Everybody loves Free software. I’m not talking about all the freeware that’s available but premium full featured versions which are totally legal. I’m aware of two sites (there might be more) that I have used in the past and I’d like to share them with you.
- First there is http://www.giveaway-club.com/
Currently as I’m writing this the software featured on this site is disk-defrag-pro . It downloaded as a zip file with the setup program and a text file containing the activation code. It was just a matter of installing the program and inputting the registration code usually through the help menu.
- The second site is http://sharewareonsale.com/
When I first took advantage of this site you had to create an account but now you just have to provide and email to get the download you want. Currently there are over a dozen options available. I decided to try Free GiliSoft Video Editor. I had to put in my email address, so I did. Notice they mention on the bottom of the page:
By giving us your email, you give us permission to send you daily newsletters ….yada, yada, yada…
… so prepare for an occasional email from them.
Pick your operating system. And click on the Give It To Me Now! button:
Sometimes all the instructions are listed on the next page you go to and the same info is usually repeated in the email they send. As you will see see there are often conditions applied for the Free software:
- It’s usually a one computer license with no free update
- It usually doesn’t come with any tech support (of course you already have the greatest tech support resource already at your fingertips, called the Internet)
- It needs to be downloaded, installed, and registered before the offer has ended
- You cannot re-activate it if, for example, your computer crashes and you need to reinstall it
There are, however, sometimes exceptions to these rules. The disk-defrag-pro offer, for example, doesn’t seem to have any restrictions. I was just given an activation code, period. Also note you are limited to the choices offered. Sharewareonsale.com used to only give you one choice when I first started going there.
Anyway I have used both services over a period of time with no issues. Just thought I would share them with you. If you have any other sources, please list them in the comments.
EDITOR’S NOTE:
Both these sites enjoy a good reputation, however, we would suggest utilizing a couple of precautions:
- Scan the downloaded file through Virus Total first, before installing
- During installation, keep an eye out for any additional bundling or attempts to change your default home page and/or search engine
Not suggesting for one moment that the downloads from these two sites are unsafe but we can’t vet them all. These are sensible precautions anyway, regardless of where you download from.
I’m surprised that you didn’t include giveawayoftheday.com and game.giveawayoftheday.com
Been using it for years, maybe over a decade.
The game version changed to weekends a long time ago.
I’m glad you mentioned it. I had it in my mind to add it (http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/
) but over the course of writing this and the chaos of everyday life I didn’t realize I forgot to add it until now. I wasn’t familiar with the game one. Thanks again.
Sorry Terry, but I hope others have better luck. I visited giveaway club today and they offered Hide-my-ip. I read the reviews from those who tried this offer, and it was nothing but horror stories. It’s a short limited free, which means it’s not free. And I was unable to connect to the site (using the get it for free button), Mindblower
Yeah, I tried the Panda Antivirus and got 6 month, plus it hung my computer.
I had to get rid of it. 🙁
Unfortunately even legitimate software can screw up your system.
Mindblower – They post different choices, sometimes daily sometimes weekly. I downloaed and used a number of programs from these sites with no issues. You could always check them now and then to see what is available. And sometimes blocking software/extensions can interfere with elements on these sites.
Thanks Terry,
I didn’t know about the Giveaway Club but have followed SOS since it started.
Are you aware of:
http://www.bitsdujour.com/free-software-download/
http://www.topsoftbargains.com/product-category/giveaways/
http://www.windowsdeal.com/category/giveaways/
Like SOS, all have free and discounted software.
I’ve paid a visit or 2 to those Jay, but so far nothing jumped out at me.
Hi Claw, long time no see!
Yes, they are mostly dross, but occasionally you find a nugget. I visit them daily to make sure that I don’t miss them.
By the way have you tried: http://www.portablefreeware.com/ for free and portable software? The website is quite complicated, but if you sign up they will send you an (almost) daily email about new and updated items. Well worth a free subscription.
Thanks to all responders. I’m going to check out some of the others mentioned. I’m familiar with http://www.portablefreeware.com – but my main focus was programs that you would normally pay for given away with an occasional string or two attached. 🙂
These are new to me.
I hit giveaway Radar first thing. Giveaway Radar covers all major giveaway sites plus some other giveaways and promotions. However, nobody can cover everything, so we do not even try! Our aim is to provide you with as many “good” giveaways as we can. So we search the web and pick the good ones for you.
*** Below is copied from giveawayradar. ****
A “good” giveaway comes with a license for at least one year and is available for everyone! Nevertheless, we make an exception for anti-virus software* (which needs to be updated daily) and VPN services (because you are using bandwidth at the costs of others). The limit for VPNs is a license for at least three months.
Giveaway Radar does not support contests or competitions–* Giveaways with a license for less than six months will be considered extended trial versions and are not worth to be mentioned! http://giveawayradar.weebly.com/
It is easy to be critical of software given away since rarely is anything really completely free and, as with computer mag discs, you need to be discerning about which ones you download.
I get the daily email feed from giveaway of the day and gamegiveawayoftheday and both have given me some great programs. They always say if there is some limitation on the licenses so you can avoid these if you want to. I would say that I download about one in twenty or so but have picked up a few gems that I regularly use now. Most are one time install so if you rebuild your PC you lose them but if you are patient they often crop up again. There is an excellent user community who get ratings and tips up within a couple of hours so you dont have to jump in blind and download the rubbish (or at least what you consider to be rubbish – others may like it)
I second Steve’s recommendation for GiveawayRadar. It couldn’t get simpler. If you spend much time looking for offers like these you soon realize that multiple sites are from the same outfit, and the reality of ‘publish or perish’ requires more than one-a-day listings. GiveawayRadar vets the lists and only shows the latest. A great help for scavengers like myself.
Here’s a list of multiple legit software giveaway sites.
http://malwaretips.com/threads/list-of-legit-daily-giveaways-sites-contributed-by-mt-members.34925/
I have been getting software from a lot of these sites for a while now, something I have noticed is that most of them seem to update their available giveaway software at 3am EST in the morning.