There are many places on the internet to download free software, but they're non all rubber. Lots of sites take advantage of people looking for free downloads and hit y'all with malicious ads, fake virus warnings, or even tampered files.
While proficient antivirus software volition protect yous from the worst sites, information technology'southward meliorate to avoid shady complimentary download sites birthday and stick to trustworthy ones. Let's look at some of the all-time and safest sites for downloading Windows software.
In add-on to general reputation and personal experience, we used URLVoid to bank check website safety. This tool checks sites against dozens of security software blacklists. Every website here scored at least a 34/36 (meaning that all only i or two scanners found the site to be make clean).
1. The Vendor's Official Website
Before we get into the sites that offering lots of dissimilar Windows software, it's worth remembering that the safest identify to download most popular software is often right from its official website. If you lot're looking to download a browser, security suite, media app, or similar, it doesn't get much more secure than its homepage.
Some software may still try to foist unwanted bundled junk on you lot from its official website, but yous can exist pretty sure information technology's free of malware. If you lot don't know an app'due south download page, a quick Google search for "download Spotify" or similar will bring up a box that takes you correct to it.
ii. Ninite
Ninite is simple. The website presents you with a list of programs to select, and you cheque the boxes for all the apps you want . Then, clicking the download push will download a custom installer file that bundles all the selected programs together so you can install them in majority.
Ninite is known for its safe and security. Information technology automatically declines toolbars and actress junk, runs in the background, and doesn't require you to click Next over and over. Thus, there'southward no risk of malware or bundled garbage. Running the same installer file later on will cause Ninite to automatically update everything you downloaded originally.
While in that location are merely a few dozen apps on Ninite, it has a lot of the almost pop Windows software like Chrome, VLC, Zoom, LibreOffice, and more than.
iii. Softpedia
Softpedia is one the largest download sites around; it's delivered over 3 billion downloads over the years. The well-nigh popular apps are updated every mean solar day, allowing you to you go clean and malware-free software that's too as recent as possible.
On height of that, it has an easy-to-use interface that makes it painless to browse for programs on any platform. You tin can scan what's been updated recently, or search using filters like categories, terminal updated, and cost. In improver to Windows, you'll find Mac, Linux, and Android apps besides.
4. MajorGeeks
Fifty-fifty though the site looks like information technology hasn't been updated since the 1990s, MajorGeeks has been one of the about reputable software download sites for some time.
Its list of Top Freeware Picks is a great place to outset, but don't be agape to scan the left sidebar and look through all kinds of highly-rated programs that you might find handy. Otherwise, searching will help notice what yous're looking for.
5. FileHippo
FileHippo is a well-known site with tons of active programs broken down into categories. It besides has a repository of spider web apps, if you aren't gear up on just downloading desktop software.
The site volition occasionally prompt you to download another app (such as Opera) before the i you asked for. But this is clearly labeled, like shooting fish in a barrel to skip, and doesn't advise shady software.
FileHippo goes further by also offering older versions of software. While you lot generally shouldn't install outdated software (for security reasons), it'southward a useful option to take in case y'all run into issues with the latest version.
six. Download Crew
Download Crew's website stands out thanks to its curt just informative descriptions on each app folio. These are written by real users, not simply copied and pasted from the vendor's website. Y'all'll learn what each app does, its perks, and any flaws.
The top section has Featured Downloads, making it a good place to get started. Information technology also has a robust listing of options for the software licenses, including Open up Source, Trialware, and more than. This lets you drill down into exactly what kind of free software you're getting.
7. FileHorse
FileHorse doesn't have a massive repository of software. Instead, this site focuses on stocking the best and most useful programs. Each production page has screenshots then yous know what to wait, version compatibility, a changelog, links to old versions, and more.
Because the homepage is broken into a relatively small number of categories like Video Software and Cleaning and Tweaking, it's besides a good place to find trusted alternatives to popular software.
8. FilePuma
FilePuma has a pretty bones interface and focuses on simplicity. Search for the software you lot're interested in, or browse its categories to find something new. Since the categories take the most popular tools right on the homepage, it'southward easy to see what's on offer.
Aside from sometime versions and screenshots, there'southward non much more than on the product download folio. The but other standout characteristic is FilePuma's Update Detector, which makes it piece of cake to bank check for an install updates for software on your PC. However, at the fourth dimension of writing, it'due south not available for Windows 10, limiting its usefulness.
9. SnapFiles
SnapFiles looks like a lot of the other download sites we've featured, but it has a few cool functions that make it worth a look. Ane of these is the Freeware Pick on the homepage, which highlights a slice of software you might not have known nigh. And under More at the top of the page, you'll find a Random Choice, which is also groovy for discovery.
There's also a defended page for Portable Apps, handy if you want to run apps without installing them. SnapFiles also features user reviews on software download pages, plus warnings on apps that attempt to install bundled software.
10. The Microsoft Store
Information technology'south like shooting fish in a barrel to ignore the Microsoft Store, which is Windows x's home for Modern apps. And while a lot of its offerings aren't particularly great, you can really detect some solid apps on the Store.
They also take some benefits. Store apps update automatically update themselves. And more importantly, they are sandboxed, so they tin't intrude on other areas of your arrangement. Accept a look to see if your favorite apps are on the Microsoft Shop and yous might be pleasantly surprised with what else you dig upward.
Where Do You Download Free Software?
Remember that no site can ever exist 100 percent safe. It'southward possible that a rogue advertisement volition slip through, or the site could get hacked or sold to a malicious company. But in general, the download sites we've featured here are clean and trustworthy.
Utilise a bit of common sense and don't run annihilation that seems shady. If a site offers a "faster" download manager, ignore it and use the direct download instead. And before y'all beginning, make sure you can spot ads disguised as download links.
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