Are you frustrated over the poor and laggy performance of your computer due to fragmentation? Learn from this guide everything about the best free defrag software.
When we save and edit files on our computers, the files often get broken up and scattered around the hard drive, known as fragmentation. By going through this fuss, the computer must work harder to read these scattered pieces, which can slow down performance significantly. That's where defragmentation software helps by reorganizing these pieces and putting them back together in an orderly way.
In this way, your computer becomes able to access the files efficiently, speeding up overall performance. Regular defragmentation can also extend the life of these hard drives by reducing the wear and tear on their moving parts. Read the article to the end to learn about the ten best free defrag software that you can opt for this facility.
While SSDs have evolved and are optimized to deal with fragmentation issues due to their advanced storage mechanisms, traditional HDDs still suffer significantly. As many people and businesses still use HDDs, there's a pressing need to find and utilize the appropriate defragment tool. Considering this, we will provide you with a comprehensive list of free defrag software along with their distinct pros and cons.
One of the most important aspects of a valuable tool is the availability of its features in the free version. Fortunately, you can utilize EaseUS Partition Master to defrag the hard drive of your PC for free via its 4K alignment and analyze disk space feature. Using this tool, you can clean up junk files from your drive and make processing more efficient. The most important thing is that EaseUS Partition Master is designed for beginners. Without computing knowledge, you can optimize the disk and clean up the junk files with simple clicks.
Besides, it even lets you eliminate large-sized files in the system drive, clearing up space for a more optimized experience. Overall, you can confidently rely on this free defrag software for even further tasks related to boosting your disk performance.
👍Pros
👎Con
Editor's Reviews
1. "Partition Master takes me where other tools won't go. It was simple and easy to use, straightforward, and worked flawlessly for disk closing, wiping, and partitioning. External drives, NAS drives, everything worked well. The ultimate tool for managing disks and partitions." - Christian V
2. "EaseUS Partition Master is truly a perfect application. There wasn't a single problem I couldn't solve while using it. The UI is intuitive and easy to use without needing a manual. I also purchased EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard from EaseUS, and it was just as effective, allowing me to easily recover data when my HDD failed. EaseUS's products never disappoint! Highly recommended. Also, customer support was really good. Their feedback were sooooo fast!" – Hey J
Software Download:
This software not only provides a defragment facility but also blends free space, which helps in preventing future fragmentation. It includes an intelligent file placement feature that strategically places system files and frequently accessed files in faster areas of the disk. Moreover, the tool provides users with an option for single file or folder defragmentation, which is helpful for quickly optimizing specific files.
👍Pros
👎Con
Editor's Reviews
1. "This version adds scheduling, file exclusion, increased defrag speed, analyze only option, and a new skin. Great program. Highly recommend" - Jlhns40
2. "This program caused some problems with run-time files during defrag. On three different defrags, programs using vb6 runtime files and .net framework all crashed out. It must be this program because these errors occur only during defragmenting using this program." - Cybermonk
Software Download:
https://www.auslogics.com/en/software/disk-defrag/
You can share the article with your colleagues or friends and let them have the same benefits if it helps you.
Smart Defrag offers a variety of features to boost the performance of both HDDs and SSDs conveniently. One of its distinct functionalities is the Game Optimize mode, which specifically targets and optimizes game files for faster loadings. Additionally, this software allows users to defrag system files that are normally locked while Windows is running, through its Boot Time Defrag facility.
👍Pros
👎Con
Editor's Reviews
1. "As most defraggers, for free, it's very good, deserving of a 5 in this regard. It works well, fairly quick, does a decently thorough job. The interface is good, no issues." - Gimpguy
2. "I use Defraggler v2.16. However, after running this product, I had to go into settings(for Defragglerv2.16) and make a few tweaks to best the performance. Final score was 1140 fragmented files at for Defraggler v2.16 & 1129 fragmented files for IObit Smart Defrag, so a really close call..." - WickedCronic
Software Download
https://www.iobit.com/en/iobitsmartdefrag.php
This tool works well by resembling the fragmented files on your disks, which results in significantly faster system operations. In particular, you can get much faster OS loadings and higher FPS in video games with its optimizing capabilities. Besides, UltraDefrag can even deal with NTFS metafiles and data streams, ensuring that the entire file system operates at peak performance.
👍Pros
👎Con
Editor's Reviews
1. "This defragger not only does a great job, but it comes in a portable version (included with the download) as well. Seems to work very well on my Vista platform. Thanks and keep up the great work !" - Gbjennings
2. "The program starts a new analysis every time you want to defrag even though you just ran one before. The developer updated the version 7 here just to add ads for their paid version 9. The ads pop up everywhere and makes it a hassle to use. Overall I don't feel safe keeping this on my computer." – jmd89
Software Download
https://ultradefrag.net/
Here is another free defrag software with a unique capability to defrag entire hard drives or individual files, providing users with precise control over optimization. It features comprehensive customization options, allowing users to specify which drives or files to defragment. Besides, users can perform scheduled defragmentation with this tool, enabling them to automate the process during idle times.
👍Pros
👎Con
Editor's Reviews
1. "Highly recommended if you can afford the extra time it takes." - Rocam13657
Software Download
If you are satisfied with this guide and find it helpful for boosting your system's performance, don't forget to share it with others.
MyDefrag is an efficient defragmentation program that has been available for Windows systems from Windows 2000 onwards. It distinguishes itself with its fast defragmentation speed and powerful optimization strategies aimed at improving overall system performance. The processing of this tool begins with an analysis phase to assess file fragmentation, followed by a defragmentation phase where fragmented files are merged into contiguous spaces.
👍Pros
👎Con
Editor's Reviews
1. "This software seems to do a good job quickly. Without needless bells and whistles." - DARRENTAGGART
2. "I reviewed this product over 9 months ago and gave it a poor rating because it totally wiped out all of my Vista restore points. Now here we are 9 months later and V3.35 does exactly the same thing! Great... If you are a Vista user, you have been warned!" - Shodan816
Software Download
http://www.mydefrag.net/
This software features Puran Intelligent Optimizer, which boosts system speed by placing frequently accessed files in the fastest areas of the disk. It supports automatic defragmentation with customizable scheduling options, allowing users to set defragmentation to occur at startup or at particular times. Moreover, the Low Priority Defrag feature enables the software to run in the background without disrupting ongoing tasks.
👍Pros
👎Con
Editor's Reviews
1. "Does the job, of what you want it to do, nothing more & nothing less" - Dezeeuw1986735
2. "My antivirus blocked the download. I thought it was mistaken so, I allowed it, and then Chome blocked it and said it was malicious." - playwright69
Software Download:
Windows Disk Defragmenter is a built-in utility that improves the performance and efficiency of computers by reorganizing fragmented data on the hard drive. This tool automatically runs on a predefined schedule, typically during idle times, which helps ensure that the system remains optimized. Besides, it includes a "Trim" function that helps manage data blocks and maintain performance with optimum conditions.
👍Pros
👎Con
Editor's Reviews
N/A
Software Download
N/A
The unique design of this free defrag software focuses on optimizing the performance of frequently used files and applications, making it ideal for improving loading speeds. Notably, it supports both FAT32 and NTFS file systems and works seamlessly with both HDDs and SSDs. Also, this tool offers an ability to delete unnecessary temporary files before defragmentation and integrate directly with File Explorer for easy access.
👍Pros
👎Con
Editor's Reviews
1. "Can't say much that hasn't been said but it is light, portable, does a great and thorough job. Has a cleanup and disk check, x64 version, a must carry around on portable device." - Gimpguy
2. "Free, fast, clean... the best defrag program with GUI, but not as strong as Sysinternals Contig (against big files). It would be good to see WinContig released with an open source license." - Mail3212530
Software Download
https://www.mdtzone.it/sw/wincontig/en/index.html
Disk SpeedUp features a colorful interface, with clearly labeled buttons and tabs, which makes it straightforward to operate. One of its key strengths is its quick and smart scanning capability, taking just a few seconds to analyze an entire disk. The software's ability to run scheduled defragmentation tasks means users can set it to operate during convenient times.
👍Pros
👎Con
Editor's Reviews
1. "Is FREE. It Actually does what it says it will. It Does NOT hog my system resources while running. I Set the time I want it to run and how much I want it to do. And it does exactly what I set it to do" - Green_Star1
2. "I could not make this program stay off my start-up menu. Every time I deleted it from my start-up menu, the next time I ran this program there, it was back on it again." - JB_Lapree
Software Download
https://www.glarysoft.com/disk-speedup/
After going through the whole list of free defrag software, let's lead our discussion towards opinions about them. Regarding the complications we might face with other tools, EaseUS Partition Master stands out due to its powerful and user-friendly functionality, making it suitable for beginners.
Now that you are familiar with the detailed overview of each mentioned defragger, let's take a brief look for their unique benefits. This section will shed light on their distinct abilities to let you know which tool to select depending on your specific needs.
Overall, the disk drives of our computers go through fragmentation over time, causing a downfall in their performance. That's why there's a crucial need to have some tools that can fix this issue and optimize disks for better efficiency and output. In this regard, this guide has explained the ten best free defrag software offering their unique abilities to deal with this problem.
Besides, we have mentioned which of those tools you should choose depending on your specific requirements. If you are a beginner and don't know much about these tools and their handling, you can confidently try EaseUS Partition Master.
After sharing everything about the disk defragment tools and their features, let's provide you with some more insights. Check out this section enlisting some commonly asked queries about this particular topic:
1. How do I defrag my computer for free?
Here's how you can defrag your PC for free:
For Windows 10/11: Type "Defragment and Optimize Drives" in the search bar of your Start Menu and click the tool that appears with this name. There, choose the drive that you want to defragment and hit "Optimize."
For Windows 7/8: From the Start Menu, type "Disk Defragmenter" and select this tool. Next, specify the drive and click the "Defragment disk" option.
2. Is the disk defragmenter free?
Yes, the built-in Disk Defragmenter in Windows is totally free. Besides, there are several free third-party disk defragmentation tools available, such as EaseUS Partition Master, Defraggler, and more.
3. Is a disk defragmenter necessary?
Yes, a disk defragmenter is necessary for maintaining optimal performance on disk drives. It reorganizes fragmented data, which can improve system speed and efficiency.
Related Articles
How to Wipe Unallocated Space in Windows 10/8/7 [2 Efficient Ways]
How to Format An Internal Hard Drive Windows 10? [Latest Tip]
How to Resize EFI System Partition on Windows 11/10/8/7
How Do I Securely Erase Hard Drive/SSD, Wipe Confidential Data? Your Reliable Guide Is Here