What Vector does

Vector Inc. (株式会社ベクターホールディングス, Vector HOLDINGS Inc.) is a privately held Japanese software distribution company founded in 1989 and headquartered at 3-4-30 Shibadaimon, Minato-ku, Tokyo. It operates a two-venue digital platform: the Vector Soft Library (ソフトライブラリ), a free and shareware catalog with thousands of titles across Windows, Mac, DOS, UNIX and legacy OS categories used for discovery and community engagement, and Vector PC Shop (プロレジ/ShareRegi), a paid marketplace where end users download commercial software and receive license keys. The PC Shop hosts branded storefronts for publisher partners including CyberLink, JustSystems, SourceNext, AOS Data/AI Data, LODESTAR JAPAN, and Jungle, with Vector handling payment processing, license delivery, and affiliate attribution.

The platform is built on a proprietary web-based distribution stack supporting credit card, PayPal, convenience store, and net banking payments, user reviews and ratings, seasonal sale campaigns (e.g., the 'Ultimate Bonus Sale' running 40-90% discounts on 100+ titles), and integrations with advertising and affiliate networks including Google Ads, Yahoo! Japan, A8.net, ValueCommerce, and Accesstrade. Vector holds a Japanese Privacy Mark certification and publishes GDPR/CCPA-aligned data handling disclosures.

Vector's revenue mechanics combine per-transaction fees on paid software sales, advertising income, and affiliate referral fees. Pricing is product-specific, ranging from roughly ¥980 to over ¥30,000 for individual perpetual licenses, with multi-PC, upgrade, and subscription tiers available on selected titles (e.g., Wise Care 365 PRO V7, DriverMax 16 PRO). The customer base is primarily Japanese individual PC users, with a secondary segment of small and medium businesses purchasing productivity, security, and tax/accounting software via the same storefront. Representative Director Iwai Miwako (岩井美和子) leads a workforce of 101-250 employees, and the platform's geographic scope is explicitly domestic Japan only.

Name

Vector

Legal name

株式会社ベクターホールディングス

Website

https://vector.co.jp

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Vector (株式会社ベクターホールディングス) is one of Japan's largest software download marketplaces, operating a free software library and a paid PC Shop that distributes commercial software from publisher partners like CyberLink, JustSystems, SourceNext, AOS Data, and LODESTAR JAPAN to Japanese individual PC users and SMBs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Software Distribution / Software Marketplace

NAICS

Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services (518), Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services (51821)

SIC

Retail-Computer & Computer Software Stores (5734), Wholesale-Computers & Peripheral Equipment & Software (5045)

akta.pro primary industry

PC/Desktop Software Stores (BPAMADAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Software License Resale & Optimization (Perpetual/Subscription) (BPAEAOAC)

Keywords

• Software marketplace
• PC software downloads
• Shareware distribution
• Digital license delivery
• Free software library

Headquarters

HQ city

Tokyo

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Commercial Software Sales (プロレジ): Vector PC Shop (プロレジ) sells commercial and shareware software products. Revenue is generated on a per-transaction basis — customers purchase software titles (e.g., net radio recording software at ¥4,980, system utilities at various price points), and Vector retains a commission or processes the full transaction as a digital goods reseller.
2. Affiliate / Advertising Revenue: Vector earns referral fees from third-party advertisers through affiliate networks (A8.net, ValueCommerce, Accesstrade) and displays Google Ads / Google AdSense / Yahoo! Japan advertising on its pages. The site also transmits user behavior data to external advertising partners.
3. Free Software Library (ダウンロードライブラリ): The free software library drives traffic and brand engagement but does not directly generate revenue. It serves as a discovery funnel leading users to the paid PC shop.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Vector operates a Japanese-language software distribution marketplace that combines a free Software Library for browsing, rating, and downloading free and shareware titles with a digital PC Shop (プロレジ / ProRegi) storefront where third-party software publishers list and sell commercial software. The platform processes transactions, delivers digital license keys to purchasers, and serves as a paid acquisition and distribution channel for vendors such as CyberLink, JustSystems, SourceNext, AOS Data, and LODESTAR JAPAN.

Product overview

Vector is a Japanese software download marketplace offering both free and paid software through its Vector PC Shop and Soft Library platforms. The ecosystem includes the core Vector PC Shop marketplace for paid software sales, the Vector Soft Library for free/shareware downloads, and netradio recording X2 as a notable featured product. The platform distributes software across categories including security (AdGuard, DriverMax), PC optimization (Wise Care 365, Advanced SystemCare), productivity (一太郎, ATOK, eM Client), utilities (IObit Uninstaller, priPrinter), multimedia (inPixio Photo Clip, X-Mirage), and specialized tools (RS232C Excel add-in, RhythmicaLyrics, CeVIO). Vector also hosts software from major Japanese publishers including JustSystems (一太郎, ATOK), AOS Data (Final Data), and LODESTAR JAPAN, as well as international vendors. The company holds a Privacy Mark certification and processes user data through third-party analytics and advertising services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Vector PC Shop (ベクターPCショップ / プロレジ / ProRegi) A digital storefront marketplace where customers can browse, purchase, and download commercial and shareware software for Windows and Mac. Features sales events, ranking lists, new-release listings, a security software center, and digital license-key delivery. Vendors maintain branded storefronts on the platform, and Vector processes JPY payments via credit card, PayPal, convenience-store payment, and net banking. Targeted at Japanese individual PC users and small/medium businesses.
• Vector Soft Library (ソフトライブラリ) A free downloadable software library and directory covering Windows, Mac, DOS, UNIX, OS/2, FM-TOWNS, X68000, and other operating systems, organized across categories such as utility, business, game, image/sound, internet/communication, education, programming, and hardware. Listings include user reviews, ratings, download counts, and rankings. Functions as a discovery and community engagement layer that funnels traffic into the paid Vector PC Shop.
• ShareRegi / ProRegi payment and digital license delivery service (シェアレジ) Vector's branded payment and digital license-key delivery service used to commercialize shareware and commercial software on the Vector PC Shop. Registered trademark of Vector Holdings. Supports multiple payment methods (credit card, PayPal, convenience store, net banking) and delivers license keys by e-mail upon payment confirmation.

Quantifiable outcome

• Seasonal bonus sales feature 100+ popular software titles at discounted prices (40–90% off)
• +1 more outcomes

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration15 records

AI capability11 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• サイバーリンク (CyberLink)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCyberLink is a major vendor listed on Vector PC Shop, offering products such as PowerDVD, PowerDirector, and PhotoDirector through the platform's branded storefront. Vector handles digital distribution and payment processing for CyberLink products.
• ジャストシステム (JustSystems)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorJustSystems is a key vendor on Vector PC Shop, distributing Japanese-language productivity software including ATOK (Japanese input method) and Ichimatsu (一太郎, Japanese word processor) through the platform.
• ジャングル (Jungle)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorJungle is a vendor on Vector PC Shop offering system utility software including the popular '完全復元' (Complete Restoration) data recovery series and web/internet production tools.
• ソースネクスト (SOURCENEXT)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSOURCENEXT is a major software vendor with 97+ product listings on Vector PC Shop, including security software (ZERO series), PDF tools, video editing, and productivity applications.
• AOSデータ / AIデータ (AOS Data / AI Data)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAOS Data (now AI Data Co., Ltd.) is listed on Vector PC Shop offering data recovery software 'Final Data' (ファイナルデータ), data erasure tools 'Terminator', and PC migration software.
• LODESTAR JAPANcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLODESTAR JAPAN distributes internet radio recording software (ネットラジオ録音 X2), driver update utilities (DriverMax), PC optimization software (Wise Care 365), and various utilities through Vector PC Shop, including versions with and without technical support.
• Google LLC (Google Analytics, Google Ads, Google AdSense)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerVector uses Google Analytics for access analytics, Google Ads for paid acquisition, and Google AdSense for display advertising. User data (client ID, IP address, browsing behavior) is transmitted to Google for targeting and measurement.
• LINE雅虎株式会社 (Yahoo! Japan Advertising)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerVector uses Yahoo! Japan advertising for customer acquisition. Yahoo! receives user behavior data including search history, browsing history, and location for ad targeting.
• 株式会社ファンコミュニケーションズ (A8.net)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerA8.net is an affiliate marketing network used by Vector to drive purchase referrals. A8.net receives IP address, user agent, cookie data, and conversion data for affiliate attribution.
• バリューコマース (ValueCommerce)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerValueCommerce is an affiliate marketing partner for Vector, receiving conversion attribution data for tracking referral-driven purchases on the platform.
• 株式会社インタースペース (Accesstrade)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerAccesstrade is an affiliate marketing partner for Vector, receiving click data, conversion data, and user IP addresses for referral tracking.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• CNET Download.com: CNET Download.com is part of Red Ventures' broader tech media network and historically was the dominant English-language PC software download directory. Comparable to Vector as a software discovery and download platform, but operates as part of a much larger editorial media business rather than as a focused Japanese marketplace.
• Amazon Japan (Digital Software): Amazon Japan operates a broad digital software distribution category alongside physical and cloud products. Represents the larger incumbent competitive threat to Vector — capturing software purchase intent through general search and Prime ecosystem advantages that a specialized Japanese download site cannot match.

Direct peers

• SourceForge: SourceForge is one of the largest global open-source and free software download platforms. Comparable to Vector in operating a categorized software discovery and download directory with reviews, ratings, and editorial content, though SourceForge skews open-source while Vector balances free and commercial shareware.
• Softpedia: Softpedia is a global software download site offering categorized free and trial software downloads with editorial reviews. Comparable to Vector in PC-software catalog breadth, category organization, and review-driven discovery, though Softpedia is English-language and internationally focused.
• Softonic: Softonic is a global software download platform offering free and paid PC software across categories with reviews and ratings. Highly comparable to Vector in operating a two-sided marketplace of paid software listings plus a free download library, with a localized Spanish/European edition model that parallels Vector's Japanese focus.
• FileHippo: FileHippo is a PC software download platform offering free software downloads with version tracking and update notifications. Similar to Vector's free library function, providing categorized downloads for Windows utilities and applications, though FileHippo lacks Vector's commercial storefront layer.
• 窓の杜 (Window Forest / Madonomori): 窓の杜 is Japan's other major long-standing PC software download directory operated by Impress Corporation. The most direct Japan-specific competitor to Vector, with similar Windows-software focus, reviews, and editorial coverage of free and paid utilities, productivity, and security tools.

Others

• JustSystems (ジャストシステム): JustSystems is a major Japanese productivity software publisher (ATOK Japanese input system, 一太郎 word processor) that distributes key products through Vector's PC Shop while maintaining its own direct channel. A key Vector partner and adjacent competitor for paid Japanese-language software distribution.

Emerging players

• IObit: IObit is a software publisher of PC optimization and security utilities (Advanced SystemCare, Driver Booster, IObit Uninstaller) that distributes heavily through Vector's PC Shop while also operating its own direct e-commerce. Comparable as both a Vector vendor and a competing direct-distribution channel for paid PC utilities.
• SOURCENEXT (ソースネクスト): SOURCENEXT is a major Japanese software publisher with 97+ products listed on Vector's PC Shop. Operates its own direct-to-consumer e-commerce channel for security (ZERO series), PDF, and productivity software — making it both a key Vector vendor partner and a partial competitor for direct software distribution in Japan.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/vector_pr

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments1 record

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Vector