OldVersion.com
Archive website for old version of software
title: "OldVersion.com" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["internet-properties-established-in-2001", "download-websites", "web-archiving-initiatives"] description: "Archive website for old version of software" topic_path: "general/internet-properties-established-in-2001" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OldVersion.com" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::summary Archive website for old version of software ::
::data[format=table title="Infobox website"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| name | OldVersion.com |
| logo | OldVersionLogo.png |
| screenshot | OldVersion.com Homepage 2025-04-01 18.31.42.png |
| caption | OldVersion.com Homepage 1 April 2025 |
| url | |
| type | Freeware/shareware archive of old software versions |
| language | English |
| registration | Optional (to post on forum). |
| author | Alex Levine, Igor Dolgalev |
| launch_date | |
| current_status | Up |
| :: |
| name = OldVersion.com | logo = OldVersionLogo.png | screenshot = OldVersion.com Homepage 2025-04-01 18.31.42.png | caption = OldVersion.com Homepage 1 April 2025 | url = | type = Freeware/shareware archive of old software versions | language = English | registration = Optional (to post on forum). | author = Alex Levine, Igor Dolgalev | launch_date = | current_status = Up OldVersion.com is an archive website that stores and distributes older versions of primarily Internet-related IBM PC compatible and Apple Macintosh freeware and shareware application software. Alex Levine and Igor Dolgalev founded the site in 2001.{{cite news |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB114117101940985905 |title=Unhappy Upgrades: Software Users Seek Help 'Downgrading' Their PCs |author=Andrew Lavallee |date=2006-03-07 | work=The Wall Street Journal | url-access=subscription}}
Levine created the site because "Companies make a lot of new versions. They're not always better for the consumer." As reported in The Wall Street Journal, 'Users often try to downgrade when they find confusing changes in a new version or encounter software bugs, or just decide they want to go back to a more familiar version,' said David Smith, an analyst at research firm Gartner. 'Often, they discover that the downgrade process is complicated, if not impossible.'
When OldVersion.com was launched it offered 80 versions of 14 programs.
By 2005, over 500 versions were posted.
By 28 August 2007, this had grown to 2388 versions of 179 programs, in categories such as "graphics", "file-sharing", "security" and "enterprise". The site also carries 600+ versions of 35 Macintosh programs.
In 2007, PC World labeled the site "a treasure trove ... of older-but-better software";
In 2005, National Review called OldVersion.com a "champion" for "software conservatives".
According to Alexander Levine's own words, he has received threats from proprietary software developers for distributing old versions of web browsers, in particular, Internet Explorer which is difficult to support.
Around October 2025, the website was stripped of its Google Ad revenue and currently relies on community donations to continue operations. The earliest recorded instance of the banner stating a cut from ad revenue is from the 7th October.
References
References
- O'Connell, Pamela LiCalzi. (November 8, 2001). "Online Diary - Oldies but Goodies". [[The New York Times]].
- Andy Rathbone. (2005-12-23). "PCs: The Missing Manual". Pogue Press.
- "Oldversion.com as of 2007-08-28". oldversion.com.
- DeLeo, Jennifer L.. (October 20, 2008). "Old Software Versions We Want Back". [[PC Magazine]].
- [http://mac.oldversion.com Mac.OldVersion.com website] {{Webarchive. link. (2010-02-09 ''mac.oldversion.com''. Retrieved 2010-07-04. [to verify go to the very bottom where you see a dropdown containing all applications, and after counting there are quite indeed 35 apps with 1 more empty entry])
- Gralla, Preston. (September 30, 2007). "Before They Spoiled the Software". [[PC World]].
- Genauer, Rami. (March 28, 2005). "Older Is Better: Software conservatives have a home in Oldversion.com". [[National Review]].
- Levine, Alexander. (January 15, 2012). "Why I'm willing to go to jail for running OldVersion.com".
- "Old versions of Windows, Mac and Linux Software, Apps & Abandonware Games - Download at OldVersion.com".
- "Wayback Machine".
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