Top 10 Best Driver Updater Tools For Optimum PC Performance

Comprehensive Review & Comparison of Best Driver Updater Tools with Price, Features, and Ratings to Help you Select the Driver Update Software:

Updating your system’s device drivers is essential to ensure system stability. Similarly, it helps to fix issues and the performance of your PC.

However, manual updates may take a lot of time. To quickly check and update your device, you should use driver update software.

When testing a driver updater, it was important to me that the interface is simple. So only tools with a user-friendly and easy-to-navigate interface were included. Furthermore, I went through multiple tools to check if they facilitate thorough full system scans.

Another factor that was important to me during my research was automation. The tool could only make it to my list if it facilitated automated system scans and driver updates. I also made sure that the tools sourced their drivers from the most reputable vendors in the industry.

Backing up drivers was another feature I was looking for in these solutions. This is a feature that I believe is important to tackle issues related to incompatible driver updates. Finally, I ensured the tools were reasonably priced. If they were free, I checked how frequent the ads and pop-ups on these solutions are.

Driver Update Software

Device driver update apps check the driver version and update the driver automatically. Using such update apps will save a lot of time and hassles involved in updating device drivers. In this tutorial, we will review the best-rated device driver apps for different platforms. But before we review the apps, let’s address common questions regarding driver update tools.

Our Top Picks

Best Overall: System Mechanic Ultimate Defense

“Contains all basic security SW and computer maintenance tools. It maintained the health of my computer for a very long time.”

Best for Automation: Outbyte Driver Updater

“A very simple but nonetheless effective software for all versions of the Windows operating system. It does a good job of scanning and installing missing drivers, updating drivers consistently, and initiating driver backups.”

Best for Sourcing from a Massive Driver Database: Systweak Advanced Driver Updater

“An efficient and user-friendly tool for ensuring disk drivers remain updated 24/7. It’s great for driver update, backup, and restore.”

Best for Quick Driver Downloads: Driver Easy

“It is easy to use and has a very user-friendly interface. Will detect and install drivers for your hardware without a hassle.”

The top PC devices for work from home are displayed in the image below:

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FAQs About Driver Updater Tools

Q #1) What is a device driver?

Answer: A device driver is a software code that allows an operating system to identify and interact with a device. There are specific drivers for graphics cards, network adaptors, hard drives, printers, monitors, keyboards, mice, and other peripheral devices.

Q #2) What does a device driver app do?

Answer: A device driver application is used for updating device drivers. It provides convenience and saves a lot of time in updating the drivers. Device driver tools are dedicated apps used to identify and update the latest and most compatible devices for your operating system.

Q #3) What are the features of a driver update?

Answer: Device drivers have different features. Some of the features you can find in a device driver app include a one-click update, automatic scanning, bulk update, scheduled updates, and multilingual support.

Q #4) How to use a device update tool?

Answer: Using a device update tool is easy. Just click on the check device driver button and then update the outdated driver. Some device drivers automatically update the drivers with one click of a mouse button.

Q #5) What is the alternative to using a device driver?

Answer: The alternative to using a device driver is to manually update the driver. This involves visiting the device manufacturer’s website and looking for the latest driver. You will find different device drivers for 32 bit and 64 bit operating systems. Select the device driver that matches the device model and the operating system.

Q #6) Is it safe to use a device driver application?

Answer: Most device driver apps are safe and can conveniently update drivers. But some malicious update apps install malware or Trojans. You need to install only a trusted device driver app. All the device driver applications reviewed here are completely safe and reliable.

List of Top Driver Updater Tools

1. System Mechanic Ultimate Defense
2. Outbyte Driver Updater
3. Systweak Advanced Driver Updater
4. Driver Easy
5. AVG Driver Updater
6. Ashampoo® Driver Updater
7. Smart Driver Care
8. IObit Driver Booster
9. TweakBit Driver Updater
10. DeviceDoctor
11. DriverPack Solution
12. Snappy Driver Installer
13. Driver Genius
14. Driver Talent
15. DriverMax

Comparison of Best Free Driver Updaters

Driver Update tools review:

#1) System Mechanic Ultimate Defense

Best for improving PC performance and to clean and repair your PC.

System Mechanic Ultimate Defense is a platform with multiple functionalities like PC optimization, file recovery, permanently erasing sensitive data, and many more. In one interface you will get features of security, privacy, and performance.

It makes use of patented performance technology. It is the solution for frustrating errors, crashes, and freezes. System Mechanic Ultimate Defense can help you get 89% faster startup and 39% faster downloads. It will also improve CPU speed and graphics.

The tool is primarily known for its ability to fix issues plaguing a PC’s performance. One of the ways it accomplishes this is by automatically updating drivers in the system. Besides this, the tool is known for its robust anti-virus and malware protection capabilities. It can scan for threats and detect them in real time.

As such, the tool is ideal for protecting one’s system against all types of online threats such as viruses, spyware, ransomware, etc. You can also rest easy knowing System Mechanic Ultimate Defense regularly updates itself. It stays up-to-date with the latest security measures and performance enhancements.

The fact that this tool isn’t just focused on driver updates is exactly why this tool is so high on my list. It is the perfect all-in-one tool that combines multiple PC performance-enhancing applications into a single suite. What you get is a PC optimizer that is convenient and user-friendly.

Features:

• DriveScrubber can permanently erase sensitive data. It will delete sensitive data from the entire hard drive.
• Search and Recover functions will help you to recover accidentally deleted documents, music, photos, etc.
• System mechanic is for PC Optimization that will boost speed, repair problems, increase system stability, discover bloatware, and unleash internet speed.
• It can recover emails from popular email clients and data from various devices like cameras, memory cards, USBs, etc.

What We Like the Most:

• Real-time scanning and threat detection
• Robust privacy protection via simple password management and wiping drives in an instant
• Comprehensive system optimization that ranges from cleaning up junk files to optimizing the registry
• Powerful speed optimization that results in faster application launch speeds, enhanced boot times, etc

What We Didn’t Like:

• The tool can be resource-intensive, especially when performing real-time scans, thus causing unexpected slowdowns

Verdict: System Mechanic Ultimate Defense is a complete package with all the security, performance, and privacy features. It is built on the PC performance foundation of System Mechanic.

Price: System Mechanic Ultimate Defense is available for $63.96. Currently, it is offering a Coupon deal of a massive 60% off at just $31.98! Coupon code “workfromhome” is for New Customers Only. It is valid from now to October 5, 2020.

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#2) Outbyte Driver Updater

Best for automation of searching and updating the drivers.

Outbyte Driver Updater has functionalities for the automatic searching and updating of the system drivers. Outdated or missing drivers can also lower the performance of the PC.

It is recommended that you update the drivers from official sources only. The tool is compatible with Windows 10, 8, and 7. Driver Updater has capabilities to check for potential refinement areas such as preventing the PC from overheating, extending battery life, etc.

The solution gives you access to a massive database of over 1 million drivers. Once launched, the tool will consistently scan your PC to see if any drivers are malfunctioning or outdated. It’ll then suggest new versions of the driver to install.
It’ll only take you one click to update drivers with the help of this tool.

The tool leverages an intuitive Driver Updater algorithm to ensure you are only recommended official drivers from reputable vendors. This is essential if you wish to enhance the performance of your PC. The tool leaves no stone unturned in making sure you are offered only the most stable and secure drivers.

All drivers are constantly checked for compatibility. So rest assured that you’ll only find verified and original drivers in Outbyte’s driver database. Installing a driver via Outbyte is also very simple.

All you have to do is Install and launch Outbyte Driver Updater on your system. Once installed, proceed to scan all devices. After the scan is complete, Outbyte will suggest updated driver versions to install. You can choose to install or update the driver automatically.

Needless to say, this is a great Windows driver updater and one of the more decent free driver updaters out there.

Features:

• Outbyte Driver Updater has features to identify outdated, corrupted, and missing device drivers
• It performs the scanning of your system to identify the current drivers and devices that are installed
• It has a facility to schedule a scan to check the driver updates
• It provides a backup facility that will let you store a copy of current drivers. An automatic backup option is also available

What We Like the Most:

• A database of over 1 million drivers
• Each driver is constantly assessed for compatibility and stability
• Automatically scans and updates drivers in your system upon launch
• Very easy to use

What We Don’t Like:

• The very limited free version only allows the scanning of drivers
• Not rich in features

Verdict: Outbyte Driver Updater is a tool that offers automatic searching and updating of drivers. It not only performs this task but can also check for potential tweaks such as extending battery life, etc.

Price: Outbyte Driver Updater is available for $29.95. You can try the tool for 7 days.

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#3) Systweak Advanced Driver Updater

Best for Huge Driver Database.

Systweak’s Advanced Driver Updater is a tool you can count on to swiftly check for outdated PC drivers on your system. It also lets you find and install the latest version to keep your system functioning in an optimal fashion, thanks to the huge driver database bolstering it. The solution lets you quickly back up drivers so you don’t face any compatibility issues later on.

It is compatible with a large number of devices in all categories. So you are bound to find an updated version of a driver here.

The tool also grants you the option to restore to the last working driver if you find an alternative that isn’t compatible. The download of drivers is quick. Even if your download is interrupted, the download will resume from where it was previously left off.

The quickness of downloads can be attributed to the fact that all drivers are downloaded from the cloud. Furthermore, all drivers are constantly monitored to ensure they are free from malware and other such infections. The platform also allows you to schedule a scan for Zero Intervention.

Simply put, you can set up a scan that will automatically be initiated to find an alternative for an outdated driver in the system. It is also very easy to exclude any unused or unwanted drivers in your system from getting updated.

You can count on this driver downloader to fix a ton of issues such as printer errors, gaming errors, video errors, and audio errors. Plus, the tool is compatible with all Windows versions.

Features:

• Scheduled Driver Scan
• Incompatible Driver Restore
• Fix Hardware errors
• Monitors for viruses and malware

What We Like the Most:

• A large driver database
• Supports a large number of devices in various categories
• Backup and restore compatible drivers in just a single click
• Quick and timely notifications

What We Don’t Like:

• Notifications and Pop-ups can become a nuisance
• The exclusion list is only available in the paid version

Verdict: Systweak lets you find, download, install, and manage drivers on Windows in just a few clicks. Thanks to its huge driver database, you’ll probably find the latest version of the driver you are looking for here. Plus, the download speed is just exceptional.

Price: $39.95

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#4) Driver Easy

Best for updating and fixing device driver issues on Windows platforms.

As far as Driver Update software goes, Driver Easy is a great tool for detecting and updating outdated drivers. The tool will let you download certified drivers. You can scan the PC for outdated drivers even when there is no Internet connection.

The software will update the drivers once the system is connected to the net. What really makes Driver Easy great is how efficient it is as a driver updater. It will only take one click to install and update all your drivers. You don’t need to be a technical wizard to use this tool as well.

Driver Easy will automatically scan your system for missing and outdated drivers once launched. It will install the latest version of the driver. You can rest assured that Driver Easy only harbors drivers that come from reputable manufacturers.

You can basically operate on auto-pilot with Driver Easy beside you. The tool will make sure the right drivers are installed on your system for enhanced and stable PC performance. All drivers are certified as safe and stable.

You’ll have access to all driver updates, even the ones that Microsoft deems optional. Add to that, Driver Easy also performs offline scans to look for drivers.

Features:

• One-click downloads
• Automatic detection and update
• Offline scanning
• Compatible with Windows 10/8/7
• Certified drivers

Cons:

• No lifetime license

What We Like the Most:

• One-click System Scanning and Driver Installation
• All drivers were tested for safety and stability
• Flexible pricing structure
• Scan for drivers offline

What We Don’t Like:

• The free version is basically useless
• Bulk Downloads aren’t supported
• Download speeds aren’t remarkable

Verdict: Driver Easy is great for commercial repair shops and network administrators. No lifetime license is available. Most people will find the annual subscription for 1 PC to be affordable.

Price: $29.95 per year for 1 PC. 30-day money-back guarantee.

#5) AVG Driver Updater

Best for updating and fixing driver issues on the Windows platform.

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AVG Driver Updater can easily scan and fix driver issues. The software auto-scans the PC and looks for outdated, missing, and corrupt drivers. It selects the official drivers from 100+ major brands. What really impresses us about AVG is its long list of features. For starters, the tool will scan and update your drivers instantly in real-time.

You can also command AVG Driver Updater to perform automatic scans. This is done by setting schedules and intervals for AVG to automatically scan devices at the set date and time. The reports produced, based on scans, are also very comprehensive. Besides this, AVG actually shines when you consider the massive driver database it leverages.

As of this very moment, the tool sources from a database that features over 8 million drivers. AVG only harbors drivers from reputable vendors. Currently, you can use AVG to download and install drivers from over 1300 reliable technology brands.

You’ll basically have access to any and all drivers that you may need to fix the issue plaguing your system or enhance its performance. You can also back up your drivers with the help of this tool and restore them whenever you want. You can easily back up older versions of drivers to reverse driver updates that cause performance issues.

Features:

• Automatic scans
• Real-time scans
• Supports Windows 10, 8, 7
• Update and fix driver issues

Cons:

• A bit more pricey than competitors.

What We Like the Most:

• The uncluttered and clean interface
• The database of over 8 million drivers
• Backup and restore old drivers
• Scan scheduling

What We Don’t Like:

• The Custom support isn’t always responsive
• The yearly plan makes the tool quite expensive
• Very resource-intensive

Verdict: AVG Driver Updater is a fast window driver update tool. The software can fix most driver issues.

Price: $39.99 per year

#6) Ashampoo® Driver Updater

Best for a high degree of usability and keeping the system up-to-date.

Ashampoo® Driver Updater is a tool for finding and installing the best drivers. It supports more than 150000 devices. It makes more than 400000 drivers available.

The tool examines the hardware components and drivers and then performs the comparison with the gigantic database. Based on this, the outdated drivers will be replaced with the latest versions. Its scanning capabilities are as seamless as the best tools we’ve already mentioned above. It can easily identify missing, outdated, and malfunctioning drivers with a single, quick scan.

The scan itself is very easy to perform. You have the option of installing drivers individually or all at once with just a single click. The platform also enables you to back up your drivers to an external device. You can restore those drivers anytime you want. It is also very easy to install this tool on your Windows PC.

The user interface is neat and all imperative features like scanning and backup are easily accessible. I also like that the software supports over 2 dozen languages. You can set the tool to auto-scan every time you start your PC. As such, we find this tool both convenient and intuitive.

Features:

• Ashampoo® Driver Updater has a built-in scheduler that will let you schedule the system scan for updates.
• It also provides a built-in backup feature that saves and restores the drivers if required.
• It will provide maximum gaming performance.

What We Like:

• Rapid and easy-to-perform scan
• Multilingual
• Installs drivers with a single click
• Easy driver backup and restore

What We Don’t Like:

• You’ll need to buy a 1-year license, which can be pricey
• For premium support, you need to pay extra

Verdict: Ashampoo® Driver Updater is a well-designed program that gives you maximum system stability. It will also help you through maximum gaming performance.

Price: Ashampoo® Driver Updater will cost you $17.99 for one year and three devices. You can download it for free to try.

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#7) Smart Driver Care

Best for updating the outdated drivers in Windows 10, 8, & 7.

Smart Driver Care is a driver updater software that can detect outdated, missing, and incompatible drivers. In just a single click the tool can update such drivers. It provides a facility to back up installed drivers. If something goes wrong, you will be able to restore drivers.

The very first thing that’s going to grab your attention with Smart Drive Care is its interface. It is sleek, to say the least, and you can even customize it with different color themes. Like Ashampoo, Smart Driver Care also facilitates auto-scan at launch. With this feature, you can ensure that the tool starts scanning your system as soon as it boots.

Another thing we really like about Smart Driver Care is the Exclusion List. You can add drivers to this list that you don’t want to be updated. This feature can save your system from unnecessary driver updates that can cause only harm.
The software also updates regularly.

You’ll be notified if an update is available. You can then choose to update the software manually. You can also go to the settings section and check for the update yourself.

Smart Driver Care is a one-stop driver update solution that will help you maintain system performance and boost productivity with features like Driver Updater, Backup, Restore, and Software Updater.

Features:

• Smart Driver Care can detect outdated, missing, or corrupt system drivers.
• All the drivers can be updated at once.
• Before updating the drivers, System Driver Care will allow you to take the backup of complete or selective drivers.
• It is fully compatible with Windows OS.
• It will provide a summary of out-of-date drivers.

What We Like:

• Facilitates Auto-System Scans
• Sleek User-Interface
• Perform scheduled scans
• Exclude drives from updates

What We Don’t Like:

• Only Email support offered
• Takes time to present you with a list of drivers to install/update
• The settings section can be a bit confusing.

Verdict: Smart Driver Care is an efficient driver updater tool that will keep your system drivers updated. It will provide better performance while gaming. By using Smart Driver Care, there will be fewer device errors and you will get a more stable PC.

Price: The Smart Driver Care is available for $39.95. It is available at a discounted price.

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#8) IOBit Driver Booster 7

Best for updating drivers of internal and external devices and boosting game performance on Windows PC.

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Driver Booster is a powerful device download tool for Windows systems. The tool is also geared towards gamers as it boosts game performance, offers priority updates of Game Ready Drivers, and improves the gaming experience with gaming components. The platform can easily scan your system, identify missing drivers, and install drivers in the most convenient manner.

You can rely on this tool to install display adapters, graphic card drivers, and all sorts of other missing drivers. Currently, its driver database features drivers from more than 1200 reputable brands. It also supports over 6.5 million devices. Rest assured, you’ll be getting drivers from original manufacturers that have all passed IObit and WHQL tests.

Further bolstering this tool is its one-click interface. You’ll be able to scan and install drivers with just a single click, thanks to this tool. You also have the privilege of activating the Auto-Driver update, which will give you the latest driver updates in real-time without having to do anything.

Finally, the best aspect of IOBit, in our opinion, is its ability to Auto-Create System Restore Point. This is a great feature to return your system files or settings to their original state. It does so by letting you create a system restore point before a driver update is launched.

Overall, we would say that this tool is best for gaming optimization, reducing device issues, and improving system performance.

Features:

• External device update.
• Fix Windows issues.
• Fast driver updates.
• Download files during idle time.
• Game booster.

Cons:

• The download speed of the free version is slow.

What We Like the Most:

• 1-click scan, driver installation, and issue fix
• Access to over 8.5 Million Drivers
• Auto pick and install drivers
• Ideal for updating gaming components

What We Don’t Like:

• Doesn’t provide you with detailed info on missing drivers
• Can’t update specific drivers
• The very limited free version

Verdict: Driver Booster 7 is a great tool for updating device drivers. The tool is particularly ideal for gamers who want the latest graphics drivers and game components for a smooth gaming experience.

Price: The software is available in free and Pro versions. The price of the Pro version is $22.95 per year for 3 PCs.

Website: IObit Driver Booster 7

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#9) TweakBit Driver Updater

Best for diagnosing driver issues and downloading drivers for free on Windows platforms.

TweakBit is a simple and free driver update software that can detect and fix driver issues. The software quickly downloads and updates outdated drivers. The user interface of the software is simple and easy to understand for beginners. Its interface is what convinced me to consider this tool for this review.

It features a dark theme with a well-organized layout. The interface makes all of TweakBit’s features, which entail Diagnostics, Live Support, Backups, and Restores, very easy to access. You can customize this interface as well.

For instance, you can resize the elements and texts on the interface. TweakBit full system scan initializes as soon as you launch the software.

It automatically starts checking for malfunctioning and missing drivers. After the scan is completed, TweakBit presents you with a list of all driver issues and suggested driver updates. On my scan, TweakBit was able to find 4 outdated drivers from our list. Like the best tools out there, TweakBit also facilitates backup and restoration of drives.

It can create backups of all installed driver versions with a system restore point. It sources from large databases, which today contain over 200K drivers. The updates were also performed very quickly. For me, it didn’t take any more than 10 minutes and all my outdated drivers were updated.

Features:

• Supports Windows 10/8.1/8/7/XP
• Detects missing and outdated drivers

Cons:

• No customer support

What We Liked the Most:

• Large online driver database
• Create System Restore points
• Very sleek interface

What We Don’t Like:

• Complete absence of Customer Support
• Not suitable for novice users

Verdict: A good free tool that lets you update outdated drivers on the Windows platform.

Price: Free Driver Updater.

Website: TweakBit Driver Updater

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#10) DeviceDoctor

Best for updating outdated device drivers on the Windows platform for free.

DeviceDoctor is a free tool that can scan and update the drivers. Every driver is cached which allows quick downloads. The tool checks the drivers and updates them from its database. We believe that DeviceDoctor is a suitable driver updater for both novice and professional users, especially because of its novice and experienced users.

The tool’s primary purpose is to scan a system for outdated drivers, a job I might add, it does reasonably well. The interface is simple and clean. Upon launching, you are immediately greeted with a large ‘Begin Scan’ display. You can initiate scans with just a single click and find a solution to your outdated drivers.

DeviceDoctor will analyze your hardware’s driver and cross-reference it with its massive driver database. The scanning process is very fast and efficient. I was presented with a list of updated drivers within minutes.

You get detailed information about each driver. This information can be pertaining to the new driver version as well as the one that’s already installed in your system.

The tool depends on a handful of reliable manufacturers to source its drivers from. As such, you can count on DeviceDoctor to find safe, stable, and high-performance drivers every time.

Features:

• Supports Windows 10/8.1/8/7/XP
• Easy user interface
• Quick downloads
• Update unknown devices.
• Updates both certified and non-certified drivers.

Cons:

• Does not fix driver issues

What We Liked the Most:

• Simple and Intuitive Dashboard
• Superfast and efficient scanning
• Comprehensive reporting
• One-Click update option available

What We Don’t Like:

• Couldn’t find all the drivers
• The download can sometimes take time.

Verdict: DeviceDoctor is a no-fuss-free software that does the task of updating drivers well. You can use the tool on the Windows platform to update the drivers.

Price: Free Driver Updater

Website: DeviceDoctor

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#11) DriverPack Solution

Best for updating device drivers on the Windows system for free.

DriverPack Solution is a free tool that can be used to update drivers quickly. The drivers are placed on ultra-high servers, thereby allowing fast downloads. It is ideal for both individuals and professionals. You can download the online tool or the offline version. The fact that it is free makes it suitable for users who don’t wish to spend a dime on driver updates.

DriverPack’s biggest selling point is its large driver database. Despite being free, DriverPack features a large database of unique drivers. Its driver selection algorithm is powered by advanced machine learning technology. As such, the tool is always accurate in finding compatible drivers.

Currently, DriverPack leverages a database that contains more than a million drivers.

These Drivers are sourced from top manufacturers to ensure your system gets the most stable and compatible drivers out there. DriverPack runs in two ways. It will run on regular mode by default. In this mode, the tool operates on auto-pilot. The computer is scanned and all drivers are installed and updated.

On the other hand, there is the expert mode. This mode gives you full control over your updates. You are presented with a list of all available updates and you can choose which ones to install and what to ignore.

Here are the details of the online and offline versions:

Features:

• Suitable for any device including USB
• Supports Windows 10/8.1/8/7/XP
• Advanced AI-based detection system
• Multi-language support
• Online and offline

Cons:

• No option to fix driver issues

What We Liked the Most:

• Free and easy to use
• Massive Driver Database
• Customizable settings
• Suitably automated

What We Don’t Like:

• Can’t schedule scans
• The ads can get annoying
• Sometimes the scanning and downloads are slow

Verdict: DriverPack Solution is a free Driver Update Software tool that lets you download drivers quickly. It allows quick download from its database. The tool does not update the drivers from the manufacturer’s site.

Price: Free.

Website: DriverPack Solution

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#12) Snappy Driver Installer

Best for updating device drivers on the Windows system for free.

Snappy Driver Installer is a free and open-source tool that you can use for updating device drivers. The tool features a command-line interface for professional users. You can use the tool to download large driver packages to be installed on different PCs. The driver update software is available as an offline and online tool.

What we like the most about this tool is its ability to download multiple drivers at once. It is also compatible with multiple types of devices. The tool also supports offline installation. Once the drivers are downloaded, you get instant access to the driver, which you can now install with or without an internet connection.

While the tool’s functionality is simple, I had a tough time using it initially. You are assaulted by way too many options when you highlight a driver. Needless to say, there is a steep learning curve involved and you may need to refer to the documentation provided to get a hang of it. Now, there are no ads.

There are no limits on how many drivers you can download, despite the tool being free to use. You can also run the tool portably from a flash driver. Overall, this is yet another decent Windows driver updater that works well for free.

Here are the details of the different versions:

Features:

• Update and install missing drivers.
• Supports Windows 10/8.1/8/Vista/XP/2000
• Open-source
• Supports Command line

Cons:

• No feature to fix corrupt drivers.

What We Liked the Most:

• It is fully portable
• Can download drivers from within the software
• Free to use

What We Don’t Like:

• Learning curve involved
• Can’t schedule scans

Verdict: Snappy Driver Installer is a simple and free tool for updating drivers. You can keep the tool on a USB or external storage device for quick updates of multiple PCs.

Price: Free.

Website: Snappy Driver Installer

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#13) Driver Genius

Best for individual users and workstation administrators who want to update drivers and monitor system temperature, remove junk files, transfer files, and boost system.

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Driver Genius is a system manager that supports a host of features apart from driver updates. The tool can also show hardware information, transfer files, optimize systems, and clean up junk files. As per my experience, Driver Genius stands out because of its user interface and scanning functionality.

It features a user-friendly interface, which is easy to navigate. This makes the tool ideal for casual users who just want to update the drivers on their personal PCs. All of its key features are accessible from the main dashboard itself. This includes backup options, driver scanning, and system information among others.

Driver Genius also does well in the scanning department. It’ll scan your entire system within minutes to detect outdated, missing, and malfunctioning drivers. It is thorough with its scanning and exceptionally quick. After the scan is complete, it provides you with a detailed report that is easy to understand.

You have the option to update drivers individually or rely on the one-click update feature to automatically update all detected drivers. Like the best tools mentioned on this list, Driver Genius also fetches the latest driver versions from a massive database. Suffice it to say, the drivers come from the best vendors in the industry today.

Features:

• Automatic downloads.
• Clean up invalid and junk files.
• System Transfer and Booster.
• Supports Windows 10/8.1/8/7/Vista/XP, 2000/Server 2003, and 2008.

Cons:

• Paid versions are pricey.
• No lifetime license.

What We Like the Most:

• User-friendly and intuitive interface
• One-click driver update
• Comprehensive Backup and Restore functionality

What We Don’t Like:

• The quality of support isn’t consistent
• It can suggest unnecessary driver updates sometimes.
• It is very pricey

Verdict: Driver Genius is a PC manager rather than just a driver update tool. The free version will suffice for most users who want to update drivers. Professional users who want advanced system management features should go for the paid version.

Price: Free version supports driver download with a time limit. It also supports the cleanup of corrupt drivers and hardware information including temperature alarms. The annual subscription for the professional version is $22.95 and the Platinum version is $32.95 for 3 PCs. The paid version supports automatic downloads, faster downloads, system transfer, and booster.

Website: Driver Genius

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#14) Driver Talent

Best for offline driver downloads and updating drivers on the Windows platform.

Driver Talent will keep all the drivers updated and fix any issues. The application can notify about corrupted and missing drivers. It can also pre-download the drivers so that you can install them later on. This is a tool you can use to check for updates automatically on a pre-set schedule. You can schedule the scan so it starts on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis.

What this assures you is that your system remains up-to-date with the latest versions of drivers with limited manual intervention. You can set up an automatic scan that triggers every time your PC boots as well.

Another area where Driver Talent stands out is in its method of updates. The software downloads drivers from within the software. As such, you don’t need to rely on an external browser.

It sources from a database that features over 8 million drivers as of today. There are other features here that I find impressive as well. For instance, it provides you with detailed hardware information. Moreover, it will scan and identify a driver even when you are offline. This is just the tool operating for free.

With the paid version, you get additional features like driver backup, automatic creation of restore points, etc.

Features:

• Multilanguage support
• One-click find and fix driver issues.
• Fix corrupted, missing, outdated, and incompatible drivers.
• Save drivers on PC.
• Supports Windows 10/8.1/8/7/Vista/XP/Server edition.

Cons:

• No support for multiple driver updates.

What we Like:

• Schedule scan for automatic updates
• Quick and Efficient driver scans
• Find a network driver offline

What We Don’t Like:

• The download can be slow
• You’ll need to install updates manually
• Doesn’t support bulk updates

Verdict: The free version of Driver Talent will meet the needs of most users. But you should buy the Pro version if you want advanced features.

Price: Driver Talent is available in Free, Pro, and Technical Editions. The Free version only supports driver updates. For advanced features such as fixing driver issues, one-click updates, and automatic driver backup, you should select the Pro version.

The Pro version is for individual users while the Technician edition is for commercial use. There is also a 30-day trial version to test the features.

Here are the price details of the Pro and Technical versions:

Website: Driver Talent

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#15) DriverMax

Best for updating device drivers and windows components on the Windows platform.

DriverMax is a good driver update tool that supports automatic updates of the latest downloads. The software can also update Windows components such as DirectX, C++ Runtime, Open GL, Java, Oracle, and more. This is yet another great driver updater for Windows that you can use for free. The software isn’t the best here but gets the job done well enough for me to include on this list.

It is great at updating outdated drivers. Apart from this, you can count on this tool to backup, restore, and roll back drivers. You can also run automatic scans on a schedule and even scan files on your PC offline. The tool is constantly operating in the background as soon as it is installed. You are notified immediately if the latest version of a driver is found.

Currently, DriverMax can provide the latest versions of drivers for over 2.3 Million devices. It is powered by a self-learning advanced technology that ensures only the most compatible and stable drivers are found for your device. I was amazed by how thorough DriverMax was in its scanning capabilities. It presented me with a plethora of driver options after the scan was over.

This can be overwhelming for some. That said, it does make for a good driver updater that works with all versions of the Windows operating system.

Features:

• Automatic downloads
• Regular checks
• Multiple driver downloads
• Supports Windows 10/Vista/XP/Server editions

Cons:

• Expensive for commercial use.

What We Liked the Most:

• Can download drivers from inside the program
• Can build offline scan file
• Schedule your scans conveniently

What We Don’t Like:

• Very expensive for commercial use
• Can only download two drivers per day
• No bulk downloads.

Verdict: Driver Max is praised for its easy user interface and hassle-free updates. The software is also one of the best free driver update tools if you can live with 2 updates per day. The tool is best for individual users and workstation admins to ensure that the drivers are up-to-date.

Price: DriverMax is available in Free and Pro versions. The free version is limited to just 2 updates per day. The Pro version supports unlimited driver downloads per day. It also supports automated driver downloads, multiple driver downloads, signed driver updates, regular checks, and instant updates.

The lifetime license of the PRO version costs $149 while the annual subscription is $57.75 for 1 PC. Business users have to pay an annual subscription of $450 for unlimited PCs.

Website: DriverMax

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Conclusion

Driver update tools reviewed here are suitable for both old and new Windows operating systems. You should select the driver updater tool that best meets your requirements.

Further reading =>> Top Download Managers for PC

If you want a free driver updater tool with simple features, the best software includes DriverPack Solution, Snappy Driver Installer, Device Doctor, and TweakBit Driver Updater. Professional users, including network administrators and repair shop companies, should select paid versions such as Driver Easy Pro, AVG Driver Updater, and Driver Max.

Research Process:

• Time taken to research this article: We spent 8 hours researching and writing the review on the best driver update software.
• Total tools researched: 22
• Top tools shortlisted: 10