Top 10 Best Free Tools to Speed Up & Clean Your PC in 2026 🖥️💨

Is your Windows PC running slow, freezing, or taking forever to boot up? Over time, computers collect clutter — old junk files, leftover installs, malware, and programs that run at startup. The good news: you don’t need to spend money to clean up your system and boost performance.

I’ve tested dozens of tools, and here are the 10 best free ones that really work.

🧹 1. CCleaner Free — Best All-Around Cleanup Tool

A long-time favorite for a reason, CCleaner removes temporary files, browser junk, and optional registry clutter — all in a few clicks. It also lets you control startup programs.

Best for: quick cleanup + startup control

Key Features:

• Removes browser and system junk

• Manages startup items

• Cleans registry errors (optional)

🧩 How to Fix a Slow Computer Without Buying Anything

🪣 2. BleachBit — Open-Source Cleanup Powerhouse

BleachBit is like CCleaner’s rugged, free-for-life cousin. It digs deep into caches, logs, and system junk — and can securely shred files so they can’t be recovered.

Best for: privacy-conscious users & deep cleaning

Key Features:

• Cleans cache, cookies, logs, and more

• Shreds files securely

• Has no paid version—everything is 100% free

🧩Why You Don’t Need Expensive PC Cleaning Software

🛠️ 3. Microsoft PC Manager — Built by Microsoft

This newer tool from Microsoft offers one-click cleanup, RAM boosting, startup app control, and even update monitoring. Since it’s from Microsoft, it’s safe and won’t conflict with Windows.

Best for: simple all-in-one maintenance

Key Features:

• One-click cleanup and RAM boost

• Windows Update monitoring

• Startup app control

🧩 How to Use Built-in Windows Tools to Speed Up Your PC

🧠 4. Advanced SystemCare Free — All-In-One Optimizer

From IObit, this dashboard-style tool handles junk cleanup, privacy sweep, and startup tweaks. The free version is powerful enough for regular maintenance.

Best for: beginner-friendly, dashboard controls

Key Features:

• Deep junk cleaning

• Startup optimization

• Privacy sweep

🧩 What’s Slowing Down Your Computer? Let’s Find Out

🧰 5. Glary Utilities — Swiss Army Knife for PC

Glary has over 20 tools built in — from disk cleanup to duplicate finder and memory optimizer. One-click maintenance makes it painless.

Best for: extra tools beyond just cleanup

Key Features:

• 1-Click Maintenance option

• Duplicate file finder

• Memory optimizer

🧩What I Do During a Full Computer Tune-Up

🧠 6. Windows Storage Sense — Built-In and Automatic

You don’t always need third-party tools. Storage Sense (built into Windows 10 & 11) can automatically clean temporary files, empty Recycle Bin items, and more — on a schedule you choose.

Best for: automated maintenance without installs

Key Features:

• Built right into Windows

• Customizable to run on schedule

• No installation required

🧩 Free Windows Features You Might Not Know About

🗑️ 7. Wise Disk Cleaner — Lightweight & Fast

A no-nonsense cleanup tool that removes temporary files and browser caches. It also includes a disk defrag tool — great if your PC still uses a traditional hard drive.

Best for: fast cleanup with defrag support

Key Features:

• Fast and lightweight

• Safe for beginners

• Includes disk defrag tool

🧩 What’s the Best Way to Defrag a Hard Drive?

🛡️ 8. Malwarebytes Free — Essential Malware Removal

Slowness isn’t always junk files — sometimes it’s malware. Malwarebytes Free is a fantastic malware and adware scanner that finds and removes threats other tools miss.

Best for: malware & unwanted program cleanups

Key Features:

• Real-time scanning (in Premium version)

• Finds and removes adware and PUPs

• Lightweight and fast

🧩 Is Your PC Sluggish Because of Malware? Here’s How to Tell

🚀 9. Autoruns — Ultimate Startup Control

This Microsoft Sysinternals tool shows everything that runs at startup — not just the basics. It’s powerful for finding hidden bloatware or programs slowing your boot time.

Best for: advanced startup management

Key Features:

• Reveals hidden startup programs

• Helps disable bloatware

• Ideal for advanced users

🧩 What’s Loading at Startup and How to Stop It

🧰 10. AdwCleaner — One-Click Adware & PUP Removal

From the makers of Malwarebytes, AdwCleaner targets adware, toolbars, and potentially unwanted programs — things that quietly slow down your browser and system.

Best for: stubborn adware removal

Key Features:

• One-click adware removal

• Browser cleanup included

• No installation required

🧩Why Is My Browser So Slow? It Might Be Adware

⚡ Bonus Tips for Getting the Most Out of These Tools

✅ Don’t Run Them All Together

You don’t need to run 10 tools every day. Pick 2–3 you like and run them monthly for the best results.

💾 Back Up Before You Cleanup

Some tools can delete browser data, saved passwords, or registry entries. It’s always good to back up before running a big cleanup.

🚫 Avoid Fake “Free” Tools

Some malware pretends to be cleanup software. Stick with the trusted names above.

🧩 How to Avoid Scam Software That Pretends to Help

Should You Upgrade to Paid Versions?

Many of the tools above offer premium upgrades. But unless you need real-time monitoring or extra security features, the free versions are more than enough for basic PC maintenance.

🧩 Do You Really Need Paid Antivirus or Cleaner Apps?

💡 When Free Tools Aren’t Enough

Even the best free tools can’t always fix deep-seated issues — persistent startup problems, hidden background errors, or complex malware. If you’ve tried these and your PC still feels sluggish, I can help you dig deeper and fix it permanently, with a flat-rate service you can trust.

🧾 Quick Recap

• Use CCleaner or BleachBit for general junk cleanup

• Try Malwarebytes Free or AdwCleaner for malware/adware problems

• Use built-in Windows tools like Storage Sense for hands-off maintenance

Still Have Questions?

Got a question about which tool is best for your specific situation? Or maybe your older laptop is acting up and none of these are helping?

🧩 Ask Me Anything – I Love Helping People Fix Their Computers

🧩 Not Sure What’s Wrong? Let’s Figure It Out Together

Thanks for reading! If this helped, share it with a friend or bookmark it for your next PC tune-up.