In the following article, you will find out about the best driver update software on the market. As an average user, you might ask yourself – what is a driver update software, and why is it important?
First of all, let us explain how the drivers work.
All your PC components, such as motherboard, graphics and sound card, and others, have unique driver software. This software is a link between your Windows operating system and the components. Without them, your operating system wouldn’t be of much use.
All these drivers need to get updated from time to time. Now, instead of doing it manually, there is software to help you track the drivers that need updating. In this article, we are presenting to you some of the best options on the market.
Best Driver Updater: Our Top 5 Choices
System Mechanic Ultimate Defense Review
Pros
- 7-in-1 software suite
- Blocks and removes malware
- It can help you find your lost or even deleted files
- Password manager included
- Limits collection of personal data
Cons
- It is pricey
System Mechanic Ultimate Defense has a lot to offer. It is an all-in-one tool that covers just about every need an average computer user might have, from driver updates to malware protection. It comes from RealDefense’s daughter company Iolo, based in Pasadena, CA.
Features
- Speed Booster
This is the best driver booster for all of you gamers, streamers, and editors out there. Thanks to the ‘Boost Speed’ tool, it increases the speed and the availability of CPU, RAM, and even hard drive space while launching high-demand apps.
- Live Repairs
Thanks to its intelligent live updates, this software can track and repair more than 30 000 different issues such as crashes.
- Bloatware Removal
Unwanted startup programs are pretty common, and they slow down your computer. To make it worse, the user isn’t even aware of them running in the background. Thankfully, this driver update software will identify and eliminate bloatware for you.
- Malware Protection and Increased Internet Speed
This software looks after your online privacy and optimizes hidden internet settings. This way, it ensures less buffering, faster downloading, and smoother gaming.
When it comes to malware protection, the suite has multiple weapons:
- System Shield is a real-time antivirus protection
- Malware Killer, a great malware removal tool
- Privacy Guardian, which protects your online privacy
- ByePass, which secures your password and credit card data
- DriveScrubber, which you can use to completely erase your drives
- Search and Recover is especially useful for deleted file recovery.
Interface and Usage
The interface of this driver update utility is easy to use. Still, because of the high number of tools, it may be confusing for new users.
Plans and Pricing
System Mechanic Ultimate Defense is pricey, $79.95 for a yearly subscription. However, it offers seven tools for the price. Each one of them costs between $19.95 and $39.95. In total, if bought separately, they would cost you almost $190.
There are also cheaper options like System Mechanic driver update tool and System Mechanic Pro, but there is a catch. Namely, they offer much fewer options for a slight price reduction.
For instance, they cost $49.95 and $69.95, respectively but lack malware and online protection, disk scrub and data retrieval, etc. Fortunately, there is a 30-day free trial period, so you have time to test it and decide.
Support
When it comes to customer support, there is a live chat option. In addition, you can also find a list of FAQs that can help you manipulate the software on their website.
What we didn’t like
You get one month of free unlimited 24/7 technical support with your one-year subscription. Unfortunately, after that you actually have to pay for it – $19.95 per month.
Driver Reviver Review
Pros
- Free and paid version
- Free version has enough options for the average user
- User-friendly interface
Cons
- Limited support
This simple yet helpful tool comes from ReviverSoft, a part of Corel Corporation, a well-known software company. The company boasts having a database that covers more than 10 million drivers.
Features
- Backup manager
Thanks to it, you can create a restore point before downloading new drivers.
- Restore Wizard
In case something goes wrong with your new drivers, you can simply restore the previous version.
- Scheduler
You can schedule the driver scans and downloads with this automatic driver updater.
- One-click install
You can install all outdated drivers with one click.
Interface and Usage
As we’ve mentioned, this is a straightforward tool, making it great for beginners. All the commands are easy to spot and understand, even without instructions. However, if you need them, the website has a good database of tutorials.
Plans and Pricing
You can choose between free and paid versions. For instance, the free driver updater for Windows 10 and older lets you manually install drivers, use backup and restore features, and scheduled scans.
However, if you want features like one-click install and dedicated email support, you are going to have to pay $29.99 per year. The upside is that the company offers a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Support
The company offers support via the contact form and dedicated FAQ pages. The list of articles is extensive, and most of them have helpful screenshots and short videos.
What we didn’t like
The only support company offers are the FAQ pages and email contact form.
Smart Driver Care Review
Pros
- Easy to use, intuitive interface
- Great backup options
- Fast scanning engine
Cons
- A majority of features are only available with the premium plan
This tool comes from Systweak Software, a company with a global presence and more than 25 years of experience in developing software solutions. Smart Driver Care is one of many useful tools in its portfolio.
Features
- Software Updater
Besides updating drivers, you can also update programs on your computer.
- Driver Backup
You can choose between backing up specific or all drivers.
- Driver Restore
This Windows 10 driver updater enables you to restore previously backed-up drivers.
Interface and Usage
The interface is modern and intuitive, and all buttons and controls are self-explanatory. In short—you won’t have any problem using it even if you are an absolute beginner.
Plans and Pricing
You can choose between a free and paid plan, and both have the same features. We can say that this is the best free driver updater, but only if you are satisfied with two driver updates per day. If that is not enough for you, you can buy the full version for $39.95 per year.
Support
Unfortunately, there is no live chat option, and the only way you can reach support is via email. If you are hoping to find answers in the FAQ section, you will be disappointed— there is none.
What we didn’t like
The support could be better. For instance, users can only get support via email, and the website doesn’t even have tutorials or a FAQ page. It would be nice to have a live chat option, especially since the company has it for payment issues.
AVG Driver Updater Review
Pros
- A credible brand with a long tradition (now part of Avast)
- User-friendly interface
- Large database—1,300 brands and 8 million drivers
Cons
- The trial version only scans for outdated drivers without updating them
AVG is a famous brand with a long tradition that instills trust. It is now part of Avast, an even bigger name in cybersecurity. That means you can be confident that all eight million drivers from more than 1,300 major brands in its database are entirely safe.
Features
- Computer and Driver Profiling
This software is the best driver updater for Windows 10 for people who want personalized service. Namely, it creates a profile of your computer and chooses drivers accordingly. This is particularly useful when more than one driver is in the database.
- Troubleshooting Helper
This feature helps you identify drivers that are causing glitches on your computer. Of course, it also helps you easily replace those drivers.
- Driver Back-up and Restore Points
Before it installs new drivers, the software creates a restore point. So, if some of the newly-installed drivers don’t work out for the best, the driver update program will restore the previous version.
Interface and Usage
Even though it has slightly more options than the average driver updater, the software is extremely easy to use. The buttons are large, well placed, and intuitive.
Plans and Pricing
The annual subscription will cost you 39.99$, and there is a trial version for you to test the software out. Unfortunately, this option allows you only to identify bad drivers. If you want to update them, you have to buy the software.
So, the only way you can really test if this is the best driver update software for you is by buying it. Fortunately, there is a 30-day-money-back guarantee, so you can get a full refund if you are not satisfied with the product.
Support
There are several ways of finding answers to your questions and getting help. You can turn to AVG support community, FAQ pages, or 24/7 live chat support. We liked the article library, which is quite extensive and covers all of the most common issues.
What we didn’t like
The fact that the trial version only discovers outdated and corrupt drivers and can’t reinstall them is a little bit misleading. In our opinion, it would’ve been better if they had simply reduced the number of options but left them completely functional.
Driver Genius 20 Platinum Review
Pros
- You can use all the features even during the trial period
- 60-day-money-back guarantee
- Exquisite system maintenance tools
Cons
- Poor support
Driver Genius 20 comes from Avanquest Software. The company was established in 1984, and since then, it has expanded its portfolio to 1,500 software solutions. Now they sell one product every six seconds, and one of the most popular is the driver update tool. The company claims it is the best driver updater on the market, and they just might be telling the truth.
Features
Besides the usual functions regarding updating drivers, the software has some additional features:
- Automatic Driver Detection
The software detects problematic drivers and replaces them. The company’s database contains more than 3 million verified drivers.
- Backup and Restore
The old drivers are backed-up in an executable file, so they are easy to restore if new drivers develop an issue.
- Cleaning Optimization
Most importantly, the software will erase the old and unnecessary drivers clogging your system.
- System Optimization
This is probably the best driver update tool for users who want their computers to be functioning at optimal levels all the time. The software can diagnose and resolve network connection issues, identify problems with peripherals and help you resolve them.
In addition, it can even unlock some hidden options in your device and OS settings. Finally, it can even clear your system cache, thus speeding up your computer.
Interface and Usage
Since this software has much more options than a basic driver updater, you would expect it to be more complicated. However, this is not the case here.
Even though it’s packed with features that make it one of the best driver update software, it’s free of any unnecessary options and images that would jam the screen. Even novices won’t have any issues with this program.
Plans and Pricing
With a price of $59.99 for a yearly subscription, this program is pricey, to say the least. If you want to save money, you can go for Driver Genius Professional, which comes to $29.99 but doesn’t have system optimization tools. The upside is that the company offers a satisfaction guarantee and you can request a refund within 60 days of the purchase.
Support
If you have problems with the software, you can turn to the FAQ page or send your inquiry via email. We would say that when it comes to support, it’s not exactly the best. Free driver update software usually comes without a live chat option, but you wouldn’t expect it from paid software.
The knowledge base has around 360 articles, which sounds like a lot— until you realize they are not all for this program but for all software solutions the company has in its huge portfolio. In fact, only two articles are for Driver Genius.
If you want live chat support, you will have to pay for it. One support code will cost you $9.99, and a 3-pack will set you back $19.99.
What we didn’t like
Support is one of Driver Genius’s downsides. Poor knowledge library and paid phone support are simply unacceptable for a pricey software like this one.
Best Driver Update Software — Conclusion
Computers are so smart, but only when they have clear instructions. Remove one sign from the code, and they turn into overpriced calculators, unable to perform even the simplest task (sometimes as simple as turning on). That’s why it is important to take care of them, and updated drivers are one of the basic computer hygiene tasks.
There isn’t a single best option for your driver updater. Instead, you should explore the available options and see which one would suit you best. Once you decide which one of these criteria is the most important to you, you can see what the best available option on the market is.
People Also Ask
We have to admit that the free versions are not exactly the best solution. They usually lack features you really need. For example, some of them will offer free scanning without the option of updating. You may purchase driver-care software for a minimal amount of money, and we believe it is genuinely worth the cost. Still, if you insist on a free option, Smart Driver Care could do the trick.
This actually depends on your needs and computer working conditions. They can save you a lot of time and effort. By maintaining your drivers up-to-date, they keep your computer working at optimal level. Also, many of them offer additional services like disc clean-up, performance boosters and anti-malware protection. Of course, software solutions with more useful features come with higher prices.
Components on your computers use the driver to communicate between them. If something goes wrong in that communication, your computer will start to perform poorly. Even the most expensive machine will be rendered useless by something so apparently insignificant as a couple of lines of code. So, keeping drivers on our computers up-to-date is very important. Driver updaters are one of the best way to do it.
If you use driver updaters, they will search through your computer to find any outdated drivers. After that, they will usually list the ones that need to be updated. You can usually choose whether you want to update all of them or just a specific driver. You should backup the previous versions, just in case new drivers are not suitable. After that, it takes just a couple of clicks to update your driver from the previous to the new version.
It is hard to say what software is the best because it depends on many parameters. The most important thing is to decide on your needs. For example, some software offers simple driver renewal tools. In contrast, others are packed with features like system optimization, malware, online protection, etc. Of course, these features also affect the price. So, the most important thing is to figure out what features you need in your best driver update software and how much you are willing to pay for them. In general, we advise users to choose software from trusted companies like Driver Reviver (Corel) and AVG Driver Updater (Avast).
