Finding the Best PC Optimization Software for Windows 11
Utilities • Oct.26, 2021
Windows 11 launched this month, and the reviews have been mixed. There have been reports of users struggling with responsiveness and performance issues. At the same time, users with powerful PCs are experiencing the OS with zero lag. So, now what?
Are you going to be the person who bears the trouble, or are you going to do something about it? Well, if you’re someone who lets their actions speak, then we have the perfect companion to help you out. A PC optimizer helps you maintain your device’s performance and ensures that your PC is ready to upgrade to the new Windows 11 OS.
Windows 11: do I still need PC tune up?
Tune-up programs enjoyed some success in the boom years from Windows 95 to XP, when hardware was slower and optimization might make a difference. Today, Windows 11 looks after itself pretty well and takes care of your computer all on its own. Even if you don’t want to perform a manual defragmentation, your computer will continue to perform well while active so long as you don’t miss a scheduled maintenance.
However, Windows 11 lacks a singular tune-up tool; they’re scattered across the operating system, lacking a centralized location. If you find things are beginning to slow down or, consider yourself a power user and prefer having more control over what goes on with the inner workings of your computer, tune-up and optimisation programs could still be useful, because they provide a lot of tools in one handy package — often with just a single mouse-click.
Something is always better than nothing.
System optimization tools have received something of a bad rap over the years, but this is largely thanks to a handful of unscrupulous tools that serve little purchase. The same accusations simply do not apply to the latest curated tools below. These tools perform various tasks such as clearing junk files, fixing invalid registry entries, limiting processes from using memory in the background, and much more:
- Improved performance and responsiveness
- Improved UI and gaming experience
- Better RAM management
- Extra storage space
So, what’s the best PC optimization software?
Not sure where to start your search? We’ve tested and rounded up the top PC tuning utilities on the market today, taking into consideration key factors such as price, performance, and special features. If you’re looking for a specific type of optimization, we’ve picked out the tools from tune-up to all-around solution in category below to help further streamline your search.
- IObit Advanced SystemCare Pro
- Ashampoo® WinOptimizer
- iolo System Mechanic®
- AVG TuneUp for PC
- defencebyte Computer Optimizer
- Norton Computer Tune Up
For free or cheap PC optimization:
- CCleaner
- Glary Utilities
Best options for all-around PC enhancement
IObit Advanced SystemCare Pro
Developed with care, IObit Advanced SystemCare Pro comes loaded with several performance-enhancing tools to take care of various optimization needs. It has an internet speed-boosting tool, real-time optimization for your PC, privacy protection, registry cleaning support, and 24/7 technical support from its customer support team.
IObit Advanced SystemCare Pro has a well-designed user interface that is simple and unlikely to frighten beginners. Like most PC optimizers, it helps clean up different files and folders you don’t need and help clear apps that take up RAM to speed up the performance and responsiveness of your device.
Windows 11 has some performance issues due to its beta stage, but I found that IObit Advanced SystemCare Pro made great improvements and made the OS much more responsive than it was ever before.
It has a single-click optimization tool that scans through a bunch of settings, apps, and data. This helps it check for all the errors on your PC and then fix them in one go. It also helps monitor your CPU, GPU, and RAM performance in a single place. However, there is bound to be something bad, and the worst thing about the app is the constant upsell of different apps in the free version.
The new IObit Advanced SystemCare app comes in two different variants: a free version covering basic features and a Pro version that adds some of the best features that we have seen. It supports Windows 10 and can also be installed in the latest Windows 11 OS. You can get the pro version for $17 a year for a single PC license or $20 a year for a 3 PC license. Check our detailed review on the latest Advanced SystemCare Pro 15.
Pros
+ Improves Windows 11 performance
+ Useful Monitoring Tool
+ One-click Scan and Fix
+ Sleek Design and User Interface
+ Low cost
Cons
– It has ads in the free version
– Some features require downloading
Ashampoo® WinOptimizer
Wondering where Ashampoo WinOptimizer got its name from? Well, I did too. It turns out it takes the name from how it cleans your PC like a shampoo. Clever, right. However, will the app deliver on its promises? We tried out the app, and the most significant selling point is its flexibility.
You can use the tool to scan for junk files, fix broken registry entries, clear browser cookies with a single click, and entirely erase them with another click. You can also dive deeper by using the “Details” button to see your scan results, making it an excellent app for professionals or techy individuals.
Ashampoo WinOptimizer provides you with a full description of all the issues your PC has. It works similarly to Windows defender and explains exactly what the problem is and why you must remove it. Hence, it helps you make an informed decision about whether to erase the problem or keep it.
It also includes various modules for maintenance tasks, such as defragging your hard drive and optimizing the Widows startup processes for faster booting times. Yes, you can do these with the built-in Windows tools, but having them all in one place is much more convenient and practical.
Ashampoo WinOptimizer is available to download on Windows 7, 8, 10, and 11. It doesn’t have a download file for Windows 11 as of now, but you can use the regular old Windows 10 installer, and everything would work perfectly. You can get the free version or the pro version for $30 which would work on 10 PCs with a single license.
Pros
+ Dedicated scheduler tool for regular optimization
+ It has a comprehensive toolkit to help clean, optimize & protect your PC
+ Has a descriptive interface
+ Can perform quick and thorough scans
Cons
– A little expensive
– The process is a little slower than compared to the others
iolo System Mechanic®
iolo System Mechanic is an all in one PC tune program that removes junk files and unwanted apps. It also blocks spyware and unwanted auto-run settings from different apps. However, the primary feature is that it clears out apps extensively using RAM and wipes browser histories, caches, and other duplicate data.
You can also get the app’s pro version, which increases the number of features you can use. It frees up essential system resources and also protects your privacy.
The PC optimization toolkit on the iolo System Mechanic (detailed review) does make a difference. We found a significant speed improvement, especially with booting times and app startups. The genuine boost made it one of the best PC enhancer tools on the list.
All the credit goes to the comprehensive system cleaning system. It can help you repair over 30,000 problems, and it also lists a variety of issues in a standard format. Once it scans your PC and finds the problems, it recommends the fixes to resolve them, and it includes tools to perform real-time system monitoring and eliminate junk files.
The UI, however, can get some getting used to as it has different icons on the left panel, which all take you to different tools. This makes the UI less cluttered but increases the number of pages you need to visit to get your thing done.
You can download the app for free and use the limited features, but getting the Pro version makes more sense if you’re a regular user. It is available for $63.96 and would work on 1 PC with Windows 10 or 11 for a year.
Pros
+ Clutter-free with a simple UI
+ Great Free Version
+ Numerous amount of tools to fix PC errors
Cons
– The pro version is very expensive
Best options for tune-up
AVG TuneUp for PC
AVG TuneUp deserves a place on our list as it is a complete toolbox that provides a lot of functionality. It helps clean and optimize tools and features to update drivers, delete files, and much more. Apart from these regular tools, AVG Tuneup also offers some unique tools such as a sleep mode. This helps keep laptops running smoothly and preserve battery life.
AVG TuneUp also has an automatic scanning process used for routine maintenance, and it works amazingly well and ensures your PC work in an optimal state, without any lags. It works by identifying apps with startup processes running in the background and then by putting them to sleep until you next need them.
I ran some tests and saw decent improvements after running AVG TuneUp. My PC boot time dropped 14 seconds, then my average booting speed and the CPU and RAM utilization decreased by about 20-30% from my standard usage.
This is a great improvement, but you won’t be able to get it until you get the expensive premium version. It does have a free app, but it is only limited to 7 days of use which is a big bummer for all the budget users.
AVG TuneUp is available for Windows and macOS devices and has a free version that runs for 7-days. The premium version is expensive and would cost you $50 for a single device and $60 for 10 devices.
Pros
+ Supports defragmenting hard drives
+ Can help remove duplicate files
+ Has great features and impressive results
Cons
– Has a bad trial version limited to only 7 days
– The pro version is very expensive
defencebyte Computer Optimizer
Defencebyte Computer Optimizer is a program that helps speed up your PC by cleaning registries. It, too, has the same features and can help remove unnecessary log files and junk files that hamper your desktop’s performance.
It installs quickly and scans hard drives to find and delete removing faulty or old registry files, this includes uninstalled entries, invalid paths and programs, non-existent shared DLLs, and useless file extensions.
All PCs tend to slow down, and with a new update such as Windows 11, you can expect to see some performance loss. No desktop PC is ever exempted from this, and thus, defencebyte Computer Optimizer helps users with powerful registry cleaner and optimizer capabilities.
It also has various features, such as a browser cleaner, a broken/outdated driver care and an overview panel that shows all the essential information such as CPU and RAM utilization on a single screen.
You can download the tool for free or buy the premium version for $38.95 for a single license. It also comes in three different packages, which can cost a maximum of $181.95 for a total of 10 licenses.
Pros
+ Easy to use with a responsive UI
+ Can display all major information on a single screen
+ Has a great free trial app
Cons
– The premium version is a bit expensive
Norton Computer Tune Up
Norton Computer Tune Up states that it makes your old computer run like new again. Norton is very well known for its antivirus, and Tune Up service compliments it perfectly. It has support from pro-Norton technicians, and the service is available 24×7 within your 30-day purchase window.
Unlike regular old apps, Tune-Up is a service, so someone from Norton’s team will contact you and personally fix your PC errors. The executive will remote access your PC and check for errors and fix them. However, you would need to have administrator access and a robust internet connection for this to work smoothly.
Norton Tune-Up is a one-time service that you can purchase for $50 and is available to work on your Windows or macOS machine. It supports all Windows generations, including the latest Windows 11.
Pros
+ Personalized help and support
+ 24×7 ready support team
+ Works for Windows and Macs
Cons
– Expensive pricing
– One time support
Best options for free or cheap PC optimization
CCleaner
CCleaner has been around for a long time and was first popularized in the glory days of the old Android phones. This made it a popular tool for Windows users as well, and a reason for its popularity is that it cleans your PC without taking up much time. So, if you feel that your PC is starting to feel sluggish, then CCleaner is a great tool to fix it with.
CCleaner has a simple and easy-to-use UI with an optimization toolkit that adds protection modules and a cleanup scheduler that keeps your PC in pristine condition. However, the free version of the CCleaner app has basic features such as removing temporary files, erasing browser caches, and removing unwanted cookies.
I tried using the one-click scan tool, and it was able to scan through most of the duplicate files that I have made (as a backup) and recommended I delete those. It is pretty effective, and it also has a great set of optimization tools to wipe hard drives or tackle PC issues. However, the best feature is improving boot times and minimizing RAM consumption for a more responsive experience.
CCleaner is available on Windows 10 and 11 and can be downloaded for free. It also has a premium version that would cost you $25 for the pro and $35 for the pro plus variants.
Pros
+ It has a powerful deep scanning tool
+ It also has a game optimizer
+ Instantly frees up disk space
Cons
– The pro version doesn’t have much value
Glary Utilities
Glary Utilities is a decent alternative to the PC Cleaners above on the list. Along with the free and paid versions, it works well to speed up your computer & enhance the overall performance of your PC. However, it is not that useful as compared to the apps above.
The app prompts you to remove unused software and junk files, but it doesn’t provide detailed descriptions. This isn’t good because some users can delete useful files. However, it also has a backup and restores tool that can help you overcome the issue.
It has a well-organized and clean UI that sits well with both beginners and pros alike. You can also schedule tune-up times and clean or repair your PC. It is similar to the apps above, and we like that it is also present with Glary. This makes it easy to use, and hence you can access most of the features without much trouble.
Glary Utilities is available to download for Windows 7, 8, 10, and 11. The Pro version is priced at $19.97 and can be downloaded for free as well with a trial version.
Pros
+ The File Splitter tool helps divide larger chunks of files into small sections
+ It also keeps a complete track of your PC’s performance
+ Has a great scheduler to help automate scans
Cons
– Doesn’t have specific tools to protect and improve the browsing experience
FAQs
What to look for a good PC optimizer app?
Most of the PC Optimization apps have a lot of features. This can get confusing quickly, especially if you don’t know how the app works. So, here are a few things that you should look for:
- One-Click Fix – Helps you clean and fix errors with a single click
- System Cleaner – Scan and clean the storage space
- Memory Optimizer – Manage background processes that use a lot of RAM
- App Uninstaller – Helps clean large, unwanted apps
- Registry Cleaner – Repair invalid registry entries
These are the core features you should expect to see in a decent PC Optimizer for Windows 11. However, if you get some extra functionality, then it’s all the better.
What is the best system optimizer?
The best system optimizer is IObit Advanced SystemCare Pro. It increased the performance of my Windows 11 laptop by a lot and made it super responsive. So, if you too have the same problem, go ahead and install the app and optimize your PC.
What is the best game Optimizer for PC?
While there are many system optimization software programs on the list, the best game optimizer was Razer Cortex. The app worked as expected, and I noticed an improvement of 4-8 FPS on all the games I tried running. All you need to do is run the app and clean some background processes to improve the overall performance.
How do I clean my PC for free?
You can clean your PC from junk files and other unrequired data for free by using a free PC optimizer app. CCleaner is one such free app that can search all the junk on your PC and remove it within minutes.
Get your PC running smoothly
Fixing annoying bugs and errors can be stressful, and dealing with it on time with a busy schedule drives anyone mad. However, there’s a quick fix, and now that you know the best PC optimizer apps and services, you can quickly get to the root of the problem and fix the errors once and for all.
So, we hope that you will have a wonderful time using your optimized Windows 11 PC, and with this, we have reached the end of our guide and expect to see you run your PC with great responsiveness and ideal performance.
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