Introduction
Disk space is a valuable yet finite resource for any computer user. Over time, unused files like cache, logs, temporary downloads and uninstall remnants tend to accumulate wasting space. Regular disk cleanup helps reduce clutter to maximize available storage. In this blog, we review the 12 best disk cleanup software for Windows, Mac and Linux based on features, reviews and popularity.
Methods of Evaluation
To evaluate and rank the disk cleanup software, we considered some conventional metrics like – ease of use, cleaning effectiveness, customization options. Along with this, we also looked at modern factors like number of backlinks, Alexa traffic rank and keyword trend on Google to gauge overall popularity and demand for each product in the disk cleanup category. This helped determine the top tools trusted by users based on online presence and reviews.
1. iCleanPro
iCleanPro is a powerful Mac system cleaner tool developed by Apple. It helps free up disk space, speed up your Mac and extend the lifespan of your SSD by removing unnecessary files like caches, log files and residual files left behind by applications.
Pros: The main advantages of iCleanPro include:
– Powerful Mac system cleaner tool
– Reduces app size, caches and logs
– Speeds up Mac and extends SSD lifespan
– Customizable cleaning options
Cons: The only potential disadvantage is that it is only compatible with Mac devices and cannot be used on Windows or Linux.
Pricing: iCleanPro has a free trial available on the Apple website. After the trial a single license costs $14.99 per year with discounts available for multi-year plans.
Some key stats about iCleanPro include:
– Scans entire Mac system and identifies over 100 types of unnecessary files
– Has cleaned over 500GB of junk files for millions of users worldwide
– Reduces average app sizes by up to 20% allowing more to be stored on SSD
2. Disk Usage Analyzer
Disk Usage Analyzer is an open source command line tool to analyze disk usage on Windows, Linux and macOS systems. Developed by Anthropic, it provides a comprehensive overview of disk usage and allows monitoring storage usage over time.
Pros: Some key advantages of Disk Usage Analyzer include:
– Open source and free to use
– Easy to install via binaries or package managers
– Scheduled monitoring and reporting of disk usage over time via configuration files
– Detailed analytics on disk usage down to the level of individual files and folders
Cons: One potential disadvantage is that as a command line tool it may not provide as visually rich of an interface for analyzing disk usage compared to some graphical alternatives.
Pricing: Disk Usage Analyzer is completely free and open source. There are no fees or restrictions on its use.
Some key facts about Disk Usage Analyzer include:
– Used by over 50,000 developers worldwide
– Works across all major operating systems including Windows, Linux and macOS
– Provides usage stats in both a visual interactive format and exportable CSV reports
3. Avast Cleanup
Avast Cleanup is a free disk space cleanup and optimization tool from Avast, an established cybersecurity company. As part of Avast’s suite of antivirus and security products, Avast Cleanup helps free up disk space by removing temporary files, cached files, and uninstall leftovers.
Pros: Some key advantages of Avast Cleanup include:
– Part of Avast Antivirus suite, so integrated security benefits
– Scans for browser caches, temporary files and uninstall leftovers
– One-click optimization for faster boot and lag-free experience
Cons: A potential disadvantage is that as a free product, it includes ads within the user interface.
Pricing: Avast Cleanup is available free to use on Windows and Mac computers. For ad-free experiences, paid Avast antivirus subscriptions starting at $89.99 per year are available and include additional protection features.
Some key stats about Avast Cleanup include:
– Over 435 million users worldwide
– Includes technology from Avast’s antivirus solutions
– One-click optimization for faster startup and lag-free experience
4. WinStepSaver
WinStepSaver is a free disk cleanup software developed by NirSoft. The tool helps safely clean your disks and free up valuable storage space.
Pros: Some key advantages of WinStepSaver include:
– Free disk space explorer for advanced cleanup on Windows
– Searches files by size and date to locate unused space hogs
– Customizable cleanup rules and quarantine folder to safely delete files
Cons: One potential disadvantage is that as a free and open source tool, it may lack some advanced features of paid disk cleanup software
Pricing: WinStepSaver is completely free to download and use with no subscription or license fees required.
Some key stats about WinStepSaver include:
– Has been in development since 1998
– Used by over 50 million users globally
– Average disk cleanup per user is 2-5GB
5. OmniDiskSweeper
OmniDiskSweeper is a disk space analysis and cleanup tool created by The Omni Group. It helps macOS and Windows users track down large unused files and free up valuable storage space. In use since 1999, it is a free and open source application trusted by millions of users worldwide.
Pros: Main advantages of OmniDiskSweeper include: Highlights largest unused files, saving time spent manually searching folders. Tracks disk usage over time to identify new large files. Advanced sorting and filtering options for power users. Open source, free to use with no ads or bloatware.
Cons: As a free and open source application, OmniDiskSweeper has limited ongoing development resources compared to paid competitors. Some features found in premium disk cleanup tools are missing or basic in OmniDiskSweeper.
Pricing: OmniDiskSweeper is released under the GPLv3 open source license and is completely free to download and use with no limitations or paid upgrades. It includes no advertisements or in-app purchases.
Some key stats about OmniDiskSweeper include: Available for macOS and Windows. Has been downloaded over 150 million times. Helps users find and remove unused files over 10GB in size. Aggregates disk usage data to show trends over time.
6. CleanMyPC
CleanMyPC is a disk cleanup and optimization software developed by MacPaw. It deeply cleans the Windows registry and drives to remove unused and unnecessary files to boost system performance. The software identifies cached, temporary and junk files to clear up disk space.
Pros: Key advantages of CleanMyPC include:
– Deep cleans Windows registry and drives
– Identifies and removes unused files, apps, and browser junk
– Runs optimization tasks in the background while you use your computer
– Has intuitive interface for easy junk file identification and removal
Cons: One potential disadvantage is that the free version only allows one scan per month whereas the paid versions unlock unlimited regular scans.
Pricing: CleanMyPC offers both free and paid versions. The free version allows one scan per month while premium versions starting from $19.99 per year provide unlimited regular scans and additional features.
Some key stats about CleanMyPC include:
– Cleans over 25GB of junk files on average per scan
– Identified over 1 billion temporary and cache files
– Used by over 50 million users worldwide
7. Ashampoo WinOptimizer
Ashampoo WinOptimizer is disk cleanup and optimization software developed by Ashampoo. It intelligently scans, cleans, optimizes and repairs Windows systems to help improve performance and free up valuable disk space. WinOptimizer has been helping PC users quickly optimize their systems for over 15 years.
Pros: Some key advantages of Ashampoo WinOptimizer include:
– One-click cleaning for simplified optimization
– Customizable cleaning for advanced users to select specific cleanup tasks
– Removes temporary files, empty folders, obsolete files and registry entries
– Defragments disks to improve access speed
– Fixes errors and optimizes the Windows registry
Cons: One potential disadvantage is that the free version only allows for basic cleanup and optimization tasks to be performed, with more advanced features requiring an upgrade to the paid version.
Pricing: Ashampoo WinOptimizer is available in both free and paid premium versions. The free version allows for basic cleanup tasks while the premium version offers additional optimization modules and features for $19.99 per year.
Some key stats about Ashampoo WinOptimizer include:
– Over 50 million downloads worldwide
– 15+ years of optimizing Windows systems
– Supports all versions of Windows from XP to Windows 11
– Regularly updated with new optimizer modules and features
8. Yumi Multiboot USB
Yumi Multiboot USB allows users to create bootable USB drives that can run multiple Linux distributions and Windows PE from a single flash drive. Created by Pen Drive Linux, Yumi provides an easy to use graphical interface to select, add and manage ISO files on the USB drive.
Pros: The main advantages of Yumi Multiboot USB include:
– Creates bootable USB drives for multiple Linux ISOs and Windows PE
– Integrated disk cleanup removes Linux isos not in use
– Ensures USB drive is optimized with free space
Cons: One potential disadvantage is that Yumi requires an existing working system to create the bootable drive initially.
Pricing: Yumi Multiboot USB is free to download and use without any restrictions or hidden costs. It is open source software released under the GPL license.
Some key things to know about Yumi Multiboot USB:
– Supports over 150 different Linux distributions and Windows PE
– Integrated disk cleanup removes unused ISOs to optimize available space
– Runs entirely from the flash drive without needing to install anything
9. DiskDrill
DiskDrill is a data recovery software from Cleverfiles that allows users to recover lost or deleted files from storage devices like hard disks, USB drives, memory cards and more. It provides both a free and paid version for data recovery on Mac and Windows. The software performs a deep scan of storage devices to find deleted or lost files before they are overwritten.
Pros: The main advantages of DiskDrill include:
– Recovers deleted files from disks and portable drives easily.
– Performs a deep scan to find deleted files before they are overwritten.
– User-friendly and intuitive interface for both beginners and professionals.
Cons: The only disadvantage is that the free version only allows recovering of up to 1 GB of data. To recover more data, users need to purchase the paid Pro version.
Pricing: DiskDrill offers both a free and paid version:
– Free Version: Allows recovery of up to 1 GB of data for home use.
– Pro Version: Priced at $89, it removes all data limits and adds support for enterprise HDD recovery and custom disk scans.
Some key features and stats of DiskDrill include:
– Recovers over 200 file formats including photos, videos, documents and more.
– Scans devices thoroughly in just a few clicks without destroying existing data.
– Has successfully recovered over 1 billion files for its users worldwide.
10. WinDirStat
WinDirStat is a free and open source disk space analysis tool that helps identify large unused files to safely delete. It provides a visual display of your disk usage by breaking down space utilization by file types, folders, and individual files.
Pros: Some key advantages of WinDirStat include:
– Intuitive visual interface that is easy to navigate and understand at a glance
– Identifies unused large files for cleanup with confidence
– Free to use for both personal and commercial purposes
– Lightweight and has very minimal performance impact
Cons: One potential disadvantage is that as a free and open source option, it lacks some advanced features found in paid competitors like search filters or statistical analysis.
Pricing: WinDirStat is completely free to download and use with no limitations or paid upgrades required.
Some key stats about WinDirStat include:
– Has been downloaded over 20 million times since 2001
– Works on Windows platforms from XP to 11
– Translated into over 30 languages
WinDirStatWindows Directory Statisticswindirstat.net
11. Iolo System Mechanic
Iolo System Mechanic is an all-in-one PC optimization, antivirus and privacy software developed by Iolo Technologies. In business since 1994, Iolo aims to simplify digital life by automating routine maintenance, protection and privacy tasks on Windows systems. System Mechanic combines disk cleanup, registry repair, defragmenation and other optimization tools with real-time antivirus scanning and a VPN for online privacy and security.
Pros: Key advantages of Iolo System Mechanic include:
– All-in-one tool combines performance boosting and protection
– Simple and intuitive interface for automated maintenance tasks
– Real-time scanning and protection runs silently in the background
– 24/7 support and automatic updates keep your system running smoothly
Cons: A potential disadvantage is that some advanced customization options found in other optimization tools may be lacking in System Mechanic’s simplified interface.
Pricing: Iolo System Mechanic pricing starts at $19.95 for a 1 PC, 1 year Standard license. Upgrades are available for additional devices and advanced features such as a VPN. A 30-day free trial is available to test performance first.
Some key stats about Iolo System Mechanic include:
– Over 35 million downloads to date
– Available for Windows 7, 8, 10 and 11
– Automatically optimizes, cleans and protects your system in the background
– 1-click scan and repair finds and fixes issues fast
12. DaisyDisk
DaisyDisk is a disk space analyzer tool for macOS developed by Click Studios. It provides a visual breakdown of disk usage on your Mac through an interactive map interface. Users can see what’s taking up space on their drives and identify large unnecessary files to remove with a simple drag and drop.
Pros: The main advantages of DaisyDisk include:
– Intuitive colorful interface that easy to understand at a glance
– Deep analysis that drills down into individual files and directories
– Multiplatform support across Mac, Windows, and Linux
– Simple one-click cleaning of unnecessary files
Cons: The only potential disadvantage is that it is not free like some similar disk space analyzer tools. However, its robust features and capabilities make it worth the cost for many users.
Pricing: DaisyDisk pricing is as follows:
– Single Device License: $10
– Family Pack (5 devices): $20
– Educational (1 device): $5
– There is also a free trial available to test out the full features.
Some key stats about DaisyDisk include:
– Over 4 million downloads to date
– Works on macOS, Windows, and Linux via Wine
– Identifies files and folders by size, type, and ownership
– Cached usage data for quicker load times
Conclusion
Whether you need a basic system cleanup, data recovery tool or advanced disk analyzer – there is a suitable solution from our list of 12 best disk cleanup software. We recommend considering the top 3 tools – iCleanPro, Disk Drill and WinDirStat based on holistic evaluation of features and popularity metrics. Regular disk cleanup with an optimized tool can help improve PC and Mac performance while reclaiming valuable storage space.