Ashampoo WinOptimizer FREE

Ashampoo WinOptimizer FREE is the free edition of Ashampoo's long-running Windows tuning suite. It goes well beyond junk cleanup: Ashampoo describes it as a set of maintenance, performance and privacy tools in one app.

On the cleanup side you get an Internet Cleaner for browser caches and history across several browsers and user profiles, plus tools to clean the startup folder and reclaim disk space. On the tuning side, there are tools to disable unneeded services and processes, a registry defragmenter, an uninstaller, a file wiper and a file recovery tool. AntiSpy and Win10 Privacy Control adjust telemetry, location and other Windows privacy settings.

The interface is one of the more polished among free cleaners. Ashampoo says its free programs get the same testing as its paid products, and that paid versions have a larger feature set. Ashampoo's official page lists the free edition as a separate product, so check the Ashampoo site to see which modules your copy includes.

One caveat: the official installer is from July 2023 (version 26.00.12). It is still offered on the Ashampoo site, but it is not a new release, so check that the tool still suits your version of Windows. As with any tool that edits services and privacy settings, create a backup or restore point first.

We list it in 10 Best Free CCleaner Alternatives for Windows 11.