The best free software uninstallers of 2025: Expert tested

Over time, our PCs can become cluttered with software to the point that speed and responsiveness can be severely impacted. It’s not just the amount of software we have downloaded — our systems may also become bogged down with inert registry entries, hidden files, and fragmented, leftover files from uninstalled software.

Also: The best password managers: Expert tested

A clean-up every so often is an important part of keeping our PCs operating at their best and freeing up space. But is there a better way than relying upon your operating system’s default uninstaller, which may not be able to remove every component and file? Specialized software uninstallers can provide a cleaner uninstall of legacy software and remove some of the bloats from your system securely and effectively, tracking down and removing the files that default programs cannot.

What is the best free software uninstaller right now?

The best free software uninstaller is Revo, a nuts-and-bolts free app for the Windows operating system. It offers a range of scanning options and removal tools and will clean up leftover files on your behalf. In deciding our other top recommendations, we tested and measured each option’s security, speed, stability, and various other factors, including user feedback.

The best free software uninstallers in 2025

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One of the best free software uninstallers available is Revo. The basic, free program comes with a massive range of features that will suit most users. This includes the rapid uninstallation of programs, a scan for leftover files, safe and forced uninstalls, and Hunter Mode — a feature that helps you recognize and deal with potentially unwanted programs (although, it is often quicker just to use the main UI).

Additional cleaning and optimization tools are included, but the main strength of this software is its solid uninstallation processes. Unfortunately, Revo is only available for Windows machines.

The free program is fine for quick cleanups, but if you want your software to go further with real-time system changes monitoring, batch uninstallation, backups, and more, you will want to opt for Revo’s $24.95 Pro version. A free trial is also available.

Users say Revo is very useful when the standard Windows installer doesn’t finish the job correctly.

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Geek Uninstaller is another Windows-compatible software uninstaller that you can download and use for free. This option has proved popular for many years with users, many of whom report good results and a system that just works — and another benefit is how lightweight the software is, coming in at only 7MB.

For usability, we can give this option top marks, although the interface is somewhat dated. You can choose between downloaded software or Microsoft Store apps for removal, and there are useful data points included, such as the date of installation and file size.

Another bonus is the firm’s release notes, which show that Geek Uninstaller is constantly updated with bug fixes and improvements.

The free version is solid on its own, but there are some useful functions locked behind a paywall, such as an uninstallation wizard and batch removal. You can purchase a lifetime license for $24.95 for “Geek Uninstaller Pro,” but you will be sent to another website with the software branded under a different name.

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While many free software uninstallers are focused on the Windows operating system, a few reputable options exist that specialize in cleaning up machines in Apple’s ecosystem.

Pearcleaner, inspired by Freemacsoft’s AppCleaner and Sun Knudsen’s Privacy Guides, is one such app. Once downloaded from GitHub and given the necessary permissions, Pearcleaner displays apps of interest, file sizes, dates of installation, and more. You can also exclude specific files and folders from the search.

While I’m using my MacBook Pro, this is my favorite uninstaller to use. It’s free, does the job, and is safe — and as a bonus, it’s open source.

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Wise Program Uninstaller is another decent Windows program uninstaller and one that you should consider if you want a sleek user interface for software management.

Coming in at around 10MB in size, this option allows you to safely or forcefully uninstall programs. When the software launches, you will see a list of installed programs and apps alongside their initial install dates and file sizes.

The software includes a repair function that allows users to try and fix files and return them to normal operations. Leftover files, including fragmented logs and registry files, are also wiped from your system.

Wise Program Uninstaller is completely free.

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Software uninstaller	Price	Basic scan?	Registry cleaner?	Extra cleaning tools?
Revo	Free/paid plans	Yes	Yes, separate free program	Yes
Geek Uninstaller	Free/paid plans	Yes	Yes	No
Pearcleaner	Free	Yes	N/A	No
Wise Program Uninstaller	Free/paid bundles	Yes	Yes	No

Choose this software uninstaller…	If you want…
Revo	The best free software uninstaller overall. While Revo is limited to Windows machines, it comes with a wealth of cleanup options and tools for free, including a portable version.
Geek Uninstaller	A lightweight, barebones software uninstaller. This tiny program packs a punch and comes with every basic function you need to quickly clean your system.
Pearcleaner	A free software uninstaller for the macOS ecosystem. It’s free, open source, and very easy to use.
Wise Program Uninstaller	A free, simple file uninstaller with repair features. If you want to quickly view, manage, and resolve software uninstall problems, try this one out.

When you are looking for a third-party, free software uninstaller, consider the factors below:

Security: Ensure you only choose software uninstallers offered by reputable, trustworthy services with a long pedigree of happy users. There are too many ‘uninstallers’ out there online which are nothing more than bundled nuisanceware — or worse.
Compatibility: Whether you’re a Windows fan or a macOS user could determine the best uninstaller for you. Check that your chosen software is compatible with the operating systems you frequently use.
Scanning: Do you just want a quick scan, or do you want software able to reach the depths of your system to wipe clean years of fragmented, useless files? Consider which features are the most important to you.
Free or paid: You don’t necessarily need to pay for a third-party software uninstaller; far from it. But if there are advanced features hidden behind a paywall that you want, you might need to think about parting with some cash.

In compiling this list of the best software uninstallers, we combined experts’ opinions with thorough research and customer feedback. We also leaned on our own experiences with uninstalling software.

When selecting the best software uninstallers, these are some of the most important factors that determine the best options for you:

Functionality: We want software uninstallers that can do more than a quick scan at the same level as default OS uninstallers. We like to see deep scanning tools, registry cleanups, and file shredding capabilities.
Batch cleanups: We’ve included tools able to handle multiple uninstall tasks at once, saving you time.
Limits: You get what you pay for — and this also means that there is usually a trade-off with free software. We understand this, but we aren’t going to include software that impacts your privacy or has shady marketing practices.
Options for paid plans: While this article highlights the excellent free options on the market, some also have premium plans that users may want to investigate.

Yes, as long as you pick a software uninstaller from a reputable company. We don’t recommend that you just hop on a search engine and download the first thing you find, as there are too many ‘software uninstallers’ that are nothing more than bloatware, adware, or malware.

Yes – many software uninstallers will also offer to remove leftover, scrap files and registry entries during the removal process. They may also delete hidden files linked to the software you are trying to uninstall.

You need to be very careful when you select a software uninstaller. To avoid downloading and executing malicious software disguised as a helpful utility, consider our recommendations for trusted software and conduct your own research into whether or not a free uninstaller is legitimate. If you’re unsure, running an antivirus scan on the executable before installation is also worth doing.