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.

EasyPHP Portable WAMP Web Server

EasyPHP - Portable USB Web Server EasyPHP is a WAMP (Windows, Apache, MySQL, PHP) portable web server that makes it easy to develop, test, and deploy web applications. This powerful tool can be used to create dynamic websites, manage databases, and perform other tasks related to web development. With it, users can quickly set up a local server with all the necessary components for development without having to install any additional software.

Server2Go - Portable Web Server

server2go-menu-page Server2Go; A completely free portable web server or http server that includes Apache, MySQL, SQLite, Perl and PHP. Web applications used with this portable web server can be accessed directly from a USB flash drive or memory stick, CD ROM or self contained folder on a local hard drive.

HD Speed - Hard Drive Speed Testing

using HD Speed HD Speed is a portable utility that can measure the burst speed or sustained data transfer rates of your CD/DVD-ROMs, hard drives, solid state drives (SSD), and even floppy disks. It’s especially useful for benchmarking older hardware or verifying performance on newly installed drives. HD Speed presents this data via a clean, lightweight, and simple to use graphical interface.

Calculor: Free Calculator

calculor Calculor is a free calculator application that can be easily stored and run portably direct from a USB flash drive. This lightweight and user friendly software offers instant calculations as you type, making it a perfect solution for students, professionals, and anyone in need of a quick calculation tool on the go. Developed by Gabriel Marie of SSPX, it offers a clean interface with an intuitive and super easy to navigate menu.

Unetbootin | Universal Netboot Installer

Unetbootin UNetbootin (short for Universal Netboot Installer) is a popular and lightweight bootable USB creation tool that enables users to create Live USB drives for various Linux distributions. Whether you’re trying Linux for the first time, installing it on multiple systems, or running a rescue utility, UNetbootin makes the process simple, fast, and portable.

Free Adware Cleaner - Malwarebytes Adw

Free Adware Cleaner - Malwarebytes ADW AdwCleaner is a Free Adware Cleaner or Adware Remover created by Malwarebytes. This portable freeware tool is designed to detect and remove adware, unwanted toolbars, browser hijackers, and other Potentially Unwanted Programs (PUPs). Users can easily select their language from a drop-down list, which instantly translates scanning and detection information. Additionally, a historical log file is created each time the tool is run, ensuring that you can track all detected threats.

Free Portable Malware Scanner: Avira PC Cleaner

Free Malware Scanner PC Cleaner Avira PC Cleaner is a free portable malware scanner created by Avira. This portable anti malware software tool can be stored and run entirely from a USB drive, making it an ideal USB malware removal tool for field use. This PC cleaner works to help detect and remove malware infections other Anti Malware software might miss. Additionally, you can use it alongside your existing anti-malware software as a second opinion malware scanner. It will run on most Microsoft Windows XP and later Operating Systems.

ClamWin Portable Antivirus Software

clamwin-portable-antivirus No computer should be without antivirus protection, and when you’re on the move, a portable antivirus solution becomes essential. ClamWin Portable offers just that, a free, open source antivirus scanning that can be carried on a USB stick and run without installation. Ideal for scanning infected or suspicious computers, it provides on demand virus detection based on the popular ClamAV engine.

Undelete Plus - Free Portable File Recovery Software

Undelete Pus Undelete Plus is a free, lightweight, and portable file recovery software designed for Windows users. Whether you've accidentally deleted files, lost them in a system crash, or removed them from a USB drive, memory card, or network location; this tool can help bring them back.

AIMP2 - Freeware Audio and Internet Radio Player

aimp2-install-portable-version AIMP2 is a highly versatile, feature rich, and portable freeware MP3 audio and internet radio player. Serving as a lightweight alternative to many mainstream audio streaming solutions, AIMP2 offers unmatched flexibility and portability. Whether you are an audiophile or a casual listener, its support for multiple audio formats and customizable interface makes it a top choice. With multilingual support, advanced playback tools, and seamless USB installation, AIMP2 is engineered to satisfy diverse audio streaming needs.

OpenOffice Portable - Free Office Software

openoffice-portable-screenshot OpenOffice Portable: A Comprehensive Free Office Suite for All Your Productivity Needs. This open source office suite offers users a full featured, free alternative to traditional office software. Created originally by OpenOffice.org and later packaged for portability by John Haller of PortableApps, it allows users to carry their office software on USB drives or other portable storage devices.

SpaceMonger - Find Lost Disk Space

SpaceMonger SpaceMonger is a lightweight and portable disk space analyzer developed by Sixty-Five Software Inc. It helps users visualize how their hard drive space is being used, making it easier to locate and delete large or unnecessary files. The tool presents your storage layout as an interactive treemap; boxes represent files and folders, and the bigger the box, the more space it’s consuming.


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!