Driver Booster Free vs Pro: Which Edition Do You Need?

Driver Booster comes in two editions: a free version anyone can install and a paid PRO version. Both use the same installer, and PRO is unlocked with a licence. The question most people have is simple: is the free edition enough, or is PRO worth paying for?

What Driver Booster Free does

The free edition covers the essential job of a driver updater:

• Scanning your PC for outdated, missing and faulty drivers.
• Downloading and installing updates for supported drivers.
• Creating a system restore point before updating.
• Backing up and restoring drivers manually.

For a typical home PC that you check once a month, that is often all you need.

What Driver Booster PRO adds

According to IObit's published descriptions of recent releases, PRO adds conveniences on top of the free feature set:

• A larger driver database, which can matter for less common hardware.
• Priority access and faster downloads for driver updates.
• Automatic driver backup before updates.
• Offline driver updating, useful when a PC has no working network driver.
• More automation, so updates need less manual attention.

Side-by-side comparison

Edition features can change between releases, so confirm the details on IObit's comparison page before buying.

Who should stick with Free

• You check for driver updates occasionally and do not mind clicking Update yourself.
• Your hardware is mainstream: common graphics, audio and network chips.
• You are comfortable creating restore points and backups manually.

Who might benefit from PRO

• You manage several family PCs and want updates to need less hands-on time.
• You regularly reinstall Windows and want offline network driver installs.
• You have older or unusual hardware where a larger database may find more drivers.

A word about "free Pro keys"

Search for "Driver Booster Pro" and you will find pages promising free licence keys or cracked, pre-activated copies. These are risky. Shared keys get blocked, and cracked installers can contain malware that runs with administrator rights. Read more in our guide on whether Driver Booster is safe. IObit sometimes runs legitimate promotions on its own site; that is the only place to get a licence.

Verdict

Start with Driver Booster Free. Use it for a month or two. If you find yourself wishing it ran automatically or worked without an internet connection, that is the point where PRO makes sense. You can download the installer here, and see the full feature list on our homepage comparison.