When it comes to downloading free PC and free programs and software, you can start thinking about an article on where to find pirated versions of paid programs. Instead we do good here, not so much for ethical reasons but because, really, in the vast majority of cases, it is absolutely not necessary to buy software. As seen in many cases and in the article on free alternative programs to the best software for Windows and Linux, for every famous program, there is a free counterpart, often at the same quality level. The problem is that often the sites where free programs are downloaded hide adware, malware, download managers and malicious sponsors that can ruin your computer. It therefore becomes necessary to be able to recognize which are the best and most reliable sites to download programs from the Internet, for free, without ever paying, in a secure and perfectly legal way, for Windows, Linux and Mac PCs . I recommend to bookmark them or to save this page.
READ ALSO: Best Windows programs to download for free
1) SoftPedia is older than Softonic and is another of my reference sites when I search for something. Softpedia is also an online computer journal and also presents downloads for drivers . Using these websites is useful when looking for programs that have a specific function, even if you don't know the names. Using the categories and the search bar with advanced filters you can choose whether to list only the programs with freeware license, shareware (those limited in functions), Trial (those limited in time), Adware (those accompanied by an often annoying sponsor), LPG (opensource ones). The number of downloads made, the rating and the update date are indicated for each program (useful for checking if a software is no longer developed).
2) Majorgeeks is undoubtedly the ugliest site but it has a certain fame because sometimes programs that are not found anywhere are kept here. For all programs there is a review, a rating and a link to the developer's site.
The site is safe and every download reliable, verified and free of traps, adware or similar.
3) Filehippo is perhaps the most Spartan of all at least from a graphic point of view.
There are not all those subtleties found in others, such as reviews, comments, news and things like that. The main page contains a table for each category of software that just waits to be downloaded on the fly. There are no reviews or rating or rating systems, only the link to the file with the description of the software and some technical details. The greatest advantage is the download speed and the ability to download a desktop program that updates the versions of the programs automatically. On FileHippo there are also previous versions of older programs. Although in the past years it had a lot of publicity and had many sponsors download, today it is a clean and safe download site like few on the internet.
4) DownloadCrew is a site that often appears in Google searches, which although ugly to look at, is absolutely safe, with verified downloads, direct and without traps, to download programs for Windows, Mac, Linux, Android and iOS
5) Ninite is one of the best and safest sites to download free software, where you can select programs and then download a single installation file for everyone.
Here on Navigaweb we used Ninite to package a package of 12 programs to be installed for all PCs.
6) FilePuma is a lesser known site, very similar to FileHippo, absolutely reliable and safe.
7) FileHorse is a good site to look for programs, very reliable and that includes downloads for all the most popular programs with updated and legitimate versions.
8) Snapfiles, a secure site that divides all programs into categories and allows you to search for each software according to its characteristics. Visitors can write their own reviews on the favorite show so I could say that the judges are the most objective here.
9) Donation Coder is a site different from the others, with its own repository of programs, all free and supported by optional donations. You can find a lot of useful and interesting software developed by independent programmers.
10) Tucows is another historical site that has been less used lately but always a great source of programs to download. Each software is classified with a vote and for each it is written if the version is commercial, paid or if it is freeware and free. Tucows has recently been redesigned and has become one of the most reliable and safest sites to download software.
11) Jaleco is one of the most popular sites for downloading programs, which often appears when looking for the name of a software on Google, safe and reliable, with a download button that is clearly visible and not hidden among the advertisements.
12) Sourceforge.net is different and is part of the list of sites with open source programs. Opensource not only means free but it also means that the programming code is public and, whoever is interested, can download and modify it. So on SourceForge you can download free programs and their source code . Programmers can easily modify the source code to adapt them to their needs and distribute them in accordance with the software license agreement. Although there is no lack of advertising and it is annoying, this is a good site for looking for scripts and applications based on PHP / MySQL projects, Python scripts, and for homemade software.
13) Softonic is one of the most popular sites to download free PC programs, but it is to be avoided if possible, because it often hides unsolicited sponsors and downloaders.
14) CNET Download.com, the historical site of PC programs has been ruined by Cnet which has transformed it into a site to make money with advertising, so if not necessary, better avoid it.
15) Giveaway of the Day, also available in Italian, is the site where the download of a paid program is offered every day, with a free license. These are not trial or limited versions, but registered and legal versions, free and complete, for visitors to the site.
READ ALSO: All download sites (Softonic, Download.com etc.) install unwanted programs (PUP)
BONUS) Navigaweb.net reports every day new sites and programs, free or shareware,, not all, only the best, those that are worth the effort, with reviews, explanations and comments. Definitely the first resource in which to look for a free program, to always be a favorite under the pillow! ;-)
In another article, there are the best sites to download free programs and applications for Mac .
