Driver Genius vs PC Matic
Driver Genius
driver-soft.com
PC Matic
pcmatic.comSide by side
| Figure | Driver Genius | PC Matic |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | $2.50/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | — |
| Free trial | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | — | Yes |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | — | Yes |
| Linux | — | Yes |
| iOS | — | Yes |
| Android | — | Yes |
| API | — | Yes |
| Plans published | 6 | 16 |
| Spec score · PC optimisers | 9.0 (#7) | 8.8 (#9) |
| Spec score · PC Optimization Software | 8.8 (#8) | 8.5 (#15) |
| Device limit | 3 | 5 |
| Documentation | The online guide covers product features, installation, system requirements, usage, options and command-line operations. | PC Matic publishes a consumer knowledgebase, Windows release notes, installation guides and a separate MSP/Pro documentation site. |
| Founded | 2002 | 1999 |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Licence | The EULA licenses the proprietary software, prohibits reverse engineering and limits installation to the number of licensed computers. | The EULA grants a limited personal-use licence, prohibits redistribution, modification and reverse engineering, and says PC Matic and its intellectual property remain proprietary. |
| Support | Support is provided by an email form advertised as available 24/7, with priority for registered purchasers. | Home support channels include email, phone, chat and remote assistance depending on subscription tier; the company states US-based support is available seven days a week. |
| What it does | Driver Genius scans Windows hardware for missing or outdated drivers and installs updates. | PC Matic combines endpoint security, application allowlisting, malware prevention, patching, performance optimization and remote management. |
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 Matic
- Antivirus$60 a year
- Antivirus + VPN$110 a year
- Antivirus + VPN + Family Identity Protection$210 a year
- PC Matic Privacy$30 a year
- PC Matic Privacy$30 a year
- Antivirus$50 a year
- Antivirus$50 a year
- PC Matic PRO Basic$50 a year
- PC Matic Delist$60 a year
- PC Matic Delist$60 a year
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Driver Genius scans Windows computers for missing or outdated drivers and provides updates for sound, graphics, network, and mainboard hardware.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 Matic
PC Matic provides antivirus and endpoint security for home and business users on Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS. Its SuperShield protection uses real-time application allowlisting and a default-deny approach that blocks unknown applications. PC Matic says this can stop ransomware before execution; it also describes using heuristics to block malicious scripts that call tools such as PowerShell. On Windows PCs, scans can run maintenance including software and driver updates, junk-file removal, and fixes for software vulnerabilities. Consumer plans list malicious ad and scam blocking and dark web monitoring; the family identity plan adds identity theft insurance and stolen funds reimbursement, each up to $1M. PC Matic Pro applies default-deny allowlisting to applications, scripts, and processes, and can sit alongside other endpoint security solutions. The consumer page lists a free plan and free trial. Paid annual options include Antivirus at $60 a year, Antivirus + VPN at $110 a year, and Antivirus + VPN + Family Identity Protection at $210 a year.