The 10 best driver updater software for IT departments in 2024

One of IT management’s fundamental responsibilities is keeping drivers current. Outdated drivers pose multiple risks: increased security vulnerabilities, destabilized systems, and reduced hardware performance, to name a few. When drivers aren’t up-to-date, a system’s entire reliability is compromised. 

That said, it’s essential to update drivers regularly. Although updating drivers manually is a time-consuming and complex task, a better alternative exists. Driver updater software automatically identifying and installing the latest drivers, drastically reducing the risk of errors and saving time.

To help you make the best choice for your IT department, this article will explore the top 10 driver updater software on the market. You’ll gain comprehensive insight into each option, as well as background information on the fundamentals of driver updater software and the importance of investing in a solution. Let’s begin!

What is driver updater software?

Driver updater software scans computers for outdated, missing, or corrupt hardware drivers and then updates them to the latest versions. Key features of driver update software include:

• Automated scanning 
• Automatic update deployment
• Backup and restore
• Various security measures

Driver updater software’s functions vary widely. Some are offered as part of a more comprehensive patch management software, while others act as standalone solutions.

Types of driver updater software

Because a wide range of driver updater software exists, it’s essential to educate yourself on the options available and the differences between them. Let’s examine each one in detail.

1. Standalone driver updaters

Standalone driver updaters are dedicated applications that manage and update the drivers on your computer’s hardware. These tools focus solely on identifying outdated, missing, or corrupt drivers and then downloading and installing the latest versions.

Standalone driver updaters work best for users conducting small-scale driver updates for a single PC. IT professionals with extensive IT environments are likely to find this option is insufficient for their needs.

2. OEM-specific driver updaters

OEM-specific driver updaters are designed by the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) for use with their hardware only. For example, NVIDIA GeForce Experience is tailored for NVIDIA graphics cards. 

These updaters ensure that the drivers for a particular brand’s devices are always up-to-date and optimized for performance and compatibility.

3. Patch management software

Patch management software works by automatically updating software applications and operating systems. These tools consistently deploy the latest hardware driver updates. For example, Atera’s patch management software automatically performs hardware driver updates and other patches.

IT professionals and managed service providers (MSPs) who regularly deploy patches that involve advanced capabilities will benefit the most from patch management tools. For folks who only need to update a single computer, patch management software is most likely an excessive investment.

4. Unified IT management software

Unified IT management software allows organizations to manage their entire IT infrastructure through a single platform. Users can access a variety of important IT management functions: patch management, remote access, RMM, PSA, and more. The patch management capability often includes driver updaters, as is the case for Atera.

Unified solutions are a great option for IT departments and MSPs who need advanced automation, security, and centralized control over their systems.

Why you should invest in driver updater software

Driver updater software offers several benefits to users. Here are the main ones to keep in mind as you explore solutions.

1. Strengthened cybersecurity

Microsoft reports that 68% of organizations lack effective patch management processes. Those who patch manually instead of investing in automated solutions experience critical vulnerabilities. That said, a good driver updater software automatically identifies and installs the latest driver updates, ensuring that all hardware components have the latest security patches. This prevents malicious actors from gaining unauthorized access to systems.

2. Enhanced system stability

Outdated or incompatible drivers can cause system crashes, freezes, and other stability issues. Driver updater software helps ensure a system is up-to-date, which in turn contributes to a smooth and reliable computing environment.

3. Regulatory compliance

Regulatory compliance requirements vary across industries. However, one requirement remains consistent throughout: That all systems and software are up-to-date and secure. Relying on manual processes to manage driver updates increases the likelihood of errors and inconsistencies. This can result in malfunctions, penalties, and other undesirable outcomes.

The best driver updater software minimizes these risks by systematically scanning for outdated drivers and promptly updating them.

4. Simplified IT management

Manually updating drivers requires substantial company resources. The process requires skilled technicians with a lot of time to dedicate to the task, which can add up financially. 

The best driver updater software eliminates these costs by automatically scanning the system for outdated drivers, downloading the latest versions, and installing them. This streamlined process not only saves time; it also reduces the likelihood of errors associated with manual updates.

As a bonus, many driver updater tools (such as Atera’s) provide reporting tools that help IT teams track the status of driver updates across the company.

5. Extended hardware lifespan

Proactively maintaining drivers helps to extend the lifespan of devices. This longevity results in a better return on investment and delays the need for costly hardware replacements.

The 10 best driver updater software for IT departments in 2024

Now that you’re well informed on the fundamentals of driver updater software, it’s time to explore the 10 best options on the market today. You’ll notice that each listed software has different features, with some being more comprehensive than others. To help you make an informed decision, we will compare their key features and pricing.

1. Atera

Atera offers an all-in-one IT management platform that empowers IT departments and MSPs to manage, monitor, and secure their IT environments. Automated patch management tool from Atera updates hardware drivers and deploy other patches. The platform also features automation profiles that allow users to schedule automatic updates. 

Atera’s other key features include RMM, PSA, remote access, helpdesk and ticketing, and reporting and analytics. MSPs can also manage client contracts and billing within Atera.

In addition to its robust capabilities, Atera offers the industry’s first and only IT management solution to power its platform with ActionAI™ through Atera Copilot. Scripting, handling helpdesk tickets, and creating knowledge base articles are a few of the standout features of this singular tool. 

Features and capabilities

Atera’s patch management tool enables users to patch security vulnerabilities, eliminate bugs, and improve performance by ensuring that software is up to date. Central to all of these capabilities are hardware drivers that are also up to date.

Atera’s dashboard allows users to easily set up an automation profile that automates the patching and updating process.

When editing the automation profile, users can select (and exclude) the patches and level of automation they want to use.

Atera’s IT automation profile

MSPs can just as easily set automation profiles for their client profiles. This function reduces the amount of time spent manually updating hardware drivers.
While a few IT management solutions have similar patch management capabilities, Atera’s AI-powered capabilities make it unique among its competitors. For example, Atera’s AI-powered script generator can automatically write scripts based on user input. Issues such as slow device performance or concurrent application crashes can be resolved by giving the generator information about the problem and then applying the script it creates.

Atera’s AI script generator

Atera’s AI capabilities enhance IT technician efficiency and reduce mundane or repetitive tasks. The benefits are numerous, including faster SLAs and more precise accuracy.

User interface and usability

Atera was designed from the ground up with user-friendliness and ease of use in mind. Atera’s customers recognize and celebrate these abilities: the platform won a G2 award for its ease of use and implementation. 

For reference, here is what Atera’s modern admin dashboard looks like:

Atera’s admin dashboard

Most IT management tasks, such as updating hardware drivers, can be performed from the left sidebar. The different capabilities—including patch management, remote access, and IT ticketing—are separated into different interfaces. The platform’s intuitive interface makes navigating between capabilities an effortless endeavor.

If users encounter any issues with the platform, they can access 24/7 live chat and email support. Atera also has an active IT community where IT professionals can troubleshoot problems and discuss IT best practices.

Pricing and value for money

Atera’s all-in-one IT management platform offers transparent pay-per-technician pricing for IT departments and MSPs. While enterprise customers can request a custom quote, the standard pricing plans for IT departments range between $149 to $199 per month. MSP pricing plans range from $129 to $209 per month.

Atera’s pay-per-technician pricing system is considered an advantage by most users because it allows them to update drivers for an unlimited number of endpoints. Most IT management solutions use pay-per-endpoint pricing, which can add up quickly.

Atera G2 rating: 4.6 out of 5.0 stars (500+ reviews)

What Atera users are saying on G2:

One G2 user recommends Atera for SMBs and MSPs who need an all-in-one solution for IT management. It automates patching and tasks such as ticketing, remote access, and remote monitoring. Atera is easy to use and integrates seamlessly with different third-party tools. Its real-time monitoring prevents outages, and its reporting tools provide insights to help make better decisions.

Atera Capterra rating: 4.6 out of 5.0 stars (300+ reviews)

What Atera users are saying on Capterra:

A Capterra user mentions that Atera is perfect for remote administration of various OS and IT systems. The reviewer’s team is fully remote, and Atera helps them keep an overview of all running systems and clients. Atera integrates well with many third party solutions, such as cyber security and backup, and offers steep discounts for these services. If there are any problems, Atera’s 24/7 customer support is there to help.

Atera pricing:

Atera’s pricing plans for IT departments:

• Professional: $149 per month, per technician
• Expert: $169 per month, per technician
• Master: $199 per month, per technician
• Enterprise: Custom quotation. Contact sales for pricing.

Atera’s pricing plans for MSPs:

• Pro: $129 per month, per technician
• Growth: $179 per month, per technician
• Power: $209 per month, per technician
• Superpower (Enterprise): Custom quotation. Contact sales for pricing.

Get started with Atera on a 30-day free trial, no credit card required.

2. Microsoft Intune

Microsoft Intune is an endpoint management solution for managing and securing Windows, Android, macOS, and Linux operating systems. Microsoft Intune’s Windows Driver Update Management enables users to review, approve, and pause driver updates for Windows 10 and Windows 11 devices.

With Microsoft Intune, IT staff can configure policies for controlling updates, including driver updates. Microsoft Intune offers other important features for endpoint management, such as built-in endpoint security, mobile application management, analytics, and reporting.

G2 rating: 4.5 out of 5.0 stars (200+ reviews)

Capterra rating: 4.6 out of 5.0 stars (30+ reviews)

Microsoft Intune pricing:

• Microsoft Intune Suite plan: Starting at $10 per month, per technician

3. SolarWinds Patch Manager

Similarly to Microsoft Intune, SolarWinds Patch Manager can do more than update hardware drivers. It provides an overview of managed devices within a network that qualify for automatic patching. Its inventory management capabilities provide information about device drivers, files, directories, and more.

SolarWinds offers automatically generated reports to demonstrate industry compliance. It’s a solid option for a basic patch management solution; however, it lacks the more advanced capabilities found in comprehensive IT management options.

G2 rating: 4.0 out of 5.0 stars (50+ reviews)

Capterra rating: 4.3 out of 5.0 stars (10+ reviews)

SolarWinds Patch Manager pricing:

• Custom pricing: Pricing starts at €1851 for a software license. To get an accurate estimate, contact the SolarWinds sales team.

4. Avira Software Updater

Avira Software Updater keeps computers up-to-date with the latest software and drivers. It offers a free plan and a pro plan. The latter option includes automatic updates of software, apps, and drivers, as well as automatic patches for known vulnerabilities. It can automatically identify and notify users of outdated programs.

Avira Software Updater’s free version is highly limited and lacks automation capabilities. It’s best suited for users with a single computer and minimal needs. IT departments that manage entire IT environments will need to subscribe to the pro plan.

G2 rating: N/A

Capterra rating: N/A

Avira Software Updater pricing:

• Free plan: Free to use for manually updating hardware drivers
• Pro plan: 24,95 € per year for enhanced driver updater functionality

5. AVG Driver Updater

AVG Driver Updater is a popular option that supports simple driver updates. Its capabilities compare well to Avira’s: The tool scans your entire computer for outdated, missing, and corrupt drivers, then automatically installs and updates them.

Users can also quickly restore previous versions if they perform better than the latest update. While AVG Driver Updater is suitable for small-scale driver updates, it’s not ideal for IT departments requiring an integrated solution. Users in that category will want to consider more comprehensive solutions like Atera’s.

G2 rating: N/A

Capterra rating:  N/A

AVG Driver Updater pricing:

• Updating drivers for 1 PC is $43.99 per year

6. DriverMax

DriverMax is a driver management tool built to manage and update drivers on Windows PC while ensuring that all hardware components are working properly. It helps users to find driver updates for 32-bit and 64-bit versions of Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8.1, Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, and Windows XP.

DriverMax is free, and one of the best no-cost device driver update software options—users can update two drivers a day without paying. Those managing a single Windows PC may appreciate this option. However, a more comprehensive driver updater software solution is required for those with more robust needs.

G2 rating: N/A

Capterra rating: N/A

DriverMax pricing:

• Free plan: Free to use for up to two driver downloads per day
• Pro plan: Starting from $8.95 per month for unlimited driver downloads

7. NinjaOne

NinjaOne is an endpoint management solution that offers capabilities for updating system drivers and other software. This solution offers more than just driver updates; it hosts a variety of other features including real-time monitoring and alerting, patch management, remote access, and IT ticketing. 

NinjaOne is a strong choice for a comprehensive IT management solution. Drawbacks do exist, however—the main one being the pricing. NinjaOne uses pay-per-endpoint pricing, meaning the price increases with each endpoint added to the platform. This system can make scaling quite expensive.

G2 rating: 4.8 out of 5.0 (1,000+ reviews)

Capterra rating: 4.8 out of 5.0 (200+ reviews)

NinjaOne pricing:

• Pricing is based on custom quotation. To learn more, visit their website.

8. ManageEngine Patch Manager Plus

Patch Manager Plus is one of ManageEngine’s products. It offers patching capabilities for over 850 third-party applications, driver updates, and antivirus definitions. It also automates the entire process, from scanning and deploying patches and updates to generating status reports.

Patch Manager Plus’ functionality can be integrated with other ManageEngine products—such as Endpoint Central—for more comprehensive endpoint management capabilities. The downside of this option is the increase in cost. An all-in-one solution such as Atera might prove more cost-effective. 

G2 rating: 4.4 out of 5.0 stars (150+ reviews)

Capterra rating: 4.6 out of 5.0 stars (300+ reviews)

ManageEngine Patch Manager Plus pricing:

• Free plan: Suitable for small-scale patch management
• Professional and Enterprise plans: Custom pricing is available; contact ManageEngine’s sales team to find out more.

9. Ivanti Endpoint Manager

Ivanti Endpoint Manager offers comprehensive IT management capabilities such as patch management, endpoint security, mobile device management, reporting, and analytics, as well as driver updater tools for Windows PCs. With Ivanti, users can create an automation profile to update drivers and deploy patches automatically.

Similarly to other comprehensive IT management solutions, Ivanti Endpoint Manager does more than update drivers. Users with limited needs may find its capabilities are excessive for their purposes. However, it may suit users seeking a broader IT management solution.

G2 rating: 4.2 out of 5.0 stars (130+ reviews)

Capterra rating: 3.0 out of 5.0 stars (1 review)

Ivanti Endpoint Manager pricing:

• Custom pricing. The contact form is available on Ivanti’s website for more details.

10. Ashampoo Driver Updater⁠

Ashampoo Driver Updater is a driver management solution that scans, updates, and maintains the drivers on Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8, and Windows 7 operating systems. It detects outdated, missing, or corrupted drivers and automatically updates them.

Ashampoo Driver Updater can be used for up to 3 devices. If users need to update drivers for more devices, they will need to buy multiple licenses or invest in a more comprehensive driver updater software.

G2 rating: N/A

Capterra rating: N/A

Ashampoo Driver Updater⁠ pricing:

• Paid plans from $19.80 per year for up to 3 devices

All-in-one IT management with Atera

Atera offers numerous capabilities beyond updating drivers. As an all-in-one IT management solution, the platform’s features include patch management, RMM, PSA, remote access, reporting, and analytics. Its various third-party integrations also extend Atera’s functionality.

Its robustness makes Atera an ideal solution for IT departments and MSPs seeking a comprehensive IT management solution. Users can say goodbye to juggling multiple software solutions for their IT management needs. Atera brings all the necessary tools onto a single platform. Powered by ActionAI™, the platform increases technician efficiency by tenfold and reduces costs.
Want to learn more? Get in touch with our team to discuss your specific requirements and see how Atera can assist.