Driver Genius vs PC HelpSoft Driver Updater
Driver Genius
driver-soft.com
PC HelpSoft Driver Updater
pchelpsoft.comSide by side
| Figure | Driver Genius | PC HelpSoft Driver Updater |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | $3/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | — |
| Free trial | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | — | — |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| Plans published | 6 | 4 |
| Spec score · Driver updaters | 9.0 (#1) | 8.3 (#13) |
| Spec score · PC optimisers | 9.0 (#7) | 8.3 (#29) |
| Spec score · Driver Updater Software | 8.7 (#2) | 7.9 (#13) |
| Spec score · PC Optimization Software | 8.8 (#8) | 8.4 (#19) |
| Spec score · Game Driver Updaters | 8.7 (#2) | 8.0 (#14) |
| Backup and restore | The software can back up existing drivers, restore them after system failure and create standalone driver installers. | It can back up installed drivers to a compressed ZIP file for export and later reinstallation. |
| Founded | 2002 | 1984 |
| Purpose | Driver Genius scans a computer for outdated or missing drivers and provides driver updates for hardware such as sound, graphics, network and mainboard devices. | The software finds and installs drivers for Windows PCs and laptops. |
| Windows support | The current product page lists Windows Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, 10 and 11 in 32-bit and 64-bit editions. | windows 10 and 11 |
Plans
Driver Genius
- Free EditionFree
- Pro EditionPrice not published
- Platinum EditionPrice not published
- Driver Genius Free EditionFree
- Driver Genius Pro Edition$26.95 a year
- Driver Genius Platinum Edition$32.95 a year
PC HelpSoft Driver Updater
- Full version$3 a month
- Lifetime certificatePrice not published
- Lifetime certificatePriced on request
- Driver Updater full version$3 a month
In their own words
Driver Genius
Driver Genius scans Windows computers for missing or outdated drivers and provides updates for sound, graphics, network, and mainboard hardware. It can back up drivers, restore them after system failure, and create standalone driver installers. Maintenance tools include driver rollback, cleanup of invalid driver packages, and removal of invalid device data. Offline Driver Update can install missing drivers and help restore network connectivity when a computer cannot connect to the Internet. Hardware Info reports device details and status, with real-time temperature and voltage monitoring. Other included tools are System Cleanup, System Transfer Assistant, SSD Speeder, and System Booster. The current product page lists support for 32-bit and 64-bit editions of Windows Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, 10, and 11. The Free Edition is priced at free and lists driver backup, restore, offline updates, hardware information, and temperature monitoring; outdated-driver updates are listed for five days. Pro and Platinum are listed for three PCs, but their prices are not provided. Driver Genius offers a free plan and a free trial, and its purchase page advertises a 60 Day Money Back Guarantee.
PC HelpSoft Driver Updater
PC HelpSoft Driver Updater finds and installs drivers for Windows PCs and laptops, supporting Windows 10 and 11. Smart Update compares installed drivers with packages for computer components and peripherals, while scans look for missing, corrupt, or outdated drivers. Supported hardware includes printers, scanners, audio devices, cameras, Bluetooth equipment, and keyboards. The product page says its database contains over 1 million continuously updated drivers. Installed drivers can be backed up to a compressed ZIP file for export and later reinstallation. Scans can run weekly or monthly, and restore-point tools can return the system to an earlier point after driver problems. Junk cleanup, a startup manager, and scheduled maintenance are included. The free version scans and finds updates online. The Full version costs $3 a month, billed monthly, with automatic updates and one year of technical support.