Whether it’s Firefox, Skype, IrfanView, VLC Player or Spotify: There’s freeware and open source tools that simply belong on every PC. To avoid having to visit dozens of manufacturer websites or portals to download individual tools when setting up a new PC – or after a fresh installation – there’s a clever little helper: Ninite
Ninite: Best-of Collection of Free PC Programs
Ninite is a free web service for Windows 7, 8 and 10. The site lists about 100 free programs and open source tools organized by categories – such as browsers, media, security, developer tools, etc. Here you simply check the boxes next to all the programs you’d like to have on your new Windows PC.
With a click on “Get Your Ninite”, you then download a custom installer. This exe file contains the links to all selected programs. You run this file normally, and your custom installer then visits the official websites of the providers, downloads the desired tools, and securely installs all programs on your PC. All of this works fully automatically.
Advantages of Ninite
- You save a lot of time as you find the most important tools on one page.
- You can avoid searching on manufacturer websites or complicated, ad-supported download processes like on Chip Online or Computerbild.de.
- Constantly working through setup wizards is also not necessary with the installation process using Ninite.
- The downloads are guaranteed virus-free and up-to-date, as they come directly from the manufacturer or provider’s site. You can also be sure that the tools are free of spyware, adware, and toolbars.
- The service is free. For professional users and companies, Ninite also offers a Pro version. However, the free version is completely sufficient for the purpose described here.
Another useful side effect:
Ninite checks before each installation whether the corresponding tool is already present on your PC, verifies the version – and updates your programs if necessary. So for all the tools that ninite.com offers, you essentially have an automatic software updater. Because you’re surely aware: Outdated software (as well as outdated drivers) can pose a security risk. Therefore, this “auto-update function” of Ninite should not be underestimated.
Are you looking for ways to keep your drivers up-to-date alongside your software? Here we recommend the SecuPerts Driver Updater, about which you can find more information here.
