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Yesterday I posted about a tip on how to avoid the crapware that comes with CNET Installer. In the past I’ve discussed other download websites such as Softpedia. Now – inspired by a brilliant request by a recently a regular dotTechie, David Roper – I’d like to know what dotTechies have to say on this topic.
So, without further ado, share in the comments below you the download website(s) you would recommend. This can be any website from which you download files from — it doesn’t have to necessarily be a website that hosts it own files. You can recommend one or more than one — it is up to you. Just be sure to give the name (or URL — but don’t spam) of the website(s) you are recommending and at least one reason per website on why you are recommending it.
If, by chance, you have a particular download website – or websites – you would like to tell people to stay away from then feel free to share that in the comments, too. If you are negatively recommending a website be sure to state clearly that you are *not* recommending the particular website(s) and include at least one reason why.
It will be interesting to see what websites dotTechies download from.
The PirateBay.
Ohh! THAT kind of download site.
MediaFire.
…
oh. Usually I go in this order:
1) developer’s own site
2) filehippo
3) softpedia
4) random googling
Download.com used to rank near the top of my list, but not for a while now.
I would highly recommend Portableapps.com
I prefer the developers website as one and only site to download applications. If it’s not available from there, the application is probably outdated and up for replacement.
Softpedia
FileHippo/FileHorse/FilePig
Techspot
Fileforum Betanews
Majorgeeks
Scan With
1. MajorGeeks
2. FileHippo
3. Softpedia
I have a few others in my bookmarks but those are the main sites I trust except for direct from the software authors themselves. The only problem is many authors now include traps with toolbars and such so you must be very diligent to avoid those land mines…
http://www.techsupportalert.com
I have recommended that site to too many people to count. While I don’t agree with all the choices, it is a very useful tool when looking for new free, safe, and well-working software.
snapfiles
the portable freeware collection
majorgeeks
softpedia
filehippo
Portableapps.com
but I prefer the website of the developer
Developer’s site (if it isn’t linked to CNet. Check out Easeus as an example)
MajorGeeks (cos it has an Australian mirror and it’s FAST!)
FileHippo
SoftPedia
Tucows
I often use:
majorgeeks
fileforum.betanews
but stay away from:
Tucows – all the hoops they make you jump through for one simple download (Butterscotch – nothing but rubbish).
Filehippo, and don’t forget their software scanner..
Favorites are
SnapFiles Pro
FileHippo
MajorGeeks
Gizmo
FreewareGuide
1. Dev’s site
2. MajorGeeks
3. FileHippo
4. FileForum
@Liam K: AGREE – Excellent Site
Developer’s site – Directly
MajorGeeks (cos it has an Australian mirror and it’s FAST!)
FileHippo
Doom9 (media tools)
Tech Republic
SoftPedia
Tucows
First and foremost: Developer’s site
Then:
PortableApps
Softpedia
Majorgeeks
Snapfiles
Tucows
1. FileHippo
2. MajorGeeks
3. Softpedia
4. And in many cases, the software’s website….
5. Or wherever ——> https://www.techsupportalert.com/ (‘s) <——- download link takes me.
(6. So many GOOD choices!…..)
(7. OOOOOOps!….. Almost forgot….. wherever dottech.org ‘s links take me!)
1. Gizmo!
2. Softpedia
3. Portableapps
4. Dottech
Hi,
My favorite are Filehippo.com and Softpedia.com.
1) Developer’s site — directly to perhaps get 64 bit version of file
2) FileHippo : Well laid out without on-screen clutter — also has an got excellent programs’ update seeker that actually works, and is also unobtrusive
yup! filehippo is great!
in german language also look for heises download archive:
http://www.heise.de/download/
and chips software index (attention, turn on your adblocker! ;-)
http://www.chip.de/Downloads_13649224.html
both are hosting a lot of downloads themselves, i.e. I get my flash player downloads always from chip, because they offer the install.exe without adobes download manager.
since getting software is sometimes a pain in the ass, I highly recommend to try out linux, i.e. ubuntu.
in general linux uses “software repositories” which is a collection of software which is accessible through the paket management.
image something like the android app store for your desktop/ server.
amazing! and absolutely comfortable, since after installing software through the paket management, the software will be automtically updated each time you run the system update!
regards!
@joe: Hey Joe thanx for the links, yet Gizmo’s Freebies is #1! Greets from the Russian bears! :D
Wow!!!
Great info dottechies.
I have always tried to used the developer’s site (if it exists).
Sometimes there is additional information and I can leave a comment/question.
In addition I like
FileHippo
MajorGeeks
Gizmo
and where ever dottech links lead me. (one day I am going to fall off a cliff) ROFL
@Locutus: I agree regarding download.com but I am not sure why. It seems as if the page got really crowded/busy with all the offers that I would sometimes as myself “now why did I come here”?
Most of the websites pointed out are very useful.Thanks.
I agree with some of the previous comments : I always download from the developer’s site directly
Otherwise, but rarely : Majorgeeks or Filehippo (which is not always up-to-date or reliable – see wrong update proposition for “Java”) …