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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.
About the author: Ashraf View all posts by Ashraf
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good download sites: downloadcrew, alternativeto, tucows, majorgeeks
allmyapps downloadcrew softpedia filehippo
As mentioned several times above, Majorgeeks.com is a daily go to. Not just downloads, but news and fun trivia there too.
MajorGeeks
Softpedia
Softpedia is always my first choice to look at.
BEST DOWNLOAD WEBSITE?? Definitely SOFTPEDIA!!
Hey, people know me as the KING of FREEBIES on GAOTD and elsewhere…so know what I’m talking about…LOL!
Softpedia has the hugest software library on the web as it lists about 1.000.000 FREE and Free-to-try software for WINDOWS, MAC, LINUX and MOBILE users, not to mention that every sofware there is thoroughly checked before being published and 9 times out of 10 it’s also updated to the last version of the program downloadable from the official developer website.
SOFTPEDIA servers are also very good, thus enabling users to download their software very quickly, and, unlike other websites mentioned above, both USERS RATING SYSTEM and EDITOR REVIEWS are very reliable indeed.
Nobody’s mentioned NoNags, FreewareFiles.com (free newsletter) or GiveawayOfTheDay. But I recommend Gismo first to Windows users (also has a big Linux section).
I agree with Joe. Imagine if Microsoft stored and checked thousands of applications to see if they were malware and crapware free and worked with your OS, had a selection & rating system that installed any with one click, then kept all your apps updated. That’s the Ubuntu Software Center (other distros are similar).
Snapfiles and FileHippo, HANDS DOWN!!
Strongly agree I have used Freewarefiles.com for years and never had a problem with them. I also subscribe to their newsletter.
also Filehippo.com
and Softpedia.com
I recommend all of them
directly from the developer’s site
filehippo
I like the following because:
DotTech of course – no bun, just hamburger
NoNags – no bread, just hamburger
NIR – no bread, smallest hamburger
Author’s own website – the best, the latest- no bread, fillet mignon
@david roper: I <3 your reasons why you like those sites. :)
As for me:
Developers site for the same reason as David Roper
MajorGeeks
Softpedia
Google search – like Locutus
Plus a few sites that offer older versions of software, or software that is no longer available anywhere else because the developer is no longer supporting it or has gone out of business. (Reason being is that some of this software is still good and I have found that many of them can still be used on the newer versions of Win OS.) I can't remember the URLs at the moment and would have to search through my 100's of bookmarks, so will get back later with them if I find the time and if anyone is interested in them.
I also have to add that I don't use Tucows for the same reasons mentioned above.
For me the auxiliary information on Cnet is invaluable – all those reader comments and ratings, plus the Cnet guarantee of malwarelessness.
And there is another, very convenient way of avoiding Cnet’s bundled crap. Not mentioned, I think, in the prior dotTech article: a script called “CNET Download.com – NoBadware: Direct Download Links.” It will go into Greasemonkey or Scriptish (these are browser add-ons that handle scripts). It strips away the crap. With the script in place, whenever you use Cnet’s green download button, what you automatically get is just the software installer – no bundle around it – no extra attention required.
Works like a charm, for me (I have it in Scriptish on Firefox 10.01).
Here’s the URL for the magic script:
https://userscripts.org/scripts/show/111137
1. http://www.freewarefiles.com
2. http://www.portablearchieve.net
@WebHybrid: That’s all very well for you, and many of the posters here, but how many Joe Average computer users would even comprehend what you have just posted, let alone be able to implement it?
And can’t you grasp that CNet’s guarantee of malwarelessness is worthless, since while they may not allow developers to add crap, they feel quite free to do the same thing themselves.
1) developer’s own site
2) filehippo
3) softpedia
4) fileforum betanews
Afterwards, I stop caring to acquire the app.
I usually find what I need here.http://www.freewarebb.com/
nyaa.eu – Anime downloading site
animetake.com – Secoundary anime downloading site
piratebay.se – illegal download at its finest
mediafire.com – moar illegal downloading
trollface.jpg
@Switch-kun:
No illegal sites on DotTech…. please remove this comment, Ashraf
I prefer the developer’s site as option one.
I like filehippo.com because they keep older version of software available, just in case I need to roll back a version for some reason.
I like techsupportalert.com beccause of the reviews they offer. If there is a software you are unfamiliar with, chances are they have a review there that will help you decide if it’s what you are looking for.
I like freewarefiles.com because of the comprehensive list of updated freeware.
I like softpedia.com because they do an excellent job of screening out things that come bundled with crapware.
I like alternativeto.net because it has led me to some great software that I didn’t know about.
Sites I avoid? Cnet and Tucows, because of reasons stated by other commenters.
@Col. Panek:
Oupps !! for doing any download on GAOTD, it is only if you like pitiful or crappy software…
Softpedia and Majorgeek if I have not other solution, FileHippo very clean and safe, but developer’s site as option one.
I know I usually lurk here and check out some of the freebies that pop up here. I forget how I found you guys, but I absolutely love all the useful information. Anyway, as for my favorite download sites they are as follows:
1. Majorgeeks.com – I love how they test the file before they put it on their web site so you know it’ll be clean and free from garbageware.
2. Portableapps.com – I am a huge portable app fan since I really love to use this on any computer on the go.
I have used these in the past, but I don’t go there as much as I used to.
1. Softpedia.com
2. Filehippo.com – I like them that you can get an older version than go to another site that specializes in older versions of software.
I have used CNet downloads in the past, and I stopped using them because they had programs that were loaded with spyware/malware. I never trusted them since. Even if some people use them for downloading software like CCleaner or anything else that I use on a regular basis. I’d rather download them from Majorgees or the author’s mirror instead of dealing with other sites apart from the other two I’ve used in the past.
a new one to me http://www.freewaregeeks.com/index.php
Best download site on the planet by a country mile is FreewareBB. Very safe downloads, no rubbish, great community.
BTW Guys – Gizmos (or TechSupportAlert) is NOT a download site. They do not host downloads, merely provide links to downloads on the authors’ sites. They are a referral site.
FreewareBB by far the best one out there. Easily the number 1.