Look long enough and someone, somewhere, has created software which is Free and which suits your needs and budget. Try sites listed below to find more programs than you can believe existed, on every aspect of computing, business, life, … .

Similarly, there is a range of sites covering Shareware. Just be aware that there will eventually be a payment involved with programs of this kind.

Be certain when downloading a Freeware program from a site which also has fee-based versions, to select the correct version. They should be clearly marked.

These lists do not cover anywhere near the possible sites you can visit for these programs. They are ones we are aware of and, in several cases, use from time to time.

Freeware Sites

Try the sites listed below to find more programs than you probably believe existed. They cover every aspect of computing.

Highly Recommended

• Alternative To
  ‘Tell us what application you want to replace and we give you great alternatives, based on user recommendations’. Covers Windows, Mac, Linux and Online programs

Apple Computing Systems

Includes Apple, Mac, …

• Apple Software
  Free offerings from Apple. iMacs to Power Books.
• Mac Recon Apps
• MyOSXFreeware
  A reasonable listing listing.

• Best Free Microsoft Downloads
  A collection of Free downloads covering all aspects of computing from security to programming. From TechSupportAlert.
• Filehippo
  Not only Freeware but you can also get an Update Checker to tell you if your programs have updates available.
• FOSSwiki
  Free and Open Source Software. Programs listed in 20+ areas and indicate which systems they operate with.
• Freeware Files
  ‘Your Free software resource’.
• Freeware Home
  In directories, e.g. education, internet, tools, games. Ffrom fonts to the Internet. A special Kid’s section.
• Freeware Web
  ‘Your One Stop Freeware Source !’
• FreeWR - Freeware Downloads
  Extensive listing in directories [then sub-directories]. Good quality.
• Microsoft
  Free offerings from Microsoft.
• Only The Best Freeware
• Primewares
  Danish based with 32 000+ programs listed in categories. New Programs [daily listings] and Popular Programs listed.
  Highly Recommended !
• Shell Extension City
  Free Windows power tools, add-ons, explorer enhancements, more. Some outstanding software via this site.
• Snapfiles [Freeware]
  Weekly Highlights, Popular Programs, Multiple Categories. Also a shareware section.
• Software Library - Part 1
  Broken down into major directories, then extensive sub-directories. Software Library - Part 2 is found at this site. A mix of freeware, shareware and commercial software.
• SuperFiles
  Freeware listed in directories. Be careful, there is some adware as well.
• Top Freeware
  ‘On this site you’ll find the best Freeware software available on the internet and tips to help optimize your system. I’ve searched and hunted down the best of the internet, so you don’t have to’.

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Other Sites

• 5 Star Software
  Freeware and shareware. 400+ Freeware programs.
• A+ Freeware
  ‘Choice applications which, when combined, make the complete Freeware package’.
• Acid-Play
  If looking for Free games try this site. Annotated, reviewed. Grouped under different headings.
• All Freeware
  Multiple categories, New Listings, Top Freeware, Popular Picks, more.
• Bear Ware
  ‘The goal of Bearware is to list only the best freeware in category’.
• Blackberry Cool
  If you can’t live without your Blackberry go no further ! The one place to find software.
• Carol’s Vault
  Blog with information and links to Freeware, open-source, commentary, other links, more. Some good content.
• Completely Free Software
  Subscribe for a small fee to gain access.
• Decent Downloads
  Well set out, easy to follow, good programs.
• Download Softwarez
  ‘Best software downloads and Software Reviews’.

Drivers

• Drivers HQ
  All hardware needs a driver to make it work. New versions updates, replacements.
• Driver Guide
• Drivers
• Driver Zone

• Free & Open Source Software Portal
  UNESCO. Annotated links to specific software in directories then sub-directories.
• Free Software Magazine
  Access full version issues in PDF format. Heavy Linux orientation, but also covers other areas.
• Freeware Asylum
  Extensive Freeware listing in directories.
• Freeware Beast
  ‘Free software and game downloads’.
• Freewaregenius
  Categories of freeware [right hand side], special pages, extensive descriptions of new programs, archival material, blog, links.
• Freeware Guide
  Your Guide to the Best Free Software and Freeware Sites !
• Freewarepark
  Directories, New Downloads, specific activity freeware, the best authors, more.
• Freeware Pocket PC
  Directories from Astrology to Utilities.
• Freeware Publishing
  Freeware with mirror sites to save time.
• Freeware Wire
  ‘Because the best things in life are free … ware’..
• FSF/UNESCO Free Software Directory
  ‘Useful Free software that runs under Free operating systems, particularly the GNU operating system and its GNU/Linux variants’.
• Grey Olltwit’s Freeware
  Summaries for items.
• I Love Free Software
  Covers both Linux and Windows. Featured items, Linux, Programming, Video, Social Networking, Windows.
• Kid’s Freeware
  Programs specifically suited to children.
• Last Freeware Version
  ‘Last Freeware versions of programs that have since become shareware or commercial entities’.
• MajorGeeks.com - Geek it till it MHz
  Majority is Free.
• OldVersion.com
  Don’t need the latest version ? Access older program versions.

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Open Source Software

Portals rather than links to individual programs.

• Click2Try
  ‘A Community site where it’s easy to try Open Source software - for free, Nothing to download and install’. If you are not sure about open source software this is a good place to visit.
• List of Open Source Software Packages
  Individual program links under a sequence of headings e.g., CAD to Content Management Systems. From Wikipedia
• SourceForge
  Open Source Freeware for multiple operating systems.
• TheOpenCD.org
  A suite of programs covering all areas.
• The OSSwin Project
  Open Source for Windows. Similarly structured to the Wikipedia presentation.
• WinLibre Free
  Open Source Software for Windows.

• Pass The Shareware
  Also Freeware. links to other Freeware sites.
• PCWorld - Downloads
  News, views, other information, extensive Freeware downloads.

‘Portable’ Applications

Programs that do not require full installation, i.e. integration into the operating sytem and registry. They can be run from USB sticks or other portable devices.

• Handy Programs to Put On a USB Stick
  ‘These Free programs do not require any installation and can be run directly from a USB drive. Keep some useful apps. handy while on-the-go !’ Snapfiles.
• Lupo Pen Suite
  A suite of portable programs for internet, multimedia, graphics, security, system, office, utility, games, extras. A 120-190mb download that covers everything you want, to fit on a portable drive.
• Portable Applications List
  Programs ‘that are not required to be installed onto a computer’s permanent storage device to be executed, can be stored on removable storage such as a USB flash drive and used on multiple computers’. Most are Free. From Wikipedia.
• PortableApps
  ‘This integrated package of portable software includes popular programs like Firefox, OpenOffice.org and Thunderbird along with an integrated menu and easy-to-use backup utility’.
  Highly Recommended !
• The Portable Freeware Collection
  ‘Windows Freeware that can be extracted to any directory and run independently without prior installation. These can be carried around on a memory stick/USB flash drive, or copied/migrated from PC to PC via simple copying of files’. An extensive listing.
• winPenPack
  ‘Italian website for portable applications. Consult our download section, the winPenPack guidebook and tutorials for personalizing your winPenPack. If you need help, please view our Italian or English Forum’. Set the language of choice at the top right.

• Pricelessware
  Good quality listing of Freeware. No descriptors.
• Select Freeware
  Good selection of Freeware to choose from.
• SixFiles
  ‘We try to collect only the most high-quality Freeware software in this archive. We recommend you first look through the best-of-the-best freebies list’.
• Software Archives
  ‘Free software downloads for all operating systems’. Opens onto the Windows section, but check the menu on the lower left for others.
• The Free Site
  ‘Welcome to TheFreeSite.com, Home of the Web’s Best Freebies’. Not only has software but graphics, icons and much more.
• Want D Best
  Listing in directories [right side], other Free services on the left..
• Welcome to Best PC Freeware
• Where To Find Great Web Apps
  Annotated links to freeware sources collated by Gizmo’s Freeware,

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Shareware Sites

Apple Shareware

• Tucows Macintosh Software
• Info-Mac HyperArchive
  Mac oriented. Now more of a forum site.
• MacUpdate
  Mix of Freeware and Shareware.
• Shareware Library
  For Macintosh OS.

Windows & General Shareware

• 5 Star Software
  Quality shareware and Freeware.
• Canadian Content Technology
  Software that is shareware, Fee-based or Freeware.
• Cnet - New Windows Software
  Find out when your favourite program updates. This opens for Windows, but it also covers Mac OS X, Mobile Apps and Web Apps.
  Previously listed as VersionTracker, which was taken over by this site.
• Common Shareware Links
  Annotated links to all formats. Shareware, Freeware and demo ware.
• Dave Central
• Download.com
• File Transit
  Freeware, Shareware and Demo Software Downloads.
• Jumbo
  One of the best shareware download sites. Well organised.
• Paul’s Picks : Shareware
  ‘Shareware, Freeware, demoware, public domain downloads, in many categories’. 5 000+ programs included.
• Shareware Downloads
• Shareware.com
  Nearly 200 000 programs.
• Simtel
  A lot of other sites direct you here. Explanations with each item.
• Snapfiles [Shareware]
  Weekly Highlights, Popular Programs, Multiple Categories. Also a freeware section.
• Tucows [Australia]
  Rates programs by the number of cows. Database of programs.
• Web Attack
  Originally only provided internet software. Very clear to understand. Freeware as well.
• Windows PC Shareware & Freeware
• Wugnet - Windows Users’ Group
  Reviewed weekly program, well annotated. Most are shareware, some with limitations.
  Well presented !
• ZDNet Download [Australia]
  One of the biggest, and probably the best, download sites.

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