Best Windows Freeware/Shareware Download Sites

Outstanding Sites

ZDNetand CNet DownloadsThese two sites are just different faces of the same site. That site, however, offers the biggest collection of software on the web. Finding what you want is easy, because they have the best file search engine of them all. The user comments are useful but, beware, they are often stacked by comments made by the product developers pretending to be mere users.

MajorGeeks This site carries only tech tools and utilities and there's not a lot of guidance to help you select wisely. However, if you are looking for tech tools this is THE place to go. One of my favorites.

No-Nags One of the best freeware-download site on the web though they will try to up-sell you to their premium service. The shareware side is slowly being added and is not yet as impressive.

SnapFiles / WebAttack Offers a huge collection, great organization and a refreshingly clean presentation. A drawback is its somewhat unhelpful file-search facility.

FileForum-Betanews Not the largest download collection, but if you're looking for the very latest products you'll find them here long before other download sites.

Highly Recommended Sites

SoftPedia A large commercial site with a good collection of user reviews, but it's marred by lots of ads and general screen clutter.

Tucows Huge collection with world-wide mirrors for fast downloading. The Classic "cow ratings" for products are as reliable as ever. This once class-leading site has lost its way a little in recent times.

ServerFiles.com This is the old 32bit.com site re-launched as a site specializing in server software for network administrators and IT professionals. Quite a few products have ratings, some with full reviews. It's a unique offering and highly recommended if you fit the target market.

5 Star Shareware This quality UK site claims to feature only the best products in each category. And it does...almost.

VoodooFiles A specialist download site for gaming, multi-media and performance tweaking. Lots of quality reviews.

topshareware.com A good general interest download site that's competent

Other Sites

Shareware Junkies Every product here is independently reviewed, though many of the reviews are becoming dated. Can be helpful when you are trying to decide what you need.

Allen's WinApps List A fast and well organized site with a huge selection of software, but the search engine is woeful and there is little in the way of guidance as well.

WinPlanet
The aging remnant of the once excellent Stroud's CWS Apps site, it's now part of the Internet.com mega-site. It's still a useful site with many product ratings and some reviews. Overall, though, it is but a pale shadow of its former self.

Pass The Shareware A limited and somewhat aging collection but refreshingly free of advertising.