While there are many places on the internet to download free software, they’re not all safe. Lots of sites take advantage of people looking for free downloads to hit you with malicious ads, fake virus warnings, or even tampered files.
While good antivirus software will protect you from the worst sites, it’s better to avoid shady free download sites altogether and stick to trustworthy freeware resources. Let’s look at some of the best and safest sites for downloading Windows software.
The 10 Safest Free Software Download Sites for Windows
Many software download sites are loaded with malware. Here are the safest sites you can trust when looking for free software downloads.
1. Official Software Websites
Before we get into the sites that offer lots of different Windows software, it’s worth remembering that the safest place to download the most popular software is often 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 still try to foist unwanted bundled junk on you from its official website, but you can be pretty sure it’s free of malware. If you don’t know an app’s download page, a quick Google search for “download Spotify” or similar will bring up a box that takes you right to it. Just make sure you’re on the official page.
2. Ninite
Ninite is simple. The website presents you with a list of popular programs to select, and you check the boxes for all the apps you want. Then, clicking the download button will give you a custom installer file that bundles all the selected programs together, allowing you to install them in bulk.
3. Softpedia
Softpedia is one 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 get clean and malware-free software that’s also as recent as possible.
4. MajorGeeks
Even though the site looks like it hasn’t been updated since the 1990s, MajorGeeks has been one of the most reputable software download sites for some time.
5. FileHippo
FileHippo is a well-known site with tons of active programs broken down into categories. It also has a repository of web apps, if you aren’t set on just downloading desktop software.
The site will occasionally prompt you to download another app (such as Opera) before the one you asked for. But this is clearly labeled, easy to skip, and doesn’t push shady software.
FileHippo goes further by also offering older versions of software. While you generally shouldn’t install outdated software for security reasons, it’s a useful option to have in case you run into issues with the latest version.
6. Download Crew
download Crew’s website stands out thanks to its short but informative descriptions on each app page. These are written by real users, not just copied and pasted from the vendor’s website. You’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. It also has a robust list 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.
7. FileHorse
FileHorse doesn’t have a massive repository of software. Instead, this site focuses on stocking the best and most useful programs. Each product page has screenshots so you know what to expect, plus 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 also a good place to find trusted alternatives to popular software.
8. FilePuma
FilePuma has a pretty basic interface and focuses on simplicity. Search for the software you’re interested in, or browse its categories to find something new. Since the categories have the most popular tools right on the homepage, it’s easy to see what’s on offer.
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. One of these is the Freeware Pick on the homepage, which highlights a piece of software you might not have known about. And under More at the top of the page, you’ll find a Random Pick, which is also great for discovering new software to download.
There’s 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
It’s easy to ignore the Microsoft Store, which is the home for Modern apps on Windows 10 and Windows 11. And while a lot of its offerings aren’t particularly great, you can still find some solid apps on the Store.
Using Store apps also has some benefits compared to their traditional counterparts. Store apps update automatically update themselves. And more importantly, they are sandboxed, so they can’t intrude on other areas of your system. Have a look to see if your favorite apps are on the Microsoft Store and you might be pleasantly surprised with what else you dig up.
The Best Free Software Download Sites to Visit
Remember that no site can ever be 100 percent safe. A rogue ad may 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.
Use a bit of common sense and don’t install anything that seems shady. If a site offers a “faster” download manager, ignore it and use the direct download instead. And before you start, make sure you can spot ads disguised as download links.