Avoid shady download sites and stick to these trustworthy resources when you’re downloading freeware for Windows.
In addition to general reputation and personal experience, we usedURLVoidto check website safety.
This tool checks sites against dozens of security software blacklists.
Just double-check you’re on the official pageusemethods to check suspicious sitesif you’re not sure.
2.Ninite
Ninite is simple.
Ninite is known for its safety and security.
Thus, there’s no risk of malware or bundled garbage.
Running the same installer file later will cause Ninite to automatically update everything you downloaded originally.
Keep it in mind next time you’re setting up a new computer.
In addition to Windows, you’ll find Mac, Linux, and Android apps too.
Otherwise, searching will help find what you’re looking for.
5.FileHippo
FileHippo is a well-known site with tons of active programs broken down into categories.
Each page offers a description of the software, along with its requirements and related software.
But this is clearly labeled, easy to skip, and doesn’t push shady junk.
FileHippo goes further by also offering older versions of software.
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 flawsplus aVerdictto sum it up.
The top section hasFeatured Downloads, making it a good place to get started.
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.
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.
Aside from old versions and screenshots, there’s not much more on the product download page.
Using Store apps also has some benefitscompared to their traditional counterparts.
Store apps automatically update themselves.
And more importantly, they are sandboxed, so they can’t intrude on other areas of your system.
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 keep an eye out for fake “download” ads anywhere online.
