Free Portable USB Software Apps & USB Games

Personally reviewed free USB software, portable applications and games for USB sticks. Here you will find some of the best free portable games, software, utilities, tools and pendrive applications for Windows. These are useful tools and utilities that can both be stored and then run directly from a flash drive, thumb drive, sd card or other removable storage device.

Free portable apps, software, and games for USB Pendrive

Enabling you to bring your favorite office applications, email, web browser, instant messaging, USB games, graphical editors, media player, antivirus, recovery tools, encryption utilities, P2P file sharing utilities and more with you. All carried on one single USB drive.

What is Portable Software?

Portable software, or portable applications are computer programs that can be easily moved and used on different computers without installation. A portable application is defined as a self-contained program designed to run directly from a removable storage device such as a USB flash drive, thumb drive, USB stick, external hard drive, or SD card without needing to be installed on the computer's hard drive.

These types of applications are useful because they allow users to carry their favorite programs and work on any computer without leaving a trace behind. Some portable utilities and tools might also be useful for those who frequently switch computers or lack administrative rights to install applications.

How do Portable Apps work?

In most cases, portable apps work by storing configuration settings and changes to a configuration file (such as an ini file) on the USB drive. This config file can usually be found in the directory where the application is stored. Making it easy to keep your preferences the same when running the software or game between multiple computers.

What Makes Software Portable?

Portable software is designed to operate independently of the host system, offering flexibility and convenience for users. One of the defining features of portable applications is their ability to store all configuration and data files locally within their own folder. This often involves the use of a specific data file, such as portable.dat, or configuration files like ini files, to ensure that any changes to settings or preferences remain self-contained. By storing these files locally, the application avoids interacting with or altering the host computer's system settings or registry.

Another important characteristic of portable apps is that they do not require installation. Unlike traditional software, which typically embeds itself into the host system during installation, portable applications can be run directly from a folder or a removable device such as a USB drive or external hard disk. This makes them highly convenient for users who need to work across multiple devices without administrative privileges.

Portable apps also minimize their interaction with the host system, leaving little to no trace behind after use. They do not create unnecessary registry entries or leave residual files on the computer, which ensures a clean and privacy-conscious experience for the user. This feature makes portable apps particularly appealing for scenarios where users prioritize security or need to maintain a clutter-free system.

Even in cases where software offers no user-configurable preferences, it can still be considered portable if it functions as a standalone application without writing data back to the host system. These apps are fully self-contained, providing the functionality users need without dependency on external settings or modifications. This combination of independence, simplicity, and portability makes portable software a versatile and valuable tool for modern computing needs.

Portable software is defined by its ability to run independently without requiring installation on a host computer. Here are five key characteristics that make an application "portable":

  1. Self Contained Files:
    A portable app can store all necessary files, including configurations and data, within their own folder. This means the application does not rely on external libraries or system settings on the host computer.
  2. Local Configuration Storage:
    Configuration files, like ini or portable.dat, are stored in the application's folder. These files ensure that user settings and preferences remain within the portable app's directory and do not modify the host system's settings or registry.
  3. No Dependency on Installation:
    Unlike standard applications, stand-alone software doesn’t require installation. It can be run directly from a removable device (e.g., USB drive) or any folder without altering the host system.
  4. No Residual Data:
    Portable apps for USB do not leave traces on the host system, such as registry entries or cached files, after they are closed. This makes them ideal for maintaining privacy.
  5. Standalone Functionality:
    Programs that do not allow user-configurable preferences can still be considered portable if they operate independently and do not write to the host PC’s storage or settings.

By following the portable app format and storing data locally in its directory, software ensures that users can take their applications and settings anywhere while leaving the host system unchanged.

About Pendrive Apps USB Software

At pendriveapps.com, you'll find a neatly organized and extensive selection of the best portable apps, USB software, standalone tools, diagnostic utilities, and USB games. These applications are freely available for anyone to run directly from a USB stick. Most of the programs and games featured here are designed for Windows, though plans are in place to review and include portable options for macOS and Linux in the future.

The majority of the software reviewed on this site has been created with portability in mind. These programs are intended to run entirely from external removable devices, such as flash drives, and often allow users to save their changes and personalized settings back to the same device. This makes it easy to carry your favorite apps and preferences wherever you go.

Some portable apps are also available as standalone executables, where everything is self contained in a single file. This eliminates the need to manage multiple folders or files, providing a streamlined and hassle-free experience.

Here are a few popular recently reviewed or updated freeware or open sourced portable applications and free USB games that can be stored and run from a USB stick. You can browse the free portable software sitemap or portable apps menu to view them all.

WinKeyFinder - Find Windows product serial keys

winkeyfinder-view-or-change-windows-product-keys WinkeyFinder is a free tool that can be used to quickly retrieve or find Windows product serial keys. You can use this portable tool to see or view MS Office or Microsoft Windows product key or serial numbers. Moreover, it lets you save, export, encrypt, or change these Windows serial number keys, as well as backup and restore activation on the fly with the click of a button.

Sophos Anti-Rootkit - Removal Tool

Sophos Anti Rootkit Sophos Anti-Rootkit is a portable tool designed to detect and remove rootkits from your computer. Rootkits are sets of tools used by malicious programs to hide their presence, making them extremely difficult to detect through conventional antivirus scans. This utility can be run directly from a USB drive, making it a convenient option for troubleshooting and system maintenance on Windows computers.

Physion: Portable Physics Simulation Software

Physion Portable Physics Simulator Physion is a free, portable 2D physics simulation software that allows users to create and test physics-based experiments in an intuitive, game like manner. Whether you’re a student learning physics, a teacher demonstrating concepts, or just someone who enjoys experimenting with realistic simulations, it provides a fun and interactive way to explore the laws of physics.

The Powder Toy: Physics Simulation Game

powder toy The Powder Toy Physics Simulator Game is a small and fun game created by unaligned.org and currently offered by Geeks3D. Physics and Chemistry students might use it to learn chemistry and physics by performing experiment simulations without the risk of destroying a real lab. It has been said that once you begin to play, you can spend hours on the sim.

Filezilla Portable FTP Client

filezilla-portable Filezilla Portable is a FREE portable stand alone FTP client that can be run directly from a USB flash drive, external hard drive or other portable device without installing anything to the Windows host PC. It is based purely on the popular Filezilla FTP client. Wrapped and packaged as a portable app.

Quick'n Easy FTP Server Lite

quickn easy portable ftp server Quick'N Easy FTP Server Lite is an amazingly small portable FTP server that can easily be run directly from a USB portable device. It's simple elegant GUI interface is easy to navigate and use. It also contains advanced administration options for advanced users. Total size is less than 400 KB making it ideal for USB flash memory stick installation.

Find Firefox Saved Passwords - PasswordFox

Recover Firefox Passwords - PasswordFox PasswordFox is a free Password Recovery Tool created by NirSoft. It can be used to Find and Reveal the Names and Passwords Saved or Stored in Firefox. Website, Usernames, Passwords, Fields, Realms, Password Strength, and Firefox version are displayed. The Firefox Password Information can also be exported or saved to a text file.

UltraVNC Viewer Portable

Ultra VNC Viewer UltraVNC Viewer is an Open Source Portable VNC Viewer. This Virtual Network Computing or (VNC) application works as remote PC access software. The tool lets you administer remote computers using your local mouse and keyboard.

Virtual Floppy Drive

virtual-floppy-drive Virtual Floppy Drive (VFD) is a free floppy drive emulator that can be run from a portable device. This software enables a user to mount floppy images as a virtual floppy disk. The user can then directly access the contents to perform the same tasks they would from a physical floppy drive. Launch a program from the virtual floppy, or view, edit, rename, delete and create files on the virtual floppy.

XMIND Portable Mind Map

xmind-portable-brainstorming-software XMIND Portable Mind Map is popular open-source mind mapping software. This easy-to-use and intuitive application is commonly used for brainstorming sessions, personal mind mapping, or capturing knowledge and ideas for projects and project management. The information within a chart or map can be shared online, shared internally, or kept as a personal mind map.

Undelete 360 - Portable File Recovery Software

Undelete 360 - Recover Deleted Files Undelete 360 is a Free Portable File Recovery Software Tool created by File Recovery Ltd. It can be used to undelete, recover, or restore files accidentally deleted from your computer's hard drive, flash drives, external USB hard drives, camera, memory cards, and more. Whether you've lost files due to accidental deletion, system crashes, or even software malfunctions, this tool can help bring them back.

Bricks 2000: Portable Tetris Clone

Bricks 2000 Bricks 2000 is a Portable Tetris Clone. If you're a fan of Tetris alternatives or other block-stacking puzzle games, then you'll love Bricks. This Tetris-like game brings back the timeless charm of falling blocks while offering its own unique gameplay twists. Perfect for quick gaming sessions or challenging your skills over extended play, it is one of the best free Tetris-inspired games available for your portable gaming needs.


Those are just a handful of the free applications, USB games, portable applications for work, and other useful flash drive tools and software that I have personally found, categorized, and reviewed over the years. All shared with the world in hopes that you and others might also find them useful.

Do you know of any missing free software, application, tool, or game that should be listed? Are you an author who would like to have your portable utility or game reviewed? If so, contact me with your submissions and or suggestions.

Please note that no sponsored reviews are posted on this site. Authors of any portable app, utility or portable game listed here do not pay to have their products reviewed and posted, and sponsored submissions are rejected.

The only requirements to review acceptance are that any submitted software is made available as portable freeware or is open sourced. Submissions must not contain viruses, malware, or anything else that might be considered harmful or malicious.

If you find the standalone software information provided here helpful, please share this site with others who might also benefit!