PortableAppscom

PortableApps.com is a software distribution project and website that provides a large collection of portable applications for Windows, along with a platform to manage and launch them. Portable software from PortableApps.com runs without installation, and can be carried on removable media or stored on a local drive, making it easy to use the same set of applications on multiple devices.

The project was founded in 2004 by John Haller. It hosts the PortableApps.com App Directory, which contains freeware and open-source portable applications across categories such as browsers, office, utilities, development, and multimedia. Apps are packaged to a common PortableApps.com format, allowing them to run from their own folder and write data to their own directory rather than the host system.

A central component is the PortableApps.com Platform, a launcher and updater designed to be used alongside the portable apps. The Platform provides a start-menu‑style interface to browse installed apps, launch them, and update them from the directory when connected to the internet.

Licensing and contribution: Most apps in the directory are free, with licensing varying by application. Developers can create portable versions following PortableApps.com packaging guidelines, and submit them to the directory or distribute their own portable builds.

Usage context: PortableApps.com is commonly used for USB drives, education, and travel, where users need a consistent software environment across machines without permanent installation. It complements, rather than replaces, standard installations on a host computer.