based VPNs route all traffic through themselves, leaving net-merge with no separate paths to combine.
• Data Usage: Because mobile data remains active while the tool runs, users should monitor their data consumption.

Verification and Setup

Users can verify connection status using built-in commands such as `net-merge status` or `net-merge list` to check which adapters are active or skipped. The project repository and setup guides are hosted on GitHub under the net-merge organization.