You need PC cleaner to automatically remove unnecessary files for performance improvements and increased storage space. Most even free PC cleaners are great software applications that live up to their expectations. But the trick about finding the best free PC optimizer is getting a program that does the job without costing you.
That’s why I’m putting this guide together to help you identify a free PC optimizer that you can trust to keep junk files away. If you do want to pay, there are also great products that offer more than just PC cleaning.
Why Do You Need a PC Cleaner?
Let’s explore the major reasons experts advise PC users to have at least one PC optimizer:
- Storage space: PC cleaners ensure you don’t have to worry about junk and temporary files filling up your hard drive. Windows needs a small percentage of the drive to create your virtual memory (page file) to boost your RAM, and temp files can threaten that need.
- Resource management: The best PC optimizers control background apps to speed up your computer and prevent issues like overheating. On top of that, managing resources efficiently means your computer will consume less power and important apps will run more smoothly.
- System stability: They also help you run regular Windows maintenance tasks like checking drive health, defragmenting your hard drive, and cleaning up your registry to avoid errors.
- Organization: You can use a free computer cleaner to track down large files, duplicates, and unused applications.nnn
- Real-time monitoring: The best computer optimizers offer monitoring features that notify you when your hard drive is filled up, fragmented, or malfunctioning. They can also report when certain apps are bogging down your PC.
Best Free PC Cleaner for Your Windows 10/11
Let’s go through the best applications that can help you clean up your hard drive for free. As mentioned, some of these products have paid versions that offer more features. I’ll list their prices, pros and cons, and most exciting features.
Here’s a tabular form for easy analysis:
| Best for | Free features | Customer support | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Windows Disk Cleanup |
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| Auslogics BoostSpeed |
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| CCleaner |
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| Revo Uninstaller | App uninstallation and cleanup |
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| BleachBit |
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| PrivaZer |
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| CleanMyPC |
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| Razer Cortex |
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Option 1: Windows Disk Cleanup
Microsoft ships built-in tools for removing junk files and debilitating your hard drive. Storage Sense is the newer version of the Disk Cleanup utility, but it only focuses on cleaning your main C drive. Disk Cleanup allows you to select which volume to clean.
- Completely free
- Reliable built-in PC cleaner
- Removes temporary system files
- Does not offer system monitoring
- Lacks advanced drive health checkup
- Only dedicated to cleaning up files
- May leave out traces of uninstalled applications
- People interested in removing only junk files.
- Free
As great as it is, you may have to rely on other Windows tools to get other things done. For example, you need Command Prompt to run a SMART check on your hard drive and the Disk Management tool to defragment your hard disk. Most of these functions are now offered by the best PC optimizers for free.
Option 2: Auslogics BoostSpeed
Auslogics BoostSpeed is an all-round optimizer thoughtfully designed to boost performance from different areas. It features numerous independent tools that work together to clean and protect your hard drive, optimize resource allocation, and help you control your privacy.
- Free version available
- Very beginner-friendly
- Offers more advanced tools than other cleaners
- Provides real-time monitoring and warning
- Customizable controls
- Offers hard drive protection
- Number of tools and utilities may be overwhelming
- Some helpful advanced tools are behind a paywall
- Users who want to get rid of junk files and also improve operating system and hard drive health.
- People looking for advanced tools to protect their PCs and improve regular and gaming performance.
- Admins who primarily use virtual desktops.
- Free.
- $18.25 per year for 3 PCs.
Users have access to the program’s best tools without activating the Pro version. However, the Pro version is a cost-effective way to access more advanced functions within the app’s utilities. Let’s cover some of its main tools for cleaning a PC:
- Duplicate File Finder: Helps you find identical files regardless of where they are located. Also provides options to select and delete multiple duplicates at once.
- Registry Cleaner: Helps you fix registry issues by removing outdated and corrupt registry entries.
The app also has the File Shredder tool for permanently wiping files, the Free Space Wiper tool to remove traces of deleted items, the Empty Folder Cleaner tool, and the Add-ons Manager tool that helps you remove things like extensions.
On top of that, users offered a unique customer experience that lets them ask questions for feedback on issues and challenges.
- Deep Disk Cleaner: Performs advanced scans to find different types of application, system, and temporary files. It also looks for web browser files, cache, and cookies.
- Uninstall Manager: Shows you rarely used applications and allows you to remove them. It provides the main functions of Revo Uninstaller, including forced uninstall.
Auslogics BoostSpeed has an excellent 4.5/5.0 review rating on Trustpilot based on almost 2,000 reviews. Users are particularly happy about the program’s ease of use and helpful customer support.
Option 3: CCleaner
CCleaner is one of the oldest and most trusted PC cleaners around. It has decent optimization options, with numerous tools and utilities bundled into one package. Its features include software and driver updates, cloud cleaning, and file recovery.
- Plenty of tools in one package
- Great cleaning performance
- Free version
- Free version only offers basic cleaning
- User interface could be better
- Users lack complete control over file removing
- People who can pay for the professional version.
- People in need of a decent free tool.
- Free.
- Pro: $39.95 per year.
- Pro Plus: $59.95 per year (3 devices).
- Premium: $64.95 per year (5 devices).
However, you may have to look elsewhere to use a PC cleaner free of charge. You cannot use any other features apart from basic cleaning unless you purchase a subscription. But you can get a competent CCleaner alternative with better offerings at great value, whether you want a free or paid option.
More than 22,000 users reviewed CCleaner on Trustpilot to give it an excellent 4.5/5.0 average rating. People confirm that the tool effectively cleans out junk, except that its driver updater may not work as advertised.
Option 4: Revo Uninstaller
Revo Uninstaller works as its name suggests. It’s dedicated to uninstalling programs better than Windows’ built-in uninstaller. It cleans up remnants of programs, such as temp files and registry entries that may take up unnecessary space otherwise.
- Has a free version
- Removes leftover application files
- Quite lightweight
- Can erroneously delete files related to other programs
- Cannot remove browser plug-ins or toolbars
- Lacks features offered by competitors
- Lacks privacy protection functions
- People who want to uninstall applications and leftover files.
- Users who want other functions like routine file cleanups, registry defragmentation, and overall system health functions.
- Revo Uninstaller Free: Free.
- Revo Uninstaller Pro: $24.95.
- Revo Uninstaller Pro Portable: $29.95.
The paid version ships with real-time monitoring, multiple uninstallations, and forced uninstall, which aren’t present in the free version. The tool also allows you to create restore points before removing apps. Clicking the scan button after uninstallation shows the application’s remnants.
Revo Uninstaller’s Trustpilot review page has a small sample size of about 170 reviews with an excellent 4.8/5.0 rating. The only issues users seem to have is the tool’s inability to properly remove some programs.
Option 5: BleachBit
BleachBit is freeware that focuses on getting rid of junk files and providing basic disk management. It is a good option for people who want to use a PC cleaner for free without thinking about the pro version.
- It’s free
- Lightweight and does not require installation
- Allows users to overwrite hard disk space for enhanced privacy
- User interface may not be very user-friendly
- Does not include an application manager
- Lacks advanced features and real-time monitoring
- People interested in free software for disk cleaning and file shredding.
- Users looking for more advanced features like hard drive encryption, application managers, and system monitoring.
- Free.
BleachBit cleans everything from browsing data to temp files and items left behind by uninstalled programs. BleachBit also allows users to overwrite disk space to prevent others from restoring certain deleted files.
Moreover, the tool ships with some advanced features for programmers, such as writing customized cleaners, importing cleaner files, and using a command-line interface for automation and scripting.
BleachBit’s Trustpilot review is almost nonexistent, with less than 10 users taking out time to review the product. The product has a 3.2/5.0 rating from those user feedbacks.
Option 6: PrivaZer
PrivaZer does a decent job of cleaning out things like cookies, browsing data, and junk files. It also claims to protect your privacy by permanently deleting traces of removed files and apps so they can’t be recovered.
- This tool is free
- Targets files that other programs may overlook
- Lacks app uninstallation capabilities
- Does not offer more advanced features like disk protection against spyware
- Users may not know the right options to choose
- People looking for basic disk cleaners.
- Users looking for more basic and advanced utilities such as drive health monitoring, deep cleaning, encryption, and application management.
- Free.
- Pro version for donors.
Being a free tool makes it ideal for users who are on a budget, but they have to donate to the project to use the more advanced donor (or Pro) version.
Reviews
PrivaZer has a 4.8/5.0 average rating based on less than 200 Trustpilot reviews, which I consider quite a small number. Feedback seems generally positive except for cases where users are unhappy about the customer support.
Option 7: CleanMyPC
CleanMyPC helps you manage which apps can start whenever your computer boots. This function gets you going as soon as you see your desktop environment. It also performs drive cleanups, runs registry maintenance, uninstalls applications, and shreds files.
- Offers PC cleaning and a bunch of useful add-ons
- Has a free version
- Users will enjoy the clean interface
- Free version is quite limited
- Windows users can get a lot more at the same price range
- People looking for helpful additional tools like uninstallers, shredders, and app management.
- Individuals who can afford the paid version.
- Users looking for better free cleanup tools.
- People who want more advanced cleaning and monitoring options.
- Free.
- Lifetime license for 1 PC: $39.95.
- Lifetime license for 2 PCs: $59.95.
- Lifetime license for 5 PCs: $89.95.
Nota that the free version is quite limited, and you may have to pay the quite expensive fee for one of its lifetime licenses.
MacPaw has an excellent rating of 4.7/5.0 from more than 2,600 Trustpilot reviews. Customers are particularly pleased with its responsive and helpful customer support, with unhappy users generally stating issues with subscriptions.
Option 8: Razer Cortex
Razer Cortex is a popular freeware that some would consider the best free PC optimizer for gamers. Razer, the PC manufacturer, offers the tool for free without a pro version. It turns off certain background programs and helps games access more RAM. These features can help you squeeze out more system resources for your game. But don’t expect it to provide monumental boosts in performance and make a low-spec’d PC run demanding games.
- Free
- Supports scheduled scans
- User-friendly interface
- Could have more features
- Lacks real-time system monitoring
- Users may need more details on scan results
- Gamers seeking a small amount of FPS boost.
- People looking for real-time monitoring, better customer support, and more detailed scan results.
- Free.
While popular among gamers, it lacks some advanced features like real-time monitoring. Its scan results also leave much to be desired, as it does not break down what it does to allocate more power to your gaming apps.
I couldn’t find reviews for Razer Cortex online, except for a few fora opinions on Quora and Reddit that give it a passmark.
How to Choose the Best Free PC Cleaner for Your Needs
As I mentioned, the main challenge about finding the best free PC optimizer is getting one that doesn’t trick you into paying for basic cleanup features. Let’s go through what you should consider before choosing the best computer cleaner for you.
- Features: Identify the features that are most important to you. Do you just want to get rid of junk files, or do you want additional features like uninstallation, hard drive security, and privacy protection? When finding the best PC cleaner, compare the specific features they offer for free.
- Cost: Some PC cleaners for free offer more free features than others. Checking the programs that ship with the functions on your list for free will help you choose the right one. If you’re looking for advanced features, you may have to pay a cent or two. So, consider which cleaner provides those capabilities at the lowest price possible.
- Ease of use: The best free computer cleaner for you should have intuitive interfaces and not cause unnecessary confusion.
- Effectiveness: Evaluate how well the free PC cleaner removes junk.
- Performance impact: You don’t need a free computer cleaner that ends up siphoning your system resources. Lightweight applications are the way to go. However, if you go for programs with more advanced features, ensure they allow you to turn off certain activities, like notifications and background monitoring.
- Customer support and updates: You may need some help using the tools in certain programs or interpreting reports. The best PC cleaner will offer a decent level of support even for free users.
These considerations are not too much for the best PC optimizers. For example, Auslogics BoostSpeed checks most of these boxes, from customer support to cost-effectiveness and ease of use. That’s not to say the best PC optimizers do not have shortfalls. What matters is getting one that meets your needs.
Best Free PC Cleaner: Fine-Tuning Your Computer
Remember that the best computer cleaner will make you feel good about your choice even if you end up paying a small fee for advanced features. Ensure you always weigh your needs over each program’s offerings in its free and paid versions.
Let us know your final choice and the reasons behind your decision.
