By Daryl Baxter
last updated
Free software for optimizing your PC efficiently

The best free PC cleaners provide a simple way to keep your desktop computer or laptop optimized and running smoothly.
There are many free PC cleaners and optimizers that claim to deliver noticeably faster performance, but not all live up to the hype. That's why we've tested all the most popular options and rounded up the ones that we believe will give your PC a noticeable speed boost, with no hidden extras or intrusive ads.
With Windows 11 rolling out to more users since its release in October, it's best to make sure that your PC is ready for the upgrade, as long as it meets the minimum requirements.
The best free PC optimizer available today is Iolo System Mechanic – a feature-packed toolkit containing everything you need to purge unnecessary files, fine-tune your PC's settings and protect your privacy at the same time. However, if your needs are more straightforward, we've also rounded up four other excellent tools that will give your PC a thorough spring clean without offering an intimidating number of options.
It's worth noting that you can do much of what these free PC optimizers do yourself using Windows' built-in system maintenance tools, but that's time consuming; what's really being sold here is convenience.
If you want more features, many of these free PC optimizers also have premium counterparts that can perform more advanced tasks, and offer additional tools like secure file deletion and scheduled scans.
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The best free PC cleaner of 2023 in full:
Why you can trust TechRadar Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test.
1. Iolo System Mechanic
Enjoy a faster, cleaner PC with the best PC optimizer
Reasons to buy
+ One-click cleanup Clear, detailed analysis Choice of scan types
Reasons to avoid
- Some features premium-only
Update: A recent change to Iolo's checkout process means you will be automatically subscribed to a $19.99 (about £15 / AU$25) per month support package when you purchase a product. This is a very large extra charge, so make sure to double-check before entering your payment details.
Iolo System Mechanic removes junk files and unwanted apps, blocks bloatware and unwanted auto-run settings, clears out RAM and wipes various logs, browser histories and caches.
Not only does this free up key system resources, it also eliminates traces of your browsing activity to protect your privacy.
Its PC optimization toolkit really does make a difference; whenever we've tested System Mechanic we've found a significant speed improvement, especially at startup. The free edition is excellent, but the two premium versions – System Mechanic and System Mechanic Pro – are well worth considering if you find yourself using it regularly – and Iolo is offering a 70% discount (opens in new tab) with the voucher code TECHRADAR.
The genuine performance boost we saw after running System Mechanic made it our favorite PC optimizer. Read on for four more of the best apps around for speeding up your Windows PC.
Read our full Iolo System Mechanic review.
2. Restoro
Streamlined PC optimizer with utilities repair
Reasons to buy
+ Great essentials Fast, efficient scans Very competitive prices
Reasons to avoid
- Limited free version
Restoro doesn’t boast the biggest feature list we’ve seen, but it does a great job of providing the essentials and managing those well without adding too many unnecessary extras.
Numerous problems are scanned for, listed if found, and repaired with the powerful system repair tool.All Restoro scans include built-inmalware (opens in new tab)detection. Any suspicious files will be immediately identified, and you can decide whether or not they need to be removed.
If you have one of the two unlimited use plans, you will benefit from the power of Restoro’s excellent real-time monitoring tools. These are designed to help you keep tabs on your computer, identifying potentially dangerous apps or security breaches before any damage is caused.
This should be quite self-explanatory, but Restoro’s full money-back guarantee basically means that you can request a full refund if you’re not happy with the program’s performance.
The only negative is that the free version allows you to run the software, but not any of the repair tools.
Read our full Restoro review.
3. IObit Advanced SystemCare Free
A hands-off approach to optimization that's ideal for novice users
Reasons to buy
+ Clean, customizable interface One-click and auto cleanup
Reasons to avoid
- Can't exclude individual files Extra software in installer
IObit Advanced SystemCare comes in two forms: a free edition version that covers basic house cleaning, and a Pro version that adds internet speed-boosting, real-time optimization, privacy protection, deep registry cleaning and 24/7 technical support, and the license covers three PCs.
Whichever edition you choose, IObit Advanced SystemCare's interface is well designed, easy to use and unlikely to frighten even the newest PC user. We'd deduct points for an installer that wants to add additional programs - that's hardly in keeping with the philosophy of keeping unwanted stuff off your computer - but they're easy to avoid if you choose a custom installation.
Like most of the PC optimizers here, it cleans up files and folders you don't need, neatens up the Windows registry and corrects errors on your hard drive – all via a simple, slick dashboard.
Read our full IObit Advanced SystemCare Free review.
4. CCleaner
Eliminate unnecessary files, clean the registry and manage apps
Reasons to buy
+ Frees up disk space Easy to use For desktop and mobile
Reasons to avoid
- Duplicates many Windows tools
CCleaner has been around for a long time, and part of the reason for its ongoing popularity is that it cleans the parts of your PC that many other free system optimization tools don't.
There's a paid-for version of the optimization toolkit that adds real time protection and cleanup scheduling (costing around $35 / £30 / AU$50) but the free edition of CCleaner covers the important stuff such as removing temporary files, getting rid of browser caches, removing unwanted cookies while keeping the useful ones and so on.
If your PC just feels sluggish then this is the free PC optimizer to try first. It doesn't have all the advanced features of apps like System Mechanic, but the stuff it does clear is famous for slowing down PCs.
Read our full Piriform CCleaner review.
5. Ashampoo WinOptimizer
A fast scanner plus a suite of well designed maintenance tools
Reasons to buy
+ Quick, thorough scans Descriptive interface Comprehensive toolkit
Reasons to avoid
- Adds store links to desktop
Ashampoo WinOptimizer's biggest selling point is its flexibility – you can scan for junk files, broken registry entries and browser cookies with a single click, and erase them all with one more.
Alternatively, you can dive deeper by selecting the 'Details' button to review the results of your scan one by one. Unlike some PC optimizers, Ashampoo WinOptimizer gives you a full description of each issue it's identified, explaining exactly what it is, and why you should consider removing it. You can then make an informed decision about whether to erase or keep it.
WinOptimizer also includes a suite of 'modules' for routine maintenance tasks like defragging hard drives and optimizing startup processes. These are all tasks that could be accomplished within Windows itself, but having them all in one location is much more convenient than trawling through menus.
Read our full review: Ashampoo WinOptimizer.
6. Razer Cortex
Made to help gamers wring extra performance from their PCs
Reasons to buy
+ Frees up RAM for games Provides FPS stats Frequently updated
Reasons to avoid
- Contains some unnecessary extras
If your system struggles when you're trying to get your game on, Razer Cortex could well be the answer. This free PC optimizer suspends unnecessary system processes, clears out memory and defrags your system to get the very best game performance possible.
Razer Cortex is available for Windows 7, 8 and 10, and while the differences won't make you jump up and down in astonishment - for most people the results will mean slightly smoother visuals rather than astonishing performance improvements - it does automate the fiddly process of turning off unnecessary software and services when it's time to play.
Read our full review: Razer Cortex.
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Which PC optimizer is best for you?
When deciding which PC optimizer to download and use, first consider what your actual needs are, as sometimes free platforms will only give you access to tools on a one-time basis, but for regular PC cleaning you may find a paid subscription is much more worthwhile. Additionally, budget software options can sometimes prove limited when it comes to the variety of tools available, while higher-end software can really cater for every need, so do ensure you have a good idea of which features you think you may need.
How we tested the best PC optimizer
To test for the PC optimizer we first set up an account with the relevant software platform. We then tested the service on an old PC to see how effective it could be at cleaning up old junk and files and optimizing performance. The aim was to push each software platform to see how useful its basic tools were and also how easy it was to get to grips with any more advanced tools.
Read more on how we test, rate, and review products on TechRadar.
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Daryl Baxter
Software & Downloads Writer
Daryl had been freelancing for 3 years before joining TechRadar, now reporting on everything software-related. In his spare time he's written a book, 'The Making of Tomb Raider', alongside podcasting and usually found playing games old and new on his PC and MacBook Pro. If you have a story about an updated app, one that's about to launch, or just anything Software-related, drop him a line.
FAQs
What is the best 100% free PC cleaner? ›
- 1) Restoro PC Repair Tool.
- 2) Outbyte PC Repair.
- 3) System Mechanic.
- 4) Advanced SystemCare.
- 5) Advanced PC Cleanup.
- 6) Ashampoo® WinOptimizer.
- 7) CCleaner.
- 8) Easy pc optimizer.
- System Mechanic Ultimate Defense.
- Restoro.
- Outbyte PC Repair.
- MyCleanPC.
- Avast Cleanup.
- AVG PC Tuneup.
- PrivaZer.
- CleanMyPC.
The best free PC optimizer available today is Iolo System Mechanic – a feature-packed toolkit containing everything you need to purge unnecessary files, fine-tune your PC's settings and protect your privacy at the same time.
Does cleaning PC Give more fps? ›The extra time that you take to clean up the inside and outside of your gaming PC will ensure that it's running at maximum capacity and thus will improve your gaming experience. We recommend cleaning your computer every three to six months to keep the performance up and increase your machine's overall lifespan.
What optimizer should I use? ›Adam is the best optimizers. If one wants to train the neural network in less time and more efficiently than Adam is the optimizer. For sparse data use the optimizers with dynamic learning rate. If, want to use gradient descent algorithm than min-batch gradient descent is the best option.
Which optimization is best? ›- Gradient Descent. The gradient descent method is the most popular optimisation method. ...
- Stochastic Gradient Descent. ...
- Download our Mobile App. ...
- Adaptive Learning Rate Method. ...
- Conjugate Gradient Method. ...
- Derivative-Free Optimisation. ...
- Zeroth Order Optimisation. ...
- For Meta Learning.
CCleaner is the number-one tool for cleaning your PC. It protects your privacy and makes your computer faster and more secure! Download Free Version Get CCleaner Pro!
What is the most trusted cleaning app? ›- 360 Cleaner – Speed Booster & Cleaner Free. ...
- Ace Cleaner. ...
- Norton Clean, Junk Removal. ...
- Go Speed. ...
- Powerful Cleaner (Boost & Speed) ...
- Fast Cleaner – Speed Booster & Cleaner. ...
- 1 Tap Cleaner (Clear Cache and History Log) ...
- Easy Clean. Last on the list of cleaning apps for android devices is the Easy Clean app.
No, it is not advisable to use thir-party apps like CCleaner, it may contain malware or adwares, I highly suggest for you to uninstall that instead. If you want to clean your computer you can use disk cleanup which is a built in cleaner in Windows computer.
What is the best free clean up app? ›- TotalAV.
- Avast.
- CCleaner.
- AVG.
- Norton Clean.
- Files by Google.
- All in one Toolbox.
- SD Maid.
What software boosts computer speed? ›
CCleaner speeds up computers by updating your software, cleaning up your machine, and helping you disable programs that can slow down your computer's startup procedure.
What to replace in a PC to make it faster? ›When you're deciding the best things to upgrade on your PC, we recommend RAM, SSDs, and graphics cards as the main areas to focus on. Ideally, you should always tailor your upgrades to your precise needs.
What are some tricks to speed up my computer? ›- Freeing up disk space. In some cases, not having much space left on your disk drive can cause your computer to slow down. ...
- Defragmenting your hard drive. ...
- Adding more RAM. ...
- Updating your drivers. ...
- Managing startup processes. ...
- Checking for viruses and spyware.
30-45 FPS: Playable. Most people are OK playing at this frame rate, even if it's not perfect. 45-60 FPS: Smooth. Most PC gamers aim to achieve frame rates in this range.
How do I optimize my PC for gaming? ›- Turn on gaming mode. Windows is already conveniently built for gaming. ...
- Disable notifications. ...
- Turn on Hardware-accelerated GPU scheduling. ...
- Adjust for best performance. ...
- Turn off enhanced pointer precision. ...
- Update your drivers. ...
- Turn on Nvidia G-Sync. ...
- Set your monitor refresh rate.
Yes, there is a possibility of affecting FPS by the performance of the CPU. Also, it can be challenging to go through them all to arrive at the best gaming PC for your needs.
Is there a free PC cleaner and antivirus? ›Avast One scans and cleans the viruses currently on your device, and stops future viruses and threats from infecting your system. And it's 100% free and easy to use.
Does Microsoft have a PC cleaner? ›Description. Real Cleaner is the leading application for cleaning and freeing up disk space on Windows 10. It also provides a large files finder and a duplicate files finder to help you free up more space.
Does Windows 10 have a built in Optimizer? ›Whether it be browsing the internet, watching videos, or even playing games, Windows 10 Optimizer helps you achieve the maximum performance your PC has to offer. Windows 10 Optimizer does so by scanning for all possible optimizations in 8 different categories and 340 settings with just one click of a button.
Is PC Optimizer safe? ›They are helpful in cleaning up your PC and performing minor tweaks to speed your system. However, only free PC optimizers from legitimate and licensed software companies are safe, so exercise caution when downloading a free application online.
Is there a better optimizer than Adam? ›
SGD is better? One interesting and dominant argument about optimizers is that SGD better generalizes than Adam. These papers argue that although Adam converges faster, SGD generalizes better than Adam and thus results in improved final performance.
Why is Adam optimizer the best? ›The results of the Adam optimizer are generally better than every other optimization algorithms, have faster computation time, and require fewer parameters for tuning. Because of all that, Adam is recommended as the default optimizer for most of the applications.
Why Adam Optimizer is better than RMSProp? ›RMSProp uses the second moment by with a decay rate to speed up from AdaGrad. Adam uses both first and second moments, and is generally the best choice. There are a few other variations of gradient descent algorithms, such as Nesterov accelerated gradient, AdaDelta, etc., that are not covered in this post.
What are the two types of optimization? ›Linear and Nonlinear Optimization
There are many different optimization, or “solving,” methods, some better suited to different types of problems than others. Linear solving methods include techniques known as tabu search, linear programming, and scatter search. Nonlinear solving methods include genetic algorithms.
We take pride in the fact that CCleaner is the world's most popular optimization tool, and deliver regular updates to add improvements, and ensure it stays secure. Although CCleaner is not an antivirus or malware-detection tool, we are part of Avast, a global leader in cybersecurity.
Is CCleaner still free? ›If you're using CCleaner Free you may have seen some messages that state CCleaner Free is only free for home use. CCleaner is free for all users using CCleaner at home on their personal PC. It is not free for use in a business environment or on a PC which is used for any commercial purposes.
Does Windows 10 have a PC Cleaner? ›Windows 10 and 11 include a pair of similar tools for clearing out old temporary files from your disk, meaning you don't need a dedicated Windows cleaner app. They're a great first stop on your Windows cleanup journey.
Which app is free for hidden cache cleaner? ›SD Maid. SD Maid is a well-rated Android system cleaning tool that you can use to empty hidden cache, manage installed user and system apps, optimize databases, and much more. The app is free, but many useful features become accessible only with the purchase of SD Maid Pro, which currently costs $3.85.
Do cleaning apps actually work? ›A lot of cleaner apps for Android offer RAM boosting (also called memory optimization) and task killing as a feature—even some on this list, like CCleaner. However, these are counterproductive, as task killers actually harm your device's performance.
Did CCleaner get hacked? ›CCleaner, the popular file clean-up and performance optimization utility for Windows, has been hacked to spread malware to users of the 32-bit version. The breach was discovered by security researchers at Cisco Talos Group.
Does CCleaner sell your data? ›
As a matter of general practice, we do not sell information that directly identifies you, like your name, address, or email.
Why does CCleaner not work on Windows 10? ›This is because Microsoft updated how it uses folders in Windows 10. Cleaner v5. 45 and below clean a folder that Microsoft previously used to store old Windows installation files (called the .
How do I clean my device for free? ›- On your Android device, open Files by Google .
- On the bottom left, tap Clean .
- On the "Junk Files" card, tap. Confirm and free up.
- Tap See junk files.
- Select the log files or temporary app files you want to clear.
- Tap Clear .
- On the confirmation pop up, tap Clear.
Super Clean is completely free and is available for Android devices on the Google Play store.
Is boost cleaner app free? ›Boost Phone Cleaner offers a weekly auto-renewing subscription option. You can subscribe to get access to all features. Your payment will be charged to your iTunes Account as soon as you confirm your purchase. You can manage your subscriptions and turn off auto-renewal from your Account Settings after the purchase.
What device is the easiest to upgrade such as by adding RAM? ›A desktop or laptop computer's RAM is one of the easiest parts to upgrade: you open the case and insert a RAM module into a DIMM slot.
How much RAM should a gaming PC have? ›16GB is the recommended amount of RAM for playing most games and will provide a noticeable increase in performance from 8GB. You will also be able to run applications in the background without affecting gameplay.
What should I replace if my PC is slow? ›Along with hard drive replacements, SSD upgrades can be a quick and worthwhile solution to slow laptops or desktop computers. However, if you're thinking about getting an SSD upgrade together with a RAM upgrade, it might not be necessary.
What to disable to make Windows 10 faster? ›Disable programs that run on startup. One reason your Windows 10 PC may feel sluggish is that you've got too many programs running in the background — programs that you rarely or never use. Stop them from running, and your PC will run more smoothly.
What makes a computer faster RAM or processor? ›Generally, the faster the RAM, the faster the processing speed. With faster RAM, you increase the speed at which memory transfers information to other components. Meaning, your fast processor now has an equally fast way of talking to the other components, making your computer much more efficient.
How do you 100% wipe a computer? ›
For Windows 10, go to the Start Menu and click on Settings. Then navigate to Update & Security, and find the Recovery menu. Next, select Reset this PC and choose Get Started. Follow the instructions to revert your computer to when it was first unboxed.
Is CCleaner completely free? ›Download CCleaner | Clean, optimize & tune up your PC, free!
Does Windows have a free PC cleaner? ›If you're not a fan of CCleaner, some similar programs we recommend are Microsoft's PC Manager, IObit's Advanced SystemCare Free, and Wise Disk Cleaner.
Can I trust CCleaner? ›We take pride in the fact that CCleaner is the world's most popular optimization tool, and deliver regular updates to add improvements, and ensure it stays secure. Although CCleaner is not an antivirus or malware-detection tool, we are part of Avast, a global leader in cybersecurity.
Is CCleaner still recommended? ›No, it is not advisable to use thir-party apps like CCleaner, it may contain malware or adwares, I highly suggest for you to uninstall that instead. If you want to clean your computer you can use disk cleanup which is a built in cleaner in Windows computer.
What keys wipe a computer? ›Answer: Press the ''F11'' or ''F12'' key when you restart the system. Select the option to reset to factory settings. The system will then boot itself with restored factory settings.
What command can be used to totally wipe a hard drive clean? ›Diskpart Erase/Clean will permanently erase/destroy all data on the selected drive.
How often should you wipe your computer? ›If you don't want to hurt your PC's performance and lifespan with the added stress and heat, give it a good cleaning at least every six month to a year. While the average user's computer lasts several years, true cleaning of hardware and software could extend your PC's useful life by a few more years.
Which version of CCleaner was hacked? ›It has been reported that a version of Piriform CCleaner.exe has been compromised/trojanized resulting in the installation of multi-stage backdoor capable of receiving instructions from threat actors on affected systems. Listed below are the affected versions of CCleaner: CCleaner version 5.33. 6162.
Why is CCleaner so good? ›CCleaner can find and erase old, invalid, and corrupted entries in your Windows Registry. Detrimental entries could trigger error messages and slow down your computer. The CCleaner Registry Cleaner does serve a logical purpose. But it may do your hardware more harm than help.
Is CCleaner performance optimizer free? ›
How to use CCleaner 6's Performance Optimizer to try to speed up your PC. Piriform provides two editions of CCleaner 6: A basic version for free and a Pro version for $29.95 per year.
Does Windows 10 have something like CCleaner? ›Microsoft's PC Manager is like CCleaner for your computer.