Best PC Optimization Tools in 2024 [Boost & Clean your System]
Use these free tools to keep your PC in top shape over time
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Key notes
- Over the years, a PC might become slower and less reliable than it once was, which is why PC optimization software is vital.
- The list below includes performant tools that can improve system performance in minutes, within a few clicks.
- Each free PC optimizer on this list has its own unique features, and they all do a great job.
Over the years, a PC might become slower and less reliable than it once was. This can be due to invalid registry entries, many background apps, malware, a fragmented and complete hard disk, and more.
Although Windows already includes numerous top repair and maintenance tools to keep things ticking smoothly, with many PC optimization programs that can boost system performance.
PC optimization software relies on hard disk and registry cleaners, disk defrag, RAM optimizers, and startup tools.
This guide contains the list of the best free PC optimization software with which you can supercharge Windows. We will also answer your questions on what these tools can or cannot do.
Here are the top free PC optimizers we found:
| Software | Features | Our Rating | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fortect | ● Blue screen of death prevention ● Operating system recovery ● Erase junk files | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ➡️ Get It Here |
| PC Cleaner | ● Registry scan and repair ● Memory cleaner and boost ● Remove residual files | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ➡️ Get It Here |
| IObit Advanced System Care | ● Privacy data protection ● Internet speed optimizer ● Boosts startup | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ➡️ Get It Here |
| System Mechanic Ultimate Defense | ● Removes clutter and junk files ● Password manager ● Browsing shield | ⭐⭐⭐ | ➡️ Get It Here |
| AVG PC Tuneup | ● Remove junk files ● Uninstall unwanted software | ⭐⭐⭐ | ➡️ Get It Here |
How can I optimize my computer for free?
Windows 10 and 11 have free built-in optimization tools that help to keep your PC in top shape. Also, you can try essential maintenance like PC updates, deletion of big files, and reduction of startup programs to optimize your PC.
To improve things, you can use some of the best free optimization software to improve the performance of your PC. These tools include start-up boosters, PC cleaners, RAM optimizers, and repair tools.
We will discuss them in detail in the subsequent sections of this article.
What is the best free PC optimizer for 2023?
Fortect – Very easy to use and powerful
Fortect is an all-in-one automated solution that can help you optimize your PC with ease, thanks to its multitude of advanced features.
You can use this software to scan your device thoroughly and find its performance state and which components need to be ameliorated to reach an optimal setting.
The scanning process is fast and efficient because it covers your whole system and doesn’t take more than five minutes. Plus, it will also help you identify faulty or incompatible hardware.
Regarding the pricing category, you don’t have to worry because Fortect offers a free trial besides its excellent and affordable plans.
This program will help you get rid of lags as it can repair all the damaged files, including DLLs and registry keys, and resolve any stability issues.
Moreover, you can use Fortect to execute cleanup actions by erasing junk files, build-ups, and registry issues, and ultimately free up space, which will help with your PC condition.
Here are other key features that Fortect offers:
- Blue screen of death prevention
- Browser Cleanup
- Operating system recovery
Fortect
Even if you don’t have the latest PC, Fortect will make sure that its condition will be visibly improved.PC HelpSoft PC Cleaner – Clean and boost performance
PC Cleaner is an amazing optimizing and repair software that has very low resource consumption and features and an incredibly easy-to-use interface.
Separated in their own tab the clean-up and optimization functions are easily accessible. You can clean and boost memory performance making sure your apps don’t take too much of your system resources.
The most important optimization from Windows can be accessed and tweaked from this software with just a few clicks.
Any system file can be repaired after an in-depth scan. This allows you to properly identify files that may cause DLL errors of BSOD.
PC Cleaner is able to create an in-depth report on your system condition and export it in CSV format so you can easily show or send it to specialized personnel in case of persisting problems.
These optimization options combined with the powerful cleaning function make PC HelpSoft PC Cleaner one of the most reliable tools for long-term maintenance of your computer.
Other key features:
- Security booster
- Residual files clean-up
- Uninstall unwanted programs
- Clean up browser extensions
PC HelpSoft PC Cleaner
Employ the help of this powerful cleaner and optimizer for the long-term maintenance of your computer.IObit Advanced System Care – PC security optimizer
PC performance issues are usually linked to either system mishandling or viruses. Logic dictates that the best free PC optimization software would have speed-up tools and certain antivirus features.
IObit Advanced System Care is a program based on the popular IObit anti-malware engine.
This tool incorporates full antivirus capabilities and the already proven comprehensive PC tune-up ability. It thus protects against all kinds of security threats, system slowdown, freeze, and crash without slowing down your system.
The program runs silently in the background without slowing down your system as other PC optimization tools do.
More so, it comes with a free version, and those who do not wish to continue with the subscription can always revert to it without uninstalling the program.
As for usage, the program is highly intuitive, with the menu being arranged in a way that caters to both experienced users and beginners alike.
The benefits of using IObit Advanced System Care are:
- AI PC cleaning of all junk files, unwanted programs
- Boosting of startup by disabling useless apps
- Privacy data protection for 100% safe online browsing
- Internet speed optimizer and booster
All in all, the program is an excellent addition to anyone’s digital library, especially those that value performance above all else.
System Mechanic Ultimate Defense – Complete optimizer and security enhancer
System Mechanic Ultimate Defense is one of Windows’s most highly-rated free PC optimization software.
This software has a freeware and Pro version that includes more advanced modules with antivirus, internet connection tweaker, Windows customization, and search and recovery tools.
Nevertheless, the freeware version still has the essential maintenance tools to boost Windows.
System Mechanic Ultimate Defense has an intuitive and appealing UI design that includes most software tools and options within a left sidebar.
It gives you a system status overview (shown in the snapshot above) highlighting things that need fixings, such as registry issues, junk files, or fragmented hard drives.
System Mechanic Free retains several of the essential tools from the full package. It has a junk file cleanup tool that does a system-wide scan to erase obsolete files.
It includes a registry tuner with which you can fix invalid registry entries and comes with backup and restore options.
With the software’s startup manager, users can remove startup bottlenecks to speed up boot times. In addition, you can also speed up Windows with System Mechanic’s RAM optimizer that defrags RAM.
On top of that, this utility has tools to fix invalid shortcuts, repair internet connections and defrag hard disks; and users can run multiple tools at once with its wizards.
Let’s see the key features of using System Mechanic Ultimate Defense:
- Speeds up the processor, memory, and hard drives
- With PC cleaner it removes clutter and junk files
- Password manager and credit card security
- Antivirus capabilities
- Browsing shield for increased online privacy
Iolo System Mechanic is one of the seven software products in the comprehensive security, privacy, and optimization package Phoenix 360.
Iolo System Mechanic Ultimate Defense
System Mechanic contains excellent optimizing features that stand beside its trustworthy name.AVG PC Tuneup – Strong Antivirus
Yet another PC optimization tool that is based on a top-rated antivirus tool, AVG PC Tuneup.
This software incorporates all the protective tools of the AVG antivirus for free with basic PC optimization tools that everyone needs on their PC.
It doesn’t matter if your PC is slowing down due to old age or if there are tons of junk files on it. AVG PC Tuneup will take care of it and make it run almost as if it were new.
It allows you to:
- Speed up your Windows PC
- Remove junk files to free up space
- Rid your browser of hidden files
- Uninstall software you don’t need
- Get all-around 1-click maintenance
As for the programs running in the background may be annoying, but at the same time, you may not want them removed.
If that is the case, you can use AVG PC Tuneup to put them to sleep and stop them from hogging any more resources.
However, there is also software with no business on your PC, which you may know as bloatware.
AVG PC Tuneup knows how to deal with these issues by cleverly detecting and removing them, even when other programs can’t.
Overall, AVG PC Tuneup can be considered a more elaborate refresh button for your PC and a much more affordable alternative to buying new hardware.
NOTE
Ashampoo WinOptimizer – Free PC file optimization software
The latest Ashampoo WinOptimizer software might have more extensive file management and PC maintenance tools, but there are still many optimization options and settings to explore in the freeware version.
WinOptimizer Free has Drive Cleaner, Registry Optimizer, and Internet Cleaner tools for system maintenance. Its One-Click-Optimizer provides a handy shortcut to run those tools simultaneously.
The Drive Cleaner is flexible as users can create exclusion lists, add file filters and configure it to delete items to the Recycle Bin.
WinOptimizer’s Startup-Tuner is another essential system maintenance tool with which you can disable Windows services and edit startup items.
The program comes with a Task Scheduler for you to schedule optimization runs, and it also saves the most frequently used modules in Favorites for quicker access.
However, WinOptimizer isn’t just system maintenance software. It also includes handy Windows customization and file management tools.
For example, the software has a Context Manager with which you can customize Windows context menus. The Icon Saver enables users to save Windows desktop icon arrangements.
Also, using Ashampoo WinOptimizer provides the following perks:
- Thorough in-depth cleaning of system critical areas
- Find and remove older versions of Windows, updates, and system caches
- Convenient cookie manager for “safe” cookies
- Improved overview and easier handling in link checker and context menu manager
- Up to 75% faster cleaners
In addition, you can split up, encrypt, and recover files with WinOptimizer’s File Splitter, File Encrypter, and Undeleter tools. So WinOptimizer offers more tools than most optimization suites.
Glary Utilities – Versatile PC optimization software
Glary Utilities PC optimization software is a cut-down version of the Pro package.
However, there isn’t much difference between the freeware and Pro versions besides Glary Utilities Pro’s automatic updates, free technical support, and extra scheduling options.
There’s also a free portable version of the software you can run from external drives.
Glary Utilities is packed with more than 20 system tools to optimize Windows.
It includes standard tools such as disk cleaner, registry cleaner, startup manager, uninstalls manager, and disk defrag.
On top of that, this program also has fewer standard tools for removing malware, fixing invalid shortcuts, deleting empty folders, erasing duplicate files, splitting and joining files, and even file recovery.
Glary Utilities enables users to run a custom 1-click Maintenance scan that incorporates a number of its tools, which can come in handy.
The program’s RAM optimizer enables you to select a more specific amount of RAM to free up a slider bar.
Glary Utilities also integrates with File Explorer so that you can select some of Glary’s file management options directly from context menus.
Let’s see the main key features of Glary Utilities:
- Simple, easy-to-use interface
- Privacy-protecting features
- Built-in secure-deletion tool
- Integrated driver updater
- Lets you manage which programs launch when a PC boots
Overall, Glary Utilities has almost all the tools you’ll need for PC optimization.
CCleaner – Best Free PC cleaner
CCleaner is award-winning free PC cleaner optimization software for Windows 10 with an extensive user base eclipsing two billion downloads.
It has thorough cleanup tools that don’t erase any more essential system files. You can use this software to free up hundreds of megabytes of disk space, remove software, manage startup items, and repair possible errors.
The freeware version of CCleaner might lack some of the scheduling, file recovery, and disk defragmentation tools included in the Professional Plus package. However, it still has a few handy options for system optimization.
You can add the freeware CCleaner to Windows, which is quite limited in actions and in customizing CCleaner’s work.
But there is also a full version of CCleaner Pro if you are interested.
CCleaner primary tools
CCleaner’s primary tools are its hard disk and registry cleaners. It has a flexible hard disk and registry cleaners to configure to delete various, more specific files and registry items.
Another advantage of CCleaner’s hard disk cleaner is that it enables you to clean up third-party software file items.
Beyond the HDD and registry cleaners, CCleaner’s tools might seem limited compared to some alternative optimization software.
Some of the main key features of CCleaner are:
- Can find and update old drivers
- 1-Click update for all your software
- Disables unneeded programs for quicker startup
- Fewer crashes and errors by fixing registries
- Safer browsing with its browser features
CCleaner’s handy Browser Plugins tool lets users quickly activate or deactivate browser extensions, apps, and plug-ins. You can also search for and erase duplicate files with the Duplicate Finder tool.
So even if CCleaner doesn’t have the most extensive number of utilities, it’s still a handy Windows optimization program.
Tweaking Windows Repair – Complete PC repair tool
The second entry on our list of PC optimization software might not look like much at first glance, but it proves that you shouldn’t judge software from its fancy UI.
Tweaking Windows Repair is a complete system repair and optimization tool. It works fast and efficiently so your PC can return to its original state.
Tweaking Windows Repair is available in both a free and a Pro version. Both are good at solving the most common PC-related issues you may ever encounter.
While the Pro version offers a few extra features, all the basics are covered in the free version. So, unless your PC has encountered some severe problem, there’s no need to spend a single dollar.
Tweaking Windows Repair
Resolve all your Windows-related errors using this comprehensive optimizing software.WinUtilities Free – Best PC task manager
WinUtilities Free is another all-in-one PC optimization software with a freeware and Pro edition, with an annual subscription. The publisher reveals little about the differences between the freeware and Pro editions of WinUtilities.
The UI design of both editions is almost identical. Still, the File Undelete, Task Scheduler, and Duplicate Files Finder only work in the Pro version, which also has free technical support.
WinUtilities Pro also boasts a more effective registry scan engine and disk cleaner.
WinUtilities Free has an impressive 25 modules that consist of PC optimization, cleanup and repair, files & folders, registry, and other system tools.
Users can select Registry Defrag, Disk Defrag, Startup Cleaner, RAM optimizer, and BHO (Browser Helper Objects) Remover tools in the optimization category.
The software includes a Disk Cleaner to remove junk data, a Registry Cleaner to fix invalid registry entries, Shortcut Fixer, and Uninstall Manager.
The software’s 1-Click Maintenance option incorporates most cleanup and defrag tools.
WinUtilities Free has helpful file, folder, and registry tools to split and merge files, analyze disk space, back up the registry, and remove and restore context menu options and settings.
The publisher has also packed all those tools within a clean and intuitive UI.
? How to find the best PC optimization software for gaming?
To find the best PC tune-up software, you need to see which one fits you best. There is a wide variety of PC utilities out there, but only some of them will actually boost your computer.
For the best results, you should know what aspect of your PC needs the most optimization:
- Too many junk files and no storage left?
- Do you use all RAM for simple activities?
- Do errors cause slowness in your computer?
- Do you have outdated drivers?
Knowing this, you can easily find the right software to optimize your computer. You can also take advantage of many game booster applications to optimize your gaming experience and boost your performance.
You can use as well any Windows optimizer software to optimize your performance since it will clear all your temporary files and free up the necessary space.
Finally, if you want a real boost, you might want to try using RAM cleaner applications to free up RAM and leave more memory for other important tasks.
Does Windows 10 have an optimizer?
Windows 10 has numerous free built-in optimization tools. It comes with a built-in antivirus known as Windows Defender.
Also, it has a troubleshooting feature that allows you to find and fix fundamental issues. There is also the SFC and DISM scan feature that helps to repair broken system files.
Lastly, you can update your drivers from the Device Manager for free on Windows 10. So, you are not short of optimization options.
We have concluded this guide on the list of the best free PC optimization software. With this, we believe you have everything you need to keep your PC in top shape.
Do you need a list of the best Windows 10/11 boot repair tools? Then, check our comprehensive guide on the top options to use.
To keep your system optimized and secure from threats, you can use Microsoft PC Manager, and with a single click, you can boost your PC performance.
These are all great tools, but if you don’t want to use third-party software, there are other ways to delete temporary files on Windows 11.
Feel free to share your experience with these tools in the comments below.
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