7 Best Free Registry Cleaners

 01. CCleaner

What We Like

• Creates a backup file before making any changes to the registry.

• Contains outstanding feature set.

• Offers installable and portable versions.

What We Don't Like

• Installer adds another program unless expressly denied permission.

• Download page is confusing.

• Could use expanded documentation for new users.

• Free only for home users.

CCleaner is the best free registry cleaner program we've tested. It's easy to use, prompts you to back up the registry before it makes changes, and includes a number of other useful tools.

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, we highly recommend you use Piriform's CCleaner freeware registry cleaner tool.

The most recent version of the CCleaner registry cleaner runs on Windows 10, 8 & 8.1, and 7. CCleaner also works with macOS 10.8 and newer.

We tested CCleaner v5.82 using both their portable and installable versions on a 64-bit version of Windows 10 and Windows 8.

02. Wise Registry Cleaner

What We Like

• Easy to use.

• Automatically backs up registry before cleaning.

• Scheduled automatic registry cleaning.

• Three levels of registry scan.

What We Don't Like

• May try to install an extra program during setup.

• Requires a reboot.

Wise Registry Cleaner comes in very close to the other top rated registry fix tools. They've put together a fantastic free registry cleaner program.

Some big pluses for Wise's free registry cleaner include fast registry scans, scheduled scans, in place updates, and a clear separation between normal issues and those that are "unsafe," a feature we loved.

We don't like the fact that Wise Registry Cleaner pushes for a download of Wise Disk Cleaner at the end of the installation but it's easy to skip.

Wise Registry Cleaner comes in both installable and portable versions and can be used on Windows 10, 8, 7, Vista, and XP. 64-bit Windows versions are supported.

We tested the installable version of Wise Registry Cleaner v10.3.5 in Windows 10.

03. JetClean

What We Like

• Clean, intuitive interface.

• Automatically backs up registry.

• Scheduled cleanings.

• One-click scan.

What We Don't Like

• Tries to install toolbar during installation.

• Portable version generated within installed version.

• Keeps a lot of cookies.

JetClean, a free registry cleaner by BlueSprig, isn't one we see mentioned a lot but we found it to be very well done.

JetClean scanned the entire registry in just a few seconds and has a well-designed interface.

There are two major things we didn't like about JetClean. One: The number of cookies that JetClean considers keepable, by default, is a bit excessive. Two: It tries to install a toolbar, but you can decline it during installation.

We also don't like that there's not an easily available portable version of JetClean. Yes, one exists, but you have to "generate" one from within the installed version of JetClean on your computer. Strange!

The JetClean registry cleaner supports both 32-bit and 64-bit versions of Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP, and Windows 2000.

We tested JetClean v1.5.0 in Windows 10 and Windows 7.

04. Auslogics Registry Cleaner

What We Like

• One-click cleaning.

• Automatic registry backup.

• Can be paused and then continue later.

• Nicely formatted report of problems found and fixed.

• Lets you create a portable version.

What We Don't Like

• Tries to install additional programs during setup.

• Several extra features aren't free.

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 we've tested.

One nice feature of this registry fixer is the extremely detailed reports page. After any cleaning, you can open a document that shows, in detail, everything that the program fixed.

In the settings is where you can access Rescue Center, which is a list of registry backups made before each cleaning. You can edit the settings to keep the backups forever if you never want to lose them.

It's compatible with modern versions of Windows like Windows 10 and Windows 8, and likely older ones, too.

Auslogics Registry Cleaner v9 was tested in Windows 10.

05. AML Registry Cleaner

What We Like

• Easy-to-use interface.

• Includes additional useful tools.

• Can exclude registry items from scan.

What We Don't Like

• Registry backups aren't automatic.

• Scans a little slowly.

AML Registry Cleaner wasn't part of this list when we first put it together which was an obvious oversight on our part. It's been the most frequent reader-suggested addition to these programs.

The interface is a bit "old" in style, but AML Registry Cleaner makes up for that with a solid registry search, lots of still-free additional tools, and a long history of not accidentally causing more problems.

AML Registry Cleaner works on both 64-bit and 32-bit versions of Windows 10, 8, 7, Vista, and XP, as well as on some Windows Server operating systems.

We tested v4.25 in Windows 10 and Windows 7.

06. Registry Repair

What We Like

• Creates backup automatically.

• Uncluttered interface.

• Program updates automatically.

What We Don't Like

• No option to create a restore point.

• May try to install unneeded programs during setup.

Glarysoft's Registry Repair is another good freeware registry cleaner. It's 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 10, 8, 7, Vista, XP, Server 2003, and older Windows operating systems like Windows 2000, NT, ME and 98. However, the tool is not supported after Windows 8.1.

We tested v5.0.1 in Windows 10 and Windows 7.

07. jv16 Powertools Lite 2013

What We Like

• Interface isn't confusing.

• Generates automatic registry backups.

• Highly customizable.

What We Don't Like

• Interface shows its age.

• Lots of options increase the chance of causing problems.

• Not as user-friendly as other registry cleaners.

jv16 PowerTools Lite is a freeware registry cleaner created by Macecraft, makers of several popular Windows utilities. jv16 PowerTools Lite was fast and found a similar number of needless registry entries as other tools in this area of this list.

No toolbars or other programs tried to install like with some other free registry cleaners.

jv16 PowerTools Lite works with Windows 10, 8, 7, Vista, and XP. However, the tool is not supported above Windows 7.

We tested jv16 PowerTools Lite in Windows 8.