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The Best System Utilities for 2024

Checking your PC regularly can help it run smoothly. You can use system utilities software to optimize your PC's performance, fix any problems, and make it faster.

See also:

• What to look for

• FAQs

• Jargon explained


System utilities software comparison chart for 2024

Rank 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Norton Utilities Ultimate
Iolo System Mechanic
Systweak Advanced System Optimizer
AVG PC TuneUp
Fix-It Utilities Professional
Total Defense PC Tune-Up
Auslogics BoostSpeed Pro 13
Glary Utilities PRO
Excellent
Five stars means excellent
Very good
Four stars means very good
Good
Three stars means good
Average
Two stars means average /
Poor
One star means poor
Norton Utilities Ultimate has been awarded best buy Product image of norton utilities ultimate Product image of iolo system mechanic Product image of systweak advanced system optimizer Product image of avg pc tuneup Product image of fix-it utilities professional Product image of total defense pc tune-up Product image of auslogics boostspeed pro 13 Product image of glary utilities pro
 
 
Ratings
Overall
norton utilities ultimate has a rating of four  overall iolo system mechanic has a rating of four  overall systweak advanced system optimizer has a rating of five  overall avg pc tuneup has a rating of five  overall fix-it utilities professional has a rating of four  overall total defense pc tune-up has a rating of four  overall auslogics boostspeed pro 13 has a rating of four  overall glary utilities pro has a rating of four  overall
Setup
norton utilities ultimate has a rating of four  setup iolo system mechanic has a rating of four  setup systweak advanced system optimizer has a rating of five  setup avg pc tuneup has a rating of five  setup fix-it utilities professional has a rating of five  setup total defense pc tune-up has a rating of four  setup auslogics boostspeed pro 13 has a rating of four  setup glary utilities pro has a rating of three  setup
Repair
norton utilities ultimate has a rating of five  repair iolo system mechanic has a rating of five  repair systweak advanced system optimizer has a rating of five  repair avg pc tuneup has a rating of five  repair fix-it utilities professional has a rating of four  repair total defense pc tune-up has a rating of four  repair auslogics boostspeed pro 13 has a rating of four  repair glary utilities pro has a rating of four  repair
Optimization
norton utilities ultimate has a rating of four  optimization iolo system mechanic has a rating of five  optimization systweak advanced system optimizer has a rating of five  optimization avg pc tuneup has a rating of five  optimization fix-it utilities professional has a rating of five  optimization total defense pc tune-up has a rating of three  optimization auslogics boostspeed pro 13 has a rating of four  optimization glary utilities pro has a rating of five  optimization
Management
norton utilities ultimate has a rating of four  management iolo system mechanic has a rating of four  management systweak advanced system optimizer has a rating of five  management avg pc tuneup has a rating of five  management fix-it utilities professional has a rating of four  management total defense pc tune-up has a rating of three  management auslogics boostspeed pro 13 has a rating of four  management glary utilities pro has a rating of four  management
Security
norton utilities ultimate has a rating of four  security iolo system mechanic has a rating of four  security systweak advanced system optimizer has a rating of five  security avg pc tuneup has a rating of five  security fix-it utilities professional has a rating of four  security total defense pc tune-up has a rating of four  security auslogics boostspeed pro 13 has a rating of four  security glary utilities pro has a rating of five  security
Features
norton utilities ultimate has a rating of four  features iolo system mechanic has a rating of four  features systweak advanced system optimizer has a rating of five  features avg pc tuneup has a rating of five  features fix-it utilities professional has a rating of five  features total defense pc tune-up has a rating of three  features auslogics boostspeed pro 13 has a rating of four  features glary utilities pro has a rating of five  features
Ease of use
norton utilities ultimate has a rating of four  ease of use iolo system mechanic has a rating of four  ease of use systweak advanced system optimizer has a rating of five  ease of use avg pc tuneup has a rating of five  ease of use fix-it utilities professional has a rating of five  ease of use total defense pc tune-up has a rating of three  ease of use auslogics boostspeed pro 13 has a rating of three  ease of use glary utilities pro has a rating of three  ease of use
Help & support
norton utilities ultimate has a rating of four  help & support iolo system mechanic has a rating of four  help & support systweak advanced system optimizer has a rating of five  help & support avg pc tuneup has a rating of five  help & support fix-it utilities professional has a rating of four  help & support total defense pc tune-up has a rating of four  help & support auslogics boostspeed pro 13 has a rating of four  help & support glary utilities pro has a rating of four  help & support
Repair
Registry keys
norton utilities ultimate  registry keys iolo system mechanic  registry keys systweak advanced system optimizer  registry keys avg pc tuneup  registry keys fix-it utilities professional  registry keys total defense pc tune-up  registry keys auslogics boostspeed pro 13  registry keys glary utilities pro  registry keys
Shortcuts
norton utilities ultimate  shortcuts iolo system mechanic  shortcuts systweak advanced system optimizer  shortcuts avg pc tuneup  shortcuts fix-it utilities professional  shortcuts total defense pc tune-up  shortcuts auslogics boostspeed pro 13  shortcuts glary utilities pro  shortcuts
Files
norton utilities ultimate  files iolo system mechanic  files systweak advanced system optimizer  files avg pc tuneup  files fix-it utilities professional  files total defense pc tune-up  files auslogics boostspeed pro 13  files glary utilities pro  files
Hard drives
norton utilities ultimate  hard drives iolo system mechanic  hard drives systweak advanced system optimizer  hard drives avg pc tuneup  hard drives fix-it utilities professional  hard drives total defense pc tune-up  hard drives auslogics boostspeed pro 13  hard drives glary utilities pro  hard drives
Optimization
Defrag hard drive
norton utilities ultimate  defrag hard drive iolo system mechanic  defrag hard drive systweak advanced system optimizer  defrag hard drive avg pc tuneup  defrag hard drive fix-it utilities professional  defrag hard drive total defense pc tune-up  defrag hard drive auslogics boostspeed pro 13  defrag hard drive glary utilities pro  defrag hard drive
Cleans hard drive
norton utilities ultimate  cleans hard drive iolo system mechanic  cleans hard drive systweak advanced system optimizer  cleans hard drive avg pc tuneup  cleans hard drive fix-it utilities professional  cleans hard drive total defense pc tune-up  cleans hard drive auslogics boostspeed pro 13  cleans hard drive glary utilities pro  cleans hard drive
Defrag registry
norton utilities ultimate  defrag registry iolo system mechanic  defrag registry systweak advanced system optimizer  defrag registry avg pc tuneup  defrag registry fix-it utilities professional  defrag registry total defense pc tune-up  defrag registry auslogics boostspeed pro 13  defrag registry glary utilities pro  defrag registry
Driver updater
norton utilities ultimate  driver updater iolo system mechanic  driver updater systweak advanced system optimizer  driver updater avg pc tuneup  driver updater fix-it utilities professional  driver updater total defense pc tune-up  driver updater auslogics boostspeed pro 13  driver updater glary utilities pro  driver updater
Duplicate file remover
norton utilities ultimate  duplicate file remover iolo system mechanic  duplicate file remover systweak advanced system optimizer  duplicate file remover avg pc tuneup  duplicate file remover fix-it utilities professional  duplicate file remover total defense pc tune-up  duplicate file remover auslogics boostspeed pro 13  duplicate file remover glary utilities pro  duplicate file remover
Internet history cleaner
norton utilities ultimate  internet history cleaner iolo system mechanic  internet history cleaner systweak advanced system optimizer  internet history cleaner avg pc tuneup  internet history cleaner fix-it utilities professional  internet history cleaner total defense pc tune-up  internet history cleaner auslogics boostspeed pro 13  internet history cleaner glary utilities pro  internet history cleaner
Memory optimizer
norton utilities ultimate  memory optimizer iolo system mechanic  memory optimizer systweak advanced system optimizer  memory optimizer avg pc tuneup  memory optimizer fix-it utilities professional  memory optimizer total defense pc tune-up  memory optimizer auslogics boostspeed pro 13  memory optimizer glary utilities pro  memory optimizer
System analyzer
norton utilities ultimate  system analyzer iolo system mechanic  system analyzer systweak advanced system optimizer  system analyzer avg pc tuneup  system analyzer fix-it utilities professional  system analyzer total defense pc tune-up  system analyzer auslogics boostspeed pro 13  system analyzer glary utilities pro  system analyzer
Windows optimizer
norton utilities ultimate  windows optimizer iolo system mechanic  windows optimizer systweak advanced system optimizer  windows optimizer avg pc tuneup  windows optimizer fix-it utilities professional  windows optimizer total defense pc tune-up  windows optimizer auslogics boostspeed pro 13  windows optimizer glary utilities pro  windows optimizer
Management
Disk diagnostics
norton utilities ultimate  disk diagnostics iolo system mechanic  disk diagnostics systweak advanced system optimizer  disk diagnostics avg pc tuneup  disk diagnostics fix-it utilities professional  disk diagnostics total defense pc tune-up  disk diagnostics auslogics boostspeed pro 13  disk diagnostics glary utilities pro  disk diagnostics
Erase partitions
norton utilities ultimate  erase partitions iolo system mechanic  erase partitions systweak advanced system optimizer  erase partitions avg pc tuneup  erase partitions fix-it utilities professional  erase partitions total defense pc tune-up  erase partitions auslogics boostspeed pro 13  erase partitions glary utilities pro  erase partitions
Hardware diagnostics
norton utilities ultimate  hardware diagnostics iolo system mechanic  hardware diagnostics systweak advanced system optimizer  hardware diagnostics avg pc tuneup  hardware diagnostics fix-it utilities professional  hardware diagnostics total defense pc tune-up  hardware diagnostics auslogics boostspeed pro 13  hardware diagnostics glary utilities pro  hardware diagnostics
Processes manager
norton utilities ultimate  processes manager iolo system mechanic  processes manager systweak advanced system optimizer  processes manager avg pc tuneup  processes manager fix-it utilities professional  processes manager total defense pc tune-up  processes manager auslogics boostspeed pro 13  processes manager glary utilities pro  processes manager
Startup manager
norton utilities ultimate  startup manager iolo system mechanic  startup manager systweak advanced system optimizer  startup manager avg pc tuneup  startup manager fix-it utilities professional  startup manager total defense pc tune-up  startup manager auslogics boostspeed pro 13  startup manager glary utilities pro  startup manager
System information
norton utilities ultimate  system information iolo system mechanic  system information systweak advanced system optimizer  system information avg pc tuneup  system information fix-it utilities professional  system information total defense pc tune-up  system information auslogics boostspeed pro 13  system information glary utilities pro  system information
Uninstall manager
norton utilities ultimate  uninstall manager iolo system mechanic  uninstall manager systweak advanced system optimizer  uninstall manager avg pc tuneup  uninstall manager fix-it utilities professional  uninstall manager total defense pc tune-up  uninstall manager auslogics boostspeed pro 13  uninstall manager glary utilities pro  uninstall manager
Security
File encryption
norton utilities ultimate  file encryption iolo system mechanic  file encryption systweak advanced system optimizer  file encryption avg pc tuneup  file encryption fix-it utilities professional  file encryption total defense pc tune-up  file encryption auslogics boostspeed pro 13  file encryption glary utilities pro  file encryption
File shredder
norton utilities ultimate  file shredder iolo system mechanic  file shredder systweak advanced system optimizer  file shredder avg pc tuneup  file shredder fix-it utilities professional  file shredder total defense pc tune-up  file shredder auslogics boostspeed pro 13  file shredder glary utilities pro  file shredder
Features
Automatic updates
norton utilities ultimate  automatic updates iolo system mechanic  automatic updates systweak advanced system optimizer  automatic updates avg pc tuneup  automatic updates fix-it utilities professional  automatic updates total defense pc tune-up  automatic updates auslogics boostspeed pro 13  automatic updates glary utilities pro  automatic updates
System restore
norton utilities ultimate  system restore iolo system mechanic  system restore systweak advanced system optimizer  system restore avg pc tuneup  system restore fix-it utilities professional  system restore total defense pc tune-up  system restore auslogics boostspeed pro 13  system restore glary utilities pro  system restore
Help & support
Telephone support
norton utilities ultimate  telephone support iolo system mechanic  telephone support systweak advanced system optimizer  telephone support avg pc tuneup  telephone support fix-it utilities professional  telephone support total defense pc tune-up  telephone support auslogics boostspeed pro 13  telephone support glary utilities pro  telephone support
Email support
norton utilities ultimate  email support iolo system mechanic  email support systweak advanced system optimizer  email support avg pc tuneup  email support fix-it utilities professional  email support total defense pc tune-up  email support auslogics boostspeed pro 13  email support glary utilities pro  email support
Live chat
norton utilities ultimate  live chat iolo system mechanic  live chat systweak advanced system optimizer  live chat avg pc tuneup  live chat fix-it utilities professional  live chat total defense pc tune-up  live chat auslogics boostspeed pro 13  live chat glary utilities pro  live chat
Manual
norton utilities ultimate  manual iolo system mechanic  manual systweak advanced system optimizer  manual avg pc tuneup  manual fix-it utilities professional  manual total defense pc tune-up  manual auslogics boostspeed pro 13  manual glary utilities pro  manual
FAQs
norton utilities ultimate  faqs iolo system mechanic  faqs systweak advanced system optimizer  faqs avg pc tuneup  faqs fix-it utilities professional  faqs total defense pc tune-up  faqs auslogics boostspeed pro 13  faqs glary utilities pro  faqs
Forums
norton utilities ultimate  forums iolo system mechanic  forums systweak advanced system optimizer  forums avg pc tuneup  forums fix-it utilities professional  forums total defense pc tune-up  forums auslogics boostspeed pro 13  forums glary utilities pro  forums
Operating systems
Windows 11
norton utilities ultimate  windows 11 iolo system mechanic  windows 11 systweak advanced system optimizer  windows 11 avg pc tuneup  windows 11 fix-it utilities professional  windows 11 total defense pc tune-up  windows 11 auslogics boostspeed pro 13  windows 11 glary utilities pro  windows 11
Windows 10
norton utilities ultimate  windows 10 iolo system mechanic  windows 10 systweak advanced system optimizer  windows 10 avg pc tuneup  windows 10 fix-it utilities professional  windows 10 total defense pc tune-up  windows 10 auslogics boostspeed pro 13  windows 10 glary utilities pro  windows 10
Windows 8
norton utilities ultimate  windows 8 iolo system mechanic  windows 8 systweak advanced system optimizer  windows 8 avg pc tuneup  windows 8 fix-it utilities professional  windows 8 total defense pc tune-up  windows 8 auslogics boostspeed pro 13  windows 8 glary utilities pro  windows 8
Windows 7
norton utilities ultimate  windows 7 iolo system mechanic  windows 7 systweak advanced system optimizer  windows 7 avg pc tuneup  windows 7 fix-it utilities professional  windows 7 total defense pc tune-up  windows 7 auslogics boostspeed pro 13  windows 7 glary utilities pro  windows 7

System utilities software explained

System utilities are software applications that are specifically designed to improve and sustain the performance and stability of a computer. They may be referred to by various names, including system optimizers, PC tools, or Tune-Up suites. But fear not, these programs all address similar issues and deliver similar benefits.

What issues do system utilities aim to fix?

As you use your computer over time, a variety of annoyances and problems may occur. You might find that:

  • Your PC takes more than five minutes to boot up
  • Windows performance is sluggish when opening certain programs
  • Running low on hard disk space (despite deleting unnecessary files)
  • You've faced a 'registry' error and don’t know how to fix it

By installing and running system utilities software on your computer, you can fix these problems - improve your computer's overall performance, get rid of unwanted software from your hard disk drive, and resolve various PC issues. You are also likely to find faster processing times and a more efficient computing experience.

What else can they do to improve my computer?

They can help fix errors, free up space, and even back up your important data. Very often, you can launch a comprehensive health check that will identify and fix issues, ensuring that your computer will run as smoothly as the day you bought it.


What to look for in system utilities software

Multiple strategies

Most optimization and speed-up software available today employ a combination of various strategies. These programs typically begin by scanning your hard drives, freeing up disk space by eliminating any unnecessary or unused files. Furthermore, they may update outdated hardware drivers and rectify common Windows errors caused by missing files by downloading replacements from the Internet. With these effective measures, such utilities can significantly contribute to keeping your system running smoothly and efficiently.

Registry cleaner

Ensuring the optimal performance of your Windows computer hinges on Registry optimization. The Registry acts as a blueprint for all your hardware and software configurations and options. With each software installation or deletion, the Registry can easily get cluttered with redundant files or even lead to the accidental deletion of critical files, both causing system performance issues. To tackle this, you must consider using a Registry cleaner that can identify and resolve any Registry-related issues, back up your data, and streamline it to thwart future errors, crashes, and freezes.

Ease of use

Choosing system utilities software can be overwhelming with all the technical jargon involved, such as registry cleaners, disk defragmentation, partition tables, and surface scans. However, you don't need to understand all these terms to benefit from a system utilities package. Most of them are user-friendly and offer set-up wizards to guide you through each process, making it easy for you.

Help and support

It's important to keep in mind that some system utilities software may not include on-going technical support as part of the price. Make sure to do your research and check if this is a feature that you require before making a purchase.

Conclusion

When choosing a system utilities software, it's essential to consider the features that are important to you. Our reviews break down the features of each product, making it easier for you to decide what you need. Take a look at our star ratings to help you make an informed decision.


FAQs

Q. How often should I use system utilities software?

It's important to keep your computer running efficiently with regular maintenance, just like you would with a car. You can make the process easier by using system utilities software, which can automate clean-up and optimization processes. By doing so, you can easily clean up your PC's registry or eliminate clutter on your hard disk with just a few clicks. Before purchasing any software, make sure to do your research and ensure that it has the necessary features and technical support.

Q. Is it not possible for me to manually clean up my computer?

Absolutely, it's possible to perform maintenance tasks like editing the registry, defragmenting your hard disk, backing up data, and deleting unwanted files manually. However, some of these processes can be quite complex and time-consuming. That's why using system utilities software is like having a knowledgeable friend that can take care of everything for you. With just a few clicks, you can easily automate clean-up and optimization processes, ensuring that your computer runs efficiently without any hassle. Just make sure to research and choose software that offers the necessary features and technical support.

Q. How do I know if the registry in my computer needs cleaning?

If you notice that your computer is running slower than usual, it might be time to clean up your registry. Over time, the registry can become cluttered and disorganized, causing your computer to slow down. Imagine a deck of cards that has been shuffled and mixed up, making it hard to find the card you need. That's exactly what happens when your computer's registry is cluttered. By cleaning up your registry, you can restore your computer's speed and improve its overall performance.

Q. Can I protect more than one computer?

When purchasing a registry cleaner, it's important to carefully review the license agreement to understand how many computers it can protect. Depending on the product, you may be able to cover multiple household PCs with one license. It's always best to double-check before making a purchase to ensure you're getting the best value for your money.


Jargon explained

Defragmentation

Did you know that fragmentation of your hard disk is a common issue that affects every computer over time? It can slow down your system and make it harder to access files. But don't worry, there's an easy fix. Disk defragmentation is a simple process that reorganizes split files on your hard disk so that they are grouped together, making them quicker to access. With just a few clicks, you can improve the performance of your computer and keep it running smoothly.

Drivers

Drivers are important pieces of code that allow your computer to communicate with its hardware and peripherals. Outdated or missing drivers can lead to errors and poor performance. To avoid these issues, it's a good idea to periodically check for updates and ensure that they are all installed correctly. Let me know if you have any other questions or if there's anything else I can help you with.

Secure deletion

It's important to be aware that when you delete a file on your Windows computer, it's not truly gone. While it may appear to be erased and inaccessible, the file is still present on your system. Deleting the file simply frees up the space it occupies for other data. However, this space may not be used for a significant period of time. If you want to ensure that your deleted files are actually removed from your computer, you may want to consider using secure deletion. This is a feature commonly found in system utilities software, which uses a comprehensive shredding technique similar to that used by the US Department of Defense. With secure deletion, you can be confident that your sensitive files are completely and permanently erased.

Startup programs

Many modern applications or services can be set to auto-start whenever you switch on your computer, including the likes of Spotify and Dropbox. The more programs that ‘start up’ during the boot sequence, the longer it takes before you can use your PC. System utilities software will typically include a feature to optimize your PC’s start-up sequence, getting rid of unnecessary applications that can create a performance bottleneck.

Wizards

These programs can guide you through complicated tasks and help you ensure that you don't miss any important steps. For example, if you want to defragment your hard disk, a wizard can walk you through the process step-by-step, making it much easier to understand. This can help you improve the performance of your computer quickly and easily. Let me know if you have any other questions or if there's anything else I can help you with.


Related help & advice

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