Authors List of Shareware Sites

Shareware Authors List of Distribution Sites

Last updated Sunday, June 25, 2000

I have initially done this page, primarily, as an online list and resource for myself, to keep track of the Shareware Indexes, Upload Sites and FTP Sites that I use to distribute to. However, I have had a long break from shareware, so some of these will be out of date. I will endeavour to update the list when I get some time.

**For an explanation of the Columns, see below.**
Name	Link	TY	PUSH	PULL	FTP	CNT	LNK	DEL	Comments
GangGang Australian Shareware	CLICK	I						V	For Australian Shareware Authors only. An excellent site, nice looking and well designed. Also maintains a list server for shareware authors.
100 Shareware Links	CLICK	I						I	A really nifty site that adds your link to the top of the list immediately. Not long after adding this link I noticed a dramatic upturn of hits to my site for a day or so.
The SAX	CLICK	I						I	A good site that also allows you to generate announcements concerning your shareware to their list of subscribers and vendors.
The Shareware Directory	CLICK	I						L
Pass the Shareware	CLICK	I						L	There is no form to fill in at this site. Instead you have to email your details off.
Shareware Author Network (SAN)	CLICK	I						V	They seem to have a number of marketing and distribution resources that you may be interested in. (Eg. A giveaway competition)
WWW.32Bit.COM	CLICK	B						I
Shareware 95	CLICK	I						L
Clays 150 Shareware Links	CLICK	I						I	Another, neat and quick index, except your link goes at the bottom of the list and you work your way up.
Softseek	CLICK	I						V	A nice place to have your software listed. They seem to allow downloaders to add comments to your review page.
Shareware Place	CLICK	I						V
Jumbo Shareware	CLICK	I						V	This site has been much improved for shareware submissions.
Ziff Davis (ZD)	CLICK	A						L	A large site that will carefully review your submission and give it a rating. They allow PULL, BBS & FTP submissions. The PULL is done via either an ActiveX control (MSIE) or a proprietary control (NSNAV).To submit via FTP you MUST include a VENDINFO.DIZ file, which means you will probably have to buy or make some software that generates these files.
The File Mine	CLICK	I						V	A neat site that allows the clients to add shareware to a shopping basket, so they can download their selections at the end. The submission form is a little hard to find - Look at the bottom of the FAQ page for a link to it.
The Shareware Stockpile	CLICK	I						V	Submission by email. However, if you give them your site address, they will do all the hard work and index all the shareware at your site.
Slaughterhouse	CLICK	I						V	Really Cool Looking site. Seems quite popular with shareware users.
Jonathans Sharesource	CLICK	I						V	Email submission if you use MSIE
Windows95.com	CLICK	I						L	This site was listed in the top 100 sites by 100 Hot Websites
The Shareware Paper	CLICK	I						V	They will do a reveiw of your shareware.
Oh Yeah Shareware	CLICK	I						V
Strouds Winsock Apps	CLICK	I						V	Full reveiw done. Basic email form submission through web page. Very hard to find the submission details here, I have done the link straight to the submit form.
Allens Shareware	CLICK	I						V	Email Submission.
Winsite	CLICK	A						L	A large upload site with just a simple description of your file, however, I beleive it is quite popular with downloaders. If you don't have NSNAV then you will need to go to thier FTP site and upload it the old fashioned way.
32 Bit Download Center	CLICK	A						L	A well presented and organised site, obviously specialising in 32 Bit Software. Seems to be a page per app and downloaders can cast votes for apps and submit comments. You need to fill in a form at the web site then ftp the file to them.
The Software Centre	CLICK	I						V	Email submission.The author may require a registered copy of your shareware.
FTP Search	CLICK	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	Not a place to submit to, but an excellent way to track how well your file is being propagated around the internet.
Tucows	CLICK	A						L	A huge and popular site with mirrors worldwide. They rate all software submitted and anything not rated at 3 cows or above will not be listed. Go to the site listed, find a mirror close to you, fill in a submission form and ftp it to them. (Internet related files only are submissable).
Vol FTP	CLICK	A						V	A very popular Italian site, listed in the Top 10 of World Top 1000 Sites. I think you may have to have your description translated to Italian though. You need to email the website for instructions, email a file description then FTP your file.
download.com	CLICK	I						V	A very large and popular site. Part of C\|NET.
Shareware.com	CLICK	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	This is the public front end of C\|NET and one of the most popular sites around for users to find software. You do not directly submit to this site, instead they index your shareware from various ftp sites. There is a very handy list of all the ftp sites they process. Also, try to get your software reviewed in their Shareware Dispatch Newsletter, if you can you will notice a HUGE upturn in downloads.
FileZ File Search	CLICK	I						V	Add your FTP site here for indexing into this FTP search site.
Shareware Junkies	CLICK	I						V	They do a full on review. Seems to be a full page per app. Nice looking site.
Global Download System	CLICK	I						I
Harris' Hanger95	CLICK	I						V	A really nice looking and well organised site. It has won some prestigious awards.
Dave Central	CLICK	I						V	Only Internet related Windows software
PcWin	CLICK	I						V	They will do an independent review of your software if you provide them with a lisenced version. Beware if your app is crap 'cause they don't seem to pull any punches.
SoftSEA	CLICK	I						V
TopSoft	CLICK	I						V	A well organised and responsive site.
Win95 Magazine	CLICK	I						V	Primarily a magazine with a shareware index.
WiNDEX	CLICK	I						V
BOOT IT Software Reviews	CLICK	I						V	Get your software reviewed here.
WindowsNT-Plus.com	CLICK	I						V	They used to have a submission form, good luck finding it.
Xiaomu's List of Windows 95 Internet Applications	CLICK	I						V	Nicely organised site. Pity about the email submissions though.
The SHAREWARE.NETwork	CLICK	I						V	Very nice looking site. Seems to be quite well organised.
The File King	CLICK	I						V
Newapps.com	CLICK	I						V	A Nice looking site. Looks very much like alot of the other large shareware sites. They all seem to use the same designer ? A pity the description text is really short (200 chars).
Beta Junction	CLICK	I						V	Release your Beta versions here for testing.
		TY	PUSH	PULL	FTP	CNT	LNK	DEL

The Columns explained

Link - Web Link
The link to the website Submission Page (Either a form or details about an email submission).

TY - Type of Site
I = Index or List Site only. Does not hold a copy of your file, but creates a link to the file at your site. These sites are extremelly useful, especially if you are in post beta stages of development or expect to make minor chages to your software in the initial distribution phase, and you don't want to have to upload each minor change.
A = An archive site that requires you to either ftp, push or allow the pulling of your file, and stores a local copy on their server.
B = Both. Indexes and lists your shareware as well as maintaining a copy of the file on their system.

PUSH - Supports Pushing of Files
Allows you to push your file to their server from your local hard disk, usually through Netscape Navigator. Although MSIE 4 preveiw 2 supports PUSH, that is if the bugs that crop up in the beta don't crash your system.

PULL - Supports Pulling of Files
Allows the site to pull your file from your web site, an ftp address or your local machine. This is handy when you don't have you file listed at an ftp site at the time and can only have it at your own web site or locally.

FTP - Supports or Requires an upload via FTP
You will either need to have the file uploaded to an FTP site or upload it yourself to their FTP site (Usually the incoming directory).

CNT - Supports a Download Count
The site maintains a running count of how many times your shareware has been downloaded. This can be an excellent means of judging either the popularity of your shareware or the description you have written for it.

LNK - Requires a Corresponding Link
This means that you MUST supply a corresponding link to their site before you can get listed. It is usually best to have the link prepared at your site before you fill in all their forms.

DEL - Delay in Displaying your file
I = Immediate.
V = Variable. The site reviews your software, usually a virus check and possibly a full review.
L = Long Delays of usually a week or more. This is usually because of a large number of uploads to the site and it can take them a while to process your software.

Other Resources for Authors

Shareware Registration Services A summary & comparison list of the various registration services around.