What Is the Best Driver Updater for Windows?

Best Driver Updater Tools For Optimum PC Performance

Driver updater programs are used to ensure that drivers on your computer are up to date, which will help you avoid issues with your operating system.

With so many programs offering similar features, it's important to take the time and pick one that best suits your needs. Consider what you want from a driver update program before making any purchases or downloading an app onto your computer! The most crucial detail is value — more features don’t have to come at higher prices!

To help you make a decision before purchasing or downloading any driver updater, we’ve compiled a list. In this article, we discuss several driver updater software and review their features so you can choose the best one for your needs.

What is a driver updater? Do I need one?

A driver updater application is used to help Windows users stay up to date with the latest drivers for their PC. Windows, by default, updates only Microsoft-certified drivers. This is already a huge help for many people, but it doesn't address some important drivers you need to keep up-to-date.

For example, if you use third party hardware (like graphics cards or sound cards), then Windows may not be able to install the latest drivers automatically for you. This often leads to the driver software becoming outdated and maybe even incompatible with your latest system updates.

Of course, you can always update your drivers manually. But it takes time and research to ensure you install the drivers correctly. Driver updaters make this process instantaneous by utilizing a large database to get the latest drivers for Windows. They will install these drivers automatically and keep your PC up-to-date.

Top 7 driver updater apps for Windows

Now, the only question left is, what driver updater app should you choose? There are many good options available, and each one has its pros and cons that we'll cover in this article.

If you’re looking for Windows 10 driver updater software, the SoftwareKeep team has tested out some of the most popular apps to compile this list.

These driver updaters will help keep your computer running smoothly and efficiently!

1. Driver Booster by IObit

Pros	Cons
Free version available without daily limitations Includes an offline updater Schedule options available Includes option for restore points	Ads for the Pro version frequently appear Advertises the company's other apps

With Driver Booster, you can avoid a lot of hassle and frustration. The program not only updates drivers for your computer but also creates backup files in case anything goes wrong with the process - saving hours upon endless hours spent troubleshooting!

Driver booster automatically searches for outdated drivers, and with support from over 3 million drivers, there's a strong chance it'll discover what you're looking for. When updates are available, they get downloaded by Driver Booster in the background, saving you the time you’d spend downloading them manually from each manufacturer's website.

Driver Booster saves you the hassle of checking compatibility by evaluating your current driver before installing a new version. It will even create restore points from within the app, just in case anything goes wrong during installation. There are no lost files, so you can easily restore a driver which is useful for both experienced users and beginners!

2. Driver Easy

Pros	Cons
Free to use version available Scheduled checks for driver updates Quick scan to check for updates	Limited download speed Updates need to be started manually No support for bulk downloads in the free version Some features are only available in the Pro version

Updating drivers is necessary to keep your system running smoothly. If you want an easy way to update your Windows drivers, then one of the best driver updaters for Windows is Driver Easy.

It automatically detects outdated and missing drivers on your computer, downloads them for you, and installs them in just one click! Not only does it do this with all types of devices (including graphic cards), but it also schedules driver checks so you don’t have to worry about manually installing new ones.

3. DriverPack

Pros	Cons
Easy installation of drivers "Regular mode" for experienced users Available in many languages Offline mode Some additional tools	No schedule option May run slow on some computers In-app assistant can't be turned off

DriverPack has a simple user interface, so it's easier to use than most other programs on this list. There are just a few buttons and no complicated displays or menus — meaning you can download in bulk! It also allows for offline updates of drivers which is great if your internet connection doesn't always work.

The DriverPack updater has one goal: to make installing new drivers and updating your current ones simple by providing all downloads in-app. The user-friendly interface guides users through each step, making everything accessible and easy to use.

When you first launch the DriverPack application, it’ll give you the option to choose to go into Expert Mode and update drivers yourself, or use the regular mode for updates with just one click!

4. Avast Driver Updater & Scanner

Pros	Cons
Check for updates automatically Backups available in-app Doesn't affect your system performance	Doesn't display the driver's file size Free version has a 15-day trial

The Avast Driver Updater & Scanner is a tool to check and update outdated drivers in your system. Some might expect more functionality from it given that you have to pay separately, as it does not come with any bundle deal, but it still helps enhance performance greatly.

By checking for updates regularly, users can optimize their systems fully! Updated drivers ensure that each component in your computer is working as intended. It will scan outdated or mismatched drivers that are not covered by Windows updates, which can sometimes get lost in the shuffle.

The only drawback to Avast’s program is the cost — you can use it for free for 15 days, after which point it costs $39.99 USD a year.

5. Driver Genius Professional

Pros	Cons
One license can be used on three computers Shows detailed driver information Backup and restore tool available	The interface isn’t as initiative as some other apps on the list Doesn’t detect updates for all drivers

Driver Genius will quickly scan your system and inform you of the current condition of drivers. You may also back up or restore your system’s current drivers, which uses both original equipment manufacturer (OEM) sources as well as Microsoft's own database for major updates.

To ensure smooth operation on all devices, one license can keep the drivers on up to three separate Windows computers updated for you! However, it’s not always user-friendly and doesn't guarantee that just one download source will be used during driver installation.

However, if these two factors are taken into account before purchasing this app, users should have little trouble installing the latest version of their drivers without any compatibility issues arising!

6. Snappy Driver Installer

Pros	Cons
No advertisements in-app Partable, no need for installation Support for offline updates	No scan schedules The interface is a little outdated

The Snappy Driver Installer is a completely free tool that allows you to install various drivers for your devices, both with or without having an internet connection. Once your new drivers are downloaded, this software makes quick work out updating all of them!

The software is quite basic, but with its outdated interface it may be difficult for some people to use. When you right-click a driver in the list and select "other choices," additional options are given. You can see alternative drivers, copy hardware ID code and check INF files that were included on installation media.

7. Advanced Driver Updater

Pros	Cons
Fast and easy to use Compatible with all recent versions of Windows Has backup and restore options	Doesn’t state driver sources Some features need to be paid for

In testing, Advanced Driver Updater discovered just 48 of the 149 obsolete drivers installed on our test machine. This is a problem every product poses to us as they all have different criteria for what constitutes an essential or non-essential update — but it's clear from these results that it can still detect essential driver updates!

You can check the source and version data for each updated driver, allowing you to determine its dependability.

While we wish this application could scan faster and more efficiently (it's not very robust if you use the free version), it does have some essential features that are worth exploring in depth — perfect for updating your drivers!

Final thoughts

We hope you’ve found the perfect driver updater app for your Windows PC. If not, please let us know what features are important to you in a driver updater and we will consider adding it to the list in future blog posts!

If you still have questions about how to fix other issues with Windows or are looking for more technical articles on a variety of topics, please check out our Blog and Help Center!

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