What is a driver?

It is challenging to give a single precise definition for the term driver. In the most fundamental sense, a driver is a software component that lets the operating system and a device communicate with each other. For example, suppose an application needs to read some data from a device. The application calls a function implemented by the operating system, and the operating system calls a function implemented by the driver. The driver, which was written by the same company that designed and manufactured the device, knows how to communicate with the device hardware to get the data. After the driver gets the data from the device, it returns the data to the operating system, which returns it to the application.

Expanding the definition

Our explanation so far is oversimplified in several ways:

Not all drivers have to be written by the company that designed the device. In many cases, a device is designed according to a published hardware standard. This means that the driver can be written by Microsoft, and the device designer does not have to provide a driver.

Not all drivers communicate directly with a device. For a given I/O request (like reading data from a device), there are often several drivers, layered in a stack, that participate in the request. The conventional way to visualize the stack is with the first participant at the top and the last participant at the bottom, as shown in this diagram. Some of the drivers in the stack might participate by transforming the request from one format to another. These drivers do not communicate directly with the device; they just manipulate the request and pass the request along to drivers that are lower in the stack.

The one driver in the stack that communicates directly with the device is called the function driver; the drivers that perform auxiliary processing are called filter drivers.

Some filter drivers observe and record information about I/O requests but do not actively participate in them. For example, certain filter drivers act as verifiers to make sure the other drivers in the stack are handling the I/O request correctly.

We could expand our definition of driver by saying that a driver is any software component that observes or participates in the communication between the operating system and a device.

Software drivers

Our expanded definition is reasonably accurate but is still incomplete because some drivers are not associated with any hardware device at all. For example, suppose you need to write a tool that has access to core operating system data structures, which can be accessed only by code running in kernel mode. You can do that by splitting the tool into two components. The first component runs in user mode and presents the user interface. The second component runs in kernel mode and has access to the core operating system data. The component that runs in user mode is called an application, and the component that runs in kernel mode is called a software driver. A software driver is not associated with a hardware device. For more information about processor modes, see User Mode and Kernel Mode.

This diagram illustrates a user-mode application communicating with a kernel-mode software driver.

Additional notes

Software drivers always run in kernel mode. The main reason for writing a software driver is to gain access to protected data that is available only in kernel mode. But device drivers do not always need access to kernel-mode data and resources. So some device drivers run in user mode.

There is a category of driver we have not mentioned yet, the bus driver. To understand bus drivers, you need to understand device nodes and the device tree. For information about device trees, device nodes, and bus drivers, see Device Nodes and Device Stacks.

Our explanation so far over simplifies the definition of function driver. We said that the function driver for a device is the one driver in the stack that communicates directly with the device. This is true for a device that connects directly to the Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) bus. The function driver for a PCI device obtains addresses that are mapped to port and memory resources on the device. The function driver communicates directly with the device by writing to those addresses. However in many cases, a device does not connect directly to the PCI bus. Instead the device connects to a host bus adapter that is connected to the PCI bus. For example, a USB toaster connects to a host bus adapter (called a USB host controller), which is connected to the PCI bus. The USB toaster has a function driver, and the USB host controller also has a function driver. The function driver for the toaster communicates indirectly with the toaster by sending a request to the function driver for the USB host controller. The function driver for the USB host controller then communicates directly with the USB host controller hardware, which communicates with the toaster.

What are Device Drivers used for and why are they important?

Device Drivers are the software through which, the kernel of a computer communicates with different hardware, without having to go into the details of how the hardware works. It is a software that controls a hardware part attached to a computer and allows the computer to use the hardware by providing a suitable interface. This means that the operating system need not go into the details about how the hardware part works. It also provides a common interface so that the operating system or the Kernel can communicate with the hardware.

Thus, the purpose of device drivers is to allow smooth functioning of the hardware for which it is created and to allow it to be used with different operating systems.

Device Driver Types – Kernel & User Drivers

There are device drivers for almost every device associated with a computer – from BIOS to even virtual machines and more. Device drivers can be broadly be classified into two categories:

1. Kernel Device Drivers
2. User Device Drivers

Kernel Device Drivers are the generic device drivers that load with the operating system into the memory as part of the operating system; not the entire driver but a pointer to that effect so that the device driver can be invoked as soon as it is required. The drivers are pertaining to BIOS, motherboard, processor, and similar hardware form part of Kernel Software.

A problem with Kernel Device Drivers is that when one of them is invoked, it is loaded into the RAM and cannot be moved to page file (virtual memory). Thus, a number of device drivers running at the same time can slow down machines. That is why there is a minimum system requirement for each operating system. The different operating systems already add up the resources needed for kernel device drivers, so that end users need not worry about extra memory requirements.

User Mode Device Drivers are the ones usually triggered by users during their session on a computer. It might be thought of devices that the user brought to the computer other than the kernel devices. Drivers for most of the Plug and Play devices fall into this category. User Device Drivers can be written to disk so that they don’t act tough on the resources. However, for the drivers related to gaming devices, it is recommended to keep them in main memory (RAM).

Block Drivers and Character Drivers

These two – the block and character device drivers – belong to the category of data reading and writing. Hard disks, CD ROMs, USB Drives, etc. – might be either Block Drivers or Character Drivers based on how they are used.

Character Drivers are used in serial buses. They write data one character at a time. One character means a byte in a generic sense. If a device is connected to a serial port, it is using a character driver. A mouse is a serial device and has a character device driver.

Block drivers refer to writing and reading of more than one character at a time. Usually, block device drivers create a block and retrieve as much information as the block can contain. Hard disks, for example, use block device drivers. CD ROMs too, are block device drivers, but the kernel needs to check that the device is still connected to the computer, each time the CD ROM is invoked by any application.

Generic and OEM Drivers

Device drivers can be generic, or OEM-related. If the device driver comes with the operating software, most probably it would be a generic device driver. A generic device driver is one that can be used with different brands of a particular device type. Windows 10, for example, has a number of generic drivers that work without having to install any other software manually.

In some cases, the generic drivers don’t help. So, the original equipment manufacturers create their own device drivers. These are OEM device drivers and have to installed separately after installing the operating system. Computers of the older era were marked, and hence even the motherboard drivers had to be installed externally. But that was the age of Windows XP. Barring few brands, most of the built-in driver sets are already contained in the operating systems.

Virtual Device Drivers

Drivers for virtual devices are called Virtual Device Drivers. Often, we use some software to emulate hardware and the software used to run such virtual hardware is a virtual device driver. For example, if you are using a VPN, it may create a virtual network card for connecting securely to the Internet. It is not a real physical card, but one set up by VPN software. Even that card needs a device driver, and the same VPN software will install the virtual device drivers

Thus, you can see there are different types of device drivers, and it is a bit difficult to use just one or two categories to explain them. In this article, we explained what is a device driver and talked about the following device driver types: kernel and user mode driver; generic and OEM device drivers, and virtual device drivers – including the difference among all.

16 Best Free Driver Updater Software For Windows 10/8/7

Best & completely free driver update software is essential for every PC user in 2021. Hence, here is the comprehensive list of some best driver updater tools for Windows 10, 8, and 7. Read on to know more.

Using the best free driver updater software fixes the drivers that got outdated or corrupted. Without drivers, the hardware and operating system of your PC cannot communicate. It affects all the tasks you perform on your system. Hence, it is pretty crucial to take care of your drivers. At the same time, it is quite a time-taking task to do it manually. Thus, here we have come up with a list of some best driver update software.

Bit Driver Updater

1. Driver backup & restore
2. Hosts a vast driver database
3. WHQL authenticated driver updates

Recommended

Quick Driver Updater

1. Easy to use interface
2. WHQL certified driver installation
3. 2000000+ driver database

Table of Contents

Best & Completely Free Driver Updater To Fix Windows Driver Problems

Here are the best driver update software that you can choose to find, install, and update your device drivers. Some of these driver updaters are completely free. They also help to elevate the PC’s performance by one click.

1. Bit Driver Updater

Best for updating drivers & tweaking every bit of PC performance automatically.

Compatibility : Windows 10, 8, & 7

Installer Size : 7.4 MB

Bit Driver Updater is our first choice to update drivers & improve every bit of the PC performance. Its users get features such as one-click driver repair and round the clock customer support. You do not require much guidance to use the program effectively. You can even download it and start fixing your drivers with this best free driver updater right now.

Below are the benefits that you get after downloading it on your PC. However, you can also know about its advantages yourself by giving it a try. Click on the below download button to get it.

Features Of Bit Driver Updater :

• It shows version number, date of release, publisher, and all other details of available driver updates.
• The driver updater also lets you create & restore the backups of your PC drivers.
• It has a tool to automate & schedule driver scans.
• The software also boasts a feature to create a system restore point.
• You also get an option to ignore some drivers while performing a scan.
• It has settings to manage the internet connection with ease.

In addition to the above features, several pros also make this driver update software a must-try. Below we share them along with the reason why you should avoid it.

• Easy UI
• Single click driver update tool
• Detailed & Comprehensive scans
• Resolves all PC errors
• Boosts system performance
• WHQL authenticated driver updates

• Not available for Windows XP & Vista

Bit Driver Updater Price

Bit Driver Updater is available for $39.96. However, it is a completely free driver updater if you only want to scan the driver issues. And you do not require to pay any amount to download the software.

Why Should You Pick Bit Driver Updater

There are uncountable reasons why one should pick Bit Driver Updater. It even tweaks your PC’s performance along with updating the drivers that too with ease. And this is one of the most prominent reasons for picking Bit Driver Updater.

Do you want to know more about this driver updating tool ? You can check our honest review for the Bit Driver Updater program .

2. Quick Driver Updater

Best free driver updater for performing quick driver scans and updates.

Compatibility : Windows 10, 8, & 7

Installer Size : 5.6 MB

Out of all the driver fixers that we have seen so far, this is among the quickest ones. Quick Driver Updater is the best software to update drivers in a New York minute. Apart from this, it hosts several benefits such as fast driver downloads, free round the clock support, and more. However, if you do not want to read the detailed description of its advantages, then you can experience them yourself by clicking on the below link to get Quick Driver Updater.

Features of Quick Driver Updater

• Boosts performance to make your video editing, gaming, and general computing experience even better.
• Updates all the out of date and corrupt drivers automatically in just a click.
• Downloads only the authentic and WHQL certified drivers for your PC.
• It supports a lot of languages ranging from English to German.
• A free driver update software for Windows 10 PC with scan scheduler to help you run the scans as per your comfort.

In our testing, we also noticed some upsides that make it different from the rest of the lot. Below we share the same along with a minor downside of this best free software to scan & update drivers.

• User-friendly interface
• Scans PC thoroughly
• Enhances the device performance
• Downloads only verified drivers
• Lightning-fast scan speed
• Fixes irritating PC errors

• Non-compatibility with Windows XP & Vista

Quick Driver Updater Price :

The driver updater is free to download and scan driver issues. It allows you to update your PC drivers and offer several other benefits for $39.96 for 1-year.

Why Should You Pick Quick Driver Updater

Quick Driver Updater is one of the quickest programs to detect driver issues on Windows PC. And it offers a bunch of other features as well to repair drivers and resolve system errors. Hence, you should pick Quick Driver Updater.

Get to know more about this quick driver updating solution. Check our detailed Quick Driver Updater review .

3. Driver Booster

Best free software to boost performance and update PC driver

Compatibility : Windows 10, 8.1, 8, 7, Vista, & XP

Installer Size : 25.2 MB

Driver Booster is not just an ordinary driver update software for Windows. It also boasts instant performance boost features. So, whether you want to get maximum gaming experience or fix PC drivers, Driver Booster is the all-in-one solution. Here are the things that this free driver & performance updater offers to the users.

Features of Driver Booster

• It creates a ‘restore’ point before updating a driver.
• You also get to check how the new version fares as compared to the currently installed driver.
• Along with driver updater, it boasts a PC optimizer that checks system issues, junk files, and registry.
• It comes with a game booster to lift your gaming performance.
• There is a disk defragmenter as well that reduces the system’s boot time.
• The driver updater also comes with a free password manager to keep all your passwords in one place.

While testing Driver Booster, we noticed a few pros that make it one of the best Windows driver updaters. Along with the pros, there are some cons as well. Let’s discuss the same.

• Unlimited driver downloads and updates
• Enormous driver database
• Automatic boot or shut down
• WHQL certified drivers
• Hosts various themes
• Resolves performance issues

• Cannot work offline
• Installs other programs
• Constant reminders to get the premium version
• No alerts for missing drivers
• Bit slow driver download speed

Driver Booster Updater Price :

The driver updater is completely free to download & install some driver updates. However, if you want to fix all your PC drivers and get all other benefits, you have to purchase Driver Booster Pro for $74.85. It helps to resolve driver & performance issues on 3 PCs for 1-year.

Why Should You Pick Driver Booster Pro

It is great to pick Driver Booster Pro for boosting the overall system performance and updating outdated drivers. It offers various features to speed up the booting process and tweak a lot of other things on your PC.

You can also get a detailed analysis of this driver updating tool by checking our Driver Booster review .

4. Ashampoo Driver Updater

Best PC driver updater for washing away the outdated drivers

Compatibility : Windows 10, 8, & 7

Installer Size : 11.3 MB

Features of Ashampoo Driver Updater :

• Tweaks and optimizes the performance of the PC by updating all the drivers with a click.
• It automatically gets you the apt driver updates.
• Even the newbies can easily install and use Ashampoo’s free driver updater utility.
• It is compatible with all the latest versions of Windows.
• You get the driver version number, publisher, and other useful details about the installed and available driver versions.

In addition to these features, we also noticed a few pros and cons of this powerful driver updater tool. Before making a decision, have a look at them.

• Over 2,40,000 devices supported
• Boosts system’s performance
• Easy backup and restore
• Clean and user-friendly UI
• Works on 3 PCs with a single license
• Exclusion of drivers from the scan

• No free advanced features and support
• Not so efficient trial version

Ashampoo Driver Updater Price :

Ashampoo Driver Updater is free to scan driver issues on your PC. You can also set the scanning schedules without paying a single penny. You have to get the full version of the software for $ 29.99 to update the detected faulty drivers.

Why Should You Pick Ashampoo Driver Updater

You should pick Ashampoo Driver Updater to update all the obsolete drivers with ease. It offers a pretty simple UI along with a set of all the fundamental driver updating features.

Do you want to know how to download Ashampoo Driver Updater? Or if you have more queries for the program. To get solutions, you can check our Ashampoo Driver Updater review .

5. Driver Easy

Best free driver updater to make the task of upgrading PC drivers easy as pie

Compatibility : Windows 10, 8.1, & 7

Installer Size : 5.0 MB

Here is another award-winning software on this list of best free & paid driver update software 0f 2021. Driver Easy helps you locate outdated drivers and update them with ease. Just a single click and all your driver issues get resolved. Below are the other features of this best & easy to use driver updater that attract users.

Features of Driver Easy :

• It bears a search feature that helps you find any particular driver.
• There is an immense database of drivers that the user can browse through as well.
• Along with this driver installer, you can even backup and restore drivers .
• Driver Easy offers to install drivers directly within the app.
• It lets you view the entire details about every component of your PC, ranging from CPU to the graphics card.
• You also get a feature to compare the installed drivers with their newly released updates.

To get the best driver updating program for your Windows PC, you must not give a miss to the pros and cons of it. Hence, here we have highlighted the pros and cons of Driver Easy.

• Supports offline driver scan scheduling
• Uninstalls deleted hardware driver
• Allows to download drivers within the program
• Consumes fewer PC resources
• Database of 8 Million+ drivers
• Option to hide a driver update

• Slow driver downloads in free version
• Lacks many useful features in the free version
• Does not offer lifetime license
• Outdated interface

Driver Easy Price :

Driver Easy is available for $59.90. You get a license for a year that you can use on 3 PCs. There is no particular completely free version available of this driver updater. You only get a limited trial for free. There are also several expensive business plans for commercial use.

Why Should You Pick Driver Easy

Driver Easy helps to resolve all the issues related to your PC drivers easily. You can pick the tool to avoid hustle while updating & repairing the drivers on Windows.

Do you still want more information about the driver upgrading program? You can have a look at our Driver Easy review .

6. DriverSupport

Best support to update and repair drivers on your computer

Compatibility : Windows 10, 8, 7, & Vista

Installer Size : 250 KB

It is one of the software that offers the best support to update PC drivers. Along with this, you can also get help from the tool to fix the annoying system issues. DriverSupport comes with highly useful features, such as a tool to remove unnecessary system files. Below we have described all other things that make the software best among the other free driver update tools in 2021.

Features of DriverSupport :

• It has the much-needed driver backup and restore options.
• You can schedule the driver scans so that your computer gets scanned automatically.
• With DriverSupport, you can exclude the drivers from the scanning process.
• It allows you to uninstall the drivers that you do not want to keep on your PC.
• You can access this robust driver updating tool from anywhere in the world.
• It monitors the PC in real-time.

Now, let’s take a look at the bright side, i.e., Pros, and the darker side, i.e., Cons of this complete driver repair and update software.

• Easy to use UI
• Enormous driver database
• Device Driver Matching technology
• Excellent customer support
• Anywhere access
• Real-Time driver repair service

• Finds less outdated drivers than its competitors
• No automatic driver download and install feature
• Non-descriptive driver details
• Useful features unavailable in free driver updater version

DriverSupport Price:

The complete version of DriverSupport costs $9.99 per month. The software is also available for free to scan driver issues on your PC.

Why Should You Pick DriverSupport

DriverSupport offers a quite rare feature to remove unnecessary drivers and system files from the Windows PC. Along with this, you also get the fundamental driver updating tools. If you are looking for a tool that offers all such things, then DriverSupport is a great pick.

To get better insight into the software, check our DriverSupport review .

7. Snappy Driver Installer

Best free driver installer & updater program for repairing driver issues on Windows for free.

Compatibility : Windows 10, 8.1, 8, 7, Vista, XP, & 2000

Installer Size : 5.1 MB (Lite Version) | 20.9 GB (Full Version)

Here is the solution for users looking for a snappy solution to fix the Windows driver issues. Snappy Driver Installer is a fast, free, and open-source driver updating tool for your PC. However, being a free driver fixer is not the only thing to consider the software as one of the best driver updaters in 2021. Here are the other reasons.

Features of Snappy Driver Installer :

• Snappy Driver Installer gives accurate and best matching updates of PC drivers.
• It is a completely free driver updater software.
• You can use it on any Windows PC without spending a penny or installing it.
• It supports more than 27 languages.
• The program creates restore points automatically to ensure the safety of your Windows PC.

Let’s now talk about the pros and cons of Snappy Driver Installer. It has a multitude of stronger points along with a few worth-mentioning downsides. Here we share the prominent ones out of them.

• Portable software
• Open-source and customizable
• Supports older Windows versions
• Even works with no internet access

• Immense installer size
• Fixes only missing driver issues
• Lacks many useful features
• Outdated & complex UI

Snappy Driver Installer Price:

As we have described, Snappy Driver Installer is an entirely free software to fix and update missing drivers. You do not require to pay any amount to get any of its versions.

Why Should You Pick Snappy Driver Installer

You should pick Snappy Driver Installer if you want a free, offline, portable, open-source, & customizable tool to download and install drivers on your Windows PC. It is also an apt choice for the users of older Windows versions.

We have also reviewed this software to download PC drivers. So, if you want to know more about it, you can go to our Snappy Driver Installer review .

8. Avast Driver Updater

Best for getting authentic driver updates on Windows PC

Compatibility : Windows 10, 8.1, 8, & 7

Installer Size : 1.04 MB

Avast offers an extremely easy and fast to setup driver update checker. It is free from malware and bloatware and poses no prompts for any other programs. Along with this, the software also has a plethora of settings and features. They have helped the program to mark its name in the list of the best driver update software in the market.

Features of Avast Driver Updater :

• With a single click, it completely scans your PC and detect faulty drivers.
• Its restore function lets you revert the changes made to the system.
• Avast keeps on working in the background to find outdated PC drivers.
• It helps you fix annoying PC freezes, crashes, connectivity bugs, mouse and printer problems, and more.
• Scans for graphic driver issues in real-time to offer seamless gaming, video streaming, and media editing.

Along with the above features, we also noticed a few pros and cons of this decent Windows 10 driver updater. Here they are.

• Less resource consumption
• Clean and intuitive UI
• 30-day money-back guarantee
• Availability of driver source details
• Amps up the sound quality
• Feature to create & restore driver backup

• Offers only a few days trial
• Semi-automatic driver download & installation
• No scan scheduling functionality
• Fewer features than counterparts

Avast Driver Updater Price :

Avast Driver Updater is available at the cost of $39.99 per year for 3 Computers. There is also a free trial of the software that offers full functionality for a limited period. The driver updater is completely free to scan driver issues on your PC.

Why Should You Pick Avast Driver Updater

If you are pretty much conscious about drivers’ authenticity, then Avast Driver Updater is one of the most apt tools for you. The program only offers drivers from major brands and resolves several issues as well on your Windows PC.

9. AVG Driver Updater

Best for repairing Windows drivers with certified and reliable driver updates

Compatibility : Windows 10, 8.1, 8, & 7

Installer Size : 1.16 MB

Now, who hasn’t heard about AVG Driver Updater? A lot of PC users consider AVG as the best updater software for the drivers on Microsoft Windows. However, unlike the other competent alternatives, it does not save the scan results. But still, users prefer it. If you are thinking about the reason for this, then below unique features are your answer.

Features of AVG Driver Updater :

• The tool boasts a classic interface.
• It scans the system in real-time and offers all the latest updates.
• You can cure all common PC problems like connectivity issues, PC freezing , etc.
• It backs up the existing drivers and assists in restoring the backups with one click.
• There is also an easy to use scan scheduler.

AVG Driver Updater also has several pros and cons that are worth noting. Here they are.

• Instant hardware profile assessment
• Reliable driver updater
• Fully automatic driver updater
• Creates & restores backups of existing drivers

• No premium features
• Expensive than counterparts
• Unable to save scan results
• Offers only a few days trial

AVG Driver Updater Price :

The pricing plans of AVG Driver Updater is quite similar to Avast Driver Updater. Its full version is available for $39.99. Coming to the free version, AVG also offers only a scan-only mode for free. There is also a trial of this best Windows driver updating program, which is available for free for a limited period.

Why Should You Pick AVG Driver Updater

AVG Driver Updater holds a rep for being a driver repair tool that only gives credible & reliable driver updates. You can also pick it to repair system crashes, network issues, and a lot of other things on Windows PC.

If you are interested in selecting this tool to update your PC drivers, then before making your mind, we suggest you check our honest AVG Driver Updater review .

10. Driver Genius

Best for fixing the overall performance issues along with updating Windows drivers.

Compatibility : Windows 10, 8.1, 8, 7, Vista, XP, & 2000

Installer Size : 24.2 MB

Just like a pure genius, Driver Genius has a solution for all the problems on your PC. The multi-functional ability of the tool is what makes it the best free driver updater in 2021. Despite this, it hosts a clutter-free interface with only a few options and buttons on the screen. Below are some of its other salient features.

Features of Driver Genius :

• This driver upgrading genius offers drivers for every hardware with its huge database.
• It scans all your drivers to find the outdated, corrupt, or missing ones.
• Driver Genius also boasts a plethora of optimization options.
• It even creates driver backups & system restore points before making any changes.
• The device diagnostics tool helps to keep hardware problems at bay.

This genius software to update drivers on Windows 10 has many pros and cons. Below are the central ones out of them.

• Straightforward UI
• Easy driver restoration
• One-click resolution of PC problems
• Gets drivers from trusted sources
• Uninstaller for unneeded driver packages
• Scan scheduler to automate driver scans

• Less driver detection
• No offline downloading
• Slow driver scans
• Does not offer lifetime license

Driver Genius Price :

Driver Genius has three available versions. One of them is the completely free driver updater and helps you to fix corrupt drivers for free. Along with this, there is a Driver Genius Professional Edition that is available at $29.99. If you want to clean junk as well, then Driver Genius offers a Platinum Edition for $39.99.

Why You Should Pick Driver Genius

Are you looking for a tool that can update drivers and even resolve hardware & software issues on your PC? If yes, then Driver Genius is one of the best picks for you.

You can also check our complete Driver Genius review to know more about it.

11. TweakBit Driver Updater

Best to update PC drivers & tweak the overall computer performance

Compatibility : Windows 10, 8, 7, Vista, & XP

Installer Size : 7.7 MB

TweakBit Driver Updater tweaks the overall performance of your PC along with working on your PC drivers. Hence, we consider it among the best driver update tools of 2021. It boasts some of the most attractive features, such as creating and restoring the driver backups, exclusion of drivers from the scanning and updating process, and more. Let’s discuss all of them in detail.

Features of TweakBit Driver Updater :

• It downloads the most stable driver version irrespective of whether it is old or new.
• You can schedule the scan according to your convenience.
• It automatically creates driver backups before updating them.
• TweakBit Driver Updater never installs an unsigned driver that comes from an unknown source unless you allow it.
• You can ignore the drivers that should not be scanned and updated.

Now, let’s take a quick look at what is good about this powerful driver updater, i.e., its Pros, and what is not so great about it, i.e., its Cons.

• Straightforward and user-friendly UI
• Easy driver backup and restore
• Large driver database
• Displays the complete driver information
• Users from the US & Canada get 24 x 7 support

• No driver scan and update for free
• A bit high priced
• Unavailability of features in free version
• No advanced functions

TweakBit Driver Updater Price:

TweakBit Driver Updater costs you $59.95 for a year to update drivers on 3 Windows PCs. There is also a free version available of this competent driver updater program.

Why You Should Pick TweakBit Driver Updater

You should pick TweakBit Driver Updater to get the most stable and authentic driver versions. It does not even allow to install drivers downloaded from unknown sources unless you agree to do so.

12. DriverPack Solution

Best for performing Windows driver update completely free

Compatibility : Windows 10, 8.1, 8, 7, & XP

Installer Size : 6.88 MB (Online Version) | 641 MB (Offline Network Version) | 24 GB (Full Version)

Here we have another completely free and best driver updater software for Windows in 2021. DriverPack Solution is all you need to download the suitable PC drivers as fast as possible. It has a driver database on high-speed servers. Not just the driver download speed, the tool offers several other features as well. Here they are.

Features of DriverPack Solution :

• There is an online version of the software available for PCs having low storage.
• With the DriverPack solution Offline Network & Full version, you can even download and update Windows drivers while being offline.
• It is a free portable driver updater program that you can use even without installing it.
• The driver download speed is quite fast.
• It offers accurate results by using the machine learning technology.

Like all the other best free driver update software, DriverPack Solution also has its fair share of strengths and shortcomings. Let’s discuss them below

• Huge driver database
• Works without internet
• Compatible with Windows XP
• Portable program

• GBs of internet data required to download the full version
• No additional features
• Complex UI
• Fails to detect and repair driver issues

DriverPack Solution Price:

All the versions of this amazing driver updater are completely free.

Why You Should Pick DriverPack Solution

DriverPack Solution is a free program to get the latest drivers on Windows PC. It works offline as well. Users having any such requirement should pick it to download and install drivers on their PC

13. Driver Talent

Best for scanning, updating, and installing hardware drivers for free on Windows PCs

Compatibility : Windows 10, 8, 7, Vista, XP, & Windows Server

Installer Size : 23.5 MB

It is impossible to ignore this name while making a list of the most talented driver update software in 2021. The software justifies its name by possessing several extraordinary talents. It even allows you to download the driver upgrades in advance. Driver Talent offers a plethora of such benefits. Let’s give a shoutout to some of its salient features.

Features of Driver Talent :

• It scans and fixes all the drivers of your PC devices for free.
• You can transport the hardware list of your PC. It is a pretty rare feature and hence makes it the best free driver update software for Windows 10.
• Driver Talent even lets you pre-download the driver updates.
• You can also use the program to reinstall and uninstall the device drivers on your PC.
• It helps in creating a driver backup and then in restoring them as well with ease.

Now, let’s have a deeper look at the upsides & downsides of this one of the top software to update drivers automatically.

• No annoying ads
• Countless driver installs
• Auto driver backup tool
• Allows to download drivers for other PCs
• One-click driver update & install

• Constant pop-ups for paid subscription
• Lacks customizable scan scheduler
• No other features to boost performance
• Fails to download multiple updates at once

Driver Talent Price:

Driver Talent is entirely free to detect and update obsolete and corrupt drivers. To get more, you have to upgrade to the Driver Talent pro version that costs $35.95.

Why You Should Pick Driver Talent

Do you want a driver updater that helps to pre-download driver updates and install all the latest drivers in one click? Driver Talent is one of the best picks for you.

14. DriverMax

Best for keeping the device drivers up to date with ease

Compatibility : Windows 10, 8, 7, Vista, XP, & Windows Server

Installer Size : 5.6 MB

Are you looking for a software that offers maximum support to update your PC drivers? If yes, then you should install DriverMax on your system. Once you install it, you do not have to do anything to perform driver scans, get updates, and make driver backups. The software takes care of all these tasks automatically. Let’s check out the other things that make DriverMax the best software for Windows PCs to download and update drivers.

Features of DriverMax

• The software helps you download updates for many crucial software such as DirectX, Oracle, C++ Runtime, etc.
• You can also automate the driver scans by setting a schedule.
• It helps in creating system & driver restore points.
• DriverMax also lets you roll back to the previous version of a driver.
• It allows you to download multiple driver updates at once.

Like every other tool on this list of the best free driver updating software, DriverMax also has some pros and cons. We share them below.

• Compatibility with older Windows OS versions
• Performs driver check every hour
• Allows to set download priority
• Detects unknown device

• Allows only two downloads per day in the free version
• No customer support for the free version
• Detects fewer driver issues
• No additional features

DriverMax Price

DriverMax has various versions available for different prices ranging from $19.90 per month to $450. There is a free version of the driver updater as well that allows users to get updates for 2 Drivers per day.

Why You Should Pick DriverMax

You should pick DriverMax as it allows you to update programs like DirectX, Oracle, C++ Runtime, etc., along with your PC drivers. It even helps to roll back drivers and automate the driver scanning & updating tasks as well.

15. DriverFix

Best for downloading individual driver updates

Compatibility : Windows 10, 8, & 7

Installer Size : 650 KB

DriverFix is one of the best software that you need to fix driver issues on your Windows 10, 8, & 7 PCs. It provides you updates for a selected driver in a click. You also get several other driver solutions in DriverFix, including driver backup & restoration, scan schedule, etc. Let’s check out all of them.

Features of DriverFix :

• The driver database of DriverFix is pretty immense and consists of over 18 million driver files.
• It offers a descriptive scanning result and gives all the details of outdated & updated drivers.
• DriverFix is among the best driver updating programs to create and save driver backups in compressed files.
• You can also manage the driver download and scanning process with its Download and Schedule manager tool.

Here we have the most crucial thing that you must check before making a decision. Here we have the pros and cons of DriverFix.

• Straightforward and user-friendly UI
• Huge database of drivers
• Fast scanning and driver update speed
• Compact installer
• 60-day money-back guarantee

• No additional features
• Incompatible with older Windows versions
• No driver scan and update for free
• No free trial

DriverFix Price

There are three pricing plans available for DriverFix. You can get it for $19.95 to update drivers on 1 PC for a year. If you want to fix driver issues on more than 1 PC, then there are licenses available for that as well. You have to pay $29.95 and $39.95 to update system drivers on up to 3 and 10 PCs, respectively. However, one can download DriverFix for free.

Why You Should Pick DriverFix

One of the prominent reasons for picking DriverFix is its immense driver database. The program has got more than 18 Million drivers in its database. Along with this, the interface is also quite modern and simple to use.

16. Device Doctor

Best Windows driver update software for upgrading unidentified devices on Windows PC for free

Compatibility : Windows 10, 8.1, 8, 7, Vista, & XP

Installer Size : 6.1 MB

Whenever we get sick, we go to the doctor to restore our health. Similarly, Device Doctor software helps in keeping a Windows PC healthy. However, you do not have to pay a fee to this doctor. It is a completely free driver updater software for Windows 10, 8, & 7. Hence, it help the users to fix the driver issues without charging a penny. Now, let’s understand the reasons to consider Device Doctor among the best programs to update PC drivers.

Features of Device Doctor :

• The utility caches the drivers to download the driver updates faster.
• Driver database of Device Doctor is pretty immense, with over 13 Million drivers.
• All the drivers provided by this driver updater program is human reviewed and reliable.
• It also helps in updating drivers for unidentified and unknown devices on the Device Manager.
• You can create a system restore point and backup for your drivers as well.

Now, we should do a critical analysis of Device Doctor to decide whether it is the best free driver updating tool or not. For this, here we have the pros and cons of the program.

• Updates for WHQL certified & non-certified drivers
• Allows to restore and delete driver backups
• Tool to uninstall software and clean registry
• Windows startup booster
• System cleaner & performance monitoring option
• Works being offline as well

• Non-descriptive scanning results
• Lacks tool back up and restore drivers in free version
• Almost all the additional features are paid
• Less driver detection

Device Doctor Price :

The software is free to scan driver issues and get updates. However, if you are looking for some additional tools, then you have to pay $29.95.

Why You Should Pick Device Doctor

You should pick Device Doctor if you do not want to install & pay for multiple system optimizing apps. It resolves all the issues related to the performance or drivers of your Windows PC for free.

Comparison Of The Best Driver Updaters in 2021

Above, we have looked at the complete in-depth review of the best free & paid driver updaters available in the marketplace. Now, let’s compare them side by side so that picking up a tool becomes easier.

Product	Installer Size	Best For	Database	Free Version	Pro Version (Price Per Year)	Rating
Bit Driver Updater	7.4 MB	Updating drivers & tweaking every bit of PC performance automatically	3,000,000+	Available	$39.96	4.9/5
Quick Driver Updater	5.6 MB	Quick driver scans and updates	2,000,000+	Available	$39.96	4.9/5
Driver Booster	25.2 MB	Boosting performance and updating PC drivers	3,500,000+	Available	$74.85	4.5/5
Ashampoo Driver Updater	11.3 MB	Washing away the outdated drivers	400,000+	Available	$29.99	4.2/5
Driver Easy	5.0 MB	Upgrading PC drivers easily	8,000,000+	Not Available	$59.90	4.4/5
DriverSupport	250 KB	Updating and repairing drivers on your computer	500,000+	Available	$9.99/Month	4.2/5
Snappy Driver Installer	5.1 MB|20.9 GB	Repairing driver issues on Windows for free	14.6 GB	Available	Free	4.5/5
Avast Driver Updater	1.04 MB	Getting authentic driver updates on Windows PC	5,000,000+	Available	$39.99	4.4/5
AVG Driver Updater	1.16 MB	Repairing Windows drivers with certified and	5,000,000+	Available	$39.99	4.4/5
Driver Genius	24.2 MB	Fixing the overall performance issues along with updating Windows drivers	1,500,000+	Available	$29.99|$39.99	4.6/5
TweakBit Driver Updater	7.7 MB	Updating PC drivers & tweaking the overall computer performance	200,000+	Available	$59.95	4.3/5
DriverPack Solution	6.88 MB | 641 MB | 24 GB	Completely free Windows driver update	1,000,000+	Available	Free	4.5/5
Driver Talent	23.5 MB	Scanning, updating, and installing hardware drivers for free on Windows PCs	500,000+	Available	$35.95	4.2/5
DriverMax	5.6 MB	Keeping the device drivers up to date with ease	2,300,000+	Available	$57.75	4.5/5
DriverFix	650 KB	Downloading individual driver updates	18,000,000+	Not Availabl	$19.95 | $29.95 | $39.95	4.5/5
Device Doctor	6.1 MB	Upgrading unidentified devices on Windows PC for free	13,000,000+	Available	$29.95	4.7/5

Resolving The Queries About Driver Updater Programs For Windows 10

Some of you might not be familiar with driver updating programs. Or you may have some queries about them. Do not worry, here you can find the answer to all your questions.

What are Windows drivers, and what does a driver update do?

Device drivers are a piece of software that helps hardware and the operating system of your PC to communicate properly and ensure the completion of all the tasks. Without a compatible and up to date Windows driver, your PC fails to carry out your commands and displays errors such as Blue Screen of Death. To fix it, you need a driver update. Now, you might be thinking, what does a driver update do. Here we have multiple answers to your query.

• A correct driver update enhances the PC’s performance. It adds years to the life of an old computer.
• Driver update helps in the correct execution of your commands.
• It helps in resolving errors such as the Blue Screen of Death.
• With a suitable driver update, you can make your device compatible with newly launched games & apps that require high graphics.
• They help you get rid of glitches you experience while playing HD videos and games.
• It also resolves the issues related to printers and other hardware components.
• You can elevate the performance speed of your PC with the help of a driver update.
• Sometimes, it also helps in clearing space on your system.
• Driver Updates prevent system errors and frequent crashes.

How often should you update drivers?

It is a pretty subjective question. As the answer for how often one should update drivers depends on several factors. First of all, understand that you do not have to fix the thing that is not broken. Hence, if your PC is running smoothly and you are not facing any problems, then do not think of updating a driver.

However, if you have recently done any of the things below, then you should try updating your PC drivers.

• Updated the operating system
• Installed a new hardware
• Facing BSOD issues
• Installed or updated a new game or software
• Commands not getting completed
• Or facing some errors and glitches

Update the drivers regularly if you constantly update the operating system and other installed programs.

Do I update the driver manually?

It is your choice whether you want to update the driver manually or automatically. However, we suggest updating Windows drivers automatically.

But if you still wish to update your hardware drivers manually, then there are multiple ways to do so. You can directly download the driver from the device manufacturer’s website and install it on your PC. Or, you can choose to update drivers via Windows Device Manager or Windows Update.

How to update the driver automatically?

To update PC drivers automatically, you require some competent and best driver update software like Bit Driver Updater. It saves both time and effort of PC users. Here is how to update the driver automatically via Bit Driver Updater.

• Download the driver update software for free by clicking the below button .
  
• Then, use the Bit Driver Updater installer file to install the program . You only have to run it and follow the directions given on the screen .
• After that, launch it and start scanning for outdated and faulty drivers. Just click on Scan Drivers .
• Now, wait till you get the list of driver issues.
• Update the PC driver you want by clicking Update Now . Or scroll down and click Update all to get all the Windows drivers updated.

Which is the Best driver updater?

Every tool to update drivers listed here is among the best programs to update drivers. Still, some cons have crept in each one of them. As you can see, the only driver update utility free from downsides is Bit Driver Updater . Thus, in our view, it is the best driver updater for Windows 10, 8, & 7.

Apart from this, another driver updater that you may consider is Quick Driver Updater.

Is it safe to use a driver updater?

The answer depends upon the driver update utility you are using. Not all the driver updaters are unsafe, and not all are safe. As a matter of precaution, you should always use the best program to update drivers. Programs like Bit Driver Updater download the update from authentic sources and prevent your data from being theft, leaked, or misused. Certified drivers and data protection ensures prevention from malware, ransomware, spyware, and other virus attacks.

In short, we can say that:

• Use only the best software to update your device drivers.
• Don’t use free or paid driver updaters that download drivers from untrusted sources.

What are the qualities of the best driver updater software?

To be called the best, a driver updater must have certain qualities. Knowing about them helps you make a well informed and correct decision. Thus, we enlist them below.

• Driver backup creation and restoration: It can create driver backups and restore them if anything goes wrong.
• Enormous driver database: The program hosts a huge driver database so that you can update all the outdated, missing, and corrupt drivers on your PC without any hassles.
• Scans the entire PC to identify all the worn-out drivers: Not all driver update utilities can detect all the outdated drivers. Thus, the best driver updater is one that scans every nook and corner of the PC to finds all the out of date drivers in a snap of fingers.
• Allows driver exclusion: A good driver updater has an exclusion list feature to help you do that.
• Easy to use interface: The top driver updater comes with an interface that is clean, straightforward, and user-friendly so that even inexperienced users can use it with ease.
• Automatic driver scan in the background: It is one of the best free driver updaters if it can automatically scan the PC in the background without occupying your workspace.
• Availability of scan scheduling: The best utility to update drivers lets you schedule the driver scans as per your desire and requirements.
• Fixes drivers in a single click: With the best driver update tool for Microsoft Windows, you can fix the driver problems and update them with just a left-click.
• Supports multiple languages: If it comes with support for multiple languages ranging from English to German, then it is one of the top driver updating utilities.
• High compatibility with Windows version: The best driver updating tool is highly compatible with all the latest versions of the operating system.

Now, it’s time to wind-up this descriptive post on the prominent driver update programs for Windows PCs.

Update Drivers Automatically with the Best Driver Updater Software

Now you all have the list of the best and completely free driver updater software and answers to the frequently asked questions. So, it’s time to download any one of these driver installer tools and update drivers for free.

What are you waiting for? Get the best Windows driver updater tool like Bit Driver Updater and boost your PC’s performance instantly. And, for more such useful information and tech updates, subscribe to Innovana Blogs. Also, bookmark the blog so that you never miss any of our posts.