A List of the Best Freeware Registry Cleaner and Registry Repair Software
By Tim Fisher, About.com Guide
Updated January 2013
Registry cleaners are software programs that remove unnecessary entries from the Windows Registry.
Registry cleaners are especially useful for removing registry entries that point to files that no longer exist.
Note: I've only included freeware registry cleaner programs in this list - in other words, only completely
free registry cleaners. Any registry cleaner program that charges a fee
of any kind (e.g. shareware, trialware) will not be included here. If a
free registry cleaner has started to charge and I haven't removed it
yet, please let me know.
Important: Free registry cleaners should only be used to troubleshoot specific issues, NOT as part of your regular PC maintenance. See my Registry Cleaner FAQ for more about registry cleaning and registry cleaner software.
1. CCleaner
CCleaner
is the best free registry cleaner program I've tested. It's easy to
use, prompts you backup the registry before it makes changes, and
includes a number of other useful tools.
The CCleaner registry
cleaner work on Windows 8, 7, Vista, XP, Server 2008/2003, and older
Windows versions like 2000, NT, ME and 98. 64-bit Windows versions are
also supported.
Piriform provides both installable and portable versions of their free registry cleaner.
If
you're set on using an automated tool to fix an issue you have that's
caused by a registry problem, I highly recommend you use Piriform's
CCleaner freeware registry cleaner tool.
I tested CCleaner v3.26.1888 using both their portable and installable versions on a 64-bit version of Windows 7.
2. JetClean
JetClean, a free registry cleaner by BlueSprig, isn't one I see mentioned a lot but I found it to be very well done.
The
JetClean registry cleaner supports both 32-bit and 64-bit versions of
Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP, and Windows 2000.
JetClean
scanned the entire registry in just a few seconds, has a well designed
interface, and didn't try to push some unnecessary browser toolbar on me
during installation.
There were twp things I didn't like about
JetClean. One: It isn't available in a portable version. Two: The number
of cookies that JetClean considers keepable, by default, is a bit
excessive.
I tested JetClean v1.4.0 in Windows 7.3. Wise Registry Cleaner
Wise
Registry Cleaner comes in very close to the other top rated registry
fix tools. ZhiQing Soft has put together a fantastic free registry
cleaner program.
Wise Registry Cleaner comes in both installable
and portable versions and can be used on Windows 7, all the way back
through Windows 98. 64-bit Windows versions are supported.
Some
big pluses for Wise's free registry cleaner include fast registry scans
and a clear separation between normal issues and those that are
"unsafe," a feature I loved.
I don't like the fact that Wise
Registry Cleaner pushes for a download of Wise Disk Cleaner during
installation but it's easy to skip.
I tested the installable version of Wise Registry Cleaner v7.31.469 in Windows 7.
4. Auslogics Registry Cleaner
Auslogics
Registry Cleaner is another great registry cleaner program - it's
probably one of the easiest registry cleaners to use out of all the
tools I've tested.
Auslogics Registry Cleaner is compatible with
Windows 7, Server 2008 & 2003, Vista, XP, and 2000. Both 32-bit and
64-bit versions of Windows are supported.
My favorite feature of
Auslogics Registry Cleaner is the colored severity rating for each
category of registry area that the program finds that needs attention.
This makes it really easy to figure out what might be having an impact
on your computer.
If the two higher rated registry repair tools
in my list don't give you the results you were looking for, give
Auslogics Registry Cleaner a try.
I tested Auslogics Registry Cleaner v2.3.0.5 in Windows 7.
Note:
During installation, Auslogics Registry Cleaner tries to install a
browser toolbar and make changes to your browser's home page and new
tabs page. Be sure to uncheck those options if you're not interested.
5. Advanced SystemCare Free
Advanced
SystemCare Free from IObit is another excellent free registry cleaner
program. Advanced SystemCare Free is very easy to use, has an excellent
interface, and includes several other "system care" capabilities,
including the ability to remove some malware, clean junk files, and
more.
Advanced SystemCare Free works in Windows 8, 7, Vista, XP,
and 2000. According to IObit, both 32-bit and 64-bit versions of Windows
are supported.
I tested the registry fixing abilities of Advanced SystemCare Free v5.3.0.246 in Windows 7.
Note: Advanced SystemCare Free tries to install a custom browser toolbar during its setup but it's easy to decline if you so choose.
6. Registry Repair
Glarysoft's
Registry Repair is another good freeware registry cleaner. Registry
Repair is pretty simple to use and is a good option if some of the
better tools aren't working out for you.
Registry Repair works in
Windows 7, Vista, XP, Server 2003, and older Windows operating systems
like Windows 2000, NT, ME and 98.
I tested Glarysoft's Registry Repair v4.1.0.388 in Windows 7.
Note:
After the installation of Registry Repair, you're asked if you'd like
to run the program (this is typical) but you're also asked if you'd like
to set "Glary Search" as your browser's homepage. Be sure to uncheck
that if you're not interested.
7. EasyCleaner
EasyCleaner
is one of the oldest and most trusted free registry cleaners out there.
The interface is a bit dated but it's a solid registry repair tool.
The
ToniArts website says that EasyCleaner works in Windows 7, Vista, XP,
2000, NT, ME, 98, and 95. Both installer and portable versions of this
registry cleaner are available.
EasyCleaner took considerably
longer than other registry cleaners to scan my registry but it did a
fine job overall. I also liked how I wasn't asked to install a
completely unrelated and useless browser toolbar during the install!
I tested the installable version of EasyCleaner v2.0.6.380 in Windows 7.
8. Comodo System Utilities
Comodo
System Utilities is yet another good freeware registry cleaner program.
It's simple to use and scanned the registry in a reasonable amount of
time.
The Comodo System Utilities tool is designed for Windows 7,
Vista, Server 2003, and XP. It works on both 32-bit and 64-bit versions
of Windows.
I tested Comodo System Utilities v4.0.226743.26 in
Windows 7. There are several other features in this "utility" but I only
looked at the registry cleaning portion.
I'm usually a big fan
of Comodo products and Comodo System Utilities delivered on my
exceptions. I especially liked a seemingly tiny feature: the ability to
automatically create a restore point prior to clearing the registry.
That could really come in handy if you run into a problem post-cleaning.
9. Eusing Free Registry Cleaner
Eusing
Free Registry Cleaner is another free registry cleaner. I frequently
see references to this particular registry cleaner on other "top" lists
but I didn't find anything spectacular about it.
Eusing Software
says that their free registry cleaner works on Windows 7, Vista, Server
2003, XP, 2000, NT, ME, 98, and 95. Portable and installable versions
are available.
I tested the installable version of Eusing Free Registry Cleaner v2.8.1 in Windows 7.
Tip:
Remember, a registry cleaner program is not a regular PC maintenance
tool. Registry cleaners don't typically speed up your computer or
provide any other day-to-day improvements to your PC. Registry cleaners
should only be used to help solve specific kinds of problems.
10. Cleanersoft Free Registry Fix
Cleanersoft
Free Registry Fix is suspiciously similar to Eusing Free Registry
Cleaner. That said, I'm not sure which freeware registry cleaner came
first. The only reason I rank Cleanersoft's Free Registry Fix lower than
Eusing Free Registry Cleaner is because this program took a very long
time to scan the registry.
Cleanersoft Software says that their
Free Registry Fix program works on Windows 7, Vista, Server 2003, XP,
2000, NT, ME, 98, and 95.
Of all the free registry cleaners that I
tested, Cleanersoft Free Registry Fix found the largest number of
registry entries that needed "repaired" but that doesn't necessarily
mean it's the best program.
I tested Cleanersoft Free Registry Fix v1.8 on Windows 7 and didn't have any problems.
11. Free Window Registry Repair
Free
Window Registry Repair reminds me a lot of Eusing Free Registry Cleaner
and Cleanersoft Free Registry Fix and so my assessment is similar. Try
this registry cleaner if you need to, skip it and try a better one if you don't.
RegSofts Software's website says Free Window Registry Repair is compatible with Windows 7, Vista, XP, and 2000, NT, ME and 98.
Registry
scan time with Free Window Registry Repair was longer that with some of
the higher rated registry cleaners but overall it looks like a decent
tool.
I tested Free Window Registry Repair in Windows 7.
12. Little Registry Cleaner
Little
Registry Cleaner seems to be as good a registry cleaner as any other in
this area of my list. I do like that it's an open source program.
Little
Registry Cleaner is an open source registry cleaner that works on
Windows 7, Vista, XP, and 2000 - on both 32-bit and 64-bit versions.
Installable and portable versions are available.
One particular high point? As soon as the installation begins, Little Registry Cleaner says this: "This program is freeware. If you paid for a copy o this program, get a refund!" That's pretty clear: this is a completely free registry cleaner.
Note:
During installation, you're prompted to agree to install a browser
toolbar, an ASPCA add-on, and to change your default browser search
provider and homepage to another. Just uncheck those options and decline
the toolbar and add-on installations.
I last tested the installable version of Little Registry Cleaner v1.4.2 in Windows 7.
Update:
As of Little Registry Cleaner v1.5.1, the program does not work due to
an issue reading the latest version of .NET Framework 4.0. This is
probably an easy fix and may be corrected in a future update but for
now, since it won't start, I can't recommend this registry cleaner.
Know of Another Free Registry Cleaner?
I've tried to list every freeware registry cleaner available in this list but if I missed one, let me know so I can add it!
Important: I will not, under any circumstances, include registry cleaners in this list that are not 100% free. In other words, I will only include freeware registry cleaners - NO shareware and NO trialware registry cleaners.
Be sure to to let me know if one of the freeware registry cleaners above has started charging users so I can remove it from this list.
Important: I will not, under any circumstances, include registry cleaners in this list that are not 100% free. In other words, I will only include freeware registry cleaners - NO shareware and NO trialware registry cleaners.
Be sure to to let me know if one of the freeware registry cleaners above has started charging users so I can remove it from this list.
