While there are many places on the internet to download gratuitous software, they're not all safe. Lots of sites take advantage of people looking for free downloads to hit you lot with malicious ads, simulated virus warnings, or even tampered files.

While good antivirus software will protect yous from the worst sites, it'south amend to avoid shady free download sites altogether and stick to trustworthy freeware resources. 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 cheque website condom. This tool checks sites against dozens of security software blacklists. Every website here scored at least a 41/43 (meaning that all only one or two scanners institute the site to be clean).

i. Official Software Websites

Google Software Download Link

Before we get into the sites that offering lots of unlike Windows software, information technology'due south worth remembering that the safest place to download nigh pop software is ofttimes right from its official website. If you're looking to download a browser, security suite, media app, or similar, you can't get much more secure than its homepage.

Some software may however try to foist unwanted bundled junk on you from its official website, but you lot tin can be pretty sure it's gratis of malware. If you don't know an app's download folio, a quick Google search for "download Spotify" or similar will bring up a box that takes yous correct to information technology. But brand sure you're on the official page.

2. Ninite

Ninite Download Apps

Ninite is elementary. The website presents you with a listing of popular programs to select, and you check the boxes for all the apps you want. Then, clicking the download button volition give you a custom installer file that bundles all the selected programs together, allowing you lot to install them in bulk.

Ninite is known for its safety and security. It automatically declines toolbars and extra junk, runs in the background, and doesn't crave you to click Side by side over and over. Thus, at that place's no risk of malware or arranged garbage. Running the same installer file later will crusade Ninite to automatically update everything you downloaded originally.

While there are only a few dozen apps on Ninite, information technology has a lot of the about popular Windows software like Chrome, VLC, Zoom, LibreOffice, and more. Continue in it listen next time yous're setting up a new computer.

iii. Softpedia

Softpedia Download Apps

Softpedia is ane of the largest download sites around; it's delivered over three billion downloads over the years. The most popular apps are updated every day, allowing you to become make clean and malware-free software that'southward also as recent as possible.

On top of this, information technology has an easy-to-use interface that makes it painless to browse for programs on whatsoever platform. You tin scan what's been updated recently, or search using filters similar categories, last updated, and cost. In addition to Windows, you'll observe Mac, Linux, and Android apps too.

4. MajorGeeks

MajorGeeks Software Download

Even though the site looks similar it hasn't been updated since the 1990s, MajorGeeks has been 1 of the about reputable software download sites for some time.

Its listing of Top Freeware Picks is a bully place to start, but don't be afraid to browse the left sidebar and look through all kinds of highly-rated programs that you lot might observe handy. Otherwise, searching will aid notice what you lot're looking for.

5. FileHippo

FileHippo Software Downloads

FileHippo is a well-known site with tons of active programs broken down into categories. Information technology also has a repository of spider web apps, if y'all aren't set on just downloading desktop software.

The site will occasionally prompt y'all to download another app (such as Opera) before the one you asked for. Merely this is clearly labeled, like shooting fish in a barrel to skip, and doesn't button shady software.

FileHippo goes farther by also offering older versions of software. While you generally shouldn't install outdated software for security reasons, information technology's a useful option to have in case you see issues with the latest version.

6. Download Crew

Download Crew Software Downloads

Download Crew's website stands out thanks to its short merely informative descriptions on each app page. These are written by real users, non only copied and pasted from the vendor'south website. You'll learn what each app does, its perks, and whatever flaws.

The top section has Featured Downloads, making it a adept place to become started. Information technology also has a robust listing of options for the software licenses, including Open Source, Trialware, and more. This lets you drill down into exactly what kind of free software you're getting.

vii. FileHorse

FileHorse Software Downloads

FileHorse doesn't accept a massive repository of software. Instead, this site focuses on stocking the best and most useful programs. Each product folio has screenshots so you know what to await, plus version compatibility, a changelog, links to onetime versions, and more.

Considering the homepage is broken into a relatively small-scale number of categories like Video Software and Cleaning and Tweaking, it's also a good place to find trusted alternatives to popular software.

viii. FilePuma

FilePuma Software Download

FilePuma has a pretty basic interface and focuses on simplicity. Search for the software y'all're interested in, or browse its categories to find something new. Since the categories accept the nearly popular tools right on the homepage, it's like shooting fish in a barrel to run into what's on offer.

Aside from erstwhile versions and screenshots, there's not much more on the product download page. The only other standout feature is FilePuma's Update Detector, which makes information technology like shooting fish in a barrel to cheque for and install updates for software on your PC.

nine. SnapFiles

SnapFiles Software Downloads

SnapFiles looks like a lot of the other download sites we've featured, but it has a few cool functions that make information technology worth a look. One of these is the Freeware Selection on the homepage, which highlights a piece of software you might not accept known about. And nether More at the top of the page, you'll find a Random Pick, which is also swell for discovering new software to download.

There'southward also a dedicated 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 try to install bundled software.

10. The Microsoft Store

Microsoft Store Apps

Information technology's piece of cake to ignore the Microsoft Store, which is the habitation for Modernistic apps on Windows 10 and Windows xi. And while a lot of its offerings aren't particularly great, yous tin nonetheless find some solid apps on the Store.

Using Store apps also has some benefits compared to their traditional counterparts. Shop apps update automatically update themselves. And more chiefly, they are sandboxed, so they can't intrude on other areas of your arrangement. Accept a look to see if your favorite apps are on the Microsoft Store and you might exist pleasantly surprised with what else yous dig up.

The Best Complimentary Software Download Sites to Visit

Recall that no site can ever be 100 percentage safe. It's possible that a rogue advertisement volition sideslip through, or the site could become hacked or sold to a malicious visitor. Merely in general, the download sites nosotros've featured hither are clean and trustworthy.

Use a bit of mutual sense and don't install anything that seems shady. If a site offers a "faster" download manager, ignore it and utilise the direct download instead. And earlier you offset, make sure you can spot ads disguised every bit download links.

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