8 Best PC Cleaners for Windows 10 [Free & Premium]

Your computer builds up temporary files, useless data, and registry entries as you use it for various tasks, which might eventually cause performance to suffer. Here is where having access to the best PC cleaner for Windows 10 can make a huge difference in your overall experience.

PC cleaner software enables you to automatically remove junk files, optimize settings, and improve your PC’s overall performance.

In this guide, we will cover the best PC cleaner software for Windows 10, including free and paid software.

How did we choose the best PC cleaner?

To get usable and accurate results, our software testing team, with more than ten years of experience in the field, has spent time testing each aspect of the software.

Below you can see the features we tested for and how they worked but also features not found in some software.

Check out the two tables below to get a quick overview of the software’s capabilities, and then dive into the detailed description of the software to get a glimpse of how it works.

Comparison Table

– Free Apps

Here are the best free PC cleaner options for Windows 10:

Best Free PC Cleaner Disk Cleaner App Uninstaller Startup Manager Browser Cleanup File Shredder
Microsoft PC Manager Yes Yes Yes X X
CCleaner Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
CleanMyPC Yes Yes Yes X Yes
System Ninja Yes X Yes X Yes

As you can see, the apps we chose offer some great features which will surely be helpful.

Explore some of the best premium apps below.

– Premium Apps

Below you can find a helpful overview of the best Premium PC cleaners for Windows 10:

Best Premium PC Cleaner Disk Cleaner App Uninstaller Startup Manager Browser Cleanup File Shredder Pricing
IObit Advanced SystemCare Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes $29.99
Ashampoo WinOptimizer Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes $50
Fortect Yes X X Yes X $33.95
Iolo System Mechanic Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes $20.99

We’ve included options with prices covering any user’s possible needs and marked each software that uses a specific feature type.

Now that we understand our free and premium software options, let’s dive into the details of all these tools and find the best PC cleaner for Windows 10.

1. Microsoft PC Manager – Best free cleaner for Windows 10

Microsoft PC Manager is a robust PC cleaner tool created by Microsoft to cover this aspect of Windows OS requirements. This might just be the best PC cleaner for Windows 10, and it’s completely free!

This app uses various features that ensure system security and improved performance. This can be achieved using junk file remover, startup optimization, and resource management.

Pros

  • Developed by Microsoft – ensures compatibility
  • Real-time protection and privacy controls
  • User-friendly interface
  • Completely free

Cons

  • Support and third-party reviews are limited
  • It doesn’t include advanced optimization features

2. IObit Advanced SystemCare – Great user interface

IObit Advanced SystemCare is another mighty PC cleaner software, all wrapped nicely into a user-friendly interface with quick access to any option.

This app ensures you can successfully clean, optimize, and protect your Windows 10 system from third-party and external threats. The powerful disk cleaner ensures that your disk is as good as new, while the registry cleaner covers all aspects of the registry.

Pros

  • Wide range of optimization tools
  • Real-time malware protection
  • Privacy controls
  • Automatic system maintenance with scheduled scans and repairs
  • Includes a toolbox with helpful system optimization and troubleshooting features

Cons

  • The advanced features are only available in the paid version
  • The installation process might try to bundle other software

3. CCleaner – Best freemium PC cleaner

CCleaner is one of the most well-known PC cleaner apps; for good reason: the app is a powerhouse of options, making it a worthy entry on the best PC cleaner for Windows 10 list.

You can use CCleaner to optimize your PC’s settings, manage startup programs, clean your disk to remove junk files, and even fix registry errors by replacing the corrupted files.

Pros

  • Effective removal of temporary files and browser caches
  • A powerful registry cleaner is included
  • User-friendly interface
  • Removes traces of online activity and cookies
  • Includes customization options

Cons

  • Had some privacy concerns due to data collection in the past (it has been resolved)
  • The free version might seem too limited for some users

4. Ashampoo WinOptimizer – Best for multiple-machine setup

Ashampoo WinOptimizer provides users with valuable tools to maintain and support their Windows 10 experience over time.

It includes a registry optimizer, a disk cleaner, privacy protector, and it can even fix any possible registry errors, making it an excellent choice for Windows 10 users.

Pros

  • Wide range of cleaning tools
  • User-friendly interface with well-organized features
  • System analysis
  • File recovery
  • Backup management

Cons

  • Some users have reported high strain on RAM during system optimization
  • The free version’s functionality is limited

5. CleanMyPC – Easy to use with good results

CleanMyPC is another feature-rich PC cleaner created for Windows 10 devices that scans and cleans specific areas of your PC’s hard drive.

This app covers many aspects, including junk file removal, repairing invalid registry entries, and removing apps that have not been used lately.

To top it off, you also get access to valuable tools that deal with startup configuration, uninstalling apps, and shredding essential files.

Pros

  • User-friendly interface
  • Cleaning tools for junk files, registry issues, and app leftovers
  • Includes startup optimization
  • Uses secure file deletion

Cons

  • Some false positives have been reported during the scanning process
  • The trial version is minimal, so a paid version is recommended for increased functionality

6. Fortect – Best PC cleaner with real-time monitoring

Fortect is a reliable PC cleaner software with many features that ensure your system’s stability and safety.

You can use Fortect to remove junk files, temporary data, and other clutter accumulating on your PC over time. Everything is wrapped up nicely in a user-friendly interface, ensuring fast deployment of any safety or cleaning measure.

Pros

  • Powerful cleaning and optimization
  • User-friendly interface
  • A lightweight build ensures fast processing
  • Real-time system monitoring and optimization tools

Cons

  • It does not have as many advanced features as other options
  • Limited information online

7. System Ninja – Best lightweight PC cleaner

SystemNinja is a lightweight PC cleaner that, despite its size, is very effective at removing junk files and providing stability for your Windows 10 system.

This app scans your entire PC and identifies temporary data, unnecessary files, and other elements that can slow down your device. Additionally, you can use the startup manager to optimize the apps and system boot speeds, while the file shredder ensures that no deleted files are recoverable.

Pros

  • Lightweight build perfect for low-end PCs
  • Powerful file shredder included
  • Startup manager
  • Process manager
  • The interface is simple to use

Cons

  • Lacks some advanced features
  • Limited customer support

8. Iolo System Mechanic – Privacy protection and malware detection

Iolo System Mechanic is another powerful PC optimization tool that covers a wide range of features, all designed to improve your experience on Windows 10.

You can use this app to clean junk files, repair registry issues, and optimize the list of apps that start with your OS. Additionally, you can defragment drives and even protect your privacy online.

Pros

  • Optimization suite with a wide range of features
  • Real-time optimization and system monitoring
  • Privacy protection
  • Malware detection

Cons

  • The interface can be overwhelming for new users
  • A few of the advanced features can be found only in the paid version of the app

Does Windows 10 have a computer cleaner?

best pc cleaner for windows 10

Although Windows 10 doesn’t come with built-in cleanup software, you may use alternative apps to keep your OS’s features up-to-date and optimized.

These capabilities can assist you in cleaning your device, but for the best results, we advise you to look into alternative software choices.

The Windows 10 default tools are listed below:

  • Storage Sense – Clears temporary files, old system files, and files in the recycle bin.
  • Disk Cleanup – Deletes any unnecessary files, including temporary, Windows update files, etc.

As mentioned, the built-in tools are essential, so we recommend you choose another software option for improved performance and reliability. The same tools are available for cleaning Windows 11.

Is there a better free cleaner than CCleaner?

CCleaner is one of the best free PC cleaner software, but a few other options can help you achieve great results.

You can check out the newly-released Microsoft PC Manager, which offers a good set of features and was released directly from the creators of your OS.

Is it safe to use a PC cleaner?

Yes, using a well-known PC cleaner on Windows 10 can be safe and will help you considerably if used correctly. You can clean up your computer of unnecessary software, fix registry errors, and startup management.

Even though hundreds of software options are on the market, and it gets confusing, this list provides you with a comprehensive set of helpful options for Windows devices.


PC cleaners are essential for improving the stability of Windows 10 devices, as they provide an easily-accessible customization and optimization options, ensuring that your PC runs smoothly. Knowing which is the best PC cleaner for Windows 10 can help tremendously.

Using the software presented in this guide will ensure that your PC’s long-term stability and performance are maintained.

Please choose the best PC cleaner for your needs by exploring the details of each of them from this guide.