The latest benchmark
This benchmark study evaluates the performance of various third-party software uninstallers available for the Windows operating system. While many uninstallers make claims about their effectiveness, this benchmark aims to provide objective data about their actual performance.
Windows Uninstaller Benchmark 2025
While extensive benchmarking is common practice for computer hardware components, there appears to be a notable absence of systematic performance testing in the software domain.
This study aims to address this gap by providing objective performance measurements for Windows uninstaller applications.
Disclosure: The author of this study is the developer of Uninstalr, one of the applications included in the testing. To maintain objectivity, this analysis focuses exclusively on quantifiable metrics that can be independently verified. All testing procedures were recorded to ensure transparency and reproducibility. You can watch the video of the testing here .
This research builds upon the previous comparative study of Windows uninstaller applications conducted in July 2023 , which identified significant opportunities for improvement in uninstaller performance. The current study, completed in February 2025, provides updated performance metrics using standardized testing methodologies.
Compared Uninstallers
| Name | Version | Website |
|---|---|---|
| Absolute Uninstaller (Free Edition) | 6.0.1.10 | https://www.glarysoft.com |
| Bulk Crap Uninstaller | 5.8.2 | https://www.bcuninstaller.com |
| Geek Uninstaller | 1.5.2.165 | https://geekuninstaller.com |
| HiBit Uninstaller | 3.2.50 | https://hibitsoft.ir |
| IObit Uninstaller 14 Free | 14.1.0.2 | https://www.iobit.com |
| O&O AppBuster | 1.4.1345 | https://www.oo-software.com |
| Revo Uninstaller Free | 2.5.7 | https://revouninstaller.com |
| Revo Uninstaller Pro | 5.3.5 | https://revouninstaller.com |
| Total Uninstall | 7.6.0 | https://www.martau.com |
| Uninstall Tool | 3.7.4 | https://crystalidea.com |
| UniGetUI (formerly WingetUI) | 3.1.6 | https://www.marticliment.com |
| Uninstalr | 2.6 | https://uninstalr.com |
| Wise Program Uninstaller | 3.2.2.265 | https://www.wisecleaner.com |
| Windows Installed Apps | Windows 11 Pro (24H2) | n/a |
In previous tests, many popular Windows software were uninstalled. This time, I wanted to keep the benchmark as simple as possible.
The testing procedure was this: I had a Windows 11 Pro, activated and with all the latest updates, running inside a VirtualBox Virtual Machine. VirtualBox version 7.1.4 running on Linux host machine was used. Inside the testing system, I had installed the latest version of Adobe Creative Cloud and CCleaner. I chose these two software, after asking ChatGPT to list me third party Windows apps that people often have problems uninstalling. These two software were on that list.
In each test, I uninstalled Adobe Creative Cloud and CCleaner using each Windows uninstaller. After the uninstallation, I used WinFindr with search terms “adobe“ and “ccleaner” to find all the data that was left behind after the uninstallation. WinFindr is another software that I have developed, it allows you to search for file system data as well as registry data using many search terms at the same time. That is why I thought it to be ideal for this type of testing.
To establish a baseline, I first ran WinFindr to find how man files, folders, registry entries and registry keys these two software had created to the system. The answer is: 281. That is how much data these two software have created.
Then I uninstalled Adobe Creative Cloud and CCleaner using the standard Windows Installed Apps feature. Then I used WinFindr to see how much data remained afterwards. The result was a total of 118 files, folders, registry entries and registry keys. That’s the number to beat.
Without further ado, here are the results after uninstalling the two apps with each of the tested uninstallers and resetting the testing system between each run:
| Name | Leftovers (smaller is better) |
|---|---|
| Absolute Uninstaller | 116 |
| Bulk Crap Uninstaller | 111 |
| Geek Uninstaller | 102 |
| HiBit Uninstaller | 103 |
| IObit Uninstaller 14 | 120 |
| O&O AppBuster | 263 |
| Revo Uninstaller Free | 119 |
| Revo Uninstaller Pro | 116 |
| Total Uninstall | 39 |
| Uninstall Tool | 116 |
| UniGetUI | 129 |
| Uninstalr | 17 |
| Wise Program Uninstaller | 113 |
| Windows Installed Apps | 118 |
I tested Bulk Crap Uninstaller with both the Quiet Uninstall method and the normal method. The results were 111 and 112, respectively.
With Revo Uninstaller Free and Pro, I used the “advanced” mode for leftover scanning, and deleted all of the leftovers the software suggested. With other software, I used all the default looking options about leftover removal.
The results are in the chart below:
Conclusion
Uninstalr is the best uninstaller in this benchmark as measured by the least number of leftovers left behind after the uninstallation. It is followed by Total Uninstall and Geek Uninstaller.
The rest of the uninstallers are more or less equal in terms of performance, and the uninstallation performance is not substantially different from simply uninstalling the software with the standard Windows Installed Apps feature.
Considering most of the tested uninstallers do not offer any features that are not offered by the standard Windows Installed Apps feature, it is difficult to say why so many third party uninstallers exist.
Please do not believe the marketing claims, do your own testing!
Install an app to a virtual machine and uninstall it with your favorite uninstaller. Use WinFindr (or any other data searching software), to find how much data was left behind after the uninstallation. Then compare that with Uninstalr. I’m confident you will see how much better uninstallation performance Uninstalr offers.
Lastly, even if you don’t care about how much data is left behind, using Uninstalr still makes sense for its unparalleled ability to uninstall many apps at once, its best of its class support for unattended uninstallation and its other features such as the ability to list portable apps installed on your system.
